78.
The First Trooper unlatches Jessica’s seat harness. He yanks
his knife from the Deaf Trooper’s throat. Blood gouts from
the deaf man’s neck. He sways but does not fall.
The First Trooper kneels and cuts Paul’s ankles free -- but
then the Second Trooper abandons the controls, rushes back
and shoves the First Trooper aside.
Desperately he tries to gag Jessica again. His clumsy
struggles keeping her from speaking.
The ornithopter’s AUTOPILOT kicks in: SAFE LANDING PROTOCOL.
Paul leaps from his seat, hands still bound behind him. He
kicks hard into the Second Trooper’s solar plexus, his foot
digging deep and doing damage. The Second Trooper doubles
over -- and Paul kicks him out of the moving ornithopter.
A KNIFE whistles toward Paul’s neck: the First Trooper
returning to the fight. Paul throws himself backward, dodging
the blow, but falls to the deck.
The First Trooper comes for him.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
STOP!
The First Trooper freezes.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
CUT ME LOOSE.
Swiftly and efficiently he cuts the bonds on her ankles, and
then on her wrists.
JESSICA (CONT'D)
GIVE ME THE KNIFE.
The First Trooper begins to weep. He gives her the knife.
Instantly Jessica rams the blade up under the Trooper’s chin
into his brain, and yanks it free again. He falls dead.
The Deaf Trooper, bled out on his feet, collapses beside him.
Jessica bends over Paul with the knife and frees his hands.
89 EXT. DUST BASIN - NIGHT 89
The ornithopter, unpiloted, settles to the desert floor.
78.
