The camera cuts between General Hummel getting dresses into military clothing and a military burial taking place. We hear two voices on a radio, in what seems to be like a war:

Get us out of here now.

We won't let you down.

Get my men out of there.

Hummel (VO): Congressman Weaver and esteemed members of the Special Arms Services Committee, I come before you to protest a grave injustice. It has to stop.

Hummel: I miss you so much. There's something I've got to do, Barb. Something I couldn't do while you were here. I tried, you know I tried everything, and I still don't have their attention. Let's hope this elevates their thinking, but whatever happens, please don't think less of me.

Cut to a military base.

Hummel's men position themselves outside, and start their attack.

Hubble's Man 1: Marines, report to garrison CL that General Hummel is coming aboard with a security inspection team.

Marine: Yes, sir. Sir, it is an honour to have you here, sir.

Hummel nods.

Hummel's cars enter.

His men then proceed to take over the base, using non-lethal techniques.

Marine: I've got the access cards. We've got thirty minutes before those darts wear-off. (walks to Hummel) The access cards, sir.

Hummel: Lets do it.

Enter chemical hold.

Marine: 2400 magazine check.

Marine: Man its wet out there. Check me through will you.

They tranquilise marines

Hummel's man: Clear

Other marines enter

Hummel: I want sixteen, major

Sixteen men enter hold to remove chemical rockets.

One rocket breaks open, and chemical balls are rolling all over the floor.

Major: Evac, seal the door. Come on seal it.

One man is still in there, when one ball hits the wall, and the gas starts to take effect.

Man: No, no no. Let me out of here. Oh god, let me out of here.

Major: Get out of here, men. (To man) Sorry.

Man's face melts, and spine shudders.

Hummel: Let's move out.

Cut to FBI headquarters.

Goodspeed: (shooting strange rigged contraption) That'll be five dollars.

Marvin: That sucks.

Contraption works.

Phil: You've got too much time on your hands.

Goodspeed: Yes she's here. Bring her to me now, thank you Phil.

He takes parcel and rips it open.

Marvin: What's that. Why'd you get it sent here.

Goodspeed: Carla wouldn't approve. She thinks its dumb to spend $600 on an LP.

Marvin: Carla's right. Why don't you just spend $13 on a CD.

Goodspeed: First of all its because I'm a Beatle maniac, and second, these sound better.

Alarm goes

Cut to emergency chemicals room

Phil: Could be serious, could be Serrun gas,

Scientist: Guy in JFK got a whif of this, thinks it might be something from a refugee camp. Might be Serrun gas.

Goodspeed: How could that come from Bosnia?

Goodspeed and Marvin enter chamber, wearing suits.

Goodspeed: Bring the cockroahces.

Scientist: You're all set to go.

Goodspeed: October 1, 0900 hours, Agent Stanley Goodspeed and Agent Trainee Marvin Isherwood initiate exam of wooden crate, suspicion of Serrum gas inside. (Opens crate) Lets see, we have some dirty magazines, "Stone Age Cave Girls In The Raw". Kinky. And a gas mask, not a good sign.

Marvin: Ooh, what have we got here. A baby doll. Look at this, Stan. Hi there Stanley.

Goodspeed: Leave that alone!

Doll starts spouting gas.

Scientists: Put the exhaust on. We'll have you out of the room in 50 seconds. You'll be OK.

Goodspeed: Ok, I've got some bad news and some really bad news. The bad news is that its corrosive and is eating my suit. The really bad news is that there is enough C4 explosive and poison gas, to blow the whole chamber and kill everyone in the building. Detonation two minutes.

Sceintists: Everybody out. Seal us inside

Only two stay iside.

Goodspeed: Where are the sprinklers, Larner.

Marvin: Look, it's eating my fucking suit, alright. Shit.

Goodspeed: Where are my sprinklers goddamit.

Scientist: We're working on it, it's just a small problem.

Goodspeed: Well its a pretty big fucking problem. I want them now.

Scientist: We're working on it. How much time do you have on that detonator?

Goodspeed: Minute ten.

Confusion breaks out as Goodspeed calls for the sprinklers, Isherwood is asked to inject a huge needle of Atripine into his heart, and refuses, and so does Goodspeed, and they ask how much time they have left.

Scientist: Inject the needle into your heart. Without it you will die. IF YOU DIE WE ALL DIE. Do it now.

Scientist 2: Sprinklers activated

Goodspeed: Twenty seconds.

Scientist: We're not gonna make it.

Goodspeed: Ten

Scientist: Come on.

Marvin: You want me to inject this thing into my heart. Are you fucking nuts?

Goodspeed: Clear.

Marvin: Get me the fuck out of this gas chamber. You fucking wanted me to stab myself in the heart with this thing.

Cut to Stan at home, on a chair.

Carla enters

Carla: Stan

Goodspeed: Hi babe

Carla: I had such an interesting day today.

Goodspeed: I had an interesting day myself.

Carla: You go first

Goodspeed: Some terrorists decieded to send us a little package. Fucking poison explosives, which had to be neutralised before blowing up the office. So I took the rest of the day off. Came home, played my guitar. Just relaxed. I mean it hun, I think anyone even thinking about having a child in this world is totally considering an act of cruelty. Anyway, I'm rambling what happened in your day.

Carla: I'm pregnant.

Goodspeed: What?

Carla: I'm pregnant.

Goodspeed: Really?

Carla: Yes

Goodspeed: Wow!

Carla: Is that all you're gonna say, wow?

Goodspeed: You're pregnant? How do you know?

Carla: Blue. It turned blue, so I went to the doctor. You didn't mean what you said, did you?

Goodspeed: When?

Carla: What you said right now about bringing a child into the world being an act of cruelty.

Goodspeed: I meant it at the time

Carla: Stanley, you said it seven and a half seconds ago.

Goodspeed: Well gosh, kind of a lot has happened since then. We're not even married.

Carla: Funny you should mention that. Do you love me?

Goodspeed: Of course

Carla: Will you marry me?

Goodspeed: Whoa, babe, marriage police pull over

Carla: I want to marry you right now

Cut to Alcatraz

Guide: The rock is the most famous and was the most feared prison ever built.

Woman: Is it true there's never been an escape?

Guide: That's true. From 36 to 63 when the prison was closed, there were 13 attempts, but no-one is believed to have made it to shore, alive that is.

