The Rock

WIDENING

We see that MASON'S MATTRESS has been ripped into long strips. Mason is BRAIDING THE STRIPS into a long rope. The rope is quite finely constructed. Mason's been at this several hours.

INTERCUT BETWEEN THE TWO CELLS

During the following, Mason keeps busy with his rope braiding.

GOODSPEED

This is tiny.

MASON

You referring to your intellect, Goodspeed? Or another portion of your anatomy...

GOODSPEED

The cell, Mason.

MASON

Five feet by seven. Try living in one for a year. What happened?

GOODSPEED

I only got one chem round. There are two left. I fucked up.

MASON

(sarcastic)

Surprise, surprise.

GOODSPEED

I'm not a field agent, all right? So cut me a break.

MASON

An FBI Man asking me for a break. How droll.

GOODSPEED

What is your beef with the Bureau, anyway C'mon. Tell me.

MASON

Let's say our countries had a little dispute. They both knowingly shafted me.

GOODSPEED

How?

MASON

Familiar with the name Hoover, Goodspeed? I don't mean a vacuum cleaner...

Goodspeed listens intently and
 

CUT TO:

INT. LONG BEACH AIR FORCE BASE HANGAR – MORNING

SUPER: "LONG BEACH, CA. – US AIR FORCE BASE"

TECHNICIANS are frantically installing WILLY PETER INCENDIARY BOMBS under the wings of an F-16.

ACROSS THE HANGAR

General Peterson and Captain Giler brief FOUR F-16 TOP GUN PILOTS.

GENERAL PETERSON

The target. Alcatraz Island. This is not a precision strike. The entire island is to be blanketed.

LWO F-16 PILOT

Sir, we hit that Island with Willy Peter and it's going to look like Iwo Jima. No one can survive it.

GENERAL PETERSON

(grimly)

That's why this is a volunteer mission, Captain. If any of you have doubts you can carry it out, speak up.

The pilots look at each other. Silence.

GENERAL PETERSON

Captain Giler?

CPT. GILER

We jerry-rigged a release lever. You'll find it on the left side of the cockpit. It's got two positions: safety and release. Throw it on release, the bomb drops in five seconds. Change your mind, throw it back on safety. Any questions?

INT. ALCATRAZ – GOODSPEED'S CELL – MORNING

Goodspeed stares blankly into space.

INTERCUT between the two cells again

GOODSPEED

Jesus.

(thinks)

Why didn't you just tell Hoover and the bureau where the microfilm was? Make a trade?

MASON

Some trade. They'd get the microfilm and I'd get a bullet in the head.

GOODSPEED

I see your point. Something's been on my mind. About your escape.

MASON

What?

Mason rises. Lifts the bed. Pulls off the bed's heavy ROLLING CASTER. Knots the caster onto one end of the braided rope.

GOODSPEED

You went down the shower drain, through the tunnels to the power plant, under the steam engine and out through the intake pipe – that much I've got ' But... how'd you get out of your cell?

Mason leans out his cell and tosses the rolling caster down the cell block. The braided rope, tied to it, plays out to it's full length.

GOODSPEED (CONT'D)

I only ask because, in our current situation, it might be useful information...

The result: the braided rope lies across the cell block floor, the rolling caster tied to it. Mason holds the other end of the rope through the bars of his cell.

MASON

Trade secret, Billy, I'll tell you this: It was easier than getting in.

MASON

fiercely yanks the rope toward him. The heavy rolling caster jerks from the floor. The CASTER, pulling the rope, flies past Mason's cell –

Shooting in an arc around the corner of the cell block, still pulling the rope, where –
 

The caster-pulled ROPE catches the CELL RELEASE LEVER against the wall. The rope coils, WRAP WRAP WRAP, around the release lever handle.

MASON

tugs the rope taut like he's just snagged a fish. Then he pulls slowly and delicately.

THE CELL DOOR RELEASE LEVER pulls down and –

MASON'S CELL DOOR (and all the doors on that tier) open at once.

Mason smiles.

INT. GOODSPEED'S CELL – MORNING

Goodspeed hears the doors opening above him.

