Based on concepts by Larry and Andy Wachowski, and the

motion picture, “The Matrix”.  www.thematrixtwins.com will be released

on May 3rd, which will contain comics, news, specials and much more to

support the script.  This screenplay is COPYRIGHTED and any violation

will follow applicable laws.

 

Copyright 2000.  

 

Dedicated to Vaughn Engel, Daniel Mica, Moni Mica, the Landen/Adenuga

family, and Matrix fans worldwide. 

 

                                                 

 

 

 

 

                                                 THE MATRIX: APHEX TWINS

 

                                                           

 

 

                                                            Written by

 

                                                           Parc Landen

 

 

 

                                                     Additional Concepts by

  

                                                         Helmdean Noel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 08 1999

 

 

 

           

 

 

            EXT.  BATTLE FIELD

 

The sky is a sea of green and black bile, in the

dark clouds, thunder RAGES.  The earth is torn,

wounded, and stricken.  A replication of wars “no

man’s land”.

 

Just then the SHRIEK of LIGHT pierces through the

raging sky, revealing a futuristic hovercraft.  It’s

exhaust shooting out a turbo of burning white fire.

 

The craft begins to descend, slowly.  It lands to the

            ground and a door to the side opens like that of an

            airplane.

 

Rushing out are humans, soldiers, dressed in heavily

            armored futuristic combat suits. Their heads covered

            by fighter pilot like head gear, their mouths covered

            by a snorkel like trunk that attaches to a breathing

            apparatus.  In their hands, futuristic plasma guns.

 

A leading human points to a hill located a few miles

            away, the others nod.  Just then the humans combat

            suits release jet pack wings.

 

The wings release a boost of white fire as the

humans shoot up into the air.

 

           

            EXT.  HILL SIDE

 

The human’s hover to the ground, they begin

walking up hill.  The top of hill shoots upward,

blanketing the other side.

           

            A growing SOUND can be heard, the quiet

SCREAM of a computer reaching another.

 

            The humans begin loading their guns.

 

They continue walking, this time in slower, cautious

            steps.  They walk closer and closer, their eyes on

            everything.

 

            To the ground, they find human bones and skulls

            scattered all over the place.  A reminder of the war

of yesteryear.

 

Closer, closer, closer, closer, the computer like

            scream gets louder.  CLOSER, CLOSER, CLOSER...

BAM!

 

A group of mechanical animals, SENTINELS, that

at once look dangerously beautiful.  

 

            The humans begin firing, comet SURGES of

PLASMA that shoot out into the air.

 

Smartly, the sentinels evade every shot, darting

left and right, gliding like killer kaleidoscopes.

 

            They ATTACK with deadly speed, releasing red

laser beams from their whipping tentacles.

 

            The battle begins.

 

            One of the soldiers begins to run away.  Just then a

            sentinel POUNDS on top him, and severs him into

two.

 

            Blood SPURTS from every direction, human limbs

SWORDED off by their mechanical enemies.

 

The fight is over before it starts. 

 

           

            INT.  HOVERCRAFT

 

            Out of the front window of the hovercraft, a younger

            MAN looks out at the horrific battleground, he wears

a headset.  He is NICO.

 

            His face is hardened in anger.

 

            A MAN’s voice emits from his headset.

 

                                                            WORM (MAN) (V.O.)

                                    We have to get out of here.

 

 

            INT.  BATTLE FIELD

 

            We watch as the crafts exhaust releases a burst of

            white fire, hovering off the ground.  A few feet later

            in blazing speed, the craft ZOOMS towards the black

            sky.

 

A sentinel notices the craft and chases after it.  It’s

            tendrils whipping in the air, each beautifully coming to

            life in hypnotic movements.

 

A huge gun located on the side of the craft shoots

            plasma out like an uzi.  The sentinel DARTS left and

            right, evading the balls of electricity. 

 

            Plasma wraps against metal, as a stream of electricity

            surrounds the sentinel.  BOOM!  The sentinel explodes

            in a raging blue fire.

 

The craft releases another boost of white fire, it

            enters the sea of black bile, disappearing.

 

           

            INT.  NICO’S ROOM - CLOSE UP ON COMPUTER SCREEN 

 

            A flowing river of data spreads down the screen.

 

            We move AWAY to find, Nico, staring aimlessly into

the screen.

 

            The door opens and a MAN walks in, he is CABLE.

 

            Nico swivels around, facing Cable.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    This can’t continue.  We are

                                    dying out there.

 

                                                            CABLE

                                    We need a miracle.

 

            Cable sits in a dark corner across from Nico.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    The Oracle.

 

                                                            CABLE

                                    The Oracle is a myth.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    I don’t know, but if we want

                                    to win we have to find him.

 

            Nico gets up.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    I am going in.

 

              

           

            INT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE

 

            Inside ROOM 708, a room that looks like it hasn’t

been touched for years.

           

            Nico stands in front of a table, which carries a circle

            of old black phones.  He wears a long black coat and

            circular mirrored sunglasses.

           

            In his hand he holds a receiver.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Secure an exit.

 

                                                            WORM (V.O.)

                                    Yes, sir.

 

            He hangs up.

 

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE - NIGHT 

 

            Nico walks out of the back entrance of the forgotten

            hotel, located in the heart of urban maggotry.  Waiting

            for him in the putrid darkness is a sporty silver BMW

            sedan, it’s engine muttering in the cold night.

 

            He opens the back door and enters.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

           

The silver BMW comes to a halt, the back door swings

            open and Nico steps out.  Heading towards stairs that

            lead to an elevator.

 

            Next to the elevator, a MAN sits, dressed in all black,

            reading a newspaper.

           

            Nico nods at the Man, the Man nods back.

 

            The elevator door opens and he walks in.

 

           

            INT.  ELEVATOR

 

            The elevator stops at the seventh floor, the doors

slide open.  Walking out into the hall he is approached

by a WOMAN.

 

                                                PRIESTESS (WOMAN)

                                    Can I help you?

 

            Nico takes off his sunglasses.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    I am here to see the Oracle.

 

            The priestess nods.

 

                                                            PRIESTESS

                                    Come with me.

 

            She leads Nico towards a door located on the right of

            the hall.  She opens the door revealing an empty room.

 

                                                            PRIESTESS

                                    Wait here.  He will see you soon.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Nico stands patiently, in the empty room.  The walls

            are covered by tarnished wallpaper, the wooden

floor covered by dingy polyester carpet.

 

            To his right is an open window.

 

            Across the street, in another building, in a ROOM,

he sees a beautiful long-haired WOMAN peacefully

making a bed.

 

                                                            OLD MAN (V.O.)

                                    Non-believer.

 

            He turns away from the window to notice an OLD

MAN, sitting, staring at him.

 

                                                           

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    Nico.  Sit.

 

            He looks back at the ROOM, the woman has

disappeared and the light of the ROOM is out.  It all

felt like a dream.

 

            Nico lowers, sitting.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Are you? --

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    Yes.

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    Give me your hand.

 

            Nico puts out his hand.

 

            The old man looks at it, examining it as if it were an

            insect.

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    You definitely have something.  But

                                    you have to believe, if you want

                                    anything to happen.

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    Open your mouth.

 

            Nico opens his mouth.

 

            The old man looks deep down his throat, then sits

back down.