Marines take over the base. When the tourists are invited to enter the cells, the marines carry off the guard, locking the tourists inside.

Tummel: The tour's over folks.

Tourist: What kind of fucked up tour is this.

We see helicopters arriving.

Two marines abseil down

Fry: General Hummel, Captains Fry and Dower reporting sir.

Hummel: Welcome to the rock gentleman. Land the choppers on the back, and deploy as planned.

Hummel: Alright gentlemen, this will be our new home. Command centre right here.

All the marines set everything up, the rockets, anti-intrusion devices, computers, satellites.

Hummel goes to the cells, and shoots in the air to get attention.

Hummel: Ladies and gentlemen, you are being detained against your will, for that I apologise. It is not our intention to harm you, and you will not be detained one minute longer than is necessary.

Returning to command centre:

Hummel: Make no mistake about it gentleman, we are now in harm's way. For Major Baxter and I, this is the last campaign in a career dating back to 68. Like-wise for Captain Hendrix and Crisp, who cut their teeth under my command in Desert Storm. Captain Fry and Dower, this is my first operational situation with you and I have to say that thus far your conduct reflects your reputations. We have achieved our position through poise, precision and audacity, to this we must keep. We'll branded as traitors, the gravest capital crime, punishable by death. A couple of hundred years ago, a few guys called Washington, Jefferson and Adams were branded as traitors by the British, and now they're called patriots. In time so shall we. God-willing in less than 48 hours we will evacuate this place in gunships, under the cover of hostages and VX gas missiles. Your destination, a non-extradition treaty country. You will receive a fee of one million dollars for services rendered, but you can never again set foot on your native soil. Can you live with that?

All: Yes sir

Hummel: The men of Marine force Recon are selected to carry out illegal operations thorughout the world. When they don't come home there families are told lies, and denied compensation. I have choked on these lies my entire career. Well here and now, they stop. God be with all of you. Man your positions.

Cut to washington:

On phone:

Walmac: This is the FBI director

Hummel: Be advised, 81, I say again, 81 hostages are currently under my control as of this morning. You will take measures to make this a need to know classified fact.

Walmac: Who is this

Hummel: Mr. Director, you have a very serious problem. A battery of VX poison gas is poised to deliver a highly lethal strike on the population of the San fran Cisco Bay area. I will call again at 0000 hours to state my demands.

Walmac: I want to know who this is.

Hummel: This is brigadier general Francis Hummel of the United States Marine Corps. reporting from Alcatraz, out. (slams phone down)

Secretary: I'll cancel your reservations

Walmac: Get the Pentagon, and call the San fran Cisco office. It seems Alcatraz was just re-opened.

Cut to Pentagon

General: Last night General Hummel using brutal but non-lethal force under the guise of a security exercise walked off with fifteen VX poison gas rockets. He lost one of his men in the process.

Sinclair: 3 tours in Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Desert Storm. 3 Purple Hearts, 2 Silver Stars and the Congressional Medal of Jesus. This guy is a hero.

General: Legend would be a better description.

Sinclair: Now we can add kidnapping and extortion to his list of accolades.

Phone rings, it's Hummel.

General: Hi Frank, it's me.

Hummel: Howya doing.

General, I don't know, why don't you tell me. There are a lot of very worried people down here.

Hummel: I'll get to the point. 84 reconaissance marines have died under my command. 47 in Laos and Southern China.

Sinclair: Southern China, we never admitted we sent troops into Southern China.

Hummel: Who is this

Sinclair: Chief of Staff, Sinclair

Hummel: Well, Mr. Sinclair, how old are you?

Sinclair: 33

Hummel: Well, you've got no fucking idea what I'm talking about. By your ninth birthday, I was commanding black ops into China. My men were responisble for over 200 enemy kills. You're wasting my time. Now, remember operation desert storm, surgical hits made by our smart bombs, covered so well on CNN. It was my men on the ground which made those hits possible by lasering the targets. 20 of them were left to rot outside Baghdad after the conflict ended. No benefits were paid to their families, no medals conferred. The situation is unacceptable. You will transfer $100 million from the Grand Canyon Red Sea trading funds, to an account I designate. I will give one million dollars to each of the marines' families. The rest I will disperse at my discretion. Do I make myself clear?

Walmac: What's the Red Sea trading fund?

Hummel: It's a slush fund where the Pentagon keep proceeds from illegal arms sales.

General: Jesus, Frank, this is classified information.

Hummel: You alert the media, I launch the gas. You refuse payment, I launch the gas. You have 40 hours, till noon the day after tomorrow to arrange the transfer. I am aware of your counter measures. You know, I know it doesn't stand a chance. This is Hummel from Alcatraz, out.

Walmac: We have to identify each of the hostages, tell their families some story. We have to keep this quiet. If this gets out the city of San fran Cisco will be in chaos, I'm talking anarchy.

General: Wait a minute. What is the potential casualty rate of a single rocket armed with VX poison gas.

Officer: Sixty or seventy

Sinclair: That's not so bad.

Officer: Thousand. Sixty or seventy thousand. dead. One teaspoon of this shit detonated in the atmosphere will kill every living organism within an eight block radius.

Walmac: What did Hummel mean by your counter measure.

General: The standard counter measure against poison gas is to use napalm. Now, the probkem with VX gas is that it is designed specifically to withstand napalm.

Officer: However, thermaeplasma can burn hot enough to consume the gas. However, it is still in development. It's untested. We're dealing with a very intelligent man here.

General: What's it going to take to equip a fleet of F-18s with thermaeplasma within the next, say, 36 hours.

Officer: Nothing short of a miracle. We can try, but I strongly urge you to think of this as nothing but a secondary option.

Lieutenant: I think we should bring in Marine leader Anderson.

General: Walmac, who's your best chemical expert.

Cut to Goodspeed's house.

Goodspeed and Carla are making love. Goodspeed is spouting "erotic" things, such as peach sorbet!!!

The phone rings.

Carla: Don't answer it.

Goodspeed: I have to, it might be the office.

Carla: How will they know you're in.

Goodspeed: This is the FBI.

Answers phone

Goodspeed: Goodspeed. Yep. OK. I'll be down in 10 minutes.

Carla: No you won't.

Goodspeed: Carla, I have to go to San fran Cisco.

Carla: Stanley, no you don't. Are you kidding me right now. Aren't we supposed to discuss things like this. I'm Catholic, do you realise that. I am pregnant and unmarried. That causes a big problem for me.

Goodspeed: I love you, and I will marry you. I just didn't plan on this happening. Come to San fran Cisco with me. Check into a hotel. Order some champagne.

Carla: (Laughing) You're going to marry me. Oh baby.

Cut to conference:

Anderson: An air-drop incursion is out, there's a full moon. Like-wise a sea-side attack. If we're compromised and shots are fired, Hummel might launch. The only other alternative is an attack from inside the prison. We penetrate the island through the tunnels under thew prison buildings, undetected and emerge in the centre. That way we can attack them from behind, and if we're lucky, disarm the rockets without a single shot fired.

General: From what I understand, you haven't studied the architectural plans.

Anderson: They're useless. Alcatraz has been ripped up and rebuilt for years. Under there is a maze of shit. There is no question. We need first hand intelligence of the place.

General: What about the former warden

Secretary: Died in 1979. All the guards we contacted were useless

Kenners: There is one person

Outside:

Kenners: This is the sake of National Security

Walmac: No, it was the sake of National Security that got us here in the first place. He does not exist.

Kenners: He does exist. We just chose to forget about him for thirty years. We locked him up and three away the key.

Walmac: A lot of goddamm good that did, as he broke out of two maximum security prisons, and if he hits the streets...

Kenners: He's not going to hit the streets. Thirty years ago he was a highly trained SAS officer. Now he's my age. I have to get up three times a night to take a piss.

Walmac: We can't take the risk of letting him out. He's a professional escape artist.

We see 10 guards getting an old man out of a cell.

Cut to Goodspeed running towards a plane.

Goodspeed: Neat plane.

Walmac: Dr. Goodspeed, James Walmac. You come very highly reccomended, BA Colombia, MA, PhD. Biochemistry toxicology.

Goodspeed: I'm one of those fortunate people who like their job. Got my first chemistry set when I was seven. Blew my eyebrows off, never saw the cat again, been into it ever since.

Walmac: What do you know about VX poison gas.

Goodspeed: Liquid, used as pesticide, disocvered by mistake in 1952. It's kinda like champagne in that sense (Rambles on about how champagne was discovered)

Walmac: The gas.

Goodspeed: It's very very horrible, sir. It's one of those things we wish we could disinvent. This isn't a training exercise is it.

Walmac: No doctor.

Cut to detention centre.

Walmac: Goodspeed, Paxton.

Goodspeed: How do you do?

Paxton: It's been a fairly interesting day so far. The prisoner's here now. My boys haven't been able to find anything on this guy. Who is he anyway.

Walmac: His name is John Mason. British SAS. Incarcerated at Alcatraz in 1962, escaped 1963.

Paxton: I was under the impression no-one had ever escaped from Alcatraz.

Walmac: Don't argue. This man has no identification, not in Britain, or the United States. He does not exist, do you understand me. What I want to know is the specific route he took when he escaped from Alcatraz. We're willing to offer him a full pardon. And Paxton, no strong-arming Mason. I know him too well.

Paxton: If you know him so well, why don't you go in there.

Walmac: Uh-uh. He'll remember me. I don't want his anger clouding the issue.

Paxton enters cell

Paxton: Mr. Mason, I'm special agent in charge, Paxton.

Mason: In charge of what, fucking me over for another three decades.

Paxton: I know nothing about your previous matters. I'm here because a special situation exists which you might be able to help us with.

Mason: And what might that be? I've been in jail for longer than Mandela, so maybe you want me to run for president.

Paxton: Not exactly.

Mason: Pity. I feel rather like Alcamatus. Imprisoned by his King in Ancient Greece. Sir Walter Raleigh, same fate.

Outside:

Goodspeed: James I

Mason: Even someone as bright as you must be aware that there is a certain connection emerging here. Have you heard of Alexander.....

Paxton: Yeah, didn't he used to play hockey for the fucking Red Wings. Get this straight Pops, I don't like you any more than you like me. However, I'm prepared to offer you a two-way deal. There is a hostage situation at Alcatraz.

Mason: Hostage?

Paxton: 81 Tourists

Mason: The Rock's become a tourist attraction!

Paxton: Cut the shit. You know the Rock. You broke out.

Mason: Yes, successfully.

Paxton: So why don't you do yourself a favour whilst you're helping us, and help yourself get out of jail while you're still vertical, whilst you've got some lead left in your pencil.

Mason: Whilst I am considering your offer, I would like a suite at the Vermont hotel.

Paxton: You know I'm here to cut you a deal. Here's a quarter. Do yourself a favour and call your lawyer. You're going back to jail.

Goodspeed: You're sending him back to jail.

Paxton: I'm not sending him anywhere, just giving him something to think about.

Goodspeed: With all due respect, sir, I don't think we have enough time to let him just sit around thinking about it.

Paxton: Really?

Walmac: No, Goodspeed's right. You go talk to him.

Goodspeed: Me

Walmac: Yes

Goodspeed: Sir, I'm not qualified for that

Walmac: You're an FBI agent

Paxton: What did you say your speciality was again?

Goodspeed: Chemical weapons

Walmac: Don't say that.

Goodspeed: You want me to lie

Walmac: Yeah, lie. We have less than 24 hours. Give it a shot.

Goodspeed: (Stuttering) Hi. I'm with the Federal, um, FBI, uh, I'm, Stanley Goodspeed.

Mason: Of course you are.

Paxton: At least he got his name right.

Goodspeed: Course I am

Mason: And you have an emergency

Goodspeed: That's right

Mason: And you need my help

Goodspeed: Exactly right.

Mason: Coffee

Goodspeed: No thank you

Mason: Offer me coffee

Goodspeed: Oh yes, in fact that was going to be my next question. Can we have some coffee in here please

Mason: And offer to take these off as a gesture of your good faith.

Pause

Goodspeed: Prisoner requests handcuffs taken off. Go ahead and do it.

Paxton: That's one way to go.

Goodspeed: This is a document of release from the attorney general's office, it will make you a free man. So if you'll just sign, where it says...

Mason: Signature?

Goodspeed: That's right.

Mason says something in Latin

Goodspeed: I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts.

