an original screenplay by u.s. jones

8/14/2019 An Original Screenplay by U.S. Jones

1/108

GRUNTS

An Original Screenplay

By

U.S. Jones

WGAw Registered


2/108

1

FADE IN

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT A REMOTE VILLAGE IN AFGHANISTAN DUSK

Nestled amongst barren rocky hills, the village of Duraj consists of muddywalled houses, dirt streets, a small mosque, and an outdoor marketplace.

Super:

Afghanistan

2 Years Ago

Darkness has just begun to fall and there is little activity as we

PAN TO A RUNDOWN COMPOUND AT THE EDGE OF THE VILLAGE

which has been transformed into a small U.S. military outpost. A makeshift

sign reads: Camp Barracuda over which has been scribbled Nowhere,Afghanistan.

AS WE PAN OVER THE COMPOUND, the faint sounds of a RADIO can be heard:

RADIO...Six more US soldiers were killed today

in a suicide car-bombing in the capital ofKabul. Responsibility for the attack was

claimed by the militant group Al-Khazar,

an offshoot of Al-Qaeda and a Talibanally. In a statement released by itsleader, a man known to Western

intelligence only as The Ghost -- the

group warned it would not stop until AllAmerica and its agents had beendestroyed. This is Armed Forces Radio...

The Radio FADES as we SETTLE ON:

A SMALL SANDBAGGED GUARD BUNKER

that sits on the roof of a three-story building with a birds-eye-view over the

village. From inside the bunker, we hear the crackle of a military radio. A

VOICE speaks in a heavy southwestern drawl, Texas-style:

TEXAN VOICE (O.S.)

S-2, this is Spyglass-1, over?

SECOND VOICE (O.S)

This is S-2, over?

TEXAN VOICE (O.S)This is Spyglass-1. 1910 hours and she's

got her first customer.

SECOND VOICE (O.S)

Affirmative, Spyglass-1, have a good one,

out.CUT TO:


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2

THE GUARD BUNKER

where sticking out from an opening between sandbags is the

THICK BLACK BARREL OF AN M240G MACHINE GUN

The heaviest gun a single man can carry. Sheer, naked power with nothing to

hide.

And right now, it's pointing down towards a small apartment across the street.

From behind the machine gun, we hear the man with the Texas drawl:

TEXAS VOICE...An Afghani whore...

(beat)Another perfectly good Saturday night

wasted peepin' at a two-bit Afghani whore.

Hell, I can't watch this anymore...

A moment of silence.

TEXAN VOICE (CONT'D)Wait a minute -- she's got two fellas inthere...

(beat)Goddamn -- you gotta look at this,

partner. Are you lookin?

Sticking out from a second opening between sandbags is

THE BARREL OF A MUCH SLEEKER RIFLE

and we can see that attached to it is a HIGH-TECH UNERTL 10X SCOPE. This is anM40A3 Sniper Rifle. Refined, silent, and extremely deadly.

From this opening we hear a new voice:

NEW VOICEYeah...I'm looking.

CUT TO:

INT. - SANDBAG BUNKER

Only two Marines in here -- the men behind the voices:

CPL. KYLE CALLOWAY, the machine gunner, is a burly, jovial Texan with remnants

of a boyish appeal that have lasted him into his late 20's. He stands behind

his machine gun, looking through a pair of binoculars toward the apartmentacross the street.

CPL. STEVE HANNA, the sniper, stands just a few feet away, near the second

opening between the sandbags. He is a compact but well-built man in his early

30's with an edge of unpredictability in his eyes. He is looking through thesniper scope of his rifle.

At his feet, the hot breeze flips the pages of his sniper log, exposing the

same two words entered day after day:


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3

"Boredom Kills"

KYLE, the machine gunner, continues to look out through his binoculars.

KYLEHey partner...ya think she's really a

whore? I mean, hell, maybe she's just a

sweet, friendly, warm, sociable human

bein'...(beat)

Or maybe she's lonely inside. Depressed.

HANNA(looking through his scope)

There's a third guy...

KYLE

Real lonely...real depressed.

KYLE'S POV FROM BINOCULARS - APARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET

A BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG AFGHANI WOMAN, scantily clad in a light flowing robe, liesdown on the bed.

AN AFGHANI MAN enters the picture, a rope in his hand. A SECOND AFGHANI MAN

enters, a blind-fold in hand.

KYLE (O.S)Real, real depressed...

ON HANNA

watching silently through his scope.

HANNAKyle...

KYLE (O.S.)What?

HANNA...They got guns.

HANNA'S POV THROUGH HIS SNIPER SCOPE - APARTMENT

Our picture is bordered by a single round frame. At the center are cross-

hairs. And right now we are focused on:

A THIRD AFGHANI MAN

loading an AK-47 assault rifle in an adjacent bedroom of the apartment. A box

of bullets next to him.

CUT TO:

HANNA

watching silently through his scope. Matter-of-fact.


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KYLEHey, partner...you thinkin' what I'mthinkin?

Hanna shifts, scans around, keeping his eyes to his scope.

KYLE

That's what I thought.

Kyle picks up the radio handset.

KYLES-2. This is Spyglass-1. We got trouble.

Kyle stares through his binoculars.

KYLE'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS - APARTMENT

The Afghani Thugs tie the now struggling Woman to her bed.

The Lead Afghani Thug with the AK-47 watches her. The other two quickly searcharound for money and valuables.

Over this we hear the radio:

RADIO (O.S.)

Spyglass-1, this is S-2. Repeat that?

KYLE (O.S.)

Somethin's goin on. In town. We got

locals with at least one magic stick.

RADIO (O.S.)

Can you identify?

KYLE (O.S.)

Thieves. Some kinda thieves, I think.

RADIO (O.S.)

Roger, Spyglass-1...maintain surveillance

and that's all. Local politics is for thelocals. We'll alert the police. Out.

The Lead Afghani Thug starts shouting at the Woman. She protests. The Lead Afghani Thug slaps the Woman. Once. Twice. A third time. Its kinda brutal.

KYLE (O.S.)

(getting a little agitated)Ok, now that aint no way to treat a lady,

irrespective of her station in life.

The Lead Afghani Thug now raises his AK-47 and points it straight at the Woman.

KYLE (O.S.)Sweet Adeline. He's gonna dust her!

Quickly, Kyle cocks his machine gun and swings it to bear. But Hanna jams hishand in front of the barrel.


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HANNAOne loud burst of that...we both get acourt martial...

KYLE

Well, I ain't listenin' to S2! Hell, they

move slower 'n pond water!

Hanna looks back into the scope. Settles himself.

HANNA...Who's listening?...

His finger eases to the trigger.

HANNA

...Sometimes...it takes a thief...to catcha thief...

HANNA'S POV THROUGH SNIPER SCOPE

Our crosshairs glide onto the Lead Afghani Thug's AK-47...rising and fallingever so slightly with a breath...

Suddenly, the Lead Thug jerks around, out of aim. A Second Thug drags in the

Woman's 4-year old son from a side room, sheer terror locked on his little

face. The Woman beckons out to her son.

The Lead Thug jams the AK-47 to the Boy's head. He's going to kill him. Our

crosshairs prowl back onto the Lead Thug.

Suddenly -- total darkness. The Third Thug has cut the lights.

ON HANNA

Pulling back from his scope. Silent. Surprised. Quickly he slides his UNERTL

10X off and reaches over to another larger

SCOPE

lying off to the side. A night-vision STARLIGHT SCOPE. In a flash, he seatsit onto his rifle and aims.

HANNA'S POV THROUGH NIGHT-VISION SNIPER SCOPE

of a dark apartment painted in oscilloscope green. Everything is fuzzy and

undefined. Is that the shadow of a man moving around in the background?

The glowing crosshairs prowl about the area where the LEAD THUG was.

More GREEN FUZZINESS and SHADOWS.

And then movement...the smallest, most imperceptible shift in the room.

CUT TO:

HANNA'S FINGER

pulling the trigger.


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THE CRACK OF A SINGLE BULLET FIRED.

CUT TO:

HANNA'S POV OF THE APARTMENT

Still green fuzziness and shadows. Silence. Has anything happened? Did he

hit?

And then suddenly, an image of a man...getting closer...coming into

sight...forming...he reaches the window...staggers a step...then falls out tothe street below, dead.

This was the Lead Afghani Thug.

KYLE

just stares at the body.

KYLE

...Sweet Adeline...

Hanna looks back at him, silent.

HANNA

...One bullet. Who's gonna know?...

THE TWO REMAINING AFGHANI THUGS

now come dashing out of the building in a panic. They scoop up the dead thief

and jump into a beat-up Mercedes. Wheels churn in the dusty road...

The Mercedes speeds by. Suddenly - FLASHES OF LIGHT from inside accompanied by

a CRACK-CRACK-CRACK in the night.

Bullets WHIZ right past KYLE, inches from his head. One ricochets, whistling

right past him again.

KYLE

(ducking)

...Goddamn...they shot at me.(thinking)

They can't do that.

Angry, Kyle swings his machine gun to bear on the moving car.

KYLE (CONT'D)

Nobody shoots at Kyle Calloway, y'hearthat! Nobody! You're fuckin with a Texan

goddamnit! Do you even remotelyunderstand what that means?! I think not!

Quickly, Hanna flips the safety on Kyle's machine gun. Kyle shoots him a look.

Hanna motions to the apartment. The lights have come back on. The Boy

finishes untying his Mother. She embraces him, alive, unharmed.

Radio crackle suddenly breaks in:


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RADIOSpyglass-1, this is S-2, over?

KYLE(grabs receiver)

Spyglass-1 here, over?

RADIORoger. We heard shots. What's going on?

KYLENothin'. Nothin'. Just those locals.

RADIOSpyglass-1. This is S-2. If they

approach closer, you have permission to

fire warning shots. Scare them the hellaway.

Kyle watches the Mercedes disappear. He glances over at Hanna.

KYLERoger, S-2. Consider it done.

INT. - DARK, CONCRETE BARRACKS ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

Marines lie sleeping on half of the 20 cots that line each wall.KYLE lies on his cot. His boots off, airing out his feet.

KYLEHey, partner...you awake.

HANNA is just lying on his back, the next cot over. Staring at the ceiling.

Thinking.

HANNAYeah...

KYLE

Ya' know...(beat)

I ain't never been shot at before.

Hanna doesn't even shift, just continues to stare upwards, thinking.

HANNA

...Yeah...

KYLE...I can still here that goddamn bullet

whislin' by my ear.

HANNA...Yeah...


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KYLE

I'm mean, hell, one more inch and thatwoulda been the ranch.

HANNA...Yeah...

KYLE

Get kinda nervous just thinkin about it,ya' know. Funny, I wasn't nervous then,

but now that I think about it...Jesus...

HANNA...So don't think about it.

Kyle glances over and looks at Hanna, who's still staring up at the ceiling.

KYLEHell, Steve, sometimes you're just alltalk.

HANNA...Yeah...

KYLEChrist! Our first taste of combat and

you're countin' sheep...

Hanna doesn't say anything. Kyle shifts to his side.

KYLE (CONT'D)

Course I imagine it's gonna be our last,too. Stuck out in a cold sector. We'rejust a bunch a grunts all dressed up and

nowhere to go.

HANNA

...Yeah...

Kyle gives him one last frustrated look. Then turns over to try and go to

sleep.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BARRACKS - LATER

KYLE

sleeps peacefully in his bed...SNORING AWAY. And on the cot next to him

HANNA

awake, staring at the ceiling. Silent. Thinking. He leans over to his

footlocker and pulls out a small green book and a pen flashlight. Lights acigarette. Starts reading.


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INT. BARRACKS ROOM - NEXT MORNING

Heat, flies and brightness. MARINES lay spread out on the cots. A CORPORALsaunters in carrying a stack of envelopes.

CORPORAL

Mail call...

He passes cot after cot, tossing mail, reaching:

KYLE

who's still SNORING AWAY. The Corporal stops. Picks out seven or eightletters from his pile...and as he does so, we now notice that on the wall

around Kyle are pictures of him with buddies, with girls, with numerousrelatives and members of his family.

Dropping Kyle's generous batch of mail at his feet, the Corporal moves to thenext cot and sees

HANNA

lying there on his back, awake, watching him, smoking a cigarette. For asecond, their eyes meet.

And then the Corporal quickly shifts his eyes forward to the next cot and moves

on. And as he does so, we notice that there is nothing around Hanna. Nothing

but his rifle case and the small green book.

Finishing up, the Corporal exits, and

GUNNERY SERGEANT GILES RUDDER

enters. Bright and cheery and spit and polish. A red, white, and blue, ball-

busting Government Issue NCO.

SERGEANT RUDDER

Alright, up and at 'em, Eagle platoon...onthe bounce...Your friendly neighborhoodGunny's got a fun-filled day planned for

all his special campers...that means

everybody and anybody who ain't on guardor patrol better plan on attending...

(looks at his watch)

...Starting with morning inspection at,oh, let's say-- Zero-Six-Thirty?...that's

right, boys and boys, it's another event-

filled day in Camp Gitchygoomy...

He takes one last look around, a shit-eating grin of his face.

GUNNERY SERGEANT

Zero-Six-Thirty, gentlemen...

And then he turns and exits.


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AND NOW BEGINS A SERIES OF SHOTS

showing the drudgery of the daily routine. This should be accompanied withhumorous, almost sarcastic working man's music. Maybe Tennessee Ernie Ford's

"I Sold My Soul To The Company Store".

INT. - BARRACKS - MUSIC BEGINS

Hanna, Kyle and the Marines prepare for morning inspection: shining theirboots, shaving, making beds, sweeping the barracks, etc...

CUT TO:

INT. - LAVATORY/SHOWERS - MUSIC CONTINUES...

Hanna, Kyle and the same Marines scrub away at rusty urinal after rusty

urinal...

CUT TO:

INT. - BARRACKS ROOM - MUSIC CONTINUES...

Hanna, Kyle and the same Marines stand next to their cots as the Gunny passesslowly by, inspecting...

CUT TO:

EXT. - LOADING AREA - MUSIC CONTINUES...

We're outside now, middle of the day, and the heat hovers over the ground like

a shimmering veil.

Hanna, Kyle and a few Marines have been organized into a work detail. They arein the hellish process of unloading a convoy of Marine trucks heavily laden

with supplies...

CUT TO:

EXT. - A SAND PIT - MARINE COMPOUND - MUSIC CONTINUES...

Sweat rolls down the faces of the Marines of the work detail, who are now in

the middle of carrying out the arduous, back-breaking task of filling sandbagsunder the blistering sun...

CUT TO:

INT. - WEAPONS ROOM - MUSIC CONTINUES...

A small workshop area. Each Marine cleans his unassembled weapon.

HANNA dips the bare frame of his sniper rifle into a drum of turpentine...thenscrubs it over and over with metal wire...applying a lot of effort...this is

hard work.

END MUSIC AND SERIES OF SHOTS


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EXT. - DUSTY QUAD IN COMPOUND - LATER

Our squad of Marines now stands in a U-formation, their equipment spread out infront of them.

The Gunny Sarge passes from one to the next, inspecting weapons, binos, radios.

He reaches:

HANNA

who is standing there, matter-of-fact.

THE GUNNY

glances down at Hanna's disassembled M40 Sniper Rifle. Every part is shiningclean. Spotless.

He looks back up at Hanna...unsure...as though still trying to size up who thissoldier is? This man behind all the silence?...

Without inspecting further...he moves on, reaching:

KYLE

who stands there with his M240 Machine Gun at his feet. All in one piece.Resting on its bipod legs.

GUNNY(looking at M240)

You got a name for her?...

KYLE(smiles)

Adeline...Sweet Adeline.

GUNNYI like her already...

And then the Gunny leans down close to the edge of the barrel. Looking at theopen end.

GUNNYIs she clean?

KYLE

(smiles)

Cleaner an' a chinese laundry.

The Gunny smiles, then sticks his finger inside the end of the barrel, twists

it around, then pulls it back out and holds it up. His finger is clean.

GUNNY

Outstanding, Calloway. Out-fucking-standing, Calloway. Just the way I likeem. Like a virgin. Now show me the

rest.


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KYLE

...The rest?

GUNNY

The inside...take her apart.

This is not what Kyle wanted to hear.

KYLE...with all due respect, gunny...ya know

what'll happen...goddamn dirt'll fly right

back in. Get her all clogged. Hell, Ithink--

GUNNY--Just...take her apart, Calloway.

Frustration burning in his eyes, Kyle begins to do just that...taking apart theM240...21 parts in all...a military Rubic's cube...and Kyle has all the partsmastered.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPYGLASS ONE BUNKER - NIGHT

HANNA AND KYLE are back on duty in the now familiar bunker.

KYLE--Goddamn inspections...goddamn workdetails...goddamn clean this...clean

that...Calloway do this...Calloway do

that.(beat)

Why cant we just fight the Taliban

already?

Hanna spots A LARGE HAND-PAINTED MURAL on a nearby wall of A TERRORIST WITH A

DISTINCTIVE RED ARABIC HEADRESS that covers his whole face except his eyes.Painted under the image in scribbled English are the words: Deth To Amerika.

HANNA

Or Al-Khazar...and Ghost.

KYLE

Ya know, partner...sometimes I think I'min the wrong place.

Hanna scans other areas of the village, just thinking.

HANNA

...Yeah...

KYLE

Ya' know...like I was born at the wrongtime. Sometimes...I wish I was born ahundred years ago. Out in Texas

territory. Figure it was a helluva lot

simpler back then. No book a rulestellin' you what to do. Ya know? Nobody


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KYLE (CONTD)

hangin' on your back. No gettin'permission for every goddamn thing.

HANNA...Yeah...

KYLE

Just a man...a gun...and his conscience.

Hanna doesn't say anything. He continues to look out over the village.

KYLE (CONT'D)You just don't get that anywhere anymore.

Not here. Not even back home.

HANNA

...No...

KYLE

Hell, even back home...it's all rules now.

And numbers. School. A job. Thestraight and narrow track.

HANNA...if that...

They both just stand there. Looking out at the village.

KYLE

I mean sometimes I wonder what the hell

I'm doin here. Ya know?(beat)

I mean what are we're doin here, partner?

Hanna just shakes his head:

HANNA...Nothing...

KYLE

Well, how the hell come?!

Hanna shifts. Looking out at the vast, dark horizon.

HANNA

...You really wanna know?...

KYLEYeah, I do.

HANNA

...Because guys like you and me -- we

ain't shit.(beat)

And we ain't never gonna get a chance to

do nothing but shit. That's just the way

it's all set up.


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Kyle turns to Hanna:

KYLEBoy -- you sure know how to cheer people

up!

Hanna smiles.

HANNAI am a popular motherfucker, aren't I?

And they both just stand there, thinking silently for a beat. Then:

KYLE

The way what's setup?

HANNA

What?

KYLE

You said the way it's all setup. The way

what's all setup?

HANNA

Everything...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SPYGLASS ONE BUNKER - NIGHT - LATER

HANNA AND KYLE are still on duty.

KYLEHow much longer?...

HANNA2 hours 40 minutes. Ten minutes less than

the last time you asked.

KYLE

...well, sorry for livin'...

Both become silent again...looking out...waiting for the time to pass.Suddenly:

A LARGE, SILENT, BLACK SHADOW

skims over the bunker, smooth and quick, as though some form of giant manta ray

had just passed overhead. And in a blink of an eye, it's gone.

HANNA AND KYLE

look at each other a beat, silent. What was that? Both grab their binoculars

and look up, into the sky, and as they do so:

ANOTHER LARGE, SILENT BLACK SHADOW

skims over them.


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HANNA AND KYLE

both quickly turn their gaze in the direction that the shadow was moving,

searching for it with their binoculars.

KYLE

Hell, partner...I think I hear 'em. You

hear 'em?

HANNA

No...

KYLE

Me neither.

Hanna continues to search the sky. After a beat:

HANNA...Got 'em...

