TAKE DOWN
Written by
Pat Stewart
Robert Stewart
Mike Colonna
78005 San Timoteo StLaQuinta, California 92253
714-747-5670
TAKE DOWN
“Then Came the Flood”
[Each episode will bear a biblical-based title, each
portending a notable event]
EXT. A BARREN FIELD IN THE MIDDLE EAST - DAY
Two boys are in a field and picking up stones, which they are
amassing into piles. At the same time, in the distance, a
burqa-clad and veiled woman is being drug/prodded along by
two men in white thobes who treat her roughly. Her wails are
both heard and ignored.
INT. UNIVERSITY/LOCKER ROOM - AFTERNOON
Coach GRADY BARRETT (ex-Marine, fit, in early 30s) is
addressing his team after a practice, some 14 players and
couple of managers present.
GRADY
Not a bad practice today, your
energy was pretty good. Check the
board for who’s doing individual
workouts tomorrow. And then the
next night we go to war. Our very
best effort.
(beat)
Take no prisoners.
As Grady and the players walk off assistant coach JAY (20s
and alert) goes the other way to a bench where he has left
his notebook. Grady, walking away, approaches the exit then
stops at a large water container and fills a paper cup with
water and drinks it. He then crumples the cup and tosses it
into a trash can nearby.
Jay, picking up his notebook, happens to note a fellow who
has been watching practice from the first row of bleachers
and apologetically speaks to the man.
JAY
Hey, sorry, but these workouts are
closed for now. Any time after
next week you can watch if you
like.
MAN IN GYM
Got it. No problem, coach.
The man, who is chewing gum, stands and walks toward the
exit. Before leaving he slows at the trash can and tosses
his gum at the in-reach can, but the wad is a little short
and glances to the floor. He picks it up, drops it into the
can and with a quick look around, his hand palms the crumpled
cup that Grady had used. The cup goes into one of his
windbreaker pockets and then the man exits.
EXT. TWO-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
A figure dressed in black, with his back to us, fits a
balaclava over his head and then walks up a flight of outdoor
stairs, makes a turn at the landing and then continues until
he’s in front of a screened window. The screen is now off,
the figure raises the window and crawls in. After three
beats a man’s piercing SCREAM of pain/terror is heard.
INT. BASKETBALL OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON
Two men in suits are just sitting down on either side of
Coach Barrett’s desk, which he occupies.
GRADY
Get comfortable, guys. Your phone
call has piqued my interest. State
Department, huh?
MAN IN NAVY SUIT
Right, coach. You know that the
powers that be are always looking
to generate good public relations.
And appropriations have just been
approved for a new project that we
hope you’ll be interested in.
GRADY
Really? Of course right now I’m
hoping our team can generate some
good publicity too...mainly by
getting us into post-season play.
MAN IN GRAY SUIT
From what we hear you’ll be in the
tournament. And what we’re here to
talk about won’t take place until
after you guys are finished.
GRADY
Hmm. Let’s hear it.
2.
MAN IN NAVY SUIT
To cut right to the chase, our
military leaders want to start a
goodwill touring basketball team.
The players to be selected from our
various service branches.
MAN IN GRAY SUIT
You’re probably aware that every
year there is a World Military
Games hoop tourney and we always
have a team in it.
MAN IN NAVY SUIT
But given the worldwide popularity
in basketball we want to expand our
efforts and put together a tour
team to play so-called “friendly
games” around the world.
MAN IN GRAY SUIT
Not only will these games generate
good will among both allies and
neutrals but there will also be an
opportunity to...shall we say,
enhance our knowledge in certain
areas -
INT. CAMPUS GYM/BASKETBALL COURT
Coach Barrett stands near the foul line while a player with a
ball stands at top of key and another player TRAVIS QUANT (20
and athletic) stands with hands on knees at the foul line
extended opposite the coach. Standing on the baseline is
assistant coach Jay.
Coach Barrett now calls out to Travis:
GRADY
Down pick to an up pick for a
three.
Travis pops up as an imaginary teammate sets a screen for him
and then Travis cuts back down as if receiving an up screen;
as he spots up behind the 3-point arc the player with the
ball hits him with a 2-hand overhead pass. Travis catches
and puts up a shot which goes in.
GRADY (CONT’D)
String music! Now an up screen to
a down pick, another trey.
3.
Travis pops down and then up, another pass and then his shot
from behind the arc misses.
GRADY (CONT’D)
Balance! Straight up, straight
down! Same thing again but with a
curl after the second
screen...dribble penetration to a
floater.
Travis executes this and his short floater is good.
GRADY (CONT’D)
Not bad. Be sure and go straight
up. The defender is waiting to take
a charge if you jump into him.
(beat)
Okay, let’s change sides of the
floor...Gregg, you’re the shooter.
As they walk, Jay speaks to Grady.
JAY
Hey, coach, this probably isn’t
worth even mentioning but after
last practice I noticed you having
a drink and throwing away the cup.
About a minute later a guy who’d
been watching practice palmed the
cup and put it in a pocket.
GRADY
(in jest)
Poor guy must not be able to afford
a cup of his own.
But his antenna is up after hearing this.
INT. BARRETT HOME/DINING ROOM - EVENING
A meal is just finished and Grady sips tea from a mug. His
wife, MADISON (30ish very attractive), appears with the news
that:
MADISON
They’re both down. I had to read
Emma three stories before the
peepers finally closed up.
GRADY
A woman’s workday never ends. Nor
should it.
4.
MADISON
Well, I proved that this afternoon
when I also had to re-wire a
bathroom light fixture and fan.
GRADY
Big deal. If my dad had been an
electrician like yours was then I
could have done it too.
Sure, hotshot. But tell me more of
what the G-Men said about this
coaching opportunity thing. It
will be like an All-Star team?
GRADY (CONT’D)
Yeah, guys from the various
branches. They’re tentatively
calling the squad the American
Challengers. Play and practice
about nine months, home the other
three.
MADISON
And why are they so hot on you
taking the job?
GRADY
Well, part of it is that I’ve had
three pretty decent seasons here at
the college level. And I’m pretty
sure the other part is the fact of
my Marine Corps Recon
training...which happened to come
up.
MADISON
Recon training, huh? As in
reconnaissance.
(beat, seriously)
Duh! It just hit me. They want
you to be a glorified spy don’t
they?
INT. UNIVERSITY GYM - NIGHT
A good crowd of people are on hand to watch this important
game and after a stoppage in action the school’s cheerleaders
are doing a routine. Among those in attendance in the stands
is BADR (a trim Saudi prince in early 40s), wearing Western
clothing). Turning to an American man next to him:
5.
BADR
The Orange team is killing them
with the fast break. And the
press.
FAN
Yeah, it’s how they’ve won all
year. Press most of the time and
shoot a lot of 3s. You seem to
know a good bit about this game.
BADR
Yes. I played for my club in the
Gulf a few years and our league
isn’t bad. Except for the
officiating of course. I also
watch the NBA on television.
Looking now at the sidelines Badr appears very engrossed with
the bevy of cheerleaders. He gazes steadily and then:
BADR (CONT’D)
They would be put in prison for
dressing like that in my country.
In fact, there would be a good
chance of a public stoning.
Squirming a little uncomfortably, the man comments:
FAN
That would sure be a waste of
talent.
BADR
Yes. But sometimes women must pay
for enticing men. That is
haram...against our holy teachings.
A segment of the game continues and then the final horn
sounds, the home team victorious. In the celebration at the
winner’s bench Madison has approached Grady and given him a
hug. It is seen that Badr is staring intently in that
direction. After a long beat, pointing, he has a question.
BADR (CONT’D)
Who is that woman in the pink top?
FAN
That is the coach’s wife.
Badr’s gaze continues. He appears rapt.
6.
INT. CAMPUS GYM - AFTERNOON
Grady is giving a practice, 5 guys in orange shirts on floor
running dummy motion offense as other players on sideline,
wearing black. On all shirts is written “GADES.”
GRADY
Five or six passes, dribble
penetration and kick for a 3; fast
break to other end, same thing -
black team be ready to jump on -
As the players are executing this a student walks up to
Grady.
STUDENT MESSENGER
Coach, sorry to interrupt but Coach
Wilkins says he needs you in his
office right now.
Shaking his head negatively, Grady (half to himself):
GRADY
It’s amazing. We’re trying to get
ready to win our league, and in the
middle of a practice -
Now Grady starts to walk away, stops in front of assistant
coach Jay briefly.
GRADY (CONT’D)
Wilkins wants to see me right
now...of course it couldn’t wait
till practice was over. Stay with
the fullcourt stuff for ten more
minutes, hope I’ll be back by then.
He walks off.
