The Rock

 

 

 

Screenplay by                     David Weisberg

                                     Douglas S. Cook

                                     Mark Rosner

                                     Aaron Sorkin

 

Produced by                       Don Simpson

                                     Jerry Bruckheimer

 

Directed by                        Michael Bay

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Nicholas Cage                  Stanley Goodspeed

Sean Connery                  John Patrick Mason

Ed Harris                         Brig. Gen. Francis X. Hummel

David Morse                     Maj. Tom Baxter

John C. Mc Ginley            Marine Capt. Hendrix

Bokeem Woodbine            Sgt. Crisp

William Forsythe              Eddie Paxton

 

 

 

 

BEGIN MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE:

 

An impressionistic montage:

 

A SILHOUETTED MAN in front of mirror dons his Marine dress blues. Spit polish shoes laced. Medals clipped to jacket. All in CLOSEUP. We never see him fully.

 

The Man puts HIS HAT squarely on his head. EYES glint.

 

On the man's dresser: MARINE MEMORABILIA. Three Purple Hearts, photos of a WOMAN (his wife), PHOTOS OF MARINES in combat locales.

 

 

TIGHTER INTO THE PHOTOS

 

We HEAR PANICKED VOICES, EXPLOSIONS, NOISES OF BRUTAL COMBAT.

 

 

IMAGES

 

Through smoke, a desperate MARINE PRIVATE who knows he will never be rescued... TWO MARINES walk up to a farmhouse door; through the screen we see a MOTHER AND DAUGHTER who know what the news will be...

 

 

IMAGES

 

A MARINE COLOUR GUARD carries a COFFIN... Now we are the coffin as a FLAG drapes down on us. placed into a YOUNG WOMAN'S HAND.

 

Now we're in ARLINGTON CEMETERY. Images of the cemetery are reflected in wet puddles, as the SPIT-SHINED SHOES walk past images of the TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER a ROW OF GRAVES comes into focus

 

 

CLOSEUP

 

On the MARINE'S HAT, and his EYES. Suddenly an EXPLOSION and we see –

 

A MARINE in a jungle, radioing for help: "You gotta get us outta here sir, Jesus, they're all over us...!"

 

An EXPLOSION ends the communication...

 

 

CLOSEUP

 

On the MARINE'S EYES and...

 

FADE IN:

 

 

EXT. ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY – MORNING

 

Two groundskeepers on "ride 'em" lawn mowers, BENNIE and MARLIN, smoke Camels and watch the MARINE OFFICER from the opening montage. He's alone, across the cemetery.

 

BENNIE

You'll get used to him. Every Sunday morning – rain, snow, holidays nothin, keeps him Away.

 

 

ACROSS THE CEMETERY

 

Brig. Gen. FRANCIS XAVIER HUMMEL stands before a headstone: BARBARA MCLEAN HUMMEL 1946-1996.

 

HUMMEL

Hi Barb. The house sold yesterday. I know, I know, the market's depressed. Anyway, I'm leaving the area. Some things I have to do. Things I couldn't do while you were here. Maybe you would have approved. Hell, I know you wouldn't have. (beat) I've tried everything and I can't seem to get their attention. But now they'll learn how it feels on the other side. Let's hope it elevates their thinking.

 

Hummel puts new flowers on the grave. Walks off.

 

 

EXT. ACCESS ROAD TO ARMY WEAPONS COMPOUND – NIGHT

 

Heavy rain. A road next to a heavily guarded bunker facility. A canvas covered ARMY TRUCK blows a tire in the road. The DRIVER gets out. Inspects the tire.

 

 

INT. ARMY TRUCK – NIGHT

 

FOUR MARINES in black suits dive through a hole in the truckbed floor into a MANHOLE IN THE ROAD.

 

 

EXT. ARMY WEAPONS COMPOUND – FRONT GATE – NIGHT

 

Three ARMY MPs at the front GUARDHOUSE. General Hummel pulls up in a SUBURBAN. The MPs immediately recognize him and stand more rigidly.

 

ARMY MP

General Hummel, sir. It's an honor. Is the Colonel expecting you, sir?

