THE COST OF OIL by Kelly Hearn Nancy Noever For

THE COST OF OIL by Kelly Hearn & Nancy Noever For further information: 310-480-8685 FADE IN: 1 EXT. DEEP AMAZON RAIN FOREST - ECUADOR - DAY Several ECUADORIAN soldiers, dressed in jungle fatigues, armed with machine guns guard a manicured “grass track,” cut from the thick green canopy of the Amazon jungle. DR. MARCUS DEVLIN, late 40’s, American, in jungle clothes straight out of a catalog, puffs anxiously on a pipe at one end of the track. He is flanked by ASSISTANTS, holding clip boards, stopwatch, and whistle. At the other end of the track, three people stretch and limber up in preparation for a foot race. A NATIVE JUNGLE BOY, 12, barefoot, nervously at the opponents and the subconsciously runs his hand along left collarbone, rubbing a spot as physical deformity. crew cut, glances guards. He the underside of his though touching a 1 A white ATHLETE, 20s, taunt lean muscular, military type. He angrily slaps conga ants off his leg, swats at flies, and curses the jungle heat. The Third MAN, mid-20s, Ecuadorian oil worker-type, with his left leg amputated just below the knee adjusts a realistic looking prosthesis. He has the same scar as the boy along his collar bone. They line up at one end of the track. An Assistant blows his whistle to start the race. The Native Boy and the Amputee dust the Athlete exhibiting super human speed. The Native Boy and Amputee are fairly evenly matched and clearly ahead of the Athlete. About 20 meters from the end of the track, the Amputee pulls ahead. The Native Boy strains trying to close the distance, inching closer with each stride. About 10 meters before the finish line, the Native Boy pulls up cramping, collapsing in agony. The Amputee crosses the finish line. ASSISTANT (checking the stopwatch) 8.45 Seconds. The Athlete blows by the Native Boy, still in agony on the ground and crosses the finish line second. (CONTINUED) 1 CONTINUED: ASSISTANT (CONT’D) 2. 1 10.94 Seconds. ATHLETE (grasping for his breath) Damn -- The world record is around 9.8. One of the Soldiers injects the Native Boy with a pain killer helping him off the track toward a near-by truck. The Athlete continues to recover his breath. A Soldier measures several bio-metric markers: pulse, recovery time, etc. The Amputee, barely winded, walks off the race. After a moment, his prosthetic leg starts jerking, attempting to walk on its own. The Amputee screams, grabbing his skull and collapses. Another Soldier rushes over with pain killers and biometric instruments. DEVLIN (annoyed) Post the data. His time should have been less than 7 seconds. Shaking his head in failure, Devlin, furiously puffing on his pipe, retreats into the jungle. 2 EXT. STREET PROTEST - QUITO, ECUADOR - DAY Pure chaos. AMAZONIAN INDIAN PROTESTORS opposing foreign oil firms chant and carry signs. GROUP CHANTS The Huaorani, the Quanichi people, say No to toxic rivers! They say No to Chevron! No to Global Oil Exploration! No to China National Petroleum Corp! ALEX BLAKE, 30’s, reporter, snakes through the crowd talking on his cell phone. ALEX (on cellphone) “Amazonian Indians believe -INTERCUT WITH -2 3. 3 INT. WASHINGTON TIMES - CONTINUOUS 3 DENA, 30’s, Alex’s Editor, on the phone, plugs her other ear trying to hear Alex’s conversation. In the background, she watches the Ecuadorian President, EDUARDO TORRES, at a news conference on CNN. She types in Alex’s story as he dictates it for the next edition. DENA (on phone as she types) Amazonian Indians relieve -4 EXT. STREET PROTEST - QUITO, ECUADOR - CONTINUOUS ECUADORIAN SOLDIERS surround the crowd as Alex continues to file his story. ALEX (on cell phone) Believe, not relieve. Believe. Believe. Dena Believe! DENA (on cell phone) Okay, believe what? ALEX (on cell phone) Believe the big oil companies are using old technologies -DENA (on phone, typing) Using Bold technologies -ALEX (on cell phone) No, no, using OLD technologies -they are destroying the Amazon jungle. That is what the story is about -- that isn’t BOLD, they’re using OLD, banned cheaper technology to extract oil. DENA (on phone) I know Alex, but I can’t hear you. 4 (CONTINUED) 4 CONTINUED: ALEX (on cell phone) It’s important that the words are right. DENA (on phone) Then speak up! The Protestors scatter screaming as the Ecuadorian soldiers launch tear gas grenades into the crowd. Shit! ALEX 4. 4 5 INT. WASHINGTON TIMES - CONTINUOUS DENA (on phone) Where do you want me to put that word? ALEX (on phone) They’re tear-gassing the crowd. A REPORTER barges into her office. Dena puts Alex on speaker phone. REPORTER Torres is threatening to nationalize the oil companies to stop the riots. DENA Get Fletcher on that story. The Reporter nods and heads back to the bull pen. ALEX (on speaker phone) Torres is nationalizing? Alex coughs as the tear gas floats his way. DENA (into speaker phone) Alex, get someplace quiet and file YOUR story -- the one about the riots. 5 (CONTINUED) 5 CONTINUED: ALEX (on speaker phone) What about nationalizing -DENA (into speaker phone) He’s threatening like the last several have -ALEX (on speaker phone) And they’re all dead or ousted. DENA (into speaker phone) By democratic process. Your story is the riot. I’m holding two columns. Go write! Dena hangs up. 5. 5 6 INT. OIL WORKER BAR - QUITO, ECUADOR - CONTINUOUS Alex ducks into the bar, laptop in tow and tries to find a quiet place to write. CNN is on the television. Alex sits at the bar and pulls out his laptop as the BAR TENDER turns up the sound. The caption identifies the woman being interviewed as JOANNA BEDDINGFORD from Notice.org. Alex ignores the TV report as the computer chimes on. ON THE TV SCREEN -JOANNA (on TV) These Ecuadorian soldiers are bought and paid for by U.S. Oil companies! Alex looks up briefly and frowns. ALEX But can you prove it -JOANNA (on TV) They’re trying to intimidate and crush indigenous opposition to oil exploration in the Amazon! AT THE BAR -- 6 (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: An Audio skype pops up on his screen from -DENA (as disembodied voice) Where is my story? Patience! ALEX 6. 6 DENA (as disembodied voice) Not your strong suit. How come you are fast at everything else except my stories? Alex smirks, closes the computer window and flips off the screen. ON COMPUTER SCREEN Aaron rings in. The screen fills with AARON CHILDERS, mid30’s, wandering do-gooder. He seems a little off and distracted. ALEX I’m on deadline, Aaron. Can this wait until I’m there? Alex unloads his pockets, including an airline ticket, his keys and a few other uncomfortably placed items putting them on the table. AARON (on screen) It can’t wait two days. Aaron rubs his head like he has a headache. AARON (CONT’D) (on screen) I’m going in -The signal dies - the screen goes blank reconnect and fails Damn -ALEX -- Alex tries to An instant message (IM) from DENA pops across the blank screen -Dena IM’s -- “STORY?!!!!” (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: (2) 7. 6 Alex shuts down ichat. He tries to reconnect to Aaron but again fails. He’ll try again later. BACK TO SCENE -He concentrates and prepares to write. Just as his fingers start flying across the keyboard -JD, mid-40’s, seasoned oil man with a Texas drawl, the type you’d like to have on your side in a bar fight despite his sizable beer belly, slams down a half full bottle of Jack Daniels and two shot glasses on the table in front of Alex. ALEX (CONT’D) (without looking up) I’m on deadline, JD. Can’t talk. JD sits down, pours two shots -- ready to tell stories. JD You have time for an old friend. ALEX You got a story for me? JD I always have a story. Alex downs the shot, but ignores JD returning his concentration to the computer screen. JD downs his shot and refills the glasses. ALEX (reading from his computer screen) On the sidelines for years, the indigenous peoples of the Amazon -When Alex continues to ignore him, JD picks up the airline ticket. JD What’s in Coca? ALEX An old buddy and a standing poker game. JD Ever hear the story of the blind men and the Texas Longhorn? Alex rolls his eyes and concentrates on the computer. (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: (3) ALEX (reading as he types) -- are now taking an active role in Ecuadorian politics. JD These seven blind men come up on a Texas Longhorn and they’re trying to figure out what it is. ALEX On deadline, JD -- the riots. JD One falls against its body and says it is a wall, the second touches his horns and says it is a spear, the third grabs its nose -ALEX It’s an elephant they’re trying to figure out. JD In Texas, the story is about a longhorn steer. ALEX In the rest of the world, it’s about an elephant. The second guy touches the tusks and the third guy grabs the trunk and says it is a snake -JD So you’ve heard the story -ALEX Yes, each one of them only saw a part of the elephant. They were all wrong because they couldn’t put it together to see the whole animal. JD downs the second shot. JD It’s a wise story. ALEX Yep. My part of the elephant is the riots and Dena is going to skin me for a wallet if I don’t get this story in. 8. 6 (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: (4) An Email notice from Dena pops up on his screen. ALEX (CONT’D) (to the screen) Patience woman. JD What do you know about Rayo 24? ALEX (to JD) No tall tales this time. You got something for me or not? I’m on deadline. 9. 6 Alex’s cell phone starts ringing. He starts searching through his jacket pockets for it. The sound gets louder with each ring. JD When you want to talk about the elephant instead of the fly on his butt. Come see me. JD downs both shots and leaves with the bottle just as Alex flips open the phone and realizes what JD said. DENA (screaming through the phone) Where is my story? ALEX I’m spell-checking it now. He opens up ichat and sends it to her still thinking about JD’s story. ON COMPUTER SCREEN -Alex opens up a video session. Dena’s face fills his screen. She reads the print out of his story as they talk. DENA Hop a plane to cover the well opening -ALEX You’re sticking me with a PR campaign for Global Oil. (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: (5) DENA You missed a comma in the third paragraph, fifth line. Alex grits his teeth, this nit-picking is painful for him. ALEX That’s a discretionary comma. Alejandra has to be behind it. It? DENA 10. 6 ALEX Torres’ threatening to nationalize. DENA My butt is on the line regarding you -- stay away from the nationalization story. I’m sending you background -A request to download a file appears on his computer screen. He rejects it. Propaganda ALEX DENA On how they’re reinjecting the toxic waste water back into the oil well. ALEX Something the oil business has been doing for years in other parts of the world. DENA But it’s a first in Ecuador. ALEX You’re still punishing me when you know the Cali story was true. DENA I know. But you didn’t have the sources that would go on record to back it up. (CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED: (6) ALEX (defensive) I’m an investigative reporter and you’re sending me to cover a PR event. DENA You’re one of my best and you have your assignment. ALEX Dena, you know me -DENA Which is the only reason you still have a job. There is a frustrated silence as Alex stews. DENA (CONT’D) For once Alex, play by the rules -it’s my job now too. So don’t harass too many officials there. 11. 6 The download file request appears again. This time, Alex accepts it. ALEX I’m a people person, Dena. DENA Right -- Print out your eticket, this time. I don’t want -Alex closes her window and pulls up the eticket. 7 EXT. WELL OPENING - SOMEWHERE IN THE JUNGLE - LATER 7 A ROUGHNECK (oil rig workers) whips the Chain around a Pipe destined for the well opening. Other ROUGHNECKS duck and weave in an odd synchronized dance as they complete the tasks needed to extract oil from the ground. 8 EXT. NEARBY STAGE SET UP FOR THE EVENT - CONTINUOUS On a stage erected nearby for the event, CHARLES DENTON, CEO of Global Oil Exploration, a dignified mid-50’s, speaks. Flanking him are glossy display boards outlining the environmentally safe reinjection process and extolling Global’s exemplary environmental record around the world. (CONTINUED) 8 8 CONTINUED: 12. 8 WAITERS circulate giving the audience members glasses of champagne. CHARLES We are a proud part of building Ecuador’s future. Here is to a long and prosperous partnership. Everyone joins in the toast and claps as Alex, wearing his press credentials, snakes his way through the makeshift aisles to get a seat. He grabs a glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray. ALEX (under his breath) Just in time. He opens up his press packet that identifies Charles as the CEO and the other dignitaries on the stage including PEDRO ALEJANDRA, Minister of Natural Resources for Ecuador. Also on stage, is JESSE DENTON, 22, wheelchair bound, Charles’ son. The crowd breaks up and heads toward the reception tent. Alex notices the large number of ECUADORIAN SOLDIERS at the event. He lingers making notes from information in the press packet. 9 EXT. STAGE - CONTINUOUS The stage is empty except for Jesse, Charles and one of Charles’ MEN. Alex watches as Jesse waves off the Man’s help, locks the wheels of the wheelchair and slides off of it onto the stage floor. Charles ineffectively tries to help. JESSE I can do this. Just get the chair down. CHARLES Let us carry you -JESSE You dropped me on the way up. He stumbled. CHARLES 9 (CONTINUED) 9 CONTINUED: Jesse glares at him. Charles’ reply is to lower the wheelchair off the stage as requested. CHARLES (CONT’D) There were supposed to be -JESSE I know, ramps -Jesse -CHARLES 13. 9 JESSE Look Dad, I did your little PR thing -- injured returning Iraqi hero and all -- now can we just get to the reception. I could use a drink. Jesse awkwardly slides off the stage onto the wheelchair and wheels himself to the party without looking back. Charles, helplessly follows. 10 INT. COCKTAIL PARTY - BAR Alex walks up to the bar. Scotch rocks. ALEX 10 As he waits, Alex notices Jesse sitting in his wheelchair unnoticed by the Bar Tender because the bar’s height obscures him. Jesse stews but is too stubborn to ask for help. ALEX (CONT’D) (to Jesse) What are you drinking? Jesse notices Alex’s press credentials and frowns. JESSE No thanks. Too expensive. ALEX Open bar. Your Dad’s tab -JESSE It’s the tip I’m worried about. (CONTINUED) 10 CONTINUED: ALEX You’re not my story -- your isn’t my story so I have no to pump you for information that is what you’re worried Jesse sizes Alex up -- Alex passes. JESSE Then I’ll have the same -- scotch rocks. 14. 10 Dad reason if about. Alex hands Jesse the drink he had ordered and signals the Bar Tender for a second one before scanning the room. He notices a strong military prescence. ALEX Lots of security. JESSE Guillermo is very thorough. Guillermo -ALEX Jesse’s look stops the question. Alex sees GUILLERMO, mid-40s, hardened military man surveying the room for anything unusual. ALEX (CONT’D) Is that Guillermo? Jesse nods disclosing no more information but not leaving. Both men scan the room and sip their drinks. Alex sees Pedro Alejandra and Charles talking very politely in the corner. Jesse follows his gaze. JESSE What is your story? ALEX The guy talking to your Dad. JESSE The Minister of Natural Resources? ALEX Pedro Alejandra -- (CONTINUED) 10 CONTINUED: (2) JESSE You’re wondering if he’ll convince Torres to nationalize the foreign oil company assets? ALEX Something like that -- do you think Torres is going to nationalize? JESSE I think that my drink is getting expensive -ALEX Just making conversation. 15. 10 The conversation between Charles and Pedro seems to be getting tense. ALEX (CONT’D) Do you think it’ll come to blows? JESSE Too many polite people around. ALEX Maybe, but looks like Alejandra is going to put a crimp in your inheritance -Jesse and Alex both watch the building argument -ALEX (CONT’D) Twenty billion dollars of Global’s investment gone -- all lost if Torres nationalizes -That’s a hell of a quarterly loss on a balance sheet -- Wall Street will tank the stock -- more red ink -JESSE You forgot the total destruction of life as we know it in your gloomy predictions. ALEX At least life as you know it JESSE Yea that one already happened -double whammy -- first Iraq and now life in a chair. (CONTINUED) 10 CONTINUED: (3) ALEX Hey sorry man. I didn’t -Jesse shrugs it off. JESSE Put your money on my Dad. He always figures it out to get his way. Thanks for the drink. Alex watches as Jesse rolls off. 16. 