ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER COMMANDO II Written by Steven E. de Souza Revised by Frank Darabont First Revised Draft February 6, 1989FADE IN: A BRIEF PROLOGUE: EXT - BEACH = DAY. At first we don’t know we’re on a beach, because all ve see is swirling smoke and ROARING FLAMES -- destruction all around us. A MAN emerges from the smoke like a Wagnerian myth made flesh: a tall, muscled warrior in modern combat gear, covered with greasepaint and blood. He has the heart and soul of a lion. His mame is JOHN MATRIX, and he carries his daughter JENNY. GENERAL FRANKLIN KIRBY awaits him, flanked by armed troops. KIRBY Leave anything for us? MATRIX Just bodies. KIRBY I'd like you to start up your old unit again, John. All it would take is your coming back. MATRIX This was the last time. Matrix and his daughter walk past, heading for a waiting seaplane bobbing in the surf. Kirby calls after hin: KIRBY Until the next time. TIGHT. ON MATRIX as he turns back. Eyes smoldering. . MATRIX No chance. and as he utters these words we SMASH CUT TO: OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE (Best read while listening to "The Brazilian" by Genesis, so if you have the Invisible Touch album; toss it on and crank up the volume.) SREDITS ROLL AS: A HELICOPTER POV (DAY) tilts the world and the sudience dizzily on its ear, racing breathlessly low over whitecapped waves below. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 2 The waves give way to breakers crashing against ragged rocks. We hurtle up a deserted coastline so fast and low we get whiplash just thinking about it. ‘TWO HELICOPTERS rage up the coast at full throttle, flying in loose formation, an angry pair of matte black Huey gunships with no markings whatsoever. They might as wel) be surfing; their landing skids fairly dance across the waves. ° DIZZY TIGHT SHOTS provide an exhilarating quick-cut montage of visual details: . BQTORS thrumming a DEEP BASSO ROAR beneath sound baffles. QXIOTS ‘faceless and grim behind high-tech helmets, heads gleaming like exotic insects, black polarized lenses reflecting the racing waves below. ASSAULT TROOPS inside the helicopters. Helmeted and faceless. Black body armor. Automatic assault rifles. A VOICE shouts over the noise of ROTORS AND RUSHING WIND: VOICE Lock and load! AMMUNITION CLIPS slap hone. WEAPONS are cocked, safeties thrown off. THE WAVES rush by, an incredible blur of reflected sunlight. : cur To: TITLES AND MUSIC CONTINUE AS: EXT - FEDERAL MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON - DAY A armored bus RUMBLES through a set of heavy security gates. MOVING POV FROM INSIDE BUS We are swallowed within the confines of the impossibly-high stone walls. Guard towers loom against the sky. RIFLE-TOTING GUARDS are lined atop the wall, peering down, their presence telling us that & V.I.P. (Very Important Prisoner) is arriving. IN THE PRISON YARD Even the convicts are gathering for a look, drawn from all over the prison to see the new arrival. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: THE BUS shudders to a stop. The door slams open with a HYDRAULIC WHOOSH. TWO GUARDS step down, taking up positions on either side of the door. CAMERA ROCKETS UP TO THE DOOR to reveal NESTOR PEDROSA. His eyes are flinty and hard, his features dark and Latin, his manner aristocratic. He descends from the bus, hands shackled, squinting at the daylight. Pedrosa is escorted through another security gate and into the prison yard proper. All eyes are on him, and he knows it. He moves vith slow ease, making it clear these proceedings are beneath bis dignity. The convicts part before Pedrosa, revealing: ‘THE WARDEN stands waiting to greet the new arrival. Pedrosa is brought before him. The Warden favors him with a gloating smile. WARDEN Welcome to Hell, you sorry sack of shit. " Pedrosa‘’s eyes flash in momentary anger...but then, incredibly, he sniles. Faintly at first, then wider, his stile growing. His teeth are perfect, pearly white, rimmed’ in gold. Pedrosa starts to laugh. The Warden’s smugness fades. This is the last reaction he expected. Pedrosa keeps laughing, louder and louder. 7 The Warden looks around nervously, because now Pedrosa’s laughter no longer sounds like laughter, it sounds like the throaty WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP of helicopter rotors, which it is because -- THE TWO UNMARKED BLACK HUEYS ROAR into view like sudden thunder, swooping mere feet over the prison walls. Several guards are swept SCREAMING off the wall by the rotor wash, arms and legs windmilling as they plummet into the yard. The helicopters bank into a power turn as the DOOR GUNNERS open up with their .30 cals. GUARDS are chewed up by bullets and blown off the prison walls even as they try to scramble inte firing positions. (CONTINUED) .CONTINUED: THE PRISON YARD is turned into a maelstrom of fleeing and dying men, bullets grinding up everything in sight. The Warden hurls himself to the ground as a guard right next to him is blown off his feet. Pedrosa throws his shackled hands around the covering Warden’s neck and drags him choking to his feet, using him as a sh: HUEY #1 The deor gunner is suddenly hit, torn apart by bullets. He flops lifelessly in his safety harness like a shattered ‘puppet. AUGLE ON GUARD TOWER reveals a guard BLASTING AWAY on the tower machine gun. HUEY #1 pivots neatly around in a dead-perfect hover and FIRES A MISSILE. A WHITE HOT STREAK shoots through the air and -- THE GUARD TOWER simply vanishes in a huge concussive FIREBALL, catapulting the flaming body of the guard through the air. HUEY #1 pivots and FIRES AGAIN, taking out another guard tower as -- HUEY #2 - lays down smoke and lands in the yard, whipping up a hurricane of flying dust and debris. Troops disembark, faceless men in black firing GUNBURSTS in all directions. The assault troops reach Pedrosa, who still has a stranglehold on the Warden. Lightning-quick, Pedrosa yanks a pistol from a soldier’s holster and jams it into the Warden’s stomach. PEDROSA Hell welcomes you, not me. BLAMIBLAMIBLAN! The Warden crumples. The troops grab Pedros and hustie hin into the Huey. It lifts into the air, rotors kicking up a storm of dust, door gunner still chattering away on his .30 cal. HELICOPTER POV rising into the air, revealing the full extent of the carnage below: bodies strewn everywhere...survivors buffeted by & hurricane of rotor wash aS they stumble blindly