Written by: John Carpenter and Nick Castle.

FADE IN

CARD -- 1988

FADE IN SECOND CARD -- The Crime Rate in the United States Rises Four

Hundred Percent.

VOICE

In 1988, the crime rate in the United States rises four hundred percent.

GRAPHIC -- Line-graphic of New York, MANHATTAN ISLAND highlighted.

VOICE

The once-great city of New York becomes the one maximum-security prison

for the entire country.

GRAPHIC -- MANHATTAN ISLAND lights up. The word "Prison" is added.

VOICE

A fifty-foot containment wall is erected along the New Jersey shoreline,

across the Harlem river, and down along the Brooklyn shoreline. It

completely surrounds Manhattan Island.

GRAPHIC -- The containment wall is added to the line graphic with the

tag "Containment Wall".

VOICE

All bridges and waterways are mined.

GRAPHIC -- Dots symbolizing the bridges and waterways blink on and off.

VOICE

The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped around the

island.

GRAPHIC -- Arrows symbolizing the police force are added. TAG -- Statue

of Liberty Island Security Control.

VOICE

There are no guards inside the prison: only prisoners and the worlds

they have made.

NEW GRAPHIC -- Outline drawing of New York.

VOICE

The rules are simple. Once you go in, you don't come out.

GRAPHIC -- Outline drawing of the Statue of Liberty and the shoreline

are added.

CARD -- 1997

FADE IN SECOND CARD -- NOW

FADE OUT 1997

EXT. STATUE OF LIBERTY SECURITY CONTROL -- NIGHT.

A Jeep pulls up outside the base. It comes to a stop and the driver

pulls out a walkie-talkie.

DRIVER

This is Gotham 4, North Bay, Station 17. I have an escape in progress.

An object in mid-bay moving toward the wall.

TILT UP -- WALL

EXT. CLOSE UP -- SIGN "New York Maximum Security Penitentiary Manhattan

Island"

CONTINUED TILT UP -- EXT. WALL -- NIGHT

Two guards watch for the escapees in question.

EXT. MANHATTAN ISLAND -- NIGHT

A helicopter flies over the bay towards Manhattan Island.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The two escapees paddle, trying to get across the bay.

EXT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

The search light WHITES OUT THE SCREEN

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The two escapees continue paddling. THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT.

HELICOPTER PILOT

You have 10 seconds. Turn around. Start back to the island.

INT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

The pilot targets the boat on a computer screen in front of him.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

Two shots are fired directly in front of the escapees as a warning.

They ignore them and continue paddling away from the island.

INT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

EXT. CLOSE UP -- PILOT'S HAND

The pilot FIRES AGAIN.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The boat EXPLODES.

EXT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

Following the helicopter as it returns to the base.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme walks back to the main base, pulling out his walkie-talkie on the

way.

REHME

Gotham 4, confirm the kill.

HELICOPTER PILOT

Circled the base. Over.

REHME

Security, this is Rehme. We have confirmation from Gotham 4. We have a

kill in midharbor. South of the battery. Two in the water dead.

SECURITY

Two confirmed.

REHME

Very well.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme walks into a building labeled "LIBERTY ISLAND SECURITY CONTROL and

picks up a phone.

REHME

Air traffic, this is Rehme . . .

EXT. AIR TRAFFIC -- NIGHT

The helicopter lands. In the background, a BUS FULL OF PRISONERS comes

up.

EXT. BUS -- NIGHT

S.D. "SNAKE" PLISSKEN gets off the bus, looks around, and is escorted by

three guards into the base. He looks like the essence of cool. His

hair is long, wavy, and ratty, he lost his left eye somewhere along the

line, and he's got a two-day beard thing going on. He's wearing a black

spandex/kevlar type shirt with zippers across the shoulders, and a pair

of camouflage pants with lots of pockets. His jacket is a brown leather

jacket that has seen far better days, and he's wearing a pair of

handcuffs that have, instead of the links we're used to, a straight

metal bar between them. He's not resisting anything, but the police are

not taking any chances.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Plissken and the guards follow a winding stairway down to the main

floor.

VOICE

Attention. You are now entering the debarkation area. No talking. No

smoking. The next scheduled departure to the prison is in two hours.

You now have the option to terminate and be cremated on the premises.

If you elect this option, notify the duty sergeant in your processing

area.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

EXT. CLOSE UP ON SIGN -- "No talking. No smoking. Follow the ORANGE

line."

EXT. CLOSE UP ON SNAKE. He is not impressed.

STEADICAM VIEW OF THE HALL, SNAKE'S P.O.V. Guards, guards, more guards.

Who cares.

