"THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS" (2009)

10/21/08 1.

1 BLACK 1

SUPERED TITLES READ:

More of this is true than you would believe.

FADE IN:

2 ...CLOSE ON A MAN’S FACE... 2

He is STARING at us with fixed concentration. He is sweating slightly in the summer heat. We hold for a moment. Silence, apart from the soft swish of an unseen ceiling fan.

WIDE SHOT - the Man, wearing military uniform, sits at his desk in his office, still staring straight ahead.

SUPERED TITLES appear, reading:General Putkin, United States Army Intelligence SED. Arlington, Virginia. 1983.

The General’s assistant, LIEUTENANT BOONE, sits at his desk, working. After a moment Putkin seems to come to a decision.

The General stands up, smooths down his uniform, steps out from behind his desk and begins to walk. Boone watches, with some trepidation, as the General increases his pace. He quickens to a jog, his face set with determination.

He breaks into a run...

Then he slams into the WALL of the office, rebounds and lies splayed on the floor.

He stares up at the wall balefully.

10/21/08 2.

General Putkin is being driven in a jeep through the vast military base. He has a band-aid over his injured nose. SUPERED TITLES read:Special Forces Command Centre,Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Jeep pulls up at the SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND CENTRE. The General gets out, a brief case in his hand and surveys the centre.

GENERAL PUTKIN (CONT’D) (O.S.)

Which section of the military is always straining to reach the peak of their physical and mental capabilities?

General Putkin stands in front of a room full of seated SPECIAL FORCES OFFICERS.

The assembled Officers nod modestly.

His audience stare at him. With a flourish he produces a BENT FORK from his briefcase.

Silence.

10/21/08 3.

He surveys the blank faces.

Silence. Putkin senses he is not convincing his audience.

Silence. He is growing desperate.

Special Forces look like they’ve had enough. A tough looking officer - MAJOR JIM HOLTZ - stirs.

A dejected General Putkin climbs back into his jeep. Lieutenant Boone, in the driving seat, looks at him with sympathy.

The BENT FORK sits on the table in the EXTREME FOREGROUND, a window in the background.

10/21/08 4.

We FOCUS on the window - a shaky ZOOM taking us towards an abandoned looking HOSPITAL BUILDING half hidden by trees.

We TRACK forward into the shadowy interior into a large space which we now see is full of...GOATS.

The GOATS stare at us, their mouths silently opening and closing.

We CLOSE ON the unblinking EYES of one GOAT, then...

Bob sits typing at his desk in the modest office. He wears glasses, is attractive in a fresh-faced, enthusiastic kind of way. SUPERED TITLES read:Ann Arbor, Michigan, January 2003.

He looks at the photograph of his wife Debora on his desk and up to where she stands, photocopying in DAVE the Editor’s office. Dave is chatting to her. He has a PROSTHETIC ARM. Bob watches his wife, smiling.

10/21/08 5.

We PAN to the next desk and Bob’s over-weight colleague RON, who sits eating a hot-dog.

Ron suddenly pitches violently forward, thudding face- first into his desk.

Bob is clearing Ron’s desk, putting his possessions into a box.

Bob sits down, feeling a little ghoulish, at the dead man’s desk. He notices a large INDENTATION on the leather in front of him - the mark left by Ron’s forehead. He touches it, fascinated.

Bob rests his own forehead, experimentally, onto the indentation, and sits there, face down on the desk. His eyes wander over to where Dave and Debora are talking in Dave’s office.

BOB’S P.O.V - Debora’s hand BRUSHES against Dave’s, LINGERS just a fraction too long.

Bob frowns.

10/21/08 6.

Bob and Debora and Dave talking. Bob is drinking. We JUMP CUT to Bob crying, smashing a lamp, Debora shouting at him.

JUMP CUT to Dave holding Bob in a head-lock with his one good arm. Debora is sitting, head in hands.

JUMP CUT to Bob alone in the trashed room, exhausted and drunk, watching Bush’s STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH on TV.

Bob wipes his eyes, stares at the screen.

We hear the opening of a period songas we...

10/21/08 7.

11 TITLES 11

As the titles and song continue we see U.S TV footage from the Iraq War - a dizzying MTV montage, war made pop- video. Shots include...

"“Shock and Awe” air attack on Baghdad

Caravans of U.S troops snaking through the desert

Fighter plane video of an Iraqi fighter jet being destroyed on the ground

Oil Wells ablaze

PFC Jessica Lynch being rescued by Special Forces.

MNBC Promo - American-flag-draped photomontages with the words "Our hearts go with you".

Apache Helicopter attacks and destroys an Iraqi tank.

TV Presenters debate “Who is the Hottest Scud Stud?”

Soldiers plant an American flag with Iwo Jima-like determination

American troops pull down a huge statue of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad. An American flag draped over the head is hastily replaced by an Iraqi flag.

FADE IN:

Bob sits on the bed talking to Debora on the phone.

10/21/08 8.

He shakes his head sadly.

Bob stares out of the window, nodding, afraid he might start to cry.

He BEATS his head off the wall for a moment.

Bob walks out and puts his sunglasses on, staring around the quiet POOL-SIDE area. He sighs, sits down on a a sunlounger, starts to read his book. TITLES READ“Kuwait City, Kuwait, Spring 2003.”

10/21/08 9.

Bob is drinking coffee with two gung-ho type war correspondents.

They laugh.

The Journalists look bored.

10/21/08 10.

Bob sits ignored, feeling inadequate as they continue to swap war stories.

Bob sits drinking more coffee.

Bob repeats this.

He walks off. Bob sighs, continues DOODLING in his notebook. We see he has covered the page in stylized drawings of EYES. He notices a A MAN IN A BASEBALL CAP sitting at the next table.

Bob reads the logo on the baseball cap.

10/21/08 11.

The man considers this. He looks up and we see his face for the first time - handsome, older than Bob, tanned, a moustache, a slightly haunted expression. This is LYN CASSADY.

Bob waits for more, but that’s it. He holds out his hand.

Lyn shoves the packet across the table. Bob sits down across from him, pats himself down for a lighter, glances over to where the two embedded Journalists are joking with some Marines. Bob watches them jealously.

Suddenly the TERRACE LIGHT above them flickers and goes out. Lyn and Bob sit in the dark.

A LIGHTER ignites in Lyn’s hand, eerily lighting the lower half of his face, his eyes hidden by the brim of the cap. Bob leans forward to light his cigarette and finds himself staring at the CONFERENCE I.D Lyn has pinned to his shirt. The name on the badge reads LYN S. CASSADY.

10/21/08 12.

He stares at the name as he puffs on the cigarette, vaguely troubled by a memory.

Bob pulls up in a car outside. SUPERED TITLES READ: Monroe,Michigan, 1997

Bob is interviewing Gus Lacey at Lacey’s dining room table. Gus has a sun-bed tan and odd hair. His nervous looking MOTHER sits beside them. Gus is holding up a VIDEO CASE for Bob to see - the cover, illustrated with a picture of Gus, reads “Free To Roam - Learn E.S.P from the master!”

He gestures to the horizon.

10/21/08 13.

E.C.U of Bob’s notebook - on which he has writtenYou are Crazy.

Gus gives a dreamy smile.

He stops, his face darkening.

10/21/08 14.

TV SCREEN - playing a home video of TWO HAMSTERS in a cage.