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    First you have to find yourself,

                                    most importantly, him.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Who?

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    Your other half, Nico.

 

            Nico is confused.

 

                                                            OLD MAN

                                    We’ve run out of time Nico, your

enemies are drawing closer.  Go. 

Now.  Before it’s too late.

 

            Nico rises to his feet.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Good bye.

 

            The old man nods.

                                     

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE 

 

            The silver BMW pulls up to the back entrance of the

            hotel.  The back door swings open and Nico walks out.

 

           

            INT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE

 

            One of the phones on the circle of phones begins to

            RING.  The door opens and Nico walks in.

 

            He picks up the receiver.

 

            We TURN towards a window.  Outside on a broken

            street light we see the flicker of fluorescent light.

 

            We TURN around.

 

            Nico has disappeared.

 

           

            EXT.  MAYFAIR PLAZA - NIGHT

 

            The central offices of Mayfair Systems, a software

            development company.

 

           

            INT.  OFFICE

 

The deserted office is almost devoid of furniture. 

            There is a half-damaged wooden table, a chair, and

a computer.  The only light in the room comes from

the glowing ray of the computer screen.

 

            Sitting in front of the computer is a MAN, dressed

            in all black and wearing a headset.  He is RC.

 

            His hands race over the keyboard.

 

                                                            RC

                                    They are looking for something.

 

            A voice emits from RC’s headset.

 

                                                            NICO (V.O.)

                                    I thought so.

 

            A swarm of TV like STATIC spreads through the

screen, freezing the tracing program.

 

                                                            RC

                                    What’s happening?

 

                                                            NICO (V.O.)

                                    It’s a glitch.

 

                                                            RC

                                    Damn.

                                               

                                                            NICO (V.O.)

                                    No time to wait.  Get out.

 

            RC takes off the headset and then races for the door.

 

           

            INT.  ST. REGIS HOTEL 

 

            The lobby of the hotel is drenched with an

overflowing ambiance of wealth.  Out of an elevator,

AGENT HUNT and AGENT COLE walk out.

           

            Dressed in dark suits, sunglasses, and hardwired

            always by Secret Service earpieces in one ear.  It’s

            cord coiling back into their shirt collars.

 

            A nerve twitches and Agent Hunt stops, touching his

            earpiece.

 

           

            INT.  HALL

 

            RC paces through the hall of the hollow building.

            There are no doors.

 

                                                            RC

                                    Shit.

 

           

            INT.  ST. REGIS HOTEL

 

            Agent Cole glances over at Hunt.

 

                                                            AGENT COLE

                                    Mayfair Plaza.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Mr. Xavier.

 

           

            INT.  HALL

 

            RC walks towards the circular railing, looking over

            he sees the ground floor.  The building vertigos

down into a marble chasm.

 

            He takes a few steps back, preparing himself. 

Releasing a small cry then running, he leaps into

the air, over the railing.

 

            In an uncanny gracefulness he falls in slow motion,

            erasing gravity from itself. 

                                   

            Seconds later he drops to the ground.

 

           

            INT.  GROUND FLOOR

 

                                                            COP (O.S.)

                                    Freeze motherfucker!

 

            We TURN around to find four armed cops.  Guns

thrust before them.        

 

            RC smiles.

 

           

            EXT.  ST. REGIS HOTEL - NIGHT

 

            Walking out of revolving doors are Agent Hunt and

            Agent Cole.  AGENT STONE approaches them,

who looks no different than they do.

 

                                                            AGENT STONE

                                    The search has already begun.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    How many units?

 

                                                            AGENT STONE

                                    Four.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    That won’t be enough.

           

           

            INT.  GROUND FLOOR

 

                                                            COP

                                    Don’t move!

 

            The cops move cautiously CLOSER.  They think they

have got their catch, they have practiced this a million

and one times, one of them reaches over until --  

           

            The eye blinks and RC moves, fast, so blindingly fast. 

            He runs towards a wall behind him.

 

            He begins walking on the wall, every step followed by

            a trail of bullets that SHATTER their way into the

            marble wall.

 

            Leaping off, the cops watch jaw-slacked as he lands

            behind them.

 

            The mind still dazed, a jaw snapping roundhouse kick

finds it’s way into a cop’s face .  Which sends him flying

in incomparable speed into another.

 

            In clear panic, the other two air their guns, fixed

            black holes --

 

            And begin firing.

 

            Twisting out of the way, the bullets don’t come close

as RC leaps into the air and gives another a kick to

his wind pipe.

 

            A rushing gush of blood shoots out of his mouth,

quenching his scream.  He is dead before he knows it.

 

            The last Cop begins to scream as throwing stars twist

            in the air in edge cutting speed -- 

 

            His scream dies as they bury themselves into his

chest.

 

           

            EXT.  ST. REGIS HOTEL - VIEW FROM ROOF

 

            Looking downwards, on a sidewalk adjacent of

the hotel, we see the three agents enter a black sedan

with tinted windows.  Driving off, they are followed by a

fleet of police cruisers.

 

           

EXT.  MAYFAIR PLAZA

 

            The glass door of the main entrance to the skyscraper

            opens and RC walks out.

 

            A CELLULAR begins to RING.

 

            He pulls out a small cell phone.

 

                                                            WORM (V.O.)

                                    Operator.

 

                                                            RC

                                    I need an exit.

 

                                                            WORM (V.O.)

                                    I am looking.

 

            The sound of keyboard clatter emits from the phone.

 

                                                            WORM (V.O.)

                                    Got one.  Lexington Square, a

                                    mechanical store about a mile

                                    away.

 

                                                            RC

                                    Trans?

 

                                                            WORM (V.O.)

                                    Motorcycle.  A block away, its

                                    yours.

 

            RC looks to his far right.

 

            A block away he notices, parked, a stylish black

racing motorcycle.

 

                                                            RC

                                    Right.  See you on the other

                                    side.

 

            CLICK.  Worm is off-line.

 

           

            INT.  BLACK SEDAN

 

            In the black sedan Agent Cole and Agent Stone sit

in front while Agent Hunt sits behind.

 

            Cole touches his earpiece.

 

                                                            AGENT COLE

                                    He is moving.

 

            Agent Hunt looks out the window.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Lexington Square.

           

           

EXT.  STREET

 

            The ROARING SCREAM of a motor engine can be

heard.  Seconds later, RC passes us, tearing down

the street on the motorcycle.

 

           

            INT.  ALLEY

 

            The black sedan containing the agents turns into a

dark alley, followed by the police cruisers.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            A malfunctioning traffic light keeps an ever growing

            number of cars in traffic.  RC turns into the street,

            meeting the traffic.

 

            The feel of fear POUNDS his heart.  Slowly he turns

around --

 

To find the black sedan and the fleet of police cruisers,

            waiting, patiently.  The doors of the black sedan swing

            open and the three agents step out.

 

                                                            RC

                                    Fuck.

 

            RC steps off the motorcycle.  The agents and a few

cops begin running towards him.

 

            The chase begins.

 

Running a few feet before leaping into the air, RC

lands on top of a car, his movement clean in execution.

           

            Roof tops of cars become landing surfaces as RC

jumps from one car top to another.  Gliding in and out

of each movement.

 

            Horns begin honking as people frantically stick their

            heads out of car windows, yelling, screaming and

            swearing.

