dem_man1x01_new
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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INT. UNKNOWN ROOM - UNKNOWN
A HANDHELD CAMERA showing several gagged and tied people.
Various ages and races all sit. Many are crying, some are
trying not to.
VOICE (O.S.)
I told no-one to even think about
setting their asses down here,
everyone else figured it out. But
the God damn bus driver's just
wouldn't listen!
A BUS DRIVER, dying of a gun shot wound.
Reveal SIMON PHOENIX. His body can't be seen, but what can be
made out of him is that he's black, bald and has a dyed
blonde goatee on the tuff of his chin.
PHOENIX
People refer to my self-proclaimed
land as chaos.
(smiles)
That's not entirely true - I prefer
to call it an autocratic anarchy.
He turns his head - a GUN SHOT roars! 30 hysterical gagged
screams. Then follows a dark childlike laughter from Phoenix.
EXT. PHOENIX SAFE ZONE - NIGHT
A POLICE HELICOPTER roars in the air, heading towards a HUGE
warehouse that's on fire! Gunshots. Explosions. Chaos.
SLUGLINE: Los Angeles, 1996.
INT. POLICE HELICOPTER - SAME TIME
The two pilots look at each other. On the right is HARLAND
and the left is a rookie called ZACHARY LAMB.
LAMB
Man this has to be the craziest
sort of crazy ever made.
JOHN SPARTAN (heavily built police officer on a mission)
APPEARS from the mid-section, kitted out with a black BERET.
SPARTAN
Ain't no definition of crazy I've
seen that's been accurate. This is
a rescue mission, pure and simple.
EXT. PHOENIX SAFE ZONE - SAME TIME
A MORTAR MISSILE strikes the tail end of the helicopter!
INT. POLICE HELICOPTER - MOMENTS LATER
THROWN forward, Spartan GRABS onto the midsection support as
Harland and Lamb STRUGGLE with the controls.
Spartan holds on and looks down to see gun fire AIMING AT
THEM.
SPARTAN
Head for the roof!
Harland NODS and he PULLS UP but BULLETS RIP through the
front! They go through Harland. He's dead instantly.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
The roof!
EXT. PHOENIX SAFE ZONE - SAME TIME
The Helicopter manages to rebalance itself and it HURLS
itself towards the rooftop!
INT. POLICE HELICOPTER - SAME TIME
Spartan CLINGS onto the inside of the doorway for dear life.
EXT. WAREHOUSE ROOFTOP - SAME TIME
Several of Phoenix's men are opening fire on the helicopter.
One of the front men turns and waves for them to run back
AS THE HELICOPTER CRASHES.
Head first! It SLIDES ACROSS the rooftop, running into men
and anything that's in it's way!
INT. POLICE HELICOPTER - SAME TIME
Barely able to catch a breath, Lamb is THRUST a gun in his
hand by Spartan who's shaken off the crash extremely quickly.
SPARTAN
Anything not me or a bus passenger,
you aim and squeeze. Got that?
Spartan puts several 9mm guns into holsters around his body.
He then picks up one final gun and looks at it.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
One more for luck.
He turns around, but notices something on the floor - his
beret. He picks it up, taking a long deep breath.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
(to himself)
Send a maniac to catch a maniac.
EXT. WAREHOUSE ROOFTOP - MOMENTS LATER
The men from earlier start to walk towards the helicopter,
holding their guns out ready WHEN
GUNFIRE bellows out towards them. Instant death.
Spartan JUMPS out, firing two guns in two hands towards the
guards opposite, Lamb takes the opportunity to run for cover.
He dives under some rubble and holds his gun tightly,
nervously scanning around for the enemy.
Attention is broken, turning to see Spartan RUN towards them
and firing his guns off very quickly. Dead before he ducks
around a corner for cover.
SPARTAN
(waving Lamb forward)
We're clear!
Acknowledging him, Lamb runs up to him, on the verge of shell
shock.
LAMB
H-how do you do that? Just shooting
and then letting them...
SPARTAN
When I find out, I'll let you know.
Sartan opens up a doorway into the building, while Lamb tries
to think of something to say. But he can't.
INT. WAREHOUSE TOP LEVEL - CONTINUOUS
Spartan goes in and scouts around, and then goes to DART down
the stairs BUT is stopped by Lamb.
LAMB
Hey wait a sec! You're just going
to go in all guns blazing?
Spartan knocks Lamb's arm away from him, and just gives the
pilot a dark glare.
