ALIENS Vs.PREDATOR

Forget it. We lost the satellite link.

It's dead.

There's a long pause while everyone considers the options.

BEAUVAIS

We've got no option. _We're_ gonna have

to get it off.

MINH

Oh man...

YORK

Get real, Beauvais! That thing might chew

his fucking face off for all be know!

The motion sensor outside begins BEEPING again. MINH catches BEAUVAIS'

head-jerk.

BEAUVAIS

Minh...

MINH

Yep...

MINH hefts his 'howitzer' and leaves the tent. BEAUVAIS rounds on YORK,

continuing.

BEAUVAIS

How do you know it's not already?

YORK

I don't, but I think we should just wait

and let the Doc take a look...

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

MINH walks towards a line of flashing red strobes at the perimeter of the

camp, the barrel of his weapon pointing casually forward. He studies the

surrounding darkness. There's nothing out there. He shakes his head in

disgust.

MINH

(muttering)

Take a goddamn wrench to those things...

He thumbs a stud on the top of the 'howitzer'. There's a gentle WHINE, and

the HISS of hydraulic cylinders as the harness mechanism lifts the weapon up.

It darts quickly to-and-fro; a mechanical snake seeking a target. We see

MINH's hand in CLOSE UP. In addition to the firing trigger, there's also

a thumb button. He squeezes it...

The gun swings sharply around in a blinding movement, tracking something

automatically. There's a THUNDEROUS RUMBLE as it fires-off three shots in

rapid succession. Something that was only yards from MINH APPEARS and is

blown backwards to CRASH against a tree bole, a mass of luminous green liquid

and motion.

MINH (CONT'D)

(dumbstruck)

God.

MINH watches the helmeted PREDATOR fall face down into the water with a

SPLASH, then lie motionless. YORK and BEAUVAIS are out of the tent in an

instant.

PREDATOR-VISION. Three humans; in motion and 'hot'. The triangular

mechanism of the PREDATOR's gun locks onto MINH.

A BLAST of plasma-energy rips a gaping hole through MINH's body, spraying

blood across YORK. He topples dead to the ground, a look of pained surprise

on his face. BEAUVAIS is there immediately, racing across and scrabbling for

the 'howitzer'. She doesn't have time to take the harness off - she just

slides her finger through the trigger guard and starts squeezing off random

shots. The air shimmers as an unseen shape races at her. There's a loud

SWISH of sliding metal, and a telescopic spear appears out of thin air. It

SLAMS through BEAUVAIS' body, lifting her off the ground and impaling her

against a tree.

YORK watches in horror as BEAUVAIS' arms thrash around. A moment later her

struggles cease, and she'd dropped to the floor like a broken marionette.

There's a CRACKLING SOUND, and the hazy air around BEAUVAIS disappears. In

it's place is a PREDATOR, a luminous green patch trickling from a wound on

it's arm. It's head flicks around as it zeroes-in on YORK, the three red

dots of the PREDATOR's cannon following suit. YORK's quick though, already

up and running when the plasma bolt EXPLODES into the tree despite the pain

in his leg.

His options are limited. The hover-bike is nearby. He sprints for that and

his luck holds...the key's still in the ignition. He flips it. The engine

COUGHS and then dies. YORK looks up. The wounded PREDATOR bounds across the

clearing at frightened speed. YORK turns the key again, but the PREDATOR's

almost upon him. The creature WHIPS an ornately-shaped lance from it's back

and thrusts it...JUST AS THE ENGINE ROARS TO LIFE AND THE HOVER-BIKE RISES

FROM THE MUD! The blade slices into the bike's body and jams there, while

one of it's manta-wings SMACKS into the PREDATOR's jaw, sending it reeling

backwards into the swamp.

YORK swivels the bike on it's axis as another plasma-bolt rips into the rear,

melting away a sizable chunk of the bodywork. He sees a PREDATOR handing

from a tree, and the SHIMMERING of two more PREDATORS in their camouflage

nearby. He's not sticking around to argue though. YORK jams the throttle

hard and the bike shoots off into the bayou as more cannon-blasts blossom

around him.

The group of PREDATORS appear in the camp and cautiously survey the area.

The LEAD PREDATOR - the one with the distinctive armor - crosses to the tent

and opens the entry flap.

INT. TENT - NIGHT

PREDATOR-VISION. The extraterrestrial hunter scrutinizes the pulsing

FACEHUGGER on ACKLAND for a long moment, but takes no further action.

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

We PAN SLOWLY ACROSS the deserted campsite. There isn't a soul there, human

or otherwise. The wind whistles eerily through the tree-boughs.

EXT. RAINFOREST AIRSPACE - DAWN

First light the next day, the sun rising on the horizon. A 'chopper' -

actually a twin-turbine heli-jet - flies in low above the veil of mist

hanging over the treetops.

INT. CHOPPER - DAWN

The cockpit is small, a two-seater with room for cargo in the back. KAMEN's

in the pilot seat, and HIROKO's riding shotgun. The controls moving by

themselves, on autopilot. A REPETITIVE BEEPING causes KAMEN to look up from

his magazine.

