"XXX" (2002)

XXX

Written by

Rich Wilkes

Third Draft

FADE IN:

On a hill above the city is an old CATHEDRAL. The night is spooky, with harsh shadows playing across the cobblestones and medieval walls.

A NERVOUS YOUNG HACKER makes his way down an alley.

There is a DOOR at the end of the alley. MUSIC can be faintly heard from inside.

High above the street an INTRUDER DRESSED ALL IN BLACK spies from the roof. He's watching with NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.

He pulls out a CROSSBOW and FIRES.

A BOLT flies, trailing CABLE.

THUNK! It sticks into the alley wall below.

As he passes by the ominous Cathedral, the Hacker spins, sure he's heard something.

But there's nothing there. He continues on.

Then the Intruder comes sliding down the ZIP-LINE from above.

WHAM! He kicks the Hacker into the wall, knocking him out.

The Intruder pulls off his mask, revealing the chiseled features of a dashing BRITISH SECRET AGENT. His name is

4 STERLING. 4

Sterling searches the Hacker and pulls a SMALL BLACK CASE from his coat. Inside the case is a DATA CHIP. Sterling tucks it away.

Sterling unzips his black jumpsuit, revealing a crisp TUXEDO underneath. He pulls out CAR KEYS. In a quick insert we see the "ASTON-MARTIN" LOGO.

As he strolls back out the alley, he HEARS something and flattens against the wall.

A BLACKED OUT SUV screeches to a stop, blocking his exit.

The SUV's HEADLIGHTS illuminate the slumped Hacker.

BAD GUYS get out to investigate, pulling out weapons.

Cornered, Sterling heads deeper into the alley, staying in the shadows. He gets to that DOOR the Hacker was heading towards.

As he PICKS THE LOCK Sterling can hear MUSIC from inside. He smooths his hair and prepares to "blend in" with the crowd.

Sterling comes through the door and his face falls. He's stepped into a loud METAL CONCERT.

We see a GO-GO DANCER in LATEX. Onstage is RAMMSTEIN, a bizarre German industrial-metal band.

The tattooed YOUNG CROWD slam dances and swings glo-stix over their heads. Some wear rubber BRAIN SKULLCAPS outfitted with fiber optic lights. It's a sea of SPIKED HAIR and BONDAGE OUTFITS.

Sterling squares his jaw and starts pushing through the crowd. With his tuxedo he sticks out like a penguin in a chicken coop.

ON THE BALCONY ABOVE THE CROWD stands a wild haired young GANGSTER with PIERCED BROWS. With him is a STREET-TOUGH GIRL with multi-colored hair. They look like a post-Apocalyptic Bonnie & Clyde. They are YORGI and PETRA.

Yorgi checks his watch. His delivery is late. Then his CELL PHONE rings. He's getting the news from outside.

He looks down, spots Sterling amidst the moshing crowd. With that look, that tux, there's no mistaking what he is.

They make EYE CONTACT and Sterling gives a little nod.

Yorgi calmly issues orders into his phone.

Immediately VIKTOR starts moving in Sterling's direction.

Viktor is huge, with a MOHAWK and a six-inch GOATEE.

Sterling sees him advancing and makes for the exit, pushing through the freaky crowd.

Sterling's ASTON-MARTIN VANTAGE screeches away from the curb.

Sterling is at the wheel of his spy car. He plugs the DATA CHIP into the dash and punches buttons. A computer screen says "DATA DOWNLOADING".

He sees a BLACKED-OUT SUV racing up behind him.

He accelerates and hits a SWITCH.

ARMORED PLATING slides up over the rear window.

The SUV is right behind him. Viktor rolls down the passenger window, readies his PISTOL.

The rear bumper of the spy car opens. SMOKE BOMBS drop out.

They explode in MASSIVE CLOUDS, obscuring the narrow, street.

Sterling skids around a corner.

The blinded bad guys drive straight into a STOREFRONT. Glass and merchandise flies as the SUV gets stuck.

The Aston-Martin rounds another corner and slides to a stop.

Blocking the road ahead are two more SUV's.

A MOTORCYCLE slides to a stop in front of them. The rider is ANDERS, a leather clad biker who looks half Viking.

Anders pulls out a SILENCED SUB-MACHINE GUN and starts BLASTING.