10 11 INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT 11 Story filed by the deadline, Alex skypes with Dena as he gets comfortable raiding the hotel minibar. ALEX Tons of security. I couldn’t get close to Alejandra or Denton for a comment. There’s a press conference in Guayaquil DENA Thought you had a poker game -ALEX Talked to Denton’s son - he might DENA Alex -- vacation. Maxwell is covering Torres. ALEX The only spanish word Maxwell knows is cerveza. DENA Use that word often over the next couple of days -- just relax. ALEX My Editor is telling me to go on vacation? DENA I’m your Editor BECAUSE you never would go on vacation. There is a half second of awkward silence. (CONTINUED) 11 CONTINUED: DENA (CONT’D) How is that vintage wine from the minibar? ALEX Same as always -- potent. DENA You’re back on the 12th. ALEX You planning on meeting me at the airport? Another half second of awkward silence. DENA Call me when Aaron has cleaned you out. You’re a lousy poker player. Alex laughs and hangs up. 17. 11 12 EXT. COCA AIRPORT - EARLY MORNING 12 Alex waits for Aaron to pick him up. No one appears. Alex dials a number -ALEX Aaron, pick up.... Aaron. Man, I’m taking a cab. Alex signals for the next taxi in line. 13 EXT. COCA -- CONTINUOUS 13 They pass shabby restaurants, shabby hotels, boats stacked with bananas and supplies slip through the muddy river, freshly slaughtered cows hang from hooks on the street. Drunk Indian oil workers on R&R from oil encampments stagger in the streets, having spent paychecks on booze and whores the night before. 14 EXT. AARON’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 14 Alex knocks on the door of a small shack. He searches for a hidden key. Finding none, he pries open the door. (CONTINUED) 14 CONTINUED: 18. 14 Across the street a PHOTOGRAPHER snaps a picture of Alex breaking into the shack and signals to a small BOY, who runs down the street. 15 INT. AARON’S APARTMENT -- CONTINUOUS 15 The place is messy -- it could be trashed or just a bachelor’s life except for the dead fish in the tank, and the lifeless plants. ALEX (surveying the room) Jesus Aaron! And I thought you were bad in college. Alex dials Aaron’s cell phone. It rings in the house. Alex finds the phone and pockets it. He finds a pen and scrawls a note saying “Searching for food. Where are you? Be back in a few.” 16 INT. OPEN AIR CAFE - CONTINUOUS 16 Alex sits on the patio of an open air cafe. The WAITER sets down a cold beer and leaves a menu. MARIA, mid-20s, watches from across the street. As Alex reads the menu, she grabs another menu from the front and brings it over to Alex. MARIA Your friend, Aaron, would recommend something from this menu. She hands him the menu which he takes. He can feel something bulky inside of it. His confusion continues as Maria sits opposite him. Who are you? ALEX MARIA My name is Maria Alejandra and I’m a friend of Aaron’s. ALEX Where is he? He didn’t -MARIA Aaron said to give this to you if something happened to him. (CONTINUED) 16 CONTINUED: ALEX What’s happened to him? MARIA I don’t know but he was supposed to be back three days ago. ALEX I spoke to him two days ago and -MARIA (earnestly) Something has happened to him. ALEX I’ve got friends at the Embassy who -MARIA No, they can’t be involved. ALEX Involved in what? MARIA Don’t go back to his house -My computer -ALEX 19. 16 MARIA It may mean your life. Alex tries to take all this in and then laughs it off. ALEX Did Aaron put you up to this as some kind of a joke? Alex looks around, thinking his friend is hiding somewhere watching all of this -ALEX (CONT’D) Not funny, dude. MARIA (nervous and frightened) Please senor, please lower your voice. (CONTINUED) 16 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX (getting louder) First, you strand me at the airport and now this -MARIA Please, you must be quiet. ALEX C’mon man, it’s poker. 20. 16 Maria panics and bolts from the table. Her genuine panic has Alex’s attention. He opens the menu and quickly closes it - his demeanor instantly serious. He tosses down some money, grabs the menu and his stuff heading down the street. 17 EXT. AARON’S HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS Alex turns the corner toward Aaron’s house. Alex recognizes the security man, Guillermo, from the party escorted by ECUADORIAN SOLDIERS. Guillermo exits the house carrying Alex’s computer. Fuck! ALEX 17 Alex continues walking to the next block until he is out of sight. He paces trying to figure out his next step. He thumbs through his wallet, checking his money and credit cards and heads down a side street. 18 INT. FRONT DESK SHABBY HOTEL - LATER Alex slips the CLERK some cash and takes a room key. 19 INT. HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Alex locks the door. He checks the street below before closing the wooden shutters. He lays out the contents of the folder on the bed. It contains: - A photo of the foot race from the first scene with Devlin from the back, the Ecuadorian Soldiers and the three opponents: the athlete, the native boy and the amputee. (CONTINUED) 19 18 19 CONTINUED: 21. 19 - Another photo of the corpse of the Native Boy from the race, with several dissection incisions along the collarbone and head - An 8-character alphanumeric sequence written on a napkin from the Albergue Hotel in Lago Agrio, Ecuador - A telephone number and the phrases “Rayo 24” and “Notice” scrawled on a napkin from Borehead Pub, Coca, Ecuador. ALEX Aaron, what have you gotten yourself mixed up in now? He sets aside the Borehead Pub napkin and returns the other items to the folder which he hides behind the mirror in the bathroom. 20 EXT. STREET - COCA, ECUADOR - CONTINUOUS Alex, all senses alert, walks up the street to the pay phone. He pauses at the doorways to a couple shops pretending to read menus or store hours. He gets a juice from a LOCAL JUICE VENDOR. Once he feels safe -21 EXT. PAY PHONE - STREETS OF COCA - CONTINUOUS 21 20 He empties out his pockets of change and the Borehead Pub napkin. He dials the number on the napkin. It rings and rings and rings. No answer. No answering machine. He hangs up. He dials a second number. 22 INT. UPSCALE LOFT - WASHINGTON DC - CONTINUOUS 22 The upscale loft contains designer furniture and banks of computers and little else. By the door are two duffle bags and a stack of poker chips in a custom carrying case. Peter, mid-30’s, answers the phone. PETER (on phone) Bracken Consulting. (CONTINUED) 22 CONTINUED: ALEX (on phone) Cancel your flight. There is no poker game. 22. 22 23 EXT. STREET - COCA, ECUADOR - CONTINUOUS Intercut phone conversation with Peter in the loft. PETER (on phone) Man! What story are you working on now? ALEX (on phone) It’s not me, it’s Aaron. PETER (on phone) How did Aaron screw up? ALEX (on phone) He’s disappeared. PETER (on phone) Damn him. He’ll turn up in a couple of days hung over with some new friends. Meanwhile, we’re both screwed. ALEX (on phone) You know anything about a girlfriend named Maria? PETER (on phone) Another one? What did this Maria tell you? ALEX (on phone) She gave me a folder with pictures of some serious shit -Peter can hear the gravity of the situation in Alex’s voice. 23 (CONTINUED) 23 CONTINUED: PETER (on phone) Another one of Aaron’s adventures? ALEX (on phone) No, I think he might be in trouble. PETER (on phone) Like the pot in Maryland or the shit at my Dad’s club trouble --ALEX (on phone) No dead body kind of trouble. PETER (on phone) Whoa. And you’re positive that your imagination isn’t seeing conspiracies -ALEX (on phone) That’d be much easier. 23. 23 Alex looks at the napkin again with the words NOTICE and RAYO 24 on it. PETER (on phone) I got a ticket -ALEX (on phone) No, you’ll be more help to me using those genius fingers of yours hacking into those databases you love so much. PETER (on phone) Yeah don’t tell the government how I spend my free time. Dad’s money won’t support me forever. ALEX (on phone) See what you can find on a Maria Alejandra in Coca, Ecuador. And Rayo 24? (CONTINUED) 23 CONTINUED: (2) Peter sighs. PETER (on phone) I hope you’re chasing shadows again, Quixote. ALEX (on phone) Just see what you can find. Alex hangs up. He heads back to his hotel room. 24. 23 24 INT. HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS 24 Alex unlocks the door and is pulled into the room -- the Two Ecuadorian Policemen from Aaron’s house toss him onto the bed face first pinning his arms behind him like a trussed chicken. He recognizes Guillermo from the reception sitting in the corner chair. What the fuck? ALEX From his vantage point on the bed, Alex quickly notes that his stuff has been searched. He avoids looking to the bathroom. GUILLERMO Why you are here in Coca, Senor Blake? ALEX Just passing through. Guillermo tosses down a photograph of Alex breaking into Aaron’s house. GUILLERMO We don’t like criminals “passing through” our town. ALEX What do you want? GUILLERMO Why are you here? ALEX To play poker with my buddies. GUILLERMO Aaron Childers and Peter Bracken. (CONTINUED) 24 CONTINUED: ALEX You’re well informed. Do you know where Aaron is? GUILLERMO I don’t. I’m was hoping you could help me. ALEX Then we’re both out of luck. Guillermo tosses out a photo of Alex and Maria at the restaurant on the table. GUILLERMO And what business did you have with the woman? ALEX None. She sat down at my table. I’ve never seen her before in my life. 25. 24 One of the Soldiers puts his knee into Alex’s back. Alex groans in pain but gives no more information. Guillermo cocks his head. The Soldiers slam Alex against the far wall followed by a couple of well-placed punches to the solar plexis. Alex doubles over trying to recover his breath. GUILLERMO She gave you something -- what was it? ALEX I don’t know what -The Soldiers yank him up for round two. ALEX (CONT’D) A menu -- she gave me a menu. GUILLERMO And where is it now? Alex signals toward the menu on the nightstand. Guillermo picks it up -- checking for additional writing, things hidden in the flaps. Nothing. GUILLERMO (CONT’D) What was in the menu, Senor Blake? (CONTINUED) 24 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX Nothing -- that is all she gave me. I don’t know -A Soldier punches him in the kidney. Shit -ALEX (CONT’D) 26. 24 GUILLERMO I am a patient man but I do not like games. He tosses a picture of an unidentifiable female’s corpse on the bed. GUILLERMO (CONT’D) Maria Alejandra, aid worker, died in a tragic hit and run accident today. The license plates have been traced to a car rented by reporter Alex Blake -ALEX I never rented a car here. GUILLERMO But I have your signature on a rental agreement matching -He holds up the agreement. Alex lunges for it. The Soldiers hold him back. Where’s Aaron? ALEX GUILLERMO I’m going to ask you one more time -- what did she give you? ALEX I tell you and wind up in some tragic accident. GUILLERMO Or avoid one -- Do you need further convincing? The Soldiers mover closer. Alex weighs his alternatives and sees few. ALEX The folder isn’t here. (CONTINUED) 24 CONTINUED: (3) Guillermo laughs. GUILLERMO I’m not that big of a fool -you’ve been watched. ALEX Then you know that I went out to make a phone call -- I hid it for safekeeping. Guillermo sizes him up. GUILLERMO Tell me where and one of my men will find it. ALEX The person who hid it will only give it to me. GUILLERMO I do not believe you. The Soldiers tighten their grip on Alex. ALEX (scrambling) You hold all the cards -- if it were here, your guys would have found it. I’ve got nothing to gain by screwing with you. My friend’s gone. I just want to get out of town. GUILLERMO You are becoming a wise man. The Soldiers release their grip. ALEX I just got to go to the bathroom first -- that last kidney punch -- 27. 24 Alex heads for the bathroom. A Soldier blocks his path. ALEX (CONT’D) C’mon man, it’s going to get unpleasant for all of us otherwise. I’ll leave the door open so you guys can watch if you want. (CONTINUED) 24 CONTINUED: (4) 28. 24 Guillermo nods agreement. A Soldier shadows him to the bathroom. Alex slams the door into the first soldier who falls into the second. Alex slams the door shut and locks it. It buys him the seconds he needs to grab the file from behind the mirror and jump out the bathroom window to the street. 25 EXT. STREETS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL -- CONTINUOUS 25 Alex crawls out the window and runs around the corner to get out of sight. He glances back to see the Soldiers looking out the window for him and then loading into a Land Rover. Alex stuffs the folder in his shirt. Alex sees a busier street a couple of blocks up. He makes his way as quickly and casually as possible. On his way, he hops a low fence to steal a shirt from a clothes line. He puts on the new shirt over his own and blends into the foot traffic as the Land Rover with Guillermo and the Soldiers turn the corner -- slowly searching for Alex. He slips into a canteena. 26 INT. CANTEENA - CONTINUOUS 26 Alex looks for the back door. He grabs a jacket laid on a bar stool, ducks into the kitchen and out the back door pursued by the ANGRY OWNER. 27 EXT. STREET BEHIND THE CANTEENA Alex squats behind some garbage cans until the Angry Owner goes back inside. He dons the jacket and takes another side alley. Guillermo’s Land Rover passes by the alley entrance. Alex turns away. 28 INT. INTERNET CAFE -- CONTINUOUS 28 27 Alex escapes into a low lit nasty looking internet cafe, checking the street to see if he was followed. (CONTINUED) 28 CONTINUED: 29. 28 He turns into a .45 Gun pointed his way by a TEENAGED GIRL. She pulls the trigger. He recoils, diving for the floor, but hears only a CLICK. The girl’s eyes pop wide and she laughs. GIRL Bang, bang you’re dead, senor. Alex smiles weakly as he regains his footing. A mean-looking COP, shrugs before taking hold of the weapon, wrapping the girl in his arms to show her how to hold it properly. The gun’s bullets are strewn across the counter. She giggles as he nuzzles her neck. Alex breaths and heads for one of the computers in the back. Alex downloads the phone books of both cell phones to a computer and then transfers the data to the thumb drive. He erases the phone books on the cell phones and puts the thumb drive leash back around his neck. The Cop and girl continue to flirt. Alex sees a car looking like Guillermo’s Land Rover slowly pass by. Alex ducks out the back door. 29 EXT. STREETS OF COCA - CONTINUOUS He dumps his cell phone in a nearby trash can, and then dumps Aaron’s phone in another clearly distinct place. He finds a safe look out point and waits. He doesn’t have to wait long before a Patrol Car pulls up to the trash can containing his phone. ALEX Damn -- they’re hooked into the GPS. The PATROLMEN get out to look around. Alex ducks down and checks the location of Aaron’s phone. No one there. ALEX (CONT’D) Be captive and alive somewhere, buddy. Guillermo’s Land Rover pulls up along with other Patrol Cars. (CONTINUED) 29 29 CONTINUED: Alex is on the move again. 30. 29 30 INT. STREETS OF COCA - CONTINUOUS - 30 Alex exchanges money with a LOCAL JUICE SELLER who hands him some keys and points in the direction of a house down the road. 31 EXT. JUICE VENDOR’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Alex knocks on the door and is greeted by a MATRONLY WOMAN in her 50’s. He shows her the key and she points around back. AROUND BACK Alex goes up a staircase to a room over a garage and unlocks the door. 32 INT. SPARE ROOM - CONTINUOUS The room is small, sparse but clean. He looks around, checking the space. Satisfied, he locks the door. He takes out a reporter’s notebook and writes a list of all the things he knows -- a To Do list of sorts with knowns and resources -- Peace Corp office is at the top of the list -He flips the notebook closed and tries to get some sleep. 