"THE PREDATOR" (2018)

THE PREDATOR

by

Shane Black & Fred Dekker

Based on the characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas

SPACE

Cold. Silent. A billion twinkling stars. Then...

A bass RUMBLE rises. Becomes a BONE-RATTLING ROAR as --

A SPACECRAFT RACHETS PAST CAMERA, fuel cables WHIPPING into frame, torn loose! Titanium SCREAMS as the ship DETACHES VIOLENTLY; shards CASCADING in zero gravity--!

(NOTE: For reasons that will become apparent, we let us call this vessel “THE ARK.”)

WIDER - THE ARK

as it HURTLES AWAYfrom a docking gantry underneath a vastly LARGER SHIP it was attached to. Wobbly. Desperate.

We’re witnessing a HIJACK.

WIDER STILL - THE PREDATOR MOTHER SHIP

DWARFS the escaping vessel. Looming; like a nautilus of molded black steel.

Backed by the glowof compu-screens, a half-glimpsedalien -- A PREDATOR --watches the receding ARK through a viewport. (NOTE: we see him mostly in shadow, full reveal to come).

Emergency lights illuminate a dank, organic-looking interior. CAMERA MOVES PAST:

EIGHT STASIS CYLINDERS

Around the periphery. FROST clouds the cryotubes, prevents us from seeing the “passengers.” Finally, CAMERA ARRIVES AT--

A HULKING, DREAD-LOCKED FIGURE

The pilot of this crippled ship. Wedo not seehim fully either, but for the record? This isour “GOOD” PREDATOR.”

HIS TALONS dance across a control panel; a shrillbeep..! Predator symbols, but we get the idea:ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--

Our Predator TAPS more controls. Feverish. Until --

A final tether COMES LOOSE, venting PLASMA energy, and --

Through the viewport, the Ark is enveloped by a BLINDING LIGHT -- then a SWIRL OF PARTICLE ENERGY, as we--

STARFIELD. Silence. Then --

THE ARK DROPS out ofhyperspace. SHUDDERS into a NEWORBIT...

Approaching what is, in fact, A DYING PLANET.

Ice caps melting; atmosphere toxified; the dominant species continually finding new ways to fuck things up.

Oddly, the only planet in our solar system not named after a God:

Earth.

SPARKS, gagging smoke... Our Predator realizes he’s on a sinking ship... He programs a new command sequence;

ON A MONITOR - A GRAPHIC

of the CRYOTUBES. A SCROLLING COUNTDOWN, commenced -- in Predator symbols. A self destruct sequence..?

One last thing:

The Predator taps the panel again-- and aSLOT OPENS, revealing A DEVICElike a Steampunk TV remote.

This is the KUJHAD. Remember it.

He extracts it from its slot and-- K-CHK!SNAPS IT into its own WRIST COMPUTER. Then he rises urgently, and...

The ARK SHUDDERS, penetrating earth’s atmosphere, as:WHOOSH!

AN ESCAPE POD, JETTISONED...

From the main body of the craft.

A series of RIPPLING SHIMMERS engulf it, and before our eyes, it auto-engages STEALTH CAMOUFLAGE -- and VANISHES..!

Pause. Then... a rising swell of JUNGLE NOISES... Itbegins.

A MAN IN TIGHT CLOSE-UP

Rugged face. Stubble. He’s looking down, eyes red-rimmed with fatigue, as we HEAR:

A hollow TRICKLE of piss in plastic.

He finishes. Screws the top back ona thermos. Then lowers it, where it DANGLES ON A THIN NYLON LINE because weare--

WITH THE SOLDIER,perched in a gnarled tree... THIRTY FEET OFF THE GROUND. He shifts in his “nest.” Brings to bear an M24 sniper rifle.

Meet LIEUTENANT QUINN McKENNA, 30s.

On the BACK of his hand... a faded (yet prominent) CRESCENT SCAR. Souvenir of another fight.

SUPER: CAYO MUERTO, CUBA

WE HEAR a TALKIE SQUELCH -- then a tinny voice from his Bluetooth headset:

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE (filtered) Piggy One, copy. (beat) Piggy One, this is Piggy Two, do you copy?

ANOTHER RADIO VOICE joins the conversation, filtered:

DUPREE’S TALKIE VOICE Piggy Three. I have a question, over.

He cracks his neck, then adjusts his scope.

DUPREE’S TALKIE VOICE Seriously. If you’re the one that went to market, right? That means Haines and me, we get to choose between the roast beef and the staying home. Right?

McKenna presses his eye to the rifle sight.

HIS POV - THROUGH HIS SCOPE

A MANSION. Neoclassical. Built in the 1850s, but painted hot Havana aquamarine. Surrounded by high walls and roaming SENTRIES. You guessed it: A DRUG LORD’S COMPOUND.

DUPREE’S TALKIE VOICE I just wanna be the stay home piggy, that’s all I’m saying.

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE McKenna. We got a problem.

McKenna tenses.

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE You can’t be the one who went to market. You already went wee wee wee.

McKenna shakes his head; he’s so over these assholes. He wipes away sweat, SWIVELS the rifle, SEEING:

A SMALL CONVOY, NOW

On the DIRT ROAD leading into the compound. BLACK SUVs.

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE I see it.

He presses his eye to the scope, PANNING WITH:

THE SUVs

As they stop, dust rising. DRUG SOLDIERS besiege the vehicles -- roughly PULLING OUT several HOSTAGES with pillow cases over their heads.

A MAN in a silk shirt appears. The DRUG LORD faces the sagging hostages,contemptuous. His men raise their weapons.

TIGHT CLOSE-UP ON HIS THUMB

As he slowly, silently, FLICKS the safety catch. He centers the Drug Lord’s head in thecrosshairs. Stops breathing.

All in all, a pretty crappy time for an EARTHQUAKE.

A deep bass RUMBLE, coming from... where? Above? As, utterly without warning --

THE TOP OF THE DRUG LORD’S MANSION -- SHEARED OFF BEFORE OUR EYES. A TSUNAMI of debris, blown loose. EXPELLED --

Whatever caused it, it’s headed right AT MCKENNA.

He DROPS the rifle; GRABS his combat knife to CUT HIMSELF LOOSE -- TUMBLES, as the canopy of green ERUPTS--!

CUT TO BLACK.

TIME CUT: MCKENNA, ON THE GROUND

Amid sudden SILENCE. On his side now, face in the dirt...

SLANTED POV

Showing that the UFO just effectively PUNCHED A TUNNEL in the jungle, strewn with smoking debris and pulped branches.

He blinks. No telling how long he was out. A minute? An hour? He looks up, keys his headset:

In his ear, only STATIC.

Still: nothing butSTATIC. McKenna stumbles to his feet. Feeling exposed. Trees, aflame. Smoke everywhere.

Exhales raggedly, all too aware he’s squarely in

THE DEBRIS FIELD

left by the spacecraft. Only now, he’s SEEING:

THE PREDATOR EJECTION POD

It lies hissing, spitting. Swamped in plant matter. He eases to a halt. Wary. Sights through

HIS SCOPE

And we notice, first off -- the HATCH. It’s open, steam curling from inside. He stalks forward, past the muddy, smoking IMPACT CRATER. Looks down. Frowns:

DROPLETS OF FLUORESCENT FLUID

On the ground. Lying amidst them, something we recognize:

A Predator WRIST GAUNTLET. Discarded? Jarred loose?

Beside it, he notices something else: a tiny metal DEVICE that resembles a trilobite. A CLOAKING BALL.

McKenna stoops -- palms the alien-looking device...

HEARS VOICES.

He DIVES behind a fallen LOG. Snaps the rifle to his shoulder, sights downrange. 300 yards --

People are swarming out of the drug mansion. Fuck.

He nervously juggles the metal BALL.... absently depresses a SWITCH (an electronic HUM) --

He looks left -- all clear. Glances over his shoulder. Looks to his RIGHT -- ohmyfuckingGod.

Jumps a foot. A FUCKING PREDATOR.

Two feet away -- and it wasn’t there a SECOND AGO. He scrambles backward, blinks:

The PREDATOR, stock still. No reaction. Simply lies there, all eight feet of it. Its MASK askew. We realize:

He’s been there ALL ALONG. McKenna merely DE-CLOAKED him.

He holds his breath, cautious not to wake the sleeping beast. That said, he can’t resist.

Licks his lips, reaches... cautiouslyLIFTS the dislodged BATTLE MASK worn by the Predator. Looks down, blanching--

At the insectile craziness this thing calls a FACE.

He dry-washes his face with his hand. Scans the alien tech -- mask, gauntlet. Evidence. With quick, practiced moves, STASHES them in his pack --

He starts to go, STOPS. Looks back, says softly:

He turns. RUNS... As he leaves frame, CAMERA settles on the hulking, sprawled PREDATOR --

Its EYES SNAP OPEN.

Moving through the overgrowth. Sudden CRACKLE of radio chatter:

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE (O.S.) Repeat: switch to 30-30, Dupree, do you copy?

THEY’RE BACK ONLINE. Bingo. McKenna stops, keys his walkie:

HAINES’ TALKIE VOICE McKenna, is that you?

Now DUPREE’S voice joins in:

DUPREE’S TALKIE VOICE Hi, guys. Can I just say - - holy shit?

HAINES’ VOICE Copy that. I have visual on Dupree, I -- what the fuck..?

McKenna freezes.

HAINES’ VOICE I... There’s something moving... (beat) Dupree, break left, break left--!

A RATTLE OF MACHINE GUN FIRE -- BRRRAPPP!!! --

A series of strangled HUMAN SCREAMS. HE DOESN’T NEED THE WALKIE, HE CAN HEAR THEM --

McKenna CHARGES BACK in the direction he just came from.

He SNAPS his rifle to his shoulder; TEARING through the brush. HEARTBEAT thudding in his ears... as:

A NEW SOUND, NOW -- RISING.

A low, bass THUMPING-- WHUP-WHUP-WHUP.He looks up, SEES:

A BLACK HELICOPTER

Inbound, range 500meters. What the hell? Skimming the treeline... on a bee-line for theDrug Lord’s compound.

McKenna frowns: his extraction..? No. Impossible.Wrong helicopter. He heaves to his feet, switches on his mic:

The chopper UNLEASHES TWO AIR-TO-SURFACE ROCKETS.

A sudden, sky-high whooosh... McKenna, AGAPE -- They come vectoring in, remorseless. DETONATE--!

Say goodbye to the mansion. The sentries.

The Drug Lord. And his Soldiers. AND the Hostages. All gone in one horrendous, volcanic SECOND --

Pretty much the job McKenna came here to do. Except no prisoners, no witnesses, no mercy.

Scorched. Fucking. Earth.

The chopper BANKS sharply, coming in for a landing. BLACK- CLAD MERCS, already leaning out the sides...

MCKENNA

Debris pelting down around him. Stumbling, gun up -- Bursts through a thicket into a clearing --

BACK WHERE HE LEFT THE PREDATOR

But no Predator.

Just a sea of blood.

THE REMAINS OF TWO SOLDIERS; dressed like McKenna. Same camo face paint, jungle khakis. His men.

McKenna spins, gun tracking. Sights down the barrel:

BLACK OPS MERCS

From the helicopter. Headed his way.

No way out. McKenna looks to his team; shredded.EVISCERATED. Draws a shuddering breath...

BOLTS. Deeper intothe jungle -- leaving them behind, as over the scene, from everywhere and nowhere, a piercing SHRIEK--

An eerie PREDATOR WAR CRY, echoing... as we END SEQUENCE.

Traffic. Choking fumes. Blaring Afro-Cuban JAZZ.

THREE CUBAN POLICE OFFICERS push through the locals. Flashing an 8x10 PHOTOGRAPH. Chattering urgently.

CLOSE ON PHOTO

An Air Force Lieutenant in dress blues. Handsome. Clean-shaven. McKENNA.

The COPS pass by an ALLEY, routinely peer inside --

Empty. DEAD END. Garbage cans, filth, dried urine. A CAT. No sign of McKenna. They move on.

WE HOLD AS...

The brindled CAT begins to ripple. To distort.

GLASS-LIKE HUMAN CONTOURS

appear, against the surrounding stucco. A CRACKLE of energy, like TV static, AS --

A MAN materializes before our eyes. Bedraggled, unshaven. Edgy. McKENNA.

HE’S USING THE PREDATOR’S CLOAKING BALL.

AN UNSAVORY PATRON sits at a table, alone. A VOICE:

MCKENNA’S VOICE (O.S.) Dominguez.

McKenna “DE-CLOAKS,” again using the Predator device. Seems to WALK OUT OF THEWALL. DOMINGUEZ, suitably terrified--

McKenna TOSSES A BOX onto the table: THUNK--!

McKenna sweeps side tattered DRAPES to reveal a squat, UGLY building. The U.S. CONSULATE.

Dominguez eyes the parcel.

McKenna plunks 12 thousand pesos on the table. In English:

McKenna steps outside, affecting nonchalance --

The CLATTER of M4s being hefted and aimed at his HEAD.

A SUITED MAN stepsinto view. Intense, calculating eyes. Clearly in charge.For the record? Agent TRAEGER, CIA.

Traeger flashes his ID. Gestures to the police.

He FIRES from the hip. A DART embeds itself in McKenna.

A proud sign:

LAWRENCE G. GORDON MIDDLE SCHOOL “Home of The Warriors”

HALLOWEEN HAUNT 10/25 WELCOME PARENTS & STDS

CUT TO: A BLACK KNIGHT

as it topples a WHITE PAWN on a chess board.

The room’s hushed.Respectful. Because at lunchtime,those tabletops with thesinks? They make way for THE CHESS CLUB.

SIX or SEVEN games, in progress. The SCIENCE TEACHEReats his lunch at his desk,as... oh, yeah. We should probably mention

THE AWKWARD KID

Eating a sandwich with the crusts cut off as he wanders, scrutinizes every game, like a NASAscientist.

This is RORY, 12.

He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s going to save the world.

TWO BULLIES stand near a fire alarm, daring each other to pull it. Meet E.J. and DEREK. They will grow up, get bald, and attempt to sell you a car.

The alarm PEALS, deafening. EVERYONE’s up like a shot, quickly SHUFFLING OUT of the room. Leaving:

RORY, who -- nobody notices -- is curled up in a FETAL BALL; fingers in his ears, eyes squeezed shut, the alarm like fingernails on a chalkboard to him.

E.J. AND DEREK appear at the door... Spot Rory, who flinches; a deer in headlights. The bullies move in for the kill...

He KICKS Rory. Thenick-name confirms our suspicions: the awkward kid is awkward for a reason:the autism spectrum.

Derek gets his kick in. They’re about to unleash more when -- the alarm STOPS. Sudden, unnerving quiet.

Time running out, E.J. and Derek look around for one last indignity.

They settle for this: KNOCKING OVER ALL THE CHESS PIECES. Every game ruined.