INT. HALLWAY/OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Grady walks up to a door saying “Athletic Director,” gives a
couple of knuckle raps, opens door and walks in. Behind his
desk sits Owen Wilkins, who looks up, serious demeanor.
OWEN WILKINS
Hey, Grady. I know you’re in
practice but something really
unexpected just landed on my desk.
Sit down.
7.
Grady does, while Wilkins reaches into a large manila
envelope and takes out four glossy photos, which he arranges
in front of Grady. Grady, appearing lost for words, scans
the pictures. Mutters:
GRADY
Whose idea of a joke is this?
What’s this supposed to be -
OWEN WILKINS
It’s obviously not a joke. This
came special delivery, with a note
inside. The note said, ‘Coach
Barrett, Beta Chi house, February
of this year. He has to go.’
The photos seem to depict a college orgy in progress, several
coeds and guys in various situations, all nude, including
Grady. A black marker has covered the principal’s private
areas. After looking for several seconds, Grady responds.
GRADY
Who could have done this? This has
to have been photoshopped...but
why?
OWEN WILKINS
Grady, you’re the faculty rep for
Beta house aren’t you? Do you
recognize these people?
GRADY
(perplexed)
Not a one. None of those guys are
Betas, and I’ve never seen the
girls. Someone’s trying to set me
up. But who...and why?
OWEN WILKINS
The Office of the Dean of Students
has written up a student/faculty
disciplinary charge that they’ve
sent to me. There’s to be a
hearing that will process the
charges against you.
Grady looks straight ahead, expressionless.
INT. JAPANESE DOJO
Attired in appropriate garb a sweating Grady is in the midst
of a Karate workout.
8.
As a club instructor/Sensei calls out a command in Japanese
Grady reacts appropriately against his opponent, although the
strikes are not full-contact.
SENSEI
Kiba dachi! (Stradle stance)
Grady assumes the stance.
SENSEI (CONT’D)
Shuto uke! (Knife hand block)
Grady blocks his assailant’s knife strike.
SENSEI (CONT’D)
Empi uke!
Grady executes an elbow block.
SENSEI (CONT’D)
Sanbon tsuki!
Now Grady delivers a 3-strike combination.
SENSEI (CONT’D)
Nidan geri!
He performs the two kicks with the same leg.
SENSEI (CONT’D)
Tetsui uchi!
Grady responds with a hammer fist. It is obvious that he is
well-trained in martial arts.
INT. BARRETT HOME/DEN - LATER
Grady and Madison sit on a couch talking. Nearby is daughter
EMMA (seven-years-old and precocious). She is playing with
some sort of magnetic writing board.
MADISON
So you’re leaving me for one of
those girls, huh?
GRADY
No, I’m leaving you for all of
them. You’ve heard of offers too
good to refuse.
9.
MADISON
(pause)
Seriously, Grady. What could this
be about? Who wants you fired?
GRADY
I have no idea. But I’d bet that
there’s more than just one person
involved.
(thinking)
And it comes right when we have
critical games to play -
From over on the couch Emma, who is peering at her device,
says:
EMMA
Guess what, Mama?
MADISON
(distracted)
What, Baby-Cakes?
EMMA
Syncranatic is giving me a lot of
ideas. It always does.
Grady, frowning, asks:
GRADY
Why does she keep calling that
Doodle Board Syncranatic? Where’d
she ever even hear such a word? If
it’s even a word -
EMMA
I’ve told you. That’s what it
does. It synchronizes systems and
numbers and information...things
like that.
In a very quiet conversation:
GRADY
Is it normal for a seven-year-old
to come up with stuff like this?
MADISON
Remember what Doctor Wren said
about her?
GRADY
You mean about the child savant
business?
10.
MADISON
Yep. And you’ll have to admit that
she comes up pretty often with some
fairly accurate deductions...or
observations, or whatever -
INT. CAMPUS GYM - AFTERNOON - A WEEK LATER
Coach Barrett is at one end of the floor, Jay at the other.
The players, in pairs, are working on the Stay Down drill; a
dribbler being guarded by a defender on each side of the
floor. Other players standing on sideline. The head coach
calls out.
GRADY
Chad, get your butt down! Nose in
chest! Turn the ball!
A second later:
JAY
Damon...quit letting the dribble
come up! Ball knee-high...hit the
thing hard...get your eyes up!
As the drill continues the team manager appears, walks to
Grady.
TEAM MANAGER
Coach, Dr. Reiner wants to see you
in his office. Says it’s urgent.
GRADY
Crap. What’s he wanna talk
about...the team grade point
average?
TEAM MANAGER
Don’t think so...he’s like all
serious and a couple of guys are in
there with him.
Disgruntled, Grady says to his assistant:
GRADY
Stay with the workout till I get
back, Jay. Hope it won’t be long.
11.
INT. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - CONTINUED
The school president sits at his desk, a pair of seriousfaced
suits on either side of him. After a tap on the door
it opens and Grady walks in, nods and says:
GRADY
Dr. Reiner.
DR. REINER
(indicating empty chair)
Please sit down, coach. These two
men are members of a government
agency and I’m afraid we have a
really difficult situation here.
After taking a seat:
GRADY
Regarding what?
DR. REINER
I’m sure you’ve heard or read about
what happened in an off-campus
apartment last week -
GRADY
You must be talking about some man
that appeared to be murdered.
DR. REINER
Yes, and both the campus and just
about everybody in town are in an
uproar over what has happened.
These men have a few things they’d
like to discuss with you. So if
you’ll excuse me I have a Board
meeting and will be gone the rest
of the day.
Dr. Reiner gathers up his briefcase and leaves the room. One
of the men present locks the door and turns to Grady.
AGENT 1
We have a situation. And are
hoping you can help us find a
solution.
GRADY
Okay, what are we talking about?
Agent 2 now stands while producing his phone.
12.
AGENT 2
It regards the apartment
bludgeoning and something that has
been sent to us anonymously in the
mail. We didn’t have a good idea
of where to start our investigation
until we watched this video you’re
about to see.
At this point the agent holding the smart phone, stands and
walks to Grady and holds the device before him. Close, the
footage begins and a man, seen from behind, is pulling a
balaclava over his head. With it now in place the man turns
his head and we see...Coach Barrett looking into the camera.
The frame activates and he now turns and walks toward the
apartment stairway. Standing, Grady indignantly half-shouts:
GRADY
What the hell is this?! Who made
this fake garbage? This is total -
AGENT 1
Slow down, Grady. This would
appear to be compelling evidence
although we can’t be in a rush to
judgement.
(beat)
But the fact is that parts of the
gruesome scene inside that
apartment have been aired and
people are demanding answers.
GRADY
Yeah, and I want some answers too!
AGENT 1
Coach, just sit down if you would
and listen to what I have to say.
Grady, still hot, sits while looking defiantly at the man.
GRADY
Okay, I’m listening.
AGENT 1
Obviously, people are demanding an
arrest...followed by a trial and a
conviction.
AGENT 2
Grady, we received a tip three days
ago and that led to uncovering some
DNA evidence.
13.
(MORE)
Traces found in the apartment and
also on a cup. And the DNA matches
yours.
After a long beat, Grady nods his head, speaks.
GRADY
Oh, so that’s what that little ruse
was about. I’m going to take a
wild guess that the DNA came from a
cup that was found in the trash
inside the gym.
AGENT 1
That could be. But, regardless, it
seems a case is being built against
you. But we’re not here to press
for a conviction.
GRADY
Then what are you here for? You’re
obviously Company men.
AGENT 2
We’re here to see if you can’t help
us build on the foundation that
your dad laid.
(beat)
We’re pretty sure you remember a
friend of his, Judge Saul Gramlich.
And you know how hard he worked in
trying to solve your dad’s
disappearance.
AGENT 1
In fact, he’s still working on it,
despite that the fact that he’s
retired.
Grady, sobered and thinking:
GRADY
Of course I remember him. But
where is this leading?
AGENT 1
It’s leading to the fact that
you’ll need to stand trial. And
you might remember that a protege
of Saul’s was Lynn Truax, an active
judge and well-respected. Also a
friend of your father.
14.
AGENT 2 (CONT'D)
AGENT 2
We think there’s a chance that he
could make you an interesting
offer, one that could possibly make
all the allegations go away. A
rare opportunity.
INT. BARRETT HOME/DEN - LATER
Grady sits on a couch next to his wife and after a sip of her
soda:
MADDISON BARRETT
So you’re not under arrest -
GRADY
No.
MADDISON BARRETT
Then what do you think is
happening?
GRADY
I don’t think it’s impossible that
I’m going to receive an offer I
can’t refuse. You know the CIA.
Masters at creating angles and
subterfuge.
MADISON
And you think Judge Truax will play
a role in whatever it is.
GRADY
That’s my best guess.