33 EXT. CAFE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PEACE CORP OFFICES 33 NEXT DAY Alex finishes his coffee and watches the comings and goings outside the office. He puts down some money and heads across the street. 34 INT. PEACE CORP OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 34 32 31 The office is a series of desks. It is unclear who is in charge. GRACIELLA, mid-20’s, approaches him. GRACIELLA (in Spanish) May I help you? (CONTINUED) 34 CONTINUED: ALEX (in English) I’m looking for my friend. GRACIELLA (switching to English) Who is your friend? Alex flashes a picture of him, Aaron and Peter from college. ALEX Aaron Childers, the one on the right. 31. 34 Graciella recognizes him and smirks in annoyance. She goes back to her work as Alex continues to question her. GRACIELLA I haven’t seen him in months. ALEX He said he was working on an irrigation project in a small village outside -GRACIELLA He was until he came in here one day saying that we had to stop them -- notice.org says this and notice.org says that -ALEX Who is notice.org? GRACIELLA They document human rights violations by governments and other people. ALEX What other people? Oil companies -GRACIELLA I didn’t get into it with him -he was talking all kinds of crazy stuff about people putting things in his head. He left his project in chaos -- it took us six years to convince the elders and now we have to convince them all over again. (CONTINUED) 34 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX What human rights violations? GRACIELLA Do you know how difficult it is to convince the local people we aren’t pawns of US government foreign policy, or the CIA or some religious group trying to convert them - I don’t need to take on anything else. ALEX When was the last time you saw him? GRACIELLA Two, maybe three months ago. Where -ALEX 32. 34 GRACIELLA I didn’t get into it with him. Sorry, I can’t help you. She answers a ringing phone, turning her back on him to get a file. GRACIELLA (CONT’D) And tell the asshole he should’ve called me back. 35 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE THE OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 35 Alex checks the street -- it seems clear. He sees a pay phone down the street and heads toward it. As he walks, he takes out his notebook and flips it to his list. On it is the telephone number from the napkin. 36 EXT. PAY PHONE - CONTINUOUS 36 He dials the number from the napkin. This time he gets an answer. FEMALE VOICE (on phone) Buenos Dias, Notice.org. (CONTINUED) 36 CONTINUED: ALEX (on the phone) I’m a reporter and I’d like to do a story on your organization for National Geographic - we’re doing a special issue on the peoples of the Amazon. Who would be the best person to interview? FEMALE VOICE (on phone) All interviews have to be cleared through Joanna. Who did you say you were? ALEX (on phone) Where are your offices? FEMALE VOICE (on phone) On Calles Verdugo and Ortega but all interviews have to be -Alex hangs up the phone and writes the address on his notepad. 33. 36 37 INT. INTERNET CAFE -- CONTINUOUS Alex stares at the google page. Surely, it isn’t that easy? He types in Rayo 24 -- No matches. He types in Notice.org and sees the banner with the “Notice, see it, film it, change it” slogan. 37 Alex opens up skype and dials Peter. At the same time, he sets up a scanner and starts digitizing the contents of the folder. The conversation will be intercut between the internet cafe and Peter’s loft. ALEX Peter - she’s dead. PETER (on screen) Whoa, whoa -- who’s dead? Maria. ALEX Peter starts typing -- searching databases. (CONTINUED) 37 CONTINUED: PETER There’s no death certificate. ALEX I saw a picture. She’s dead and they want to frame me -PETER Alex. Get out of there. ALEX This isn’t Cali. She wasn’t a source. I don’t know who she was... is... was. PETER Dude, Rayo is the Special Forces in Ecuador - their version of the green berets. That’s as bad as the drug cartels of Cali. If Aaron has pissed off the special forces guys -ALEX Special forces, huh? 34. 37 Alex writes “special forces?” next to Rayo 24 under the Borehead Napkin topic in his notebook, his reporter’s bravado back. The story is too juicy. Alex downloads the scanned files to the thumb drive. He also attaches them to an email to Peter. PETER This is not reporter stuff -ALEX I’m sending you some files -you’ve got clearances I don’t have. See what you can make of them, especially the number. Maybe it’s a code or label. PETER Not a good way for me to keep those clearances. ALEX Just tell me where to look. PETER This is cop and spy stuff. Let me call -(CONTINUED) 37 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX Peter, they found me using the GPS coordinates from my cell phone which means they were able to get to US cell phone records from Ecuador which means top government connections and they did it in a matter of hours. They’re tracking me. I have to know who is after me. PETER Do you think it’s the same people as who are after Aaron? Is it Rayo? ALEX I don’t know -- they didn’t track his cell phone, so either they know where he is or he’s dead. PETER Rayo is special forces -- people who are trained in covert ops, black ops, ops that make people disappear. ALEX I’m a reporter. We uncover those ops -PETER Alex -- this is me you’re talking to -- no macho save the world bullshit. Let me talk to my buddies at the pentagon -ALEX I’ve got buddies too but I don’t know who I can trust yet -- there are too many pieces missing. Just do some research for me -discreetly do the research. 35. 37 Alex notices the CLERK talking to an ECUADORIAN SOLDIER who just arrived. She points to a computer in his general direction. PETER (concerned) When am I going to hear from you again? (CONTINUED) 37 CONTINUED: (3) ALEX I don’t know but you have the information I have if anything -PETER Alex, a story isn’t worth it -- go to the authorities -ALEX But Aaron is. I’ll check in when I can. 36. 37 Alex disconnects from Peter and gathers his stuff as the Ecuadorian Soldier starts a video ichat session to his WIFE and TODDLER. Alex sighs as he leaves. 38 EXT. CAFE ACROSS FROM NOTICE.ORG HEADQUARTERS CONTINUOUS 38 Alex watches from across the street as he drinks his cafe con leche refolding the napkin from the folder with the words “NOTICE” and “Rayo 24” written on it and putting it back in his reporter’s notebook. Through the window, we see Joanna Beddingford from the CNN report in the bar, 30’s, agitated, clearly in charge and annoyed at one of her CO-WORKERS. He surveys the street. Everything seems normal. He pays for his coffee and then he spots Guillermo’s Land Rover. He ducks into a side street before being recognized. He has to look for another way to talk to Joanna. 39 EXT. MARKETPLACE - LATER Joanna shops for her daily groceries. She tests the ripeness of various mangos. Alex watches from a neighboring stall. As she goes to the next stall, Alex comes up from behind her putting his arm around her and guiding her away from the crowd, poking something that feels like a gun in her side. Excuse me -JOANNA 39 ALEX My name is Alex Blake. (CONTINUED) 39 CONTINUED: JOANNA 37. 39 Let go of me. ALEX I’m a reporter. She reaches toward the gun and pulls it out to reveal a water bottle. JOANNA I don’t know many reporters who carry guns. ALEX We need to talk. JOANNA I don’t talk to reporters and certainly not like this. ALEX You do a lot of talking to reporters and it’s about a mutual friend, Aaron Childers. Alex notices the quick shadow that crosses her face. JOANNA I don’t know where he is. ALEX I didn’t say he was missing but he is -Joanna’s slip has earned him a piece of information. JOANNA Aaron came by once or twice with a story we couldn’t verify. I don’t know where he is and I haven’t seen him in weeks. What story? ALEX JOANNA I don’t remember specifics. ALEX And the people waiting outside your office? (CONTINUED) 39 CONTINUED: (2) JOANNA Who? The police, the military or the oil companies -- they’re all merging these days. ALEX Can we go somewhere private to talk? JOANNA Trust me. We’re safer in the open. Too much noise to isolate a single conversation and too many witnesses to try anything. ALEX I need some answers -- what do you know about Rayo 24? JOANNA You’re asking the wrong questions. 38. 39 She dismisses him going to the next stall, picking out oranges. Alex tries a different tact. ALEX What questions should I be asking? Joanna adds a bunch of bananas to her basket. ALEX (CONT’D) Did Aaron’s story have something to do with Rayo 24? Are those the questions I should be asking? JOANNA You should go home and wait for Aaron. ALEX Not going to happen -- so you can help me or not but I’m going to keep asking questions until I find my friend. JOANNA Then you’ll endanger him more. It’s being handled. Alex grabs her and pulls her in front of him. ALEX By whom and how? (CONTINUED) 39 CONTINUED: (3) JOANNA (determined) Let go of me. The best way you can help Aaron is to stop asking any questions and go home. 39. 39 Joanna looks over at the COP strolling through the market and back at Alex’s grasp on her. Alex gets the implied threat and releases her. JOANNA (CONT’D) Go home before you get your friend killed. She hops a bus and disappears. 40 INT. BOREHEAD PUB -- CONTINUOUS Crappy place. Ecuadorian PROSTITUTES, OIL COMPANY GUYS drinking beer. At the end of the bar, Alex sees JD getting friendly with one of the local Prostitutes. Alex puts down some cash and signals for the BAR TENDER to give him the Jack Daniels bottle and a couple of shot glasses. AT THE OTHER END OF THE BAR -Alex pours two shots and sets the bottle in front of a very distracted JD. JD So now you have time for an old friend. I’m a little busy. ALEX (not leaving) What is Rayo 24? JD downs the shot, whispers something to the prostitute and pushes her away with a swat to her butt. She giggles but saunters away. JD Short poker game. ALEX What’s so important about Rayo 24? 40 (CONTINUED) 40 CONTINUED: JD Rayo 24 is a unit of the Ecuadorian Special Forces -JD flirts with the prostitute from across the room. ALEX Yes I know -- And? JD And you need to talk to a man named Miguel Manzaneres. ALEX Is he special forces? JD No -- he’s a lawyer here in town trying to do something good. ALEX What is he going to tell me? JD He’s going to show you a part of the elephant. 40. 40 JD grabs the bottle, ready to join the prostitute. Alex grabs the bottle. ALEX Why don’t you tell me what he’s going to say? JD jerks the bottle loose. JD Where’s the fun in that? As JD turns, Alex grabs him and slams him against the bar wall. ALEX Don’t play games with me -- he’s my friend -- what’s so important about Rayo 24 and what is Manzaneres trying to stop? JD easily turns the tables, slamming Alex onto the bar and pinning him there. JD This is the oil bizness, college boy. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 40 CONTINUED: (2) JD (CONT'D) We do things a little differently. You should know that by now. Oil companies? ALEX 41. 40 JD They provide the life blood to the world’s economy. What would you do for your blood, college boy? JD pushes him a little harder into the bar. Alex kicks JD in the knee and gets away. Alex grabs the Jack Daniels bottle and starts to slam it against the bar to use the broken bottle as a weapon. JD grabs the bottle before it hits. JD (CONT’D) No reason to waste good Jack. Both men square off -- wary of each other but on equal ground. ALEX What is Manzaneres trying to stop? JD Most men want to do good -- but not all good benefits the rest of us. ALEX Now you’re giving me riddles. JD I’m giving you information. ALEX You’re giving me nothing! JD Now, how do you know that if you don’t go talk to Manzaneres? JD grabs the bottle and the Prostitute and heads down the hall favoring the injured knee. Alex downs the shot. JD (CONT’D) I’ve never given you a bum lead. Go talk to the man. 42. 41 EXT. MANZANERES’ OFFICE - DAY Alex waits for Manzaneres. Day goes into night and then later night. Finally the light goes off in the office and Manzaneres leaves. Alex follows. 41 42 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT He corners Miguel Manzaneres in the parking lot and without identifying himself. ALEX What do you know about Rayo 24? 42 The look of fear that changes to resignation that crosses Miguel’s face tells Alex that he is not a threat. MIGUEL You can kill me but it will not stop the lawsuit or the cause. ALEX What lawsuit? What cause? Who are you? MIGUEL ALEX I’m a reporter. My name is Alex Blake. I need information. Miguel recognizes Alex’s name. MIGUEL I’ve read your work. You should follow me to my office, I’ll show you something. 43 INT. MANZANERES’ OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Miguel locks the door behind them. He closes the blinds and then opens a safe to take out a document which he spreads in front of Alex. The word “Classified” is stamped at the top of each page of the contract. What is this? ALEX 43 (CONTINUED) 43 CONTINUED: MIGUEL It’s the basis for a lawsuit against Global Oil Exploration. ALEX Violations of foreign corruption laws -Miguel nods. MIGUEL It’s a contract between Global Oil Exploration and the commander of Rayo 24 -- a special forces unit -for protection of its workers. ALEX Not the usual role of a public institution like the military -MIGUEL We suspect what the military is really doing is intimidating Ecuadorian citizens into giving up the drilling rights to their land and in some cases murdering them if they don’t cooperate. ALEX Government sanctioned murder. MIGUEL Not the first time in history but it usually isn’t done for a foreign private company. 43. 43 Alex reads the contracts. With each paragraph, he gets more and more concerned. ALEX What does the military get in exchange for being Global’s henchmen? MIGUEL Infrastructure to very isolated places -- and a few modern military bases. ALEX But if the oil companies have control of the military -- (CONTINUED) 43 CONTINUED: (2) MIGUEL Yes, they could cause a coup. This is not a good document for democracy. ALEX In either country. Alex continues to read the contract. MIGUEL There is one base in particular that is heavily guarded -- it’s near Lago Agrio. Rayo 24? Miguel nods. MIGUEL The contract outlines funding for special projects there but doesn’t give any details. ALEX Define special projects? MIGUEL I wish I could. The area isn’t zoned for oil drilling and there are no current operations or seismic studies to determine if oil is there. It’s not an oil project -Alex spreads out the photographs from his notebook. ALEX Do you recognize anything from these? MIGUEL They match other photos - the boy may have been a victim of his parents not turning over their land. ALEX Do you recognize anyone? MIGUEL No. I’ve asked for lots of documents from Global. (MORE) ALEX 44. 43 (CONTINUED) 43 CONTINUED: (3) MIGUEL (CONT'D) Our hope is that as the trial unfolds more information will be revealed and all the pieces will fit together. ALEX Lawsuits take a long time. My friend doesn’t have that much time. 45. 43 Miguel nods understanding. 44 EXT. PAY PHONE - STREETS OF COCA - CONTINUOUS Alex reads from his notepad. ALEX (reading) These kinds of contracts between nation-states and private corporations -45 INT. WASHINGTON TIMES - CONTINUOUS Dena types as Alex dictates. DENA Nation-states -- it’s a poli sci lesson. ALEX Okay, just write that the world is fucked. DENA We can’t use that language either. ALEX So you think that it’s okay for the CEO of Global Oil to have the red bat phone to bring in the Ecuadorian Green Berets? DENA Very colorful but I need something else besides the oil companies are using all means necessary to protect its workers. ALEX On principle -45 44 (CONTINUED) 45 CONTINUED: DENA It’s a good poli sci lesson but I need a body count to show why this is bad. ALEX There’s an important story here -DENA I know. That’s why I’m giving you more time to find out what is happening at Rayo 24. There is a pregnant pause. ALEX Look, if you don’t hear from me -DENA (unaware of the real danger) The “I’m in danger” card only works once -- I’m not meeting you at the airport. ALEX Dena -- Just call Peter if -DENA You’re supposed to be playing poker -ALEX You know this story could be huge - Pulitizer Prize huge. DENA And you know that I could assign another reporter to cover it. Alex is silence for a moment. Are you? ALEX 46. 