Mason: Oh, an educated man. That rules out the possibility of you being a field agent.

Goodspeed: As point of fact I am a field agent

Mason: Really

Goodspeed: Yes

Mason: In which field

Goodspeed: Anti-terrorist

Mason: Then you're trained in weaponry, explosives and mortal combat

Goodspeed: Well trained

Mason: Then to Vermont hotel

Goodspeed: OK

Mason: I want a suite, a shower, a shave, the feel of a suit

Goodspeed: May I also suggest a hair-cut.

Mason: Why, am I out of style?

Goodspeed: Unless you are a 20 year old guitarist from Seattle. It's a grunge thing.

Mason: Grunge?

Goodspeed: Thank you very much.

Walmac: Call the Vermont. Close the floor if necessary, but I want him sealed off and he gets two hours max. Great job Goodspeed.

Paxton: Why didn't you throw in a trip to Tahiti whilst you were at it.

Secretary: I'll deliver this to the attorney general.

Walmac: No thank you, I'll take that. There is a car waiting outside for you. Thank you very much. Good bye.

Rips up document

Goodspeed: That's a signed Federal document. Isn't that illegal.

Walmac: You're not aquainted with the full facts, Goodspeed.

Goodspeed: With all due respect, sir, I'd like clarification. I gave that man my word.

Walmac: You're on a need to know basis and you don't need to know.

Goodspeed: It's kind of curious, but Sir Walter Raleigh, Alcamatus, they were all wrongly imprisoned.

Mason breaks through glass, using the quarter Paxton chucked at him.

Mason: Walmac. Why am I not surprised, you piece of shit.

He is restraied

Cut to moving car containing Mason and Goodspeed

Goodspeed phones Carla.

Goodspeed: Honey darling, it's me. Don't come to San fran Cisco. Repeat do not come

Carla: Stanley, no, like hell I'm not coming.

Goodspeed: Carla wait. Damn

Redials, no answer

Mason: Who's Carla and why don't you want her to come to San fran Cisco.

Goodspeed: You're on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know.

Mason growls and Goodspeed gets a fright.

Bodyguard: (laughing) Watch out, he bites.

Cut to hotel

Goodspeed: I'm unarmed, sir. My gun's in my sock drawer.

Bodyguard: What do you need a gun for, you're a chemical freak.

Goodspeed: Actually I'm a chemical super-freak, but I still need a gun.

Paxton: Give him one.

Mason in shower, phones room service. He also finds a long rope.

Stylist arrives

Paxton: Barber?

Stylist: No, stylist

Walmac: Just clippers, no scissors

Stylist: No scissors, you gotta be kidding. Do they tell Picasso no brush.

Walmac: With scissors this man will kill you.

Mason: Come on, I can't cut anyone's balls off with a trimmer can I. Why don't we do this outside in the sun.

Stylist: This is nasty. Who did this to you?

Mason: It's some kind of grunge thing.

Stylist: Well it's certainly some kind of thing. Do you think we have enough time for protein pack?

Walmac: No

Stylist: Not nice is he?

Mason: No, he's not.

Bodyguard: Someone ordered it, can't let it go to waste (Eating food).

Mason: My secretary here will settle the bill. So what do you have in store for me when this is over.

Walmac: You'll get your life back.

Mason: But you could have given me my life back years ago. Why should I trust you now

Walmac: You've got my word

Mason: Will you shake on it?

Mason throws Walmac over railings, with rope attached

Goodspeed: Freeze, mister

Walmac: Help

Mason: Drop the gun or I'll drop your boss

Goodspeed: You will not

Mason: He's getting heavy

Goodspeed: Pull him up. Please don't do that

Ties rope to chair, and lets go.

Goodspeed catches chair

Goodspeed: Help, help help.

Goodspeed runs after Mason, once bodyguards have stopped the chair from falling

Mason gets into elevator with Stylist

Stylist: OK, I never saw you. What I care about is are you happy with your hair?

Walmac is pulled up.

Walmac: My arm's been pulled out.

Mason and Goodspeed go through the kitchens.

Goodspeed catches up with Mason, Mason punches Goodspeed.

Mason gets outside, and gets into a guy's car.

Goodspeed does the same, he gets into a yellow Ferrari.

Paxton: Suspect is in a black Humby, going north, speed approximately 70 mph, I want a net put on this son of a bitch. He's hitting everything in sight. Try to block him.

Mason hits an electricity pole, blocking the way for the other police cars. There is a pile-up of police cars.

Mason: I hope you're insured.

Goodspeed decides to go round another way, through a car repair garage.

Goodspeed: Why not.

Goodspeed drives through window, and is once again right behind Mason.

Goodspeed: You going down.

Mason picks up phone in his car

Man: You stole my Humby

Mason: I'm only borrowing it.

Mason: Information, San fran Cisco, Jade Angelou, A-N-G, hang on.

Mason crashes into a tram. People are everywhere Goodspeed has to avoid them

Goodspeed crashes, and the tram is coming towarsds him. He is trapped by his airbag. He shoots it, and gets out just in time.

Motor-biker: Hey man, you just fucked up your Ferrari

Goodspeed: Its not mine, and neither is this.

He steals man's bike.

Goodspeed phones Marvin

Goodspeed: Hey Marvin, look up Walford Federal Penitentiary. The inmate is Mason, John.

Marvin: Hey, I'm getting out of this government shithole, and I'm going to design something safe

Goodspeed: Look I just stole a kid's motorcycle. Just help me.

Marvin: No Mason

Goodspeed: Go to February 66. Who was transferred?

Marvin: This is weird. They got medical records, place of birth Glasgow, but no name. Hang on, next of kin, Jade Angelou

We see Goodspeed has gone to Jade's house, and follows her.

Mason sees Jade at a park.

Mason: Were you afraid to come alone

Jade: Yes

Mason: The last photograph of you I had, you were about ten.

Jade: Well I found a picture of you among mom's things when she died.

Mason: I'm sorry. Your mother was very special.

Jade: She was, but I don't think we should romanticise what happened between you and her. Meeting in a bar after a Led Zepplin concert, hit out, and I was the result.

Mason: I would have liked to think that it could have led somewhere, if...

Jade: What, if a team of Federal agents hadn't kicked down the door to drag you to prison. I'm sorry. So they let you out.

Mason: Yeah.

