KNIGHT
RIDER 2000
ACT TWO
35 INT. TRAUMA CENTER – NIGHT
as
double doors slam open with Shawn’s gurney; she’s being raced down the hallway
by several MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. A Velcro strap attached to Shawn’s wrist has
wires rising to an antenna, with one of the technicians holding a portable gas
plasma monitor. Her head is covered in bandages. Kurt is paralleling them,
deeply worried. DR. JEFFREY GLASSMAN appears.
DR.
GLASSMAN
Vitals?
TECHNICIAN
(reading
monitor)
B.P.
eighty over fifty and dropping.
DR. GLASSMAN
Anything
on the CAT?
TECHNICIAN
Brain
waves present, but there’s damage.
DR.
GLASSMAN
(to
Kurt)
You’ll
have to wait here.
They
bang through another set of doors labeled ICU – AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY,
leaving Kurt in the dust. At the same moment, Commissioner Daniels appears with
her Assistant. Following behind are several of Shawn’s concerned fellow cops,
including Strand. Hedges is in the pack as well, extremely nervous.
COMM.
DANIELS
Is she
alive?
KURT
Barely.
Daniels
marches past Kurt into the ICU ROOM, her Assistant in tow. We go inside with
her, finding Shawn now being hooked up into a very sophisticated bank of
computerized stabilizers. Daniels flashes her credentials – a holographic image
of a gold badge.
COMM.
DANIELS
As an
employee of the city, she’s turned her rights over to me. I’m authorizing you
to read her RNA.
DR.
GLASSMAN
RNA is
a risky procedure…there’s still a chance we can save her.
COMM.
DANIELS
We need
to find out who did this, Doctor. Believe me, she’d want us to know.
Glassman
returns to his team.
DR.
GLASSMAN
Prepare
for RNA transfer.
TIGHT
ON SHAWN’S HEAD
as the
top bandages are peeled back to expose her pate. The buzz of an electric razor
precedes the instrument…then Shawn’s long beautiful hair gets shaved to the
base of her scalp.
TIGHT
ON RNA PROBES
inside
a sterile container. Four inc, needle-thin steel rods, with a small computer
chip at the end of each. A latex-gloved hand lifts the first one out, moving to
Shawn’s now-bald head. A transparency light flicks on above her, projecting the
exact replica of Shawn’s cerebral hemisphere onto her bare skull.
DR.
GLASSMAN
Insert
probe one into the optic nerve, two and three into the hemispherical memory
regions.
The
first needle positions itself. Just as its about to penetrate her cranium…
TIGHT
ON X-RAY MONITOR
looking
at a high contrast video replica of Shawn’s cranium as the needle pierces her
skull and lodges in the brain tissue. Though we are spared the sight in
reality, it’s still a squirmer to witness.
DR.
GLASSMAN
leaves
the ICU room, entering a control booth just beyond which looks like a NASA
command center in smaller form. He sits behind the console, activating several
buttons. A large high-definition monitor blinks on above him.
TECHNICIAN
(INTERCOM V.O.)
Probe
insertion completed, Doctor.
DR.
GLASSMAN
(into
intercom)
Stand
clear.
36 INT. ICU ROOM – SIMULTANEOUS
As the
Technicians take a step back. ADJUST into a tight shot of Shawn’s face.
Nothing. Then suddenly her facial muscles twitch violently, almost like a
chorus of nervous ticks.
37 INT. CONTROL BOOTH – SIMULTANEOUS
TIGHT
on Glassman’s eyeglasses as images reflect back at us from his screen.
ANGLE-MONITOR
Bizarre,
fluid-like visions defying time and space, mixed with crisp reality, fill the
screen. We’re watching Shawn’s memory, sometimes in color, sometimes not….
A
fourth birthday party. Her FATHER places a cake in front of her.
FATHER
Happy
birthday, Shawn.
Four
year-old Shawn blows out the candle and when the smoke clears, Kurt’s face
appears on the surface of the cake.
KURT
Happy
birthday, Shawn.