among the dead (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: THE HELICOPTERS jein up in formation, pivot around as gracefully as a pair of ballet dancers performing a de deux, and vanish over the wall as abruptly as they appeared, QPENING CREDIT SEOUENCE ENDS as we INT - GALLERIA - ESTABLISHING - DAY The sane shopping mall from COMMANDO J. Crowded and busy. INT - VIDEO & MUSIC EMPORIUN TIGHT ANGLE ON a display of television sets. Most of the TV screens show an ANCHORWOMAN delivering the news: ANCHORWOMAN ++-death toll has yet to be confirmed, but observers are calling the airborne terrorist assault the most daring and violent prison break in U.S. history. A photo of Pedrosa appears behind her. ANGLE WIDENS OUT to reveal a store full of browsing customers ignoring every word. . ANCHORWOMAN Nestor Pedrosa reputedly runs the Panamanian arm of the Medellin Cartel, the infamous Colombia-based drug enpire. He was in this country illegally when he was arrested last year in connection with the single biggest shipment of illegal narcotics ever to cross our borders... ANGLE SHIFTS to reveal JENNY MATRIX browsing the video rental shelf, a Walkman on her ears. Now in high school, she’s grown into quite a lovely young lady. She moves down the row, bent low, frowning in concentration as she tries to make a choice. She almost bumps into a figure blocking her way. She looks up and sees: BRAD HANLEY grinning down at her. Eyes of blue, shades by Vuarnet, a high school senior guaranteed to cause palpitations in even the stoniest of female teen hearts. Jenny straightens up, flustered but covering nicely. she removes the Walkman and gives him a shy, beautiful smile. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: JENNY Oh. Hi Brad, BRAD You/re looking real good, Jenny. He pauses, allowing her a moment to just bask in his presence. BRAD Listen, some of us seniors are getting together for a little party tonight. You interested? Jeany blinks. This is too good to be true. . JENNY Me? You’re asking me? BRAD (flashes that grin) You got something against seniors? JENNY Uh, no. BRAD So how about it? She wrestles with this, shooting a glance across the store at her father. He’s engrossed browsing the music cassettes. JENNY 1’4 have-to ask.my dad. We were gonna watch a movie at hone tonight. BRAD You spend Saturday night at hone with your old man? That’s a little Leave it to Beaver, isn’t it? MATRIX is delighted to find a certain music cassette. He looks around for Jenny and notices the slick dude chatting her up. His smile fades to a frown. JENNY AND BRAD BRAD Look, just shine the old man and come party with the Bradster. He moves closer, crowding her space, fingering a U2 button on her jacket lapel. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: BRAD Daddy’s little girl has to grow up sometime, you catch what I’m saying? Jenny shakes her head, unsure -- growing more uncomfortable, BRAD c’nmon, if you’. gonna learn to party, learn with the best, am I right? He opens his jacket, directing her attention down. BRAD'S JACKET LINING is an elaborate pharmaceutical warehouse. Coke, crack, weed, ups, downs ~~ you name it, the Bradster’s got it. JENNY {her heart sinks) Oh_my God. Is that what I think it is? BRAD It ain’t my Care Bear collection. I got shit in here Nancy Reagan never even dreamed of. (leans in, sotto) You fly with me, you fly for free. You fly sole, you pay. How about it, baby? Beats watching "Bambi." I don't think so. She tries to push past hin, Zlushed and angry, but he crowds her against the shelf. What’s your problem? Just let me go. BRAD - Or what? You gonna holler for Daddy? (snickers) I bet he even Jooks like Ward Cleaver, Suddenly a giant hand enters frame and arabs Brad by the back of the neck. — MATRIX (0.S.) That‘s right. (CONTINUED)“eee ee ee TIGHT ON BRAD as the giant hand turns him slowly around and he finds himsels gazing up into the very pissed-off face of Colonel John Matrix. Brad’s eyes bug out over the tops of his cool shades. MATRIX In fact, when I wear a sweater, you can barely tell us apart. MEZZANINE LEVEL Matrix drags Brad from the Music Emporium by his ear, scattering shoppers right and left. Jenny trails behing. - Brad is hollering, arms windmilling: : BRAD Get him aff’s me! He’s crazy! THO SECURITY GUARDS (whom we recognize from COMMANDO I) race up the stairs, see Matrix, and skid to a sudden stop. GUARD 41 Ob shit! It’s him again! GUARD #2 (into walkie-talkie) Better call SWAT. Godzilla’s back. Matrix sees them and hustles Brad over. The guards cower at Matrix’ approach. - MATRIX I want this scum arrested! GUARD #1 For what? MATRIX Trying to push drugs to my daughter! Brad wrestles out of Matrix’ grasp, emboldened now that the guards are here. : BRAD It’s your word against mine, asshole, and your word doesn’t mean shit! I should know, ny old man’s a lewyer! These peons tan‘t touch ne! Not without probable cause! MATRIX (squints at the guards) Probable cause? (CONTINUED)RONTINUED: GUARD #2 I’m afraid he’s right. Matrix glowers at Brad. Brad gives him a nasty smirk. Matrix grabs Brad and lifts him into the air. He spins him ~upside down and starts shaking hin by the ankles like a bag of laundry. Brad screams and flails helplessly as drugs of ali description come cascading out of his clothes and onto the floor. The pile grows and grows. ° Matrix pauses and-turns to the guards. MATRIX Probable enough? The guards exchange a glance, then look back at Matrix. GUARD #1 (grins) Works for us. Matrix drops Brad to the ground. The guards move in and cuff him. JENNY jocks around, mortally embarrassed, wishing she were invisible. All the teenagers in the place are staring at her, mouths gaping. cur To: EXT ~ FREEWAY ~ DAY Matrix drives his jeep, which is loaded down with groceries. Jenny rides beside hin, agitated: JENNY I am so mortified. Everybody I know was there. Wait till word gets around that my father narked out Brad Hanley, only the most popular guy in school. MATRIX Is that what it takes to be popular? Drugs? (Jenny shrugs morosely) You think I should have stood there and done nothing? JENNY No. I just wish you’d done it a little more quietly, that’s all. (pause, sadly) I used to think he was so nice. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 10 Matrix sees that she’s heartbroken. MATRIX I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. JENNY (shoots him a look) You’re not gonna do that to every senior that asks me out, are you? Matrix laughs. She finally thaws and laughs too, digging into the Music Emporium bag.. JENNY What’s this new tape you bought? MATRIX It’s one of the first rock and roll albums I ever heard back in East Germany. I can’t believe I found it. Jenny unwraps it and pops it into the cassette player. "Gimme Some Lovin’" by the Spencer Davis Group BLARES from the speakers. Matrix boogies behind the steering wheel, enjoying himself inmensely. MATRIX What do you think? JENNY {mo use being polite) It’s a little prehistoric. Matrix glares at her as we : CUT To: EXT - MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY Matrix’ jeep comes into view, winding up the hill, "Gimme Sone Lovin'" BLARING into the wilderness. SENNY This is the fourth time we’ve heard this. How many more times are you going to play it? MATRIX Until you learn to like it. A HELICOPTER suddenly CLATTERS into view from behind a ridge and wheels about after the jeep -- a Bell Jet Ranger in light gray, sporting a corporate logo on the side: “McCarren Defense Industries." (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: n The chopper ROARS overhead and drops to the side, pacing then. GENERAL FRANKLIN KIRBY snaps off a salute from the passenger side of the cockpit. Neither Matrix nor Jenny look thrilled. EXT ~ MATRIX CABIN The jeep pulls to a step. Matrix and Jenny watch the Jet Ranger come in for a perfect landing -- right in the flowerbed. Kirby energes and waves to them. They get out of the jeep and walk over. Matrix and Kirby shake hands warmly. KIRBY. . John. You're looking fit. MATRIX Se are you, General. KIRBY Hello, Jenny. You’re growing into quite a young lady. JENNY You're on Dad’s begonias. KIRBY I beg your pardon? JENNY He spent all summer growing those begonias, and you just landed your helicopter on them. - MATRIX Jenny, don’t be rude to our guest. VOICE (0.S.) Sorry! My fault! ANGLE ON HELICOPTER reveals PACO LOPEZ swinging down from the pilot’s seat. He wears fingerless gloves and a faded Hawaiian shirt over a green Army tank top. He flips up the tinted lenses of his aviator specs, a big grin under his bushy mustache. LOPEZ I remember lots of times we couldn’t be so picky about our Lz, right Colonel? MATRIX Paco? Paco Lopez? LOPEZ It is I, the one and only. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: : 22 They sweep into a bear hug and roar with laughter. < MATRIX How long has it been? Angola? LOPEZ At least. This your little girl? (Matrix nods proudly) I got a boy about her age. We ought te get ‘em together. Jenny .buffs and rolls her eyes. There is no.dignity. ‘ln 2 i I/l1l put the groceries away and get dinner started. She wrestles groceries out of the jeep and heads toward the house. Matrix looks Lopez up and down, eyes his Hawaiian shirt. MATRIX You‘re out of uniform, soldier. . | LOPEZ Watch who you're calling "soldier." I haven‘t dravn Army pay in a long tine. MATRIX Civilian? . LOPEZ (nods) I’m an independent contractor. I freelance around. (cocks a thumb at Kirby) Today I get to play taxi for McCarren Industries. Matrix shoots Kirby a questioning look. KIRBY John, we need to talk. MATRIX The answer is no. KIRBY Hear me out first. You owe me that. Beat. Matrix nods. Lopez does a graceful fade: LOPEZ Ill help with the rest of the groceries. Let’s get together soon, Sohn. Suck down some brews. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: a Matrix and Kirby stroll up the mountain path, moving out of earshot of the house. MATRIX What‘s this about McCarren Industries? You moving into the private sector? KIRBY Hell no, I’ve got khaki running in my veins, you know that. But we/re working with them. A joint venture of sorts.” ~ MATRIX Why? KIRBY Andrew McCarren is much more than just a businessman -- he’s a true American patriot. And McCarren Industries is much more than just defense -- worldwide, their intelligence network is second only to the C.I.A.’s. (stops, faces Matrix) Zohn, we've got a situation brewing. It’s very sensitive, potentially explosive. You’re the best team leader I ever had. T could use you back, now more than ever. - MATRIX What is this "situation? KIRBY I’m sorry, that’s on a need-to-know basis ~~ and frankly, if you turn me down, you don’t need to know. (beat) I will tell you this. our cause is sacred. Matrix gazes off and sees Jenny walking from the house to the jeep. She wrestles more groceries into her arms and gazes up in her father’s direction. MATRIX When her mother died I promised 1'4 never go away again. KIRBY Damn it, John. You’re a soldier, You have a duty. MATRIX I’m a father first. My duty is to her. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 14 KIRBY What about your country? MATRIX (eyes flash) I lett my share of blood on foreign soil. I won’t break my promise to Jenny. Not even for you. I’m sorry. Kirby shakes his he: , sighs. wxpey. Iam too, John. More than you know. - Kirby takes Matrix’ hand in a firm goodbye clasp and speaks with an eerie note of finality: KIRBY Farewell, my friend. And with that, Kirby turns and strides down the path. CUT TO: RIRBY’S HELICOPTER ROARS into the sky and skims away at treetop level. TILT DOWN to Matrix watching it go, shielding his eyes from the sun. Jenny emerges fron the house and comes to his side, worried but putting on a brave face. He senses her concern. : MATRIX I’m not breaking my promise. Not now, not ever. You read me? JENNY (smiles, relieved) Loud and clear, Colonel. He hugs her. she returns the hug fiercely. Together, they start back toward the house. MATRIX Now, what's for dinner? cur To: EXT - JUNGLE - PRE-DAWN Foliage fills the screen. Lush and green, moist and rotting. It’s barely light enough to see, and early morning mist obscures onr view. SUPER TITLE: "Costa Rica." (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: as We soon begin to notice subtle movement in the folia edd shift of color here, a shadow moving there... an :::and we soon realize that there are men in the bush. They become gradually perceptible, like one of those "Find the Indians" picture puzzles we used to do in grade school -- only these "Indians" are three dimensional and armed to the teeth. VARIOUS TIGHT ANGLES show us glimpses of the camouflaged troops...assault rifles held at the ready...faces obscured by shadow and greasepaint... The Commando team deploys itself, taking up vantage points and settling in. Grim. Determined. We hear WHISPERED COMMANDS, sone in English, some