Bob and Gus sit watching the TV. Gus’ mother hovers in the background.

ON TV one of the hamsters has fallen over.

10/21/08 15.

The other hamster falls over.

They watch in silence. Then the hamsters get up and start eating.

Bob looks to Gus’ Mother who manages to look nervous and defiant at the same time. Gus stares at the blank TV, sips his coffee.

10/21/08 16.

BOB’S NOTEBOOK - as he writes down the name LYN CASSADY...

ON LYN’S NAME TAG

Bob straightens from lighting his cigarette, stares at Lyn.

Beat. Lyn gets up and walks away.

Bob hurries to catch up with Lyn. He follows him around a corner and skids to a halt. Lyn is facing him, standing on one leg, hands raised above his head in an odd martial arts stance. He emits a threatening croon. Bob raises his hands nervously.

Lyn relaxes his martial arts stance, shakes his head ruefully.

10/21/08 17.

Lyn stops, turns and stares at him.

Bob and Lyn are talking, passing a bottle of Scotch backwards and forwards between them. Both are drunk.

10/21/08 18.

Bob starts to look around.

10/21/08 19.

He takes out his NOTEBOOK, fumbling, trying to get into journalist mode.

Lyn thinks about it.

Bob jots this down in the notebook.

10/21/08 20.

Bob tries to follow this.

Lyn makes a weird shallow PANTING SOUND.

Bob watches him solemnly as he continues his weird panting.

Lyn stops panting, takes a swig of whiskey, stares at the bottle, suddenly taciturn.

10/21/08 21.

Bob’s face falls.

They sit in silence for a moment. Lyn passes Bob the whiskey. He takes a swig, his mind whirring...

10/21/08 22.

Bob flushes with annoyance.

He slaps his notebook for emphasis.

Lyn is staring at Bob’s notebook. He takes it from Bob and examines Bob’s DRAWINGS OF EYES.

Lyn examines Bob - something DIFFERENT IN HIS ATTITUDE.

He considers for a moment, struggling with himself, then seems to reluctantly come to a decision. He reaches into the bag on his bed and pulls out a dog-eared BOOK. He hands it to Bob.

Bob examines the book - on the cover is a picture of Da Vinci’sVitruvian Man and the title Pentagon Report 92245. The New Earth Army Manual.

Bob stares at the book. He opens the first page and reads...

10/21/08 23.

Bob looks at the DISCLAIMER at the bottom of the page.

Bob looks up at Lyn who nods gravely.

Lyn’s CAR roars down the expressway into Southern Iraq, passing A TANK which sits by the road-side.

Lyn drives. A hung-over Bob sits reading theNew Earth Army Manual.

The car passes oil fields, beyond the buildings thinning out into the desert.

Bob is still reading.

10/21/08 24.

INSERT: An illustration of a SOLDIER CARRYING A LAMB and some LILIES - with what appears to be some kind of loudspeaker strapped to his shoulder.

Lyn raises his shades andtwinkles his eyes at Bob for a moment.

Lyn draws on his cigarette thoughtfully.

LOW ANGLE - a YOUNG BILL DJANGO - military buzz cut and all - trips out of a HOVERING HELICOPTER and falls, head- first down towards us.

WE FREEZE FRAME on his YELLING FACE just before it hits the camera.

Lyn exhales smoke.

10/21/08 25.

Bill hits the ground, which is luckily mainly composed of MUD. He lies stunned as MORE HELICOPTERS lower around him and his PLATOON begin to debark. The Helicopters barely touch the ground before they take off again. SUPERED TITLES read:Vietnam, January, 1973.

Bill gets up onto his knees and examines his M-16 - the barrel clogged with earth. He pokes his finger into the muzzle trying to clean it, then finds he can’t get it back out again.

He tries to pull his finger free, glances up and FREEZES.

Ahead of Bill and his Platoon is a WALL OF DEAD AMERICAN TROOPS - rotting in the sun.

His men stand staring at the wall aghast. A PRIVATE beside Bill snaps and opens FIRE, yelling wildly.

Bill grabs him with his free hand and shakes him, his M- 16 hanging painfully from his other hand.

THUNK.A SOLDIER standing next to Bill drops, the back of his head sprayed over nearby soldiers.

SILENCE.

Everyone stares at the dead man. Another shot rings out - another SOLDIER DROPS. The others flinch, scan the tree- line ahead of them.

The WOMAN is jogging across the tree-line ahead, weapon in hand.

10/21/08 26.

Silence. Long pause.

His men stare back at him, frightened.

The Soldiers open fire - a deafening roar. The Woman keeps on running as the foliage above her head is shredded by bullets. NO SHOT COMES CLOSE. Bill watches amazed.

Bullets still flying above her head, the Woman stops running, crouches down and RETURNS FIRE.

Bill is SHOT, stumbles backwards and falls into the mud, his finger still stuck in his M-16. He lies there, staring up at the sky, his expression one of puzzlement, as a huge blood stain spreads over his chest.

BILL’S P.O.V - the edges of our vision darken down as the sound FADES OUT. The darkness flows inwards, as if an IRIS IS CLOSING DOWN - until only a PIN-POINT OF WHITE LIGHT remains in the centre of the sky. We begin to move towards the light, slowly at first and then faster and faster. Just as we are about to reach it, a VISION OF THE FACE OF the VC WOMAN appears, filling the white disc.

10/21/08 27.

We begin to sink back down again, faster and faster until the circle of white light has disappeared all together and we are in DARKNESS...

FADE IN:

Bill lies in his bed, staring sadly at the other casualties in the ward - amputees, spinals, burns...

We hear the opening of a period song as we...

...as the track continues we see Bill in civilian dress, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway.

MONTAGE SEQUENCE BEGINS

TRACKING past a row of HOT TUBS - each filled with naked people hugging.

10/21/08 28.

We find an uncomfortable Bill in one tub filled with EMBRACING HIPPY MEN. Self-consciously he strokes his buzz- cut. SUPERED TITLES READ:Naked Hot Tub Encounter Sessions, Santa Rosa.

Bill and another MAN are arm-wrestling, SCREAMING. Other MEN stand around screaming also. TITLES READ:Primal Arm- Wrestling, Sacramento.

FOUR PEOPLE are floating on their backs breathing rapidly and loudly. Each one is supported by a partner. Bill, his buzz-cut growing out, floats amongst them, sobbing uncontrollably. TITLES READ:Reichian Rebirthing, San Jose.

A PLATINUM HAIRED WOMAN is leading a GROUP OF RUNNERS, including Bill, down the hill. They run in an odd way - prancing like horses, their eyes closed, arms raised, smiling ecstatically. TITLES READBeyond Jogging Movement, Stockton.

One of the group runs into a tree.

Bill lies on his side on a gurney, his hair longer now. We can’t see what is being done to him, but he is sobbing uncontrollably once again. TITLES READHigher Essence Colonic Irrigation Therapy, Monterey.

LONG SHOT - A GROUP OF BARE-CHESTED MEN, including BILL, stand on the roof of the house. TITLES READThe Whole Man Movement - Auburn.

A LEADER gives Bill a signal and he jumps off, falls fifteen foot to the road below. He hurts himself quite badly.

Bill sits amongst a large MEDITATION GROUP, long-haired and bearded, indistinguishable now from the San-Francisco Bay area Hippies all around him. TITLES READ:Esalen Institute for the Advancement of Human Potential, Big Sur.