Suddenly
the cake becomes a dance floor and:
Shawn
is seventeen, dancing at her senior prom was the lights and music continue. A
“Class of 1991” banner hangs overhead. She leans in and kisses her nice-looking
DATE.
SHAWN
AT SEVENTEEN
I love
you.
Then a
QUICK FLASH of Shawn at her surprise party, emotionally addressing her fellow
cops.
SHAWN
I love
all you guys.
The
image instantly loses its color and begins to blur…
38 INT. WAITING AREA – NIGHT
Comm.
Daniels is pacing, the other cops stoic as Glassman approaches. They all
uncomfortably await the Doctor’s verdict.
DR.
GLASSMAN
The injury
appears to have destroyed a cluster pattern in her cerebrum. In simple terms,
she’s lost her most recent memory.
Hedges
internally sighs.
DR.
GLASSMAN
But
there is good news – the RNA confirmed we can save her life by performing a
fragmentary cerebral transplant. Of course, I’ll need your authorization.
Kurt
nods to himself, relieved, not noticing Daniels’ Assistant who’s busily
punching figures into his wrist calculator. The Assistant feeds Daniels
information via a discreet whisper. Daniels nods, then glances at the other
cops in the room.
COMM.
DANIELS
Doctor,
may we speak in private?
39 INT. DR. GLASSMAN’S OFFICE – THIRTY SECONDS
LATER
As he
shuts the door, now alone with Daniels and her Assistant.
COMM.
DANIELS
There
is certifiable doubt as to how she’ll function after the operation, if at all,
isn’t that true?
DR.
GLASSMAN
Yes,
there’s always a degree of incertitude with procedures such as this. But I’m
extremely confident.
COMM.
DANIELS
Have
you ever performed one of these before?
DR.
GLASSMAN
No, but
I’ve logged ninety hours on the surgical simulator. She’s a textbook case –
perfect for me.
Some
careful consideration, then:
COMM.
DANIELS
I have
no choice but to decline.
An
uncomfortable pause.
DR. GLASSMAN
Commissioner…what
you’re saying in effect is to terminate life support.
COMM.
DANIELS
Don’t
think I feel the slightest bit good about this decision…
(Asst.
shows her calculator figures)
…But
our budget deficit is already in the high seven figures. We literally cannot
afford it based on the risk.
DR.
GLASSMAN
I’m
urging you to reconsider.
COMM.
DANIELS
Your
career advancement will have to wait until the next victim rolls in, Doctor
Glassman. My decision is final.
She and
her Assistant exit. HOLD on Glassman’s angry face.
40 INT. ICU ROOM – MINUTES LATER
As Dr.
Glassman returns to his staff, Shawn stabilized on the table. A moment, then he
comes to a decision.
DR.
GLASSMAN
We’re
going ahead with the transplant.
41 INT. PENTHOUSE OFFICE – DAY
Overlooking
a magnificent panorama of the city. It’s a beautiful view until Johnny Watts
steps into the frame.
WATTS
Ladies
and gentlemen, we’re about to expand.
Slowly
PULL BACK to find he’s standing at the head of a long narrow conference table.
WATTS
I, like
you, believe in the Constitutional right for all citizens to bear firearms, not
just the criminals. It’s time to go statewide and beyond.
Faces
start to appear on both sides. Familiar faces. Hedges. Partner Strand. Many we
saw in the locker room, as well as Shawn’s birthday party. Her supposed
friends.
WATTS
Self
protection was a principle this country was founded on – I see nothing wrong
with continuing that philosophy while getting very rich in the process. What
about you?
Rumblings
of agreement. Camera finally arrives at the table’s end…where one last
unexpected face appears. Kurt Miller, Shawn’s ex-partner. He isn’t quite as
endorsing.
KURT
I don’t
remember murder as part of our forefathers’ philosophy, Mr. Watts.
WATTS
An eye
for an eye certainly was.
STRAND
The
former Mayor was responsible for our handguns getting banned, Miller. The bad
guys? They still have ‘em. Six of us have already bought it this year, and all
we can do is buzz ‘em back!
HEDGES
They
told us the ban would help. They lied.