in Spani: We now hear the RUMRLE OF APPROACHING ENGINES. ANOTHER ANGLE reveals three trucks meandering up a muddy dirt road in a ragtag column, bouncing over the ruts. The vehicles are ancient and utilitarian, sides covered with canvas. The trucks get closer. Closer still. Almost upon us now. The Commando team bursts from the bush and storms the road. WARNING SHOTS are fired into the air. VOICE (subtitled Spanish, - over bullhorn) You are under arrest! The trucks lurch to a stop. Cut off, surrounded. Troops closing in from all sides. A fait accompli? Well, no, because -- THE CANVAS SIDES of the trucks drop away, revealing a Quad 50 on each tuck keg. manned by heavily armed teams, A brief aside: A .50 caliber machine gun is one of the nastiest conventional weapons ever devised -- it will cut a man entirely in half. You can go more high-tech, but you certainly can’t go more brutal. Well, imagine four .50 caliber machine guns mounted as a single unit on the bed of @ truck and you have one Quad 50. Multiply that by a factor of three, one for each truck, and you have some idea of the incredible sheer brute destructive power of this ambush. Like they used to say in Nam, Quads don’t just kill the enemy, they rearrange the fucking landscape. So modify your maps of Costa Rica, because + (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 16 THE COMMANDO TEAM is virtually vaporized -- not just cut down by bullets, mina you, but blown to red dust before our very eyes, shredded to pulp by a huge invisible thresher. There’s no piece to run, no place to hide. The surrounding jungle is turned into a Clearing, with nothing left standing. The firing ceases. Abrupt silence. As if this utter devastation hadn’t been enough, the trucks now oper up with flame’throwers —-wide Sweeping arcs of flaming Gasoline turn the killing ground into a blazing inferno. KESTOR PEDROSA emerges from the lead truck to survey the devastation. He smiles and nods, satisfied, an¢ gets back in the truck. THE TRUCKS pull out, vanishing into the early morning mist. They leave nothing to mark their passing but a scorched hole in the jungle. cur To: INT - DARKENED ROOM - TIGHT ON TV - NIGHT A news item is being read over a shaky image of body bags being loaded onto a military transport plane. ANCHORMAN ¢yeresulted in the tragic massacre of the entire team. It is confirmed tonight that the cooperative effort between U.S. and Costa Rican forces had been an attempt to recapture escaped drug lord Nestor Pedrosa as he re-entered his native country of Panama. A file photo of General Franklin Kirby now pops up as: ANCHORMAN The body of General Kirby is being flown back to the United States under military escort. Kirby, a veteran of both the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts, held the Congressional Medal of Honor, and was twice recipient of the Medal of Valor. (beat) We'll be right back after this, (CONTINUED)MMINS ENE OT a REVERSE ANGLE John Matrix sits in his darkened living room, slumped in his chair and nursing a beer, his face an impenetrable mask in the dim glow of the Tv. TV PITCHMAN (0.5.) What’s the matter, Sally Thompson? Pain and itch of hemmorhoidal tissue getting you down? Matrix hits the mute button. Jenny appears behind him, lays her hand on his shoulder. . MATRIX if only Id been there...he’d he alive. JENNY Or you’d be dead. Matrix says nothing, In his silence, and in the set of his eyes, we read his unshakable conviction that he let a friend die. Jenny exits, leaving her father to stare at the silent flickering image on the Tv. cur To: EXT ~ MILITARY CEMETERY - DAY SEVEN SOLDIERS raise their M-16s to the slate gray sky and fire off three CRISP SHOTS, for a total of 21. "Taps" begins playing. AN AMERICAN FLAG ° is folded into a neat, tight bundle. MATRIX stands among the crowd of mourners. Paco Lopez is with him. Matrix salutes as the casket is lowered. cur To: EXT - MCCARREN DEFENSE INDUSTRIES - DUSK The headquarters of the largest defense contractor in the world is a striking glass and steel office building, surrounded by a sprawl of lesser annex buildings. Situated inthe industrial zone at the edge of downtown Los Angeles, the entire complex is surrounded by a formidable wall topped with infra-red sensors- Their logo: “our Business is America." TILT DOWN to reveal John Matrix arguing with A UNIFORMED GUARD: (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: as GUARD Look pal, for the last time, ve don’t allow visitors off the street. You wanna see Mr. McCarren, you go through proper channels. MATRIX What are the proper channels? GUARD If you don’t know, you don’t belong here. The guard starts back toward the booth, but Matrix grabs hin by the am. . : MATRIX Look, just call his office and tell him that John Ma-- SLICK-CLACK! Matrix freezes. CHARLIE DORRIT, Chief of the uniformed guards and damn proud of it, steps from the booth with a pistol-grip shotgun. He’s black, muscular, and brooks no nonsense. DORRIT Sir? Either you renove that arm, or I'll remove it for you. Matrix’ gaze narrows. But before this can get any uglier -- A LIMOUSINE =” turns in and rolis up to the gate. The rear window comes down, McCarren peers out. MCCARREN What’s the problem here? DORRIT Nothing we can‘t handle, Mr. McCarren. MATRIX Mr. McCarren? My name is Matrix. I was a friend of General Kirby‘s. McCarren gestures for Dorrit to stand by. McCARREN Yes, John Matrix, isn’t it? General Kirby always spoke highly of you. What can I do for you? MATRIX What went wrong in Costa Ric (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 19 . MCCARREN I’m not entirely sure what you mean. MATRIX Don’t bullshit me. Your people coordinated that operation. MCCARREN Mr. Matrix, I can appreciate the fact that you’re upset. But you must appreciate the fact that I can’t discuss a sensitive operation with the public. It’s a matter of security. MATRIX Security? Your security sucks. Kirby walked right into an ambush. There must be a leak in your organization. A HUGE MAN leans into view beyond McCarren. JORDAN GUNTHER has no sense of huper and is not to be taken lightly. . GUNTHER Back off, cowboy. MATRIX Who are you? GUNTHER Jordan Gunther. Head of Security for McCarren Industries. MATRIX (back to McCarren) I still say your security sucks. Gunther is ready to lunge from the car, but McCarren reins hin back with a gesture. McCarren gives Matrix a steely gaz McCARREN Prove it. Be waves the driver to proceed. The limo proceeds into the complex and the gate closes. Matrix turns and walks away, followed by the hostile stares of the guards. He’s fuming...but we can see an idea forming. He glances back at the guard booth. As soon as he’s out of their line of sisht. he cuts around the gormer and sprints into the darkness. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 20 INT - MCCARREN LOBBY - NIGHT MeCarren and Gunther en’ at a brisk pace to find MELINDA TAFT waiting with her brietc She‘s legal counsel for Mecarren Industries, brainy and beautiful, looks great in glasses. MeCARREN Counselor, sorry to keep you waiting. Are you ready for me? MELINDA (nods) I have those merger proposals ready fer your signature. MCCARREN Excellent. Let’s go up to ny effice, shall ve? They head for the elevators. OUTSIDE THE COMPLEX - NIGHT Matrix is on the move, hugging the shadows, scanning the high wall. How to get over? Suddenly, headlights wash over him as a security PATROL CAR comes around the corner, pinning him with its lights. The car surges forward to cut him off. VOICE (over P.A.) Freeze right there! MATRIX grins. Perfect. He runs straight at the oncoming car. The driver slams on his brakes. Matrix bounds up onto the hood, then the roof -- but he doesn’t stop there, he springboards off the roof of the car and vaults sideways over the top of the wall, his body breaking the thin red line of the sensor. The guards inside the car are left gaping up at the ceiling as —- OTHER SIDE OF WALL 4c Matrix lands inside the complex and rolls to his feet ina éat-like crouch. He takes off running as ALARMS START WAILING and security spotlights start snapping on all over the complex. Matrix comes to an annex building, S a huge power : transformer on the roof, He cuts around the corner and comes to a door, ducking back as it opens. A GUARD peers out, flashlight extended like an invitation -- Matrix grabs his arm and yanks him out, spinning him into an akido hold. MATRIX Do you have good workman’s comp here? (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: at GUARD Huh? Well, yeah, I guess-- Matrix slams him against the building, knocking him cold. MATRIX Good. Matrix snatches up the flashlight and dives through the door into the power bunker. INT ~ SECURITY STATION - WIGHT ARTHUR TRENT is plainclothes security, Jordan Gunther's right hand man. He and the UNIFORMED GUARDS stationed at this post are frantically scanning an electronic map of the McCarren complex as hell breaks loose across the board -- blinking lights are coming to life, spreading rapidly. TRENT (into walkie talkie) weright, right, we have a breach on the south wall...intruders moving into sector four =~ they're in the main quadrangle! EXT - QUADRANGLE - NIGHT reveals @ team of GUARDS lead by Charlie Dorrit himself. DORRIT (into walki kie) Negative, negative! We’re in the quadrangle! You’re reading us! INT - ELEVATOR - NIGHT McCarren, Melinda, and Gunther are riding up in the elevator. GUNTHER (on walkie-talkie) Trent, this is Gunther! What is intruder strength? How many aggressors are We dealing with? All react as the elevator suddenly loses power and jerks to a stop. The lights cut out. TRENT (filtered) We just lost power to the board! INT - POWER BUNKER ~ NIGHT Matrix cuts the last of the main breaker switches, plunging the entire complex into darkness. He vaults up the stairs. (CONTINUED)22 EXT - COMPLEX - NIGHT Discene Of mounting confusion. Teams of GUARDS race Sround, trying to pinpoint the intruder. MATRIX fades into the shadovs at the mouth of an inclined alley between buildings. He Pauses, looking up at: THE MAIN BUILDING Haarix’ ultimate goal, Getting there means crossing a lot of ©pen ground. MATRIX feepes the area -~ leaks good. He bursts from caver and charges inte the open ~~ Rut GUARDS unexpectedly cone around the comer! GUARD There he is! Yatrix spins to go the other way -- but another team of GUARDS suddenly appear from there too! cut off tres both sides! Matrix spins around and vanishes back inte the alley, charging up the ramp into darkness. The guards converge at the mouth of the alley, snapping their Weapons up and CLICK-CLACKING rounds inte chambere™ DORRIT (into walkie-talkie) Intruder is contained in access ramp, Building G6, All security units respond. ROOKIE GUARD (panicky, whispering) Do we go in after him? DORRIT . Screw that. We’ve got him trapped, There’s no way out but past us. Let him try. 4 sound from the darkness ~~ a FAINT METALLIC SCRAPING. The guards tense up, staring into pitch blackness, ready to kill anything that moves. The SCRAPING now grows louder -~ rapidly becoming a DEEP RUMBLE -- and then a BOAR! Something's coming out of that darkness like a beast out of Hell! The tereitied guards open fire, a wild volley of crashing GUNFIRE! (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 23 MATRIX ROARS from the inclined alley riding inside s runavay trash dumpster. ducking low as bullets SPARK off the metali He plows through the guards like an express train, sends then sprawling like ten pins! But Matrix got more than he bargained for because there’s no stopping a hurtling trash dumpster once it gets going and -- ANOTHER ANGLE <> the dumpster tears through the railing with a SHRIEK OF METAL and an EXPLOSION OF CONCRETE and sails through the air to land on a lover level, still going like a bat out of hell on a rocket sled! And now things really gets hairy, because -- SECURITY CARS are converging on the scene just as Matrix and his dumpster hurtle into their midst. In an incredible tour-de-force of choreography, cars begin hitting their brakes and spinning out, with the dumpster slamming into and rebounding off of each car in turn. Several cars flip and roll. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride had nothing on this. Matrix and the dumpster get bounced around like a giant pinball, finally slingshotted across the quadrangle and -- INT - MAIN BUILDING ~z xight into the building he was trying £e reach in the first Place, EXPLODING through the plate glass! The dumpster tears through a row of potted plants, upends, and dumps Matrix elegantly into a long slide across the floor. Before his momentum ends he’s on his feet and running. INT - ELEVATOR - NIGHT Gunther is trying to force the doors while McCarren hollers into the walkie-talkie: McCARREN God damn it, where are those backup generators? Gunther gets the doors partially open -~ they see that they’re about five feet below the next floor. There’s just enough space at the top to crawl out. MCCARREN You first, Ms. Taft. OUTSIDE THE ELEVATOR Melinda is boosted into view by Gunther. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 24 MELINDA Hey! Watch those hands! GUNTHER (0.S.) Sorry. MELINDA (muttering) Sorry ny a! INT. = SECURITY ZONE - NIGHT Matrix hurls a cheir through a pair of glass doors marked "NO USAUTHORIZED ENTRY." He charges through and finds himself in — RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Two levels, very slick, with drafting tables, computers, the works, Matrix is on the upper level. He a row of "TOP CLEARANCE ONLY" filing cabinets near the railing. Without breaking stride, he leaps like a karate kick boxer and SLAMS into one with both feet. The filing cabinet flips over the railing and plunnets to the lower level, SMASHING into the floor and splitting its seams on impact. Top secret documents geyser into the air. Instead of using the stairs, Matrix slides down the banister, laughing like a mischievous kid. He snatches documents off the floor at random and moves on. INT - MAIN BUILDING -.VARIOUS LocaATIoNs Confusion. Searching guards. INT ~ KALLWAY McCarren, Gunther, and Melinda race up the hallway. Gunther hollering into the walkie-talkie: GUNTHER I want a status report now! They react as the lights suddenly start coming. back on all over the building, stuttering to fluorescent life. VOICE (filtered) We got our electricity back! MCCARREN (muttering) No shit. Give that guy a raise. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 25 INT - COMMUNICATIONS ROOM - NIGHT Xeroxes, modems, telex and fax machines. Matrix rushes in, goes to a wall chart listing Telex and fax numbers for McCarren operations around the world. ANGLE TIGHTENS as Matrix’ finger goes down the column of in-house fax nunbers -- Bt McCarren’s personal office number and fax code. . MATRIX gxins and rips the cover sheet marked "TOP SECRET" off the document. He grabs a marker, jots something on the page, then spins to a fax machine. He punch: in a code and hits marked "Transmission Deli " INT = TOP FLOOR HALLWAY ~ NIGHT McCarren, Melinda, and Gunther hustle down the hallway toward Mecarren‘s office, surrounded now by a horde of UNIFORMED GUARDS and PLAINCLOTHES SECURITY. McCARREN What do you mean you lost then! TRENT Well, we think they‘re in the building -- ‘McCARREN You think? I don’t want to hear that crap! I want them found! McCarren enters his office and -- INT - McCARREN'S OFFICE ‘= is astonished to find John Matrix kicked back with his feet up on the desk, helping himself to McCarren’s stash of expensive cigars. MATRIX Not "them" -- just little old me. Weapons snap up in Matrix’ direction. Matrix puffs a cigar to life and biows a smoke ring at the ceiling. MATRIX I breached your complex ten minutes ago. Long enough to steal important documents and transmit them to your coupetitors, or to unfriendly nations, anywhere in the world. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 26 McCARREN Bullshit! Now listen, you lunatic -~ Matrix holds up a finger, asking for silence. He peers at his watch, silently counting down the last few seconds until... McCarren’s PHONE RINGS. Matrix smiles at McCarren. MATRIX It’s for you. -- Glaring, McCarren snatches up the phone and hears: ROBOT VOICE (filtered) Inceming transmission...Incoming transmission... Puzzled now, McCarren turns to his fax machine and switches it on. A page WHIRS out and McCarren grabs it. INSERT - THE FAX PAGE A facsimile of the "TOP SECRET" cover sheet, along with Matrix’ handwritten addition: "Like 1 said. your security sucks." MeCARREN considers this carefully -- very carefully. . MCCARREN Mr. Matrix, I don’t know whether to have you shot...prosecuted...or put op payroll. MATRIX (glances at his watch) You already owe me for eleven minutes. Beat. McCarren smiles. MCCARREN I’d like you all to say hello to Sohn Matrix... (pointed glance at Gunther) : . «ssour new security consultant. MATRIX leans back in McCarren’s chair, puffing leisurely on the cigar. MATRIX Now, shall we talk about Costa Rica? cur To:27 EXT - MCCARREN COMPLEX - SAME NIGHT Matrix and McCarren walk through the quadrangle, where crevs are cleaning up after the evening’s festivities. A forklift is putting a flipped car back on its wheels, and broken glass is being swept up everywhere. MGCARREN (chuckles) You do have a remarkable technique with job interviews. MATRIX I didn’t come here for a job. MCCARREN (turning serious) No, of course not. You came to discuss the leak in ay organization. (beat) Drug enforcement and military personnel fron both countries were Anvolved. It was their show, mostly. All we did was broker some information and logistics. The leak could be anywhere...on their end, or mine. Either way, I intend to find that leak. MATRIX And then? _ MeCARREN I’m going to plug it. Decisively and mercilessly. (faces Matrix) If you want in, just say the word. Kirby was a friend of yours, and I can’t think of anybody better qualified. MATRIX I may have a problem there. (off McCarren’s look) Personal reasons. MCCARREN My boy, you’re a gonsultant. If you choose to renain in that capacity when the time cones, that will be entirely your decision. (beat) Right now let’s turn our attention to more immediate concerns... (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 28 WE GO INTO A MONTAGE SEQUENCE AS: Matrix peers at an elaborate scale model of the McCarren complex. ANGLE WIDENS as he points out various weak points to Gunther, Trent, and SEVEN OTHER PLAINCLOTHES SECURITY MEN. (These seven CIA-types are Gunther's "boys," and are not to be confused with the uniformed guard staff of McCarren Industries. Their names are MILES, LINDER, BOWDEN, SCUDDER, BURROUGHS, JENNINGS, and PATTERSON. Dangerous, humorless men.) HeCARREN (V.0.) You're a man of rare resource ‘end initiative, John. You’ve made it clesr how vulnerable we really are. Eike the logo says, our business is America...and that makes us a target for every lunatic fringe and terrorist group around the world... EXT - GROUNDS = DAY Matrix is walking the perimeter with engineers and security men. He has a clipboard, jotting notes as he studies the sensors atop the wall. He points out a design flaw -- the engineers nod, but Gunther just glowers. MECARREN (V.0.) As security consultant, you will revamp al] security systems and procedures, bring then up to snuff. And what