Metropolis Page #3

The casino is now up on the monitor. Emma's eyes

following the kid.

EMMA (INTO TELE-COM)

Grid eighteen. Heading for exit

six.

INT. NIGHT CITY - CASINO

The cops charge across the casino, but unable to get to

the kid before he bolts out the exit --

EXT. CASINO - ALLEY - CONTINUOUS

The kid comes flying out into the alley. There's Tanner,

bearing down on him.

Kid takes off, running as fast as he can, turning the

corner to --

EXT. THE GATES

The sprawling structure where people enter and exit Night

City.

A crush of excited customers pushing past the HOSTESS who

welcomes them with programmed cheerfulness.

HOSTESS:

And don't miss The Tivoli, with

fireworks every hour on the hour.

(smiles)

And please remember to follow all

safety rules while --

The kid racing through the crowd with Tanner in hot

pursuit.

INT. NIGHT CITY - STREET

Sound of rock music bouncing off the buildings.

The kid sprints out of the crowd and up and over a hill.

Tanner follows, finding himself in the midst of --

EXT. NIGHT CITY - CONCERT

A colored light show screaming down from the heavens.

The huge crowd of people gyrating to the music pounding

from the band on the river-front stage.

Tanner pushes into the frenzy as an USHER quickly steps up

to him.

USHER:

(very politely)

I'm sorry sir, but there is a

premium charge for this event --

Tanner pulls his ACCESS CARD from his pocket and runs it

through the thin slot in the usher's torso. A beat,

before...

USHER:

Access approved. Enjoy the concert,

Tanner.

The usher steps away as Tanner slices through the crowd,

eyes probing for the kid.

TANNER (INTO TELE-COM)

Where the hell is he?

INT. VSI CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - CONTROL ROOM

Emma is studying the monitor, trying to find the kid in

the churning sea of humanity --

EMMA (INTO TELE-COM)

I'm working on it.

EXT. NIGHT CITY - CONCERT

The band finishes the song. The audience yelling for more

as the light show suddenly snaps off --

Pitch blackness.

A new song. Even louder. Audience screaming along as

strobe lights rip through the night.

Tanner trying to focus in the quick bursts of

illumination.

EMMA'S VOICE (FROM TELE-COM)

He's north-east of you. Heading to

Crimson street --

Tanner spins, cutting a path through the throng. Picking

up speed. But suddenly freezes --

A face. KATIE. Effortlessly attractive. The warmest of

smiles not quite able to hide the sadness.

Her expensively dressed male companion's arm wrapped

tightly around her waist as they watch the concert.

Tanner stares at her. Doing everything he can to hold it

in.

The lights strobing her face. Tanner struggles to pull

his eyes away. Only now she looks over. Sees him.

They stare at each other for a long tortured beat.

Katie turns to her companion, whispers something, then

hurries over to Tanner. Only he's no longer there.

Her eyes spinning through the crowd. Catches a glimpse of

Tanner as he disappears into the darkness.

EXT. NIGHT CITY - STREET - CONTINUOUS

The kid breaks out of the concert crowd. Races up the

street and over a bridge to --

EXT. NIGHT CITY - RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Modeled after Amsterdam. Canal-lined streets brimming

with businesses catering to every and any erotic desire.

Kid comes running off the bridge and suddenly stops. A

pair of cops charging him. The kid turns, rushing into --

INT. DEVIL'S LAIR

Customers browse the ten stories worth of Virtual

Playmates enclosed in small glass cubicles.

The cops push through the crowd, racing after the kid.

EXT. STREET

Tanner sprints for the fire escape on the side of the

building.

INT. DEVIL'S LAIR

The kid racing for an exit, but can't find one. The cops

almost to him, so he bolts straight for a cubicle --

Covering his face, he throws himself through the glass,

flying past the stunned Playmate and out the cubicle's

back door --

INT. STAIRWAY

The kid charges up the stairs to the top floor and out

onto --

EXT. ROOF

The kid throws the door shut behind him as --

TANNER'S VOICE (O.S.)

Time to be smart.

Kid spins. Tanner is right there.

TANNER:

Not too late to cut a deal.

(coaxing)

All you've got to do is tell me

where you got --

The kid backs away from Tanner, but quickly runs out of

roof, teetering on the edge of a ten story drop.

A frozen beat, then the kid looks up at Tanner with a

twisted grin.

TANNER:

(realizing)

DON'T --

But the kid's already laughing as he lets himself fall

backward into the air.

Tanner dives after him, smashing face-first into the roof,

grabbing the kid's foot before it disappears over the

edge.

He reels the kid back onto the roof, slamming his stare

into him --

TANNER:

This isn't one of those virtual

reality systems you're used to

playing on!

The kid shrugs, unfazed.

TANNER:

This is hyper-reality. Full

Immersion.

KID:

Big deal --

TANNER:

-- If you had come in through the

gates like you were supposed to,

you'd know.

(intense)

Full Immersion. You die on this

system, your consciousness dies.

The kid stares at Tanner as this sinks in. But he still

keeps up his tough guy look.

KID:

Why the hell do you care?

Tanner wipes the blood from his chin as he rips all traces

of compassion from his face, matching the kid's stare.

TANNER:

I don't. I just need you alive so

you can tell me where you got the

keys.

Tanner hurls the kid back into the arms of the waiting

cops.

TANNER:

Trace him.

COP:

Be my pleasure.

They drag the kid down the stairs, leaving Tanner alone on

the roof, sound of music swirling through the darkness.

CUT TO:

INT. VSI CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - CONTROL ROOM

An engineer studying his screen as location grids flash

by.

One of the grids suddenly freezes.

The engineer punches a command into his console, enlarging

the grid to show a cross-section of city streets.

CUT TO:

EXT. NIGHT CITY - STREET - CONTINUOUS

Tanner heads down the crowded street toward the flashing

lights of the --

EXT. CONCERT

Tanner stands on the outskirts of the concert, staring

into the area where he had seen Katie.

The strobe lights flashing across his face.

He finally forces himself to turn away from it, heading

alone down the street,

WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)

(calls out)

Tanner.

Frozen beat. Katie steps from the shadows.

A long, tortured silence.

KATIE:

Least you could do is say hello.

He slowly looks at her. Working hard to keep it under

control.

TANNER:

Hello.

This isn't easy for either of them.

KATIE:

What brings you inside?

TANNER:

Cleaning up a mess.

KATIE:

(small smile)

Some things never change, do they?

Sees the dried blood on his chin. Old reflexes taking

over, she puts a soothing hand on his face.

He stands rigid. Barely breathing. Forces himself to

turn away.

TANNER:

I've got to get back.

KATIE:

Tanner.

Her eyes plead into his. Takes everything he's got to

remain firm.

TANNER:

Sorry.

He heads down the street. She calls after him --

KATIE:

You know I wanted to tell you, but

they wouldn't let me --

But he's already disappeared into the darkness.

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