A
chorus of agreement.
KURT
Some of
those guns have already fallen into the wrong hands – how are we supposed to
keep track if we expand?
WATTS
Wise up
Officer. If criminals don’t buy from us, they’ll just go elsewhere.
KURT
This is
getting out of control… and shooting my partner was never part of the deal.
WATTS
Neither
was her interference at the Space Needle.
KURT
I
planned on bringing her in eventually. It was just too soon.
WATTS
I’d say
it was too late. She was your responsibility…and still is.
KURT
Her
memory’s gone. She’s out of the equation.
WATTS
We’ll
see.
STRAND
What
about this new freelance department? They could really screw things up for us.
WATTS
There’s
way too much tension in this room…
(calmly
paces)
They
won the franchise based on a flashy car which won’t even be finished by the
time their contract expires.
Watts
moves back to his window, gazing down at the insect-sized people and cars far
below.
WATTS
Trust
me, they’re no problem at all.
42 EXT. CITY STREET – DAY
People
and cars but far from tiny at this ground-level angle. A red dot appears way
down the road. Getting bigger…and faster. It’s close enough now to be
recognized from the product reel seen in Mayor Abbey’s office; somehow the
KNIGHT 4000 makes everything else seem in slow-motion. Cars stop for a signal,
the opposing traffic moving….but the aerodynamic vehicle blurs right through
the red light. Two cars SWERVE to advoid it, BROADSIDING EACH OTHER.
43 INT. KNIGHT FOUNDATION – COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER –SAME TIME
As
Devon walks past a dozen TECHNICIANS manning various stations, which include a
computer terminal area and a bank of HDTV monitors covering news and commercials
around the world. We catch bits and pieces as we move with him…
President
Quayle has successfully negotiated a peace treaty with England. The advent of
hydrogen algae farms which now produce non-polluting fuel has brought oil
prices to under ten cents a barrel. Smoking in any public place is now a
misdemeanor. Health Control Toilet Systems allow consumers to inexpensively run
urine and other tests in the privacy of their own bathroom…..
Devon
proceeds past the communications console just as a female technician, SANDY,
removes color-coded data from her printer bin. She heads off Devon.
SANDY
This
just came in on the fiber optic –case files from the municipal mainframe which
I’ve cross-referenced and graphed.
DEVON
Good
work, Sandy.
Devon
continues on, Sandy returning to her station.
44 INT. MADDOCK’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
As
Devon enters, Maddock wrapping up a video call.
MADDOCK
(into
video phone)
I don’t
want to hear excuses – the 4000 is already two weeks behind. Kick that distributor’s
butt or I’ll have to kick yours.
TECHNICIAN
(ON VIDEO PHONE)
Yes,
sir.
Maddock
blinks him off.
DEVON
I’m
glad to see company morale is a priority of yours.
MADDOCK
Not as
much as cinching our contract. We need results.
DEVON
I think
we have some.
He
places Sandy’s documents on Maddock’s desk.
DEVON
It’s an
inventory of evidence seized over the last two years, all relating to handgun
crimes. Notice how the percentage of Sig Sauer automatics has gone up since the
Mayor was shot?
Maddock
looks it over. Then appraises Devon.
MADDOCK
You’re
not thinking what I think you’re thinking…
DEVON
I’ll
admit police involvement is an unlikely possibility, but every prospect should
be checked out.
MADDOCK
Compared
to what I said to Daniels, this is a slap in her face. I’m impressed, Devon.
DEVON
I’m not
saying we don’t handle this gingerly.
(beat)
I’d
like to put Michael on it – he’s wrapping up tests on K.I.T.T. as we speak.
45 INT. KNIGHT WAREHOUSE – DAY
As the
Knight 4000 flies between the doors, coming straight for:
MICHAEL’S
PARKED VOLVO
with
Michael inside of it. The red bullet suddenly LOCKS ITS BRAKES AND SLIDES INTO
A 180, parking itself parallel with Michael’s ten year old sedan.