He and Derek trade a LAUGHING high-five, and they’re GONE.

For a quiet, electric moment, Rory is alone in the room. His eyes flicker across the chess boards: mental inventory.

Beat. Then -- he SCRAMBLES INTO ACTION. It takes a moment to register what he’s doing. Another to believe it.

He puts back everychess piece on every boardexactly as they were before the fire alarm...

The Chess Club members filter in and return to theirgames, none the wiser. OFFRory, beaming silently-- CUT TO:

Heading home. RoryLOPES along, talking to himself. Suddenly: a strident BARKINGfrom behind a picket fence, where:

A PIT BULL

GROWLS and SNAPS from between the posts. Rory freaks; gives the dog a wide berth, clearly terrified.

The sound of a KEY IN A LOCK, then Rory comes through the back door. Replaces the key under the porch mat.

A STAIN -- ON THE KITCHEN WALL

Briefly makes him FIXATE. Seepage. A WATER SPOT. He grabs a paper towel, delicately blots away the run-off -- goes to the refrigerator. On which, a hand-written note:

SPENT 1.5 HRS CLEANING HOUSE. IF YOU MESS IT UP, I WILL CUT YOU. XOXO MOM

A doorbell RINGS off-screen, and --

Rory opens the door, is greeted by a POSTAL WORKER.

Rory blinks, not sure what to say.

He upends a handcart -- dumps a big stack of LETTERS AND BOXES onto the porch.

He starts away. Hesitates.

Rory nods. Awkward. The postman frowns:

The postman, confused.

The postman decides he’s done here. Rory watches him go, as we PAN the huge stack of mail, so that WE SEE:

McKENNA’S PARCEL FROM CUBA.

CASEY BRACKETT, 27, sits on a bench, red penciling papers. LEASHES dangle from one arm... a dog BARKS CRAZILY O.S.

A JOGGER with a dog runs by; eyes Casey. Perhaps “ogles” would be more apt. He backtracks. Jogs in place beside her, catching his breath.

He huffs, as though having just pushed a boulder uphill. Elaborately towelshis neck. A curt DOG-YELP, off-screen--

The jogger, persistent. Extends his hand:

He conspicuously scritchesthe ears of his designer DOG--

Casey STANDS, starts to walk. Persistant Guy, following--

Casey grins sourly.

The Jogger: Gulp. He nods slowly.

He BOLTS. Casey reaches in her jacket, fishes out a silver FLASK -- swigs-- A kindly OLD LADY looks up, says:

A VOICE interrupts:

VOICE Doctor Brackett?

Casey turns -- THREE CIA AGENTS stand there. A SEDAN with government plates idles ominously behind them. The lead agent is CHURCH, 30s.

Casey blinks. WTF? THEN we get it: some kind of CODE.

OFF Casey, rattled. CUT TO:

Casey and the CIA man climb into the back. As the driver pulls out, she looks out the back-- at her dogs.

Church hands her a file folder.

As she opens the file, he shines a pen light to illuminate the TOP SHEET:

CLASSIFIED: PROJECT STARGAZER

The letterhead? A familiar eagle-and-shield insignia: CIA. The page has been stamped TOP SECRET:

Casey frowns. Glances at the agent. Is this a joke?

She speed-reads the next page. A BRIEF on the discovery of the ESCAPE POD in the jungle. Then -- 8X10 PHOTOS:

The debris field; thecharred escape pod. Next -- McKENNA’s MILITARY PORTRAIT-- the one Traeger was showing the locals in Cuba. She flipsto THE LAST PHOTO; draws a sharp breath.

Through trees, vines... a figure. Blurry. Indistinct.

It’s a photograph of THE PREDATOR. As we PRE-LAP A CLAP

Lightning dances across the Texas plains as the clouds open.

SUPER: VETERAN’S ADMINISTRATION

CORPUS CHRISTIE, TEXAS

MCKENNA sits in a plastic chair at a table, the rainbeating on a skylight highabove. He’s wearing an orange jumpsuit.

The V.A. PSYCHOLOGIST stands by, watching a MED TECH attach two pnuemo-tubes around McKenna’s chest.

The Med Tech attaches finger pads and a blood pressure cuff.

McKenna exhales. NOW he gets it.

Off the Psych’s sudden raised eyebrow:

The Psych nods:

The psychologist switches on the polygraph machine. A laptop GLOWS with a graph of McKenna’s vitals. Game on.

The psychologist looks at the polygraph. Barely a flicker. All graphs straight as arrows.

The Doc looks at the polygraph screen. NOW some flickers.

Oh, shit. A SPIKE on the graph.

The molecules in the air stop moving.

His eyes gleam. A sick grin. Goading.

ON THE POLYGRAPH MONITOR

All graphs SPIKING spastically. If he was fighting the appearance of being crazy... he’s failed.

Something like a prison bus idles in front of the administration building, as STAFF escort McKenna into--

McKenna DROPS into a seat. The bus jerks forward, RAIN SPATTERING the windows. While, in the darkness...

SEVEN MEN in prison scrubs; eyes that have seen shit that would turn your hair white.

McKenna notes a hulking form manacled beside him. Also in his 30s, with a comma of dark hair and a scar across oneeye.

Meet NEBRASKA WILLIAMS. He notices McKenna’s gaze.

After a pause:

McKenna looks out the window thoughtfully.

This gives McKenna pause. For servicemen, this is not small potatoes.

McKenna sits very still. The bus drives on.

Desolate. Windswept. A small cluster of squat buildings guarded by razor wire and ‘NOTRESPASSING’ signs.

AN HH-60 PAVE HAWK APPEARS

And SETS DOWN, dust swirling. TWO SECURITY MERCS jump out, assist CASEY from the open hatch.

(NOTE: “Project: Stargazer” is guarded by Private CIA- HIRE MERCENARIES like the ones McKenna saw in Cuba.

They are NOTU.S. MILITARY SERVICEMEN.The short version? Stargazer = BAD GUYS; U.S. Military= GOOD GUYS.)

A GATE CLATTERS OPEN -- REVEALS a small, square structure. The size of a one-car garage.

A MERC goes to thecode box as Church hands her a clipboard:

Reluctantly, she signs the NDA; is gestured forward.Church remains behind-- conspicuously. He doesn’t have clearance.

The code box emits a hollow CLICK! and BLAST DOORS SLIDE OPEN, TO REVEAL:

Small, compact room.A TECHNICIAN stands at a work station. Scanners; cameras;printers. On the wall: A BIG RED BUTTON.

QUICK CUTS - I.D. MONTAGE

as the TECHNICIAN scans Casey’s RETINAS -- her HAND PRINTS -- A BAR CODE prints out -- then Casey is stood against a bare wall, and off a digital camera FLASH--

A LAMINATED PHOTO ID BADGE

Now hangs around her neck. She looks up, awkward. Now what?

The Technician turns to the big red button; SLAMS IT --

THE WHOLE ROOM SHUDDERS and we hear a WHINE from all around us because... THE ROOM IS AN ELEVATOR. CUT TO:

The elevator door slides OPEN TO REVEAL...

A VAST UNDERGROUND COMPLEX. TECHNICIANS bustle to and fro, including (as Casey duly notes) some with lab coats and scrubs. Casey is drawn into a small

VIEWING ROOM

Like an operating theater, looking down through raked glass into the MAIN LAB.

She sees MED TECHSIN BIOHAZARD SUITS around a custom-built table with stirrups and monitors. Take a breath now--

Because there, strapped to the table, is something she’s waited her whole life to see: an actual, living, extra- terrestrial life form. In this case--?

A CAPTURED, UNCONSCIOUS PREDATOR.

An involuntary gasp from Casey, as we see in her eyes: her world has changed.

She SPINS, almost jumps out of her skin. A bespectacled man in the doorway behind her: DOCTOR SEAN COLWELL.

He enters, shakes her hand.

Casey’s still rattled by the sight of the Predator.

She looks back into the lab below. Pensive.

Casey shakes her head.

IN THE LAB BELOW

She nods, tentative. He gestures.

White. Sterile. Casey and Colwell enter through an airlock hatch. It SEALS SHUT with a HISS, air-tight.

She and Colwell start to strip, separated by a partition.

SERIES OF CUTS -- DECON

CASEY, NAKED in a new chamber -- the room flares WHITE HOT. BURNS OFF her outer layer of skin -- then:

She dons a HAZMAT SUIT, all business.Dismissive of her nudity. She knows she can halt traffic, doesn’t muchcare.

Colwell appears beside her, also in HazMat. Goes to the door. Presses his eye and hand to scanners:

The LAST HATCH SHUSHES OPEN,and Colwell leads the way into:

Traeger approaches her, hand extended:

She nods to the dormant Predator.

Traeger tries not to roll his eyes; “liberal.”

Casey paces besidethe Predator. Regards its mandibled features with something akin to wonder. Whispers:

An ironic grin from Casey. “Bingo.”

He nods to COLWELL, who produces a TABLET. He shows Casey a read-out. She studies it for a second... then blanches.

She looks at them, baffled. How is that possible?

Trundling through the night; rain-lashed.

ON MCKENNA, ASLEEP

In the strobing dark; rain drums like GUNFIRE at thewindow.

MEMORY FLASH: RUBBLE-STREWN STREET - KANDAHAR - DAY

McKENNA, severalyears younger, in desert camo, flak, full battle rattle. He and his squad TAKING COVER, breathless.

He glances at the SOLDIER next to him. Pale, trembling. Bleeding out from stray shrapnel.

The soldier KEENS with pain, as -- urgent VOICES, close by. Speaking PASHTO.

The wounded soldierMOANS loudly. Shit. He’s going to give away their position.McKenna GRABS him; CLAMPS A HAND over his mouth as the TALIBAN SOLDIERS get closer--

And as the soldier BITES INTO MCKENNA’S HAND to distract himself from the overwhelming pain --

As McKENNA WAKES. No startle-awake bullshit -- simply comes to. Fully aware. His HAND, near his head...

THE SCAR we saw in Cayo Muerte: prominent. Now we know how he got it. From the back of the bus, now, A VOICE:

He’s addressing a prisoner at the front, BAXLEY, whose eyes thin to slits. Clearly, these two have a history.

One of the MPs at the front weighs in:

McKenna eyes his measly protein bar. Says to Williams:

McKenna looks to a THIRD prisoner, talking to himself nervously, Tourette’s: FLYBOY.

McKenna nods to an older Vet -- NETTLES.

McKenna shrugs.

Williams looks out the window, shaking his head. Tsk tsk.

CASEY, examining the dormant Predator. Shines a penlight -- checks pupil dilation.

A nearby MED TECH nods. Casey turns to Traeger.

Traeger nods to the med tech. The file is quickly produced and Casey FLIPS tothe blurry photo of the Predator.Points:

She notices something else:

Sure enough, the Predator’s wrist computer is OPEN--an empty slot where the KUJHAD should be.She looks at Traeger:

Traeger and Colwell trade uneasy glances. After a beat, Casey re-opens the file. FLIPS to the photo of... McKENNA.

ONE OF THE MPS responds to a SQUAWKfrom his radio. SPEAKS (”Go ahead”). As he listens, his eyes drift to McKenna--

Gears GRIND. The bus steers to a HALT, sloshing water... promptly executes a ponderous and awkward U-TURN.

THROUGH GLASS: we push in on McKENNA, confused... CUT TO:

Neighborhood SOUNDS: THRUM of cicadas, bad TV, distant sirens. A dinged Subaru Outback pulls into the driveway.

Rory’s mom, EMILY -- pretty, 30s, beleaguered -- comes through the back door into the kitchen, arms weighted down by shopping bags. She CALLS OUT:

RORY APPEARS-- Mom gives him a quick kiss. She seesa stack of LANGUAGE BOOKS on the counter:French, German, Swedish.

She smiles, fumbles with a bag from Target.

She pulls out TWO BOXED HALLOWEEN COSTUMES -- Like those Ben Cooper specials from yesteryear. In this case..?

She holds up each with equal gusto; he regards her blankly:

Rory looks at herlike she grew a tail. Exasperated,she holds up the OTHERBOX as if her son just won a prize.

But he’s not really buying any of it. He takes the mask out of the box, reluctantly puts it on.

RORY’S POV: The sound of his BREATHING as, through the eye holes, WE SEE:

THAT WATER SPOT -- the one on the kitchen WALL, as

MEMORY FLASH:

Rory, a mere BABE in his mother’s arms as McKENNA drives a FIST through the SPOT, for reasons long forgotten, and--

BACK TO PRESENT

It’s been plastered over; yet the ghost of McKenna’srage continues to ooze out... Rory puts the pirate mask down:

RORY’S MOM Tell what?

He starts out of the room.

His mom looks after him, blinking back tears.

Rory comes down the steps to his LAIR: recycled PCs, saved from dumpsters. Multiple ON-LINE GAMES glow.

A hanging sign reads: “CONTROL AREA.”

Rory sits, fingersblurring as he speed runs throughtwo games simultaneously. But gradually... hisdistraction wins. He turns to look at his work table,ON WHICH RESIDES:

THE PARCEL FROM CUBA.

He sucks in a sharp breath. Goes to it... and TEARS IT OPEN like a Christmas present. Reaches in, and removes...

Holy shit -- THE BATTLE-SCARRED PREDATOR BIOHELMET.

The iconic WAR MASK from five separate films. It DWARFS this suburban boy’s delicate hands.

He examines it. Sets it aside, reaches for the next prize:

THE KUJHAD; the data-storage device. It GLISTENS in his grasp. He hefts it like a light-sabre. Then --

Curiously, hesitantly, presses a button on the device.

Nothing.

Emboldened, he presses another. And another. And anoth -- BLEEP--! Oooh, shit.

A DISPLAY BLINKS ON; GLOWING RED symbols scrolling in cryptic patterns. Rory’s eyes widen as we -- CUT TO:

Cold. Silent. OUR OPENING SHOT all over again, as...

A LOOMING SPACECRAFT enters frame. Bulbous. Cockroach- shaped. We’ve seen it before:

THE PREDATOR MOTHER SHIP

from our opening; docking gantry below still scarred and shredded from where THE ARK detached.

Quick, tantalizingglimpses of this new,different PREDATOR. We still don’t see him fully. Not yet.

As we will come to learn: this is AN UPGRADE.

It taps a control pad -- and a DISPLAY APPEARS, similar to Rory’s. Speaking of whom:

SCRIBBLES the symbols from the Kujhad on a PeeChee folder. Glances up --

The symbols CHANGE. Blip-! Just like that, a new sequence. Rory scrunches up his face. Huh.

Have you ever seen someone “do math” by using their fingers to create invisible equations in the air? Well, that’s what Rory does now, except...

THE SYMBOLS HE WROTE LIFT off the paper, SUPERIMPOSED for us to see. He does some mental calculations, and --

The symbols RE-ARRANGE.