45 DENA Call me when you find out what’s going on at that base. And Alex, I like my job. Dena hangs up. 47. 46 INT. EXCLUSIVE CLUB DINING ROOM - QUITO, ECUADOR 46 This is where the rich and powerful discuss discreet matters between bites of gourmet cuisine and sips of fine wines. Charles Denton, of Global Oil Exploration, dines with Guillermo, who is dressed in his special forces military dress uniform. CHARLES You’ve contained the reporter? GUILLERMO Not yet but I am confident -CHARLES Confidence is only as good as the actions that flow from them. Guillermo cocks his head choosing silence rather than defense against the accusation. GUILLERMO Ecuador can be a dangerous place. Many things can happen. Charles passes him a basket of rolls. Roll? Thank you. CHARLES GUILLERMO CHARLES And Luis? I had such high hopes for him. GUILLERMO We’ve tracked the worker to Coca and believe he’s heading back to the jungle. CHARLES If the reporter finds him GUILLERMO He won’t. There’s another round of tests next week. (CONTINUED) 46 CONTINUED: CHARLES You’ll supervise. I need things back on schedule. They’ve moved up the confirmation hearing dates. GUILLERMO Assuming we’re back on the payment schedule. Then yes, we’ll make your dates. CHARLES Good. And what about Alejandra? GUILLERMO Torres will not nationalize. CHARLES I’d loose billions over the lifetime of the leases, not to mention the money we’ve already sunk into this place and your pockets. GUILLERMO Torres won’t nationalize. CHARLES I’m banking on it. You really should try some of the brussels sprouts. Charles passes him another dish and a bulky envelope. 48. 46 47 EXT. OUTSIDE THE JUICE VENDOR’S HOUSE - LATE NIGHT 47 Alex sees the glow of cigarettes being lit inside a car. He makes out the dark shapes of several people watching the house. Alex casually continues on, turning at the closest street before the house. 48 INT. ALL NIGHT CAFE - CONTINUOUS 48 Alex sits in the darkened corner of the cafe. A half full beer and the contents of the file are spread out on the table. His reporter’s notebook open to the page of notes from his interview with Miguel Manzaneres with the words “rayo 24” and “Lago Agrio” prominent. (CONTINUED) 48 CONTINUED: 49. 48 He moves the photographs, copies of the contract, napkins and notes around on the table as if somehow that will make the pieces fit and his friend, Aaron, reappear. No matter how he shifts the pieces, the words Lago Agrio jump out at him. Lago Agrio. ALEX Alex collects all the pieces and returns them to his notebook secured with a rubber band and stuffs it in his jacket pocket. He chugs the beer, pulls down his hat and leans against the wall to catch some sleep. 49 INT. BUS STATION - COCA - DAY Alex stands in line to buy a ticket to Lago Agrio. ANNOUNCER (in spanish) Last call for the bus to Lago Agrio. Alex moves up in the line. He can now see the bus loading area and the ECUADORIAN SOLDIERS checking tickets as passengers get on the bus. This is no good. Alex starts looking for alternatives. The bus station is across the street from a market. 50 EXT. MARKET - CONTINUOUS 50 49 Alex weaves his way through the market, aware of where the Soldiers are. He purchases a small backpack and clothes which he changes into as he moves through the market in the same way as when he escaped the hotel room. A chiva (pick-up truck with four rows of benches used for public transport in the Amazon) pulls up. DRIVER Lago, Lago, Lago! Alex pays the man and climbs aboard. He squeezes in among the LOCALS and FARM ANIMALS from the market. A pig snorts at him. An INDIAN BOY, 4, hugs close to his FATHER, eyeing Alex. (CONTINUED) 50 CONTINUED: BOY (frightened whisper) Fantasma blanco! FATHER (in spanish) No, no, not the white ghost. I will protect you. 50. 50 Alex smiles at the little boy, who hides his face in his father’s side. Alex does his best to get comfortable, hoping to get some more sleep along the bumpy ride. 51 EXT. ROAD FROM COCA TO LAGO AGRIO -- LATER Alex jostles and sways as the truck bumps along the rutted road. As the truck winds around a curve, Alex sees a couple of POLICE CARS have set up a checkpoint. He looks for some avenue of escape. He sees none as the truck slows. Hushed murmurs circulate through the group. No one is happy about the cause of this delay. Alex notices for the first time, a Roughneck, LUIS, late 20’s, with prosthetic legs. If the picture were better, Alex would have recognized him as the amputee in the race photo. Luis nervously fingers a St. Christopher medal. He pulls up his socks and down his trousers trying as best he can to hide his artificial legs. COP #1 signals for everyone to unload and line up in a long single row. COP #2 brings around an intimidating DRUG DOG who winds its way through the crowd, sniffing each person. No one is comfortable. COP #3 does a pat down search ending with the lifting of the trouser legs of the men. COPS #4 and 5 watch, guns unholstered, ready to handle any problems. About halfway up the line, the drug dog barks and lies down in front of a MAN, late 20’s, who immediately starts protesting. 51 (CONTINUED) 51 CONTINUED: MAN (in spanish) This is a mistake. I don’t have any drugs. This is a mistake. 51. 51 Cops #4 and 5 manhandle him over to the police cars for a very “special” thorough search. Alex does his best to look as casual as possible. Luis, standing next to him, fidgets nervously. Cop #3 is two people away bending down to the little boy who clings to his Father. No, papa. BOY Cops #4 and 5 deal with the drug runner. The other three cops are focused on the boy. Luis sees his opportunity and runs toward a ridge. The Cops immediately pursue him. Luis is extremely fast and nimble. One of the Cops mis-steps and slides down the ridge. Cop #1 raises his gun and fires a warning shot. Stop! Luis ignores it. Cop #1 fires a second shot, also ignored as Luis sees his escape only a few yards ahead. A third shot hits Luis in the back. He stumbles but continues toward his freedom. A fourth shot and Luis collapses. Cop #1 signals to his men to retrieve the body. COP #1 (to the other passengers) You can go. Not needing a second command, the passengers reload. Alex watches as the cops recover the oil worker’s body. COP 52. 52 EXT. STREETS OF LAGO AGRIO - LATER 52 The chivas pulls up to the hot, humid bustling boomtown. Alex is assaulted by LOCALS hawking everything from watches to tiny pet monkeys. Alex ignores them, checking the name of the hotel on the napkin - Albergue Hotel. Alex sees it up the street and makes his way there. 53 INT. ALBEQUE HOTEL - CONTINUOUS The hotel is small, rustic with an attached restaurantbar next to the front lobby. Alex signs the register. Single room. For how long? ALEX DESK CLERK 53 ALEX Couple of days. The Desk Clerk hands him a key as Alex puts down some money. After getting the key, Alex heads for the bar. 54 INT. ALBEQUE HOTEL BAR - CONTINUOUS 54 The bar is about half full with LOCALS, OIL WORKERS and ECO-TOURISTS. The Bartender, MARTY, 40’s, Australian, one of the lost wanderers who start out working winters at ski resorts and end up twenty years later working the bar of a Lago Agrio hotel. ALEX Jack Daniels straight up and a Pilsener. Marty nods and pours the shot and opens the beer. Three dollars. Thanks -Marty. MARTY ALEX MARTY (CONTINUED) 54 CONTINUED: ALEX Thanks, Marty. Have you been here long? MARTY Couple of seasons. ALEX Know most of the folks around here? MARTY Not that many to know. 53. 54 Alex pulls out the picture of Aaron with him and Peter. Ever see him? ALEX MARTY Couple of times -- one of the dogooders. Alex waits for an explanation. MARTY (CONT’D) Peace Corp, missionaries, NGO folks who come here with big ideas of saving the world one corner at a time. ALEX Seen him lately? MARTY Last time was a couple of weeks ago. ALEX What corner of the world was he interested in saving? MARTY Not sure. Kept to himself. Bought a bunch of supplies and disappeared one day. ALEX Disappeared. Wasn’t that unusual? MARTY (laughing) Not for here. This is a place where people disappear. (CONTINUED) 54 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX What does Rayo 24 mean to you? MARTY (laughing) That guy over there. Alex turns to see a MILITARY TYPE talking to an OIL WORKER. MARTY (CONT’D) One of my best customers. He and his mates. They come into town once a week or so. ALEX Come from where? MARTY There is a base a couple hundred clicks up the road. Not your regular tourist destination. You here looking for your mate or ecotourists? ALEX My buddy was supposed to meet me here and he’s a bit late. MARTY Don’t worry, people have a way of loosing track of time here. He’ll turn up. In the meantime, have another one on the house. Marty pours Alex another shot. 54. 54 Through the window, he sees Joanna on the street outside. 55 EXT. LAGO AGRIO STREET -- CONTINUOUS Alex catches up to Joanna and falls in stride with her. JOANNA So you decided that the story is more valuable than your friend’s life? ALEX I don’t have a choice. JOANNA Is that what you said in Cali? (CONTINUED) 55 55 CONTINUED: Alex stutter-steps at the question. ALEX What do you know about what happened there? JOANNA That you were following a story and your sources ended up dead. Is that what’s going to happen to Aaron? ALEX One has nothing to do with the other. JOANNA Really, the way I hear it you pushed the sources. ALEX I’m trying to find my friend. JOANNA And I’m trying to keep him alive. Go home. Joanna leaves. ALEX Talk to me. I can help. Joanna ignores him as she crosses the street. Alex is blocked by traffic. 55. 55 56 EXT. ACROSS THE STREET - CONTINUOUS Joanna meets up with a native Man, RAMIRO, mid-20’s, powerful looking, obviously a friend, arms full of supplies. RAMIRO More questions? JOANNA Have Christovo keep an eye on him. RAMIRO He will eventually get answers. JOANNA We’ll deal with him then. 56 (CONTINUED) 56 CONTINUED: Joanna and Ramiro leave Alex behind. 56. 56 57 INT. INTERNET CAFE -- CONTINUOUS Alex talks to Peter in a video skype session. The conversation is intercut between the internet cafe and Peter’s Loft. PETER (on screen) You’ve been chewing too many coca leaves. I got an email from Aaron saying he is hanging out along the Amazon with some ecotourist from Germany. ALEX He’s not in Lago anymore. PETER I have clients whose projects are now behind because of your paranoia and your photoshop artwork. ALEX Trace the email path. Where did it come from? PETER It came from Aaron in the Amazon. ALEX Stop being pissed at me and check the path -Peter traces the path. PETER (Surprised) From Houston? ALEX Global’s headquarters is in Houston. Why would -PETER 57 ALEX Any progress on that number? (CONTINUED) 57 CONTINUED: PETER Do you know how many things an 8character alphanumeric could represent? ALEX We know things that can narrow the search. PETER From impossible to needle in a haystack -ALEX We’re dealing with an oil company. Search Fed IDs and Corporate numbers for subsidiaries or shell companies, tract IDs for oil properties -PETER US or international? ALEX International starting with Ecuador then the US. PETER This could take weeks. ALEX And look at patents and government case files. PETER Now we’re up to months. ALEX Some of them will be knocked out simply because they’re all numbers or all letters. Others won’t be the right length. PETER We’re back to weeks. ALEX Whip up one of your code munching programs and grind through the databases. PETER (thinking) If I -- 57. 57 (CONTINUED) 57 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX Get it down to days or hours. Find out what that number means. Alex hangs up. 58. 57 58 INT. ALBEQUE HOTEL BAR - LATER Alex grabs a bar stool and signals for Marty. MARTY Find your friend yet? ALEX He’s in the jungle somewhere, trading my company for some cute ecotourist. MARTY Those the breaks, mate. Marty pours Alex a shot and hands him a Pilsener. ALEX I’m officially on vacation now. MARTY Nothing wrong with that. 58 Alex looks around the bar -- In addition to the regulars, there are quite a few distinct groups of foreigners. ALEX You’ve got quite the United Nations going on here. MARTY They’re auctioning off more drilling concessions in the area. These are the scouts. ALEX You’d think with Torres threatening to nationalize, they would be plundering some other nation. MARTY Maybe they know something we don’t. Alex notices a map of the tracts for auction. The tract IDs are 11-digits -- all numbers. Not a match. (CONTINUED) 58 CONTINUED: 59. 58 At one table are the Chinese, next to them is the group from India, the Brits are two tables over and the Russians are in the far back. ALEX Chinese, Brits, Indians, Russians. We should talk about world peace or something important. MARTY They are, mate -- oil. A familiar laugh from one of the corner table grabs his attention. ALEX And of course, the Texans. JD slaps his buddy’s back, another OIL MAN, and laughs harder. He notices Alex at the bar and comes over. ALEX (CONT’D) What brings you to this very special corner of hell? JD Inspecting some pipe line from Shushufindi Central to here. ALEX How convenient. JD raises his eyebrow at his friend’s sour mood. JD When was the last time you got laid? Alex rolls his eyes at him. JD (CONT’D) That long - might do you some good. ALEX Might help me see the elephant? JD The longhorn you mean. So you went to see Manzaneres and -ALEX Too much of a political science lesson for my editor. (CONTINUED) 58 CONTINUED: (2) JD frowns. JD That’s too bad. ALEX You got anything else for me. JD Nope. I gave you this blind man’s take on it. Got nothing else. Alex downs the shot. ALEX Then I’m officially on vacation. JD Maybe you should take one of those ecotours. The one down the Aquarico river. You never know where you might find that longhorn. 60. 58 JD slaps Alex on the back and heads back to his friends with a fresh bottle of Jack Daniels. 59 EXT. CAFE -- LAGO AGRIO -- NEXT MORNING 59 Alex spots Joanna eating with an empty seat at her table. ALEX Mind if I join you? Yes, I do. JOANNA Alex sits down anyway and signals for the WAITER to bring him coffee. ALEX I’m on vacation now. JOANNA You’ve heard from Aaron? ALEX (sarcastically) Got an email.... which he sent my other friend while he was deep in the Amazon jungle, one of the most isolated, non-wired places in the world. (CONTINUED) 59 CONTINUED: JOANNA 61. 59 Go home. ALEX Thanks again for the advice but I’m going to continue to ignore it because this is the best way to -JOANNA To get the story -ALEX You know what happened to Aaron. If I follow you, eventually I’ll find Aaron. JOANNA You’re wasting your time. ALEX That’s what you do when you’re on vacation. Don’t do this. JOANNA ALEX And then tomorrow I’m going to go to the Special Forces base called Rayo 24 a couple hundred clicks up the road. JOANNA Go home. Leave this to people who know this part of the world. ALEX And then the next day, I’m going to follow my buddy’s advice and take an eco-tour up the Aquarico River. JOANNA They don’t have tours up the Aquarico River and you won’t make it to the third day. ALEX Who is going to stop me? The same people that have Aaron -Alex notices Guillermo coming out of a store -- he is followed by Marcus Devlin, the man from the race photograph in the folder. (CONTINUED) 59 CONTINUED: (2) Joanna follows his glaze but before she can stop him, Alex begins shadowing them. Alex -JOANNA 62. 59 Not waiting to draw anymore attention to him, she signals to the Waiter for the bill. Alex is halfway down the street. 