GODZILLA by Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich First Draft 2/19/96 FADE IN: An iguana... Crawling off its nest, leaving its eggs exposed. 1 EXT. MORUROA ATOLL ISLANDS, FRENCH POLYNESIA - PACIFIC 1 Grainy, Kodak color, nineteen sixties documentary footage of a beautiful Polynesian island. We SEE quick shots of Kimono Dragons, Gila Monsters and Chameleons all in their natural tropical environment. Super: Moruro Atoll Islands, French Polynesia - June 1968 Incongruously over this jungle environment we HEAR a static ridden radio filtered VOICE, slowly counting down in French. It is almost as through the reptiles of the island are reacting to the countdown as they anxiously move about. Suddenly with a brilliant FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT, a nuclear EXPLOSION mushrooms into the sky. We SEE a SERIES of REAL shots of footage of some of the over one hundred and sixty official nuclear tests the French government held in this tropical region. Explosion after explosion devastates the locale. One building after the next, accelerating in momentum, culminating in one final EXPLOSION. The cloud-filled sky begins to drizzle. The ash-like fallout drifts downward onto what's left of the islands below. We FOLLOW this ash as it settles next to a dead reptile, unrecognizable now, and down onto what's left of the lizard's eggs. Suddenly the image clears from the grainy footage to clean, modern high resolution. We ZOOM IN on one of the eggs as it slowly gets buried in the falling ash. WE continue to push in, getting closer...closer... SMASH CUT TO: 2 EXT. PACIFIC OCEAN - OIL TANKER - RAINSTORM - NIGHT 2 Smashing through the choppy waters, barely by the storm we SEE the CORI AKIDO, a Japanese oil supertanker. Super: Pacific Ocean, present day 3 INT. CORI AKIDO - BRIDGE - NIGHT 3 We TRACK across the complicated computerized navigational console that is actually steering the immense ship. In the b.g. we HEAR a Japanese t.v. program playing. At the end of the console is the ship's SKIPPER, an overweight Japanese seaman sleepily watches a snowy satellite broadcast of a Sumo wrestling match. Suddenly the SONAR blares out a warning ALARM. Startled, the Skipper awakes and stumbles out of his chair over to the console. The SONAR displays an enormous MASS heading quickly toward the ship. The Skipper's eyes go wide. He hits a KLAXON alarm, awaking the entire ship. He presses the radio/intercom. SKIPPER (in Japanese) Captain. This is the bridge. We have an emergency. 4 INT. SUPERTANKER'S HALLWAYS - SAME - NIGHT 4 Alarms BLARING. The crew rushes out of their quarters and into the hall. Quickly they race for the upper decks. 5 INT. OTHER HALLWAY - BY KITCHEN 5 The ship's elderly COOK pokes his head out of the kitchen and yells at some of the crew as they pass by. COOK (in Japanese) What's going on? What's happening? Before anyone can answer, the ship is ROCKED by an enormous THUD as something hits the side of the immense ship. The crew TUMBLES as the ship SWAYS VIOLENTLY. The old Cook is thrown to the floor. He looks up nervously. 6 INT. BRIDGE - SAME - NIGHT 6 The CAPTAIN enters quickly, joining the Skipper at the console. CAPTAIN (in Japanese) What was that!? SKIPPER (in Japanese) I can't tell... Again, the ship is HIT. An enormous CRASHING SOUND is HEARD as the ship ROCKS to one side, tossing the Captain and Skipper to the floor. Suddenly we HEAR the tell-tale, famous SCREAMING WAIL of our creature from somewhere outside. Terror shines in the Captain's eyes at the sound. 7 INT. HALLWAYS - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 7 The crew, getting back on their feet, reacts to the horrible WAILING SOUND. Suddenly the ship is HIT AGAIN. This time something enormous RIPS THROUGH THE HULL, crushing one of the crew members as it TEARS THROUGH THE WALLS. Water RUSHES THROUGH the large gaping hole, quickly filling the hallway. The Cook and what's left of the crew scurry for the stairs, as the water level chases them. 8 INT. BRIDGE - SAME - NIGHT 8 The ship's computers are WHIRLING with warning lights and alarms. As the Skipper tries to adjust the controls in vain, the Captain grabs the ship's p.a. system. CAPTAIN (in Japanese) Abandon ship! Abandon ship! Man the lifeboats... But before he can say anything more, something WHIPS across the bridge's enormous windshield, SHATTERING THE GLASS. Was it a tail? No way, far too big. 9 EXT. SHIP'S DECK - SAME - NIGHT 9 The doors BURST open as the crew and the Cook rush out onto the deck. Again, the ship is HIT, ROCKING it violently. A TARP is ripped away, revealing a life boat. Two more life boats are revealed behind it as the crew desperately tries to hoist them up and over the side. ANGLE - WATER BESIDE THE TANKER Something ENORMOUS jolts out of the water towards the ship. Through the rainstorm it is hard to make out what it is, but it SLAMS into the side of the ship, RIPPING INTO IT, pulling down the starboard side as it does. Could that have been a CLAW? THE CREW Are thrown backwards. The lifeboats swing WILDLY, several of them SMASHING INTO BITS as they slam against the ship. THE CLAW Or whatever it is, RIPS INTO THE SIDE AGAIN. This time the entire ship begins to FLIP OVER. A LIFEBOAT Bounces off the deck and slides off the side. Following it is the Cook. Desperately, the Cook grabs onto the ship's side railing to keep from falling off. He looks back and SEES something so horrible that he SCREAMS IN TERROR and lets go of the railing. The old Cook slides over the side as the enormous tanker FLIPS OVER. CUT TO: WINDSHIELD WIPERS Clearing at their highest speed, we see through the rain doused windshield, DR. NIKO "NICK" TATOPOULOS. Music blares from the tiny headphones of his Walkman. NICK (singing) ...I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain... CUT TO: 10 INT. RUSSIAN TOWN - RAIN - DAY 10 The utility van races through this small Russian town right past a roadblock marked with the international signs for "no trespass" and "nuclear radiation." NICK ..."What a glorious feeling. I'm happy again..." As the van disappears down the road, we CRANE UP revealing a city sign reading: CHERNOBYL, RUSSIA. 11 EXT. CHERNOBYL DIRT PARK - RAIN - DAY 11 With the infamously crippled nuclear power plant in the distance, the utility van slides to a muddy stop by this field of dirt. Nick hops out quickly and rushes to the back of the van. He opens the back of the van and grabs several metallic cases. Walking a few yards away from the van, he dumps the cases on the ground, opening them to REVEAL an assortment of sophisticated scientific equipment. Taped to the inside are several photos of a girl we'll meet later. Some of the photos are of her looking young and beautiful. Others are of the two of them happily together. With a switch he turns on the equipment which comes to life. Inside one of the cases are several cables attached to long SPIKES. He grabs them and dashes away. NICK ..."I'm laughing at clouds, so dark up above..." Nick rushes over to a small patch of land and begins to SHOVE the spikes into the muddy earth. NICK ..."The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love..." Once firmly in the ground, he rushes back over to the van and pops the hood. CLOSE - VAN'S ENGINE We SEE the steaming engine and a large electric car BATTERY. NICK ..."Let the cloudy skies chase..." He attaches the cables to the battery and they SPARK! Nick YELPS and jumps back. Shaking off the shock, he rushes back over to the mud pit, dropping down to his knees. Suddenly, raising from the mud we see DOZENS OF EARTHWORMS. Excitedly Tatopoulos grabs a big empty glass jar and begins filling the jar with worms, happily in his element. NICK ..."I'm singin' in the mud, just scooping up my worms..." Unable to hear over his Walkman, he is oblivious as an enormous RUSSIAN MILITARY HELICOPTER lands right behind him. From the intense wind kicked up by the helicopter, Tatopoulos finally turns in time to see several RUSSIAN OFFICERS coming toward him. Nick scrambles to his feet. NICK (broken Russian) Good day. I am here with permission...I have a, a... (in English) Permit. How do you say permit? He goes through his pockets looking for his permits. MALE VOICE (O.S.) Dr. Nick Topopolosis? Tatopoulos looks up as the Russian soldiers move past him and over towards his cases of equipment. A man in a long raincoat comes forward. NICK It's Tatopoulos. TERRINGTON The worm guy, right? (extending his hand as he approaches) Kyle Terrington, U.S. State Department. The Russian soldiers close up his equipment and take it off to the Helicopter. NICK What are they doing? TERRINGTON You've been reassigned. NICK You can't shut me down now! My research here's not finished! TERRINGTON It is now. CUT TO: 12 EXT. PAPEETE - TAHITI - STREET - DAY 12 Coastal town of Papeete, Tahiti. With the ocean in the distance, through the heat waves we SEE a row of official looking black sedans coming toward us. 13 EXT. PAPEETE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS - DAY 13 The doors to the sedans open as a group of very official looking Government types. Stopping to light his cigarette is PHILLIP RAYMOND, 40's, intense, dangerous and worst of all...French. 14 INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER - DAY 14 Raymond leads the official looking group down the hall. A BRIEFING OFFICER rushes over. (The following dialog is entirely in French with subtitles) BRIEFING OFFICER The Japanese consulate has been calling and we've been getting pressure from the Americans. RAYMOND What did you tell them? BRIEFING OFFICER Nothing yet. RAYMOND Are there any other survivors? BRIEFING OFFICER Only one, Sir. He was very lucky. The group arrives at a door at the end of the hall. The Briefing Officer opens the door. RAYMOND'S P.O.V. - THROUGH OPEN DOOR In the corner of the large room we see the old Cook from the tanker curled up in the fetal position. The doctors and a few nurses are attending to him. RAYMOND Get them out of there. Two of the Officials move in and escort the Doctors and Nurses out of the room. Raymond nods to two other Officials who begin to unpack some recording equipment, including a video camera. 15 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME 15 Raymond enters and moves close to the old Cook, kneeling down in front of him, inspecting his distant glare. The old Cook seems to be in a world of his own, rocking back and forth. Raymond nods to another Official who comes forward. RAYMOND (in French) Ask him what happened. The Second Official ask him in Japanese, but the old Cook does not respond. He asks again but the old Cook seems to be in a world of his own. BRIEFING OFFICER (in English) It's no use. He's been like this since we fished him out of the ocean. Whatever happened to that tanker put him in a complete state of shock. Raymond takes out his lighter and ignites it on high. The old Cook's eyes slowly come back to life, transfixed by the fire. Slowly he brings the flame close to the old Cook's face. RAYMOND (in English) What did you see, old man? Drawn out of himself by the flame... OLD COOK (weakly) Gojira...Gojira... Raymond shoots a look at the Second Official for an explanation. SECOND OFFICIAL (in English) I have no idea what he is saying. OLD COOK (stronger) ...Gojira!...Gojira!...GOJIRA!! CUT TO: 16 EXT. GULF OF DEN SAN MIGUEL, PANAMA - DAY 16 A small sea plane flies over this jungle region of Panama, darting up the Gulf into the lush greenery of the countryside. Super: Guilfo de San Miguel, Panama - 45 km outside of La Paz Slowly the plane begins to descend, landing by a small village. 17 EXT. VILLAGE FISHING DOCK - MOMENTS LATER - DAY 17 Several soldiers unload Nick's cargo as he steps out of the plane onto the dock. As he walks towards shore he SEES... NICK'S P.O.V. - POLICE BARRICADE Dozens of citizens as well as the press are gathered at a police barricade; their access to the village denied. Panamanian Police and U.S. military working together to keep people out. Marching up the shore to greet Nick is MAJOR TONY HICKS, 30's, efficient, who is spearheading this operation. MAJOR HICKS Dr. Niko Topopolosis? NICK (correcting) It's Tatopoulos. MAJOR HICKS Right. The worm guy. (to guards at blockade) Can someone get those people off the beach? NICK Excuse me, would you mind telling me what the hell I'm doing here? MAJOR HICKS Follow me. The Major leads Nick up the beach away from the crowds. NICK You didn't answer my question. In fact, for the last 18 hours no one has answered any of my questions. MAJOR HICKS We have a situation on our hands that requires your particular expertise. ANGLE - DESTROYED VILLAGE HUT Several soldiers and researchers are investigating the site when Nick and the Major walk past. NICK Look, I may work for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission but accidents and spills are not my field. MAJOR HICKS We know. Major Hicks motions to some guards who clear a blockade away from a jungle pathway. Major Hicks takes the pathway. NICK Do you know that you just interrupted a three year study of the Chernobyl earthworm? MAJOR HICKS Yeah, you're the worm guy. NICK The radioactive contamination in that area altered the earthworm's DNA! You have any idea what that means? MAJOR HICKS No, but I have the feeling I'm about to find out. NICK It means that due to a man made accident the Chernobyl earthworms are now over seventeen percent larger than they were before. Mutated by seventeen percent? Major Hicks stops, turns to Nick. MAJOR HICKS (bemused) Seventeen percent, huh? Sounds big. NICK They're enormous! A new species created by man's recklessness. That's what I've been trying to tell you, I'm only a biologist. I take radioactive samples and study them. MAJOR HICKS Then you're perfect. (pointing to the ground) Here's your radioactive sample. Study it. With that Major Hicks walks away. NICK What sample? MAJOR HICKS You're standing on it. Nick looks down, sees nothing. NICK I don't see it. (no response) Where is it? We CRANE UP above him, pulling back farther and farther, until we SEE he's standing inside of a 15 YARD LONG GIGANTIC FOOTPRINT in the sand. NICK (CONT'D) I don't see it! Two scientists have spread out a tape measure to document its length as two others inspect it with Geiger counters. Nick sees them and realizes he's standing in a remarkable discovery. He looks up ahead and SEES... OVERHEAD TITLT SHOT - Foot steps...- Five gigantic footsteps in front of him. Other researchers examining the prints with all kinds of equipment. Geiger counters, CLICK, CLICKING away. Nick is stunned. 18 EXT. TATTERED VILLAGE REMAINS - MOMENTS LATER 18 Nick rushes to catch up with Major Hicks who walks towards a command tent in the distance. NICK (flabbergasted) That was a footprint. I was standing inside a footprint. MAJOR HICKS That's right. NICK But there's no animal in the world that can make prints like that? Is there? MAJOR HICKS We're hoping you're going to help us figure that out. The Major gestures to the many villagers who are being attended to. Some are injured, others are being examined for radiation. The village has been decimated. NICK Somebody must have seen it. MAJOR HICKS It happened so fast no one knew what hit them 'til is was over. A jeep pulls up and PETERS, a young researcher, comes rushing over with a video tape in his hands. As he passes Major Hicks... PETERS (on the run) Tape's in. The French finally released it. Peters takes off for the command' tent. Nick and the Major follow. COMMAND TENT - CONTINUOUS - DAY Part military, part scientific command post. Lots of activity. Peters waves the tape as he rushes over to a television. Major Hicks and Nick follow. MAJOR HICKS A tanker was attacked and sunk yesterday near the French Polynesians. We think there's a connection. WOMAN SCIENTIST (ELSIE) Is that the tape of the witness? Excitedly, ELSIE CHAPMAN, heavy set, early 30's, paleontologist and head of the research team, leads several of her colleagues over to the t.v. NICK Hi. Nick Tatopoulos... ELSIE Ah, Elsie Chapman, paleontologist. She's clearly attracted to him. This doesn't escape Nick, who's not too comfortable with her flirtatious glare. She turns to a scientist standing next to her, DR. CLIVE CRAVEN. ELSIE (CONT'D) Dr. Craven, have you met the worm guy? DR. CRAVEN Nice to meet you. The t.v. turns on and we SEE the old Cook, rocking on his bed, repeating over and over the same word... OLD COOK (filtered through t.v.) ...Gojira...Gojira...Gojira... This is all too overwhelming for him. He turns from the t.v. and looks out into the jungle. Slowly he walks away, staring at something in the distance with total awe. Elsie walks up next to him. ELSIE What could have possibly done all that? We REVERSE ANGLE and SEE what they are staring at. A gigantic path cut through the jungle. Something of immense size has trampled and cut a deep and wide path right through the jungle forest that goes on for miles on end. Over the stunned face of Nick we HEAR... OLD COOK (O.S.) (filtered) ...Gojira...Gojira...Gojira... CUT TO: T.V. MONITOR - JUNGLE FOOTAGE The same beach scene we saw when Nick arrived. Over it... REPORTER (filtered) ...American and Panamanian troops quarantined off a section of the Panamanian jungle today amid unconfirmed reports of a crashed Air Force jet... WIDEN TO REVEAL: 19 INT. WNEW T.V. STATION - DAY 19 As we WIDEN we see this is one of several wall mounted monitors all showing channel WNEW. Through the glass doorway nearby we see CHARLES CAIMAN, 40's, handsome, entering the office. AUDREY (O.S.) Murray wants these copied to each field producer... ANGLE - SECRETARY DESK Standing in front of the desk is AUDREY TIMMONDS, early thirties, attractive, small town girl who still hasn't toughened in the big city and talking with her co-worker, LUCY, sitting. AUDREY And I'm supposed to remind you to call him on all of Caiman's expense p.o.'s. LUCY Speak of the devil. Just then Caiman passes behind them. AUDREY (nervous) Think I should ask him? I'm going to ask him. You think I should? I will. Audrey makes the decision and bolts after Caiman. Lucy rolls her eyes. LUCY Oh girl... ANGLE - CAIMAN As he walks towards his office Audrey races up to him. Seeing her, he walks faster hoping to avoid her. He can't. AUDREY Did you talk with Humphries? CAIMAN This is not the place... AUDREY Just tell me, did you talk with him? CAIMAN He said he'd consider it. It's between you and Rodriguez. AUDREY Are you serious? He's going to consider me for he job? What else did he say? They arrive at his office. An enormous standee of himself with the ACTION NEWS CREW is there. CAIMAN Why don't I tell you over dinner tonight? Your place. He stops at his door. Audrey is startled. AUDREY Mr. Caiman, you're married. CAIMAN And you're beautiful... AUDREY Mr. Caiman... CAIMAN Call me Charlie. AUDREY (stubbornly) Mr. Caiman, I've been doing extra research for you after hours and weekends for nearly a year. And I've never asked for anything but this job is really important to me. I'm too old to be an assistant anymore. I need to know this job is going someplace. CAIMAN So have dinner with me tonight. AUDREY I can't. CAIMAN It's your choice. Caiman shuts the door on her. She turns and is face to face with the standee of Caiman. She takes out her chewing gum and plasters it on his nose. CUT TO: 20 EXT. JAMAICAN HIGHWAY - AERIAL SHOT - DAY 20 Over the bumpy Jamaican highway we FOLLOW from above several military jeeps racing in convoy. Super: Great Pedro Bluff, Jamaica 21 INT. JEEP - SAME 21 Elsie, Nick and Clive are cramped together along with Nick's equipment in the back of the jeep. Nick looks very uncomfortable. Elsie looks at Nick...lasciviously. ELSIE Three years digging up worms in Chernobyl? How did Mrs. Tatopoulos handle it? NICK Oh, I'm not married. ELSIE Really? A girlfriend then? NICK No. Perhaps I work too much. ELSIE (filtered) You mean to tell me that there is no one who holds a special place in your heart? Nick seems to get lost in thought. NICK Not for a long time, now. ELSIE Well, I think you're cute. NICK (awkward) Oh, thank you. (whispered to Clive) Is she always like this? CLIVE (conspiratorially) I had to beat her off with a stick. The sound of a HELICOPTER ZOOMS overhead. AERIAL SHOT - HELICOPTER - SAME - DAY A helicopter ZOOMS past our convoy. As we FOLLOW the helicopter we REVEAL... JAMAICAN BEACH WITH A BEACHED CARGO SHIP - DAY Taking up nearly the entire beach, an enormous cargo ship lays on its side in the sand. Two gigantic holes, ripped into its hull. MILITARY JEEPS Nick hops out and joins Major Hicks et al as they push past the gathered crowd of onlookers. The group gives a collective gasp as they see the ship for the first time. Three men (who we'll recognize from the Tahiti hospital) take measurements of the holes in the ship. MAJOR HICKS Who are they? Lieutenant, get those people away from there. RAYMOND (French accent) They are with me! Everyone in the group turns to find Mr. Phillip Raymond. MAJOR HICKS And who are you? Raymond hands him, as well as anyone who wants one, his business card. RAYMOND CHARGEURES, property and casualty insurance. We are preparing a report. MAJOR HICKS You're fast. RAYMOND That is our job. MAJOR HICKS Well your people are getting in the way of my job. RAYMOND Major, what do you think could have done this? MAJOR HICKS Get your people out of there or I will. The Major walks away. Raymond studies him as he does. ANGLE - SHIP Nick can't take his eyes off the enormous holes in the hull. He steps closer and turns to Peters, who's taking radiation counts of the ship. NICK Mind if I borrow this? Peter hands him his Geiger counter and walks into the cracked hull of the ship. 22 INT. CARGO HULL - CONTINUOUS - DAY 22 Inside is eerily dark and creepy. The guts of the ship are tangled inside. Holding a Geiger counter, he gets readings from all over the area. One particular spot, above him, seems slightly stronger. Nick SEES something there. He opens his knapsack and puts on some rubber gloves, removing a glass jar (like the ones from Chernobyl). Carefully he climbs the debris until he reaches a sharp shard of metal. Clinging to it he finds a MEATY CHUNK OF REPTILE FLESH. He tries remove it but he only gets half. He places it into his jar. Just as he reaches for the other half, SOMETHING GIVES WAY. With a JOLT, the section above him collapses. A rush of water falls and a HUMAN BODY swings down, just in front of him. Nick tumbles backwards, his heart pounding. The body swings lifelessly as it hangs from above. The others rush to his side, checking to see if he's all right. PETERS You okay, Nick? NICK Yeah, I'm...wait...I lost... Nick looks around frantically when the glass sample jar is suddenly handed to him. RAYMOND Are you looking for this? NICK Thanks. Raymond studies Nick as he joins the rest outside. DISSOLVE TO: UNDERWATER - NETS - MOVING P.O.V. We are moving very quickly underwater. Ahead of us are some large FISHING NETS with a catch of fish carried in the bunt. Quickly we are heading for a collision. 23 EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - OFF NEW ENGLAND COAST - DAY 23 A great day for fishing. Slicing through the water we SEE three New England Fishing TRAWLERS, the HARPO, the CHICO, and the GROUCHO. 24 EXT. THE HARPO - SAME - DAY 24 ARTHUR is at the wheel. Suddenly the engines WHINE as the ship begins to slow down. Surprised, Arthur checks his throttle. 25 EXT. THE CHICO - SAME - DAY 25 LEONARD and his 1st MATE are puzzled by the engine WHINE of their own ship. LEONARD Jerry, why are we slowing down? JERRY (O.S.) She's heavy in the bunt. LEONARD That was fast. 26 EXT. THE GROUCHO - SAME - DAY 26 The captain, JULES, hasn't noticed a thing as he lays on his deck tanning himself, a boom-box blaring next to him. Suddenly THUD. The ship JOLTS for a second. Jules slides and BANGS his head into the boom-box. He yelps. DECK HAND The nets are full! JULES Then bring 'em in! DECK HAND We can't. She won't budge! Jules gets up to move aft when THUD, again the ship ROCKS. ALL THREE BOATS SLOW TO A CRAWL Arthur tries to GUN his engine but it only WHINES. Soon all three boats STOP DEAD. Nothing but quiet for a long beat. ARTHUR What is going on? Then with another JOLT all three boats begin to move BACKWARDS, DRAGGED BY THEIR OWN NETS! LEONARD She's going sternway! FIRST MATE What the hell did we catch? The three boats begin to PICK UP SPEED, moving BACKWARDS in the water. Water SPLASHES up into the boats, winches begin to CRACK under the building pressure. The boats begin to move incredibly FAST backwards. Things on the boat begin to BREAK and CRASH DOWN onto the decks of the ships. JULES Cut us free! Cut the nets! The same cry is heard on all three boats. Leonard grabs an AXE and starts HACKING AWAY at the tow lines. Jules and his deck hands do the same. WIRE SHEERS are brought out for the larger CABLES connected to the nets. Desperately they try and free themselves as their boats are dragged helplessly backwards. ARTHUR (screaming at his men) Cut the damned cables! A CABLE SNAPS! Jules falls backward as the cables and ropes are either cut or snapped from the pressure. Their boat stops. ANOTHER CABLE SNAPS! Leonard and his crew TUMBLE to the deck as their boat is freed. THE HARPO Is not so fortunate. The lone boat dragged backwards, faster now without the weight of the other boats. Then suddenly the aft of the boat begins to get PULLED DOWN, dipping into the water. With an unstoppable force the Harpo gets PULLED UNDER WATER. Deck hands LEAP off the boat as the top cabin is CRUSHED as the entire ship slowly DISAPPEARS BENEATH THE SEA. For a moment all is quiet. No one can believe what just happened. Hearts pounding, catching their breath. Then with a WHOOSH of air pressure, the Harpo BURSTS out of the water. With a gigantic SPLASH, the boat FLOPS on its side and capsizes. The waters calm, but the nerves of Jules and Leonard don't. DISSOLVE TO: 27 EXT. CLOUDY SKIES - MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANE - DAY 27 A storm is brewing ahead as this large Military Transport plane glides into view then BANKS away. PETRI DISH A small piece of Nick's SAMPLE is cut away and placed on a glass microscope slide. WIDE TO REVEAL: 28 INT. MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANE - SAME - DAY 28 Nick sits on the floor surrounded by his sloppily unpacked equipment as he places the slide under his microscope, examining his specimen. Quickly stepping over him a young SOLDIER rushes over to Major Hicks, seated with the rest of the team on the plane's opposing benches. The Solider interrupts their discussion. SOLDIER Major, we just got a report of a fishing trawler going down. Exact position, forty seven degrees latitude, 67 longitude. MAJOR HICKS What makes you think it's related? SOLDIER The trawler was pulled under. The team exchanges worried glances. Hicks moves over to a map where the other incidents have been marked. He traces his finger up the 67th longitude until he hits the 47th parallel. Just off the East Coast. MAJOR HICKS Jesus Christ! It's only two hundred miles off the American Eastern seaboard and we don't even know what it is. ELSIE Theropoda Allosaurus. Some type of enormous reptile the likes of which we haven't seen since the age of prehistoric dinosaurs. CLIVE (sarcastic) So where's been hiding the last sixty million years? ELSIE The depth and breath of the ocean floor has barely been explored. His kind could have survived there completely undetected. NICK (O.S.) What about the traces of radiation? Everyone turns to discover Nick has walked over holding his loosely scribbled notes in his hand. NICK The radiation is not an anomaly, it's the clue. This creature is far too unique on every level to be some lost dinosaur. MAJOR HICKS Don't tell me why it's not, tell me what the hell it is. NICK What do we know? It was first sighted off the French Polynesian Pacific. An area that has been exposed to dozens of nuclear tests over the last thirty years. ELSIE Hence the radiation. NICK More than that. I believe this is a mutated aberration, a hybrid from the fall out in that region. CLIVE (sarcastic) Like your earthworms? NICK Yes! We're looking at a completely incipient creature. The dawn of a new species. The first of its kind. CUT TO: OCEAN WATER Racing close to the ocean waters below, something DARK and ENORMOUS moves swiftly below the surface. We TILT UP from the raging tides up to REVEAL... 29 EXT. MANHATTAN ISLAND - SKYLINE - RAIN - DAY 29 A storm has arrived as rain moistens the city ahead. 30 INT. DINER - SAME - DAY 30 Dripping wet, Audrey enters from the rain, removing her raincoat. She walks to a booth where Lucy and ANIMAL, a slovenly, Italian video cameraman is his mid-thirties, are taking their lunch break. Animal has two plates of food he cobbles down. AUDREY (sitting) My life sucks. LUCY Oh, please, your life doesn't suck. His life sucks. ANIMAL (between chews) That's cuz I'm married to you. LUCY Shut up. How can you eat like that? ANIMAL Big bites. AUDREY I can't believe he put the moves on me. After everything I've done for him. LUCY He's scum! As far as he's concerned you're just a pair of breasts that talk. ANIMAL I like that image. AUDREY You know how I spent last weekend? Walking his damned dog. LUCY I'm telling you he's dirt. He's a douche bag, gutter slime, dog crap, puke chunks... ANIMAL Hey, hey! I'm eating here! LUCY Audrey, you're too damned nice, that's your problem. Nice gets you nothin' in this town. You gotta be a killer to get ahead, you know what I'm sayin'? I'm sorry, baby, but you just don't got what it takes. AUDREY Animal, you don't think that's true, do you? ANIMAL Nice guys finish last. First rule of the jungle. AUDREY Well, I can be tough if I want. ANIMAL & LUCY Yeah, sure. AUDREY (seeing something) Oh my God! Everything turns to see what Audrey is looking at. Audrey gets up and rushes over to a television above the counter. AUDREY (excitedly) Turn that up, turn it up. The waitress does. On the t.v. plays the same news story we saw from before from Panama. This time we SEE Nick and Major Hicks walking on the beach. AUDREY It's Nick! I know that guy. I know him! LUCY (unimpressed) Who is he? AUDREY He was my college sweetie! Look at him. He looks so handsome on t.v. What the hell is he doing in Panama. 