(NOTE: This is NOT REAL. It depicts Rory’s mental process. We are literally watching him translate Predator language.)

He TAPS BUTTONS, causing the display to CHANGE BACK, and --

THE UPGRADE REACTSas his READ-OUT CHANGES, too. A glitch? He taps the controls,REVERTING it to its previous version--

sees the DISPLAY CHANGE again -- and OVERRIDES IT exactly as he did before. “Take that!” And we realize --

Our kid is REMOTELY FUTZING AN INCOMING PREDATOR SPACECRAFT!

The Upgrade, all business. SLAMS IN A CODE, and

-- EXT. STRATOSPHERE - THE PREDATOR SHIP

With shimmering spasms, its STEALTH CAPABILITY is engaged and the ship literally VANISHES--!

Grinning at the new code sequence. It’s a GAME! Gleefully, he punches in the same sequence, only IN REVERSE, and --

The transparent Predator Mother Ship BECOMES VISIBLEAGAIN--!

A VOICE from upstairs breaks the moment:

Rory freezes, tries to sound like everything’s normal.

CLOSE ON A TRACKING MONITOR

as a BLIP APPEARS. Then vanishes. Then RE-APPEARS.

A TECH SERGEANT inarmy khaki watches the blip on his scope.

SUPER: KAENA POINT TRACKING STATION -- OAHU, HAWAII

The analyst FLAGS his SUPERVISOR.

His uniformed SUPERVISOR walks over.

They watch as the blip VANISHES andRE-APPEARS sporadically. OTHER TECHS look on curiously. The supervisor frowns.

CASEY, bent over an electron microscope. Intent. Examining the Predator’s blood. Traeger, overher shoulder--

She rises from themicroscope, sees a blood centrifuge nearby, a test tube rack just aboveit. In the rack is:

A SINGLE VIAL of membranous yellow substance. She frowns:

Traeger looks vaguely discomfited. But before he can answer, a LACKEY approaches.

Black-clad MERCENARIES wait for the V.A. SHUTTLE as it trundles toward the chain link perimeter.

Prisoners, GRUMBLING. Flyboy calls out to the MP at the front (who, we should note, is bald as a cue ball).

McKenna, uneasy. It’s beginning to seem that way. CUT TO:

Fans of War Gameswill recognize the gallery and massive TRACKING SCREENS. Air Force PERSONNEL watch the bogey on

A HUGE MONITOR

where THE BLIP is seen moving toward the southern U.S... A GENERAL oversees; STAFF SERGEANT at his side.

The General chews on a pen. What the fuck is it? Finally:

Traeger’s AIDE approaches. Furtive:

Colwell and Traeger trade looks. Casey sees this.

Traeger answers without missing a beat.

Casey stiffens. The revelation lands hard.

Traeger MUTTERS something under his breath --

She blinks. Stares at him:

Traeger looks uneasy.

That’s when ALARM KLAXONS peal throughout the complex.

TRAEGER’S AIDE clutches a phone receiver. YELLS:

At which point, without warning --

THE PREDATOR’S EYES SNAP OPEN. Just like that.

Alert. Calm. Calculating. We realize:it was playingpossum.

CASEY LEAPS backward; liberates a TRANQUILIZER RIFLEfrom a nearby rack. She hoists it, BACKS AWAY-- full defense mode.

She STABS the code for the DECON chamber. Hatch OPENS. She leaps inside, except -- she’s the only one. Everyone else is going for their SIDEARMS as --

Bam--! The Predator MOVES. SNAPS ITS RESTRAINTS like they were paper. RISES from the table, as --

The hatch CLOSES, sealing her in.

Casey, sweating. FUMBLING at the catches of her Hazmat suit.

SECURITY MEN rush to restrain the Predator, but it SWIPES at them with its talons -- DUCKS, PARRIES.

TOSSES them like rag dolls. Speed and stealth, mind-numbing.

SEEING THIS -- terrified-- while at the same time desperately tryingto DISROBE. Blood SPATTERS the window--

THE PREDATOR, rampaging.

COLWELL draws a weapon -- but it GRABS HIM by the hair; snags a scalpel in its other talon. Like a samurai --

BEHEADS HIM with the scalpel--! The next second, SLICES OFF HIS HAND -- Then BEE-LINES TO THE DECON HATCH...

Spoils in hand, PRESSES COLWELL’S HEAD and HAND to the scanners. Then, nightmarishly:

MIMICS the dead man’s voice exactly:

A green light BLEEPS. ACCESS GRANTED--!

Skin burn complete, Casey’s scooping up her clothes, as -- the HATCH SHUSHES OPEN behind her. She SPINS, naked - - clutching the tranq gun. --

And there’s THE PREDATOR.

Trembling, breathless, Casey LEVELS THE WEAPON. Pulls the trigger: a dry CLICK--! Jammed.

The Predator cocks its head at her. Is it... smiling? And then -- it simply MOVES PAST her. SPARING HER. As Casey breathes in short terrified bursts, we --

THREE F-22 RAPTORS slice the sound barrier -- following the Predator ship’s last known position.

ON THE LEAD PILOT as he checks his instruments. We HEAR:

THREE TACTICAL MERCS spin round a bend, rifles up. As they clatter past an alcove, two MUSCULAR ARMS SWIPE OUT--!

GLTCH--GLTCH! TALONS puncturing flesh; severing brain stems. Two down. The remaining merc SPINS, gun up --

Predator, weaponless... Fuck it -- SCOOPS A MACHINE GUN IN EACH HAND.

BUDDA-BUDDA--!The merc topples. The Predator calmlyDROPS the guns, retrievesColwell’s head and hand from thefloor.

Casey finishes pulling on her clothes, notices -- on the floor, splatters of phosphorescent GREEN BLOOD.

She looks back into the lab -- at the tranq gun CARTRIDGE on the rack. Then... something arguably more important:

The mysterious SPECIMEN VIAL she saw earlier.

The Predator approaches a VAULT DOOR; again uses Colwell’s VISCERA to override security. TOSSES THEM ASIDE and ENTERS:

Like a bank vault, but for Predator technology.

The Predator RUMMAGES; tossing items aside violently. Plainly looking for something... but not finding it.

Frustrated, it GRABS what it knows -- a new WRIST GAUNTLET, a PLASMA CANNON. Finally, snatches up a THIRD object:

A bent, scorched BATTLE MASK.

With this last, it does an odd thing: lifts the mask to its eyes. With one hand, taps a code on its side, blip-!

POV: THROUGH THE MASK

We’re seeing what IT is seeing. Here’s the weird part: Wherever it is..? It’snot the room he’s currently IN.

Blurry... faulty transmission. Still, oddly FAMILIAR.

We’re seeing Rory’s bedroom. WTF? CUT TO:

THE OTHER MASK, Rory’s-- leaning against the wall, face outward. A green LIGHT blinking, asit transmits--

BACK TO POV - BLURRED

We see RORY at his bench, back to us... now we SNAP-ZOOM in to a spot on the wall, near the kid’s head:

A drawing of a pit bull. Taped there, along with other drawings. In the corner, printed neatly:

RORY DECLAN McKENNA, GRADE 6. GORDON MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Predator lowers the mask. Turns, with new purpose. Taps its wrist and... with a glitchingSHIMMER, CLOAKS.Vanishing.

The V.A. bus STOPS, MID-COMPOUND. ALARMS continue to WAIL throughout the facility. SOLDIERS approach --

MCKENNA AND WILLIAMS, apprehensive. What’s going on?

Dressed and clutching the tranq rifle, Casey followsa trail of Predator blood to THESTILL-OPEN VAULT -- immediatelysees it’s been ransacked.What the hell was it lookingfor?

A bleeding MED-TECH stumbles around the corner, sees her:

She turns -- sprints out of frame, and meanwhile

Flying in formation. PILOTS scanning the horizon.

He’s back to his video games. Because of course he is.

Then... bored, he picks up the Kujhad. PUNCHES IN THE CODE from before... just for the hell of it, and --

THE PREDATOR SHIP APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE -- smack in the trajectory of the three Raptor jets!

RADIO VOICE #1 RADIO VOICE #2

(filtered) (filtered) Holy shit! Heads up! Bandit! Three-zero-

five!

QUICK CUTS -- AS THEY QUICKLY COURSE CORRECT

Milliseconds before impact --

Something outside the bus catches McKenna’s eye:

A DARK FIGURE -- emerging from a bunker in the distance. A hulking, lithe, humanoid chameleon shape. Shimmering....

McKenna nudges Williams, who squints... the thing FLICKERS; seems to VANISH inmid-stride. Williams stiffens--

CASEY emerges, into the night. Tranq gun at the ready. Comes around the edge ofa building, SEES a Predator BLOODTRAIL --

ALARM KLAXONS wailing outside.

McKenna, fraught. Struggling to concoct an escape strategy. Williams sees the look; doesn’t like it.

McKenna, thrown. Williams looks at him, sidelong:

He swivels his head -- a barely perceptible NOD to COYLE.

The SECOND MP rattles the cage door with his baton.

Baxley’s out of his seat so fast he’s a blur -- manacles clutched in his fists, he WRAPS THEM AROUND COYLE’S NECK -- choking him--! Coyle GASPS, SPUTTERS.

The second MP fumbles with his key ring as the firstUNCLIPS HIS SIDEARM, adrenaline spiking. Yells to the prisoners:

THE OTHERS OBEY; kneel with heads bowed, as --

The second MP UNLOCKS THE CAGE DOOR-- GRABS a Remington 870 pump action from its mount. Both menRUN up the aisle to:

BACK OF THE BUS

As they pry the two prisoners apart, the first MP reaches for the baton on his belt, except: shit. It’s not there.

BECAUSE BAXLEY JUST NABBED IT--! SWINGS IT into the back of the MP’s legs. HE GOES DOWN hard, as --

SECOND MP whips the SHOTGUN UP. Barely time to register:

COYLE, right in front of him, SHOVES the barrel with his palm so it CLOCKS THE MP in the forehead -- CRACK! -- dropping him. Coyle GRABS the shotgun --

And TOSSES IT TO WILLIAMS, who SPINS, cocks it -- K-CHUK! - - and levels it at the DRIVER.

THE DRIVER puts his HANDS UP as Baxley and Coyle --the best of friends now -- snag the guards’ keys and start unlocking the prisoners’ shackles. A ruse from square one.

Shorn of his manacles, Williams takes the DRIVER’S SEAT.

WILLIAMS jerks the bus into gear... and GUNS IT.

As it CLOAKS and DE-CLOAKS itself. One second, it’s there. The next: GONE. Vanished.

IT LEAPS, parkour style. Alights on a rooftop, and --

Suddenly pauses, EARS PRICKED. It darts a look SKYWARD as, without warning --

THE PREDATOR MOTHER SHIP APPEARS

Blasts across the sky. Holy shit. Shearing through the atmosphere, and, with even LESS warning --

TWO F-22 FIGHTER JETS -- IN PURSUIT

Jesus. Flashing through frame, fucking DEAFENING, as

-- WITH THE V.A. BUS

It PUNCHES through a fence--! Chain link whipping away --

WILLIAMS is DRIVING like a mad man, eyes darting between the SPACESHIP and the buildings below. McKENNA yells:

He YANKS the Remington from Williams. Door, HISSING open --

MCKENNA DROPS SIDEWAYS

On the open steps, sighting up the barrel of the weapon. Cold intent. Everything goes SILENT.

GUNSIGHT POV

And there it is: through his sight, the trademark Predator DISTORTION. Nearing the tree line, CUT TO:

CASEY, ON THE RUN

Tops a ladder, swings onto rusty metal BRIDGE. High ground. Surveys the compound...bingo. BLOOD TRAIL, 12 o’clock.

A sudden RUMBLE, she looks down, SEES:

THE V.A. BUS

THUNDERING UNDER the bridge. She times her jump -- DROPS DOWN, ONTO THE ROOF -- thunk!

Swivels the TRANQ GUN, targeting the TREE LINE, just as

-- EXT. GROUND LEVEL - THE BUS

MCKENNA LEAPS FREE, shotgun tight to his chest. He TUCKS AND ROLLS. Comes up,GETS OFF TWO SHOTS -- too little, too late--

THE PREDATOR VANISHES

Over the perimeterwall. As an afterthought, the creature lashes out: SEVERSa LIGHT POLE -- it CRUMPLES DOWNWARD--

WILLIAMS SEES the obstacle. Shit! STANDS ON THE BRAKES --

THE BUS

COLLIDES with the massive pole, tires BLOWN, as

-- ON THE ROOF - CASEY

Loses her footing;TOPPLES backward. Still clutchingthe tranq gun, she squeezes the triggerinvoluntarily, and--

THPPP--! A DART imbeds itself in her foot. She ROLLS OFF the top of the bus like a string-cut marionette, as --

McKenna sees her pitch off the side, SCRAMBLES TO catch her.

Then quickly registers the ARMED SECURITY MEN moving in from all sides, and hastily (comically) FLEES just as --

WHOMP--! Casey LANDS on the ground with an ugly KLUD! She ROLLS OVER; groggy. So much for Prince fucking Charming.

AT THE BUS

The others SCRAMBLE OUT, as NEBRASKA WILLIAMS spots:

A small, open Quonset hut with a column of vintage, army green HARLEY MOTORCYCLES. He yells:

One of the MERCS sees Casey, on the ground: he taps a switch on his VIDEO HEADSET -- CUT TO:

TRAEGER has his own glass-like headset with THE MERC’S POV:

Traeger sighs, deep regret:

The MERC, about to follow orders when a BURBLING ROAR fills the air, and --

McKENNA COMES OVER THE TOP

AIRBORNE on his howling HARLEY. Launches off an embankment. FIRES MID-AIR,blam-blam-! takes out the dude’s LEGS.

Lands. Fishtails madly -- steers toward Casey; pure Steve McQueen. SCOOPS HER UP --

And here come THE LOONIES; Williams in the lead! A phalanx of crazy-ass Hell’s Angels.

The recovering mercs OPEN FIRE -- as the cycles BLAST FORWARD, out of the compound, as we CUT TO:

THE F-22S FLY alongside and above the NOW-VISIBLE PREDATOR SPACECRAFT, rocking their wings.

ON THE LEAD PILOT (INTERCUT:)

AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES spew from the Raptors, and RIP ACROSS the surface of the Predator ship. It bucks and WOBBLES, as--

THE F-22s BANK OFF as the PREDATOR SHIP TUMBLES, smoking.

A glitching SHIMMER as it manages to CLOAK itself one final time... seconds before it impacts --

And now, an odd sight -- one we hinted at in our opening:

An INVISIBLE CRASH. The leafy canopy EXPLODES, then a careening DEBRIS FIELD forming before our eyes --

All that’s missing is the ship that’s CAUSING IT.

Tendrils of vapor rise, and...