Jade: That's good. What did you do.

Mason: I don't have much time. I'll be coming back, and then maybe we can.

Jade: We can what?

Mason: You know you're almost the only evidence that I exist.

Jade: But I don't know you

Mason: That's what I want to change. I have rehearsed this speech a thousand times, in case we ever met, but now that I am here, I'm lost for words. I'm not an evil man. If you can believe that, it's a start.

Jade: OK

Police cars arrive

Jade: Is this about you? You escaped again, didn't you. Why did you come to me?

Goodspeed: FBI maam, your father is helping us resolve a dangerous situation. Well gee-whiz John, we better be going, now, huh.

After they've walked away.

Mason: Thank you, you could have handled that differently...

Goodspeed: Look, why don't we cut the bullshit, a-hole. You almost got me killed twice, and my jaw hurts like hell.

Mason: Good

Walmac: You bastard, if it was up to me I'd have you shipped back to a cage like an animal for the rest of your natural life.

Cut to marine HQ

Mason: If you know the system, it will take you wherever you need to go.

Anderson: Is the intake pipe the best way to get in?

Mason: It's exactly where I came out.

Anderson: And beneath the systern is an abandoned septic system connection. How many feet is that.

Mason: 57 paces

Anderson: Where do you go from there?

Mason: I'm not sure. I'll remember when we're all inside.

Walmac: Show us your blue-prints

Mason: I can't. My blue-prints were in my head. I was underground for three days, in the dark waiting for the tides to be right. But don't you worry, I'll remember when we're there.

Walmac: You're not going, Mason.

Paxton: This piece of work may be the only chance we've got. If he is not going, what's the point in getting him out of jail.

Mason: He's smart

Walmac: I got him out to get your people in, not to go with you.

Anderson: If he's the only chance those people over there have got, then he's going. If you compromise the safety of any of my men's lives, I'll bury you out there.

Mason: Well, Walmac, you're stuck between the rock and a hard case. How's your bowling arm.

Cut to Goodspeed explaining about the rockets.

Goodspeed: We know the poison is being kept in the morgue, through these thermal satellite images. Although there are three other rockets which your men will have to find once you're there.

Anderson: Have you ever seen one of these devices

Goodspeed: No sir, but I will be giving your team a debriefing on the diffusing of the rockets. There is a really neat layout. If you come over here...

Anderson: That won't be necessary.

Goodspeed: It's very necessary. The power of this chemical is way beyond anything you can imagine. Plus the devices themselves are complicated...

Anderson: That's why you're coming with us

Paxton: You're the expert, what's your problem

Goodspeed: You mean I'm going under the water

Walmac: Earlier today you wanted a gun. Now you've got a gun and a wet-suit.

Anderson: Have you ever been in a combat situation.

Goodspeed: Define combat, sir.

Marine: An excursion underwater to retake an impregnable fortress held by an elite team of marines, in possession of 81 hostages and fifteen guided-rockets armed with VX poison gas.

Goodspeed: Well, then in that case, no sir.

We see Goodspeed throwing up

Paxton: You don't look too good. In fact you look like shit. You alright? Are you gonna make it through this thing?

Goodspeed: I always suspected something like this would happen, but nothing compares with it. Now I am responsible for the whole city.

Paxton: I know this is hard for you. But don't worry, you'll come back. You've got the best SEAL team in the country backing you up.

Goodspeed: You're right. There's something else. My girl-friend's pregnant. And she's flown in to see me.

Paxton: Keep your mind on what you're going to be doing there tonight and I'll send for someone to pick up your girlfriend.

Cut to Pentagon

General: Frank, we're having some problems collecting your money. We've spoken to the President, and you're well aware of his stance against terrorism

Hummel: This isn't about terrorism, this is about justice. You've found it convenient to forget what happened.

Man: This is getting nowhere Frank.

Hummel: Well let me tell you what is, 15 rockets, towards the heart of San fran Cisco. Either get me my money, or be prepared to wreak the whirl-wind, gentlemen. Over.

General: There is no assurance of the thermaeplasma.

Man: Then green-light the SEALs

15 hours to deadline.

Anderson: Mr. Mason will be the point man. You breathe, he breathes with you. You piss, he helps. Understood? Goodspeed is our specialist, when he neutralises the threat, launch the green flares and wait for the cavallry. Make no mistake gentlemen, we are in the fight for our lives, I shit you not. Any questions? Load up.

Mason: (to Goodspeed) After you ace.

Anderson: Pass out the minicams.

Marine: We have one quart of kerosene in a squeazy bottle, three washers and waterproof matches.

Anderson: This is atropine. If you come into contact with the gas, you have twenty seconds to inject it into your heart. Don't fuck with me on this one, it could save your lives.

At Alcatraz

Marine: Bogies approaching

At FBI command centre

Carla: What's going on. Stanley is my fiancee, where is he?

Man: Classified

Carla: OK, you just sit there acting like a bureaucrat (she gets out of car, and runs away).

Cut to inside chooper:

Goodspeed is fiddling with diving equipment, and lets off a canister. Mason helps him out, and stops the oxygen escaping

Mason: In my day we did it all with a snorkel and a pair of flippers.

Goodspeed: Your day?

Mason: Yes, didn't you read my resume?

Goodspeed: I don't know anything about you.

Mason: I know something about you, Godsped.

Goodspeed: Goodspeed

Mason: Godsped, Godspell. You never went to any anti-terrorist school, so make sure you don't get us all fucking killed.

Pilot: We're going dark.

Anderson. Night-vision. Prepare to deploy.

Pilot: Good luck commander

Marines go into the water

Hummel: I want the perimeter patrolled at the west end of the island. Hendrix, you lead the patrol.

Marines surface inside Alcatraz.

Anderson: Thanks for sending us into a room with no exit.

Mason: You stand by the door till I open it. I am going through the air vent.

Anderson: You're shitting me?

Mason: I memorised the timing, I hope it hasn't been changed.

Anderson: You catch one of those flame burners, you're toast

Mason: I know. Have a nice day

Mason makes his way through the vent, rolling past and stopping and avoiding the flames

Marine: Where did you dig up this guy

Goodspeed: It's classified

Hummel's men have secured the place.

Mason opens the door for the Marines

Mason: Welcome to the Rock

Anderson: Mason?

