STEEL SHARKS

"STEEL SHARKS" 

INT. CNN NEWS REPORT

A Gordon Graham-type NEWS READER sits behind the Headline

News Desk. His report is supported with photos, file footage,

and the best graphics available.

NEWS READER

This just in...

(beat)

An American Scientist involved in the

UN Peacekeeping force inspecting Iraq

for possible violations of the

International ban on manufacturing

chemical and biological weapons was

kidnapped off the streets of Basra on

the Iraqui border today by a team of

masked gunmen.

We see a photo of the kidnapped scientist, JOHN VAN TASSELL.

NEWS READER

The scientist, identified as John Van

Tassell, is acknowledged as one of

the world's foremost authorities on

the manufacture and delivery of

chemical weapons.

A map or graphic.

NEWS READER

It is believed that Van Tassell was

taken across the border into Iran.

Photo of the White House, or footage of a press conference.

NEWS READER

A White House spokesman reports that

the President was deeply disturbed by

this incident, and fears it may be

the first step in the development of

chemical weapons by an unfriendly

nation.

(beat)

This is the first act of aggression

against the United States since the

Muslim government was toppled by a

military coup last week.

Back to the News Reader, who smiles.

(CONTINUED)

2.

NEWS READER

In religious news, today.....

EXT. WAREHOUSE -- NIGHT

MACK KERRY brings his crucifix to his lips, before taking

his H&K assault rifle in both hands, ready for action.

Mack is a big man, dressed in green camouflage and face paint.

DAVE "SKI" ZAMBORSKI gestures for TUCKER to check the

warehouse door. Zamborski is old enough to have an 18 year

old son in college. No more than ten years older than the

others, they see him as a father figure. As SEAL Team leader,

he moves with confidence and precision.

BUDDY TUCKER checks the door for alarms with a Pocket Sentry

5 scanner wand. He finds several, using wires and gator clips

to bypass them.

CORD WAINER, a hard edged SEAL with a half dozen scars, throws

a grapnel hook up the side of the building, tests the rope,

then begins climbing.

JUAN SALAZAAR, the family man of the team, throws a grapnel

hook to the roof and starts climbing the side of the building.

GEORGE KAPLAN, the Team's graceful language expert, sees the

signal from Zamborski, and...

INT. BUILDING -- NIGHT

WHAM! The door springs open and Team Members spin inside.

TWO GUARDS dressed in green military uniforms see Zamborski,

and raise their guns to fire

Thump. Thump.

Kaplan fires his silenced 9mm sidearm at one Guard.

Thump. Thump.

Zamborski hits the other... A big red splotch on the Guard's

chest appearing before he goes down.

The Team always "double taps" (fires two rounds) a target.

Zamborski uses hand signals to give each man his search

assignment. The building is two storeys. Many doorways,

many hallways.

KAPLAN is to search all of the downstairs rooms to the left.

ZAMBORSKI will search the downstairs rooms to the right.

MACK will search upstairs rooms to the left.

TUCKER is given upstairs rooms to the right.

(CONTINUED)

3.

Tucker climbs the stairway first.

AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS

Another Guard. Thump! Thump! He goes down.

Tucker turns from the downed Guard to Mack, and gestures for

him to climb the stairs.

A hallway of closed doors in either direction. Tucker and

Mack alternate opening doors and covering for each other.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR

Zamborski and Kaplan go from door to door, searching.

A Guard comes around a corner in front of Kaplan.

Thump! Thump!

Kaplan fires twice, and the Guard goes down.

UPSTAIRS

Tucker, gun ready, pops open the door and swings inside,

ready for action. The room is empty.

Mack goes to the next door, repeating the actions. Gun ready,

he opens the door and swings inside. This room is also empty.

Tucker gets to the third door. Moments before he opens it a

GUARD comes down the hall behind them.

Mack turns and fires, the Guard goes down.... but so does

Tucker! Mack didn't even see the Guard fire his gun.

Mack hits the floor quickly, eyes scanning the hallway for a

second gunman. He crawls to Tucker, touching him.

MACK

My God.

(beat)

Tucker? Tuck? You okay? Come on, talk

to me, buddy. Tucker!

Another Guard rushes down the hall at Mack, but Mack doesn't

aim his gun. He just yells at the Guard.

MACK

Abort! Abort the exercise! We have

an injury!

The Guard lowers his gun. The Dead Guard on the floor moves

to his feet, suddenly alive, coming to help Mack and Tucker...

(CONTINUED)

4.

Suddenly, the lights go on and both Guards and Team members

come down the hall to see what's wrong with Tucker.

Some of the Guards have red paintball blasts on their chests.

A PAIR OF MEDICS in white push the Team members aside and

check out Tucker. Mack, Salazaar, Kaplan, and Cord wait at

one end of the hallway while Zamborski talks to a DOCTOR.

Zamborski comes back to the Team.

ZAMBORSKI

Appendicitis. They're taking him to

the hospital.

EXT. PENTAGON -- DAY

Aerial shot of the Pentagon. A title is supered:

"The Pentagon. May 29, 3:47 PM."

INT. PENTAGON HALLWAY -- DAY

Admiral THOMAS PERRY, the suave commander of the Fifth Fleet,

briefs the Head Of Joint Chiefs, General LARKIN. Perry is a

commanding presence, radiating control and confidence.

PERRY

Tell the President I've got a Navy

SEAL team training in Coranado for

the rescue operation.

Both Perry and Larkin have entourages. Perry's chief aid,

JANET W. HICKEY, passes Perry folders of information along

the way. Hickey looks good in uniform, but is all business.

HICKEY

Team Two. The Steel Sharks.

PERRY

They'll be ready in...

HICKEY

Two days.

PERRY

Forty eight hours.

LARKIN

That might be too late. This man has

classified information about chemical

and biological weapons...

(CONTINUED)

5.

PERRY

You can assure the President any

information Van Tassell has generated

will be destroyed.

LARKIN

I don't want any political

repercussions if....

PERRY

We're setting up a command center on

the USS Stowers in the Indian Ocean.

They continue down the hallway, Larkin fighting to keep up

with the robust Admiral and his Aid.