Amidst choking smoke, the UPGRADE rises from its seat.

Touches a switch, and A PANEL OPENS, revealing a dank, cramped COMPARTMENT. Inside, barelyglimpsed--

The eerie silhouettes of TWO slobbering, four- legged CREATURES... Whoa. CUT TO:

Rory lies in bed. Wide awake. Peering into a tiny KEYCHAIN VIEWER with a light in it:

A PHOTO -- Father and son in happier times. RORY sighs. Rolls over. Turns on his bedside table lamp --

And there, on the nightstand, is THE KUJHAD.

The BIOHELMET sits beside it; eerie, beckoning. Rory reaches for the Kujhad, but it’s no longer blinking.

Shit.

He THUMBS buttons to wake it up. Nothing at first. Then... it GLOWS RED. Success! Rory chews his lip, thinking. What next?

And then he learns the meaning of the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for.” Because suddenly:

SHAPES, moving in his peripheral vision. He looks up. GASPS--

GIANT, MULTI-EYES SPIDERS

Crawling on the walls and ceiling. Out of nowhere. All around him/ Terrified, Rory starts to hyperventilate.

He STABS BUTTONS in a desperate bid to make them go away --

Then notices: the spiders are GLITCHING with electronic distortion. He double-takes, SEES --

MONOFILAMENTS OF LIGHT emanating from the biohelmet... it’s the source of the images. Not just images:

HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS.

He picks up the helmet, lifts it to his face and...

BIOHELMET POV (INTERCUT:)

Like police video, the spiders are PRE-RECORDED IMAGES OF A PREDATOR HUNT ON ANOTHER WORLD.

At his fingertips is A VIRTUAL DOCUMENT of the Predators’ travels across the galaxy.

He pulls the mask away, a stew of various IMAGES projected IN 3D all around him. Including something he didn’t expect:

What appears to be A MAP.

At its center, a highlighted, ALIENSHAPE.Blinking. A beacon, a marker? Or maybe, just maybe...?A transponder.

NEBRASKA WILLIAMS smokes a cigarette in the blinking neon of the motel sign. He hears A SCUFFLE, turns to SEE:

NETTLES, emerging from behind the sign. Zipping his pants.

Nettles eyes widen, like he’s just seen God.

A staccato KNOCK on the door (a code). FLYBOY opens it, lets Williams and Nettles back in.

CASEY’s in the bed, sleeping off the tranquilizer dart -- THE REST OF THE VETS gathered around. McKenna, weary, says:

The Loonies trade glances. Shrug.

McKenna nods.

The others trade looks -- what does that even mean? Then:

Baxley subsides, grumpily. On the BED, CASEY stirs -- blinks awake. Alarmed to see THE LOONIES surrounding her.

She grimaces. Fumbles out her CELL PHONE-- Incredibly, McKenna GRABS the shotgun, COCKS IT:Is he gonna shoot her?

No. He GRABS THE PHONE, shoves it under a pillow, and-- a muted BOOM--! The pillow’s a smoking ruin. PHONE, vanquished.

A beat. Then a SMALL CHORUS:

McKenna ignores them. Turns to Casey.

Everyone looks at him --

Casey huffs impatiently. She startsup, heads for the door--

She looks up sharply.

That STOPS her. She exhales. Looks round at the “unit” --

Nettles grins bashfully -- Casey sighs.

She flops in a chair. Gazes up at McKenna.

McKenna nods, grim.

McKenna’s eyes blaze. She shrugs:

McKenna thinks it over, paces. Stops, exhales raggedly...

A look goes round. A bonding moment... exiles, all; perfect scapegoats. No none will miss them.

The loonies react. WHAT?

McKenna goes pale with realization.

He looks up -- realizes all eyes are on him.

Pause. Nettles clears his throat:

Nebraska Williams’ brow furrows. Plotting.

A parked, two-tone WINNEBAGO SUPER CHIEF. From inside:

Every square inch CRAMMEDwith war mementos and weaponry. Been to a gun show? That. A grizzled man in a WHEELCHAIR watches TV. MasterGunnery Sergeant GARRISON CUTTER,60s.

There’s a RAP on the door, and Cutter ROLLS himself the entire three feet to answer it as he RAISES AN M16. He opens up enough to see a sliver of a face:

Cutter peers through the crack in the door, SEEING:

THE GROUP OF LOONIES in themoonlight. McKenna. The others. The very uncomfortable, but equallyappealing... CASEY.

Behind him: dirty laundry. Take-outcontainers. A cat YOWLS.

Rory, in his “Control Area” wearing the Frankenstein mask his mom bought him. He pulls it off, frowning. Lame.

Then -- a scuffling SOUND at the basement window. Heturns to SEE what appears to be...

A LARGE, FOUR-LEGGED ANIMAL

SNIFFING at the window. The neighbor’s pit bull...? It disappears -- he doesn’t pay it much mind.

EMILY does the dishes-- oblivious as RORY, clutching something, furtively heads out the back door BEHIND HER.

PRE-LAP: the SOUND OF A DOORBELL RINGING, and --

Emily opens the door to reveal: TRAEGER, flanked by armed SECURITY MEN.

REVEAL MCKENNA andthe rest of the vets, HIDDEN IN THE BUSHES with field glasses and talkies. Williamsaims A SHOTGUNMIKE at the house, allows them to hear the conversation:

STEVENS notices a locked GUN CASE in the adjoining study.

Traeger and the security men come down the stairs, finding Rory’s lair... but the kid? Nowhere to be seen.

RORY’S MOM That’s weird. If he’s not in his room, he’s always here. He said he was going trick-or-treating, but...

She frowns. SEES the two discarded costumes on his work table. Why would he leave without his costume?

RORY timidly roams the neighborhood, surrounded by costumed trick-or-treaters and their parents.

His head, ENCASED IN THE PREDATOR’S BIOHELMET.

The KUJHAD, clutched by his side. Swell costume. Navigating’s a bit tricky, he stumbles a little --

RORY’S POV: Human HEAT SIGNATURES. Every direction.

CUTTER at the wheel, taking watch. At the NOOK in back, CASEY squints into a microscope. Murmurs,under her breath--

She pulls back from the lens. Blinks, incredulous:

She picks up a TALKIE, keys it:

McKenna’s TALKIE SQUELCHES -- he quickly turns it down. Then he freezes -- notices something in the shadows:

THAT “DOG” FROM EARLIER. Sniffing at the basement windows.

Inside, Traeger ALSO hears it. Stops, looks toward the back of the house. Nodsto TWO OF HIS MEN to check it out--

TRAEGER’S MEN EMERGE from the house and fan out.

WITH ONE OF THE SECURITY MEN

Flashlight up. He catches a glimpse of “the dog” as it pads away into the brush. Keys his talkie:

The Security Man SLAPS a bug from his cheek. Then, a GRUNTING SOUND from nearby. He WHIPS HIS FLASHLIGHT ONTO --

AN ARMADILLO

Foraging in a pile of garbage. It looks up, beady-eyed --

Which is when-- the armadillo SCREAMS (yes, they dothat). It’s lookingpast the Security Man, who HEARS a throaty CLICKING SOUND behind him, and SPINS, face-to-face with:

ONE OF THE FOUR-LEGGED CREATURES from the ship!

Yellow, albino eyes. MANDIBLES. The man turns to RUN --

BUT HE’S BLOCKED by the SECOND CREATURE!

QUICK CUTS - SAVAGE, MERCILESS

Strangled screams. IMPOTENT GUNSHOTS shatter the suburban stillness as --

TRAEGER bursts from the back door with hisremainingSecurity Man. They RUSH in the direction of the screams and gunshots--

MOVING WITH TRAEGER

He stumbles to a mute halt, SEEING:

THE FIRST OF HIS MEN, splayed inside-out. The other one, nearby. Similarly crimson.

Traeger registers alarm, but oddly, not much surprise. He keys his talkie:

MCKENNA AND THE MEN, guns up. CASEY joins them, GRABS a pair of night-vision binocs to SEE:

THE TWO PREDATOR HYBRIDS

Retreating into the night. She swallows; adrenaline pumping.

McKenna looks at her like she has antlers.

A mordant grin, despite herself:

McKenna SLAMS THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, finds himself face to face with Emily -- HIS WIFE. Stone-faced:

An awkward moment-- then she clocksthe shotgun in his hand.

This catches her off-guard.

McKenna bee-lines to Rory’s “Control Area,” SEES THE PARCEL he sent from Cuba. He shakes it. EMPTY.

McKenna rifles through Rory’s stuffs for any trace of the alien tech.

He BOLTS, heading upstairs again --

Back the way they came. McKenna tosses over his shoulder:

He turns on her.

She STOPS. Sees:

THE LOONIES, gathered in her living room. A comical moment as they grin stupidly. Sheepish waves.

McKenna, meanwhile: snatching PHOTOS OF RORY from walls, tables. School portraits, holiday pics --

He calmly takes the pictures from her.

She blinks, incredulous:

He looks her dead in the eye:

He turns to the Loonies:

He gives the first picture to Williams.

He turns to Emily-- who’s shrugging into her COAT. Snatching up, of all things,a FIREPLACE POKER. He GRABS IT away--

He turns to the Loonies:

WILLIAMS AND THE LOONIES split up with military precision; years of trainingback in play. McKenna turns to hiswife:

A warm look between them; a history of good and bad and everything in-between.

RORY lifts the Predator helmet, watches OTHER KIDS ringing doorbells, collecting goodies. Timid to try it himself...

Oh, Christ. IT’S E.J. -- the bully from school. Rory turns to go the other way. Finds himself boxed in by:

Rory hurries away. The bullies dog his heels, chuckling

-- EXT. A CREEPY HOUSE - NIGHT

Patchy lawn. Porch light OFF. The least inviting house on this or any block. Possible escape..? Rory heads up the steps. Looks back --

THE BULLIES

On the sidewalk, smirking. No turning back now. Gulp. He RINGS the doorbell. A BUZZ echoes from deep inside...

A VOICE from behind the door:

STONER’S VOICE Fuck off.

ON THE SIDEWALK -- E.J. and Derek CHORTLE with amusement.

Taking the hint, Rory turns. Moves stiffly toward the street. A door CREAKS OPEN behind him, and...

An unfriendly looking STONER appears in the darkeneddoorway.

He PITCHES SOMETHING through theair -- Splat!A ROTTEN APPLE SMACKS Rory in the back of the head. Bullies, laughing...

The reaction is shockingly swift and

spontaneous. PREDATOR MASK POV

The interior of the helmet LIGHTS UP. Symbols, scrolling. TARGETING INFORMATION.A tiny PLASMA-CASTER juts forth--

UNLEASHES HELLFIRE.

ON THE PORCH - THE STONER

is literally DISINTEGRATED as the doorway BLOWS OUT ALL AROUND HIM -- !

see the EXPLOSION. Trade alarmed looks -- and RUN --

The front lawn, SMOKING. Rory turns toward the slack- jawed bullies, his face the imposing PREDATOR BIOHELMET.

The bullies almostshit their pants before FLEEING in abject terror --! ColoredCHERRY LIGHTS flash over thescene --

POLICE CRUISER, INBOUND

Rory pulls off the helmet as a ROOKIE COP draws his weapon.

But Rory panics, RUNS --

And in his panic, DROPS the Predator biohelmet. He can’t turn back -- so he KEEPS RUNNING.

CUTTER at the wheel, as an APB SQUAWKS from:

Cutter grabs his talkie, SHOVES IT at the speaker of the police band radio.

CASEY AND MCKENNA ON THE MOVE. McKenna’s talkie SQUELCHES:

McKenna swears. GRABS Casey --

The PREDATOR DOGS emerge from the shadows.Sniffing.One snatches the FALLEN BIOHELMET in its mandibles--CUT TO:

More POLICE CRUISERS, BLOWING INTO FRAME.

They jolt to a stop, just in time to see the ROOKIE COPcome running, panting and wheezing. He calls to the new arrivals:

He stops. Puzzled. Looks left -- right --

WILLIAMS drives, slews around a corner--! Keys his walkie:

RORY, RUNNING

Between houses, terrified, THE KUJHAD clutched in his sweaty hand -- the very thing the Predator’s after.

RORY rounds a bend. STOPS in his tracks, path blocked by --

Christ. It’s that fucking PIT BULL -- the one that taunts him on the way home from school. The dog GROWLS. Primal.

Then, oddly -- moves RIGHT UP TO RORY. Stops beside him.

Rory’s brow furrows with confusion... Then, a decision. He reaches out, tentatively... to pet the dog?

The dog doesn’t flinch. Their eyes meet. A sweet, unspoken recognition that they’re not all that different: two earth creatures, just trying to get by.

Then the dog FREEZES. A throaty GROWL as it backs away from something OFF-SCREEN, and Rory TURNS TO SEE:

ONE OF THE PREDATOR DOGS

Snarling. Vicious. Rory gapes, thunderstruck --

Now the OTHER PREDATOR DOG appears! Thinking quickly: Rory STABS BUTTONS on the KUJHAD, and with that --

OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES APPEAR.

HOLOGRAMS. The Predator dogs RETREAT, fearful. Nice job, Rory. Until the images FLICKER, and FADE. Damn!

The sniffers turn toward Rory -- but just then, A VOICE from off-screen:

AND THERE’S HIS DAD, shotgun in hand. McKenna cocks and FIRES at the sniffers -- K-CHUK-BLAMM! K-CHUK-BLAMM!

BUT THE SNIFFERS JUST KEEP COMING.

A SQUAD CAR SCREAMS into the parking lot and -- WILLIAMS ROLLS OUT onto the pavement before the car’s even stopped. Levels the grenade

launcher. Click--!

Nothing. Fucking thing’s jammed. As he struggles to fix it, the OTHER VETS MOVE IN, loaded for bear. OPEN FIRE on the Predator Dogs. A HAIL STORM OF ARTILLERY--!

The Sniffers barely flinch. Just KEEP -- MOVING -- FORWARD.

Williams finishes a final adjustment on the launcher --

-- then THROWS IT into McKenna’s waiting hands.

McKenna SPINS.

WHOMMM--! FIRESA 40MM RECOILLESS GRENADEdown the Predator dog’s throat. A muted FWHHMPP! fromwithin, and--

The creature BUCKLES. Punch-drunk. Finally topples as...

THE SECOND SNIFFER crouches to attack. But that’s when Williams steps forward, a BOLT GUN in hand.

He levels it at the creature -- FIRES, AND --

THE BOLT impales the creature’s forehead. It wavers. Lists. Walks in a lazy circle. Not dead but... no longer a threat. Nebraska Williams mutters ruefully:

But his triumph is short-lived as he looks to THE POLICE CAR he stole: because standing on top, bathed in the strobing colors of the lightbar is...

THE PREDATOR.

It STOMPS down the hood of the car, on a bee-line for Rory.