31 EXT. NEW YORK FISH MARKET - BELOW JFK HIGHWAY - DAY 31 Even in the rain doesn't keep people away. Buyers haggle with sellers. A large MARKET, truck loads of fish. No one seems to notice the river across from them... MOUTH OF THE EAST RIVER Enormous turbulence in the water. Slowly something begins to LIFT, sheets of water fall. Bursting out, the backside TALONS of the enormous reptile pierce through. The TAIL slices through the turbulence. Two ships anchored at dock begin to LIFT UPWARDS as the beast below them begins to rise. ANGLE FISH MARKET A groaning WAIL ROARS, echoing. The people of the fish market turn just in time to see... THE ANCHORED SHIPS Lifting impossibly into the air above the pier. Suddenly a TIDAL WAVE of water comes CRASHING down, flooding the fish market. 32 INT. TRANSIT BUS - P.O.V. THROUGH WINDSHIELD - RAIN - 32 DAY Through the swinging windshield wipers of the bus we see the JFK highway in front of us. Suddenly we see... AN ENORMOUS FOOT Comes crashing down atop JFK highway, crushing it. The TRANSIT BUS tumbles off the demolished highway. The man in the MARKET TRUCK is TOSSED and ENORMOUS TEETH puncture the top and bottom of his truck as it's LIFTED IN THE AIR. The man LEAPS from the open back of the truck. He lands, HARD, down in front of one of the fish market stores as hundreds of fish RAIN DOWN from above. With a loud CRASH, the demolished truck SLAMS to the ground nearby. 33 EXT. POLITICAL RALLY - BUILDING STEPS - RAIN - DAY 33 With a large RE-ELECT MAYOR FAUSTINO poster behind him, the MAYOR is at the podium. Before him is a sea of umbrellas. MAYOR I'd like to thank you all for coming out on this beautiful New York City day. Some in the crowd laugh as others applaud. Lost in the sounds of the crowd we HEAR a soft THUMPING in the distance. MAYOR When I came into office four years ago, people didn't think we could reduce crime and I did. ANGLE - COP IN BACK OF CROWD leaning to the cop next to him. COP (sarcastic) Yeah, he did. MAYOR People didn't think I could restore order... This time the THUMPING is HEARD, growing much louder. MAYOR ...and I did. The city is a safer place today... Before he can continue the crowd begins to murmur with fear as the THUMPING grows LOUDER and CLOSER. Suddenly with a large CRASHING SOUND a building nearby begins to CRUMBLE. MAYOR (to his aides) What the hell.... People SCRAMBLE to get out of the way as DEBRIS from the falling BUILDING litters the area. The Mayor is pulled inside by his security men. Bursting out of the crumbling corner of the building we SEE the enormous LEG of the reptile as it KICKS debris out of its way. SIDE ANGLE - WALL STREET - FAST TRAVELING SHOT Several cars are SQUASHED quickly as the enormous FEET of the beast STOMPS through the street. Cars FLATTEN and SCATTER, flipping toward us, from the weight of the beast. We try to keep up with it, but it's too fast. After it passes, the Mayor sticks his head out of the doorway to see the demolished street scene. MAYOR What was that? 34 INT. WNEW - CAIMAN'S OFFICE - SAME - DAY 34 Caiman's on the phone as his SECRETARY enters with some files. Rain and thunder continue outside. CAIMAN (into phone) I don't give a crap about some war in a country I can't pronounce. That's not a lead story. Find me a damned story, will ya! Just then his Secretary notices a desk lamp, the shade SHAKING and the light FLICKERING. She hears the THUMPING approaching. She turns and SEES... GIGANTIC TEETH The enormous head of GODZILLA growls as it passes by Caiman's office window. SECRETARY Mr. Caiman. I think your story just walked by the window. Caiman turns but there's nothing there. He's confused, she's dazed. CAIMAN What? Just then the TAIL WHIRLS past with a THUNDERS whip. 35 INT. DINER - SAME - DAY 35 Animal, Lucy and Audrey are at the cashier paying. LUCY Did Romeo have a name? AUDREY Nick Tatopoulos. ANIMAL That why you dumped him? AUDREY No! I just couldn't see myself with some boring egg head who spends his summer picking apart cockroaches. I wanted to have some adventure, some fun... LUCY And now you live the glamorous life of Caiman's assistant. Life's a bitch, ain't it? In the distance we can HEAR the THUMPING approaching. ANIMAL How long where you and dis guy goin' steady? AUDREY Nearly four years... LUCY Four years. Girl, I'm surprised he didn't ask you to marry him. AUDREY That's the problem. He did. Suddenly the THUMPING gets LOUDER very quickly. Everyone in the diner reacts. LUCY Tell me that's not another goddamned parade. The next THUMP RATTLES the entire diner. Things begin to fall. Through the window we see people RUNNING in PANIC. ANIMAL That's ain't no parade... Before anyone can speak the entire building is SHAKING. Through the front window we SEE... GODZILLA'S FOOT Smashing down directly outside the window. Cars are SMASHED. One car SAILS directly INTO THE WINDOW, shattering it. Animal uses his size to COVER the girls from the falling debris. As the danger passes, Animal charges for the door. LUCY Victor, wait! 36 EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS - RAIN - DAY 36 Animal comes rushing out. Water sprays from displaced fire hydrants, debris still falls, cars burn. Animal goes over to his NEWS VAN that has been partially crushed. He pries open the rear door and takes out his video camera and takes off running. Audrey and Lucy arrive too late to stop him. LUCY Victor, don't! ANIMAL RUNNING Turning the corner Animal runs full speed through the debris, trying to jam a video cassette into his camera. It won't fit. He SEES up ahead... P.O.V. THE TAIL Just as it disappears around the corner a few blocks ahead. Thinking quickly, Animal bolts down a small alleyway. 37 EXT. OTHER STREET - CONTINUOUS 37 His camera damaged, Animal struggles to get the tape inside as he exits the other side of the alley. He darts out into the street to get his shot. The THUMPING is OVERPOWERINGLY LOUD. He looks up to see, CARS FLIPPING, PEOPLE SCATTERING. Then, for the first time, we can clearly see the entire massive creature that is... GODZILLA as he comes barreling towards us. The titanic lizard is ferocious and agile. Swiftly he moves closer. Animal's hands fumble with the tape. He JAMS it in, sweating. He fingers the POWER BUTTON, the red light goes on. Quickly he shoulders the camera. P.O.V. THROUGH CAMERA - GODZILLA Nearly on top of him, Godzilla's own image is suddenly covered by his own immense foot as it's lifted and about to come down directly on us. ANIMAL Oh shit! Before he can do anything about it... GODZILLA'S FOOT Towering above him. He has no time to flinch as the gargantuan foot SMASHES DOWN. In terrifying amazement, Animal remains standing IN BETWEEN THE BEAST'S TOES. Abruptly the foot LIFTS again. Animal is unscathed and frozen with fear. ANGLE - ANIMAL Close on Animal as the endless TAIL of the creature DRAGS just past him. It seems to go on forever. Finally it disappears. WIDE ANGLE - TABLEAU OF A DEMOLISHED STREET Deserted and demolished. Cars burn, debris falls. Animal, the lone figure, just stands there, his chest heaving, hyper ventilating. CUT TO: 38 EXT. NEW JERSEY STREETS - LOW ANGLE - AFTERNOON 38 A military CONVOY with Police escort RACES past us. ABOVE - HELICOPTER SHOT - CONVOY Sirens BLARING, the convoy and escort speed onward. 39 INT. MILITARY SEDAN - THROUGH WINDSHIELD - SAME 39 Just as they arrive at a military roadblock. Crowds have gathered as the military try to keep them at bay. 40 EXT. NEW JERSEY SHORE - CLIFF SIDE - DAY 40 The guards let the convoy pass. The military is putting up a number of large tents. A SERGEANT moves over quickly to greet the team as they exit their vehicles. SERGEANT (quick salute) Sergeant O'Neal, Sir. MAJOR HICKS Any word from the Mayor's office? Just then dozens of NEWS VANS pull up. Reporters and camera crews come rushing toward them. The guards rush to intercept. Stepping out of the next car in the convoy, Nick and Elise join Major Hicks. SERGEANT They've agreed to evacuate the city. They've called out the National Guard and riot police are on alert. As they walk towards the tents the crowd crushes close. Nick and Elsie are overwhelmed. ELSIE (aside to Nick) Evacuate Manhattan? That's over three million people. Has that ever been done before? NICK I don't think so. Several military guards have to clear a path for them as they enter the tents. 41 INT. COMMAND TENT - CONTINUOUS - DAY 41 Still in construction. The team enters. MAJOR HICKS Status report? SERGEANT We've lost sight of it, Sir. MAJOR HICKS You want to run that by me again? SERGEANT (nervous) After the initial attack he just...disappeared. OFFICER (interrupting) Major, Secretary of Defense Burk on the line. This takes Major Hicks off guard. The last person he wants to talk to. Nick walks over to the Sergeant. NICK I don't understand. How can something that large just disappear? SERGEANT We're not sure. We're scanning the area now. ELSIE He probably returned to the river. Just like everywhere else we've been, we're always one step behind. Nick turns and notices the back of the tent is open revealing a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. Several soldiers enter, setting up telescopes. NICK I don't think so. Over Manhattan we see several dark plumes of smoke from the destruction. Military helicopters scan the city. Staring out at the skyline, Nick is mesmerized. NICK I mean, look at it. It's perfect. An island, water on all sides. But like no other island in the world, this is a place where he can easily hide. (beat) He's in there someplace. A SOLDIER comes rushing in. SOLDIER Channel eight caught it on film! He rushes over to a bank of monitors, turns one on. On the screen we SEE the shaky video Animal took of the creature just as it was about to step on him. CAIMAN (filtered) ...WNEW's exclusive images of the creature were taken less than a half hour ago. Nick and Elsie's jaws nearly hit the floor at the sight of the immense creature. CAIMAN Cameraman Victor "Animal" Palotti barely survived this vicious attack to provide us with this footage. The sounds of applause lead us to... 42 INT. WNEW BUILDING - SAME - DAY 42 Everyone is applauding as Animal, carrying crates of equipment, passes the t.v. playing the same news story. Embarrassed, Animal smiles awkwardly. CO-WORKERS Way to go Animal! That's my man! Animal passes Audrey and Lucy who are packing up some files. AUDREY Great stuff, Animal. Weren't you scared? ANIMAL Sure I was. I thought Lucy was gonna kill me. LUCY Damned right, you crazy Wop! We SEE the room is in disarray from packing up cartons of boxes and equipment. The workers have taken a break from the packing as they watch the t.v. broadcast. The station manager, MURRAY enters anxiously. MURRAY People! We have to be completely relocated to the New Jersey station before our 5:30 broadcast. (reading from list) Okay, Caiman, Devoe and Animal, you're on the helicopter. Everyone else we'll see you in Jersey. ANIMAL Gotta go, honey. You guys gonna be all right? LUCY Audrey's going to stay with us tonight. ANIMAL Great. See ya then. Animal hurries out after him. Audrey and Lucy go back to packing. Audrey looks up at the t.v. just as they replay the footage of Nick and Elsie being led into the command tent. FIELD REPORTER (filtered) ...military and government health officials set up a command post on the New Jersey coast this afternoon... Surprised at first, Audrey suddenly becomes very excited. She SEES Caiman exiting the studio at the end of the hall. She rushes over to him. AUDREY Caiman, wait. Take me with you. CAIMAN What? AUDREY I've got something on this. I know a guy on the inside with the military... CAIMAN Not now. You got my bag? Audrey holds up his bag as they walk towards the elevator. AUDREY You don't understand, I can get us information... CAIMAN Listen, this is the time when the big boys have to go to work, okay Honey? With that, Caiman walks into the elevator. Pissed, Audrey just stares at him. CAIMAN The bag? Audrey THROWS the bag at him, knocking him backwards as the elevator doors close. Lucy walks over. LUCY Come on, Girl, we've gotta go! 43 EXT. WNEW OFFICE BUILDING - MINUTES LATER - DAY 43 Lucy and Audrey carry their bags outside into the chaos that has taken over the city. Hundreds of people trying to leave at once. Gridlock. As they move into an overcrowded subway entrance, Audrey looks up just in time to SEE the WNEW NEWS HELICOPTER lifting off from the building behind them. CUT TO: 44 EXT. MANHATTAN - HELICOPTER SHOT - LATE AFTERNOON 44 We SEE the destroyed parts of downtown Manhattan. Police barricade the streets as firemen work to contain the fires. CAIMAN (O.S.) ...in what city officials are calling the worst act of destruction since the World Trade Tower bombing... 45 INT. WNEW NEW HELICOPTER - SAME - LATER AFTERNOON 45 Caiman stares earnestly at his video camera. CAIMAN ...Police and the National Guard have quarantined off over twenty square city blocks... 46 EXT. OVERHEAD HELICOPTER SHOT OF MANHATTAN - SAME 46 Below we see the largest traffic jam in the history of the city. Police and National Guardsmen guide the traffic. CAIMAN ...hundreds of thousands have jammed the streets in the largest evacuation in the history of the city. And many people are not happy about it. 47 EXT. MAN ON THE STREET INTERVIEW - VIDEO FOOTAGE 47 Quick cuts of people who where interviewed earlier. WOMAN I don't understand why we have to leave our homes. It's over already, isn't it? MAN What are we running from? A big lizard? I've got cockroaches in my building that could kick the crap out of it. 48 EXT. TIMES SQUARE - GRIDLOCK - LATE AFTERNOON 48 Near chaos as police and National guardsmen attempt to bring order to the hundreds of honking, screaming motorists. RIOT POLICE VAN Dozens of armed officers pile out of the van. NATIONAL GUARDSMEN Maintaining blockades in front of their military vehicles. 49 EXT. SEVENTH AVE E - ROADBLOCK - LATER AFTERNOON 49 The evacuation effort is made more difficult as traffic must be diverted away from the quarantined destruction area ahead. Police block the street, smoldering buildings behind them. The detour only makes things worse. 50 EXT. CITY BANK BUILDING - WALL STREET - SAME 50 Several National Guardsmen walk up to the City Bank building where they find an ENORMOUS HOLE smashed into the side of the building. The Guardsmen peek inside. GUARDSMEN'S P.O.V. - INTO BUILDING We SEE THROUGH the building to a hold on the other side. Godzilla apparently walked RIGHT THROUGH. The Guardsmen are visibly shaken. 51 INT. SUBWAY STATION - SAME 51 Way beyond capacity, the flooded subway platform bursts with people pushing and shoving to get into the trains. Caught in the craziness we find Audrey and Lucy trying desperately to get on board. P.A. Please don't push. People are getting shoved down onto the tracks and the trains can't leave... The last to fit inside, Lucy and Audrey cram in just as the doors shut behind them. People left behind BANG on the closed doors as the subway pulls out. 52 EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - HELICOPTER SHOT - SAME 52 A gigantic traffic back up all the way down the Westside Highway. The bridge is a veritable parking lot. MAYOR (O.S.) Well this is great! 