dem_man1x01_new
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EXT. TACO BELL - MOMENTS LATER
An open delivery truck, some of the motorbike guys are
placing stuff into a bag. They are dressed like the
underground guys from earlier in the day.
Spartan runs up, and a few run away quickly. But Spartan
manages to deliver a PUNCH to one of the guys, and knees him
in the stomach.
He sees a gun on his side and GRABS it quickly, spinning
around knocking the butt on the chin of someone jumping
behind him.
An engine revs up, and a motorbike stands in front of
Spartan.
The driver REVS. Spartan stands quietly.
The bike DRIVES forward THEN
Then Spartan SIDESTEPS, spins and PUSHES the driver off the
bike. Hitting the ground hard. He stands, hears something. He
grabs his gun, turns
THEN
A GUN is in his FACE.
And it's being held by EDGAR FRIENDLY.
Spartan brings his own gun up before Friendly can act.
Stand off.
The two men stare at each other. Both confused.
FRIENDLY
What's a cop doing with gun.
(beat)
What's a cop doing looking like he
knows how to use a gun?
SPARTAN
Could ask you the same question.
FRIENDLY
I asked the question first, pal.
SPARTAN
And I have the jurisdiction to kick
your ass without charge, pal.
Friendly smiles.
FRIENDLY
Look at you, the San Angeles knight
in shining white armour.
SPARTAN
My armour isn't white. But don't
get me wrong, I appreciate the
compliment.
Spartan glances over, seeing some of Friendly's friends run
off, carrying bags of supplies from the truck.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
Wait a sec...
HUXLEY (O.S.)
Spartan?
Spartan LOOKS away, then Friendly runs off. Spartan watches
him run off, as Cocteau, Bob, Bob's date Sharie and Earle
walk up along with the other guests. Huxley is excited.
SPARTAN
Chief, who were they?
COCTEAU
They're the underworld come out to
pry.
Everyone turns to Cocteau.
COCTEAU (CONT'D)
They refuse to live in peace and
instead starve to death
underground. The man who held a gun
at you was Edgar Friendly. A
scourge that needs to be removed
sooner rather than later.
BOB
They're the only real criminal
element left in San Angeles.
Spartan looks to where Friendly went. Brow looking stern.
HUXLEY
Oh my that was amazing! Better than
disc! You're going to have to teach
me how...
SPARTAN
This isn't fun, Huxley. You think
living in a world where you had to
do that all day everyday is
exciting? That everything is black
and white? Violence doesn't solve
anything. Well maybe, but -
(to Cocteau)
- not when it's people looking for
food!
Cocteau says nothing.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
Yeah. I just got an example of the
equality policy tonight, so thank
you for this lovely and
enlightening experience.
Beat.
BOB
Maybe we should go? End this
evening?
SHARIE
Gladly. Any more time with this old
decrepit fossil and I'll - -
Two BULLET HOLES in her chest.
Everyone goes HYSTERICAL.
Spartan looks upwards, looking towards the entrance of the
restaurant on a huge glass shelter is PHOENIX, holding a
rifle.
ON PHOENIX. He reloads.
PHOENIX
Shit. I was aiming for the old
dude.
He grabs his machine gun. Aims.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
HEY! I DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD RUN!
Then AIMS blindly at some people running away.
ON SPARTAN he quickly dashes across around the side of the
delivery truck while Huxley almost-grabs Cocteau.
HUXLEY
Come with me sir!
He turns and follows her, passing Bob who's CRYING over
Sharie's body.
COCTEAU
Hurry up!
Bob turns, seeing Cocteau and Huxley run off. With one last
look at Sharie, he goes after them.
Elsewhere, Earle looks very frightened. He takes a breath,
then:
EARLE
Ladies! Gentlemen! Please follow..
He's interrupted by a barrage of machine gun bullets.
On PHOENIX.
PHOENIX
Why in God's name can't I hit him?
SPARTAN (O.S.)
Because you suck!
Phoenix looks up to see Spartan on a higher storey window
JUMP out and SLIDE down the diagonal glass!
He jumps towards Phoenix - but he counters and throws him
onto the glass! He then trains a gun in Spartan's face.
Spartan stops struggling.
PHOENIX
Now, I couldn't fathom for the life
of me why I just can't pull the
trigger. Why I couldn't just kill
you at the museum. Then it struck
me: it'll be too easy.
He leans forward.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
And it'll end up disappointing if
it happens too quickly.
He PUNCHES Spartan then KICKS him in the gut with his heel.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Plus you're slow in your old age.
He then SHOOTS the rifle into his LEFT ARM!
