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INT. BENEATH BATTERY CITY

Chuy, Ray, and Natalia are talking quietly with Tony, the
helicopter traffic reporter.

NATALIA
I'm so glad you didn't get caught.

TONY
We were worried, but there was
nothing else to do. How's Beck
doing?

NATALIA
He's adapting. Everyone was healing
kind of slowly.

CHUY
Is it the less than ideal healing
conditions?

NATALIA
It doesn't help. How's-

A low whistle is heard.

Chuy whistles back.

RAY
What's that?

CHUY
It's Harry.

HARRY JIN (55) comes cautiously around the corner.

Harry is short and average, with the nondescript air of a
lifelong civil servant. He has a sly sense of humor, though,
and he grins as he sees Chuy.

HARRY
Chuy. Tony. New friends?

CHUY
Natalia and I go way back, but
Ray's new.

HARRY
Welcome then?

TONY
What news?

Other members of the group come around to listen.

HARRY
It was a government action. They're
starting to retake control.

CHUY
Is it over?

HARRY
I feel it's a very good sign.

RAY
How much do you know?

HARRY
We only got a very brief memo at
the office, that the city is
transitioning away from Blind
control and that we will be
assuming their functions in the
interim. It's from the governor.

NATALIA
I wasn't sure we still had one.

HARRY
Neither was I, but the mayor has
been a constant, and things seem to
be changing.

CHUY
I don't like this.

TONY
How can you say that?

CHUY
Because democratic governments
don't bomb their own soil. That's
not how they work.

NATALIA
Not in the past, but things have
been so different. Maybe this was
the only way.

Harry's excitement has turned sober.

HARRY
Perhaps things have been so wrong
it will take us a while to get
right, or even to recognize it, but
Blind has been responsible for so
much bad.

NATALIA
Liu was a nightmare. Is she still a
player at all?

HARRY
She appears to be dead.

CHUY
From the blast?

HARRY
I don't know.

RAY
What about Korse?

HARRY
I don't know. Perhaps my rejoicing
was premature.

NATALIA
Still, it would be hard for things
to get worse. Let's keep good
thoughts.

HARRY
You're right. I'll come back with
more updates. Keep good thoughts,
but be ready for anything.

CHUY
It is a good time for acquisitions?

HARRY
Well, I'd be careful with it, but
it couldn't hurt to check storage
or the impound lot.

RAY
Impound lot?

HARRY
There's one on the East side. It
shouldn't be getting much
surveillance now. There's a storage
depot near there that it could be
good to hit too. I'd be very
cautious of course.

NATALIA
Of course. How do you know all
this?

CHUY
Harry's our man inside City Hall.
He's been our best source of
information.

RAY
What do you do?

HARRY
Well, the job description has
changed a little, but technically
I'm a Justice of the Peace.

CUT TO:



EXT. BATTERY CITY

Ray stands under the night sky, looking down in rapture.

RAY
It is so good to see you again.

Natalia wraps an arm around Ray from the side.

NATALIA
Do you need some time alone?

They both look down at the Trans-am.

They are surrounded by cars, but this is the only one that
matters.

RAY
No, I want to ride out of here with
both of you.

NATALIA
I can't.

RAY
You totally could. It's not safe
for you here.

NATALIA
It's not safe for anyone.

RAY
But none of them have had to flee
yet. You have. Come with me.

They kiss.

NATALIA
I want to, but there's more news
coming, and if things get good I
want to come tell the rest of you
as soon as possible. And if things
get bad, they'll need a medic.

RAY
Don't say that.

NATALIA
I don't mean it. I think things are
turning better. Maybe that's just
you.

Ray holds Natalia tightly.

RAY
I am feeling pretty good, but, I
don't want to leave you. Maybe I
should stay.

NATALIA
You've participated in two raids
recently. I'm just a failed
acquisition from a few years back.
Wait any longer and you may miss
your chance with the car.

RAY
Why do you have to be so logical?

NATALIA
I'll be along soon. Now get!

Natalia swats Ray's butt, and Ray gets into the car.

Natalia leans into the window.

NATALIA (CONT'D)
Okay, now I feel a little bit crazy
to be letting you go.

RAY
You can get in at any time.

