SOMBRE MUSIC MACHINE-GUN FIRE MAN ON RADIO: We can't hold out much longer, sir. DISTANT SOUNDS OF BATTLE ON RADIO: (pleads) General Hummel, you've got to get us out of here! I won't let you down. I won't let you down, son. (panicky) Goddammit, sir! How long do we have to wait? I've lost 15 men already. (static and voice breaking up) Sir, they're on us like a firestorm. This is General Hummel. Get my men out of there! We don't have clearance to go behind enemy lines, sir. (resigned) They're not coming for us, are they, sir? HUMMEL: Congressman Weaver and esteemed members of the Special Armed Services Committee. I come before you to protest a grave injustice. GUNSHOTS It has to stop. GRIM MUSIC SWELLS I miss you so much. There's something I've got to do, Barb. Something I couldn't do while you were here. I tried. You know I tried everything. And I still don't have their attention. Let's hope this elevates their thinking. But whatever happens, please don't think less of me. SOFT, URGENT MUSIC Marine. Inform the CO that General Hummel's coming on board with an inspection team. Yes, sir. It's an honour having you, sir. LOUD SHATTERING Urgh! HEAVY THUD PATROL SOLDIERS CHAT DART GUN SHOTS Argh! I got the access card. We've got 30 minutes till those darts wear off. Move it. The access card, sir. Let's do it. BEEPING 2400 magazine check. Man, it's wet out there. Check me through, will you? DART GUN FIRES Clear! INTENSE, MILITANT MUSIC I want 16, Major. Move it. HISS GLASS BALLS RATTLE Evac! Seal the door. Come on, man. Seal it, seal it! No...no! Nooo! Let me out of here. Let me out of here! Oh, God! (panic-stricken screams) Clear out. Get out of here! (man gags and chokes) Sorry. (gurgles and chokes) Let's move out. That'll be $5, Isherwood. You suck. BOOM! WHOOSH You guys have too much time on your hands. Yes! She's here, bring it to me now. Thank you, Phil. What's that? Why did you get it sent here? Carla wouldn't approve. She thinks it's dumb to spend $600 on an LP. Carla's right. Why don't you just spend $13 on a CD? First of all, it's because I'm a Beatlemaniac. And second, these sound better. ALARM SOUNDS It could be serious. It could be Sarin Gas. A dog out at JFK caught a whiff of something in this package posted to a Bosnian refugee camp. Could be detergent, could be Sarin Gas. Bosnian refugee camp? Half a million Serbs reside in the US, Marvin. Serbs don't like Bosnians. Come get suited up. Bring the cockroaches? Got 'em. We have airlock, Stanley. You're all set. October 1, 0900 hours. Agent Stanley Goodspeed, Agent Trainee Marvin Isherwood initiate exam of wooden crate. Suspicion of Sarin Gas inside. Marvin, Sarin is a... GB aerosol. That is correct. Let's see, we have some dirty magazines. "Stone Age Cave Girls in the Raw". Kinky. And, ah, not a good sign. Hellooo, little baby doll. Look, it's Stan. "Hi, there, Stanley." Marvin, don't! Why, Stan? Move back! Move back! Hit the exhaust. Hang on, guys. We'll have it cleared in 50 seconds. You're OK. Jesus Christ. OK, I've got some bad news and some really bad news. The bad news is that the gas is corrosive and it's eating our suits. It's all over my hand, man. The really bad news is that there's enough C4 explosive and poison gas to kill everybody in the building. Detonation, two minutes. Everybody out, now! Seal us inside. Where are the sprinklers? It's eating my suit. Shit. Just wash us off. Where are my sprinklers? It's just a flow problem. That's a pretty big problem. Fix it NOW! We're working on it. How much time left? A minute ten. Look at this. We'll have the room clear. Tell them to take the atropine. The atropine, Isherwood. What? Where's my water?! Marvin, the atropine, now! Inject it in your heart before your suit melts. Shit! Where's that water? Get that away from me. Come on, Phil. Fix it, for Christ's sake. Take the atropine now, Stan. For Christ's sake. We're fucked. The poison's mixing. What the fuck are you waiting for, Stan? Take the fucking needle now. 40 seconds. If that suit melts - if you die we all die. Inject your heart and THEN defuse the bomb. Come on, just do it, Stan! What if I miss my heart? I can't see shit. Do it now! Look how big this is. You want me to stick this into my heart? Are you fucking nuts? OK, here we go, man. Sprinkler activated. How much time left? 20 seconds. We're not gonna make it. 15. Come on... (snips wire) Clear. Get me the fuck out of this gas chamber. I almost stabbed myself in the heart with this thing. (plucks tunelessly along to 60s pop song) Stan? Hey, darling. Hi, baby. I had such an interesting day today. Yeah, I had kind of an interesting day myself. OK, you go first. Oh, some terrorists sent a little care package. A box of goodies. Which had to be neutralised before blowing us up... (plucks string) So I took the rest of the day off. Glass of wine, a little guitar. Just relaxing. Wow. I mean it, honey, the world is being Fed-Ex'd to hell in a hand cart. Anyone who is even thinking about having a child in this world is considering an act of cruelty. I know, I'm rambling, I'm complaining, I'm sorry. What's your news, baby? I'm pregnant. I'm sorry? I'm pregnant. (laughs) Really? Yeah. Wow. Is that all you're gonna say - wow? You're pregnant? Three weeks. How do you know? I mean, how do you know? Blue. It just turned blue so I went to the doctor. You didn't mean what you just said, did you? When? Right now. You were talking about having a baby and it being an act of cruelty. I meant it at the time. Stanley, at the time? You said it 7 seconds ago. Well, gosh, kind of a lot has happened since then. Look, we're not even married. I know, it's funny you should mention that. It's funny? Do you love me? Of course I love you. Good. Will you marry me? Whoa, whoa. Hey, marriage police, pull over. Come on, Stanley. I'm proposing to you right now. The Rock is the most famous and was the most feared prison ever built. Is it really true that there's never been an escape? That's true. From 1936 until '63, when the prison closed, there were 14 attempts. No one is believed to have made it to shore ` alive, at least. Hey, fellas, tourists are not allowed in here. I don't really give a shit. Do you give a shit? No. Move! Hey, girls. You having a good time? BOTH: Yeah. Will you do something for me? It's very important. Tell your teacher you need to get back on the boat and go home right now. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Broadway! This cell block housed the most awesome SCUM in America. Ladies and gentlemen, I, Ranger Bob, cordially invite you to become inmates of Alcatraz. Temporarily, of course. DOORS CLANG Pretty tight quarters, aren't they? Like being a caged animal. Spend a couple of years in there` What's the matter, fellas? Something wrong with the tour? The tour's over, Bob. HELICOPTERS WHIRR What kind of fucked up tour is this? General Hummel, Captains Frye and Darrow reporting, sir. Welcome to The Rock, gentlemen. Land the choppers at the back and deploy as planned. Aye aye, sir. Move out! I'm not allowed to carry a gun. Oh, you're not allowed to? I got a goddamn gun! If I'd known this was gonna happen I'd have brought MY motherfucking gun! HEY! Gentlemen, this is our new home. Tom, I want my command centre here. I want coms up. Roger that, sir. Satellite over there. I want to be up at 1600. Let's move it. System's up. Possible penetration point in the shower room. We're setting anti-intrusion. I brought a personal touch, sir. An anti-motion trembler device. It's custom made. Nobody knows about it and nobody expects it. What does it do? We head-fake 'em with the laser beam, and then if they disturb Mr Backup here, (laughs) we own 'em. GUNSHOT TOURISTS SCREAM Ladies and gentlemen, you're being detained against your will. For that I apologise. We do not intend to harm