The Avengers Page #14

The A-team is born. Steed and Emma tip their hats to Jones.

205 EXT. LONDON STREETS - SEVERAL ANGLES - NIGHT

Troops rushing in to take up defense positions. Searchlights pierce the cloudy sky. A

protective ring of hardware surrounds the hall.

206 INT. MOTHER'S 22 BUS (AKA INSIDE MOBILE HQ) - NIGHT

At the controls, Brenda looks on. She hands a bag of jelly babies to Mother. Who

picks out his favorites, as he gives a briefing to Father and others, sitting in

passenger seats --

ORDERS BARKED OUTSIDE as --

MOTHER:

Inside that hall are some of the

Most powerful figures in the

world. Tight security. Our

only option.

FATHER:

I'll see to it personally.

Brenda glances over at Father's imperturbable face. As --

207 EXT. PALACE (WESTMINSTER) - NIGHT

Wind picking up. Outside the grand palace hall for the reception of the World Council

of Ministers, guards stand on duty. Barriers, flashing lights. Nobody gets past,

except --

208 INT. PALACE (WESTMINSTER) - NIGHT

Up in the gallery, Steed and Emma enter through a secret passage behind a painting.

He with bowler and umbrella. She in black leather and boots. They find themselves in

a niche and freeze, very close to one another. Steed sniff s ...

STEED:

What's that you're wearing?

EMMA:

It's called Black Leather.

STEED:

Intoxicating. Here, have one of

these.

He fumbles with a bulging jacket pocket

EMMA:

What is it?

STEED:

Limpet bomb. Small, very

compact. From Trubshaw's.

EMMA:

(hocks it on

belt)

When all this is over, we simply

must get you out of that suit.

STEED:

You first.

EMMA:

Shall we?

She leads the way through marble halls, arched galleries, red velvet carpets, glittering

chandeliers. From the hall, a SPEECH ECHOES:

MINISTER (V.O.)

... In the uncertain climate that threatens

this global initiative, no magic umbrella

can shield us.

Steed checks out his own.

MINISTER (V.O.)

Only our own vigilance. Security and

stability are our watchwords.

APPLAUSE.

Steed pauses, offers Emma a small silver box. Inside...

EMMA:

Trubshaw again? What now?

STEED:

Snuff.

(off Emma's lock)

I must insist you try some.

Steed takes some; Emma follows his example. Weird. Does it make you high? They

walk on, open doors to --

209 INT. PALACE HALLWAY - NIGHT

An empty gallery. Steed and Emma peer down at a --

210 MARBLE HALLWAY

A black and white floor. Butlers move across like surreal chess pieces. Otherwise,

empty. A chamber ensemble plays "The Merry Widow" waltz, which floats through

empty halls.

STEED:

They're playing your song, Mrs.

Peel.

EMMA:

(annoyed)

'The Merry Widow?' I might have

known. Where's the reception?

They move cautiously forward as

211 EXT. LONDON STREETS - NIGHT

Outside, snow begins to fall. Trees and buildings shimmer under a light layer of white.

A Christmassy glow --

Even troops play with snowflakes, until --

212 SEVERAL ANGLES

The wind rises. The snow falls harder.

213 INT. PALACE - NIGHT

Down in the hallway, Steed and Emma search for the Ministers. They head down a

corridor, then hear a NOISE. They hide behind pillers. As --

Butlers walk past in military file, carrying elaborate displays of lobster and meats.

Steed steals --

A chicken leg. Nibbles on it. Suddenly another door opens -- Emma hides. Steed

looks up to see -- Father "staring" at him.

STEED:

Oh, hello ...

FATHER:

We want Mrs. Peel.

STEED:

Dead, I'm afraid.

Emma in hiding, listens as --

FATHER (O.S.)

You disobeyed an order, Steed.

Mrs. Peel is dangerous; she cannot

be trusted.

Emma looks out the window behind her; eyes widen ... back to --

STEED (O.S.)

I think she can.

(beat)

Can you?

Emma is deeply affected by Steed's choice.

Father's face, meantime, has turned to stone.

FATHER:

I shall summon security.

She turns, almost walks into the door as she slips away.

Emma returns as the ALARM is raised --

STEED:

Bad news. Father's looking for you.

Where are those bloody ministers?

EMMA:

Have a look at this.

She leads him to the window: sure enough -- heavy snow.

Steed reacts, eyes wide.

STEED:

It's almost May, for heaven sake.

214 EXT. LONDON STREETS - NIGHT

The blizzard rages through streets --

Now impassable. Snow drifts block roads. White mountains of snow start to climb up

shop fronts. And amid the sky --

Filled with snowflakes, up round the roofs, a purple cloud descends on unsuspecting

troops --

215 INT. PALACE - NIGHT

Steed returns, rushes across the marble halls --

To Emma. But up ahead, sees --

216 STEED'S POV - FROM WINDOWS

A purple fog seeping into the hallway, billowing through the corridors as --

217 INT. PALACE ANTEROOM - NIGHT

Inside an anteroom, like a Roman arena -- marble pillars, red carpet, golden walls,

ceiling murals --

The World Council ministers assemble: slick pin-striped suits or African robes, Chinese

Mao-suits, Indian Nehru-jackets, all distinguished men and women, surrounded by --

Fussing officials, minor dignitaries, and butlers, bowing and weaving a web of

diplomatic protocol, interrupted by --

218 CENTER OF HALL

The sight of Emma Peel in black leather.

She strides into the room. Picks a glass of champagne from a passing butler. All stare,

Emma raises her glass --

EMMA:

Gentlemen, ladies. Forgive the breach

of protocol. An emergency --

From the hallway -- BOOM -- ! The door bursts open, Emma is blown over by the

blast as the purple cloud races inside.

219 SEVERAL ANGLES

as the smoke furls around the ministers, they choke, fall.

From the doors -- Steed leaps in, gives Emma another snort of snuff --

STEED:

Quick --it'll protect you --

Emma inhales. Now immune to the gas, Steed and Emma hear -- CRASH -- ! They

see -- through thick cloud -a mysterious man in a white lab coat, wearing a gas mask,

leading a group of butlers, all in gas masks -- heads like black flies -- in formation

round the ministers, helpless on the floor. A kidnapping --

The man and butlers haul away several ministers, and --

Escape from the rear doors. The butlers form a guard to protect the man.

Steed and Emma run after them. More butlers pursue.

220 EXT. PALACE - NIGHT

As troops roll helplessly in the snow-covered purple haze, the butlers load the ministers

onto waiting choppers as --

221 INT. MOTHER'S HQ - CONTINUOUS ACTION

Mother, Brenda, et al choke on purple smoke in the bus ...

222 INT. PALACE HALLWAY - NIGHT

Behind pillars, Steed and Emma hide as --

Butlers in gas masks patrol the halls. A butler passes them without noticing. They try

to emerge. But another patrols --

Steed trips the butler with his umbrella, then chops him down on the ground. He rises

but Emma kicks him into as --

Behind them Steed sees the lab-coated man escape up the stairs, protected by a posse

of butlers. He shouts --

STEED:

After him, Mrs. Peel!

A whole posse of butlers then advances. Steed faces them.

STEED:

Go -- !

Emma hesitates. Then turns, heads for an ornate dual shaft elevator. She bangs the

button, gets inside, doors shut, as the BULLETS from MACHINE-GUNNING gas

masked butlers strike the brass door as --

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