Act II

57. Ext. Street- Night.

The chopper gyro-planes to earth, its powerless rotos slowly hacking the air with a rhythmic whoosh. it lands with a jolt.

Smith jumps out of the chopper and runs.

Here, on the streets there are people, but no cars. Along the sidewalk fires burn in oil drums.

He quickly blends with the crowd, his eyes darting wildly about in this wilderness of strangers.

58. Int. Data-pol cruiser-Night

Clad in heavy black canvas and leather protective gear adorned with utility belts, buckles, zippers, ammunition, radios, gas masks, the Screws, as these enforcers are known, cruise the streets maintaining order and implementing the will of the Zodiac.

A computer monitor is situated between the two black clad figures. One screw drives while the other, a cruel-looking man named Pentangle, spot-checks the pedestrian traffic with an EM probe.

Note: the probe is a sensor, which when aimed at an individual, electro-magnetically reads the person's serial number. A central information data file is automatically accessed and the information appears on a data screen.

Pentangle takes aim at a man carrying an umbrella and wearing a baseball cap. An electronic signal indicates contact and the computer springs to life.

Angle on monitor

The man with the umbrella appears on the screen, his image transforming into a solarized, multi-colorized thermal graphic picture as his serial number prints out over it: 04440157.

Pentangle hits a key on the console and immediately the subject's name and complete history appears–weight, height, race, birthplace, blood type, tissue type, medical background, personal history, etc.

Pentangle
Let's walk around inside this guy.

While still scanning this individual, Pentangle hits another key and his "X-Plorer IIe" computer goes into "X-Ploratory" mode: A computer generated picture of the skull appears on the screen.

Pentangle hits keys causing the view to rotate. By the movement of a small joystick, the Screws can explore the subject's body, the bones, the esophagus, his body cavities, etc.

Pentangle
Hey, look at that. Lung cancer. Early stages.

Driver
Should we tell him?

Pentangle
No.

They laugh and keep moving. Their probe randomly finds the next subject. This one a beautiful girl in a short skirt. The implications are frightening.

60. Ext. Street- Night

Smith moves along, weaving through the people in the street. Though tired, he is running on the adrenaline of a trapped animal looking for a way out.

He comes upon a man lying on the sidewalk, not a bum, but one dressed like the others. He stops. Obviously no one is going to help the man.

Smith
Are you okay? Can you get up? Here, give me your hand. I'll help you.

He grasps the man's hand and starts to help him to his feet. A cake tin the man is holding drops to the ground. With a crash, thousands of ball bearings fly off in all directions.

The flow of the pedestrian traffic is disrupted.

61. Int. Data-Pol Cruiser- Night

The Screws focus their attention and their EM probe on Smith.

62. Angle on Monitor

Smith's image goes thermal and his number prints out.

Driver
God! Look at that!

The Driver bangs the machine with the side of his fist. Instead of a number appearing, the words, "Bolter-Arrest and Retrieve" comes on the screen, with the zodiac symbol beneath it.

Pentangle
Let's go!

63. Ext. Street- Night

The camera leads/follows the Screws as they snap on their gas masks and make their way toward Smith.

At the last minute, he realizes what's happening and turns to run. Too late.

Pentangle raises a Knock-U-Out canister the size of a small fire extinguisher and fires a gaseous blast–so potent that Smith and a half-dozen others are immediately knocked unconscious.

The last thing Smith sees is the monstrous face of a Screw and, then, everything goes black.

64. Int. Constellator's Adjudication Chamber-Night

The doors burst open and the Screws shove Smith into the room. He has a hood over his head.

They struggle to push him to the center of the room. His clothes are torn as though he's put up a fight.

They yank the hood off.

The camera moves around him in a semi-circle as he stands in a great empty room of marble and granite adorned with the symbols of state.

A few yards away, directly in front of him, a man sits at a large marble-topped desk, behind him on the wall in ten foot high letters: INIS.

He is the Constellator.

Smith looks around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Smith
Where am I?

Constellator
You are here.

Smith
That must mean I'm there. And who the hell are you? The Wizard of Oz?

One of the Screws slaps him in the thigh with a rubber.

Smith grimaces and lunges at the man but is yanked back by the other Screw.

Constellator
When you came away from your father without blood on your hands, you were condemned.