you. You will not be detained any longer than is necessary to complete our mission. Attention on deck. Stand easy, men. Make no mistake about it, gentlemen. We are now in harm's way. For Major Baxter and I, this is the last campaign in a career dating back to Tet '68. Likewise for Captain Hendrix, Gunnery Sergeant Crisp, who cut their teeth under my command in Desert Storm. Captains Frye and Darrow, this is my first operation with your men. I have to say, you live up to your reputations. Thank you, General. Thank you, sir. We have achieved our position through poise, precision and audacity. We must now add resolve. We'll be branded as traitors ` the gravest capital crime. Punishable by death. A couple of hundred years ago, a few guys named Washington, Jefferson and Adams were branded as traitors by the British. And now they're called patriots. In time, so shall we. God willing, in less than 48 hours you will evacuate this island in gun ships under cover of hostages and VX gas warheads. Your destination, a non-extradition treaty country. You will each be paid a fee of $1 million for services rendered. But you can never again set foot on your native soil. Can you live with that? ALL: Yes, sir! The men of Marine Force Recon are selected to carry out illegal operations throughout the world. When they don't come home, their families are told fairy tales about what happened to them, and denied compensation. Well, I have choked on these lies my entire career. Well, here and now, the lies stop! God be with all of you. Man your positions, men. PHONE RINGS This is FBI Director Womack. Director, be advised, 81 ` I say again ` 81 civilians are under my control as of this moment. You are to take measures to ensure this remains a need-to-know classified fact. Who is this? Mr Director, you have a very serious problem. A battery of VX gas rockets is deployed to deliver a lethal strike on the population of San Francisco Bay. I will call again at o-hundred hours to state my demands. I want to know who I'm talking to. Brigadier General Francis X Hummel, US Marine Corps ` from Alcatraz. Out. SECRETARY: I'll cancel your reservations. Get the Pentagon and call the San Francisco office. It seems Alcatraz was just reopened. ' Last night General Hummel using brutal but non-lethal force under the guise of a security exercise walked off with 15 VX poison gas rockets. He lost one of his own men in the process. That's General Hummel in Vietnam. I think he was a major at the time. Three tours in Vietnam. Panama, Grenada, Desert Storm, three Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars and the Congressional Medal of...Jesus! This man is a hero. I think 'legend' is a better description, Mr Sinclair. Well, we can add kidnapping and extortion to his accolades. Mr Sinclair, General Hummel is a man of honour. General, it's him. Frank, it's Al Kramer. Hi, Al. How you doing? I don't know, Frank. Why don't you tell me? Got a lot of very worried people here, Frank. I'll come right to the point. 83 Force Reconnaissance marines have died under my commands. 47 in Northern Laos and Southern China. China? We never admitted we sent troops there. Who is this? Identify yourself. White House Chief of Staff, Hayden Sinclair. How old are you, Chief of Staff Sinclair? I'm 33. Mr Sinclair, you've probably got no fucking idea what I'm talking about. By your ninth birthday I was running black ops into China. My men were responsible for over 200 enemy kills. Now put some tape on Mr Sinclair's mouth, he's wasting my time. You want to continue, Frank? Remember Operation Desert Storm? Those surgical hits made by our smart bombs covered so well on CNN. It was my men on the ground that made those hits possible by lasing the targets. 20 of them were left to rot outside Baghdad after it ended. No benefits were paid to their families. No medals conferred. These men died for their country and they weren't even given a goddamn military burial. This situation is unacceptable. You will transfer $100 million from the Grand Cayman Red Sea Trading Company account to an account I designate. From this, reparations of $1 million will be paid to each of the 83 families. The rest of the funds I will disperse at my discretion. Do I make myself clear? Except for the Red Sea Trading Company - what is that? Identify yourself. FBI Director Womack, General. A slush fund where the Pentagon keeps proceeds from illegal arms sales. Jesus, Frank, this is classified. You alert the media, I launch the gas. You refuse payment, I launch the gas. You've got 40 hours, till noon day after tomorrow, to transfer the money. I am aware of your countermeasure. You know and I know it doesn't stand a chance. Hummel from Alcatraz, out. All right, we have to identify the hostages and contact each of their families. Tell them something. Make up a story. We've got to keep this undercover. If this comes out, the city will be in chaos. I am talking anarchy. Wait a minute, wait a minute. What is the potential casualty rate for a single rocket armed with VX poison gas, General Peterson? 60 or 70. Well, that's not so bad. Thousand. 70,000 dead. One teaspoon of this hits the floor, it's lethal up to 100 feet. One teaspoon of this shit detonated in the atmosphere will kill every living organism in an eight-block radius. Get the point? What did Hummel mean by your countermeasure? Standard poison is countered by napalm. It burns it up, consumes it on detonation. The problem with VX poison gas is that it's designed to withstand napalm. That's where thermite plasma comes in. General Peterson? Thermite plasma incendiaries burn hot enough to consume VX, but they're in the test phase. It's not operational. Hummel knows this. We are dealing with one smart son of a bitch. What's it gonna take to equip a flight of F-18s with thermite plasma in the next 36 hours? An act of God. Excuse me? We can try. But I strongly urge you to consider this as a secondary initiative. Then we have to go to our primary initiative. Admiral... I'd like to bring in our SEAL commander ` Commander Anderson. Mr Womack, who is your best chemical/biological man? STANLEY: (groans) That's interesting. That's very compelling. You like my pigtails? Oh, yeah. The pigtails are very naughty. Naughty, naughty. It's just amaretto cream with peach sorbet persuasion. PHONE RINGS This isn't happening. Oh, just don't answer it. This isn't happening! No, just don't answer it. I have to, it's the office, baby. How could they possibly know that you're home? It's the FBI. (protests) Stanley. Goodspeed. Yeah, OK, I'll be down... Downstairs in ten minutes. No, you won't. I have to go to San Francisco. No, you don't. Stanley, no, you do not have to go. Are you kidding me? You need to stay and talk to me about things. I've got to go, baby. I am Catholic, do you realise that? I am pregnant and unmarried and this is a serious problem for me. I cannot believe you. No. I love you. I will marry you. I just didn't plan on this, that's all. Come to San Francisco. Really? Yeah, I'm sure it's just a training exercise. Check into a hotel, order champagne. And we'll finish what we started. Exactly. Are you gonna marry me? You know I am. (elated) You're gonna marry me! Oh, honey, come on. Really quick, honey. I've gotta go. A night-time air drop is out due to the full moon. Likewise a frontal seaside attack. If we're compromised and shots are fired, Hummel may launch. Our only option is an attack from within. We penetrate the island via the tunnels under the building and emerge in its centre. Jump them from behind and if we're lucky, take the rockets without a shot fired. I don't get it. You've seen the architectural plans? They're useless. Alcatraz was ripped up and rebuilt for years. Under there is a maze of shit. We need first-hand intelligence of the