Kyle looks out in the direction of Hannas gaze.

KYLE'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS

Of two black oval dots, one slightly larger and behind the other, moving away.

KYLE (O.S)What in hell are they?...

And now the dot furthest away begins to change shape...turning...revealing its

silhouette...the silhouette of some kind of sleek, advanced combat HELICOPTER.

The second dot, follows, turning...and from its silhouette...we see that it is

also an advanced combat HELICOPTER.

HANNA (O.S)

...They're heading for the airstrip.

And indeed, it seems the TWO HELICOPTERS are losing altitude in a controlled

manner.

Hanna continues to track the helicopters. Kyle gets on the radio.

KYLE

S-2, this is Spyglass-1, over?

A beat, and then the crackle of the military radio:

RADIOThis is S-2, over?

KYLERoger, this is Spyglass-1. We have two

unidentified helos headin' towards the

lz. Cannot confirm their colors orspecies.


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No answer.

KYLE (CONT'D)

S-2, this is Spyglass-1, do you copy?

More silence. Then finally the crackle of the radio:

RADIOSpyglass-1, this is S-2. We copy.

Disregard. They're OK. They're ours,

over.

Kyle thinks a beat.

KYLE

This is Spyglass-1. Whaddya mean they're

ours? If they're ours, how come theyain't on the ops log?

(beat)

Hell, we coulda shot at 'em for

christsakes!?

Beat. Then the crackle of the radio:

RADIO

...Roger, Spyglass-1. Somebody musta

screwed up. We got 'em listed right here.A 1-3-4 mission. Standard as apple pie.Do you copy, over?

Kyle and Hanna exchange an unsure look.

KYLE

Affirmative, S-2, we copy...out.

(to Hanna)134? What's that, re-supply?

HANNA...Yeah...

Hanna grabs the TRIPOD BINOCULARS, used for longer range, sets it up quickly,and looks through it. After a few seconds:

HANNA (CONT'D)...Now that's what I call a re-supply...

HANNA'S POV THROUGH THE TRIPOD BINOCULARS

of a compound at the far side of the village, dark and deserted but for the two

ADVANCED MH-53X PAVE LOW HELICOPTERS that hover ominously over it. Theirblades spinning silently in the night. And from out of them, members of

THE SUPERUNIT

are emerging. Formidable soldiers, dressed in all-black, shooting one-by-one

down ropes that dangle from each helicopter, disappearing into some inner quad

of a building. All in all, maybe 40 men. Sleek, fast-moving, fightingmachines.


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KYLE (O.S)Lemme see.

A few scuffling sounds as Kyle takes a peak.

KYLE (O.S)

Jesus...who the hell are they?

HANNA (O.S)

...S-2 knew all about them...they gotta be

ours...

KYLE (O.S)

...whoever they are...they sure aint hereto clean dishes...

INT. - BARRACKS ROOM - NEXT MORNING

Hanna, Kyle, and half the men of Eagle platoon begin to rise just as

THE GUNNY

bursts in, awake and grinning and raring to go.

GUNNY

Alright, gentlemen...drop your cocks and

listen up.(he looks down at names on a clipboard)

The following are cordially invited to

muster at the motor pool in fifteen

minutes: Bemrick, Ramirez, and...(searches his list)

Calloway.

KYLEMe? Why me? Always me!

GUNNY(to Kyle)

Guess the Captain likes you, Calloway.

Because this one you will savor.

Hanna's eyes scan the Gunny's list.

GUNNY

Sorry, Hanna. Just Calloway.

Hanna and Kyle exchange a silent glance.

EXT. - MOTOR POOL - DAY

Hanna watches from the shade as:

The Gunny loads THIRTY MARINES including KYLE into A MILITARY TRUCK.The Gunny climbs in last. The doors close. The truck starts off.


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Hanna strides around to the far side of A SECOND TRUCK just before it follows.

It's loaded with another THIRTY MARINES. He knocks on the MARINE DRIVER'Swindow. The Driver sticks his head out.

Hanna eyes the name on his breast pocket.

HANNA

You Henderson.

MARINE DRIVER

That's me.

Hanna holds up a touristy POLAROID PHOTO of a rather weighty young Afghaniwoman in traditional garb.

HANNA

See this woman. She's in the mess hall,

talking to the Colonel.(beat)

Congratulations. You're a father.

MARINE DRIVERWhat?!...I never seen her before!

HANNAThat's not her story.

The Marine Driver shoots Hanna a shocked look, jumps out of his seat andhustles off in the direction of the mess hall.

Satisfied, Hanna strides into the SECOND TRUCK, taking the driver's seat. He

closes the doors and, as the driver now, accelerates the truck up after thefirst one.

EXT. - ROAD VILLAGE OF DURAJ - DAY

The TWO TRUCKS bounce and shake their way along a dusty, tarred, pockmarked

road. Hanna following the truck in front.

EXT. DESERTED COMPOUND EDGE OF DURAJ

The TWO TRUCKS come to a stop. ALL SIXTY MARINES begin to dismount, Hannablending in among them. He finds Kyle. They just look around.

KYLEHey, partner...

HANNA

...Yeah...I know...

And now we recognize the compound from the night before. It's the one themembers of the SuperUnit fast-roped into.

EXT. OPEN SAND QUAD INSIDE DESERTED COMPOUND - DAY

The SIXTY MARINES are lined up in rows, and in front of each MARINE is a large,

heavy rucksack. Full of sand. Hanna hides in the last row, behind Kyle.

The Gunny stands up at the front.


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GUNNY

...You have, therefore, all beenvolunteered to face this test of will and

endurance...A test being administered for

reasons which are of no consequence to

you...(smiles)

Unless, of course, you manage to pass it.

And only the best four will.

As the Gunny continues, we PAN SLOWLY over to the inner walls of the deserted

compound...passing window after window...

GUNNY (CONT'D) (O.S)

So, take your last drink of water...fastenyour fieldsacks...and get ready to makethe Marine Corps the proud mother that she

is...

And now we come to rest on a large, single window, covered with what appears tobe a plastic tint so we cannot see inside.

CUT TO:

INT. - ROOM INSIDE DESERTED COMPOUND - BUILDING SURROUNDING COURTYARD

A decaying office presently occupied by TWO MEN dressed in all-black field

uniforms. Ruggedly good-looking, with strong physiques and a cool, measured

composure. These are fighters. Elite Commandos...members of the SUPERUNIT.

Behind each movement, there is a sense of hidden, coiled power. And in their

speech...a calm arrogance.

COMMANDO #1

The Marine Corps...(he laughs)

You know why they're looking for a few

good men?

COMMANDO #2

No...

COMMANDO #1

'Cause they don't have any...

He looks out through the window as the Marines load the rucksacks onto their

backs.

COMMANDO #1 (CONT'D)

Look at them...just a bunch of grunts.

Commando #2 looks out. Laughs.


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COMMANDO #2

Yeah...well, somebody's gotta haul ourgarbage...

And Commando #1 laughs.

CUT TO:

EXT. INNER QUAD - DAY

A BURNING SUN beats down on the sixty Marines, who just stand there, rucksacks

on their backs. Starting to sweat. Shifting and swaying as the cramping intheir backs begins.

This is the test. To stand there like sheep, wearing their rucksacks, in theblinding heat.

KYLE is one of the few who seems completely comfortable. He's one of thebigger men out here. Just standing around with nothing to do.

KYLE

Hey, partner...do I look stupid? Juststandin' here. 'Cause I sure feel stupid.

HANNA, so far okay, just scans the seemingly deserted buildings.

HANNA

...They're around...watching usmaybe...from inside.(beat)

Something big...is going down.

Kyle glances around at the dirty windows surrounding the quad.

Suddenly -- BAM! The first Marine has fainted face-forward into the dirt -- a

helpless victim of the noon-day sun.

CUT TO:

THE QUAD - LATER

Hanna, Kyle and about 15 other sweaty Marines are all that remain.

A LARGE DRUM OF WATER

is placed in front of them now. Mocking them. They stare at it. Some lick

their lips. God, it's hot.

CUT TO:

THE QUAD - LATER

Only six Marines left. BAM! Make that five. Hanna and Kyle and three other

large, burly types. Hanna is by far the smallest. And now even he's startingto have a hard time.

CUT TO:


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INT. - DECAYING OFFICE IN BUILDING

The Two Commandos from the SuperUnit continue to watch. The Gunny is in herewith them, paging unenthused through a magazine.

COMMANDO #1

That big one...with the stupid

grin...what's his name?

The Gunny looks up.

GUNNYThat's Calloway, machine gunner...strong

as an ox.

COMMANDO #1

...We'll take him. It's a start, anyway.

COMMANDO #2

Three to go...

The Gunny's eyes suddenly zero in on Hanna standing behind Kyle.

GUNNYWhat the?!...

(beat)

Of all the puss-nuts, cockbreath, shit-eating goatfucks!

COMMANDO #1

What?!

The Gunny silently considers Hanna through the window. After a beat, he just

shakes his head and smiles to himself.

GUNNY

...Nevermind...

CUT TO:

THE QUAD

where a battle of wills has now ensued between Hanna and a muscular, giant

blockhead of a Marine. Pound for pound much stronger than Hanna.

Kyle and the other two machine-gunners are straining but they seem okay. This

is a competition for the fourth spot.

HANNA is close to the end...in silent pain...his teeth clenched...

THE BLOCKHEAD is grunting...groaning...spitting...

HANNA's face contorts in a mixture of pain, concentration and gritdetermination...

THE BLOCKHEAD in the meantime has begun to emit primordial grunts and groans

and snorts and noises of the most embarrassing nature...


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HANNA shifts...arching forward...shuts his eyes...trying to muster every last

drop of energy...his muscles trembling...

THE BLOCKHEAD is spitting like a camel now...his body looking more and more

unstable...he starts to sway..dizzy...

HANNA, his body shaking, his teeth clenched tight, his eyes almost popping out

of his head...about to lose it.

And in that split second...

THE BLOCKHEAD begins to fall...tipping right over...into

HANNA

causing them both to hit the dirt. Simultaneously. David and Goliath down.