NATALIA
It's fine. Let's get this cleared
up and then maybe we can take a
vacation.

RAY
We can go to Greenvale and meet my
family.

NATALIA
I'd like that.

They kiss once more through the window.

Ray looks at Natalia reluctantly, but he starts the car.
Natalia tears up a little, but she still lets him drive away.

Natalia quietly makes a promise as she watches Ray go.

NATALIA (CONT'D)
I'll see you soon.



EXT. HIGHWAY

Ray is on the open road. It is early morning now.

He notices a figure riding a motorcycle up ahead. There is
something ungainly about it, but also familiar.

Noticing the car, the biker seems to be trying to evade.

Ray honks and calls out the window.

RAY
Latron!

Latron brakes in surprise, turning around.

Ray catches up and jumps out of the car.

The oddness of the shape makes sense as Ray sees that Latron
has a guitar clumsily tied to his back.

LATRON
You scared me.

RAY
No Dracs have a car this cool.
What's with the guitar?

LATRON
I found it and thought you and
Frank would like it.

RAY
For us? That's awesome.

LATRON
You can take it. This is not going
right.

Ray smiles and unties the guitar, marvelling over it as he
takes it in his hands.

RAY
Yeah, I'll make sure this gets back
safe and sound. You heading to the
Roundhouse?

LATRON
Is that where everyone is? Why are
you out here alone?

RAY
I stayed behind to check on
Natalia, and then I lucked out and
found our old car. It was still
there from the first rescue
mission.

LATRON
What do you mean "first"?

It suddenly dawns on Ray what is missing from the
conversation.

RAY
Latron, you don't know. Jane's
alive!

LATRON
Don't...that's not-

RAY
Latron, I swear. Grace told us she
was alive and she was right. We
went in and got her.

Latron gets back on the bike.

LATRON
I've got to see.

RAY
It's fine. I'll catch up. Go!

Latron races off towards the Roundhouse, with Ray smiling
after him.

Ray is about to load the guitar into the car, but he stops,
fingering the strings.

Sitting on the ground, Ray begins to pick out music, tuning
and adjusting and remembering what playing was like.

Maybe things really will turn out all right.



EXT. ROUNDHOUSE

Latron pulls up.

Frank is calling inside, letting them know, and Gerard and
Jane come out.

She looks more frail than he has ever seen her, but it is
her.

Without a word, Latron goes to Jane and just hugs her.

Jane hugs him back.

Latron releases Jane and goes to shake Gerard's hand, but
Gerard hugs Latron instead, and Latron accepts it.

Natalia would be proud.



EXT. OUTSIDE THE ROUNDHOUSE

It later that night. It is clear and some stars are visible.
Maybe the haze is beginning to clear.

The fire burning is small, but a circle has formed.

Ray is playing the guitar, while Mikey and Frank talk nearby.

There is a rare feeling of contentment.

Ray begins to sing.

RAY
En esta noche encantada,
somos todos enamorados,
Todos unidos por amor.
Puesta de sol, pero nunca
Dejo la oscuridad nos confunda,
Mi luz, y yo tu escudor.

Jane leans on Gerard's shoulder, with Latron on her other
side.

The music is quiet, but it soars.

RAY (CONT'D)
Con las alas de palomas,
Sobre valles y las lomas,
Dos, con uno corazon.
Sin capilla y sin velas
Buscamos las estrellas.
Contentos, y tenemos razon.

Mitch and Jacob have been talking to the side, but they are
pulled in too.

RAY (CONT'D)
No viviremos un romanza,
De suenos y esperanza,
Pero juntos, no habra dolor.
Yo te dare mi deseo,
Mi fuerza y mi fuego.
Te dare mi cancion de amor.

As the song dies out, Mitch comes out and squats down next to
Gerard.

GERARD
You look worried.

MITCH
It's our food supplies.

JANE
How bad is it?

MITCH
Two days left. Four if we don't
mind being hungry.

RAY
Are too many of us? Do we need to
split up again?

MITCH
It may not be an issue, once we
hear back.

RAY
That will probably take a few days.

GERARD
What are our options for getting
more food around here?

MITCH
There's a government depot we could
try raiding, but I'd kind of like
to lay low on that front, just in
case amnesty's an option.