           

            Behind him the agents begin firing.

 

            Bullets pierce through the rear window of a taxi,

            creating spider web like cracks.

 

            The agents begin leaping from car top to car top.

            Surprisingly their movements hold the same grace as

RC’s, diverging from those of the cops, which are wild

and graceless.                                      

           

           

INT.  BUS STOP

 

            A young MAN waits at a bus stop, he wears

headphones and punk-rock clothing.

 

            An empty bus pulls up to the bus stop.  It’s doors

            slide open and the Man walks in through the back

door.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            A COP slips from the top of a yellow taxi, his face

            SMACKING against the rooftop as a pool of blood

drains from is nose.

 

           

            INT.  BUS STOP

 

            The ROARING engine of the bus revs up as it’s

exhaust releases a cloud of black smoke, speeding

down the street.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            RC reaches the front of traffic, he sees his target. 

            Behind him the ever present sound of gunshots

continue.

 

            Way behind, the cops begin to slow down.

 

            RC’s face remains calm as he centers himself,

zeroing in on the empty street before him. 

ROCKETING of a car top, he levels into the air.

 

                                                            COP

                                    Sweet Jeezus.

 

            The jump is completely inhuman in nature, hanging

in flight.  At the same time the world around him

begins to spin as the earth beneath him flows.

 

           

EXT.  APPLAINCE STORE

           

            A WOMAN walks out of an appliance store, her

eyebrows pierced.  Her big brown eyes fix on RC.

 

                                                            WOMAN

                                    What the...

 

 

EXT.  STREET

           

            The bus races across the street.  Time freezes as

RC SLAMS like a hammer on a nail onto the

roof top, bleeding and broken, but alive.  He turns

around to notice the agents staring at him as the

bus zooms him past a building.

           

           

            INT.  BUS - CLOSE UP ON BOOT

                                                                

            Moments later, we focus on the boots of the young

            Man.  The Man begins to SCREAM as --

 

            A swarm of spreading STATIC wraps over the boot,

then his body.  The flowing river of static continues as

the boot morphs into a black loafer.

 

            We move AWAY to find Agent Hunt rising to his feet.

 

            Rubber BURNS and smoke rises, the bus comes to a

            SCREECHING stop.  The BUS DRIVER turns around.

 

                                                            BUS DRIVER

                                    Hey!  What are you doing?

 

            We hear another scream of static and Agent Cole

emerges from the drivers seat.

 

            Hunt looks up.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Good-bye Mr. Xavier.

 

           

            The two agents pull out guns and begin firing at the

            roof.  They stop as we notice blood streaming through

            the bullet holes.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            On top of the bus, RC lays in a pool of blood, dead.

 

            The front door of the bus slides open, Agent Hunt and

            Agent Cole step out.  Agent Stone waits for them in

front of the bus.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    The next target?

 

                                                            AGENT STONE

                                    Sector 12.

           

                                                            AGENT COLE

                                    The name is Nix.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    We will need to make contact.

 

           

            EXT.  MAYFAIR PLAZA 

 

Laying on the ground in front of the glass doors we

            notice RC’s cell phone, flashing with green light. 

            The line is ALIVE.

 

            We lower downwards as we are SUCKED TOWARDS

the earpiece of the cell phone.  CLOSER and CLOSER

until the smooth black plastic begins to expand.  The

LITTLE holes WIDEN as we fall through one, entering

an absolute darkness.

 

            We begin to be SUCKED OUTWARDS, drawing AWAY

and AWAY.   The LITTLE holes of a receiver begin to

NARROW as we travel out of one.

                                                            NICO

                                    We ‘re in.

 

            Drawing farther AWAY we notice Nico, standing in

the hotel.

 

            He hangs up.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION - NIGHT

 

            Nico and a WOMAN step out of a sporty silver BMW

sedan, she is dressed in black leather, her name is

AMP. 

 

            Walking down a few stairs they meet EXODUS,

reading a newspaper, the Man Nico saw the last time

he paid a visit.

 

            Exodus nods at Nico.

 

            The elevator doors slide open and Nico and Amp enter.

 

           

            INT.  HALL

 

            DING!  The elevator doors open on the seventh floor

and Nico and Amp walk out.

 

            The priestess once again approaches them.

 

                                                            PRIESTESS

                                    Hello, Nico.  Follow me.

 

            Nico takes off his sunglasses, then looks back at Amp.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Wait here.

 

            Nico follows the priestess towards the end of the hall.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Sitting on the floor, legs crossed, they find a little

BOY, meditating.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Where is the Oracle?

 

                                                            PRIESTESS

                                    That’s him, the last of the

                                    potentials.  They were about

                                    to kill him until Exodus

                                    saved him.  That’s why he is

                                    so special to us.  Now I

                                    hope you understand why?

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Yes.

 

            The priestess leaves the room.  Nico walks closer,

            just then the Oracle’s eyes open.

 

                                                            ORACLE (BOY)

                                    Hello, Nico.

 

            Nico walks towards the Oracle, then sits.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    You are here because you

                                    don’t know who it is.

 

            Nico nods.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Come with me.

 

            The Oracle rises, taking hold of Nico’s hand and

            guiding him towards the window.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Look.

 

            Looking through the window, the ROOM he noticed

            before across the street is dark and empty.  It

            seems the ROOM has been plagued by a fire, that

has licked it’s way through the room, spilling thick

            soot all the way up to the ceiling, leaving traces of

permanent shadow.

            

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Close your eyes.

 

            Nico’s eyes shut.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Open them.

 

           

            INT.  HOSPITAL - DAY

 

            Nico’s eyes open to find himself in the hallway of

a HOSPITAL, were commotion is heavy.  Through

all the panic, Nico and the Oracle remain

unnoticed, invisible.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Follow me.

 

            Nico looks to his right.  He sees a NURSE carting

a tray which carries bloody dissecting utensils. 

Hanging off them are pieces of bloody human

tissue.

 

            Walking, they turn into a door marked:  “Delivery

            Room”.

 

            To the left of the hall they find a DELIVERY ROOM,

            where a WOMAN is giving birth.  Looking through

the window, Nico recognizes the Woman, the

Woman who was in the ROOM.

           

She is clearly in pain.  DOCTORS and NURSES

nervously try to calm her down, but the PAIN is

unbearable.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Who is she?

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Don’t ask when you already

                                    know.

 

            Nico draws closer, feeling the cool of the window.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    ANGEL.

 

            Sliding through Angel’s womb, pinkish in color and

            covered in blood is a BABY.

 

            Nico looks at the CRYING BABY while a Nurse wraps

a white towel around it, he recognizes the child.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    That’s me.

 

            Angel’s eyes shut as she passes out.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    It’s not over.  Now I will show you

your answer.

 

            The Oracle and Nico begin walking down the hall, Nico

            looks back at the delivery room.  It’s empty.

 

            They walk into a dimly lit EMERGENCY ROOM, where

            SURGEON’S are busily at work.  The room is as

silent as an empty coffin buried a 100 feet below the

EARTH; nuclear silence.

 

            Walking up closer, behind the surgeons, they see

on the emergency table; lying down, eyes shut,

ANGEL.

           

            Her abdomen is cut open, revealing a few of her body

            organs.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    This can’t be real.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Real is what you make of it.