BULLETS SLAM into the Aston-Martin, cracking the bullet- proof glass, shattering headlights, and BLOWING OUT THE FRONT TIRES!

Sterling jams it into reverse and backs around the corner on the RIMS.

Sterling notices an ERROR MESSAGE now flashing on his computer screen: "TRANSMISSION ERROR: - DATA PARTIALLY SENT".

Sterling looks around desperately. Somehow he's got to get this data out of here.

Straight ahead is the RIVER. Chugging up the river: a PARTY BARGE.

PARTYGOERS in formal attire dance to an orchestra. A SWIMMING POOL is in the middle of the deck for a perfect water landing.

He hits a BUTTON.

The rear license plate folds down, revealing a ROCKET ENGINE.

Flames spew as he jams down the accelerator.

Sterling is pushed back into his seat by the G-forces.

SPARKS fly from the rims as he skips across the pavement at ever increasing speed.

Anders FIRES with his gun, but Sterling is getting away!

But then KIRILL steps around the corner. He's academic looking, a CHAIN SMOKING intellectual with COKE-BOTTLE GLASSES. He's also a highly proficient and cold-blooded SNIPER.

Kirill puts his lit cigarette behind his ear and unslings a SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE LAUNCHER from his shoulder.

The Aston-Martin reaches the riverbank and goes AIRBORNE. It ROCKETS through the air towards the party barge.

We see the car REFLECTED in Kirill's glasses as he AIMS.

On a little SCREEN we see the missile launcher HOME IN on the HEAT SOURCE of the jet engine.

The missile locks-in and FIRES...

HEATSEEKER P.O.V. - we see a GREEN CAR with all its hot spots GLOWING RED. Camera ROARS towards the flying car.

Sterling sees the missile streaking at him.

WHOOMPH! The Aston-Martin EXPLODES in mid-air.

Partygoers shriek as the AXLE and FLAMING RIMS rain down on the deck.

Kirill takes the cigarette from his ear, PUFFS IT.

Finally, Sterling's flaming BOW TIE flutters down and lands on a LEAPING SALMON ICE-SCULPTURE above a tantalizing SEAFOOD BUFFET.

A STRAFING SHOT over the city. We make a sudden left turn and SPEED OUT OF TOWN.

We shoot over to the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS of VIRGINIA. In the middle of NOWHERE we dive towards a COMPLEX OF BLACK BUILDINGS.

Inside it's modern, cold and high tech. An elevator COUNTS DOWN to a deep basement level.

The doors open and a TALL MAN man with a PROSTHETIC LEG strides down the empty hall. AGENT GIBBONS is African- American, a battle-scarred WARRIOR. Even with a limp he looks sturdy, confident, deadly.

At the end of the hall is a METAL DOOR.

Gibbons walks into the INFORMATION ROOM of the NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY (NSA). There are WORLD MAPS, SATELLITE IMAGES on COMPUTER SCREENS, TECHIES monitoring everything.

If a nuclear war broke out, you could run the country from down here.

Gibbons takes an elevator up.

The office is expensive yet devoid of personality, reflecting the shadowy nature of it's owner.

One wall is GLASS, looking down on the information room. SAM TANNICK, grizzled NSA chief, looks down at the activity below.

Gibbons enters, stands by the desk.

Sam remains in shadow.

Gibbons snaps on the giant FLATSCREEN on Sam's desk. He starts cycling through PHOTO AFTER PHOTO of TOUGH LOOKING MEN.

Gibbons clicks off the screen.

Sam sighs, stares out at the information room.

The huge ARCO TOWER rises up towards a moonlit sky.

We see ACCOMPLICE #1 (TRAVIS PASTRANA) sneak up and take position behind a FOUNTAIN.

ACCOMPLICE #2 (CAREY HART) sneaks across a roof and takes position overlooking the fountain position of #1.

ACCOMPLICE #3 (DAVE MIRRA) takes up position in the second story window of a FLOPHOUSE HOTEL down the street.

Just then a VAN pulls up and ACCOMPLICES #4 (SHAUN PALMER) and #5 (MAT HOFFMAN) hop out. They open up the back and a BICYCLE is rolled out of the back by a MAN IN A HOODED JACKET.

Jacket Man rolls the bike to the skyscraper and enters the lobby.

