RIZE
[From the Opening: Greg is deftly infiltrating the Bangladeshi headquarters of Friends of Tomorrow. Meanwhile, Jessica has air-dropped into the region from a military jet - and is shocked to see Terra is also parachuting in, unannounced. Elsewhere in the complex, FOT staff member michael is taking matters into his own hands...]
INT. COMPLEX - HALLWAY
Greg steps into an intersection of two corridors and looks to the left.
A shot is fired from the right.
Greg jumps back as voices are heard down the hallway. He looks forward and sees a two guards running toward him. Three are coming down the hallway from the right.
Greg puts up his hands without resignation. The two guards reach him, one holding him at gunpoint.
In the split second that the other three guards come around the corner, Greg grabs the gun by the barrel, rips it away and clubs the first guard with it, while simultaneously kicking the second guard in the head.
He whacks the first guard coming around the corner with the gun.
The Second Guard raises his own weapon as Greg punches him in the stomach.
After a brief struggle he knocks out the third guard, as the second gets back to his feet, gun drawn.
Greg ducks as he fires, pulls his gun and returns fire, striking the third guard's shoulder – the guard cries out and drops his gun – Greg is on him in an instant, jams a syringe into his neck. He spasms and loses consciousness.
Greg takes a moment to survey the five unconscious men.
He continues down the corridor.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Terra has landed on a wide empty street in what looks like a third world city. She unhooks her parachute and crosses down the street until she comes to a sewer. She pries off the cover and descends.
INT. COMPLEX - RECEPTION
Jessica strides into the lobby of the building through large glass doors. There is a general commotion as passing workers notice and recognize her. She passes by the security desk as the chief rises to great her.
JESSICA
Tell Operations Terra Hollander is in
She continues past him to the elevator.
INT. COMPLEX - CONFERENCE ROOM
An oak door opens and RAYAN VANDRE, an imposing woman in her late thirties, black hair tied tightly back, crosses into the room, carrying a portfolio. After a moment the side door opens.
Rayan stops and turns with interest as Greg enters the room. They are surprised to see each other, and stare across the conference table for a moment.
RAYAN
Mr. Morrison.
GREG
Rayan.
RAYAN
May I ask what you're doing here?
GREG
Business.
RAYAN
With me?
GREG
Of course.
She smiles and leans across the table, eyeing his black kevlar outfit and military pack.
RAYAN
What occasion are you dressed for, darling?
GREG
A Question I’ve been meaning to ask you…
RAYAN
Do tell.
GREG
How much do you trust your Vice President?
Rayan flashes a polite smile.
RAYAN
I trust her to do what she thinks
is right. Now, if might ask you a
question, how on Earth did you find me?
For that matter, Gregory, how did you get
into this building?
GREG
I haven't been completely honest with
you, Ms. Vandre.
RAYAN
Well, you are dressed for espionage,
Greg.
GREG
If you’d be willing to escort me down to
your Q-section, I’d be happy to explain ev-
He starts toward the far door.
RAYAN
Take another step and I'll call security.
He turns and smiles.
GREG
They won't get here in time.
She stares at him incredulously. And then darts for the far end of the table to press a red button.
RAYAN
Operations - send a security team to
my office, immediately.
With a hiss, an intercom clicks on.
OPERATIONS
On their way, Ms. Vandre. Is it
Terra Hollander?
Greg and Rayan both look up, surprised.
RAYAN
Terra Hollander…?
OPERATIONS
She’s been sighted in the region.
Rayan is alarmed. Greg is amused.
RAYAN
It appears we may have a multiple breach
tonight. Lets activate the full security
dispatch, shall we? Post-haste.
Greg darts to the far door and begins entering a key sequence.
Rayan crosses to him pushes him violently aside, quickly entering a key combination of her own.
He shoves her back and continues. She rights herself and watches angrily.
RAYAN
God, I wish I was armed!
GREG
I'll be out of your hair in
just one minute.
RAYAN
Who are you working for, Morrison?
GREG
Just doing my part to build a better
world, Rayan.
The Door opens and he steps through. She stands in the doorframe and watches him go.
RAYAN
Do you honestly think you're going to make it out of here?
GREG
I agree the odds are against me.
The door closes automatically, cutting her off.
INT. COMPLEX - BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Michael stands over a glass chamber that contains what looks like a featherless, headless chicken, being fed by a series of organs coming out of it's neck and attached to the floor.
He is working quickly, introducing chemicals into orifices on a small machine attached to the terrarium.
After emptying three vials in varying degrees he punches in a key sequence at the terminal to his left. He glances at words on the screen "Biological grid downloaded"
Then pulls a disk out of the hard drive, crosses to a waste disposal unit, and drops it inside. He turns to go.
