Cliffhanger

An unparalleled set of sheer mountains -- part of the Colorado

Rockies. The peaks rise a challenging half mile and more out

of the valley -- wind-whipped snow mists over the mountains

like a low fog. The tranquility is broken as a helicopter

BLASTS into view, fighting the wind as it heads for the center

of it all.

Our CREDITS fly us past and through this magnificent range.

There are sky-piercing peaks that slope up to a narrow, high

pinnacle -- and others that are steel, straight-up approaches

to large plateaus. One of the mountains has a crystal lake on

top -- with a waterfall that drains from it and exits from the

middle of a mountain wall. Nearby, an abandoned cable ladder

is bolted into the same wall, leading to the top.

BACK IN THE HELICOPTER

We can see a man sitting in its doorway, looking out --

INT/EXT HELICOPTER - BINOCULAR POV

The glasses scan systematically, slowly -- to us, it looks

like nothing more than a field of gray and white.

FRANK (O.S.)

Nothing yet.

EXT. THE MOUNTAINS - LONG SHOT

The helicopter now circles this tallest mountain -- "The

Tower", separated from a lower but equally formidable peak by

a chasm of two hundred feet -- that drops 3,500 feet below.

INSIDE HELICOPTER - FRANK AND MAGGIE

Spotter FRANK NEWELL (50s) scans the mountain wall. MAGGIE

DEIGHAN (30s) expertly pilots the helicopter through the storm

winds. Both wear orange jackets identifying themselves as

members of the Rocky Mountain Park Rescue Team.

FRANK:

Wait a minute -- there's Hal.

(beat)

And his date.

BINOCULAR POV - A LEDGE

that's part of the smaller peak. HAL TUCKER (30s) and his

"date", SUSAN COLLINS (20s), are decked out in climbing gear.

Hal's aplomb suggests he's a veteran climber -- Susan's

worried look shows she isn't. Hal and Susan huddle together,

both cold, but okay. Hal has a makeshift splint wrapped

around his lower leg, and a slow burning flare in one hand.

INSIDE HELICOPTER

Frank lowers his glasses -- Maggie struggles with the wind.

MAGGIE:

How do they look?

BINOCULAR POV - HAL AND SUSAN

Hal, now aware of the copter, looks towards it, smiling -- and

starts jerking off the flare.

FRANK (O.S.)

He's signalling "okay."

MAGGIE (O.S.)

Where's Gabe?

The POV dips down -- there's somebody climbing below, in an

orange rescue jacket.

FRANK (O.S.)

Right where he's supposed to be.

CLOSER ON THE CLIMBER

This is GABE WALKER (30s). In spite of the cold and the snow,

he's fearlessly, swiftly scaling the tower without safety

lines, as if he's done it a hundred times. That's because he

has done it a hundred times. This is what Gabe lives for.

ON THE LEDGE:

Gabe, almost there, finds a fingertip-width handhold at arm's

length -- grabbing it, he pulls himself up on the ledge with a

move that's just a little tougher than chinning yourself on a

doorjamb. Winded, Gabe slumps down next to the couple, and

tries to light a cigarette. The lighter only sparks.

HAL:

Excuse me -- I know you're my

salvation, and all -- do you think you

could rescue us before your smoke

break?

Hal pulls out a box of wooden matches and lights one Bogart

style, one-handed with a thumbnail, cupping a hand to shield

it against the wind. Gabe bends down for it -- a familiar

routine. We know in a glance they've been friends for years.

GABE:

Maybe you could tell me why I am

rescuing you.

HAL:

Basically -- I've fallen down, and I

can't get up...

GABE:

(into radio)

Rescue One -- have located helpless

climber, please prepare idiot line

for transport, over --

THE HELICOPTER dips down towards the ledge -- no way can it

land there. Frank lowers a rescue wire to

GABE:

who precariously swings out from the ledge to grab it -- the

wire is just out of reach. Hal grabs the radio.

HAL:

Rescue One -- please remind me to tell

you about the time I hauled your hero

here down Mt. Huntington on my back,

over --

MAGGIE (O.S.)

(through radio)

Hal, if I hear that story one more

time, I'm making you limp down the

entire three thousand feet, over --

Gabe finally grabs the line, secures it to a heavy piton, and

hammers it into the wall.

GABE:

(to Susan)

This guy showing you a good time?

THE HELICOPTER:

swings over across to the facing mountain -- Maggie lands the

copter, in spite of the winds, on a small plateau. Frank gets

out to secure the wire -- there's now a lifeline spanning the

chasm.

ON THE LEDGE:

Gabe finishes anchoring the line in the rock -- he

extinguishes his cigarette in the snow, and naturally, pockets

the butt. Hal, propped up against the wall, expertly rigs a

seat harness around his legs -- Susan helps him get part of it

around his splint, and Gabe clips it to the line.

GABE:

Now, remember -- keep your arms and

legs within the vehicle at all

times --

HAL:

(laughing)

F*** you --

With that, Hal pulls himself hand-over-hand across the sloping

line -- Hal makes a point of looking down --

HAL'S POV -- THE DROP

is vertigo defined. Thirty five hundred feet straight down.

You could stack the World Trade Center towers on top of each

other and they'd still be shorter than this mountain is high.

However --

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