Spartan GRUNTS in pain, holding his left arm.
Phoenix lies down, resting next to Spartan.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
The death penalty was always a shit
idea, why not slowly drive the bad
people into insanity? Because
you're a bad person John. You
killed thirty innocent people.
Death would be a release, which is
why they made those fridges so that
you would relive those people you
killed.
He rolls over and STRADDLES Spartan's stomach.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Your death will be a slow one,
Johnny. You're going to be alive
for a long time, but your death
starts now. Because I will torment,
hurt you to the point of death, but
you'll be ninety-six years of age
and a fucking vegetable in infinite
pain before I finally plug the plug
by suffocating you as you literally
kiss my wrinkly old ass.
Then he LAUGHS. That haunting psychopathic laugh.
SPARTAN
One problem.
PHOENIX
What's that?
SPARTAN
I'm better than you.
PHOENIX
(smiles)
Is that right?
And Spartan PUNCHES Phoenix with his left arm, yelling in
pain as he does so! He PUSHES Phoenix off him, but Phoenix
drags on Spartan's arm.
Spartan gets a kick to the face, dazing him. Phoenix moves
away, taking a few steps back.
He gives a few more kicks to the stomach and Spartan flies
face down, hardly moving.
Phoenix takes a few steps back, moving on the top of the
entrance.
He FIRES at the glass in several places. As it begins to
crack, he runs off and leaves Spartan lying on the roof.
EXT. TACO BELL PARKING - SAME TIME
Huxley ushers Cocteau and Bob towards a white limousine, a
driver opening the door for them.
HUXLEY
You should go now sir.
COCTEAU
Thank you...
HUXLEY
Lieutenant Lelina Huxley, sir!
COCTEAU
(smiles)
Yes, yes...
Bob gets into the car.
COCTEAU (CONT'D)
I shall leave you to your job.
And on that he steps into the back of the car and the driver
goes around to the front as Huxley runs off as fast she can
in high heels.
EXT. TACO BELL - SAME TIME
Spartan slowly comes to, remembering where he is.
His eyes widen as he tenses. The cracks in the glass begin to
increase.
INT. COCTEAU'S LIMOUSINE - SAME TIME
Cocteau sits down, fuming.
COCTEAU
I don't believe this!
Bob just looks vacantly blank.
DRIVER
Where to sir?
COCTEAU
Anywhere other than here!
DRIVER
Of cour- -
GUN SHOT. The Driver slumps!
The front doors open and Phoenix appears, holding a gun
trained on Cocteau.
PHOENIX
I can't miss from here.
COCTEAU
(mocking)
I severely doubt that.
Phoenix TENSES up. Trying to pull the trigger. But he can't.
COCTEAU (CONT'D)
I believe you just give the trigger
a...squeeze, is it?
Phoenix GRITS his teeth. Cocteau's smile grows into a smug
arrogant satisfaction. And on that, CUT TO:
EXT. TACO BELL - SAME TIME
A crowd of people are staring at Spartan and a fifteen foot
drop through soon-to-be-broken glass.
He slowly tries to move forward. But the glass continues to
slowly break.
On ground level, Huxley runs up, seeing Spartan on the roof.
Spartan looks down. Takes a deep breath.
SPARTAN
Oh hell.
He then ROLLS over, and the roof SMASHES.
He FALLS THROUGH. Landing on his back onto broken glass.
Huxley gets to his side, noticing a lot of cuts and bleeding.
HUXLEY
Someone request an ambulance!
A few people just look at each other, unaware about what to
do.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
God dammit someone call an
ambulance!
She looks down on Spartan, biting her lower lip.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
Come on, John Spartan.
And on his unconscious body JUMP CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL WARD - DAY
And he SHOOTS awake, jerking forward in a cold sweat.
He's in a hospital ward with a bunch of screens and scanners
trained on his body. His body is covered in stitches. His
left arm is in a sling.
The last thing he notices is a sleeping HUXLEY lying on a
small chair.
LAMB (O.S.)
Been there pretty much for twenty
four hours. Good kid.
Spartan sees Zachary Lamb standing in the entrance to his
ward. He walks forward, nodding towards Spartan's left arm.
LAMB (CONT'D)
Considering all the nick-nacks,
gadgets, automated systems and
coding in 2046 - it amazes me that
they still haven't really come up
with a faster way to heal broken
bones.
Looking at his arm, Spartan sighs.
Lamb walks forward, lifts a chair effortlessly with his
robotic arm; which is an interesting sight for a man his age.
He sits down slowly, smiling at Spartan.