tunnel systems. What about the former warden? Died in 1979. All the guards we contacted were useless. Um, there is someone who I think can help us. This is for the sake of national security. No, it's the sake of national security that got us here in the first place 33 years ago. I knew someday this would come back to bite us. Forget it ` he does not exist. He does exist! We just chose to forget him for 30 years. We locked him up and threw away the key. A lot of good it did us. He broke out of two maximum security jails and if he hits the street... He's not gonna hit the street, Jim. 30 years ago he was a highly-trained SAS operative. He is my age now, for Christ's sake. I have to get up three times a night to piss. We can't risk letting him out. He's a professional escape artist. ECHOING SOUND OF KEYS JANGLING DOORS CLANG PORTENTOUS MUSIC THUNDER RUMBLES RAIN PATTERS STANLEY: Neat... neat plane. Dr Goodspeed. James Womack. Dr Goodspeed. James Womack. Pleasure to meet you, sir. You come very highly recommended. BA, Columbia. MA, PhD, Johns Hopkins. Biochemistry toxicology. I'm one of those lucky people who like my job, sir. I got my first chemistry set when I was seven. Blew my eyebrows off. We never saw the cat again. What do you know about VX gas? Liquid. Failed pesticide discovered by mistake in 1952. Actually, it's like champagne. The monks were making wine. Somehow, the bottle carbonated and voila... The gas, Dr Goodspeed. It's very, very horrible, sir. It's one of those things we wish we could disinvent. This isn't a training exercise, is it? No, Dr Goodspeed, it's not a training exercise. ' SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC SIREN SOUNDS Good morning, Director. This is Ernest Paxton, agent in charge of the west coast. Dr Goodspeed. Pleasure. How do you do, sir? It's been a fairly interesting day. The prisoner's here. Shall we? Now, my boys haven't been able to find a file on this guy. Who is he, anyway, sir? His name is John Mason, a British national incarcerated on Alcatraz in 1962. Escaped in '63. I thought no one ever escaped Alcatraz, sir. Paxton, don't argue. This man has no identity. Not in the United States or Great Britain. He does not exist, understand? I want one thing. How he escaped The Rock. Specifically the route he took through the island's bowels. Papers are in order, sir. We'll offer him a full pardon. And, Paxton, no strong-arming Mason. I know him too well. Well, if you know him, then why don't you question him? No, he'll remember me. I don't want his anger clouding the issue. All right, I'll take care of it. Mr Mason, I'm Special Agent in Charge, Ernest Paxton. In charge of what? Fucking me over for another three decades? I know nothing about your previous matters. I'm here because a situation exists we feel you could help us with. Now what might that be? I've been in jail longer than Nelson Mandela. Do you want me to run for President? Not exactly. Pity. I feel rather like Archimedes. Who? Archimedes. He was imprisoned by his king in ancient Greece. Like Sir Walter Raleigh, the same fate. James the First. Even someone as bright as you must be aware there's a certain pattern emerging here. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Yeah, I heard of him. Didn't he play hockey? Didn't he play hockey? That's the chap. Get this straight, pops. I don't like you any more than you like me. But I'm here to make you a legitimate offer. Want to hear what I have to say or not? By all means, dear Paxton. By all means. We've got a problem in a place that I think you know. There's a hostage situation on Alcatraz. Hostage? 81 tourists. The Rock has become a tourist attraction? Why don't we cut the shit, huh? You know The Rock. You broke out. Yes, successfully. You can do yourself a favour while you're helping us. It'd be nice to get out of jail while you're still vertical. While you've got a little lead left in your pencil. While I'm considering your offer, I want a suite in the Fairmont Hotel. You know, I'm here to cut you a deal. I am not here to bend over and take it up the ass from you. Here. Here's a quarter. Do yourself a favour. Call your lawyer. You're going back to jail. You're sending him back to jail? No, I'm just giving him something to think about. With all due respect, sir, I don't think we have time for that. Oh, really? No, Goodspeed's right. You, go talk to him. Me? Yes. Sir, I'm not qualified. You're an FBI agent. What is your specialty again? Chemical weapons. Don't mention that. You want me to lie? Yeah, lie. We got less than 24 hours. Give it a shot. OK. Hi. I'm an agent with the... Federal... FBI. Ah, well... I'm Stanley Goodspeed. But of course you are. At least he got his name right. Of course I am, huh? And you have an emergency. That's right. And you need my help. Exactly right. Coffee. No, no, I'm fine, thank you. Offer ME coffee. Oh, yes. That was going to be my next... Can we get a cup of coffee in here, please? Offer to take these off. Mr Mason, really... As a gesture of your good faith. Prisoner requests to have his handcuffs taken off. (mouths words) Why don't you go ahead and have his handcuffs taken off? I guess that's one way to go. This is a pardon of release contract from the Attorney General's office. It makes you a free man ` provided you cooperate. So if you'll just, ah... sign... ..where it says... Signature? That's... yes, signature. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts. Ah, an educated man. That rules out the possibility of you being a field agent. In point of fact, I am a field agent, Mr Mason. (dry) Really. Yes. In which field? Anti-terrorism. Then you're trained in weaponry, explosives and mortal combat. Well trained. Then it's the Fairmont Hotel. OK. I want a suite. A shower, a shave... and the feel of a suit. May I also suggest a... a haircut? Am I out of style? Unless you're a 20-year-old guitarist from Seattle. It's a grunge thing. Grunge? Yeah. Well... thank you very much. Call the Fairmont. Close the floor if necessary. But I want him sealed off and he gets two hours, max. COIN CLINKS Great job, Goodspeed. Why not throw in a trip to Tahiti? I'll give it to the Attorney General. No, you'll give it to me, Reynolds. Take Reynolds outside. There's a car waiting. That's a signed federal document, sir. Isn't that illegal? You are not acquainted with the facts, Goodspeed. With all due respect, I'd like clarification. I gave that man my word. Damn it! You're on a need-to-know basis. And you don't need to know. It's... kind of curious, but... ah... ..Sir Walter Raleigh, Archimedes, Solzhenitsyn. They were all wrongfully imprisoned. ALARM GOES OFF Womack! Why am I not surprised? You piece of shit. Peace, peace. SIRENS BLARE (dials phone) CARLA ON ANSWERING MACHINE: We're not home. Leave a message. Hi, darling, it's me. Listen, don't come to San Francisco. I repeat, do not come to San Francisco. Stanley, no! Carla... Like hell I'm not coming. Wait... Carla! (redials) Who's Carla? Why don't you want her to come to San Francisco? RINGING TONE You're on a need-to-know basis. And you don't need to know. (barks) AGENTS LAUGH Good. Mobile command is fully operational. We'll be there in approximately two hours. I'm not armed, sir. I am unarmed, sir. I am unarmed, sir. Well, where's your issue? I left it in my... (clears throat) my sock drawer. (derisive snort) A gun? For what? You're a chemical freak. No, I'm a chemical superfreak, actually. But I still need a gun. Give him a goddamn gun. You fired one of those things since the Academy? ' '60s HIPPIE MUSIC PLAYS MASON: (sings along) # Don't forget to wear flowers in your hair # If you're going to San Francisco # You're sure to meet some... # ..gentle people there # If you're going to San Francisco... # Room service? Listen, this is the penthouse. Do