Michael
gathers himself; a voice speaks to him from the Volvo dash which now very much
resembles the old K.I.T.T. dash. K.I.T.T. has become a bastardized version of
his old Volvo. Even the old chaser light front has been modified into the Volvo
grille.
K.I.T.T.
Pardon
me, Michael, but who’s the idiot driving that ostentatious vehicle?
Michael
doesn’t answer, he’s too pissed. He climbs from the “new” K.I.T.T., approaching
the Knight 4000.
MICHAEL
Listen
pal, I think you’d better…
He
throws open the door of the 4000 but there’s nobody inside. The car has been
driving itself. Michael looks up, spotting Maddock and Devon on an upper level.
Devon is frowning; Maddock smiling.
MADDOCK
What do
you think, Mr. Knight?
MICHAEL
That
was a pretty stupid thing for that car to do.
MADDOCK
Hardly
– the auto maneuvering stem is fully functional…
K.I.T.T.
And the
paint job is spectacular. All you need now is a motherboard that operates with
some common sense.
MADDOCK
(cocky
grin)
I’ll
admit there are glitches to be worked out. For one thing, it has a tendency to
run red lights if it calculates a collision factor of .7 or below.
MICHAEL
Great.
Another car with an attitude.
K.I.T.T.
You’d
have a disposition too if you suddenly went from state of the art to this. I
may not catch every criminal now but I’ll sure be able to carry a lot of
groceries.
DEVON
I take
it K.I.T.T. is ready for a demonstration.
MADDOCK
My
heart’s pounding.
46 EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET – DAY
WHIP-PAN
with the black Volvo sedan as it speeds past us. It’s just not the same as the
old K.I.T.T. we knew and loved. And certainly a far cry from the Knight 4000.
47 INT. K.I.T.T. – SAME TIME
Michael’s
behind the wheel, Devon shotgun. Maddock rides in the rear. Michael’s actually
looking a little better with a haircut and shave.
MADDOCK
Amazing
power you get out of those rodents under the hood.
K.I.T.T.
Not to
mention the one in the backseat.
MICHAEL
Can we
table this for awhile? K.I.T.T., demonstrate auto cruise mode.
Michael
lets go of the wheel; it begins driving itself. Devon nods; Maddock is not
impressed.
MADDOCK
Every
new Mercedes can do the same thing.
Suddenly
K.I.T.T.’s VIDEO DISPLAY beeps. A criminal photo with relevant data pops onto
it; a rude-looking white guy with a buzz cut.
MADDOCK
What’s
that?
MICHAEL
We’ve
been scanning bar codes.
(to
K.I.T.T.)
Come up
with something?
K.I.T.T.
The
green coupe idling in front of that ATM is registered to a Tod Moore, whom
you’ll find on my monitor.
MICHAEL
(glances
at monitor)
I see
he’s currently wanted for drug trafficking and murder.
Maddock
blinks; Devon doesn’t.
DEVON
I doubt
every new Mercedes can do this.
48 EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET – SIMULTANEOUS
Sure
enough, a green coupe is parked in front of a Ready Teller outlet, its barcode
license plate clearly visible.
A
suspicious looking man stands at the outlet, his back to us. He fits the image
we just saw on K.I.T.T.’s screen.
K.I.T.T.
pulls up right behind him. ADJUST into a view through the Volvo’s side windows.
K.I.T.T.
He’s
withdrawing a large sum of cash…approximately ten thousand six hundred. Would
you like me to electronically disable the man’s vehicle?
MICHAEL
For
starters.
A brief
LOW FREQUENCY HUM. The green coupe’s engine chugs to a stop. RISE above the
Volvo as the suspect heads for his car.
MICHAEL
Now
stun him.
Just as
the man reaches for his door, WHOOSH! As a sound not unlike the police
Ultrasound guns discharges. The suspect falls against his car, his cash
scattering in the wind. Michael, Devon and Maddock instantly hop out of the
Volvo as Michael rushes up to him, spinning the pained man around.
MICHAEL
You’re
under arrest, pal.