10/21/08 29.

ARROWS POINT at various MEDITATORS around the hall, identifying them as BOB DYLAN, GEORGE HARRISON and HENRY MILLER.

Bill senses someone staring at him and glances over to the Meditator next to him - Aviator shades, a baseball cap pulled low, empty cigarette holder clenched between his teeth. The Meditator continues to stare intently at him.

Then opens his coat to reveal the Magnum .45 strapped to his chest.

Bill smiles nervously. An ARROW identifies the gunman as HUNTER S. THOMPSON.

Bill feels Thompson staring at him. He smiles nervously.

It’s 1980. Bill walks down the road towards the entrance gates. His long hair is braided. He has an EYE painted on his forehead.

The SENTRIES at the gate check Bill’s PASS suspiciously.

The Gates swing open and Bill passes through.

Lyn crouches revolving a curious aluminium CONE towards the sun. Bob sits by the car, reading the manual. He looks up, watches Lyn.

10/21/08 30.

Lyn takes some BURGERS out of a cooler box and puts them into the cone.

He examines the stove approvingly.

Bob picks up the Manual and starts to read. Lyn watches him.

He stops.

10/21/08 31.

Lyn flicks away his cigarette.

He takes a yellow PLASTIC BLOB from his pocket with a flourish.

Before he can finish Lyn has slipped Bob’s finger into a hole in the middle of the blob and twisted it.

He takes the blob off the finger and rubs it’s serrated edge down Bob’s temple.

Lyn sticks the Predator in Bob’s ear and hauls him to his feet. Bob yells with pain.

10/21/08 32.

Lyn stares at the blob fondly.

Bob holds his ear and pants for breath. Lyn’s face lights up.

An empty landscape, as Bob’s shout drifts across the sands...

Bob watches the RED DISK of the sun dip below the horizon.

Lyn checks the meat on the stove looking pissed off. It’s still raw.

Lyn kicks at the stove.

Bob and Lyn sit in the car. Bob is reading the Manual, eating cold beans from a can.

Bob suddenly notices Lyn has taken a small black case from his bag and is preparing an INJECTION.

10/21/08 33.

Lyn injects himself, packs everything back away in his back-pack. Bob sits, shivering. Lyn finishes, stares up at the stars thoughtfully.

A CIRCLE OF OFFICERS including MAJOR HOLTZ sit around BILL who has surrounded himself with apseudo-forestof plants. There are candles everywhere. His face is painted. SUPERED TITLES readFort Bragg. 1980.

The OFFICERS stare at him. There are sniggers. Bill stares them down.

They finish. Bill nods, smiling, stares around at them.

10/21/08 34.

Bill finishes. We TRACK along the OFFICERS’ FACES - really not sure what to do or say. We reach one officer who looks like Lee Marvin. This is BRIGADIER GENERAL DEAN HOPGOOD. His eyes are shining with excitement.

Wearing trunks, the Brigadier General lounges by his pool, engrossed in a PAPER-BACK BOOK titledPsychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain.

Two DIABOLICAL-LOOKING RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS are wiring up some KITTENS to a MACHINE.

46 ANOTHER LABORATORY 46

Another DIABOLICAL SCIENTIST is wiring up the KITTENS’ MOTHER.

10/21/08 35.

47 FIRST LABORATORY 47

With a gloating smile one of the Scientists approaches one of the KITTENS with a lit CIGARETTE. The kitten gives a pitiful MEW as the Scientists LOOMS over it.

Brigadier General Hopgood can’t read on.

Brigadier General Hopgood is briefing two senior Pentagon OFFICIALS.

10/21/08 36.

The Officials consider this gravely.

Bill looks in a mirror as he admires his new insignia.

Bob wakes, stiff and cold, in the front of the car. He sits up and looks around, trying to work out where he is. Suddenly he realizes he is ALONE. Afraid, he scans the landscape around him - featureless desert stretches to the horizon.

Bob jumps out of the car, panicking and starts to run in a random direction.

He stops, staring at the immense empty landscape ahead of him.

Bob turns and sees Lyn in a YOGA pose on the roof of the car.

10/21/08 37.

He finishes and jumps down.

The car cuts across the vast landscape, the day already heating up.

53 INSIDE THE CAR 53

Bob is writing in his notebook as Lyn drives. He notices Lyn keeps looking up at the sky.

Bob stares up at the clouds.

Bob tries to work out which cloud he means.

Lyn looks at Bob like he’s crazy.

10/21/08 38.

He concentrates on the CLOUD again. Sure enough, it thins and fades until it has DISAPPEARED. Bob stares - not sure what to think.

Lyn, smiling up at the sky, doesn’t notice that the car is veering off the road a little.

BANG! The two men are slammed forward as the car hits something, Bob smacking his face off the dash.

We see the car has run straight into a large ROCK. This is pretty much the only vertical feature in the otherwise flat landscape.

The two men stand staring at the wrecked front of the car. Bob is holding a handkerchief to his bloody nose. He looks at the car, stares around him at the desert stretching out.

Lyn rubs his face ruefully.

A sweating Bob sits in the shadow of the car, tossing a COIN. Lyn sits smoking.

He tosses again.

10/21/08 39.

He tosses again.

He stops, listening. We hear the sound of an approaching ENGINE. The two men turn to see a WHITE PICK-UP TRUCK approaching.

Bob scuttles into the middle of the road, waving frantically. The pick-up slows and pulls over. A YOUNG IRAQI MAN looks out at them.

Smiling, the Iraqi gestures to the back of the pick-up.

He grabs his case and climbs up onto the back of the truck. Lyn stares at the driver, then, with a sigh picks up his bag and follows Bob.

As the Truck bumps off down the road, Bob and Lyn sit down and find themselves facing TWO YOUNG IRAQI MEN.

The two Young Men smile in a friendly fashion.

10/21/08 40.

One of the Young Men nods, smiling. He reaches casually forward and takes Lyn’s BAG from him. Lyn just sits there, resigned as the Young Man roots through the contents.

The Young Man takes out a ROCK COMPILATION CD from Lyn’s bag and inspects it.

They laugh.

He suddenly notices the Young Iraqi is holding a HANDGUN.

The Driver leans out the window and shouts something over the roar of the engine. The Young Man next to Lyn takes off his scarf and starts to blindfold Lyn with it.

Bob and Lyn, their hands tied, sit on a mattress in the otherwise empty room, lit by a shaft of moonlight from the small window above them. From next door comes the faint sound of a period song playing. Bob is losing it.

10/21/08 41.

From the next room we hear the Young Iraqis start to sing along to the track, laughing. Lyn listens.

Bob collapses face down on the mattress.

He dissolves into misery. Lyn watches with sympathy.

10/21/08 42.

He unbuttons his shirt and reveals an EYE tattooed on his chest - very similar to the one Bob had drawn. Bob looks up.

Bob stares at the EYE.

10/21/08 43.

Bob thinks about this, a little nauseated.

Bob stands up reluctantly.

Bob stares at him, a little annoyed by this.

10/21/08 44.

Bob thinks about this then raises his hands to choke Lyn. Lyn THROWS him - sailing through the air. He crashes down into the floor behind Lyn.

Bob massages his back, impressed despite himself.

Bob thinks about this.

Suddenly the door opens and one of the Young Iraqis comes in, smiling.

The White Pick-Up bounces over the sand. Bob and Lyn sit in the back with one of the Young Iraqis, who has Lyn’s back-pack.