As Snake rounds the corner:

O.S. GUARD

Hold it.

Snake stops, turns, directs an impertinent glance at the speaker. He's

still not impressed by any of this.

FADE OUT.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FADE IN.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme waits as a limo pulls up. Out steps BOB HAUK.

REHME

We've got a small jet in trouble, over restricted air space.

HAUK

Where is it?

REHME

Seven miles out and closing.

The two of them walk AWAY.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Hauk and Rehme walk down the stairs. They turn TOWARD US and walk into

the AIR TRAFFIC ROOM. Dozens of men sit in front of radar transmission

screens, wearing headsets and working. Following Hauk and Rehme into

the room:

INT. AIR TRAFFIC ROOM -- NIGHT

REHME

We've been on the board for the last twenty minutes. We haven't been

able to reach them. There was a transmission ten minutes ago. He

identified as "David 14." Then all of a sudden he was cut off.

Hauk and Rehme stand behind a CONTROLLER.

CONTROLLER

David 14, acknowledge. David 14, we are sending Air Rescue. Squawk

7700, contact on 121.5.

(to Hauk and Rehme)

There's still no reply.

(to his headset)

Bayonne. I have a mayday in restricted space.

O.S. CONTROLLER

New York, I have it.

Hauk pulls Rehme aside.

HAUK

Who is it?

REHME

I don't know.

HAUK

You have the code?

REHME

There's no David 14 on the computer.

HAUK

Unlisted?

REHME

Unregistered code. We telexed Washington. Still waiting for a reply.

CONTROLLER

I think I've got him, sir.

Hauk and Rehme walk back over to the controller. He patches a voice-

over through.

REBEL VOICE

It's too late, assholes. All your imperialist weapons and lies can't

save him now. We're going down. We're going to crash.

CONTROLLER

David 14, acknowledge!

CODEMAN

The code's coming in, sir.

Hauk and Rehme dash over to the codeman. He shows them a display.

"Aircraft Identified. Code: David14. Decode: AIR FORCE ONE."

"Air Force One" blinks as Hauk and Rehme look at each other in shock.

EXT. PLANE -- NIGHT

The plane is flying over New York.

INT. COCKPIT -- NIGHT

The REBEL has killed the pilot and copilot and is working on her own.

REBEL

Tell this to the workers when they ask where your leader went . . .

She pulls out a slip of PAPER and proceeds to read.

REBEL

We, the soldiers of the national liberation front of America, in the

name of the workers and all the oppressed of this imperialist country

have struck a fatal blow to the racist police stick!

INT. PLANE -- NIGHT

A secret service AGENT taps on the door with his rifle as the rebel

continues.

REBEL

What better revolutionary example than to let the president perish in

the inhuman dungeon of his own imperialist prison?

The agent runs back down the plane to the President and his advisers.

AGENT

(to 2ND AGENT)

Unlock the pod!

2ND AGENT immediately runs off.

PAN LEFT TO PRESIDENT.

AGENT

She's bolted the door.

PRESIDENT

Can't you shoot off the lock?

AGENT

No, sir, she's pressurized the cabin.

PRESIDENT

How about lifting the door off of the hinges?

AGENT

No, sir.

EXT. CLOSE UP -- The President's wrist as he handcuffs his briefcase to

it.

PRESIDENT

Get me to the pod.

The President and all his advisors stand up and move to the back of the

plane.

INT. POD ROOM -- NIGHT

The pod opens. An expert attaches a locating device to the President's

wrist.

EXPERT

Sir, this is a locating device to trace you if you become separated from

the pod. I'm activating it now.

SCREENS on the pod begin to light up as the President gets into the pod.

He pushes a few buttons.

PRESIDENT

God save me and watch over you all.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

A guard watches as Air Force One descends into New York.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme and Hauk watch a computer simulation of the plane.

VOICE

Computer simulation tracking Air Force One.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

The plane goes down.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

EXT. CLOSE UP -- MONITORS

As the plane smashes into a building, a red dot drops through the

building. It's the pod.

O.S. MAN

It's down!

HAUK

It's the escape pod.

REHME

40 degrees, 50 yards from impact.

HAUK

I'm going in.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

Helicopters prepare for, and execute, launch, and fly into New York. A

guard watches them.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme watches monitors as Hauk talks.

HAUK

1-W-Larry. Over the battery. We're moving down. Direct sight ahead.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

The helicopters land. A swarm of policemen run out, and Hauk hangs

back. He follows with a second swarm. The first swarm assumes a

defensive position near the pod. Hauk examines the pod. It's

definitely empty, and the rest of the jet is surrounded in flames.

An odd LAUGH from nowhere.

WEIRDO walks out of the darkness. He nods his head to Hauk.

WEIRDO

You touch me... he dies. If you're not in the air in thirty seconds...

he dies. You come back in... he dies.

Weirdo takes a package out of his shirt and unwraps it to reveal the

President's middle finger, complete with ring.

WEIRDO

Twenty seconds.

HAUK

I'm ready to talk.

WEIRDO

Nineteen. Eighteen.

HAUK

What do you want?

WEIRDO

Seventeen. Sixteen.

HAUK

Let's go. Let's go!

Weirdo grins in triumph as the police force swarms back to the

helicopters and hauls ass out of New York.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme stands behind a desk, talking on the phone. Hauk is in the

foreground, looking pensive.

REHME

Yes, he's right here, Mr. Vice President.

Hauk picks up a phone.

HAUK

This is Bob Hauk. ...We can't. If we move in with choppers, they'll

kill him. We're lucky if he's not dead already... They don't want

anything yet. By the time they figure out what they want, it'll be too

late.

REHME

Tell him we have to go with your plan now.

Hauk waves him off.

HAUK

We can't wait until tomorrow. If we have to move in and take the

island, it's a last resort. It's 8:45. I want permission to try a

rescue. Thank you.

INT. HAUK'S OFFICE -- NIGHT

Hauk calmly arms a .45 pistol. He looks up from his desk.

HAUK

All right.

OVERPROTECTIVE SECURITY GUARD

He's dangerous, sir.

HAUK

(with quiet confidence)

I know. I'll be OK.

HAUK'S P.O.V.

We see the silhouette of an unmistakable figure. It's Snake Plissken

all right, live and in the flesh. The guards leave. Snake walks into

Hauk's office and sits down in the chair across from Hauk. He raises

his cuffed hands to Hauk as if to say "Take these off me, asshole," but

he doesn't actually say anything. Hauk shakes his head.

HAUK

I'm not a fool, Plissken.

SNAKE

(coooooool)

Call me Snake.

Hauk puts on his glasses and proceeds to read a file.

HAUK

S.D. Plissken. American Lieutenant. Special Forces Unit, Black Flight.

Two Purple Hearts, Leningrad and Siberia. Youngest man to be decorated

by the President. You robbed the federal reserve depository. Life

sentence, New York Maximum Security Penitentiary. I'm ready to kick your

ass out of the world, War Hero.

Snake could not care less. He reaches forward with his still-cuffed

right hand, picks up a cigarette, picks up a match with his left hand,

strikes the match and takes a drag from his cigarette. He lets out a

calm breath and says:

SNAKE

Who are you?

HAUK

Hauk. Police Commissioner.

SNAKE

Bob Hauk...

HAUK

Special Forces Unit. Texas Thunder. We heard of you, too, Plissken.

SNAKE

Why are we talking?

HAUK

I have a deal for you. You'll receive full pardon for every criminal

act committed in the United States.

Hauk shows Snake the pardon. Snake's eye lights up. This is something

he wants. He's interested now, and can't hide it.

HAUK

(pressing his advantage)

There was an accident about an hour ago. A small jet went down inside

New York City. The President was on board.

SNAKE

(re-establishing control over the conversation)

President of what?

HAUK

That's not funny, Plissken. (beat) You go in, find the President and

bring him out in 24 hours, and you're a free man.

We sense amusement from Snake. This is not the first time the

government has asked him for a favor. But he's not a soldier or a "War

Hero" anymore. He knows they need him more than he needs their pardon.

He's holding the cards now, and he knows it.

SNAKE

Twenty-four hours, huh?

HAUK

I'm making you an offer.

SNAKE

Bullshit.

HAUK

Straight just like I said.

SNAKE

I'll think about it.

HAUK

No time. Give me an answer.

Snake turns away. Hauk is pushing way too hard, and Snake is determined

to be in the driver's seat.

SNAKE

Get a new president.

HAUK

We're still at war, Plissken. We need him alive.

SNAKE

I don't give a fuck about your war... or your president.

HAUK

Is that your answer?

SNAKE

I'm thinking about it.

HAUK

Think hard.

Snake pauses to take a draw on his cigarette. Next question:

SNAKE

Why me?

HAUK

You flew the Gullfire over Leningrad. You know how to get in quiet.

You're all I've got.

SNAKE

I guess I go in one way or the other. Doesn't mean shit to me. Give me

the paper.

HAUK

When you come out.

SNAKE

Before.

HAUK

I told you I wasn't a fool, Plissken.

SNAKE

Call me Snake.

INT. WEAPONS ROOM -- NIGHT

Rehme talks as we PAN ACROSS a table full of weapons. We see two guns,

a belt, grenades, several pouches full of various stuff, a flashlight, a

Uzi, throwing stars, and more. Snake surveys them with a cool

expression.

REHME

Some of them have cars. They took old junkers that were left behind and

converted them to steam. We think they may also have a gasoline source

in there, and power. Greenhouses, rigged up generators. Some areas

have streetlights. The crazies. Live in the subways. Complete control

of the underground. They're night raiders.

Snake's not into this. He'll figure it out when he gets there. He

picks up a bracelet with an eagle on it.

HAUK

Tracer. Sends a radio signal for fifteen minutes. You push it, we can

track you on radar. Just like Leningrad. But they added something. A

safety catch.

Snake pushes the safety catch. Simple enough. And yes, there's the

button. This is familiar. He smiles.

INT. HALL -- NIGHT

Snake has his jacket slung over his shoulder now. He walks down the

hall to the medical room with Hauk. Rehme has disappeared.

SNAKE

Where am I landing?

HAUK

Top of the world trade center. Only place you can land. They won't see

it, and you can take off from a free fall. On the roof there's a

service elevator. It's still operational. We use it to infiltrate the

prison. There's a power box. It'll activate the elevator down to

fifty. From there on down

you walk.

Snake shrugs on his jacket. He knows Hauk is just trying to assert his

authority, and it's not working very well.

HAUK

You can locate the President by his vital signs bracelet, on his wrist.

It sends out a sig pulse. Use this.

He hands Snake a homing device.

HAUK

Homing device. Shows directions and distance.

INT. MEDICAL ROOM -- NIGHT

Snake and Hauk walk into the room. They're met by a young medic.

HAUK

Strong antitoxin. Stops bacteria and viral-proofs you for 24 hours.

Snake braces himself against a table. The medic is holding an

injection-type tech gizmo.

MEDIC

Take off the jacket.

SNAKE

I'll be OK.

HAUK

Let's go, Plissken.

Snake shrugs off his jacket, disoriented by the place. He's nervous.

His hackles are up.

SNAKE

I don't like needles.

Hauk straps a timer gauge onto Snake's left hand. He activates it and

the time blinks on. It's counting down as we speak.

HAUK

Twenty-two hours, twenty-nine minutes, fifty-seven seconds...

SNAKE

We talked about twenty-four.

HAUK

In twenty-two hours the Hartford Summit meeting will be over. China and

the Soviet Union will go back home. The president was on his way to the

summit when his plane went down.

Snake snorts.

HAUK

He has a briefcase attached to his wrist. The tape recording inside has

to reach Hartford in 22 hours.

SNAKE

What's on it?

HAUK

You know anything about nuclear fusion?

Snake turns away. No. Nuclear fusion is not his area of expertise.

HAUK

It's about the survival of the human race, Plissken. Something you

don't give a shit about.

Hauk steps aside. The medic swabs Snake's neck on both sides.

MEDIC

I'm going to inject you. It'll sting for a second or two...

He raises a couple of hypos and injects Snake with them. Snake jumps a

little; clearly, this is not one of the world's most pleasant things.

HAUK

That's it, Plissken.

Snake gets off the table. The medic turns around.

MEDIC

Tell him.

SNAKE

Tell me what?

Hauk thinks he's got him this time. Snake doesn't like that.

HAUK

That idea you had about turning the Gullfire around 180 degrees and

flying off to Canada.

Hauk shakes his head. Snake puts his jacket down and turns to the

medic.

SNAKE

What did you do to me, asshole?

HAUK

My idea, Plissken. Something we've been fooling around with. Two

microscopic capsules lodged in your arteries. They're already starting

to dissolve. In twenty-two hours, the cores will completely dissolve.

Inside the cores are that heat-sensitive charge. Not a large explosive.

About the size of a pinhead. Just big enough to --

(he gestures)

open up both your arteries. I'd say you'd be dead in ten or fifteen

seconds --

Hauk stops talking because Snake has grabbed him by the throat.

SNAKE

TAKE THEM OUT NOW.

MEDIC

They're protected by the cores. Fifteen minutes before the last hour is

up we can neutralize the charge with X-rays.

Snake lets go of Hauk to look at his watch. 22:57:38. 37. 36. This

is his life he's watching tick away.

HAUK

We'll burn out the charges IF you have the President.

SNAKE

What if I'm a little late?

HAUK

No more Hartford Summit. And no more Snake Plissken.

SNAKE

When I get back I'm going to kill you.

HAUK

The Gullfire's waiting.

EXT. RUNWAY -- NIGHT

Snake pulls up in a Jeep. He walks up to the tiny plane called the

Gullfire. Two guards stand by to make sure he just gets in the plane

and does his job. He throws his cigarette out onto the runway and

closes the overhead window.

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

Snake turns on his monitors.

SNAKE

I'm ready.

HAUK

21 hours.

SNAKE

Suppose he's dead, Hauk. If I come back without him, you'll burn these

things out?

INT. BASE --- NIGHT

Hauk and Rehme exchange a glance; Hauk's been expecting this question to

come up.

HAUK

Get them both back, Plissken.

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

Snake doesn't like the response, but figures he can't do anything about

it.

HAUK

Remember, once inside you're on your own.

SNAKE

Oh, you mean I can't count on you?

HAUK

No.

SNAKE

Good.

EXT. RUNWAY -- NIGHT

A larger plane hauls the Gullfire into the air; the Gullfire is

essentially a big hang glider.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Hauk checks Snake's life clock, "Master Life Clock".

20:17:43... 42... 41....

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

Snake's watch reads 20:17:40... 39... 38... 37... 36... 35...

He starts controlling the plane. He flips the tracer open and hits the

button, testing it.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

The master life clock shows the test confirmation.

COMPUTER

Tracer test confirmed at 20 hours, 17 minutes, 30 seconds.

Hauk, Rehme and the Vice President nod with relief.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

Snake takes the plane in.

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

Snake looks over his monitors. He sees New York coming up.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Hauk waits at his microphone.

HAUK

Are you picking up the target blip?

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

SNAKE

Right on course.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

The plane aims for the World Trade Center.

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

SNAKE

It's been a while . . .

The plane is aiming right at a building.

HAUK

How's your altitude?

Snake calmly angles the plane up.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

HAUK

Plissken? Plissken? Plissken, what are you doing?

INT. GULLFIRE -- NIGHT

SNAKE

Playing with myself. I'm going in.

Snake targets the World Trade Center. He checks his instruments.

EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER -- NIGHT

The plane comes down. It hits hard. Snake puts on the brakes, adds a

grappling hook, and finally comes to a stop right at the edge.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

HAUK

Plissken? Plissken?

EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER -- NIGHT

Snake walks over to the elevator. He uses the power box to get the

elevator started. He looks around, and the doors open. He gets in the

elevator. The doors close.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Snake's voice comes through the radio.

SNAKE

I'm inside the World Trade Center on the 50th floor. Just like

Leningrad, Hauk.

HAUK

Is the glider intact?

INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER -- NIGHT

Snake stands with his walkie-talkie in the middle of the graffiti-

covered building.

SNAKE

Yeah, but taking off is for shit. I'll work it out.

HAUK

You'll have to use the east stairwell. It'll take you a little while to

get to ground level.

Snake checks his life clock. 19:22:44. 43. 42.

HAUK

Call me when you get outside.

Snake puts his walkie-talkie away as someone runs past. He doesn't

notice. He walks on.

FADE OUT.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FADE IN.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

Snake walks along with his tracer. He goes through alleys and streets.

He draws his gun as he walks by a group of people. He's armed and ready

to fight.

EXT. PLANE CRASH -- NIGHT

The plane is still burning. Smoke is coming from everywhere. The plane

is severed in the middle. The crash is very impressive. Snake walks

and notices a few people go by. He pulls out his walkie-talkie.

SNAKE

I'm at the plane. Nobody else made it, Hauk.

Something beeps. His tracer.

SNAKE

Wait a minute.

He looks at his tracer. A small red dot lights up in the southeast

corner.

SNAKE

I've got his pulse. Right up ahead, moving northwest.

He puts away his walkie-talkie and checks his life clock. 18:50:18.

17. 16.

DISSOLVE TO:

Images. Snake holding the tracer. He gets closer and comes up to a

building, formerly a theater. He walks in.

INT. THEATER -- NIGHT

The pulse keeps getting stronger. Snake walks in. He holds his gun at

the ready. There's a truly horrible musical going on.

INT. STAGE -- NIGHT

ACTORS

This is hell! This is hate! (etc.)

Snake looks around. No sign of the president, but there is a CABBIE

enjoying the show. Time to move on. He enters against his better

judgment, but he's just passing through, so that's OK.

INT. STAIRWELL -- NIGHT

Snake keeps moving, but there's a noise. He turns around, aiming his

gun. Cabbie holds up his hands.

CABBIE

Hey! You're Snake Plissken, ain't you?

SNAKE

What do you want?

CABBIE

Nothin'.

Snake lowers his gun.

CABBIE

I thought you were dead!

Snake moves on.

CABBIE

Hey! You don't want to walk around down there, Snake!

