Escape from L.A. Page #5

MALLOY:

Some areas have power - they're on line to

San Onofre.

EXT. ROTOR CITY - NIGHT

As Brazen's command helicopter takes off...

INT. COMMAND HELICOPTER - NIGHT

Plissken stares at a photo of the anodized prototype.

PLISSKEN:

I'll need to know more about this thing.

MALLOY:

Only a handful of people are aware of its

existence. Let's just say it's the

ultimate defensive weapon.

PLISSKEN:

Defense against what?

MALLOY:

There's a war about to be declared, or

didn't you know?

Plissken shrugs.

MALLOY:

Third World wants to live like we do - and

they plan on taking what they want. The

Cubans and Brazilians are ready to invade

Miami. If the Africans and Colombians make

a run at the border, we got a full scale

attack on the United States.

PLISSKEN:

So what does this thing do?

MALLOY:

All you need to know is get it back here

by 5 a.m.

EXT. WALL - ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT

The Command helicopter lands near a large access tunnel inside the

containment wall.

INT. ACCESS TUNNEL - NIGHT

Plissken, Brazen and Malloy walk through the dark, dank tunnel.

Armed guards stand at the ready. A hatch in the tunnel floor

stands open. A ladder disappears down into the darkness.

MALLOY:

(points to the open hatch)

You're going over by submarine. One-man

submersible. Nuclear powered.

Plissken arranges his gear, climbs into the hatch opening.

PLISSKEN:

Where do I put ashore?

MALLOY:

Cahuenga Pass. Make your way up through

the mountains toward the Hollywood Bowl.

You should be able to pick up Utopia's

tracer there.

(beat)

Once you go inside, you're on your own.

(beat)

You know what you have to do with the

girl, don't you?

(beat)

We have to spare this nation her trial -

for treason.

PLISSKEN:

So you want me to take her out?

(Malloy nods)

Is that an order from the President?

MALLOY:

Let's just say it's what's best for the

country.

PLISSKEN:

By the way - who gives me the anti-toxin?

MALLOY:

A medical team will be standing by.

PLISSKEN:

Not you?

MALLOY:

No.

PLISSKEN:

Good.

KABLAMM! He fires, ripping hellish blasts at Malloy. There's no

damage. Malloy laughs.

MALLOY:

Thought you might try that. First clip is

filled with blanks. Goodbye, Plissken.

Malloy kicks the hatch and it slams down on top of Plissken.

Brazen pushes a control button, sealing it shut.

INT. SUBMARINE BAY - NIGHT

Plissken climbs down the ladder into a small submarine bay. Below

him on a launching rig is a sleek, black one-man submarine shaped

like a dart. The submarine's hatch is open. Plissken climbs

inside.

INT. SUBMARINE - NIGHT

Plissken seals the hatch behind him. He has to lie flat on his

stomach to operate the sub. He quickly hits various switches and

buttons, powering up the cockpit.

INT. COMMAND HQ - MAIN CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

Malloy and Brazen move to a surveillance-command post.

PLISSKEN (V.O. RADIO)

Com check.

Malloy picks up the microphone.

MALLOY:

I'm here, Plissken.

INT. SUBMARINE - NIGHT

Plissken looks at the wrist watch. It ticks down ominously. Eight

hours and counting down...

MALLOY (V.O.)

Stand by for launch. Ignitor.

(Plissken pushes a button)

Fuel rod injection.

Plissken pulls a lever, watches his dials. A deep humming sound

grows louder inside the sub.

PLISSKEN:

She's in the green.

MALLOY (V.O.)

Lock fuel rods.

PLISSKEN:

(hits a switch)

Locked.

MALLOY (V.O.)

Nuclear turbine to 75% power.

Plissken turns a throttle-like control with his left hand.

INT. SUBMARINE BAY - NIGHT

Out of the rear tubes of Plissken's sub comes a roaring blue glow.

INT. SUBMARINE

PLISSKEN:

75% power.

MALLOY (V.O.)

Hands on switches and counting.

5...4...3...2...1. Launch.

INT. SUBMARINE BAY

The rear tubes roar. Suddenly the sub is shot forward through a

long, circular tunnel.

INT. SUBMARINE

Plissken braces himself as the cabin lurches, vibrates with the

force.

EXT. THE WALL - NEWHALL PASS - NIGHT

A door in the wall opens, revealing the circulator tunnel. In a

roaring explosion, the sub rockets out of the tunnel, shot from

the wall like a cannonball. The submarine is airborne for several

seconds, then drops down, and slams into the San Fernando Sea.

INT. SUBMARINE

Plissken is rocked with the impact. He guides the sub with hand

controls. In front of him on a screen is a schematic diagram of

the underwater landscape of the San Fernando Valley.

EXT. UNDERWATER - 405 FREEWAY - NIGHT

In the underwater darkness, see the broken remains of the 405

Freeway, as the subs creams past, its nuclear wake churning in the

water.

INT. COMMAND HQ - MAIN CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

Malloy, Brazen and other cops follow Plissken's course on a

gigantic computer screen.

MALLOY:

Plissken, watch your speed. Lots of

obstructions down there.

EXT. UNDERWATER - VAN NUYS CITY HALL - NIGHT

As the sub rockets past the ruins of the Van Nuys City Hall,

barely missing it.

INT. SUBMARINE

MALLOY (V.O.)

Plissken...

Plissken ignores him, carefully maneuvering the sub with his

controls.

MALLOY (V.O.)

Plissken... do you copy?

EXT. UNDERWATER - THE VENTURA FREEWAY - NIGHT

Camera follows the sub as it streaks along just above the

submerged ruins of the Ventura Freeway. See the ghostly shapes of

cars, trucks, busses below, smashed and overturned.

INT. COMMAND HQ - MAIN CONTROL ROOM

They watch the sub, a red blip on the screen, move along the

freeway.

INT. SUBMARINE

Plissken twists his hand throttle, pouring on the power to 90%.

EXT. VENTURA & HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY INTERCHANGE - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

The sub rips through the water, faster and faster, goes into a

hard bank to the right as the Ventura Freeway turns into the

Hollywood. A sign at the edge of the Hollywood Freeway reads:

"SPEED LIMIT 55". The sub screams past.

INT. COMMAND HQ - MAIN CONTROL ROOM

Brazen points to a readout showing the submarine's engine status.

BRAZEN:

His reactor's starting to overheat.

MALLOY:

Plissken, slow down the sub. You're

overloading the power plant.

INT. SUBMARINE

Plissken glances at the gauge. His nuclear turbine readout: green,

moving to yellow, into red. He pushes it up to 102%.

MALLOY (V.O.)

Plissken...?

Plissken's eye turns back to the computer map in front of him. One

the screen:
the red blip representing the sub is headed right

toward a building. Plissken pulls hard on the controls.

EXT. UNDERWATER - UNIVERSAL CITY - THE BLACK TOWER - NIGHT

The sub smacks into the side of the Black Tower, powers through

it, blasts out the other side through a window, tilting and

wobbling. The sub rights itself momentarily but is slammed

downward out of frame by a huge, dark, slimy object.

KING KONG looms overhead - his fist rising and falling with the

currents. Plissken has maneuvered himself into the wreckage of the

Universal Studios Tour.

The sub zips through the King Kong ride into Back To The Future,

passing 1950's signage from that film, dodging a rusting Delorean.

It slams into the open mouth of JAWS, shattering the model into a

million pieces.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes