"EDGE OF TOMORROW" (2014)

STATS120pages166scenes24,331words35%dialogue30characters

Words

  • dialogue8,58435%
  • action14,10558%
  • other1,6426.7%

Scenes

location
  • INT 69
  • EXT 90
  • INT/EXT 6
  • UNKNOWN 1
time
  • DAY 55
  • NIGHT 14
  • DAWN 2
  • CONT 4
  • UNKNOWN 91
1

OPEN

“What weak, inglorious fools we mortals are That war must be, or any need of war.”

Andrew Downing, "The Bluebird"

2

INT. BEDROOM - COUNTRY HOME - NIGHT

An OLD TICKING CLOCK.

TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK.

The SECOND HAND turning, unstoppable.Father Time having his way. As we find a SMALL BED in this ENGLISH COUNTRY BEDROOM. TWO LOVERS SLEEPING quietly within. At PEACE.

CHILD’S VOICE (O.S.) ... Dad?

DANIEL CAGE (30’s, American) wakes to see his 4 YEAR-OLD
SON, ADAM standing by the bed. The child looking SCARED.
CAGE
Adam? What is it?

Cage’s beautiful wife HAYLEY (30’s), sits up too.

HAYLEY
You have a bad dream?
ADAM
It wasn’t a dream.

Cage looking at the little boy’s FEAR.Unsettled.

CAGE
Adam?

An AWFUL SOUND intruding. The HIGH-PITCHED WHINE of RAMJETS laboring against HEAVY WINDS --

ADAM
... There’s something outside.

The sound DEAFENING NOW. Consuming everything as --

CUT TO:
3

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCE DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - DAY

A PHOTOGRAPH. A photo of the BOY. WORN. Coveted. The ROAR coming from this cramped dropship’s RAMJETS outside.

CAGE (now late 30’s) stares at the photo.Cage is ONLY A
FEW YEARS OLDER, but his face is RAVAGED BY TIME.GAUNT.

He is surrounded by 12th SQUAD. TEN SOLDIERS, from 18 to 55 - FRESH MEAT to BURN OUTS. All wearing HUGE “EXOJACKETS” - EXOSKELETAL WEAPONIZED BODY ARMOR.

YOBO (O.S.)
I can’t breathe.

PVT. “YOBO” YONABURU (18, ASIAN AMERICAN, innocent) struggles with his exojacket. Yobo looks like he’s 12.

YOBO (CONT’D)
Feel like I’m gonna be sick. The jackets supposed to be this tight?
SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
DON’T YOU DARE PUKE, PRIVATE--

SGT. FARELL (40’s, TEXAN, muscle and sinew) glares.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
Spit up in your jacket, you're in for a world a shit? Wanna short your heads up, fry your face off?
YOBO
SIR, NO SIR!

Yobo SWALLOWS his vomit. WINCING. MUMBLING to himself.

YOBO (CONT’D)
I trained on the X-0. They said we were getting X-0s --

Cage hits a PRESSURE RELEASE on Yobo’s jacket, stopping the complaining. GAS ESCAPING the joints. Relief.

CAGE
... They say a lot of things.
SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
SIXTY TO CONTACT. HOLDING--

Farell hits a BUTTON, the DROPSHIP BAY DOORS open, and we see OCEAN below. HUNDREDS of other DROPSHIPS streak by.

YOBO (O.S.)
... How old?

Cage ignores him. Yobo looking at the PHOTO of the boy.

YOBO (CONT’D)
Got two nephews back in Raleigh. Just shipped yesterday, rotated outta basic. You been out long?

Yobo looks at Cage’s BATTERED EXOJACKET.All DENTS and DECALS. Years of fighting. Cage a MAN OF WAR.

CONTINUED: (2)

YOBO (CONT’D)
... Take that as a yes.
(off his look)
What’s it like? Aint never seen a live one before. Brought ol’ Mrs. Smith along, just in case --

Yobo holds up an antiquated SMITH & WESSON .357.

YOBO (CONT’D)
You think we’ll get to see one?
CAGE
Oh, I think you might get lucky.
SGT. FARELL
K, LIGHT EM UP, LADIES. HUDS ON.

Cage, Yobo and the others slide their FACEPLATES down. FLOATING HEADS-UP DISPLAYS (H.U.D.) flicker up on visors.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
PAIR UP. WANT YOU TWO BY TWO OUT THERE, YOU STAY AS A UNIT --

Yobo looks over at Cage. CLEARLY HOPING TO TEAM UP.

CAGE
... I fight alone.
(off his look)
Besides --

As we see a BEACH coming into view BELOW.The DZ flashing on the HUDs. A TEAMING MASS of RED DOTS.

CAGE (CONT’D)
You’re gonna be dead soon anyway.
YOBO
Wait, what?
(suddenly confused)
I thought we were secure?

A DROPSHIP suddenly EXPLODES beneath.ARTILLERY STRAFING THE SKIES. Streaking past. The HORROR beginning.

SGT. FARELL
CONTACT MINUS 10. LATCHES OFF.

The soldiers UNCLIP themselves. Preparing to DROP through the DROP DOORS. PRAYERS. Yobo now an ASH WHITE.

YOBO
I thought we werelast in --

CONTINUED: (3)

Cage looks at the PHOTO one final time.CROSSING himself with the picture THREE TIMES. Superstitious routine.

YOBO (CONT’D)
THEY SAID IT WAS SECURE.

The sound of ARTILLERY growing LOUDER and LOUDER as --

CAGE
Welcome to the UDF.

KERWHAM! The dropship is STRUCK. FIRE everywhere. A SOLDIER KILLED INSTANTLY BY SHRAPNEL in front of Cage.

SGT. FARELL
GO, GO, GO-- DROP, YOU BABIES!

SOLDIERS LITTERING OUT, tumbling like living ordnance.

YOBO
Please, I don’t wanna die, help me,WHAT DO WE DO --

As Farell pulls a KNIFE and CUTS Yobo’s CLIP.Yobo dropping. Farell following suit. Cage the LAST MAN OUT.

CAGE
... Survive.
4

EXT. SKY - DAY

Cage drops like a HUMAN BOMB. The ship EXPLODING above. The sky filled with DROPPING SOLDIERS from a THOUSAND DROPSHIPS. A hail of falling warriors.

ARTILLERY STRAFES THE SKIES ALL AROUND THEM.Dropships EXPLODING. Cage’s body hitting TERMINAL VELOCITY --

5

EXT. BEACHHEAD - FRANCE - DAY

WHUMP, THUMP, FHRUMP! SOLDIERS hit the beach, making CRATERS in the sand. Exojackets going into AUTOLAND at the last moment, tiny JETS cushioning the fall.Barely.

WHAM! Cage lands in a crater. Winded. Breathless. A RELIEVED SOLDIER getting out of the crater next to him--

RELIEVED SOLDIER
WE MADE IT!

BOOM! 12 TONS OF FLAMING DROPSHIP LAND ON THE SOLDIER. Cage THROWN BACK by the impact. Landing in 2 feet of SURF. CHOKING on the SEAWATER. Spinning --

SCREAMING SOLDIER
SOMEBODY HELP ME --

Another SCREAMING SOLDIER stuck under the ship, on FIRE. Cage in shock. As ENEMY FIRE starts streaking in --

THAP! THAP! THAP! Cage RUNNING THROUGH IT ALL...

UP AHEAD:

BOOM! HUGE PIECES of the Normandy CLIFF FACE suddenly explode ahead. HUGE UDF CARRIERS lobbing HEAVY ORDNANCE into the coastline. SHELLS WHISTLING above as...

IN THE SKY:

WHOOSH! A litter of fast-moving STRIKE JETS SOAR through the SKY above as artillery PEPPERS the sky.Chaos in the clouds, mid-air COLLISIONS, AIRMEN EJECTING all around...

UP THE BEACH:

As HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JACKETED INFANTRY stream to meet-points. Thick as ants. ARTILLERY RIPPING THEM TO PIECES as they try to take cover. Nowhere to hide.

SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
12th ON ME. TRENCH 285.

IN THE TRENCH:

Cage, Yobo and the survivors of TWELFTH SQUAD follow Sgt. Farell into this HUGE TRENCH. Farell screams to TAC COM:

SGT. FARELL
BRIAR LEADER. REPEAT! WHERE’S OUR AIR SUPPORT! BRIAR LEADER!
YOBO
This isn't how it's supposed to be. First wave was... They didn’t even make it off the beach--

BLAM! A SECTION OF TRENCH COLLAPSES. Cage COUGHING --

CAGE
They knew we were coming.

Cage watches in mounting horror as his HUD shows FOUR ENEMY approaching. And then TWENTY. Then a WALL OF RED. Enemy fire PEPPERING the trench. THAP! THAP! THAP!

PANICKING SOLDIER
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.

THAP! A PROJECTILE hits the soldier square in the chest, sending him FLYING. His body landing at YOBO'S FEET --

YOBO
Oh Jesus oh Jesus --

The BIOMECHANICAL PROJECTILE isn’t of human origin.It’s streaked with silver, WRIGGLING. A “JAVELIN.”

As Cage looks up to see THE ON-RUSHING “MIMIC” HORDE.A horrific army of BIPEDAL ALIEN WARRIORS.The javelins literallygrowing out of their BIOMECHANICAL BODIES.

SGT. FARELL
(panicking)
I don’t know what to do --

A FEMALE SOLDIER takes TWO JAVELIN HITS.Her jacket JITTERBUGGING off her brainstem's death-throes...

Her AUTOCANNON FIRING WILDLY. Blowing the soldier next to her to pieces. Point blank friendly fire...

Cage seeing 12th being WIPED OUT. Looking at Farell.

CAGE
WE GOTTA GO, NOW. WE STAY WE DIE.
SGT. FARELL
NEGATIVE. WE HOLD POSITION --

Cage seeing the HORDE almost to them.Lifting his gun, trying to PICK A TARGET. Too many. As he looks to RUN.

YOBO
What are you doing?
CAGE
I’m not dying for them.

INTO NO MAN’S LAND:

And so Cage RUNS. Slaloming through the SCORCHED EARTH. DODGING FIRE as he takes cover behind a BURNED-OUT TANK.

Cage looking back at the trench to see the REMAINS OF 12th SQUAD. Custer’s last stand. As they are inevitably SWAMPED by the HORDE. Farell RIPPED APART.

YOBO (O.S.)
Help me --

Cage TURNING to see a RAMBLING Yobo, covered in BLOOD.

YOBO (CONT’D)
He told us to stay together, please, I don't know where to go --
CAGE
GET DOWN, THEY'LL SEE US --

SHUP! HALF OF YOBO’S head suddenly disappears in a MIST of red. His jacket TWITCHING as his body falls.

As Cage sees a HUNTING PARTY approaching his position. Cage getting TARGET-LOCK. FOREARM CANNON firing --

TAKTAKTAKTAKTAK! SEVERAL MIMICS GO DOWN, Cage fighting desperately. A HEROIC effort until --

THWAP. The Javelin HITS Cage’s side. Cage in SHOCK. As a SECOND javelin hits his FACEPLATE.His HUD SHATTERING.

CAGE (CONT’D)
No --

Cage going down, as everything goes SILENT.Cage SPITTING up BLOOD. Seeing ANOTHER MIMIC. And ANOTHER.

CAGE (CONT’D)
C’mon, do it.

The WAVE OF DEATH coming at him. The end near.

CAGE (CONT’D)
...DO IT --

As Cage GRITS his TEETH. CLOSES his EYES and --

A WALL OF FLAME SUDDENLY ENGULFS THE MIMIC FRONT LINE!

A BLOOD RED EXOJACKET leaping OVER CAGE’S HEAD as it SPITS GRENADES at the attack horde.An astonishing majestic sight. A ONE MAN CAVALRY coming to his rescue.

The WARRIOR’S MASSIVE SHOULDER ROCKETS OPENING FIRE, HUGE CARBIDE BAYONET BLADES extending from the jacket’s ARMS.

The blades SWINGING as four MIMICS become eight TWITCHING HEAPS. The warrior rolling into a PERFECT BATTLE STANCE.

Until the area is SECURE. The BATTLE CONTINUING UP THE BEACH, as the RED WARRIOR arrives at Cage’s side. Removing a GORE-SPATTERED FACEPLATE to reveal..

SERGEANT-MAJOR RITA VRATASKI (30s) A.K.A. “THE FULL METAL
BITCH.” The Sergeant Major CHECKING his BLOODY WOUNDS.

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA
Brachial artery’s draining, you’re dying. I’m gonna stay with you --
CAGE
You don’t have to --
RITA
No, I need your battery. It’s fresh. My jacket needs juice.

Cage looks at her. SICKENED. Pressing a BUTTON...

His JACKET WHIRRING, releasing him like an insect’s carapace. His dying BODY slopping into the mud. As he UNHOOKS his POWER CELL and TOSSES it at her feet.

CAGE
Go to hell.
RITA
Already there, soldier.

She plugs in his cell, her jacket HUMMING.

RITA (CONT’D)
See you in the next life.

Cage SPITTING BLOOD. Rita heading off back INTO BATTLE. The RAIN drizzling down on Cage’s FACE.As he pulls out the PHOTO of his son, prepares for the end, and --

A NOISE intrudes... Cage FREEZING.As an INHUMAN LEG steps into the mud by his head, and he LOOKS UP to see --

A terrifying FOUR-LEGGED SPIDER-LIKE MIMIC.

ARCING over him. Like a MONSTER from a childhood dream. Its armor diffracting light in an OILY RAINBOW OF COLOR.

It LEANS IN OVER CAGE, SCANNING HIM.The thing’s head a HORRIBLE MAW -- no more functional a face than a black widow’s hourglass is a functional timepiece.

As, detecting no threat from this DYING MAN, the curious creatures shifts focus to something else...

RITA’S BACK. The Sergeant Major twenty yards away, calling in more AIR SUPPORT on her RADIO.Oblivious...

Not seeing this ODD MIMIC behind her start to VIBRATE.A WHIRRING JAVELIN forming in the center of its body --

And then Cage sees it, GLISTENING IN THE MUD...

CONTINUED: (3)

Yobo’s old SMITH & WESSON. Cage GRABBING the pistol. The Mimic LOOKING DOWN, too late. Only to see --

CAGE
Surprise.

Cage getting it RIGHT BETWEEN THE PLATES.As with a hellish SQUEAL, the mimic STAGGERS --

Cage firing AGAIN. And AGAIN. INNARDS SPILLING OUT --

SILVER-BLACK BLOOD like melted plastic, CRACKLING with electrical charge, DRIZZLE ONTO CAGE’S BODY, at 600 degrees. CAGE SCREAMING as it BOILS HIM ALIVE. There are probably worse deaths, but this one’s way up there --

As Cage’s DEATH-SCREAM starts to DISTORT, squelching out like a bad RADIO SIGNAL. The IMAGE SHUDDERING as we --

CUT TO:
6

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

CAGE SCREAMS, slapping his chest like he's putting out a fire. Waking as if from a NIGHTMARE. TEARING at his undershirt, revealing -- HIS SKIN, perfectly intact.

YOBO (O.S.)
... Hey. You okay?

Cage sees YOBO sitting on his bunk, cleaning MRS. SMITH. Staring. His BARRACKS surrounding. Everything normal.

CAGE
I was... you were --

Cage sees all of 12th SQUAD staring at him.The same people he just saw being KILLED, all in the flesh.

SKINNER (O.S.)
What ya piss yourself, Cage?

Cage sees CPL. SKINNER (32, muscle bound, piss-and- vinegar AUSTRALIAN) LIFTING WEIGHTS.CHEWING TOBACCO.

SKINNER (CONT’D)
Maybe it was a wet dream. Maybe he was dreamin’ about Rita --

Cage sees a RECRUITMENT POSTER on the wall: RITA in her red exojacket with the words: “BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.”

CAGE
... I got to - excuse me ---

As Cage scrambles to his feet. Like he’s gonna PUKE.

SKINNER
Great. ‘Nother section 8 burnout. -- Dropping like flies round here.
7

INT. LATRINES - DAY

Cage BURSTS IN. VOMITING in the SINK. SPLASHING water on his face. As he looks in the mirror, getting a grip.

CAGE
Battle hasn’t happened yet.
(processing)
... It was just a dream.
8

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Cage walks in, staring at the faces of the SOLDIERS he just watched die... A soldier playing a VIDEOGAME.A guy reading a CROSSWORD. A soldier THROWING an EMPTY SODA CAN at a TRASH CAN, missing the 3-pointer with a CLATTER.

MOE (O.S.)
BAR’S OPEN, BITCHES.

PFC Moses “MOE” Jones (African American) SWAGGERS in.

SKINNER
What they got, Moe, talk to me--

Moe pulls out a BARRACKS MAP. DRAWING a CIRCLE around a section of the OFFICERS TENT. An ACCESS POINT.

MOE
Rum, whiskey, vodka. Goddamn schnapps. Figure we break in after lights out. Hit the beach --

PVT. Luther “TUB-TUB” Kimmel (22, all kinds of obese) looks up from his HANDHELD VIDEO GAME, munching on CHIPS.

TUB
You think they got tequila?
SKINNER
Course, Tub, they’re officers, they got every damn thing.
TUB
Think they got barbecue?

Skinner looking at him, confused.

SKINNER
What’s wrong with you?
FRENCH (O.S.)
Ont-ils vin?

PFC. Marie “FRENCH” Garoux looks over (26, RIPPED FRENCH CHICK - Mona Lisa by way of Gold’s gym).

TUB
The hell she say?
MOE
No idea - gonna get DRUUUNK.
SKINNER
If your ass end up naked again --
MOE
C’mon man, that wasone time --

Cage watches on, CONFUSED. Like he’s seen it all before.

YOBO
Hey, you sure you’re okay, Sir?
CAGE
I’m fine.
(confused)
... Just a little... Deja vu --
SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
NOW JUST WHAT IN THE GODDAMNED SHIT DO WE HAVE HERE?

Everyone SCRAMBLES to attention as SGT. FARELL enters.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
WANT YOU MAGGOT ENSWINES OUT YOUR COFFINS AND P.T. IN TWO. MOVE --

Everyone scrambles to GET DRESSED.Cage at HALF SPEED.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
WHAT YOU SPECIAL, CAGE? THINK YOU AINT PART OF THIS TEAM --
CAGE
Just not feeling right --
SGT. FARELL
DO I LOOK LIKE I GIVE A SHIT HOW YOUFEEL, PRIVATE? WHAT ARE WE GIRLFRIENDS? WE GETTING OUR NAILS DONE LATER?... MOVE, PRINCESS --
9

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

RAIN falls on a HUGE MILITARY BASE in RURAL ENGLAND. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of SOLDIERS preparing for war...

CHINESE, RUSSIAN, AFRICAN, INDIAN etc.This is truly a global army. MARCHING. EXOJACKET SPARRING. SHOOTING.

As Cage watches 12th squad in the middle of PT.

CAGE
... Tub passes out --

The fat Private STRUGGLES over an OBSTACLE, FARELL SCREAMING until... Tub FAINTS. MEDICS rush over.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Abba makes a perfect shot.

PVT. MORTEN “ABBA” LJUNBERG (30, SWEDISH, male, blonde) hits three BULL'S-EYES, HOOTS IN SWEDISH.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Old man gets his leg stuck.

PFC. HANS “OLD MAN” HEITZ (55, GERMAN, poster child for EXPANDED AGE conscription) gets his leg stuck in a rope.

CAGE (CONT’D)
French picks a fight.

French powers towards a wall, PUSHING someone in her way. A FIGHT BEGINNING. As Cage REMEMBERS IT ALL aghast --

CAGE (CONT’D)
... What the hell is going on?

As Cage suddenly sees RITA breaking up the fight.Out of her jacket, she’s SMALLER than you’d think, and PRETTIER too. MOE and SKINNER joining Cage, watching on.

MOE
The Full Metal Bitch. Never seen her out her jacket before. Hell’s she doing down here in the mud --
SKINNER
She's first wave tomorrow. Some kinda morale boost, supposed to make us feel all fluffy inside --
MOE
Her ass makes me feel all fluffy inside. Heard she clocked three thousand kills in Florida alone.
RITA (O.S.)
Actually it’s closer to four.

They all jump to ATTENTION. Rita suddenly BEHIND THEM.

RITA (CONT’D)
My ass really make you feel all fluffy inside, Private?
MOE
No, Ma’am, I... You... I’m sorry, Ma’am I have no response to that.
RITA
I'm not here for morale, Soldier. I'm here to help get you ready --
(to Cage)
Something on my face, Corporal?

As we see Cage STARING. Remembering their last meeting.

RITA (CONT’D)
I know you from somewhere?
CAGE
Maybe from another life. Ma’am.
FARELL (O.S.)
ALRIGHT LADIES, RAIN LOCKERS AND CHOW ON THE DOUBLE, LET’S GO.
RITA
(off his glare)
Just remember we’re all on the same side out there, Corporal.

As RITA WATCHES HIM LEAVE. Seeing Cage GLANCING BACK...

BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
Since the first spores struck, we have been fighting a losing war.
10

INT. BRIEFING THEATER - DAY

TEN THOUSAND TROOPS see a MAP on VID-SCREENS.AUSTRALIA, ASIA AND AFRICA all RED. The AMERICAS, GREENLAND and CANADA all BLUE. As a BRIGADIER GENERAL holds court.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
... We may have held on to the Americas but we have lost Asia. Australia. Africa. Step by step, the contingency’s failed... We will not lose Europe too.

RITA steps forward, holding a BIO-TRANSMITTER.A SUITCASE SIZED miracle of military technology.

RITA
This is how we fight back.
(re: transmitter)
... Roaches communicate through an electricity-basedbio-tech - their bodies are quite literally electrical receivers. The Queen transmits to them where to go, how to fight - they’re like drones.

Rita points at a HIGHLIGHTED AREA OF NORMANDY on a map.

RITA (CONT’D)
Sat intel yesterday put our Queen off the coast somewhere here, on your HUDS as Attack Zone Delta. That's 30 square miles so it's needle in a haystack time, but she ispriority one. She is the key.

She holds up the BIO-TRANSMITTER. Showing a SERIES of PINCER CLAWS on the back of it, like SURGICAL STAPLES.

RITA (CONT’D)
If we can take her alive, we can implant the transmitter, scramble her signal, shut down theentire hive. But she has to be alive for it to work... Kill her too soon, they’ll go into bezerker mode. Need to co-opt the signal first.

The General takes over, as we reveal Cage watching it all. CLEARLY HAVING HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
... Our enemy has many strengths but we have one thing they don’t --

CAGE BRIGADIER GENERAL

The element of surprise. The element of surprise.

Yobo looks at Cage confused, seeing him mouth the words.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (CONT’D)
First wave heads to Delta, finds the Queen. Sends our signal. Second secures the beach. Third is last on clean up. By the time the roaches realize what happened--

CONTINUED: (2)

CAGE BRIGADIER GENERAL

We’ll already be in Paris. We’ll already be in Paris.

Yobo fascinated. Grinning. Loving the parlour trick.

YOBO
Hey, how’d you do that? What are you psychic? You read his speech?

As Cage gets up mid-speech. Hurrying out.

CAGE
... I need a drink --
11

EXT. BEHIND THE OFFICERS’ CLUB - NIGHT

A LIQUOR RAID in progress. Skinner handing LIQUOR under the edge of the Mylar to the rest of the team.As Cage suddenly walks through, GRABBING A BOTTLE OF BOURBON.

12

EXT. HIDDEN BEACH - UDF BASE - LATER THAT NIGHT

Cage sits nursing the BOTTLE OF BOURBON.Staring at the BREAKERS on this HIDDEN BEACH at the BASE’S EDGE.

DRUNKEN SOLDIERS surround. Moe running NAKED through the SURF. Skinner, Tub, French and Old Man Heitz MID-DEBATE.

SKINNER
Mate, I’m telling you, it’s a cakewalk. We’re last ones in --
TUB
What, you really think they gonna find theQueen? Never found the one in Australia, or Japan...
(off his look)
Ten bucks says, this shit fails, command nukes the wholla Europe --
SKINNER
Never gonna happen--
TUB
Nuked half of South America to cut the roaches off. Just like that. Barbecued millions of people --
MOE (O.S.)
Everything with you is barbecue --

As Moe suddenly runs by NAKED. Holding a BOTTLE OF RUM.

MOE (CONT’D)
SEMPER FI, BITCHES.
SKINNER
Moe,GODDAMIT --

Skinner running after him, TACKLING him into the SURF.

YOBO (O.S.)
... Think they’re right, Sir?

Cage turns to see Yobo sitting down, beer in hand.

YOBO (CONT’D)
Not even supposed to be here. Was training to be a pilot then they switched me to infantry.
(off his silence)
... Really think they’d nuke us? Just to cut ‘em off?

Cage stays typically SILENT. Taking a tug of bourbon.

YOBO (CONT’D)
You don't say much, huh? Always see you alone, never talking.
(off his silence)
That’s cool. None of them want to talk to the nube either... Name’s Yobo by the way, just got in --
CAGE
-- You miss your nephews, private?

Yobo stops on a dime. Confused. Looking at Cage.

YOBO
How did you know I --
CAGE
I miss my son.
(taking a SWIG)
... Don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t able to see him again.
YOBO
We’re all nervous about tomorrow --
CAGE
What if I was to tell you that I've already lived tomorrow?
(off his look)
What if I told you I’ve already seen how this all ends?

CONTINUED: (2)

YOBO
I'd say you’d probably just had a little too much to drink --

Cage stands and WAVERS. Yobo going to steady him.

CAGE
I’m fine. Don’t need your help.

Cage turns to walk away. Indignant.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Be nice wouldn't it, if that's all this was? Some kinda bad dream.
YOBO
Everything’s going to be better in the morning, Sir. Always is.
CAGE
... Wouldn’t that be something.
CUT TO:
13

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - MORNING

ALARMS BLEAT, RADIOS ECHO across the base, as STREAMS of SOLDIERS run to their deployments like ants.

14

INT. ARMORY - DAY

EXOJACKETS line the walls as SOLDIERS pound in.Every exojacket custom fit, a SOLDIER’S NAME on each.

As 12th Squad STRIPS to their UNDERWEAR - jackets needing full body contact. Moe stripping off his UNDERWEAR TOO.

SKINNER
Moe, man are youstill drunk --
MOE
I gotta feel free, homie!

Moe’s jacket CLICKING around his body, SEALING HIM IN.

MOE (CONT’D)
Woooh, LORDY! Welcome to the Plastic Fantastic Death Machine!
(to Abba)
... Yo, Ab, turn that shit up.

ABBA, the Swede, taking off his HEADPHONES and plugging his MP3 into his jacket. The ROLLING STONES echoing out.

TUB
Guys, can someone, uh --

Skinner and French WEDGE the OVERWEIGHT TUB into this jacket, as with a GROAN, Tub finally POPS into his suit.

YOBO
Corporal. How you feel - better? Still worried about today?

As we see Cage, looking around at the optimistic troops. Saddened. An awful look of RESIGNATION. Lying.

CAGE
... Course not.
(sickened)
Be in Paris before we know it.
15

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCE DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - DAY

Cage looks ill. Everything EXACTLY THE SAME. Only now WE RECOGNIZE THE FACES AROUND US. Knowing their names.

SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
DON’T YOU DARE PUKE, PRIVATE. Spit up in your jacket, you're in for a world a shit. Wanna short your heads up, fry your face off?
YOBO
SIR, NO SIR!
(to himself)
... I trained on the X-0. They said we were getting X-0s --
SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
SIXTY TO CONTACT. HOLDING--

Farell hits a BUTTON, as the DROPSHIP BAY DOORS open.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
K, LIGHT EM UP, LADIES. HUDS ON. ... PAIR UP. WANT YOU TWO BY TWO OUT THERE, YOU STAY AS A UNIT --

Yobo LOOKS AT CAGE HOPEFULLY again.Cage ignoring him.

CAGE
Don’t even bother --

Yobo confused. Until he sees the RED DOTS on the HUDS.

YOBO
Wait, I thought we were secure?
SGT. FARELL
CONTACT MINUS 10. LATCHES OFF.

Cage pulls out the PHOTO of his son.CROSSING himself with the picture THREE TIMES. The old routine.

YOBO
I thought we were last in --

BOOM! The dropship is STRUCK. As we see the FACE of the soldier killed by SHRAPNEL. Seeing it’s OLD MAN HEITZ.

SGT. FARELL
GO, GO, GO-- DROP, YOU BABIES!

SOLDIERS DROPPING. As Cage looks at Yobo. Knowing his fate. Letting himself FALL BACKWARDS out the dropship.

CAGE
... I’m sorry --
16

EXT. BEACHHEAD - FRANCE - DAY

WHAM! Cage lands in a crater. Everything the same. Only now we KNOW THE FACES of 12th SQUAD as we see them die. As TUB gets out of the crater next to Cage--

TUB
WE MADE IT!
CAGE
WAIT--

PHLAM! 12 TONS OF FAMILIAR DROPSHIP LANDING ON TUB. ABBA stuck under the ship too, SCREAMING IN PAIN.As Yobo and Sgt. Farell land next to Cage and run to:

IN THE TRENCH:

Cage surrounded by the familiar scene.Grabbing Farell.

CAGE
LISTEN TO ME, 1ST AND 2ND DIDN’T GET THROUGH, WE GOTTA FALL BACK --

TOO LATE. AS... BLAM! A SECTION OF TRENCH COLLAPSES.

MOE
... WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.

THAP! A JAVELIN hits Moe square in the chest. Another faceless victim given a name. Our team sitting ducks.

SGT. FARELL
(panicking)
I don’t know what to do --

FRENCH the next one of our team to meet her fate.Taking TWO JAVELIN HITS. Her jacket JITTERBUGGING... The AUTO- CANNON FIRING, KILLING SKINNER. Cage having seen enough.

CAGE
To hell with this.
SGT. FARELL
Wait, Cage,WHERE ARE YOU GOING --

INTO NO MAN’S LAND:

Cage RUNS. TAKING COVER like before, as he sees FARELL being killed behind him, the team wiped out.

Cage turning, knowing Yobo will be following him --

CAGE
STAY AWAY--

Yobo STOPPING ON A DIME as Cage sees the javelin that killed Yobo last time now NEATLY MISSING HIS HEAD.

YOBO
What - how did you --

As YOBO suddenly FROWNS. Watching as Cage COUGHS. Something DARK spattering inside his faceplate.

Cage looking down at his chest to see a 90MM HOLE CLEAN THROUGH HIS CHEST PLATE. Cage in shock.

YOBO (CONT’D)
You knew -didn’t you --

The image SWIMMING, the sound FUTZING like a HAM RADIO --

YOBO (CONT’D)
... Wait,HOW DID YOU KNOW --

As the TRANSMISSION rises into a BUZZY ROAR and we --

CUT TO:
17

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - MORNING

CAGE WAKES UP on his BUNK, COUGHING AND HACKING AND GASPING, desperate for air. Everything normal.

YOBO (O.S.)
Hey. You okay?

Cage sees YOBO sitting on his bunk, cleaning MRS. SMITH. His BARRACKS surrounding. Skinner opposite him, staring.

SKINNER (O.S.)
What ya piss yourself, Cage? Maybe it was a wet dream. Maybe he was dreamin’ about Rita --
CAGE
... It wasn’t a dream --

Cage seeing the FAMILIAR DETAILS. Tub playing his VIDEOGAME. Heitz doing the CROSSWORD. Abba THROWING the EMPTY SODA CAN at the TRASH CAN, missing the 3-pointer.

CAGE (CONT’D)
What’s happening to me?
SKINNER
Great. 'Nother section 8 burnout. -- Dropping like flies round here.

As SLAM... Cage is suddenly across the room.RAMMING Skinner into a WALL. Angry now. Face to face.

CAGE
I’m not crazy --

Skinner PUSHES HIM BACK. The two men FACING OFF.

TUB
Just leave it, Skinner --
SKINNER
No, I’m sick of tiptoeing around this freak. 2 years he don’t talk to us, eat with us,look at us-- ... Think you’re better than us, that it? Too good for this squad?
MOE (O.S.)
BAR’S OPEN, BITCHES.

Moe entering to see the commotion.Cage glaring.

MOE (CONT’D)
What? What’s his problem?

As Cage hurriedly takes some ASPIRIN.CHEWING FOUR.

CAGE
We’re all gonna die tomorrow.

CONTINUED: (2)

MOE
... Y’know, you’re not exactly Mr. Morale, Cage --
CAGE
I’ve seen it happen. All of it. ... You get killed in a trench. French takes two to the chest, her jacket jitterbugs. Heitz doesn't even make it off the dropship--
SKINNER
What the hell iswrong with you?

Cage sees his squad all staring. A caged animal.

CAGE
... I don’t know --
SGT. FARELL
THE HELL YOU PRINCESSES DOING?

They turn to see Farell entering. Full of mustard.

SKINNER
Cage is crazy as a shithouse rat, Sir, he’s lost his mind --

As... SLAM. Cage DECKS Skinner with a clean RIGHT HOOK. 12th squad JUMPING IN. Cage one man against the world.

YOUNG DOCTOR (V.O.)
Name’s Cage, Daniel J. Corporal --
18

INT. CORRIDOR - UDF SICK BAY - LATER THAT DAY

A YOUNG UDF DOCTOR leads a UDF PSYCHIATRIST down a corridor in this ANTISEPTIC, cold building.

YOUNG DOCTOR
... MP’s brought him in a few hours ago. Know you wanted to approve any section eights --
UDF PSYCHIATRIST
Lemme guess, another conscript doing the psycho, trying to get out of fighting tomorrow --
YOUNG DOCTOR
This one’s a little different.
19

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The Doctor and Shrink enter an OBSERVATION ROOM.A ONE WAY MIRROR providing a view of a BLOODIED CAGE next door.

CAGE
Please, I know how it sounds, but you have to listen to me... I’ve beenthere. I wake up here, I die there. Over and over. I’ve seen the future -we’re all gonna die --
UDF PSYCHIATRIST
That’s new.

As the Young Doctor MUTES Cage’s ramblings next door.

YOUNG DOCTOR
Immortality construct. Sisyphean architecture. Thinks he’s trapped in a kinda, temporal loop. Passed neural, fTCD, voice. Total break.
UDF PSYCHIATRIST
... What’s under the hood?

THROUGH WINDOW:

He looks at Cage’s BODY, covered in SCARS and CLAW MARKS.

YOUNG DOCTOR (O.S.)
Drafted out of Dorset, brought his family here after the US attacks. Been in 2 years - Beijing, Brazil. 9 brigs. 14 insubordinations. Abandoned his unit 11 times in the first 18 months, full AWOL... Mostly found him in Scotland --
UDF PSYCHIATRIST
What the hell’s in Scotland --
YOUNG DOCTOR
Refugee camps. Son was remanded into state control when he was drafted, been trying to find him ever since. Needle in a haystack up there. It's a mess.

As Cage breaks free, SLAMMING against the one way mirror.

UDF PSYCHIATRIST
... Enough to drive a man insane.

BACK TO OBSERVATION ROOM:

The Psychiatrist watches Cage SLAM into the mirror REPEATEDLY. Inches from his face. HE LOOKS NUTS.

UDF PSYCHIATRIST
Alright, section him. Take him to psych. He can sleep it off while the real men do the fighting.
(into MICROPHONE)
300 hypo thorazine, thank you.

THWAP. The MEDIC shoots the FRANTIC CAGE in the NECK with a HYPO GUN. Cage groggy. Wavering. EYES FALLING.

YOUNG DOCTOR
... I don’t get it.
(off his look)
Why now? What made him snap now, after 2 years? What broke him?
UDF PSYCHIATRIST
Who cares. Just get him out of here, Doctor. We have work to do.
ADAM (V.O.)
... Dad?

The psychiatrist LEAVING, as the Young Doctor watches Cage FALL DOWN. Sympathetic. Cage SHAKING, defiant.

YOUNG DOCTOR
The hell happened to you, soldier?

As the sound of SIRENS GROWS LOUDER ALL AROUND US and --

ADAM (V.O.)
Dad, what’s happening --
DREAM CUT TO:
20

INT. LIVING ROOM - COUNTRY HOME - NIGHT -FLASHBACK

Panic. The sound of SIRENS. Cage’s WIFE trying to PACK VALUABLES. As Cage grabs their SON, PULLING her away --

CAGE
... There’s no time --
21

EXT. ENGLISH VILLAGE - NIGHT -FLASHBACK

Cage pulls his wife and child into this COASTAL VILLAGE. VILLAGERS running from the SEA. Cage GRABS a NEIGHBOR.

CAGE
How did they get through? What happened to the perimeter --
NEIGHBOR
It collapsed. Soldiers left... They’re gone, they ran.
CAGE
What do you mean theyran --
NEIGHBOR
They abandoned us. Perimeter’s down, they came from the water --

SCREAMING coming from the coast. Cage seeing a CONSCRIPT SOLDIER RUN PAST (19) with the villagers.Terrified.

CAGE
What are you doing, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT. YOU CAN’T LEAVE --
UDF CONSCRIPT SOLDIER
... I’m sorry, I can’t --

As Cage sees a HUNTING PARTY of MIMICS in the DISTANCE. Unleashing LEGLESS SNAKE-LIKE MIMICS into the village. SLITHERING at HORRIFYING SPEED. Attacking the VILLAGERS.

ADAM
Dad, I’m scared.
CAGE
Alright, we’re getting out of here, everything’s gonna be fine.

Hayley grabbing her husband close.DESPERATE.

HAYLEY
... Listen to me, promise me you'll protect him. Promise me --
CAGE
We can protect him together.
HAYLEY
Just promise me. No matter what.
CAGE
... Nothing’s gonna happen to him.

As the sound of MORE SCREAMING intrudes and Cage see the SNAKE MIMICS TEARING through the village towards them --

CONTINUED: (2)

UDF PSYCHIATRIST (V.O.)
Corporal?
DREAM CUT TO:
22

INT. UDF SICK BAY - DAY -PRESENT DAY

Cage wakes, confused. Haunted. As the SOUP CLEARS, and he sees the Young Doctor, taking his VITALS.

YOUNG DOCTOR (O.S.)
You were fighting. In your sleep. Talking. Had to strap you down --

Cage seeing he’s STRAPPED DOWN. As he’s UNBUCKLED.

YOUNG DOCTOR (CONT’D)
What happened to you, Corporal? ... Some of the things you said --
CAGE
It’s none of your business --
YOUNG DOCTOR
Actually it is my business, if you’re suppressing trauma --
CAGE
Wait, what time is it?

As Cage sees a TELEVISION. MEDICS gathered, watching TV REPORTS. Awaiting news of the INVASION UNDER WAY!

YOUNG DOCTOR
Relax. Started a few hours ago, everything went just fine. We’re waiting on pictures now --
CAGE
What are youtalking about? We alreadywent in? We won?

Cage looking at the HOPE AND OPTIMISM in the room.Maybe it is all okay? Maybe it was all just an awful dream --

And then he hears a SCREAM. The LIVE FOOTAGE on TV --

NURSE (O.S.)
Oh, Jesus.

As Cage sees the FIRST FOOTAGE of the invasion.An AERIAL SHOT of the devastation. The UDF ARMY WIPED OUT.

YOUNG DOCTOR
That’s impossible, they told us --
CAGE
They lied.

The footage showing THOUSANDS OF MIMIC SWIMMING ACROSS THE CHANNEL as the COUNTER INVASION BEGINS!LIVE IMAGES of the STREETS OF LONDON on the TV.PANICKED CITIZENS.

WOMAN ON TV (O.S.)
They’re coming. THEY’RE COMING!

And so they come. HUNDREDS UPON THOUSANDS OF MIMIC. Streaming over the THAMES BARRIER, swarming over the bridges. SO MANY THEY’RE CHURNING UP THE WATER...

CAGE
Oh my God --
23

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage stumbles out into the PANICKED BASE.Soldiers RUNNING. Seeing the PALE BRIGADIER GENERAL, leaning against a wall. Sick looking. Cage GRABBING him.

CAGE
C’mon, we gotta do something... Those people out there need us --
BRIGADIER GENERAL
It won't make any difference --
CAGE
WHAT’RE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MYSON IS OUT THERE, LET’S GO --

As it begins. The DRONE-LIKE WAIL. The sound of SIRENS ALL OVER ENGLAND. Cage instantly knowing what it means.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Oh, no no no --
BRIGADIER GENERAL
Contingency will start here, then France, Spain --
CAGE
Wait, they can’t do this --
BRIGADIER GENERAL
Do whatever they have to do to cut ‘em off... It's the only way.

Cage seeing people SOBBING. PREYING. Panicking.

And then we see the first. A MUSHROOM CLOUD in the FAR DISTANCE. The awful PLOOM attacking the sky. A SHUDDER.

CAGE
THEY CAN’T DO THIS --

And then ANOTHER CLOUD in the distance.And ANOTHER. ENGLAND being PEPPERED with nuclear explosions until --

The awful sound of a MOMENTARY WHISTLE intrudes.

CAGE (CONT’D)
...Adam --

And then SILENCE overwhelms.

A WHITE LIGHT suddenly consumes everything.And this is what it feels like to be underneath a TEN MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB. The BLAST-CLOUD, the SHOCKWAVE, the FIRE. As England is slowly blown off the face of the earth --

CUT TO:
24

INT. BARRACKS - MONDAY MORNING

Cage OPENS HIS EYES. TEARS on his face. Not moving, just listening to the BARRACKS. Life, oblivious.

YOBO (O.S.)
... Hey. You okay?

Yobo looks at him, cleaning Mrs. Smith.Cage STARING THROUGH YOBO. Yobo thinking he’s looking at his OLD GUN.