60 EXT. STREETS OF LAGO AGRIO -- CONTINUOUS Guillermo and Marcus talk comfortably as Alex tries to get as close as possible without being seen. He can’t overhear what they are saying, yet. 61 EXT. OUTSIDE A MARKET - CONTINUOUS They stop near Guillermo’s Land Rover. Alex examines fruit in one of the sidewalk bins just within earshot. Ramiro is also looking through the fruit bins. GUILLERMO Too many people are asking questions. MARCUS The reporter is your problem, not mine. GUILLERMO The time table -MARCUS Means nothing. Breakthroughs don’t happen on a schedule. I wish they would. Luis was -GUILLERMO More excuses -- Increase the number of trials, the manpower, whatever it takes. MARCUS I’m doing something that has NEVER been done before. This is science. Yours is a nuisance. GUILLERMO A nuisance that could stop your precious science. (CONTINUED) 61 60 61 CONTINUED: MARCUS Take care of your problem, don’t force me to -OVER BY THE FRUIT -A SALES CLERK surprises Alex. CLERK May I help you senor? 63. 61 Alex desperately tries to get her to leave but it is too late. Her voice has made Guillermo and Marcus aware. They quickly get in the Land Rover. Alex hides his face as much as possible but can’t be sure if they saw him. Ramiro crosses the street to the cafe and Joanna. They disappear into the crowd. 62 INT. ALEX’S HOTEL ROOM - LAGO AGRIO - NIGHT 62 Alex sleeps in his clothes -- just in case Guillermo did see him. The windows are closed and locked. A chair rests against the door, wedged under the handle. The door knob is being quietly, gently and ineffectively manipulated. Abruptly, four MEN break through the door smashing the chair and door in the process. Alex is instantly awake but can’t figure anything out before the world goes dark as a black hood is pulled over his head and his arms pinned behind his back. Let go of me! ALEX Alex fights until he is knocked out using some type of drug. His body goes limp and he is easily manhandled out of the room. 63 EXT. COCA RIVER - DAY 63 THREE TRADITIONAL AMAZON DUGOUT BOATS float up the Amazon River manned by AMAZON NATIVES. As they get further and further away from Lago Agrio, the jungle gets lusher and noisier. (CONTINUED) 63 CONTINUED: The larger boat is piloted by Ramiro, Joanna’s friend from town. She rides with him, also paddling. A still unconscious, bound, and hooded Alex lays on the boat floor. Another NATIVE MAN helps paddle as well. The Men who helped kidnap Alex crew the other smaller boats laden with the supplies from town. IN THE LARGER BOAT -- 64. 63 Alex wakes up and starts moving around. Ramiro kicks him. Stay still. RAMIRO Alex ignores the command. The boat starts rocking, becoming in danger of tipping over. JOANNA Stop it, you’re going to dump us over. Alex stops. ALEX (from beneath the hood) Joanna?! She unhoods Alex. JOANNA Your river eco-tour. Alex takes a moment to take it all in. The river and surrounding rain forest are both beautiful and menacing at the same time. ALEX (referring to the hood and his still bound hands) With customer service like this, I don’t think you’re going to stay in business long. He looks over at Ramiro. ALEX (CONT’D) I remember you from town. (CONTINUED) 63 CONTINUED: (2) RAMIRO (pointing to the guy in the back of the boat) I’m Ramiro and that’s Holgar. ALEX More of my late night visitors? Ramiro nods. RAMIRO And Christovo, Andres and Tiago. 65. 63 Alex waves at the other men, which he now realizes are older teenaged boys, in the adjoining boats. He surveys his situation. JOANNA And just in case you were thinking about escaping -- There is no one around to hear you scream for help; lots of animals on the land and in the water that would love to eat you for lunch; and you don’t know exactly where you are. After a minute for all that to sink in -ALEX Why? And like this? JOANNA Would you have come voluntarily? ALEX Probably not unless you told me where we’re going. JOANNA We couldn’t take that chance. You were getting too close. ALEX (frustrated) To what is going on at Rayo 24? Joanna doesn’t answer. ALEX (CONT’D) Let me do my job and expose this -JOANNA But it doesn’t solve it. (CONTINUED) 63 CONTINUED: (3) 66. 63 She continues to paddle. After a few minutes, Alex can’t take the silence anymore. ALEX Are you taking me to Aaron? JOANNA (sadly) I don’t know where he is. ALEX Are you taking me to Rayo 24? Both Joanna and Ramiro laugh at that one. Alex starts rocking the boat again. ALEX (CONT’D) Tell me where the fuck you’re taking me? JOANNA Stop or we’ll knock you out again. Alex sees the shadow on the water of Ramiro about to clock him with the paddle. Alex stops. JOANNA (CONT’D) Thank you. You’re in less danger than you were in Lago Agrio. ALEX That’s comforting. JOANNA Just enjoy the rain forest. It might not be here that much longer. Alex ignores her. ALEX You should’ve asked. Alex pulls his hat down over his eyes to grab some sleep. 64 EXT. COCA RIVER - LATER Alex wakes as the boats make their way to shore. JOANNA We’ll camp here tonight. I want to show you something tomorrow. It’s on the way. (CONTINUED) 64 64 CONTINUED: 67. 64 Ramiro rams the boat ashore as everyone jumps out to pull the boat up onto the bank. Alex is a helpless passenger since his hands are still tied and tied to the boat. At Joanna’s direction, Ramiro takes pity on Alex and cuts the bindings. Alex hops out of the boat and helps. ALEX I earn my keep. Joanna briefly smiles as Alex makes himself useful helping Tiago get his boat situated onshore. 65 EXT. BANKS OF THE COCA RIVER - NIGHT 65 The boats have been pulled ashore and anchored. A makeshift shelter has been erected using foliage. A small fire burns cooking freshly caught fish. Joanna and Alex sit by the fire. Ramiro and the other Men aren’t too far off doing camp chores. Alex takes a bite out of a skewered fish. Joanna does the same. ALEX My editor will come looking for me. I know. JOANNA ALEX You don’t seem too worried. JOANNA We paid your hotel bill and Marty will tell anyone who asks that you were headed back to Quito. ALEX Are you ransoming me? Because I don’t think Dena is going to pay much but -JOANNA You’re not our hostage. Alex shrugs “are you kidding me?” ALEX I know about rayo’s connection to Global. (CONTINUED) 65 CONTINUED: JOANNA And the Ecuadorian military. Who do you think gave Manzaneres those classified contracts? You did? ALEX 68. 65 JOANNA Not me personally but people in notice.org. ALEX Good work. I have friends in Washington. The contract has to be a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act -JOANNA The maximum penalty is $2 million dollars. ALEX Yes, $2 MILLION dollars. JOANNA Global’s earnings last QUARTER were $5 BILLION. Two million dollars is four ten thousands of one percent of their quarterly profits. It’s a rounding error to them. ALEX Take me back to -Joanna gets up to get more wood for the fire. JOANNA Relax, you’re safe for a while. ALEX That doesn’t get me any closer to finding Aaron. JOANNA You’re doing the best thing you can to help him right now. Nothing? Exactly. ALEX JOANNA (CONTINUED) 65 CONTINUED: (2) 69. 65 Alex glares at her. She tosses another log on the fire. 66 EXT. AMAZON RAIN FOREST - DAY 66 Ramiro leads the way, hacking a path through the dense rain forest with a machete. He is followed by Joanna and Alex. Judging by the sweat stains, they’ve been hiking for a while. The Dugout boats are being carried overland by the rest of the men. ALEX I appreciate the ecotour but -JOANNA We’re almost there. ALEX That’s what you said an hour ago. Joanna shakes her head and continues on. 67 EXT. AMAZON RAIN FOREST - LATER The foliage is sparse -- making for an easy trail. The color of the plants seems duller than the previous jungle. The jungle less noisy. JOANNA This is what I wanted you to see. They come through a clump of foliage to see an OIL WASTE PIT. At the far end of the large black tarry lake is a series of pipes with one vertical open pipe with a flame burning off excess natural gas. Alex turns his nose up at the smell. The area around the pits are oil-covered, devoid of most plant and animal life. ALEX (pissed) Every muscle in my body hurts so that I could see an oil waste pit. Couldn’t you have chosen a closer one of the 627 in this area? Joanna is reverent like at the funeral of a close friend as she takes in all the damage. 67 (CONTINUED) 67 CONTINUED: ALEX (CONT’D) I did a story on one of the supposed clean-ups. Global Oil saved a fortune by not reinjecting the toxic waste water back into the wells but created these all over Ecuador. Joanna wipes the slime off a struggling plant. JOANNA And it will cost them billions to clean up the other sites like this one. ALEX Aaron is god know where and you’re wasting my time --JOANNA Have you ever been to one before it was cleaned up? It’s a piece of why he’s missing -- notice what is here. 70. 67 Alex looks at the toxic oil waste cesspools for the first time with fresh eyes. He starts at his feet seeing that with each step the ground oozes just a little bit of black oil and notices the black sticky coating forming on his boots. He notices the spider floating on an oil patch in a tiny stream near one of the pits. He sees the coating of black on everything as far as he can see with just the tiniest of green struggling to peek through the slime. Alex finally sees the site. ALEX So how does this fit? JOANNA This is what they’re doing. What they don’t want anyone to see -ALEX But I did a story on it. The world has seen it. (CONTINUED) 67 CONTINUED: (2) JOANNA It’s still here and as you said there are 627 more like it in the region. She turns and disappears down the trail. 71. 67 Alex picks up one of the packs that Tiago was carrying. There is an exchange of looks among the men. Alex is winning friends. 68 INT. RAYO 24 BASE - LAB OFFICE - DAY The Lab is hi-tech -- odd in such an isolated place. Guillermo and Marcus watch a monitor. MARCUS The technology is stable enough in him to try. GUILLERMO You can program him like a computer? MARCUS It’s not that exact of a science yet. We persuade him more than program. GUILLERMO Persuade, control, program -- what are you doing? MARCUS We stimulate the areas of the brain that make him more open to suggestion and those that help him learn and then we suggest something and activate the reward pleasure areas of the brain. Will it work? GUILLERMO 68 MARCUS I don’t know -- he is fighting it now. ON MONITOR Aaron paces a holding cell like a caged animal. He falls to his knees into a fetal position holding his head and struggling as if willing his body to respond. 72. 69 EXT. AQUARICO RIVER - DAY 69 They launch the boats into another river -- the Aquarico River. Alex again helps, which is again noticed by the men. 70 EXT. AQUARICO RIVER - SECOND DAY - DAY Alex, Joanna and the boats continue down the river. In the distance, a OIL BARGE approaches them coming very fast in relationship to them. JOANNA Get down and hold on. ALEX You’re really getting annoying with all these orders. JOANNA It’s for your own safety. Alex starts to quiz her but she forces him down onto the floor of the boat. The boat rocks violently as the Oil Barge cruises past them sending huge wake waves by native standards. Ramiro and Joanna work together to balance the boat. The other supply-laden boats are having an harder time. Alex pops up as the one-man boat tips dumping Tiago and the supplies into the river. Tiago! JOANNA (CONT’D) 70 Ramiro maneuvers the boat across the river ahead of the other boats to corral the floating cargo. Another wake wave engulfs Tiago. He gets a mouthful of water and goes under. Everyone else is concentrating on retrieving the cargo. Alex jumps overboard after Tiago. Alex JOANNA (CONT’D) She sees him dive below the surface. The water becomes still. No sign of movement. (CONTINUED) 70 CONTINUED: 73. 70 Ramiro continues to collect floating cargo. Christovo and Andres have righted the overturned boat and hopped in. The seconds continue to pass -- no sign of Tiago or Alex. Alex burst through the surface dragging Tiago. He squeezes him helping him cough out the water. ALEX C’mon buddy. Cough it all out. Alex helps him into the boat. Tiago is wet and drained but alive. Alex hops in after him. JOANNA Are you okay, Tiago? Tiago nods. ALEX He’s going to be alright. And so will I. You’re welcome. JOANNA (referring to the cargo) They’re sinking. Alex leans over to pluck a container out of the river. The container feels slimy. Alex rubs his hands trying to get the gunk off. JOANNA (CONT’D) Texaco admits to dumping millions of gallons of toxic waste water into the rivers on a daily basis up until they were sued over it. ALEX Great. I hope you have a tetanus booster in the first aid kit. JOANNA They said they were operating within Ecuadorian standards at the time. ALEX Yes, they all use old technology here -JOANNA It saved them $5 billion over the last two decades. (CONTINUED) 70 CONTINUED: (2) Alex shakes his head. ALEX Hey, do you mind? I just took a bath in that gunk to save your buddy -- wanna give me a break on the lecture. JOANNA The Villagers don’t get a break. These are the same streams and rivers that the tribes bath in, drink from and eat fish from. ALEX I didn’t personally pollute them. It’s just -JOANNA 74. 70 ALEX I get it, you’re dedicated to your cause. What the oil companies are doing to the area is criminal. Exactly. JOANNA Alex starts to take a drink from the canteen -ALEX From the river? JOANNA Bottled water. Since the tribes can’t live off the land as they have for centuries, we have to bring in supplies. Alex takes a huge gulp from the canteen as if to flush the contaminates and fish from his system. ALEX What are the oil companies doing at Rayo? I don’t know. JOANNA ALEX (annoyed) You’re still stonewalling me. Incredible. What do I have to do to get some answers from you? (CONTINUED) 70 CONTINUED: (3) Alex jumps back into the river and swims over to Christovo’s boat and hops in. Joanna sulks -- fine. 75. 70 71 EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT 71 Tiago practices target shooting with a series of blow dart pipes. Alex avoids Joanna and goes to check on him. Tiago nails the target from a distance of 25 feet. ALEX You’re pretty accurate with that. TIAGO It’s a short distance. Alex picks up one of the pipes. Do you mind? Go ahead. ALEX TIAGO Alex loads the dart and shoots. It falls short of the target. Tiago starts to move closer so that Alex can compete. ALEX No need. I’m fine. That was just the first try. TIAGO Thank you for helping me today. ALEX You would have done the same. Alex fires again. This time it is far enough but way off the target. Tiago hits his target with ease. They continue to target shoot through the conversation. TIAGO Where do you live in the US? Washington DC. ALEX TIAGO (disappointed) That is very far from Palo Alto, California. (CONTINUED) 71 CONTINUED: ALEX Yes, across the country. Why? TIAGO I’m going there next month to live and I thought if you lived close by you might visit. Joanna joins them. JOANNA Tiago starts Stanford next month. ALEX Impressive. You’re joining the modern world. 76. 71 Joanna glares at Alex. She nails a target using the blow gun. JOANNA Tiago will stay with a family who has lived here. He has to continue to study his own language and culture for his college to be paid for by the tribe. ALEX A foot in both worlds. JOANNA Change will come. We just want to control how it comes. Alex notices Ramiro using modern tools to secure the boat loads. RAMIRO Tiago. Come help me. Tiago leaves Alex and Joanna. ALEX So modern technology to extract the oil doing only minimal environmental damage, tribes get a fair price and introduce the young to the modern world while teaching them the old ways. That is your cause. One of them. JOANNA (CONTINUED) 71 CONTINUED: (2) 77. 71 Alex loads another dart and fires. It hits the target. Joanna looks at him quizzically. ALEX Spitball champion in fourth grade. JOANNA Tiago will be the third village child to go to college. ALEX And what if he prefers ipods to bird calls? We’ve tried. JOANNA Joanna takes the blow dart gun from him and they start repacking the boats. 