FADE IN:
EXT. TAVERN/SHACK - DAY
The quiet of the peaceful out of the way stop is shattered
by a 4x4 screeching to a halt. It’s FRONT WHEEL dominates
the near by shack.
INT.
THREE MEN IN DISTRESSED BLACK UNIFORMS WALK IN. They are ready for combat, though they look like they’ve already been fighting.
They scan the room, there are only A FEW PEOPLE there.
Their headsets give off a low ping sound.
In the corner, A FIGURE sits behind a table, hooded and wrapped in shadow. She has a small, single button remote in
her right hand. She presses it -
The uniform’s headsets fire a piercing whine.
She raises her left arm onto the table, there is a gun holstered to her forearm. It’s huge.
The uniforms take out their guns. Everyone runs out.
They approach the corner table.
The hooded woman kicks out the chair opposite her - She flips the table and draws the massive pistol.
She blind fires in the uniform’s direction, then aims her pistol at the wall.
She fries 3 shots across it.
She stands and fires before throwing herself through the wall.
The uniforms chase towards the hole. They miss the bomb stuck to the underside of the table.
EXT.
The woman presses the single button remote again.
A fireball explodes out of the hole. It blows back her hood, revealing her beauty.
The patrons stare at her as she breezes past.
PATRON #1
(whispered)
She’s Mars.
PATRON #2
(whispered)
The hunter?
PATRON #3
(whispered)
She’s a killer.
MARS
She’s the greatest thing you ever seen. She can hear good, too.
She holsters her pistol and points at the 4x4.
MARS (CONT'D)
Who’s car is this?
CUT TO:
INT. 4X4
Mars is driving the 4x4.
EXT.
Fast down an open stretch.
CUT TO:
B&W
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Heavy rain drips through the leaves and branches onto
H2K
She is almost naked, standing stoic in the wet.
In front of her is A ROW OF ARMOURED SOLDIERS. They are completely lacking in any sign of humanity. One holds up a Dog Tag, it reads “H2K”. He reaches it out to her.
She takes it.
CUT TO:
COLOUR
EXT. CADLIUM - DAY
The huge fortress - lab stands quiet amongst the trees.
INT. LOADING BAY
A lorry is parked an the doors swung open.
ANGELIQUE approaches and looks inside.
She motions the doors closed. She puts on a headset. She waits for a response but there is none.
She storms off.
INT. NAIRN’S LAB
OLD MAN NAIRN sits at a computer screen, staring blankly.
ANGELIQUE barges in.
ANGELIQUE
Answer me when I fucking call.
NAIRN
Did you? I’m sorry.
ANGELIQUE
Wake up. I have to do everything round here.
NAIRN
I’m sorry.
ANGELIQUE
Shut the fuck up. I know what your problem is.
NAIRN
I try not to think about it.
ANGELIQUE
All you do is think about it. The bitch is gone.
NAIRN
She took everything away.
ANGELIQUE
The bounty hunters will find her, they will. And when they do I’m going to take it all back. Now you get your fucking head together. A cargo’s just arrived. Are you going to inspect it or leave it to me to incinerate?
NAIRN
(sighing)
I’ll come down.
Angelique kneels beside his chair.
ANGELIQUE
I’m getting bored of you pining over your lost pet bitch. She may be H2K, but I’m Angelique, you fucker. You remember the Death Kiss, don’t you?
NAIRN
Angelique, you’re perfect in every way.
ANGELIQUE
Please, Nairn. Get your head out your ass. Or I’ll pull it out with my bare hands.
She gets up and leaves.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
TROOPERS in same black uniforms as those in the shack, corral a group of VAGABONDS. Although they are all different, they are dressed in shabby rags. Some have rashes on their faces. They are all terrified.
One of the troopers approaches the COMMANDER.
TROOPER
Sir. They’re all infected, no sign of her. One is pregnant, though.
COMMANDER
That’s too bad. Call for transport.
He looks of down the road.
COMMANDER (CONT'D)
Wait, is that one of ours?
Mars’s stolen car approaches.
Another Trooper hails her down.
The car stops.
Mars brings the window down and aims her gun at the Trooper.
MARS
Hi. Don’t move or you’re dead. What are you doing up there?
AMONGST THE VAGABONDS
One of the highly infected is very jittery, his eyes dart around the Troopers and at the distant car.
HE makes a bolt for it.
A TROOPER raises his rifle and shoots the man down.
The rest of the Troopers turn their guns on the Vagabonds.
COMMANDER
Nobody move.
He doesn’t realise the car is coming at full speed until it runs him down.
It screeches to a halt.
Mars jumps out shooting.
She takes down most of the Troopers before they’ve even raised their aim.
There are a few shots but Mars dispatches them also.
SHE scans them until she’s satisfied they are dead.
MARS
OK, that was too fucking easy.
The PREGNANT VAGABOND runs over to her while most of the others disperse.
PRECIOUS
Oh god, thank you.
Mars holsters her gun.