MADISON
I’m confused. First the pictures
with the A.D. And now this video.
What’s going on?
GRADY
I don’t know. But maybe you can
get Emma to check with Syncranatic.
It probably knows.
INT./EXT. DAMASCUS - A CAR/NARROW STREET - DAY
A Mercedes with darkened windows is slowly cruising a
shopping area street. Riding shotgun is Badr, now wearing
Saudi thobe and headgear; a man in a dark suit sits in the
back seat.
15.
Badr is looking intently at pedestrians on both sides of the
street. After several beats he focuses on a pretty woman
whose hair is uncovered (indicating that she is not Muslim)
who is walking along, unaccompanied. In his lust he
commands:
BADR
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Stop. Get her.
The car stops right where it is and the hulking man in back
opens his door, steps out and has soon grasped his target,
who tries to escape but is unable. Ignoring her frantic
protests, he muscles her into the back seat and then gets
inside also. The door closes, the car moves ahead. There is
no attempt by anyone to interfere with the abduction.
EXT. STREET/PARKING LOT - CONTINUED
Now the vehicle pulls into a hotel lot.
BADR
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Take her to my room. Tell her what
will happen if she screams.
INT. HOTEL/ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUED
The abducted woman, nude, sits on a bed, attempting to cover
herself with a bath towel. Her face is battered and bloody;
welt marks on her shoulders, hands and legs. Head down, she
alternates between crying and moaning. Nearby on a couch
sits the brawny man, sipping tea from a small glass while
watching an Arabic movie.
His phone PINGS, he accepts call and listens to a short
message then closes connection. He picks up the TV remote
and pauses his flick. Tosses the remote onto the couch,
walks to the woman and snatches her up. She screams and
struggles as he carries her, with little effort, to nearby
window and opens it.
Hitting her hard in the jaw, he then pushes her out of the
window and glances down, paying no attention to a final
SCREAM. There’s a THUD. He closes the window, picks up the
remote, sits down and resumes watching his movie. He takes a
sip of tea then laughs at something a character has said.
16.
INT. PSYCHOLOGIST’S OFFICE - DAY
Grady and Madison are hearing the man’s report after having
tested Emma.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Of course her IQ is off the chart
for kids her age, but the thing
that really struck me about her was
how intuitive she is.
MADISON
Grady and I have noticed that too.
And even her pediatrician remarked
on the special abilities she seems
to have. And with no history of
brain injury.
PSYCHOLOGIST
She’s pretty remarkable, and in a
good way. She came up with some
things that would stump teachers
with doctorates.
INT. COUNTY COURTHOUSE/AN OFFICE - DAY
Coach Barrett stands shaking an older man’s hand near his
desk.
GRADY
Judge Truax, I appreciate the
chance to talk to you. Even if I
don’t have a very good handle on
what’s been happening.
JUDGE TRUAX
Just call me Lynn, Grady. After
all, I’ve known you ever since you
were just a little scamp.
GRADY
I actually have a vague memory of
being with you and dad at a county
fair or something. I remember
there were rides.
JUDGE TRUAX
I remember that too. Especially
how you kept begging your dad to
let you take ‘one more’ ride on the
roller coaster...which was kind of
a scary thing.
(beat)
17.
(MORE)
That would have been the coaster
that you were too young to ride, by
the way.
GRADY
I don’t think you can add the underage
thing to the charges against
me. Statute of limitations...too
much time gone by.
The Judge chuckles, indicates a chair for Grady to sit in;
it’s time to get down to business.
JUDGE TRUAX
Grady, first, I heard it through
the grapevine that it took you
about a nanosecond to recognize
that some men who’ve talked to you
recently were CIA.
GRADY
When your dad’s a Company lifer and
you hang with him and some of his
friends a bit...well, it’s almost
like they have “CIA” tattooed on
their foreheads.
JUDGE TRUAX
Not to get sidetracked, but I’m
still in touch with some
individuals who haven’t given up on
your dad’s case. It’s been a
while, but you never know -
GRADY
Thanks, sir, I really do appreciate
that.
JUDGE TRUAX
Your dad and I were fairly close,
despite the age difference.
(beat)
Anyway, back to the business at
hand. First, you’re of course not
in the loop regarding the
investigation of the man murdered
in that apartment.
GRADY
All I know is what I hear on the
tube and read in the paper. But it
doesn’t seem that much headway has
been made.
18.
JUDGE TRUAX (CONT'D)
JUDGE TRUAX
No, it hasn’t. And--this is
confidential of course--I’m pretty
sure that this is going to be an
unsolved case.
GRADY
It’s still pretty recent. What
makes you say that?
JUDGE TRUAX
First, there is no hue and cry over
the deceased. No one has filed a
missing person report and, in fact,
he hasn’t even been identified.
(beat)
The apartment had been rented in
the name of a bank, and a certain
individual. Neither seems to
exist.
GRADY
Are you saying that maybe this was
just some random guy...and for
whatever reason he’d been placed in
that situation somehow?
JUDGE TRUAX
It seems like there’s a good chance
of just that. The guy could have
been a street person for all anyone
knows.
(beat)
But just as likely is what I’m
going to suggest to you now, which
of course doesn’t go out of this
room. Sometimes authorities are
aware of really bad people that
have done really bad things. For
which they richly deserve to die.
(beat)
But for whatever reason--maybe
payola, maybe shyster lawyers,
maybe irrelevant technicalities--
these people never get convicted.
GRADY
So they skate.
JUDGE TRUAX
Not always. In rare instances they
get justice.
19.
(MORE)
I’ve heard it said, on pretty good
authority, that from time to time
these lowlife types that laugh at
the law don’t get the last laugh.
It seems that they somehow get in
the wrong place at the wrong time
and they end up...very much dead.
And those cases tend to go
unsolved.
GRADY
I’ve heard whispers about things
like that.
(in a lighter mood)
But now let’s hear about this
opportunity that one of the agents
alluded to.
JUDGE TRUAX
Well, let me say first that this
alleged opportunity will have to be
weighed by certain authorities to
see if we can find a balance.
GRADY
A balance?
JUDGE TRUAX
Yes, one that equates with the
considerable allegations against
you. Murder, for openers. Then
lewd and lascivious conduct.
Certainly more to follow.
(beat)
But at any rate, a fair number of
people would like for you to
seriously consider what I have to
say. It’s a two-pronged
proposition.
INT. BASKETBALL ARENA - DAY
With a good crowd on hand and TV cameras in evidence Coach
Barrett’s home squad is gathered on the sideline during a
time-out. The scoreboard shows the Visitors are up 96-94
with 14 seconds remaining to play. With his players gathered
around him, Grady speaks calmly but forcefully.
GRADY
We’ve been through this a hundred
times in practice, guys.
20.
JUDGE TRUAX (CONT'D)
(MORE)
First, we’re in Line formation and
Kelly breaks toward our hoop and
comes back for the ball. Be
absolutely sure on the pass, Ty.
(beat)
Get the ball up-court and if your
man goes to double the ball then
make yourself available. We get
into Motion and we’ll take the last
shot with about five or six seconds
to go. Non-shooters go hard to the
glass.
(beat)
Whoever takes the shot has only one
thought in his mind: that sucker
is going in. A two would be okay,
a three even better. Ice water.
The team breaks the huddle and takes the floor. Fans are on
their feet, the atmosphere is electric. The Renegades inbound
the ball and get into their offense. As instructed,
after four passes second-leading scorer, Travis Quant puts up
a closely-guarded 3 attempt and...nuthin but net! The crowd
erupts, celebration mode in bench area.
Now Grady is being interviewed and, close-up, the man with
the mic addresses him.
TV INTERVIEWER
Coach, obviously a great win for
your guys and the school. You’re
league champs for the first time in
nine years and I’m betting this
feels pretty good -
The mic goes to Grady who responds.
GRADY
Really happy for our guys and fans.
Who, by the way, have been great
all year. Going to the tournament
is going to be fun and we’ll see if
we can keep this thing goin’ for a
little while longer.
In the arena’s second row sits the Saudi prince, Badr, who
has again watched the Renegades play. Whereas some fans have
eyes and ears on the interview, Badr has another focus:
Madison, just a few seats away from him and following the
interview. His gaze at her is unwavering.
21.
GRADY (CONT'D)
INT. BARRETT HOME/DEN
Grady and Madison are sitting relaxed when Grady’s cell
PINGS. He looks at Caller.
GRADY
Sorry, Mad, I better take this.
The Judge.
Accepting the call:
GRADY (CONT’D)
Hello, Judge.
JUDGE TRUAX (V.O.)
Evening, Grady...and
congratulations on the big win.
GRADY
Thanks. I appreciate that.
JUDGE TRUAX
Sorry to change the subject so
quickly, Grady, but something’s
been eating at me for a long time.