72 EXT. RAYO 24 BASE - DAY 72 Aaron, the athlete from the opening scene named LANCE, several amputees with various prosthestics and native boys mill around the starting line of a standard military obstacle course. The course starts with a rope webbing section that has to be crawled under, followed by a 8 foot wall to be scaled, a mud pit to be crossed, tires to be nimbly maneuvered through, a stretch of monkey bars and finally, an open sprint. The group is heavily guarded by Soldiers and observed by Guillermo and Marcus. The Soldiers signal men to the starting line. LANCE (to Aaron) You another control? A control? AARON LANCE You know, another normal guy -- no “super powers”. Aaron pulls down the neck of his shirt to reveal the fresh scar at his collarbone. (CONTINUED) 72 CONTINUED: LANCE (CONT’D) Looks like I’m losing again. AARON What have they done to me? Lance shrugs. LANCE Can’t help you there buddy. The only thing I know is they haven’t done it to me yet. 78. 72 Lance looks around at the motley group of competitors, the armed guards, the endless dense rain forest -LANCE (CONT’D) This isn’t what I expected when the company said they were sending me on a tropical vacation. An Assistant starts the race. Aaron and Lance are even as they crawl on elbows and knees along the first part of the course. They are bonding as they test each other. Lance is a little ahead as they come out of the section and head for the 8 foot wall. Aaron leaps it and speeds through the course as Lance struggles with the wall. Aaron is amazed at the new skills that his body has instantly acquired. He finishes the course in record time. Lance gives up and walks off the course back to the start. ON THE SIDE OF THE COURSE -GUILLERMO He’s ready for phase two. MARCUS After another successful test. GUILLERMO Phase 2 will be another test. Guillermo leaves, signalling the soldiers to start herding every one back to the holding pens. BY THE STARTING LINE -Aaron, still amazed at his performance, joins Lance. (CONTINUED) 72 CONTINUED: (2) LANCE It’s been nice knowing you. AARON Don’t be a sore loser. LANCE No man. I’ve never raced the same person twice. AARON Maybe they like to mix it -- keep it competitive. LANCE No, I’ve never seen my opponents ever again. Watch yourself man. Lance leaves Aaron to his own imagination. 79. 72 73 EXT. AQUARICO RIVER - THIRD DAY - DAY 73 Alex is ready for his three day cruise to be over. He sulks. Ramiro puts down his paddle to drink some water. Alex picks it up. Ramiro prepares to defend himself. ALEX I need to do something. Alex dips the paddle into the water and starts paddling. Ramiro smiles and relaxes. After a few moments. JOANNA Good timing because we’re here. Alex looks over at the village. ALEX And where exactly is here? Home for now. JOANNA Ramiro takes the paddle back and guides the boat to shore. 80. 74 EXT. VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS 74 Holgar guides the boats safely ashore as Alex and Joanna walk toward the village. The village is a series of square wood huts with thatched roofs built on platforms a couple of feet off the ground. The VILLAGE CHILDREN hide in mock fear, pointing at Alex and whispering “Fantasma Blanco.” ALEX What is Fantasma Blanco? JOANNA The white ghost. ALEX I can translate the Spanish but who is Fantasma Blanco? JOANNA The village boogieman. Alex mocks offense. JOANNA (CONT’D) Before 1900, there were as many as 50,000 Cofan in this region. When the white settlers, miners, loggers and oil men came, they brought disease -- small poxes, tuberculous, malaria -- wiping out entire villages and destroying their land. The boogieman. ALEX JOANNA Now there are around 500 Cofan left, Fantasma Blanco. ALEX Great, I’m the Cofan Jason. I wonder if they’ll make 29 movies about me. Do the Cofan celebrate Halloween? Joanna laughs. (CONTINUED) 74 CONTINUED: ALEX (CONT’D) (to the children pointing at himself) Fantasma Amigo. The Children giggle. She stops in front of one of the huts. JOANNA Christovo will get you set up. ALEX You going to see the great chief? JOANNA No, just the council of elders to see what we’re going to do about you. 81. 74 Ramiro blocks Alex’s path as Joanna ducks into the hut. Alex scowls. Christovo leads the way. ALEX So Christovo, do you guys have wireless internet? He just laughs. 75 EXT. ALEX’S HUT - CONTINUOUS Christovo stops in front of one of the huts. ALEX Home, sweet home. CHRISTOVO Your friend is not far away. We’ll make sure he is okay. Before Alex can question him further, Christovo seems to disappear. 76 INT. ALEX’S HUT - CONTINUOUS 76 75 Alex takes a look around -- it is sparse and rustic -- a camp bed is the only furniture. The outdoor latrine visible from the window next to the bed. He sits on the bed.... And waits. After a few minutes, Joanna comes in. (CONTINUED) 76 CONTINUED: ALEX You here for part two of the lecture about how I don’t know where I am and that the forest is full of things that want to eat me and that I’m basically trapped and at your mercy. JOANNA Nope, you pretty much covered it. 82. 76 Joanna pours him a glass of chicha and sets down a plate of fruit and dried meats. ALEX (taking the glass) What’s this? Chicha. JOANNA Alex looks at it skeptically. JOANNA (CONT’D) It’s a fermented fruit drink. The local beer. ALEX You’re the welcoming committee. Kinda small. Joanna takes a sip. Alex takes a hesitant sip. An acquired taste. JOANNA The village elders said you can stay if that’s what you’re worried about. ALEX When can I leave? JOANNA Did you know that there are 800012,000 different species of plants in the Ecuadorian rain forest? ALEX I might if I could Google it. JOANNA That’s almost 5% of all the species in the world. (CONTINUED) 76 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX 83. 76 Fascinating. JOANNA And then there are the birds and the animals. ALEX I don’t want peaceful coexistence with nature. I want my high speed internet connection and CNN. JOANNA They were going to kill you. They still will if you go back. You could live a long life here. They? ALEX JOANNA The men from Rayo. The ones you were eavesdropping on in Lago. ALEX One heads security for Global oil - the other I didn’t see very clearly. Joanna leaves a blanket for him. JOANNA Dinner is communal. Chicken - so you can stop worrying about toxic fish. Alex blocks her way as she tries to leave. ALEX I met Aaron in the third grade when he took a spitball hit for me. A huge, drippy, disgusting glob of paper and spit. It didn’t matter that I started the spitball fight in the first place. He just saw that I was getting creamed and decided to help. Joanna lets the briefest of smiles cross her face at the story. ALEX (CONT’D) When was the last time you saw him? (CONTINUED) 76 CONTINUED: (3) JOANNA When he told me he was going to Rayo 24. 84. 76 Joanna side steps him and heads into her hut next door. The cry of a beautiful yellow Maccaw draws Alex’s attention. He watches it eat for a few moments. He takes a drink of the chicha -- still an acquired taste. ALEX No CNN. How can you live without Google and CNN? The Maccaw screeches as if to answer. 77 INT. RAYO 24 LAB - DAY Marcus talks to Charles Denton on a video monitor. MARCUS Yes, the trials went well today but as I told Guillermo, the technology is not consistent. CHARLES (on screen) Jesse -MARCUS I can’t guarantee results yet, Charles. He’s your son. CHARLES (on screen) Yes, he’s my son. There is an awkward silence. MARCUS Guillermo is not helping. CHARLES (on screen) He has his concerns. You have yours. We’ll be there tomorrow. Charles signs off. Marcus frowns at the weight of the situation. 77 85. 78 INT. ALEX’S HUT - NIGHT 78 Alex sits in his hut, bored and restless. He looks at his watch -- 8 pm. He sighs in frustration. He watches a bug crawl across the floor. When it looks like it’s going to crawl into his bed, he steps on it squashing it with great vigor. He opens his reporter’s notebook to tear out a blank page. The photographs, his notes seem to leap out at him. There are still too many pieces missing. He squishes the bug again for good measure venting some of his frustration before scooping it up with the blank page. 79 EXT. HUT PORCH - NIGHT 79 Alex comes out on the porch and flicks the dead bug into the dark night. He sees Joanna sitting on her porch staring up at the night sky. He looks up and is amazed at the thousands of stars he sees. It is breathtakingly beautiful. ALEX It’s breathtaking! Joanna comes over to join him. He pours her a chica and hands it to her. They toast. JOANNA It’s amazing out here, isn’t it? Makes you wonder sometimes which is more civilized -- the city or out here. ALEX Sorry, still voting for the city although I could probably get a feature article out of the impact of city lights on --Joanna shakes her head. JOANNA What isn’t just a story to you? Alex is taken back. (CONTINUED) 79 CONTINUED: ALEX I’m a reporter. I’d be sharing my experiences of this beautiful sky with my readers. To all those people who did not endure the perilous three day boat trip to get here. Joanna scoffs. ALEX (CONT’D) Don’t mock me. I love it and I’m good at it. What I do is important. JOANNA Not more important than what I’m doing. ALEX And what exactly is that? JOANNA Like the website says -- we notice, see it, film it, change it. ALEX Reporters change the world too -look at Watergate -- corruption at the highest levels brought down by two reporters. JOANNA Over several months -- we don’t have that time. And the world has changed since then. This story will be a headline for a week if we’re lucky and then people will forget about it -ALEX Not if it motivates people to action. JOANNA It’s a remote, small part of the world that most people don’t want to think about as they drive to work... but it’s my whole world. After a moment -- 86. 79 (CONTINUED) 79 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX So you’re changing the world one person at a time and I’m changing it thousands, maybe millions at a time. JOANNA I know I’m changing the world because I’m there to see it happen. You have to believe you’re changing the world because you’re onto the next story -- there’s a difference. 87. 79 Joanna picks up her chica and goes back to her hut. The camp light inside her hut goes out. Alex takes one more look at the night sky before going inside as well. 80 EXT. VILLAGE - MORNING 80 Alex scrambles out of his bed as he sees Joanna walking past. He joins her mid-stride as he completes putting on his boots. Alex stops her. ALEX Okay, I’m in the middle of nowhere. A complete captive. A helpless bug. You have to tell me what is going on. JOANNA About a year ago -- one of the village boys, about 14, went missing, a couple of weeks later another one disappeared -- a total of six teenaged boys have gone missing. ALEX Fantasma Blanco? JOANNA Rayo 24. The men have tracked the boys to the base. ALEX Inducted into the military? (CONTINUED) 80 CONTINUED: JOANNA Stop working the story angles -Alex starts to protest but stops himself. JOANNA (CONT’D) We haven’t been able to figure out exactly why they are being kept. 88. 80 Alex pulls out his notebook and shows her the pictures. ALEX Is he one of the boys? Diego. JOANNA She points over to a hut with a family and a couple of other small children playing. Alex shows her the other photo. ALEX Is this from Rayo 24? Yes. JOANNA ALEX So my asking a lot of questions about Rayo 24 -JOANNA Is making them nervous. Patrols have increased. We’re afraid they might pull the boys out of the area completely. ALEX Give me the names... Joanna points to the huts effected by the loss of each boy -JOANNA Diego... Francisco ... Marco ... Jorge ... Paulo ... Alfonso She has stopped at most of the huts in the village. (CONTINUED) 80 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX Let me write the story. It’ll get international officials involved and get the boys released...just like my piece on -JOANNA We’ve tried going through channels. The Government denies the base exists ALEX But Marty knows it is a couple hundred clicks up the road -- how can they deny -JOANNA It isn’t an Ecuadorian military base, it was built by Global Oil Exploration. ALEX Okay, we get Washington involved -JOANNA Whose says that Rayo is an Ecuadorian Military Unit and -ALEX They can’t have it both ways -JOANNA Actually they can because no one wants to get involved in something that would stop the flow of oil -Ecuador gets half its national revenue -ALEX Always the lecture JOANNA (acidly) You want background to fill out your story. Oil accounts for half of Ecuador’s national revenue which it needs to pay off huge international loans. ALEX (in enthusiastic reporter mode) I know I did a three column spread on the economic crisis in 1999. (MORE) 89. 80 (CONTINUED) 80 CONTINUED: (3) ALEX (CONT'D) There is a reason that Ecuador’s national currency is the US dollar. Oil. 90. 80 Joanna nods. JOANNA So since the government won’t help us -She lets it hang in the air. Alex looks around the primitive village and notices the number of blow dart pipes. ALEX You’re going to pull a Rambo? Wow. The wheels turning in Alex’s head as he mentally writes the story are almost visible. As he nears the end -ALEX (CONT’D) You’re going to get slaughtered. They are joined by STEPHEN MYERS, late 40’s, white but clearly a part of this village. STEPHEN Ever hear the story of David and Goliath? ALEX Goliath didn’t have tanks and machine guns. JOANNA Alex, this is Stephen Myers, one of the tribal elders I was telling you about. Alex is clearly confused. STEPHEN My parents were missionaries in the 1950’s who came to live in the Amazon. ALEX You’re going to need God’s help if you plan on attacking a special forces military base. Stephen nods. 91. 81 EXT. RAYO 24 - URBAN ASSAULT COURSE - DAY 81 Urban Assault course consisting of a series of rooms with hiding places that must be cleared of “bad” guys and civilians. Marcus and Guillermo walk the Urban Assault Course as Marcus checks cameras and sensors set up throughout the course. MARCUS We’re moving too fast as it is. This is bad science. GUILLERMO You’ve got good results -- we go to Phase Two. MARCUS You’re compromising the project. Guillermo corners him. GUILLERMO I’m getting results. And make no mistake. Your value depends on success as much as mine does. Get on with Phase Two. Guillermo stares him down clearly intimidating Marcus before exiting the course. 82 INT. HUT -- COMPUTER SCREEN - CONTINUOUS On a computer screen in a non-descript location, CNN is broadcasting -ON COMPUTER MONITOR -GOE’s CEO nominated Secretary retiring 83 CNN ANCHOR Charles Denton was to take over as the new of Defense replacing -83 82 EXT. VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS Alex walks by a hut and hears the broadcast. He stops and listens trying to determine where the sound is coming from. (CONTINUED) 83 CONTINUED: CNN ANCHOR (O.S.) Denton has been in and out of government most of his adult life serving as Chief of Staff in the White House and Secretary of Energy under Bush Senior. Finally, Alex opens the door to the hut -- 92. 83 84 INT. STEPHEN MYERS’ HUT - CONTINUOUS Alex rushes into the hut -ALEX CNN, Google, civilization! 84 There are two laptops hooked up to solar-powered batteries with a satellite uplink. Alex almost hugs them he is so excited. Stephen walks in -STEPHEN This is my hut. ALEX Sorry but why didn’t you tell me that you had internet access? STEPHEN You never asked. Joanna! ALEX Alex returns his attention to Stephen. He also notices all the DARPA stencilled crates used as a table and chair. ALEX (CONT’D) (re: crates) What are you doing with DARPA stuff? STEPHEN Scavenged. What is DARPA? ALEX Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- they created the internet. Can I access it from here? (CONTINUED) 84 CONTINUED: STEPHEN 93. 84 Sure. Stephen types several keys and gets Alex to the web. Alex skypes Peter. 85 INT. UPSCALE LOFT -- CONTINUOUS 85 The conversation between Peter and Alex will be intercut between the two locations. PETER (on screen) Bracken Consulting ALEX See if the number is a DARPA file? PETER (on screen) Where the hell have you been? Dena called -Joanna enters. If looks could kill both would be dead. ALEX Did she run the story? PETER (on screen) She was giving you a couple more days to surface. She should -ALEX Joanna clears her throat bringing Alex’s focus back to the file -ALEX (CONT’D) Search the DARPA project files. JOANNA The stealth bomber people? PETER (on screen) There is always a help mankind version of technology and a Darth Vader destroy mankind version. Who is she? (CONTINUED) 85 CONTINUED: JOANNA His tour guide. Who are you? PETER (on screen) The Great Oz. The number -ALEX 94. 