MARS
Save it.
PRECIOUS
Really thank you.
MARS
Yeah, you got any food? I skipped my last meal.
A big male VAGABOND holds Precious’s shoulders.
DINO
No, we don’t have anything.
MARS
Uh-huh.
PRECIOUS
Is there anything else we can do?
MARS
You can check if they’ve got any.
SHE motions towards one of the Troopers.
HE holds fast.
DINO
Leave her alone, Precious.
MARS
Precious?
DINO
She’s a bounty hunter, aren’t you?
MARS
(beat)
No.
DINO
You see?
MARS
I’m not. There is only one bounty out there anyway. And I think your looking for it too.
She points to PRECIOUS’S belly.
DINO
You stay away from her.
PRECIOUS
Dino.
MARS
Whatever.
Mars leaves them and starts searching the dead.
DINO
Fuck.
PRECIOUS
What are you doing?
DINO
No.
PRECIOUS
Stop being such a dick. Be smart about this.
DINO
This is bad, it’s a dangerous thing.
PRECIOUS
We’re running out of options Dino.
MARS
You two love birds finished?
DINO
She’s my sister.
MARS
Really? You think I’m going to believe that?
PRECIOUS
It’s true.
Mars gives a wry smile and passes them. She gets into the car.
She leans her head out.
MARS
You’re going to need to step aside.
Precious comes up to the window.
PRECIOUS
Please can you help us?
Mars pulls her gun.
MARS
Could you repeat that?
Dino comes running over.
DINO
Hey.
Mars turns the gun on him.
MARS
Your boyfriend’s right. I’m a fucking painful death waiting to happen. You, your boyfriend and you baby are just going to be in the way of the people trying to stop me.
She holsters her gun.
MARS (CONT'D)
I saved you now by chance. And you didn’t have any food. Why the fuck am I still here?
PRECIOUS
We’re looking for her too.
MARS
I don’t know what you mean.
PRECIOUS
H2K. We need to find her.
MARS
Good luck with that.
She revs the engine.
PRECIOUS
(shouting)
What if we can help?
MARS
I doubt it.
PRECIOUS
(shouting)
But we know where she is.
She cuts the engine.
MARS
Nah, that’s bullshit.
PRECIOUS
We do. Well, we sort of know.
MARS
Sort of? It is bullshit.
DINO
South. She’s in the south.
MARS
That narrows it down.
DINO
We can tell you more.
She thinks about it.
MARS
Get in the back.
Precious lights up, the pair of Vagabonds rush in.
MARS (CONT'D)
(shouting)
And no fucking back there.
She starts the engine and drives away. Suddenly U-turning and heading the other way.
CUT TO:
B&W
INT. TRANSPORT CELL
H2K is held under heavy restraints, there is a bit gag in her mouth. Her intense eyes stare out past the SOLDIERS, past
the door at the other end.
The journey is rough but she does not waver.
Eventually they stop, the doors open and light fills the cell.
CUT TO:
COLOUR
INT. 4X4 - NIGHT
The car rumbles and rattles.
Mars is trying to stay awake. She peeks at DINO and Precious in the back seat. They have nodded off.
She eases the car to a stop. She reaches into the backseat and slaps DINO’S THIGH.
HE jolts awake, as does Precious.
DINO
What the fuck?
MARS
There’s and aid station ahead. I’m going to see if it can give us some shelter for the night.
PRECIOUS
Can’t we just keep going.
MARS
Well that might be dangerous. Besides, you sweethearts might
like some privacy.
EXT. AID STATION - NIGHT
It is just another old shack. Deserted and lifeless.
INT.
The shack is just as dead. A TV screen is playing in the background.
Mars waves a torch around, looking for a light. She kicks some debris around before returning to the TV.
She browses the MENU.
Video captions appear. She clicks on the first one and a vlog opens up, an attractive woman appears.
SHERYL ANN
Hello, I’m starting this journal as a part of, oh gee. Um, oh, gosh. Sorry, I’ll start again.
(MORE)
Hi.
(laughs)
Oh, sorry, sorry.
Mars sighs and skips to the next vlog.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
I’m pleased to say that we have been very successful in our first week. A ton of people have shown up and are looking to help.
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
(a bit down beat)
OK. We’ve been having some set backs for the last few weeks there has been some break-ins and they’ve gone through the place looking for drugs. I think that now they’ve realised we’ve only got treatments, so...
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
We got some bad news, the government advisor hasn’t been
around in a while.
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
(pointing to her arm)
Can you see that? There, right there? I’m going to administer a test in a moment. I’m doing it myself because I don’t want...
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
A representative from some pharmaceutical firm came by and talked about a study. She talked about a vaccine but it worked on about 1 in 10. I gave her a copy of my patients...
While she’s been watching, DINO has snuck in.
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
(holding up her rash covered arm)
The infection has stopped resisting treatment...
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
There was a radio report, it said one hundred percent of the population was now infected.