Each just lies there breathing heavy. Now only three Marines, including Kyle,

are standing.

CUT TO:

INT. - DECAYING OFFICE

The Two Commandos and the Gunny watch through the window as the events in the

quad unfold.

Hanna and the Blockhead lie on the ground, breathing heavy. After a beat,

Hanna starts to get up...onto his knees...staggering...then standing...justbarely...but standing.

The Blockhead rolls over, looks at Hanna, then just passes out.

COMMANDO #2The one that got up. Who is he?

GUNNYThat's Hanna. Sniper.

COMMANDO #2...He's got a lotta grit.

GUNNYGrit....

(beat)

And some kinda demon inside.

Beat.

COMMANDO #1Alright...those are the four...

(turns to the Gunny)We're gonna need their files.

INT. - MAKESHIFT OFFICE SOMEWHERE IN DESERTED COMPOUND

Sitting alone at the desk is another man dressed in all black.

A Colonel, silver-haired, yet still in peak condition. This is the COMMANDOLEADER. His codename is FALCON. He studies a map.


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A YOUNGER COMMANDO OFFICER

enters. Four files in hand. He is subordinate. Codename COBRA.

COBRA

We've picked our four humpers. Here are

the files.

FALCON doesn't even look up. Studies his map with a viewfinder.

FALCON (COMMANDO LEADER)You read 'em?

COBRA

I took a look.

FALCONAnything special?

COBRA...just one thing. Maybe.

FALCONGo ahead...

He opens the file. Starts scanning through it. Reading selectively.

COBRA

Corporal Steve Hanna...Surveillance and

Tactical Acquisition Platoon, 8th MarineRegiment...a sniper, by the way...

FALCON

Good...thoroughly unrelated for ourpurposes...but, hell, I like snipers...

COBRA(continuing to read)

Born 1975, Bronx, New York. He's almost

thirty-two. And he's a corporal.

And he gives Falcon a look.

FALCON

(doesn't seem bothered)

...not all of us have the fortune to find

our paths early in life...

Beat. Cobra continues:

COBRA

Abandoned at the age of three...parentsunknown...relatives...unknown.

Falcon doesn't say anything. Continues to look through his viewfinder.


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COBRA

...not much else here...except for a high-school equivalency test. Taken when hewas 21. The rest is sketchy.

FALCON

So what's your point?

COBRAA background like that...it can make a

man...unstable. No matter how he appears.

FALCONThe Marines have a psychological

evaluation. I assume he passed it?

COBRA

He did...

FALCON

Then I don't see any need to worry. These

tests are scientific. Precise. We relyon the same body of theories for ourevaluations and they've haven't failed us

yet.

COBRA

Still...you never know.

FALCON

...What about his military record?

COBRAClean...spotless.

FALCONThat's enough for me.

(beat)Arrange the briefings for our four littleMarine friends and put everyone else on

condition blue.

Cobra sees there's no point in continuing. Walks silently to the door,thinking. Then turns back to face Falcon.

COBRA

I checked him out. This Corporal Steve

Hanna. He's a loner. And in the

end...loners go their own way...

But Falcon's not really listening.

INT. - SECRET BRIEFING ROOM DESERTED COMPOUND

A grizzled 50-year-old COMMANDO SERGEANT briefs Hanna, Kyle, and the two otherMarines. His codename is STRIKER.


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STRIKER

You have been chosen to accompany us on amission of the highest urgency. You,however, will not be combatants. You will

not even be armed with anything other thanpistols which we will supply to you. Your

job, simply put, will be this -- to carry

any and all supplies needed for our

mission. We have determined that theamount of supplies which we require can be

carried by four strong, healthy able-

bodied individuals. You are those four.You, gentlemen, will be our sherpas on theway to Mount Everest. Consider it an

honor. You don't know who we are...andyou won't, not for a long time...but one

day you'll read about us in the history

books.

The four Marines sit silent, taking it all in.

STRIKER (CONT'D)I will be your squad leader and you willfollow each and everyone of my commands.

Any act which can remotely be construed asjeopardizing this mission will be

penalized by a field court martial and

punishable by death.

KYLE

(whispering to Hanna)

...Nothin like fosterin' an air a' highmorale.

Striker looks at Kyle silently a beat, then continues:

STRIKER

For the purposes of this mission, I cannotdisclose my real name to you. However,you may call me Sergeant Striker. You

will receive appropriate equipment,

uniforms and coded dogtags...and as oftomorrow...you will no longer wear anyitem or mark of clothing which will

identify you as an American.(beat)

The Unit Leader will speak to you now.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. - SECRET BRIEFING ROOM - LATER

FALCON, the silver-haired commando leader, stands before them. Silent.

Imposing. A self-styled leader about to give a speech.

FALCON

I have one word for you, gentlemen -- that

word is PRECISION.


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FALCON (CONTD)

Sun Tzu. Alexander the Great. Napoleon.Patton. All operated under the samerules. All relied on improvisation and

initiative to counter the fog of war.(beat)

Well, in our battlefield, that day is

over. Technology has LIFTED the fog and

today there is only one golden rule --Precision.

(beat)

Our plan is a precise one, gentlemen.Your part is to carry what we tellyou...and follow the Sergeant wherever he

goes, wherever we go. It's a simple task,so do it well. Do it with precision. We

move tomorrow.

And Falcon turns to head out the room. Kyle raises his hand, interrupting.

KYLE

Ahh...Sir?

Falcon turns, looks at Kyle.

FALCON

Corporal Calloway, right?

KYLEYes, sir.

FALCONWhat is it?...

KYLE

Well, sir...regardin' the nature of themission. At what point do we get to know

what this here is all about?

Falcon just shakes his head.

FALCON...Never...

And turns to exit.

INT. - HALLWAY DESERTED COMPOUND

Hanna, Kyle and the two other Marines walk out of the briefing room.

MARINE #1Sun Tzu. Alexander the Great. What the

fuck was he talkin about?

KYLE(shakes his head)

Beats the hell outta me...

(beat)Ya hear all that garbage, partner?


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Hanna just nods, lights a cigarette, thinking along a different track.

HANNA

Noncombatants...(then he sniffs the air)

...it stinks...

And then tosses his cigarette and walks off.

INT. - DARK BARRACKS ROOM DESERTED COMPOUND - NIGHT

Hanna, Kyle, and the two other Marines lie sleeping on metal cots.

KYLE

Hey...partner. What do you make a' allthis? I mean I wonder what the hell we're

settin' out to do?

Hanna holds his penlight to his green book, reading. The dim glare revealinghis face.

HANNA...Don't know...

Kyle shifts. Shakes his head, thinking out loud:

KYLE

Maybe its some kind of rescue orsomething.

HANNA

Maybe...

Beat.

KYLEHey, partner?

Johnson, the third Marine, interjects:

JOHNSON

Would you morons shut up, already, we'retryin to sleep here.

Markus is the fourth Marine. A big, lumbering teddy bear of a man.

MARKUS

Yeah, c'mon guys...we got a big day

tomorrow!

The other three just turn and look at Markus. What a dork.

EXT. LANDING ZONE DESERTED COMPOUND - WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT

SHADOWS OF MEN buzz around the faint outline of a single MH-53X PAVE LOWHELICOPTER, its rotors spinning silently in the night.


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HANNA AND KYLE and the two other Marines stand off to the side. At their feet

-- FOUR GIANT BLACK RUCKSACKS. Packed to the hilt. Striker is checking overthe packs as Falcon walks by:

FALCONAlright, Striker, load your men.

Striker turns to the Marines. Nods toward the helicopter.

STRIKER

Single file. After me.

KYLEHey, sarge, you boys ever call each other

by your real names?

STRIKER

...We don't know them.

EXT. LANDING ZONE - LATER - STILL NIGHT

The shadows and activity are gone. The PAVE LOW sits alone on the tarmac.

And then slowly it begins to rise...into the dead of night...

EXT. - THE NIGHT SKY - LATER

The PAVE LOW flies silently over a sea of moonlit water.At the controls, TWO PILOTS, wearing Darth Vader like helmets.

INT. - BELLY OF THE HELICOPTER - AS IT FLIES

NINE COMMANDOS of the SuperUnit and the FOUR MARINES sit facing each other ontwo benches. Dressed all in black.

Each Commando carries a weapon more exotic than the next. All weapons areblack. Nothing reflects light. Nothing.

All are quiet. Each man dealing on his own terms with the mortal dangers thatlie ahead. The silence is overwhelming.

KYLEWell, one thing's for sure -- they ain'tgonna hear us.

One of the Commandos, codename FIST, scans the four Marines. Smiles.

FIST

So...we're bringing the kids along for alittle hop and pop.

A second Commando, codename DRAGON, leans forward toward the Marines.

DRAGONJust remember -- if bullets start flyingour way, whatever you do -- DON'T PANIC.

Kyle just looks over at Hanna. Who are these assholes? Hanna stares hard atFist, fire in his eyes.


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A wooden box is now passed down from one commando to the next. Each commandoslips off an identical RING from his finger and places it in the box. Like aritual of a secret order.

Hanna just watches, silent. The last one, Banshee, looks up at him. Smiles.

Cocky:

BANSHEE

West Point. All of us.

Hanna just stares back. A steely look.

HANNA...West Point...

And then he slowly leans over and spits on the floor. Then looks back at theBanshee. Smiles.

BANSHEE

That's a nasty habit you got there.

HANNA

Who said it was a habit?

EXT. - NIGHT SKY - LATER

The PAVE LOW slips in and out between more dark ridges...then finally begins toslow down, descending into a pitch-black valley.

The door opens, and the men begin to de-helicopter onto the arid, rocky ground.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE PITCH-BLACK VALLEY - NIGHT

As the PAVE LOW takes off in the background, we make out

TWO VERTICAL LINES OF MEN

moving off into the valley at a fast walking pace. Falcon at the front,leading the strike force. Striker and the four Marines at the rear, the giantrucksacks resting heavily on their backs.

The men move on silently...wraiths in the night.

EXT. - A GIANT BLACK RIDGE - LATER - NIGHT

The Strikeforce moves up a ridge towards its crest. The incline is steep and

the movement is slow and arduous.