53 INT. MAYOR'S HELICOPTER - LATER AFTERNOON 53 With his close aides in tow, the Mayor stares at the melee below. MAYOR If we're wrong on this evacuation they'll string me up from the Liberty torch. 54 EXT. COMMAND CENTER - JERSEY CLIFF SIDE - LATE 54 AFTERNOON The Mayor's helicopter sails over the George Washington Bridge and over to a small landing pad near the Command Center. A large group of people dressed in business suits await the helicopter. 55 INT. MAYOR'S HELICOPTER - LATE AFTERNOON 55 Just as the helicopter is landing, the crowd moves toward the chopper. MAYOR Who the hell are they? AIDE It's a contingent of building owners and community business representatives. MAYOR I don't have time for this nonsense. AIDE Most of them are campaign contributors. Well that's a different story. 56 EXT. LANDING PAD - CONTINUOUS - LATE AFTERNOON 56 As the Mayor steps out he's greeted by a nervous crowd of people shouting, "How long do we have to shut our business down? Will the city cover the damages? Etc." Among them, DONALD TRUMP tries to get the Mayor's attention. MAYOR I share your concerns. I want to get the city back in business as soon as possible. As he pushes through the dense crowd he runs directly into... RAYMOND Who waits for the Mayor. The Mayor is momentarily stopped. RAYMOND (handing his card) CHARGURES Insurance. We represent nearly thirteen percent of the buildings in your city. MAYOR If you'll excuse me... RAYMOND We are very happy that you are in control of this situation. With that he gently pats the Mayor on the back, leaving a small, nearly undetectable DEVICE on the Mayor's collar. RAYMOND You can count on our emotional and financial support. MAYOR Oh, well, thank you very much. Briskly he shakes his hand as he pushes his way through the crowd. Raymond watches him pass, seeing the device stuck to the Mayor's collar. ANGLE - WNEW NEWS CHOPPER Rushing over from the parked news chopper, Animal and Caiman race for the Mayor who walks through a mob of reporters. CAIMAN Hurry, we're going to miss the Mayor. But before he can get close, two POLICE OFFICERS stop them. POLICE OFFICER Sorry, you gotta have a press ID past this point. CAIMAN Don't you watch t.v.? POLICE OFFICER Can we see your press pass, sir? Flustered, Caiman searches his pockets for his press pass. CAIMAN I had one here on my bag. Where the hell did I put it? CAIMAN'S PRESS PASS - ECU We SEE Caiman's plastic smile on his press ID. Suddenly AUDREY'S picture is placed on top of Caiman's. WIDEN TO REVEAL: 57 INT. SUBWAY STATION - SAME - LATER AFTERNOON 57 Smashed together like sardines, Audrey plays with Caiman's press pass, trying to put her photo over his. LUCY What the hell are you doing? AUDREY Remember my friend we saw on t.v.? LUCY Your old sweetheart? AUDREY Yeah, well he just turned up in New Jersey at the military command post. Somehow all this is related to what happened down in Panama. There's a story here. I know it. You got any tape or glue? LUCY I left my forgery kit back at the office. Audrey looks over at a young ten year old boy holding his backpack, a RULER sticking out of the back. AUDREY Hey, do you have any glue in your bag? KID What's it to you? AUDREY Can I use some? KID What do I get? AUDREY The warm feeling of helping your fellow man. KID Five bucks. AUDREY You're kidding, right? The Kid simply puts his hand out. 58 EXT. NEW JERSEY TRAIN STATION - LATER 58 People FLOOD off the train out into the station. P.A. ANNOUNCER Please exit the station. For those of you without accommodations, the city has opened up shelters on Monroe and 60th and at Bergenline and 72nd. Please exit the... Audrey and Lucy walk through the crowd. Audrey turns and gives Lucy a kiss. AUDREY Wish me luck! LUCY Audrey, I don't think this is a very good idea. Caiman finds out and he'll have your job. AUDREY I'm tired of waiting for someone else to give me an opportunity, Luce. If there's a story here I'm going to find it. Lucy nods in acceptance as Audrey disappears into the dense crowd. Lucy worries for her friend. CUT TO: "YUM YUM DOUGHNUTS" BAG - PRE-SUNSET Carried along with a Styrofoam cup of coffee. We WIDEN TO REVEAL a MAN carrying the junk food to a GREY VAN parked not too far from the Command Center Tent across the way. The man knocks on the back of the van. The van opens to reveal... 59 INT. RAYMOND'S VAN - PRE-SUNSET 59 Filled with high tech monitoring equipment, Raymond and his men are listening in to a conversation. The man with junk food hands it to Raymond. RAYMOND Merci. He opens the bag and takes out a croissant. He bites into it and grimaces. To wash away the taste, he drinks from the coffee. It's worse than the croissant. RAYMOND You call this coffee? MAN (French accent) I call this America. The man takes a seat near Raymond as Raymond turns up the volume on his headset. MAYOR (O.S.) (mid argument) You're telling me that in an election month I've evacuated the entire city for nothing? 60 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM (TENT) - PRE-SUNSET 60 From behind the Mayor's head we SEE the monitoring device attracted to his collar. As he speaks we WIDEN TO REVEAL... MAYOR Do you realize what this evacuation will cost the people of this city!? Representatives of all branches of the military, National Guard and the Mayor's office are here. The room overflows with people. Nick, Elsie and the scientist stand near the back of the tent. ADMIRAL PHELPS We're been monitoring the waters around the island. As far as we can tell it hasn't left the area. MAYOR But you don't know for sure. MAJOR HICKS We think there's a strong reason to believe it may be hiding inside one of the buildings within the sequestered area. MAYOR But you don't know for sure! Just then Sergeant O'Neal enters hurriedly. He wants to speak but waits for the opportunity. MAJOR (controlling his temper) Mr. Mayor, if he's not in one of those buildings then we give the all clear. But not until we've checked each building! SERGEANT O'NEAL Sir, that may be more difficult than we originally projected. MAJOR More good news?! SERGEANT O'NEAL We've run into a problem. CUT TO: A SIGN READING: SUBWAY STATION: 23RD STREET - SUNSET We CRANE DOWN to reveal several military sedans pulling up into FLAT IRON SQUARE (where Broadway meets 5th). Sergeant O'Neal leads the team out of the cars and down a subway entrance. 61 INT. SUBWAY STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS - SUNSET 61 Marching down the stairs, the team enters into the very large subway station. For all we see it seems like a normal subway station except for the fact that every one of the team members look ASTONISHED. SERGEANT O'NEAL Lt. Anderson and his men found this late this afternoon. The camera makes a hundred and eighty degree turn as we suddenly SEE what the team is staring at... AN ENORMOUS HOLE The four normal subway tunnels have been CARVED OUT making one GIGANTIC TUNNEL. Debris and crumbled brick are everywhere. Several SOLDIERS with flashlights approach the hole. Lt. Anderson moves over to the astonished group. Some of the scientists fan out, examining the area. LT. ANDERSON We were checking the office building above when we discovered the floor was gone. LOW ANGLE - REVEALING THE HOLE IN THE CEILING We SEE that not only is the ceiling gone but the building above is hollowed and torn to shreds. Another hole in the building leads to the street. LT. ANDERSON When we learned he could burrow his way through the tunnels we realized he could be out of the quarantined zone. MAJOR HICKS Christ. How many tunnels lead off the island? LT. ANDERSON Only five, Sir. We've checked them all. He hasn't used any of them. MAJOR HICKS Have them sealed off. LT. ANDERSON And how should we do that, Sir? MAJOR HICKS Fill them with cement, brick them up, put land mines in them, bombs, I don't know, just make sure that goddamned thing doesn't leave the island! ANGLE - INSIDE DARKENED TUNNEL As the SOLDIERS slowly move down deeper into the tunnels, their flashlight beams scan the area. Could they stumble onto something dangerous? ANGLE - NICK as he approaches Major Hicks and Sergeant O'Neal. NICK You know, he's not an enemy trying to evade you. He's just an animal. MAJOR HICKS What are you suggesting? NICK When I needed to catch earthworms, I knew the best way to catch them was not to chase them. I had to draw them out. ANGLE - SOLDIERS - DARKNESS Still moving deeper into the tunnel we get the feeling these soldiers may just waken a sleeping giant. BACK TO TEAM Nick moves to the edge of the platform, looking off into the dark tunnel. NICK All we need to do is find out what it wants, what it needs, and he'll come to us. ANGLE - SOLDIERS - DARKNESS The lead Soldier SEES something. Cautiously he moves forward thinking he's onto something. We HEAR something MOVING in the darkness. We FOLLOW his beam as the noise grows clearer. The beam falls onto something on the floor... A FISH Flopping on the ground is a large FISH. As the beam moves farther along we see two, no, three fish ahead. CUT TO: 62 EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - POST-SUNSET (MAGIC HOUR) 62 A battalion of armored TANKS roll down this deserted city street. A large number of GROUND TROOPS march behind. COBRA HELICOPTERS - SAME - MAGIC HOUR Banking in formation, the helicopters swerve, heading towards mid-town Manhattan. SAND BAG FORTIFICATION Soldiers pile up sand bags, creating a make shift fortification. SHARP SHOOTERS and a BAZOOKA BRIGADE settle into place. 63 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 63 Major Hicks moves over to a jeep and grabs the radio. 64 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 64 Major Hicks sits by a bank of communications technicians. MAJOR HICKS Where are they now? RADIO TECHNICIAN Delta niner, what is convoy position? 65 EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 65 Led by armored military vehicles we SEE a convoy of TWENTY YELLOW DUMP TRUCKS passing over the bridge. DRIVER (O.S.) Command, we're just entering the city. 66 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SERGEANT O'NEAL - SAME 66 Sergeant O'Neal listens to the response on the radio. RADIO TECHNICIAN Convoy ETA, five minutes. The Sergeant signals several military technicians, who are mounting several video cameras to hurry. 67 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 67 A buzz of activity. Military Officials and personnel. The Mayor enters and joins his aides in the back of the room. MAYOR (whispering to Aide) They find anything yet? The Aide shakes his head. Monitors come to life with a live video feed-from several cameras we saw mounted. A CABLE REPAIRMAN - MAGIC HOUR In blue overalls, the REPAIRMAN walks up to a large satellite dish. We WIDEN to REVEAL the dish is parked next to the Command Tent. He kneels down next to some cables leading away from the dish toward the Command Tent. 68 INT. COMMAND TENT - MAGIC HOUR 68 Suddenly all the screens FUZZ OUT. Just as quickly the monitors return to normal. No one seems to notice. 69 EXT. SATELLITE DISH - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 69 The Repairman finishes affixing a small DEVICE to the cable. He taps his earpiece and speaks into his own lapel. REPAIRMAN (French accent) It is good. 70 INT. MOTEL ROOM - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 70 We SEE Raymond and his men have turned this dingy Motel room into a command central of their own. Raymond is putting sugar into his coffee when a bank of monitors turn on. They are seeing THE SAME VIDEO FEED as the Mayor. Pleased, he takes a sip. It's awful. RAYMOND You said this was French Roast! His aid turns, holding a package labeled FRENCH ROAST. RAYMOND (defeated) More cream. His associate hands him some milk. He adds it to the coffee. No use, it still sucks. On the monitors we SEE the DUMP TRUCKS entering Flat Iron Square. 71 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 71 The DUMP TRUCKS arrive and the soldiers guide the trucks, forming a circle, their tails facing each other. As the last one passes it REVEALS Nick and Sergeant O'Neal. SERGEANT O'NEAL I sure hope your plan works. NICK I'm kind of hoping the same thing. The twenty of them, in concert, begin to dump their cargo. LOW ANGLE - CENTER OF THE DUMP TRUCK CIRCLE Tons and tons of FISH are DUMPED directly on top of us. 72 INT. RAYMOND'S MOTEL - SAME - MAGIC HOUR 72 On the monitors they watch in astonishment as the fish get dumped into a large pile in the center of Flat Iron Square. AIDE Tres bizarre. RAYMOND No. (leaning forward) Very clever. 73 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - FISH PILE - SAME - NIGHT 73 A MOUNTAIN OF FISH have been piled into the center of Flat Iron Square. NICK That's a lot of fish. A master of the obvious. Sergeant O'Neal shoots him a glare and moves over to the men. Together they march into a building at the edge of the square. SOLDIERS Loading up rifles, taking positions. GAS MASKS being handed out down a long line for all the soldiers. The TANKS move into their final positions. The National Guardsmen and Soldiers supporting the Tanks take positions. 