(beat)
The last time I saw I saw your dad
he had something heavy on his mind.
I asked him if it was something I
could help with and he just said he
was pursuing some things that I
wouldn’t believe if he told me.
(beat)
You ever get any kind of a vibe
about something like that?
GRADY
(thinking)
Actually, the last time I spoke to
him--I think he was either in Iraq
or Afghanistan--he mentioned to me
that I might not be hearing from
him in a while. He wouldn’t
elaborate. But he hinted at having
stumbled onto some things that he
was maybe not supposed to know
about.
JUDGE TRUAX
Hmm. Well, if you remember
anything else, no matter how small,
I’d appreciate a call.
22.
INT. BARRETT HOME/DEN - NIGHT
Grady and Madison sit on the couch, relaxed; Emma reading a
book nearby.
MADISON
Okay, we’re going to the tournament
and Curt’s in bed. Now you can
finally tell me about your talk
with the Judge.
GRADY
Well, to get to the bottom
line...some pretty influential
people want me to resign my
position here -
MADISON
After you’ve paid your coaching
dues and worked your way up the
ladder -
GRADY
They say that there are bigger
issues at stake...and point out
that I’d still be in coaching, and
at a high level.
(beat)
But at the same time I could be
helping the country by fighting
against terrorism.
MADISON
My first guess was right. They
want to use your recon training to
make you be an undercover agent.
GRADY
Right. Lynn knew that the photos
and video were set-ups. He said
this is about national security.
MADISON
And they’d want us to move.
GRADY
Yeah.
MADISON
Where to?
GRADY
The Middle East. Probably one of
the Gulf states.
23.
MADISON
Oh, great. And live where...in a
tent?
It appears that Emma has been eavesdropping, because:
EMMA
It won’t be in a tent, Mama. I
think it will be a nice place.
Because people have to pay a lot of
money to fly us over here and pay
for our school and where we’ll
live. They’ll want us to be happy
so we’ll want to stay.
(turning a page)
And Daddy, if we go to that desert
country you might find Grampa...and
he wants to meet me and Curt.
A little taken aback:
GRADY
What makes you say that?
EMMA
I dreamed it.
INT. AMERICAN CONSULATE/AN OFFICE - DAY
A man sitting at his desk reaches into a drawer and his hand
comes out with four blue American passports.
EMBASSY STAFFER
Here we are, Coach Barrett. Four
brand spanking new American
passports. I suspect that the fact
that you’ll be taking your team to
a lot of places will mean that
before long you’ll have a good many
country’s stamps in yours.
GRADY
I’m looking forward to visiting new
places. Seeing other cultures and
all of that.
After handing over the booklets the man picks up his phone
and after scrolling a bit looks up.
EMBASSY STAFFER
I’m sure you’ve been briefed on the
Islamic countries and their strict
prohibitions regarding some things.
24.
(MORE)
But here’s something from youtube
that you should probably see.
(beat)
Although it’s terribly difficult to
watch. This is a public stoning of
a woman convicted of adultery.
He holds up the phone to Grady and we see a short portion of
the execution. The woman is buried in a pit up to her waist
and a good number of frenzied men are hurling stones at her
from point blank range.
STAFFER
I only show this to you so that you
can be absolutely sure that you and
your wife will know what to avoid
and why. This is unofficial of
course.
GRADY
(shaking his head)
You were right about it not being
pleasant. But thanks for the heads
up.
Title Card: Two Months Later: Dubai, UAE
EXT. CONDOMINIUMS/SWIMMING POOL DECK - DUBAI - DAY
Attired in swim suits and sitting in lounge chairs at the
shallow end, Grady and Madison are keeping an eye on Emma who
is playing with and minding four-year-old Curt. After
sipping from a glass:
GRADY
You’ll have to admit now that Lynn
Truax wasn’t giving me a snow job
when he talked about that coaching
guy he knew that moved to Abu Dhabi
and coached in the Emirates -
MADISON
The one that wrote a book. What
was it called again?
GRADY
He called it Way Better Than a Real
Job. Then he went into the reasons
why: good housing in a Western
community with all of the amenities
of home; his kids in an American
School, paid for by his employer;
25.
EMBASSY STAFFER (CONT'D)
(MORE)
membership to a 5-star hotel’s
recreation club; windsurfing or
golf every morning, tennis or
squash in the afternoon; a slopitch
softball league. Good
restaurants with food from around
the world -
MADISON
Yeah, but he had to work his
fingers to the bone, right?
GRADY
Right. Had to plan and give
practices and coach in games.
Averaged two hours of toil per day.
MADISON
About what you’ll be doing soon.
GRADY
Yeah. While you go shopping in
malls, and lolligag around with
your women’s club, performing good
works.
(beat)
What’s your current project
again...sewing mink coats for poor
children?
MADISON
Right. But remember: we have to
go hunting for the minks
ourselves...and they’re a vicious
breed.
INT. CAVE - MIDDLE EAST
A bearded and unkempt man, DINK GETTY (40s, smart, a
battler), in ragged clothing and whose partially bearded face
bears the marks of a recent beating is manacled at the wrist,
his 6-foot chain secured to the cave’s wall. A nearby oil
lamp gives off dim light. Near Getty is a dirty bowl and
bent spoon. An Arab man approaches him, reaches into a bag
and his hand comes out with a triangular slice of flat pita
bread. He tosses it on the floor, just out of the reach of
the chained man. As he tossed the bread it is seen that he
wears a large distinctive wristwatch.
DINK GETTY
Thank you, Hamid, thank you -
26.
GRADY (CONT'D)
As he is saying this, he extends his leg far enough that with
effort he can use his bare foot to drag the dirty piece of
stale bread to within arm’s reach. He snatches up the bread
with his free hand and begins to eat ravenously. His captor
laughs.
HAMID
(accented English)
Your table manners are disgusting.
(sarcastically)
But at least you’re getting plenty
to eat, aren’t you?
DINK GETTY
I appreciate what you’re giving me.
But if I could please have just a
little more -
HAMID
Quit complaining, donkey. [the
worst thing you can be called in
that culture] You don’t deserve
anything. Except to go flying
soon.
(beat)
And I see your rice bowl is empty.
You shouldn’t have been so stupid
to eat it all at once.
Averting his eyes, as if in abeyance, Dink gobbles down the
last of the dry bread then crawls over to the rock wall and,
close, we see that a trickle of water makes its way through a
tiny crevice in the wet wall and now the man has his mouth on
the wall, sucking.
HAMID (CONT’D)
Not only are you weak and a coward,
you even pretend that a dirty wall
is your whore. You make me sick.
But not for much longer.
He takes two steps toward Dink and kicks him hard in the
ribs. Dink cries out in pain and falls to the ground moaning
loudly and holding the place where he was kicked. Hamid
glares at him, but Dink averts his eyes...still agonizing.
When Dink is sure that Hamid has left the immediate area he
moves as far down the wall as his chain will allow in the
opposite direction from the water trickle. Sitting down,
with his back the entrance, he is honing an edge of the spoon
on a rock. Back and forth, back and forth -
He next moves to the large bolt in the wall by which his
chain is anchored.
27.
After looking around he begins digging around the alreadyscored
wall in an attempt to further loosen the bolt. The
rock is hard and it’s slow going.
Title Card: One Month Earlier
EXT./INT. MOUNTAIN CLIFF/CAVE
Six bedraggled and blindfolded men are being marched along a
cliff’s path, being prodded along by Arab-appearing men in
army clothing. When a man stumbles he receives a good smack
with a rife stock.
The men are obviously tired, walking with difficulty. Now
they reach the mouth of the cave and turn right. Inside,
they will make several turns before stopping. One man, seen
close, is reciting in his mind:
DINK GETTY (V.O.)
Turn right, 16 steps...turn left 18
steps...forty-five degree angle
right turn...13 steps. I feel one
or more guards at every turn -
INT. BARRETT CONDO/LIVING ROOM - DUBAI - NIGHT
Grady and Madison are seated and watching their kids down on
the carpet of the upscale condo. Curt is coloring in a book
and Emma is fooling around with her Doodle Board.
MADISON
This isn’t really such a bad life
is it?
GRADY
Nope, pretty much as advertized.
And the weather’s great. Except
for summers.
MADISON
And thankfully we’ll be back home
for those three months.
GRADY
I’m pretty anxious to start working
with the team we’re putting
together. I’m ready to give a
practice tomorrow.
(long pause)
But there is one thing I can’t get
out of my mind. Something I’ve
never told you about.
28.
MADISON
Uh, oh. Sounds serious.
GRADY
Couple of months ago I was alone at
home and online. Suddenly what I
had up on the screen vanished. And
it was replaced with a short
message. Seven words. They were,
“Your old man was getting too
close.” Then the screen froze and
I had to re-boot.