McKenna pumps the shotgun, unloads: BLAM--! But the thing KEEPS RIGHT ON COMING.

Baxley at the wheel. He GUNS IT -- SLAMS into the Predator from behind at high speed!

Alas, nothing. The front fender is dented, but the Predator? Just glowers at Baxley like it’s irked. Then --

CONTINUES TOWARD RORY...CASEY appears, CALLS out toMcKenna:

MCKENNA RUNS -- grapples to wrest the device away from his son. But as always -- THE PREDATOR’S FASTER.

The Creature GRABS McKENNA! SLAMS HIM, hard, into an old, neon “Jim & John’s” sign! It CRACKS and SPARKS--!

And just as we consider saying good-bye to our lead, McKenna watches, stunned, as the Predator THUMBS A BUTTON on its wrist gauntlet and, believe it or not, TALKS:

Guttural. Alien-sounding. But ENGLISH:

Then -- a throaty CLICKING SOUND. From off-screen.

The Predatorturns to look. Stiffens; replies, that selfsame CLICKING. Defensive. Like two cats YOWLING at each other.

The remaining alienDOG pricks up its ears --looking back toward the approachof its owner... its MASTER....

At which point, McKenna and the others turn TO SEE:

A MASSIVE SILHOUETTE

EMERGING from the darkness. Rising up --

On first viewing, it very much resembles the iconic PREDATOR. It seems, if anything, more HUMAN than priorversions.

McKENNA stands, blinking. Because this new, upgraded Predator? It’s HUGE. TEN FEET TALL.

With a SHRIEK, THE WINNEBAGO slews into the parking lot, Cutter at the wheel.

as he catches his first glimpse of THE UPGRADE.

Which is when:

OUTSIDE

THE GOOD PREDATOR RELEASES MCKENNA; raises its PLASMA CANNON-- and TRIGGERS A WITHERING BLAST at the Upgrade--!

Then another. And ANOTHER..! Nothing. Bupkis. Spit wads.

Because this new, UPGRADED Predator? Doesn’t need armor. Its body, its skin -- IS armor.

RORY, MEANWHILE

Stock still. In shock. McKenna approaches --

Rory doesn’t budge.

No time for negotiations, McKenna PICKS UP HIS SON, backing slowly toward

THE WINNEBAGO

Where Cutter is frozen, gripping the wheel. McKenna and the others board the vehicle slowly; no sudden movements.

Cutter can’t tear his away eyes from the upgrade.

WITH THE PREDATORS (INTERCUT:)

As the GOOD PREDATOR MOVES! As if to engage the upgrade -- to take him on. But that’s what’s scary. Because we thought our INITIAL Predator was a big deal. Invincible. But this??

As Cutter STOMPS the gas, the UPGRADE PREDATOR WHIPS AROUND

-- COLLARS the smaller Predator -- HEFTS it --

LITERALLY TEARS IT APART BEFORE OUR EYES.

WRENCHES its spineloose -- RAISES ITS BLOOD-SLICKEDTROPHY to the full moon. Emits a primal, blood-chillingSHRIEK.

It spins toward the Winnebago -- turns its eyes on us full blast -- and that’s when we see it. REALLY see it:

The EYES. They’ve... evolved. Human-looking.

Cutter GUNS IT--! and we INTERCUT:

as the Winnebago SCREAMS along, SWERVING,clipping parked cars -- OUR PRINCIPALS gawking out the windows at:

EERIE GLIMPSES

of THE UPGRADE, in pursuit -- darting, leaping -- SPRINTING through the shadows alongside the SPEEDING RV.

Speed, agility? Terrifying. The term “Predator” redefined.

CASEY, apoplectic,points at THE KUJHAD Rory’sstill holding.

A massive CRUNCH! as the huge vehicle JARS VIOLENTLY.

It’s trying to get in.

RORY’s curled up in a fetal ball. Not a fire alarm this time, but rather, CRIPPLING FEAR that’s triggered his shutdown. And the Predator device--?

He’s clutching it, as if for dear life.

McKenna knows she’sright. And with sudden, terrifying force, violently PRIES HIS SON’S FISTOPEN to wrench it free--!

Rory YELPS with pain and surprise as McKennaHURLS THE KUJHAD OUT an open window -- !

EVERYONE squints out the back of the Winnebago, glimpsing:

THE UPGRADE

as it scrambles for THE KUJHAD, and... SNAPS ITinto the slot on ITS OWN wrist gauntlet.

A last nightmarish glance at our escaping heroes -- then it DISAPPEARS into the night...

The group just stares blankly, speechless. The only sound, the rhythmic RATTLE of the RV’s Chevy 454 engine.

RORY winces, hands shaking. Afraid to look at McKenna. Less terrified of the Predator than the violence inflicted by his father. He HEARS BARKING, and --

OUT THE WINDOW - THE PIT BULL

Now maybe Rory’s only friend, chasing the Winnebago and BARKING into the night... CUT TO:

TRAEGER stands over the gnarled remains of the “good” Predator. POLICE and FBI VEHICLES form a perimeter. With trembling hand, he clutches a cell phone, says:

INTERCUT: INT. DARK GOVERNMENT FACILITY (AREA 52)

A stocky, four-star GENERAL, on the phone. Square-jawed, with vaguely malevolent, dark eyes. This is WOODHURST, 66.

Very late now. TheWINNEBAGO, cached in a grove of TREES. Crickets chirrup,peaceful... a breather, in other words.

McKENNA’s perched in a TREE. On watch. Glances down at:

RORY, huddled among the loonies, drawing in the dirt with a stick.

The poor kid’s shivering; barely holding it together.

CLOSE ON DIRT

We see what he’s absently etching with his stick, oblivious -- it’s a crude MAP. And: we’ve seen it before... CUT TO:

And a RINGING cell phone -- the burner McKenna gave Emily. Frantic with worry, she GRABS IT! HEARS:

MCKENNA’S PHONE VOICE (filtered) It’s me.

McKenna, on the ground now, clutching a cell phone. Williams, having a smoke nearby.

Emily’s eyes flicker off-screen, uneasy.

McKenna, baffled.

And with that, she hangs up. No explanation. McKenna frowns. WTF? Williams looks at him, quizzical.

Sudden realization.

His ex is, indeed, SURROUNDED BY BLACK OPS TECHNICIANS with surveillance equipment. Before they can stops her:

Emily POPS the phone’s SIM card, DROPS It into the sink’s garbage disposal-- flicks on the waterand the disposal.

THE LOONIES are now climbing on andaround the Winnebago, stretching camouflage netting over it. RORY watches.

McKenna appears behind him. Puts a hand on his shoulder.

Rory FLINCHES at the touch, and McKenna quickly withdraws...

NETTLES walks the perimeter, armed. Suddenly -- a familiar, blood-chilling CLICKING--! HE WHIPS around.

But nothing. Shrubs. Dirt. Sudden SILENCE.

Then -- THE CLICKING’S CLOSER! Nettles SPINS -- A FLASH OF THE PREDATOR DOG’S FACE fills the frame, as...

McKenna and Rory, sitting side by side. Awkward.

To break the tension, McKenna fishes in a pocket, produces a set of DOG TAGS. He hands them to Rory, who fingers them:

COLLETT, RORY T. AIR FORCE 13006929

The kid looks at his dad, confused.

An involuntary glance at the TEETH MARKS on his hand.

Rory clutches the odd gift; oblivious to its significance.

Pause... then:

Good question. McKenna looks at his son.

Pause... almost companionable. Then:

McKenna feels a sober chill...

NEARBY - WILLIAMS

Tenses, hearing something in the woods. He SPINS, levels his M16 into the darkness.

Which is when NETTLES BURSTS OUT OF THE BRUSH -- followed by that goddamn PREDATOR DOG! The surviving one; the one with the bolt in its forehead.

But the group quickly realizes: it’s not chasing him. It’s merely following him.

They watch curiously as the thing wanders like an obedient (if addled) puppy.

The Predator Dog starts toward Rory.

Instantly fearful, the kid GRABS a gnarled piece of wood and HURLS IT at the creature! It DUCKS -- turns to look at the fallen branch. Then... PADS AWAY to retrieve it.

In seconds, it RETURNS to Nettles andDROPS IT at his feet.

He reaches to “pet” the thing. Gently takes its dreadlock-like appendages in his hand.

THE SNIFFER reactsoddly. Suddenly disoriented. The group LAUGHS. Even Rory smiles; a moment of respite. Camaraderie.

McKENNA enters. Gets himself a beer. CASEY says:

McKenna nods thanks. Sits.

He shakes his head, rueful.

He takes a swig of his beer.

THE VETS continue to play with the beast’s DREADS. As they’re touched, the Sniffer goes slack, wobbly. Like he’s stoned.

McKenna, watching this through the window.

She looks at him grimly --

-- and produces THE VIAL she stole from the lab.

McKenna considers this.

Mckenna shrugs: What about it?

Damn. McKenna gets up. Pacing. It’s a lot to digest.

She holds up the vial, locks eyes with McKenna.

A SOUND rises outside. Distant WHORPLE of chopper blades. McKenna’s up like a shot.

McKenna bursts outside -- looks to Flyboy, who’s stock still, gauging the sound of the incoming copter:

All McKenna needs to hear. He whirls round --

THE LOONIES SCRAMBLE to turn off lanterns as McKenna DIVES into the Winnebago; renders it dark. Everyone freezes...

THE SIKORSKY ROARS OVERHEAD, a blinding SEARCHLIGHT raking the woods. Slowly, the SOUND diminishes. Then...

THE COPTER TURNS. Start back in their direction. Shit!

McKenna looks around. As the ersatzC.O., it’s on him to form a plan. He looks at his “men.” Motley as they seem,they’re SERVICEMEN, U.S. Vets. And they’re nothing if not loyal.

And McKenna sees in their faces: they don’t want to go. He grasps at straws to give them something. A mission.

And that’s when: The Loonies, God bless ‘em, SALUTE MCKENNA. He looks at them, abruptly moved.

McKenna nods. SNAPS back a salute. And with that, the LOONIES DISPERSE; grabbingweapons, disappearing into the woods.

Rory’s observed this whole exchange. A tentative VOICE:

They turn to make a run for it. Get five yards before they’re STARTLED by:

The PREDATOR DOG; gnarled stick clenched in its mandibles! Try as it might to be adorable, it’s one ugly motherfucker.

As the HELICOPTER growslouder, Casey makes frantic “shoo- ing” motions. But the Sniffer isn’ttaking the hint.

She spies an errant GRENADE on the ground, SNATCHES IT UP. And LOBS it as far as she can, into a ravine.

The Sniffer drops the wood and RACES after it. Problem solved. Except --

THE SIKORSKY

Is now circling the clearing. GOD-LIGHT, stabbing down --

TIME CUT: EXT. CLEARING - THE SIKORSKY

Touching down. (Loonies and Sniffer, long gone.)

TRAEGER steps down from the chopper, wind WHIPPING. His men DRAW WEAPONS on Williams and Cutter, as...

McKenna glances at Rory, who shrugs -- told you so.

He approachesCasey. Regards her with a grin, then-- extends his open palm. After a beat, she stiffly hands him THE VIAL.

His men rudely PAT DOWN McKenna and the others.

Traeger ponders.

MCKENNA’S FACE

CRACK--! It SLAMS into the ground! Pummeled, caked with dirt. Purplish welts glisten, backlit by searchlights.

It’ll take a minute, but eventually you’ll get it: we are in an abandoned abattoir. A SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

McKENNA, on his knees. TWO BLACK-CLAD MERCS loom over him.

A BRUTAL KICK for emphasis. McKenna COUGHS blood.

Another KICK--! McKenna writhes in the mud... CUT TO:

CASEY, handcuffed to a chair. A few feet away, Traeger pours himself a drink. Holds up the bottle:

Traeger regards her coolly, shrugs, smiles:

Casey’s blinks -- dawning realization:

Casey blinks, stunned.

Casey shudders.

Casey looks sick to her stomach.

He grabs her by the hair. Yanks tightly.

A rail system circles the room with meat hooks on it.

In one corner, a group of CRYPTOGRAPHERS study the familiar PREDATOR HIEROGLYPHICS on a large DRY ERASE BOARD.

RORY SITS nearby, drawing with crayons. A lone GUARDkeeps watch on. Glances at Rory’s drawing. Says, offhandedly:

Rory shrugs; doesn’t look up.

The CHATTER in the room STOPS. All eyes on Rory.

A CRYPTOGRAPHER approaches him, slow. Smiles tentatively. Points at the drawing, says:

Another shrug from Rory. Whatever. The Cartographer takes the “map” to the Team Leader.

He gestures at thedry erase board; DOZENS of attempts to translate the Predator languageinto letters or numbers.

RORY’S VOICE (O.S.) Twenty-two.

Every head in the room turns to:

You can hear a pin drop.

TIME CUT: MINUTES LATER - SAME

Traeger approaches Rory, feigning nonchalance. Attempts a paternal tone:

Rory nods, tense. Bites his lip. Traeger grins.

Traeger’s grin slips. Then he plasters it back on. Holds up Rory’s drawing: the MAP.

Rory stiffens, wary.

Traeger glances at his lackeys. “Kid’s good.” He leans in:

Traeger shakes his head with disappointment; tsk tsk tsk.

McKenna, face in the dirt. Groggy. Barely conscious. SEES:

HIS POV - RORY

being dragged to awaiting Sikorsky.Fueled, blades spinning.

MCKENNA STARTS TO MOVE, when suddenly --

THWACK--! Another KICK to his gut. THOSE FUCKING MERCS, standing over him. He watches helplessly as

THE CHOPPER

Lifts off, WHORPLES into the night sky. As it does, one of the mercs draws his sidearm to END this, says to hisbuddy:

MERC#1 Golf tomorrow?

MERC #2 Why not?

McKenna sees what he’s doing-- COUGHS. Ropey spits of blood.

The mercs trade amused glances.

MERC #1 What makes you think that?

The mercs, VERY amused by this.

MERC#2 What lie did you tell him?

McKENNA, face to camera, grins:

That’s when his HAND DARTS OUT, SNATCHES the guy’s forearm; uses his other hand for leverage, and--Crack--!

The MERC SCREAMS as McKenna SNAPS HIS FOREARM at an alarming angle, then GRABS the man’s gun,presses itinto his eye --

BLAM--! The MERC DROPS WITH A THUD as McKenna stands, levels the sidearm at the remaining MERC; frozen in place.

Like the Predator in the lab, he was playing possum.

A walk-in. Williams and Cutter, sitting on the floor. They LOOK UP TO SEE:

THE MERC opening the thick, industrial door; McKenna holds him at gunpoint, says to the guy:

A MERC rounds a corner -- EYES GO WIDE.

HIS POV -- the MAN McKENNA KILLED, wedged into a corner. The guy turns to raise an alarm -- STOPS. His eyes widen.