10/21/08 45.

10/21/08 46.

Bob considers this.

Two TECHNICIANS study COMPUTERS. TITLES READ“AREA 51” Groom Lake, Top Secret Test Flight Base, Nevada. 1983

Lyn (30’s), in uniform, walks past and both computers INSTANTLY CRASH.

VOICE (over speakers) We just lost contact! Request status? OhCrap!

The TECHNICIANS turn to stare after Lyn. We hear a SIREN begin to wail.

Lyn stands nervously to attention in front of a very grim looking Brigadier General Hopgood.

Lyn opens his mouth to lie, but one glance at Hopgood’s forbidding countenance changes his mind.

10/21/08 47.

Beat. A SLOW GRIN steals over the General’s face.

Lyn blinks. This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.

A small group of JEDI RECRUITS, Lyn amongst them, stands facing a stern Bill Django in the abandoned-looking building. The walls have been decorated with COSMIC MURALS.

He stares around the men, expectantly.

10/21/08 48.

The Jedis are DANCING to some rock, encouraged by Bill.

The Jedis start to dance more frenetically, eyes closed, jumping about the room, waving their arms...

Bill notices Lyn, shuffling self-consciously from foot to foot.

Bill stares at Lyn, taking in his orphan air, his hunted look.

Lyn shrugs, embarrassed. Bill nods.

Bill examines Lyn’s face through narrowed eyes.

A TWELVE YEAR OLD LYN - is dancing away to a track on the radio. His FATHER weaves drunkenly past the door and stops, watching.

10/21/08 48A.

LYN’S FATHER Stop acting so fucking QUEER!

He throws his beer can at Lyn and walks on. Lyn stares after him, upset. The RADIO abruptly catches FIRE.

Bill watches Lyn with compassion.

10/21/08 49.

Lyn starts to dance with a little more abandon.

Lyn starts to go for it. And it’s true - he CAN dance.

Lyn smiles shyly.

As the track continues we...

MONTAGE SEQUENCE BEGINS

UNIFORMED SOLDIERS march double time across the parade deck.

...marching, chanting a mantra.

10/21/08 50.

Soldiers shovel in mouthfuls of creamed potato and steak.

...sipping their vegetable juice.

The Jedis stand watching a JEEP driving down a course marked out on the field.

Bill sits next to a nervous JEDI TRAINEE who is driving. The Jedi is BLINDFOLDED.

The Jedis SCATTER as the jeep swerves erratically off the course and drives straight towards them...

SOLDIERS examine a DIAGRAM of BATTLE TACTICS.

The Jedis examine a blackboard on which Bill is writing: “Before going into Battle the JEDI utilizes A) Yogic Cat Stretch. B) Primal scream and leap. C) Belgian waffle. D) Ginseng E) Amphetamines.”

The Jedis stare doubtfully at the bed of HOT COALS in front of them. One JEDI stands ready, his feet bare.

The Jedi nods nervously, hesitates, starts to WALK ON THE COALS, almost immediately starts to SCREAM.

10/21/08 51.

Bill leads the Jedis in the EARTH PRAYER as they face the setting sun.

Bill leads the Jedis in another dancing session - rock music blasting - the men dancing in a variety of nerdish and demented ways. Their uniforms have been supplemented with odd, personal touches: hats, badges, sunglasses, a poncho...

We find Lyn dancing in blissful, idiotic abandonment.

Bill leads the Jedis and Brigadier General Hopgood in a complex YOGA MOVE. We CLOSE on LYN.

A BUTTERFLY lands on Lyn’s outstretched hand. He watches it with a gentle smile.

10/21/08 52.

The Butterfly flits away and lands on an APPLE in the tree overhead.

GUESTS sit eating dinner around the large table. Brigadier General Hopgood is talking to his WIFE. He turns back to find the FORK in his hand BENT DOUBLE.

He looks in amazement at the man sitting beside him - LARRY HOOPER.

Other guests laugh and applaud.

A WEDDING CELEBRATION is in progress. SCOTTY MERCER - one of the JEDI RECRUITS - is dancing, beaming with his new BRIDE. Guests - Lyn and the other Jedis amongst them - stand watching, clapping and cheering, a boisterous atmosphere ofbonhomie. Larry watches the revellers with contempt.

Scotty and his wife are walking off the dance floor. Larry stops him to shake his hand.

Scotty’s face falls. The other Jedis glare at Larry. One of them makes a move towards him but Lyn holds him back.

10/21/08 53.

The Jedis eat at one table. Larry sits alone and shunned at another table. Lyn walks over with a tray, hesitates seeing Larry alone.

Feeling sorry for him Lyn sits beside Larry. Larry flushes red.

Scotty, Larry and Lyn sit focusing on a wall of SMALL WOODEN CUPBOARDS. Each cupboard has a letter and number printed on its door.

The three men focus on the cupboard in question.

Larry rolls his eyes up in his head, speaks in a high wavering voice with a bad cockney accent.

Lyn stares at his hands, focused. He looks up suddenly, puzzled.

Bill unlocks the little cupboard and takes a photograph of the Lincoln Memorial. There are murmurs of admiration from the watching Jedis.

10/21/08 54.

Bill ignores him, smiles at Lyn.

Larry looks daggers at Lyn.

Lyn is walking calmly over the HOT COALS as the other Jedis watch, impressed.

Bill is leading the Jedis in AIKIDO.

LATER

Larry flails violently at Lyn. Lyn FLIPS him with ease. Larry gets up and CHARGES bellowing at Lyn who FLIPS him out of the frame. Bill joins Lyn.

A CHAIR flies through the frame, just missing Lyn’s head.

Lyn lies on a couch drinking a beer, staring at a large BROWN ENVELOPE. Bill sits beside him with pad and paper.

10/21/08 55.

Lyn opens the envelope and stares at the PHOTOGRAPH of the NATO GENERAL inside.

Bill looks proudly over to where an important looking OFFICIAL watches from the next room. The Official looks impressed.

Lyn stands in front of the other Jedis.

He presents Lyn with an EAGLE FEATHER.

He gives the feather to a deeply moved Lyn, as the other Jedis applaud. Larry watches Lyn with HATE.

10/21/08 56.

Lyn lies on the couch, drinking another beer, the Eagle Feather on a chain around his neck. A period song is playing in the room.

We TRACK INTO LYN’S EYE - UNTIL WE ARE INSIDE HIS MIND.

LYN’S MIND P.O.V - We move towards the wall.

As the song breaks into the chorus we burst through the wall, into freedom...

As the track continues and we RACE over the land, flying faster and faster, free as a bird, swooping up towards a huge SUN, until the screens WHITES OUT and we...

...as the Pick-up with Bob and Lyn in the back pulls up next to another TRUCK.

Two MEN dressed in black with theirkaffiyehcovering their faces stand by it staring at them. In the back seat of the Truck sits a blindfolded IRAQI MAN.

The Driver of the Pick-Up crosses to the TWO INSURGENTS with a half-gallon bottle of WATER and passes it to them. They drink and confer briefly in Arabic. He turns and gestures to the other two Young Iraqis who push Lyn and Bob down from the back of the pick-up. Lyn stands still.

10/21/08 57.

The First Young Iraqi gestures more angrily at the Truck.

One of the Insurgents stirs and says something softly in Arabic. The other laughs. Angrily the First Young Iraqi takes out a HANDGUN and levels it at Lyn.