 

HUMMEL

Held better be. This is a security inspection.

 

ARMY M. P.

Yes, sir!

 

The MP waves Hummel in, saluting crisply.

 

 

INT. GRATED STORM DRAIN IN BUNKER COMPOUND – NIGHT

 

The four marines from the truck are waiting, readying arms. The leader is looking at his watch. Gives a hand signal to the others, and up they go –

 

 

EXT. BUNKER COMPOUND – NIGHT

 

The four marines emerge from the storm drain and move toward covered positions in the compound.

 

200 YARDS AWAY – TWO ARMY "MAGAZINE CHECKERS" emerge from a building with clipboards, on routine check.

 

 

INT. BUNKER SECURITY BUILDING – NIGHT

 

The Army MPs escort General Hummel inside. THREE ARMY GUARDS spring up from their SURVEILLANCE MONITORS. Everyone's nervous, in awe, rigid at attention. COLONEL CALLAHAN emerges from an adjacent room, sleepy-eyed.

 

COLONEL CALLAHAN

General Hummel! This is a surprise!

 

HUMMEL

That's the idea, Colonel.

 

 

EXT. BUNKER COMPOUND – WATCH TOWER – NIGHT

 

Two marines position themselves outside the door to the bunker compound's elevated watch tower.

 

 

EXT. BUNKER COMPOUND – NIGHT

 

Below the watch tower, the ARMY MAGAZINE CHECKERS approach. Marines 1 and 2 spring out, armed with M-16s with over/under grenade launchers They shoot BEAN BAG projectiles at the Army Guards, who collapse, dazed.

 

 

INT. BUNKER COMPOUND WATCH TOWER – NIGHT

 

Marines 3 and 4 burst inside the watch tower. The guards inside spring up. BOOM BOOM, they're hit by bean bag projectiles, propelling them out the windows of the watch tower. They fall 10 feet and lie unconscious.

 

 

EXT. BUNKER COMPOUND – NIGHT

 

Marines 1 and 2, now in MAGAZINE CHECYERIS UNIFORMS, move to the BUNKER DOOR. They open the door with the Magazine checker's CODED CARDS.

 

 

INT. CHEMICAL WEAPONS BUNKER – NIGHT

 

Two ARMY GUARDS, playing poker, look up at the entering marines. Marines 1 and 2 walk straight up to the Army Guards, holding them at bay with M-16s. Before any words are spoken, one of the marines injects each of the guards with a VACCINE PISTOL.

 

 

INT. BUNKER SECURITY BUILDING – NIGHT

 

Four more marines led by SGT. CRISP enter, holding Col. Callahan, General Hummel and the Army Guards at bay.

 

SGT. CRISP

This is a security exercise, sir. We've fully breached and infiltrated your compound. I'm afraid you and your men are my prisoners, sir.

 

The marines begin cuffing the Army Guards to the radiator and taping their mouths.

 

SGT. CRISP

Sorry sir, you realise the importance of these exercises.

 

HUMMEL

(to Callahan)

Ten men who could have been terrorists are out there doing whatever they damn well please to your compound, Colonel. Here you sit with your ass chained to a fucking radiator. This is not a tight ship. I would not want to be in your shoes in the morning.

 

Sgt. Crisp hits the FRONT GATE'S OPEN BUZZER and follows Hummel out of the room.

 

 

EXT. ARMY WEAPONS COMPOUND – FRONT GATE – NIGHT

 

The gate swings open. TWO HUMVEES enter the compound.

 

 

EXT. CHEMICAL WEAPONS BUNKER – NIGHT

 

The marines use a 'rabbit tool, (hydraulic, compact and powerful) to pry open the bunker's steel doors. They rush down a hallway.

 

 

CHEMICAL WEAPONS BUNKER – INTERIOR HALLWAY

 

The marines rush up to another steel door and quickly pry it open.

 

 

INT. C.B.W. BUNKER – NIGHT

 

A refrigerated storage room for chemical weapons. Storage tubes are labeled: V.X. POISON GAS. Across the room are rockets labeled: 55 115 MM BOLT ROCKETS.

 

Using the TRACK HOOK SYSTEM in the bunker's ceiling, the marines move the V.X. CHEM ROUNDS and BOLT ROCKETS to the waiting humvees. It's very fast, like clockwork.

 

 

EXT. ARMY WEAPONS COMPOLIND – FRONT GATE – NIGHT

 

The Humvees, followed by Hummel in his Suburban, roar out of the compound.

 

CUT TO:

 

 

INT. HUMMEL'S SUBURBAN – NIGHT

 

Hummel on a CB radio: A textbook exercise, gentlemen. Rendezvous in eleven hours.

 

 

EXT. FBI FIELD OFFICE, FT. DIETRICK, MD. – DAY

 

Establish headquarters for chemical/biological weapons.

 

 

INT. FBI OFFICE – CHEMICAL/BIOLOGIAL DIVISION – DAY

 

A WINDOWED DOOR stenciled "Chemical/Biological Weapons Division". A RUBBER DART hits the glass and drops into a TRASH CAN next to the door.

 

ISHERWOOD (V.O.)

Son-of-a-bitch...

 

GOODSPEED (V.O.)

You owe me five dollars, Marvin.

 

 

ACROSS THE ROOM

 

BILL GOODSPEED, 30, and partner/trainee MARVIN ISHERWOOD, 25, feet up on desks, with toy guns. This is Man's Boredom. A ceiling fan circles. Isherwood yawns; scratches neck with his gun barrel.

 

Goodspeed reloads. Aims. Fires.

 

THE DART hits a CARDBOARD TARGET across the room which activates a Rube Goldberg series of events ending in a PLASTIC GIRL being ignited in a PAN OF CHEMICALS.

 

Goodspeed, without even getting up, casually sprays the pan with flame retardant foam.

 

ISHERWOOD

(yawns)

I was told this was exciting work.

 

GOODSPEED

Patience, Marvin. It has its moments.

 

A KLAXON sounds. Isherwood smiles excitedly.

 

 

INT. FBI CHEMICAL WEAPONS – BASEMENT CORRIDOR – DAY

 

Isherwood follows Goodspeed down a grimy, off-white corridor illuminated by antiseptic light. This is an older building. Hasn't been refurbished and shows it.

 

 

INT. FBI CHEMICAL WEAPONS – LABORATORY – DAY

 

A medium-sized laboratory, where 5 FBI TECHNICIANS are bent over tables of beakers, test-tubes, Bunsen burners, etc. The room and equipment are old and used; could be 1976 rather than 1996.

 

Along one side of the lab is a plexiglass wall. Inside the plexiglass is an airlocked GAS CHAMBER. F.B.I chemists LONNER and LING motion to Goodspeed.

 

DR. LONNER

C'mere, Billy.

(points inside gas chamber)

A dog at J.F.K. got a whiff of something postmarked to a Bosnian refugee camp. Could be detergent, could be seran gas.

 

 

INSIDE THE GAS CHAMBER

 

Is a LARGE WOODEN CRATE next to a TABLE OF POISON DETECTION INSTRUMENTS.

 

ISHERWOOD

Bosnian refugee camp? I don't get it.

 

GOODSPEED

Half a million Serbians reside in the U.S., Marvin. Serbians don't like Bosnians. Read a newspaper. It's good for you. Hold out your hand.

 

Isherwood does so. It's shaky.

 

ISHERWOOD

I'm okay. Really. Let's do it.

 

Hold on Goodspeed's uncertain look.

 

CUT TO:

 

 

INT. GAS C ER – DAY – MINUTES LATER

 

The door HISSES open. Goodspeed and Isherwood, in vulcanized rubber suits and visored helmets, enter. They go to the INSTRUMENT TABLE before the crate.

 

A GLASS VESSEL with tiny air holes (like a salt shaker) descends from the ceiling. Inside are COCKROACHES.

 

GOODSPEED

Coal miners use canaries, we use those. Sorry guys.

 

DR. LING

(into mike)

We have airlock, Bill. Proceed.

 

GOODSPEED

(into helmet mike)

July 1, 0.900 hours, agent William Goodspeed and agent/trainee Marvin Isherwood. Initiating exam of a wooden crate. Suspicion of seran gas device inside.

 

Goodspeed grabs a pry-bar from the instrument table-and slowly pries open the cratels wooden lid. He motions to Isherwood. Together they gingerly lift the lid.

 

 

INSIDE THE CRATE

 

It's filled with "UNICEF" type stuff. Goodspeed lifts out a HOT-PLATE. Isherwood lifts out an EGG BEATER. Goodspeed runs a POISON SENSOR past each.

 

GOODSPEED

Appears to be kitchen items, cleaning agents, and...

(lifts out a sweatshirt)

... old clothes.

 

ISHERWOOD

This is thrilling.

 

Isherwood lifts out a DOLL. Goodspeed's POISON SENSOR'S NEEDLE goes crazy...!

 

GOODSPEED

Careful, goddamn it Marvin!

 

The doll's eyes open. Its mouth blast a PINKISH SPRAY, hitting Goodspeed's forearm and Isherwood's palm.

 

 

OUTSIDE THE GAS CHAMBER

 

Dr. Ling stabs a button marked "exhaust" and another marked "emergency."

 

A KLAXON sounds. FBI TECHNICIANS race for the exit.

 

 

IN THE GAS CHAMBER

 

The pinkish gas hovers in the air. CEILING EXHAUST FANS begin to suck it up.

 

 

IN THE GLASS VESSEL

 

The cockroaches convulse, flip in the air and explode, guts splattering the vessel walls.

 

ISHERWOOD

What's hap... what's happening...?

 

Dr. Ling looks at a DIGITAL CLOCK on the control panel.

 

DR. LING

Don't panic, Bill. 50 seconds and the gas will clear. You're okay.

 

Goodspeed grabs the doll from Isherwood, slams it on the table, and grabs a SCALPEL. Cuts open the doll's chest.

 

GOODSPEED

I've got some bad news and some really bad news. The bad news is the gas is corrosive. It's eating our suits.

 

Isherwood looks at his RUBBER GLOVES. The rubber is beginning to bubble and corrode.

 

DR. LING

What's the really bad news.

 

Goodspeed peels back the doll's plastic chest, revealing: a C-4 EXPLOSIVE DEVICE and TEN POISON AMPULES.

 

GOODSPEED

Enough C-4 explosive to blow the chamber and enough poison gas to kill everybody in the building.

 

Isherwood's and Goodspeed's rubber gloves are melting.

 

ISHERWOOD

The acid's eating... it's eating my fucking suit...

 

GOODSPEED

Chill, Marvin.

(yells outside)

WHERE'S THE GODDAMN SPRINKLERS?

 

Dr. Lonner flips on the sprinklers. The pipes KNOCK. A FEW PATHETIC DROPS trickle from the SPRINKLER HEADS.

 

DR. LONNER

Something's blocking the pipes, Bill. When in Christ's name are they gonna give us a new building...

 

DR. LING

Get the atropine, Isherwood. The atropine, Marvin.

 

Isherwood, terrified, jerks open an OVERHEAD CABINET, revealing several 6 inch needled SYRINGES.

 

DR. LING

You die, we all die, Bill. Inject yourself, then diffuse it.

(Goodspeed continues to inspect the device)

Goddamn it, Bill, take the antidote.

 

Isherwood fumbles with a huge syringe.

 

GOODSPEED

Get that away from me.

(to himself)

I hate needles.

 

DR. LING

INJECT YOURSELF!

 

GOODSPEED

LONNER, WHERE'S THE GODDAMNED WATER?

 

The pipes are KNOCKING, now they're COUGHING.

 

DR. LONNER

It's coming, it's coming...

 

Isherwood sinks to his knees, holding the huge syringe in front of his heart, hara-kiri style, hands trembling...

 

Goodspeed concentrates on the device; his calm is unsettling. His hands flash, grabbing instruments and performing precise, deft, functions. He snips a wire and splices it. Another. Another.

 

DR. LING

(sweating it out)

Ten seconds, Bill.

 

Isherwood moves the syringe closer to his chest.

 

ISHERWOOD

Oh fuck oh shit oh fuck THIS IS LIKE FUCKING PULP FICTION ONLY IT'S REAL.

