KNIGHT
RIDER 2000
ACT
SEVEN
147 TIGHT ON HDTV SCREEN – NIGHT
As the
thermograph image of Abbey and Watts concludes.
MAYOR
ABBEY (ON MONITOR)
I’m
warning you, Watts – screw this up and I’ll thaw somebody else to take care of
you.
Abbey
steps off the subway car.
148 INT. COMM. DANIELS’ OFFICE –REVERSE
Daniels
remotes off her disc player. She clicks on her room lights. Completely
dumbfounded.
COMM.
DANIELS
We were
supposed to be the enlightened city…no corruption, no conspiracies….
MADDOCK
…and no
handguns?
(shakes
head)
Today
it’s guns, tomorrow it’ll be something else. The bigger problem will always be
the there: the people on the other side of them.
COMM.
DANIELS
Opportunity
contributes to the deed, Mr. Maddock. Maybe not all, but at least a few
tragedies will never happen if that opportunity is taken away. I still believe
a handgun ban could work.
It’s a
stalemate. And it always will be.
MADDOCK
As much
as we loathe working with each other, I think we’ll do better if we combine strengths.
Mutual
pride has been set aside. She nods back.
149 INT. POLICE WAREHOUSE – DAWN
as
Watts’ men hastily load a large ultra-modern VAN with gun crates, Watts
supervising. An incredulous Hedges arrives, quickly approaching him.
HEDGES
You’re
gonna go through with this?
WATTS
I’m not
about to walk away from twenty million.
HEDGES
What if
they’ve gone to Daniels? The whole operation’ll be over.
WATTS
Only in
this city. The weather here was starting to depress me anyway.
HEDGES
Be
realistic – it’s gotta be crawling with uniforms out there!
WATTS
Please
calm down, you’re giving me a tension headache.
(calmly
faces her)
I’ve
got it covered.
150 EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT – DAWN
The
police warehouse and surrounding buildings seem quiet enough on the
outside…until we CRANE DOWN, discovering an obscured side street packed with
police units. Commissioner Daniels is standing at a temporary command post,
wearing a headset radio. Maddock is with her.
COMM.
DANIELS
For
insurance reasons, I don’t want you moving in unless it’s absolutely necessary.
MADDOCK
Don’t
worry, your premiums won’t go up over us.
COMM.
DANIELS
You act
only under my direct command. Understood?
He
swallows his ego, nodding.
151 EXT. POLICE WAREHOUSE – DAWN
as huge
steel doors roll open and Watts’ VAN roars out.
152 EXT. SIDE STREET – SAME TIME
as the
chorus of police engines rumble to life. Daniels nods to the POLICE TECHNICIAN
who’s manning radar-type equipment.
COMM.
DANIELS
(into
headset)
We’ve
confirmed the presence of crated handguns.
BACK to
find Maddock, lifting his cellular video phone.
MADDOCK
They
should be coming your way in about one minute…
153 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SAME TIME
Michael
and Shawn are quietly parked in an alley, Maddock’s face on the cellular
monitor. His anxiousness is apparent.
MADDOCK
(ON MONITOR)
…Better
cross-check all circuits, RAM capacity and fluid levels.
MICHAEL
K.I.T.T.’s
way ahead of you.
K.I.T.T.
Not
exactly, Michael. It seems my ScanCheck software isn’t fully compatible with
this car’s circuitry.
MADDOCK
(ON MONITOR)
What’d
you say?
SHAWN
It
worked fine yesterday, K.I.T.T.
K.I.T.T.
My
guess it’s just a bad sector on my disc. There’s probably nothing wrong.
MADDOCK
(ON MONITOR)
Probably?
The 4000’s heading into first-time combat and you can’t tell us if it’s
functioning properly.
K.I.T.T.
Well,
no. Unfortunately we may have to rely on some human judgement.
MADDOCK
lowers
his phone. Completely pale.
154 EXT. WAREHOUSE STREETS – DAWN
as the
van streaks by us. WHIP PAN into the side street as police units SCREECH OUT IN
PURSUIT, Daniels and Maddock climbing into the rear of a police sedan.
TRACKING
WITH VAN
as
police units fly out from both sides of the street, sirens screaming. Suddenly
the rear doors on the van swing open, exposing a huge rocket launcher manned by
two bad cops. Its giant barrel FLASHES and:
A
POLICE UNIT (STUNT/EFX)
is
demolished in a devastating explosion. Another unit right behind SMASHES INTO
THE WRECKAGE.