Lyn raises one hand towards him.

The Young Iraqi points the gun at Bob who starts to walk towards the truck.

Bob stops.

Apparently having had enough one the Insurgents pulls his own GUN out and aims at Lyn. The tension builds. Suddenly Bob remembers the phrase he was taught.

10/21/08 58.

Immediately everyone stares at Bob. The Insurgent OPENS FIRE at him.

Terrified Bob, dives across the sand. The Young Iraqi behind him also scrambles for cover.

Still firing, the Insurgent is suddenly aware of Lyn sprinting towards him. Before he can turn to aim at him, Lyn LEAPS into the air, spinning around, face contorted as he emits a bizarre SHRIEK.

We FREEZE-FRAME ON HIM, HUNG IN MID-AIR.

CLOSE on a man who looks like WOODY ALLEN in a jungle hat. He has his eyes closed in IMMENSE CONCENTRATION. A bead of sweat runs down his face. SUPERED TITLES read: BEN ECHMEYER.

REVERSE

SHOOTING from behind Ben to the rows of JEDI RECRUITS watching with expressions of mingled admiration and horror.

We PAN DOWN the back of BEN and find he is NAKED from the waist down. A SAND BAG is somehow hanging between his legs.

A RECRUIT raises a hand.

10/21/08 59.

OVER-HEAD SHOT - Ben lies on the ground staring up at us. We hear the sound of an approaching engine.

Next second a JEEP roars straight over Ben, going at sixty miles an hour.

We FREEZE FRAME on the JEEP.

Ben leaps spastically in the air, spinning and shrieking, a knife held in one hand.

TRACKING ALONG BEN’S TRAINEE JEDIS - as they watch his display.

We reach LYN who TURNS TO CAMERA.

10/21/08 60.

We UN-FREEZE ON LYN - as he whirls and shrieks towards the Insurgent. Bob watches amazed from where he lies on the sand.

The Insurgent, understandably startled, flinches backwards, trips over the water bottle and falls on his ass.

Lyn scoops up the gallon bottle of water and begins to POUND the fallen man with it. The Young Iraqi moves to intervene but Lyn smacks him in the face with the bottle.

The BLINDFOLDED IRAQI IN THE TRUCK manages to open the door and stumbles out, claws his blindfold off and races away over the sand.

The second Insurgent is distracted for a moment by his victim’s flight. When he turns back Lyn has scooped up the Insurgent’s GUN and is aiming it at him.

Beat. Nobody moves.

The sun is rising as the PICK-UP TRUCK roars over the sand and swerves onto the road.

INSIDE THE TRUCK

Lyn drives. Bob is leaning out of the window, staring at the road behind them.

The Truck crests a hill and we see the IRAQI MAN running desperately down the road ahead of us, his hands tied.

He puts his foot down and the truck roars after the running man.

10/21/08 61.

TRACKING SHOT - pulling the IRAQI MAN, running for all he’s worth.

Lyn leans out of the truck window as he drives up behind him.

Terrified the Man sprints faster. Lyn tries to pass him, but the Man veers at the same time and the truck CLIPS him, sending him flying.

IN THE TRUCK

Lyn runs over to where the MAN lies moaning on the road, his head bleeding.

Bob gets out and the two lift the Iraqi Man and begin to carry him back towards the truck.

They stop listening to an approaching rumble.

They scuttle faster back towards the truck, the Iraqi Man dangling between them.

Next second, two GLEAMING WHITE SUVs crest the hill and roar towards them. Seeing the road blocked by the truck, the SUVs screech to a halt and several MEN IN FLAK JACKETS AND SUNGLASSES tumble out in formation, aiming their M-16’s at Lyn and Bob.

ARMED MEN’S P.O.V - Lyn and Bob stare at them before dropping the bound Iraqi on the ground. Bob waves nervously.

10/21/08 62.

We hear the opening of a period song as we...

LAPTOP SCREEN

We’re rushing over a CGI DESERT, between the CGI rivers Tigress and Euphrates towards a GLEAMING CITY rising from the sand.

Bob and the Iraqi Man sit beside TODD NIXON - a suit. Lyn sits behind in between two of the PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS, who are nodding along to the music playing in the car.

Nixon, holding the LAPTOP for Bob to see, watches the screen, moved.

He glances over at the Iraqi Man who is holding a dressing to the cut on his forehead, pale and shaken.

The Iraqi Man nods.

10/21/08 63.

Nixon nods, smiling, pleased with the line.

He raises both his hands.

Bob nods politely.

THE BACK SEAT

Lyn prepares an INJECTION for himself. He feels the Security Guard beside him watching. He notices the name of the company on the man’s badge -Krom Security.

The Security Guard continues to watch him through his mirrored shades.

10/21/08 64.

Lyn injects himself.

Lyn notices the Chilean Security Guard on his other side has a tattoo on his arm -“Viva Pinochet!”

The SUV’s are approaching a town and other cars have appeared on the road. The Security Men on either side instantly lean out of their windows with their M-16’s - aiming them at the cars which swerve out of their way in fear.

He turns to gaze at the TOWN they are now driving into.

Behind him the sound of CARS BRAKING AND SWERVING continues.

10/21/08 65.

A LONG line of cars are waiting for gas - Iraqi men, women and children, suffering in the heat. Many of them have been there for hours. The SUVs approach.

98 INSIDE THE SUV 98

The driver of the first SUV radios Nixon’s car.

NIXON’S DRIVER (into radio) Negative. We’d be way too exposed. We’re taking the station. Go in fangs out.

He accelerates.

...as the two SUV’s roar up, horns blaring, M-16’s bristling from the windows. The lead SUV rams the car at the head of the line and sweeps it out of its path. Nixon’s SUV barrels through the gap and screeches to a halt by the pumps. The THREE SECURITY MEN roll out showily, machine guns ready.

The men fan out to the corners of the station, while the first SUV blocks the road and more SECURITY pile out, guns raised to cover the line of cars. There are howls of protest from the waiting Iraqis.

Inside the SUV Bob, Lyn and Mahmud watch in astonishment.

10/21/08 66.

We hear a sudden, sharp POPPING sound. Immediately the Men drop into CROUCHES, scanning the area.

He opens FIRE - IMMEDIATE CHAOS: people scream, duck down, some cars reverse desperately and collide with the cars behind. The other Security Men join in the shooting.

100 ACROSS THE STREET 100

Another SUV - identical, but black, is passing, hemmed in by traffic. A stray BULLET from the gas-station pings off it’s armor plating. Immediately it screeches to a halt and a NEW DETACHMENT OF SECURITY MEN roll from the car - same flak-jackets and Oakley sunglasses but different color uniforms.

The New Detachment open FIRE blindly in the general direction of the Station.

101 GAS STATION 101

...as bullets smack off the parked SUV.

All the Security Men turns and begin spraying bullets across the road. Car windshields and windows explode.

INSIDE THE SUV

A scowling Nixon has slid low in his seat.

10/21/08 67.

Mahmud, Bob and Lyn are lying flat on the seats.

Bob flinches as another bullet ricochets off the SUV.

102 GAS STATION 102

As machine-gun fire from across the street strafes the station and Nixon’s Security men return fire blindly.

Behind him Lyn, Bob and Mahmud crawl across the station on their hands and knees, bullets zipping past them.