Mason: That's the subway, it'll drop you into the tunnels.

Goodspeed: You're enjoiying this?

Mason: Well its certainly more interesting than my average day. Reading philosophy, avoiding gang rape in the wash room. Though its less of a problem these days. Maybe I'm losing my sex appeal.

Hummel's men go past above the marines, without noticing them.

Marines reach the shower room. They use small camera and mirror to deflect the laser above them so that Hummel doesn't know about them. They don't know there is a motion detector, too. So they triggger it unknowingly. The marines get out into a trap.

Hummel: Drop your weapons

Anderson: Hold your fire

Hummel: This is General Hummel, drop your weapons

Anderson: Commander

Hummel: Commander Anderson, if you have any concern for the lives of your men then you will order them to drop their weapons.

Anderson: Sir, you know why you're out here. God knows I agree. But like you I made an oath to defend the country against all enemies, foreign or domestic. We have spilt the same blood in the same mud

Hummel: Your unit is is covered from an elevated position. I'm not going to ask you again, don't do anythiung stupid.

Anderson: Marines under the command of General Hummel. You are Marines, under oath. We all have missions we regret, but that doesn't give you the right to mutiny.

Hummel: You call it what you want. But you walked into the wrong goddam shower room.

Shouting and confusion ensues, in which by accident, fire is opened and the whole thing errupts. All the marines are killed, none of Hummels men are. Goodspeed and Mason are on their own

Paxton: Its over.

Goodspeed: Oh god. Oh.

Man back at FBI HQ: We got movement, its Mason and Goodspeed.

Paxton: We got to go with the second option.

Walmac: And invite another massacre.

Paxton: We got a sixty year old man and a lab rat. It's over.

Walmac: Not for Mason.

Mason: Goodspeed, I'm not going to kill you.

Goodspeed: Where are you going.

Mason: Off the island

Paxton on radio: What's your status.

Goodspeed: Its just me and Mason, and he says he's leaving.

Paxton: That's unacceptable, do you hear me.

Goodspeed: But he's got a gun

Paxton: What do you have a fucking water pistol.

Goodspeed: No, sir.

Paxton: Stop him

Cut to shower room

Hummel: You made a terrible mistake. More of our brothers have died in vain. Damn you for forcing me into this.

Paxton: Who the fuck is John Mason

Walmac: You wanna know. It's 1962. J Edgar Hoover is head of the FBI, some say the country. It's no secret he kept microfilm files on prominent people of the world. He had dirt on everyone in the world. Mason was the British operative who stole the files. We caught him at the Canadian border. The British claimed they'd never heard of him so we kept him without trial until he gave up the film. He never did. He knows our intimate secrets from the last half century. The truth about the Roswell incident, and the Kennedy assassination. He is angry. He is lethal. And he is the only hope that we have got.

Goodspeed: Mason. There are 81 hostages still up there

Mason: So.

Goodspeed: You wanna play tough. OK. Let's play tough. (cocking gun) Freeze mother-fucker. I'll fire.

Mason: No you won't. Besides, the safety's on.

Mason takes gun as Goodspeed checks.

Radio: Have you resolved the situation

Goodspeed: Not yet. Now he has all the guns.

Goodspeed: You're right I don't use guns, and I'm not a field agent. This is what I do.

Mason: I forgot my glasses

Goodspeed: It says chemical weapons specialist. Thats right. We've got a lunatic up there. He's got some really fucky stuff.

Mason: No wonder Walmac. You could have told my daughter.

Goodspeed: It was classified. I'm in the same situation. I can diffuse the rockets, but I need your help to get me to them.

Goodspeed: Even if you got off the island, you couldn't avoid the rockets.

Mariones detect Goodspeed and Mason and throw down a bomb.

Mason: Bomb!!!

They run, and bomb sends them flying. Marines send an even bigger one, that burns through all the tunnels, and goes towards them. It sends them flying even further.

They lose radio contact because of it.

Goodspeed: So what's it going to be

Mason: What?

Goodspeed: How do you like your choices

Mason: I dont. Come on.

Mason: This was originally a civil war front.

Goodspeed: Yeah that's great. I like history too, and maybe when this is over we can stop by the souvenir shop, but right now, I don't know why, but I just want to find some rockets.

Goodspeed: Don't tempt me. We are going to the morgue.

Mason: Are you sure you're ready for this

Goodspeed: I'll do my best

Mason: Your best. Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen.

Goodspeed: Carla was the prom queen.

Mason: Really?

Goodspeed: Yeah. (cocking gun).

They enter the morgue, and there is a shoot-out, in which Goodspeed warns Mason several times not to shoot near the rockets. It is resolved when Mason shoots an extracor fan which drops on the marine's head.

Goodspeed: OK, that's just about the most awful thing I've ever seen.

Getting out rocket

Goodspeed: The second you don't respect this, it kills you.

Goodspeed: You've been around a lot of corpses, is that normal.

We see that one of the dead guy's legs is twitching vigorously.

Mason: The feet thing

Goodspeed: Yeah the feet thing

Mason: It happens

Goodspeed: Well do something about it, I'm having kind of a hard time concentrating

Mason: What do you want me to do, kill it again.

Goodspeed: Look, I'm just a biochemist. I spend most of my time in a glass jar. I drive a Volvo, a beige one. But what I am dealing with here is one of the most deadly substances the earth has ever known, so why don't you cut me some fucking slack.

Mason: What does it do

Goodspeed: One of these explodes in the airstream, it'll wipe out the entire city of people.

Mason: Really. What happens if you drop one pearl.

Goodspeed: Happily it'll kill just you and me.

Mason: How?

Goodspeed: Stops the brain sending nerve messages down the spinal column within 30 seconds. Any epidermal exposure or inhalation and you'll know. Small twitch in your back. That's the poison. Muscles freeze, can't move. Spasm so hard you break your own back and spit your guts out. That's after your skin melts off.

Mason: My God

Goodspeed: Well I think we'd like God on our side at the moment wouldn't we. I'm removing the guidance chips so that the rocket will splash down after 500 yds.

Marines know about Goodspeed and Mason because the marines have not checked in. As they arrive, Goodspeed and Mason escpae through the laundry shoot. They fall on a laundry car, which starts speeding down a track.