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT

The signal from the tracer keeps getting closer and closer. Snake walks

past a gang beating up and stripping a semi-conscious girl. He doesn't

take much notice. He keeps going. He sees a BUM sitting by a fire.

BUM

Hi, Chief. Nice night. Nice boots. Niiiiice boots. Hey.

A guy tries to sneak up behind Snake. Snake knocks him out and points

his gun at the bum.

BUM

Easy now, chief. I'm walking. I'm walking.

The bum walks away. Snake keeps going. A man beats up another man at a

sink. The beatee is wearing the President's life tracer. Snake kicks

the beater and knocks him out.

SNAKE

Mr. President . . .

The man wearing the life tracer looks up and smiles. He's a DRUNK.

DRUNK

I'm the President? Sure, I'm the President. If I knew where I got this

thing --

(indicates the tracer)

I'd be the President.

SNAKE

Where did you get it?

DRUNK

I woke up, and there it was, just like a miracle . . .

Snake slams the tracer against the sink.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

The President's life signs all fail.

OFFICIAL

Oh my god . . .

MEDIC

It . . . It may be just an impact on the mechanism itself . . .

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT

Snake pulls up his walkie-talkie.

SNAKE

Hauk?!

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

HAUK

I'm right here, Plissken.

SNAKE

I don't know who you assholes are looking at, but it's NOT the

President.

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT

Snake holds the walkie-talkie up to the drunk.

DRUNK

(to the tune of Joy to the World)

Hail to the chief . . . La la la la la la . . .

SNAKE

All right, get your machine ready. I'm coming out.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

HAUK

18 hours, Plissken.

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT

SNAKE

Listen to me, Hauk. The President is DEAD, you got that? Somebody's

had him for dinner!

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

HAUK

Plissken, if you get back in that glider I'll shoot you down. You climb

out, I'll burn you off the wall. You understand that, Plissken?

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT

Snake stares at his walkie-talkie.

SNAKE

A little human compassion . . .

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

Snake walks on. He's in an area with streetlights. He keeps going.

EXT. POD -- NIGHT

Snake stares at the pod. No clues. He looks around. Nothing. As he

comes back up, he sets up a chair and sits down heavily. He touches his

neck. It's like he can feel the cores dissolving.

A crazy walks past, bangs on manhole covers. Snake doesn't know what

he's doing, but he doesn't like it. Especially not when the manhole

covers start to rise up. He runs off.

EXT. CHOCK FULL OF NUTS -- NIGHT

Snake finds the restaurant, and runs inside. No one follows.

INT. CHOCK FULL OF NUTS -- NIGHT

Snake backs into a corner. The floor is weak and starts to go out from

under him once. He gets into the shadows. There's someone there.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

You a cop?

Snake levels his gun at her.

SNAKE

No . . .

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

You've got a gun. You got a smoke?

Snake tosses her his cigarettes. She lights one.

SNAKE

Keep your hand over it.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

It's all right if we're quiet. They won't hear us.

(reacting to the cigarette)

Hey, this is a real one. You just get in?

SNAKE

What's going on out there?

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Crazies. It's the end of the month. They're out of food.

SNAKE

Do you live here?

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Skulls? You kidding? I'm with the Turks now. I just got caught in the

street after dark and now I'm stuck here all night.

SNAKE

A plane crashed seven hours ago. Did you see it?

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

No.

SNAKE

Shit.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

You're a cop.

SNAKE

I'm an asshole.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Hey, wait a minute. I know who you are. Yeah! But I heard you were

dead.

SNAKE

I am.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Wow, Snake Plissken. All right! What you doing in here with a gun,

Snake?

SNAKE

Looking for somebody.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Who?

SNAKE

The President.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Come on! He really here?

SNAKE

Somewhere.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

When you find him, are you gonna take him out?

SNAKE

Mm-hm.

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

Take me out with you, Snake.

SNAKE

Why?

GIRL IN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS

I can think of lots of reasons why . . .

She makes a move to kiss him, but there's a noise. They split up, but

she gets sucked through the floor. Snake tries to save her, but it's

too late. He gets the hell out of there.

INT. BUILDING -- NIGHT, EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT, EXT. ALLEYS -- NIGHT

Snake runs through the building, breaks a window, and climbs up a fire

escape to get to a new floor. He breaks a window to get in, then pulls

a cabinet in front of the window. He shoots through the cabinet,

causing some crazy to scream. He busts down a door, shoots open part of

a wall, busts through that, climbs out a window, and climbs down a

telephone pole. He then climbs up a wall. On the way he drops his

walkie-talkie. He runs down an alley, and as he does, Cabbie pulls up.