you do snacks, drinks? Helloo-oo? You the barber? (effeminate) No, stylist. The barber. WHIRRING NOISE Clippers, no scissors. No scissors ` you've got to be kidding me. I mean, did they tell Picasso no brush? With scissors, this man could kill you. I can't cut anyone's balls off with a trimmer, now, can I? Why don't we do this outside? Get some sun. Oh, who did this to you?! It's just not right. In fact, it's nasty. Well, it's a grunge thing. Well, it's SOME kind of thing. Do we have time for a protein pack and some colour? No. OK. Not very nice, is he? No, he's not. FRANK SINATRA PLAYS LOUDLY Hey, somebody ordered. Can't let it go to waste. Don't you ever stop eating? Not when it's free. We're supposed to be on duty. Don't worry. He's an old man. The boss is watching him. Try this lobster. Mmm-hmm? My secretary here will settle the bill. So, what do you have in store for me, Womack, when this is over? You get your life back, Mason. But you could have given me my life back years ago. Why should I trust you now? You've got my word. Will you shake on it? (screams) Freeze, mister. Help!! Drop the gun, or I drop your boss. You will not. Arghhh!! He's getting very heavy. Then pull him up. Aargh! Please don't. (little shrieks) Help!! Shit! FRANK SINATRA SINGS (shrieks) YOU watch him. Help... help! MEN ALL SHOUT Mason's gone. Gone?! AGENT: Living room's clear. Oh, my God, oh, my God! All units, we have a signal six. He's in the hotel. DRAMATIC MUSIC I don't want to know nothing. I never saw you throw that gentleman off the balcony. All I care about is... are you happy with your haircut?! GRUNTING AND STRAINING Watch it, you fuckhead. You're gonna pull my arm out. CROCKERY SMASHES MUSIC BUILDS (shouts angrily) Over there! Ugh! Hey... argh! Dis is my Humby. I don't want any dings or scratches... TYRES SQUEAL Hey! SIRENS BLARE TERRIFIED SCREAMS STANLEY: FBI. TYRES SCREAM Whoa! Suspect is in a black Humby heading west on California at 70mph. Get out of the way! I want a net on the sonofabitch. MUSIC POUNDS BOOM! This guy's hitting every fucking thing in sight, trying to block us. I hope you're insured. Oh, well, why NOT? (revs engine till it whines) You're going down! CAR PHONE RINGS Hello? (angry man speaks German) I'm only borrowing your Humby. Information? San Francisco? Jade Angelou. That's A N G... TRAM BELL DINGS Welcome aboard, y'all. How y'all doing? Hang on. TYRES SQUEAL Holy shit! HORN HONKS Whoa, whoa! Oh, no. We're gonna crash! Save yourselves! Oh, my baby. Oh no! AIRBAG WHOOSHES SERIES OF BLASTS Oh no. Oh... God... Oh God. SILENCE FALLS Hey, man. You just fucked up your Ferrari. TRAM DRIVER RANTS IN BACKGROUND It's not mine. Neither is this. Ugh! Damn!! This sucks. Where's that sonofabitch? I'll hunt him down. That motherfucker ain't safe nowhere! PHONE RINGS Isherwood. Marvin, look up Wolfburg Federal Penitentiary. The inmate is Mason ` John. Hey, Stan, I'm getting out of this government shithole. I'm going to design roach motels. I stole a kid's motorbike. I don't feel too good about it. Wolfburg ` got it? Yeah, I got it. McGrane, Masconi, Masters. No Mason. Go to February '76. Who was transferred to Wolfburg from San Quentin? This is weird. They got medical records. Place of birth, Glasgow. They don't have a name. Wait a minute! Next of kin ` a Jade Angelou. 32 Stenson Drive, San Francisco. MASON: Jade? No ` Stacey. Jade's friend. Were you afraid to come alone? Yeah. It's OK. I'll be over here if you need me. The last photo I had of you... ..you were about 10. Yeah? I found a picture of you in one of my mom's things. When she died. Oh, yeah, well... Want to take a walk? I got him. Palace of Fine Arts. Your mother... she was very special. Yeah, she was. But I don't think we should romanticise what happened between you and her. Meeting in a bar after a Led Zeppelin concert. Head out... and I was the result. Well, I like to think it could have led somewhere if only... If only what? Six federal marshals hadn't kicked down her door and dragged you back to prison? I'm sorry. It's all right. So they let you out? Yeah. That's good. (sighs) What did you do? Jade... I don't have a great deal of time here. But I'll be coming back. And, ah, maybe we can... What? We can what? You know, you're almost the only evidence... that I exist. But I don't know you. That's what I want to change, eh? I've rehearsed this speech a thousand times on the chance that we would meet. Here we are... and I'm lost. Well, I don't know how I'm supposed to be feeling either. Jade, I'm not an evil man. If you can believe that, then it's a start. OK. SIRENS WAIL Is this about you? You broke out of prison, didn't you? Why did you come to me? FBI, ma'am. Your father's working with us. He's helping us resolve a dangerous situation. He is? Yes, ma'am. Well, gee whizz, John. I guess we ought to get going, huh? Whatever you say, Stanley. Thanks. You could've handled it differently. What do you say we cut the chit-chat, a-hole? You almost got me killed twice. And my jaw hurts like hell. Good. Cocksucker! If I had my way you'd be shipped back in leg irons and caged like an animal. ' SEAL COMMANDER: Tell me about the tunnels. If you know the system, it'll take you wherever you need to go. There's an intake pipe here below low tide. Is that our best access? That's exactly where I came out. Beneath the cistern, there's a connection to the septic. How many feet is that? Er... 57 paces. Where do we go from there? Where do we go from there... That's a good question. I've no idea. What? I mean, I'll know it when we're all inside. You're not goddamn going. Show us on the blueprints. I can't. My blueprint was in my head. I was underground for three days, in the dark. Just waiting for the tides to be right. Don't worry. It'll come back to me. You're not going anywhere, Mason. Wait a second. This piece of work might be the only chance the people there have. If he's not going, why did we get him out of jail? He's smart. I got him out to get you in, not go with you. It's the only way of getting the intelligence I need. You compromise my men's lives... and I'll bury you out there. Well, Womack, you're between The Rock... and a hard case. How is your bowling arm? The goal is to take out the launchers, then neutralise the VX chemical rounds. We know the poison's being kept in the prison morgue from satellite thermal imaging. Have you ever seen one of these devices? No, sir, but I studied them. I should really begin briefing your guys on defusing and detox. I got a really neat layout over here, so let's get rolling. That won't be necessary. Oh, it's very necessary, sir. The power of this chemical is beyond anything you can imagine. An ecological disaster, sir. Plus, the devices are complicated. That's why you're coming with us. I am? You're the expert. What's your problem? You mean, I'm going... I'm going out there? Under the water? Earlier today you wanted a gun. Now you're getting a gun and a wetsuit. Have you been in a combat situation? Define combat, sir. Shep? An incursion underwater where we take a fortress held by an elite team of US marines in possession of 81 hostages and 15 guided rockets armed with VX poison gas. Oh. In that case, no, sir. Excuse me. (retches) Here. Thank you. You don't look too good. In fact, you look like shit. My stomach's doing hoola-hoops around my ass. Are you all right? Are you going to make it through this? I don't know. I always expected something like this was going to happen. But nothing prepares you for it. Now I'm responsible for a whole city. I know this isn't easy for you. But you were trained for this kind of situation. It'll all come back to you. You have the best SEAL team in the country backing you. OK. All right. I'll be on the wire. I'll talk you through it. There's something else. It's