Passenger 57 Page #15

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HENDERSON:

We'll take it from here.

(to an assistant)

Tie me into the tower, the plane and all other systems.

Biggs glares at Cutter who smiles back.

CUTTER:

What? No hug?

BIGGS:

(to Henderson)

I guess I should thank you for returning my prisoner. He thinks he pulled a fast one but the joke's on him because he's still under arrest. Boys...

Biggs' cops move in to brace Cutter.

HENDERSON:

Mister Cutter is aiding me in my investigation. He stays.

Henderson has just pulled rank. Biggs has no choice but to back down.

BIGGS:

All right... but he's not leaving my sight. As soon as this is over, I'm taking the sonovabitch In.

HENDERSON:

We'll settle it later. Pick your spot. Cutter.

CUTTER:

Outside. Front row center.

(walking off)

Yo, Chief? You coming?

BIGGS:

(scrambling after him)

Damn right I'm coming.

They pass a containment area where Wolfgang, Priest and Fiona are under guard. Both of Fiona's eyes are black. She glares at Cutter.

WOLFGANG:

(to Cutter; cheerful)

Leaving so soon? You'll miss all the fun.

CUTTER:

Feel that breath on the back of your neck? It's mine.

Cutter and Biggs move on.

162 ANGLE 162

Wolfgang, Fiona and Priest are brought before Henderson. Their handcuffs are removed but guns are kept pointed at their heads. Wolfgang scans the surrounding crowd and sees Vincent wearing a paramedic uniform. Vincent smiles at him.

HENDERSON:

(to Wolfgang)

You will approach the plane in the company of two commandos. You will tell the Indian that you and your people are being exchanged for the remaining hostages. Get him to come to the hatchway and we'll kill him there. Two sharpshooters will be in position on the roof. One will kill the Indian. The other will kill you if anything goes wrong.

WOLFGANG:

Nothing will go wrong. You have my word.

HENDERSON:

(to his team)

Mike him.

An F.B.I, agent comes forward with a lapel microphone. Wolfgang lifts his arms to have it installed, his keen eyes drifting over to one of the SWAT commandos. Attached to the front of the commando's Kevlar vest are several smoke grenades.

163 EXT. TERMINAL ROOF 163

Two sharpshooters take up positions on either side of the Tower. They unsling their high-powered rifles, adjust their night vision eyesights and draw beads on the 747.

164 EXT. RUNWAY PERIMETER 164

Lake Lucille police vehicles are positioned around the runway, ENGINES GROWLING, RADIOS SQUAWKING, trained on the 747.

Biggs and Cutter emerge from the terminal.

BIGGS:

No F.B.I, out here. I got half a mind to run you in right now, smart guy.

CUTTER:

You're right. Chief. You've got half a mind.

Cutter indicates a news crews setting up nearby.

CUTTER:

You leave the scene now and they'll say you ran away like a whipped dog. But if you stay... well, at least you'll look like you're still in charge.

Just then, Biggs' WALKIE-TALKIE SQUAWKS to life.

HENDERSON (V.O.)

We're secure. Send 'em out.

165 EXT. RUNWAY 165

A motorized boarding stairs approaches the 747. Standing on the platform on top are Wolfgang, Fiona and Priest flanked by two armed commandos.

WOLFGANG:

(speaking into his lapel mike)

Can you hear me. Cutter? I have a confession to make.

166 INTERCUTTING WITH: 166

CUTTER AND BIGGS Cutter perks up.

WOLFGANG:

I know you've been twisting in the wind for two years, wondering about the Pan International crash. Allow me to relieve your mind.

Cutter's gut tightens.

BIGGS:

What's he talking about?

WOLFGANG:

The explosion was caused by an aneroid bomb in the cargo hold that detonated when the jet descended to five thousand feet. How do I know? Very simple. I put it there.

Cutter closes his eyes as if stabbed in the heart.

WOLFGANG:

I did it as a favor for the Colombian Cartel. They wanted some rivals eliminated and I was happy to comply.

(with satisfaction)

Just thought you'd like to know, hero.

CAMERA PUSHES IN ON Cutter. He is devastated. He leans against Biggs' cruiser and slowly sinks down to a squatting position. He puts his face in his hands.

Biggs can see that Cutter is in pain. He actually feels a twinge of sympathy.

BIGGS:

(bending down)

Son, I don't understand. What he said there...

Cutter removes his hands and raises his face. There are tears in his eyes.

CUTTER:

(very quiet)

He said he murdered my wife.

167 ANGLE 167

The stairway draws closer to the 747.

WOLFGANG:

(calling out)

Mister Elk Horn! It's Wolfgang!

168 INT. 747 - MAIN CABIN 168

The Indian peers through a window, his eyes registering surprise. He turns away and looks at Marti who, like the rest of the passengers, is watching him warily. The Indian puts the pin back in his grenade and signals Marti to open the number two passenger door.

169 EXT. RUNWAY 169

The motorized stairway stops a few feet short of the plane. The passenger DOOR HISSES open.

170 TERMINAL ROOFTOP 170

A sharpshooter draws a bead on the opening door. We

INTERCUT his POV THROUGH the rifle scope as a figure appears in the doorway, moving into the scope's cross hairs. It's Marti. The sharpshooter hesitates.

171 EXT. RUNWAY 171

Wolfgang gazes across the void at Marti. He gives her a hungry, lascivious look.

WOLFGANG:

Marti. So nice to see you again. Be a good girl and ask Mister Elk Horn to come to the door.

Marti considers. She fixes Wolfgang with a hateful look.

MARTI:

Beg me.

Wolfgang's eyes narrow to mean slits. Marti smiles.

SWAT COMMANDO:

(to Wolfgang)

You heard the lady. Beg.

WOLFGANG:

I don't beg.

The Indian materializes behind Marti.

172 & 173 OMITTED

174 INT. TERMINAL 174

Henderson, watching through binoculars, sees the Indian. He whispers into his radio.

HENDERSON:

Take him out.

175 SHARPSHOOTER'S POV 175

The scope's crosshairs pinpoint the Indian.

HENDERSON (V.O.)

What're you waiting for? Kill him.

The crosshairs MOVE AWAY FROM the Indian and FOCUS ON the back of one of the Commandos.

176 EXT. 747 176

BAM! A bullet tears into the Commando's back and knocks him off the stairs. Another GUNSHOT -- and the second Commando is hit. But before he can fall off the stairs, Wolfgang catches him.

177 EXT. TOWER 177

The two sharpshooters lie dead, their throats cut. The person doing the shooting is Vincent!

178 HENDERSON 178

Momentarily confused. The impossible has just happened and he can't comprehend it.

179 CUTTER AND BIGGS 179

They, too, are astounded. Cutter's eyes go to the terminal roof and he sees Vincent. Vincent swings his RIFLE in their direction and OPENS FIRE, spraying the police. Cutter, Biggs and the other cops dive for cover.

180 EXT. RUNWAY AND 747 180

Wolfgang rips two smoke grenades off the body of the dead Commando and sets them off. Smoke engulfs the plane like a magician's stage trick as the Indian yanks Marti back inside.

Priest and Fiona leap from the stairs and into the airliner. With a final look of satisfaction at the confusion he's wrought, Wolfgang does likewise.

Smoke rolls away from the 747 like a wave, rushing up against the windows of the terminal and rising up to engulf the Tower.

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