YOBO (CONT’D)
You like it? My old man’s. Police issue, pretty sweet huh?
CAGE
They’re gonna kill us all.
(off his confusion)
Even if I stay, I can’t escape it. ... I can’t save him.
YOBO
I’m sorry, I don’t --
CAGE
There’s no way out.
25

INT. LATRINES - MORNING

Cage looks in the MIRROR. The water pouring down the DRAIN. As Cage stares at it, looking awful. Spent.

CAGE (V.O.)
Believe in curses, private?
26

INT. MESS HALL - LATER

Cage CHEWS ASPIRIN as talks. YOBO looking over.

YOBO
You talking to me, Sir?
CAGE
You’re the only one who ever listens... You believe in hell?

Cage looks around the CAFETERIA. The RAVENOUS SOLDIERS. RITA eating at the OFFICERS TABLE.An oblivious world.

YOBO
Sir, you want me to get someone --
CAGE
Been having this - dream.
(off his look)
-- This recurring dream - where I can’t stop dying. In the battle tomorrow. Everything goes wrong, we all die, only I don't stay dead. Just keep waking up today --
YOBO
(freaked out)
Uh-huh... Did you try the Jello today? Think it’s grape --
CAGE
Best part is even if I don’t go, I die here. Can’t escape it.

Moe looks over from the NEXT TABLE, interrupting.

MOE
I used to have a recurring dream where I made out with my grandma.
YOBO
Not exactly the same, Moe --
CAGE
Feel like I'm being punished. Like there’s nowhere to hide --
MOE
She’d take out her teeth and stuff, it was nasty --
TUB (O.S.)
I think it sounds awesome.

Cage turns to see TUB at end of table.Head buried in his VIDEO GAME. SHOVELLING FOOD as he plays.

TUB (CONT’D)
I mean... If you can't die, you got infinite lives, right? So, you get to fight for free. No consequences. Be like a game --
CAGE
This isn’t a game, private.
TUB
It is if you play it like one.
(off his look)
See the patterns, beat the levels, find the Queen... Could win the whole war by yourself.

As he finally LOOKS UP FROM HIS GAME.Smiling. Sincere.

TUB (CONT’D)
... Maybe if you win the battle, you'll stop having the dream?

French DROPS a TRAY with a CLATTER in the BACKGROUND. Everyone CHEERING. Everyone but Cage. Doing the math.

CAGE
Couldn’t find the queen by myself, there’s a million roaches between us and her, it’s impossible --
YOBO
Sergeant Major won Florida in one try. Killed half the mimic army --
CAGE
Can’t fight like her, no one can.
YOBO
It’s a dream, Corporal, you can fight however you want.

CONTINUED: (2)

As Cage looks over at RITA EATING across the mess hall. The Sergeant Major SITTING AMONG HER TROOPS.

YOBO (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Learn to fight, win the war, end the dream... What you gotta lose?
27

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage FOLLOWS Rita out of the mess hall, across the base. As he sees her disappear into the ARMORY.Cage hesitating. NOT WANTING TO DO THIS. Until finally --

CAGE (V.O.)
Hello?
28

INT. ARMORY - DAY

Cage walks into the ARMORY, looking for Rita.THOUSANDS OF EXOJACKETS lining the walls. An eerie quiet.

CAGE
Sergeant Major?

He sees a HOLOBAY in the corner. A 3-D HOLOGRAPH showing MIMIC HISTORY on a loop. As Cage walks towards it...

A HOLOGRAPH of ONE BILLION STARS serenely floats around him. A METEOR SHOWER flying towards EARTH.

HOLOBAY NARRATOR (V.O.)
... The meteor shower containing the spores originated from a galaxy outside of our own...

A HOLOGRAPH tracing their BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION appears.

HOLOBAY NARRATOR (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Initial evolution occurred at an alarming rate - cells to complex trilobyte-like organisms in days. The Queens appearing just weeks later, creating an entire bio- system in a matter of months, mimicking many of our species --

As Cage sees the breadth of MIMIC SPECIES.From INSECT SIZED mimics to the SNAKE-LIKE mimics we saw earlier. From huge HEADLESS-ELEPHANT SIZED mimics to the BIPEDAL WARRIORS. A litany of CLUMSY BIOLOGICAL PERVERSIONS.

RITA (O.S.)
... Have to know your enemy.

He turns to see Rita next him, watching the holograph.

RITA (CONT’D)
Cell structure’s totally unique. Upstairs thinks they might even predate anything else out there. Could have been doing this for millions -billions of years. Jumping from host to host. Planet to planet. Like a parasite. Guess we were just next in line.
(off his look)
... You planning on saluting me any time soon, soldier?

Cage snaps out if it. SALUTING her, awkwardly.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Why are you here?
CAGE
Came to ask for your help --
RITA
What makes you think I have time to help you, soldier?
CAGE
I need to learn how to fight.

She looks at his UNIFORM. Glancing him up and down.

RITA
You're a Corporal, Mr - Cage. If you can’t fight by now --
CAGE
I need to learn how to win.
RITA
Lemme guess. Another lone gun wanting to play hero --
CAGE
Just wanna kill the roaches and go find my son, Ma’am. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be.
(off her look)
Five minutes, that’s all I need.
RITA
Think that’s all it takes --
CAGE
I’m a fast learner.

CONTINUED: (2)

Rita looking at him. SIZING HIM UP. His sincere face.

RITA
Alright, I’ll give you ten... Suit up, I'll see you in sparring in 2.
(off his look)
... Hope you like pain, Corporal.

As she walks off and Cage looks at his empty exo-jacket, “CAGE” on front. Like a coffin with his own name on it.

CAGE
Gotta be outta my mind.
29

INT. SPARRING BAY - MOMENTS LATER

Cage steps in, wearing his JACKET.The bay a vast, ECHOING SPACE the size of an AIRPLANE HANGAR.

CAGE
Hello?

As he turns a CORNER to see Rita GETTING UNDRESSED.SEXY AS ALL HELL. Down to her UNDERWEAR. Cage taken aback.

RITA
What’s the matter, Corporal, never seen a half-naked woman before?

Cage MORTIFIED, as she WALKS TOWARDS HIM.Fearless in her NEAR NUDITY. Confident. Empowered. Stunning.

RITA (CONT’D)
... More skin, closer the contact. You wanna learn how to fight, need to learn how to wear that jacket.

Cage trying not to look as she SLIPS INTO HER SUIT and --

WHAM! She SMACKS him with a HUGE LEFT, Cage sent flying.

RITA (CONT’D)
... You’re wearing 300 pounds of micro-jointed, polycarbonate body armor designed forone purpose.
(as he gets up)
To make you all that you can be.

SLAM. She HITS him again. Cage FLYING into a wall.

RITA (CONT’D)
Average mimic foot soldier is 9 feet tall, 660 pounds. Wanna beat him you gottabecome him.
(MORE)
RITA (CONT’D)
Level the playing field. Think he gets distracted by a little skin?

As she goes to hit him again and... WHOOSH.He DODGES her blow, just in time. Evading the contact.

RITA (CONT’D)
Good --
CAGE
What about the queens? How do they fight? How do you beat them?
RITA
You just stick to your mandate, 12th, you're third wave. Not quite ready for that yet.

Cage suddenly SPINNING, landing a blow... WHACK!

CAGE
Never know, I may surprise you.

SLAM. Rita KNOCKS CAGE OFF HIS FEET, landing on him. PINNING HIS ARMS BACK, sticking her 50mm in his face.

RITA
You’re slow, Corporal, but you’ve got more metal than you think.

Cage SPITTING BLOOD as Rita rolls off of him.

RITA (CONT’D)
Now. You wanna try that again?

As Cage GRINS through BLOODIED TEETH.

CAGE
... Why the hell not?
30

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCE DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - DAY

The familiar scene. Farell opening the BAY DOORS.

SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
SIXTY TO CONTACT. HOLDING--

Yobo watches Cage REPROGRAM his HEADS UP.Entering ATTACK ZONE DELTA into the HUD MAP.30 SQUARE MILES.

YOBO
What are you doing?
CAGE
Going hunting --
YOBO
You can’t change protocol, we’re not supposed to go after the queen, that’s first wave’s job --
CAGE
... Not anymore.

He LOCKS AND LOADS. STANDING. Ready to jump.

SGT. FARELL
CORPORAL CAGE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Cage CROSSING himself with his son’s picture THREE TIMES.

CAGE
Ready player 1, Tub. Here we go.

As Tub looks up at him, confused.

SGT. FARELL
CAGE SIT YOUR ASS BACK DOWN.
CAGE
... Might want to hold on tight. You’re in for a bumpy ride --
31

EXT. SKY - DAY

Cage drops out of the drop ship. FIRST MAN OUT as --

KERWHAM! The dropship is STRUCK up above. Soldiers falling out. Cage PLUMMETING DOWNWARDS until --

32

EXT. BEACHHEAD - FRANCE - DAY

WHAM! CAGE LANDS on the beach. Hitting the sand running. TAKING COVER immediately - breathing hard.

He checks his HUD. An ARROW indicating an ALTERNATE ROUTE. Pointing to an adjacent GRASS COVERED HILL...

33

EXT. GRASS HILL - DAY

Cage runs. The ARROW to ATTACK ZONE DELTA in Cage’s HUD pointing PAST THE CLIFFS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL.

A WAR ZONE between him and the cliffs.Half a mile of pure MIMIC CARNAGE. SCREAMING SOLDIERS everywhere.

CAGE
Don’t think, just move. Don’t think, just move...

Cage starts RUNNING. Still clunky in his jacket. DODGING JAVELINS. FIRING his 50mm, trying to run as --

WHAM! A Mimic SLAMS RIGHT INTO CAGE, knocking him sideways, JAVELINS BLOOMING across its body, arms SHARP AS RAZORS. CAGE ROLLING, TWISTING as it LEAPS --

And Cage RAMS his PILEDRIVER into the BACK of the MIMIC’S NECK -- KERWHAM! Cage having acted on PURE INSTINCT.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Now that’s more like it --

WHOOSH. STRIKE JETS suddenly ROAR in, laying down a WALL OF FLAME, close enough that CAGE is SENT FLYING.DIRT in the SKY, MIMIC PIECES FALLING. Up and down one and the same. As CAGE tries to stand, only to FALL BACK DOWN.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Oh God, no, no, no --

As he sees his LEFT LEG ten feet away.Cage DRAGGING HIMSELF away, FIRING with his one FREE ARM.SCREAMING.

Not seeing the fatal MIMIC BARRELING at him as a SICKENING CRUNCH is lost in the CACOPHONY of war and...

CUT TO:
34

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Cage WAKES UP on his bunk. Yobo cleaning Mrs. Smith next to him. As Cage’s BARE FEET hit the CONCRETE FLOOR.

He stands there, checking his LEGS.ENJOYING IT NOW.

YOBO
Hey. You okay?
CAGE
Yeah. Actually I’m great.

Cage grabs a SHARPIE out of HEITZ’S HAND, interrupting the Old Man’s CROSSWORD. The old German clearly annoyed.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Mind if I borrow that?

Cage writes a BIG “6” on his hand with the sharpie.

HEITZ
What are you --
CAGE
Figure better start keeping track.
(off his confusion)
I’m trying to find the Queen, stop an invasion, and save western Europe from nuclear annihilation.
HEITZ
Uh-huh... Can I have my pen back?

Heitz takes his pen back. WIPING it. Trying to get the crazy off. As Cage walks out. Nonchalantly LIFTING THE TRASH CAN - catching Abba’s SODA CAN SHOT from mid-air.

NOTHING BUT NET. Cage starting to get the hang of this.

RITA (V.O.)
Jacket's like a woman, Corporal.
35

INT. SPARRING BAY - DAY

Cage ROLLS, EVADING TRACER FIRE. AUGMENTED-REALITY-- MUNITIONS that can only be seen inside the faceplate.

RITA
Can't just throw her against a wall and try and have your way.

Cage trying to get position. As we see a “12” WRITTEN on his hand. Cage gaining experience. Life by life.

RITA (CONT’D)
Wanna raise that skirt, you gotta treat her with respect. Romance her. Be gentle with her.

As she walks up BEHIND HIM. Cage NOT SEEING HER. Rita all but BREATHING in his ear. Enjoying her power.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Then she’ll make all your wildest dreams come true --

Cage SPINNING around to see her SMILING.SLAMMING him in the face as he unleashes his AUTOCANNON TRACERS and we --

CUT TO:
36

EXT. GRASS HILL - DAY

-- Cage’s AUTOCANNON targets nine MIMICS at once.NINE MIMICS DYING, B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BLAM!

EXCITED SOLDIER
DAMN, SON, THAT’S SOME SHOOTIN’!

As he sees MORE MIMICS LEAP off the hill above, LANDING ON the EXCITED SOLDIER, TEARING HIM TO SHREDS --

EXCITED SOLDIER (CONT’D)
NO, GET ‘EM OFF ME --

Cage ignoring him, SURGING UPHILL towards the CLIFFS. Closer now. LEAPING through the air towards a MIMIC --

CUT TO:
37

INT. SPARRING BAY - DAY

-- ALMOST LANDING ON RITA. Firing his TRACER ROUNDS as she rolls evasively. A “28” now WRITTEN on his hand.

RITA
Size matters. The bigger the gun, slower the soldier. Less is more.

She CASTS her GUNS aside and DEPLOYS BAYONETS out of her jacket arms. POLYCARBONATE-KEVLAR BLADES stretching out of her WRISTS. Extending her ARMS into LONG BLADES.

RITA (CONT’D)
Only real weapon a soldier needs is his bayonets. Kill twice as many roaches in half the time --
(grinning)
-- And they never run out of ammo.

As she LEAPS down into a DEATH BLOW, Cage rolling away, deploying his own BAYONETS as he attacks --

CUT TO:
38

EXT. GRASS HILL - DAY

-- RIPPING into the THICK HIDE of a huge RHINO-LIKE MIMIC - Cage SLICING and DICING. Bayonets covered in BLOOD. Wiping his SWEAT-COVERED BROW. Clearly EXHAUSTED.

CAGE
... Shouldn’t be this hard.

As, in the DISTANCE, he sees RITA at work UP THE HILL. WATCHING HER FIGHT with Nuriev-like PRECISION.An ANGEL OF DEATH. Cage still a clumsy brawler in comparison --

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... What aren’t you telling me?
CUT TO:
39

INT. SPARRING BAY - DAY

Rita SOMERSAULTS into an ATTACK POSITION.IMPOSSIBLY ATHLETIC. Cage TRYING TO ADJUST. A “46” on his HAND.

CAGE
No matter what I do, I’m still too slow, what am I doing wrong?

Rita looking at him. Sizing him up. Evaluating.

RITA
... You afraid of dying, soldier?
CAGE
Could say I got a handle on it.

As... SLAM. She suddenly LEAPS on him. An immediate INTIMACY as they are FACE TO FACE.Rita even more BEAUTIFUL up close. Cage clearly a little FLUSTERED.

RITA
You signed your infirmary release? Organ donation forms, next of kin?

Cage NODDING, taken aback, as she suddenly SPINS him around like a RAG DOLL, RIPPING open a HATCH on his back.

CAGE
... You know you need to start respecting my personal space --

Rita HACKING into the back of his jacket.READOUTS on his faceplate FLICKERING as she hacks into his system.

RITA
Human body has a neural limit on it -- something that tells it not to push too far too fast. Keeps your body from tearing itself up.

She pulls out a CHIP, shuts a PORT.The suit powers up. Readouts flashing “WARNING: AUTOBALANCER DISABLED.”

RITA (CONT’D)
Jackets have the same limit on them. Without it you could snap a bone just trying to run too fast.

She helps Cage up. Cage STEPS, BOUNCING. Spring-loaded.

CAGE
What the hell --
RITA
Nice and easy, don’t push it. Try taking a swing at that target --

WHAM! Cage STRIKES a METAL, PYLON-SHAPED TARGET...

Sending himself FLYING ACROSS THE ROOM in the process, landing in a HEAP. OW. Rita grinning.

CAGE
What did you do to me --

Cage seeing the target CRUMPLED AROUND HIS FIST.

RITA
Welcome to the big leagues, Cage. Try and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

As the sound of ALIEN SCREAMING overwhelms and --

CUT TO:
40

EXT. CLIFF BASE - DAY

CAGE is DECIMATING MIMICS, twice as fast and twice as strong as he was before. Soldiers WATCH, stunned.

CAGE
Alright, now we’re talking.

Cage finally making it to the END OF THE HILL and the CLIFF FACE. Finally catching up with the battling RITA.

RITA
Don’t get too close soldier, don’t want you getting hurt.
CAGE
I think I’ll be okay.

As Cage shows off with a display of DEADLY MARKSMANSHIP. Ten HEAD SHOTS on the spin. Ruthless accuracy until...

TAK TAK SPT SPT SPT -- His AUTOCANNON runs out of AMMO. A FRESH SWARM OF MIMICS heads his way--

As Cage JUMPS onto the turret of a HALF-EXPLODED TANK, TEARING off the main cannon and using it as a BLUDGEON. WHANG! WHANG! WHANG! Cage unstoppable now.

RITA (V.O.)
... How did you do that?
CUT TO:
41

INT. SPARRING BAY - DAY

Cage SOMERSAULTS over Rita, his agility astounding, as for the first time we see Rita being OUTMANEUVERED.

RITA
Where’d you learn to fight like that? Who trained you --

As Cage suddenly gets the drop on RITA.THROWING her down. ON TOP OF HER NOW. In control.

CAGE
Beginner’s luck I guess.

Cage now controlling the SUDDEN INTIMACY.FACE TO FACE. The tables turned. Rita clearly a little FLUSTERED.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Guess you prefer being on top?

He lets her roll him over. Back into the POWER POSITION.

RITA
Who are you? Really?... No one’s ever put me down before.

Cage looking at his mentor. A curious sadness. As if saying goodbye. The NUMBER “96” visible on his hand.

CAGE
... Then I guess there's nothing left for you to teach me.
42

INT. MESS HALL - LATER

Cage sits EATING ALONE, as per usual.As Rita SITS down next to him - every grunt in the room looking over.

RITA
Cage, we need men like you. Men who can lead the line...
CAGE
Would you pass the salt.
RITA
You’re being wasted at Corporal. These guys need someone they can look up to. UDF needs you --
CAGE
Well I don’t need the UDF, okay? I’m not leader material, trust me.
43

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage walks through the base. Rita following him.

RITA
I pulled your file, Cage.
(off his silence)
... I know what happened to you. To your family.
CAGE
No, you don’t.
RITA
It wasn't our fault, soldier --

As Cage finally turns. Not wanting to engage.

CAGE
Think cause you read a file you know anything about me?
RITA
Can’t hate the world forever.

Cage looks at her. Losing his patience now. Irritated.

CAGE
Those soldiers were supposed to be defending my family. They ran --
RITA
People get scared, Cage, they’re human. It’s what makes us different from them.
CAGE
Then maybe I’m fighting for the wrong side.
(off her look)
Don't act like you know what I've been through. You have no idea.
RITA
Then tell me.
(off his look)
... What happened to you?

Cage looking at her. A WHOLE WORLD OF THINGS UNSAID. As he BACKS AWAY. Rita watching him leave.

CAGE
... Just stay away from me --
RITA
Wait, where are you going?
CAGE
To find the Queen. I don’t need your help anymore.
RITA
Can’t fight this war alone, Cage.
CAGE
... Watch me.
CUT TO:
44

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage walks through the RAIN. The NUMBER “152” on his hand revealing he’s done this walk MANY TIMES BEFORE. Cage knowing EVERY MOVEMENT of everyone on the base...

As he approached the MUNITIONS FACILITY.A GUARD turning to look at a PIECE OF PAPER BLOWING PAST just as...

CAGE STEPS IN BEHIND HIM, gliding THROUGH SECURITY.

45

INT. MUNITIONS - DAY

A sea of WEAPONS and EXPLOSIVES. Cage STEPPING behind an OFFICER, whom he shadows, before then SPLITTING OFF...

Past a GUY and GIRL soldier secretly NECKING...

Into a WEAPONS BAY where TECHS are preparing Rita’s BIO- TRANSMITTERS from the briefing about the queen.

FIRST WAVE OFFICERS collecting their transmitters.As Cage effortlessly GLIDES past, hidden,GRABBING HIS OWN.

46

INT. ARMORY - DAY

Cage STORES the transmitter in his jacket’s MINI-CARGO HOLD. As the ROLLING STONES plays out of Abba’s suit.

MOE (O.S.)
Woooh, LORDY! Welcome to the Plastic Fantastic Death Machine!

EVERYONE suiting up. As Yobo sees Cage REMOVING WEAPON AFTER WEAPON from his jacket, dropping them to the floor.

YOBO
What are you doing?
CAGE
Lightening up.
YOBO
What you supposed to fight with?

Cage slips on his exojacket. Man on a mission.

CAGE
... Not all about fighting.
47

EXT. BEACHHEAD - FRANCE - DAY

And so it begins. Cage DROPPING down onto the BEACH - as we see exactly what 152 PRACTICE RUNS gives you.

SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
CAGE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

Cage SILENCING the Sarge on his RADIO.

CAGE
Relax. I’ve done this before.

Cage PULLING ABBA’S MP3 from his CORPSE’S JACKET. Loading it up. As the STONES’ “TIME IS ON MY SIDE” quietly fills the battlefield. Eerie and distant.

ACROSS THE BEACH:

We FLIP IN and OUT of SLOW MOTION as Cage walks across like the PROVERBIAL RABBI walking between the raindrops. An eerie SYMPHONY OF MOVEMENT AND SYNCHRONY - Cage HUMMING along to Keith Richards and Mick Jagger’s finest.

Our hero knowing EVERY MOVEMENT of EVERY MIMIC. Anticipating JAVELINS. Dodging FALLING DROPSHIPS.

CAGE (CONT’D)
(singing along)
Time is on my side... Yes it is.

UP THE HILL:

As Cage continues his path of least resistance.BAYONETS extended. SPINNING and SLICING as he climbs the hill.

His face EMOTIONLESS. As he PASSES by RITA, fighting with her fellow troops, NOT EVEN LOOKING AT HER...

UP THE CLIFF FACE:

Cage navigates the ROCKY PATHS. Following the ARROW on his HUD towards ATTACK ZONE DELTA.Checking the TIME on his HUD. Waiting at a CORNER. TIMING IT until --

He SHOOTS around the corner. Blind. Killing an INCOMING HUNTING PARTY of MIMICS without even looking...

Climbing higher and higher. PAST a gaggle of ELEPHANT- SIZED, dumpy ARTILLERY MIMICS as they launch HUGE ARTILLERY JAVELINS up into the sky...

Following the HUD ARROW away from the coast, towards a DENSE FOREST ahead. As it slowly BEGINS TO SNOW.

INTO THE WOODS:

A SNOW STORM descends on these THICK TREES.

Cage’s EYES WIDEN. Cage clearly LESS EXPERIENCED here. Exojacket pounding against the snow.As he sees a MIMIC HUNTING PARTY ahead. The Mimics oblivious until --

CAGE (O.S.)
HEY THERE --

The Mimics looking up to see --

Cage DROPPING from a tree above. RIPPING them to pieces. Swivelling and slicing like a samurai.A choreographed ballet of death. Cage covered in BLACK BLOOD.

BREATHING HARD. As he finally DECAPITATES the last Mimic, the MUSIC comes to a CRASHING CLIMAX and...

INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE:

Cage is running through ATTACK ZONE DELTA.His HUD now FLASHING YELLOW, as he RUNS across WHITE FIELDS.

He pulls out a MAP of ATTACK ZONE DELTA.Thirty square miles of France. 90% of the TOWNS and VILLAGES CROSSED OFF. Only a few left. The next one CAMBREMER.

CAGE
C’mon, dammit, where are you?
48

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

Cage sees the SNOW-COVERED CAMBREMER ahead - a CATHEDRAL TOWN covered in the OLD DEBRIS of a LAST STAND.BLOOD STAINS and BARRICADES. The FALLING SNOW kissing it all.

Cage seeing that the town is DESERTED.A GHOST TOWN. No one there. Cage about to CROSS it off the map when --

He hears it. A NOISE. Like ELECTRICITY CRACKLING.

Cage TURNING a CORNER to see the HUGE CATHEDRAL in the FAR DISTANCE. TENDRILS of ELECTRICAL CURRENT hitting the CHURCH SPIRE. As he sees the CHURCH DOOR WHINE OPEN...

And a FRESHLY BIRTHED MIMIC walks out.Disgusting. Slime-ridden. Cage seeing a GLIMPSE of an ENORMOUS CREATURE WITHIN. Huge, ominous, and unmistakable...

THE QUEEN.

Pay dirt. Cage seeing just a GLIMMER before the door SHUTS, and the BIRTHED MIMIC runs off.

CAGE
Well, it’s about time.

Cage is BREATHLESS. Excited. As he readies the BIO- TRANSMITTER. INCHING towards the far-off cathedral.

And then he hears it. A SNARL. A LOW GROWL. As Cage sees something in the SHADOWS of a nearby building.

SOMETHING SO BIG that it takes a minute to stand upright, unfolding itself. A REAVER GUARD. 30 foot tall, like a cross between a MIMIC and a WALKING WARSHIP.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Oh, this is gonna suck.

AS IT ATTACKS. Cage pivoting, turning to RUN --

And what happens next is almost impossible to fathom.We have never seen a creature this big move this fast.The Reaver is WHIP fast. INSECT FAST. Terrifying...

The ground SHAKING as Cage RUNS, DODGING HUGE LIMBS.A VOLLEY of JAVELINS whipping past Cage with MACHINE-GUN SPEED. Exploding out of this thing like a GATLING GUN --

Cage LEAPING up onto the creature’s HUGE LEG, CLAMBERING UP. Pulling his BAYONETS, preparing to ATTACK when --

SLIIICK -- One of the creature’s RAZOR SHARP TALONS SLICES DOWN. Cutting straight through Cage. His RIGHT ARM lopped off. As our hero FALLS TO THE GROUND...

CAGE (CONT’D)
No--

Cage DRAGGING himself through the snow.A BLOOD TRAIL behind. As the Reaver prepares to FINISH HIM OFF.

CAGE (CONT’D)
(defiant)
... See you soon.

Cage SPITTING BLOOD as the Reaver brings a TALON CRASHING DOWN through Cage’s chest like a SCORPION STINGER and --

CUT TO:
49

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

Second verse, same as the first. Cage mid-battle. LEAPING up onto the Reaver’s LEG as before --

Only this time heDODGES the creature’s RAZOR SHARP TALON as it SLICES DOWN. Cage ON THE THING'S BACK NOW...

And now it’s Cage who attacks. As he CLEFTS AN ARM OFF. The huge stump SPEWING BLACK BLOOD everywhere.Cage HACKING OFF the OTHER ARM. Winning now. Heading for the NECK, about to deliver the death blow when --

SHTICHK -- the Reaver SPRAYS him with its BLOOD.The black liquid MOLTEN HOT, BOILING CAGE’S SKIN OFF as --

CUT TO:
50

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

Third time lucky. Cage HACKING the Reaver’s arms off as before, only this time heDODGES the BLOOD. PLUNGING his BAYONETS into the REAVER’S NECK INSTEAD...

Until - THUD. The Reaver’s MASSIVE HEAD topples off into the snow below. Cage LANDING next to it. Victorious. The Reaver’s LIFELESS BODY landing behind him...

And then Cage sees it. ANOTHER REAVER appearing from the shadows. And then ANOTHER. And ANOTHER...

Cage seeing that he is now SURROUNDED by SIX REAVERS. The one he just faced nothing more than an amuse bouche.

RITA (O.S.)
They’re called reavers.
CUT TO:
51

INT. ARMORY - DAY

Cage stands at the HOLOBAY, in front of him a 3-D HOLOGRAPH of a REAVER, STUDYING the creature.The number “188” visible on his hand. As Rita arrives behind him.

RITA
Saw one wipe out a whole platoon once. Pack hunters. Kill one, there’s always another. Things are smarter than you, faster than you, and hungrier than you, soldier. You see one, you run.

Cage stares at the 3-D Reaver. Annoyed.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Can I help you?
(off his odd look)
Why are you here, Corporal? You need help with something?

Cage hesitates, stubborn, to the last --

CAGE
... No, Ma’am. I’m fine.
(stubborn)
Don’t need any help at all.
CUT TO:
52

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

CAGE is fighting like a MAN POSSESSED.SPINNING in the centre of an ORGY OF DEATH. Bouncing off the SIX ATTACKING REAVERS, parkour style. DODGING a MONSOON of RAINING BLACK BLOOD and FLYING JAVELINS...

He LANDS down in the SNOW in COMBAT POSE.Looking up to see that he’s BARELY MADE A DENT. Cage clearly STRUNG OUT. Twitchy now. The NUMBER “216” in his hand.

CAGE
C’mon --

As he’s ATTACKED from EVERY DIRECTION, he tries to fight, and one simple fact starts to become HORRIFICALLY CLEAR --

Cage cannot win.

Until - PHWAP! PHWAP! PHWAP! A HAIL of JAVELINS pummel his chest. Our hero’s body CONVULSING with the IMPACT --

A SERIES OF DEATHS:

As we are forced to endure the HORROR OF THE INESCAPABLE. An awful medley of MISERY. CAGE’S BODY being RIPPED LIMB from LIMB by the Reavers. SLICED IN HALF. DECIMATED all over town. A HUNDRED FAILED ATTEMPTS ending in misery.

His fate sealed. All hope bleeding away...

53

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

And then the final DEATH. Cage on his KNEES. Having KILLED 3 of them. Spent. Nothing left to give. As the REMAINING THREE close in and one of them SNATCHES him up.

IMPALING CAGE on the Cathedral SPIRE.Matter-of-fact. The Reaver LOOKING AT HIM. STARING. EMOTIONLESS.

CAGE
Please --

As Cage is forced to die a SLOW MISERABLE DEATH.The snow gently falling as he breathes his FINAL BREATH.

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... It’s over --
CUT TO:
54

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Cage’s eyes are OPEN. He looks sick. Barely able to get himself out of bed as he takes Heitz’s SHARPIE.

YOBO (V.O.)
Hey. You okay?

Cage looks at the pen. Writing the NUMBER “300” on his SHAKING HAND. Clearly having reached his wits end.

CAGE
Can’t do it anymore, Tub.

As he STANDS, looking over at Tub playing his VIDEO GAME.

TUB
Excuse me?
CAGE
... What do you do?
(re: his game)
If you can’t beat it? What d’you do if you can’t win the game?
TUB
I dunno. Stop playing I guess.
(off his look)
... Why, you wanna have a go?

Cage bitter. Saddened. As he TURNS HIS SON’S PHOTO AROUND so it FACES THE WALL. Ashamed.

CAGE
No. I think I’m about done.
55

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage walks through the rain like a DRONE.His face BLANK. As emotionless as every Mimic he’s ever fought.

As he walks towards the OFFICER’S CLUB.Knowing the movements of the GUARD out front. Slipping inside --

56

INT. OFFICERS’ CLUB - DAY

Cage walks past a PRIDE of OFFICERS.Weaving in between them, unseen. Walking straight to the BAR AREA, GRABBING A FAMILIAR BOTTLE OF BOURBON. About to head out when --

OFFICER (O.S.)
What do you think you’re doing?

Cage turns to see an OFFICER staring.Seeing his rank. GRABBING the bottle away from Cage.Cage dead-eyed.

CAGE
You want to die?

The Officer looks around ANXIOUSLY.Cage clearly INSANE. As Cage pulls his SIDEARM, pointing it at the guy’s head.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... You think I’m kidding? Think any of this is real? Tomorrow I’m just gonna wake up today and none of this will even have happened.
(off his look)
Give me the bottle, now.

The Officer doing as he’s told. As we see RITA watching on. THREE OTHER OFFICERS reaching for their GUNS as --

RITA
No, DON’T --

Too late - BANG BANG BANG. Cage SHOOTING the Officers in their SHOOTING HANDS without hesitating.GUNS DROPPED.

CAGE
... Don’t worry. Tomorrow it’ll all just feel like a bad dream.
57

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Rita and a flurry of OFFICERS HURRY out, GUN DRAWN, only to find Cage gone. A MASS OF SOLDIERS walking past ON DRILLS. Cage having DISAPPEARED IN THE CROWD.

58

EXT. HIDDEN BEACH - UDF BASE - DUSK

Cage WALKS OUT into the OCEAN, SWIGGING from the bottle of Bourbon. Looking out at the WAVES as they come crashing in. Staring out to GOD. ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE.

CAGE
Please...

As he CLOSES HIS EYES. His voice BARELY A WHISPER NOW.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Please.

Cage trying to SILENCE the sounds in his head.As the NOISE of SCREAMING starts to intrude.Unescapable.

ADAM (V.O.)
... Dad, what do we do?

The screaming LOUDER AND LOUDER. DEAFENING until --

ADAM (V.O.) (CONT’D)
DAD, WHAT DO WE DO--
DREAM CUT TO:
59

EXT. ENGLISH VILLAGE - NIGHT- FLASHBACK

It is a SLAUGHTER. JAVELINS flying. SNAKE-LIKE MIMICS attacking like GIANT BLACK RATTLESNAKES, tearing through the VILLAGERS as they fight with makeshift WEAPONS...

CAGE
JUST GET BEHIND ME --

Cage RUNNING, keeping his family behind him.GRABBING WEAPONS from FALLEN VILLAGERS. A SHOTGUN. A PITCHFORK.

As a SNAKE-LIKE MIMIC surges at his son, and --

CAGE (CONT’D)
ADAM --

BLAM. He BLOWS the thing’s head off with the shotgun. Cage GRABBING his son, protecting his family...

60

EXT. ROAD - ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE - CONTINUOUS -FLASHBACK

Cage gets his family to a ROAD, SWARMING with ATTACKING MIMICS. Nowhere to go, no way out. Hayley PANICKING.

HAYLEY
DANIEL --

Cage seeing a Villager coming off of a MOTORBIKE in the distance. The BIKE SKIDDING TO A STOP. Salvation.

CAGE
C’MON, LET’S GO --

As the sound of SCREECHING TIRES suddenly intrudes and --

CAGE (CONT’D)
Wait, GET DOWN --

BOOM. An ESCAPING CAR suddenly BARRELS down the street towards them. As the car FLIPS. SPINNING OVER THEM --

CRASHING into a house with an enormous EXPLOSION.The GAS TANK going up. Cage KNOCKED off his feet. Until --

HAYLEY (O.S.)
DAN...

And then he sees her. On the GROUND behind him.

A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL having torn through her.Cage’s wife gritting her teeth, looking at her husband fatefully.

CAGE
Wait,no --

Cage SCRAMBLING to his BLEEDING WIFE’s side.Frantic. The sound of her SCREAMING overwhelming as --

CAGE (CONT’D)
NO --
RITA (V.O.)
... STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE --
DREAM CUT TO:
61

EXT. DROPSHIP HANGER - DAY -PRESENT DAY

Cage WAKES with a start. He is wearing his UNBUCKLED EXOJACKET, laying NEXT to the EMPTY bottle of Bourbon.

The FINAL DROP SHIPS are taking off for France all around him. The sound of the ATTACK on his HUD RADIO.

RITA (O.S.)
HANDS ON HEAD. NICE AND SLOW.

Cage stands up. Seeing RITA and THREE MILITARY POLICEMAN behind him. All with GUNS RAISED.

CAGE
I finally figured it out.
RITA
PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD --
CAGE
I know why this is happening.

Rita pulling out a HYPO-GUN, carefully approaching.

CAGE (CONT’D)
You wanted to know the truth, that’s the truth. It’s my fault.
RITA
THIS IS A TRANQUILIZER, WE’RE JUST GOING TO SEDATE YOU --
CAGE
... I couldn't save her.

As he hears the sound of the FAILED INVASION on his radio. A curious, tragic calm to him now.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... This is my punishment.

Cage sad. Resigned. At peace with it.

CAGE (CONT’D)
I’m in hell.

The MPS suddenly GRABBING HIM. Rita reaching out with the HYPO GUN. Trying to TRANQUILIZE HIM --

RITA
HOLD HIM STILL --

The gun JABBING into his ARM as --

Cage suddenly RUNS. BREAKING FREE. Sprinting to a DROPSHIP. LEAPING onto the NOSE of the AIRCRAFT, PUNCHING through the GLASS, RIPPING the pilot out...

As he REACHES inside and FIRES the JETS --

62

EXT. STRATOSPHERE - DAY

The dropship SOARS upwards, as Cage forces the jet into a NEEDLE SHOT: straight up, ABOVE THE CLOUDS...

Cage LOCKING his faceplate. Securing his jacket. As he soars ABOVE THE ATMOSPHERE to the BLACK EDGE OF SPACE...

The DENSE FOG of war VISIBLE on the FRENCH COASTLINE BELOW, as the ROCKET starts to fail, and Cage lets go --

Cage floating in LOW-ORBIT. A single man SILHOUETTED against the green and blue below. And then he sees it...

A SINGLE MISSILE arcing ominously through the sky.And then another. MISSILE after MISSILE ARCING through the atmosphere. As a FIELD OF MUSHROOM CLOUDS DECIMATES the UNITED KINGDOM and beyond. Cage CLOSING HIS EYES.

His faceplate ICING OVER, ALARMS going off.One man on the edge of NOTHINGNESS. His FACEPLATE CRACKING --

RITA (V.O.)
... Cage?

And then... WHOOSH. His FACEPLATE finally SHATTERS, the VOID RUSHING IN, the world DISTORTING into STATIC as --

RITA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Cage, can you hear me?
CUT TO:
63

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Cage’s EYES OPEN to see Rita LEANING OVER HIM.YOBO and 12TH SQUAD all looking on, in shock.

RITA
Time to wake up, Soldier.
CAGE
What...
(trying to process)
What are you doing, how are --

As a team of SCIENTISTS pull him onto a WAITING GURNEY.

RITA
... Don’t bother struggling.
64

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage is WHEELED through the pouring rain into a WAITING APC TRUCK. Rita and the scientists following him inside.

CAGE
WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME --

As the BASE GATES OPEN in front of the truck.

RITA
Everything will be revealed soon enough, just try to relax.
65

EXT. LONDON - NIGHT

The truck speeds over TOWER BRIDGE.London TRANSFORMED. THE THAMES choked with vessels seeking haven from the world - Japanese WHALERS, Panamanian TANKERS etc.

CAGE (V.O.)
Why are you doing this --
66

EXT. LONDON STREET - NIGHT

Rita and the scientists WHEEL Cage out of the truck.The surrounding streets populated only by OLD PEOPLE and CHILDREN. The once teeming city now EERILY EMPTY.

RITA
It’s the only way. Knew you wouldn’t come voluntarily.

As they pull him into a huge nondescript SKYSCRAPER.

RITA (CONT’D)
Welcome to the real UDF.
67

INT. UDF HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT

Rita and the scientists wheel Cage through this MAKESHIFT HEADQUARTERS. The building converted into their HQ.

RITA
What I'm about to show you has been categorically denied by high command. This doesn’t exist...
68

INT. LAB - UDF HQ - NIGHT

Cage sees a HOLOBAY. A 3-D HOLOGRAPH of a WORLD MAP.

RITA
We were winning this war, Cage. After the roaches took Australia we hit Egypt, Russia. Projections had us wiping them out within the decade... That’s when it happened.

As Cage sees a 3-D HOLOGRAM of an OILY RAINBOW SPIDER- LIKE MIMIC. Like the one Cage killed at the beginning.

RITA (CONT’D)
They evolved. The queens birthing a new species. A new, quantum bio- tech. Far beyond our own science. ... A new kind of weapon.
CAGE
Wait, I killed one of those --
RITA
Been hunting them down since we first found them. There are only a few left. Guess you got lucky.
(re: hologram)
This evolution is how they’ve been winning the war, Corporal. Tech’s round here call them “loopers.”
69

INT. OPERATING ROOM - UDF HQ - MOMENTS LATER

They wheel Cage in, Rita pulling a SCANNER over the gurney. CUTTING his shirt open. LASERS surveying him.

RITA
The bio-tech is blood based. When you killed that thing, it bled on you, right? Hit your bloodstream?

Cage sees a READOUT. Shocked. Seeing an ELECTRICAL ENERGY pouring through his VEINS. His body charged.

RITA (CONT’D)
Best we can tell it fuses with the frontal lobe of the host first.
(re: a brain scan)
When the host dies the bio-tech uses the body’s electrical energy to literallytransmit a synaptic map back to the host 24 hours before he or she was first killed.
(off his shock)
Like travelling back in time.

Cage reeling. Trying to process it all. Doing the math.

CAGE
... Spent the last year thinking I was losing my mind --
RITA
If anything goes wrong and the looper’s killed, roaches get an instant do-over. Queens change their strategy based on loopers’ intel - we spend the last four years behind the eight ball.
CAGE
That’s how they knew we were coming. They were waiting for us.
RITA
Been using time as a weapon... And now you have that weapon too.

She remove his RESTRAINTS. Cage sitting up on the edge of the gurney. TRYING TO PROCESS IT ALL.

RITA (CONT’D)
... I heard you talking about it, before you shot those men.
(off his confusion)
I saw it in your eyes --
CAGE
Wait, how can you remember that, I’ve died since then --

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA
Didn’t really think I was trying totranquilize you, did you?

She pulls out a HYPO GUN like the one she used earlier.

RITA (CONT’D)
Took a sample of your blood, injected myself with your strain.
CAGE
You didwhat?
RITA
It’s in my veins --
CAGE
Wait, you’re alooper now too --
RITA
No, no, no - just means I can keep my own memories when you do it. So I won’t forget each time. So I can remember all this tomorrow.
(off his look)
We can works as a team now, Cage. ... We’re in this together --

As Cage BACKS AWAY. Not liking where this is going.

