John Carpenter's Escape From New York

John Carpenter's Escape From New York  

Written by: John Carpenter and Nick Castle.

FADE IN

CARD -- 1988

FADE IN SECOND CARD -- The Crime Rate in the United States Rises Four

Hundred Percent.

VOICE

In 1988, the crime rate in the United States rises four hundred percent.

GRAPHIC -- Line-graphic of New York, MANHATTAN ISLAND highlighted.

VOICE

The once-great city of New York becomes the one maximum-security prison

for the entire country.

GRAPHIC -- MANHATTAN ISLAND lights up. The word "Prison" is added.

VOICE

A fifty-foot containment wall is erected along the New Jersey shoreline,

across the Harlem river, and down along the Brooklyn shoreline. It

completely surrounds Manhattan Island.

GRAPHIC -- The containment wall is added to the line graphic with the

tag "Containment Wall".

VOICE

All bridges and waterways are mined.

GRAPHIC -- Dots symbolizing the bridges and waterways blink on and off.

VOICE

The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped around the

island.

GRAPHIC -- Arrows symbolizing the police force are added. TAG -- Statue

of Liberty Island Security Control.

VOICE

There are no guards inside the prison: only prisoners and the worlds

they have made.

NEW GRAPHIC -- Outline drawing of New York.

VOICE

The rules are simple. Once you go in, you don't come out.

GRAPHIC -- Outline drawing of the Statue of Liberty and the shoreline

are added.

CARD -- 1997

FADE IN SECOND CARD -- NOW

FADE OUT 1997

EXT. STATUE OF LIBERTY SECURITY CONTROL -- NIGHT.

A Jeep pulls up outside the base. It comes to a stop and the driver

pulls out a walkie-talkie.

DRIVER

This is Gotham 4, North Bay, Station 17. I have an escape in progress.

An object in mid-bay moving toward the wall.

TILT UP -- WALL

EXT. CLOSE UP -- SIGN "New York Maximum Security Penitentiary Manhattan

Island"

CONTINUED TILT UP -- EXT. WALL -- NIGHT

Two guards watch for the escapees in question.

EXT. MANHATTAN ISLAND -- NIGHT

A helicopter flies over the bay towards Manhattan Island.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The two escapees paddle, trying to get across the bay.

EXT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

The search light WHITES OUT THE SCREEN

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The two escapees continue paddling. THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT.

HELICOPTER PILOT

You have 10 seconds. Turn around. Start back to the island.

INT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

The pilot targets the boat on a computer screen in front of him.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

Two shots are fired directly in front of the escapees as a warning.

They ignore them and continue paddling away from the island.

INT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

EXT. CLOSE UP -- PILOT'S HAND

The pilot FIRES AGAIN.

EXT. BOAT -- NIGHT

The boat EXPLODES.

EXT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

Following the helicopter as it returns to the base.

EXT. BASE -- NIGHT

Rehme walks back to the main base, pulling out his walkie-talkie on the

way.