MADISON
That’s kinda scary, Grady.
At this point Emma, who had appeared to not be listening
speaks to her parents.
EMMA
I don’t like scary stuff, Mama.
But my dream about Grampa wasn’t
scary, it was nice. He had gray
hair and he was smiling at me.
INT. BARRETT CONDO/KITCHENETTE - DAY
Madison is having coffee and reading a newspaper when Grady
walks in and sits down.
GRADY
Mission accomplished.
MADISON
What did she talk about on the way
to school?
Finished pouring himself a cup of coffee, Grady sits.
GRADY
She mentioned her two best friends.
One of them’s named Layla. I
remember it because of the song
about Lola getting whatever Lola
wants. It’s called word
association.
MADISON
Brilliant. And what was the other
one’s name?
29.
GRADY
I can’t remember. But Emma says
the girls talk to each other. She
even told me she’s learning words
in their language.
MADISON
She’s a smart one.
(beat)
What time’s your meeting at the
Embassy?
GRADY
Two. An update on players and then
something else with an attache from
another office.
Just now Curt walks in, a toy in hand. Looking at his
parents:
CURT
Can I have a dog? Toby has one.
GRADY
A dog? Curt, a dog would just eat
you. Gobble you right up.
Curt laughs this off, then continues.
CURT
Please, Daddy...can we Mom? I can
feed the dog.
Madison looks to Curt and then Grady.
MADISON
Actually, the Griegs are going home
and are looking for someone they
can give their dog to.
(beat)
Marilyn and the kids are already
home but she always talked about
what a great dog Uncle Sam is.
They can’t take him home because
their condo association doesn’t
allow dogs.
GRADY
That’s the dog that I’ve heard
Kenny talk about. That was his
service dog in Afghanistan. Hmm.
Let me talk to him.
30.
INT. AMERICAN EMBASSY/AN OFFICE - DUBAI - DAY
Grady, pen in hand, is looking at a list as he sits at a
table with a man.
GRADY
Twenty-two players right now. When
I get stateside and start working
the guys out we’ll get it down to
about fourteen. Twelve active, two
in reserve.
DIPLOMATIC AIDE
Good. So if we’re finished with
that let’s pop over and talk with
our guy from the Agency.
The men stand, head for the door.
INT. SAME/ANOTHER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Now Grady sits at a table with a different man, who is
saying:
AGENT CROMPSKY
...and so our agents that have been
working on this think they’ve
pieced together the scheme.
GRADY
So it’s about money. As usual.
AGENT CROMPSKY
We got our first break from a
career counterfeiter we’ve had our
eyes on for a long time. And when
we picked him up and starting
talking with him about our
suspicions, it turned out he was
willing to cooperate.
GRADY
Rather than take up residence in a
federal prison.
AGENT CROMPSKY
Something like that. Anyway, he’d
learned from someone about the
inflow of a nearly endless stream
of cash in American dollars that
was flooding into the Middle East.
31.
GRADY
Do you know specifically where it
was coming from?
AGENT CROMPSKY
We’re almost certain it came from
Iran. Via Germany. Have you ever
heard of Operation Bernhard?
GRADY
(after a pause)
I’d almost forgotten about that.
But now I remember my dad
explaining that it was some kind of
a Nazi plot in World War Two. Is
that right?
AGENT CROMPSKY
Yes, and it was rather ingenious.
It was an exercise by the Germans
to forge British bank notes. The
initial plan was to drop the notes
over Britain to bring about a
collapse of the British economy
during the Second World War.
GRADY
I remember that now. Dad explained
how the Reich rounded up a cadre of
Jewish bankers and engravers from
concentration camps and put them to
work making the notes. The plates
these guys produced were near
perfect and disappeared after the
war. Right?
AGENT CROMPSKY
Pretty much. But the German
operation was going so well that
they also created plates for
dollars. And through a lot of
effort we’ve traced those plates to
Iran. And Carson Barrett was at
the center of the investigation.
(beat)
We believe the printing press,
which has to be pretty big, was
smuggled into Iran, piece by piece,
and then re-assembled. The bogus
millions it generates is earmarked
to finance and extend terrorist
plots around the world.
32.
GRADY
Now I see where this is going. You
think dad was onto this and somehow
Iranians, or whoever, snatched him.
Or killed him. Before he could
blow the whistle on them.
AGENT CROMPSKY
That’s pretty much it. And it
might interest you to know that one
of Agent Barrett’s old friends, a
(glancing at his notes) Judge Saul
Gramlich, has been a big help to us
on this through research that he’s
done on his own.
GRADY
That’s good to hear.
(beat)
I just remembered something else
about the Nazi counterfeiting. By
way of saying thanks they killed
most of the Jewish help, but a few
escaped.
AGENT CROMPSKY
Not a ton of difference between
Hitler’s gang and today’s
terrorists, is there?
INT. SAME CAVE - MIDDLE EAST
Darkness is setting in as Dink Getty is again standing and
working the edge of his spoon around the bolt in the wall.
Close now, he makes a final prying effort and the heavy bolt,
some eight inches long, is now in his hand. He looks around
and then quickly pushes the bolt back into its place. It
looks as it always does.
INT. BARRETT CONDO - DUBAI - DAY
The door to the condo opens and Kenny and Uncle Sam (possibly
a German Shepherd) walk in, all of the Barretts coming to
greet them. The kids hurry to the dog and start petting it,
setting off some high energy tail-wagging/licking. Now the
kids are also doing some hugging, and the looks on Madison
and Grady’s faces say this is probably a done deal.
MADISON
This looks like one of those cases
of love at first sight that you’re
always hearing about.
33.
KENNY
Sam was trained to operate in
combat zones and has tons of
experience...all positive. Gentle
at the right times, aggressive at
the right times. Incredibly smart.
EMMA
I like his name. Uncle Sam sounds
very patriotic.
KENNY
Yes it does. And your friend
Gracie named the dog. There’s only
one tiny little funny thing -
EMMA
What?
KENNY
Uncle Sam is a girl.
INT. AMERICAN MILITARY BASE/GYM
An All-Star team of military players is scrimmaging. One
team wears blue practice uniforms, the other red. Both teams
have USA arced across the front of the jerseys. Coach
Barrett and his assistant, Dom Bessella, stand watching on
the sideline, four reserves standing near them. Grady blows
his whistle, play stops.
GRADY
Blue team, you’re not getting the
ball up the court fast enough. You
have to FLY. We’re trying to outpace
teams.
(turning to Dom)
Dom, what’s the score?
DOM BESSELLA
(loudly)
Red’s up 18-17.
GRADY
(calling to players)
Game’s to 20. Losers run of
course. Lets’ kick it up a notch.
No one’s tired -
Blue in-bounds the ball, play resumes for a couple of up-andbacks.
Players don’t look bad.
34.
INT. BARRETT CONDO - AFTERNOON
Madison is ironing and Curt playing on floor with little
cars, when Emma walks in from the bedroom
EMMA
Mama, don’t forget our special day
next week. The sheikha is coming
to our school and there will be a
celebration. You’ll come be with
me won’t you?
MADISON
I sure will. I’ve already arranged
a sitter for Curt.
EMMA
The sheikha is important because
she’s married to the leader of
Dubai. Did you know that Dubai is
a city and also a Emirate?
MADISON
Yes, I learned that at my club.
And also about National Day, which
is celebrated because the seven
Emirates became independent from
British rule. It should be fun to
see this woman and the ceremonies.
EMMA
Jamal told me there will be
soldiers and music and dancing.
And even free food.
INT. MILITARY BASE/OFFICE - DUBAI - DAY
A UAE officer in uniform sits at his desk, an enlisted man
across from him, both drinking tea from small glasses.
UAE OFFICER
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Khalil, you’ve trained on the new
AJBAN 440A Armored Vehicle -
KHALIL
Yes, three months.
UAE OFFICER
So of course you know how to
operate the Smoke Grenade Launcher.
35.
KHALIL
Of course. I was first in my class
in marksmanship.
UAE OFFICER
Yes, I had learned that. We, along
with some friends across the water,
have an assignment for you. And
certain Farsi-speakers will be
grateful your help.
(beat)
All you need to know for right now
is that when you arrive at the
vehicle the canister launcher will
already have been loaded.
Saying this he slides a stuffed envelope across the desk to
Khalil.
UAE OFFICER (CONT’D)
Take a look.
Khalil removes from the envelope a large number of crisp newlooking
100-dollar bills.
KHALIL
Tell me what to do.
INT. U.S. MILITARY BASE/CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Four American Intelligence agents sit around a table, movie
screen before them. On the screen is seen a distant mountain
range.
AGENT RADOWICZ
The Zagros Mountains--spanning
Iraq, Iran, and parts of Turkey.