The Security Guard is checking his computer.

K The Guard glances up as Jacket Man gets into an ELEVATOR.

The Security Guard rushes to intercept him. The Messenger kicks his skateboard out, TRIPPING UP the Security Guard.

The Messenger hauls ass out the door. The Security Guard pulls out his WALKIE-TALKIE.

The button for "91 - ROOF ACCESS" is lit up. Jacket Man waits patiently.

This fancy office is empty for the night. The STAIRWELL DOOR opens and a PLATOON of SECURITY GUARDS rushes in.

They take Up position in front of the elevator doors armed with BILLY CLUBS and TASERS.

DING! The elevator arrives and the door swings open. But there's NOBODY INSIDE.

One Guard steps forward and suddenly a bicycle SWINGS DOWN from the ceiling, TAGGING HIM IN THE FACE. He falls back, TASERING another Guard.

Jacket Man drops down onto his bike and pedals through the chaos before the Guards know what hit them. There's a CURVY PIECE OF ART in the room, some kind of modern art statue.

Jacket Man rides up the artwork like a ramp and does a TABLETOP AERIAL over a DIVIDER. He hits the ground pedalling, the Guards hot after him.

Jacket Man enters a HUGE OPEN ROOM with a FIELD OF CUBICLES in the middle. He bunny hops onto a desk and SLIDES TO A STOP. He tosses back his hood and we get a good look at him for the first time.

He is XANDER CAGE. He's got a shaved head, bizarre TATTOOS all over his body and multiple PIERCINGS. He's lean and heavily cut, even dangerous looking.

The Guards charge at him and he HOPS up onto the top of the CUBICLE WALL. This thing is maybe FOUR INCHES WIDE and FIVE FEET TALL.

He pedals across the top of the cubicle wall, the Guards scrambling after him.

Xander bunny hops over one guy's head onto the next set of cubicles and pedals hard. The Guards fall all over themselves trying to catch him.

At the other end Xander catches air and lands on a CONFERENCE TABLE. He does a WHEELIE across it's length with Guards closing in.

Xander springs up and does a TAIL WHIP, knocking them back with his rear wheel. He lands and pedals to the stairwell untouched.

Xander bursts out of the stairwell to the top of the TALLEST BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN LA. He climbs on a RAISED PLATFORM.

From here he can drop down onto another level that is strewn with SATELLITE DISHES and MICROWAVE RELAYS.

Guards rush onto the roof and try to corral him.

Xander tears off his jacket, revealing a BACKPACK on his back and VIDEO CAMERA on his chest. He pulls out a ROAD FLARE and SPARKS IT. We see there are SOAKED RAGS tied to his SPOKES.

He LIGHTS THEM with the flare. Then he TOSSES THE FLARE off the building.

The Accomplices see the flare drop. #'s 1, 2 & 3 pull CAMERAS OUT and start filming.

Xander races around the roof like a trapped animal. He evades Security Guards, picking up speed.

With Guards right behind, he drops off the TOP PLATFORM and lands on a massive SATELLITE DISH.

Using the dish as a ramp, Xander LAUNCHES himself OFF THE TOP OF THE BUILDING. We're talking 90 some stories here.

He spins through the air, his bike on fire. He's doing end over end backflips. One... Two... Three... Four...

He's looping through space on his bike, a crazy man on a flaming bike against a backdrop of sleek skyscrapers and night lights.

The stunt is covered by the various Accomplices and Xander's own chest camera, in SUPER 8 and DIGITAL VIDEO, from four different angles.

Xander ditches the bike, kicking it away from him and plummets towards the ground.

At the last moment he throws out a "bucket" and his PARACHUTE OPENS.

The bicycle comes flying down and SMASHES into the pavement.

It bounces a full TWO STORIES back up before coming to rest.

Xander glides down and makes his landing. Accomplices #4 and van. SIRENS APPROACH as the van makes it's escape.

As COP CARS screech up to the skyscraper, one of them RUNS OVER the smoking wreckage of the bike.

TITLE SEQUENCE - HARDCORE MUSIC plays as we see a flowing TAPESTRY OF FLORID TATTOOS. SILHOUETTED against this backdrop we see the OUTLINES of NUDE WOMEN riding BMX BIKES in a HALF- PIPE, BLADING ever obstacles, SKY SURFING and doing street SKATE TRICKS. It's a collision of outlandish imagery that tells you one thing: This ain't your daddy's spy movie.

Xander, now on a MOTORCYCLE, zips through traffic. He's smiling, leaning it way over on the turns. He's got another BACKPACK on his back.

Xander drives his motorcycle into the garage of his building.

A FREIGHT ELEVATOR rises up, bringing Xander and his motorcycle into the loft.

There are EXTREME SPORTS ACTION POSTERS on the walls, MOTORCYCLE PARTS and BARBELLS on the floor, and everywhere there's EXTREME SPORTS EQUIPMENT of every description.

There's a NEATLY FOLDED FLAG hanging in a slightly crooked FRAME on the wall. Xander straightens it as he goes by.

He hears her in the sectioned off "bedroom" and heads back there.

He comes into the bedroom to find SKY, his long-suffering girlfriend. She's a wannabe artist type. She's got SUITCASES and BOXES scattered around and she's PACKING.

He opens up the backpack, revealing WADS OF CASH.

She sorts through the money.

He pulls off his shirt. Pierced through his nipple is a

28 DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING. 28

She heads towards the front door.

Just then the door BLOWS IN.

CRASH! -- the windows SMASH IN too. Then the LIGHTS GO OUT as STORMTROOPERS in black body armor rush in, weapons drawn.

It's a blur of FLASHLIGHTS, PISTOLS and JACK BOOTS. It's scary as hell. A professional take-down.

They slam Xander against the wall.

Just like that it's quiet again. Sky hyperventilates, a gun in her face.

The Stormtrooper looks at Sky. She nods. The Stormtroopers take their guns off her.

Sky grabs up here stuff. She looks back at Xander.

She heads out.

The Stormtrooper pulls out a DART GUN and SHOOTS Xander. He pulls a CHROME DART from his chest, examines it.

Xander slides to the floor.

A SIDEWAYS IMAGE: an out of focus COFFEE CREAMER.

Xander wakes up with his head on the counter of a DINER. He shakes out the cobwebs.

WHIP PAN as a WAITRESS walks by. Xander blinks.

Xander looks around, sees a TRUCKER chewing with his mouth open. A SALESMAN buried in his NEWSPAPER.

Xander gets up. Where the hell is he? He takes a step towards the door.

The Waitress pours him coffee. QUICK PUSH TO: her hands are shaking.

Xander sits. When he swigs his coffee, he notices something written on his napkin in shaky ballpoint: "S.O.S."

What the hell? He looks at the Trucker. The Trucker's staring at the waitress. QUICK PUSH TO: The Trucker has a BULGE underneath his vest...

then PUSH TO: The Salesman's eyes darting about suspiciously, newspaper pulled up to his nose. Something is going down...

He hears a SLOWED DOWN VOICE and glances back at the Trucker, who's now fixing him with a DEATH STARE. Xander snaps from his reverie.

The Trucker and the Salesman look at each other. Suddenly they jump up.

The Trucker pulls a PISTOL from his vest, the Salesman brandishes the SHOTGUN he had behind the paper. The Waitress cringes.

Xander stays strangely calm, his senses now fully focused.

The Waitress let's out a whimper.

She goes to open the register and knocks a tray of glasses on the floor. Xander springs into action.

He CHOPS down on the Trucker's arm and ELBOWS him in the face.

Xander twists the gun out of his hand and kicks his legs out from under him.

The Salesman pumps on his shotgun, but it seems to be jammed.

The Salesman fights with his gun but can't get it to work. Xander advances on him.

He unleashes with a series of rapid front kicks to the jaw.

The Salesman goes crashing through the kitchen doors.

Xander turns to the terrified Waitress.

She stares at him, unable to speak. He raises the gun.

The front door bell JINGLES. A guy with an impeccably tailored suit and a cane hobbles in. It's Gibbons. There a problem, Mr. Cage?

He aims at the Waitress and FIRES! She's startled, but unhurt.

Xander tosses the gun on the counter. Gibbons gives a sly smile.

Gibbons sits in a booth. Xander sits across from him. In the background the Waitress helps the Trucker and Salesman up.

There's a POP and Xander clutches his stomach. Gibbons tosses his DART GUN onto the table. Xander blinks at him.