JANE
The races are coming up soon, but
not quite soon enough.

MITCH
No, but that means a smaller supply
run might be enough to tide us
over.

LATRON
We could probably do some trading
at the Market, but we wouldn't get
back in time.

GERARD
Is there any place closer?

MITCH
There has been trading about forty
miles north from time to time, but
there's no guarantee anyone will be
there now.

JANE
Hey, are there still any supplies
at the Aerie?

MITCH
There might be.

MIKEY
What's the Aerie?

JANE
It's our smallest and least
practical base.

MITCH
The only way to it is climbing. You
can't even park that close, and you
cannot conveniently load up a van.

JANE
Which means we may not have cleaned
everything out the last time we
were there.

RAY
What's the climb like? Do you need
gear?

JANE
No, you can freestyle it, but it
doesn't hurt to have some
experience. Do you?

RAY
A little.

MIKEY
Me too.

MITCH
It sounds like we do need to split
up, at least temporarily. Jane, are
you up for it?

Gerard tightens his arm protectively around Jane.

GERARD
Does she need to go?

MITCH
It should be someone who knows the
area.

GERARD
She was just shot.

JANE
Actually, two weeks is the normal
discharge time. I've had over a
month.

RAY
What's the normal time to restart
rock climbing?

Jane shrugs.

JANE
It should be okay.

FRANK
Who else to where? And we only have
two vehicles right now.

LATRON
Three if you count the bike.

MITCH
All right, Frank, I want you to
come with me in the van and we'll
head north. We can drop off the
climbers and save them some time.
Gerard, I want you and Jacob to
take the car and go to the Market.

LATRON
What about me?

MITCH
ITry and get a census. You know
most of the sites, you can get
around quickly. Find out how many
of us are left.

MIKEY
So, we're breaking up.

MITCH
Only for a few days.

RAY
If our other option is
starvation...

FRANK
Have you even considered
cannibalism?

Mitch shrugs noncommittally.

MITCH
No, but I'm glad we have some
creative thinkers on board. I'm
turning in.

JANE
I should too.

One by one, the circle drifts off to bed.



EXT. ROAD OUTSIDE THE AERIE

A narrow road threads past a ravine on one side and a rocky
hillside on the other.

Jane, Ray, and Mikey exit the van. Frank and Mitch stay
inside.

MITCH
If you want to camp out we can pick
you up on our way back, but I'm not
sure of the timing.

RAY
But we can also just head back
down. That seems easier.

MITCH
You could probably make it back
tonight if you really hurried.

FRANK
We'll honk when we drive by if you
change your minds. Otherwise, see
you at home.

MIKEY
That's home now?

MITCH
For at least another week.

The van pulls away with Mitch and Frank.

The other three stand at the bottom of the ascent, looking
up.

MIKEY
Why another week?

JANE
It's good access for the races.
Even if we all come up with lots of
food, we need to go there. It's too
good of an opportunity.

RAY
It was a great salvage opportunity.

JANE
That too.

RAY
So, straight up?

JANE
Basically.

MIKEY
Let's go.

Mikey launches himself at the rock face and begins his climb,
lithe and graceful.

JANE
He's like a cat.

RAY
I was thinking more like a monkey.

Ray and Jane begin climbing, in a slightly less amazing
fashion, periodically suggesting other animals.

RAY (CONT'D)
Lizard?

JANE
Maybe a spider.

Jane begins to fall behind, panting.

Ray notices and slows his own climb.

RAY
Goat?

JANE
He does kind of scamper.

RAY
Are you okay?

Jane nods but doesn't answer.

They are getting closer.

Mikey reaches the mouth of the cave and looks down with
concern. He starts to ask, but Ray shakes his head.

Pulling himself onto one ledge, Ray reaches down and grabs
Jane's wrist, hoisting her up beside him.

RAY (CONT'D)
What about me? Baboon?

Jane leans against Ray gratefully.

JANE
You climb like a man.

Ray boosts Jane up, and Mikey reaches out, pulling her up the
rest of the way.

Jane collapses just outside the mouth of the cave.

Ray pulls himself up, and kneels down next to Jane, but it is
Mikey who speaks.

MIKEY
How are you doing?

JANE
My body and I can't seem to agree
on how fast my recovery time should
be.