Skip.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
(the rash has reached her face)
There’s very little point going on. We’ve all become infected and I think everyone has come to realise that there is no help for us, including me.
DINO silently approaches Mars.
SHERYL ANN (CONT'D)
There haven’t been any deliveries or contact from the government. None of the people who came for treatment have been back, nor have the volunteers. I don’t know if they’re still alive. I hope so. But there doesn’t really seem
like there’s much to hope for...
CAR HORN BLAST
Mars turns and finds Dino just as surprised as her.
ANOTHER BLAST
They run out.
EXT.
Car lights in the distance. A lot of them.
PRECIOUS is strangling the ignition.
BULLETS start to rip the station apart.
Mars and DINO run to the car.
Mars pushes PRECIOUS out of the way into Dino.
MARS
Who the fuck taught you to drive?
She turns the ignition and lights up the car like a Christmas tree. Bullets start pinging off the car.
DINO
Fuck.
Mars smashes the accelerator.
They take off, taking more hits. The windows crack into webs, blood splatters across the glass.
The car accelerates away. Less and less bullets hit.
DINO slumps over Precious. When SHE looks up, blood gets in her eye.
FADE TO:
B&W
INT. NAIRN’S LAB
H2K is walked into the lab by A DOZEN ARMOURED SOLDIERS.
NAIRN is sitting by his desk.
SOLDIER
She’s clean sir, we checked.
NAIRN
I’m sure you did. But I’m going to have to insist on checking for myself.
H2K rolls her eyes and takes off her shirt.
NAIRN (CONT'D)
Just put your hand in the machine.
She steps up to the scanner, throwing the shirt over her shoulder. She stares right at Nairn as the machine runs it’s scan.
She smiles, she knows what it’s going to say.
CUT TO:
COLOUR
EXT. 4X4 - NIGHT
The car spews smoke as it rattles and cranks itself to death.
Mars jumps out and starts kicking the grill.
MARS
Piece of Government shit. I’ve wiped my ass with paper tougher than you.
It rattles out a sigh and is gone.
Mars takes a deep breath.
INT. 4X4
PRECIOUS is cradling Dino, crying.
MARS
Get out.
Precious doesn’t move.
MARS (CONT'D)
Leave him. We’ve got to go.
PRECIOUS
He always wanted to be buried back on the farm.
MARS
Well, this is as far as he’s going. Now, come on.
She pulls Precious’s arm.
PRECIOUS
NO!
MARS
Shit.
PRECIOUS
We have to bury him.
MARS
We? We will get killed if we don’t start moving.
PRECIOUS
He would want to be buried.
MARS
Precious? You haven’t realised this and I’ve had to make it
clear to a lot of guys, I’m not a cunt worth fucking with.
She grabs Precious’s tunic and PULLS her into a KNOCKOUT PUNCH.
EXT.
Mars pulls PRECIOUS from the car and drags her away.
MARS
So she gets a little dirty, I’m covered in shit. And if I can survive smelling like a whore’s toilet, so can she.
FADE TO:
B&W
INT. CADLIUM
H2K dresses her self in a soldier’s uniform, while admiring herself in the mirror. She moves onto the armour. It’s bulky and looks tough.
Last, the helmet. She raises it to her head, but gives a last glance in the mirror. She throws the helmet back down.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST - MORNING
CLOSE UP - PRECIOUS
She wakes in pain. She raises both hands to her face. Her hands are cuffed together.
MARS
Morning.
PRECIOUS
What’s... I don’t...
Mars holds up a small cushion with a belt through it.
MARS
This kind of fell off last night.
Precious slaps down to her now flat stomach. She has been striped almost naked.
MARS (CONT'D)
Yeah, I had to check the rest of you.
She holds up a small pistol.
MARS (CONT'D)
And they say I’m paranoid. Well, they say I’m crazy then I kill them. You don’t think I’m crazy, do you?
PRECIOUS
You’re a fucking -
MARS
Oh, you know what? I forgot to do the rectal exam.
She licks her finger.
MARS (CONT'D)
On your stomach, please.
PRECIOUS
You can’t treat me like this.
MARS
Yes, I can.
PRECIOUS
You still fucking need me. I know where H2K is.
MARS
You know I haven’t seen you shit yet so this might get messy.
PRECIOUS
I’ll never tell you if touch me.
MARS
Maybe I should use a stick.
PRECIOUS
No.
She kicks at Mars
MARS
Fuck, Precious. If you don’t want to have sex with me why have you been such a tease?
PRECIOUS
You fucking psycho bitch.
MARS
Now, that’s like calling me crazy and I need to keep you alive. You know where H2K is.
PRECIOUS
Give back my clothes.
MARS
Where is she?
PRECIOUS
At a government camp. Maybe a hundred and fifty miles from here.
Mars throws a bag over to Precious. As she unpacks some clothes, mars dangles a pair of small keys.
MARS
Now what are you going to do to get out of them cuffs?
Precious stares at the keys then at Mars and scowls.
CUT TO:
EXT.