KAMEN'S P.O.V. From out of the window of the 'chopper', we see the twin blue

lights of the navigation beacon blinking on-and-off above the trees.

KAMEN nudges HIROKO awake.

KAMEN

Wake up. We're at the beacon.

He switches the controls over to manual and takes the chopper down. HIROKO

rubs the sleep from her eyes.

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN

Twin searchlights on the underside of the descending chopper sweep across the

clearing. The encampment has been wrecked, much of is reduced to a twisted

tangle of smoking debris. All-terrain gear lowers from the chopper, as it

makes a watery landing in the swamp.

INT. CHOPPER - DAWN

KAMEN and HIROKO stare at the site in disbelief. KAMEN hauls an automatic

pulse-rifle from the rear.

KAMEN

Looks like trouble.

KAMEN reaches under the pilot's seat and pulls out a hand-pistol. Passes it

to her.

KAMEN (CONT'D)

Used one of these before?

HIROKO coolly examines it.

HIROKO

Fabrique Nationale tactical autoloader.

Uses twelve mill hollow 'O' rounds, with

through the barrel smart laser-sighting.

Sure, I can handle this.

HIROKO's show-boating and KAMEN knows it, but he still can't help being a

little bit impressed.

KAMEN

Okay. Watch were you point it...

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN

The two of them pick their way across mangled tripods and charred canvas.

Part of the bivouac has collapsed - one of the guide ropes has burned

through.

HIROKO

(quietly)

Somebody picked an argument.

KAMEN

Yeah. _Somebody_ won.

HIROKO

Check out the tent.

KAMEN nods and heads off that way, while HIROKO carefully inspects the

wreckage dotted around the perimeter.

INT. TENT - DAWN

KAMEN opens the tent flap and peers inside. ACKLAND's on the cot, sweating

heavily. There is no sign of the FACEHUGGER.

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN

Across the clearing, HIROKO turns a piece of charred plating over in her

hands before discarding it.

Her foot slips on an object sunk into the soft mud. It's MINH's 'howitzer'.

A dark slippery patch coats the metal. She crouches down and rubs her

fingers through it. Blood. KAMEN's VOICE intrudes, O.S.

KAMEN

(O.S.)

I've found Ackland!

HIROKO

Hold on...

She begins to cross the camp, and her foot catches on a taut length of rope.

SOMETHING swings down from the trees, hitting her squarely in the face and

knocking her off her feet. HIROKO CRIES OUT in fear and surprise, then

freezes at what she sees.

Two bloodied bodies dangle head-first from the bough overhead; BEAUVAIS and

MINH. Each has been skinned and is beyond recognition. KAMEN hears her

exclamation and is out of the tent in an instant. He stops in his tracks.

KAMEN

Jesus palomino...

EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - MORNING

It's raining again at the base. Under cover of an overhang, HIROKO watches

as ACKLAND is trundled away from the 'chopper' on a paramedic trolley by

GUTTIEREZ and DOC REVNA, an Indian woman in her late thirties. As KAMEN

slams the 'chopper's side door, we see that HIROKO has left her leather

jacket on the passenger seat. KAMEN runs after REVNA clutching a clear

plastic bag.

KAMEN

Wait a minute, Doc...

He hands the bag over to REVNA. She peers at the contents curiously. The

FACEHUGGER is inside, stiff and shriveled.

REVNA

Is this it?

KAMEN

Yeah. Found it curled up in a corner of

the tent. Any idea?

REVNA shakes her head.

REVNA

Never come across one of these before.

Maybe the original survey team did. I'll

run it through records and see what comes

up.

GUTTIEREZ checks that ACKLAND's body's secure on the trolley. KAMEN raps him

on the back to get his attention.

KAMEN

Hey, Jan. See if you can get someone to

check out the chopper.

GUTTIEREZ

What's the problem?

KAMEN

She was running a little sluggish on the

way back. Think the turbines might be

playing up.

GUTTIEREZ

Give me twenty minutes and I'll do it

myself.

KAMEN

Appreciate that.

REVNA interrupts.

REVNA

Where're the bodies?

HIROKO

Bagged and in the back. They're not a

pretty sight.

ACKLAND is wheeled into a freight elevator. As KAMEN and HIROKO walk away

across the rain-swept platform, a SHIMMERING FROM detaches itself from the

rear of the chopper and lowers itself to the heli-jet pad.

PREDATOR-VISION. A newly-arrived PREDATOR scans the towers and modules of

the relay-station with great interest. An oscillating red line appears to

the LEFT of the SHOT as the PREDATOR analyses HIROKO's voice-pattern.

PREDATOR

(O.S., distorted)

Not a pretty sight. Not a pretty sight...

He reaches down to his wrist computer and activates it.

EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - IMPACT SIGHT - DAY

Under the cathedral-like light filtering through the trees above, a row of

metal spikes have been driven into the earth. Four are topped with still-

smoking ALIEN skulls. Two and empty.

PREDATOR-VISION. A newly decapitated ALIEN head is turned around in another

PREDATOR's hands in admiration. This PREDATOR thrusts his trophy onto the

next spike, then stares at the vacant one for a long moment. His wrist

computer BLEEPS for attention...

INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER

With nothing to do, most of the screens are out and the remaining personnel

bored. PARSONS is reading a magazine with his feet up on the console,

uninterested in HIROKO and KAMEN's conversation nearby.

HIROKO

I'm going to need you to co-sign the

report. Until we come up with something,

this'll be treated as first degree murder.

KAMEN

Agreed.

HIROKO

When we get the link back, and I send this

in, I.C.C.'ll throw a _fit_.

KAMEN

Ah, don't worry about I.C.C. They're the

least of your problems right now.

HIROKO

What do you mean?

URIOSTE walks up, very serious. She interrupts.

URIOSTE

Sorry. Can I have a word?

HIROKO

Sure. What's up?

URIOSTE

Three-Pump failed a half-hour ago. The

algae must have clogged up an intake

duct.

KAMEN

Think I spoke too soon...

HIROKO

Again? How long before we start noticing

the difference?

URIOSTE

I reckon it'll be another day before the

smell gets unbearable. Beauvais usually

fixes it, but...ah...

HIROKO knows what she means. BEAUVAIS is dead.

HIROKO

Can you handle it?

URIOSTE

Sure, I can manage. But I'm not going

into the Pit on my own.

HIROKO

(to Urioste)

Alright, get somebody from the auto-shop.

(to Kamen)

Is that alright?

KAMEN

Yeah, no problem. Ask Diller, he's good

with his hands.

URIOSTE exchanges a grin with CASSIE.

CASSIE

I'll go along with that.

A SHRILL TRILLING from his console communicator makes PARSONS leap up to

answer.

PARSONS

Parsons.

(long beat)

Yeah. Hold on.

INT. RYUSHI STATION - INFIRMARY

A CLOSE UP of an eye, bright blue and dilated. DOC REVNA's shining a hand-

held light into ACKLAND's face. ACKLAND's regained consciousness, but is far

from happy. He's sitting on the edge of a cot in the base Infirmary, an

antiseptic room full of automated medical equipment. The Autodoc is

suspended from the ceiling nearby, a circular cluster of sophisticated

manipulator arms tipped with cutting blades and surgical paraphernalia.

ACKLAND

Hey, c'mon Doc, I feel fine. Really.

REVNA flicks off the probe.

REVNA

Headache? Dehydration?

ACKLAND

The head's okay, but I could sink a six-

pack.

REVNA

Forget that. I want you off alcohol for

at least seventy-two hours. I've got some

toxin build-up tests still to run.

REVNA shakes her head and turns to KAMEN.

REVNA (CONT'D)

He's broken a fever that would kill a

mule, but if he says he's alright I'm

prepared to believe him. He's all yours.

HIROKO enters. She watches from behind KAMEN.

KAMEN

What happened out there, Ack?

ACKLAND

(consternated)

What do you mean, 'what happened'? What

am I doing back here? Where's York?

HIROKO

(insistent)

What's the last thing you can remember?

ACKLAND thinks hard.

ACKLAND

We...watched a meteor hit over Linson's.

HIROKO and KAMEN exchange significant glances.

HIROKO

A meteor?

ACKLAND

Yeah, it impacted really off. We went

out to the crash-site...and...uh...

that's...that's all.

KAMEN

Nothing else?

ACKLAND

No.

KAMEN turns to REVNA.

KAMEN

Show him 'Fido'.

REVNA pulls out a cylindrical glass stasis tube from a wall rack. She hands

it to ACKLAND. He studies the dead FACEHUGGER floating inside with morbid

fascination.

REVNA

Ring any bells?

ACKLAND tries hard to think, but it's as if a wall's slammed down hard on his

mind.

ACKLAND

Not really, no. Ugly little sonuvabitch.

What is it?

KAMEN

We thought you might be able to tell us.

I found it by your cot at the camp. You

were out cold.

ACKLAND

What did York say?

HIROKO

York's vanished.

ACKLAND

Vanished?

HIROKO

Beauvais and Minh are dead, Ackland. York's

gone awol, unless you can help us go some

way toward disproving our suspicion, he's

the prime suspect right now.

The news hits ACKLAND hard. He falters and leans back, addressing REVNA.

ACKLAND

Can I...um...have some water? Please?

REVNA

Sure.

She goes to fetch a cup.

INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMISSARY

It's lunchtime, and the SOUND of machinery STEAMING food mixes with the

CHATTER of the twenty-or-so personnel eating there. HIROKO and KAMEN are

deep in conversation across a table.

KAMEN

Do you believe him?

HIROKO

Ackland? I don't know him well enough to

say. If we were back on Earth we could

run him though an Aldhoven test and find

out for sure. There's not much we can do

out here.

KAMEN stares hard at her. That's not much of an answer, and HIROKO knows it.

She capitulates.

HIROKO (CONT'D)