Ares Page #8

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Finally he sees a nearby MOSQUE marked by a minaret. WOMENfile into one entrance. Men into another. Now he has an idea.

MOMENTS LATER ON THE STREET OUTSIDE THE CONSTRUCTION SITE

Evan approaches an old man in a tattered suit. He raises hispitch a little, trying to sound feminine:

EVAN:

English? Speak English?

The man clearly doesn’t understand.

Evan spots CHILDREN heading toward their PREP SCHOOL. Theywear little ties and oxford shoes. He approaches.

36.

EVAN:

You speak English?

SCHOOLBOY 1

I speak English!

SCHOOLGIRL:

I speak better English!

SCHOOLBOY 2

I’m FBI! I’m Spiderman!

SCHOOLBOY 3

(looking at Evan, whotowers over them in his

black burka)

Are you Batman?

He holds up a finger of his gloved hand. “Wait.”

He types a message on the cell phone: I pay you to help me.

SCHOOLGIRL:

(reading the message)

What help?

Evan types:
Go in the new building. Ask for Chloe Lange. Tellher a woman needs to talk to her in the mosque. About Danny.

The Schoolgirl reads the message. Looks perplexed.

SCHOOLGIRL:

I don’t think I should -

Before she says more, Evan holds out several bills from theSTOLEN WALLET. He has no clue how much they’re worth, but thegirl looks as if she just won the lottery.

SOUND SEGUE:

EVAN (O.S.)

Many economists argue that the firsttrillionaires will make their

fortunes from mining Mars.

CUT TO:

INT. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - PENTAGON -FLASHBACK

Evan (42) delivers a formal PowerPoint presentation to NEILMCMURTRY, a drowsy D.O.D. official.

Evan is out of shape. Red-eyed. On edge. Something is off. Wedon’t know what yet.

37.

EVAN:

The US can't afford to let foreigncompanies or governments get therefirst and reap the rewards.

Evan flips to slides of cerium, lanthanum, iridium, etc.

EVAN:

The 21st century runs on rare earthminerals. The only problem: theChinese have bought up the world’s

supply. If China has a total monopolyon the raw materials necessary tobuild electronics -- is that a safe

position for our country?

McMurtry’s deep and gravely voice contrasts comically with his

boyish looks.

MCMURTRY:

If the American people didn’t believe

in financing the manned NASA mission,

it’s not the D.O.D.’s job to override

them.

EVAN:

That’s because no one presented it to

them as a matter of national

security.

He rambles, getting closer to McMurtry -

EVAN:

You don’t have to get Congress to

approve every project. I know the

D.O.D. has never balanced its budget.

Has never explained to Congress oranyone else where defense spendingactually goes. Financing NASA’s

manned Mars mission is the only trulyimportant thing we could be doingright now. As a nation. As a species.

As Evan gets close, McMurtry’s expression changes as he gets a

whiff of Evan’s breath.

MCMURTRY:

If it’s so important, why did you

show up drunk?

38.

A look between them. McMurtry feels like Evan is pissing awayhis time. He gets up and leaves Evan standing in the emptyconference room. Humiliated.

BACK TO:

INT./EXT - THE MOSQUE NEAR CHLOE’S CONSTRUCTION SITE

Evan tries to pass through the WOMEN’S ENTRANCE, but a

SHROUDED WOMAN stops him. She says something sharply in

Amharic. He’s starting to panic-Until

he follows the woman’s gaze down to HIS FEET: He’s not

supposed to wear shoes here. He tucks his shoes in his purse.

Tall panels divide men from the women inside. Evan walks

INTO THE WOMEN’S COURTYARD behind the mosque.

Waits anxiously. Two WOMEN stare at his clearly Caucasian and

man-ish feet. He tries to rearrange the burka to hide them.

Finally he sees

CHLOE. Framed by the mosque’s entrance. Her Assistants are astep behind her. The Schoolgirl squints in. Points to Evan.

His pulse starts to race as Chloe comes into the courtyard,

still trailed by her two female assistants.

Evan looks at her like she’s one of the wonders of the world.

She addresses him in Amharic.

CHLOE:

(Ma'am? The little girl said youwanted to talk to me...?)

Only Evan’s eyes are visible. In them -- a cascade of

emotions. He’s imagined this moment for so long.

Chloe misinterprets his silence. She laughs, embarrassed.

CHLOE:

(I guess the girl was wrong. Sorry--)

She turns to walk away. Evan grabs her arm.

EVAN:

It’s me. It’s me, Chloe.

As her eyes meet his -- she freezes. How could this be him?

The world goes silent for them as he reaches out, his fingers

tracing her cheekbone. She’s overwhelmed. Barely reacts.

39.

In the heat of the moment, neither of them notices:

The WOMEN who stared at Evan’s feet approach with a MOSQUE

ADMINISTRATOR. Chattering in Amharic. The Administrator liftsthe bottom of Evan’s burka. Sees his masculine feet.

Before Evan has time to react, the Administrator, yelling,

angrily tears the burka off Evan’s head.

And now Chloe sees him for the first time. He's a disaster.

Gaunt. Scraped. Filthy. She gapes.

CHLOE:

You son of a b*tch.

The Administrator angrily shoves Evan toward the exit, but heresists. Starts talking. Fast. Intense.

EVAN:

Chloe. You’re being watched. That’s

why I brought you here. Somewhere youcouldn’t be followed...

Then he sees TWO WHITE MEN step into the WOMEN’S ENTRANCE.

Shouting in Amharic. The IMAM and mosque visitors franticallytry to stop the TWO MEN from entering the women’s space.

EVAN:

Sh*t!

He breaks free of the Administrator. Forces Chloe toward the

courtyard’s back wall -- out of sight of the TWO WHITE MEN.

EVAN:

Chloe. We have to go!

CHLOE:

Evan, stop!

Evan starts to push her over the wall, but she fights him. HerAssistants try to stop him, but he shoves them back.

EVAN:

Get over!

CHLOE:

Stop! Evan! Whatever you think ishappening is not real --

INSIDE THE MOSQUE -- SIMULTANEOUS

The TWO WHITE MEN barrel past the Imam. Scan the mosque’s dark

interior -- don’t catch sight of EVAN and CHLOE yet -

40.

BACK AT THE COURTYARD WALL:

Evan pulls the GUN from his bundle. Points it at Chloe.

EVAN:

This is real. Please. We have to go

now!

The TWO WHITE MEN hear Chloe SCREAM. They rush forward as -Evan

forces Chloe over the wall. They drop down into

A NARROW PASSAGE

CHLOE:

Evan -- please -- don’t hurt me --

He pulls her down the alley, still aiming the gun at her.

EVAN:

We’re too exposed!

Doors along the passage. Evan tries one. Locked. He lets go ofChloe so he can

HURL himself at the wood door. It BREAKS DOWN.

Chloe is rushing off, yelling for help. He lurches after her.

EVAN:

Chloe! No -She

sees the TWO MEN dropping over the mosque's wall. They’redrawing HAND GUNS. She gasps. Scared.

CHLOE:

This is real.

He grabs her and SHOVES her through the KICKED-DOWN DOOR.

The TWO MEN see EVAN in the empty alley. They shoot --

Just as EVAN bursts through the doorway

AND INTO SOMEONE’S KITCHEN

A family inside. Screaming. Chaos. The HUSBAND grabs a lamp

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