The Rock Page #22

INT. NEW INDUSTRIES BUILDING - DAY

Goodspeed's world slows down. Is he dying? He sees IMAGES in SLOW MOTION=

He and Carla together his parents moments from his childhood...

Slowly Goodspeed's breathing normalizes. He gazes up at the dawning sky. =

SEES something shimmering in the distance. Through the HEAT WAVES=

...

THE SOUADRON OF F-16S.

INT. PIER 39 COMMAND CENTER - DAY

Sanchez, Director Womack, and the F.B.I. TECHNICIANS watch

from the window as --

THE F-16s wing across the Bay toward Alcatraz.

SANCHEZ:

May god have mercy gn their souls.

CARLA (face buried in his hands)

You can't do this, you can't let this happen.

EXT. NEW INDUSTRIES BUILDING - DAY

Goodspeed exits and kneels, reaching for HIS OTHER PANTLEG. PUllS out his=

GREEN FLARES. He cracks the flares and fires them up.

EXT. SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE - DAY

The F-16s fly under the span of bridge, just 50 feet off the

water, shooting up a PLUME OF WATER.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - NEW INDUSTRIES BUILDING - DAY

GOODSPEED, in slow motion, waves the flares.

INT. LEAD F-16 - COCKPIT - DAY

The LEAD F-16 Pilot speaks on this air-to-air mike.

LEAD F-16 PILOT

Arm up.

INT. PIER 39 - F.B.I. COMMAND CENTER - DAY

CARLA watches the approach of the F-16s on Alcatraz in

horror. Every second is excruciating.

F.B.I. TECHNICIAN Ten seconds to the drop zone. And now counting eight,=

seven, six ...

EXT. WORLD WAR II BUNKER (SPOTTING POSITION #1) - DAY

A hilltop on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Two spotters watch=

the action through SPOTTING SCOPES. SPOTTER 1 watches the F-16s. SPOTTER=

2, watching ALCATRAZ, nearly jumps out of his skin.

F.B.I. TECHNICIAN

Green smoke! It's... GOODSPEED!!

A RADIO OPERATOR fires a message to command.

INT. PIER 39 ~ F.B.I. COMMAND CENTER - DAY

SANCHEZ:

Abort. Abort immediately.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - SHORELINE - DAY

On come the F-16s, ROARING over Alcatraz. They're almost on

top of Goodspeed now. It's too late. It's all over.

INT. LEAD F-16 -

-16 - COCKPIT - DAY

F-16 FLIGHT CONTROLLER

(v.o. cockpit radio)

ABORT, RED THUNDER, ABORT!

LEAD F-16 PILOT

Abort. Abort.

THE LEAD F-16 PILOT safeties the bomb release lever.

276 INT. REAR F-16 - COCKPIT - DAY

The REAR F-16 PILOT is wrestling with his release lever.

It's stuck. He can't "safety" it.

REAR F-16 PILOT

.Sir, something's wrong. I can't

disengage... !

LEAD F-16 PILOT

Then peel off...

EXT. SKIES OVER ALCATRAZ - DAY

The four F-16s veer away from the island. But for the REAR

JET, the order came too late ...

EXT. REAR F-16 - WING UNDERCARRIAGE - DAY

The REAR F-1,6 releases its Willy Peter canisters. They

plummet to the island.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - NEAR NEW INDUSTRIES BUILDING - DAY

The WILLY PETER CANISTERS land, detonating on impact in a

MONSTROUS INFERNAL EXPLOSION.

The awesome concussion knocks GOODSPEED off the New

Industries Building pier into the bay.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DAY

Goodspeed, concussed in the water, tries to keep

consciousness. He can't. He sinks.

ANOTHER FORM appears above him. It's MASON, swimming for

Goodspeed. Mason gets under his arms and pulls him up.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - SHORELINE - DAY Mason drags Goodspeed ashore. 283 INT. =

PIER 39 - COMMAND WAREHOUSE - DAY

Sanchez, Director Womack and the F.B.I. TECHNICIANS stare out the window at=

Alcatraz, enshrouded in PLUMES OF SMOKE.

