INT. SECURITY CHECK POINT/TERMINAL - DAY
A young boy of nine passes through the magnetic arch grinning.
YOUNG COLE! Exactly as he appears in the dream!
He joins his PARENTS, who are only visible from their chests
down, and they continue along the concourse. WE LINGER and
DISCOVER two DETECTIVES watching TRAVELERS as they pass through
the magnetic arch and retrieve their bags from the X-ray machine,
comparing their faces to photos of COLE and RAILLY.
ANGLE ON A SECURITY OFFICER, watching the x-ray monitor.
ANGLE ON THE MONITOR, showing the X-RAY IMAGE of a sports bag moving
along the conveyer belt. The bag contains some strange objects.
ANGLE ON THE SECURITY OFFICER, reacting.
SECURITY OFFICER
Excuse me, sir. Would you mind letting me
have a look at the contents of your bag?
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, coming through the magnetic arch, reacting.
DR. PETERS
Me? Oh, yes, of course. My samples.
I have the appropriate papers.
INT. END OF LINE/SECURITY CHECK POINT
RAILLY AND COLE arrive at the very long suddenly stalled line of
TRAVELERS waiting to pass through security.
RAILLY
Oh, God, we don't have time for this.
ANGLE ON THE SECURITY CHECK POINT, where DR. PETERS unpacks his
Bulls bag, pulls out six metal cylinders along with a change of
clothes and a Walkman.
DR. PETERS
Biological samples. I have the
paperwork right here.
DR. PETERS produces a sheaf of official papers while the SECURITY
OFFICER examines one of the tubes, turning it over in his hands.
SECURITY OFFICER
I'm going to have to ask you to open
this, sir.
DR. PETERS
Open it?
(blinks stupidly, then)
Of course.
DR. PETERS takes the metal cylinder and starts opening it.
There's a SOUND of VOICES RAISED behind them. DR. PETERS pays no
attention, but the SECURITY OFFICER turns toward the NOISE.
SECURITY OFFICER'S POV: RAILLY, trying to explain something to a
SECOND SECURITY OFFICER.
ANGLE ON THE TWO DETECTIVES, nearby, showing interest in the
commotion.
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, oblivious to the fuss, pulling a closed
glass tube out of the metal cylinder.
DR. PETERS
Here! You see? Biological! Check the
papers -- it's all proper. I have a
permit.
SECURITY OFFICER
It's empty!
Indeed, it looks like a sealed clear glass tube with nothing in it.
DR. PETERS
Well, yes, to be sure, it looks empty!
But I assure you, it's not.
ANGLE ON RAILLY, at the end of the line, arguing with the SECOND
SECURITY OFFICER.
RAILLY
Please listen to me -- this is very urgent!
SECOND SECURITY OFFICER
You'll have to get in line, ma'am.
TRAVELER
We're all in a hurry, lady. What's so
special about you?
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, producing the glass tubes from the other
metal cylinders as the SECURITY OFFICER examines the papers.
DR. PETERS
You see! Also invisible to the naked eye.
A beat. OR. PETERS grins suddenly, opens one of the glass tubes,
and waves it under the SECURITY OFFICER'S nose!
DR. PETERS
It doesn't even have an odor.
The SECURITY OFFICER glances up, sees what DR. PETERS is doing,
and smiles as he hands the papers back to the scientist.
SECURITY OFFICER
That's not necessary, sir. Here you
go. Thanks for your cooperation. Have
a good flight.
Hastily, DR. PETERS snatches up all the tubes and cylinders and
shoves them back into his gym bag.
ANGLE ON RAILLY, raging as the SECOND SECURITY OFFICER jabs her
with his finger.
SECOND SECURITY OFFICER
Who are you calling a "moron"?
COLE
Get your hands off her!
The SECOND SECURITY OFFICER stiffens for trouble.
ANGLE ON THE DETECTIVES, watching the fuss, ready to get
involved. Suddenly, the FIRST DETECTIVE frowns.
FIRST DETECTIVE9S POV: COLE'S moustache is slipping. COLE
senses it, reaches up to touch it, catches the DETECTIVE'S look.
For half a second their eyes meet, then COLE looks away.
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, hurrying away.
SECURITY OFFICER'S VOICE (o.s.}
HOLD IT! JUST A MOMENT.
DR. PETERS freezes, turns, ashen.
The SECURITY OFFICER is retrieving a pair of jockey shorts from
the floor beside the search table. He waves them at DR. PETERS.
DR. PETERS hurries back for his underpants.
ANGLE ON COLE, trying to keep his head turned away as he
confronts the SECURITY OFFICER.
COLE
I said, get your hands off her. She's
not a criminal. She's a doctor...a
psychiatrist.
RAILLY looks alarmed at that.
ANGLE ON THE DETECTIVES, coming this way. The FIRST DETECTIVE
has the photos in his hand.
ANGLE OW DR. PETERS, bagging his jockey shorts, then starting
hastily down the windowed concourse toward the gates.
ANGLE ON RAZZLY, suddenly spotting DR. PETERS!
RAILLY
THERE HE IS! HE'S CARRYING A DEADLY
VIRUS! STOP HIM!
ANGLE ON COLE, following RAILLY'S look, seeing MR. PONYTAIL, THE
MAN FROM HIS DREAM!
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, frightened, glancing back, walking faster.
RAILLY (o.s.)
PLEASE, SOMEBODY -- STOP HIM!
ANGLE ON DETECTIVES, reaching RAILLY and COLE.
FIRST DETECTIVE
(raising his badge)
Police Officers. Would you step over
here, please.
ANGLE ON COLE, spotting something behind the DETECTIVES!
COLE'S POV: SCARFACE, dressed like a "businessman"! He gives
COLE a cold look.
A beat. COLE lunges at the SECOND DETECTIVE, knocking him off
balance, then sprints toward the magnetic arch and through it.
The ALARM goes off!!!!
The FIRST SECURITY OFFICER tries to stop COLE, but COLE knocks
him aside like a rag doll.
ANGLE ON DR. PETERS, fifty yards up the concourse, glancing back.
ANGLE ON COLE, pulling his pistol.
ANGLE ON THE SECOND SECURITY OFFICER.
FIRST SECURITY OFFICER
HE'S GOT A GUN!
ANGLE ON THE FIRST DETECTIVE, raising his pistol at COLE.
FIRST DETECTIVE
STOP OR I'LL SHOOT!
ANGLE ON COLE, gun in hand, sprinting along the concourse toward
DR. PETERS as frightened TRAVELERS SCREAM and dive for cover.
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, standing at a concourse window, watching a
plane land, flanked by his parents whose faces we don't see.
IT'S SUDDENLY AS IF THE DREAM IS HAPPENING IN REAL LIFE!!! THE
SAME MOKENTS INTERSPERSED WITH "NEW" MOMENTS FROM THE POV OF
YOUNG COLE who, hearing the commotion, turns just as DR. PETERS
hurries by. DR. PETERS bumps into YOUNG COLE and reacts by
pulling his Bulls bag close to his body and calling...
DR. PETERS
WATCH IT!
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, wide eyed, watching...
YOUNG COLE'S POV: a BLONDE MAN. dashing up the concourse, his
moustache slipping over his lip, a pistol in his hand.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: the FIRST DETECTIVE aims, looking for a clear
shot in the crowded passageway.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: a BRUNETTE in flashy clothes, gaudy earrings,
high heels, and sun glasses SCREAMS...
BRUNETTE (RAILLY)
N0OOOOO0O!!!!!!
YOUNG COLE'S POV: the FIRST DETECTIVE, firing! CRACK!
YOUNG COLE'S POV: the BLONDE MAN, shuddering, staggering, falling.
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, stunned, as his PARENTS try to shield him.
MOTHER'S VOICE (o.s.)
My God! They shot that man!
Mesmerized, YOUNG COLE watches the BRUNETTE rush to the BLONDE
MAN, kneel beside him, minister to his bloody wound.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: the BLONDE MAN, fatalistically reaching up
and tenderly touching the BRUNETTE'S cheek, touching her tears.
(WE'VE SEEN THIS EXACT IMAGE IN COLE'S DREAM, A POWERFUL MOMENT,
UNFOLDING UNNATURALLY SLOWLY, OPENING LIKE A FLOWER.)
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, not able to hear their words, but he can see
emotion as the BLONDE MAN tries to tell the sobbing BRUNETTE something.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: PARAMEDICS, breaking the spell, pushing the
BRUNETTE aside as they crouch beside the BLONDE MAN.
FATHER'S VOICE (o.s.)
Come along, son, this is no place for us.
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, as his FATHER'S ARM drapes over his shoulder,
steering him. YOUNG COLE turns to look back as he's led away.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: the PARAMEDICS, exchanging glances, shrugging
helplessly. It's too late. The BLONDE MAN is dead.
YOUNG COLE sees the BRUNETTE, her face streaked with tears,
suddenly turn and look around, scanning the crowd, searching for
something. POLICE OFFICERS approach her, say something to her.
Even as she responds, her eyes continue to scan the concourse.
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, being hurried toward the lobby by his PARENTS
(whose faces remain out of view). He can't help sneaking another
look back.
YOUNG COLE'S POV: POLICE, handcuffing a distracted, unresisting
RAILLY. Even now, she continues to look around almost frantically.
Suddenly, her gaze falls on YOUNG COLE and she reacts...she's
found what she's looking for!
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, reacting to the intensity of her look.
ANGLE ON RAILLY, her eyes speaking to the boy across the crowded
concourse.
ANGLE ON YOUNG COLE, overwhelmed by the look.
FATHER'S VOICE (o.s.)
Hurry up, son.
With a last lingering look toward the mysterious BRUNETTE, YOUNG
COLE turns away, tears welling in his eyes. WE MOVE IN...CLOSE...
CLOSE...CLOSER...on his eyes. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TEAR MEANS,
BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS THINKING,
BUT WE KNOW VERY WELL WHAT HE WILL REMEMBER!
MOTHER'S VOICE (o.s.)
Pretend it was just a bad dream, Jimmy.
INT. 747 CABIN - DAY
DR. PETERS closes the door to the overhead luggage rack
containing his Chicago Bulls bag and takes his seat. Next to
him, a FELLOW TRAVELER, unseen, says...
FELLOW TRAVELER'S VOICE (o.s.)
It's obscene, all the violence, all the
lunacy. Shootings even at airports now.
You might say...we're the next endangered
species...human beings!
CLOSE ON DR. PETERS, smiling affably, turning to his neighbor.
DR. PETERS
I think you're right. sir. I think
you've hit the nail on the head.
DR. PETERS' POV: the FELLOW TRAVELER, a silver haired gentleman
in a business suit, offering his hand congenially. DR. PETERS
doesn't know who this man is, but we do. It's the ASTROPHYSICIST!
ASTROPHYSICIST
Jones is my name. I'm in insurance.
EXT. PARKING LOT/AIRPORT
As YOUNG COLE'S PARENTS (seen only as sleeves and torsos) usher
YOUNG COLE into their station wagon, the boy hesitates, looks
back, watches a 747 climb into the sky.
FADE OUT
------------------------------
TWELVE MONKEYS
An original screenplay by
David Peoples
&
Janet Peoples
Inspired by
LA JETEE, a Chris Marker Film