AN INHUMAN SHAPE, LOOMING over him.

A GUN at the back of CASEY’S HEAD. She closes her eyes, waits for the shot --

As, abruptly, we hear loud clumping noises from the corridor outside. FOOTFALLS, as

AN INTRUDER, NOW

Pokes his head around the corner. Snuffling, drooling. As benign as it is INHUMAN:

THE PREDATOR DOG. The sniffer.

Wagging its tail, no less. Sees Casey, the intended target of its current game-in-progress... and FYI, in its mouth?

THE GRENADE from the clearing.

It’s FETCHED it. Brought it back. It DROPS the grenade -- CLUNK! -- right in Casey’s lap. Her ASSASSIN, stupefied...

Casey wastes no time:

SNATCHES UP the grenade -- pulls the pin -- SHOVES IT down the guard’s SHIRT BACK.

Promptly BOLTS FOR THE DOOR, dragging the CHAIR she’s handcuffed to --

Hits the deck as-- FWOOM!! -- the room BLOWS OUT BEHIND HER! Blood and dust and dry wall. Smoke clears, and...

THE PREDATOR DOG pads out of the room, unscathed. Drops a new toy at her feet. Wait, sorry. Not a toy.

The GUARD’S SEVERED HEAD.

Casey throws up a little in her mouth as she hears FOOTFALLS.

SEES McKENNA, WILLIAMS, CUTTER (in his wheelchair) come around a corner, armed to the teeth.

McKenna opens the door a crack. PEERS OUT:

HIS POV: SOLDIERS run around the perimeter, taking up firing positions to prevent their escape.

McKenna, Williams and Cutter trade looks. Shrug.

CUTTER WILLIAMS

Duck soap. Piece of cake.

They LOCK AND LOAD, no hesitation. CASEY gapes.It’ssuicide.

Except... a SOUND now. A low pulse; BASS VIBRATO from outside. MCKENNA peers through the crack again... and his eyes widen. An involuntarily gasp.

FLAPPING in the wind. And on it, anairbrushed, scantily clad girl (“A New Look for Sexy!”) being pulled by...

A PINK HELICOPTER. Yes, pink. The Victoria’s Secret logo on the side, no less, as we REVEAL:

FLYBOY AT THE HELM, of course.The other VETS (NETTLES, BAXLEY, COYLE) in the back.THE LOONIES to the rescue!

As the pink copter LANDS unsteadily and

-- AT THE EXIT DOOR

McKenna SHOVES IT OPEN, and... OUR HEROES RUN FOR IT, into the open, GUNS BLAZING--!

Williams PUSHES THE WHEELCHAIR at high speed; Cutter’sM60 CHATTERING as hot shell casings SPIT out the side--!

AT THE STOLEN COPTER

McKenna and Williams provide COVERING FIRE as Casey and the Loonies HEFT CUTTER ABOARD, then-- YANK HIS WHEELCHAIR IN.

This chopper was built for five people. Current load? EIGHT. Plus a wheelchair.Lufthansa, it ain’t. As FLYBOY LIFTS OFF--

He throttles up, pulls up on the collective.

As the copter rises, MERCS OPEN FIRE. Too little, too late--

Flyboy looks to McKenna for direction.

McKenna squints down at the rushinglandscape. Caseypoints:

THE PREDATOR DOG

hauling ass, SOUTHBOUND.

On first blush, we’re back in Cuba.Same tropical foliage, same humidity, samegoddamn mosquitoes. Then we HEAR:

TRUDGING BOOTS. CRACKLE of radio crosstalk. And that’s when we note: a long BUMPY GREEN ROCK.

Wait a minute. Did it just... move? Yes, it did. Because it’s not a rock. It’s a fucking ALLIGATOR --

Because we’re in FLORIDA. The gator sinks into the swamp as

TRAEGER EMERGES

from the brush, flanked by A SMALL ARMY OF MERCS; poor Rory in tow. An AIDE clutches a hand-held GPS device.

TRAEGER’S AIDE We’re at the waypoint. Should be right here.

But the clearing is just that:clear. Then, Traeger notices:

They’re DEAD BIRDS,laying on the jungle floor in a wide arc.

A MERC CHEWING TOBACCO

Examines them. Nudges one with his boot. He SPITS tothe side, and --splat! The spittle HANGS THERE IN MID-AIR.

Traeger sees this. Intrigued. Turns to a MERC.

The soldier scoopssome glycol pellets, hands them over. Traeger loads them-- FIRES, twice. THOOK! THOOK!

Eerily, the TWO SPLATS OF PAINT stay frozen in the air, COATING AN INVISIBLE SURFACE. Traeger points:

The entire brigade OPENS FIRE with a BLISTERING FUSILLADE!

RORY clamps his hands over his ears, SCREAMS silently.

Under the bombardment, a series of spastic SHIMMERS as, BEFORE OUR EYES...

THE PREDATOR SPACECRAFT APPEARS--! Its cloaking device short-circuited by the assault. Soldiers gape as --

Traeger tenses. Looks around. Where’s the Predator? But nothing. Silence. A thin smile of triumph:

He turns to Rory -- ushers the boy forward, gripping his shoulder. SHOVES HIM toward --

THE SHIP’S ENTRYWAY

And next to the hatch... an ALIEN CODE BOX.

Rory hesitates. Feeling all eyes onhim, he relents.Reaches for the code box. TWO DOZEN DUMBSTRUCK SOLDIERS lookon--

As a little boy inputs the code from memory.

SH-KKK! As easy as that, the HATCH OPENS. Traeger turns to his AIDE. Points. You’re coming, too.

A cavernous THRUM oscillates as Traeger looks around, petrified. The technology is clearlyalien. Then he notices:

THE STASIS CYLINDERS

INSET around the periphery of the hold.

TRAEGER’S AIDE What the hell are they?

RORY, meanwhile, has noticed a control panel:

A MONITOR

On it, THE GRAPHICdepicted in our opening. The stasis cylinders HIGHLIGHTED IN RED with time-code beside them.

Except the COUNTDOWN has stopped, MID-SEQUENCE...

No longer morning, it’s late in the day... MCKENNA and CASEY, eyeing the rolling country below. Palmettos, swampland -- and, galloping in and out of sight:

THE SNIFFER. McKenna whispers:

Casey frowns. Points below, WHERE:

THE SNIFFER

has STOPPED; visible now on a low hill overlooking a road closure, beyond which: some kind of activity.

McKENNA raises his binocs:

HIS POV - ABANDONED DIRT ROAD

Not just “activity”-- it’s THE ARK. Currently in transit--

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SWARM round a huge FLATBED TRUCK, removing tarp from the spacecraft. Showers of SPARKS as they solder towing rings; LASH steel cables.

Flyboy pops a wad of bubble gum, says:

Seeing something, Casey grabs McKenna’s binocs.

HER POV: TRAEGER BELOW

In the eye of the hurricane, giving orders.

McKenna goes taut.

FLYBOY banks sharply, descends into the trees, as we --

A SIGN

being strapped to a palmetto tree with wire:

DANGER: QUARANTINE AREA -- AIR FORCE PERSONNEL ONLY

A FIVE YEAR-OLD kid, cowlick, cutoffs, licking a Popsicle, watches a SOLDIER put the sign up.

WIDER - A TRAILER PARK

where a dozen or so RESIDENTS have set up beach chairs to watch. Not a lot to do in the trailer park, apparently.

GIRLS IN BIKINIS man A CUBAN FOOD TRUCK; boom-box BLARING. A terrible Ricky Ricardo caricature advertises CUBAN PETE’S. Then a bone-jarring BASS RATTLE as --

TWO BOEING VERTOL HEAVY LIFTING HELICOPTERS (HLH)

THUNDER overhead, en route to The Ark.

The massive copters WHORPLE over an adjacent CRACKER BARREL restaurant.

He gestures to the group, FESTOONED with AK’s, AR- 15’s, holstered glocks -- not to mention TRANQ GUNS.

Across the road, the CRACKER BARREL’S DOORS OPEN:

And out trudge three men, ALL STRAPPED to the fucking teeth. Assault rifles. Pistols. They wave heartily at McKenna, hoist a bucket of chicken --

MAN #1 Y’all hungry?

A ten year-old GIRL scrambles from under the porch, sporting a CROSSBOW and a .44 Magnum.

Our heroes troop into the bustling TRAILER PARK, approach the CUBAN PETE TRUCK.

MCKENNA clocks the back of the truck, covered in ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS -- banners, placards.

She nods, hands it over with apprehension:

McKenna and Williams trade conspiratorial grins.

AT THE CUBAN PETE TRUCK

A fenced-off patchof SOD next to the truck hostsa few struggling tomatoes. The PROPRIETER(”PETE”) tends it.

McKENNA approaches.

He flashes Casey’s (temporary) government credentials.

“PETE” What, then?

McKenna adopts a solemn look.

Cuban Pete tenses.

“PETE” It’s Bigfoot, isn’t it?

RORY is still inside thespacecraft, under guard. He explores... casts his eyes round the interior, notices:

An EQUIPMENT ALCOVE. And in it... a PREDATOR BIO-MASK like the one he wore on Halloween. He reaches for it --

Rory JUMPS. Backs away, intimidated -- and

meanwhile: EXT. DIRT ROAD - SAME

The two MASSIVE HELICOPTERS hover overhead, deafening --

RAPPELLING LINES unfurl -- SPECIALISTS RAPPEL down, like a SWAT TEAM. Tactical. Professional. And meanwhile --

Heat. Cicadas. TWO SOLDIERS on a JEEP -- manning a ROADBLOCK. They HEAR the roar of an engine, look up. WTF?

THE “CUBAN PETE” TRUCK

comes BARRELING AT THEM, terrible CUBAN DISCO BLARING, breeches the perimeter, and --

The food truck TRUNDLES INTO VIEW at high speed--!

SOLDIERS CONVERGE, flagging it down. Shouts, cursing -- like your bowels after a Cuban Pete’s supper, this is allhighly irregular, as --

UNDER THE TRUCK - BAXLEY

DROPS from an open floor hatch, IMPACTS the dirt, and -- quickly ROLLS OUT OF SIGHT, commando-style --

NETTLES, AT THE WHEEL

WRENCHES the truck to a halt, at which point:

PLUMP (YET WINSOME) BIKINI GIRLS

Come piling from within, all with laden trays of hotCUBAN FOOD. Soldiers, agape-- one of the girls flashes a GRIN:

The OFFICER IN CHARGE steps forward, apoplectic:

WITH COYLE - ON A HILLTOP

He watches througha sniper scope. Speaks into a throat mic:

BELOW - INSIDE THE PERIMETER

BAXLEY spits, says:

BAXLEY’S POV:

From the TRUCK, now, emerges a FOURTH girl. Daisy Dukes, tied up shirt-top... long, blonde (borrowed) WIG --

CASEY, no less. She sashays PAST armed men, DO-SI-DOS right up to the officer in charge -- extends a hand --

Pulls him into a DANCE.

Salsa, rumba -- something. The girls cheer. The surrounding soldiers, guns wavering, as

TRAEGER looks out upon the scene, aghast:

TRAEGER’S AIDE Locals, sir. We’re on it.

A LONE SOLDIER trots toward the truck. Muttering, shaking his head... Steps round a thicket --

An ARM lashes out. PULLS HIM IN. McKenna’s coal- blackened face, inches from his --

MUSIC, blaring. Girls dancing. Then, suddenly, Casey’s wristwatch goesBEEP-! Her head snaps round-- she SHOUTS:

From the FOOD CONTAINER at her side, she lets drop a spherical object. It bounces..!

Shit. SMOKE GRENADE.

Pop--! Smoke, BILLOWING. Choking.

Cuban Pete’s THREE DAUGHTERS, on it. Three quick tosses, Pop-! Pop-! Pop-! They drop flat, hands on their heads --

SMOKE EVERYWHERE. Cloying. TWO SOLDIERS stagger, looking for a target, when --

THUP!THUP! Both of them DROP LIKE SANDBAGS, thanks to:

WILLIAMS -- hidden under the FOOD TRUCK -- wielding a TRANQUILIZER GUN, and --

CASEY

swiftly TASES the OFFICER in the side. He goes down-- she drops with him-- liberates his SIDEARM, rolls away--

COYLE AND BAXLEY, NOW

Chiming in with additional SMOKE CHARGES, as

OUR BOY NETTLES

SLAMS open the food truck’s REAR DOOR, kicks loose two PROPANE TANKS, sets them rolling -- Snaps a rifle to his shoulder, and as they bounce and tumble, FIRES--!

DETONATES BOTH. They go up with a whooooosh--! Cascading flame... Debris, raining down --

TRAEGER, NOW

Emerges from his COMMAND POST to a scene of chaos. SMOKE everywhere. Flame. He BARKS into his talkie:

At which point, we abruptly (and oddly) CUT TO:

DARKNESS (COULD BE ANYWHERE)

A space. Cramped, disorienting -- where are we?

Then, a familiar, TALON-LIKE HAND raises an equally familiar device (THE KUJHAD). Commencestapping out a code--

TRAEGER’S AIDE appears at the hatch. Physically GRABS the GUARD posted to keep an eye on Rory:

TRAEGER’S AIDE We’re taking ‘er up! Where’s the kid?

They both scan the interior... shit. Where did he go?

Not far. He steps out from the EQUIPMENT ALCOVE -- now wearing the Predator mask he found.

The mask’s tiny PLASMA-CASTER swivels, whrrrrrr--!

A volley of energy BLOWS THE TWO MEN OUT THE OPEN HATCH!

Rory starts to go. TRIPS -- falls, drops the MASK, it bounces away -- he looks up, cocks his head:

A HATCH OPENING behind him. A familiar, blood-chilling CLICKING SOUND, as...

THE UPGRADED PREDATOR, NOW

EMERGES, fetus-like from a FLOOR COMPARTMENT. He’s been concealed aboard the ship the whole time.

THE NINE-FOOT PREDATOR RISES... towering. Ghastly.

Rory scrambles to his feet. LEAPS out the hatchway --

-- hits the ground running. And screaming. And flailing. But at least he’s OUTSIDE. And that’s when

THE GROUND RISES UP

In his path. Literally comes alive, like a CREATURE --

AS McKENNA STANDS

Trailing dirt. TheSOD from the trailer park GARDEN strapped to his back. Face blackened. Eyes feral. He clutcheshis son:

Rory nods. McKenna looks up, STARTLED, as -- a FIGURE charges out of the smoke. It’s CASEY.

AN OTHERWORLDLY HUMMING, NOW

Suffuses the air... low. Ominous -- Uh-oh. They look toward the SHIP, as it commences to VIBRATE -- oh, shit.

ON THE SHIP -- MOVEMENT, NOW

HATCHES begin to open. All around the exterior. Metal doors SLIDING UPWARD -- dark inside. Beckoning.

A CLATTER of assault rifles, SOLDIERS level theirweapons...

