John Carpenter's Escape From New York

The camera angles back to show Snake walking on top of the railroad

cars. He hasn't found the President yet. But he doesn't have time to

wonder if Brain double-crossed him.

HEAD DUDE

Why don't we wait outside here for him?

BRAIN

Why don't we wait inside for him?

HEAD DUDE

'Cause I got orders, that's why.

BRAIN

What are your specific orders, by the way?

HEAD DUDE

Specific orders, Brain, was for me not to let no one go inside.

BRAIN

How's the President holding up, by the way? Any political discussion

you've had with him?

INT. PRESIDENT'S TRAIN CAR -- NIGHT

Two guards sit with the President, talking. The first guard is by the

President. The second is looking out the window.

SECOND GUARD

That Brain is a real pain in the ass. He's always sniffing around like

a dog.

FIRST GUARD

He comes up with the gas.

The second guard looks out the window. Snake grabs him by the neck, and

breaks it. The first guard doesn't notice, but the President does, and

that tips off the guard.

FIRST GUARD

What are you looking at?

He turns and Snake throws a star at him. It lodges right in his brain,

but not fast enough. Snake is hit in the leg with a crossbow arrow.

Snake limps over to the President and starts uncuffing him. The

president still has the briefcase. This is it, this is the big time.

Snake keeps calm.

PRESIDENT

Are you from the outside?

SNAKE

Stop shaking.

PRESIDENT

I can't! Who are you?

SNAKE

Hauk sent me. We've got to move fast.

PRESIDENT

Move fast? You're goddamned right I'll move fast.

SNAKE

Quiet!

Snake limps away, President in the lead.

EXT. TRAIN -- NIGHT

Snake and the President keep moving. Suddenly, Snake gets jumped. Ten

guys surround him and the President, and though Snake fights well, it's

not well enough. Brain comes out with Maggie.

BRAIN

They got him. Now watch him.

The Duke steps out from the car, followed by Weirdo.

DUKE

Friend of yours, Brain?

BRAIN

He had a gun on me, Duke, there was nothing I could do.

DUKE

(not believing it for a second)

Uh-huh.

Weirdo points accusingly as he and Duke walk away.

BRAIN

Maggie . . .

Duke walks up to Snake. Snake isn't giving in even though he's pretty

sure he's beat.

DUKE

Who are you?

Snake doesn't answer. Duke grabs the arrow still lodged in his right

leg and pulls on it. Snake writhes in agony.

DUKE

I said who are you?

BRAIN

Snake Plissken, Duke. The Man sent him in here. Something's going down

. . . we need him.

Duke recognizes the name. He is impressed. He lets go of the arrow.

Snake hates him more than ever.

DUKE

Snaaaaaake Plissken. I've heard of you.

He raises a crowbar over his head and smacks Snake with it, knocking him

out.

DUKE

I heard you were dead.

EXT. NEW YORK -- NIGHT

A helicopter flies over the city.

INT. HELICOPTER -- NIGHT

The pilot looks at a grid-view of New York.

SURVEILLANCE 4

This is surveillance 4 to security control. Nothing on the infrared

body scan. Nothing in the searchlight. There aren't any fires on the

street. Nobody moving down here.

INT. BASE -- NIGHT

Hauk, Rehme and the Vice President wait.

SURVEILLANCE 5

Surveillance 5 . . . security control . . . negative on infrared body

scan . . . no movement in the searchlight . . . nothing strange going on

down there.