RITA (CONT’D)
Cage, the UDF needs your help.
70

EXT. LONDON STREET - DAWN

Cage walks through London. Rita following.

RITA
You know how important you are? How rare? A human looper?... I saw what happens, Cage, I know how this ends. With your help we can find the queen, destroy the hive --
CAGE
It can’t be done.
RITA
You don’t know that.
CAGE
Actually, yes, I do. Spent the last 6 months trying - dunno how many more of these I got in me --
RITA
... Wait, youfound her?
CAGE
She’s in Cambremer. 3 miles east of Lille. In a cathedral.

Rita stopping him. Looking at him in disbelief.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Forget it, okay, it won’t work. Tried everything short of nuking the town. Can't get through --
RITA
Not by yourself you can't.

Cage looks at her. Annoyed now.

CAGE
Oh, this the part where we sing the big “no I in UDF” song?
RITA
You can’t do this alone, Cage.
(resolute)
We take your squad in, we find that thing and we end this --
CAGE
You wanna take mysquad? Are you insane? Men like that are the reason I’m here. The reason my wife died, that my kid’s gone --
RITA
Look at you, still haven't learned a thing have you?
CAGE
You don’t know what I’ve been through. What happened to me --
RITA
I know a lot more than you think.
71

INT. LAB - UDF HQ - MORNING

Rita leads Cage to the HOLODECK. Typing in the names of TWELFTH SQUAD. Cage seeing a 3-D HOLOGRAM of TUB appear.

CAGE
Okay, you know what, I’m done --
RITA
-- Just sit down and shut up.
(re: hologram)
Kimmel. Luther, R. Friendly fire mortar, took his Mom, Dad, Sister. Still tries to hide the limp --

Cage trying not to look at the hologram of the SMILING MOE, as she brings up a LIFE SIZE SKINNER.

RITA (CONT’D)
Skinner. Charlie, F. Took shrapnel to the liver in Egypt. No donors. Got 9 months left --

Cage saying nothing, as Rita brings up FRENCH.

RITA (CONT’D)
Leroux. Marie, L. Corporal. Was living in Paris when they hit. You know what happened to them--
CAGE
Okay, I get it --

Rita looks at him. Bringing up ONE MORE. HERSELF.

RITA
Vrataski. Rita. R. Sergeant Major. Family car hit the drink during first wave. Watched her daughter drown in front of her, Missouri River, 19th December --

Cage TURNS IT OFF. As if silencing a deafening noise.

RITA (CONT’D)
Think you’re the only one who lost someone? Think you’re the only one with something to fight for?

The sound of SIRENS cuts through. Cage looking out a WINDOW at a PANICKING LONDON, the Mimic ATTACK beginning.

RITA (CONT’D)
I don’t know who the soldiers were who abandoned your family.
(off his look)
I just know I wouldn’t have run. ... And neither would the rest of your squad. Not on my watch.

He sees THOUSANDS OF MIMIC CHURNING UP THE THAMES.

CONTINUED: (2)

CAGE
Are you done?
RITA
You wanna see your son again? You want to win this war and get him back? This is your only way out.

She looks at him. The horrendous attack in the city framing the moment. Everything they’re fighting for.

CAGE
And what if I say no?
RITA
Cage, I ran the projections. We lose Europe, we willlose this war. This planet. The future of ourspecies is now in your hands.

She hears the sound of INCOMING. Facing Cage.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Don’t say no.

As the world is suddenly CONSUMED BY LIGHT, a ten megaton nuclear BLAST-CLOUD THUNDERING up into the sky as --

CUT TO:
72

INT. BARRACKS - MORNING

Cage opens his eyes with a START. Already up.

YOBO (O.S.)
Hey. You okay?

Cage sees SKINNER working out, seeing his LIVER SURGERY SCAR. He sees TUB shuffle past, seeing his LIMP. Cage suddenly looking at 12th squadin a whole new light.

CAGE
Hey Tub. You can play that thing with more than one player, right?

Tub looks up from his VIDEO GAME.

TUB
I suppose, can link as many players as you want, play co-op --
CAGE
Think it makes it easier to win?
TUB
Dunno. Never tried it --

As Cage sees Rita at the WINDOW. Writing the NUMBER “302” on his hand.

CAGE
... Guess we’re gonna find out.
73

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Cage watches 12th squad in the middle of their RAIN- SOAKED PT. Same as always. As Rita stands next to him.

CAGE
This isn’t going to work.

He motions to the company. TUB FAINTING. ABBA FALLING through a ROPE OBSTACLE. FRENCH getting in a FIST FIGHT.

RITA
They’re perfect. You already know how they fight, their strengths, their weaknesses - you've seen them in battle a hundred times. ... All they need’s a little help.

Cage irritated by Rita’s determination.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Just keep ‘em alive, Corporal, okay? I’ll take care of the rest.
74

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCE DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - DAY

12th squad is approaching the drop.Farell getting them ready. As Cage looks around at his team.

SGT. FARELL
K, LIGHT EM UP, LADIES. HUDS ON.

Cage pulls out the PHOTO of his son.CROSSING himself.

SGT. FARELL (CONT’D)
PAIR UP. WANT YOU TWO BY TWO OUT THERE, YOU STAY AS A UNIT --

Yobo looking at Cage hopefully. Cage NODDING THIS TIME.

CAGE
Just stay beside me, okay? On me. No matter what, you’ll be fine --
SGT. FARELL
CONTACT MINUS 10. LATCHES OFF.

Cage suddenly “drops” his photo at the feet of Heitz.

CAGE
Heitz, can you grab that for me?

Heitz REACHING DOWN, bending over for the photo as --

KERWHAM! The dropship is STRUCK. Heitz looking up to see a HUGE SHRAPNEL HOLE where his head was.

SGT. FARELL
GO, GO, GO-- DROP, YOU BABIES!

SOLDIERS DROPPING. As Cage takes the decoy photo back.

CAGE
THIS IS IT. STAY ON ME.
75

EXT. BEACHHEAD - FRANCE - DAY

WHAM! Cage lands in a crater. Immediately heading for TUB as he gets out of the crater next to Cage--

TUB
WE MADE IT!
CAGE
MOVE --

Cage HAULING TUB out of the way,SAVING TUB’S LIFE, as...

PHLAM! 12 TONS OF DROPSHIP LANDS beside them. Cage pullingABBA CLEAR. As Farell lands next to them.

SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
12TH ON ME. TRENCH 285.

IN THE TRENCH:

Cage looks around, surrounded by the familiar scene. Farell PANICKING, as we hear RITA on the RADIO.

RITA (V.O.)
12TH TO TRENCH 216, NOW--
SGT. FARELL
(panic, into radio)
NEGATIVE, TOO DANGEROUS LOCK DOWN.

... BLAM! The TRENCH COLLAPSES. Cage grabbing Farell.

CAGE
1ST AND 2ND DIDN’T GET THROUGH --

As Cage GRABS MOE, pulling him down, just in time, as a JAVELIN flies past,right where Moe was standing.

CAGE (CONT’D)
SERGEANT MAJOR GAVE US AN ORDER, WE GOTTA GET TO 216 --

Cage PULLING French down as... TWO JAVELINS fly past her position. No more JITTERBUGGING death-throes for her. CAGE NOW HAVING SAVED THE LIFE OF HIS ENTIRE TEAM.

Farell looking at Cage. Seeing Cage’s DETERMINATION.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... WE STAY HERE WE’LL DIE.
76

EXT. NO MAN’S LAND - DAY

Cage leads Farell, Moe and 12th squad through the CHAOS. Leading by example. DECIMATING MIMICS left and right.

MOE
The hell’d he learn to do that?
CAGE
KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWN, MOVE --
77

INT. TRENCH 216 - DAY

RITA sees Cage KICK ASS as he leads 12th to her trench.

RITA
Not bad, Corporal. Guess I trained you pretty well --
CAGE
Feel like I’m herding sheep.

Cage suddenly seeing Farell still in NO-MANS-LAND.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... Wait, GODDAMIT - SARGE --

Farell COWERING. Losing it. Not seeing a HUGE MIMIC as it comes up behind him and JAVELINS him without a second thought. Rita pulling out a THERMAL GRENADE.

RITA
Going to need the whole team to get through. No man left behind.

As she ARMS the grenade, drops it at CAGE’S FEET and --

CUT TO:
78

EXT. NO MAN’S LAND - DAY

Cage leads 12th squad through the FIRE FIGHT.Leading by example. This time PULLING Farell along with him.

SGT. FARELL
I can’t --
CAGE
YES YOU CAN - GODDAMIT, MOVE.
79

INT. TRENCH 216 - DAY

Cage leads ALL OF 12TH into the trench.Pulling Farell in behind him this time, the Sarge SNAPPING OUT IF IT.

RITA
All the sheep in the pen?
(to the group)
Alright, guys, first and second didn’t make it through, that means it’s up to us now.
(off their looks)
... Time to go find us a queen.
CUT TO:
80

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

Cage leads the BLOODIED 12th through his PREVIOUS ROUTE. “349” on his hand. It clearly having taken a lot of attempts to get this far. As Moe and the guys WHISPER.

TUB
Heard her brain's like a thousand times the size of ours. Crazy smart, likeimpossible to defeat --
MOE
Way I heard it, they didn't even come here to kill us. First queen tried to communicate --
SGT. FARELL
Conspiracy bullshit --
MOE
Is it? Heard we did all kindsa shit to ‘em. Tests, experiments.
(off his look)
We did this to ourselves. Beat a dog enough times it's gonna bite --
TUB
Hey, top, that true?

Tub looking at Rita. Rita NOT WANTING TO ENGAGE.

RITA
Can’t change the past, private. All that matters is the future.

As they approach CAMBREMER. Cage pointing at a MAP.

CAGE
Alright, this is it up ahead. Seven reavers. Full perimeter. Queen’s in the cathedral, here --

Rita sees Cage’s SHAKING HAND. Seeing his ANXIETY.

RITA
Gonna be fine, okay? I'll let you know when to start worrying.
CAGE
Spent 6 months of my life dying here. Lot of ghosts. 148 to be exact. You sure they can do this?

She puts away the map, smiling. Comforting.

RITA
Grew up in Missouri Cage, remember? I’m a farm rat. Crop always comes good in the end, just needs a little time. That’s all.

Rita seeing an old CITROËN 2CV LAYING on its side nearby.

RITA (CONT’D)
... Might take a few tries, but we’ll get through eventually.
CUT TO:
81

EXT. OUTSKIRTS - CAMBREMER - DAY

Cage walks forward. A lone gunfighter in the old west. The NUMBER “372” on his HAND. Seeing the FIRST REAVER --

Cage into the old routine. DODGING JAVELINS. HACKING OFF ITS ARMS. GUNNING off its head. Like he’s breaking down a chicken. LANDING in front of the OTHER REAVERS in a COMBAT POSE. Just another day at the office.

CAGE
How’s everyone doing today? Ready for another go around?
(as he’s surrounded)
... Here we go. Everyone set?

As the Reavers suddenly... ATTACK.Cage RUNNING. Sprinting off down a SIDE STREET, THREE OF THE REAVERS HANGING BACK. Cautious. Checking the perimeter.

The other THREE REAVERS HUNTING CAGE DOWN...

82

EXT. SIDE STREET - CAMBREMER - DAY

Cage RUNS to the WAITING 2CV. As RITA HITS THE GAS and they speed off. THREE HUGE REAVERS on their tail. Cage RIPPING OPEN the car’s cloth roof and FIRING BACKWARDS --

ANGLE UP THE STREET:

As we see YOBO and SKINNER, stretching a RAZOR SHARP WIRE across the street. Watching as the 2CV SPEEDS over it, then the FIRST TWO REAVERS, as the last approaches and --

They PULL THE WIRE TAUGHT. SECURING IT OFF until...

SCHHLLIICK - the sound of wire SLICING through the Reaver’s legs. The creature TOPPLING, its legs gone. As Yobo and Skinner come out GUNS BLAZING and finish it off.

83

EXT. ALLEY - CAMBREMER - DAY

Rita HAIRPIN TURNS into this NARROW ALLEY as the TWO REAVERS give chase. Getting closer and closer now...

ANGLE ON NEARBY ROOTOP:

As we see TUB with a REMOTE DETONATOR - watching as the 2CV ZIPS out the alley below, closely followed by one the Reavers until... CLICK, CLICK, CLICK--

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. A series of CHARGES DETONATE. Bringing the BUILDINGS on either side of the alley CRASHING DOWN. SMOTHERING the last Reaver --

As Tub watches FRENCH and ABBA run onto the RUBBLE BELOW. Guns BLAZING as they finish the CRUSHED REAVER off.

84

EXT. TOWN SQUARE PARK - MOMENTS LATER

Rita SPEEDS across the TOWN SQUARE.One chasing Reaver remaining. The 2CV CAREERING across a PARK when --

The old car suddenly JOLTS TO A STOP, running out of steam under a HUGE TREE. Rita TURNING THE IGNITION.

RITA
C’MON, NO...GODDAMIT --

The Reaver closing in. Knowing it has them. As it CRANES over the car, looking down at them STUCK WITHIN --

CAGE
MOE NOW --

The Reaver looking up to see MOE IN THE TREE DIRECTLY ABOVE the car. Realizing it’s stumbled into a TRAP, too late. Moe LEAPING DOWN with a CHAINSAW BLARING --

As the 2CV SPEEDS away. Three down, three to go.

85

EXT. CATHEDRAL - DAY

The 2CV SKIDS to a STOP in front of the THREE REMAINING REAVERS. Cage and Rita getting out, BAYONETS EXTENDED.

RITA
This is it, Cage. You ready?

Cage nodding as he RUNS towards the Reaver on the left. Rita SPRINTING towards the one on the right.The two of them like BALLET PARTNERS. ATTACKING IN UNISON...

Rita a sight to behold. A dizzying WHIRRR of BLADES and GUNFIRE as she BOUNCES off the creature’s limbs. Impossibly fast. Cage not far behind on his side --

As Rita PLUNGES her BLADE into the creature’s HEART, Cage doing the same. BOTH CREATURES SLUMPING to their DEATHS. Cage and Rita a triumph of practiced concentration.

RITA (CONT’D)
12TH ON ME.

The rest of 12th squad walk towards them.All facing the ONE REMAINING REAVER. The ODDS FLIPPED, ten against one.

The Reaver backing up until - it is SWARMED by our team. Working together. The poor beast not standing a chance.

86

EXT. ENTRANCE - CATHEDRAL - DAY

Cage, Rita and the rest of 12th approach the cathedral in ATTACK FORMATION. BLOODIED, covered in DIRT and DEBRIS.

SGT. FARELL
Can’t believe we just pulled that off... How the hell we do that --
SKINNER
Beginner’s luck I guess.

As they SURROUND the PERIMETER. Cage smiling at Rita.

CAGE
Guess I owe you an apology.
RITA
We’re not there yet. Remember we need her alive, stay contained.

She pulls out the BIO-TRANSMITTER.Readying it.

RITA (CONT’D)
Alright, here we go. 3, 2...
87

INT. CATHEDRAL - CONTINUOUS

Cage and Rita BURST THROUGH the doors, READY TO FIGHT as--

FRENCH
VA TE FAIRE ENCULER--

As 12st SQUAD see that the cathedral is COMPLETELY EMPTY. Cage looking at Rita, confused. Pleading innocence..

CAGE
No, she was in here. I saw her --

Rita sees a MERCURY-like METALLIC RESIDUE on the ground.

RITA
They must have known we were coming. Looped back, moved her --
SGT. FARELL (O.S.)
Something’s wrong.
MOE
Yeah we just killed a whole buncha roaches the size of my dick for absolutely no good reason--
SGT. FARELL
No, something’s not right.

Farell looks up into the HIGH VAULTED CEILINGS.The old GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. A myriad SCULPTURES and GARGOYLES.

MOE
You’re not gonna start freaking out on us again, are you, Sarge?

A LOUDER NOISE echoing out from above.A TINY MOVEMENT.

CAGE
The hell’s going on?
RITA
Remember when I said I’d let you know when to start worrying? ... Might want to get started.

Sgt. Farell staring upwards, not seeing the TENDRIL-like BARBED TAIL descend behind him,hanging like a snake.

Farell finally HEARING something behind him.Slowly turning around, only to see the STINGER hovering as --

THTICK-- it PIERCES his SKULL, his body FALLING --

MOE
WHAT THE F...IT’S A TRAP--

Asthey descend like gargoyles... At least 20 HUGE-WINGED “APOSTLES” swooping down. Each with RAZOR SHARP WINGS. STINGERS stretching out from TENDRIL-LIKE TAILS.

CAGE
What are they --
HEITZ (O.S.)
HELFEN SIE MIR --

A stinger SLICING through HEITZ’S NECK.The Old Man’s body hitting the ground. Cage hearing another SCREAM --

A stinger hitting ABBA in the BACK as he runs.His HEADPHONES landing next to him. TINNY MUSIC echoing out.

As Cage FIGHTS BACK. Opening fire. RAT-ATAT-ATAT. Blowing Apostle wings off, SLICING through their tails.

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA
CAGE, DON’T --

Our hero killing ONE, TWO, THREE MORE, as he is suddenly CORNERED by one of them, it’s stinger HOVERING above him. Like a COBRA HEAD waiting to strike.Barb exposed.

Cage suddenly seeing RITA AIMING her AUTOCANNON at him.

CAGE
Wait, what’re youdoing --
RITA
You don’t understand.

The stinger flying towards Cage’s head as...

BOOM -RITA SHOOTS OUR HERO BETWEEN THE EYES, beating the stinger to the punch. BLOWING CAGE’S HEAD OFF --

CUT TO:
88

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Cage wakes to the sound of PANIC. His fellow soldiers SCRAMBLING around TWO BUNKS. HEITZ’S BODY in one. ABBA’S BODY in the other. Both dead in their beds.

YOBO
Hell’s going on... DO SOMETHING --
TUB
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, THEY’RE DEAD, HE’S NOT BREATHING --
89

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - MOMENTS LATER

Cage runs out to see FARELL’S BODY on a GURNEY, MEDICS wheeling him to the SICK BAY. Rita hovering over him.

CAGE
WHAT’S HAPPENING?

As she looks at him, saying nothing.

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... Tell me what’s going on, I have a right to know --
90

INT./EXT. APC TRUCK (MOVING) - OUTER LONDON - NIGHT

Rita DRIVES to London, Cage in shotgun.As she relents.

RITA
... They're called Apostles. Was hoping they wouldn’t find you.
(off his look)
Looper you killed must have warned them about you when it went back --

She SPEEDS across TOWER BRIDGE, into INNER LONDON.

RITA (CONT’D)
Apostles were designed to hunt human loopers. Kill you here, sends a charge back, you flat line there too. Heart stops beating before you even wake up.
CAGE
I don't understand, there have beenother human loopers?

Rita arrives at the UDF HEADQUARTERS, stopping the truck.

RITA
Command caught their first looper in Brazil, 4 years ago. They pulled it apart, figured out how to enter the loop.

She turns off the IGNITION. A fateful silence.

RITA (CONT’D)
Ten of us were chosen to go in.
CAGE
Wait, youare a looper --
RITA
No. But I was...
(off his disbelief)
How you think I won Florida? It's the only reason I could enter your loop, keep my own memories. It's a part of my DNA now --
CAGE
Why didn't you tell me?
RITA
... Because I didn't want you to know what happened next --
CUT TO:
91

EXT. TOKYO STREETS - NIGHT -FLASHBACK

A MASSIVE WAR in TOKYO. A fog of NEON and DEBRIS. Rita and her TWO HUMAN LOOPER COHORTS leading the UDF TROOPS.

RITA (V.O.)
Human looping protocol was working. We were beating them at their own game, that’s how we held Canada, the Americas, Greenland --
(fateful)
... Then the roaches found out.

As suddenly a SWARM OF APOSTLES attack.SWOOPING DOWN. Ripping through the UDF RANKS. Hunting Rita and the other two human loopers. BARBED STINGERS LASHING.

RITA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Queen birthed the apostles within a week. Hunted us down wherever we went. Egypt, Sydney, Tokyo --

Rita POWERLESS as she sees her colleagues PINNED DOWN. STINGERS repeatedly STABBING them, SCORPION-STYLE.

RITA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Only way to stop them tracking was to get out the loop - I’m the only one who made it out. I was lucky.
CAGE (V.O.)
I don’t get it, how?

As Rita is PULLED AWAY into an EVACUATING DROPSHIP.

RITA (V.O.)
... I died.
92

INT. OPERATING ROOM - UDF HQ - DAY -FLASHBACK

Rita is surrounded by SCIENTISTS and EQUIPMENT.

RITA (V.O.)
Looping’s a quantum tech, works by transmitting a signal back using the host’s electrical energy.
(beat)
We stopped it getting out.

We see her being surrounded by a HUGE THICK LEAD SARCOPHAGUS. Her BODY TEMP being lowered.

RITA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
They killed me in an electrical vacuum, blocked the signal leaving my body. Same way we killed them.