Mahmud leads Bob and Lyn at a crouching run down the street, amongst the crowd of Iraqis fleeing the gunfire behind them. We hear thewhup-whup of a helicopter as a Kiowa Warrior passes over head.

Moments later we hear an EXPLOSION as the helicopter opens fire with a MISSILE...

TRACKING along a wall, past a crooked WEDDING PORTRAIT - a smiling Mahmud and WIFE, the glass broken...

We TRACK past a row of BULLET HOLES in the wall, a section of smoke damaged wall paper.

10/21/08 68.

We reach Bob, Lyn and Mahmud eating at a low table. The windows behind them have been partially boarded up. Mahmud is sunk into a profound depression. Lyn looks tired, pale. They eat in awkward silence.

Bob nods politely. Mahmud nods, sighs.

Lyn clears his throat.

Mahmud shrugs.

Mahmud nods. Beat.

Lyn demurs softly.

10/21/08 69.

The men eat in silence for a moment. Mahmud stares blankly at his plate, looking crumpled and lost.Bob watches him, faintly irritated.Lyn tries to think of something comforting to say.

Mahmud looks at him, startled perhaps by the unexpected Arabic phrase.

Mahmud shakes his head, moved but embarrassed.

They eat in silence.

Lyn and Bob are sharing a bed. Bob looks out of the window and notices a CLOUD over the moon. He concentrates on it, trying to “bust” it. Nothing happens. He sighs, looks over to Lyn who is staring at the wall, lost once more in dark thoughts.

10/21/08 70.

A JEDI - TIM KOOTZ - lies on the couch in a TRANCE, Bill sitting beside him with pen and paper.

Tim jerks awake from his trance.

Bill looks up to an CIA AGENT observing from the next room. The Agent frowns.

Bill waits a little anxiously. The CIA Agent walks up to him.

MAJOR GENERAL JACK GILLING is being driven through the base. As he stares out of the window his expression suddenly changes to one of amazement.

10/21/08 71.

RUSSELL’S P.O.V - we are driving past the training course. A bare-chested, long-haired Hickox is dancing around a wooden pole to which he is attached by two long wires and metal hooks which are stuck in his bleeding nipples.

Bill is introducing a young, fresh-faced recruit - LIEUTENANT NORM PENDLETON to the other Jedis.

Larry Hooper examines the new recruit with interest.

Larry and Norm are jogging together, deep in conversation.

Norm sits on the couch, smiling innocently as Larry wheels an ELECTRONIC DEVICE on wheels over to the couch.

10/21/08 72.

Larry, making sure Norm can’t see, is pouring a massive dose of LSD into a DRINK. He gives the glass a quick stir and turns, smiling, to Norm with it.

Norm lies tripping on the couch, rigid, wide-eyed, wearing headphones, connected to the electronic device, which emit disturbing electronic frequencies.

Larry stands at the light switch, turning the red bulb overhead on and off, eagerly watching Norm’s reaction - a modern day Frankenstein.

...cowering terrified under the couch, as the sound of GUNSHOTS fill the room. Norm’s NAKED LEGS stride past him.

A NAKED AND DEMENTED NORM walks through the base, firing random shots at scattering soldiers with his Beretta. He finds Bill blocking his way.

Norm starts to cry. Then he puts the gun into his mouth...

Norm’s father - MAJOR GENERAL PENDLETON - stares fixedly to where Bill and Brigadier General Hopgood sit in the hearing - his expression filled with icy rage.

10/21/08 73.

117 LARRY TALKING BEFORE THE HEARING 117

...looking every inch the neat, professional soldier.

The OFFICIALS listening register shock and dismay. Bill stands up, outraged.

Bill jumps to his feet again.

The OFFICIALS look at him as if he were SATAN himself.

Bill, a broken man, is walking off the base. He reaches the gates and sees Lyn waiting for him.

Lyn can’t speak. Bill hugs him and walks off, the gates closing after him.

10/21/08 74.

The Jedis sit having their hair shaved with electric clippers. The Jedi’s NEW COMMANDER - MAJOR HOLTZ - not a shred of New Age sympathy in his regulation heart - walks down the line, examining his men coldly.

Lyn stares at his reflection as his long hair falls to the floor.

Bob wakes up, listening to the sound of Lyn’s laboured breathing.

Across the room Lyn sits, sweating with pain, preparing an injection. We see he has used the LAST OF THE MEDICINE. He injects himself, his breathing beginning to ease and sits staring at the empty VIAL. Bob watches for a moment then shuts his eyes, feigning sleep.

Lyn and Bob are waiting on the quiet road which is studded with burnt out CARS.

Mahmud drives an old Renault out of a warehouse and over to them. He gets out the car and hands Lyn the keys.

Lyn watches Mahmud in the mirror as they drive away. He stands in the middle of the road, staring at his feet. They drive on.

As the car cuts across the landscape.

10/21/08 75.

The car has pulled over at a junction.

126 INSIDE THE CAR 126

Lyn sits staring out at the emptiness, looking, perhaps for the first time, worried.

He gives Lyn his watch. Lyn looks at the watch and turns to stare at Bob.

10/21/08 76.

Bob stares at him.

Lyn abruptly starts the engine and takes the right turn.

HIGH ANGLE

10/21/08 77.

Below us the car drives off into the empty landscape, getting smaller and smaller. Then...

BOOM. We see the flash of the explosion and the Renault is flipped like a toy car. A ribbon of black smoke rises into the blue sky. Silence.

BOB’s P.O.V - We are stumbling forward towards a sand berm. We hear the sound of heavy breathing.

Lyn is staggering over the sand with Bob on his back. He is holding his backpack. Bob has a gash on his forehead which is bleeding. Under the blood his face is white. In the distance, behind them, we can see the column of black smoke rising.

Lyn puts Bob down. Bob keels sideways onto the sand and lies there, wheezing.

He hauls Bob to his feet, puts his baseball cap on him and pulls him onto his back. Bob hangs there limply as Lyn sets off again.

10/21/08 78.

Lyn reaches up and gropes at Bob’s face, removing his spectacles. Bob doesn’t notice.

He passes Bob his backpack. They stagger on in silence for a moment, Bob jogging up and down on Lyn’s back. Lyn snaps the legs off Bob’s glasses, uses them as improvised divining rodsto scan the sand ahead.

Lyn doesn’t answer, keeps on walking, struggling a little under the weight. Beat.

He staggers on with him.

10/21/08 79.

Bob trails after Lyn, his shirt tied around his head, breathing hard. Lyn is still scanning the sand.

He staggers, manages not to fall.

Bob stares after him incredulously.

10/21/08 80.

Lyn walks on without answering. Bob notices the sun is sinking.

Bob watches Lyn stare around him, looking pale and drawn and, for the first time, afraid.

Bob is so staggered by this for a moment he can’t speak.

10/21/08 81.

Lyn starts to walk off but staggers and falls.

Bob rushes to him, kneels beside him. Lyn clutches his stomach, grimaces.

Bob stares at him, stunned.

Lyn sits staring up at the immense MOON above them.

Bob sits watching, huddled against the cold, in the shelter of some rocks. Lyn gets up, stumbles back over to him and lies down, struggling for breath, white with pain.

10/21/08 82.

Lyn stares at the stars above, remembering, grief stricken.

The Jedis, now indistinguishable from other soldiers, stand white-washing over the COSMIC MURALS. Major Holtz stands watching.