But we think our satellite footage
is most likely from Iran.
Specifically a place called Zard
Kuh.
AGENT FERRING
An ancient glacier, if I understand
correctly. And what would the
temperatures be in September at
around 5000 feet, Clive?
AGENT RADOWICZ
On average about 78 degrees in the
day, dropping to around 13 degrees
at night. Tough at night without
the right clothing. But livable.
36.
AGENT FERRING
So the five figures in the film
could include some or all of Bravo
Force.
AGENT RADOWICZ
Not only possible, but also
probable. But for the sake of
their families I hope not.
AGENT LEACH
Let’s look at the footage. It was
shot from a relatively near
distance.
Now on the screen and easily visible are five figures who
appear tied up, arms hanging straight down. Behind each is
an unidentified man. All at once, probably on a command,
each of the prisoners is flung or kicked over the steep
precipice. The scene freezes, the men in space.
AGENT LEACH (CONT’D)
Oh, Lord, I hope Colonel Getty
wasn’t one of those men.
INT. SAME CAVE - MIDDLE EAST
The guard, Hamid, sits on a box and is eating a piece of
chicken from out of a paper sack. Near him, at the base of
the wall another man, his back to us in the dim light, is
standing and urinating on a prone figure. Finished, he
exalts:
MOHSEN
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Ah, that feels so much better! Do
you think the donkey-dog enjoyed
it, Hamid?
HAMID
Probably not as much as he likes
sex with the wall in front of you.
But we say bye-bye to donkey-dog
starting tomorrow because he’s
going to star in a video.
MOHSEN
Trying to fly?
HAMID
No, I’ve just been frightening him
with that. Something much worse.
37.
(MORE)
In the West they call what he will
star in a snuff film.
MOUSEN
What will happen?
HAMID
Well, first he will be skinned
alive with a very, very sharp knife
that was given me. And after that
he will experience more tortures
which have been sent to me by my
employer. In bloody detail.
(beat)
It may take him three days to die.
He will have screamed his throat
raw long before that.
Now Dink stands, sees Hamid eating and beseeches him.
DINK GETTY
Hamid...please. Please just one
piece. Please. Please, Hamid -
Breaking into a grin, Hamid reaches into his bag and flips a
piece of chicken about a yard out of Dink’s reach. And then
another. Dink is straining mightily to reach the chicken
with a bare foot. A third piece lands. He can reach none,
gives up, and commences sobbing in despair as he crumples to
floor.
Feigning great angst and still lying prone, Dink is able to
see his tormentors laughing and walking away. After few
beats he stands (hands and face quite dirty, hair matted) and
goes to the wall where the ancient glacier-fed water
continues to trickle; he drinks for several beats.
Now he sits and quietly repeats his mantra, but now in
reverse order.
DINK GETTY (CONT’D)
Turn left, 16 steps...turn right 18
steps...forty-five degree angle
left turn...13 steps...then air.
One or more guards to get by.
Taking a few steps away he picks up his bowl and walks to the
wall and drinks again for several beats. Now, still with his
back to us he is attempting to urinate into the bowl. For
several beats, nothing; and then the sounds of limited
success.
38.
HAMID (CONT'D)
INT. BARRETT CONDO/LIVING ROOM
All the family are present and watching as Emma ruffles and
plays with Uncle Sam. Now Curt quickly approaches the dog
and is petting it.
EMMA
I like having Uncle Sam sleep on my
bad with me. And I can tell that
she likes it too.
CURT
And she likes it every time I feed
her. She smiles at me.
Madison laughs at this, says:
MADISON
You’re being a really good friend
to her, Curt, just like you said
you would.
GRADY
Okay, let’s stop the mushy stuff
and see some amazing tricks, Emma.
In the middle of the room Emma puts Sam through the basic
hand signals for “Sit,” “Stay,” “Come,” and “Down.” Sam
performs flawlessly (with each success receiving a treat from
Emma), and now all are lauding/petting her, causing her tail
to wag energetically. Then Emma continues.
EMMA
But Dad and I are starting to work
with her now on new rescue signals
that will be given only with the
feet. That way if a soldier is
shot he can still signal with his
feet
(beat)
Also if a dog is captured by an
enemy that uses the regular hand
signals the dog won’t do anything.
He’ll only respond to foot signals.
GRADY
Emma actually came up with the idea
of the foot signals.
MADISON
Good ideas, Emma. And not only is
she smart and obedient she also
stays by me as I do my housework,
and is never very far away from me.
39.
GRADY
Which means you’re probably hoping
that in a week or two she’ll do the
work herself, while you sit and eat
chocolates.
The kids laugh and pooh-pah this notion.
INT. SAME CAVE - THE NEXT MORNING
Dink, hearing footsteps stands at his place near the wall.
Hamid, near him now (and about his same height) is in a jolly
mood, calling out:
HAMID
Ah, good! I see that you are still
with us. But (pointing, wristwatch
in view) what’s this? You didn’t
eat even one piece of the chicken!
I guess you weren’t hungry. Pity,
because it was really tasty.
DINK GETTY
(beseechingly)
Please, Hamid...just one piece.
Please.
Seeming to relent, Hamid walks to and picks up a piece, turns
and comes near to Getty while extending the chicken, which is
just out of Dink’s reach. Hamid, having good fun now,
proceeds to push and pull the chicken to and away from Dink
each time he tries to grasp it.
Evidently crushed, Dink stumbles to the wall, his hand
absently going to the bolt at the end of his chain. At this
point Hamid steps even closer, tantalizing his victim with
the proffered piece of chicken.
This is the same second that Dink yanks the bolt from the
wall and in the same motion arcs it as hard as he can toward
Hamid. His captor’s eyes go big, but just for a second, as
the bolt’s head crashes into Hamid’s temple. With a grunt of
acute pained surprise he folds to the floor, twitching.
Now Dink takes the chicken from the floor and begins to eat
hungrily. He walks over and picks up another piece and
begins to eat it also, walking now toward Hamid as he chews.
Looking down at his tormentor, he puts a bare foot on Hamid’s
neck and is pushing down hard with all his weight...until the
twitching stops.
40.
Next he strips the clothes from the dead man. He takes one
sock and quickly dabs it into his bowl of urine by the wall
and uses it to wash his face and hands as best he can. He
next puts on the thobe and then he folds the ghutra (head
piece) so that much of it obscures his face. He takes the
large watch and puts it on, and then the boots. Last, he
takes Hamid’s cell phone and secures it in a boot. He begins
walking the way Hamid had come in.
At his first turn his lips start soundlessly counting his
well-practiced numerical mantra. He makes another turn and
then another. He can see daylight ahead now but there is a
guard standing there. As Dink, head down and eyes averted,
passes the man the guard says something to him in his own
language.
By way of response, Dink raises his arm and makes a
dismissive motion, the wristwatch in view, and he continues
walking, making it obvious to the guard that he’s in a hurry.
Now he is descending the trail and after a few beats we hear
what he’s thinking:
DINK GETTY (V.O.)
Now to find Carson.
EXT. AL-MAKTOUM SCHOOL/YARD - DUBAI - DAY
Young school children stand in their uniforms next to a long
red carpet. Flowers in pots are placed at intervals, and
armed military men are seen about the scene and are on the
alert. Also present is an armored vehicle with tinted
windows.
Walking slowly down the carpet is the royal and comely
Sheikha Jamila, not far now from Emma. She nods and smiles
to the children, speaks to a few. The kids are on best
behavior, many of their parents standing not far away. Among
them are Madison and, five yards away, Badr, in Saudi royal
robe and headgear and accompanied by a bodyguard. We see
that Badr steals hungry glances at Madison.
In the background, twenty-five yards away, Khalil is seen
approaching the armored vehicle.
EXT./INT. ARMORED VEHICLE
Khalil opens the door, surprising the uniformed man behind
the wheel. The man is even more surprised when Khalil,
inside now, suddenly jabs a hypodermic needle through his
shirt and into his arm.
41.
Eyes agape, he tries to say something but can’t; his eyes
flutter and he soon loses consciousness. Khalil next muscles
the man out of the driver’s seat and pulls him to the floor
of the middle aisle. Next, Khalil is seen following
procedures for firing the canisters via the remote weapon
controls before him. His hands move quickly.
BACK TO: The schoolyard, where the royal wife is before Emma
when suddenly the quiet of the day is SHATTERED by one, then
another, and then a third BLAST, sounding like BOMBS. Almost
immediately great amounts of ominous-looking smoke clouds
appear in several places, dimming the scene as the smoke
moves rapidly across campus.
Pandemonium now reigns as parents run to children, other
children are scampering this way and that, and military
personnel are first securing Jamila while others race to the
now-empty armored vehicle. They are battle ready, but who
and where is the enemy?