155 INT. COMMISSIONER DANIELS’ SEDAN –
SIMULTANEOUS
swerving
around the destruction.
COMM.
DANIELS
(into
headset)
I
realize that it’s one of our own vans, but there’s got to be some way to
disable them….
She
listens, closes her eyes. Then turns to Maddock. Conceding all pride.
COMM.
DANIELS
Show me
what that car of yours can do.
MADDOCK
Yes
Ma’am.
(into
video phone)
You
heard the lady.
SWOOSH!
as a
red streak of turbine-roaring power blows over our heads, hot in pursuit of the
van.
156 EXT. WAREHOUSE/DOCKSIDE STREETS – SAME TIME
(STUNT/EFX)
as
another squad car catches up to the van, firing its side-mounted ULTRASOUND
DISABLERS with little effect. With no warning the unit is BLOWN OFF THE ROAD,
billowing smoke rising from the road. The smoke is whisked off the road as the
Knight 4000 flies past us.
Once
again the launcher is leveled, its huge barrel FLASHING IN OUR FACE, and BOOM!
as a ball of FLAMES ERUPTS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE 4000, SEEMINGLY
ANNIHILATING IT. Smoke and fire…then the Knight 4000 appears in the storm’s
eye, racing through the fireball unscathed. Just like it did in Maddock’s
simulation reel.
157 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SAME TIME
(COMPUTER/PROCESS)
The
windshield changes to Virtual Reality, the flames now computer-animated. The
van reveals itself again.
MICHAEL
Thermo
time, K.I.T.T. – all four tires.
Crosshairs
blink on, quickly pinpointing all four tires. Shawn lifts a Plexiglass cover
and presses the THERMAL AIR EXPANDER. The entire screen instantly goes red and:
158 EXT. DOCKSIDE STREETS –TRACKING WITH VAN
(STUNT/EFX)
All
four tires suddenly BURST, the van’s bare metal rims crashing onto the asphalt
in a fanfare of sparks. The surprised pair of bad cops OPEN FIRE with their Sig
Sauers, the Driver joining them with a clip full of retaliation…
…but
the bullets have no effect on the
immaculate 4000.
159 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – CONTINUOUS
Multiple
targeting crosshairs now appear, pinpointing the three top criminals.
K.I.T.T.
Locked
and ready.
Michael
presses the SONIC DISABLER button. Nothing happens.
MICHAEL
Great.
It doesn’t work.
Shawn
impulsively pounds the Disabler button with her fist. A low frequency WHOOSH
knocks the men down like bowling pins. She shrugs at Michael.
160 EXT. DOCKSIDE ROAD – CONTINUOUS
as
K.I.T.T. four-wheel-drifts into a stylish stop, exactly like in the promo
presentation.
Several
more police units and the Commissioner’s sedan slide up behind it. Michael and
Shawn jump out; Shawn desperately looks around.
SHAWN
I don’t
see Watts…
She
cautiously moves toward the drivers door as Michael climbs into the van rear.
At the same time:
MADDOCK
AND DANIELS
hop
out, surveying the wreckage. A SERGEANT and some of his men move toward Daniels
with exuberant handshakes, ignoring Maddock.
SERGEANT
Well
executed, Commissioner.
Daniels
glances at Maddock, who says nothing. Lets her take the glory.
COMM.
DANIELS
Let’s
secure the area.
MADDOCK
(takes
Daniels aside)
This
was too easy. Something’s wrong.
SHAWN
returns
to Michael just as he pops one of the crates. They’re soon joined by Maddock
and Daniels.
SHAWN
He’s
gone.
MICHAEL
He was
never here. Or the guns.
Everyone
reacts as Michael pull out a handful of eight-inch steel pipes instead of
handguns.
K.I.T.T.
(P.A. VOICE)
I’ve
detected a cluster of police units which also appear to contain weapons.
MICHAEL
Where,
K.I.T.T.?
K.I.T.T.
Three
miles due west.
COMM.
DANIELS
West?
That’s in the ocean….
161 EXT. DOCKSIDE ROAD – TIGHT ON KNIGHT 4000’S
WHEELS
Screeching
off in pursuit, roaring down the same dockside road the old K.I.T.T. was chased
down.
162 INT. KNIGHT 4000 –SIMULTANEOUS
as
Michael grips the steering wheel.