Larry stands to attention in front of Holtz, a REPORT held under one arm.

Holtz snorts angrily.

10/21/08 83.

He takes the report and begins to look through it. Pause. He looks up slowly at Larry.

Holtz ponders the report, tempted.

The building we saw at the top of the film. A hundred GOATS stare silently at us.

We BOOM down to reveal that many of the goats have their legs in PLASTER.

134 SMALL DOG STARING AT US 134

...with big, brown eyes.

A SOLDIER stares doubtfully down at the dog, bolt-gun in hand.

10/21/08 84.

A Goat stands tethered in the desert. TITLES read“Nevada Test Site, Frenchman Flat, 1951.”

We hear the drone of an AEROPLANE high, high above. The goat looks up...

Lyn stands facing the goats. Holtz and Hooper watch him. Lyn STARES. One of the goats STARES BACK. Lyn STARES. The goat STARES BACK. Lyn STARES.

And the Goat falls over.

Beat. The goat gets back up, shakes itself and walks off. Lyn slumps.

Bob listens transfixed.

10/21/08 85.

Six GOATS - each wearing a NUMBERED BIB - stand in a small bare room. A SOLDIER is setting up a VIDEO CAMERA in front of them.

Lyn sits in another bare room. Holtz and Larry Hooper stand watching him. Lyn is also being TAPED. A SOLDIER walks in carrying an envelope. Holtz takes the envelope and draws from it a piece of paper. He shows it to Lyn - the number FOUR.

Lyn stares at the number.

Lyn flushes with indignation at the memory.

He turns to look at Bob, haunted.

CLOSE ON LYN

...as he stares, concentrating.

10/21/08 86.

VIDEO FOOTAGE

Grainy, flickering black and white footage of the six goats in the room. Suddenly one of them goes down.

A soldier runs into the room. Holtz, Hooper and Lyn turn to him, the atmosphere electric with dread and anticipation.

The three men stare at him.

Bob stares at Lyn aghast.

Bob shakes his head, stares out into the darkness.

10/21/08 87.

Lyn flicks a suspicious glance at Bob, but is reassured by his solemn expression.

Lyn, wearing civilian clothes and holding a suitcase, is walking off the base. He reaches the gates and turns for one last look at the place that has been his home.

Lyn tuns back to the gates and finds Larry Hooper standing in front of him, looking WIRED.

Before he can finish Larry CHOPS his hand down in an odd blow onto Lyn’s forehead. Lyn staggers back a little, holding his head.

Larry has already darted around him with a crazy laugh and is running madly back into the base. Lyn stares after him, stunned.

Bob looks at Lyn, puzzled.

10/21/08 88.

He flops back, too tired to talk anymore. Bob watches him as he falls asleep.

The same horizon, the dunes now burning under the sun. We TRACK back and find Bob and Lyn lying asleep, lips cracked, dehydrated, exhausted. Faintly we hear a sound - a tinny BELL. It gets closer. Groggily Bob opens his eyes just as a GOAT walks into the frame and walks past him, the bell tied around its neck. Bob lies, watching it pass, trying to work out if it’s a hallucination. He struggles to his feet and sets off up the berm he’s been lying at the foot of.

The goat walks on ahead of Bob, crests the top of the berm and disappears from sight.

Bob reaches the top of the berm and stands, swaying, staring down at something.

CLOSE ON BOB’S FACE - stunned.

10/21/08 89.

Bob is dragging a barely conscious Lyn up the berm, following the goat. He staggers, barely able to put one foot in front of the other.

At last we crest the top of the berm and find ourselves looking down on a WATER-HOLE, fringed with palms. The goat stands drinking. It stops to look up at us.

Bob and Lyn collapse into the wet mud of the hole. Bob manages to cup some water into Lyn’s mouth and then his own. He rolls onto his back, stares up at the burning sky.

We hear a dull roaring, muffled, growing in volume. A HELICOPTER is approaching...

In the BLACK we hear a VOICE.

OVERHEAD SHOT - Lyn and Bob lie side by side in beds, both hooked up to IV’s. Sunlight slants through the shutters on the window in the cool room. The voice is coming from a SPEAKER on the wall.

Lyn opens his eyes, looks around him.

Lyn looks at the door and for a second there’s a FLASH OF A FACE staring in through the glass. Then it’s gone.

10/21/08 90.

Over the speaker comes the sound of a period song.

Lyn sits up, staring at the door. Bob stirs in his bed.

Lyn walks unsteadily out of the room, towing his IV drip behind him.

The door at the end of the corridor is just CLOSING. Lyn sets off down the corridor. Bob appears in the doorway behind him, towing his own IV.

Lyn passes doors, glances into the rooms beyond...

LYN’S P.O.V - the room seems to house a PRINTING PRESS. A SOLDIER stands with his back to us, watching LEAFLETS fire out of the press.

We pass to the next room which seems to be a RECORDING STUDIO - the walls covered in shelves of CD’s. A SOLDIER sits with headphones on playing an electronic keyboard...

Lyn emerges blinking into the light. He stares around him. The song is playing over speakers, echoing eerily around the base.

A door slides shut with a clang nearby and Lyn turns to locate the sound.

A trail of FOOTPRINTS leads across the sand to a HANGAR nearby.

Lyn heads off across the sand, dragging the IV. Bob emerges behind him.

Lyn reaches the sliding doors of the building and drags them open and stands staring into the gloomy interior. Bob catches him up.

10/21/08 91.

He stops following Lyn’s gaze...

INSIDE THE BUILDING

The place is full of GOATS.

Lyn and Bob stare at the animals. Slowly Lyn advances into the darkness, peering around him.

In the shadows at the back of the building a figure STIRS. Lyn walks slowly forward until he can make out the man - old, bearded, worn and wasted by years of heavy drinking. It’s BILL DJANGO.

Lyn stares at him.

Bill smiles hesitantly.

Lyn is too choked with emotion for a moment to answer.

Bob is too amazed to reply.

Bob and Lyn turn to find Larry Hooper standing in the doorway behind them.

Lyn stares at Larry - shocked.

Larry and Bill are showing Bob and Lyn around. A few CIVILIAN WORKERS are working at computers behind them.

10/21/08 92.

Bob picks up a LEAFLET.

Lyn is staring at Bill who is looking a little vacantly at the racks of CD’s. Larry notices.

Larry smiles a little mockingly.

Bob nods a little nervously.

10/21/08 93.

He indicates the PSIC name badge he’s wearing.

Bill frowns at the CDs, not seeming to hear.

He puts the disc in a player and presses play. We hear a burst of a period song.

2ND PSIC WORKER Blast target with pheromones and then release Attack Bees.

10/21/08 94.

1ST PSIC WORKER Project Achilles. We mutilate enemy corpses and...

He turns back to Lyn.

Bill stands up and starts walking a little unsteadily towards the door.

Larry waits until Bill has left before turning back to Lyn.

Larry shakes his head in apparent sorrow. Then he notices some candy on a desk.

He picks it up and starts to eat it.

Lyn shakes his head, trying not to show the emotions he is feeling.

10/21/08 95.

Bob helps Lyn down the corridor. Lyn suddenly stops, listening. There is a faint sound of MUSIC coming from somewhere nearby.

Lyn walks down the corridor, Bob following. At the end of the corridor is a single door with a SPY-HOLE. The loud music is coming from there. We can hear now that it is an annoying children’s show song or heavy metal.