 

            Suddenly the crying SCREAM of a BABY can be

heard as a Surgeon pulls out another baby from

Angel’s womb.

 

            This time the baby is DARK in color.  The face of the

            surgeon’s cross in disbelief.

 

            The surgeon looks at the baby in his hands.

 

                                                            SURGEON

                                    Holy fuckin’ shit!

 

            The Oracle walks up behind Nico.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    That’s your answer.

 

            Just then a female VOICE begins to grow from a

distance, each time getting CLEARER.  Waking us

up as if we were in a dream.

 

                                                            AMP (V.O.)

                                    Nico!

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Nico turns around to find himself in the Shrine.  Amp

            stands in front of the door.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    There ‘re here.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

 

            The black sedan pulls up in front of the entrance of

            the Temple, followed by a fleet of police cruisers. 

            The doors swing open and the three agents step out.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            The Oracle looks at Nico.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    You must go now or you will die.

           

                                                            NICO

                                    What about you?

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Don’t worry about me, worry

                                    about yourself.  Remember, you

have to believe.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

 

            A LIEUTENANT walks up in front of the agents.

 

                                                            LIEUTENANT

                                    Yes, sir.

 

            Hunt looks down at the stairs leading to the TEMPLE.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Follow the orders you were

                                    given Lieutenant.

 

                                                           

                                                            LIEUTENANT

                                    Yes, sir.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Nico walks towards the window, looking down below

he sees the cops flooding in through the back

entrance.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Let’s go.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

 

            Agent Stone starts for the back entrance, while Agent

            Hunt and Agent Cole begin walking down the stairs

that lead to the temple.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Nico and Amp leave the Shrine, leaving a meditating

            Oracle behind.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

           

            Agent Hunt and Agent Cole meet Exodus, standing in

the entrance.

 

                                                            EXODUS

                                    Can I help you?

 

            His words are met by the cold METAL of bullets as his

            body drops to the ground.

 

            The agents walk over Exodus, heading for the elevator. 

            They are about to enter when --

 

            In a spreading like form Exodus’s chest begins to

            SPLIT open.  Implanted inside his robotic chest, are

            two guns which stick out like exhaust pipes.

 

            Agent Hunt’s molars set in frustration.

 

            Exodus begins to buck left and right as he releases

            exploding bullets that perforate the entrance, bullets

            RICHOCETING and PING-PONGING off the walls.

 

            Bullets STRIKE into Agent Hunt’s body, plummeting

him to the ground.

 

            Then Agent Cole begins to fire, but he is no match for

            Exodus; the bullets are everywhere.  An array of bullets

            bury themselves into his body as it jack-knifes back onto

the  floor.

 

            A spreading flash of mercurial light covers the two

            agents bodies, revealing two dead cops.

 

           

            INT.  EMERGENCY EXIT

           

            Looking downward we watch as the cops climb their

way up the stairs, their flashlights periscope the area.

 

           

            INT.  BEDROOM

 

            Nico and Amp walk into a BEDROOM.  In the center

of  the room lays a shagged rug which covers a metal

panel that leads to an escape route.

 

            BOOM!  Nico fires at the lock and then opens the panel. 

            They both look down into the deep dark space.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

 

            Exodus’s chest SPREADS inwards, returning back to

place.  He turns around to notice --

 

            Agent Hunt and Agent Cole, standing behind him,

sunglasses and suits intact.

 

            In blurred speed Agent Hunt attacks Exodus with a

fury of serious blows.  Then grabbing him by his shirt

collar and lifting him into the air with one hand.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Pathetic.

 

            Agent Hunt grabs Exodus’s right arm and RIPS it out,

            creating a firework of sparking wires.

 

           

INT.  EMERGENCY EXIT 

           

            Behind the moving cops, Agent Stone touches his

earpiece, hearing what is going on.

 

           

            INT.  BEDROOM           

 

            Nico jumps into the darkness, his coat flying open like

            the wings of a manta ray.  It seems he might fall forever

            until he CRASHES through, with an EXPLOSION of

WOOD and GLASS, SLAMMING onto the floor as a

cloud of dust rises.

 

           

            INT.  STORAGE ROOM

 

            He finds himself in an old STORAGE ROOM which

contains an electrical generator that hasn’t run for years.

 

            Seconds later, DROPPING down like a disconnected

elevator, Amp lands to the ground.

 

           

            INT.  HALL

           

            The emergency exit door of the 7th floor BURSTS open

and a flood of cops come pouring in, scouring the area

as they ready themselves on either side of the hall.

           

            The floor is empty.

 

            The ELEVETOR “DINGS” softly, the doors slide open

and Agent Hunt and Agent Cole walk out.

 

            To the left of the hall they find Agent Stone marching

            towards them.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Where are they?

 

                                                            AGENT STONE

                                    They have been lost.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Find them.

 

           

            INT.  SEWER

 

            BURSTING through a wooden door, Nico and Amp

fall onto a sewage tunnel.

 

            Racing their way down through the man-made river

into the slimy darkness.

 

           

INT.  BEDROOM

     

            The three agents walk into the room, finding the

opened metal panel.

 

            Agent Hunt looks down into the dark space,

disgusted.

     

            Agent Cole glances at Agent Hunt.

 

                                                            AGENT COLE

                                    What do we do?

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Secure the area.  We haven’t

                                    lost them yet.

 

           

            INT.  SHRINE

 

            Moments later a BIG COP stands in front of the

window, looking at the ROOM in the other building

as he gluttonously bites on a jam donut.

 

            In the ROOM he sees himself, sitting in front of a

            television, half-naked.

 

            Another COP walks into the SHRINE.

 

            The Big Cop blinks his eyes in disbelief.

 

                                                            BIG COP

                                    Hey Arnie.  Come see this.

 

            The other Cop walks up behind him, looking at the

ROOM.

 

                                                            COP

                                    What?

 

            The Big Cop looks at the other Cop, then he looks

back.  The ROOM is dark and empty, a dream.

 

                                                            BIG COP

                                    Nothing.

 

           

            EXT.  TEMPLE OF ZION

 

            Exodus’s severed body lays on the ground, in front

of the elevator, the wires in his arms continually

spark on and off.

 

            Suddenly his CHEST SPLITS open, he is ALIVE.

We draw CLOSER as we notice a tiny screen

within the intricate wires of his mechanical chest.

           

            The screen reads:  “Self-destruct”.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Outside a source less wind begins to rise, carrying

the brute force of a miniature earthquake. Windows

EXPLODE out of their frames as the earth begins

to SHAKE.

 

           

            INT.  HALL

           

            The two Cops walk out of the Shrine, heading

down the hall.  BOOM!  Below them they hear the

faint sound of an explosion as the building begins

to RATTLE.

 

                                                            BIG COP

                                    What the hell was that!

 

            The door of the emergency exit of the seventh floor

            flies open and a RAGING river of fire comes flooding

in.

 

                                                            COP

                                    Fuck!

 

            The cops begin running towards the end of the hall

as the fire continues to SPREAD, like a SWARM of

locusts, CONSUMING everything in it’s path.  They

both look back as they are SWALLOWED by the

RAGING fire.  The fire continues to SPREAD until it

almost consumes us --

 

                                                                                                CUT TO BLACK.

