The Rock Page #19

GOODSPEED:

You went down the shower drain, through the tunnels to the power plant,=

under the steam engine and out through the intake pipe - that much I've got=

' But... howld you get out of your cell?

mason leans out his cell and tosses the rolling caster down the cell block. =

The braided rope, tied to it, plays out to it's full length.

GOODSPEED (cont'd)

I only ask because, in our current situation, it might be useful information=

...

The result:
the braided rope lies across the cell block floor, the rolling=

caster tied to it. Mason holds the other end of the rope through the bars=

of his cell.

MASON:

Trade secret, Billy, I'll tell you

this:
it was easier than getting in.

Mason fiercely yanks the rope toward him. The heavy rolling caster jerks=

from the floor. The CASTER, pulling the rope, flies past Mason's cell=

--

-- shooting in an arc around the corner of the cell block,

still pulling the rope, where --

-- the caster-pulled ROPE catches the CELL RELEASE LEVER against the wall. =

The rope coils, WRAP WRAP WHAP, around the release lever handle.

MASON tugs the rope taut like he's just snagged a fish.

Then he pulls slowly and delicately.

THE CELL DOOR RELEASE LEVER pulls down and --

-~ MASON'S CELL DOOR (and all the doors on that tier) open

at once. And Mason smiles.

INT. GOODSPEED'S CELL - MORNING

Goodspeed hears the doors opening above him.

GOODSPEED:

Hey! Hey what's happening?

(no response)

Mason. Mason?

Suddenly Goodspeed's cell door opens. Goodspeed exits the

cell. MASON stands there.

MASON:

You're on your own, kid. Your gear's

over there.

Mason motions to a HEAP OF THEIR GEAR (clothes, weapons,

flares) in the corner of the cell tier.

GOODSPEED:

Sh*t....

Goodspeed grabs his guns and gear and follows after Mason.

225 EXT. ALCATRAZ - INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER - MORNING

Hummel sits behind the desk. Baxter, Frye, Darrow, Hendrix in front of him.=

Silence. Hummel stares at his phone. The tension is=

palpable.

HUMMEL:

Time.

BAXTER:

(consults his watch)

Fifteen minutes Frank.

CAPTAIN FRYE:

We have two operational rockets left, General. One on the lower lighthouse,=

one on the rooftop, ready for fire.

(no response)

General.

HUMMEL:

I heard you Captain.

CAPTAIN DARROW:

Prepare for launch General? General?

HUMMEL:

Not yet.

CAPTAIN FRYE:

General Hummel, noon is approaching.

HUMMEL:

I'm aware of the time, Captain.

Hummel glares at Frye, then at the phone. Frye and Darrow

.exchange a look ....

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - MORNING

The clock on the wall reads 11:47. 13 minutes to go.

General Kramer, Security Advisor Louis Lindstrom, and C.I.A.

Director Milton Amway.

LOUIS LINDSTROM When was the last communication from our men on=

Alcatraz?

GENERAL KRAMER:

Seven hours ago.

The Naval Attache enters excitedly.

NAVAL ATTACHE:

General, the white phosphorous attack

is operational.

General Kramer grabs the phone.

GENERAL KRAMER:

Get me the President.

227 EXT. ALCATRAZ - PARADE GROUND - MORNING

MASON emerges from the parade ground ruins and moves down

the embankment toward the water. GOODSPEED stays above.

GOODSPEED:

Mason. John.

(Mason stops)

What happened - the injustice done to you - doesn't mean you can walk away=

from this. A million people across that Bay will die.

MASON:

Only one of them I care about.

GOODSPEED:

You were once a different man.

MASON:

You don't know what kind of man I was.

GOODSPEED:

You were a civil servant. Sworn to do

your duty. Just like me.

Mason begins climbing down to the waterline.

INT. ALCATRAZ - INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER - MORNING

Hummel, with Baxter, Hendrix, Frye, Darrow and Crisp. The

atmosphere is now so f***ing thick you can cut it.