They
all stare at him…but he’s not the guy on K.I.T.T.’S monitor, not by a hundred
yards. It’s BRIAN BOZWORTH, former star linebacker of the Seattle Seahawks. His
hair’s still short but a tad gray nnow; a bit of a paunch due to the retired
life too. K.I.T.T. pulls up alongside.
K.I.T.T.
Shall I
Mirandize him?
MICHAEL
K.I.T.T…..it’s
the Boz.
K.I.T.T.
Who?
MADDOCK
Brian
Bozworth, you idiot. Former linebacker on the Seahawks.
BOZWORTH
(dazed)
…Recovered
the fumble…..
K.I.T.T.
Maddock,
I’m very angry about this.
MADDOCK
You’re
angry??
K.I.T.T.
You
obviously substituted a bogus chip in my memory. I want my old chip back.
BOZWORTH
…I got
the yen….for first and ten…
Devon
closes his eyes.
49 INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT – DAY
A pair
of PROSTITUTES are being laser-fingerprinted. A FELON is having a scanner run
over his face, the mug shot instantly appearing on a monitor with pertinent
data. A tearful woman is being interviewed by a desk cop….
Business
as usual. Until Shawn McCormick walks in the door, back in uniform. The new
Shawn…with a short, very interesting year-2000 haircut and a no-nonsense
cadence. Something about her is very different; for one, the warmth and
innocence are gone. But it’s more than that, which we’ll soon be discovering.
Heads start to turn, whispers exchanged.
KURT
sees her, a mixture of admiration and guilt hitting him. He’s standing by the
automated coffee machine with Hedges and Strand, who find no dichotomy at all
in their feelings – they’d prefer it if she were dead. Shawn walks toward them.
KURT
Hello,
Shawn.
SHAWN
How are
you?
Her
voice is perfunctory at best. She marches by without waiting for Kurt’s
response.
HEDGES
She
bothers me. Bad.
50 INT. COMM. DANIELS’ OFFICE – DAY
She’s
going over some paperwork with her trust Assistant when Shawn barges in,
unannounced.
SHAWN
I’d
like a few minutes of your time, Commissioner.
They’re
instantly uncomfortable. A second later, Daniels’ male SECRETARY quickly
enters, quite flustered.
COMM.
DANIELS
It’s
all right, Andrew.
The
Secretary nods, exiting.
COMM.
DANIELS
We’re
happy to see you back, Officer McCormick. You must have plenty of questions –
if you’d like, I can ask Andrew to…
SHAWN
I
understand you ordered the plug pulled on me.
The new
Shawn minces no words. The Assistant discreetly enters something into his wrist
CPU.
COMM.
DANIELS
That’s
not perfectly accurate. There were financial considerations at work, and…
SHAWN
My
memory might be impaired by I assure you nothing else is.
(beat)
I want
to find the creep who shot me. Re-assign me to my old unit.
COMM.
DANIELS
I can’t
do that. Technically, you shouldn’t even have a desk job after what happened.
SHAWN
Neither
should you, considering your profound lack of judgment.
The
Assistant’s fingers excitedly dance over his wristband.
COMM.
DANIELS
Officer,
I really think this discussion is…
SHAWN
Anti-capital
punishment for criminals but pro-euthanasia for your own cops? You know
something, you might actually benefit from a bullet in the head as well.
The
Assistant’s fingers stop cold at this one. Daniels’ patience quotient has just
been topped off.
COMM.
DANIELS
McCormick,
you’ve just guaranteed yourself….
SHAWN
Don’t
bother. I quit.
She
turns and exits. Shawn pauses just outside the door, bewildered by what has
just transpired. She squeezes her eyes shut, feeling a massive headache hitting
her.
51 INT. DRUG STORE – DAY
As
Shawn steps up to the elderly PHARMACIST, placing a large bottle of the Advil
equivalent, MOVIL on the counter. She’s now in street clothes. He bags up the
pills.
PHARMACIST
Afternoon,
Officer, McCormick. How was your first day back?
SHAWN
My
last. Put this on my charge, will you?
PHARMACY
What
happened?
SHAWN
I’m not
sure.