terrible. No, it's wonderful. Except it isn't. My girlfriend's pregnant. And she's just flown in to see me. You keep your mind on what you're doing tonight. I'll send someone to get your girlfriend and bring her here. (BASSY DUB MUSIC PLAYS) (BOTTLES CLINK) Ae. Imagine if Jono kooks it on his way home. Who would get us through Mad Mick's to Boneyards? Far. Boneyards. Sebastian ` he knows everyone. Micky boy! Piss off! Yeah, OK. Ha! Jono's brother? Cain the Mane! (BOTH LAUGH) Whoo! (BOTH LAUGH) The Nek Minnit? (HUMS) # Do, do, do! # ECHOES: Jason Gunn? Hey, Mickity Mickness! Huh? (BOTH GRUNT, GROAN) (CRICKETS CHIRP) Let's get him, bro. Yep. Jono! (WAVES CRASH) Come on, ow. FOREBODING MUSIC Hummel. ON PHONE: Hello, Frank. Lou Lindstrom. I'm at the White House with General Kramer. We're having a few problems with the account transfer. Don't tell me problems. Tell me solutions. We spoke to the President and I know you're aware of his stance on terrorism. What we'd like to do... This isn't about terrorism. This is about justice, reminding you people what it's convenient to forget. This is going nowhere, Frank. Let me tell you what is. 15 VX gas rockets into the heart of San Francisco. You've got 17 hours to deliver the money or be prepared to reap the whirlwind. What's the word from Mojave? General Peterson can give us no definite assurance on the thermite plasma. THAT is the word. Give the green light to SEAL incursion. DYNAMIC MUSIC (man shouts) Fall in! Listen up. Mr Mason will run point for us. Lieutenant Shepherd will be attached to his hip. You breathe, he breathes with you. You piss, he helps. Understood? Dr Goodspeed is our specialist. When he neutralises the threat, we launch green flares and we wait for the cavalry. Make no mistake, gentlemen. We're in the fight of our lives. Against maybe the greatest battalion commander in the Vietnam War. I shit you not. Any questions? Let's load up! ROTORS WHIRR After you, Ace. MUSIC SWELLS Pass out and activate the mini-cams. Everything set here? Mini-cams operational? Roger that, sir. We are online. Shep, chat us on this special operational gear for Mr Mason. Let's see. We have one quart of kerosene in a squeeze bottle. Three washers and waterproof matches. Use the green flares to signal when the threat is neutralised. This is atropine. If you come in contact with the gas, you have 20 seconds to inject it into your heart. Don't fuck with me on this. It may save your life. I have three incoming bogies bearing 275. Range, 6000 metres. FBI Command Centre? I'd just love for you to tell me what's going on. Nope. Stanley Goodspeed is my boyfriend. Actually, he's my fiance. Where is he? That's classified, lady. Just sit here and act like a bureau bonehead... Hey, where are you... Oh, goddammit! Decoy choppers commencing run to Alcatraz. I just lost one, sir. I just lost one. I've only got two and I just lost one. Oh, shit! LOUD HISSING In my day we did it all with snorkels and a pair of flippers. In your day? Yes. Didn't you read my resume? I don't... I don't know anything about you. I know something about you, Godspell. Goodspeed. Goodspeed - Godspeed - Godspell. You never went to any anti-terrorist school. So just make sure you don't get us all fucking killed. We're going dark. Night vision! Raider One is below radar coverage. Heading around Treasure Island. Sir, we've got two bogies bearing due east and closing. Decoys? Prepare to deploy. Good luck, Commander. Sir, Raider One is at the drop zone. Stanley is not a very good swimmer. He can't even snorkel. Everyone set to go. Set to go! Set to go! (muffled) Set to go! Sir, the SQs have been deployed and the Eagles are in the water. I want the perimeter patrolled at the west end. Yes, sir. Hendrix, lead the patrol. Aye aye, sir. Let's move. Move out! Move out! The Eagles are on The Rock. They've entered the cistern room. Thank you very fucking much, Mr Mason. You've led us into a room with no exits. Any ideas, Dillinger? Figure it out soon. We're sitting ducks. We're tight on time. You stand by the door until I open it. I'd like to know how you plan on accomplishing that. Through here. You're shitting me. I memorised the timing. I just hope it hasn't been changed. You get hit by one of those flame bursts, you're a corpse. Thank you. You said never leave his side. Stand fast, Lieutenant. Have a nice day! Where did you dig up this guy? That's classified. Clear here, sir. No motion sensors tripped. Nothing. Tell them to stay out there. Sweep forward! Looks like he fucked us, Commander. I knew it. That son of a bitch jumped ship. DOOR CLANGS Welcome to The Rock! TRIUMPHANT MUSIC Mason. That's a no-no. That's the subway. That'll drop you into the tunnels. Do it! (grunts) Oh! Sir, the Eagles have breached the tunnel system. (chortles) You're enjoying this?! Well, it's certainly more enjoyable than my average day. Reading philosophy, avoiding gang-rape in the washrooms. Though it's less of a problem these days. Maybe I'm losing my sex appeal. Got seismic activity in a storm drain, north side. Continue patrolling the area. Sweep forward! We've got movement. They're hearing sounds above, sir. Stand fast. Down, down. West storm drain's clear. 97 paces to the shower room. The Eagles are at the access tunnel. They're under the shower room, sir. Fibre optics. Something's not right. I got a bad feeling about this. STEADY BEEPING Quiet! Motion sensors. The beam's cutting across the manhole covers. Deal with it. Commander, the beam's hitting some sort of reflective device. Possibly a prism. I'm going to use a mirror to cut the beam. Send the beam back to its source and then I'll move the prism. RAPID BEEPING Motion on a trembler in the shower room. We've got visitors. Got it. Good to go. FRANTIC SHOUTING Stand fast. We'll secure the area. They're entering the shower room, sir. They're securing the area. Just sit tight. TERRORIST: Drop your weapons. Drop 'em! ANDERSON: Hold your fire! Drop your weapons! Hold your fire! It's a fucking trap. This is General Hummel. Drop your weapons. Drop 'em! Anderson here, General Hummel. Commander. Team leader. Commander, if you're concerned for your men, order them to safety their weapons and place them on the deck. This is not happening. Sir, we know why you're out here. God knows I agree with you. But, like you, I swore to defend this country against all enemies. Foreign, sir,... and domestic. General, we've spilled the same blood in the same mud. You know goddamn well I can't give that order. We're dead. Your unit is covered from an elevated position, Commander. I'm not going to ask again. Don't do anything stupid. No one has to die here. You men following the General. You're under oath as United States marines. Have you forgotten that? We all have shipmates we remember. Some of them were shit on and pissed on by the Pentagon. But that doesn't give you the right to mutiny. You call it what you want. You're down there, we're up here. You walked into the wrong room! Stand fast! Tell your men ` safety their weapons, drop them on deck. I cannot give that order. I won't repeat that order. I won't give that order! What is wrong with you?! Stand fast! Order your men to safety their guns! BRICKS CRASH RAPID GUNFIRE Cease fire! ETHEREAL MUSIC Don't go. Cease fire! Aaagh! Cease fire! Shit. Goddammit. Let go of me. Don't. Don't go. (defiant scream) SOBERING MUSIC It's over. (ragged breaths) Oh God! RAPID BEEPING Mason. We've got movement. Who? Two of them. Who is it? Eagles 11 and 12. It's Goodspeed and Mason. I knew it. I've got to get a team for the second option. Invite another massacre? No way. We've got a 60-year-old convict and a lab rat. I'm telling you, it's over. Not for Mason it isn't. Goodspeed, I'm not going to kill YOU. Where are you going? Off this bloody island! Wh-Wh-What