           

           

            FADE IN ON:

           

            COMPUTER SCREEN

           

So close, too close for comfort.

 

            A blinking cursor throbs in the electrical darkness

            like a beating heart, each time giving off an electric

            pulse that spreads beneath the dark neon glass.

 

            The cursor beats relentlessly as data slices unto the

            screen, information flashing on in the speed of light.

 

                                                            SCREEN

                                    Trace program:  running.

                                   

                                                            SCREEN

                                    <DIR:  Sector 14 COMM:  Search>

 

            The screen fills with columns of shimmering numbers.

 

            The cursor races down the electric-green columns as

            it searches through the screen.

 

            At the top corner numbers fill in, snapping into place.

 

            We begin to DRAW CLOSER, as the cursor slashes

down, filtering through the data as it deciphers the

            information.

 

            Only a few more numbers left as more slot into place.

 

            Only one thin digit left.

 

            The final number slots into place.

 

                                                            SCREEN

                                    Trace complete.  Search complete.

                                    TDP#:  212-763-2486

 

            We MOVE CLOSER, the green numbers racing in

an electric frenzy as we PASS THROUGH the

numbers, entering the world of the computer screen.

 

            Suddenly the red neon light of the CLUB MATRIX

sign cuts through the darkness.

 

           

            EXT.  CLUB MATRIX - NIGHT

 

            A yellow taxi stops in front of the main entrance of

the club and a younger MAN steps out, his name is

NIX, the net Ranger.  A man who knows more about

a computer than a computer does itself.

 

           

            INT.  CLUB MATRIX

 

            Inside the club, the air is veiled by a thick smog of

            smoke which blurs the few lights there are.

 

            Everybody is dressed in black, this is a club for the

            hacker elite.

 

            Dark figures crowd around each other, grinding to the

            heart throbbing beat of INDUSTRIAL MUSIC.

 

            At the extreme end of the club, Nix makes his way

            through a door guarded by two big bouncers.

 

           

INT.  REVEREND’S PLACE

 

            He walks into an humongous room-like library.  Filled

            with ever growing towers that contain racks of books.

 

            He turns into a row, walking a while until turning

            into a dark corner.

 

            There he finds a bald-headed MAN, REVEREND,

sitting in front of a table.  He has a thick raspy voice.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    Your late.

 

            Nix ignores him.

 

            He pulls out a small plexiglas case which contains

            a tiny disc.

           

            We read the note on the case as he hands to

Reverend, it reads:  “Seven Plagues”

                                                           

                                                            NIX

                                    That’s the anti-virus.

 

            Reverend opens a bulging metallic briefcase filled

            with neatly stacked wads of hundred dollar bills.

 

            He pulls out a wad and hands it to Nix.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    This never happened.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    I know.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    Are you alright?  You look

                                    a little beat up.  Sure you

                                    don’t want to hang out.

 

            Nix looks at the table, he sees syringes full of mescaline. 

            The ROOM TILTS.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    No.  No thanks.

 

           

            INT.  CLUB MATRIX

 

            Nix walks out of REVEREND’S PLACE into the club,

he melts away as he makes his way through the

shifting wall of bodies.

 

 

INT.  REVEREND’S PLACE

 

It is four a.m. and Reverend is at his table.  In front

of him are two powerbook computers which are both

connected to cell phones, and a cocked .45.

 

On one of the computers he types in a long access

code sequence.  The computer responds.

 

                                                SCREEN

                        2-16-99  04:05:12  REC: Del>

Call origin:  212-734-2451

User Identified:  Arthur Norton

Account Balance:  $10,000,000

Status:  Active

 

            Reverend smiles to himself, he’s got a lot of money.

 

            He turns to the other computer were a custom-made

virus application is running the “Seven Plagues”

virus.   He types in a series of codes after various

sequences, he waits.

 

The computer responds with shimmering columns

containing member account balances from a bank.

 

                                                REVEREND

                        Come to papa.

 

He types in a few more codes, then waits.

 

A beat, the computer responds.

 

                                                SCREEN

                                    Status:  transaction in process

 

            Reverend looks at the computer containing his

account balance and the figure begins to increase.

 

                                                SCREEN

                        10,000,000… 12,567,890…

12,473,765… 15,887,544…

 

            On the other computer, the account balances

begin to decrease.

 

Reverend leans back, sinking into his chair.

 

 

INT.  WOMAN’S CUBICLE

 

The entire floor looks like a human network,

with labyrinths of cubicles structured around a

core of elevators.

 

It’s really late and a WOMAN is working

overtime, the cubical drone entering data into a

spreadsheet program.

 

She is about to type into a field when a spread of

TV like STATIC swarms the screen, then the

computer slowly dies.

 

                                                WOMAN

                        What the fuck!

                                   

           

            INT.  BALCONY - DAY

           

A humongous balcony located inside Reverend’s

place.

 

            Looking half-dead, Reverend and a few others lay

            scattered around.  Their bodies and minds filled

            with mescaline.

 

            On a table, next to a laptop, we find; DOZENS of

empty syringes, trays filled with rolled up hundred

dollar bills, and neatly cut rows of cocaine.

 

            Suddenly the growing DRUM BEAT of BOOT-STEPS

can be heard, POUNDING the rooftop.

 

            Reverend wakes, alerting the others.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    Wake up!

 

            A WOMAN is first to wake, she is CATE.  Then a

MAN, he is REX.

 

                                                            CATE

                                    What?

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    Can’t you hear it?

 

            They listen closer as the BOOT-STEPS begin to grow

            ominously louder, closing around them.

 

                                                            REX

                                    Holy shit.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    The crates.

 

            Moments later, everyone is arming themselves with

guns taken from metallic crates, snapping and

cocking.

 

                                                            REX

                                    What the fuck is this all

                                    about?

 

            Reverend cocks a gun.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    The virus.

 

           

INT.  REVEREND’S PLACE

 

Reverend and the rest of the group spread out

amongst the towers of books, waiting.

 

            Rex pulls out a syringe full of mescaline.  He jams

it into his arm as he pushes down, he doesn’t want

to die.

 

                                                            REX

                                    Hell yes.

 

            Reverend looks up at the glass ceiling, hearing the

            staccato blades of a helicopter.

 

                                                            REVEREND

                                    Here it comes.

 

            Windows EXPLODE as heavily armed men come

pouring in, looking more mechanical than human.

 

            Flashlights cut their way through the darkness as the

            police force makes their way down the rows of towers.

 

            The group remains calm, except for Rex, whose eyes

            are powder white.  The mescaline is sipping into him.

 

            A COP walks down a row, his finger gently wrapping

            around the trigger.  He walks until he notices --

 

            Rex, spasming, jerking left and right as if he were

            going through a seizure.

 

                                                            COP

                                    There here!  There here!

 

            The cops begin firing.  The fight begins.

 

            The group begins firing.  A cacophony of GUN FIRE

            rises as they all exchange bullets that pock-mark

the racks of books.

 

            Reverend ducks for cover as the RAGING bullets

surround him.

 

            Cate darts across a row, then turning into an

            intersecting hall, where she crouches to the ground.

 

            A COP walks out of a row, where he is met by the

muted spit of a silencer.  Cate rushes over and grabs

his gun and then SHOOTS to the end of the hall.