We TRACK towards the door...

Lyn hesitates then slides back the SPY-HOLE cover and peers in.

LYN’S P.O.V -

An IRAQI PRISONER sits huddled in the cell, illuminated in the flashes of a powerful STROBE LIGHT OVERHEAD.

The prisoner looks terrified, and despite the whimsical music the whole scene is horribly sinister.

Lyn steps away from the spy-hole.

Lyn sits on his bed, as low as we’ve ever seen him. Bob watches him, concerned.

Lyn stares at the wall.

10/21/08 96.

He lapses into silence. Bob is stunned. Lyn lies down.

Lyn pulls the EAGLE FEATHER from the chain around his neck.

Bob stares at him.

Bill Django sits cross-legged in the sand, drinking from a bottle of whiskey, watching the sun set.

Bob marches up to him, stands awkward but determined.

Bill doesn’t answer.

10/21/08 97.

Bill takes a long drink, stares at the sky. Bob watches him with mounting frustration.

Bill doesn’t react. Bob starts to walk away then turns back, and throws the FEATHER down at Bill’s feet.

Beat. Bill turns to look at Bob for the first time. He takes a long drink.

Bill stares at the feather.

He looks around for inspiration - notices a LONE CLOUD floating in the sky.

Bob places his fingers on his temples and STARES at the cloud, focuses, desperate, hopeful...

Bill notices and watches, curious.

Slowly, the cloud fades and DISAPPEARS.

10/21/08 98.

Bob can’t believe it. He looks at Bill who is staring at him. He has tears in his eyes.

Lyn lies sleeping. Larry sits at the foot of his bed, smoking a cigar. He watches Lyn for a moment, then COUGHS deliberately. Nothing. He repeats the cough - louder. Lyn wakes.

The two men stare at each other.

Lyn stares at him, disturbed, afraid this might be true.

10/21/08 99.

Larry closes his eyes, trying to remember something.

Lyn listens, moved despite himself.

Bill and Bob stand on a picnic table, under the full moon. Bill is leading Bob through some YOGA POSITIONS. Both are drunk.

Lyn can’t help but join in the prayer.

Bill and Bob both stand in a difficult position - balanced on one leg.

As we watch Bill slowly topples forward off the table and crashes out of sight below.

The two men finish the prayer.

10/21/08 100.

He pats Lyn’s leg, walks out.

Bob is holding a concussed Bill who has a cut on his head.

Bill opens his eyes suddenly.

Bill and Bob head down the corridor. They pass a SOLDIER.

They walk on and reach the doors to the KITCHENS. The two men hesitate, look at each other...

Then Bob walks in.

PSIC WORKERS AND PSYOPS TROOPS are all eating breakfast together, talking, laughing.

Bob and Bill sit drinking coffee. Lyn appears with a tray and sits down beside Bob.

10/21/08 101.

They eat in silence for a moment. Lyn turns to look out of the window to where Larry Hooper stands outside in the early morning sun, smoking a cigar and drinking coffee. He turns and notices Lyn, raises his cup, smiles. Lyn looks troubled. Bob suddenly leans into Lyn.

Lyn turns to Bob puzzled.

Lyn tries to puzzle this out but is distracted by Larry outside who seems to have noticed something in the sand at his feet - a small insect of some kind. He begins to watch it with strange fascination. After a moment he sinks to his knees in order to get a better look at it. One of the SOLDIERS notices and starts to laugh softly. His neighbor looks at him as if he’s crazy then begins to laugh himself. Lyn looks around him, sensing the strange atmosphere creeping through the room.

Lyn turns to stare at him.

Bob turns to stare at him.

10/21/08 102.

Bob stares at him, aghast.

He pours himself another coffee.

Through the window we see Larry get on his belly to get a better look at the bug.

The DJ SOLDIER has gone off script. A PRODUCER is trying ineffectually to pull him away from the desk.

The Producer pulls and releases the DJ’s headphones so they slap against his head and starts giggling.

He hits a button.

CLOSE on a LOUDSPEAKER - blasting a period song out over the base. We BOOM down to where two SOLDIERS are dancing, tripping.

ALL OVER THE BASE

Soldiers are wandering around, talking, some falling to their knees, weak with laughter. Some stand alone, staring with a beatific smile at the sky.

10/21/08 103.

As the music plays on a STRYKER ARMORED VEHICLE drives around the corner of a building, a SOLDIER standing up, arms raised, in the gun turret.

The Stryker screeches into a clumsy skid, the Soldier having to hang on. The Stryker roars off again, heading straight for the GATES of the base.

The Stryker veers left and smashes through the perimeter fence and out into the desert.

The DJ and the Producer are wrestling over the sound desk, laughing.

Bob and Bill walk towards the cell block.

An IRAQI PRISONER looks up startled as the door to the cell is flung open and Bill stands, filling the doorway, bare-chested, wild-eyed and wild-haired.

10/21/08 104.

Lyn slides open the door to the shed and begins to shoo the goats out into the light.

As the music continues Bob, Lyn and Bill appear leading a column of nervous IRAQI PRISONERS out of the building, towards the gates. Lyn and Bill are holding BABY GOATS in their ARMS. A tripping Bob is holding bunches of flowers - it’s as close as they can get to the illustration from the New Earth Army Manual. Lyn holds up a hand to stop the procession.

Larry stands in front of them, a GUN in his hand, his face blank.

Lyn and Larry stare at each other. Then, unexpectedly, Larry starts to cry.

Larry starts to raise the gun to his mouth. Pauses. Scratches his head.

He wanders off.

Over the loud-speakers we hear the opening of a period song.

174 FLATTENED SECTION OF FENCE 174

Bob and Lyn stand at one side, Bill at the other, beckoning the prisoners through, hugging the prisoners as they pass through.

10/21/08 105.

One by one the Iraqis walk out through the broken fence, staring around them suspiciously, expecting a trap. Nothing happens, no one shoots them.

The Iraqis start to hurry away over the sand.

Beyond them we can the Stryker, driving in circles in the desert, a NAKED SOLDIER stands whooping on top.

Bob, tripping heavily, is staring with fascination at the sand trickling through his fingers. Suddenly we hear the building whine of the HELICOPTER engine starting up. Bob looks up, puzzled.

176 HELICOPTER 176

Bill and Lyn sit in the chopper, Bill at the controls. Lyn is holding the flowers.

Bob appears, hurrying over.

The helicopter begins to rise. Bob stands swaying, staring up. Lyn smiles sadly through the window, raises his hand.

The Helicopter RISES - HIGHER AND HIGHER. Bob waves goodbye.

10/21/08 106.

As the helicopter flies off into the blue.

The helicopter disappears altogether.

WEEKS LATER. Bob sits typing, frowning with concentration.

Bob sits in his car staring at his old home, across the road. Through the window we can see Bob’s ex-wife Debora, eating dinner with Bob’s ex-Editor - Dave.

Bob sits watching aToday style show on TV.

10/21/08 107.

ON TV

Bob watches, ashen.

Bob is working for another small town newspaper. He sits at his desk, staring fixedly ahead at the wall.

Bob stands up. He starts to walk down the office, his face set with grim determination.

BOB’S EDITOR Bob?

Bob quickens his pace.

Bob is running.

10/21/08 108.

Bob rushes towards the WALL. Just as he is about to hit it we FREEZE FRAME. We hear the opening of a period song.