LAMB (CONT'D)
For years I blamed you for what
happened in the warehouse.
SPARTAN
You were right. I went in blind
with red rage after him, and
innocent people paid the price.
LAMB
No, not the hostages. This.
He raises his arm.
LAMB (CONT'D)
Dreams of helicopter piloting ended
that night. My career started and
my arm was injured beyond repair.
They said it was because it lowered
my reaction time.
(breather)
You were an old fashioned cop, who
clashed with superiors and did
things his way but got things done.
People slept a little more soundly
after you did what you did. The
Demolition Man did his job.
Spartan lies back, deep in thought.
In the corner, Huxley begins to stir; eyes opening.
LAMB (CONT'D)
I think I'll leave the two of you
alone.
Lamb nods to him, and then to Huxley before walking out of
the room. Spartan just leans back; deep in thought.
HUXLEY
I honestly thought that your life
line had been prematurely
terminated for a second there.
SPARTAN
Yeah, I thought I was history too.
Huxley smiles at him, looking strangely concerned.
HUXLEY
How are you feeling?
Spartan sits up, mind halfway somewhere else.
SPARTAN
I don't remember Phoenix having
skills like martial arts, accessing
computers and basically being a
bigger pyscho than he used to be. I
wake up and I get an itching for a
cross-stich!
Huxley looks at him. Spartan's mind is wandering.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
You said the CryoPrison can...uh,
make people like new hobbies and
such, right?
HUXLEY
Synaptic suggestion behavioural
modification, yes.
(thinks)
Activate L-7. Lieutenant Lelina
Huxley signing on.
The screen at the end of Spartan's ward flashes.
L-7
Connecting to San Angeles Police
Department Network. Be Well
Lieutenant.
HUXLEY
Access CryoPrison parole files,
Simon Phoenix. Behaviour
modification tables.
The screen flashes up, showing a profile image of Simon
Phoenix and a list of additional neural programming.
L-7
Accessing list of behavioral
suggestions and skills for Simon
Phoenix.
(lists)
Combat training. System access.
Computer hacking. Murder-Death
Kill.
L-7 continues to run through these. There's several.
HUXLEY
This can't be right...
SPARTAN
Who has access to change these?
HUXLEY
Well Mr. Cocteau and Warden
Smithers...
Spartan leans forward.
SPARTAN
(points to mouth)
Do I?
Huxley nods.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
Someone's covering their tracks.
(focused)
L-7, display security camera
footage of Taco Bell Carpark around
nine thirty last night.
The screen flashes quickly to see Phoenix shoot the driver
from outside and get in the car.
Then the screen JUMPS back.
L-7
Archive footage has been deleted.
HUXLEY
What? On who's authority?
L-7
That information is classified,
Lieutenant.
SPARTAN
Is Raymond Cocteau still alive?
L-7
Doctor Raymond Cocteau, our
illustrious leader, is alive and
well John Spartan.
Spartan leans back.
SPARTAN
Phoenix didn't escape. His escape
was planned.
Huxley seems to go immediately white.
HUXLEY
You're not suggesting...
Spartan smirks.
SPARTAN
It's like hiring out a contract
killer without the payment.
Huxley shakes her head.
HUXLEY
Doctor Cocteau wouldn't unleash a
menace on the city! He wouldn't
want anyone...
SPARTAN
L-7, cross reference Raymond
Cocteau with Edgar Friendly. Give
me any news items like, uh...news
programmes if you still have them.
The screen flashes and a video of a press conference outside
of Cocteau Industries.
COCTEAU (ON SCREEN)
...And I will not rest until
measures are put in place to remove
Friendly's criminal element from
San Angeles.
SPARTAN
Handy L-7 starts at the point which
re-iterates my point.
(smiles)
Good girl.
Huxley sits back, shaking her head.
HUXLEY
No...Not Doctor Cocteau.
All she can do is shake her head as Spartan gets to his feet.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
What are you doing? You're in no
shape to be moving!
SPARTAN
I'm a lot stronger than I look,
Huxley.
HUXLEY
That may be, but you can't...
SPARTAN
Look, Phoenix is going to be
killing someone who is doing
basically what he can to survive.
Plus stopping the death of Edgar
Friendly will piss Cocteau off.
Which I'm all in favour of doing.
Huxley looks concerned as Spartan just gives her a 'look'.
EXT. STREET - LATER
Standing above a man-hole cover, Spartan opens up the huge
cover. His sling has gone from his left arm. Watching this is
Huxley, and both are wearing their uniforms.
HUXLEY
Are you sure you want to go down
there?
He looks up, smiles then nods.