As scientists measure the ELECTRICAL ENERGY within the sarcophagus, watching the NEEDLE MAX OUT, before dying.

RITA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... I was dead for two minutes before they brought me back --
CUT TO:
93

INT. APC TRUCK - NIGHT -PRESENT DAY

Rita watches the INNOCENTS of London walk past. Morose.

RITA
9.13am, November 19th, two years ago. I never looped again.
CAGE
And now you want me to do it too.
RITA
If you don't they will hunt you down and they will kill you --
CAGE
If I go back to normal, it's over, we'll never find her again.
RITA
We won’t have to.

As she OPENS THE TRUCK DOOR.

RITA (CONT’D)
... I already know where she is.
94

INT. LAB - UDF HQ - NIGHT

The HQ is sparsely populated. Everyone at the base preparing for the attack, as Rita shows Cage a HOLOGRAPH.

RITA
... We can’t track the Queen but we can track the Apostles. This is Paris, two hours ago.

He sees PATTERNED DOTS on a 3-D MAP.Surrounding an epicenter, like IRON FILINGS around a MAGNET.

RITA (CONT’D)
See the pattern? They’re forming a defensive ring. Protecting her, in the only place they can --

He looks closer, seeing the epicenter’s the EIFFEL TOWER.

CAGE
Wait, the Eiffeltower? What is shesight seeing --
RITA
She’s retreated from the front line, needs the tower to boost her signal. Using it as a conductor --

She looks at Cage.

RITA (CONT’D)
We kill you here, bring you back. ... Then we roll into Paris and win this thing once and for all.
CAGE
You’ve lost your mind. We'll have no more second chances --
RITA
We won’t need any.... Not if we keep working as a unit.
95

EXT. ROOF - UDF HQ - NIGHT

Cage stands over LONDON at NIGHT. Rita joining him.

CAGE
(re: his hand NUMBER)
Spent a year hating it, now I’m afraid to leave it behind.
RITA
I can’t make you do it. Choice has to be yours, it’s up to you.
CAGE
You know what you’re asking me to sacrifice? What it means? Haven’t beenmortal for a year --
RITA
It’s the only way. You’ll never make it to the queen now, they’ll feel you coming, know where you are. You have no choice.

Cage about to pull the safety net.Hating the decision.

CAGE
You really think we can do this?
RITA
Think I’ll die trying.

He looks at her. London stretched out beneath them...

CAGE
Then I guess I will too.

As she looks at him. Smiling. Handing him TWO PILLS.

RITA
Blood thinners. Will get your final loop out faster. Miminize the amount of time you have to --
CAGE
Be dead?
RITA
Takes a while for the blood to thin, we'll do the procedure first thing in the morning. Back here.
(re: PILLS)
... Once you do this, there’s no turning back. You understand?

As Cage bites the bullet and finally SWALLOWS the pills.

CAGE
Who wants to live forever anyway.
RITA
... C’mon, there’s one last thing I need for you to do --
96

EXT. OFFICERS BARRACKS - LATER THAT NIGHT

Back at the base, Rita leads Cage through the OFFICER’S BARRACKS. A CONTAINED area of SIMPLE mini-apartments.

RITA
Could be your last night alive, Corporal. Need your head straight before you go in. No regrets.
CAGE
... I don’t understand --

They arrive at Rita’s PERSONAL BARRACKS.Cage confused.

RITA
File says you went AWOL 11 times trying to find your kid, that right? 38 leave petitions, hacking camp databases --
CAGE
Needed him to know he wasn’t alone out there. He’s my son.
RITA
Oh, I know. I can tell.
(off his confusion)
... He looks just like you.

Cage frowning. Looking at her. UNSETTLED now. As he sees her looking through her BARRACKS WINDOW.

CAGE
I don’t --

And then he sees it. Someone SITTING ON THE BED inside. Patiently waiting. A SMALL SILHOUETTE. Like a CHILD.

RITA
Services found him in the Glasgow camps. Took a few calls.

As Cage sees his SON (now 6) sitting patiently within.

RITA (CONT’D)
Figured in case anything happens.
(off his look)
I never got to say goodbye, Corporal. You deserve better.

Cage immediately NERVOUS, not knowing what to do, worried Unprepared. As she helps him FIX his COLLAR.

Rita SOFTENING for the first time.Calming.

CAGE
... What happened to the whole full metal bitch thing?
RITA
Don’t get used to it.

Cage looking inside. Adjusting his clothes. Anxious.

CAGE
I don't know what to say to him, I always thought... What do I say?

As Rita looks at him. Sincere. Meaning every word.

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA
... Say all the things I can't.

Cage seeing Rita’s face. Her sadness. NODDING. As he straightens his shirt, OPENS the door.And walks in.

CAGE (O.S.)
Adam?

Rita watching through the window. Seeing ADAM’S JOY, the little boy RUNNING OVER to Cage. Father and son, finally REUNITED. EMBRACING. The moment theirs.

As Rita CLOSES THE DOOR and gives them their privacy.

ADAM (V.O.)
... Which one’s yours?
97

INT. ARMORY - LATER THAT NIGHT

Cage TURNS ON THE LIGHTS as he leads little Adam into the armory. THOUSANDS of EXOJACKETS lining the wall.

CAGE
It’s over here, c’mon --

As Cage leads him over to his JACKET.Adam RUNNING HIS FINGERS over the BATTLE SCARRING. Every SCRATCH and DENT. Seeing his Father’s NAME on front.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Wanna get in?
(off Adam’s surprise)
... Got your name on the front hasn’t it? Go on, climb up.

Cage helping his son in. Adam DWARFED inside the jacket.

ADAM
Can’t wait til I'm old enough to fight. I’m gonna kill ‘em all --
CAGE
Not if I kill ‘em first... Here, check this out.
(re: HUD)
See? This is called a heads up, shows us where we’re going. The blue dots are us, the red ones --
ADAM (O.S.)
Thought you left me.

Cage looks at his son. Adam avoiding eye contact.

ADAM (CONT’D)
... In the camps --
(off his look)
Thought you left me there.
CAGE
Didn't know where you were, they took me away from you --
(off his look)
I’d never leave you, Adam.

As Adam finally looks at his Father.

ADAM
... I don’t remember her.
(ashamed)
Is that bad? I can’t remember anything about her --
CAGE
She was the best parts of you.
ADAM
Can’t remember how she died --

Cage looking at his son. Eye to eye. Protecting him.

CAGE
She died in her sleep.
(quieting)
... She never felt a thing. She just kept on sleeping.
ADAM
It didn’t hurt?
CAGE
No, Ad. It didn’t hurt.
ADAM
Are you going to die too?

Cage trying to smile. Trying to hide any fear.

CAGE
No. I’m afraid you’re gonna be stuck with me for a while, kiddo.

Adam GRINNING. As Cage helps his son out of the suit.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... Now, c’mon, you wanna go see the inside of a dropship or what?

CONTINUED: (2)

The little boy NODDING, excited, as Cage watches him WALK AWAY. Seeing a SCAR on the back of his son’s NECK.

HAYLEY (V.O.)
Help us --

Our hero trying to QUIETEN the NOISE.Clearly riddled with GUILT. As we hear the sound of SCREAMING interrupt.

CAGE (V.O.)
C’MON, LET’S GO --

The sound of SCREECHING TIRES gets louder...

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
GET DOWN --
DREAM CUT TO:
98

EXT. ROAD - ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE -FLASHBACK

BOOM. The ESCAPING CAR suddenly CRASHES into the house next to Cage. The GAS TANK immediately EXPLODING --

HAYLEY (O.S.)
DAN --

Cage seeing his wife on the GROUND behind him.SHRAPNEL having torn through her. Hayley in trouble.

CAGE
WAIT,NO --
HAYLEY
DAN, HELP HIM--

Cage turning to see Adam is OUT COLD.A HUGE GASH on the side of his neck. Cage grabbing him, checking him.

CAGE
He's alright, he’s fine, see, he’s breathing... C’mon we gotta go --

Cage trying to HELP HER UP onto her feet, only for Hayley to SLUMP back down, her LEGS RIPPED APART.

HAYLEY
I can’t --

As she looks back to see a wave of SNAKE-LIKE MIMICS and WARRIORS MIMICS approaching. Getting closer.

HAYLEY (CONT’D)
They're coming.

Cage LIFTS HER UP. Trying to lift his son up too. An impossible feat. Cage knowing HE’S NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

HAYLEY (CONT’D)
It’s not gonna work.

Cage trying to lift them both again.No use.

HAYLEY (CONT’D)
DAN, IT’S NOT GONNA WORK. Can’t take us both... There's no time.

He looks around, seeing they’re cut off now, ALL THE OTHER VILLAGERS GONE. The MIMICS COMING. Closer.

HAYLEY (CONT’D)
Tell him I love him --
CAGE
What?... No, I'm notleaving you --
HAYLEY
It's him or me --
CAGE
Then I choose you --
HAYLEY
No, you don't.

Cage looks at his wife, knowing she’s right.Knowing he has to choose. Wife or child.

HAYLEY (CONT’D)
You stay we all die... Just get him out, now, GO --

Cage panicking, on auto-pilot. Unable to do it.

CAGE
Please, I can’t --
HAYLEY
There's no other way.

Cage looking at her. Seeing the Mimics ALMOST TO THEM. Trying to LIFT HER one final time as she PUSHES him --

RITA
... JUST GO NOW --

Cage recoiling. Sickened...

CONTINUED: (2)

As he finally does as he’s told. STOIC. Becoming the man we once met in front of our very eyes.CRADLING his only surviving family, as he RUNS FOR HIS LIFE...

Trying to ignore the SCREAMS of his wife behind him.

DREAM CUT TO:
99

INT. RITA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Cage WAKES with a start on a BED to find himself CRADLED AROUND ADAM, his son sleeping soundly in his Father’s arms. Rita’s simple BEDROOM surrounding them.

As Cage hears the nearby sound of CLASSICAL MUSIC --

100

INT. RITA’S BARRACKS - NIGHT

Rita SLEEPS on a COUCH in a SIMPLE LIVING AREA, the sound of CLASSICAL MUSIC wafting out of a RADIO next to her.

She OPENS HER EYES to see Cage in the DOORWAY.She LOWERS the music, apologetic.

RITA
Can’t sleep without it.
(off his look)
Too quiet.

She sees his face. Ashen. The nightmare still fresh.

RITA (CONT’D)
You okay?
CAGE
What happened to her father? ... Your little girl.
RITA
They were together. He was driving the car.
CAGE
You saw it happen?
(off her nod)
How do you get something like that out of your mind?
RITA
I'm not sure you're supposed to.

Cage sits. A sinner at confession. Head down.

CAGE
... It's my fault
(off her confusion)
That he doesn't have a Mother. My son, it's my fault.
RITA
Cage --
CAGE
I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't save her, I tried, but --
(saddened)
He doesn't even remember her.
RITA
He remembers you.
CAGE
I did this to him.
RITA
No, they did this to us.

She pulls a chair in front of him, looks him in the eye.

RITA (CONT’D)
Wasn't your fault.
(sincere)
... Wasn't mine either.

Cage finally meeting her gaze. His eyes softened.

RITA (CONT’D)
You're not alone, Cage.

Cage looking at her. Two broken souls. Face to face.

RITA (CONT’D)
Even if you can’t see it.
(off his look)
... I see it in you.

The two of them closer now. INCHES APART. Too close, when... THE SOUND OF SIRENS SUDDENLY INTRUDES.

RITA (CONT’D)
Proximity alert.
CAGE
That’s impossible, the attack’s not until tomorrow --
RITA
Oh my God --

CONTINUED: (2)

As she looks THROUGH THE WINDOW and we see it begin.A SWARM of APOSTLES descending. The base’s CANONS FIRING.

RITA (CONT’D)
Never tracked this far before, we’re supposed to be safe here --

Cage reaching for her SIDEARM, putting it to his HEAD.

RITA (CONT’D)
Wait, what are youdoing, you can’t loop anymore, remember? Blood’s too thin now, you’ll have an aneurysm, I told you there was no turning back --

Cage realizing how much trouble they’re in.

CAGE
We've got to get to the jackets.
101

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - NIGHT

CHAOS. SOLDIERS defending the base. The sky filled with FLAPPING WINGS and WHIPPING STINGERS.Every Apostle suddenly TURNING IN MID-BATTLE towards --

CAGE AND RITA. Our heroes run through it all. Cage HOLDING ADAM TIGHT. Rita SHOOTING their way through --

102

INT. ARMORY - NIGHT

Cage and Rita run in. HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS trying to get into jackets. APOSTLES CRASHING into the door outside.

Cage HIDES Adam in a LOCKER. Keeping him safe --

CAGE
You stay here no matter what, okay? No matter what you see --

Cage SECURING the door. Locking Adam safely inside. As Cage and Rita run to their jackets.LOCKING and LOADING.

CAGE (CONT’D)
They'll follow me, right? They’re tracking my signal?
(off her nod)
... Then we’re getting outta here.
103

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - NIGHT

Cage and Rita burst out of the armory to find SKINNER, TUB, FRENCH, MOE and YOBO already in jackets, fighting in the chaos... 12th squad fighting back.GUNS BLAZING.

SKINNER
WHAT’S HAPPENING --

Cage and Rita CARVING their way through the fighting, as YOBO sees them run past, towards the DROPSHIP HANGER.

YOBO
What are they, insane? WAIT --
104

EXT. DROPSHIP HANGER - NIGHT

HUNDREDS OF DROPSHIPS line the hanger.Cage and Rita fighting their way inside. Yobo following.

CAGE
Where the hell’re all the pilots --

The Apostles CRASH through the HANGER DOOR.A wave of violence. Almost through. Cage and Rita TRAPPED.

YOBO (O.S.)
Pilots are gone, they were all in briefing, they’re cut off --

As Cage sees Yobo RUNNING TO A COCKPIT.

YOBO (CONT’D)
C’mon...
(off his look)
What I told you, I trained for air con before infantry, remember --

Yobo climbing inside. Cage looking at the encroaching mimics. Knowing he has no other options.

YOBO (CONT’D)
C’mon, you want outta here or not?

Cage seeing Rita CLIMB INSIDE, manning a GUN TURRET.

CAGE
... This is a bad idea.
105

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - NIGHT

Skinner, Tub, French and Moe are losing the fight, in trouble when - the Apostles suddenly STOP FIGHTING.

MOE
What the hell --

As... KRRAANG. A DROPSHIP comes CRASHING through the HANGER DOORS - GUNS BLAZING. Soaring up into the sky.

106

INT./EXT. DROPSHIP (FLYING) - ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT

Yobo SPEEDS across the English countryside at NIGHT.ALL OF THE APOSTLES FOLLOWING THEM. A SWARM. At least 30. As the dropship PITCHES and ROLLS.All over the place --

CAGE
How many hours you say you had?
YOBO
Um, twelve. Thirteen maybe.
(off his look)
... I told you they switched me to infantry. It’s not my fault.

Cage and Rita manning the PULSE CANONS on the FLANKS.

RITA
AIM FOR THE WINGS, BELOW THE NECK.

Yobo SPEEDING THROUGH TREES AND VALLEYS as they OPEN FIRE. WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP. The huge canons THUMPING out PULSE ROUNDS, lighting up the NIGHT.The SCREECHING of APOSTLES filling the air as they take them down...

THIRTY BECOMING TWENTY. TWENTY BECOMING TEN.

CAGE
THEY’RE GOING UNDERNEATH --

Cage picking off the remaining Apostles one by one. WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP. Unleashing hell --

RITA
WE’RE ALMOST THERE. ON YOUR NINE.

Rita spinning around to see the final apostles SCREECHING towards her as... FIVE LEFT. THEN FOUR. THEN THREE --

As she turns and... BOOM. She blasts the final apostle out of the sky. The winged mimic FALLING TO THE GROUND.

YOBO
That’s it, we did it, WE’RE CLEAR.

THE SKY EMPTY. Cage and Rita looking, seeing NOTHING. Yobo TURNING THEM AROUND, HEADING BACK FOR BASE.

YOBO (CONT’D)
... Wasn’t so bad --

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. Cage and Rita looking at each other confused. Hearing a SCRATCHING on the HULL of the dropship. Cage looking out the BAY DOOR to see...

THREE REMAINING APOSTLES ATTACHED to the side --

CAGE
COVER THE DOOR --

Too late, as they DART INSIDE. LIGHTNING FAST. JAWS SNAPPING. STINGERS JABBING. CLOSE QUARTERS fighting --

Rita SLICING the head off the first.Cage using his BAYONET to SLICE the TWO WINGS OFF the second - kicking its carcass out. As they TURN TO THE THIRD and --

BANG. A SINGLE SHOT to the head puts it down. Cage turning to see Yobo LOWERING MRS. SMITH.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Think you just made MVP, private.

Yobo GRINNING as he prepares to land and --

His face suddenly FALLS. Confused. As he LOOKS DOWN to see an APOSTLE STINGER in his chest... Suddenly panicked.

CAGE (CONT’D)
No --

Yobo suddenly SLUMPING OVER DEAD, one of the Apostles REARING UP. STILL ALIVE. The DROPSHIP starting to PLUMMET TOWARDS THE BASE. Rita GRABBING THE CONTROLS --

107

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - NIGHT

The dropship comes CRASHING DOWN into base.An orgy of SPARKS FLYING as it SKIDS up off the BLACKTOP.Cage and the final Apostle TUMBLING OUT OF THE BAY DOOR...

As RITA CRASHES the ship into the MESS HALL.TEN TONS OF METAL SCREECHING to a stop in a FOG of DUST.

Cage SHELL SHOCKED. As Adam coming RUNNING out of the Armory, seeing his Dad on the ground, BLEEDING.

ADAM
Dad --
CAGE
No, Adam, STAY THERE --

Too late. As THE LAST APOSTLE REARS UP OVER CAGE.

ANGLE ON RITA:

Rita PULLS HERSELF out of the COCKPIT to see the SURVIVING APOSTLE still alive in the distance...

The mimic backing CAGE INTO A WALL, as Rita GRABS an AUTOCANNON. Lining up her SIGHTS. A THOUSAND YARD SHOT.

RITA
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon...

BACK TO CAGE:

Cage keeps Adam behind him. STARING the Apostle in its BLACK EYES. As the STINGER comes flying toward him and --

TTHHHHWAP -- Rita’s SHOT BLOWS THE APOSTLE’S HEAD OFF.A BLACK MIST. The stinger left inches away from his face.

RITA (O.S.)
-- C’mon, we've got to hurry.

Cage turning to see Rita running over, all-business. Cage distracted. Looking off at YOBO’S DEAD BODY.

RITA (CONT’D)
Cage,there’ll be more coming. We gotta get you out of the loop now.
108

EXT. SHELTER ENTRANCE - UDF BASE - NIGHT

Rita PUSHES all kinds of TECH EQUIPMENT in a CART to a HUGE DOOR. Cage following her. Adam at his side.

RITA
This is the old bomb shelter, these walls are 30 inches thick --
CAGE
Wait, we're gonna do ithere?
RITA
You won't make it to London alive. ... We can’t wait any longer

As she sees SKINNER, TUB, MOE and FRENCH waiting.

MOE
Wanna tell us what this is about?
(re: Adam)
This bring a kid to work day --
RITA
Just shut up and do as you're told, soldier. I need your help --

She hands a MONITOR and a WALKIE TALKIE to Tub.Cage holding Adam’s hand. Kneeling next to him.

CAGE
Need you to wait out here for me, okay? Tub’s gonna take care of you... Be back before you know it.
109

INT. SHELTER - MOMENTS LATER

An old BOMB SHELTER. The huge STEEL DOOR SLAMMING SHUT. As Rita leads Cage, Skinner, Moe and French through.

RITA
There's a deep freeze in storage. Once your body temps at 64 degrees. Your heart will stop --
SKINNER
Hold on... We’re killing him?
RITA
No, we’re saving his life.
110

INT. FREEZER AREA - MOMENTS LATER

Cage TAKES OFF HIS CLOTHES, as he walks into a CRAMPED DEEP FREEZE room. Surrounded by OLD FREEZER BURNED FOOD. Rita putting an ELECTRICAL MONITORING DEVICE inside.

RITA
Once you've finished transmitting, we'll raise your temp, then go to the defib. You okay? You ready?

He NODS. As she CLOSES the door and turns the FREEZER DIAL. Seeing Cage through a WINDOW in the door.

MOE
You can’t do this --
RITA
We'll bring him back. Trust me --

Cage putting his HAND TO THE GLASS.Rita placing her HAND AGAINST THE OTHER SIDE. Facing each other.

SKINNER
This is insane --

Cage SITTING. The TREMORS beginning. His EYES going.

RITA
Look at me. Right here.

Cage nodding. As she sees the TEMPERATURE tick down to 64 degrees. Cage’s EYELIDS falling. His head SHAKING.

CAGE
See you - soon.

His FINAL BREATHS escaping him. TREMORS subsiding. Cage and Rita exchanging one final LOOK.A GOODBYE MOMENT.