MICHAEL
Give me
full steering control.
K.I.T.T.
It’s
all yours.
Michael
takes command, veering toward the docks.
SHAWN
What
are you doing?
MICHAEL
You’ll
have to trust me.
They
spin into a hard right turn, racing down the same dock K.I.T.T. was pushed from
earlier.
SHAWN
We’re
going off the end of the dock again??
163 EXT. DOCK –SIMULTANEOUS (EFX)
and
indeed they do, crashing through the barrier…only this time the Knight 4000
BEGINS TO HYDROFOIL ON TOP OF THE WATER.
164 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SIMULTANEOUS (PROCESS)
The
windshield view looks like we’re riding in a speedboat instead of a car.
SHAWN
You
never told me about this!
K.I.T.T.
You
never asked.
SHAWN
Where
are we going?
MICHAEL
To catch
a ferry.
165 EXT. WASHINGTON STATE FERRY – MORNING
gliding
across from mainland Seattle to Orcas Island.
166 INT. FERRY – MORNING
Watts
sits in the passenger lounge, calmly reading the morning paper, his cohorts
scattered nearby. Hedges worriedly approaches him.
HEDGES
I can’t
reach our van unit.
WATTS
(turns
the page)
Casualties
are something to expect.
HEDGES
You
said you had it covered.
WATTS
By the
time they make sense of it, these crates’ll be safely on an island freighter
and we’ll be vacationing in Canada.
(smiles)
Unless
of course, that car of theirs can drive on water.
167 EXT. OCEAN – MORNING (EFX)
as the
Knight 4000 hydrofoils across the ocean, rapidly catching up with the ferry.
168 EXT. DOCKSIDE STREETS – MORNING
as the
bad cops are being taken away, Daniels and Maddock on the scene.
COMM.
DANIELS
(into
headset)
Repeat,
no air pursuit. They think they’ve gotten away – we don’t want them dumping our
evidence.
(stares
at Maddock)
I don’t
even want to speculate on their odds. I hope you know what you’re doing.
He
gazes out to sea.
MADDOCK
That
makes two of us.
169 INT. FERRY – MORNING
as the
WARNING HORN BLOWS, Hedges reacting. Watts offers a calming glance.
WATTS
Relax,
we’re only coming into port. Acupressure might help that tension, Officer
Hedges.
Hedges
gives him a look, exiting with the others. Watts neatly folds his paper.
170 INT. FERRY – CAR DECK
as
passengers return to their vehicles. ADJUST to find SIX POLICE UNITS in a row
on the right side. The bad cops climb behind their steering wheels.
ANOTHER
ANGLE
as TWO
PAIRS OF HANDS arise on the starboard
side. Michael and Shawn quietly hoist themselves up, both armed with
Ultrasounds…
…but
HEDGES and STRAND spot them, coming down the stairs. They instantly draw their
9mm’s and OPEN FIRE.
MICHAEL
(into
his watch)
Now,
K.I.T.T.!
171 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SIMULTANEOUS
Idling
just off the ferry’s starboard side. The dash beeps with an electronic
sequence, then:
ANGLE –
SQUAD CARS
The
door locks abruptly snap shut like dominoes, trapping the other cops inside
their vehicles. Hedges runs up, trying to free her comrades but it’s a no go.
She ducks down as an Ultrasound WHOOSH nearly gets her. She regains her footing
and SHOOTS AGAIN.
172 INT. FERRY STAIRWELL – SAME TIME
As
Watts reacts to the gunfire. He pushes an elderly couple aside, drawing his Sig
Sauer and hurrying downstairs.
ON
MICHAEL AND SHAWN
Using
cars as their covers, they weave their way forward, passing the trapped cops
who are futilely attempting escape.
MICHAEL
(into
his watch)
Any
chance they can shoot their way out?
K.I.T.T.
(WATCH V.O.)
All the
locks have steel deadbolts and the glass is bulletproof. You’re quite safe.
A
bullet abruptly ricochets over their heads, Strand ducking out of view.
MICHAEL
Uh-huh.
He
gestures for Shawn to go around the other side. She nods; they split up.