CABBIE

Where you goin', buddy?

Snake points his gun at Cabbie. He looks behind him, then gets in the

cab.

INT. CAB -- NIGHT

Snake notices a tape player which is playing the theme from "American

Bandstand."

CABBIE

Bad neighborhood, Snake! You don't want to be walking from the Bowery

to 42nd street at night! I've been driving a cab here for 30 years and

I'm telling you, you don't walk around here at night! Yes, sir!

They'll kill you and strip you in ten seconds flat. Usually I'm not

down around here myself, but I wanted to catch that show.

Cabbie lights a rag stuffed down the neck of a bottle which is full of

gasoline.

CABBIE

This stuff is like gold around here, you know.

EXT. CAB -- NIGHT

Cabbie throws the bottle into the alley, where it explodes.

INT. CAB -- NIGHT

CABBIE

Hey, Snake, when'd you get in? I didn't even know they caught you.

(laughs)

Ohhh, Snake Plissken in my cab. Wait'll I tell Eddie! Hey, hang on,

Snake.

EXT. CAB -- NIGHT

Cabbie makes a sharp turn.

INT. CAB -- NIGHT

CABBIE

Hey, what were you doing back there, Snake?

SNAKE

Looking for somebody.

CABBIE

Well, why didn't you ask me? Hell, I know everybody in this town. Yes,

sir. I've been driving this cab for thirty years, this very same cab.

Snake points his gun at Cabbie.

SNAKE

I'm GONNA ask you. Now where's the President?

CABBIE

The Duke's got him! Everyone knows the Duke's got him! You don't have

to put a gun to my head. I'll tell you!

SNAKE

Who's the Duke?

CABBIE

The DUKE! The Duke of New York! A-Number-1! The big man, that's who!

SNAKE

I want to meet this Duke.

CABBIE

You can't meet the Duke, are you crazy? Nobody wants to meet the Duke!

You meet him once and then you're dead!

Snake points the gun more insistently. Tough.

EXT. BRAIN'S BUILDING -- NIGHT

Cabbie parks the cab and he and Snake walk up to Brain's building.

CABBIE

I hate to leave her on the street. Usually I don't leave her alone at

all. But you're a special case, Snake.

He and Snake walk up to the door. Cabbie knocks on the door with his

shoe.

CABBIE

It's OK, Snake. It's a better neighborhood. You can relax.

Relax? Snake checks his life clock. 17:40:46. 45. 44. Relax, my ass.

SNAKE

Thanks.

CABBIE

Boy, they got a great place here. Like a fortress!

SNAKE

They?

From the inside, someone answers.

MAGGIE

Who is it?

CABBIE

It's me!

MAGGIE

Who's me?

CABBIE

Cabbie!

MAGGIE

What do you want?

CABBIE

Somebody wants to see Brain, it's important --

MAGGIE

No way, Cabbie --

CABBIE

No, it's Snake! Snake Plissken!

Maggie opens the door. She stands there and surveys the pair.

MAGGIE

YOU'RE Plissken?

CABBIE

He wants to see Brain.

MAGGIE

Why?

SNAKE

I want to meet the Duke.

Snake and Maggie exchange a glance. She leads them in.

INT. BRAIN'S -- NIGHT

CABBIE

Hey, what do you think of this place, Snake? It used to be a public

library. Oh, that Brain, he's the greatest! Mr. Fabulous! Duke loves

him.

SNAKE

(gesturing at Maggie)

Who's that?

CABBIE

That's Maggie. Brain's squeeze. The Duke gave him to Brain just to

keep him happy . . . see what I mean?

Snake can tell that Maggie's more than just Brain's squeeze; she's his

bodyguard, too. She looks like she'd be willing to kill to protect

Brain.

MAGGIE

Heard you were dead.

INT. BRAIN'S ROOM -- NIGHT

CABBIE

Brain? Brain! I brought somebody to see you!

Snake looks at Brain. He knows this guy.

SNAKE

Harold Helman.

Brain puts down his book and stands up.

BRAIN

Snake?

MAGGIE

"Harold"?

SNAKE

Where you been, Harold? It's been a long time.

MAGGIE

You never told me you knew Snake Plissken, Brain.

CABBIE

Isn't that great? Hey, Brain, I could use some gas if you can spare

some . . .

No one pays attention. Snake advances on Brain. Brain sits down.

SNAKE

I'm glad you remember me. Yeah. A man should remember his past.

Kansas City, four years ago. You ran out on me. You left me sitting

there.

BRAIN

You were late.

SNAKE

We were buddies, Harold. You, me, and Fresno Bob. You know what they

did to Bob?