SKINNER
Can’t believe we’re doing this --

As his heart finally STOPS BEATING and DANIEL CAGE DIES.

Rita looking at the READING inside.Watching a NEEDLE RISE as Cage starts to TRANSMIT. She grabs a WALKIE.

RITA
He’s transmitting. How we looking out there? You getting a reading?
111

EXT. SHELTER ENTRANCE - UDF BASE - NIGHT

Adam watches Tub reading a MONITOR.The NEEDLE at “0.” As he talks into the WALKIE TALKIE, confused --

TUB
Um, nothing. No readout.
112

INT. FREEZER AREA - MOMENTS LATER

Rita looks at her maxed-out needle.Watching as it SLOWLY STARTS TO FALL. A TIMER ticking along. Two minutes, two and a half, THREE MINUTES...

RITA
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon...

The needle getting CLOSER AND CLOSER TO “0” until --

RITA (CONT’D)
OKAY, WE'RE CLEAR, GET HIM OUT.

Skinner and French OPEN THE DOOR. DRAGGING Cage onto the floor. Onto a waiting HEAT PAD. As Rita shoots an ADRENALINE SHOT into his heart, grabbing a DEFIBRILLATOR.

She tries to get a rhythm. Performing CPR. CHARGE AFTER CHARGE. BREATH AFTER BREATH. Over and over...

RITA (CONT’D)
Alright, CLEAR.

Rita using her hands. POUNDING his CHEST, SKIN TO SKIN.

RITA (CONT’D)
C’mon, Cage, here we go.

As Moe and Skinner look at each other.Nervous.

RITA (CONT’D)
One more go around, c’mon...
113

EXT. SHELTER ENTRANCE - UDF BASE - NIGHT

Tub plays his VIDEO GAME with Adam, trying to keep the boy entertained. Adam looking at the DOOR.

TUB
I’m sure they’re fine. You want another go? Got one more life --

Tub INTERRUPTED as the DOOR suddenly OPENS.Adam turning to see RITA. Her face hard to read for a second...

Until we see CAGE behind her. WRAPPED in BLANKETS. Adam jumping up, HUGGING him tight.

CAGE
Told you I wasn't going anywhere.

Moe, French and Skinner arriving in the background, seeing the family scene. Moe HAVING FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.

MOE
Alright, now does somebody want to tell us what thehell is going on?
114

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - NIGHT

Cage watches BODY BAGS being zipped up.HUNDREDS of DEAD SOLDIERS. As he looks down at YOBO’S FACE. Humbled. Laying old MRS. SMITH on his chest.SHINY and CLEAN.

RITA
You ready?

Cage turning to see Rita waiting for him.

CAGE
Died because of me. They all did.
RITA
... Don’t let it be in vain.
115

INT. BATTLE READINESS BRIEFING THEATER - NIGHT

Rita holds court in front of Cage, Moe, Skinner, French and Tub in the EMPTY THEATER. VIDSCREENS showing the APOSTLE PATTERN around Paris and a LOOPER MIMIC IMAGE.

RITA
You wanted the truth, now you know. That’s who he was. That’s what we gotta do... It’s up to us.
SKINNER
Think I'm gonna be sick.
MOE
Can’t do this. I’m only six months out of basic --
CAGE
Moe, I’ve seen you single handedly take down a 30 foot roach with one chainsaw and a pulse grenade.

Rita looks at Cage. Surprised by his intrusion.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... I’ve seen Skinner rip an apostle’s wings off with his bare hands. Seen French hit a head shot from a half mile. Even saw Tub run the hundred in ten flat.
TUB
I did?
CAGE
I’ve fought with you a hundred times -three hundred times. We can do this. I know we can.

Rita smiling. As Cage looks at her.

CAGE (CONT'D)
All we gotta do is work as a team.
116

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Rita watches on as ACROSS THE ROOM we see Cage saying goodbye to his son. The kid HUGGING his Dad tight. As Cage stoically walks away, trying not to look back...

CAGE
Got this awful feeling like I'm not going to see him again.
RITA
You’ll be fine, Sergeant, let’s just get it done.

Cage looks at her, confused. Rita pulling out some SERGEANT STRIPES. THREE CHEVRONS. Matter-of-fact.

RITA (CONT’D)
Someone’s gotta take Farell’s place. Unless you’re not ready?

Cage looking at her. TAKING THE STRIPES. Nodding.

CAGE (V.O.)
... This is it, Gentlemen.
117

INT. ARMORY - DAWN

Rita, Cage and the rest of 12th STRIP DOWN, putting on EXO-JACKETS. GEARING UP. French putting on WARPAINT.

CAGE (V.O.)
We are all that’s left.

As Cage GRABS the BIO-TRANSMITTER.Rita grabbing a “BIG DADDY” CLAYMORE and REMOTE DETONATOR.Ready for war.

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Lotta people died to get us here. The Sarge, Yobo, Heitz, Abba.

Cage WEDGING Adam's photo into his breast plate.

CAGE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Let’s do ‘em proud, okay?
118

EXT. DROPSHIP HANGER - MORNING

Cage and Rita BRIEF the remains of 12th squad as their DROPSHIP is LOADED UP behind them.PILOTS getting in.

CAGE
They’re gonna be expecting us from the sky, so ground-to-air around Paris is gonna be a turkey shoot --
SKINNER
So what, we’re going in on the ground? Won’t they be waiting?
RITA
Not if we’re on the water.

As Skinner sees an MVC ATTACK BOAT being SECURED into the DROPSHIP. A NIMBLE TRICKED OUT AQUATIC WAR MACHINE.

MOE
Oh, good, a boat ride... Maybe we can get some fishing in --
CAGE
We drop at Vernon. Take the Seine all the way through to the tower.
RITA
Once we’re in, we secure the queen, scramble her transmission. Then we evac outta there and blow the whole place by remote.

Rita PATS the “BIG DADDY” CLAYMORE.

CAGE
We are now first wave. Command has given us until 0800. Then the attack will go ahead as normal --
SKINNER
Why don't they just call it off --
RITA
This is the biggest operation in military history, doesn’t just stop on a dime cause we say so.
(off his look)
We got 2 hours before they hit the beach, after that we're feeding mice to the snake. Any questions?
TUB
Yeah, I have a question... You know there’s only 6 of us, right?
RITA
Can’t thread a needle with a piece of rope, private. 6 is perfect.
(MORE)

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA (CONT'D)
... Besides, we’ll be in the boat the whole time, don’t worry.
(wanting to believe)
With any luck, they’ll never even know we were there.
119

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES DROPSHIP - MORNING

The quiet before the storm. Skinner, Moe, French and Tub waiting, sitting in the BOAT, ARTILLERY THUMPING outside.

PILOT (O.S.)
THIRTY TO CONTACT. HOLDING --

Skinner offers Cage CHEWING TOBACCO.Cage taking some, appreciating the gesture. Secretly spitting it out.

RITA (O.S.)
We can do this, right?

Cage sees Rita looking at him. Trusting him with her doubt. Needing to near it. As he smiles.

CAGE
Be back in Missouri before you know it... We’re almost there.

As she SMILES and the BAY DOORS open to reveal FRANCE below. The BLUE RIBBON of the RIVER SEINE visible.

RITA
K, LIGHT ‘EM UP. CLOCKS UP FRONT.

Cage and the others slide their FACEPLATES down.CLOCKS COUNTING DOWN on the visors: “1h 36m 28s”

CAGE
Remember, stay low, no bad habits. Tub aim high, Moe watch your six --
PILOT (O.S.)
IN FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO...

Cage CLOSING HIS EYES as TWO HUGE CLAMPS suddenly CLICK.

PILOT (CONT’D)
MARK.
120

EXT. RIVER SEINE - CONTINUOUS

The DROP SHIP ZIPS TWENTY FEET over the SEINE as the ATTACK BOAT suddenly DROPS out of the hull.PLUMMETING --

THUMPING down. BOUNCING off the water’s surface as Skinner HITS THE THROTTLE, kicking out a huge WAKE...

121

INT./EXT. ATTACK BOAT (MOVING) - RIVER SEINE - MORNING

Skinner drives the boat UP RIVER, Tub NAVIGATING.Moe manning a PULSE CANNON at the back of the boat, as Cage, French and Rita survey the FRENCH TOWNS and COUNTRYSIDE.

French looking at the DEVASTATION.The remnants of OLD BATTLES as they enter OUTER PARIS.SCARRED and EERIE.

TUB
You okay? French.

Tub trying to get her attention. Her face ASH WHITE.

TUB (CONT’D)
We’ll get it back, okay. All of it... I promise --
CAGE (O.S.)
-- Everybody down.

Cage seeing a SWARM OF APOSTLES above, policing the skies. Skinner STOPPING the boat, as they slide...

UNDER A BRIDGE:

Our team HIDING in the SHADOWS. SILENT. Listening.

Baited breath. Everyone on TENDER HOOKS. The Apostles SCREECHING above. The tension palpable until --

A RUSTLE interrupts. Cage seeing Tub UNWRAP a CANDY BAR.

CAGE
Really? Now?
TUB
What, I get nervous --

Everyone staring anxiously upwards until --

The flock passes by, not seeing them, continuing it’s SWEEP. Everyone RELAXING. The boat CHUGGING forward.

RITA
It worked. They couldn’t track you, you’re out... We made it --
MOE (O.S.)
Wait, guys, you see that --

Moe seeing SOMETHING in the WATER behind them.

SKINNER
I don’t see anything.
MOE
Right there, you don’t see that?

As a SHADOW becomes pronounced under the water.

TUB
Looks like a --
RITA
... It’s a fin.

The SHADOW suddenly surging CLOSER and CLOSER until --

WHOOSH. It LEAPS out of the water. An AQUATIC-MIMIC. Segmented, 9’ long, INK BLACK. LONG ARTICULATED FINS covered in POISONOUS SPINES... SLICING through the air.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH. More AQUATIC-MIMICS attacking. SLAMMING the sides of the boat. Like TORPEDOES.

CAGE
C’mon, GO GO GO --

As Cage SLAMS the THROTTLE. The CHASE beginning.

SKINNER
Can’t out run ‘em --
CAGE
Give me your grenades. NOW.

Everyone handing him their GRENADES.Cage removing the SAFETY as he throws one in the water and --

BOOM! Mimic PARTS rain down all around them. Like fishing with dynamite. The grenades like DEPTH CHARGES. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! Fish in a barrel until --

THUD. One of the Aquatic-Mimics LANDS on the boat. FINS acting like SPIDER LEGS, as it runs SIDEWAYS along the walls. OVERHEAD on the CABIN CEILING, LEAPING for Rita --

SCHLAPP -- Moe SHOOTS it out of the air.Just in time.

SKINNER (O.S.)
Guys, we’re in trouble.

As they see the PONT MIRABEAU BRIDGE COLLAPSED ahead. The REMNANTS of an OLD FIREFIGHT. The RIVER BLOCKED...

CONTINUED: (2)

CAGE
Now what --

Rita seeing the water FROTHING with MIMICS, no way out.

RITA
Grab what you can. Bring as much ammo as you can carry.
SKINNER
Wait, we’re not goingout there.
(off her look)
... Do the words never get outta the boat mean anything to you?
122

EXT. STREET - PARIS - MOMENTS LATER

The remains of 12th squad RUNS through the streets of Paris. MIMICS running towards them on all sides.

Our team MOVING AS A UNIT. Cage on point. Rita bringing up the rear. Moe, Skinner, French and Tub moving in DEFENSIVE FORMATION, rotating, covering the perimeter.

CAGE
C’MON, EYES ON CORNERS, STAY LOW --

Cage seeing they’re CUT OFF. Both EXIT STREETS BLOCKED with MIMICS. As Cage sees an OLD RESTAURANT AHEAD...

123

INT. RESTAURANT - PARIS - DAY

SIX FULLY LOADED U.D.F. SOLDIERS in EXO-JACKETS come CRASHING into this tiny restaurant.TABLES and CHAIRS flying as they HAUL ASS through the NARROW KITCHEN into --

124

EXT. BACK ALLEY - PARIS - CONTINUOUS

Cage SMASHING through the BACK DOOR, as he sees MORE MIMICS running down the alley. Cage UNLEASHING his AUTO CANNON on the WALL AHEAD, shooting a MAN-MADE DOOR into --

125

INT. BAR - PARIS - CONTINUOUS

Cage BURSTS through the wall into an old BAR.DUST and MASONRY everywhere. 12th keeping the MIMICS at bay. For now. As Cage looks out the WINDOW to see MORE MIMICS.

CAGE
GODDAMIT. There’s too many.

CRASH. A MIMIC jumps in through a WINDOW. French BLOWING it to pieces. Another DROPPING DOWN from the ATTIC above. Rita SLICING it in half, breathless --

RITA
Any bright ideas?
CAGE
Yeah, I kill myself. Wake up yesterday, we all have a nice lunch and then try all over again.

Rita looking around, knowing they’re in trouble.As Moe takes a huge SWIG from a BOTTLE OF COGNAC.

MOE
... Not dying sober.
FRENCH
Javel.
MOE
I don’t speak... What does that mean, you want a sip?
FRENCH
No, putain,Javel --

They see her pointing outside at JAVEL METRO ENTRANCE. As Cage GRINS. Kissing French on the head.

CAGE
... Genius.
126

INT. JAVEL METRO STATION - DAY

Our team HAULS ASS inside. Mimics right behind them. As RITA GRENADES the ENTRANCE. DEBRIS sealing them in.

SHOULDER FLASHLIGHTS automatically ACTIVATING on the EXOJACKETS. As they look through the PITCH BLACK DARK.

SKINNER
Now what?

French shining her light on a METRO MAP on the wall. POINTING at the EIFFEL TOWER STOP.FOUR STOPS away.

MOE
You sure about this? We don’t know what’s down here.
RITA
Better than what’s up there... C’mon, we’re running out of time.
127

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

Soldiers stream like ANTS. The UDF preparing to invade. EXOJACKETS POUNDING against tarmac.As the BRIGADIER GENERAL checks his WATCH. Grabbing a LIEUTENANT.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Any word from the Sergeant Major?
(off shaking head)
Get ‘em ready. Birds on standby. First and second in the pocket.

As the Lieutenant nods and walks away.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (CONT’D)
C’mon, Rita, where are you?
128

INT. METRO TUNNEL - DARKNESS

The sound of BREATHING. SHOULDER LIGHTS illuminating 6 soldiers running in formation. French stopping as she SHINES HER LIGHT, and they see what she’s looking at...

ROW after ROW of DECOMPOSED HUMAN BODIES.Some STRUNG UP. Some LAID ON THE GROUND. Some in CAGES. The ROWS EERILY SYMMETRICAL. Mathematical. Going on for MILES.

SKINNER
What the hell --

As we see the bodies have all been EXPERIMENTED ON. DISSECTED. STUDIED. The remnants of TESTING.

CAGE
It’s like some kinda - lab.
RITA
They’ve been studying us --
MOE
See, Itold you. Just like we did to them, it’s payback, man. They been learning our weaknesses --
RITA
Alright, let’s just keep moving. French, you listening to me?

French silent. Surrounded by what remains of her FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. Looking more and more DISTRAUGHT. Detached.

RITA (CONT’D)
C’mon, keep your eyes forward.

As she sees the TOUR EIFFEL STATION PLATFORM AHEAD.

RITA (CONT’D)
We’re almost there --
129

EXT. ENTRANCE - TOUR EIFFEL STATION - DAY

Cage, Rita, Moe, Skinner, Tub and French all head up the METRO STAIRS into the LIGHT. Peaking out...

SEEING the HUGE EIFFEL TOWER ahead.A QUARTER MILE away. TENDRILS of ELECTRICAL CURRENT sporadically hitting it.

RITA
She’s transmitting. C’mon --

Cage stops her, seeing a PACK of REAVERS standing guard.

TUB
What the hell are those?
CAGE
You don’t want to find out.

As we see French LOOKING AROUND HER.Looking at what has become of her city. HOLDING ON HER FACE.

SKINNER (O.S.)
Could fight our way through --
CAGE (O.S.)
Wouldn’t make it ten feet, we need something to distract them.
RITA (O.S.)
Cage, in 32 minutes half the UDF’s gonna be landing on that beach --

And then French suddenly STANDS UP.Distant. Calm.

RITA (CONT’D)
What are... French, get down,now.

She slowly starts WALKING OUT into the STREET.

RITA (CONT’D)
Where’re you going - Frenchwait --

As she LOCKS AND LOADS. SCREAMING in FRENCH. Getting the Reavers’ attention. DISTRACTING THEM.

FRENCH
VENEZ LE CHERCHER LES CHIENNES --
130

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

The BRIGADIER GENERAL stands facing the entire UDF ARMY. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. As he talks into a PA SYSTEM.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
You are the U.D.F.... This is everything you have trained for. Everything we have fought for.
131

EXT. STREET - PARIS - DAY

Cage watches French MID-FIREFIGHT.RUNNING through her hometown, taking on the Reavers. UNLEASHING HELL.

CAGE
... She’s drawing them away.
BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
Our existence - our veryspecies - is dependent on what we do today.
132

EXT. BASE - EIFFEL TOWER - PARIS - DAY

Cage leads our team through the HUGE EIFFEL TOWER. French having CLEARED THE WAY. FIGHTING in the distance.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
... This is the day we fight back. The day we take what is ours.
133

EXT. STREET - PARIS - DAY

French sees her comrades make it to the tower in the DISTANCE. Seeing they’re clear. Relieved.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
... We fight together, we die together, ‘til the last man falls.

As the Reavers CLOSE IN. French smiling. At peace. KNEELING DOWN on the streets of Paris.CLOSING HER EYES.

134

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage and the team RUN up a STAIRWELL to LEVEL ONE, 95 metres up. Hearing FRENCH’S SCREAMS over the RADIO.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
No matter what happens today, history will remember our names...

Skinner, Tub and Moe DETACHING THREE PULSE CANNONS from their jackets. Forming three CANNON NESTS, SECURING THE TOWER BASE BELOW. As Cage and Rita head up to LEVEL TWO.

135

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

The General finishes up, looking at his army.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Let them remember us well.

As the UDF ARMY CHEERS and the General CHECKS HIS WATCH.

RITA (V.O.)
This is it, Cage, no do-overs.
136

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage and Rita arrive 150 METRES UP in LEVEL TWO.Rita checking her HUD CLOCK: “22m 36s” left.As they SEARCH THE STRUCTURE. The METAL CRACKLING with ELECTRICITY.

RITA
Remember, have to implant into her nervous system for it to work... HUD will locate her spine.

Cage CARRIES the BIO-TRANSMITTER. The TOWER EMPTY. Rita seeing more MERCURY-like LIQUID on the ground.

CAGE
Maybe they moved her again?
RITA
No, she’s here...
(looking around)
And she’s been busy.

As we see rows of HUNDREDS of eerily SYMMETRICAL AMNIOTIC SARCOPHAGI. Like VERTICAL COCOONS. Methodically laid out. ELECTRICAL CURRENT SPARKING around them.

CAGE
Like a goddamn production line...

Cage looking within the TRANSLUCENT COCOONS to see ALMOST FORMED SPIDER-LIKE MIMICS inside, unmistakable.LOOPERS.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Oh my God --
RITA
Doesn’t make sense. They stopped breeding ‘em when we started using the looping tech against them... Why risk starting again now?

As a LONG NEEDLE protrudes out of her EXO-JACKET WRIST.

Rita PIERCING the cocoon. EXTRACTING a SILVER-BLACK BLOOD SAMPLE from the creature as it STIRS within.

CAGE
What are you doing?
RITA
Running bio-anaylsis. If these things are loopers we’ll be...

She loses the words. Seeing the BIO-ANALYSIS POP-UP on her HUD. Rita looking instantly NERVOUS.

CAGE
Rita we don’t have time for this --

Rita running a SECOND TEST. Anxious. CROSS CHECKING. As the sound of GUNFIRE suddenly interrupts --

137

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Skinner, Moe and Tub LAY DOWN FIRE from their PULSE CANNON NESTS. PICKING off LONE MIMICS below. A HUGE HORDE of MIMICS flooding towards them in the distance.

TUB
HERE THEY COME --
138

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Rita looks at the analysis, aghast.Cage impatient now.

CAGE
It's a constant field.
CAGE (CONT’D)
What? What’re you talking about --
RITA
... It’s an open loop. Means they won't have to die to jump. They can control it, loop whenever they want, backwards or forwards --
CAGE
What, like forwards intime?
RITA
Whenever they want. Who knows how far. Weeks, months, even years - they’ll control the timeline.
(off his look)
Cage, if these things get out, it's over. We can't beat them --

She pulls out the “BIG DADDY” CLAYMORE.Prepping it.

CAGE
What are you doing?
(of her look)
We have to send the signal first.
RITA
This is more important than Europe, if these things hatch the entire waris over --

Cage takes back the REMOTE DETONATOR.

CAGE
Look at me. This isn’t over yet.
(off her look)
We can find her, send it, get out and blow these things to kingdom come, okay? There’s still time --

As she looks at him. She NODS...