 

            The COPS continue to PRESS on as the lay waste

to more members of the group, BULLETS POUNDING

and RIPPING their bodies into pieces.

 

            Reverend pulls out two guns and makes his way down

a row, he turns into the hall where he finds more cops. 

            He begins firing, STRAFING, ROUNDS OF AMMO

SPITTING out as he sends cops flying for cover.

 

            The door that connects to the club KNIFES open

and flash lighted gas-masked cops come pouring.

 

            GRENADE LAUNCHERS fire out metal canisters,

smoke clouding the air.  The smoke rises before Cate,

she sees her enemies surrounding her.

 

            Cate opens fire but she is only armed with a handgun. 

She screams as DOZENS OF GUNS begin firing at

her, ripping her apart.

 

            Reverend hears the dying scream and races out of a

row, CHARGING with a FISTFUL OF RAGING METAL

as bullets pierce their way into cops chests.

 

            Agent Hunt walks out of a row, finding a COP lying

in a pool of blood.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Are orders that hard to follow?

 

            Reverend runs out of a row, crosses across a hall and

            runs into a row in front of him.

 

            Agent Hunt yanks out a gun and begins firing at a

            target only he can see.  BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM!

 

            Agent Hunt and Agent Cole walk out of a row to find --

 

            Reverend lying in a pool of blood, dead.

 

            Agent Cole examines the corpse.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Have you traced the origin?

 

                                                            AGENT COLE

                                    Yes, sector 12.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Our next target.

 

            Agent Hunt walks away.

 

           

            INT.  NIX’S APARTMENT

 

            It is an apartment filled with spore technology.

 

            Jungle-like cables wire in and out of everywhere,

            wrapping around legs of a few desks.

 

            We turn towards a corner in this habitat of technology

            to find Nix asleep on a bed.

 

            The PHONE RINGS.

 

            Suddenly his eyes flutter open, the PHONE

CONTINUES TO RING, dragging him out of his bed,

swallowing him like a black hole.

 

            He answers it, half-asleep.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Hello.

 

            A WOMAN is on the other end, she is MENAGE.

 

                                                            MENAGE (V.O.)

                                    I called to warn you Ethan.

 

            Nix wipes the drowsiness off his face.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    About what?

 

            She grows silent for a while.

 

                                                            MENAGE (V.O.)

                                    The virus, they caught Reverend

                                    using it and they wasted him.  I

                                    couldn’t believe it until I saw

                                    it for my self.

 

            Her words POUND him, his heart almost bursting.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    What!

 

                                                            MENAGE (V.O.)

                                    They traced it and now I think

                                    they want you.  I suggest you

                                    don’t stay home tonight.

 

            Nix looks out the window, the rising sun is becoming

            blindingly bright.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    When?

 

                                                            MENAGE (V.O.)

                                    Early this morning.  Be careful

                                    Ethan, your the only one we have

                                    left.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    I know.

 

            CLICK.  Ménage is off-line.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET - DAY

           

            The streets are busy.  Cars are moving, people are

            moving.

 

            Amongst the moving crowd of people we notice Nix,

his face hidden beneath a hood.

 

           

            EXT.  CLUB MATRIX

 

            Agent Hunt stands outside the club, watching Cops

            taking out body bags and loading them into black

vans.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Nix sees the body bags and realizes the seriousness

of the situation.  He has just landed in a pit of shit.

 

           

            EXT.  CLUB MATRIX

 

            Agent Hunt begins heading towards the black sedan

when he stops, looking around he sees --

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Nix, fast-walking his way through people, he is trying

            to get away.

 

            Nix looks behind him to see Agent Hunt stepping

towards him.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Damn it.

 

            He begins running, like a mad man, barreling through

            people.

 

            He stops as he realizes something --

 

            The agents are everywhere and nowhere.

 

            He looks to his right to find Agent Hunt standing in

            a crowd of moving people.  Straight ahead he sees

Agent Cole.  To his far right he sees Agent Stone

stepping out of a convenience store.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Shit!

 

           

            INT.  INTERROGATION ROOM

 

            In a dark gray room, Nix sits alone at a table.

 

            The door opens and the agents enter including another

            agent, AGENT WHITE.

 

            Agent Hunt sits down across from Nix.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    You are a tough man to keep

                                    track on Mr. Alexander.  One

                                    minute you are here, the next

                                    minute you are elsewhere.

                                    Fortunately, we have been able

                                    to track you down.

           

            Nix feels himself melting into his chair.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    You have been living, quite

                                    an interesting life Mr. Alexander. 

Most of it spent in computers where

                                    you go by the netRanger alias

                                    Nix and infectiously plant

                                    viruses into corporate networks.

 

            Agent White hands Hunt several paper-clipped pages.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    If you think we are going to

                                    allow this trend to continue,

                                    you obviously have been

mistaken.

 

            Agent Hunt flips through several pages that mark the

            nuclear silence.

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    We have come upon your latest

                                    project.  The well-endowed and

                                    much feared “Seven Plagues” virus.

                                    This is possibly the most dangerous

                                    virus ever released to date,

                                    and can only be regarded as an

                                    act of terrorism on your part

                                    Mr. Alexander.

 

            He puts the papers aside.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    I am going to tell you why you

                                    are here.

 

            He takes off his sunglasses; his eyes are crystal blue.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    In every society each individual

                                    is expected to live by the rules

                                    that have been provided by the

                                    governing body.  This insures that

                                    things will be kept in order and

                                    that certain individuals do not

                                    get out of hand.  But there are

                                    some individuals who feel they

                                    are special, and that is the

                                    category in which you fall into.

 

            He leans closer.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    You are a dangerous man Mr.

                                    Alexander.  You infect multi

                                    million dollar software companies

                                    with your malicious viruses and

you have no regard whatsoever

                                    towards the legal system.

                                    Anarchists such as yourself

                                    should be eliminated from

                                    our societal shores.

 

            He puts his glasses back on.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    Which is what, is exactly going

                                    to happen.

 

            Nix stares at Agent Hunt.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    This is bullshit.  You have no proof.

 

            Agent Hunt stands.

 

                                                            AGENT HUNT

                                    We don’t need proof Mr. Alexander.

                                    You are going to remain here for

                                    as long as it takes.  Me and my

                                    colleagues will surely figure out

                                    something to do with you.

 

            The agents leave the room.

 

           

                                                                                                            FADE TO BLACK.

           

 

            FADE IN:

 

            INTERROGATION ROOM

 

            Several hours later we find Nix asleep in a corner

            of the room, looking weak and beaten.

 

            The door opens.  Agent White and a few cops walk in.

 

            Nix tiredly wakes up.

 

                                                            AGENT WHITE

                                    Take him.

 

           

            EXT.  SKYSCRAPER - DAY

 

            Cops lead a handcuffed Nix out of revolving doors,

            forcing his head down as they muscle him into a dark

            van.

 

            A detail of cars drive off.  Led by the black sedan,

            the van and three police cruisers.

 

           

            INT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE

 

            Nico, Amp, Cable, GADGET, POOL, MACE &

STITCHES walk out ROOM 708.  All dressed in black

and wearing sunglasses.

 

           

            INT.  STAIRWELL

 

            They walk down the stairwell that winds around an

            antique elevator shaft.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    I want everyone where they are

                                    supposed to be.  We can’t let

                                    this one slip by us.