He pulls another CHROME DART from his gut and examines it.

WHACK! He goes face down on the table.

CUT TO BLACK:

He comes to, blinking in low RED LIGHT. He's shocked to find that he's...

Xander's on the floor of a military aircraft. TWO OTHER TOUGH GUYS are waking up next to him. One's a greaser named VIRG, the other is T.J., ex-Navy.

Xander notices as they each pull out CHROME DARTS. They sit up, looking at each other. Xander chuckles.

The three laugh, realizing they're all in the same boat.

32 T.J. 32

We must be the final "candidates".

They quiet down as they notice for the first time, THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

Sitting silently on benches facing them are SOLDIERS DRESSED IN BLACK. They wear BLACK MASKS over their faces. They are a nasty looking BLACK OPS TEAM.

The Black Ops Team, just stares.

33 T.J. 33

I've worked with guys like this before. Black Ops. Serious government spooks.

Virg notices something STRAPPED TO HIS BODY. They all have them.

Then the red light switches to GREEN.

One of the Soldiers opens the JUMP DOOR. The rest of the team advances on Xander, Virg and T.J.

They drag Virg to the door and THROW HIM OUT. T.J. goes next, kicking and fighting.

Then they turn on Xander.

Xander jumps out on his own.

We see him tumbling away from the airplane. Far below his chute BLOSSOMS OPEN.

We see three chutes coming down. The first two HIT HARD.

We ROCKET IN on the last chute as Xander lands like a pro.

The other guys run up to him. Then they hear SHOUTING in

35 SPANISH. 35

36 T.J. 36

We should head for those trees.

They wrestle out of their chutes and push past each other as they TAKE OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

Xander runs low down a culvert. There's SHOUTING all around.

He flattens down and crawls up over the rise. What he sees stuns him.

We crane up to reveal A FIELD OF POT PLANTS. There's a COCAINE PROCESSING PLANT along the field's edge. The whole place looks exactly like a Central American DRUG FARM.

NARCO TERRORISTS run around with AK-47's.

Xander sneaks past EQUIPMENT covered in CAMOUFLAGE NETTING.

A squad of Narcos runs by and Xander makes his move.

He rounds another pile of equipment and comes right into the HEADLIGHTS of a truck.

Narcos hop out and charge forward.

Xander raises his hands.

They grab him and haul him away.

We see a RUSTY MEAT HOOK. A CHAIN is wrapped around it.

Attached to the chain, his arms over his head, is Xander.

He's in the middle of a bleak looking room. There are BLOODSTAINS on the wooden walls, the floor strewn with filthy HAY.

Behind him against the wall Xander sees T.J. and Virg both

38 HOG-TIED. 38

39 T.J. 39

They really went all out on this one. This is a pretty gnarly setup.

There's a BLOOD STAINED TOWEL COVERING a TABLE near the door.

Then they hear talking outside and the door is UNLOCKED.

A very nasty looking Marco comes in. By his look he's the

40 LEADER. 40

Narco Guards bring in one of their PARACHUTES and toss it on the floor. They exit, closing the door behind them.

Jefe goes to the table throws back the towel. Beneath it are HIDEOUS, BLOOD ENCRUSTED TORTURE DEVICES: a HACK SAW, a BOLT CUTTERS, KNIVES, CHISELS, a BLOW TORCH.

T.J. and Virg both crack up. Jefe gives them a withering look.

Jefe passes his hand over the various tools. He finally settles on a crude MACHETE. He walks amongst them brandishing it.

He stops in front of Xander.

He BACKHANDS Xander across the face.

Jefe SLAPS him again.

Xander looks over at T.J. and Virg.

41 T.J. 41

Makes the diner look like a sixth grade play. He's even got them crazy eyes.

A low THUMPING is heard outside. It's the sound of approaching HELICOPTERS, lots of them.

Then the night ERUPTS in GUNFIRE. It sounds like a full scale assault outside.

Jefe goes into a fury. He SWINGS his machete at Xander's legs.

Xander JUMPS UP, grabbing on to the chain above, and KICKS Jefe in the chest.

Jefe falls back and Xander climbs up to the roof BEAM.

He grabs onto the beam with his legs and UNHOOKS his chain from the meat hook.