74 EXT. TOP OF THE SQUARE - SAME - NIGHT 74 Entering from the stairs out onto the roof, Sergeant O'Neal and his men take positions, observing from above. Everyone is waiting. The silence is deafening. ANGLE - NICK As everyone waits, Nick scans the area, thinking. Suddenly something catches his eye... STEAM VENT Through a steam vent in the streets. Nick sees STEAM lifting into the air. He notices several other vents doing the same thing around the square. Quickly Nick rushes over to a YOUNG OFFICER. NICK I need your radio. The Young Officer leads Nick over to his jeep. Nick grabs the receiver. NICK Sergeant O'Neal, the subway vents. We have to shut them down... 75 EXT. ROOFTOP - SERGEANT O'NEAL - SAME - NIGHT 75 O'Neal listens to Nick on his radio. NICK (O.S.) (filtered) ...With the air pressure pushing up, he'll never smell the bait! SERGEANT O'NEAL (turning to soldier) Get some men down into those air vents. Shut 'em down! 76 INT. SUBTERRANEAN AIR VENT - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT 76 With a loud WHINE we HEAR the vents shutting down. The large whirling FAN BLADES slow to a stop. 77 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME 77 One by one the steam pillars begin to disappear as the vents are turned off. There is a long tense moment of waiting. When will it come? Will it come? Before the Young Officer can stop him, Nick rushes over to a manhole cover in the center of the street. The cover is to heavy. He yells back. NICK We need to open all the manhole covers in the area. Let the scent waft down. The Young Officer signals other soldiers. Nick steps back and lets the soldiers go to work. As he walks back, he spots another manhole cover at the next intersection down a side street. He runs over to it. ANGLE - SIDE STREET - MANHOLE COVER A particularly heavy one in the center of this intersection (a block away from Flat Iron Square), Nick, alone, wrestles to remove it. With all his might, he drags it clear. Suddenly, through the hole he HEARS some STRANGE NOISES from below. Rattled, he slowly backs away from the hole. The NOISES grow increasingly louder. Then with a DEAFENING ROAR, the ground behind Nick ERUPTS and GODZILLA RISES, ripping up the boulevard as he does. Nick SPINS only to find himself face to face with the gigantic creature. Godzilla's head slopes down, apparently looking Nick in the eye. All around foot soldiers appear, guns trained, shoulder hoisted rocket launchers prepared. Out of the corner of his eye, Nick sees all this. He gently signals with his hands that they should NOT fire. Sensing no danger from Nick, Godzilla simply STEPS OVER Nick. NICK'S POV - UNDER GODZILLA As the gargantuan creature walks over us, making a beeline for the fish. Nick turns and RUNS, following him. 78 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 78 Godzilla moves into the square. The military hunkers down, ready to strike. Cautiously the beast moves over to the mountain of fish. 79 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME 79 Major Hicks watches the monitors as Godzilla approaches the fish. MAJOR HICKS Commence phase one. Let's gas it! 80 EXT. ROOFTOP - SERGEANT O'NEAL - SAME - NIGHT 80 Everyone on the rooftop puts on their GAS MASKS. SERGEANT O'NEAL Let 'em fly! ANGLE - STREET LEVEL - SAME All the soldiers PUT ON their GAS MASKS. A team of EIGHT, pull out a GAS CANISTERS and yank the releases. They DROP them down the long barrels of air cannons, preparing to fire. SAND BAG FORTIFICATION - SAME Nick runs past the fortification, trying to get a closer look. The Young Officer yells after him. YOUNG OFFICER Where're you going? Nick! Nick stops briefly as the Young Officer TOSSES a gas mask to Nick who quickly puts it on and dashes for a closer spot. Suddenly SAILING OVER HIS HEAD we SEE... GAS CANISTERS Firing from the air cannons, the GAS CANISTERS streak across the sky landing behind Godzilla. The Yellow gas forms a wall of smoke that drifts upwards. ANOTHER ANGLE - OPPOSITE CORNER Across the way eight MORE CANISTERS are FIRED at the beast. Quickly Godzilla is surrounded by the gas fumes. ANGLE - NICK Frustrated at his inability to see through the smoke, he DASHES forward over to a large BRONZE STATUE. GODZILLA The smoke annoying and distracting him, Godzilla spins, his tail waving the smoke away. But the smoke returns. Godzilla YELLS OUT. Frustrated he rears back and BLASTS! For the first time we SEE the infamous POWER BREATH of Godzilla. With amazing FORCE the smoke, canisters, cars and anything that isn't nailed down SAILS BACKWARDS from the intense pressure. Nick is HIT by the WAVE of air pressure and is sent FLYING BACKWARDS, impossibly high in the air. An enormous fabric BANNER advertising this season at the MET, catches Nick who SLIDES down the banner, hitting the ground, HARD. Just as he looks up he SEES... A LARGE TRUCK Tumbling toward him from the power breath. Nick SCRAMBLES to his feet just in time as the rolling Truck SMASHES into the building behind where he just sat. ANGLE - TROOPS - FORTIFICATION The troops have to SCATTER as the tumbling trucks and cars are FLUNG AT THEM, disabling their attack forces. Trucks and rocket launches are CRUSHED by the tumbling debris. Godzilla CONTINUES to BLOW at everything around him. Cars and trucks ROLLING. Soldiers DIVING for cover. It's chaos. The glass in all the surrounding buildings SHATTER, shards of glass raining down. Windows, street lamps, all blown out by the tremendous gale force winds. 81 INT. COMMAND TENT - MAJOR HICKS - SAME - NIGHT 81 On the monitors we SEE the melee. MAJOR HICKS Fire at will! 82 EXT. ROOFTOP - SERGEANT O'NEAL - SAME - NIGHT 82 SERGEANT O'NEAL Fire at will. Fire at will. 83 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME - NIGHT 83 From all angles, soldiers rush back to their equipment and attempt to FIRE. Very few are able to get off rounds. 84 EXT. ROOFTOP - SAME - NIGHT 84 O'Neal tries to steady himself as the soldiers FIRE down at the creature below. One HOISTS a MISSILE launcher. ANGLE - GODZILLA - NIGHT As the FIREPOWER begins around Godzilla, he takes a hit in the shoulder and SCREAMS OUT. Suddenly he LEAPS away just as several MISSLES HIT the Flat Iron Building behind where Godzilla was standing only moments earlier. Dashing down a side street, Godzilla LEAPS over the waiting tanks who cannot adjust their cannons in time. WE'VE NEVER SEEM HIM MOVE THIS QUICKLY. Several tanks are SQUASHED as the beast bull dozes right through the regiment. 85 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 85 We SEE the Flat Iron Building crumbling on one of the monitors near Major Hicks. In the rear of the room the Mayor looks sick. 86 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME - NIGHT 86 Soldiers come out from behind the crashed vehicles and debris. Only the smoldering devastation is left behind. 87 INT. COMMAND TENT - MAJOR HICKS - SAME - NIGHT 87 The monitors only show static or devastation. MAJOR HICKS (into radio) O'Neal, what the hell is going on there!? 88 EXT. ROOFTOP - SAME 88 Quickly his men are packing up. SERGEANT O'NEAL (into radio) He's gone, Sir. Echo division's in pursuit. 89 EXT. AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS (6TH AVE.) - SAME - NIGHT 89 Four ARMORED MILITARY VEHICLES come SKIDDING around the corner in hot pursuit. Each with a team manning enormous mounted weaponry. REVERSE ANGLE - 6TH AVE. - GODZILLA Galloping like a Gisele uptown, Godzilla is SPEEDING up the boulevard. The armored vehicles OPEN FIRE. Some shots CLIP into Godzilla's back. Ahead he is running directly into... MOBILE MISSILE LAUNCHERS Blocking off the street in front of him. They FIRE. Pinned down, the creature SCREAMS and DUCKS away down another side street. The missiles can't turn fast enough and SLAM into a building, DEMOLISHING it. 90 EXT. ELECTRONICS STORE - SAME - NIGHT 90 The window is SMASHED in. A small group of LOOTERS are loading up their mini-van. Finishing up the group is about to leave. LOOTER #1 Jimmy, let's go. LOOTER #2 Wait. I want this. Help me! The group rejoins Jimmy as they try to pull an enormous Pin Ball machine from the window. As they carry the machine back towards the mini-van... SQUASH! - GIGANTIC FOOT Godzilla's enormous foot flattens the mini-van like a pancake. The Looters go pale. As the Military Armored Vehicles RACE by in hot pursuit. 91 EXT. BROADWAY - SAME - NIGHT 91 Godzilla BOUNDS onto Broadway and FREEZES, looking around. As he looks downtown he SEES... GODZILLA'S P.O.V. - MILITARY ARMORED VEHICLES Skidding around the corner a few blocks back, the armored vehicles reappear. Godzilla turns uptown and BOLTS. As he gets up to full speed... COBRA HELICOPTERS A team of FOUR COBRA HELICOPTERS swoops down heading directly for Godzilla. 92 INT. COMMAND TENT - MAJOR HICKS - NIGHT 92 The Mayor stands over a Radio technician. HELICOPTER PILOT (O.S.) (filtered) We have him, locked on. MAJOR HICKS Then FIRE damn it! 93 EXT. TIMES SQUARE - SAME - NIGHT 93 Godzilla runs into the famous lighted square (looking remarkably like Tokyo) just as the COBRA'S come SWEEPING DOWN out of the sky. Godzilla SPOTS them and leaps away just as they FIRE missiles, which RIP INTO the famous JUMBO TRON VIDEO BILLBOARD, demolishing the building. The Cobra's SWERVE quickly, pursuing Godzilla down a side street. 94 EXT. LEXINGTON AVENUE - SAME - NIGHT 94 Godzilla appears, turning the corner and racing down the street. From behind, the Cobra helicopters come SCREAMING down on him, they FIRE ROCKETS at Godzilla who, again, deftly turns a corner. The errant rockets BLAST into the CHRYSLER BUILDING, as they attempt to follow him but fail. Shards of glass come RAINING DOWN as the building crumbles. ANGLE - ARMORED VEHICLES As they race around the corner they SLAM ON THE BREAKS just as the familiar CONE of the Chrysler building comes CRASHING DOWN just inches in front of the vehicles, tumbling into the street. 95 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 95 The static increases over the radio. HELICOPTER PILOT (filtered) That is a negative impact. The Mayor, in the back of the room stands, furious. MAYOR Negative impact!?! It's the goddamned Chrysler building, that's what it is! His aides try to calm him. MAJOR HICKS (into radio) You said he was locked on! 96 EXT. SIDE STREET - COBRA HELICOPTER P.O.V. - NIGHT 96 Moving through the narrow side street. HELICOPTER PILOT (O.S.) The heat seekers can't lock. He's colder than the buildings around him. 97 EXT. 5TH AVENUE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 97 The four Cobra helicopters ZOOM around the corner and into 5th avenue. COBRA HELICOPTER P.O.V. - GODZILLA Godzilla is ahead of us. The choppers FIRE again, this time using their gun turrets, ACCELERATING toward the beast. Under heavy bullet firepower and the choppers nearly on top of him, Godzilla DIVES into an office building. The helicopters surround the crumbling building, and OPEN FIRE, decimating it. They STOP firing and stare into the smoldering mess they've made. PILOT I think we got him. Just then ERUPTING out of a building behind them... GODZILLA POUNCES OUT of the building, snapping up two of the helicopters in one bite! He WHIRLS around and SWIPES another out of the air with his ENORMOUS CLAW. The CLAWED helicopter SLAMS into the ground just as... ARMORED VEHICLES come sliding around the corner, directly into the CRASHING HELICOPTER which explodes on impact. The entire team is taken out with the concussion. 98 INT. COMMAND TENT - MAJOR HICKS - SAME - NIGHT 98 Major Hicks is on his feet, steaming mad. MAJOR HICKS (into radio) Echo four, where is he!? 99 EXT. AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS - SAME - NIGHT 99 As the remaining Cobra helicopter SWERVES around, Godzilla is gone. HELICOPTER PILOT #4 I don't know sir. He just vanished. As the helicopter PASSES a dark building we SEE a SHAPE MOVE! We realize that like a chameleon, Godzilla had TAKEN THE COLOR of the building and hid. With the helicopter past him, he CHASES FROM THE REAR. HELICOPTER PILOT #4 (realizing) Oh Jesus! The chopper GUNS IT, full throttle. Godzilla GIVES CHASE. Even at its top speed it can't out run the big creature. The chopper tries to LIFT AWAY but before he can get the height, Godzilla SNAPS his gigantic jaws and SWALLOWS THE HELICOPTER WHOLE. STREET - WIDE ANGLE The fires burn and the rubble crumbles. Godzilla gives one final SCREAM and DIVES into a building, disappearing. 100 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 100 The Mayor's aide try to hold him back as the Mayor is charging at Major Hicks. MAYOR What the hell is the matter with you people?! You caused more damage than that thing did! 101 EXT. 5TH AVENUE - SAME - NIGHT 101 Empty and devastated. Fires continue to burn. 102 EXT. FLAT IRON SQUARE - SAME - NIGHT 102 Nick, Sergeant O'Neal and several of his men walk through the devastated area. Nick kneels down and SEES... NICK'S P.O.V. - PUDDLE OF BLOOD There is a large reddish brown puddle of blood. Nick takes out a small glass container and scoops some up. SERGEANT O'NEAL I can't believe it. He did all this and we did nothing to him. Nick walks over to him, consoling. NICK That's not true. We fed him. REVERSE ANGLE Only a few scattered fish remain where the mountain of fish once was. Our team stands there amidst the rubble. FADE OUT: FADE IN: 103 INT. NETWORK NEWS DESK - VIDEO FOOTAGE 103 A network news ANCHOR speaks directly at us as a video of the Chrysler building getting destroyed plays behind him. ANCHOR While it may have looked like Beirut, it was in fact, Manhattan where man and nature have collided with brute force. The video switches to the White House where we SEE the President signing a bill. ANCHOR The President today declared a state of emergency and has issued disaster relief funds to New York City. WIDEN TO REVEAL: 104 INT. WNEW NEWS TRUCK - VIDEO FEEDS - SAME - NIGHT 104 We SEE that we've been watching the video on one of MANY video monitors showing all the news broadcasts. As an assistant moves away from the monitors we FOLLOW him out of the truck. 105 EXT. WNEW NEWS TRUCK - CONTINUOUS - SAME - NIGHT 105 We continue to FOLLOW the assistant outside, revealing the enormous MOB of reporters that have gathered just outside the military command tents. As we FOLLOW the assistant he passes several reporters doing "stand-up" reports. REPORTER #1 ...rumors continue to mount as to the origin of this, perhaps, lost dinosaur... REPORTER #2 ...having shut down the United Nations in the evacuation, foreign diplomats are demanding an international coalition be assembled to track the creature... The assistant finally arrives at Caiman who is doing a live remote. Animal works the camera. CAIMAN ...Maintaining a total media blackout, officials remain silent this evening as to their progress in containing this creature... Behind him, in the crowd we SEE Audrey pushing her way through the reporters, her fake ID pinned on her shirt. She turns and sees Caiman. Quickly she ducks down and moves deeper into the crowds. Suddenly there is movement as the crowd turns their collective attention over to a group of cars pulling up nearby. Audrey pushes her way to see what's happening. The cars are BLOCKED from returning to the command tents as the reporters MOB the first car in line. 106 INT. SEDAN - NICK - NIGHT 106 Nick observes the chaos. Through the crowd he SEES a Pharmacy, a neon sign reading: Never Closes. He looks back down at the blood sample he holds in his lap and gets an idea. NICK (to the driver) It's okay, I'll get out here. He opens the car door and pushes his way through the crowds who are less interested in him as they are the military officials. NICK'S P.O.V. - MEDIA CIRCUS - CROWDS - NIGHT Pushing his way through, Nick SEES what a circus this has become; t.v. news camera crews, journalists, concerned citizens, worried mothers, and of course, merchandising... STREET STANDS Nick passes several vendors selling dinosaur toys, copies of Animal's now famous news video clip and, of course, tee shirts with still images from that same clip. ANGLE - AUDREY Through the dense crowd, Audrey SEES Nick in the distance. Excited she starts to push her way through. 