He exits the laboratory and begins walking down a long corridor. It occurs to him too late that someone is coming down the corridor in the opposite direction.
He gasps and ducks into an open storage closet as -
RAYAN
Notices the movement up ahead and with a weary sigh marches angrily toward the closet.
She steps inside, to find Michael cowering behind some crates.
RAYAN
What are you doing
here?
INT. COMPLEX / Q-DATABASE
Greg enters an impossibly bright room with no features save a small door at the far end and a black metal cylinder, about five feet tall, in the center. The cylinder is adorned with small input/output terminals, three small screens, and a circular keypad etched with arcane symbols. Jessica stands beside it.
Her body is erect with anticipation. She does not react to his appearance, as though she has expected it. Greg makes no attempt to hide his shock at her presence.
GREG
Jessica.
JESSICA
Hello Greg.
For the first time this evening, Greg seems to be at a loss.
GREG
Jesus, Jessica... what are you doing here?
JESSICA
Waiting for you.
GREG
How did you know I would be here?
JESSICA
I've been tracking you for months Greg. I probably knew you would be here before you did.
GREG
Are you alone?
JESSICA
Yes.
Greg starts for the cylinder.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
I'm not here to stop you Greg.
GREG
Then anything you care to discuss can wait until we're back on American soil.
He begins accessing the circular keypad. He furrows his brow.
JESSICA
I've locked you out.
GREG
So you say.
He continues to work.
JESSICA
They're aware of you're movement but not your identity. They assume you're working for the oil companies.
GREG
I'm sorry Jes, I can't let you distract me.
JESSICA
I didn't come here to distract you.
GREG
I can't worry about why you came here.
JESSICA
Greg…
GREG
Now is not the time.
She grows frustrated.
JESSICA
This isn’t the reaction I was hoping for.
He glances at her for a moment, interested.
GREG
I won’t pretend I'm not intrigued that the Vice President of Friends of Tomorrow has been accurately tracking my movements, and yet didn't breathe a word of it to security.
He goes back to work.
GREG
I'm prepared to question everything I know about you, Jessica. But not now. I’m fairly sure I killed a guard at the perimeter, for all I know, he was a good man just doing his job -
JESSICA
I assume he was trying to kill you. Greg, I need you to listen to me.
He ignores her. Suddenly the computer screens flash on. Greg pulls out a small hard drive and plugs it into a port.
Jessica suddenly moves forward and drives herself in-between Greg and the computer terminal.
GREG
Jessica!
JESSICA
I'm in love with you.
Silence.
GREG
What?
JESSICA
I came here to tell you that I'm in love with you.
GREG
You came here to--!?
JESSICA
The rest of this is only a game, Greg. I’m real.
He gazes steadily into her eyes.
GREG
Unfortunately, love, I’m still playing. And so are you.
He gently pushes her aside and continues to work.
JESSICA
Don't disappoint me.
GREG
I don't plan to.
JESSICA
Dammit Greg, do you realize the risk I’ve taken letting you walk in here -!
GREG
Don't make this any harder than it has to be.
He looks at her.
GREG (CONT'D)
Please.
She stands silent, watching him. He removes the hard drive and pulls out a second, and inserts it into the terminal.
JESSICA
You're destroying the entire database aren't you?
GREG
Rotating grids are effective for creating an elusive information superstructure. They're also incredibly vulnerable if you manage to nail them down.
JESSICA
We didn't anticipate anyone having the information or the technology necessary to do this for the next six months at least.
GREG
There's no reason you should have.
JESSICA
You're amazing.
The screen goes red and Greg removes the second hard drive. He stares at her, his face suddenly betraying emotion.
GREG
Jessica, I…
The lights go red and a blaring alarm comes on. Greg slaps an explosive onto the computer terminal and runs for the door he came in through. Jessica follows.
GREG (CONT'D)
They've come in after me.
JESSICA
You've been detected!?
GREG
Rayan and I had a little chat.
INT. COMPLEX - Q-SECTION - SUBDIVISION 2
Greg and Jessica race across the dark room. Jessica suddenly stops at a computer terminal.
JESSICA
Wait, wait, wait!
He stands by her side as she pulls up a map of the section onscreen.
GREG
What?
JESSICA
They've sealed off the subsection. You're running right toward them.
Greg pauses and considers this for a moment.
Suddenly he grabs hold of Jessica, pulling her close – they kiss -
- Greg races back toward the Q-Database room.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
No! Don't go in there, you'll be cut off -
He pays her no heed and enters the chamber. She runs after him as the door shuts, cutting her off. She reaches the door and bangs on it with her fists.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
Greg!
She is thrown back by the shockwave of an explosion on the other side. She stares vacantly at the contorted metal of the still sturdy door.