He drops down, six feet of chain still hanging from his cuffed wrists, and Jefe comes charging at him.

Xander dodges a few wild swings.

He grabs Jefe's PANT CUFF and dumps him on his ass.

Jefe scrambles to his feet, drawing his PISTOL.

Xander swings his chain and WHIPS the gun out of Jefe's hand.

With another swing he WRAPS the chain around Jefe's neck and pulls it taught.

Jefe nods, choking, and reaches into his pocket.

Instead Jefe hurls them out the window.

Xander jerks the chain, slamming Jefe head first into the wall. Jefe drops, knocked out.

Outside it sounds like a full scale FIREFIGHT. Xander gets the machete and CUTS the ropes holding T.J. and Virg.

Then a HAIL OF BULLETS sprays through the room.

All three guys hit the deck but T.J. gets shot. He clutches his side, BLOOD all over his hands.

42 T.J. 42

I'm hit! I'm hit!

Xander knows this is true.

He checks out T.J.'s wound.

Virg bolts for the door.

Narcos are shouting, running to and fro.

TRACER ROUNDS cut through the air. They are trying to repel an UNSEEN ASSAULT FORCE.

Overhead SIX MILITARY HELICOPTERS buzz the compound like Apocalypse Now, their NIGHT SUNS lighting up the place.

Xander comes out of the torture building holding T.J. in a fireman's carry. His hands are still CUFFED, the length of chain dragging.

Xander crouches behind some equipment, putting T.J. on the ground.

44 T.J. 44

I used to be a SEAL, it's not the first time I've been shot. Thanks, man.

Xander moves on, finds cover under the camouflage netting.

He can see Narcos shooting into the trees at the UNSEEN ENEMY.

Looking the other way, he spots Virg running back his way.

He's been corralled by one of the Helicopters.

He's zigzagging, trying to stay out of the beam of it's Night Sun.

Xander darts out and GRABS him, pulling him under the camouflage netting.

The Helicopter lights up the camouflage netting.

They're pinned down.

They squat down in runners stances, the helicopter kicking up DUST all around them.

They jet off in opposite directions.

Xander books, running for all he's worth. His cuffed hands and the dangling chain make it difficult.

He's heading straight into the FIELD OF POT PLANTS.

Suddenly the massive SPOTLIGHT picks him out.

The CHOPPER swoops down after him.

Its big GATLING GUNS turn, aiming right at him.

BRAAAAAAAAPPP! The guns cut loose, tearing up the ground right behind him.

Xander sprints, the chopper after him like Cary Grant in "North By Northwest", except instead of corn fields, Xander's running through a field of HUGE MARIJUANA PLANTS.

Xander hits the deck and the chopper soars over him.

Xander cuts over a couple rows and hunkers down amongst the plants.

All around him it's a chaos of Helicopters and GUNFIRE.

Two choppers attack the factory building, BLASTING it with their guns. Narcos run terrified.

Xander notices a FAT PURPLE BUD on the plant right in front of him. He SNAPS IT OFF.

He tucks it-into his shirt and takes off through the POT FOREST.

Xander finally spots a vehicle. It's a TRUCK LADEN WITH BAILS OF COCAINE. He heads for it.

Then the SPOTLIGHT finds him again and the Chopper swings around. The gatling guns RIP the plants to pieces all around him.

Xander hauls ass, heading for the truck.

Bullets chew up the dirt all around him.

As the helicopter passes overhead, it's guns RAKE THE TRUCK.

There is a FLASH as the GAS TANK goes up.

WHOOOOPPHH! A SUPERNOVA OF FIRE AND HIGH-GRADE COKE erupts into the night air.

Xander dives into a DRAINAGE DITCH. He tumbles down into FILTHY WATER.

A powdery cloud washes over him, dusting the trees white.

Near him is a big DRAINPIPE leeching sewage. Xander crawls inside.

The Chopper makes another pass overhead.

The big spotlight plays over the area, then moves on.

Xander gives a sigh of relief. He crawls out of the drainpipe.

JEEPS race by on the road right above him as MILITARY MEN flood the compound. There's no going back.

Xander turns and makes his way along the tree line.

The chopper and gunfire are in the distance now. Things are quieter here and he starts to relax. Bad idea.

As he goes by, one of the TREES moves.