And then he suddenly HESITATES. Seeing something behind her. A GLISTEN at first. A DROP of MERCURY LIKE OOZE. And then a TENDRIL-LIKE LIMB, reaching around her --

CAGE (CONT’D)
RITA,NO --

Too late. Rita suddenly HOISTED INTO THE AIR, as our GUEST OF HONOR finally arrives and we meet our QUEEN...

Size does indeed matter. The JET-BLACK QUEEN IMPOSSIBLY HUGE. UNPACKING herself from the GIRDERS above. Her torso a STORM of SPINDLED LIMBS. Like RAZOR-SHARP TREE ROOTS, surrounding us. ELECTRICITY SPARKING...

CONTINUED: (2)

A 60 FOOT NIGHTMARE COME TO LIFE.

139

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

The WAVE of MIMIC SOLDIERS SWARM over one another like RATS ESCAPING A SHIP. Clambering up the tower’s LEGS.

SKINNER
... ALRIGHT, FALL BACK TO SECOND POSITION. TUB, C’MON --

The soldiers DRAGGING their GUNS to a UNIFIED POSITION.

SKINNER (CONT’D)
THEY’RE COMING,HURRY --
140

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage hears the sound of GUNFIRE as he looks up at Rita, being suspended THIRTY FEET in the air in front of him.

Cage seeing the HORRIFIC MAW of a FACE extend out of the body. EMOTIONLESS. The creature STRETCHING a long POINTED ROOT to Rita’s NECK. Threatening. CRUSHING her EXOJACKET. The jacket MALFUNCTIONING. ALARMS.

As a ROOT snakes over to the CLAYMORE, sliding the bomb over to CAGE’S FEET. Rita TALKING THROUGH HER RADIO.

RITA
She wants you to deactivate it --
CAGE
I know what she wants. Can you reach your access panel?
(off shaking head)
... I’ll patch in by remote. On three, you punch out, okay?

Cage OPERATING a KEYPAD on his exojacket.

CAGE (CONT’D)
On one --
RITA
Cage, that’s thirty feet.
CAGE
Two --

As Cage sees her jacket’s PRESSURE RELEASE kick in.

RITA
CAGE, WAIT --

Rita suddenly EJECTING from her jacket.Her BODY PLUMMETING THIRTY FEET down to the ground as...

Cage RUNS, JUMPING forward as he GRABS her.CRADLING her body as he ROLLS to a stop, GRABBING THE CLAYMORE --

141

INT. MAINTENANCE PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS

Cage pulls Rita inside, SLAMMING the door shut.The QUEEN’S ROOTS SLAMMING against the surrounding girders.

RITA
Are youinsane?
CAGE
I’ll take care of her, you set the charge once I’m gone, understand --

Cage GRABS the BIO-TRANSMITTER off of his suit.EJECTING his guns. Pulling out his BAYONETS.

RITA
You can’t do this by yourself --
CAGE
This time I don’t have a choice. ... Once I’ve transmitted, we’ll call in evac. Can detonate by remote once we’re a safe distance.
RITA
Cage --
CAGE
I can do this.

Cage psyching himself up. The prize fighter before the big bout. Rita seeing THERE’S NO STOPPING HIM.

RITA
Use the mag-lock on your jacket. Tower’s metal, you understand?
(off his nod)
... Go get her, Sergeant.
142

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage exits to see the ENORMOUS QUEEN unfurling in front of him. His HUD analyzing her BODY MASS, isolating the SPINAL COLUMN. TARGETING the sweet spot ON HER BACK.

CAGE
X marks the spot.

As he ENGAGES MAG-LOCK on his HUD.His jacket’s BOOTS ADHERING to the METAL TOWER STRUCTURE.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Follow me.

A flurry of RAZOR SHARP LIMBS suddenly SNAPPING towards him as Cage JUMPS - BOUNCING off of a GIRDER --

The “mag-lock” allowing him to RUN VERTICALLY UP THE SIDE OF THE GIRDERS. Even run UPSIDE DOWN...

As Cage SPRINTS upwards. The rules of physics no longer applying as he gets HIGHER AND HIGHER.

CAGE (CONT’D)
C’mon, c’mon...

Looking down as the Queen starts to GIVE CHASE.LEAVING THE COCOONS DOWN BELOW. Following the bait.

143

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

The WAVE of MIMIC SOLDIERS is infiltrating. Skinner, Tub and Moe’s HUDS showing their AMMO COUNT depleting.

SKINNER
FALL BACK --

Tub laying down a COVER FIRE as Moe falls back with Skinner. Tub going to join them, when--

MOE
WAIT, TUBBEHIND YOU --

Tub turning to see the MIMICS CLIMB UP the structure BEHIND HIM. Tub LOOKING BACK AT THEM FATEFULLY...

MOE (CONT’D)
NO --

As... SLAM. Tub is suddenly RIPPED APART. LIMB FROM LIMB. Skinner seeing MORE MIMICS coming BEHIND THEM TOO.

MOE (CONT’D)
WE’RE CUT OFF --

THAP! A JAVELIN suddenly SLAMMIMG into Skinner’s SHOULDER. Skinner going down. Moe PULLING HIM BACK. DRAGGING him away. As the MIMICS close in for the kill.

144

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Rita SETS the big daddy claymore in the middle of the GRID OF COCOONS. PREPPING the REMOTE DETONATOR. BEEP.

As she sees the new species starting to STIR WITHIN THE COCOONS. One of the sarcophagi slowly STARTING TO HATCH.

RITA
... CAGE, TALK TO ME --
145

EXT. LEVEL THREE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage is MID-BATTLE. FIGHTING at the TOP OF THE TOWER. The Queen like a sci-fi nightmare of KING KONG.Cutting a TERRIFYING SILHOUETTE against the PARISIAN CITY SCAPE.

Cage follows his HUD to the TARGET AREA on the Queen’s back. Fighting on the QUEEN HERSELF. Running from LIMB TO LIMB. DODGING the razor-sharp ROOTS. Impossible.

CAGE
I CAN’T GET TO IT --

A storm of JAVELINS and ELECTRIC TENDRILS surrounding him, a MAZE OF DEATH. Cage trying to get position when --

SHHHICK... A JAVELIN suddenly RIPS through his side.

Cage sent FLYING BACK. Our hero GRABBING a GIRDER just in time. Now HANGING over the 300 foot DROP below.

146

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Rita sees Cage DANGLING way up above.As the COCOONS all start to CRACK and HATCH around her.Closer and closer.

RITA
CAGE --
147

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Moe DRAGS Skinner so their BACKS ARE TO THE WALL.Moe unloading their REMAINING AMMO. Final rounds.

SKINNER
Not gonna make it, are we?

Moe saying nothing, watching his AMMO as it slowly counts down. Almost gone. Moe the LAST MAN STANDING.

148

EXT. LEVEL THREE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

The Queen SLITHERS over to Cage. His FINGERS starting to SLIP. The Queen bringing her head CLOSER.

She stares blankly at him. Emotionless. Watching on as a SINGLE POINTED ROOT extends towards Cage’s HANDS.

And then she calmly SLICES OFF his LEFT HAND.Cage SWALLOWING the PAIN. Now hanging by one hand. DEFIANT.

CAGE
Fuck you.

The Queen’s face EXPRESSIONLESS. Devoid of sympathy or life. As the root reaches for Cage’s other hand and --

PFFFT. The root suddenly DISAPPEARS. BLOWN TO PIECES.

The Queen looking down, confused, to see Rita below on LEVEL TWO. Wearing her BATTERED OLD DISCARDED EXOJACKET. Sniping with her jacket’s AUTOCANNON.

RITA
CAGE, NOW --

The distraction all the opportunity that Cage needs.As in a final feat of strength he suddenly PULLS HIMSELF UP with his GOOD ARM, HAULING himself upwards...

Climbing onto a GIRDER - running UPSIDE DOWN along it...

DROPPING DOWN ONTO THE QUEEN’S BACK - following his HUD to the TARGET AREA, pulling out the BIO-TRANSMITTER, RAMMING it down onto the QUEEN’S SPINE --

The QUEEN REELING as the bio-transmitter’s PINCER CLAWS attach like STAPLES, connecting to her NERVOUS SYSTEM --

This monstrous beast letting out an awful SCREECH as electricity CHARGES around her like a TESLA BALL.Cage RUNNING. LEAPING off of her, CATCHING a GIRDER just as --

BWAAAMMMM -- A THUNDEROUS PULSE of ELECTRICITY suddenly circles out of the enormous Mimic’s VIBRATING body. Rippling out into the PARIS CITYSCAPE and FRANCE BEYOND.

149

EXT. LEVEL ONE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Moe’s AMMO COUNT hits ZERO. The WALL of MIMICS now just feet away, a FEROCIOUS MIMIC reaching out for them as --

It’s HEAD is suddenly RIPPED OFF by another Mimic.

MOE
What the hell --

The Mimics all suddenly TURNING ON EACH OTHER.RIPPING each other to pieces, tearing each other LIMB FROM LIMB.

SKINNER
They scrambled the signal. Hive’s turning on itself --
(disbelief)
... Sunnavabitch, IT’S WORKING --
150

EXT. BEACHHEAD - DAY

And sure enough, the Mimic armyis destroying itself. THOUSANDS of Mimics ripping into one another in a mass of WRITHING BODY PARTS. Like a huge CARNIVOROUS SNAKE PIT.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (O.S.)
TAKE ‘EM DOWN, ALPHA AND BRAVO --
151

INT. CONTROL ROOM - UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

The BRIGADIER GENERAL watches a huge BANK OF MONITORS.A myriad CAMERA VIEWS on the BATTLE.The entire control room in SHOCK, watching the MIMICS TURN ON EACH OTHER.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Can’t believe she pulled it off - SEND IN EVERYTHING WE GOT, NOW GO.

As we see the UDF soldiers OPENING FIRE on the exposed Mimic army. Helping the rabid enemy DEFEAT ITSELF.

RITA (V.O.)
... CAGE, WE DID IT, SIGNAL’S OUT.
152

EXT. LEVEL THREE - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage hurries down the Eiffel tower.DODGING LIMBS as the LIVID QUEEN gives chase. The awful SCREECH continuing.

RITA (V.O.)
ARTILLERY’S DOWN, EVAC’S EN ROUTE.
153

EXT. LEVEL TWO - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Rita checks the claymore. Pulling out the REMOTE DETONATOR. RUNNING through the HATCHING COCOONS.

RITA
MEET US AT THE SOUTH EAST SIDE OF LEVEL TWO, HURRY --

As she sees Moe PULLING SKINNER UP from level one.

RITA (CONT’D)
Tub?

Moe shaking his head. As the WHINE of RAMJETS intrudes and they see a UDF DROPSHIP SWOOPS DOWN.BAY DOORS OPEN.

RITA (CONT’D)
C’MON, CAGE WHERE ARE YOU --

ANGLE ON CAGE:

As he all but FALLS DOWN the tower - LEAPING PARKOUR STYLE. CLOSER AND CLOSER TO LEVEL TWO...

Cage seeing his team ALREADY INSIDE the dropship ahead. SPRINTING to them. The Queen CLOSER TO HIM NOW.

RITA
C’MON -- JUMP --

Cage running for all he’s worth. Almost to the edge of the tower as a LONG BLACK ROOT reaches out to grab him --

And Cage JUMPS. Leap of faith. FINGERS OUTSTRETCHED...

154

INT./EXT. DROPSHIP (HOVERING) - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Rita GRABS CAGE’S HAND. Not letting go. Pulling him in.

RITA
I got you --

The drop ship LIFTING AWAY. Our team almost clear when --

THAP! THAP! THAP! The ship is suddenly RIDDLED WITH THE QUEEN’S JAVELINS, the aircraft PITCHING sideways --

RITA (CONT’D)
Wait --

As Rita sees the REMOTE DETONATOR SLIDE OUT HER JACKET!

CAGE
NO --

The detonator TUMBLING out of the ship, DISAPPEARING down into the innards of the tower. LOST FOREVER. GONE.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Tell me you have another remote. ... RITA, TELL ME THERE’S ANOTHER.

Rita looking at him. Shaking her head. As she grabs a GUN. Getting ready to go back in, YELLING at the Pilot.

RITA
TAKE ME BACK DOWN.
(off his look)
Have to detonate it by hand.
CAGE
Not letting youkill yourself --
RITA
If they get out, we’re dead anyway. We don’t have a choice.
CAGE
Yes, we do.

As Cage gets ready to go back in. TAKING THE GUN.

CAGE (CONT’D)
Your jacket’s done, you’ll never make it that far anyway.
(off her resistance)
-- Look at me, you know I’m right.

Rita looking at him. Skinner and Moe watching on.

RITA
Cage --
CAGE
Couldn’t save her, but I can still save you. Can still save him.

Cage HANDING HER SOMETHING. Pressing it into his hand.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... Take care of him.

Rita not knowing what to say as --

He KISSES her.

The STOLEN MOMENT lingering for the TINIEST OF SECONDS. A WORLD IN THEIR PERFECT KISS. FINALLY TOGETHER for the briefest of moments. Rita BREATHLESS, as he pulls away.

CAGE (CONT’D)
... See you in the next life.

CONTINUED: (2)

RITA
No, wait, Cagedon’t --

As Cage suddenly lets himself go. FALLING BACKWARDS out of the dropship doors. Cage getting SMALLER AND SMALLER as he DISAPPEARS DOWN BELOW. Rita left ALONE above.

Looking down to see his SERGEANT STRIPES in her hand.

155

INT. SECOND TIER - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage SLAMS into the IRON FLOOR. His AUTOLAND kicking in. As he looks up at the QUEEN. CURLING AROUND HIM. His old nemesis. Cage pulling his BAYONETS with a smile.

CAGE
Alone at last.
156

INT./EXT. DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - FRANCE - DAY

Rita looks back at the Eiffel Tower, getting SMALLER in the distance. Skinner and Moe flanking her. ALL THAT REMAINS OF 12TH SQUAD. As they look back...

157

INT. SECOND TIER - EIFFEL TOWER - DAY

Cage FIGHTING HIS FINAL BATTLE. And never has he fought with more grace. As he SPINS and SLICES his way through the MIGHTY QUEEN’S LIMBS. Impossible to defeat...

LANDING next to the CLAYMORE. The Queen seeing the BOMB. Cage EJECTING from his SUIT. One TINY MAN, dwarfed by her magnificence. One HUMAN FINGER on the BUTTON.

As Clay KNEELS DOWN and pulls his SON’S PHOTO from his jacket. Crossing himself with it THREE TIMES.

CAGE
For luck.

The Queen SCREECHING a DEATH CRY, as --

158

INT./EXT. DROPSHIP (IN FLIGHT) - FRANCE - DAY

A FLASH OF WHITE. And then a BOOM. The Eiffel Tower INCINERATED. A SQUARE MILE of PARIS removed from the face of the earth, as a DEMI-SPHERE of IONIC CHARGE spreads from the epicenter. Rita HOLDING ON TIGHT.

Not wanting to let go.

159

EXT. FRANCE - DAY

The dropship soars over the REMAINS of occupied France. Every SPECIES of MIMIC attacking each other below.HUGE REAVERS wiping out THOUSANDS OF ROACHES.ARTILLERY JAVELINS attacking APOSTLES. Mimic bedlam.

As we see the BEACHES OF NORMANDY.The UDF INVASION already a HUGE SUCCESS. The threat of counter invasion, or nuclear reprisal, nothing more than a DISTANT DREAM.

CUT TO:
160

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY

Adam SITS on his Father’s bunk. Waiting patiently.

RITA (O.S.)
Adam?

Adam looking up to see RITA standing in the DOORWAY.The young boy curiously calm. Almost like he expected it.

ADAM
He’s not coming back? Is he?

Rita SITTING next to him. Putting her ARM around him. Saying all the things she never had the chance to say.

As she hands the little boy his Father’s STRIPES.

RITA (V.O.)
... He’s staying with me.
161

EXT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES BASE - DAY

The Brigadier General follows Rita across the base.

RITA
I don't care what you do, but he doesn't go back to the camps.
BRIGADIER GENERAL
Then he’s going with you to Japan.
(off her confusion)
Recon has signatures in Egypt, Sydney, Tokyo. Roaches know what we did, Queens are mobilizing.
RITA
They’re creating a new species.
(off his confusion)
(MORE)
RITA (CONT'D)
Look in my HUD drive, everything you need to know is there. Heat signature, bio-readout, full --

And then she stops. Somewhere between DISBELIEF and EXCITEMENT. Looking over at the ARMORY.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Rita, where are you going?
162

INT. ARMORY - DAY

Rita RUNS in, seeing MECHANICS repairing her JACKET.As she pushes through, opening the JACKET ARM to find BIO- SENSORS within. The NEEDLE Rita used to test the COCOON.

As attached to the needle we see a VIAL OF BLACK BLOOD.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (V.O.)
You don’t know how to control it --
163

INT. SICK BAY - DAY

Rita BURSTS in. Grabbing a HYPO-NEEDLE. Inserting it into the VIAL. Pulling the BLACK BLOOD through.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
You don't know what it will do to.

As Rita PULLS UP HER SLEEVE and SMACKS a VEIN.Going to INJECT the blood into her system, as she SPIKES BLOOD.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (CONT’D)
Please, this is insane. You don't know what it does, how it works --
RITA
It’s a triggered by thought, neuro- synaptic frontal lobe activation --
BRIGADIER GENERAL
How could you possible know --
RITA
Because you and I just spent the last week in this lab studying it.

The General looking at her confused, until...

BRIGADIER GENERAL
Wait,you already looped.
RITA
-- So far can go almost ayear in either direction. Forwards, backwards, I just have to focus. It’s like controlling a deja vu.
(of his look)
... Had to be sure it worked.
BRIGADIER GENERAL
Jesus, what have you done --
RITA
Exactly what they're going to do if we don't stop them.

Rita standing back. CLOSING HER EYES.

BRIGADIER GENERAL
What are you doing --
RITA
Got a war to win, General.

Rita FOCUSING HER ENERGY. ELECTRICITY SPARKING...

RITA (CONT’D)
... Can't do it alone.

As the IMAGE SUDDENLY SHUDDERS with a STATIC WHINE and --

CUT TO:
164

INT. 12TH SQUAD BARRACKS - DAY - (THE DAY BEFORE)

Rita SKIPS A BREATH.

Getting her bearings. As she sees Cage saying goodbye to his son. The FAMILIAR SCENE. Cage leaving, SEEING HER.

CAGE
... You okay? Look like you’ve just seen a ghost.

She looks at him. SMILING. Gathering her breath.

RITA
I’m fine. How are you doing?
CAGE
Got this awful feeling like I'm not going to see him again.
RITA
You’ll see him again... I promise.
CAGE
You sure you’re okay?
RITA
... Never better --
165

INT. ARMORY - DAY

Rita watches 12TH SQUAD get ready.Abba PLAYING THE STONES. Tub WEDGED into his jacket. Moe STRIPPING OFF.

CAGE
Think we stand a chance?

Rita sees Cage grabbing the BIO-TRANSMITTER.

RITA
I think we gotta shot.
CAGE
... What’s going on? Seriously. Something different about you.
RITA
Just happy to see you, Sergeant --
MOE (O.S.)
Yo, Ab, turn that shit up.

We hear the familiar KEITH RICHARDS guitar.“TIME IS ON MY SIDE” beginning. Rita smiling at Cage.

RITA
How bout it, Cage?... You ready to save the world all over again?

Cage looking at 12th SQUAD gearing up all around him.

CAGE
Sure.
(ready to rock)
... Why the hell not.

As she smiles and JAGGER’S VOCALS FINALLY KICK IN and --

JAGGER (V.O.)
... Now you always say --
166

INT. UNITED DEFENSE FORCES DROPSHIP - MORNING

The quiet before the storm. 12th SQUAD preparing to go into battle. As we see the FAMILIAR FACES on our team.

JAGGER (V.O.)
That you want to be free...

SKINNER chewing tobacco. TUB chewing a CANDY BAR.

JAGGER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... But you'll come running back
(said you would baby)...

MOE telling a joke. FRENCH LAUGHING, loading a GUN.

JAGGER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... You'll come running back (I said so many times before)...

And then RITA herself. Looking at Cage. Content.

JAGGER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
You'll come running back to me.

As she PLACES SOMETHING in his hand for safe keeping.

CAGE
What’s this?
RITA
For luck.
JAGGER (V.O.)
... Oh, Ti-me is on my side...

Cage looking down at his hand, confused.Looking at her.

JAGGER (CONT’D)
... Yes it is.

As she suddenly STEALS A KISS while no one is looking. Pulling him closer. Eyes closed.

JAGGER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... Ti-me is on my side --

Cage lost in the kiss. The only two people in the world.

JAGGER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
... Yes it is...

As we reveal TWO REMOTE DETONATORS in his hand, Mr. Jagger kicks us into SECOND GEAR and we --

CUT TO BLACK:

The End