for? RADIO: Goodspeed, do you read me? It's for you. Sir. What's the status? The status is they're dead. They're dead! It's just me and Mason. He says he's leaving. That is unacceptable. Do you hear me? Unacceptable. There's a problem, sir. He's got a gun. What do you have, a fucking water pistol? No, sir. Go after him and stop him. HUMMEL: I didn't want this. I didn't want this. We knew this might happen. Maybe now they'll pay up. Maybe they won't, Captain. Maybe we need to execute a few hostages. Got a live one. Put a bullet in him. You heard him. Holster that sidearm, Captain. Sir? You made a terrible mistake. More of our brothers have died in vain. Damn you for forcing me into this position. I need to talk to you right now. Alone. You told me I'm on a need-to-know basis, and I'm telling you right now, I need to know who John Mason is right now, sir. All right, you want to know? 1962, J Edgar Hoover is head of the FBI. Some say the country. It's no secret he kept microphone files on prominent Americans and Europeans, De Gaulle, British MPs, even the Prime Minister. This guy had dirt on everybody in the world. Yeah, I know all the cloak-and-dagger stories. Where does Mason fit in? Mason was the operative who stole the files. But our bureau agents caught him at the Canadian border. Of course, the British claimed they'd never heard of him. And we held him without trial until he gave up the microfilm. But he never did. I'm surprised Hoover didn't use his daughter as leverage. Hoover was dead in '72. She wasn't born yet. Today, well, it's a different bureau. You held this guy without trial his whole life? No wonder he's pissed. This man knows our most intimate secrets from the last half century. The alien landing at Roswell. The truth about the JFK assassination. Mason's angry, he's lethal, he's a trained killer. And HE is the only hope that we have got. Mason. Mason. There are 81 hostages still up there. Yeah. Like me. All right, you want to play tough? You want to play tough with me? OK. FBI. Freeze, sucker! I'll fire. No, you won't. Throw down. You're not the sort. Let's find out. I could. You ` no. Besides, your safety's on. RADIO: Goodspeed, have you resolved the situation? Not yet. He's got all the guns now, sir. Shit! You're right. I don't use guns and I don't kick down doors. This is what I do. I haven't got my glasses. What it says is, "Chemical Weapons Specialist". That's right. I got a lunatic up there, man. With 15 missiles armed with some really fucky stuff. That lying Womack. You could have told my daughter. It was classified. Look, I'm in the same situation. I've got my girlfriend here with a baby on the way. I can defuse the rockets. I really can. But I'm going to need your help right now. Sir, this man's weapons and radio are missing. Shit, we got a rodent problem. Flush the pipes. There's a maze of tunnels under this place. Check every access you can find. Even if you escape from the island, you can't escape the rockets. So, where are you going to go? Go where? What will you do? Show me where the morgue is, Mason. I'm out of here. INTENSE MUSIC What about your daughter, Mason? Rodents located. The way I see it, you don't really have any choice. I don't think you do. Moooooove! LOUD EXPLOSION They're on to us. Burn 'em out. This mother will blow big. THUNDEROUS RUMBLING WHOOSHING NOISE I don't understand. How could we lose radio contact all of a sudden? We lost coms. Still got them on locaters. So, what's it going to be? What? How do you like your choices? I don't. That's what I thought. Come on. This is the oldest part of Alcatraz. Did you know it was originally a Civil War fort? Oh, really? I like history, too. Maybe when this is over, we can stop by the souvenir shop together. But right now I just... I just want to find some rockets. Don't tempt me. We ARE going to the morgue. DOOR CREAKS Are you sure you're ready for this? I'll do my best. Your best? Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the Prom Queen. Carla WAS the Prom Queen. Really? Yeah. Locaters have them approaching the morgue, sir. Come on, come on. You can do it, Doc. Aaagh! You must never hesitate. RAPID GUNFIRE You're shooting too close to the rocket. Him, but not the rocket. Any other news, Professor? GUNFIRE DROWNS OUT SPEECH ...the rocket! Not the rocket! Aaagh! (pained moans) I got a little something for you. Aaaaaaagh! THUD Oh yeah. OK. That's just about the most awful thing I've ever seen. Mason. The second you don't respect this, it kills you. Put it over there. You've been around a lot of corpses. Is THAT normal? The feet thing? Yeah, the feet thing. Yeah, that happens. I'm having a hard time concentrating. Can you do something about it? Like what? Kill him again? Listen, I'm just a biochemist. Most of the time I work in a glass jar and lead a very uneventful life. I drive a Volvo, a beige one. What I'm dealing with is one of the most deadly substances ever known. What do you say you cut me some friggin' slack? BALLS CLATTER SLIGHTLY (gasps) Really elegant string of pearls configuration. Unfortunately, incredibly unstable. What exactly does this stuff do? If the rocket renders it aerosol, it can take out the entire city. Really? What happens if you drop one? Happily, it'll just wipe out you and me. How? It's a cholinergic inhibitor. Stops the brain sending messages down the spine in 30 seconds. Any skin exposure or inhalation and you'll know. Twinge at the small of your back as the poison seizes your nervous system. Do not move that! Your muscles freeze, you can't breathe. You spasm so hard you break your back, spit your guts out. But that's after your skin melts off. Oh, my God. I think we'd like God on our side at the moment, don't you? What I'm doing now is removing the guidance system chips so the rocket will splash down after 500 feet. You can let go of it. Just back away. Just back away! Sir, morgue team has not checked in. Blackbird one. This is Blackbird, over. Blackbird one, this is Blackbird. Come in, goddammit. Somebody's still here. Let's move! Rats alive. Close on the morgue! Close on the morgue! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go! Right, listen up. We've got more company. Hold it. Converge on the morgue. Move out. Goodspeed, come on. I love pressure. I eat it for breakfast. Come on! Time's up. There's three more rockets. We have to find them. Come on! RAPID GUNFIRE CLUNK CARRIAGE RATTLES Clear! I'm too old for this. Where's it go? I've no idea. Sir, all the guidance chips are gone. Captain, I guess you didn't take care of the rat problem. No, sir. There are two dead men who suggest you finish the job. Yes, sir. Yes, sir! You really don't know where this goes? No, I don't know. It's sort of picking up speed. Do you know how to slow it down? No, I don't. Aaaaaaaagghhhhh! ROPE TWANGS God! Oh. Oh. Mason! You all right? Yes, perfectly OK, you fucking idiot! They're coming. Who? The marines. Where? CREAKING NOISE GUNFIRE No! What the fuck's going on? Let's cut 'em off. No, no! NO! Aaaaagh! Mason. Mason? GUNFIRE MACHINE-GUN FIRE Arrgh! ANGRY, DECISIVE MUSIC (cries out) SOBER MUSIC I'm rather glad you didn't hesitate too long. How do you... do it? Oh, I was trained by the best. British Intelligence. Come on. But in retrospect, I'd rather have been a poet or a farmer. OK. ' The President arrives in three hours. Directive is to string Hummel along until the air strike is operational. What's the word from Mojave? The same as last time. They're going as fast as they can. Put him there. On your knees. HUMMEL ON PA: Navy SEALS, listen up. You've got something that belongs to me. 12 guidance chips, to be precise. Let me remind you there are lives at stake ` civilian lives. Speak up. (terrified moan) Speak up! I... Tell them your name. My name is Larry Henderson. Oh, man! I'm