Total silence. Only CARLA, weeping quietly in the corner. SANCHEZ puts his=

arm around her. Ushers her away. Suddenly a VOICE CRACKLES:

GOODSPEED (V.O.)

Pier 39 come in. Pier 39 ...

(freezes)

My god he's alive.

Director Womack grabs the mike.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

Goodspeed, this is Director Womack.

Are the hostages alive?

GOODSPEED (V.O.)

Every one of em sir.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

What about Mason?

INT. ALCATRAZ - CIVIL WAR RUINS - DAY

Goodspeed stares at Mason, letting the question dangle.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

Goodspeed. Is Mason-alive?

A pause. The question still dangling there. Then:

GOODSPEED:

(deep breath)

Just come and get me, sir. I'm tired.

SANCHEZ:

Name your vacation spot, Goodspeed.

The Bureau'll pay for it.

Goodspeed hangs up. The two men regard each other.

GOODSPEED:

Mason, uhm, John, I have something to tell you. You know that pardon=

contract you signed?

MASON:

Womack ripped it up, right?

GOODSPEED:

You knew? All this time?

MASON:

I'm not a fool, Billy.

GOODSPEED:

All I know is that whatever you did,

you don't deserve to go back.

MASON:

Goodspeed. You know the etymology of

your name?

GOODSPEED:

God's speed.

MASON:

Yes. To wish someone a prosperous

jouey.

Mason smiles. Goodspeed smiles back. There is an immediate

tacit understanding.

MASON:

And if you turn around I'll tell you a

secret.

Goodspeed, confused by this, gives Mason a look. Slowly

turns around. Camera doesn't leave him.

MASON (O.S.)

St. Michael's Church, Fort Walton, Kansas. Front pew. Right leg. =

Hollow.

GOODSPEED:

What's that?

(beat)

Mason?

Goodspeed turns around. John Paul Mason is gone.

EXT. ALCATRAZ - DOCK - DAY

Goodspeed is standing on the dock. Sanchez comes down=

the

gangplank.

SANCHEZ:

You surprised me, kid. Never thought

you could do it.

GOODSPEED:

Neither did I sir.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

Where's Mason?

GOODSPEED:

vaporized, sir. Blown out to sea.

GOODSPEED:

He saved my life, sir.

Is Sanchez going to accept this?

.

SANCHEZ:

Yes (smiles; acknowledges)

Poor son-of-a-b*tch.

F.B.I. AGENT

Sir, the White House calling. It's the

President.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

I'll take it.

WOMACK elbows past Goodspeed and Sanchez.

F.B.I. AGENT

Uhm, sir, actually it's for Goodspeed.

Womack glares at Goodspeed, who takes the phone.

GOODSPEED:

Bill Goodspeed, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT (V.O.)

I am in your debt, Goodspeed, the country is in your debt. You're a hero,=

son.

GOODSPEED:

Thank you, Mr. President. The man you

should be thanking is John Mason.

PRESIDENT (V.O.)

So I've been informed.

Would you put the F.B.I. Director on please?

GOODSPEED:

Director Womack.

Goodspeed hands the phone to Womack. Womack looks at the

phone. Slowly takes it.

F.B.I. DIRECTOR WOMACK

I can explain all of this, sir ...

PRESIDENT (V.O.)

I don't want your explanation, Womack.

I want your resignation.

Womack grimaces. Goodspeed, smiling to himself, turns away.

CARLA races into his arms. A long, warm embrace.

CUT TO:

EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY - DAY

A jeep motors up the Freeway. Passing a sign: VANCOUVER 30

MILES.

INT. JEEP - DRIVING - DAY

.Mason and Jade. Jade driving. Father smiles. Daughter smiles back. CUT=

TO:

BEGIN CLOSING CREDITS. The following plays over:

KANSAS - DAY

EXT. A ROAD IN FORT WALTON, KANSAS - DAY

A beat-up PORSCHE SPEEDSTER exits a BAPTIST CHURCH.

INT. PORSCHE SPEEDSTER - DAY

Carla is driving. Goodspeed next to her. He opens a WORN

PLASTIC CANISTER. Spools out a REEL OF MICROFILM.

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