107 INT. PHARMACY - SECONDS LATER - NIGHT 107 Ringing the night bell, Nick calls for the PHARMACIST who enters, weary eyed. PHARMACIST Can I help you, young man? NICK Do you have any home pregnancy tests? Especially ones that test for catastrophic hormones or clomiphene citrate. PHARMACIST This is all we've got. The Pharmacist puts onto the counter six different off the shelf home pregnancy tests. NICK I'll take them all. AUDREY (O.S.) You must have quite some harem. Nick spins to find Audrey standing right behind him. Embarrassed, Nick awkwardly pays for the tests. NICK Audrey?! Is that you? Hi, hello. You look, wow, uh, how've you been? AUDREY It's good to see you, Nick. The Pharmacist puts out Nick's change. He scoops it out and we FOLLOW them as they exit together. NICK So you made it. AUDREY What? He points to her fake press ID she's still wearing. NICK You're a reporter. That's what you always wanted to be, right? I'm happy for you. Really, I am. AUDREY Yeah, well... 108 EXT. PHARMACY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 108 Nick opens the door for Audrey and follows her out. AUDREY So, you still picking apart cockroaches? NICK No, I'm into earthworms now. You wouldn't be interested. They're real "boring" creatures. Very reliable, dependable, no surprises... AUDREY You're still mad at me, aren't you? NICK You just left me without a phone call, a letter, nothing. All this time. Yeah, I guess I'm still a little mad. AUDREY That was eight years ago. Some people change, you know. NICK Most people don't. AUDREY I'm sorry you feel that way. Audrey turns and walks away. Nick regrets his behavior and calls after her. NICK Wait. I'm sorry. You're right. Eight years is a long time. Can I offer you a cup of tea? AUDREY Sure. I'd like that. There's an awkward moment as neither knows what to say. AUDREY One, thing, though. Who'd you get pregnant? Off Nick's awkward reaction... CUT TO: 109 INT. NICK'S TENT - LATER - NIGHT 109 Nick has set up a mini-lab in his private, small, tent. The home pregnancy tests have been ripped apart. Nick mixes some of the contents together. AUDREY I still can't believe it. How does a guy go from an anti-nuke activists to working for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission? NICK When you and I use to attend rallies in college, we helped to create awareness. But from the inside now I can actually effect change. (pointedly) I never lost my idealism. AUDREY And exactly what changes are you trying to effect? NICK I have this theory that we're inadvertently creating new species as a direct result of what we've done to nature. AUDREY And you think this creature is one of them? NICK Yes. The first of its kind. I found this blood sample earlier this evening... AUDREY Blood sample? How close did you get to that thing? NICK I got pretty close. AUDREY What else do you know about it? Nick finishes his concoction, adding the blood sample into it He takes the piece of litmus paper from one of the home test boxes and dips it in. NICK Well, we know he eats fish, he's of reptile genus, he's a burrower, he's amphibious and... Nick points out the litmus paper. It turns RED. NICK ...he's pregnant. AUDREY Are you sure? Nick gets up and starts to gather his materials. NICK (thrilled) Well, obviously these tests weren't designed for this but fundamentally they're looking for the same hormonal patterns that would indicate pregnancy. AUDREY I don't get it. If it's the first of its kind, how can it be pregnant? Excitedly Nick begins to pace. NICK The ultimate expression of evolution, it reproduces asexually. Think about it, all kinds of creatures have been known to travel great distances for reproduction. That's why he came to New York. Like every species of insufficient progenitors, he's nesting! AUDREY Nesting? NICK Yes. Do you realize that a creature like this could lay as many as a dozen eggs at a time! Nick moves to the front exit of the tent. NICK Forgive me but I've got to get this into the lab, to confirm all this. I'll be right back. Nick rushes from the tent. Alone, Audrey can't help but poke around a bit. She opens one of his CASES. Taped to the roof of the case she SEES... INSERT PHOTOS - NICK AND AUDREY Happy times long ago. They're both young and in love. Audrey is surprised Nick still keeps them. She's touched. Feeling guilty she quickly closes the case and sits back down. As she does she notices a video tape labeled FIRST SIGHTING. Unable to resist, she puts it in and turns on the t.v. The shot of the Japanese Cook appears. COOK (filtered through t.v.) ...Gojira...Gojira... She hits the fast forward tape and SEES, the enormous footprints in Panama. She fast forwards again and sees the beached cargo ship in Jamaica. Audrey is torn. She makes a decision, pops the tape back out, puts in her purse and takes off out the back of the tent. Moments later, Nick returns from the front. NICK Audrey? Audrey? A flash of lighting and thunder accents Nick's confusion. CUT TO: 110 INT. EDITING BAY - LATER - DAWN 110 On two monitors we SEE Audrey doing a "stand up." AUDREY (filtered) ...which is why in this case "all the kings horses and all the kings men" may not be able to put the big apple together again. Audrey Timmons, WNEW. We pull back to reveal Audrey, Animal and an editor, ED, watching the piece. ED That's it. You owe me a breakfast. AUDREY (turning to Animal) So, what do you think? ANIMAL It's good. It's a real good piece. But how'd you get a hold of this material? Audrey covers her own mixed emotions. AUDREY Like you said, "Good guys finish last." She snatches the tape and she takes off running. Concerned and worried, Animal watches her leave. CUT TO: 111 EXT. WNEW TRUCK - COMMAND TENT AREA - RAIN - DAWN 111 Rushing out of the WNEW truck and into the rain, Audrey spots her Station Manager, Murray. In the b.g. we SEE Caiman getting make up, about to do a live spot with another cameraman. AUDREY Murray, I need you to look at this tape. MURRAY Not now, Audrey, we've about to go live with the morning report. AUDREY You're going to want to include this. I've got exclusive footage of other places this thing has attacked. MURRAY (suddenly interested) You do? Who's story is this? AUDREY Mine! ANGLE - CAIMAN About to go on, Caiman waves off his make up artist as he watches Audrey hand Murray the tape. His field producer counts down to going live. P.O.V. THROUGH BINOCULARS - NICK - RAIN - MORNING Through the lenses we SEE exiting his tent and moving on towards the large center command tent. We REVERSE to reveal... 112 INT. RAYMOND'S MOTEL ROOM - SAME - RAIN - MORNING 112 One of Raymond's men observes with binoculars from the window. Tucking his napkin into his lapel, Raymond eats breakfast with his men. Another man, JEAN-CLAUDE, listens at the monitoring equipment. He turns to Raymond. JEAN-CLAUDE Taisez-Vous. He turns on the room speaker. MALE VOICE (filtered) ...Major Hicks, what makes you believe another attempt to gun that creature down will work? 113 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - RAIN - SAME - MORNING 113 Nick is moving to take his seat next to Elise at this very crowded conference. The big wigs are here and the room is packed. Major Hicks walks to a large map of Manhattan. MAJOR HICKS General Anderson, the problem was the terrain. If we lure him out into a more open area such as this portion of Central Park... (points to the map) We should be able to take him down. MAYOR Last time you didn't even scratch it! MAJOR HICKS That's not true. Our worm guy, er, I mean, Dr. Tatopoulos found blood. All eyes turn towards Nick who's still arranging his papers. Nervously Nick addresses the crowd. NICK Well, yes. I did. Clearly he was injured and bled. MAJOR HICKS You see, all we need to do is get a better shot at it with weapons that don't rely on heat seeking... NICK Um, excuse me, sir, but the situation's more complicated than that. The blood I recovered revealed that the creature is either about to lay eggs or already has. GOVERNOR Are you trying to tell us there's another one of those things out there? NICK I don't believe so. MAYOR Then how can it be pregnant? What is this, the "virgin lizard?" There's a smattering of laughter in the room. NICK No, it reproduces asexually. That's why we must find the nest. If we don't, dozens will be born, each one capable of laying eggs of its own. Very quickly we could be looking at an enormous population. MAJOR HICKS So after we kill the creature we'll begin a search for the nest. NICK It may be too late by then. These eggs will hatch very quickly. CLIVE How could you possible know that? NICK The fish. The fish we found down in the subway. He's not gathering all that food for himself. He's preparing to feed his young. 114 INT. RAYMOND'S MOTEL - RAIN - SAME - MORNING 114 Raymond listens intently. He grabs a folder off the desk and opens it. We SEE photos and documents of every member of the team. He finds the photo of Nick and examines it. 115 INT. DINER - RAIN - SAME - MORNING 115 Audrey shakes off the rain and moves over to join Ed and Animal at a booth. ANIMAL They just promo-ed your spot. It's coming on right after this. 116 INT. COMMAND TENT - RAIN - SAME - MORNING 116 An AIDE comes in and whispers something into the Governor's ear, who nods approval. MAJOR HICKS If Dr. Tatopoulos is right, we must act quickly before this problem escalates. GENERAL ANDERSON You want to divide our efforts based solely on a wild theory? MAJOR HICKS He's come through for us before and if he feels strongly... GENERAL ANDERSON Come through for you!? Major, your campaign's a disaster. You weren't even able to prevent this thing from coming to Manhattan. GOVERNOR Excuse me Gentlemen, but I think we should see this. The Aide moves over to a television and turns it on. Just as the t.v. comes to life we SEE the old Japanese Cook. GENERAL ANDERSON How the hell did this get out? The image of the Cook saying, "Gojira" FREEZES and cuts back to reveal Caiman doing his "stand-up." CAIMAN (filtered) From an old Japanese sailor's song called GODZILLA, a mythological sea dragon who attacked sailors, to our own modern day terror. Today in my special report, who is this Godzilla, where did he come from and why is he here? 117 EXT. DINER - SAME - MORNING 117 Audrey is furious, on her feet. AUDREY You're special report! I'm the one that found that stupid song! That's my special report, you bastard! Animal tries to calm her down as the story continues. AUDREY And it's "Gojira" not Godzilla you moron! 118 INT. RAYMOND'S MOTEL - SAME - MORNING 118 Fiddling with the motel t.v., Raymond's men attempt to clear the fuzzy picture. JEAN-CLAUDE Merde! RAYMOND Allez, allez! Finally the picture clears. CAIMAN (filtered) ...a path can be traced back from Manhattan, to Jamaica, back to Panama and all the way back to the French Polynesians where nuclear testing has been going on for over twenty years... 119 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME 119 Everyone stares at the television. Major Hicks burns with embarrassment. CAIMAN (filtered) ...But why? Research team member Dr. Niko Padopolus believes the creature is nesting, using Manhattan as ground zero to cultivate his species... GENERAL ANDERSON You went to the press with this? NICK No, I didn't...I didn't talk with anyone. The military men are furious at the breach of security. All eyes turn toward Nick. GENERAL ANDERSON They mentioned you by name! NICK Yes...but I... MAJOR HICKS You gave them the tape? NICK No, it's still in my tent. It's...oh my God, she took it. Pissed, GENERAL ANDERSON walks up to Nick. GENERAL ANDERSON Pack your stuff. You're officially off this project as of now. 120 INT. DINER - SAME - MORNING 120 Caiman is still on television, wrapping up. AUDREY He stole my report! That's my report! ANIMAL We know, Audrey. CAIMAN (filtered) ...and in this reporter's opinion, "all the kings horses and all the kings men"... Audrey wads up her napkin and heaves it at the t.v. AUDREY Caiman you suck! 121 INT. RAYMOND'S MOTEL ROOM - SAME - MORNING 121 The television is snapped OFF and Raymond walks over to the window looking out, thinking. Finally... RAYMOND We're leaving. CUT TO: A LARGE TRUNK Slams shut. More suitcases and trunks. Widen to reveal... 122 INT. NICK'S TENT - LATER - DAY 122 Nick is finishing packing as some soldiers carry his things away. Elsie enters. ELSIE I'm sorry about all this. NICK Me too. Nick hoists his bag and moves to leave. NICK Make sure they find that nest before it's too late. ELSIE I'll try. Reluctantly Nick nods acceptance and exits out into the rain. We SEE the torn photographs of Nick and Audrey laying on the floor. ELSIE Bye worm guy. CUT TO: 123 INT. PHONE BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER - RAIN - DAY 123 Audrey in a street phone booth. AUDREY What do you mean Murray's not there? A second ago you told me he was on the other line... Something catches Audrey's eye. AUDREY'S P.O.V. - THROUGH GLASS - NICK Lugging his bags out into the rain, Nick moves over to a waiting cab. 124 EXT. COMMAND TENT AREA - NICK & CAB - RAIN - DAY 124 Lifting a heavy case, Nick places it into the cab's trunk. CABBY Where to? NICK Newark airport. Audrey moves up behind Nick. AUDREY You're leaving? Why? Nick ignores her and continues to load the cab. AUDREY Is this cause of me? Because of the story? NICK Well what the hell did you think was going to happen? AUDREY You never said it was off the record. NICK I shouldn't have to, Audrey. You're supposed to be my friend. I trusted you. AUDREY I didn't mean for it to turn out like this. (confessing) Look, I lied to you. I'm not a reporter. When we broke up and I came out to New York I was so sure I'd make it. But I haven't. That's why I needed this story so bad. I just couldn't tell you I'm a failure. NICK So you thought that made it okay to steal my tapes? The last bag stowed, Nick moves to get into the cab. He stops and turns back to her. NICK Good luck in your new career. I think you really have what it takes. He gets in and slams the door. The cab takes off leaving a very alone Audrey standing in the rain. AUDREY (sad; to herself) I'm sorry. CUT TO: 125 INT. NEWARK AIRPORT - DAY 125 Long waiting lines for people trying to leave town. People sleeping on the floors. Chaos. One group gathered around a television set. T.V. NEWS BROADCAST - VIDEO We see images from crowed refugee shelters. REPORTER (filtered) ...every shelter in the tri-state area has been overflowing with displaced people. Tent cities have begun to spring up all over the county... As we TRACK away from the t.v. we FIND Nick taking a seat at a small bar next to the gate. A WAITER comes over. WAITER Can I get you something? Before Nick can answer... RAYMOND Pernot, no ice. Taking a seat directly across from Nick, Raymond sits down, sizing him up. Nick is confused. NICK Do I know you? RAYMOND We've met before. NICK (remembering) Oh yeah, the insurance guy. Raymond pulls out his badge and lays it on the table in front of Nick. RAYMOND SDECE, Service de Documentation Exterieure et de Contre-Espionnage. Agent Phillip Raymond. NICK Sounds like a big company. RAYMOND It's the French Secret Service. NICK Oh. RAYMOND We have learned that your American friends have decided not to look for the creature's nest. NICK (alarmed) Are you sure? How do you know? RAYMOND We know. NICK Why are you telling this to me? RAYMOND I need you to trust me. NICK Why do you need that? RAYMOND I need your trust if you're to help me find the nest. NICK Oh, my bags. I've checked them in. RAYMOND We, have already taken care of them. Nick realizes Raymond is serious. The waiter hands Raymond his drink. Raymond toasts Nick. RAYMOND Bon Chance! CUT TO: 126 EXT. TENT CITY - AFTERNOON 126 A makeshift tent city has been set up in the park. Animal video tapes an interview with a displaced person. DISPLACED PERSON No one tells us a Goddamned thing. My family is getting soaked out here. We have no place else to go. We just want to go back to our home. Animal begins to PAN his camera around the tent city when he SEES a SEDAN in the distance. He focus in on it and SEES... ANIMAL'S P.O.V. - SEDAN - NICK AND RAYMOND Coming to stop at a light. Animal quickly lowers his camera and hands it off to the Reporter he's working with. ANIMAL I'll be right back. Animal rushes over to the news van and takes off after them, following. 