Smith
Where is he?

Constellator
Don't worry. He's here in the near distance.

Smith
He said...(realizes how true)...we were prisoners.

Constellator
The world is a prison.

Smith (defiantly)
Listen. I'm entitled to some answers. I'm not going to play your game! Are yo working for the Old Man? Is he behind this?

The Constellator rises and comes around the desk.

Constellator
You have already tried to escape once. No doubt, you will try many times. But our wall curves in upon itself.

He paces away from Smith, then turns to face him.

Constellator
There is a way out for you, though. Tell me your secret and you'll go free-Back to where you were before you failed.

Smith looks confused. In his eyes he is seen searching for an answer.

Smith
I don't know what you're talking about. What secret? What do you mean? I don't know what my secret is.

The Constellator studies him.

Constellator
In time you will-and you will tell it. And, in the meantime, you are here.

He picks up a sheaf of papers off his desk, walks up to Smith and hands it to him.

Constellator
Take these. Read them.

Smith takes the papers and tosses them down defiantly. Mysteriously, they blow across the floor. Smith watches them then his eyes return to the Constellator.

Constellator
There are worse places than this.

Smith
Is that where you're from?

With a flick of his eye, the Constellator signals one of the Screws who brings a package of clothes to Smith.

Constellator
I am the Constellator. You are Number Seven.

#7
I am not a number. I am a free man.

Constellator
You are Number Seven.

#7
What number are you?

Constellator
I work for the Zodiac. My number is classified.

Number Seven unwraps the clothes. They are different than the ones he was wearing, but they are not any sort of uniform or obvious prison garb, just plain clothes.

Constellator
Now, your stay here can be very difficult, or ...it can actually be pleasant. You're a talented man. We want you to come work for us. You'd be an asset. Do special assignments. Help maintain order.

Number Seven looks around.

#7
I don't think this kind of "order" is something I'd willingly help you maintain...Now is it?

Constellator
Little boy Lost takes himself so seriously. Well, then, you're free to walk out that door...

Number Seven turns and starts to walk away, then...

Constellator
....Number Seven.

The Constellator smiles enigmatically. Number Seven continues toward the door and exits.

65. Ext. Street- Day

Music plays. A huge sun lamp stands on a room. Two women sunbathe beneath it. High above, the ever-present canopy of clouds blots out the sun.

The camera descends down the side of a building, coming one by one to windows that look in at the lives of prisoners, the houses of the holy.

When the camera reaches street level, Number Seven comes into view. He looks out at the street.

66. Another angle

Two Screws pass in a cruiser. They aim their probe at him but drive on.

Number Seven comes to a phone. He looks around, frantically, then dials a number.

He hears the same soft, impersonal female voice he heard in the subway.

Voice (V.O.)
We're sorry. Your number cannot be completed as dialed. And remember: Tell the Screws. They want to know.

Secular Christmas music starts to play over the receiver. He slams it down.

He walks on and, presently, comes to a bakery. A baker is just placing a tray of gingerbread men in the window.

Number Seven is hungry. He goes inside.

67. Int. Bakery- Day

Number Seven smiles at the Baker and points at the gingerbread men.

#7
I'd like one of those, please. Uh...two.

The Baker fetches the goods. Number Seven starts to reach for his pocket but realizes he has no money.


#7
How much are they?

Baker
(handing them to #7) That's two dynes.

#7
Dynes. If's that's money, I don't have any.

The Baker shakes his head and hits a button. Number Seven's identification number flashes on a computer monitor and the words "transaction rejected-credit balance zero" appear.

The Baker grabs the gingerbread men away.

Baker
Get outta here! You need money for food! There's no such thing as a free snack.

#7
They didn't give me any...money.

Baker
Give you?

#7
Well, how else am I gonna get it?

Baker
Get a job!

Number Seven slaps his forehead.

#7
I turned one down just this morning.

Baker
That was a mistake.

#7
I could had a whole platoon of those gingerbread men. (a beat) I'm really hungry.

The Baker picks up a rolling pin.

Baker
Get outta here!

He starts to leave.

Baker
Hey, wait a minute.

Number Seven turns back. The Baker takes something furtively out of a drawer and slides it over to him.

Baker
Here's a leg that broke off one of the men.