 

Isherwood drops the syringe. Fumbles for another... Goodspeed, ice-cold, continues on the device...

 

DR. LING

Five seconds, Bill, four seconds, Jesus Christ...

 

GOODSPEED'S RUBBER GLOVE is stretched to transparency. We see GOODSPEED'S FLESH through the acid-eaten rubber. He makes one final cut-and-clamp. THE DETONATOR on the poison gas turns off.

 

DR. LING

Three, two... the gas is clear!

 

 

OUTSIDE THE GAS CHAMBER

 

GREEN LIGRTS FLASH on the control panel and a TORRENTIAL SPRAY soaks Goodspeed and Isherwood. is wide-eyed and trembling. Goodspeed glares at him.

 

DR. LING

Next time use the atropine!

 

GOODSPEED

I don't like needles.

 

 

EXT. GEORGETOWN – STREETS / ALLEYWAY – DAY

 

The bohemian part around Georgetown U. Goodspeed heads down an alley between two townhouses. LOUD COUNTRY MUSIC emanates from an apt. above. Goodspeed ascends.

 

 

INT. GEORGETOWN – GOODSPEED'S APARTMENT – DAY

 

A young woman stands in the middle of the living room, belting out a Carlene Carter tune in cowboy boots, rhinestone blouse and skirt. CARLA PESTALOZZI, 20's, is playing guitar, accompanied by a boom box.

 

CARLA

Every little dream I dream about you, Every little song I sing about you, It drives me crazy when you go away.

(notices Goodspeed)

Wanna keep you locked up at home...

 

Goodspeed walks past her into the kitchen. Carla turns down the music. Goodspeed re-enters with a Budweiser.

 

CARLA

(New Jersey accent)

Hey there.

 

GOODSPEED

Hey honey.

 

CARLA

Wrote a new song. Wanna hear it?

 

Goodspeed sits heavily on the couch. Rubs his temples.

 

GOODSPEED

Not now.

 

CARLA

Boy, somebody's in a bad mood.

 

GOODSPEED

Yeah, somebody's in a bad mood.

 

Carla changes the CD: a PUCCINI OPERA plays.

 

CARLA

Better?

 

GOODSPEED

Much better. She sits with him. Puts her arm around him.

 

CARLA

What happened baby. Tell me.

 

GOODSPEED

Had a close one.

 

CARLA

You want to talk about it?

 

GOODSPEED

Not really.

 

CARLA

You know how I feel about what you do.

 

GOODSPEED

Could we change the subject?

 

CARLA

That record company in Nashville wants to hear my demo tape.

 

GOODSPEED

Hey! Now there's some good news.

 

CARLA

You think I'm too... ethnic for country music?

 

GOODSPEED

Carla Pestalozzi? No. Definitely not. You could have posed for the Mona Lisa. Sophia Loren looks Swedish next to you.

(smiles)

I hope that's a compliment. I could change my name. How 'bout Bobby Sue Pestalozzi? Billy in Pestalozzi?

 

GOODSPEED

Stick with Carla.

 

CARLA

Okay. How 'bout Carla Goodspeed?

(Goodspeed frowns)

Six years, Bill. We've lived together six years.

 

GOODSPEED

We've talked about this, Carla, we've talked it up, down, inside and out...

 

CARLA

Billy, this probably isn't the best time... Bill, I'm uhhh.

 

CARLA

I'm pregnant.

 

GOODSPEED

You're what... ?

 

She holds up a positive home pregnancy test.

 

CUT TO:

 

 

EXT. DESERT AREA (SOUTHWESTERN U.S.) – DAY

 

TWO Y GUNSHIPS roar over camera and land next to the two Humvees. The Huey's doors open. Marine Captains FRYE and DARROW, both late 20's, drag out two MARINE LANCE CORPORALS, bound and gagged, and sit them down. Other marines roll gurneys laden with chem rounds, rockets and other equipment onto the Hueys.

 

They Hueys ascend and SCREAM off across the desert and...

 

CUT TO:

 

 

EXT. SAN FRANCISCO – AFTERNOON

 

 

Establishing shots of San Francisco and Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.