 

            STITCHES, a younger man in his teens, whispers to

            GADGET, a woman.

 

                                                            STITCHES

                                    Another mind to jack.

 

            They walk into the old lobby.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Pool and Gadget hold the exit.

 

            Nico looks at Mace, a MAN.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Mace you have got the get away.

 

                                                            MACE

                                    Alrighty.

 

            Pool, a man, and Gadget stop at the stop at the doors

            while the others walk out.

 

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE - DAY

 

            Two silver sporty motorcycles stand parked.

 

            A sporty BMW sedan emerges from a corrugated roll-up

            garage.

 

            A young, skinny MAN, in his teenage years steps out

            of the BMW.  He has spiky blonde hair, many facial

            piercings, and wears clothing that looks like those

            of a TV repair man.  His name is LINK.

 

                                                            LINK

                                    Hey Nico.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Thank you, Link.  Get the VU set up.

                                    We will need it tonight.

 

                                                            LINK

                                    You got it.

 

            Mace, Stitches, and Cable step into the BMW while

            Nico and Amp hop onto the motorcycles.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    Are you sure about this Nico?

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Trust me.

 

            Engines SCREAM as rubber BURNS against hot

granite, smoke rising into the air.  Nico and Amp

ZOOM OFF, tearing down the street.  Their coats

billowing in the air like capes.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            The black sedan stops at a RED traffic light.  The

            light turns GREEN and the black sedan cruises off.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Nico and Amp lead the BMW as they stop at a RED

            traffic light.  It turns GREEN.  Nico and Amp tear

            down the street while the BMW makes a right into

            an intersecting street.

 

           

            INT.  ALLEY

 

            The BMW drives into a rotten alley.  Cable and

Stitches step out, both carrying black duffel bags. 

They climb their way up onto a fire escape.

 

           

INT.  VAN

 

            Through the darkness, we see Nix lying in a corner.

            Looking more dead than alive.

           

           

            INT. ROOF - CLOSE UP ON DUFFEL BAG

 

            A black duffel bag zips open and Cable pulls out a

            BAZOOKA.

 

           

            INT.  ALLEY

 

            Nico and Amp sit on their motorcycles in a dark alley,

            hidden in the pubescent darkness.

 

            We lock onto Amp’s sunglasses as we see --

 

            The black sedan cruising down across the street.

 

           

            INT.  ROOF

 

            Cable and Stitches lay in front of the rain gutter. 

            Stitches peers at the city through a humongous set

            of silver binoculars.

 

            A CELLULAR begins TO RING.

 

            Cable pulls out a cell phone.

 

                                                            CABLE

                                    Hello.

 

                                                            NICO (V.O.)

                                    Can you see them yet?

 

            Cable looks down below at the street.  A few blocks

            away he sees the black sedan heading towards him.

 

                                                            CABLE

                                    Yes.  Five of them.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    We ‘re on our way.

 

            CLICK.  Nico is off-line.

                                   

           

            INT.  ALLEY

 

            Nico and Amp drive out of the alley.

 

           

            INT.  ROOF

 

            Cable mounts the BAZOOKA on his right arm. 

Below Stitches sees the black sedan heading ever

closer towards them.

 

           

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Nico and Amp continue to TEAR down the street,

the scream of engines growing into a RAGING

SHRILL.

 

 

EXT.  ROOF

 

            Cable aims at the black sedan, following it as it

            continues to roll down the street.  His thumb gently

            squeezing down on the bubbly red fire button.

 

            He follows it until it reaches a few feet away from

            the street below him, and then --

 

            Squeezes on the FIRE button releasing --

 

            A missile that cartwheels into space leaving behind

            a cloud of smoke as it rifles towards the black

            sedan.

 

           

            INT.  BLACK SEDAN

 

            Agent Hunt looks out of the window just as --

 

           

            INT.  STREET

 

            The missile BOLTS through the sedan, lifting it into

            air, BARRELING it into a brick building, turning

            into metallic pulp as a fiery orange cloud rises.

 

            We TURN towards the end of the street as we see --

 

            Nico and Amp speeding towards us.

 

            Another missile showers down, SMACKING the last

car of the detail.  Metallic limbs of the police cruiser

            wildly flying into the air.

 

           

            INT.  VAN

 

            The Cops in front begin to panic as everything

around them seems to either explode or

somehow be destroyed.

 

            Above them they hear a boot POUND on the

roof top.

 

                                                            DRIVING COP

                                    Goddamnit!

 

            The Cop SLAMS on the accelerator, sending the

van flying forwards and also --

 

 

            EXT.  STREET

 

            Amp who stands on the rooftop of the van. 

Missiles continue to beat down leaving behind

rising fire balls and whirling debris.

 

            The van comes to a SCREECHING halt as --

 

A missile fires down unto the ground before it

            creating an humongous crater-sized pot hole. 

The blast sends the van WHIRLING and

TOPPLING over unto its side.

 

            Amp rises and slaps open the sliding door of the

            severed van.  Inside she finds Nix, passed out. 

            Reaching in, she yanks him out, propping him

up onto her shoulder. 

 

            They race over to a half-destroyed manhole

cover.  Lifting the metal plate, they enter into the

dark depths of the underground.

 

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE - NIGHT

 

            An outside view of the abandoned hotel.  The

            drenching rain pours relentlessly.

 

           

            INT.  ROOM 1213

 

            A wide angle view of the crummy room.  Nix

lays asleep on a bed.

 

            The door opens and Amp walks in, her presence

awakens Nix.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    Hello, Nix.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    You are not supposed to know

                                    that.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    That’s not all I know about you.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Who are you?

 

                                                            AMP

                                    My name is Amp.

 

            Nix rises from his bed.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    I have waited for this moment

                                    for a long time.  Matter of fact,

                                    we all have.  Just like we waited

                                    for him.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    For who?

 

                                                            AMP

                                    The answers will come soon.  But

                                    we have to go.

 

            She turns towards the door.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    How can I trust you.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    Your just going to have to.

 

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE

 

            They walk out of the old lobby and enter an already

            parked silver BMW.        

 

           

            INT.  BMW

 

            Nix enters and notices Nico seating in the back seat

            next to him. 

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Hello, Nix.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Who are you?

 

                                                            NICO

                                    I am Nico.

 

           

            EXT.  HOTEL LAFAYETTE

 

            The car begins to cruise down the street.

 

 

            INT.  BMW

 

Nix looks out the window, nightly urban suitors fill

            the rotten streets.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Where are we going?

                                                           

NICO

                                    Do you know the question, Nix? 

The question that drives all of us.

 

            Nix stares into blank space, then looks at Nico, 

            his throat arid-dry as the Sahara.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    What is the Matrix?

 

                                                            NICO

                                    That question has far more to it

                                    than you might have ever possibly

                                    imagined, and tonight you will see

                                    what we all have seen.  What they

                                    didn’t want you to see.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    I don’t understand.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Do you believe that anything is

                                    possible?

 

            Amp slightly turns her head.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    I think so.

           

            She turns her head back.

                                                           

                                                            NICO

                                    Good, because what you are

going to see is going to change

everything.  It’s certainly did for

me.

           

            The car stops in front of an appliance store.