THAT’S WHEN THE HYBRIDS EMERGE FROMTHEIR PODS..!

SWARMING. Some on four legs, some three. Some upright -- others SCUTTLING like crabs. So much smoke, so hard tosee...

The soldiers BLINDLY OPEN FIRE--!

THE HYBRIDS CARVE A PATH THROUGH THE SOLDIERS--!Obscenely SHRIEKING as they’re pelted with bullets. Never stopping--

McKENNA AND CASEY

Desperately casting around for a hiding place -- it’s RORY who grabs his Dad’s arm, POINTS:

McKenna blinks.Brilliant. The VACATED CRYOTUBES, hatches wide open. He grabs Casey and the kid, bundles them inside:

He SPOONS with Casey. Cradling his son, close. Hiding. The bear hug he longed for? Now a survival tool. RORY cracks one eyelid, unable to not look:

BRIEF, NIGHTMARE GLIMPSES

Of the ship’s INTERSTELLAR PASSENGERS roaming the mist, killing. Each different, butall expressing a commontrait:

The trademark mottled skull and mandibles of THE PREDATOR.

RORY SPOTS NETTLES

The HERO LOONY, shepherding GIRLS into the taco truck. Swinging up into the DRIVER’S SEAT, except...

Something between TUSK AND TALON comes through the windshield.

Rory SHUTS HIS EYES; bye-bye, Nettles.

AT THE MAIN HATCH - THE UPGRADE

Here he comes. Golem-like. Looming. Stalking majestically from the main hatchway as...

THE HYBRIDS

Converge on him. GATHERING. Circling their leader inragged formation --almost a MILITARY greeting.An unspoken order from the UPGRADE-- and with that, off they go, loping away--

Vanishing into the surrounding trees.

McKENNA turns to Rory:

Mckenna frowns. No answer. Rory’s not looking at him. He’s looking UP. Petrified... because they’re not alone.

Something’s in here with them.

McKenna follows his gaze. A low animal CHITTERING, all too familiar... above them, hanging UPSIDE DOWN: not a holographic projection, but the real deal --

A SPIDER/PREDATOR HYBRID.

They all SCRAMBLE OUT. SPIN back around, panicked, as

THE HYBRID APPEARS.

Poised in the hatch, mandibles extended. As McKenna watches -- Rory taps the code, the hatch SLAMS SHUT --

BISECTING THE SPIDER PREDATOR--!

But the front half? Still alive, STILL MOVING --

CASEY AND MCKENNA BLAST IT TO TATTERS. As the thing finally, blessedly expires:

Aftermath. A HAZE of smoke and debris hangs over the vacated ARK. Medics tend to the wounded.

McKENNA limps into view. Bee-lines to Traeger. Livid.

Before McKenna can respond with action, Traeger DRAWS HIS SIDEARM ON HIM; a twinkle in his eye.

BLAMM--! McKenna flinches as -- BLOOD spatters his face.

A thousand-meter-a-second SNIPER ROUND just pierced TRAEGER’S HEAD. The guy drops, lifeless. SHIT. McKENNA spins, eyes tracking downrange -- Predator weapon--?

Nope. M24 sniper rifle.

GENERAL WOODHURST, comes into view, flanked by ARMY troops.

(NOTE: This is theGeneral we saw on the phone with Traeger earlier.) He stopsjust shy of McKenna. Nods tersely:

CASEY, RORY and THE LOONIES step forward to join McKenna.

Woodhurst regards them. Points to Rory, Casey, and Cutter:

Casey puts a maternal hand on Rory’s shoulder. A reassuring look to McKenna: “I’ll take care of him.”

TIME-CUT:

A Cape Canaveral-like launch facility abuts what looks like an animal habitat. Vast swampland beyond.

Woodhurst rides shotgun. McKenna and The Loonies in back, looking down at the facility below.

Off McKenna, stupefied:

CASEY can’t help but eye THE SPACECRAFT curiously. Her army CHAPERONES, momentarily distracted; RORY nudges her, mischievous:

A BLAST of SOUND AND WIND as the TWO LAKOTA HELICOPTERS LAND inside chain link and razor wire marked with signs:

Dust swirls as McKenna and the men jump out-- tradeglances:

It isn’t just the SOLDIERSMOBILIZING, or even the 40mm anti- aircraft guns... It’sthe urgency. Like they’re preparingfor a siege. Woodhurstleads them down some steps to

A MODERNISTIC BUNKER

Half-in/half-out of the ground. GREEN BERETS at the entrance.

The doors YAWN OPEN, and --

Woodhurst leads the men down a longcorridor lined with DISPLAY CASES: PredatorSKELETONS; WEAPONS; BATTLE ARMOR.

They reach a security checkpoint. Walk right through.

Hydraulic DOORS SLIDE OPEN TO REVEAL:

Like you’d see at the zoo. But no lions, no tigers, no bears. Instead? Behind thick Plexi:

TWO PREDATORS turn to look at our heroes. Same size as our “good” Predator. They blink curiously.

McKenna, at a loss. No words. Finally manages:

He lights a cigar:

Woodhurst shrugs:

McKenna takes a moment. Looks up --

Without warning, ONE OF THE PREDATORS “talks”; its peculiar, throaty RATTLE of CLICKS over a scratchy P.A. speaker.

An AIDE hands Woodhurst a device with a small LED screen. He keys it like a walkie-talkie, says:

The Predator repeats with more emphasis. Woodhurst looks at

THE LED SCREEN

A brief delay, we see: Searching... Searching... finally, a DIGITIZED VOICE issues from the device:

The words hang in the air a moment.

The Predator SPEAKS AGAIN. Woodhurst looks at THE TRANSLATOR: Searching... Searching... Searching...

A SENTRY PATROLS. Stops, and squints at:

A four-legged ANIMAL, in silhouette. A coyote..?

Now, ANOTHER ANIMAL joins the first: no legs here at all. Tentacles.

WHOMP--!! ONE OF THE CREATURES TAKES HIM DOWN,DRAGSHIM. Nothing left afterten yards but slicks of blood andsinew.

Featuring the exterior: THE HYBRIDS, cutting through the perimeter sentries. Alarms start to WAIL, as

WOODHURST

Looks on, McKenna and the others bathed in the ice-blue glow of the monitors. The General licks his lips, says:

Woodhurst points at the Predators in the enclosure.

His tone softens. Respectful.

McKenna and team don’t ask questions. They MOBILIZE. As Woodhurst calls after them:

SERIES OF QUICK CUTS: BUNKER CORRIDOR

Lights FLICKER on and off, suggesting the Predators have attacked the central power system.

Our heroes -- as well as the PREDATOR DEFECTORS -- GRAB WEAPONS from the displaycases. McKenna stuffs themin a backpack: a Shuriken, a combistick,a biohelmet.

He puts on the mask, looks at Williams.

VEHICLES come blasting up out of a tunnel, exiting the compound. A HIGH SPEED CONVOY, on the move.

ARMY MOTORCYCLES. Behind them: JEEPS -- with pedestal- mounted machine guns.

Imagine the Presidential motorcade but bristling with artillery. And IN THE CENTER of the convoy, the key vehicle -- the one WILLIAMS is driving:

AN M113 STRYKER ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER.

McKenna, Baxley and Coyle are on top as well as, yes --

THE TWO PREDATORS

Each armed with anM60 machine gun in one hand, a plasma- caster in the other.Ready to fight alongside our heroes.

Behind them, a continuous ROAR of gunfire--the army versus the HYBRIDS, off-screen.Now, however, it becomes sporadic...

And then, rather suddenly, ceases altogether.

One of the PREDATOR DEFECTORS utters some guttural CLICKS. Williams consults the translator: Searching... Searching...

MCKENNA, UP TOP

looks toward the rear of the gauntlet. They’ve got company.

THE HYBRIDS

SCRAMBLE into viewat high speed, picking up the scientists’ scent. Drooling mandibles,flashing eyes... Nightmare time.

THE FIRST HYBRID LEAPS

ONTO the rear support jeep. Fanged. Clinging. A SOLDIER RAKES IT WITH ARTILLERY-- BRRAAAPPPP--!

The jeep JACK-KNIFES. The HYBRID leaps to the ground, THE GUNNER’S SKIN IN ITS MOUTH -- !

TWO MORE HYBRIDS

SCURRY behind the APC like racing dogs.

THE LOONIES AND THE PREDATORS unload on them, but one manages to LEAP onto the back! Teeth gnashing. It FALLS OFF, but quickly regroups -- HURTLES back, but --

BRAKK! BRAKK! Surgical bullet hits.

The thing BUCKLES. Plumes of GREEN BLOOD, as

-- MCKENNA

hangs off the back of the APC with a SNIPER RIFLE, taking well-placed shots. Beside him:

McKenna blinks. “What??”

McKenna squints at:

THE HYBRIDS, IN PURSUIT

And there, sure enough, something resembling COLLARS.

McKenna raises the TRANSLATOR PAD; YELLS to the nearest Predator scientist:

The Predator BARKS and TRILLS between blasts.

CLOSE ON TRANSLATOR: Searching... Searching...

McKenna, intense. Thinking quickly, he grabs the talkie from his belt, turns it on:

Casey and Rory, INSIDE THE SHIP.

She makes a face at Rory; “BUS-TED.”

Rory overhears this; GRABS Casey’s talkie, excited:

Casey turns, incredulous. Rory squirms, self-conscious:

Suddenly paranoid, Casey YANKS THE SNIFFER’S COLLAR OFF - - HURLS IT out the open hatch. The Sniffer CHASES AFTER IT, playing fetch again.

Casey WHIRLS -- sees RORY’S FINGERS, already tapping a CONTROL PANEL. She can’t fight the urge to smile.

McKenna watches the hybrids darting after them.

Rory hits keys, sweating.

CASEY looks around, frantic.

DARTING and WEAVING. Seemingly fixated on a single objective:

THE ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER

MCKENNA sees this, keys the translation device:

The Predator near him speaks: KLIK-RATTLE-KLIK! On the device: Searching... Searching...

OFF McKenna, the color draining from his face --

THE APC careens into view. HYBRIDS close on its heels.

BAXLEY EATS IT

as, from nowhere, a hybrid LEAPS -- TEARS HIS SKIN OFF. The body tumbles away...

COYLE, next in line. He doesn’t go quietly. UNLOADS a volley of ammo in the creature’s FACE --

THE HYBRID CHEWS HIS SPINE OUT before it COLLAPSES, dead weight pressing down on Coyle’s ravaged corpse.

WILLIAMS, DRIVING

For the first time, he looks nervous. Glances down:

CLOSE ON GPS SCREEN

Showing the SPACE SHIP’S location. A quick glance tells us they are still a mile out.

ON MCKENNA

And his face pretty much tells the tale: nope. Then he spots something new. In the distance behind them, but growing...

THE PREDATOR, THE BIG BAD

SPRINTING like a cheetah, in pursuit. CLOSING FAST.

He sports TWO WRIST GAUNTLETS -- projectile arrows and CANNON. That’s it. Lean and mean.

CLOSE ON MCKENNA

Carnage, all around. He looks at the Predator defectors; SCREAMS into the translation device:

BLEAT OF CLICKS from the Predator.Searching... Searching...

WILLIAMS

looks at the GPS display. Frowns. SEES the ship-blip is now MOVING TOWARD THEM.... WTF? Which is when:

A HUGE SHADOW

falls over road. Blotting out the moon. Is it..?

It is.

THE ARK -- and it’s fucking AIRBORNE--!

Dwarfed by the massive “Captain’s chair”, RORY is now wearing the Predator biohelmet,psychically linked to the technology. He works the controls, spins to CASEY:

Determined, he GRABS the control yoke. Just one problem

-- EXT. THE ARK

Landing this fucker ain’t easy. Plus it’s damaged, remember? The spacecraft BUCKS. WOBBLES --

CASEY, flung sideways. Goes sliding --

A sudden LURCH. The DESTRUCT console JERKS in her hands, and she blinks, registering: it moves.

New idea.

She GRABS THE CONTROL PANEL, hauls it loose -- and PROPELS it across the deck toward:

AN ESCAPE POD.

We saw the first Predator use one: at the start of the film.

THE HATCH SLIDES DOWN, eclipses her from view

-- RORY

On it. Knows what to do, GRABS the control yoke, and

-- EXT. THE ARK

IT SWIVELS IN PLACE like a cannon, lining up, AIMING

-- INT. ESCAPE POD

CASEY sees a red button, SLAMS it, and WHOOOOSH--! LAUNCHES HERSELF. The pod goes airborne --

It tumbles... SLAMS DOWN! Traversesthe length of thestreet.

INSIDE: CASEY’S JOLTED, SCREAMING, AS --

OUTSIDE: THE HYBRIDS watch the pod SCREAM PAST them, hesitate with confusion. That’s when WE SEE:

Tiny red LEDs on their collars are BLINKING...

And now? One by one, before our eyes, THE HYBRIDS EXPLODE AS THE SPACECRAFT SKIDS PAST THEM -- like a string of NUCLEAR FIRECRACKERS -- THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

McKenna sees the sky behind them LIGHT UP from the detonating hybrids. But his exhilaration is cut short as he notices:

THE DEAD HYBRID on the top of the APC --

The LED on its collar is blinking now.

Oh, shit.

The TWO PREDATORS RAISE their wristgauntlets-- THOOK! THOOK! LAUNCHING GRAPPLING HOOKS!Yank thecorpse UP --

AND HEAVE IT OFF THE APC

Like fishermen throwing a marlin back into the ocean. Williams puts the pedal to the metal:

BA-WHOOM!! THE HYBRID EXPLODES, mid-air.

At which point, not to be outdone -- Williams promptly CRASHES.

SERIES OF SHOTS

The APC PLOWS through chainlink,THROWING McKenna and the Predators off...and meanwhile, back at the ranch--

The hatch POPS OPEN... Casey half-crawls, half-TUMBLES out. Looks up, sweaty, feral --

ONE HYBRID LEFT. A weird, SATANIC looking thing, rushing straight at her --

It comes in range of the signal. BLOWS.

She dives for COVER behind the pod. Bits of PREDATOR- THING, raining. A dismembered TORSO arcs down. Hits the tarmac. Turns to her, STILL ALIVE, REACHING --

She rips out its spine.

The SNIFFER lopes up beside her. A proud hunting dog... admiring its Huntress. An image to remember.

McKENNA and WILLIAMS, sprawled. Groggy. Ten yard-line of a high school FOOTBALL FIELD. Williams nods downrange:

THE ARK IS DOWN

Just past the fifty yard-line. Imbedded in the turf.

AND THERE’S RORY

Limping from the ship. Disoriented.

McKenna starts toward him. His expression suggests that once he has the boy in his arms, he’s not likely to let go.

At which point, the “DEFECTOR” PREDATORS RISE SLOWLY, throatily CLICKING... Grab their WEAPONS.