a father of three. (sobs) They've got a gun to my head. You've got three minutes to return the chips to the exercise yard or Mr Henderson won't have a head. Oh no. Now, three to go. You find them and defuse them, OK? All right. Right. I'll try and delay Hummel, give you more time. Hey. What about Mr Henderson's head? OK? What do you mean? (cocks gun) OK. DETERMINED MUSIC PEOPLE CALL FOR HELP General. Who the hell are you? I'm all that's left of the enemy. Bingo. Stand easy. I thought I'D been in the service a long time. Name and rank, sailor. It's army, actually. Answer the question. Address him as "General, sir". Captain John Patrick Mason, General, sir. Of Her Majesty's SAS. Retired, of course. You're a long way from home, Captain. How the hell are you involved? I've a unique knowledge of this prison facility. I was, er... formerly a guest here. Hi, sweetie. Come back here, little boy. Did they bother to tell you who I am, or are they just using you like they do everyone else? All I know is you were big in Vietnam. I saw the highlights on TV. Then you wouldn't have any idea what it means to lead some of the finest men on God's earth into battle, then see their memory betrayed by their own fucking government. I don't quite see how you cherish the memory of the dead by killing another million. And... this is not combat. It's an act of lunacy, General, sir. Personally, I think you're a fucking idiot. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time "with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson. Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious, according to Oscar Wilde. (groans) Thank you for making my point. Where are the guidance chips? Where are the guidance chips?! I destroyed them. That was a bad move, soldier. Does that mean you'll execute us both? RAPID GUNFIRE Aaargh! GLASS TINKLES You're lucky that old man Hummel wants you alive. I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy. STANLEY: (sings) # I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy. # (mimics marine) I'll take pleasure in gutting you... BOY. What is wrong with these people, Mason? Don't you think there's a lot of anger flowing around this island? Kind of a pubescent volatility. A lot of angst, a lot of "16, I'm angry at my father", syndrome. I mean, grow up! We're stuck on an island with a bunch of 'violence for pleasure seeking' psychopath marines. Shame on them. Anyway, I only got one missile and there's two left. Mason? Yes, I'm here. I was just thinking how wonderful it was when the inmates weren't allowed to talk in here. Not allowed to talk. How did you do it? Nurtured the hope that there was hope. That one day I'd breathe free air. Perhaps meet my daughter. Modest hopes, but they kept a man alive. What did they put you away for, John? Oh, that's a long story. Well, I'm not going anywhere. When was the last communication from our men on Alcatraz? Seven hours. PHONE RINGS Thermite plasma is operational. Get me the President. Be seated. Gentlemen, consider yourselves on ground alert. If we receive launch authority, your mission is the complete thermal destruction of Alcatraz Island. The entire island is to be blanketed, not one inch missed. 81 American civilians and a number of US marines will lose their lives in this strike. Why didn't you just tell them where the microfilm was and create a solution? Huh! The moment they had the microfilm, they'd suicide me. Some solution. You ended up here. Which brings me to another question. When you broke out ` let me see if I can get this straight ` you went down the incinerator chute, through the tunnels to the power plant under the steam engine ` that was really cool, by the way ` and into the cistern through the intake pipe. How in the name of Zeus' BUTTHOLE did you get out of your cell?! I only ask because in our current situation, well, it could prove to be useful information ` MAYBE!! CLUNK CLANG! DOOR CLUNKS Trade secrets, my son. MAN: Look around. As the Favourites come out, it begins. Observing with an eagle eye. Mastering the art of stashing. Oh, brilliant move, Gran! Cadbury Favourites. Two operational rockets left. One on the lower lighthouse and one on the roof. Both birds are ready to fly, sir. General, can you hear me? I heard you, Captain. Just making sure. Should we prepare for launch, General? I'll handle the strategy, Captain. Sir. The hour is approaching, sir. Just letting the General know the time... sir. I'm aware of the time, Captain. Aye aye, sir. Letting you know. Me and my boys are ready to rock. Mason, where are you going? 30 years ago I vowed I wouldn't die in this toilet. You're not leaving! There's a madman in there with his hand on a button! Sssh. Some sniper's going to get HIS arse. Stop moving, Mason. Mason, stop moving. Hummel won't do it. He's a soldier, not a murderer. I read it in his eyes. Read his eyes? Oh, then everything's just FINE. I can't afford to take that chance. Why don't you talk louder? Three minutes to go, sir. They're not going to call, Frank. Oh, they'll call. They'll call if we fire a rocket up their ass. Sir. PHONE RINGS Hummel. Frank, it's Al Kramer here. How's it going out there? How do you think it's going? We're going to need another hour. You've got three minutes. Frank, we have to get authorisation. You've got three minutes. Frank, please don't do anything stupid. They want another hour. That's bullshit. That's bullshit. They're lying. They're calling our bluff, sir. They're playing you for a fool, sir. Order the launch, General. Come on, General. Let's be all we can be. The mission's not complete. Mine is. When this is over, you'll go back home, driving Carla and your baby insane in your beige Volvo. And I'll be dead, or back in prison, which is the same thing. You're not leaving. Unh! (gasps for air) All right. I'll do it myself. I've got three weeks' weapons training. I'll kick the... out of a platoon full of marines. No problem. PACY MUSIC Major, patch me to roof battery. Aye, sir. Fire, open control circuit co-ordinates to the roof, sir. Let's go. Laser powered up. Oh no. I said, on your knees. My name is Stanley Goodspeed. I'm a chemical weapons specialist for the FBI. Glass or plastic? What? Glass or plastic? Glass or plastic?! Shut the fuck up! If the winds change and you launch the rockets, we'll all die. Shut up. And you're going to end up in either a glass jar or a plastic bag. What do you say you do the math? Hand over the gun and let's go find some rockets. I said, shut the... SICKENING CRUNCH You made the right choice. I decided I didn't want your child growing up without a father. Hey, the last time I swam this channel I was your age. So I'm fucked either way. So come on. Weapon is hot. Standing by for the launch command. Killing navy SEALS is one thing. Is this for real? Hey, it's business. Access code entered. Weapon available for release. Launch coordinates 6-7-5-4-5 niner. The weapon is hot. I'm standing by for launch command. That's affirmative. TRAM BELL DINGS Standing by for command. TENSE MUSIC Waiting for launch command, General. MUSIC BUILDS Fire. Fire! WHOOSHING SOUND Missile loose, missile loose! Origin Alcatraz. 67253725. What's the goddamn heading? Heading 185 degrees south-southeast. Speed. 300 knots. Headed at Elwood. Football game. Oh my God. (taps keyboard) Missile radically changing direction. New direction, 275 degrees west. It's headed out to sea, sir. Christ. Missile losing altitude. Falling. Falling. 300 feet, 200... 