85 Peter types the number into a database search. PETER (on screen) It is DARPA. Chief Researcher -Marcus Devlin. Something about neurotransmitters to help restore paraplegics injured in the war. JOANNA DARPA is behind Rayo? PETER (on screen) No, remember DARPA good. Internet. GPS. Laptop computers. My paycheck. JOANNA Night vision goggles. Drone assassin aircraft. Alex throws Joanna a look. PETER (on screen) Super fast computer. Wireless internet. ALEX (interrupting the verbal DARPA tennis match) What about Devlin’s research? PETER (on screen) Devlin was fired for not following the rules. He wouldn’t wait for FDA approval to start human trials so he implanted the devices in some unsuspecting Iraqi vets. (CONTINUED) 85 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX I remember doing a story on this. PETER (on screen) Yep. A controller is implanted under the collarbone that translates electronic signals between sets of nanotechnology implants. Nano what? JOANNA 95. 85 ALEX Peter, send over the piece I did for the Discovery Channel on Devlin. Peter sends over a quick time file. 86 INT. RAYO LAB - CONTINUOUS Jesse, Charles and Marcus surround a computer animation on a display. MARCUS We’d implant a controller under your collarbone here Marcus holds the matchbook sized box up to Jesse’s collarbone MARCUS (CONT’D) It acts as the interpreter for the nanobots surrounding the neural structures and the prosthetic devices. JESSE You want to inject a bunch of machines into my brain to talk to my artificial legs? MARCUS Nanotransmitters the size of 1/1000th of the width of a human hair that will attach to your damaged nerve endings. Let me show you how it works. 86 (CONTINUED) 86 CONTINUED: 96. 86 The Discovery Channel animation shows the outline of a human form with lots of nano neurotransmitters at various places in the brain and along the site of the prosthetic. A line lights up showing the path traveled from the brain through the transmitter at the collarbone to the prosthetic causing it to move. MARCUS (CONT’D) Electrical pulses similar to what naturally happens in a healthy body are sent from the nerves in the brain through the controller to your legs. JESSE What are the side effects? MARCUS Since the nanobots are made of natural materials - carbon - and performing a natural function, there are none once the body accepts them. JESSE Once the body accepts them? MARCUS With the injection of any foreign substance into your body, there is always the risk of rejection... but there are additional benefits. JESSE What kinds of benefits? MARCUS Your Dad told me you were the state champion in the 100 meter dash in high school. What was your best time? 11.32 Seconds. JESSE MARCUS The worst time of my subjects is 10.9 seconds. Marcus nods. Jesse looks at the screen. CHARLES What Dr. Devlin can do for you is amazing -(CONTINUED) 86 CONTINUED: (2) JESSE Dad, I get it. You want to make me better than I was before. CHARLES Not better. Just back to you. JESSE The old me wasn’t good enough for you, I’m not good enough now. What makes you think I’ll would be good enough after the surgery? CHARLES Jesse, that’s ridiculous. Jesse just looks at him. They both know what Jesse is saying is true. Jesse rolls away. Charles starts after him but is stopped by Marcus. MARCUS Charles, let him get used to it. He’ll be back. 97. 86 87 INT. STEPHEN MYERS’ HUT - CONTINUOUS 87 On the computer screen is the same graphic as Marcus was showing Jesse. ALEX They get full use of their lost limb again. It offers great hope for the injured Iraqi vets. PETER Exactly. That’s the help mankind version of the technology. JOANNA And the Darth Vader version? PETER Besides the possibility of mind control. The nano-neurotransmitters enhance the natural human abilities to super human levels. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 87 CONTINUED: PETER (CONT'D) Think of the stories of the mother able to lift the 2000-pound car off her toddler or the PCP addict who exhibits super human strength - the nano neuro-transmitters work the same way without the crisis or pcp. ALEX What does an oil company want with programmable super soldiers? 98. 87 Joanna and Alex exchange a worried look. 88 EXT. URBAN ASSAULT COURSE CONTROL AREA - CONTINUOUS Guillermo has taken a seat in an observation area as Marcus fine tunes the monitoring equipment. AT THE STARTING LINE -The same group of subjects from the other obstacle course including Lance and Aaron are armed and positioned in and around the course. LANCE Glad to see you again. AARON Likewise. Have you done this one before? LANCE A couple of times. Keep your eyes sharp and your head low. Aaron concern grows. AARON And what’s the survival rate on this one? LANCE Pretty good if you’ve got someone watching your back. Aaron nervously sighs again. LANCE (CONT’D) Relax. We’re on the same side. I’ll cover your back -- you just use those super powers and take me with you if we get in a jam. (CONTINUED) 88 88 CONTINUED: 99. 88 The men agree. The Buzzer sounds as the teams take the course. LANCE (CONT’D) They’ll be pop out targets and live enemy targets. Identify and act. I’ll take the lead. You watch my back. Lance positions himself and Aaron into an assault team. Weapons aimed forward and ready to fire as they attack the first room. 89 INT. FIRST ROOM - URBAN ASSAULT COURSE - CONTINUOUS The first pop-up is a civilian. Lance points his weapon away and then back into position looking for the next target. The second target is a LIVE ENEMY who jumps out of the closet. Aaron points his weapon and fires. Blood splatters as the Enemy goes down. LANCE Shit -- that’s live ammo. Before they can do anything more, they are attacked again. Aaron easily pulls over a heavy file cabinet to offer them some protection. AARON Is there a way out? LANCE By clearing each room. Follow my lead. Aaron nods and follows. Lance and Aaron effectively work together to clear the first couple of rooms of the course -- taking out the “bad” targets and sparing the civilians. 90 INT. URBAN ASSAULT COURSE CONTROL AREA - CONTINUOUS 90 89 Marcus monitors each team’s progress. All are doing well. He feels Guillermo’s glaze on him and looks over his shoulder to confirm Guillermo’s eye burning into him. Marcus succumbs and starts adjusting dials on the control panel. 100. 91 INT. URBAN ASSAULT COURSE - CONTINUOUS 91 Lance and Aaron reach the last room. When the YOUNG CHILD target pops out at them, they hold their fire. Shots narrowly miss Lance, Aaron dives to protect him returning fire and taking the “bad” target out with a shot to the knee. Lance nods a thanks and kicks the weapon away from the “bad” guy. The buzzer sounds again. The exercise is over. LANCE All clear. Hold your fire. We done? AARON LANCE Done. And still alive. AARON Yes, still alive. Lance puts down his weapon and goes over to check the last target. Aaron stops abruptly, shaking his head as if clearing water from his ears after a dive and suddenly seems in a zombie haze. Lance turns back to his new buddy and immediately notices the change. Hey man. LANCE Aaron corners him. Lance grabs a nearby weapon and points it at Aaron defending himself. LANCE (CONT’D) Aaron, game over. We’re through. Don’t make me do this. Aaron unholsters his side arm and aims it point blank at Lance’s head. LANCE (CONT’D) Hey man, snap out of it. When Aaron doesn’t stop, Lance fires. They’re blanks. (CONTINUED) 91 CONTINUED: LANCE (CONT’D) 101. 91 Aaron. Aaron pulls the trigger. Lance collapses, killed instantly. Aaron comes out of the fog and is appalled at what he has done. He tries to revive Lance but it is too late. 92 INT. URBAN ASSAULT COURSE CONTROL AREA - CONTINUOUS Guillermo smiles. Just before he leaves the observation area -GUILLERMO Accelerate the time table. Marcus speaks without turning. MARCUS I don’t have the data points to know what to accelerate. No one subject meets all the mission criteria. GUILLERMO Broaden the trials. MARCUS I’d need more subjects. GUILLERMO That can be arranged. Guillermo disappears. Marcus surveys the carnage below and tenses his jaw. 93 INT. STEPHEN MYERS’ HUT - CONTINUOUS Alex is on the computer talking to Dena. DENA (on screen) You’re a reporter. You report and then the authorities wake up and take action. You’ve filed your story -- now come home. Joanna pops in. 93 92 (CONTINUED) 93 CONTINUED: JOANNA What are you doing? ALEX Filing my story. Joanna disconnects the session. JOANNA I trusted you. The boys at Rayo. Aaron. ALEX The story won’t run until after the raid. Joanna is still furious. I trusted you. She storms off. JOANNA 102. 93 94 EXT. COFAN VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS A small BOY, Tiago’s brother, clearly scared, runs into the village. BOY Fantasma Blanco. Stephen bends down to talk to him in his own language, calming him down. STEPHEN (in Cofan) What did you see? BOY (in cofan) Tiago and I were hunting. They surrounded us and took Tiago. STEPHEN (in cofan) Who took him? Rayo 24. BOY 94 (CONTINUED) 94 CONTINUED: JOANNA (at Stephen) We have to do something. We can’t wait any longer. STEPHEN Not yet. We need to wait until the new moon. JOANNA That’s two weeks from now. Tiago might be -STEPHEN Not yet. The cover of the moon is our only chance. Alex goes back to Stephen’s hut. Joanna follows. 103. 94 95 INT. STEPHEN MYERS’ HUT - CONTINUOUS Alex jumps back on the keyboard and contacts Peter. Joanna comes in and tries to stop the session. JOANNA Need to change the headline. Breaking News. ALEX Peter can help. It hasn’t been that long. Joanna still blocks the keyboard. ALEX (CONT’D) I want to find Tiago too. Let me help. Joanna moves away from the keyboard. 95 96 INT. UPSCALE LOFT -- CONTINUOUS The conversation is intercut between here and the hut. PETER (on screen) What do you need? ALEX (on screen) A boy is missing from here. (MORE) 96 (CONTINUED) 96 CONTINUED: ALEX (CONT'D) Patch us into a satellite feed of the area from our coordinates. JOANNA What are you doing? ALEX Another article I wrote. (to Peter) See if you can find him with google maps first. PETER (on screen) A military base -- not likely but I’ll try. I don’t want to bring any more attention -- 104. 96 On screen a Google maps image of the area appears -- the village is visible -- and a big blurry spot nearby which is Rayo 24. STEPHEN (pointing to the image) That’s our village. JOANNA And where’s Rayo? PETER (on screen) The blurry spot. Give me a minute. The image becomes clear. PETER (CONT’D) (on screen) Alex, I had to go live -- we don’t have much time. JOANNA Live -- this isn’t real time. ALEX Stephen go outside for a second. He does and they can see him on the screen. Wow. JOANNA (CONTINUED) 96 CONTINUED: (2) ALEX (to Peter) Focus on Rayo -- one of the village boys was kidnapped. The image shifts to the rayo base. The buildings are clear. There are several men out in the compound. JOANNA We can’t identify anyone from this height. PETER (on screen) Give me a minute. 105. 96 The frame zooms down. People’s faces now come into focus. ALEX There’s Marcus Devlin -- I knew he looked familiar -- he didn’t have a beard when I interviewed him -- and Guillermo -- Global’s go to goon. PETER (on screen) There’s Aaron. Thank god, he’s alive. ALEX Pan right. (pointing to the image) See there. How close the fence is to the building right there. Tiago! JOANNA Tiago is being hustled into a building. PETER (on screen) Panning right, but we don’t have much more time. JOANNA But how far is the fence from the jungle? Have him pan to the left - (CONTINUED) 96 CONTINUED: (3) PETER (on screen) Panning left and you’ve got about 6 seconds before my feedback loop runs out and they find me. The image pans left. ALEX Yes there - a blind spot between the guard towers. PETER (on screen) Gotta go. The image goes blurry again. ALEX If we time it right -JOANNA Then we could slip through the fence to the building. We don’t have to wait for the new moon. PETER (on screen) Guys don’t mean to burst your bubble but you’re talking about a base of special forces guys with tanks and machine guns. 106. 96 97 INT. RAYO 24 - HOLDING CELLS - CONTINUOUS Tiago is shoved into one of the cells by a SOLDIER. SOLDIER Food comes in an hour. The Soldiers leave. Tiago shakes the door. Solidly locked. TIAGO Diego? Diego, are you here? One of the prisoners, FRANCISCO comes to the bars. FRANCISCO Shh, Tiago. Diego is dead. TIAGO Francisco! How about the others? 97 (CONTINUED) 97 CONTINUED: FRANCISCO Marco is also dead. But the others are here. They come to the bars as Tiago names them. TIAGO Jorge, Paulo, Alfonso. Each has a scar under their collarbone. Is Aaron here? TIAGO (CONT’D) 107. 97 FRANCISCO No, he is in another area. TIAGO Hang on, they will come for us soon. FRANCISCO Then they will all die soon. Francisco and the others move to the backs of their cell. 98 EXT. VIRGIN RAIN FOREST IN SHUSHUFINDI CENTRAL PIPELINE 98 AREA - DAY JD walks the area with a CHINESE MAN, late 30’s. JD You have couple miles of road and pipeline to build but it is close enough to the Shushufindi fields to save you months of start-up time and costs. CHINESE MAN (in passable English) Drilling rights? JD Rights cleared and up for auction. The Chinese Man studies maps and walks the area. JD (CONT’D) This is the best lot of the bunch. Surveys are good. Oil quality should be good if Shushufindi is any indication. (CONTINUED) 98 CONTINUED: CHINESE MAN Who did the surveys? JD Global -- it’s top of their list to purchase. 108. 98 The Chinese Man ponders this as he compares the maps to the actual landscape. CHINESE MAN You can guarantee? JD I’m the best in this business. CHINESE MAN Then top of our list too. JD smiles and walks him over to a pristine area of the jungle. JD The first well should go over there. He points to a pristine majestic clump of giant kapok trees towering 20 feet in the air. 99 INT. RAYO 24 - AARON’S CELL - CONTINUOUS Aaron paces his cell distraught. He rubs the scar from the surgery. He takes the knife from his uneaten dinner tray and runs his finger over the blade. It’s dull but it is the only thing he has. 100 INT. SECURITY MONITORING ROOM - CONTINUOUS A series of monitors show all the subjects in their holding cells. An ASSISTANT monitors them. He notices Aaron taking the knife to the scar. ASSISTANT (into an intercom) Guards! Go to 3G. He picks up the phone and dials. ASSISTANT (CONT’D) (on the phone) 100 99 Sir - 109. 101 INT. RAYO 24 - AARON’S CELL - CONTINUOUS 101 Aaron runs the knife across the scar several times. Each time with more pressure. GUARD Stop. Put the knife down. GUARDS rush in and grab the knife away just as bloods starts leaking from the scar. GUARD (CONT’D) (over walkie) We need a medic to 3G. 102 INT. DEVLIN’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Marcus picks up the phone as it rings. MARCUS (on phone) I see. Have the guards put him in restraints after medical is finished and schedule him for surgery tomorrow. We’ll install the upgrade. 103 EXT. VILLAGE - DAY 103 102 Everyone helps mix poison for the darts, make spears and war paints. Alex sniffs at what they are brewing. JOANNA That’ll put you out like the other night. ALEX Poison dart stuff? JOANNA Just put you to sleep for a while. Some Anesthesiologist patented it after stealing the secret from the cofan. The plant has almost been harvested out of this area. ALEX Globalization effects the blow dart industry? (CONTINUED) 103 CONTINUED: JOANNA (nodding) They’ve been experimenting with other brews. ALEX I was hoping there was a stash of machine guns or RPGs in one of the other huts. Nope. JOANNA 110. 