SPARTAN
I can feel him here.
There's an uncomfortable beat as Spartan pulls out a small
device that makes a few beeps.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
Thermal Scan's reading a collection
of people a few floors down. I'm
guessing they're the hostages.
He places the Thermal Scan Device and looks up in the
opposite direction.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
You go down and get them out.
The thermal scanner BLEEPS at him.
Lamb goes to say something, but Spartan's GONE.
INT. METAL WALKWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Spartan RUNS, holding a gun out when he's met with GUNFIRE.
Darting to a nearby collection of crates he ducks as the
machines run at his location.
He waits. Then moves and fires a round forwards, managing to
catch one of the men who loses his balance and TOPPLES off
the walkway.
Spartan turns and fires some more -
CLICK. Out of ammo. He switches to another gun and runs
around to the other side.
He fires quickly. Two down. He takes a breath BUT
MACHINE GUNFIRE from BELOW. Two men.
ROLLING to the side he SWINGS an arm underneath the walkway,
FIRING QUICKLY. He catches them both then leaps to his feet,
dashing towards a small office door WHEN
Another armed guard appears! Spartan TACKLES him and swings
his body weight around and THROWS him off the walkway!
He quickly FIRES downwards at some of the others below.
CLICK. Out of ammo again.
He runs forward, nearing the doorway and MORE gunfire from
behind. He SLIDES to more cover away from the door, finding
ANOTHER GUN.
This is the 'Gun for Luck'. Frustratingly he grits his teeth
and places the gun back.
MORE GUNFIRE. He SPRINTS forwards and reaches the door and
BARGES through INTO:
INT. WAREHOUSE SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
He stops, slightly out of breath as he stops at the sight in
front of him.
A swivel chair has its back to him as someone watches CCTV
camera screens showing different parts of the warehouse,
specifically that of the hostages.
Spartan takes a step forward, his face turning into a sneer.
VOICE (O.S.)
(behind chair)
My, my, my! Don'tcha just feel all
special and tingly in the ball
region when Detective John Spartan
comes crawling into your world?
A cry of frustration and Spartan PULLS out the Lucky Gun and
aims it directly at the chair.
SPARTAN
Phoenix!
The chair turns around, revealing Simon Phoenix in all his
physical glory. He's intimidating, matching Spartan in
physical prowess.
He's holding a cigarette in his hand.
Spartan's hand TIGHTENS around the gun.
PHOENIX
I mean, you've been committing
adultery John. You've been a bad,
bad boy. Instead of fucking your
wife, you've been fucking with my
life.
SPARTAN
You're a disease. A piece of
nothingness that needs to be wiped
out - removed.
Phoenix looks around, waving his arms.
Looking around, Spartan notices that the room has FUEL thrown
all around it.
Phoenix takes a long drag from his cigarette.
Spartan glances at the screen, seemingly just remembering
they exist.
PHOENIX
(sniffs)
Nothing like a bit of red meat well
done.
Phoenix holds the cigarette loosely. Smiling.
Spartan still holds the gun, but glances at the cigarette, to
the hostages and then to Phoenix.
SPARTAN
You've lost, scumbag.
Phoenix just smiles, beginning to walk around his rival.
Spartan follows, the gun still trailing his every move.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
How can you not feel a thing? The
people you've killed?
Phoenix stops. His boots stand in the leaking fuel.
PHOENIX
Guilt is a choice, John-Boy.
A step closer.
SPARTAN
Now where are the hostages?
There's a CRUEL chuckle from Phoenix.
PHOENIX
Look at you! Look at you! You
finally decide to be a police
officer after years of being a
vigilante! We both know that you
don't give a damn about the
hostages, because this is between
you and it's between me.
Eye twitch from Spartan. THEN:
SPARTAN
You know NOTHING ABOUT -
The cigarette's dropped!
Before Spartan can react, the room LIGHTS up and Phoenix
JUMPS forward, TACKLING Spartan to the ground!
The Lucky Gun SPINS around, flying across the room.
Spartan ROLLS, attempting to thrown Phoenix over him but he
GRABS a punch to the face instead.
A swift kick to Phoenix later, Spartan manages to get the
advantage and deliver a blow to Phoenix's stomach - then one
to the face.
He rolls away, crouching to catch his breath as Phoenix
recovers.
They stare each other down as the fire surrounds them.
They both RUN at each other!
PHOENIX delivers a KICK to Spartan's face with a boot that's
ON FIRE.
Spartan falls, rolling through some flames and landing on his
stomach. He looks up, seeing Phoenix LAUGHING.
It's that haunting laugh.
Spartan glances to the side. It's the Lucky Gun.
Around them smoke begins to fill the room.
Phoenix LEAPS forward, jumping OVER the flames
WHEN Spartan GRABS the gun and FIRES!
Phoenix is hit in the side of the stomach and lands on the
ground.
He looks down, seeing the wound and beginning to LAUGH.
PHOENIX
Well I'll be...
Spartan, beginning to cough due to the smoke, slowly makes
his way to him.
SPARTAN
See you in hell.
A strong PUNCH and Phoenix is knocked out.
Then the roof starts to collapse.
EXT. WAREHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
The warehouse BURNS behind Spartan as he runs out, Phoenix
wrapped around his back. The warehouse ERUPTS into a mass of
flames and EXPLOSIONS.
The final blast and Spartan and Phoenix FLY forward, landing
on the ground.
Spartan looks up, seeing the warehouse in flames, fearful.
He looks around, seeing an INJURED Lamb clutching his right
arm. He looks at Spartan and lets go on his arm. It's broken
with a huge metal bar through it.
Lamb SHAKES his head gravely.
John looks at the warehouse, watching it burn - looking
fearful as the scene FADES TO:
EXT. WAREHOUSE - LATER
And firefighters are trying to control the flames. Police
cars are surrounding the entire place.
Officers are tending to Phoenix, strapping and handcuffing
him to a stretcher.
Spartan sits on a car bonnet, his face in his hands.
HUNNIGAN (O.S.)
SPARTAN!
He looks up to see CHIEF HUNNINGAN looking down at him.
HUNNIGAN (CONT'D)
I told you! I told you! But you
can't go and do all this Demolition
Man bullshit, you hear me? You were
not supposed to come down here, and
you were not supposed to blow
anything up?
He looks at the warehouse.
HUNNIGAN (CONT'D)
Where are the hostages?
Spartan doesn't answer him.
PHOENIX (O.S.)
They were in there Chief! I saw
'em!
Spartan looks to Phoenix.
HUNNIGAN
Were they?
SPARTAN
It was a trap! I didn't know he'd
rig the place to...
HUNNIGAN
You knew they were there? And you
ignored Police Procedure?
(pissed)
And now there are thirty dead
bodies.
He turns to an officer.
HUNNIGAN (CONT'D)
Place Detective Spartan under
arrest!
Officers turn and cuff Spartan. There's no response as his
expression is one of numbness.
He glances around and sees Phoenix wheeled into a medical
vehicle. Phoenix glances and SMILES at Phoenix.
PHOENIX
(shouting)
Well I wasn't gonna blow 'em up
until you came along, ahaa!
As the doors shut, Spartan's numbness turns into a gritty,
hard-nosed anger. On this FADE TO:
EXT. COCTEAU CRYOPRISON - DAY
Establishing shot. A huge building. A lot of media and press
surrounding it.
SMITHERS (PRE-LAP)
Detective John Spartan you have
been sentenced to 100 years of
cryogenic imprisonment.
INT. CRYOPRISON WESTERN WING - SAME TIME
A huge LABORATORY where several men and women are trapped in
FROZEN round cubes. These are known as Cryocells.
SMITHERS (O.S.)
Your crime, the manslaughter of
thirty innocent civilians.
Eventually SPARTAN in a white overgown and hand-cuffs walks
past. His expression one of numbness again.
SMITHERS (O.S.) (CONT'D)
In accordance of the Cocteau
Rehabilitation Act of 1991, your
body shall be frozen into stasis.
In the background, Phoenix is seen in one of the Cryocells.
Leading the party of guards surrounding Spartan is a young
man in a white coat, DEPUTY WARDEN WILLIAM SMITHERS.
SMITHERS (CONT'D)
During this time your subconscious
mind shall be reprogrammed due to
synaptic suggestion ready for your
rehabilitation in 2096.
They stop, and they strip Spartan of the gown. He stands
naked in front of a small pool. An unfrozen Cryocell.
Smithers nods at him, and Spartan walks into the Cryocell.
SMITHERS (CONT'D)
You will be eligible for parole no
earlier the year 2096.
Spartan lies down into the cell and closes his eyes.
A glass shutter locks above him. He opens his eyes and the
Cyrocell is pumped with a fluorescent blue liquid!
Panic starts. He POUNDS against the glass and gasps for air.
One of the prison workers holds out a METALLIC rod,
containing a bright blue sphere of energy. He carries it
across, placing it into a computer console next to Spartan.
Smithers pushes a few buttons, and the energy sphere is
RELEASED, striking the liquid and freezing the water.
Spartan stays there, frozen in time.
The camera slowly PANS away as we FADE TO:
INT. CRYOPRISON WESTERN WING - MUCH MUCH LATER
And we're still on Spartan. Cameras pan across to reveal a
more up-to-date console. A date flashes across the screen:
Aug 03 2046.
Pan away to reveal the Prison Wardens, now in grey-like
gowns. Slowly pan across to reveal more prisoners.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Senior Warden William Smithers
please make your way to the parole
room. Be well.
An aging warden with glasses and a video tablet in his hand
walks across the lower levels. This is a much older WILLIAM
SMITHERS.
On his tablet, the screen flashes up to reveal a young
brunette Police Officer smiling at him. This is LELINA
HUXLEY. Eyes widen with anticipation yet routine.
INT. HUXLEY'S VEHICLE - SAME TIME
Lelina's car is very modern. A computer with several screens
show on the dashboard, and Smithers' face appears in one on
the screen.
Also, she's not holding the wheel - it's driving itself!
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. CRYOPRISON WESTERN WING - SAME TIME
Smithers smiles.
SMITHERS
Greetings, Lieutenant Lelina
Huxley.
HUXLEY
Good morning Warden William
Smithers. The weather is as
stunning as ever, and as my duty
log requires it: I'm requesting a
status update on the prison
populous. Is the tedium still
maintained?
SMITHERS
Ahh Lieutenant, the tedium is
maintained for a reason. The
prisoners now being ice-cubes means
that we can hope to sustain the
peaceful crime-less tranquility
we've hand for over forty-years.
HUXLEY
(sighs)
I find this lack of stimuli to be
extremely disappointing.
SMITHERS
I feel disheartened and disturbed
by your comments as I should do
every day. But I take it down as
youth - you've yet to reach
emotional stability.
HUXLEY
I understand, Warden. Thank you for
the update.
SMITHERS
Be well, Lelina Huxley.
HUXLEY
Be well.
END INTERCUT.
Huxley sighs.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
(hopefully)
Lelina Huxley signing on?
L-7
There is no requirement for further
police presence in the city.
Note: L-7 is the city-wide computer network system for the
police. All dialogue comes from everywhere; like the computer
from the Star Trek shows.
Huxley glances at the screen in the middle of the dash - all
L-7's words are written on the screen.
L-7 (CONT'D)
Please report back to the station.
Huxley sighs.
HUXLEY
Self drive on.
The steering wheel EXPANDS and she grabs the wheel.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
(sarcastically)
Wow, how exciting.
INT. SAN ANGELES STREET - DAY
Huxley's police car passes some buildings - including one
saying "Earthquake Memorial Centre" in a steel entrance sign.
From the ground, a small contraption crops up and SPRAYS
paint onto the sign. Spelling out words.
They say: "FAIRNESS IS A MYTH. ef."
The sign FIRES to life, and the paint is wiped off.
The contraption EXPLODES, causing a few bypassers in long
grey/purple gowns to jump and move away quickly.
POV: PERISCOPE. The people running away, but then ZOOM in
onto a truck delivering food to a restaurant.
VOICE (PRE-LAP)
Look at them. All sloth and
gluttony all mixed into one sweet
tidy package.
INT. UNDERGROUND SEWER-PIPE - SAME TIME
Looking into the periscope is a guy in a rag-tag long
overcoat, scruffy hair and a rough beard. This is EDGAR
FRIENDLY. And he's surrounded by people who look ill, hungry
and desperate.
FRIENDLY
Don't know how predictably boring
they are, do they? Don't know how
to survive prop'ly.
(sighs)
Truck's gone - we'll tuck and sweep
it come nightfall, understand?
FOLLOWER
You sure we can do this, Friendly?
FRIENDLY
People here are starvin', and
starvin' people mean we ain't got
no choices in the matter.
He knocks the periscope upwards.
EXT. SAN ANGELES STREET - MOMENTS LATER
Huxley's car drives past, and then reaches a sign saying the
SAN ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. Where she follows a line of
cars leading up to a building.
INT. SAPD CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Huxley walks in, waving to some people. She walks and smiles
at an aging black officer at his desk.
HUXLEY
Officer Lamb.