GOODSPEED

Hey! Hey what's happening?

(no response)

Mason. Mason?

Suddenly Goodspeed's cell door opens. Goodspeed exits the cell. Mason stands there.

MASON

You're on your own, kid. Your gear's over there.

Mason motions to a HEAP OF THEIR GEAR (clothes, weapons, flares) in the corner of the cell tier.

GOODSPEED

Shit....

Goodspeed grabs his guns and gear and follows after Mason.

EXT. ALCATRAZ – INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER – MORNING

Hummel sits behind the desk. Baxter, Frye, Darrow, Hendrix in front of him. Silence. Hummel stares at his phone. The tension is palpable.

HUMMEL

Time.

BAXTER

(consults his watch)

Fifteen minutes Frank.

CAPTAIN FRYE

We have two operational rockets left, General. One on the lower lighthouse, one on the rooftop, ready for fire.

(no response)

General.

HUMMEL

I heard you Captain.

CAPTAIN DARROW

Prepare for launch General? General?

HUMMEL

Not yet.

CAPTAIN FRYE

General Hummel, noon is approaching.

HUMMEL

I'm aware of the time, Captain.

Hummel glares at Frye, then at the phone. Frye and Darrow exchange a look...

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE – OVAL OFFICE – MORNING

The Clock on the wall reads 11:47.13 minutes to go. General Kramer, Security Advisor Louis Lindstorm and CIA Director Milton Amway.

LOUIS LINDSTROM

When was the last communication from our men on Alcatraz?

GENERAL KRAMER

Seven hours ago.

The Naval Attache enters excitedly.

NAVAL ATTACHE

General, the white phosphorous attack is operational.

General Kramer grabs the phone.

GENERAL KRAMER

Get me the President.

EXT. ALCATRAZ – PARADE GROUND – MORNING

Mason emerges from the parade ground ruins and moves down the embankment toward the water. Goodspeed stays above.

GOODSPEED

Mason. John.

(Mason stops)

What happened – the injustice done to you – doesn't mean you can walk away from this. A million people across that Bay will die.

MASON

Only one of them I care about.

GOODSPEED

You were once a different man.

MASON

You don't know what kind of man I was.

GOODSPEED

You were a civil servant. Sworn to do your duty. Just like me.

Mason begins climbing down to the waterline.

INT. ALCATRAZ – INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER – MORNING

Hummel, with Baxter, Hendrix, Frye, Darrow and Crisp. The atmosphere is now so fucking thick you can cut it.

CAPTAIN DARROW

Eleven fifty-seven, General. Three minutes to go.

HUMMEL

They're going to call.

CAPTAIN FRYE

They are not going to call General.

HUMMEL

I... I don't understand this.

CAPTAIN DARROW

I understand it. They're calling our bluff. We have two operational rockets left. We have to stick one of those rockets in their ear, General.

HUMMEL

Atom?

BAXTER

I... I don't know Frank.

HUMMEL

Seventy thousand people... I didn't... I didn't ever...

CAPTAIN FRYE

You didn't ever what?

(no response)

You didn't ever what, General?

(gets in Hummel's face)

General, forty-eight hours ago I was in a cushy job at Pendleton. As of this moment I am subject to prosecution for treason and murder. Do you know what that means. It means the electric chair. For all of us.

BAXTER

He's right Frank. Authorize the launch or it's over.

All eyes on Hummel now.

CAPTAIN DARROW

Authorize the launch, General.

Hummel nods and
 

CUT TO:

EXT. ALCATRAZ – ROOFTOP OF MAIN CELL HOUSE – MORNING

Capt. Frye and Sgt. Crisp approach the rocket launcher across the roof of the main cell house.

EXT. ALCATRAZ – PARADE GROUND – MORNING

Mason's wading into the water now.

GOODSPEED

You'll never make it.

MASON

I once swam the English Channel, but you're entitled to your opinion.

Goodspeed, disgusted, turns and heads back, grumbling.

GOODSPEED

Fine. I'll fuckin, do it myself.