During this Emma is almost immediately taken into the care of
a guard who protectively hurries her toward the classrooms
but amid the smoke Madison has moved in the opposite
direction, frantically looking for Emma.
Amid the great general confusion Badr is urgently saying
something to his bodyguard, HAMOODI (well-built Saudi in
early 30s) who immediately runs to Madison and speaks
urgently in accented English.
HAMOODI
Hurry! It is a terrorist attack!
We have your daughter in our car
and she is crying for you! Come,
come -
Hamoodi, one hand on Madison’s elbow, rushes her toward an
area where high-end cars are parked. At a certain Mercedes
they stop and the driver/bodyguard urgently ushers her into a
front seat and then hurries around and gets into the driver’s
seat. Instinctively, as the engine starts, Madison looks to
the back seat. There sits Badr, smiling. As the car pulls
away:
BADR
Mrs. Barrett, we’ve never met but
I’ve seen you rather recently.
With an edge to her voice and holding his gaze:
MADISON
Who are you...and where is Emma?
42.
BADR
You can call me Jileel. And your
daughter is probably on her way
home to play with your dog by now.
As the car, now on a highway, picks up speed Madison’s voice
turns to alarm.
MADISON
So...what? Are you kidnapping me?
BADR
No, of course not. I just want to
show you around a little. Let you
see some things outside of the
city.
MADISON
My husband will -
BADR
(sharply)
Your husband will nothing! He’s in
America. And also, you should be
aware that he substitutes players
too often.
(beat)
He doesn’t even let them get into
the flow of the game before they’re
back on the bench.
Pretty much unhinged now, Madison turns her head back to try
and focus on where they might be.
BADR (CONT’D)
But even though he isn’t a great
coach he has good taste in women.
And I’ll bet you ten dirhams that
he’s really missing your lovely
body right now.
(pause)
And since a dirham is worth a
little more than a quarter at the
moment, that would be a bet of
about two and a half dollars. So
even if I should lose the bet--
which I won’t--I can afford it. So
don’t worry.
MADISON
What do you want?
43.
BADR
Just to get to know you
better...quite a bit better,
actually.
INT. AL-MAKTOOM PRIVATE SCHOOL - DUBAI - SAME TIME
Emma is in a classroom with three other students and a
teacher. Speaking to her teacher, she asks the woman:
EMMA
Why isn’t my mama here? She was
right next to me before all of the
smoke and noise.
EMMA’S TEACHER
I don’t know, Emma. I’ve called
her but she doesn’t answer.
Opening a desk drawer the woman produces a file and after a
look says:
EMMA’S TEACHER (CONT’D)
It says here that your emergency
contact person is Mrs. Mahoney. Is
she one of your neighbors?
EMMA
Yes, she’s my friend Lila’s mother.
EMMA’S TEACHER
Let me call her right now and let’s
see what we can find out.
EMMA
Okay. But I wonder what happened
out there. It wasn’t terrorists
because there was no shooting or
fighting. I think someone created
a trick.
BACK TO: the Mercedes. The car stops in a driveway before a
large upscale house. Looking out the window, Madison sees
neither people nor other cars. In the distance is another
house. Hamoodi gets out and comes around to her door and
opens it. Badr is standing nearby looking at his phone as
Madison steps out. He doesn’t notice that Hamoodi, in
handling Madison, not only ogles his charge, but has also
found opportunity for his body to brush up against hers a
little. He closes phone and offers his hand to help Madison,
but she ignores it. After a long pause Badr speaks.
44.
BADR
One of my little country houses. I
don’t like to stay in one place for
too long. But here, let me show
you to your quarters. I hope
you’ll be comfortable there.
They walk along on stepping stones, rounding the corner of
the house and are soon in the back of the two-story manor;
Madison stone-faced. Nearby there is a rose garden and Badr
guides her by an elbow until the pair stop before it.
BADR (CONT’D)
I love roses. Don’t you? They’re
like women. They come in several
colors and all are fragile yet
beautiful. And tend to smell good,
too.
(beat)
I’ll admit that I love to smell a
woman. All of her.
Badr, relieving Hamoodi, next walks Madison about six steps
to where there is a wooden roof door mounted upon a low mound
of earth. He unlocks the door (featuring a padlock which is
secured by a long upside-down U with a sliding bar, allowing
for degrees of tightness) and opens the door and lets it lay
on the mound. Pointing down into a cellar, he exclaims
cheerfully:
BADR (CONT’D)
This used to be a wine cellar, but
I had it re-modeled. Look, there
is your bedroom. With a nice
double bed and a good mattress.
Don’t you hate it when you have to
sleep on a bad mattress?
Drawn to movement beside and just behind him, Badr turns and
Hamoodi is standing by the roses. Badr now looks closely at
the blooms and a frown appears on his face.
BADR (CONT’D)
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Hamoodi, look at those flowers.
They need water. Turn on the
faucet and pull the hose over here.
He does so and Badr takes the hose and is directing the flow
of water. Madison stands stock still, staring ahead.
Neither notices the look that Temptation has painted on
Hamoodi’s face, whose peripheral vision never leaves Madison.
Then, glancing himself at Madison, Badr intones:
45.
BADR (CONT’D)
Go ahead and act independent and
cold if you want to. But you might
keep in mind that if you continue
doing that you’ll never see Emma
alive again.
(beat)
Although she is very much alive at
this moment. Look.
Madison takes the phone from Badr and looks at the screen.
It is now apparent that Badr has installed a camera in the
room, because there is Emma seen talking with two girls in
real time.
The phone PINGS as mom is watching Emma and Badr takes it
from her and speaks in Arabic for a while, growing angrier as
the conversation continues. Closing the phone with a hostile
glare, he growls:
BADR (CONT’D)
They can’t do anything without me
right there! Why can’t they think
for themselves and see what needs
to be done! And now I have to
leave immediately because of this
emergency, and their ineptness!
Looking severely at Madison he makes a promise.
BADR (CONT’D)
But I’ll be back.
EXT. A SECLUDED GLEN/TRAIL - LATE AFTERNOON
Hamid’s cell phone (now in Dink’s pocket) PINGS and he
answers with:
DINK GETTY
(in Arabic; subtitled)
Yes.
BADR
You idiot, Hamid! How long do you
think I should have to wait for the
video?! I’ve paid you a lot of
money to -
But before another word is spoken Dink delivers a surprise,
in English.
46.
DINK GETTY
(laughingly)
What a great pleasure! I thought I
recognized the voice of one of the
world’s best-paying sadists. Going
to skin me, huh? Then a bunch more
tortures that only a sick snake
like you could think up. Snuff
movie too...what a maggot you are.
(long pause)
But guess what, Badr? At a time
you won’t suspect, and in a place
you won’t know...I’m going to get
you. And you won’t be happy when
that happens.
(another pause)
And those men you had killed on the
mountain...you’re going to pay for
them too. How the crap could our
country have let you study at one
of our colleges -
Somewhat stunned, Badr disconnects while Madison and Hamoodi
look on. Regaining his composure:
BADR
Before I was interrupted I was
about to show you around.
Again guiding Madison by an arm he leads her to the open
cellar and then down the stairs. The tiny apartment, with a
small table, two chairs and a wooden stool, is neat and Badr
indicates a small refrigerator, saying:
BADR (CONT’D)
Both food and water inside. And
over there (pointing to a shelf)
some books to read so you won’t be
bored. And I guarantee you that
you won’t be bored when I return.
(beat)
Remember to shower and brush your
teeth...there’s a new brush in the
bathroom.
He leaves and Madison goes to and opens a door, which proves
to be a small closet, mostly containing a maid’s items. The
only thing hanging in it is a woman’s dress and a few wire
hangars. A broom also stands there, along with some tools, a
feather duster, a bucket, cleaning agents, a stack of rags
and a pair of flip-flops. In a dresser drawer she finds
towels, but nothing else.
47.
Standing in semi-shock, Madison first hears the lock secured,
and then the car pulling away.
Title Card: Two Days Later
INT. CELLAR APARTMENT - NEARING TWILIGHT
Madison, wearing the dress from the closet, is lying on the
bed and reading a book when she hears a car outside. The
engine is turned off. She stands and waits for the door to
be lifted, expecting Badr. Instead, it is Hamoodi who is
looking down at her. He comes down the steps with news.
HAMOODI
Good news for you. Badr remains
occupied...which means I will be
taking his place in what he was
intending to do with you--but you
must promise not to tell.
(beat)
You look surprised. But actually
it will be more enjoyable for you
now. I’m not bad looking, my
English is okay--I also went to
school in the States--and I’m much
younger than that old goat.
MADISON
Just one more surprise in this maledominated
society. Don’t expect
much from me.