This is ZACHARY LAMB. Only older. And greyer. He nods in
response.
She carries on, and a Hispanic young man walks up and goes to
high-five Lelina but stops and they wave their hands together
without actually touching. This is ALFONSO GARCIA.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
Hello fellow officer Alfonso
Garcia, any interesting stuff
happen on the intercom?
GARCIA
Yes actually, there was someone who
accidentally brushed against a
woman of distinguished age with
their transport bike. She nearly
resorted to severe violent measures
in retaliation.
HUXLEY
(eyes widen)
Brutal! Why wasn't there any
communication for supplementary
support?
VOICE (O.S.)
Because there was absolutely no
need to create wide-spread panic,
Lieutenant.
She turns to see CHIEF GEORGE EARLE standing watching her.
Gold round glasses and his uniform is one long black overcoat
decorated in achievements.
EARLE
In fact, I'm noticing a gradual
trend in your behavioral patterns,
Lieutenant Huxley. I monitored your
comments made to the warden this
morning. Do you really long for
chaos and destruction to reign on
our beautiful city?
Huxley says nothing.
EARLE (CONT'D)
It does disturb me that your mind
could even fathom images like that.
Your obsession with the twentieth
century and it's vulgar ways has
seemingly corrupted your
expectations as a police officer.
Huxley nods.
HUXLEY
Behavior improvement noted, Chief.
I shall assimilate the criticism
and will gain personal growth from
this conversation.
She nods and walks away towards her office. Earle smiles,
slightly proud of himself before clapping his hands once.
EARLE
Okay, let's do some policing!
He punches the air weakly, smiling confidently.
INT. HUXLEY'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Huxley walks in, removes the silver sash around her body and
throws it on a chair. Her office is decorated with a lot of
20th Century merchandise. There's movie posters for Lethal
Weapon and Die Hard, for instance.
HUXLEY
(sighs)
Stupid asshole.
BEEP.
WARNING SYSTEM (O.S.)
Lelina Huxley you have been fined
one credit for violating the verbal
morality stature.
Huxley rolls her eyes and grabs a small ticket that has
dispensed from behind.
As she sits at her desk, Garcia follows her into her office.
GARCIA
Why are you in constant pursuit of
unspeakable acts? Do you not find
life here as fulfilling as I do?
HUXLEY
Life is...good, but it's boring as
he...
(stops herself)
Not as stimulating as I'd thought
it'd be.
Garcia sits down.
GARCIA
We've been here for a while and
seen things I'd never thought we'd
see. Things that will haunt me.
HUXLEY
That was a rogue dirty joke that
was sent to everyone in the city.
He closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. Bad memories.
Too traumatic.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
Why can't we just have some
excitement?
She slouches back on her chair.
BEEEEP.
WARNING SYSTEM (O.S.)
Posture threat warning for Lelina
Huxley your position may result in
long term spinal misalignment. Be
well.
She sits up, glancing at Garcia. Off that, CUT TO:
EXT. COCTEAU INDUSTRIES - MORNING/ESTAB.
Establishing shot of COCTEAU INDUSTRIES. Lovely looking
building.
INT. COCTEAU INDUSTRIES CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING
A table with several rotating screens on the side looking
upwards to see a man faced away from then, hands holding each
other behind his back.
Pan across the several faces on the screens.
MAN (O.S.)
(face away)
San Angeles is at the forefront of
the modern America. The other 47
State-Cities are following our
lead. Able to bring forth my
father's vision of utopia to
fruition.
(lowers head)
However, we are the first to
achieve near utopian goodness.
He turns around, and there stands a greying man in early
sixties. Tall. Commanding. A sour expression that has stayed
there far too long. This is RAYMOND COCTEAU.
COCTEAU
We've eliminated crime. We've
eliminated temptation - and our
city is much better for it.
(smiles)
The President was quoted to say our
State-City was an example of my
father's vision working.
He sits down. A silent rage rocks through his voice during
those last few words.
COCTEAU (CONT'D)
We are plagued by menance. You've
all seen his name on our walls. The
initials 'E' and 'F'.
(beat)
I am referring to Edgar Friendly.
(stands, agitated)
He nests under the city, lying in
our foundations attempting undo all
the work we've done to overcome the
dark past that the city. Once he is
eliminated; we can truly become the
first StateCity, and Lazare
Cocteau's brilliant ideas will come
into their own.
(final smile)
Sin will have been eliminated.
And after another smile, FADE TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.