103 Alex watches the intensity of the industry as the village prepares to go to war. ALEX You’re really going to go through with this -- it’s suicide. STEPHEN You’re underestimating us. Stephen mixes a brew. ALEX I know, David and Goliath. JOANNA You don’t have to come. You’ve written your story. Joanna’s words sting more than he’d like to admit. He leaves to sit on his hut porch and watch. After a few minutes he comes back. ALEX Yes, I do have to come. JOANNA You’re going to be in the way. ALEX Oh, so now I can’t come? JOANNA You write the story. Use the power of the press. You’re not a warrior. ALEX I know what to look for -- what the technology does. (CONTINUED) 103 CONTINUED: (2) Alex is on a rant. ALEX (CONT’D) I interviewed Devlin so maybe I’ll pick up on some kind of nuance. JOANNA Or you could get us all killed. ALEX And I know Aaron better than anyone here. But -JOANNA 111. 103 ALEX And there’s nothing to keep me from just following you. JOANNA You’d get lost in five minutes in the jungle. RAMIRO I can show him the way. Joanna looks over at Ramiro. CHRISTOVO I will watch over him. Alex has made several friends in the Village. They nod approval. JOANNA Okay, he can come. Alex proudly joins the group. 104 EXT. RAYO 24 BASE - NIGHT 104 About two dozen VILLAGERS including men, women and older children fan out in an attack plan directed by Stephen. A VILLAGE WARRIOR cuts open a slit in the fence. Alex and Joanna follow him as do several others. The Villagers fan out, each going to a separate vehicle carrying a jug. (CONTINUED) 104 CONTINUED: 112. 104 Alex and Joanna hide behind a helicopter. A Warrior comes up next to them uncaps the jug and starts pouring it into the gas tank of the helicopter. Alex recognizes the smell from the jug. Chicha? ALEX Joanna nods. The warrior mimics the whirling blades of the helicopter, then it sputtering and crashing. Another Warrior uses a blow dart to take out the PATROLLING GUARD. Joanna and Alex slip into the building as other Warriors sabotage the remaining vehicles. In the distance, Stephen directs another team toward far barracks. 105 EXT. OUTSIDE THE NEAR BARRACKS - CONTINUOUS 105 Joanna takes out a SOLDIER with a dart impressing Alex as they make their approach. Stephen directs the Villagers toward their targets on base. So far they are unnoticed. 106 INT. HOLDING CELL BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 106 Alex and Joanna make their way through the building until they reach the series of cells which house the Boys. They are followed by a couple of other Villagers. Joanna and Alex start unlocking cells and releasing the captive Boys who are led away by the Villagers. Everything is done in whispers and by hand signals. They come to a second row of cells. Tiago is in the first cell. Joanna, Alex. TIAGO JOANNA Did they hurt you? No, I’m fine. TIAGO Joanna embraces him and checks for an incision. (CONTINUED) 106 CONTINUED: JOANNA 113. 106 He’s okay. She hugs him again. Alex pats him on the back. TIAGO How are the others? JOANNA Everyone is out except Diego and Marco. They’re dead. TIAGO Joanna allows herself a second of grief. ALEX Take him out. You’d better hurry. I’m going to find Aaron. TIAGO I will help you. ALEX No, get to safety. I’ll join you soon. TIAGO There are more cells down the next hall. Alex nods and heads down the hall. 107 INT. SECURITY MONITORING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 107 The Assistant sees the escape on the monitor and sounds the base alarm. 108 EXT. BUILDING - CONTINUOUS Joanna gently pushes open the door as the alarm sounds and flood lights brighten the base. Special Forces Units go to their defensive positions. Skirmishes break out all over the base. There is a flurry of blow darts and bullets. Tiago quickly follows Joanna from hiding place to hiding place as they leap frog their way to the fence where Ramiro waits. (CONTINUED) 108 108 CONTINUED: JOANNA I’m going back for Alex and Aaron. 114. 108 Ramiro nods. Joanna sees that several of the captured boys are waiting at the forest’s edge. She nods to Stephen. 109 INT. HALLWAY GUEST QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS 109 Charles, Guillermo, Marcus and Jesse all in Pajamas meet in the hallway distressed by the alarm. Guillermo is already out the door followed by Marcus. CHARLES Wait here where it’s safe. Jesse ignores him. A gun beside him in the chair. JESSE Dad I was a platoon leader. Jesse looks out the window to survey the base. Soldiers are positioning the tank guns. CHARLES That was before and can be again. Wait here. We don’t know what is out there. JESSE But I do know what is in here. Jesse rolls away but Charles stops the chair. CHARLES No son, wait here. Charles jams the wheels of the chair so that Jesse can’t escape. I’m a soldier. JESSE CHARLES I’m sorry son. It’s for your own safety. Charles leaves. Jesse helplessly watches out the window. 115. 110 INT. RAYO BUILDING - CONTINUOUS Alex unlocks Aaron’s cell. ALEX Aaron, c’mon, let’s get out of here. AARON Leave me -- I’m -ALEX I know about the neurotransmitter but I can help you. I killed -AARON 110 ALEX You weren’t in control. AARON He was my friend. Aaron collapses onto the bed. Alex grabs him up. ALEX We have to get out of here. Whatever you did it wasn’t you. You couldn’t hurt anyone. I did -Alex shakes him. ALEX Aaron, you have to trust me. Now. C’mon. Alex drags him along. 111 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 111 AARON As they turn a corner into the hallway, Alex is decked by a Special Forces SOLDIER. He fights back as does Aaron but they are quickly overwhelmed by the guys who are specially trained to do this. 116. 112 EXT. BUILDING - CONTINUOUS There is controlled chaos on the base as Guillermo emerges from the guest quarters. 112 Ramiro and Joanna are shuttling one last boy out to the forest. Tank guns train on them. They misfire. The Soldier checks the chamber to find pegs and foliage. Other Soldier wipe their hands as the weapons have been slimed with the oily water and sludge. Ramiro and the boy make it through. Joanna is grabbed and taken captive. JOANNA Take your hands off me. A gun butt whacks her across the jaw and she is dragged toward the tarmac toward Guillermo. A truck engine starts, then sputters and dies. The same with a helicopter as the Soldiers pursue the escaping boys. GUILLERMO (over a walkie) Don’t start those engines. He strides to the sputtering truck and checks the fuel tank. Chica?! Sir -GUILLERMO (CONT’D) AIDE GUILLERMO Just don’t start any of those engines until the fuel tanks have been drained and refilled and they will all be fine. The Aide leaves to oversee the order as Marcus runs up to Guillermo and Charles. MARCUS They’re all gone. All escaped. Security was your job, Guillermo. (CONTINUED) 112 CONTINUED: GUILLERMO (re: Aaron across the field) We still have the best candidate. CHARLES There isn’t much time before -- 117. 112 113 INT. GUEST HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 113 Jesse watches as at gunpoint Alex and Aaron are brought, along with Joanna to the tarmac to be presented to Guillermo. 114 EXT. TARMAC - CONTINUOUS Marcus lays into Guillermo. MARCUS I’ve never thought this was a good idea and now I take no responsibility for what happens now. We only have one possibility and not the best one -- the failure will be yours, Guillermo. Alex greets Guillermo as if he were meeting him at a golf course in a show of false bravado -ALEX Guillermo, how nice of you -Guillermo takes out his frustration with a couple of wellplaced punches to Alex’s solar plexis. GUILLERMO There is no bathroom window here, Senor Blake. Guillermo adds one more punch. 115 INT. DEVLIN’S LAB - CONTINUOUS Guillermo, Marcus and Charles evaluate the situation. CHARLES I stand to loose billions. I need options. GUILLERMO This is the quickest solution. (CONTINUED) 115 114 115 CONTINUED: MARCUS No. You can negotiate, bribes, blackmail, economic incentives. The way things are done here. His alternatives are falling on deaf ears. GUILLERMO All with no guarantees. MARCUS Taking one man out will not stop -GUILLERMO There is weak support. With his death, there will be less. MARCUS Charles, we were trying to do good science. This is not what the technology is meant to do. GUILLERMO We’ll have a back-up. MARCUS (holding one of the controllers) This is for Jesse and the others like him. CHARLES So is what we have to do -- Make the adjustments so they won’t remember. 118. 115 Marcus storms out past Jesse who eavesdrops in the hall. CHARLES (CONT’D) Will there be any way to trace it back to us? GUILLERMO He’s been vocal against Torres on other issues. Charles contemplates his options. CHARLES It won’t make headlines in the US but it will prove the technology is viable. Charles nods his approval. (CONTINUED) 115 CONTINUED: (2) CHARLES (CONT’D) Take care of the reporter as promised. The press won’t understand what we are trying to do. 119. 115 116 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Jesse stops Charles as he leaves the lab. JESSE What was that all about? CHARLES How much did you hear? JESSE Not much. What are you going to do? CHARLES Take care of business - your future as I always have. Go back to the guest house, we’re leaving for Quito in the morning. Charles heads down the hall. 116 117 INT. BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 117 Joanna and Alex are in adjoining cells. ALEX We were almost safe -- I had him. Alex slams his fists in frustration against the bars. JOANNA You know all those things about you just reporting --ALEX Apology accepted. JOANNA I’m not apologizing -ALEX Then what are you doing? (CONTINUED) 117 CONTINUED: JOANNA Just saying that you are here. Now. And that is a good thing. ALEX Thanks for the apology I’m not -JOANNA 120. 117 They are interrupted by -- Jesse opening the door. JESSE You have to get out of here. Alex takes the keys and unlocks Joanna’s cell. They follow Jesse. 118 EXT. BUILDING - CONTINUOUS Jesse opens the door -- the base has quieted down. JESSE You should be able to make it to the deep rain forest before they know you’re gone. ALEX We can hotwire a truck -JESSE Too much noise. ALEX It’ll be easier for you -JESSE I’m not going -ALEX When they find out we’re gone JESSE He’s my father. I have to stay but something is going to happen in Quito. The GUARD coming around the corner cuts the conversation short. Jesse wheels in the opposite direction of where Joanna and Alex run to hide behind the next building. 118 121. 119 EXT. TARMAC - CONTINUOUS Alex heads for the buildings. JOANNA Alex, this way. ALEX We can’t leave without Aaron -JOANNA You don’t know if he’s still here. ALEX We have to check. The door opens as a GUARD makes his rounds. Joanna and Alex duck behind some fuel barrels. 119 Across the airfield, they see Aaron being loaded onto a helicopter. Alex and Joanna are helpless to stop them. ALEX (CONT’D) They have to be going after Torres. JOANNA He’s one man -ALEX Devlin said the same thing. JOANNA He could have been talking about himself. ALEX He wasn’t. Think about how many times history has changed because one person was or wasn’t taken out -- killing Archiduke Ferninand started WWI, not killing Castro led to the Bay of Pigs, the Iraqi War to get Saddam -JOANNA A private company assassinating a leader because of oil? (CONTINUED) 119 CONTINUED: ALEX They’re protecting their interests from being nationalized. It’s billions. We have to warn Torres. JOANNA How? We don’t know when or where. The police will think we are crazy or worse in on it. ALEX Torres is giving a speech in Quito at the end of the week. It’s very public and a policy announcement they won’t pre-release. Joanna nods and they head for a truck. They break down the fence under gun fire. 122. 119 120 EXT. SPEECH - OUTDOOR PARK - DAY 120 Torres stands at a speaker’s podium on a makeshift stage. The Ecuadorian Military presence is huge. Alex, wearing his press credentials, holding Joanna’s hand, snakes his way through the aisles to the press area. TORRES Ecuadorian’s future is bright. We’re protectors of our natural heritage -Joanna squirms because she wants to ask questions. JOANNA Those are blatant lies. ALEX Focus on finding Aaron. They scan the crowd. They spot Aaron on the opposite side of the crowd. ALEX (CONT’D) There he is. We have to disable the controller under the collarbone. JOANNA Do you see Marcus or Guillermo? (CONTINUED) 120 CONTINUED: 123. 120 Alex shakes his head. They snake their way through the crowd. Alex out ahead of Joanna. ON STAGE -TORRES We have a chance to take a place on the world stage. OFF TO THE SIDE IN THE CROWD -Aaron positions himself for a clear shot at Torres as Alex approaches. Aaron! ALEX Aaron nimbly moves to a more protected place further away. Alex counters by taking out a blow dart pipe. And firing. Direct hit. Aaron sways, slightly effected by the tranquilizer dart. Alex rushes Aaron slamming him into a nearby tree knocking the gun out of Aaron’s hand. The CROWD scatters. from Alex and Aaron disturbance. Joanna moving further away GUARDS fight the tide of people away as they make their way to the gets stuck in the stream of people from Alex and Aaron. Aaron is unfazed by the impact of the tree or the blow dart. With super human strength, he flings off Alex. ALEX (CONT’D) Aaron, it’s me, Alex. Your beerbike buddy, the one who saved your ass -No response. Aaron focuses on retrieving the gun. Alex sees it in the bushes. He lunges for it and points it at Aaron. ALEX (CONT’D) Don’t make me -Aaron charges after him. (CONTINUED) 120 CONTINUED: (2) 124. 120 Alex fires hitting Aaron in the collarbone. Aaron falls back, dazed. His body twitches and then he is back to normal. AARON Alex, what are you doing here? ALEX Taking a spitball for you, man. Joanna makes her way to them. Alex tends to Aaron’s wound. ON THE STAGE Viva Ecuador! TORRES Torres, unexpectedly steps to the side and out in front of the podium just as a sniper bullet rings out. Pedro Alejandra slumps -- shot instead. The stage erupts in chaos. 121 EXT. ON THE STREET - CONTINUOUS 121 Alex sees Guillermo coming out of a building and blending into the rest of the Soldiers who are rushing toward the stage. Alex glances up to see an open window that would provide a perfect sniper position. Joanna and Alex hustle Aaron into a taxi and head for the hospital. 122 EXT. LAGO AGRIOS COURTHOUSE - A COUPLE WEEKS LATER 122 Miguel Manzaneres surrounded by Villagers in native costume, holds a press conference. He is flanked by other ACTIVIST LAWYERS. MIGUEL By joining forces, we pledge to make sure that Ecuador’s contribution to the oil resources of the world is not at the cost of its own country and citizens. Cheers go through the crowd. (CONTINUED) 122 CONTINUED: 125. 122 Alex takes notes but his sense of pride at helping bring about change is evident. Joanna makes her way across the crowd. ALEX Got an email from Tiago -- he said everyone was doing fine. JOANNA He leaves for Stanford next week. ALEX And the rest of the boys have recovered. JOANNA No side effects once the controllers are removed. That’s good. ALEX JOANNA I read your story... Stories. Denton’s arrest, Guillermo’s capture. ALEX Yep -- causing a bit of a stir. Some things are changing -- still haven’t found Marcus yet. JOANNA (re: Miguel) And you’re onto the next one -ALEX It’s related. I’m going to have to spend a lot of time around here covering it. Joanna smiles and squeezes his hand which brings a sly grin to Alex’s face. 123 EXT. US MIDWESTERN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY The garage door opens as Marcus Devlin pulls into the driveway of an average house. He waves to his NEIGHBOR who waves back. The garage door closes. 123 126. 124 INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY JD waits as the CHINESE MAN that JD showed the land to and another more POWERFUL CHINESE MAN stand around a table and single chair. JD Global Oil Exploration was barred from the auction this morning. You should have no problems winning the concessions. CHINESE MAN And what about Torres? JD Torres is scared shitless. I wouldn’t worry about that. CHINESE MAN You are a man of your word. 124 The Man hands JD a briefcase. He flips it open to reveal a case full of cash. JD closes it and leaves. EXT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS The exterior reveals they are somewhere in China. JD hops into a car. The briefcase in the passenger seat. He puts on his sunglasses. JD Oh those blind men. They never will see the elephant. JD speeds off. FADE OUT: