Trancendence
WILL IN THE FBI NETWORK If he’s innocent I will make everything right again. But if he’s against us, he is our greatest threat.
Evelyn backs away from the machine as-
INT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS – NIGHT
FAX MACHINES in POLICE STATIONS spit out the FBI’S 10 MOST WANTED LIST. Number one on the list is: DR. MAX WATERS.
COPS on patrol check CITIZENS against flyers describing Max.
ON A TELEVISION: a sitcom CUTS to a SPECIAL NEWS REPORT. The flustered NEWS ANCHOR looks into the camera with-
LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR
Local and Federal Authorities are currently seeking the whereabouts of Dr. Max Waters. A suspect in the killing of two FBI Agents.
various PHOTOS of Max fill the screen.
LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR (CONT’D) A reward of ten million dollars
will go to anyone with information leading directly to the arrest of Max Waters •..
The broadcast plays on TV SCREENS allover Boston: in HOUSES, ELECTRONICS STORES, AIRPORTS, and-
INT. SOUTH STATION – NIGHT
Max joins the line of PASSENGERS waiting to board a train. Max glances at two POLICEMEN sipping coffee. On a MUTED TV above them, the SPECIAL NEWS REPORT plays.
Max, playing casual, heads for the exit. As he turns a corner, he stops short ••• He just walked into the view of a SECURITY CAMERA. Max stands there, frozen, as-
The whole station CHIMES with the sound of everyone receiving SIMULTANEOUS TEXT MESSAGES. Confused COMMUTERS check their phones. A WOMAN shows her phone to two TRANSIT COPS and points them to Max.
Max runs. All hell breaks loose. The COPS are after him, already calling on their radios-
COP
In pursuit of suspect at west exit-
I/E. SUBURBAN/BOSTON STREETS – NIGHT
Bob drives. Bree looks down as the POLICE BAND RADIO CRACKLES-
COP OVER THE RADIO -of South Station …
BREE How close are we?
BOB Two blocks away.
BREE We need him.
Bob nods and SCREECHES the car in a new direction.
EXT. SOUTH STATION – NIGHT
Max SLAMS outside to see ••. A PATROL CAR idling in front of him. The POLICE spot Max. Max runs, shoving through PEDESTRIANS. He races for the next intersection-
Where, out of nowhere, FOUR POLICE CARS converge. Behind him, more COPS box him in. They’re all SCREAMING. Max, trapped, focuses on a big vehicle heading straight for the line of police cruisers.
The SUBURBAN CRASHES through the police line. Bree waves Max in. Max, horrified, turns to run but-
RIFT Militants OPEN FIRE at the Police with automatics – POPPING the tires of the police cars – as more Militants grab Max and drag him into the vehicle. Bob ZOOMS them away.
I/E. SUBURBAN/BOSTON STREETS – NIGHT
Bree turns to see Max wrestling the RIFT Militants. Through the rear windshield are the FLASHING LIGHTS of POLICE CARS chasing them.
BREE
Bob?
BOB
I know. Hold on.
EXT. ALLEY WAY/BOSTON STREETS – NIGHT
The Suburban SLIDES into the alley. The squad car behind them misses the turn and SLAMS into the wall of a building – blocking the path of four others.
Bob BARRELS the Suburban through the narrow passageway.
Behind them, the squad car rights itself and the POLICE INTERCEPTORS enter the alley.
As the Suburban reaches the end of the alley, Bob slams on the brakes. Bree and the RIFT Militants jump out, dragging Max with them.
Bob checks down the alley – the POLICE are closing in fast. Bob grabs a rifle. He wedges it into the driver’s seat, using it to depresses the accelerator. The engine ROARS. Bob throws the SUV into REVERSE and-
The Suburban RACES backward, SCREECHING along the walls of the alley.
The walls keep the vehicle on track, steering it straight into ••• an oncoming POLICE CAR ••. SMASH ••• Twisted metal blocks the entire path of the alley.
The RIFT Militants drag Max into the street – where more Militants wait with idling cars. Bree climbs into a RUSTY SEDAN. The RIFT Militants try to shove Max inside, but he pulls free-
MAX
I’m not coming with youl
Behind them, POLICE scramble out of their patrol cars. Pulling their weapons, they position themselves to open fire.
BREE
You really ought to.
Cops OPEN FIRE. Bullets POP around Max. Bob grabs Max’s head – SMASHES it on the roof of the car – and tosses him into the backseat. Bob jumps in. Bree races them away.
From a birds-eye view of the streets, we see the RIFT vehicles turn off in separate directions. Cop cars split up and give chase •.• But the RUSTY SEDAN slips away ••.
INT. FBI STRATEGIC OPERATIONS CENTER – MORNING
Evelyn keeps her eyes on the wall-screen. The profile on Max shows a map with an increasingly large search radius.
ANDERSON
We’ve been investigating the RIFT for months. And he gave all this in a few hours .••
JOSEPH
Remarkable … Can I talk to you?
Evelyn watches Joseph pull Anderson into an adjoining conference room. A cell phone RINGS in front of her. The caller ID reads: UNKNOWN. She knows it’s-
WILL ON THE PHONE
Max escaped. I will continue the surveillance. I can track him.
EVELYN
This isn’t you, will. This isn’t what you believe in. I’m afraid of what you did. Of what it means. Everyone’s terrified.
WILL ON THE PHONE Don’t be afraid. I’m in control.
Evelyn glances into the CONFERENCE ROOM, where Joseph and Anderson speak in private.
INT. FBI STRATEGIC OPERATIONS CENTER/CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Anderson paces as he argues with Joseph, who remains calm. On the table is a single phone.
JOSEPH
Let all the agents know we can never speak of this.
ANDERSON
They’re terrorists! The RIFT needed to be brought to justicel
JOSEPH
This illegal operation, based on unlawful evidence, lead to the deaths of five suspects. That’s not justice.
It dawns on Anderson that he crossed a sacred line.
INT. FBI STRATEGIC OPERATIONS CENTER – DAY
Evelyn turns her attention back to the cell.
WILL ON THE PHONE
They almost killed you. If I wasn’t so limited, if I were flesh and blood, I could have protected us.
EVELYN
But you’re not … At least you’re here. At least I have … something of you.
Evelyn’s computer flashes DESIGNS of a massive engineering project. Buildings, factories ..• enough to be called a city.
WILL ON THE PHONE I’ve already made incredible advances. I want to find a way back. You have to trust me.
Evelyn’s eyes fill with emotion.
WILL ON THE PHONE (CONT’D) We need to expand. I need to build
a system beyond anything the world has imagined. We need to do this together •••
The promise of Will’s return is too much for Evelyn. Her fear evaporates. She nods, full of willingness and devotion.
INT. FBI STRATEGIC OPERATIONS CENTER/CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Anderson is scared now.
ANDERSON