HAMOODI
Actually I’m expecting quite a good
time from you...before I’m on my
way. I hadn’t mentioned it to him,
but I was about to leave Badr’s
service. Now I have a good reason.
(beat)
But again you’ll have to wait, but
not for long. Right now I have to
go and have a tire replaced on the
car before the garages close. You
might want to be ready and waiting
for me when I get back. But first
I have to water the roses. I love
flowers too.
He starts up the steps but then returns back. Facing
Madison:
48.
HAMOODI (CONT’D)
Come over here to the closet for a
minute and let me show you some of
Badr’s tools. They can be used on
roses, but he had other uses for
them as well. Look.
With the door open and standing next to Madison, Hamoodi
points at the tools, saying:
HAMOODI (CONT’D)
Shears. Knife. Hand trowel. Use
your imagination as to why they’re
kept in here. And please don’t
make me have to use them.
(beat)
The dress that I see you’re
wearing...that belonged to a lovely
lady who didn’t cooperate with
Badr. So please be nice to me when
I get back, because I’ve seen Badr
in action and know how to do what
he does.
He starts to walk away, but then again turns and comes back
to Madison and embraces her. Next he begins moving his hands
over her. He looks into her eyes. She closes hers, jaw set.
With a last squeeze he turns to go, saying:
HAMOODI (CONT’D)
The second I’m back we’ll really
start getting down to business. Be
strong until then.
He walks up the steps and is out the raised door.
EXT. SAME - CONTINUOUS
Once outside the cellar, Hamoodi re-locks the door but,
close, it’s noticed that there is a good bit of leeway in the
device’s U-shaped clasp; it is not snug.
BACK TO: Interior where Madison, looking upward, has heard
the sound of the door again being locked after it was lowered
in place. She is thinking. Says aloud:
MADISON
(resolutely)
Yes, be strong.
49.
EXT. THE HOUSE/BACK YARD - CONTINUOUS
Now Hamoodi turns on the water again and pulls the hose to
the roses, about six feet from the cellar door. Dropping the
hose, he then moves toward the nearby Mercedes.
INT. CELLAR APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Listening, after a few beats Madison hears the car pull away.
She moves quickly, climbing the steps. She puts her hands to
the door and pushes up. She is able to create a gap of about
two inches between the door and its base, thanks to the
leeway in the padlock. She peers out, noticing the running
hose and something else: a stout stick/or part of a limb.
Next she goes down the steps to the closet and removes both a
hangar and the broom. She starts, with some difficulty,
unwinding the wire hangar until it is one straight piece.
She then fashions the hook end into a noose/hook.
Back up the steps, she is using her head to hold up the door,
allowing her to use her hands to navigate the wire’s hook
toward her objective: the stick which lays between her and
the hose. From her POV we follow her progress as she
painstakingly tries to get the noose around the stick.
Finally, she succeeds. Slowly she pulls the stick toward
her. She grasps it and sticks into the gap to prop open the
door.
Sitting on a step, she is working quickly to attach the wire
to the broom in order to create an extension. Satisfied, she
extends her tool outward. Using both hands to guide the
broom with its wire hook, she is maneuvering the device in an
attempt to secure the hose. After a couple of tries she has
it and begins pulling on the broom, but the hose slips off
the hook, causing Madison to grimace in frustration.
After several attempts she succeeds in attaching the hook to
the hose. Now she is slowly pulling the hose toward her. It
is finally within reach and she is able to grasp it with
thumb and forefinger of one hand. With her other hand she
removes and throws the stick downstairs and now has the
nozzle in both hands, as the flow of water washes over her
and down the stairs.
Painstakingly, without much room to work, she is next able to
separate the noose-wire from the broom and then direct the
water past herself so that it is running directly down onto
the floor. She pulls the hose toward her a ways just as
something catches Madison’s attention from outside. She
cocks her head to listen. Nothing.
50.
But then she is startled as she feels the hose being pulled.
Realization setting in, she grasps the hose tightly, and
immediately feels a yank on the hose. It is obvious that
someone in the gathering darkness is pulling at it. To
herself, grimly:
MADISON
He’s back. Please, God, don’t let
him have seen the hose into here -
She gazes out the opening just in time to see the hose yanked
out of the cellar. She immediately lowers the door and looks
down at a shallow pool of water that covers the floor.
Holding her wire, she hurries down the steps and positions
the wooden stool under the room’s light bulb. She next grabs
a towel from its drawer, then opens the closet and snatches
up an extra hangar and the flip-flops.
Sitting on the stool now, she uses the towel to dry her feet
and then puts on the rubber sandals. She stands and removes
the pop-off plastic light fixture, tosses it aside, and then
unscrews the bulb and sticks it into her pocket. Then she
unwinds the hangar she has just taken and connects it to her
straight wire which now insures that the connected dangling
wire is long enough to be in contact with the water.
Trying not to panic, she inserts one end of the hangar into
the empty socket and begins at the same time to take the bulb
from her pocket and screw it back in...but not so tight that
a connection is made. The wire is now secure, hanging down
from the socket with the extension in the water. This is when
Madison hears the cellar door being unlocked and opened. Now
the sounds of Hamoodi descending the stairs in the dimness as
he calls out:
HAMOODI
What’s happening? Why is the light
turned off...are you already in
bed?
He is one step from the bottom now and Madison reaches up and
has one hand on the light bulb. Hamoodi now sees her and is
angrily confused.
HAMOODI (CONT’D)
You Ameriki she-devil! What do you
think you’re -
At this moment Madison turns the bulb one more turn and it
comes on...but is only flickering; the connection is not
good. But it is holding enough that there is a popping and
sizzling sound as the current electrifies the water.
Hamoodi, with his last step, is now in the water and
immediately screaming out in pain.
51.
His eyes are bugging with the jolting pain and terror, as his
body is jerking spasmodically. Sounds come from his mouth.
At the same time Madison, in a crouch, is holding the back of
the stool, intending to use it to hop to the staircase,
thereby avoiding the water, and with the intention of then
escaping into the night. But on her second hop the light
flickers off...the connection is broken.
Madison is quickly off the stool and sloshing through the
water toward the stairs. Hamoodi is dazed on his knees but
reaches out to try and stop her. He has the bottom of the
dress but she spins free, kicking at him. Up the stairs now,
she fights to lift the door but Hamoodi has recovered enough
to lunge upward at her and get a hand around an ankle.
Madison is fighting him off but now Hamoodi is up one more
step. With his free hand he reaches to better his grip, but
she gives a violent wrench and kick and he, off-balance,
tumbles back to the bottom. He holds a flip-flop in one
hand.
It’s all he can do now to turn his head and watch her lift
the door. It slams shut and he hears the lock snap into
place. His eyes grow huge with the incredulity of it all.
He screams the scream of the damned.
EXT. SAME - CONTINUOUS
Madison begins to run but then stops abruptly. She sees, in
the moonlight, the hose and has an idea. She picks up the
nozzle and tugs the hose back toward the cellar. She then
starts looking around for something. And sees it in the
decorative rock border of the garden: a number of stones of
all sizes. Picking through them, she finds a few that she
likes and returns with them to the cellar door, which at the
moment is lying flat.
Now, lifting the door, she is trying the rocks for size and
three of them are just about right, fitting snugly into the
open space. Using a large rock, she hammers the smaller ones
tightly in place just as she feels resistance from inside and
is aware that Hamoodi has just realized what is happening and
is inside pushing upwards. The door remains in place, its
gap showing.
BACK TO: Interior, where Hamoodi is straining desperately to
open the door. Repositioning his feet for better leverage,
he slips on a wet step and tumbles to the bottom with a
screech of pain. Sitting in the water he agonizingly calls
out.
52.
HAMOODI
My leg is broken!
BACK TO: Exterior, where Madison goes to the faucet and
turns it on full blast and then goes back to the hose and
sticks the nozzle into the opening. She sits down to wait.
Title Card: Two Hours Later
Madison, tired, is sitting next to the cellar door and
finally sees what she has been waiting for: the water is no
longer entering the apartment, but sloshing down the side of
the mound. The whole compartment is flooded.
At this exact same time she sees and hears the door being
pushed forcefully upward. Something appears in the gap. It
is a pair of nostrils. She stands and has a view now of not
only the underside of a nose, but also of two eyes looking at
her. But only momentarily, because the nose is replaced by a
mouth from which garbled sounds are emitted from a pleading
voice.
HAMOODI (CONT’D)
Drrr...drrr...drrr -
MADISON
Are you trying to say “door”?
You’re not speaking clearly.
The garbled noises continue and it’s apparent that Hamoodi is
standing on the steps in a desperate final attempt to get
air. But suddenly the space is empty. There was no escape.
MADISON (CONT’D)
You got what you deserved: to be
taken down.
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