HUXLEY (CONT'D)
What about your arm?
SPARTAN
(shrugs)
It's only pain, Huxley.
He looks down.
SPARTAN (CONT'D)
Now are you coming?
HUXLEY
How do you know that Edgar Friendly
hasn't had his life terminated yet?
SPARTAN
We don't. But it's still our
biggest lead.
He moves across, and slowly goes into the man-hole.
INT. THE UNDERGROUND - LATER
It looks like a miniature city full of people living in old
abandoned subway tunnels. Houses - or at least small living
spaces - litter everywhere on several levels of walkways.
Crowded market stalls of people trying to sell their wares.
There are modified CRANES in the background, and are moving
platforms of people across from one area to another.
On one of the walkways, Spartan and Huxley walk through the
walkways.
HUXLEY
(scrunches nose)
What's that smell?
SPARTAN
(smiles)
Now that's the smell of home,
Huxley.
HUXLEY
I'm quite certain that there's a
unsafe ratio of cleanliness to
toxins in this air.
SPARTAN
Live a little, Huxley. Where's the
excitement if everything's safe?
Huxley looks down. She notices a few people staring at them,
and the people start to point. Then a lot more people look
up.
HUXLEY
Any idea how we're going to find
Edgar Friendly?
Spartan leans forward, looking downwards.
SPARTAN
I think he's going to be finding
us.
HUXLEY
How? This place is huge.
SPARTAN
How often do the SAPD come down
here?
HUXLEY
Never.
Spartan smiles at her.
He glances back down, pretty much all the "Undergrounds" (as
they shall now be referred too) are staring up at him.
INT. THE UNDERGROUND - MAIN HUB - LATER
Now in a crowd of people, Spartan and Huxley are being
hounded on my people trying to sell something.
HUXLEY
No thanks. Thank you, but no.
An old woman speaks SPANISH to Spartan, who looks at the
collection of bracelets in her hands and responds in Spanish.
He stops at some steps to a walkway, seeing Friendly looking
down at him.
Some of the people notice Friendly and fall SILENT. Soon this
wave of quietness spreads.
Spartan looks around, astonished as he walks up the steps -
Huxley following.
SPARTAN
Now that's what I call commanding
respect.
FRIENDLY
That ain't respect, that's people
looking for someone who they follow
for some noble cause.
SPARTAN
Aren't you a leader?
FRIENDLY
I do the necessary and they decide
to follow me. That's no definition
of leader to me.
He then TRAINS a gun on Spartan, several fellow Undergrounds
follow suit.
FRIENDLY (CONT'D)
I'm suddenly thinking why one of
Cocteau's buttfuck buddies has come
all the way down here.
Spartan looks at the guns. He doesn't react.
SPARTAN
Well for starters, Cocteau can blow
me. The second is that I'm here to
actually warn you that the tall,
bald asshole wants to kill you.
Beat.
Friendly starts LAUGHING.
FRIENDLY
Well the feeling is mutual. 'Cause
I'd like no more joy than dragging
Cocteau kicking and screaming down
here before shoving this gun up his
ass and firing until my trigger
finger falls of.
And his laugh continues.
SPARTAN
Laugh all you want, but Cocteau's
reached critical mass and is on the
verge of ripping the ground up
after you.
Friendly looks at Spartan, his lip shape moves to that of
consideration. His trigger finger slackens.
FRIENDLY
How?
Spartan's eyebrows raise and FADE TO:
INT. THE UNDERGROUND - MAIN HUB - LATER
Spartan and Friendly are walking down another walkway with
Huxley behind them with some Undergrounds behind them.
FRIENDLY
So he sprung out America's Most
Wanted just to get to me? Don't
know whether to be flattered
or...well, I'm flattered.
SPARTAN
Don't be. Cocteau's got this huge
obsession and I think he's
mamajammed Phoenix's head with as
much as possible in the hope he'll
kill you.
FRIENDLY
And how bad is this guy?
SPARTAN
He's bad. We don't know where he
is, we think he's been hiding out
here.
FRIENDLY
Phoenix? Why does that name seem
familiar?
PHOENIX (O.S.)
Because I'm infamous!
They look up and see Phoenix JUMP down onto their walkway.
He looks up, smirking and then smiling.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Oh boy, Two-For-One Special at the
Phoenix buffet. I'm gonna be
getting me some of that gluttony
tonight!
(to Friendly)
You must be Edgar. Nice to meet
you, Edgar.
FRIENDLY
Back at'cha.
Phoenix then looks towards Spartan.
PHOENIX
I admire your resilience Spartan.