His face changes. He suddenly kicks Brain's chair into the wall and

points his gun.

Maggie draws a knife and starts advancing on Snake.

SNAKE

You want to see him sprayed all over that map, baby?

(to Brain)

Where's the President?!

BRAIN

Swear to god, Snake, I don't know --

SNAKE

Don't fuck with me!

BRAIN

Why do you want to know?

SNAKE

I want him.

BRAIN

Working for the man now, huh?

SNAKE

Then I'll just beat it out of your squeeze --

BRAIN

Mm-hm. Maggie doesn't know EXACTLY where he is and unless you know

EXACTLY PRECISELY where he is you'll never find him.

Snake takes his gun away. He contemplates Brain.

SNAKE

Listen, I'll take you out of here. Yeah. Jet glider just a couple of

blocks down the street. And all you gotta do is get me to him.

Everyone realizes the importance of this.

CABBIE

No kidding? On the level? Will you take me, too?

BRAIN

We've got to deal somewhere else.

SNAKE

No glider.

MAGGIE

We've got the President. And the Duke's taking everybody out of here.

SNAKE

Never happen. See, I know something you and the Duke don't know. We've

only got so long before Mr. President don't mean a whole lot.

BRAIN

You're lying.

MAGGIE

Maybe he's not . . .

BRAIN

I know him! Look at his face, he's lying!

SNAKE

Right, Harold. I'm lying. So I might as well have some fun and keep

looking by myself.

He cocks his gun and points it at Brain again.

MAGGIE

Brain --

SNAKE

Talk to him, baby --

MAGGIE

Brain, he'll kill us both if you don't tell him --

CABBIE

(panicking)

Brain, you've got to tell him!

MAGGIE

(panicking)

Brain, you've got to tell him --

CABBIE

(panicked)

Tell him, tell him, tell him --

BRAIN

ALL RIGHT!!!

Snake lowers the gun.

SNAKE

You always were smart, Harold.

BRAIN

Just one thing right now. Don't call me "Harold."

EXT. BUILDING -- NIGHT

Snake, Maggie, Cabbie and Brain all walk out.

SNAKE

So you work for this Duke, huh?

BRAIN

Yeah. Make gas for him. Figure out things for him.

SNAKE

Like what?

BRAIN

(showing off)

Like how to get across the 69th street bridge -- it's mined, but I know

where they're planted.

MAGGIE

We got a diagram from a guy that got all the way across . . . before

they shot the poor bastard.

BRAIN

We got a crew up there now clearing the way across the first barricade.

CABBIE

What a sight, Snake! The whole camp rolling right across the bridge and

the President right out front! Oh, that would have been so fine . . .

MAGGIE

(ironically)

Yeah, it would have been . . .

CABBIE

Yeah, but we're going with Snake now.

The three of them cross into the street. Cabbie panics.

CABBIE

That's the Duke! I know the sound of his engines. Don't cross the Duke

-- everybody knows that.

We get one glimpse of the Duke's car. Then we realize that Cabbie is

gone and his cab is racing away.

MAGGIE

Cabbie, you slime!

The Duke's car heads right for us.

MAGGIE

No, Brain!

The two of them run off. After a while, Snake follows. The three of

them hide. The Duke's car is an old Chrysler with chandeliers suspended

over the headlights. It's in a caravan of three, leading the way. A

fourth car comes up later. The Duke is sitting in the passenger seat of

a car with Weirdo in the back. The Duke gets out of the car, Weirdo at

his side. The Duke is wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, a snazzy

jacket, bluejeans, and boots. He looks TOUGH. He sends Weirdo to knock

on the door.

MAGGIE

He's looking for you, Brain.

SNAKE

What does he want?

BRAIN

He wants my diagram of the bridge. When he finds out I'm with you he's

going to want my life! Shit, Plissken, I knew I shouldn't have listened

to you --

SNAKE

We've got to get to the President NOW, while he's busy.

BRAIN

Forget it, he's on the other side of town and we got no wheels. The

deal is off --

SNAKE

Just calm down.

EXT. CAR -- NIGHT

A lone man sits, looking bored. Snake subtly goes up to him, knocks him

out, and gets him out of the car. He briefly considers shooting the guy

on the hood of the car. Instead, the guy on the hood of the car walks

around. Snake knocks him out a second alter and then drives to get

Brain and Maggie. He knocks the other guy out of the car.

BRAIN

(panicked)

I think they saw us! Turn left, turn left here!

INT. CAR -- NIGHT

MAGGIE

Brain, this is Broadway.

BRAIN

I know, I know, the Duke'll take Seventh Avenue, Broadway is five

minutes --