100. Bogey detonated under water. He missed. That's great. Extremely great, but there's still one left. What happened to the rocket? What the fuck happened to the coordinates? What the fuck is going on? Sir, Major? MAJOR: Captain, step outside. Talk to me, sir. Captain, step outside! Get me the Pentagon. What the hell was that, Frank? I said, what the hell... I heard you! If you're going to be insubordinate, I'd like more respect. Cut the crap. What the hell are you doing? I'm not killing these people. Ask the Pentagon for more time. No. Do it, Frank! We're coming loose. We're coming loose. YOU'RE coming loose. The rest of us are in full control. I'm gonna ask for a new deadline. I'm gonna ask for a new deadline. Put the phone down. The men are falling apart. They are marines! Are they? I want to talk to General Kramer. You've been asked by an old friend. Put him on the phone. You've been ordered by a superior officer. You've been ordered by a superior officer. This is Major Baxter. You've been ordered by Now you're being given your last chance by a man with a gun. Put the phone down. I thought you weren't ready to kill. I'm warming up. At ease. They need a decision, Mr President. These past few hours have been the longest, darkest of my life. How does one weigh human life? One million civilians against 81 hostages. And in the middle, Frank Hummel. That we have ignored, abandoned or marginalised a great soldier like Frank Hummel, and that American boys have paid for that neglect with blood is equally real and equally tragic. We are at war with terror. Fighting a war means casualties. This is the worst call I've ever had to make. Air strike approved. Red centre to tower. Request clearance. The amount of firepower they're going to drop... Tower, prepared to go. ..it'll be over in seconds. Flight time to drop point ` 17 minutes. Excuse me, General. With all due respect... what the fuck is going on? You changed the coordinates, didn't you? Affirmative, Captain. So now they think we're gutless, the Feds? They think we won't do it? They're going to come at us with everything they got ` air and sea. They're gonna bomb our ass back to the stone age. They don't know we missed on purpose. Great. We're not gutless. We're incompetent. Is that right? I don't like your tone, Captain. We planned for this contingency. Load the VX into the choppers, take four hostages and evacuate. The consequences, I'll face alone. Excuse me, but what about the fucking money? There is no fucking money. Mission's over. Bullshit it's over. You're talking to a General, soldier. Maintain discipline. I'm not a soldier, Major. The day we took hostages we became mercenaries. And mercenaries get paid. I want my fucking money! This mission was based on the threat of force. I'm not about to kill 80,000 innocent people. Do you think I'm out of my fucking mind? We bluffed, they called it. The mission's over. Whoever said anything about bluffing, General? Whoever said anything about bluffing, General? Stand down, Captain. STAND DOWN, CAPTAIN. Major, I'm ordering you to take these men and evacuate. That's a simple order, Major. It's not so simple, Frank. Sergeant Crisp. Secure the General. I'm relieving you of your command, sir. Sergeant! I'll have that sidearm, sir. You mean this sidearm? Major Baxter, you're either with us or against us. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve with you, General. But like he said, it's over. GUNSHOTS Let's get him. Mason! Dear God, what have I done?! Where's the last rocket? Where's the last rocket?! Where's the last rocket?! Lower lighthouse. Lower lighthouse. Go. RAPID GUNFIRE MOURNFUL MUSIC Go! Go to the lighthouse. I'll take care of this fucker! One, two, three. Eat that. (insane chuckle) Come here. Come here, you little chicken shit. If you shoot me, I drop this. We're both dead. Come on, don't be scared. I won't hurt you. You know how this shit works? You know how THIS shit works? Come on. I don't need the gun. I'll put it down. Come on, let's play. Come on. I think we got started off on the wrong foot. Stan Goodspeed, FBI. Ah, let's talk music. Do you like Elton John's "Rocket Man"? I don't like soft-ass shit. Oh, you don't? Well, I only bring it up because... it's you. You're the rocket man. BEEPING NOISE Nooooooo! How do you like how that shit works? Second rocket's away! Aaaaaagh! Blasted into the bay, sir. No detonation. Shit. DRAMATIC MUSIC (angry yell) Open up! Come on. Open up. MUSIC BUILDS Hey, you mother! MACHINE-GUN FIRE I'm gonna get you now, baby. Oh, yeah. Got ya. I got you, baby. Come on. Aaaagh! SMASH! (yells) (frustrated growl) AIRCRAFT WHOOSH Red Thunder, Strike Leader. Time on target, seven minutes. English prick. I tell you my old man was Irish? Air speed 450 knots. (choking noise) Just me and you, pal. I want that fucking chip! GUNFIRE I love pressure. I know you're in here. I know you can hear me. Now pay the piper and come out like a man. CLATTERING NOISE Yaaah! Increase speed to 500 knots. I'm going to choke my million bucks out of you. You're gonna die. Eat that, you fuck! GLASS SHATTERS (strangling and gurgling) DIRE MUSIC Ugh! Time on target, 60 seconds. On a course heading 142 degrees. (echoing) When he neutralises the threat, we launch green flares and wait for the cavalry. WHOOSH! Tighten up that formation. May God have mercy on your souls. Please don't let this happen, you guys, please. Let's drop to the deck, 100 feet below radar. Target acquired. Rolling in. This is Red Thunder. Master arm. Master arms. Time on target - 12 seconds. TLT 10 seconds. Stay tight, gentlemen. I've got green smoke! I GOT GREEN SMOKE! CQ One. CQ One! Green smoke. We have green smoke. Give me that! Abort! Abort! Jesus Christ! I already dropped them. Nooooooo! HEAVY BLASTS Damn it! My God! Get out of my way. Let me through, please. The cells did not get hit. The bombs hit on the back of the island. TRANQUIL MUSIC I'm fed up saving your arse. I'm amazed you ever got past puberty. I suppose all this will make a great bedtime story to tell your kid. You're insane, Mason. The kid will have nightmares. I'll spend all my money on shrinks. Goodspeed, come in. Goodspeed, Goodspeed, do you read me? Come in. Scanning all radio frequencies. Goodspeed, do you read me? Come in. (radio) Goodspeed, do you read me? Come in. Goodspeed. Do you read me? Come in. This is Goodspeed. Are the hostages alive? Every one of them. WILD CHEERING Goodspeed, it's Womack. What about Mason? He's dead, sir. How? When? Just come and get me. Womack tore up your pardon, John. But of course. I knew he would. The STUs and the scuba gear should still be where we came ashore. If you can get to the Pan Pacific Hotel, there's clothes in my closet. $200 in the bible. Room 26. It's been a long time since I've said thank you to anybody. But thank you. Stanley, this is where we go our separate ways. I'm sure you know the etymology of your name "Goodspeed". Yeah. Godspeed. To wish someone a prosperous journey. Why? Well, if you fancy a journey, I recommend Fort Walton, Kansas. I was thinking Maui. No. SMALL SCRUNCHING SOUND Forget Maui. St Michael's church, Fort Walton, Kansas. Front pew, right leg. Hollow. Is this what I think it is? Mason? Congratulations, Dr Goodspeed. You did it. Thank you, sir. For a while there I didn't think you were going to make it. Well done, son. So where's Mason? Vaporised. Blown out to sea. Blown out to sea, huh? Yeah. Poor bastard. Goodspeed, where's Mason? Where's his body? I want to see that sonofabitch. Vaporised, sir. Excuse me, gentlemen. What? Vaporised? A body can vaporise? Oh yeah. Absolutely, sir. UPBEAT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC St Michael's church, front pew, right leg. Vandal! Vandal! Oh, yes, baby. Come on! Stop! Vandals! Stop! I'm sorry. Come on, baby. OK, go! Stop! Sorry. Stop! Hey, you! Vandals! Vandals! Honey... ah... you want to know who really killed JFK? MUSIC SWELLS SUBTITLED AT THE SEVEN NETWORK BY: C Montague, J Munday, T Jones and T Moreno www.tvnz.co.nz/access-services Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Captioning NZ 2000