But if you do something stupid
like, I dunno, die by over-exerting
yourself when you should be
recovering, then I'm going to be
one cranky motherf- -
SPARTAN
Oh shut up.
PHOENIX
(sighs)
John, we can talk about our
troubles later. Let the men talk
for now.
And on that he DRAWS out a gun!
Spartan LEAPS forward, knocking the hand up - the gun FIRES
and hits a walkway above them.
Phoenix swings a leg around and PUNCHES Spartan in the
stomach. Still hurting, Spartan feels it a lot more than
usual.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
John, you always leave your stomach
exposed!
He SWINGS him around and knocks him to the side of the
walkway. A swift sharp KICK later and Spartan TOPPLES over
the side...
And GRABS a cable for one of the cranes holding a mobile
platform with is left arm!
He SCREAMS as his left arm holds his body-weight and the
crane moves away from the action.
ON WALKWAY. The Undergrounds aim their guns but Phoenix GRABS
Friendly, pulling another gun. Friendly reacts imediately,
showing some skill and knocking the gun out of his hand.
The Undergrounds train their guns on Phoenix, but Huxley
pushes them away.
HUXLEY
You might hit Edgar Friendly!
ON SPARTAN. He looks down and the platform is empty. He SLIPS
and quickly GRABS the cable with his RIGHT hand. His body
causing the platform to swing.
ON CRANE CONTROL BOOTH. The DRIVER, a young blonde man snaps
his eyes WIDE when he sees Spartan on the end.
Spartan WAVES towards the walkway with Friendly and Phoenix
on. The driver looks over and can just about see Phoenix and
Friendly fighting.
On seeing Friendly the driver quickly THROWS some levers and
the crane begins to SHIFT it's direction back towards the
walkway, slowly ascending in height.
ON WALKWAY. Friendly TACKLES Phoenix across to the walkway,
striking Phoenix's back.
PHOENIX
Okay that nearly winded me!
He DOUBLE AXE HANDLES Friendly's back, then STRIKES his chest
with his knee before bring both fists around the side of his
face.
Phoenix DRAGS Friendly across the side of the rails, gritting
his teeth and trying to topple him over. Friendly is trying
to do the same.
Behind them the platform and John are getting closer...
FRIENDLY
You can...tell your boss...that I'm
not going this easily.
PHOENIX
(angry)
Not my boss!
A BURST of energy and he PUSHES him over!
THEN
Edgar GRABS Phoenix and DRAGS him across!
They FALL...
And LAND on the floating platform which zooms upwards!
The platform SWINGS as they both land. Phoenix scrabbles to
his feet first, gaining his balance. He glances up to see
Spartan holding onto dear life as he slowly goes down the
pole.
He walks over to Friendly who has gotten his balance.
The walkway swings to the left. Phoenix kicks from the left
rail and strikes Friendly in the stomach. Friendly retaliates
by grabbing the follow-up kick and PULLING on it.
Phoenix LOSES his balance, but the walkway now swings to the
OTHER SIDE and Phoenix regains his balance and SWINGS a punch
in momentum!
ON SPARTAN. He slides down, ending up to the point where the
cable splits to four for each corner of the platform.
On the WALKWAY Phoenix pulls out a knife as the walkway
slowly begins to level itself out.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Don't take this personally, I'm
just gonna make this quick.
FRIENDLY
(breathing heavily)
Fine. If you do kill me, tell
Cocteau that I hope someone finally
rips his head off.
PHOENIX
Well, another member of the We-Hate
Cocteau fan-club..
FRIENDLY
Personally, I'd like to say that
I'm President.
Phoenix smiles, then laughs. Above him, Spartan is slowly
trying to move into a position.
PHOENIX
You know, I'm not gonna kill you.
(smiles)
Because it'll piss Raymond off. And
the thought of that makes me feel
all tingly and nice inside.
(beat)
Though once he's dead. You're next
on my list.
THEN Spartan JUMPS down on him!
Phoenix ELBOWS back, and smiles at John.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Never give up do you?
A PUNCH to the face, he throws him onto Friendly.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Should've just shot the cables and
hoped for the best.
He stops, thinks for a moment.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
(slaps forehead)
My God I'm stupid.
SPARTAN
Took you long enough.
PHOENIX
Hey Friendly, looks as if you'll be
dead a lot sooner. 'Cause I'm off
to go and gut me some crinkly old
white-boy.
He waves.
PHOENIX (CONT'D)
Toodles!
He turns, looks around and RUNS. He JUMPS off the platform
and LANDS on a nearby walkway before running.
ON PLATFORM. Spartan watches him walk off.
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