HANNA AND KYLE are at their place near the back. Climbing up through the rocks

with a hundred pounds on their backs. Straining. Sweat pouring into theireyes. Finally, the force reaches the crest.


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PANORAMA AHEAD - OVER THE CREST

An open desert valley below. Empty except for A DESOLATE ROAD which traversesacross it. Maybe 100 yards away.

FALCON (O.S.)

This is it. Gold Point.

CUT TO:

EXT. - CREST OF THE RIDGE

BLACKENED COMMANDO HANDS lay THE FOUR GIANT RUCKSACKS on the ground. Openthem. Revealing a cornucopia of high-tech equipment:

The SuperUnit begins to set up.

KYLE

What'dya know. We're on a mission with

Buck Rogers.

Fist, nearby, hears Kyle. Smiles:

FIST

Pentagon's newest toys. Maybe in ten

years...even the Marines'll get them.(cocky)

But I doubt it...

Hanna just looks around at the equipment. Then at the lone road below.Realizes what they're up to:

HANNA

...Ambush...

Hanna turns. Sees Falcon, 50 feet away, opening the BLACK STEEL CASE. Hannaraises his NIGHT VISION GOGGLES and watches him.

ON FALCON

looking into the case. Only it's not a case. It's an BATTLEFIELD COMPUTER.Portable. Built into a steel case.

A DIGITAL COUNTDOWN begins on the corner of the screen. Falcon enters a code.

The countdown disappears. The screen suddenly fills with

A HIGH-RESOLUTION TERRAIN MAP

of the whole area. Overlaid with military symbols.

CUT TO:

EXT. - DARK VALLEY BETWEEN MOUNTAINS - NEARBY - NIGHT

A four vehicle convoy consisting of an SUV, Two White Peugots, and another SUV

speeds along a desolate stretch of road.


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HIGH ABOVE IT IN THE NIGHT SKY

A Micro UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) the size of an insect (wingspan one-inch)flies about. A mini-INFRARED TV CAMERA in its nose prowls the terrain.

It fixes on the convoy. Begins to shadow it.

EXT. - THE CREST OF THE RIDGE - SAME TIME - NIGHT

The Commandos of the Strikeforce lie in a perfect horizontal line overlooking

the road. Spaced 15 meters apart. Wearing tiny MOTOROLA headphones with lip

mics.

Striker and the Four Marines lie off to the side. All is quiet. Ambush time.

Cobra pilots the micro-UAV from a large console that was carried in one of the

rucksacks.

ON HIS CONSOLE SCREEN

The four-vehicle convoy cruises down a dark road.

COBRA (V.O.)(into lip mic)

Falcon. This is Cobra. The prey is insight.

FALCON (O.S.)Roger, Cobra. Close and identify.

Our INFRARED INVERSE BLACK-AND-WHITE POV suddenly dives low and maneuvers

around, zooming in on the faces of the men in the Two Peugots.

We frame on a BEARDED ARAB MAN in the distinctive ARABIC HEADRESS [KEFFIYEH] OF

AL-KHAZAR sitting in the back of the second Peugot. His face is visible.

COBRA

Hornet. Tango is second jeep. Rear left.Arm your tag.

HORNET opens a small metal box, revealing two custom-made bullets. He takes

one out. Slides a small switch on its side. A stripe on the bullet glows red.He loads the bullet into his sniper rifle.

HORNETFalcon. Tag armed.

FALCON now plugs a calculator-like GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) relay into

his computer.

ON THE TERRAIN MAP OF HIS COMPUTER SCREEN

A RED TRACKING DOT now appears. Illustrating the location of the SuperUnit.

Off in the distance, the faint headlights of the convoy approach.

HANNA AND KYLE lie off to the side. Just watching. Hanna sets his revolver by

his side.


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STRIKER

(to Hanna)What in hell are you doing?...

Hanna just looks at him. Silent.

STRIKER

Put it away.

Beat.

STRIKERPut it away.

For a beat. Hanna does nothing. Then puts it away. Doesn't look like he's

gonna take much more of this.

The convoy now closes in fast.

FALCON

Banshee, mark your spot. Initiate onZero-Zero. Two-Nine-Nine. Final orders.Execute. Tag. End.

BANSHEE, the demolitions expert, peers through an ULTRA-SOUND DOPPLER DEVICE.

BANSHEE'S POV THROUGH DOPPLER DEVICE - DESOLATE ROAD

A wide, purple-tinted view. A stationary WHITE X marks a ghostly spot on the

road below.

The CONVOY enters the far edge of the screen. Approaches the WHITE X. TinyDIGITAL Time and Distance readouts count down.

BANSHEE (INTO MIC)Five -- Four -- Three --

-- The convoy is right in front of the Strikeforce now. --

BANSHEE

-- Two --

-- The lead SUV is now past the halfway point. --

BANSHEE

-- One --

The lead SUV reaches the White X. TIME and DISTANCE readouts hit zero-zero.

BANSHEE'S FINGER hits a button on his transmitter.

A SMALL ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE MINE

planted by the side of the road emits an instantaneous pulse.

INSIDE THE ENGINE OF THE LEAD SUV

Electricity suddenly stops flowing through the wires of the engine.


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INSIDE THE LEAD SUV

The driver quickly notices the car die. It rolls to a stop on the lone road as

the trailing vehicles in the convoy stop in line behind it. All are confused.

Everything now happens extremely fast. With a cold efficiency:

DRAGON fires a bulky rifle connected to a large battery that was carried in oneof the packs.

Instantaneously, A GREEN LASER PULSE shoots down and hits

THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR

of the trailing SUV. The mirror shows an image of the Drivers face. Inside

the driver suddenly looks around blinded.

LIGHTNING

now centers the image of the second Peugot inside a square viewfinder attachedto a 3-foot wide emitter device. He holds down a trigger labeled MICROWAVES.A multi-colored temperature indicator quickly rises from cold colors to hot.

THE PASSENGERS INSIDE THE SECOND PEUGOT

immediately notice the car heat up intensely but dont know why. They quicklyroll down their windows as they start to sweat.

HORNET BACK UP ON THE RIDGE

looks through a CT SCOPE at the same Peugot, its windows now down.

HORNET'S POV CT SCOPE

Three anatomical human figures skeleton and muscle tissue -- outlined against

a blue background. You can't actually see the car. Looks kinda like a CATscan.

HORNET (O.S.)

(under his breath)Tango..is...rear...left.

HORNET aims at the skeleto-muscular figure in the rear on the left. Zooms intoa precise bone. It starts to flash. He pulls the trigger.

THE BULLET - IN SLOW MOTION - MICROVIEW

flies out his rifle. Impacts the BEARDED ARAB MAN's skin. Breaks apart.

Leaving only a spinning needle. The needle rips through muscle. Hits thebone. Passes through and out. Leaving a microscopic chip embedded inside.

ON THE BEARDED ARAB MAN IN RED AL-KHAZAR HEADRESS/KEFFIYEH

suddenly clutching his mid-section. As though he was just bitten. He sees a

small spot of blood. He starts to shout at his driver in Arabic.


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ON THE CONVOY

as the lead SUV manages to start its engine again. Another man takes the wheelof the trailing SUV. Quickly, all four vehicles of the convoy speed off down

the road.

HIGH UP ON THE RIDGE

Falcon enters 'G'-'C' into his computer. His screen splits in two.

A ROTATING COMPUTER GRAPHIC PORTRAIT of the BEARDED ARAB MAN appears on the top

half along with the words "TARGET CONFIRMED".

THE BOTTOM HALF OF HIS SCREEN

remains a terrain map. The RED TRACKING DOT speeds along the road. Enters a

town labeled ZHOB. Falcon hits two keys. A HIGH-RESOLUTION BLUEPRINT of THE

TOWN. Every single building numbered.

THE RED TRACKING DOT enters the town. Moves along a few roads. Stops at a

rather large building. Number 32.

Falcon enters "32." The computer replies: "HOSPITAL." Falcon smiles.

ANGLE ON HANNA

watching all this with his night-vision goggles. He scribbles 'G'-'C' in his

green book.

Kyle, next to him, looks down at the road. Then at the men of the SuperUnit.

KYLEYa gotta give 'em credit, partner.Whatever they just did...they sure know

how to do it.

HANNA

...Anyone can push a button.

EXT. SIDE OF RIDGE NIGHT

The Strikeforce moves down from the top of the ridge in a two-line formation.The men march silently and at a fast clip into a dark valley.

EXT. DARK VALLEY NIGHT - LATER

The Strikeforce continues to the edge of A BOMBED-OUT DISTRICT SCHOOL that sits

alone on the valley floor. It consists of several small mud buildings with a

larger two-story building in the center.

EXT. - ONE HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE SCHOOL COMPLEX - NIGHT

Falcon stops. Lowers to one knee. The rest of the Strikeforce automatically

lies prone. Falcon scans ahead.

FALCON'S POV THROUGH NIGHT-VISION BINOS DISTRICT SCHOOL

It's abandoned. Run down. Eerie.


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Falcon puts his binos away. Takes out a few folded, silvery SATELLITE PHOTOS

of the school from his breast pocket. Looks like it's on the moon.

FALCON

We've prepositioned the vehicle here.KH-11 made a pass yesterday. Should be

nice and empty.

(into headset)

Two-Nine-Nine-Alpha. Silver Point. Cobraand Fist. Sneak and Peek.

Pointing at the photo, he motions Cobra to check a small side building, then tocircle around the main one. Cobra and Fist take off...

CUT TO:

EXT. BOMBED-OUT DISTRICT SCHOOL - NIGHT

Cobra and Fist approach one of the smaller mud buildings. Fist carrying onemotherfucker of a machine gun. They peer through a hole in a wall. A SHINYBLACK VAN sits parked inside, hidden.

They turn and head to the TWO-STORY BUILDING, sweeping around to

ITS FAR SIDE

where Cobra scans all around. And as he does so WE PAN UP

TO A DIRTY SECOND-STORY WINDOW

right above him, where dark shadows hide the HARDENED FACE OF A MAN watching

Cobra silently from inside.