Goodspeed: Do you know where it goes

Mason: No I don't know where it goes

Goodspeed: Its starting to pick up speed, do you know how to slow it down

Mason: No I don't know how to slow it down

They go off the end of the track and are left hanging for their lives. Goodspeed crawls into a box which moves across the gap.

Goodspeed: Mason, are you alright?

Mason: Yes perfectly OK you fucking idiot.

Goodspeed: They're coming

Mason: Who?

Goodspeed: Some marines

Mason: Where?

Goodspeed points

Mason sprays kersone on one of the marines boots, and lights it.

The man falls and dies

The other marines go round the other side.

Goodspeed thinks Mason has fallen.

Before he gets time to look, the marines shoot at him. They throw a grenade into the box he is in. He throws it back, but isn't accurate enough. He moves the box away. They come after him. Mason appears from above, and drops into the marines' box, knocking one off. He gets into a struggle with the other. He is losing, when Goodspeed shoots the marine.

Mason: I'm rather glad you didn't hesitate too long

Goodspeed: How do you do it?

Mason: I was trained by the best, British Intelligence, but in retrospect, I would rather have been a poet or a farmer.

8 hours to dead-line

Over loud-speaker Hummel annouces he wants the guidance chips, and threatens to start killing hostages.

Mason destroys the chips.

Mason: Three to go. You find them and diffuse them. I'll delay Hummel, to try to give you more time.

Mason goes to Hummel

Hummel: Who the hell are you?

Mason: I'm all that is left of the enemy

Hummel: I've been in the service a long time. Name and rank, sailor

Mason: Army actually.

Marine: Answer the question and address him as general sir

Mason: Captain John Patrick Mason General Sir, of Her Majesty's Secret Service. Retired of course.

Hummel: You're a long way from home, captain. How are you involved in this.

Mason: I have a unique knowledge of the prison, sir, I was formerly a guest here.

We cut to Goodspeed who has found one of the rockets, and is disarming it. Marines drop down from above him., he runs and hides.

Hummel: Did they bother to tell you who I am, and what I am doing, or did they just use you like they use everbody else.

Mason: All I know is that you were big in Vietnam, I saw the highlights on televesion

Hummel: You have no fucking idea what it is like to lead some of the finest men in Vietnam into battle, then see their memory betrayed by their own fucking government.

Mason: I don't see how you cherish the memory of the dead, by killing another million. This is an act of lunacy, general sir. Personally, I think that you are a fucking idiot.

Hummel: Patriotism should be refreshed from time to time.

Mason: Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious, according to Oscar Wild.

Hummel: Where are the guidance chips?

Mason: I destroyed them

Hummel: That was a bad move soldier

Mason: Does that mean you'll kill us both.

We cut back to Goodspeed who is destroying the new lot of guidance chips. However, the marines have caught him.

Marine1: You're lucky that old man Hummel wants you alive

Marine2: Because I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy.

52 minutes to deadline

Goodspeed: "I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy" "I'd take pleasure in gutting you boy". What's wrong with these people Mason. Do I detect a lot of anger flowing around this place. Kind of like a pubescent volatility, some angst, a lot of I'm sixteen and angry at my father syndrome. We're stuck on an island with a bunch of violence for pleasure seeking marines. Well screw them. Mason?

Mason: Yes, I'm here. I was just thinking about how wonderful it was when the inmates weren't allowed to speak.

Goodspeed: Not allowed to talk, how did you do it?

Mason: Nurtured the hope that there was some hope. That some day I'd breath free air, perhaps with my daughter. It's all that kept a man alive.

Goodspeed: How did you break out.

Mason: That's a long story

Goodspeed: Well I'm not going anywhere.

We cut to Pentagon where they are discussing whether or not to use the thermaeplasma, which is on standby. A factor is that the last communication was hours ago.

Goodspeed: So why didn't you tell them where the microfilm was and come to some sort of solution.

Mason: The moment they found out where the microfilm was they would suicide me. Some sort of solution.

Goodspeed: So you ended up here. Which brings me to the next question. You broke out, let me see if I can get this straight, you went through the incinerator chute, under the mine closet, that was really cool by the way, under the steam engine, and into the systern, but how, in the name of Zeus' butt-hole did you get out of your cell. I only ask because in our current situation, that could prove to be useful information, maybe.

The door opens

Mason: Trade secrets my son.

Marine: Two operational rockets left. One on the roof and one in the lower light-house, and both of the birds are ready to fly, sir. General, can you hear me?

Hummel: Yes

Marine: Just making sure. Should we prepare for launch.

Hummel: I'll handle it.

Marine: Can I just make sure you are aware of the time.

Hummel: I am quite aware.

Marine: Just making sure that you know that me and my boys are hot and ready to rock, sir.

Goodspeed: Mason where are you going?

Mason: Thirty years ago I promised I wouldn't die in this place.

Goodspeed: You're not leaving. There's a mad man in there with his hand on a rocket.

Mason: Some sniper's going to think you're one of them

Goodspeed: Stop moving Mason. Mason, stop moving.

Mason: Hummel won't do it. He's a soldier not a murderer. I read it in his eyes.

Goodspeed: You read it in his eyes. Well that's just fine. I can't afford to take that chance

Mason: Well, then talk louder

Marine: Three minutes left, sir.

Major: They're not going to call Frank.

Marine: They'll call if we fire a a rocket up their arse.

Phone rings

General: We need another hour

Hummel: You have three minutes

General: We need final authorisation

Hummel: You have three minutes.

Slams phone down

Hummel: They say they need another three miuntes

Marine: That's bull-shit, they're lying, General. They're playing you for a fool. Order the launch, general.

He nods.

Goodspeed: The mission's not complete.

Mason: Mine is. When this is over, you'll go back to your life, driving Carla and your baby insane in your beige Volvo. I'll be dead or thrown back into prison which is the same thing.

Goodspeed: You're not leaving (Mason punches him) Alright I'll do it myself. I'll kill a platoonful of marines, no problem.

We see the marines preparing for the launch.

Goodspeed is captured by a marine.

Marine: Hands in the air

Goodspeed: My name is Stanley Goodspeed. I'm a chemical expert for the marines. Glass or plastic?

Marine: What?

Goodspeed: Glass or plastic? If the winds change, you'll all be killed, so I was wondering if you want to be taken home in a glass jar or a plastic bag.

Marine: Shut up.

