The Running Man

(CRAWL):

BY 2017 THE WORLD ECONOMY HAS

COLLAPSED. FOOD, NATURAL RESOURCES

AND OIL ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. A POLICE

STATE, DIVIDED INTO PARAMILITARY ZONES,

RULES WITH AN IRON HAND.

TELEVISION IS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE

AND A SADISTIC GAME SHOW CALLED

"THE RUNNING MAN" HAS BECOME THE

MOST POPULAR PROGRAM IN HISTORY.

ALL ART, MUSIC, AND COMMUNICATIONS

ARE CENSORED. NO DISSENT IS TOLERATED

AND YET A SMALL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT

HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE UNDERGROUND.

WHEN HIGH-TECH GLADIATORS ARE NOT

ENOUGH TO SUPPRESS THE PEOPLE'S

YEARNING FOR FREEDOM...

...MORE DIRECT METHODS

BECOME NECESSARY.

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND (over helicopter radio):

Yankee Nine-Niner, what are your coordinates?

BEN RICHARDS (in pilot's seat):

Zero-two-zero, flight level one-five

We're above release point Echo Bravo One.

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND:

Move in and check it out.

RICHARDS:

Roger. Moving in.

Food riot in progress.

Approximately 1,500 civilians.

No weapons evident.

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND:

Proceed with Plan Alpha.

Eliminate anything moving.

RICHARDS:

I said the crowd is unarmed.

There are lots of women and children down there.

All they want is food for God's sakes!

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND:

As you were, Richards!

Proceed with Plan Alpha. All rioters must be eliminated.

RICHARDS:

The hell with you! I will not fire on helpless people.

Abort mission. We're gonna turn back to base.

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND:

Lieutenant Sanders, do you copy?

LIEUTENANT SANDERS, IN CO-PILOT'S SEAT:

Affirmative.

BAKERSFIELD AIR COMMAND:

Take command, detain Richards and proceed as ordered.

SOLDIER #3:

Richards, what the f*ck are you doing?

Shit. Let's get him!

SOLDIER #2:

Goddamn it!

SANDERS:

Shit, we're pitching over!

I got it. I got control!

SOLDIER #1:

He said detain him. Don't drop him.

SOLDIER #3:

Richards, you're gonna fry for this.

SOLDIER #2:

And I'll see you in hell.

(CAPTION):

WILSHIRE DETENTION ZONE

18 MONTHS LATER

GUARD #1:

Come on. Keep digging.

What's the holdup?

GUARD #2:

This one's had it.

Watch the detonator.

Phew.

GUARD #1:

Get that garbage out of here.

Move!

GUARD #3:

Hey, Charlie. Did you see The Running Man last night?

CHARLIE:

I never miss it.

I even won 500 bucks.

GUARD #3

Ha. You lucky bastard.

GUARD #4:

Work crew coming through. Prisoner transfer to post.

GUARD #3:

Okay, hang on. Lenny, this is the eighth perimeter.

Fresh meat just got here. Shut down the deadline.

LENNY:

Affirmative. Shutting down now. Stand clear.

FEMALE PRISON-WIDE COMPUTERIZED ANNOUNCEMENT:

Access code pending.

Verified. Perimeter deactivated.

Sonic deadline is down.

GUARD #3:

Okay, assholes. Move it.

CHARLIE:

Let's go. Let's go.

GUARD #3:

Get out the lead or lose your head.

COMPUTERIZED ANNOUNCEMENT:

Prisoner restraint collars are disarmed.

GUARD #3:

Come on!

CHARLIE:

East perimeter here. New prisoners are all in compound. We're clear.

LENNY:

Affirmative. Activating deadline.

What are you looking at? Get outta here.

COMPUTERIZED ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sonic deadline is up.

Sonic deadline is up.

Prisoner restraint collars armed.

Prisoner restraint collars armed.

RICHARDS:

Give you a lift?

GUARD:

No. No!

WILLIAM LAUGHLIN:

Get it open!

HAROLD WEISS:

I got it, I got it!

LAUGHLIN:

Repeat the codes.

WEISS:

I did. 6 - 5 - 3. Shit! It's not working.

RICHARDS:

You're a hell of an actor, Laughlin.

LAUGHLIN:

Who was acting?

RICHARDS:

Well, you're still alive, aren't you?

LAUGHLIN:

Repeat that code.

WEISS:

Okay!

RICHARDS:

Weiss, what's the holdup? Come on!

WEISS:

The linking computer's denying the code.

Must be the walls in here are blocking the signal. It's not happening!

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