COBRA

down below, finishes scanning.

COBRA

(into lip mic)Falcon. Cobra here. Just like thepicture. All clear.

He motions to Fist and they slip back around to the front as

ABOVE

The HARDENED FACE tracks them, moving from window to window.

INT. SECOND-STORY ROOM MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING

The hardened face belongs to AN AFGHANI MAN in modern clothing that looks like

it came straight out of K-mart with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder.

Behind him, a MOTLEY CREW of SEVEN MORE ARMED AFGHANI MEN in similar clothing

sleeps amidst the cobwebs. All around them are bricks of a white gooey paste.

Hardened Face's eyes track Cobra and Fist, leading him to discover -- the

Strikeforce lying in the distance 75 yards away.


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Hardened Face curses in Pashto. Quickly, he whirls around and hustles over to

the leader of this little gang. Wakes him.

HARDENED FACE

(subtitled)Gul. Gul.

(Gang Leader starts to wake)

Wake up. American troops are here.

Looking around for us.

GANG LEADER

(groggy) Americans?! Impossible?! We just gothere an hour ago?!

Gang Leader looks out the window.

GANG LEADER'S POV - OUTSIDE

The Strikeforce approaches the main school building in military formation.

GANG LEADER(subtitled)Wake everyone! Fast!

OUTSIDE THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING

The Strikeforce closes in, unaware.

Hanna and Kyle at the rear, the giant rucksacks on their back. Suddenly, Hanna

stops. His eyes tighten. He senses something.

Falcon is still in front. A second later, he stops, too. Also sensessomething.

RAT-TAT-TAT-RAT-TAT-TAT-RAT-TAT-TAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREEN MACHINE GUN TRACER-FIRE thunders from a second story window.

Falcon is almost lifted off the ground, jerking, as though being hit by a

sledge hammer. He falls on his face. Dead. All watch, stunned.

COBRAWhat the?! Contact, hit the deck!

RAT-TAT-TAT-RAT-TAT-TAT-RAT-TAT-TAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More green machine gun tracer fire. bullets everywhere. Gun FLASHES from

other windows.

Dragon, Fist, and the Third Marine are hit as they scramble for cover.

INSIDE THE SECOND STORY

All Seven Members of the Gang are awake and firing like the blazes and howlingin Pashto.


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OUTSIDE

Hanna and Kyle dive behind a small outer retainer wall. Shed their rucksacks.Hanna peeks out.

The Afghani Gang have pinned the Commandos down along a 70 foot stretch. The

Commandos are trying to shoot back. Using their secondary weapons -- H&K MP5

Submachine Guns with Pulse Laser Sights.

Hanna pulls out his revolver. It looks pretty meager.

KYLEWhat're you gonna shoot with that?!Dinner?!

Hanna looks down at the revolver. Hey, it's all they got. Pow! Pow! Pow!

COBRA AND BANSHEE

have taken cover behind some large boulders.

COBRAWho the fuck is up there?!

Cobra scans around. Tries to organize his team. Direct a response.

COBRA(INTO MIC)

Two-Nine-Nine! Cobra, here! Falcon ishorizontal! I am in control!

Banshee lets loose on his MP5. An Afghani Gang Member flies out to the ground,

dead.

WIZARD

the Strikeforce medic who is near Hanna and Kyle, eyes the body. A few of thewhite bricks of paste have fallen around him.

WIZARD(realizing)

...Opium.

KYLEWhat?

WIZARD

Those bricks are raw opium. For heroin.

Theyre drug smugglers. Afghanistan if

full of em.(looks up at windows)

They probably think we've come to arrestthem.

Hanna scans around. Bullets WHIZ by. A heavy machine gun from a slit holespits out doses of lead. It's the main problem.

For a moment, it arcs its fire. Bullets pour into one of the small side

buildings. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!! The BLACK VAN inside explodes!


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BACK ON COBRA AND BANSHEE

watching.

COBRAShit!!!! Shit!!!!

Cobra turns and glares up at the machine gun nest. Scans around.

COBRA

Dragon, do you read?!

(nothing)Dragon, do you read?!

BANSHEEHe's out there!

And Banshee points to Dragon's lifeless body.

COBRA

Damnit!!!

(thinking)Lightning! Do you read?!

LIGHTNING (O.S.)Roger, Cobra! Lightning here!

COBRAI want HE's against that main gun! Now!

LIGHTNING fires his M203 GRENADE. THUMP!!! But the main machine gun is

shooting out from just a small slit window. No place for the grenade to enter.It bounces off. Explodes in the air.

The machine gun rages back with GREEN TRACERS.

HANNA AND KYLE

look up at the machine gun. It's right opposite them. Hanna scans the edge ofthe two-story building. Spots something at its side.

He looks at Fist -- lying immobile in the open 5 feet away.

HANNA

-- I got an idea. --

KYLE

-- I like it. --

Hanna just looks at Kyle.

KYLE

Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna like it!

I just wanna do somethin!

And Hanna's gone. Slithering like a snake on all fours. Reaches Fist. Grabs

a grenade bag. Fist's machine gun. Crawls back.


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COBRA - 70 FEET AWAY

suddenly spots Red Tracer fire coming from the area of Hanna and Kyle'sposition.

Firing off into darkness to the side of the two-story building. Missing

completely.

COBRAWho the hell is aiming that?!

ON KYLE

firing Fist's Machine Gun

INTO THE DARKNESS

where we now see THREE PALM TREES. And he's firing at their bases. Cutting

them down. Handling the machine gun like a tool.

CUT TO:

THE THREE TREES

falling to the ground. Like giant matchsticks.

CUT TO:

HANNA

pulling the pin from his grenade. Tossing it towards one of the three trees.BOOM!!! An explosion. A BURNING FIRE. FLAMES leap high in the air...covering

the slit of the machine gun nest.

CUT TO:

INSIDE THE SECOND STORY MACHINE GUN NEST

The Afghan Smuggler Leader, wielding the main machine gun, pulls back, feeling

the intense heat. All he can see is flames.

CUT TO:

HANNA

pulling the pin on a second grenade. Throws it at another fallen tree.

BOOM!!! Another FIRE. And now there's A WALL OF FLAME from the Strikeforce'sposition right to one side of the main school building.

Perfect cover for a dash across.

CUT TO:

COBRA - 70 FEET AWAY

just looking at it. Burning cover. Can't believe it. Now Striker crawls upnext to him.


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COBRAGood work, Striker.

STRIKERMe? I thought that was you...

They just look at each other a beat.

COBRA

C'mon. That's our path across.

BACK ON HANNA AND KYLE

Hanna dashes to the enemy's side behind the wall of fire, grenade in hand.Kyle follows. They reach

THE SIDE OF THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING

close to the main machine gun. Hanna spots a side window with no glass.

Throws a grenade. BOOM!!! The machine gun nest EXPLODES!!

Both now eye a nearby door.

KYLEHouse-to-house. This ain't exactly our

specialty, partner.

HANNA...It is now...

Hanna pulls the pin of his last grenade. Kicks the door open. Throws thegrenade in. BOOM! Rushes

INSIDE

Kyle follows him in. It's an empty destroyed room. They move to a door at the

far end. Hanna gets his revolver ready.

HANNA

I go left. You go right.

KYLEYour left or--

--and Hanna kicks the door in. Rushes in to the second room--

KYLE

--Wait a goddamn minute!

But it's too late. Hanna's inside--

THE SECOND ROOM

Everything happens in a split second now: THREE AFGHANI SMUGGLERS are justcoming down stairs -- Hanna shoots the first one -- drops him -- Kyle is

suddenly inside -- shoots at the second one -- misses wildly -- the second one

is about to shoot Kyle -- suddenly drops dead -- thank you Hanna -- Kyle shoots


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at the Third Smuggler -- misses wildly again -- the Third Smuggler shoots at

Hanna --

Hits him in the shoulder -- Hanna falls back against the wall --shooting the

Third Smuggler at the same time -- between the eyes.

Hanna clutches his bleeding shoulder. Just then:

Cobra and Striker show up. They see Hanna and Kyle here.

COBRA

You?!!!

A split second later, the remaining members of the SuperUnit appear.

CUT TO:

THE SUPERUNIT COMMANDOS

cleaning out the remaining rooms. Two at a time. Throw in a grenade. Let it

explode. One rushes in left, the other goes right. Red Pulse-laser sights.No misses.

CUT TO:

HANNA AND KYLE

in the last room they were in. Kyle's trying to help Hanna with his wound. Itlooks worse than it is.

HANNA...The idea is to hit them.

KYLE

I'm a damn machine gunner, okay! I ain'tnever had to aim before.

But Kyle feels bad. Just leans back. Eyes Hanna's wound.

KYLE

I'm sorry you're hurt. It shoulda beenme, instead.

HANNA(shakes head)

...That would'a been worse...

Hanna spots TWO TINS OF TURKISH CIGARETTES lying in the dirt. Takes them.Lights a cigarette. Tired.

We hear the staccato BRRRRP of submachine guns in the background. Then

silence.

CUT TO:


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THE SECOND FLOOR

All the Afghani Drug Smugglers in here are dead. Cobra surveys the whitebricks of raw opium.

COBRA

Goddamn drug smugglers. They must've

decided to hide here for the night.

STRIKER

(looks at the dead bodies)

Well, they're gonna get some sleep.That's for sure.

COBRAMake sure thats all of em.

The Strikeforce starts to spread out through the building searching for anyoneleft alive. They dont find anyone. But

OUTSIDE

One Afghani Smuggler, wounded but still alive, escapes past the last small mudbuilding on the schools perimeter and disappears into the darkness...

INT. - FIRST FLOOR SCHOOL BUILDING - LATER

The Strikeforce is all here. Wizard, the medic, finishes bandaging Lightning.Inserts an I.V. into Hanna's arm, then motions him to remove his shirt.

Hanna hesitates. Does it -- revealing his shoulder wound, as well as a mosaic

of scars from upper body tattoos that have all been removed.

Everyone notices. No one says anything.