He takes a few more steps and the grass he just walked on EXPLODES UPWARDS. ARMS reach out, tackling Xander from behind.

Another TEAM of BLACK OPS SOLDIERS bursts from the weeds, the bushes, all perfectly camouflaged like the landscape.

They fall on him like a curtain.

XANDER'S P.O.V. - Soldiers hold him down while a BLACK HOOD is pulled over his head.

As the MASSIVE HANGER DOORS CLOSE we can see CHOPPERS taking off and landing. MEXICAN SOLDIERS load Jefe and his Narcos onto a FEDERALE BUS. Virg resists and is BEATEN. T.J. can be seen being loaded into an AMBULANCE.

The hanger doors slide shut with a THUD.

We see Xander's HANDS as the CHAINS are cut away.

Xander sits in a chair with the BLACK HOOD still over his head. He blinks when the hood is torn off. A Black Ops Soldier smirks as he walks away.

Xander looks around, sees the Black Ops Team unpacking some STRANGE GEAR. Two of them are dumping bottles of a CLEAR LIQUID into a RUSTY CLAWFOOT BATHTUB.

The Black Ops guys grin knowingly.

On the other side, Xander sees a FLIGHT CREW readying a GULFSTREAM for travel. Gibbons steps up from behind him.

Xander gets up and Gibbons leads him on a stroll around the

As they walk by the Black Ops guys, Xander sees they're getting busy. One spreads out a plastic DROPCLOTH. Another plugs in a BONE SAW.

Gibbons grabs a CHICKEN LEG from a guy eating lunch.

He tosses it into the tub. Instantly it starts to SIZZLE and BUBBLE. The tub is full of ACID.

In seconds the entire leg has been consumed, leaving only a oily cloud of residue.

Gibbons eyes him coldly, nailing the point home.

Gibbons kicks the back of Xander's leg and dumps him on his ass. Gibbons was so quick, Xander never saw it coming.

The Black Ops guys clap and cheer, always interested in a fight.

Xander gets up.

Gibbons lunges and grabs Xander's throat in the vice-like grip of his thumb and middle finger.

The fingers are so powerful that Xander is paralysed. He looks over, sees the bone saw start revving.

Gibbons releases his grip.

Then Xander starts walking away.

The Black Ops guys grab weapons, ready to stop him.

Xander climbs up the steps of the Gulfstream.

Xander sits with Gibbons in big leather chairs. They are surrounded by NSA AGENTS in suits.

A NERDY AGENT snaps an ANKLET around Xander's ankle.

Orange light floods this beautiful airline lounge. There's a fully stocked bar, a snack table, all unused. That's because it's been sealed off for NSA use. (NOTE: perfect product placement opportunity for an AIRLINE).

Xander, Gibbons and his Men are all silhouetted against the smoked glass windows.

The Nerdy Agent hands Xander a Palm Pilot sized ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

Gibbons checks his watch. They get up and start walking.

The phalanx of Agents surrounds Xander and Gibbons as they walk to the gate. The Nerdy Agent hurries to catch up.

They walk past the gate, down the jet-way, the Agents FLASH BADGES to the GATE WORKERS.

Xander is the last one to board the plane.

As the door closes, he looks back at Gibbons and his phalanx of Agents.

The jet's door CLOSES.

Xander is in the last row against the bulkhead. He's got a personal DVD player and headphones and he's reviewing his mission. The high-tech screen shows photos, maps, cool graphics.

The KID sitting across the aisle leans over for a look.

The kid moves to the seat next to Xander.

Onscreen see photos of the FIVE BAD GUYS from the opening sequence. We DIVE IN to the computer as Xander describes them.

For each of the baddies, we'll see 3-D PHOTOS and VIDEO CLIPS, all enhanced with COMPUTER GRAPHICS and POP-UP MENUS.

We see ANDERS, the wild-eyed and unclean Swedish biker, against a backdrop of MOTORCYCLES and MUSCLE CARS.

We see Viktor, with the goatee and belly, doing some hairy snowboarding.

We see Kirill in UNIFORM with his well used SNIPER RIFLE.

He indicates Petra, the tough gangster chick. With her LEATHER and TATTOOS she looks like she could mop up the floor with Lara Croft.

Finally we see YORGI, the unlikely looking Mafiya Don. We see CRIME SCENE PHOTOS that illustrate his exploits.