you implement here will be duplicated at my plants worldwide... INT + MATRIX HOME - NIGHT Matrix is at the dinner table, reading glasses on his nose, poring over sales manuals and specs for such prosaic items as the “Automated Laser Intercept System." MCCARREN (V.0.) Think of me as an open checkbook, John. Whatever you need, just ask... Jenny finally yanks the manual from his hands and pushes his plate in front of him. Eat. INT - MATRIX HOME - NIGHT Matrix is working on his personal computer into the wee hours of the morning. He rubs his eyes, exhausted. TIGHT ON COMPUTER SCREEN A computer-graphic recreation of the McCarren plant revolves slowly on the screen. ANGLE WIDENS to reveal us in the McCarren (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 29 Computer Room. Matrix is in mid-demonstration -~ HIGHLIGHTED AREAS appear on the screen as he manipulates the keyboard: MATRIX Power to the complex will be below ground, completely independent. That way nobody can knock it out. McCarren nods, pleased. Gunther nods too...sort of. Matrix shifts the highlights, this tine illuminating the elevator and stairvell shafts. MATRIX And finally, you'll be able to seal all the elevators and stairways -- and Puxp the shafts full of gas. McCRRREN Gas? Lethal or non-lethal? MATRIX You'll be equipped with both. McCARREN Excellent. Looks like you've got all the bases covered. MATRIX I haven’t started on the most important thing. : MCCARREN Which is? MATRIX Your men. {off Mecarren’s look) All this high-tech won’t do you any good if your men lack training. EXT - TRAINING FIELD - DAY Matrix paces like a drill sergeant, shouting encouragements the assemble¢ GUARDS are put through an exhausting series of calisthenics. There’s a lot of huffing an puffing going on. He pauses, glancing down at the belly of an OVERWEIGHT GUARD doing jumping jacks. GUARD Too much linguini. . MATRIX I'll give you my low cal recipe. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 30 INT - CLASSROOM - DAY Matrix is lecturing an assembly of guards in an amphitheater- style classroom. Written in chalk on the blackboard is the . Subject of today’s discussion: "Psychology of Infiltration.” INT - MAIN BUILDING - GROUND FLOOR HALLWAY - DAY Matrix supervises workmen who are installing high-tech laser heads in the walls, up near the ceiling. The wails are ripped out, crumbled drywall everywhere. McCarren appears, polishing an apple on his lapel, and hands Matrix an envelope. MCCARREN First week's pay, I think you‘1l find it adequate. Matrix pulls a check from the envelope. His eyes go wide. MATRIX (grins) . I think I like being a consultant. McCarren tries to go down the hallway -- but Matrix grabs his arm and stops hin. * MATRIX I wouldn’t go this way just now. . McCARREN why not? Matrix takes McCarren’s applé and tosses it underhand down the corridor —— one of the lasers in the wall apple xight out of the sir, like a gunslinger shooting a goin. MCCARREN I/ll wait. EXT - TRAINING FIELD - DAY Matrix running hand-to-hand drills with groups of GUARDS wearing green fatigues. One guard attempts a defensive move, but Matrix puts him down -- then helps him right back up. MATRIX 7 No, no -- try again. Don’t block up, block out, my momentum will take care of up. The guard grii getting the hang of it. He still goes down, but not quite easily. MATRIX Better! (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 3 EXT - FIELD - SHORTLY LATER ‘Matrix leads the guards across the field tovard a "Hogan's Alley" firing range. The mood is amiable, loose. The guards have taken a real liking to Matrix, especially Chief Guard Charlie Dorrit: DORRIT Hear tell you're quite a hero. (Matrix shrugs it off) Me, I did two tours in the Nam. I was at Khe Sahn when the shit hit. Walked away with a silver star and a purple heart. MATRIX Sounds to me like you’re the hero. DORRIT (grins) Hell, no, Colonel. I was just trying to keep my ass attached. Matrix laughs. EXT - HOGAN’S ALLEY FIRING RANGE - SHORTLY LATER Junked cars, building facades, etc. Smoke grenades are drifting smoke through the scene. Matrix leads the guards up the street with weapons at the ready. - MATRIX Concentrate on your own field of fire, not your neighbor’s. Do your job, and let him do his. Wooden silhouettes with painted figures begin popping up on the cours The men BLAST AWAY as they move up the street. THE POP-UP FIGURES Killers. Bank robbers. Terrorists. Shredded by bullets. Now a nun pops up, and a little kid -~ they also get BLOWN AWAY. ‘MATRIX Cease fire! Cease fire! The shooting stops. The guards lock a little contrite. MATRIX Your job doesn’t mean killing bystanders! You have to pick your targets! GUNTHER (0.S.) You think you could do better? (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: a2 ANOTHER ANGLE reveals Gunther on the sidelines, surrounded by his dark-suit entourage. His challenge hangs in the air as we go to: HOGAN'S ALLEY - MINUTES LATER The course is reset, new smoke laid down. The smoke parts and Matrix is revealed standing like a gunslinger in a Western (is it our imagination, or do we hear a snatch of Morricone’s theme from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" on the soundtrack?) The only difference between Matrix and Eastwood {s our hombre doean’t pack six-guns ~- he packs twin Uzis, ‘THE GUARDS are watching from the perimeter. There’s a lot of whispering going on ~~ and skeptical shaking of heads. Suddenly, Paco Lopez appears behind them, aviator specs gleaming inthe sun. . LOPEZ I got a hundred bucks says my man kicks ass. Any takers? Nope. No takers. None except for —- GUNTHER You're on. He glances over at the Hogan’s Alley OPERATOR. GUNTHER Give him everything you got. MATRIX moves up the street, eyes darting, Uzis swiveling, cigar stub in mouth. Suddenly, Hogan’s Alley comes to lite with 2 vengeance! From utterly still to utterly frenetic in the blink of an eve: Wooden figures thrust out of doors and windows faster than the eye can blink, some alone, sone in groups, sone holding hostages -- and Matrix takes the course like the Tasmanian Devil doing a speed-freak ball: , @ whirlwind of motion, spitting GUNBURSTS in all directions, folloved by more GUNBURSTS. Feinting, dodging, spinning, diving and rolling and coming up for more, while ali around him -- WOODEN FIGURES are sheared in half or split head to toe, but only the bad guys. All hostages and bystanders are left untouched, while the terrorists are surgically blown to fragments beside then. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 33 MATRIX gets to the end of the course. Completely out of bullets. A final terrorist pops up from behind a car, holding a gun to a Little girl’s head. Whizzzzz--THUNK! Matrix’ commando knife is now buried to the hilt between the terrorist’s painted eyes. ‘THE GUARDS applaud, stunned and delighted at this showmanship. Gunther looks pissed. ne OPERATOR Damn. Perfect score. Never seen anything like it. . LOPEZ Looks like you owe me a C-note. . GUNTHER stuff it. The guards crowd around Matrix, congratulating him. Gunther steps up, not ready to let this go-just yet: GUNTHER You're hot shit with plywood figures -- but how are you ina standup fight? Matrix glares at him, eyes narrowing. 7 MATRIX (dangerous) Too bad there’s no way to find out. GUNTHER (nasty grin) Well, maybe someday, huh? Gunther walks away, trailed by his dark-suit entourage. The guards are shaking their heads -- they don’t like Gunther and his boys any more than we do. . LOPEZ Pendejo. {off Matrix’ 100k) Know what that means? MATRIX Spanish for "walking hemorrhoid." They crack up as wea4 INT - MATRIX HOME - NIGHT Jenny paces indignantly as Matrix puts chips and dip on the coffee table. SENNY A blind date?! Dad, come on, like gimme a break! MATRIX It's not blind, and it’s not a date. They‘re:just-coming.over to watch the game. JENNY But I was gonna go to the Galleria with Tina! MATRIX Forget about the Galleria, I should have knocked the whole thing down when I had the chance. - (doorbell. RINGS) Now stop complaining and get the door. Senny crosses to the door, grumbling the entire way: JENNY What is this, the old country? Next he’s gonna trade me for a cow and sone pigs! I’m mortified, just mortifi-- EXT - FRONT DOOR Jenny opens the door. Lopez stands waiting with his son TONY =~ and if you’re 2 teenage girl. guys don’t get any cuter than Tony. Beat. Eye contact. Jenny's "mortified" segues into: JENNY vi-i-Hi there! We’re so glad you could make it, we've been expecting you! I’m Jenny! TONY (gyeat smile) Hi. I'm Tony. They shake hands. She practically yanks him in. JENNY Don’t stand out in the cold, come on in! Hi, Mr. Lopez! Thank you for coming, can I get you anything? A beer? Something to eat? { CONTINUED)CONTINUED: as She slams the door, shutting us cut as we . cur To: INT - MCCARREN MAIN SECURITY STATION - TOP FLOOR - DAY The systen is activated. The security nerve center blinks to lite, tied in to the network of sensors and cameras blanketing the complex. Matrix hefts an innocuous-looking Haliburton case onto the counter. and opens it —-inside is a-computer/screen/keyhaare gizmo worthy af James Bond. McCarren peers at it, intrigued. : MATRIX Bere’s the best part. A microwave locator -- it bounces a signal off a satellite and -- He activates the gadget and a schematic of the entire complex Pops up on screen. McCarren does a double take from the gadget to the Big Board on the wall -- they are identical, both showing a computer graphic layout of the MeCarren complex. OPERATOR (grins) That’s right, it’s a miniature version of that. You’ll be able to coordinate a counter-offensive without even being here. Matrix pins a new security badge on McCarren’s lapel. MATRIX Every employee gets one of these. Each badge has a microchip encoded with the person’s identity. Hé points to the screen -- the nametag shows up as tiny white dot (an identical white dot floats on the Big Board). MATRIX See? That’s what we look like with our nametags. But an intruder vould show up as a red dot -- that way we can tell the good guys from the bad guys and your men don’t run around like the Keystone cops. (pats the locator) I just have to finish programming in’all the employee codes. MCCARREN aAmazing...just amazing. (CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 36 MATRIX (grins) should be. Your company manufactured it. McCarren laughs, then goes to examine the Big Board, getting a guided tour from the ENGINEERS. Various SECURITY PERSONNEL and OFFICE STAFF mill around, checking things out. Trent takes the opportunity to sidle up to Matrix: ‘TRENT Say listen, boss, how about I knock off for the evening? (adjusts his snappy- looking thre is) Got a date with a dynamite lady and I don’t want to keep her waiting. MATRIX Go ahead, Trent. See you tomorrow. (Trent turns to go) Oh, here -~ don’t forget this. He slips Trent’s new nane tag into the breast pocket of his jacket. Trent snaps off a jaunty salute and hurries off. No sooner is Trent gone than Charlie Dorrit approaches Matrix with a clipboard and attached form. DORRIT Colonel, you seen Mr. Trent? MATRIX He just walked out. DORRIT I‘ll see if I can catch him, MATRIX What’s the problen? DORRIT We just got this in, There’s a shipment of video gear going through customs, and somebody’s gotta sign for it. Mr. Trent placed the order. MATRIX (takes the clipboard) Tell you what, let me handle it. Trent’s...uh, busy with something else tonight. CUT TO: .a7 EXT ~ AIRPORT CARGO AREA - NIGHT A truck with the Hecarren logo pulls through the gate, heading into the customs area. INT - TRUCK The DRIVER glances over at Matrix, who has the Haliburton-like microwave locator perched on his lap. He's engrossed working the keyboard, entering employee codes. EXT"- CUSTOMS/LOADING AREA . ‘An AERO MEXICO cargo jet is being unloaded with forklifts. The truck pulis in and Matrix gets out. He cro: to some CUSTOMS OFFICERS and bends then his form. MATRIX We're here for a shipment. OFFICER (glances at truck) McCarren Industries, right? (examines form) Right. Video equipment. It’s : already been pre-cleared. Sign here. (Matrix does) We're offloading now. Be just a few minutes. MATRIX Thank you. Matrix heads over toward a coffee machine. A HIGH LEVEL FORKLIFT chugs up to the jet’s cargo bay and slips its forks under a cable-wrapped tier of crates marked: "McCarren Defense Industries--Electronic Equipment--Handle With care.” MATRIX drops a coin in the coffee machine. Suddenly, the SOUND OF CRACKING WOOD makes him look up. THE FORKLIFT A dangling section of cable from the crates has snagged, spinning the whole load off center. A corner of one crate collapses with a CRUNCH, teetering the whole forklift off balance. The forklift operator does the worst thing he can do, which is hit the brakes. The whole load goes with its momentum and does a major dive, SMASHING to smithereens on the concrete. (CONTINUED)