Frequency Page #2

Frank has been staring at the capsized rig.

Butch knows what he's thinking. But it's too late. Frank is

gone...slogging through the oozing oil to the hull of the

tanker. He kneels over the three-quarters covered manhole,

using a flashlight to peer into the darkness below. Sparks

from the loose cables spit off flashes of light as the cables

hiss and slap against the ceiling and walls of the vault.

FRANK:

This is the Fire Department. Frank

Sullivan. You guys okay?

CON ED WORKER #1'S VOICE

Please man, you gotta get us out of

here...

FRANK:

That's exactly what we're gonna do.

And Frank is up, heading for his truck, signaling Gibson.

FRANK (CONT'D)

(yells to Con Ed Supervisor)

How do we get to the vault door?

SUPERVISOR:

There's a manhole at Canal and Bowery.

BUTCH'S VOICE

Forget it, Frank. No way you reach those

men in time.

Frank grabs a "halaghan claw tool" and a walkie-talkie.

Gibson nervously picks out two helmet lights...and they are

off and running.

FRANK:

(yelling back)

I can do it, Butch. Me and my 'tank man'

here.

COMMANDER O'CONNELL

(to all, and into walkie)

Start spraying down the street. Let me

know when we are fully evacuated.

EXT. MANHOLE - CANAL & BOWERY - CONTINUOUS

Frank uses the "adz" to rip open the heavy manhole cover.

INT. MANHOLE TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS

Frank and Gibson descend into the tunnel, strap lights on

their leather helmets to illuminate the damp darkness. They

race down the subterranean passage. The stench is thick.

Butch's voice suddenly booms out of the walkie-talkie:

BUTCH:

(via walkie)

Frank, you hear me? Frank?

FRANK:

(into walkie)

Yeah, Butch?

BUTCH:

(via walkie)

The gas level is getting serious.

The underground's combustible - it could

flashover. I want you to abort! Now!

Get the hell out of there!

Frank picks up the pace. Charges ahead. Guy's got balls.

GIBSON:

(into walkie)

Frank. We gotta go back. Frank...

FRANK:

(calling back to him)

Stay with me, Gib. We're gonna do this.

GIBSON:

(charging after him)

I should'a been a f***ing mailman.

Frank reaches the rusted 'submarine-like' VAULT DOOR. Pounds

on the door... a faint response. He goes to work on it with

the halaghan tool. Gibson arrives...pretty rattled. Frank

gives him a wink and a smile. It's gonna be okay.

BUTCH:

(via walkie)

Frank, where are you?

Frank digs down, suddenly the DOOR GIVES WAY

Oil and water rush from the VAULT, pouring over Frank and

Gibson, foaming into the tunnel. But the door is mounted

three feet off the ground. There is still three feet of oil

and water trapped inside. And the smell of gas is now

overwhelming...

FRANK:

(into walkie)

We're in, Butch.

Frank probes the dark vault with the FLASHLIGHT BLADE.

Through smoke we see TWO MEN huddled in the corner, trapped

by three loose 'HOT' CABLES - WHIPPING AROUND THE TINY VAULT

LIKE AN ELECTRIC HYDRA. Con Ed Worker #2 shivers, ankle

broken, leaning on older Con Ed Worker #1.

FRANK (CONT'D)

Time to go home, fellas.

Gibson sprays the room, clearing out most of the smoke.

Frank steps into the vault.

CON ED WORKER #1

Careful. If the hot end of those cables

hits you, it'll conduct to the water and

we're all fired.

Frank drops to his knees, ducking under the cables, shuffles

to center of the vault. Places his hands at opposite ends of

the halaghan tool, hoping for the cables to pass directly

over his head. A hairy beat, then...

Frank jackknifes out of the water, ramming the halaghan into

the ceiling. It worked. The teeth on the "claw-end" and the

spike on the "adz-end" are embedded into the concrete --

STAPLING THE CABLES TO THE CEILING. Make that balls of

steel.

FRANK:

Go, Gibby! Everybody move it.

Gibson and Con Ed worker #1 help injured Worker #2 out of the

vault. Frank checks to make sure they've cleared the vault

and lets go of the tool.

Frank jumps into the tunnel, hoists the injured worker over

his back and races back down the tunnel.

FRANK (CONT'D)

(to Gibson)

Haul ass, that claw ain't gonna hold for

long...

(into walkie)

Take cover -- she's gonna flash!

EXT. STREET - OIL TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

O'Connell and the few remaining cops & firemen run for it...

INT./EXT. MANHOLE - CANAL & BOWERY - CONTINUOUS

Frank, Gibson and the Con Ed men scramble towards the

manhole. Butch and another fireman are waiting up top. They

help the men -- who are covered in oil and slime -- up onto

the street. And then they all tear away from the

manhole...around a corner... collapsing on the pavement

against a building.

K-A-B-O-O-M -- A MUFFLED EXPLOSION

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