 

                                                            AMP

                                    We ‘re here.

 

 

            EXT.  JOE’S APPLIANCES

 

            Nico, Amp, and Nix step out of the BMW and enter

the appliance store.

 

 

            INT.  JOE’S APPLIANCES

           

            Machines clogged with curdling oil lay almost

            everywhere, slaughter house-like tools hang from the

            ceiling.

 

            Nix follows behind, looking around at the cannibalize

            gadgetry.

 

            They walk through a door and down a flight of stairs

            that lead to the basement.

 

 

            INT.  BASEMENT

 

            They descend into the basement were Link and a few

            of his friends cluster around in front of a door.

 

                                                            LINK

                                    Hey, captain.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    How is he?

                                                           

                                                            LINK

                                    He’s fine.  But he’s doesn’t talk

                                    much, just sits there.  Been like

                                    that for hours now.

           

            Nico turns to Nix.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    He’s waiting.

 

            Nix walks towards the door.  Reaching for the door

            knob, he enters --

 

 

            INT.  ORACLE’S CHAMBERS

 

            It’s a dark room.  A light bulb dangles from the

            ceiling, giving the room it’s only source of

            light.

 

            In the center of the room, Nix finds the Oracle,

            sitting on the floor cross-legged.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Hello.

 

            The Oracle smiles.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Nix.  Come.  Sit.

 

            Nix sits to the ground.

 

                                                            ORACLE                                  

                                    I know things have been somewhat

                                    traumatic.  I apologize.

 

            Nix nods.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    As you’ve probably been wondering,

                                    why you?  Let me tell you why. 

                                    You are here because you have a

                                    gift.  What it is you don’t know,

                                    but that is why I am here... to

                                    show you the path.  But first let

                                    me ask, do you have any idea what

                                    the Matrix is.

                                   

            Nix’s mind races in thought then he pauses.

                                                           

NIX

                                    A computer program?

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Exactly, but it is not what you

                                    think.  Do you want to know what

                                    it is?

 

            Nix swallows, then nods.

           

                                                            ORACLE

                                    The Matrix is a computer program

                                    in which we are all in, even at this

                                    very moment.  A computer program

                                    that governs our very lives, a

                                    computer program that has blinded

                                    you from the truth that your

                                    reality is a hoax.  It’s the burning

                                    sensation than stalks your heart,

                                    it has enslaved your mind and your

                                    world.  Servitude, Nix, sounds

                                    impossible but it isn’t.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    How is that?

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Sooner or later you are going to

                                    realize that what we sometimes

                                    consider  impossible isn’t

                                    actually far-fetched.  I am about

                                    to reveal something to you that

                                    will hopefully show you exactly

                                    what I mean.  Are you ready to

see what I want to show you?

 

                                                            NIX

                                    Yes.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    I want you to think of this as a

                                    lock and a key, they both complete

                                    each other.  Without the lock the

                                    key is useless, without the key the

                                    lock will remain idle.  There is

                                    a myth out there that all of us who

                                    have seen the Matrix have come to

                                    hear.  It questions the existence

                                    of the Aphex Twins.

 

            The Oracle pulls out a string-necklace which has a

            YING YANG pendant.

 

            He hands it to Nix.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    One represents day, the other,

                                    night.  When these two unite, what

                                    was always rendered impossible

                                    will become possible.  As for now

                                    we have only found one half, the

                                    other half still drifts somewhere

                                    in the Matrix.

 

            Nix feels the smooth metal of the pendant.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Close your eyes, Nix. 

 

            Nix closes his eyes.

                                               

                                                            ORACLE

                                    I want you to tell me what you

                                    see.

 

            With his words we drift --

 

           

INSIDE UTERO

 

            We are uncomfortably CLOSE to a reddish brown

            substance that glows in a sea of amniotic fluid. 

We begin to be SUCKED away. 

           

            We continue to DRAW FARTHER away, the racing

            locomotive pounding of HEART BEATING growing

            ominously louder, the red substance spreading like

a horizon. 

 

            The HEART BEATS UNCONTROLLABLY FASTER

as we DRAW still farther away, noticing a CHILD,

alive but unborn.  It’s reddish brown skin glowing

ever more in the amber plasma.

 

            We continue to DRAW AWAY as we notice --

 

Another CHILD, alive but unborn, it’s pinkish body

            translucent in the amniotic fluid.  Both of them

            still wired by their umbilical cords, the APHEX

            TWINS.

 

           

            INT.  ORACLE’S CHAMBERS

 

            Nix’s eyes open.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    I am an Aphex Twin.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Unbelievable, isn’t it.  Now

                                    you know who your other half

                                    is, don’t you?

 

            Outside, in the hall, the moving of mechanical

            equipment can be heard.

 

            Nix nods.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    I know it is hard to believe,

                                    but all I can offer you is the

                                    truth.  It is up to you to

                                    accept it or not.   Remember,

                                    I can only show you the path.

 

            The Oracle rises to his feet.

 

                                                            ORACLE

                                    Go.  Let fate show you the way.

           

            He smiles.

           

           

INT.  BASEMENT

 

            Nix exits the Oracle’s chambers, his mind warped in

            skepticism.  Nico appears in front of him.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    What you heard, what you saw. 

                                    I heard and I saw.  But one thing

                                    still remains.  Are you ready to

                                    see the Matrix?

 

                                                            NIX

                                    How?

 

            Nico pulls out a small metallic case.  He opens it. 

            Inside are two pills, one blue, and one red.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    You take the blue pill and this

                                    ends.  You continue the

brainwashing cycle.

 

            Nix stares at the two pills.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    You take the red pill and you take

                                    the journey.  The journey I took.

 

            Nix reaches for the red pill.  Opening his mouth he

            swallows it.

 

            Nico takes off his sunglasses.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Come with me.

 

            He leads Nix towards a room at the end of the hall,

            which is filled with high-tech equipment and glowing

            phosphorous emitting from the racks of monitors.

 

            Amp, Gadget, Pool and Link look up as they enter.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    Link?

 

                                                            LINK

                                    Give it a minute.

 

            The others continue to hook up an intricate system of

            hardware, modules ,and drives.

 

            In the center of the room sits a chair.

 

            Nix sits as Gadget gently begins fixing white

            electrode disks to his arms, the back of his neck, and

            head.

 

            Gadget whispers into his ears, her lips close to his

ears.

 

                                                            GADGET

                                    Just relax.

                                                           

                                                            NIX

                                    What is this?

 

            A monitor in front of Link comes to life with a glee a

            of phosphorous blips.

 

                                                            NICO

                                    This is a virtual unit.  It’s

                                    going to make things feel a

                                    little weird.

 

            Link walks up to Nico.

 

                                                            LINK

                                    Okay, I think he’s all set.

 

            Nix eyes blink when he notices an old radio, which is

            hardwired to the system sitting in front of him.  The

            intestinal blue and red wires of it’s electrical output

            lying close to his feet.

 

            Pool checks the racing bauds of phosperescent data

while Gadget monitors Nix’s electrical vital signs.  

 

            A sound begins to grow silently louder, the rising

sound of STATIC.  Nix stares as the radio comes to

life, it’s dial pacing relentlessly back and forth.

 

                                                            NIX

                                    What the...

                                   

            The dial on the radio passes through the fuzzed