Goodspeed: So what do you say you hand over the gun, and let's go find some rockets.

Goodspeed gets handed the gun.

Goodspeed: You're making the right choice.

Mason: I decided I didn't want your child growing up without a father, and besides, last time I swum the channel, I was your age, so I'm fucked either way. So come on.

Marines launch the rocket. We inter-cut between Alcatraz, and the FBI headquarters and the rocket. We see it is heading for the football game. However, before it hits, Hummel changes its direcion, making it splash in the water.

The marines start getting mutinous.

Major: What the hell was that Frank.......... I said what the hell was....

Hummel: I heard what you said. If you're going to be mutinous, do it with a little more respect.

Major: What the hell are you doing

Hummel: I'm not ready to kill those people

Major: Call the Pentagon and ask them for more time. Do it, Frank. We're coming loose

Hummel: You're coming loose, the rest of us are in complete control.

Major: I'm gonna ask him, myself.

Hummel: You're being asked by an old friend. (pause) You're being asked by your major officer. (pause) Now you're being given your last chance by a man with a gun.

Major: Thought you weren't ready to kill

Hummel: I'm warmed up.

Cut to Whitehouse where the President has decided to order the strike on alcatraz.

President: The past few hours have been the longest of my life. How does one weigh human life. One million lives, or eighty-one hostages. This is the first call I've ever had to make. Air-strike approved.

Marines: What the fuck is going on. You changed the co-ordiantes, didn't you.

Hummel: Affirmative

Marine: Why

Hummel: Our mission was based on threat. They called our bluff.

Marine2: Who said anything about bluffing?

Major: You are talking to a general, and when a soldier does that, he talks with respect

Marine: I aint a soldier. The day I came here I became a mercenary, and mercenaries get paid. I want my fucking money.

Hummel: We bluffed, they called it, now stand down captain. Major, take these men to the choppers, and put them under arrest.

Marine: Put the general under arrest.

Confusion follows, and the result is a Mexican stand-off, the major and general on one side, and the other three on the other. Hummel is shot, and Goodspeed and Mason drag him out.

Goodspeed: Where's the last rocket?

Hummel: Lower light-house. (dies)

Goodspeed rushes off to the light-house.

Mason has two greandes chucked at him. He dives into a bath, to escape.

Goodspeed starts disarming the final rocket. He takes out the gas, but the marine appears.

Goodspeed: If you shoot me, I drop the gas, we both die. You know how this shit works.

Marine: You know how this shit works. Come on. Let's play.

Goodspeed: Sorry, we got off on the wrong foot. Let's talk music. Do you like Elton John, the Rocket Man.

Marine: I don't like soft ass shit

Goodspeed: I was only asking because that's you, you're the rocket man.

Goodspeed shoots the rocket, and the marine is right infront of it. He gets shot out of the building and onto an electric pole, and dies.

Goodspeed: How do you like how that shit works?

Goodspeed makes his way to the top of the light-house. He drops one of the balls, but cathces it just in time. Then he is shot at, so he runs away, putting the ball in his pocket. He hides the rest.

Mason then pushes one of the marines over the edge of a building, just before he shoots Goodspeed.

A marine is shooting at Goodspeed. Goodspeed is running for his life.

We see the F-14s coming towards Alcatraz.

We cut to mason, who is in a fight with a marine

Marine: Scottish prick, did I ever tell you my old man was Irish.

Mason then proceeds to get the better of him.

We cut to Goodspeed. The marine has caught up with him. He drops the chip on the floor, to distract the marine. A fist-fight ensues. Marine is getting the better of Goodspeed, when Goodspeed shoves the ball of poison into the marines mouth, and punches him, thus, breaking the ball. He then injects the atropine needle into his heart.

We see the F-14s coming ever closer to the island.

Goodspeed remembers about launching the green flares, and so does this.

He is spotted just as one of the pilots launches a missile.

The building explodes behind Goodspeed, launching him into the water.

We cut between the fFBI HQ, where his girl-friend is shattered, and Goodspeed being saved by Mason.

Mason drags him to shore.

Mason: I'm fed up with saving your ass. I'm amazed you ever got past puberty. I suppose this will all make a great bed-time story to tell your kid.

Goodspeed: I don't want my kid to have nightmares. Spend all my money on shrinks.

Over radio:

Paxton: Goodspeed, do you read me, come in.

Goodspeed: This is Goodspeed.

Paxton: Are the hostages alive

Goodspeed: Every one of them.

Walmac: What about Mason?

Goodspeed: (pause, looks at Mason) He's dead.

Walmac: How, when?

Goodspeed: Just come and get me. (stops transmitting). Walmac tore up your pardon, John.

Mason: I guessed he would

Goodspeed: The scuba gear should be where we left them. If you can get to the Pan Pacific hotel, there are clothes in my closet. You'll find some money in the bible. Room 26.

Mason: It's been a long time since I've thanked anybody, but thank you. Well, Stanley, this is where we go our seperate ways. I'm sure you know the etymology of your name

Goodspeed: Yeah Godspeed, to wish someone a prosperous journey, why?

Mason: Well if you ever fancy a journey, I reccomend Fort Walton, Kansas.

Goodspeed: I was thinking of Maoui.

Mason: No, forget Maoui (hands him a piece of paper)

Goodspeed: (as mason walks away) St. Michael's Church, Fort Walton, Lansas, front pew, left leg, hollow. Is this what I think it is, Mason.

Mason.

Paxton arrives

Paxton: Congratulations Dr. Goodspeed, you did it.

Goodspeed: Thank you sir.

Paxton: You know for a while there I didn't think you were going to make it. Well done son. So where's Mason.

Goodspeed: Vaporised. Blown out to sea.

Paxton: Blown out to sea?

Goodspeed: Yeah.

Paxton: Poor bastard.

Walmac: Where's Mason, where's his body, I want to see that son of a bitch.

Paxton: Vaporised.

Walmac: Vaporised?

Goodspeed: Oh yes, sir, absolutely, sir.

Cut to Goodspeed running from a church.

A priest comes after him

Priest: Vandals, vandals

Carla (in car): Come on baby, come on.

Priest: Stop, stop.

Goodspeed: (Opening micro-film) Honey, do you wanna know he who really killed JFK.

We see them drive away into the sunset, "Just Married" on the back of their beige Volvo.