RAY
How rude of it.

JANE
I'm sorry guys.

RAY
For what?

JANE
Slowing you down.

MIKEY
It's not that big a deal when we
get back. Everyone else is gone.

RAY
We should have taken Mitch up on
that ride offer. We could just camp
tonight.

MIKEY
We could still camp. Walk back
tomorrow.

JANE
I don't think it's that bad.

Already her color is returning, and her breathing is becoming
more normal.

MIKEY
Maybe we just think this place is
really cool.

Mikey gives Jane a hand up and they head inside the cave.



INT. THE AERIE

This is much smaller than the Caves. It is just a cave,
stretching back about twenty feet in a narrowing tunnel. Ray
and Mikey have to stoop to avoid hitting their heads.

Ray pulls a flashlight from his pack, and they explore the
interior. Midway there are three bedrolls.

MIKEY
Well this is perfect if we do camp.

JANE
I don't think we've ever had more
than three people stay here. It's
not big enough for more.

Towards the back, there are a few boxes scattered.

Ray hands the flashlight to Jane, and she holds it as Mikey
and Ray begin to check the boxes.

Two are empty. One contains a dozen power bars. It is not
much of a haul, but it is something.

Another box contains two water bottles. Ray hands one to
Jane, who takes it gratefully.

Mikey opens the last box and smiles.

MIKEY
Check this out.

It is a large caliber gun. There are a few cartridges with
it.

RAY
Nice.

MIKEY
This alone is worth it.

JANE
It's not what we came for, but I'm
glad you're happy.

RAY
Let's move back towards the
entrance so we can save the
batteries.

Jane, Ray, and Mikey rest near the entrance.

There is enough light coming through the cave's mouth for
them to see each other, but it is dim and cool.

They are sharing the water, and talking.

Jane falls silent.

MIKEY
What is it?

JANE
Just thinking about Christian. He
loved this place.

MIKEY
Why?

JANE
The climb. His two big loves were
rock climbing and computers. He
never got to touch a computer
again, but when he was here, he at
least got to climb.

RAY
It's funny how many things there
are to miss. Playing that guitar...
it's like I was hungry for it.

MIKEY
Can I try it some time?

RAY
Of course. You should have seen
Latron trying to get it back on the
bike. It was awkward but he was so
determined.

JANE
He's a good kid.

RAY
He really is. And there's no way he
could have understood how much I
needed it, but he still did it.

MIKEY
What would you do again, if you
could?

Jane thinks and takes a deep breath.

JANE
I would love to go swimming again.
Maybe because it's always so hot
and sticky here, but just to feel
cool and clean and weightless
again.

MIKEY
Yeah. There was a rope swing down
by the river.

JANE
I thought you were scared of water.

MIKEY
I am.

RAY
You are?

MIKEY
But you didn't have to drop in. The
point is that you would take a
running start and just swing out,
suspended between earth and sky.

RAY
Yeah. I know that swing.

MIKEY
It was like flying, with the terror
of potential sharks for an extra
rush.

JANE
River sharks?

MIKEY
Sometimes they swim up from the
ocean.

But Mikey is laughing too.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
Seriously, though, didn't you ever
want to fly?

JANE
I guess so.

MIKEY
I used to dream about it all the
time.

RAY
I guess driving fast is like that
for me, but we still get to do that
a lot.

JANE
The biking was kind of like that,
at least it used to be.

MIKEY
It's not now?

JANE
I don't know. The truth is, I'm
glad Latron has the bike. Maybe I'm
losing my edge.

RAY
It's too soon to say that.

JANE
Probably. I just feel so weak now,
and tired. Not just from the climb.

MIKEY
You're still healing.

JANE
I know. I don't know what I'm
saying.

RAY
Let's just camp up here tonight.

JANE
It's not that I'm not rested now.
It's that I'm going to tire again
too soon, whenever we start.

RAY
That's not it at all. Mikey and I
are going to get all rested
tonight, and then tomorrow we're
going to carry you.

JANE
That's much better. You guys know
you're the best, right?

MIKEY
Of course!

RAY
Totally.

Later that night, the cave is dark, and they are all asleep.

Mikey is dreaming, and in his dream he is floating in a void.

Jenny appears nearby.

MIKEY
I always knew you'd be here.

JENNY
I'm sorry I was wrong.

Mikey tries to reach Jenny's hand, but can't.

MIKEY
You weren't wrong. It just didn't
work. It should have.

Jenny smiles sadly at Mikey.

JENNY
At least we tried.

Jenny shifts further away.

MIKEY
Wait!

Jenny is gone and the sky drops out from under him.

Now Mikey is awake, back in the Aerie.

Ray wakes up next to him.

RAY
Are you all right?

MIKEY
Yeah. Did I wake you?

RAY
I seem to be a light sleeper
lately.

MIKEY
What about Jane?

They look and see that Jane is still quiet.

RAY
Out cold. Want to talk about it?

MIKEY
It's just a dream I have sometimes.

RAY
That's interesting.

MIKEY
Why?

RAY
Sometimes it's just funny how alike
you and Gee are. He used to have
recurring dreams too. About Jane.

MIKEY
Mine weren't about a girl. At
least, I didn't think they were.

RAY
Jenny?

MIKEY
I said I used to dream I was flying
all the time. After she died, I'd
have these dreams where I was
floating. I couldn't steer it or
control it or anything.

RAY
I'd rather fly.

MIKEY
Me too.

They are silent for a moment, but something is bugging Ray.

RAY
If it's just floating, why do you
wake up like that?

Mikey shrugs, looking uncomfortable.

MIKEY
I always fall.



EXT. THE AERIE

It is early the next morning.

Ray, Mikey, and Jane stand just outside the cave, looking
down.

JANE
See anything coming?

RAY
Looks good. Mikey, you want to lead
the way?

Mikey nods and puts an arm around Jane.

MIKEY
Stay in the middle, okay? Let us
know if you need help.

JANE
Going down should be better.

MIKEY
Maybe, but we're not in a hurry.

Jane nods and they begin the climb down.

This time it does go more easily. The rest time has helped,
and while there is still exertion, they are not working
against gravity.

As they approach the road, a low rumbling can be heard.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
Does that sound like engines?

Mikey is almost at the bottom, and jumps down as shots ring
out.

Four Draculoids, two on cycles and two in a car, can now be
seen coming up the road.

Mikey starts loading the gun.

Jane slips and falls to the ground, but her fall is short and
the damage is not bad.

Ray turns to look and is hit in the gut. His fall is worse.

Jane and Mikey rush to Ray's side.

Seeing the wound, the fall doesn't make much difference. It's
bad.

Ray struggles to breathe as his throat fills up with blood.

JANE
Get his head up.

Mikey gets behind Ray and holds him up, temporarily easing
Ray's breathing.

Jane fumbles in her bag and tries to staunch the blood flow
with gauze, but there is not much she can do.

JANE (CONT'D)
(to Mikey)
Go! Head down into the canyon. They
won't be able to follow you.

MIKEY
Are you coming?

JANE
I can't.

Mikey nods, and takes off his jacket, folding it into a
cushion and putting it under Ray's head.

Mikey picks up the big gun and heads into the road.

JANE (CONT'D)
Mikey don't! I can't save him!

MIKEY
Don't worry. I'm feeling
bulletproof.

JANE
No! Mike!

Mikey strides into the road.

For a moment, it is as if he really is bulletproof. The
Draculoids fire, and they miss. Mikey fires and he hits.

The two riders and the passenger in the car are down. Only
the driver is left, and the gun jams.

Throwing it to the side, Mikey runs towards the car and leaps
onto the hood, springing in gracefully through the open top
of the car.

Mikey and the driver struggle.

Jane watches unable to breathe.

Mikey is trying to draw Kobra Kid, but also needs to keep the
driver from killing him. Neither is focusing on steering, and
they are on a narrow road along a steep canyon.

The car flies over the edge.

JANE (CONT'D)
Mikey!

He's gone.

Jane remembers that Ray is still there and kneels beside him.

JANE (CONT'D)
I'm sorry Ray. I'm here. Can you
hear me?

Ray's eye is not focusing, and his breathing is worse.

RAY
Nat?

Ray is gone too.

Jane cradles Ray's head.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields were glory does not stay

XIX. To an Athlete Dying Young
by A. E. Housman