Number Seven takes it.

#7
Thanks.

Baker
Don't say nothin' about this. Inventory's really tight.

68. Ext. Street- Day.

Number Seven sits down on a planter box ledge. Carefully, he takes the gingerbread leg from his pocket and unwraps it.

He's about to pop it into his mouth when he hears a whining sound.

He looks down. It's a mangey little dog begging for food.

He thinks a second, then:

#7
Get a job!

He puts the ginger break piece into his mouth, bites off half, thinks a second, then gives the other piece to the dog.

A ragged man comes running over.

Ragged man
Hey you!

The Ragged man kicks at the dog which runs away.

Ragged man
What did you do that for?

#7
He was hungry.

Ragged man
Yeah, but we all gotta compete in this food chain. Besides, the Screws exterminate those pests, anyway. So your charity's gone to waste.

Number Seven jumps up, seizes the Ragged man by the collar, slams him up against the building and screams in his face.

#7
(through gritted teeth) You tell me something! How did you get here? What's your number?

The Ragged Man looks dumbfounded at the outburst. Number Seven slings him aside.

Ragged man
Oh, I get it. New here, huh?


#7
Temporary is more like it. I'm not staying!

The Ragged Man laughs.

Ragged man
Oh, that's rich! You must know The One.

#7
The One?

Ragged man
The One. The One rules this place. Those old codgers on the Zodiac are just administrators.

#7
How would you know?

Ragged man
Sure, I'm a gnawed old bone now but I used to be a Screw.

He starts cackling. Number Seven watches him a moment then turns in disgust and walks away.

Ragged man
Hey! Where are you doing? You don't have a place to stay, do ya? You're wearing your new issue. Don't even have your first gravy stain.

Number Seven turns back to face him.

Ragged man
Tell you what. You come stay at my place.

#7
Why?


Ragged Man
You're a proud one but you got nothin', nobody, and no place to stay.

#7
If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?

Ragged man
I'm honest. That's why.


#7

I don't trust you. What do you want?

Ragged man
Information. News from the outside.

69. Ext. Alleyway-Night.

At the end of an alleyway Number Seven and the Ragged Man warm themselves beside a fire built within the steel rim of an automobile wheel.

Surrounding them, casting strange shadows on the wall, are dozens of broken statues.

The Ragged Man is cooking a rat on the end of a stick.

Ragged man
I cure the skins. Sew enough together, they make a pretty warm scarf. You'll get used to life on the streets. Internal exile, that's what it is. They just dump ya in here and you gotta take care of yourself.

He holds out his hand.

Ragged man
By the way, I didn't catch your number.

#7
Seven.

The Ragged Man whistles.

Ragged man
I'm 68148946.

#7
What about this...Zodiac? Who are they? What is it?

Ragged man
Most people think it's the top, but it's not. The One rules. The Zodiac is just twelve men and women who do the will of The One. They run this place but they don't rule.

#7
What is "The One?"

The Ragged Man looks at him and smiles as though he alone knows the answer to some great cosmic conundrum.

Ragged man
It's the glint in a man's eye when he's full of hate. or in the emptiness of a face that has no hope. Number Two and Number Three are part of it's personality.

Number Seven sits back in resignation. These literal truths sound like riddles to the outside.

#7
I don't know what you're talking about but I believe you. If you want the truth ask a man who has nothing to lose.

Ragged man
You're alright. sure you won't have some of this rat meat? Tastes just like veal...well, almost.

Number Seven shakes his head.

#7
Has anyone ever gotten out of here?

Ragged man
Every day.

#7
How?

Ragged man
They die.

The rat bursts into flames. The Ragged Man bangs it out on the ground.

Ragged man
Done! (Fade down) (Fade Up)

70. Ext. Alleyway-Night.

The fire has burned down to glowing embers.

A hand-held camera creeps up through the broken statues to find the face of Number Seven.

Suddenly, the silence fills with a low ominous growling.

Number Seven's eyes open halfway.

71. Number Seven's POV

He sees the shining eyes around him.

Another angle

He remains perfectly still, frozen with fear. Quickly he glances over and sees that the Ragged Man is gone.

The forms congeal out of the darkness-three large, snarling wolves surround him.

They are about to move in for the kill.

End of Act II


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