173 INT. FERRY – OPPOSITE SIDE
As
Shawn creeps through the car deck. STRAND rises into our foreground; he aims
with a clear shot but Michael bolts up behind a lifeboat and BUZZES HIM. Shawn
gives him a look of thanks as Michael quickly ties and unconscious Strand with
some deck rope…then with no warning, a slug sparks off a metal brace above
Michael’s head. Michael jolts downward as:
HEDGES
fires
six more rounds all around him, blowing the lifeboat into splinters. She takes
aim again but her weapon is STUNNED FROM HER GRASP BY SHAWN’S ULTRASOUND. The
weapon falls through a grid, out of view. Hedges disappears through a doorway.
MICHAEL
Returns
the look of thanks, continuing to tie Strand as Shawn goes after Hedges. She
gets to the doorway, peering into the darkness.
SHAWN
(into
her watch)
I need
some help.
174 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SAME TIME
(COMPUTER/PROCESS)
The
windshield goes opaque, a blueprint floor plan of the ferry appearing.
Computer stick figures move throughout
various parts of the ship.
K.I.T.T.
I
detect someone’s presence in the engine room, Shawn.
175 INT. ENGINE ROOM – MORNING
Dark.
Steamy. Watery pipes drip above her as Shawn enters, stepping along metal
catwalk.
K.I.T.T.
(WATCH V.O)
They’re
very close – I’d be careful.
One
second later a pipe swings at her head, Shawn dodging it at the last second.
She deftly spins around, SMASHING HEDGES WITH THREE HARD PUNCHES. But Hedges is
tough; she quickly stands and delivers a serious round of counters. Shawn
avoids a final malicious head kick, jabbing Hedges’ gut with a side kick instead
and finishing Hedges off with a solid punch in the face. Hedges falls over the
railing, landing God-knows-where in the engine gears below.
Shawn
starts to exit…then spots something lodges in the pipes. Hedges’ fallen 9 mm.
Shawn slowly lifts it.
MICHAEL
Continues
stalking along the car deck. He hears a SCREAM from the opposite side, quickly
moving towards it, leveling his Ultrasound on:
WATTS
Who has
just yanked a terrified TEENAGE GIRL from her little Honda. His lethal handgun
is pointed at her head.
WATTS
Put it
down and she lives.
Michael
makes no move to lower his gun.
MICHAEL
(low
voice)
Help me
out, K.I.T.T.
176 INT. KNIGHT 4000 – SAME TIME
(COMPUTER/PROCESS)
Letters
rapidly appear across the windshield/screen: REMOTE TARGETING ASSIST – WEAPON
1.
The
windshield changes from the ship blueprint to a POINT OF VIEW THROUGH MICHAEL’S
GUN SIGHT, aimed at the Girl, with Watts strategically crouched behind her. The
crosshairs re-calculate pinpointing Watts’ GUN HAND.
K.I.T.T.
(quietly)
A
little to the left and down.
The
screen image movies as Michael adjusts his aim, the crosshairs coming close
K.I.T.T.’S calculation.
177 INT. FERRY – WATTS
grips
her even tighter, showing he means business.
WATTS
Don’t
be stupid – you gotta buzz her to get to me. I have nothing to lose by shooting
her.
MICHAEL
Neither
do I.
The
Girl’s eyes bug out as Michael takes careful aim.
WATTS
I swear
to God I’ll blow her away and you right along with her!
K.I.T.T.
(WATCH V.O.)
A hair
to the right.
(beat)
It’s a
lock.
And
WHOOSH! As Michael FIRES, WATTS’ GUN BLOWING OUT OF HIS STUNNED HAND. Watts
instantly shoves the Teenage Girl into Michael, running up the stairs.
178 INT. STAIRWELL/UPPER DECK – SAME TIME
as
Michael hurries after him, emerging onto the upper deck just as Watts’ foot
KICKS THE ULTRASOUND FROM MICHAEL’S HAND. They roll across the deck, kicking
and slugging.
179 EXT. LOWER STAIRWELL
as
Shawn rushes up to the shaken Teenager, sitting by the staircase.
SHAWN
You
okay?
The
poor girl nods, sobbing. Shawn hardens herself, pulling out the deadly pistol,
moving up the stairs.
180 EXT. OUTER DECK
as the
double doors smash open, Michael punching Watts though them. Watts stand in time
to take another punch to the gut and a final one to the face, knocking him
flat.
Michael
catches his breath, Watts barely able to climb to his feet as SHAWN appears in
the doorway. Holding the deadly 9mm she took earlier. Leveling it on Watts.
MICHAEL
Don’t
do it.