Xander clicks on "INVENTORY". He scrolls through a staggering array of WEAPONS and VEHICLES.

The Kid's mom calls him back to his seat. Xander looks at the kid, then gets back to his research.

We CRANE UP from the COBBLESTONE STREET as a BEAT-UP CAR races by. We rise up, revealing PRAGUE in all it's glory.

Xander sits in the back, wedged between TWO IDENTICAL LOOKING TOUGH GUYS. If you were to call Central Casting and ask for a couple of cold war spy types, this is what they'd send.

They're both 6' 4", have sloppily cut hair, square jaws, wrinkled overcoats.

The two tough guys flash their COP ID's. Xander studies them. "IVAN PEDGRAG" and "IVAN PODROV".

He looks out the window, sees a GRAND HOTEL. They drive right on by.

It's a crumbling old dump in a nasty part of town. Xander shakes his head.

Ivan 1 pulls Xander's gear bag from the trunk and throws it on the sidewalk.

Xander picks it up and carries it into the building.

Dumpy furniture, roaches, cracked windows. Xander is ushered in. There's another GUY in a UGLY SUIT waiting. He is

54 DETECTIVE MILAN SLOVO. 54

Ivan 1 shoves him into a chair.

Xander lays down on the bed. Slovo stares, burning with hatred. He heads to the door.

Slovo exits. Ivans 1 & 2 stay, staring at Xander.

A fancy, flashy disco with an extreme sports theme. A big bouncer in a leather coat works the door. This is a highclass, expensive joint but it still looks seedy and dangerous.

Xander and Slovo walk up to the place. Xander's wearing a Tshirt that says "RON JEREMY: AMERICAN LEGEND" complete with a photo of the Hedgehog.

A STRIPPER that looks like a runway model SLIDES across the stage on SKATEBOARD KNEE-PADS while PATRONS cheer. The disco is a combination STRIP-CLUB and CONCERT VENUE.

All the STRIPPERS are outfitted in HELMETS, ELBOW PADS, G- STRINGS and BELLY SHIRTS.

There's a WARPED TOUR BAND playing on a STAGE. On either side of the stage are two MINI-HALF PIPES that the GIRLS are cutting back and forth on.

WEALTHY BUSINESSMEN sit in plush booths getting table dances while the dance floor is packed with sexily dressed YOUNG HIPSTERS.

Xander gets a beer from a BUXOM COCKTAIL WAITRESS on IN-LINE SKATES.

Slovo points them out in the far corner. They're surrounded by straight faced BODYGUARDS.

What ANARCHY 99 is doing in their booth with the STRIPPERS looks like Led Zeppelin on tour. Booze, broads, good times... These guys are living like rock stars.

They're all here: Anders the biker, Viktor, Kirill. In the middle sit Yorgi and Petra. Petra's wearing an "I AM EVIL" Tshirt.

He looks around but Xander is gone. He heads for the exit, pushing his way through the crowd. But then he spots him, not by the door but deeper in the club.

He sees Xander walk right up to the Anarchy 99 booth and start talking to them.

Slovo can't hear a thing, but they're obviously interested in what he has to say. Next thing he knows Xander is pointing at him and waving him over.

Slovo makes his way through the crowd to the booth. Yorgi looks him up and down.

Xander grabs Slovo and starts searching him.

He slams Slovo up against the wall and pulls out Slovo's police badge.

The Bodyguards pull out guns and Slovo rushes for the emergency exit in a panic. In seconds he's out and gone.

Yorgi waves over some strippers.

Yorgi nods and the Bodyguards step in front of Xander.

Xander turns to leave.

That's when Anders notices the "X" tattoo on the back of Xander's head. He gets excited and alerts Yorgi.

Xander turns. Suddenly their whole demeanor changes. All five guys get up, awed, and push the Bodyguards out of the way.

Yorgi signals for more drinks.

Petra elbows Anders.

Petra glances at Yorgi who nods.

Xander looks to Yorgi.

Petra scrawls numbers on a cocktail napkin.

Xander snatches the napkin.

Petra glares at him.

Yorgi claps and a flock of strippers descends on the booth.

Anarchy 99 lifts their glasses. Xander joins in the toast.

We see the FEET of AGENT POLK sprinting down the hallway.