She
exists, as confused as the Pharmacist. A suspicious looking TRANSIENT comes
walking in the side door. Shawn hesitates, intuitively ducking behind a shelf.
Sure enough, the Transient nervously glances around, thinks he’s alone, and
PULLS OUT A PISTOL.
TRANSIENT
Empty
the register, old man. Now.
The
frightened Pharmacist discreetly steps on a floor mat switch, then immediately
obeys.
SHAWN
instinctively
moves like a panther through the aisles as:
THE
TRANSIENT
hastily
collects his bag of cash, waving his gun indiscriminately, backing away. He
spins for a fast retreat and comes face to face with Shawn, leveling his barrel
on her…but lightning quick she knocks it from his hand, almost with machine
precision.
TRANSIENT
You
stupid bitch…
He recoils
a fist at her face, which she deftly dodges, then BAM! BAM! BAM! as Shawn
delivers TWO JABS AND A WELL-PLACED KICK, the final blow sending him BACK-FIRST
INTO A GLASS DISPLAY CASE. The Pharmacist stares at her with wide-eyes; Shawn
sees the look on his face, then it hits her too. Who is this new person living
inside her body? Shawn spots the Transient’s handgun…which happens to be
another 9mm Sig Sauer. She stares at it long and hard. Sirens can be heard
pulling up.
SHAWN
I
wasn’t here, okay?
The
shaken Pharmacist nods as Shawn heads out the back door. A beat, then a pair of
POLICE OFFICERS barge in with Ultrasounds drawn. They immediately spot the
unconscious Tranient, framed in the shattered isplay case like the Terminator
took care of him. Their eyes go back to the frail Pharmacist, who subtly flexes
his fists.
PHARMACIST
He
shoulda known better than to fool with me.
52 INT. MADDOCK’S OFFICER – DAY
Maddock
sits behind his desk, Devon on a couch nearby. Both are looking over a resume.
MADDOCK
We’re
fully staffed at this time, but we’ll keep your resume on our database. Thanks
for coming in.
Shawn
sits opposite them. She’s making no motions to leave.
SHAWN
I’m
more than what’s on that piece of paper. Give me a chance – I promise I won’t
let you down.
MADDOCK
May I
be blunt? Rookies don’t make good cops, and good cops don’t get fired. Now if
you’ll excuse us…
SHAWN
I quit,
and if you’d done your homework you’d know why. I on the other hand know all
about you, Mr. Maddock: illustrious former D.A. with a 95.6 percent conviction
rate. Never married with a track record of dating blondes considerably younger.
You play single-only tennis with a winning percentage of 98.2 because you
always select opponents who’ll provide adequate competition but not enough to
beat you. Your most recent loss was to a woman, incidentally. Shall I go on?
Maddock
is too stunned to speak. Devon smiles, very impressed.
DEVON
I have
a feeling your knowledge of our operation is tantamount, Ms. McCormick.
SHAWN
So is
my familiarity with the handgun cases, which I memorized and correlated in
their entirety prior to my resignation.
Maddock
studies her carefully.
MADDOCK
You’ve
got a chip in your head, don’t you?
SHAWN
Memory
chip transplants are not uncommon today.
DEVON
This
may work out fine – Mr. Maddock has one on his shoulder.
MADDOCK
You’ve
got a hidden agenda, lady. Why do you really want to work for us?
SHAWN
I was
shot point-blank in the head and I’d like to nail the son of a bitch who did
it. That’s my agenda – what’s yours?
Maddock
has no immediate answer. There’s a brief knock, then Michael enters, speaking
before he realizes they have company.
MICHAEL
Good
news: I located K.I.T.T’S missing chip.
DEVON
Where?
MICHAEL
That’s
the bad news – it was sold to the RNA Trauma Center and ended up in some
policewoman’s head.
A
pregnant pause. Maddock and Devon swap glances, looking at Shawn.
DEVON
Michael…meet
the missing chip.
Michael
stares at Shawn, reacting, and:
COMPUTER
FREEZE/BLACK OUT.
END OF
ACT TWO