SHAWN
We’ll
all be old and gray just about the time he’s strolling out of jail, not even a
day older.
MICHAEL
They’ll
put you away just like they did him. He’s not worth it.
Shawn
takes aim, squeezes the trigger…but eases up before firing. She slowly lowers
the gun. Tears begin to roll.
Watts
smiles…and laughs.
WATTS
And the
public wonders why so many criminals walk free.
He
roars, holding the railing he’s laughing so hard.
SHAWN
AND MICHAEL
stare
at him. God dammit, the system just isn’t right. She moves to the railing,
furiously heaving the Sig Sauer into the ocean.
WATTS
continues
to heartily laugh. Camera MOVES BEHIND HIM, following his hand as he digs under
his belt loop, eventually easing out a small .22 Saturday Night Special. He
slips it under is coat sleeve…then moves toward Shawn. She instantly levels her
Ultrasound on him.
WATTS
Better
handcuff me, darling. I’m a dangerous individual.
He
holds out his empty hands, his chuckles subsiding. Shawn tosses Michael her
Ultrasound, pulling out her cuffs.
K.I.T.T.
(WATCH V.O.)
Michael,
he’s got a gun.
At that
instant, Watts whips the .22 pistol into his grasp and points it at her head,
but:
WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!
As
Michael bombards Watts with point-blank-buzz, KNOCKING HIM THROUGH THE CHAIN
RAILING, INTO THE SEA. Michael moves to Shawn both of them leaning over the
railing.
MICHAEL
We can
all relax now, pal.
ANGLE
OVER RAILING
As
Watts’ unconscious body bobs face down in the current…then slowly sinks.
Drowning. Dead. Legally.
SLOW
DISSOLVE TO:
181 INT. ANACORTES PRISON – DAY
As
Mayor Joe Abbey’s face disappears in a cloud of mist, his frozen body slid into
a coffin-like chamber. WIDEN to find Comm. Daniels standing with her Assistant,
eagerly typing wrist-data as the Guards enter a locking code and the Prison
Physician coils his module cables. Maddock is there as well.
MADDOCK
With
all due respect, putting him in there solves nothing. It merely postpones.
PRISON
GUARD
(to
Physician)
Speaking
of that, we’ve gotta move. An old man named Manson is scheduled for release in
ten minutes on level thirteen.
The
Guards and Physician depart.
COMM.
DANIELS
The
system is always changing, Mr. Maddock. Some things get better, some don’t. But
I’ve sworn to live by them.
(beat)
I
assume you will too.
182 INT. PRISON – WIDE SHOT (MATTE)
as
Commissioner Daniels and her Assistant, tiny from this view, depart down the
corridor.
183 EXT. ANACORTES PRISON – DAY
as
Daniels heads for her car. Just before she and her Assistant climb in, Daniels
gives a respectful nod to Shawn and Michael. They’re standing in front of
K.I.T.T. looking damn good in his new 4000 body.
SHAWN
You’re
not really going to leave me alone with him, are you? He’s pig-headed,
arrogant, chauvinistic….
K.I.T.T.
And I
thought we were finally beginning to hit it off.
SHAWN
I’m not
talking about you.
Maddock
has just exited the prison doors.
K.I.T.T.
She has
a point.
MICHAEL
(to
K.I.T.T.)
You
two’ll be fine. You were made for each other.
K.I.T.T.
You
mean of each other. And I still find it reprehensible.
SHAWN
Don’t
start on me, K.I.T.T.
Michael
smiles bittersweetly.
K.I.T.T.
Are you
sure about this, Michael?
MICHAEL
I’m not
going back to wallow in self-pity, okay? I just want to live out there for the
reason I thought I was going out there for in the first place.
SHAWN
Which
is?
MICHAEL
To
fish. I love to fish.
Michael
strides over to a patched-up version of his old Volvo sedan, climbing in.
MICHAEL
Besides
you know where to find me if you need me.
Michael
takes one last look at K.I.T.T., and Shawn, driving off. A few moments later,
Maddock joins them.
MADDOCK
What
are we standing around for? Let’s get to work.
They
both head for the driver’s door.
MADDOCK
I’m
driving.
SHAWN
No way,
I’m driving.
K.I.T.T.
You’re
both wrong.
CRANE
HIGH as the Knight 4000’s turbine engine fires to life, K.I.T.T. leaving them
in the dust, and we:
SLOWLY
FADE OUT.
THE END