127 EXT. WAREHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER - AFTERNOON 127 Pulling up in front of a warehouse, Nick and Raymond step out of the sedan. Staying hidden from view, Animal pulls over. Intrigued, he watches them enter the building. 128 INT. WAREHOUSE - RAYMOND'S MEN - AFTERNOON 128 Raymond enters with Nick. The room is filled with equipment; radios, guns, explosives and armored vehicles. We notice that more of Raymond's support team are here. NICK How did you get all of this stuff into the country? RAYMOND This is America. There is nothing you can not buy. Raymond gives Nick a tour. NICK So why all the secrecy? Why aren't you guys working with the US military? RAYMOND I am not permitted to speak of such things. Nick stops and confronts Raymond. NICK You said you wanted my trust, then I need yours. Raymond considers this. Finally... RAYMOND I am a patriot. I love my country. Can you understand that? NICK Sure. RAYMOND It is my job to protect my country. Sometimes I must even protect it from itself. From mistakes we have made. Mistakes that we do not want the world to know about. NICK Your talking about the nuclear testing in the Pacific. RAYMOND Yes. This testing done by my country left a terrible mess. We are here to clean it up. 129 EXT. WAREHOUSE - ANIMAL - SAME - RAIN - AFTERNOON 129 Moving down alongside the building, Animal walks down the side alley. He climbs up onto a garbage hamper and peers into a cracked opened window. ANIMAL'S P.O.V. - WAREHOUSE Animal sees Nick and Raymond with all the hardware. Several of the men are repainting the vehicles to resemble those of the US Army. 130 INT. WAREHOUSE - SAME 130 Nick walks past the myriad of warfare tools. Jean-Claude turns from the radios. JEAN-CLAUDE They will set the trap at thirty minutes to ten. RAYMOND That is when we will go in. Raymond leads Nick over to a large map. RAYMOND We know how to get into the city. We just do not know where to start looking. Nick moves closer to the map, putting his finger on the Flat Iron square subway station. NICK Here. 23rd street subway station. Where we first found the fish. With a little luck, this will lead us right to it. RAYMOND So you're in? NICK Are you kidding? I always wanted to join the French Foreign Legion. CUT TO: 131 INT. LUCY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER - LATE AFTERNOON 131 Animal quickly climbs the stairs. People are everywhere. He has to step over them to get to his apartment. AS he opens the door to his apartment he SEES... 132 INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS - LATE AFTERNOON 132 Filled with people, Lucy is serving coffee. She smiles at Animal as he enters. ANIMAL Who the hell are all these people? LUCY What? I just couldn't just let them sleep in the street. ANIMAL Where's Audrey? LUCY In the bedroom. Crying her eyes out because of you. ANIMAL What? LUCY All that "you gotta be vicious" stuff you filled her head with. ANIMAL Me!? You where the one... LUCY Go in there. Talk to her. Lucy pushes Animal towards the back bedroom. 133 INT. BEDROOM - SAME - LATE AFTERNOON 133 Audrey has been crying. Crumpled Kleenex wads piled up all around her. A television plays a news broadcast, boasting the headline: THEY CALL HIM GODZILLA! On the t.v. we SEE a news conference with General Anderson addressing some reporters. REPORTERS (simultaneously) Can you comment on the nest? How many more of these things will there be? GENERAL ANDERSON (filtered) That's why I'm holding this conference. To try and avoid a needless panic. Animal enters and watches from the back of the room. GENERAL ANDERSON Contrary to some frivolous reports, we have no information to lead us to believe that there are any eggs of the creature in the city. AUDREY Stupid idiots! ANIMAL You okay? AUDREY It's all my fault. What have I done, Animal? What have I become? Look at me. This isn't me. I don't do things like this. ANIMAL You made a mistake. Suddenly someone exits the bathroom and crosses out of the room. Animal looks at the stranger as he leaves. AUDREY Yeah, I just screwed up with the only man who ever really cared about me. ANIMAL Didn't you tell me he left for the airport? AUDREY Yeah. Why are you asking? ANIMAL I just saw him. He's with a bunch of guys who want to sneak into the city tonight. Audrey tries to make sense of this. Suddenly she realizes. AUDREY My God. He's going after the nest. ANIMAL Perfect! You wanted a story, well, baby, you got one. Excitedly Animal goes to the closet and retrieves a big overcoat. AUDREY Animal, I can't. ANIMAL Look, you want to make it up to your friend? Well if he's right, this is your chance. He starts going through his drawers, taking out battery packs, tapes, etc, and putting it in his pockets. AUDREY (misgivings) I don't know. I've already made such a mess of things... Animal walks up to the door, ready to exit. ANIMAL (smiling) Audrey, I'm going after them. You can come with me or not. Conflicted, Audrey is not sure what to do. Animal opens the bedroom window and begins to climb out. AUDREY What are you doing? ANIMAL Lucy'd kill me if she knew. CUT TO: 134 INT. WAREHOUSE - LATER - SUNSET 134 Nick marches out of a changing room dressed in a military uniform. As he moves into the room we SEE all of Raymond's men dressed similarly. As they climb into their vehicles, Raymond hands each a stick of chewing gum. Nick gets in the passenger seat of one of the vehicles, Raymond climbs in behind the wheel. NICK What's with the chewing gum? RAYMOND Makes us look more American. Nick looks over at the faux Americans. It's a tough sell, gum or not. NICK Just let me do all the talking. With that the vehicles pull out of the warehouse and out into the rainy night. 135 EXT. LINCOLN TUNNEL - ENTRANCE - RAIN - SUNSET 135 An armed blockage seals the Jersey entrance to the Lincoln tunnel. We widen to reveal Audrey and Animal by a small side entrance. Animal works the lock. AUDREY What are you doing? ANIMAL It's the maintenance entrance. Runs along the side of the tunnel. When they repaired it last year I worked on a piece about it. Just then the lock TURNS and the door opens. They enter. 136 EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - JERSEY SIDE - SUNSET 136 A line of military vehicles approaches and slowly passes through a guarded entrance, each vehicle checked. Nick and Raymond's Humvee nears. ANGLE - GUARDED BLOCKADE - CONTINUOUS Raymond's Humvee rolls up and a GUARD walks up to the window. GUARD (checking clipboard) Who you boys with? NICK Oh, we're with the three two. GUARD I didn't ask you, soldier. NICK Sergeant O'Neal just called down for us to join in. Now he's suspicious. The guard approaches Raymond, checks him out. GUARD You got a problem talkin'? RAYMOND (perfect southern accent) Why no sir, I'm fine. The Guard is suspicious but on a tight schedule. Finally he waves him through. GUARD All right, keep it moving. RAYMOND (ala Presley) Thank you very much. They drive off. Nick is stunned by the act. RAYMOND Elvis Presley movies. (by way of explanation) He was the King! 137 INT. LINCOLN TUNNEL - MAINTENANCE DOOR - SAME - NIGHT 137 The door creeps open. Animal leans out to find the tunnel deserted. He and Audrey step out and into the tunnel. We FOLLOW them as they are headed for the exit of the tunnel into Manhattan. 138 INT. RAYMOND'S HUMVEE - NIGHT 138 Raymond and Nick drive through Central Park. We can SEE dozens of military people and vehicles in a large meadow. 139 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - LARGE MEADOW - NIGHT 139 The enormous pile of fish is getting dumped in the center of the field as many others are planting land mines. Tanks, rockets and soldiers align the area. The convoy of vehicles turn onto the meadow but Raymond and his men keep going straight. They drive slowly right past the trap sight and out of the park. TIRES SQUEALING TO A STOP Doors slam and immediately boots march past. We WIDEN to reveal Raymond's team quickly gathering their gear and heading down the subway entrance. Raymond grabs a heavy bag and tosses it to Nick who nearly topples from the weight. RAYMOND Be careful with that. Nick looks into the bag and sees a bag marked EXPLOSIVES. Shocked he looks back at Raymond, but he's gone. Nick regains his breath and follows. THE FISH Older and nastier, but the same fish we saw in the tunnel before. We FOLLOW the beam to its owner and find Nick. We WIDEN to reveal that we're.... 140 INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT 140 The crisscrossing beams from the assault team's flashlights nearly blind us as Nick leads the team cautiously into the depth of this tunnel. Periodic fish are found along the way. Suddenly the faint HUMMING sound in the tunnel STOPS. Everyone freezes as the wind shifts direction. A familiar SMELL passes over them as they sniff the air. NICK They've turned off the ventilation system. They're calling him to dinner. RAYMOND Let's hope we are not the hors d'oeuvres. Nervously they continue onward. 141 EXT. 23RD STREET SUBWAY STATION - SAME - NIGHT 141 Animal and Audrey arrive, spotting the assault team's vehicles. They head carefully down the stairs. 142 INT. 23RD STREET SUBWAY STATION - SAME - NIGHT 142 Audrey and Animal, camera in hand shooting everything, climb down into the station. Animal rushes to the end of the platform and searches down into the tunnels. VIDEO P.O.V. - DARK TUNNEL - DISTANT LIGHTS Through the camera we SEE the lights in the distance of the tunnel. ANIMAL (whispering) They're down there. Let's go. Animal jumps off the platform, down onto what's left of the tracks. Audrey squeamishly follows. 143 INT. TUNNELS - NICK & TEAM - SAME - NIGHT 143 Nick kneels down to inspect some debris. An old SCREECHING SOUND is heard in the distance. Suddenly the ground begins to quake. Dust falling. The SCREECHING gets louder and louder. Raymond moves up to Nick and points ahead. Nick nods in nervous agreement. Just as they move towards the sounds the ENTIRE WALL OF THE TUNNEL COLLAPSES next to them. Bursting through the tunnel wall GODZILLA appears. His enormous claws burrowing, he makes his way through and into the tunnel. Quickly he moves past the team. The team DIVES into a cross tunnel just as the colossal beast BLASTS past them, barely missing them. 144 INT. 23RD STREET SUBWAY STATION - TUNNEL ENTRANCE 144 Audrey and Animal have just gotten into the tunnel entrance. The entire place is shaking. Audrey is in a panic. AUDREY Animal, let's get out of here. But Animal hoists his camera and starts filming as SOMETHING is moving TOWARDS them. Audrey is tugging at him as the shaking gets more violent. With all her strength, she finally gets Animal to start moving backwards. Just as they're out of the tunnel, the CREATURE BLASTS outward. Audrey and Animal DIVE into the maintenance ducks along side the tracks to avoid collision. ANGLE - AUDREY AND ANIMAL Animal is shielding Audrey with his body. She looks up just in time to SEE Godzilla CRAWLING UP and out through the ceiling. An amazing site. AUDREY Shoot! Shoot it! Animal grabs his camera and gets the last moment of it disappearing from view. Once gone, they both break into enormous sighs of relief and nervous laughter. 145 INT. TUNNEL - SAME 145 Recovering, Raymond and the team walk back into the main tunnel. They near the hole Godzilla just created, examining it. Nick climbs into the hole. NICK I guess we go this way. Raymond and his men follow. 146 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 146 Major Hicks is at the radio as the Generals sit behind him. MAJOR HICKS (into radio) Sergeant, status? 147 INT. CENTRAL PARK - SAME - NIGHT 147 The park is bathed in light. Armed troops surround the area. Tanks and missile launchers are in place. Sergeant O'Neal kneels down by a sandbag fortification. SERGEANT O'NEAL (into radio) Any sign of it? 148 EXT. ROOFTOP - SPOTTERS - SAME - NIGHT 148 From the rooftop of one of the central park south high rises, a team of SPOTTERS scan the area. SPOTTER P.O.V. - THROUGH BINOCULARS - GODZILLA Moving steadily towards central park, Godzilla makes his way up seventh avenue. SPOTTER Got him. Section 5, heading north to target. 149 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - SERGEANT O'NEAL - SAME 149 The Sergeant gives the nod and several teams of shooters take off running, taking positions. The tanks turn their gun turrets towards downtown, expectantly. Missile launchers turn, arming devices locked. 150 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 150 Major Hicks stands near a computerized schematic of Manhattan. A large RED FLASHING BLIP nears Central Park. 151 EXT. SEVENTH AVENUE - GODZILLA - SAME 151 Godzilla moves up 7th Ave. He reaches Central Park South and STOPS. He glances over to the park where bright lights are glaring. Something is making Godzilla more cautious this time. Unsure he vacillates between moving forward and staying within the shelter of the tall buildings. ANGLE - O'NEAL - CENTRAL PARK SERGEANT O'NEAL (into radio) Don't fire until he's cleared the buildings and has moved into the park. ANGLE - GODZILLA Still unsure, he ROARS out, frustrated with his own indecision. SERGEANT O'NEAL Come on, come on! 152 INT. TUNNELS - SAME - NIGHT 152 Nick leads the team through the cross town tunnel created by Godzilla. Climbing over the debris, they make their way to another opening. We FOLLOW them as they clamber through the hole and into... 153 INT. PENN STATION - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 153 The largest subway/rail station in New York. Godzilla has torn it to shreds. We get the feeling this is where Godzilla has spent most of his time. Scattered fish abound. High above, there is a immense black hole in the tall ceiling. Wherever it leads to is very dark. Nick and Raymond stare at the hole together. RAYMOND What is up there? 154 EXT. 34TH STREET - MOMENTS LATER - SUBWAY ENTRANCE - 154 NIGHT Climbing the stairs out from the subway, Nick et all walk up onto the street to SEE... MADISON SQUARE GARDEN The team cautiously approaches the building. 155 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - SAME - NIGHT 155 Carefully moving out from between the buildings Godzilla takes a step into Central Park. SERGEANT O'NEAL (into radio) Prepare to fire! Guns are cocked, locked on and hoisted. Suddenly Godzilla gets cold feet and starts to turn around. 