CAPTAIN DARROW Eleven fifty-seven, General. Three minutes to=

go.

HUMMEL:

They're going to call.

CAPTAIN FRYE:

They are not going to call General.

HUMMEL:

I... I don't understand this.

CAPTAIN DARROW:

I understand it. They're calling our bluff. We have two operational=

rockets left. We have to stick one of those rockets in their ear,=

General.

HUMMEL:

Atom?

BAXTER:

I'...I don't know Frank.

HUMMEL:

Seventy thousand peqple... I didn't... i

didn't ever...

CAPTAIN FRYE:

You didn't ever what?

(no response)

You didn't ever what, General?

(gets in Hummel's face) General, forty-eight hours ago I was in a cushy job=

at Pendleton. As of this moment I am subject to prosecution for treason=

and murder. Do you know what that means. It means the electric chair. =

For all of us.

BAXTER:

He's right Frank. Authorize the launch

or it's over.

All eyes on Hummel now.

CAPTAIN DARROW:

Authorize the launch, General.

Hummel nods and

CUT TO;

EXT. ALCATRAZ - ROOFTOP OF MAIN CELL HOUSE - MORNING

Capt. Frye and Sgt. Crisp approach the rocket launcher

across the roof of the main cell house.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - PARADE GROUND - MORNING

Mason's wading into the water now.

GOODSPEED:

You'll never make it.

MASON:

I once swam the English Channel, but

you're entitled to your,opinion.

Goodspeed, disgusted, turns and heads back, grumbling.

GOODSPEED:

Fine. I'll f***in, do it myself.

EXT. ROOFTOP OF MAIN CELL HOUSE - MORNING

CAPT. FRYE AND SGT. CRISP on the roof, ready the rocket

launcher. Hummells VOICE comes over Fryels walkie-talkie:

HUMMEL (V.O.)

(over walkie-talkie)

Launch coordinates 675 dash 439.

CAPTAIN FRYE:

Aye aye General:
coordinates 675 dash

Awaiting launch command.

INT. INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER - MORNING

Hummel stares at a GRIDDED MAP OF THE BAY ARF.A.

CAPTAIN FRYE (V.O.)

(over walkie-talkie)

(beat)

General, your command.

HUMMEL:

(closes his eyes)

Fire.

EXT. ROOFTOP OF MAIN CELL HOUSE - MORNING

Frye presses the ignition switch. The ROCKET'S TAIL fires.

It ROARS off the launcher. Toward Oakland.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - PARADE GROUND - MORNING

CLOSE ON MA-SON - as he watches the V.X. ROCKET ROARING over

his head toward civilian populdtion.

MASON:

(hushed)

My god.

Mason looks up. Goodspeed stands above on the embankment.

GOODSPEED:

That change things?

INT. PIER 39 - FBI COMMAND - MORNING

the F.BI. RADAR TECHNICIAN stares at the RADAR SCREEN.

F.B.I. RADAR TECHNICIAN

They fired a rocket. It's headed east.

Everyone stares at the radar screen. A hush.

SANCHEZ East. But that's... Oakland. (dawns on him)

My god. The football game.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - PARADE GROUND - MORNING

Mason comes back up the embankment. Faces Goodspeed-with

grim resolve:

GOODSPEED:

Partners?

MASON:

Partners.

The two men clasp hands and

CUT TO:

EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NOON

60,000 FOOTBALL FANS scream as THE OAKLAND RAIDERS sprint

onto the field. Above, unbeknownst to anyone --

EXT. SKIES OVER OAKLAND CALIFORNIA - DAY

The V.X. ROCKET arcs over Oakland and --

INT. ALCATRAZ - INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER - DAY

-- Hummel, Baxter, and Darrow stare at the transmission from the rocket's=

optic camera.

ON THE VIDEO MONITOR - We first see CLEAR SKY. The rocket reaches its apex.=

Blue sky is now replaced by THE OAKLAND COLISEUM directly below. We=

descend on 60,000 people.

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