Then? Everything goes to hell. Striding across the field--

THE UPGRADE. Big as life.

Raises the GAUNTLET.Promptly spikes an ION BLAST through each of the smaller Predators; DISINTEGRATING them--

He BELLOWS victory: Mission Accomplished. Then PIVOTS. Mandibles twitching -- walks toward ITS CLOSEST REMAINING FOE, human or alien:

The kid. The loser. “Ass Burger.”

The Predator SCOOPS HIM UP in one hand -- regards him clinically, with something akin to... RESPECT? Turns, now...

And enters the downed spaceship. With Rory.

The HATCH SLAMS SHUT.

McKenna stares in disbelief... then starts after them, the FULL meaning of this hitting him --

His son figured out how to fly the Ark; how to kill the hybrids. So what does that mean to the Upgrade? Onlythis:

RORY IS ITS MOST EVOLVEDOPPONENT.

As the Predator roughly TOSSES RORYINTO IT for safekeeping.

Screens BLINK to life; a deep BASS RUMBLE is heard as the ship POWERS UP for departure.

As the spacecraft’s engines RUMBLE, and -- HE VAULTS up the bleacher steps--!

Williams sees this. Trades a glancewith Flyboy. They exchange “fuck it”shrugs, and HAUL ASS after him--

THE ARK RISES

Plasma exhaust SPEWING, as McKenna SCRAMBLES up bleachers --

THE ARK, now fifteen feet below the top of the stadium... McKENNA doesn’t slow. Runs, LAUNCHES into the air --

Touches down, WHACK--! ON TOP OF THE SHIP. He yelps in pain. ANKLE, twisted, and meanwhile --

WILLIAMS AND FLYBOY, MORE SENSIBLE

Stand, looking down at him. Patiently wait as the top of the ship RISES EVEN WITH THEM --

STEP ON, like stepping onto an escalator.

McKenna shoots them a withering look.

That’s when the ship TURNS, throwing the three men off balance. THEY SCRAMBLE to find handholds --

LOCAL POLICE CARS, screaming into view, flashers turning. A MOTORCYCLE COP looks up, stunned. SEEING:

HIS POV - THE ARK RISING

Over the treeline.

He GRABS for his lapel mike-- but that’s the same momenthis handgun is LIBERATED FROM ITS HOLSTER, and he WHIRLSTO:

CASEY, aiming his own sidearm at him.

She mounts his Harley, ROARS OFF after the Predator ship.

Just in time for OUR VERTIGO SHOT -- as the ship ascends with our three soldiers hanging precariously.

McKenna’s backpackSLIDES away -- He flails at it, the Predator weapons disgorging, tumbling earthward,fuck--

He hauls it in, secures it. Cups his ear, the one with the BLUETOOTH inside. YELLS into the com over the RUSHING WIND:

Safe in his coffin-like tube, Rory is shocked to hear his Dad. Puts his handover his mouth so the Predator won’t hear:

CASEY’s stolen chopper ROARS in pursuit of the spaceship. She sees something by the side of the road,BRAKES abruptly-- !

The items that fell from the ship. Dented, scarred:

A Predator BIOHELMET. A few feet beyond it, A CLOAKING BALL. Like the one McKenna used in Cuba.

Mid-air, Williams looks up, blanches. POINTS:

McKenna squints, seeing something on the horizon. Scratch that: TWO THINGS, on the horizon:

F-22 RAPTOR STEALTH FIGHTERS

Closing fast. The ones Woodhurst scrambled.

A SIDEWINDER LAUNCHES from one of them, AND --

RORY, tense, peers from hiding at

A MONITOR

depicting the incoming air-to-air missile. Then a blinking DOTTED LINE begins to form,surrounding the ship. Rory taps his Bluetooth, FRANTIC:

No time to argue, McKenna YELLS THE ORDER to his men:

What happens next, happens quickly. The force field DOES engage, but first, THREE THINGS:

1) McKENNA attempts to jump. STUMBLES. Falls FLAT. 2) WILLIAMS? He does jump. Straight UP, in fact. 3) FLYBOY, alas, doesneither. He FREEZES, caught out, as--

THE INVISIBLE FORCE FIELDS BLASTS ON with an ionizedCRACKLE!

Now, let’s tally the result. First off --

MCKENNA is lying UNDER the field, which is just above him. A LOCK OF HIS HAIR feathers down, clipped.

NEBRASKA

COMES DOWN, boots first, ON TOP of the force shield! Standing in mid-aid. Surreal. But sadly:

CONFUSED FLYBOY

has been cut off at the knees. SEVERED, he topples away. His last flight.

NEBRASKA, NOW, DROPS DOWN

Hanging on for dear life. Lies splayed, palms flat, separated from McKenna only by the force shield. Without it, they’d be on TOP of each other.

SERIES OF SHOTS - THE INCOMING MISSILE

BLASTS OVERHEAD: aMISS. Passes them and RIPS FORWARD into--

THE TREES AHEAD

Vanishes. Pause... DETONATION.

Tower of FLAME. They’re going to pass right through it. McKenna, breathless,under the shields. Protected.

Nebraska, not so much.

They face each other through the barrier. Lock eyes; inches apart a moment before:

NEBRASKA IS BURNED AWAY, flames engulfing the spacecraft.

The SECOND PILOT adjusts his HUD.LOCKS ON the Predator Ark.

AN ALARM PIERCES: something’s wrong. The PILOT looks to his radar, shit, he’s being painted, as --

THE PREDATOR SHIP, RETALIATING

Hell, yeah. From the craft, an energy bolt LANCES UPWARD. Mere feet in frontof McKenna, nearly INCINERATES him--

THE PILOT engages the ejection handle, and -- FWOOSH! Pilot and seat both ROCKET AWAY AS --

The ship DISSOLVES into flame beneath him.

SEEING the jet go to PIECES, high overhead. He looks around, desperation mounting. Has a nutty idea.

He draws a gun, grips it tightly. Galvanizes, and --

LAUNCHES HIMSELF

ROLLS toward the edge, not stopping-- tumbles off the ship, OVER THE FUCKING EDGE! We think it’s suicide. But nope:

As long as he’s inside the shield, he can RIDE the fucker.

Which he DOES. Slewing. Tumbling down an invisible slide.

CLUD--! Fetches to a stop. UNDERNEATH the craft.

Florida blows by beneath him. The only thing that’s got his back, utterly INVISIBLE. He decides not to look down. Fixates OVERHEAD, instead, on:

THE EXPOSED SHIP’S BELLY. More specifically--?

The EMPTY PORT where an escapepod once nestled. He wrestles his way inside, clinging to a strut. Sees a keypad, YELLS:

Rory HEARS this, stammers:

McKenna stops. Blinks.

He begins frantically stabbing away at the entry pad.

The hatch slides back --

McKenna UNLOADS, shot after shot. Targeting any BLINKING LIGHTS. BLAZES AWAY. Teeth bared, fearsome --

The ship SHUDDERS violently as --

THE PREDATOR whips around in his seat, ALARM KLAXONS PEALING. Registers the OPEN DOOR; a visitor. Doesn’t miss a beat. Raises an arm, FIRES --

McKENNA, BLOWN BACKWARD

THE BLAST knocks him loose. Sends him TUMBLING backward into open air --

And we say “open air” because even as the energy shield catches him, high over Florida, we can see it’s FLICKERING. Like a bulb before it goes out --

And then, it goes out.

McKENNA DROPS. Like a stone, even as

THE PREDATOR ARK, CRIPPLED

Begins descending. Pitching, yawing --

ALSO DESCENDING - MCKENNA

But faster. PLUMMETING, a thousand feet in the air. SEES:

A LONE PARACHUTE

Billowing. THE EJECTED PILOT from the first F-22.

MCKENNA ADJUSTS COURSE in mid-air; SLAMS into the guy, and -- GRABS HOLD, breaking his fall, as

PIERCES the trees, SKIMS ACROSS brackish water -- HURTLES INTO a fallen willow, CRACK--!

The VIEW PORT explodes outward. Predator, EJECTED..!

Exits, pinwheels through space...

Disappears into the BOG. Vanishes, submerged. The ship subsides, comes to rest in...

THE SWAMP

Primitive. Primordial. What the world was like before the dinosaurs. Silence...

McKENNA, NOW

CRASHES DOWN--! Through the branches. Breaking ribs, tearing skin. Tossed like a rag doll, until --

He JERKS TO A HALT, hanging in a tree branch twenty feet off the ground. Much like when we met first him. Unconscious PILOT, strapped beside him.

McKenna takes stock. Looks down, at

THE MASSIVE FIGURE

RISING from the swamp. Back hunched; shards peppering its flesh. Rivulets of phosphorescent green blood...

THE UPGRADED PREDATOR

It’s down to the two of them.

McKenna doesn’t waste a second. He’s already unlimbered his sniper rifle and he DOUBLE-TAPS the trigger, puts TWO IN ITS CHEST. And from there..? It never stops.

THE CREATURE

BELLOWS..! Stumbles back, collides with the downed ARK. Puts a hand out to STEADY itself, grips the craft --

Mistake.

RORY LEAPS to the console. Finds a flickering button, POUNDS it with his tiny fist --

And just like that, triggers the FORCE SHIELDS.

The Predator looks down, goggles --

Noting the neatly cauterized STUMP where its forearm was. The limb DROPS AWAY as the Predator looks on, dumbly.

McKENNA, MEANWHILE

Drops..! ROLLS -- comes up running. BLASTING shots at the creature. Dives behind a tree... And blinks. Because right in front of him, incongruously:

A MOTORCYCLE. Just lying there.

He snaps his gaze upward, hearing trees move -- seeing NOTHING -- as, without warning

CASEY, CLOAKING BALL IN HAND

Shimmers and MATERIALIZES BEFORE OUR EYES. Launches, snarling, from an OVERHEAD TREE BRANCH. Onto the Predator’s shoulders..!

She grabs a fistful of DREADLOCKS. SLICES THEM CLEAN OFF--!

THE PREDATOR STAGGERS and WEAVES. Disoriented. CLAWING blindly at the air.

MCKENNA tosses his rifle -- pulls the COMBISTICK --

Here we go. The final flurry:

THE UPGRADE

SWATS McKENNA aside. CASEY, sent tumbling. Then the Predator SPINS, startled -- struck by THREE BULLETS, as

HOLY FUCK, THE GUY IN THE TREE!

The PILOT, has removed his Sig-Sauer from his nylon vest and, still strapped in, starts RAINING COVER FIRE --

PREDATOR, ONE SWIFT MOVE

Triggers an ION BLAST. Blows the tree to splinters. Obliterates him.

DEBRIS showers down. McKenna, scrambling...

THE PREDATOR

UNLOADS. Looses a veritable FIRESTORM. Triggers BLAST AFTER BLAST, churning up water, SHREDDING trees --

Our heroes can do nothing but duck and cover.

They’re no match. CASEY is blown six feet through the air, HITS, rattled, andit’s all over -- heroes, done. EXCEPT:

Now, above the din, a SOUND intrudes upon Casey’s consciousness. Subtle at first, shesquints--

Now WE hear it -- a heavy PANTING off-camera, as

THE SNIFFER

PADS INTO VIEW. Something in its mouth. IT DROPS IT at Casey’s feet; an offering.

CASEY’S POV:

THE SELF-DESTRUCT COLLAR. The one she threw away earlier. It fetched it back.

At which point, everything proceeds like a BLUR:

Casey, no hesitation. She scoops it up, feverishly accessing buttons on her WRIST GAUNTLET --

Across the clearing, McKENNA sees this, yells:

She doesn’t ask questions. Slings it. Across the clearing to McKENNA -- who SNAGS it from air, just in time to DIVE. Narrowly misses being INCINERATED --

He hits, ROLLS -- comes up in a combat crouch; HAVING RETRIEVED THE PREDATOR’S SEVERED ARM.

The one with the arrows.

He loops the COLLAR over the double-pronged PROJECTILES. Pivots, AIMS as --

CASEY, ON THE RUN

Triggers the last two digits in the arming code:

The LED BLINKS RED.

McKenna FIRES; takes the creature in the leg. IMBEDS. Pause...

THE EXPLOSION

HURLS THE PREDATORbackward--! Red smoke and flames subside, revealing...

A FIFTEEN FOOT CRATER.

Smoking. Seething... in the midst of it, the PREDATOR, a bloodied green mess. Writhing... barely alive.

McKENNA and CASEY stagger forward, Casey in battle mode

RORY, NOW

Staggers out of the downed ARK... rushes to his father’s side. They embrace, but McKenna’s eyes never leave the Predator; rifle at the ready.

Cautiously, he reaches in his pack.Brings out the TRANSLATOR DEVICE. Keys it...

The Predator, half-conscious, “answers” with its trademark rattle of TRILLS AND CLICKS. Searching... Searching...

McKenna trades looks at Rory. A shrug. Not resigned, but... maybe a hint of pride?

The creature points at RORY.

That’s bizarre. For a moment we’d swear it’s favoring the kid with a FOND LOOK, one of admiration --

Then it GOES for the kid.

The last of its strength, LASHES OUT, talons bared --

MCKENNA

Puts two SHOTS THROUGH ITS EYE.

The Predator slumps. Dead. McKenna’s eyes shift to his son, spattered in green blood. Staring.

A COMMOTION, NOW, they turn their gaze skyward, as

SERIES OF SHOTS:

HUEYS come ratcheting in, CIRCLING the clearing. SOLDIERS, rappelling down through TREE TOPS --

A PLATOON OF U.S. MILITARY

Touches down, immediately sprinting for the three SURVIVORS, forming a makeshift perimeter --

WE HEAR A FAMILIAR SNORT

And the slobbering PREDATOR DOG pads into view. Bee-lines to Casey, panting for her favor.

EVERY MILITARY WEAPON SWIVELS to draw a bead on it.

But like an Amazon warrior, Casey divests the nearest soldier of his weapon. Spins, COCKS IT -- !

One of the soldiers RUNS up to them.

The soldier hands him a cell phone.

McKenna puts the phone to his ear, perplexed. Then... a relieved smile, and he hands the phone to his son.

EMILY, on the front porch. Clutching a phone:

His answer, drowned out by the ROAROF A CHOPPER descending.

Rory plugs his ears. SHOUTS:

But still, no good. The helicopter, deafening.

Now the chopper DIES DOWN... just in time for us to hear:

TIME CUT: MINUTES LATER - ON CASEY AND McKENNA

Approaching the helicopter.

Now, a VOICE from the chopper:

VOICE (O.S.) Negatory. The war’s already started.

They both look up as, framed in the hatchway, REVEAL:

“DUTCH” SCHAEFER

The Predator’s first adversary. Facehaunted; etchedby pain.

Schaefer nods, smiles grimly... says:

CUT TO BLACK.

CREDITS.