Cobra, meanwhile, scans the battlefield computer. The satellite dish is setup. The RED TRACKING DOT still in the HOSPITAL in the town of ZHOB.

Striker walks up to him:

STRIKER

Falcon, Dragon, Banshee, Fist, dead.Marines Marcus and Johnson, dead.Lightning and Hanna wounded. Vehicle

destroyed. Ammunition levels low.That's the "sitrep".

KYLE

Couldn't ya have thrown in some good news,too?

Cobra just stares at the C3I computer.

COBRAWe're still tracking. That's whatcounts. We'll just have to use the backup

entry sight. Copper Point.


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HANNA

...It'll be daylight soon. We gotta move.

Cobra looks over at him.

COBRA

...You giving orders now?

Hanna just tapes his I.V. BAG to his arm and walks over to the equipment pile.Grabs one of the MP5 Submachine guns. Then sorts through bullets and grenades.

Equipping himself.

COBRAWhat're you doing?!

HANNA

...Thinking ahead.

COBRAPut it all back down. You're not a functional part of this operation.

HANNAYou got four men dead. I am now. So ishe--

--and he points to Kyle. Throws him an H&K MP5 submachine gun.

HANNA (CONT'D)You need us.

Cobra just looks at him. Starts to laugh. Turns to Striker:

COBRAOne smart move and a couple of good shots

and he thinks he's one of us.

(turns to Hanna)Let me tell you something, junior -- This

operation has undergone a supreme degreeof planning. The men before you have beenscreened, selected and bred for this

mission! They are the most highly

trained, highly specialized, and highlyequipped in the world.

(beat)

You are not!

HANNA

Yeah...I heard it before...

(beat)They fit all the right numbers. Got all

the right profiles.

COBRA

Damn right they do! They're the bestAmerica has to offer.

HANNA

...that all depends...


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COBRA

Yeah! On what?!

HANNA

...On if the system works.

COBRA

And what system is that?!

Hanna takes out a Turkish cigarette. Lights it.

HANNA...The one people use these days to judgea man.

And they all just look at him. Silent. Even Kyle is silent. He hasn't seen

Hanna like this before. Cobra smiles. Starts to laugh:

COBRAYou're just sour, Hanna. That's it, isn't

it? I've seen your records. Took you

seven years and seven tries just to getinto the damn Marines. Just to be a damnMarine grunt! God knows how you finally

got in but screw me if you didn't cheat todo it.

Hanna just takes a puff from his cigarette. Looks at him.

HANNA

...It's your damn system. Not mine.

COBRAI got a good mind to call a chopper and

fly you straight to jail for

insubordination.

HANNABut you won't. You won't break radiosilence. If you could, you would have

already. To abort. Or to reinforce.

(glances around)My guess is -- there's somebody around whomight be listening. Somebody bigger than

these two-bit locals.

Cobra and Striker just stare at him. Because he's right. Cobra is getting

angry. Frustrated. Looks at both Hanna and Kyle for a beat.

COBRA

Okay...(beat)

Okay...

(beat)You and Texas Kyle Calloway over therewant to piss with the big dogs. Fine. Go

ahead and bite off more than you can chew.


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COBRA (CONTD)

I could use some extra cannon fodder now,anyway.

And he comes right up to Hanna. In his face.

COBRA (CONT'D)

Just remember. You're under my command.

If you disobey orders and compromisemission security...I will shoot you.

KYLE(shaking his head)

...Ya sign up, ya volunteer, and that's

the appreciation ya get.

COBRA

(ignoring Kyle)Alright, Two-Nine-Nine...get ready tomove...I want to be outta here before

daylight.

KYLE(to Cobra)

By the way, seein' as we are now an A-1functional part of this operation, maybe

you can fill us in on the prime objective.

COBRAIn a pig's eye.

And he walks off. Kyle turns to Hanna.

KYLE

Now that wasn't very nice.

INT. ONE-STORY BUILDING SCHOOL - LATER

THE BODIES OF THE DEAD AMERICANS burn in a pyre as Hanna, Kyle and theSuperUnit Commandos watch silently. And for a moment, as we PAN:

THE FACES OF THE LIVING

their is a camaraderie that knows no distinctions...all feel the same

remorse...injustice...uncertainty.

All turn and silently start to move off. Except one -- Kyle.

He stands just staring at the burning bodies. And for the first time, fearcomes into his eyes. Fear and the grim reality of death...

CUT TO:

EXT EDGE OF SCHOOL PERIMETER - NIGHT

The Strikeforce prepares to leave. As Hanna dons his rucksack, he cringes in

pain. His shoulder.


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KYLE

(to Cobra)The man's been shot for cryin' out loud.

COBRAHe's tough. Aren't you, Hanna?

Hanna says nothing. Kyle shakes his head. Reaches over. Transfers a few

things from Hanna's pack...

EXT. PITCH BLACK VALLEY - NIGHT - LATER

The strike force moves on. Cobra at the lead now. Wizard and Hornet carryingthe two other rucksacks. Sweating. Hanna and Kyle with MP5's and headsets

now.

EXT. ROCKY CANYON BED - NIGHT - LATER

The strike force heads up a gradual incline...passing a cave here and there.

EXT. CAVE - SOMEWHERE HIGH UP AMONGST THE RIDGES - DAWN - LATER

The first rays of sunlight tease the dark blue horizon as the strike force now

reaches a small cave entrance. Cobra takes out his plastic covered navigation

map. Studies it. Looks around.

COBRA (OVER HEADSET)

This is it. Copper Point.

INT. FIRST CAVE - DAWN

A long, natural tunnel. Dark. We see just outlines of the men as they move

through.

EXT. SECOND CAVE - DAWN

The men filter in. Put their packs down. Look around. This is a cave. Big

and round and wide and high. At the far end is--

A WIDE OPENING

sporting the most majestic view of the new morning sky. Yes, we are high, highup.

CUT TO:

HANNA AND KYLE

crawling up to the far opening, peering over the edge at:

THE AFGHAN TOWN OF ZHOB

Nestled way down below at the foot of this ridge. This is the largest town

weve seen so far, complete with mosques, bazaars, and a variety of residential

and rudimentary industrial structures. And it is bustling with Afghans. Overthis, we hear Cobra's voice through the headset:


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COBRA (O.S.)Welcome to Zhob. And what a glorious dayit is to be an American.

Hanna and Kyle look back. He is standing behind them, further back in the

cave. Looking at them. He breaks into a smile, then turns and moves further

back into the cave.

COBRA

Lightning. Hornet. Set up the tracking

system. We'll split into watches. Twomen each.

(looks at Hanna, Kyle)

Striker -- you get to brief these two onthe town.

INT. - BIG CAVE - DAY

Cobra, Hornet, Lightning and Wizard lie spread out. Sleeping.

Meanwhile--

HANNA, KYLE, AND STRIKER

lie side-by-side near the large opening. In front of them is the battlefield

computer.

The blueprint map of Zhob is on the screen. Striker points at Building #32,where the RED TRACKING DOT continues to blink. Then down at an identically

shaped two-story building in the town. About the size of a large store.

STRIKERBuilding 32. The hospital. Over there.

You keep your watch fixed on that. And on

the tracking dot. If it moves, you wakeme. And you wake Cobra. You don't wait.

You don't think about it. You wake us.

KYLE

(pointing at town)

...What's that?

He points to a clean, white-walled building complex. It doesn't really fit in

to the rest of the town. Looks just a little bit more...western world. A blueand yellow flag flies from one roof.

STRIKER

Buildings 56-61. UNAMA.

HANNA...United Nations Assistance Mission in

Afghanistan...

Striker looks at Hanna, surprised he'd know that.


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STRIKER

Right. They provide various kinds of aidand reconstruction assistance. Sent hereby the UN after the Taliban fell.

(beat)They have a Swedish infantry company

assigned to them for security.

Kyle picks up the binoculars:

KYLE'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS - UNAMA COMPLEX

Two guards are visible. Both with sun-bleached blond hair. Aviatorsunglasses. NATO assault rifles. Swedish uniforms with the Blue UN flag

emblem on their shirt sleeves. You wouldn't need a satellite to find theseguys...they stick right out. The binoculars PAN AROUND and find

SEVERAL NAKED SWEDES

sunbathing in an enclosed deck of the complex. Buck-naked. Rifles lying off

to the side.

KYLE (O.S.)These must be the shock troops.

ON STRIKER

STRIKERThe main authority in this area is the

local Governor Wazir Khan. Hes also

the local warlord. He has his own privatemilitia.

(beat)

So far hes on our side against the

Taliban. But these guys can turn on adime.

And now Striker gets ready to crawl back into the cave.

KYLE

One more question?

Striker stops. Looks at him: "What?"

KYLE (CONT'D)

Who's the fella with the red dot?

STRIKERYou get captured. Wounded. We can't have

you talking, can we?(starts backing up again)

That tracking dot moves. Even flickers.

You better goddamn wake us. And don'ttouch the keys. Whatever you do, don'ttouch the keys!


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Striker withdraws into the cave. Preparing to catch some shuteye. Hanna and

Kyle turn to look out at the village. Raising their binoculars. Beginningtheir watch. Silence for a few beats, then:

KYLEHey, partner?

HANNA

...What?...

They continue to watch as they talk, maintaining a low tone.

KYLE...All that stuff ol' Captain America

said. Back there. About you trying seventimes in seven years to join up. That

true?

HANNA...Yeah...

KYLEYou never told me that.(serious now)

You never talk much about what you didbefore...bein' a Marine. Back in New York

City.

Hanna shifts uncomfortably. Silence for a few seconds.

HANNA

...I...moved around a lot...

KYLE

...Doin what?...

HANNA

...Pumping gas. Cookworse...

Kyle just looks at him. Worse? Hanna looks away, hesitating.

HANNA (CONT'D)...Lotta street in New York City...lottabad things a man can fall into...trying to

make it through...

Kyle thinks about it.

KYLEGuess you were just...driftin', huh?

HANNA

Yeah...just drifting.

Silence. Both continue to stare straight out through their binoculars. Aftera few more seconds, Kyle shifts:

KYLEHey, partner?