156 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 156 The RED BLIP suddenly begins to move away from the park. MAJOR HICKS (into radio) Damn it! Fire! Shoot it before it gets away! 157 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - SAME - NIGHT 157 SERGEANT O'NEAL Fire at will! Fire at will! All the weapons surround the area FIRE AT ONCE. Several more Cobra Helicopters ZOOM DOWN out of nowhere. Plunging downward, they FIRE at Godzilla. The firepower ripping up everything around him, Godzilla ROARS and deftly DIVES out of the park and back between the buildings. But as he bounds over to 57th street, there is a contingency of MOBILE ROCKET LAUNCHERS waiting. They FIRE. Godzilla DODGES and the rockets DESTROY PLANET HOLLYWOOD as Godzilla races by. With the helicopters right on his tail, Godzilla makes a westward run across 57th street. Smashing parked vehicles and his tail SWIPING buildings as it DASHES. WEST SIDE HIGHWAY Godzilla is heading straight for it, the helicopters SHOOTING from the air. Suddenly Godzilla LEAPS higher than we've seen before. He hurls himself OVER the West Side Highway and SPLASHES DOWN into the Hudson River, vanishing beneath the water's surface. 158 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 158 Furious, Major Hicks throws his headset against the console violently. ADMIRAL JOHNSTON leans down into frame. ADMIRAL JOHNSTON Don't worry. The Navy has a little something there waiting for him. THREE NUCLEAR SUBMARINES In the murky waters of the Hudson river. 159 INT. NUCLEAR SUBMARINE - THE ARIZONA - SAME - NIGHT 159 The alarm KLAXONS are RINGING OUT as everyone rushes to battle stations. The CAPTAIN moves over to a sonar screen; a large MASS nearby blips on the screen. CAPTAIN (into radio) We've got him on sonar. Arizona closing in. 160 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 160 Different monitors have put up a three dimensional schematic of the Hudson river. We SEE outlines of the three nuclear subs approaching their target. RADIO VOICES (filtered) ...Indiana, closing in...Calvin Coolidge, closing in... 161 INT. LOBBY - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - SAME - NIGHT 161 The doors are pried open. It's very dark in here, only the assault team's flashlights illuminate. As they enter the lobby, the team splits up into different search groups. Nick, Raymond and Jean-Claude move down the large front lobby and turn down one of the many hallways surrounding the main auditorium. ANGLE - HALLWAY - ENTRY LEVEL - CONTINUOUS Cautiously they move towards us. In the distance we see the rest of the team moving the other direction. Raymond and Nick arrive at a door leading to the main auditorium. Nick is about to push the door open when Raymond stops him. RAYMOND Jean-Claude. On command, Jean-Claude snaps together his automatic rifle as Raymond pulls out his semi-automatic pistol. He nods "okay" to Nick who slowly opens the door. As the door opens a small pile of FISH tumbles down over their feet. They step over the fish and enter. 162 INT. AUDITORIUM - ENTRY LEVEL - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT 162 Total darkness. Nick, Raymond and Jean-Claude cautiously step over the fish inside. Only their flashlight beams can be seen. NICK'S P.O.V. - TRASHED AUDITORIUM His beam cruises over the area nearby. It's been gutted. Fish lay strewed on the floor everywhere. Suddenly Nick spots a strange cluster of OBJECTS. He moves closer. Raymond follows. With their combined light we can SEE... THREE ENORMOUS EGGS A pile of reptile eggs nearly twice as tall as they are. Raymond walks behind the egg, illuminating it from the other side, making it partially translucent. We can SEE THE EMBRYO inside the egg and IT'S MOVING! NICK Three eggs. I thought there would be more. RAYMOND You were right. Slowly Nick turns and SEES what Jean-Claude is staring at open jawed... DOZENS OF EGGS Together their beams of light scan across the main auditorium floor surrounding the gaping hole to discover DOZENS OF EGGS piled in clumps everywhere. NICK That can't be. That's got to be over twenty eggs. 163 INT. OTHER HALLWAY - SAME - NIGHT 163 Another of Raymond's men (R-MAN #2) has found a switchboard, he examines the switches. 164 INT. PENN STATION - SAME - NIGHT 164 Animal and Audrey are wandering through the debris. AUDREY Okay, where'd they go from here? 165 INT. OTHER HALLWAY - SAME - NIGHT 165 R-MAN #2 locates the switch he's looking for and hits it. 166 INT. AUDITORIUM - SAME - NIGHT 166 Nick, Raymond and Jean-Claude are stunned as the work lights suddenly TURN ON illuminating the room, revealing... HUNDREDS OF EGGS All over the main auditorium floor. A stunning tableau. Nick is speechless. Raymond turns to him. RAYMOND Start counting. 167 INT. PENN STATION - SAME 167 The light filters down from the gaping hole in the ceiling. ANIMAL They must have climbed all the way up into there. Together they notice some large metal piping that has fallen from the auditorium. They move over to it and begin to climb. 168 EXT. UNDERWATER - HUDSON RIVER - NUCLEAR SUB - NIGHT 168 The Arizona races past us. 169 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 169 We follow a runner who hands a report to the Admiral who is conferring with the General and Major Hicks by the schematic. The Admiral reads the report. ADMIRAL JOHNSTON They've surrounded the target just at the mouth of the Hudson river. 170 EXT. UNDERWATER - GODZILLA - SAME - NIGHT 170 He swims at enormous speed heading directly at the Arizona. 171 INT. SUBMARINE - ARIZONA - SAME - NIGHT 171 The lights dim as they prepare for battle. CAPTAIN Are we locked on? ENSIGN Locked on, Captain. CAPTAIN Fire. 172 EXT. UNDERWATER - GODZILLA - SAME - NIGHT 172 The torpedo is FIRED and comes darting directly at Godzilla who abruptly SWERVES. The torpedo, however, FOLLOWS him. ANGLE - SUBMARINE - CALVIN COOLIDGE From the other direction, closing in. Godzilla DIVES, skidding close to the bottom. The TORPEDO begins to close the gap. Suddenly Godzilla SHOOTS UPWARDS heading directly for the underside of the Calvin Coolidge. 173 INT. CALVIN COOLIDGE SUB - BRIDGE - SAME - NIGHT 173 The Calvin's CAPTAIN rushes over to the sonar screens. ENSIGN #2 He's shifted course. He's heading right at us! CALVIN'S CAPTAIN Full stern! 174 EXT. UNDERWATER - GODZILLA - SAME 174 Godzilla RAMS the underside of the Calvin Coolidge before she can turn. The entire sub SPINS, TWISTING OVER its side and colliding directly with... THE TORPEDO slams into the side of the rolling and dented nuclear submarine. With a CONCUSSION the sub EXPLODES. 175 EXT. HUDSON RIVER - SAME 175 An enormous SPRAY OF WATER erupts from the river, bubbles and debris float to the surface. 176 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME 176 The computerized representation of the Calvin Coolidge VANISHES off the monitor. RADIO OPERATOR We've lost the Coolidge, Sir. The Admiral burns. 177 INT. ARIZONA SUBMARINE - SONAR CONSOLE - SAME - NIGHT 177 The BLIP representing Godzilla turns. ENSIGN He's shifted course, Sir. He's heading back towards Manhattan. CAPTAIN Full ahead. Close in and lock on. 178 EXT. UNDERWATER - GODZILLA - SAME - NIGHT 178 Godzilla attempts to make his way back to the shore. The Indiana and Arizona close in on either side. 179 INT. ARIZONA - SAME 179 ENSIGN Locked on, Sir. CAPTAIN Fire! 180 EXT. UNDERWATER - GODZILLA - SAME - NIGHT 180 Boxed in from either side, Godzilla RACES through the water. At the same moment both submarines FIRE their torpedoes. Godzilla reaches the underwater shoreline of Manhattan and begins BURROWING FURIOUSLY. As his gigantic claws start DIGGING up earth, an enormous TURBULENCE of clouds and dirt cloud the waters around him, cloaking him. 181 INT. ARIZONA - SAME - NIGHT 181 The Captain and his Ensign are at the Sonar. We TRACK two torpedoes approaching target (Godzilla). ENSIGN Impact in eight seconds, seven, six... 182 INT. COMMAND TENT - WAR ROOM - SAME - NIGHT 182 Huddled around the schematic and radio, they hear... ENSIGN (O.S.) (filtered) ...five, four, three... 183 EXT. UNDERWATER - SAME 183 The torpedoes ENTER into frame and disappear into this undersea dust cloud. An enormous EXPLOSION BLASTS from its center, waves of concussion reverberate. 184 EXT. BATTERY PARK - MANHATTAN - SAME - NIGHT 184 With the EXPLOSION and enormous TIDAL WAVE rises and CRASHES DOWN over battery park with tremendous impact. Parked cars and phone booths are washed away. 185 INT. ARIZONA SUBMARINE - SAME - NIGHT 185 The ENSIGN checks the SONAR. ENSIGN Direct hit! The crew erupts in cheers. 186 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 186 They hear the cheering from the sub over the radio. SOLDIER They got 'em! The Generals congratulate each other and Major Hicks. 187 EXT. UNDERWATER - SAME - NIGHT 187 Toppling down out of the murky turbulence, we SEE Godzilla falling away from the shoreline, backwards the ocean floor, drifting down to the bottom of the Hudson river like so many cement shoed gangsters. 188 INT. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - SAME - NIGHT 188 Raymond and his men are laying out the plastic explosives around the room by the clumps of eggs. Jean-Claude walks up to Raymond. JEAN-CLAUDE We do not have enough explosives. Raymond turns and sees Nick, across the room studying a group of eggs. Raymond goes towards him. ANGLE - AUDITORIUM FLOOR - HOLE - SAME Crawling out from the hole in the center of the floor, Animal and Audrey appear. They're stunned at what they see. Quickly Animal hoists his camera and begins to film as an amazed Audrey walks through. ANGLE - NICK AND EGGS - MID-LEVEL DECK Kneeling down along side the eggs, Nick examines them. Raymond approaches. RAYMOND Nick, we have a problem. Nick silences him with a gesture as he moves in to listen to the egg. He leans his ear against the shell. Suddenly we HEAR a loud CRACK. Nick jumps backwards. The shell RUPTURES and an large FISSURE opens up across the egg. As we hear other CRACKS O.S., Nick turns and SEES more eggs beginning to open all around them. ANGLE - AUDREY AND ANIMAL - FLOOR LEVEL Hidden in this forest of tall eggs, Animal leans in close to one getting video footage of it cracking. Audrey nervously watches. What she doesn't see, however, is a BABYZILLA, fish hanging from its jaw, as it approaches from behind. ANGLE - NICK AND RAYMOND Stunned, they can only stare as the BABYZILLA BREAKS FREE of his shell and gives a mini version of the famous WAIL. RAYMOND I think we should leave now. NICK Good idea. The BABYZILLA kneels down and immediately starts GOBBLING UP the dead fish laying nearby. Cautiously Nick and Raymond slowly back away until they are a far enough distance, then they break into a run and head for the exit. ANGLE - AUDREY AND ANIMAL - FLOOR LEVEL The Babyzilla continues to chomp on its fish as it nears Audrey. Animal continues to shoot the cracking egg. ANIMAL (whispered) One more second. This is fantastic. Just then Animal turns to SEE the Babyzilla right behind Audrey. AUDREY Don't you think we have enough? ANIMAL Yes. Definitely. Definitely enough. Audrey turns to see what Animal is staring at. Her eyes go WIDE as she backs up into Animal. Another BABYZILLA appear on the other side of them. ANIMAL Just be calm. Don't startle them. Animal leads Audrey backwards as they make their way towards the large "team" entrance at the end of the floor. The two Babyzillas swallow their fish and begin to SNIFF the air. Audrey moves up the isle. An egg CRACKS and an ARM breaks out through a shell, GRABBING HER LEG. Audrey FREAKS and frantically she KICKS herself free. They both suddenly take off running. 189 INT. MID-LEVEL HALLWAYS - SAME 189 Nick and Raymond race to the stairwell. Raymond pulls out his radio. RAYMOND (into radio) Everyone, outside! Now! ANGLE - JEAN-CLAUDE - MID-LEVEL DECKS - ACROSS THE ROOM Laying down the plastic explosives. Hearing the radio, he drops what they're doing just as several eggs near them begin to CRACK. Quickly he and his partner take off running. 190 INT. FAR BACK WALL - LOWER LEVEL - SAME 190 Two other men are still laying cables for the explosives. One of them is kneeling in a pile of FISH near the eggs. R-MAN #2 Come on, let's go. R-MAN #3 One moment. I've almost got this. Just then a BABYZILLA pops up behind the eggs, a fish in his mouth. He SWALLOWS the fish and begins SNIFFING THE AIR. He turns and stares directly at the slowly retreating R-MAN #3. He smells his own hands and realizes he smells like fish, quickly he turns and RUNS. But Babyzilla is faster. He runs up from behind and LEAPS onto R-MAN #3's back. R-MAN #2 begins to FIRE at Babyzilla just as another one TACKLES HIM from the side. In moments, they are both devoured. 191 INT. TEAM ENTRANCE - FLOOR-LEVEL - SAME 191 Audrey and Animal reach the entrance and race inside. The main exit doors are locked from the outside. They turn back just as... THREE BABYZILLAS appear in the team entrance doorway SNIFFING THE AIR. Audrey SEES something, grabs Animal's wrist and pulls him to one of the Locker room doors. It's open. 192 INT. LOCKER ROOM - CONTINUOUS 192 Through the door we SEE the Babyzilla approaching as Audrey and Animal leap inside, slamming the door behind them. There is a sudden THUD against the door. Animal rushes over to a large LOCKER CABINET and, with all his strength, PUSHES it over, blocking the door. AUDREY Great. Now what do we do? 193 INT. HALLWAYS - MID-LEVEL - SAME 193 Nick and Raymond run up to another open doorway and look inside. NICK'S P.O.V. - AUDITORIUM Dozens and dozens of eggs HATCHING. BABYZILLAS everywhere begin to awaken and immediately begin to devour all the fish. A Babyzilla appears only feet away and turns and stares directly at us. Quickly Raymond slams the doors shut as they both retreat back into the hallway. Raymond SMASHES the glass covering of a nearby FIRE HOSE and raps it around the door handles, locking it closed. Suddenly a loud THUD as something begins to BANG against the locked doorway. RAYMOND We've got to lock them inside while we can. Raymond tosses his cellular phone to Nick. RAYMOND Contact the military and get them to send a bomber to blow up this building before these things escape. NICK How do I do that? RAYMOND 555-7600. Tell them it's a code dragonfly. They should get you through. Amazed by Raymond, Nick just stares at him. RAYMOND What are you waiting for? Nick snaps out of it and dials. OPERATOR (filtered) ...all circuits are busy right now. Please hang up and try again... 194 EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - SAME - NIGHT 194 A large and ANGRY mob has gathered at the roadblock to the bridge. People, their cars packed with belongings, are screaming to be let back into Manhattan. Horns honk and the blockade guards are getting nervous. 195 INT. COMMAND TENT - SAME - NIGHT 195 The Mayor marches over to Major Hicks who is consulting with the Generals. MAYOR Do you have any idea what's going on out there? The phones are ringing off the hook with people screaming to be let back in