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HANNA...Yeah?...

KYLEYou ever get the feeling that maybe he's

right?

(motioning to Cobra who is still asleep)

HANNA

...About what?...

KYLEWell...maybe we are bitin' off more than

we can chew?

Hanna just turns and looks at Kyle.

KYLENow don't go givin' me that look.

(beat)

Why'd you have to give me that look. Idon't ever give you that look.

EXT. GOVERNORS PALACE AFGHAN CITY -- DAY

A relatively ornate and large complex in the capital of the province. Super:

Governors PalaceProvincial Capital

10 Miles Away

CUT TO:

INT. LARGE OFFICE PALACE DAY

Wazir Khan, the Governor and local warlord of the province, sits behind his

desk in a well-tailored three piece suit.

The lone Afghani Drug Smuggler who survived the encounter with the Strikeforce

stands before Wazir, surrounded by several of Wazirs Militia Men, and finishes

recounting what happened to his gang of smugglers.

DRUG SMUGGLER

I promise you they were Americans.

WARLORD WAZIR

You are sure?

DRUG SMUGGLER

Absolutely.

WARLORD WAZIR

Strange. I have an arrangement with theAmericans. I side with them against theTaliban, they leave my opium trade alone.

One of Wazirs Advirors speaks up.


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WAZIR ADVISOR

They have double-crossed us.

WARLORD WAZIR

Apparently. And we will do the same.(beat)

Get me thirty men and a tracker. We will

hunt these Americans down. When it comes

to interfering with business, they mustlearn their lesson.

WARLORD ADVISORAttacking the Americans outright could berisky.

WARLORD WAZIR

You must understand, Haji. America is

like a giant elephant. If it fightsanother elephant, it wins. But in thisarea of the world, there are no

elephants...

(he smiles)Only snakes.

INT. - BIG CAVE - DAY - LATER

Hanna and Kyle are still on watch. The others asleep.

Hanna takes out his green book. Opens it. Finds the letters G-C scribbledon a blank page.

HANNA...This is it.

KYLE

What?

HANNA...The code...

KYLE

What code?

HANNA

...You want to see who we're after.This'll show us.

KYLE

...You sure?

HANNA...Yeah...

KYLE...I sure hope you're sure.

Hanna stares at the keys on the battlefield computer.


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KYLE

You don't look sure.

HANNA

You're doing wonders for my concentration.

Hanna enters G, then C. THE SCREEN GOES BLANK. Uh Oh...

Suddenly --

A PROFILE OF AN ARAB MAN

with a full beard fills the screen.

This is the man shot in the ambush. At the top are front, left, and rightcomputer images of him. Below that, his personal profile. It reads:

NAME: Khalil Al-Kaseem

VITAL STATISTICS: 5'9"/150/38/23-45/6/M/4

ALIASES: Sirhan Khaladi, Faisel El-Mukra, Abu Shira

ORGANIZATION: Al-Khazar

POSITION: Deputy Commander, Intelligence. Considered primary lieutenant to

"GHOST."

EDUCATION: B.S., Physics, University of Cairo. M.S. Physics, University ofTripoli, Phd. Material Physics, London University.

PERSONAL TRAITS: First and foremost, one must consider Kaseem as anintellectual. A strong family man whose ideals and methodology...

And that's the last line on the screen.

KYLE

Who the hell wrote this?

HANNA

...CIA desk jockey...

Hanna and Kyle scan it over more. Hanna realizes something now:

HANNA...Primary lieutenant...

(beat)

That's why they didn't kill him.

KYLE

Why?

HANNA

He's must be leading us to the chief.(beat)

...To Ghost...

KYLEHow do we get to the next screen?


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HANNA...Don't know...

KYLEWell how do we get back to the map?

HANNA

...Don't know that either.

They exchange a silent glance.

And slowly, they both turn and look back at Cobra. Asleep. No way. Then overat Striker. Also asleep.

CUT TO:

STRIKER

awake now. Looking at the screen filled with the information on the terrorist.

Whispering in anger at Hanna and Kyle.

STRIKERIt just popped up!? Like hell it did! You

may be dumbass Marines but that doesn'tmean you have the right to act like it.

And Striker hits the "G" and "C" keys. The screen returns now to the blueprintof the village. The RED TRACKING DOT still in Building #32.

STRIKER

I told you. Don't fuck with the keys!This computer goes -- we abort themission!

KYLEWhat if you enter the wrong code?

STRIKERThe mission aborts us. Period. Boom!

And he stares at the two of them. Serious as hell.

STRIKER (CONT'D)

Matter of fact -- Calloway -- hit thesack. I'm breaking you two up.

Kyle just looks at him.

STRIKER

Now!

CUT TO:

EXT BOMBED-OUT DISTRICT SCHOOL - SAME TIME - DAY

A shiny SUV followed by several dusty Pickup Trucks filled with Afgani Militia

Men arrive at the deserted spot.


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Two men get out of the SUV. One is Warlord Wazir who now wears a generals

uniform filled with medals. It looks like it came directly from the costumedepartment.

He barks a command in Pashto. His Militia Men fan throughout the schoolbuildings. He turns to

THE OTHER AFGHANI MAN

who got out of the SUV with him. The man is rugged and rock solid. His

movements slow and confident. He is a Tracker. The Tracker bends to the

ground. Looking around...

INT. - BIG CAVE - HIGH ABOVE ZHOB - SAME TIME - DAY

HANNA AND STRIKER on watch. Not a word spoken between them. Suddenly

something catches their attention on the battlefield computer screen:

THE RED TRACKING DOT IS MOVING.

Both look out towards the hospital with their binoculars.

HANNA'S POV THROUGH BINOCULARS - THE HOSPITAL

Several men walk out. The man they shot in the ambush, now bandaged, among

them. They get into a white Peugot and drive off. The RED TRACKING DOTmirrors their movement.

CUT TO:

INT. BIG CAVE - A FEW SECONDS LATER

HANNA, KYLE AND ALL FIVE COMMANDOS lie side by side at the edge of the big

opening. Looking down at the town.

THE RED TRACKING DOT

is now inside the outline of a small house on the town blueprint. A line of

text at the bottom of the screen reads:

"Building 47. Private residence. Abdul Shirzai."

Cobra is talking as he looks through the bino's:

COBRAIs this home?...Or just a pit stop?

(beat)

We go back to shifts. If he stays heretill night. We go in.

EXT. BOMBED-OUT DISTRICT SCHOOL - LATER - DAY

THE AFGHANI TRACKER kneels down near the patch of ground where the strikeforce

took off from. Heading toward the caves.

He feels around the dry brush and dirt. Playing with the ground. It looks

like nothing special to you and me.

AFGHANI TRACKER

Seven Men. Heavily armed. Not more than

36 hours.


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WARLORD WAZIR

Which way did they go?

And the Tracker points off in the exact direction they went...

INT. - BIG CAVE - HIGH ABOVE ZHOB - LATER - DAY

Cobra and Hornet on watch as

A LARGE YELLOW SCORPION

further back in the cave silently makes its way up Lightning's leg. Fastasleep, he shifts, twitches, waking.

Too late! The Scorpion strikes! Lightning MOANS.

CUT TO:

KYLE

waking as Hornet rushes over to Lightning. Kyle turns to Hanna.

ANOTHER LARGE YELLOW SCORPION

is resting on Hanna's shoulder. Staring Hanna in the face.

KYLEChrist! What a mother! Don't move,partner! Don't move!

Hanna just stares back. Motionless. Even a little nervous now. This is asnervous as we'll ever see him.

KYLE (CONT'D)

Lucky for you...scorpion disposal is askill of any first-class outdoorsman.

HANNA...Never seen one of these before...

KYLEThey're like me. They don't like East-Coast cities much.

HANNA

...You kill one of these before?

Kyle searches around for a stick. Finds one.

KYLEUsed to go horsebackin' through Texas and

Arizona. Slept in a hundred caves.

HANNA...And that's where you killed them?

Kyle moves the end of the stick directly behind the Scorpions tail. It's upin striking position.


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KYLEThey got a blind spot right behind theirtail. If ya' come at 'em from there, you

can get 'em.

HANNA

And that's how you killed 'em? The ones

before.

Beat.

KYLE...Most of 'em.

Hanna just looks at Kyle. What the hell does that mean?

With that, Kyle inches the stick behind the Scorpion...slowly...as in the b.g.,Lightning MOANS AND CONVULSES.

And then with a quick flick, the Scorpion flies off Hanna, landing a few feet

beside him.

Striker is about to smash it with the butt of his MP5, but Hanna reaches out

and stops him in mid air.

STRIKER

(at Hanna)Are you crazy?!

The Scorpion starts to scurry away. Hanna looks around quickly. Grabs his

TURKISH CIGARETTE TIN. Empties it. Follows the Scorpion, then strikes.Bingo. Traps the Scorpion inside.

HANNA

...Might come in handy...

CUT TO:

LIGHTNING

sweating and convulsing. Dying. Surrounded by everyone now. Kyle turns toWizard, the medic.

KYLEYou got antidote?

Wizard motions to a small medical ampoule.

WIZARD

...I gave him Chrotalidae...

KYLE

That's for snakes.

Wizard looks almost in daze. Kind of shocked. Doesn't respond.


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KYLE

I said that ain't no good! That's forsnakes!

Lightning is dying in front of their eyes. Unpleasantly.

WIZARD

(shaking his head)

...It was an LPS...A goddamn LPS...

KYLE

What?! What the hell is that?!

MEDIC

We weren't even supposed to be in afucking cave...It was a goddamn LPS!

KYLEWhat the hell is an LPS!

For the first time, Cobra chimes in.

COBRA(coldly)

...Low Probability Scenario.

The words just hang in the air for a beat. Hanna motions to Lightning, who

twists in misery:

KYLE

Godamnit! Who's the mathlete that came up

with that?!

Cobra stares back at Kyle. And now Kyle knows who -- Cobra.

KYLE(turns to Wizard)

He's sufferin for cryin out loud. He'sdyin! D

an original screenplay by u.s. jones

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