OFFICER GARGANTUA
by 3R
first draft
EXT. A LARGE PRISON COMPLEX - DAY
Sitting atop a hill, like a walled city with towers at each
corner, the prison is viewed from below so that it is looming,
large, impressive. In the foreground is a sign reading
"Westington State Prison".
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE - DAY
SGT CRUST, a grey-haired wiry man in his early 60's, crisp as
his prison guard uniform, opens the door, enters. We cannot
see any others in the office as yet.
CRUST
Hi Warden, you wanted to see me?
Now we see WARDEN George Warden (that's right, Warden Warden),
a sturdy man in his 50's, glasses, suit. He is sitting behind
his desk, but stands to introduce crusty old Sgt Crust to a
new officer, whom we can still not yet see.
WARDEN
Sgt Crust, this is Corrections Officer
Gargantua. He's been involved with an
experimental training technique and will be
working with us for a while.
CRUST
Well, pleased...
(seen from behind, nods, turns
to camera with hand outstretched,
friendly & interested expression
--which freezes into surprise,
then he looks up, and up, and up)
...to meet...
(spoken almost in fear)
...you...
Our 1st View of GARGANTUA. From CRUST's POV upwards: a Very
Very Big Man, toweringly tall, broad shouldered and bulging
with muscles--even his face, which reveals no emotion at all.
He's almost a monster. And yet handsome, black hair, long
sideburns, big moustache, indefinite age, looking quite
authoritative in his guard uniform.
GARGANTUA
(nods once, shakes hands
briskly, but no smile)
Sgt Crust.
CRUST
Omigawd. Excuse me, but just how big ARE you,
Officer Gargantua?
GARGANTUA
Seven foot two, 375 pounds.
CRUST
Well! I guess you won't have much trouble
with the inmates here, then.
cu GARGANTUA
No.
WARDEN
Gargantua has been assigned to us by the
Governor Himself. He'll be implementing a new
post: special patrol. Sort of a trouble-
shooter, patrolling the entire institution.
Show him around, will you Sgt Crust?
CRUST
Yes sir. Let's -uh- go, Officer Gargantua.
INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
CRUST and GARGANTUA converse as they go downstairs from the
Warden's office to the main prison building.
CRUST
Just what training techniques was Warden
Warden talking about?
GARGANTUA
I'm afraid that's still classified as secret
at present.
CRUST
Hmmf! Usually a new buck has to spend some
time in the cell blocks before he gets a gravy
job like "special patrol".
GARGANTUA
No use wasting time.
CRUST
Hmmf!
INT. SALLY PORT
They are locked into the Sally Port, an intermediate room
before they can enter the Main Hall. CRUST nods to another
guard, STAN, sitting inside a glass enclosure from which he
controls the ports and the keys. STAN nods back, pushes the
buttons for the electronic locks, then sees GARGANTUA and
does a double-take.
Another guard in the Sally Port chamber, GRIDIRON, also steps
back in awe of GARGANTUA's size, even though he himself looks
very athletic.
STAN
New officer?
CRUST
Yep. Assigned to "Special Patrol".
(introducing them)
Gargantua, Stan. And that's Officer Gridiron.
GRIDIRON only nods, clearly intimidated.
STAN
Hi..uh, Gargantua? That right? Welcome to
Hell.
The SALLY PORT gate slides open and CRUST and GARGANTUA walk
out into the MAIN HALL and directly into the prison
population.
INT. MAIN HALL - DAY
The hall is large, high and wide with two cell blocks on each
side, the I.K. mess hall) and Big Yard straight ahead. This
is an open prison where inmates are free to go about in the
daytime, and there are several milling about. They turn when
the Sally Port opens, and see the two correctional officers
enter.
CON 1
Hey, a new guard...omigawd!
CON 2
(turning to see, starting the
traditional banter for greeting
new officers)
Hey, Fresh Meat...
(then he sees GARGANTUA)
...what the FUCK!
One after another, the CONS catch sight of the enormous guard
walking among them. There are comments, but whispered, not
shouted.
VARIOUS CONS
Look at the SIZE of that cop!/
Shit, that's not a cop, that's King Kong!/
What is that--a Bigfoot?/
Holy mother fucking shit! Is this fair?/
What did we do to deserve this?
Scene ends with GARGANTUA walking into the crowd of CONS,
stopping in the middle, surrounded by men who are silenced
and stunned by the physical power and authority that he
represents. He seems quite comfortable being there.
FADE OUT END OF SCENE
INT. CELL BLOCK -DAY.
The cell blocks are all four tiers high, each a row of 36
cells, facing a painted cement wall with windows at the top.
Each cell has two steel bunk beds, simple toilet and wash
basin, all clearly visible through the bars.
We get a quick overview of the size of it all, can just see
GARGANTUA walking into the cell black from a distance.
Cut immediately to A CELL from the inside looking out.
JOKKO and STASH, two hippie cons, sitting across from each
other, getting ready to fire up a joint.
STASH
Hey, Jokko, I think we got some boss weed here.
JOKKO
(flicking a match)
Well, hell man, let's give it a little taste
test. See if it's up to our "high" standards.
INT. CELL BLOCK FLOOR
On the floor below, GARGANTUA has a stack of WRITE-UPS in his
right hand. He abruptly looks up at the tiers of cells,
sniffs at the air. Then runs up to the 4th tier at amazing
speed, and goes sniffing down the tier at each cell. He
comes to STASH's cell and stops.
GARGANTUA
(calm, businesslike)
You men are busted. That's a 603: possession
of drugs. Also a 210: unauthorized area--
Jokko doesn't belong in this cell. Let's
throw in a 700: aiding and abetting.
STASH
(dumbfounded)
What is this guy?
JOKKO
(irritated)
I'll bet it's that new mega guard I heard about.
GARGANTUA
That's right, inmates. I'm Officer Gargantua.
I'm new here but you had better get used to
me fast. I'm strict.
end of scene
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY
It's later, a sunny day. A group of cons are sitting in a
circle on the grass with shirts off, JOKKO, STASH, CAESAR,
BUSHY, POP & STRONGSON.
JOKKO and STASH we've met, CAESAR is tall and slender,
obviously intelligent, politically active,he's an unofficial
leader among the cons. BUSHY is his gopher, a scruffy
bearded guy. POP is an old timer. STRONGSON, a big burly
black man, is the only non-white among them.
They are discussing the problem of Gargantua.
JOKKO
...and this new cop Gargantua, he busts us
just like that, man.
STASH
Yeah, and he's been hittin' fuckin' everybody!
No slack, no give and take. I tell ya, we
gotta get rid of him!
BUSHY
Yeah, he got me too. He's sneaky and fast.
Kind of scary!
CAESAR
Sounds like the kind of cop the State likes.
Now, if we just organize...
STRONGSON
"Organize?" Caesar, you should be a politician
when you grow up. The way to handle this guy
is to HIT on him!
JOKKO
Haw! You haven't SEEN this guy, he's humongous!
I don't think even you could take him, Charlie.
STRONGSON
I'm in this joint because I hit a honky too
hard. There isn't a man I can't take. Never
lost a fight in the ring, or out.
CAESAR
(bored by the bravado)
Zat so?
BUSHY
(noticing STASH's tattoo)
Hey Stash, you got a new tattoo?
STASH
(scratching his arm)
Yeah. Itches like hell too!
BUSHY
It's also crappy as hell. What fucking
amateur did that?
JOKKO
Well, I did. We were stoned, y'know...
BUSHY
Awful, man. Now check out the tattoo on
Pop's back!
We see POP's bare back, tattooed with an elaborate pattern of
wings and symbols.
STASH
Wow, that's fantastic! Who did that one, Pop?
POP
A con I did time with here, long time ago.
JOKKO
(studying the drawing,
seems confused)
What's it supposed to be?
POP
Magical symbol of health. Never been sick
since I've had it on, and that's 40 years,
son.
LOUDSPEAKER (o.s.)
Yard-in, yard-in!
The cons get up and start heading for the main building.
JOKKO
Okay, Charlie, you'll get to see this
Officer Gargantua at chow. Then tell me you
want to hit on him!
FADE TO:
INT. INMATE'S KITCHEN -DAY
Lunchtime in the prison mess hall (called the I.K.). The cons
line up, receive trays with sloppy joes, take them to their
tables. All quite orderly.
GARGANTUA is standing up in front of the I.K., by the serving
line, the cons are moving along in two lines for food. They
are all looking at him.
JOKKO
(whispering to POP)
There he is...that's the new guard Gargantua.
The one who's been busting everyone!
POP
Ho-lee kee-riist! He's a gorilla, isn't he?
BLACK CON AHEAD
That m'fk'n pig. Look out, he bad!
CON BEHIND
(whispering)
Psst! It's HIM! Watch it!
Sitting at their table, the cons continue to look over at
GARGANTUA with uneasy discontent.
JOKKO
Better watch it around him, that fucking cop
writes up at least 15-20 guys a day for
nothing!
CAESAR
Well, file a grievance against his ass.
JOKKO
Yeah well, that's the worst part, every write-
up is flawless. They all go through with no
legal hitches. He thinks like a lawyer.
STASH
Worse, man, he thinks like a con.
STRONGSON is sitting at his regular table with the BLACK BROS,
(black brothers), where he is considered the leader because he's
the biggest and toughest. They're watching GARGANTUA with the
same uneasy interest as the white cons.
STRONGSON
Well, they weren't jiving, he's a big
motherfucker all right.
BLACKBRO 1
Big, yeah. But still only one man.
BLACKBRO 2
Yeah, if he gives us any shit we'll
just put some muscle on him...
(interrupted)
..huh?
STORM (o.s.)
Fuck you, pig!
We see STORM shouting at GARGANTUA, having obviously lost his
temper. GARGANTUA is very calm and is writing him a citation
("write-up").
STORM
You think you're so tough, cop, don't give
nobody no slack. Well, look out, cause
you're gonna get hurt!
GARGANTUA
That's a 202: abusive language, and a 506 for
threatening...
STORM
Threatening? That was no threat, THIS is a
threat!
(he punches at GARGANTUA)
GARGANTUA casually tips his head aside of STORM's punch, so
that it passes without contact, as he keeps writing
undisturbed.
GARGANTUA
502: assault...
GARGANTUA easily ducks beneath STORM's next swing, trickily
putting himself into position to casually but solidly nudge
STORM from behind with his elbow. STORM is knocked off
balance and goes sprawling forward.
GARGANTUA (cont.)
...but not much of a threat.
STORM would have crashed to the floor, but GARGANTUA deftly
turns and grabs him by the hair from behind.
STORM
YOW! my HAIR! All right, cop,
now you're gonna...
GARGANTUA effortlessly steers STORM around by the hair and
gently lays him down on the floor without harm, moving as if
in a ballet. STORM is helplessly pinned.
GUARDS ON SIDELINE
Officer in trouble, officer in...
GUARDS come running to help. But they soon see that there's
no emergency. They are in fact, also reluctant to get too
close to GARGANTUA. Fat slob Officer TOOBS speaks.
TOOBS
Uh...you need any help?
GARGANTUA is easily dangling STORM up by the collar of his
shirt, feet swinging a foot above the floor. This is with
one hand and obviously very easy for him to do.
GARGANTUA
Yes, you can relieve me from the I.K. line
here, so that I can take this inmate down to
the hole.
TOOBS
Uh, yeah, sure. I'll take your post until
you get back.
GARGANTUA leaves the I.K. with STORM. The other guards look
at each other as if they feel embarrassed and inferior about
GARGANTUA's performance. It had seemed totally effortless.
GUARD 9
Well, he sure made THAT look easy.
CONS still at their tables, although finished eating. The
BLACK BROS are sitting a table away from the table where
CAESAR, BUSHY, POP, JOKKO and STASH are sitting.
JOKKO
(whispering over to STRONGSON)
Hey, Charlie. So whose idea was it to put some
muscle on that guard?
STRONGSON
(to JOKKO)
Never mind.
(to BLACK BROS)
He took Storm just like that, and Storm's one
of the heavies. Whew!
BLACKBRO 1
Hey Charlie, how come you hanging with all those
white dudes in the Big Yard today, man?
STRONGSON looks over to the table where CAESAR's company are
eating.
STRONGSON
Just keeping a line on Caesar, Bro. He wants
to "organize" all us cons. Thought I'd better
check it out: don't want him to rock the boat
too much.
BLACKBRO 2
Hey, we already ARE organized, man: Black
Brothers rule.
BLACKBRO 1
You mean he wants to take over in here?
Be the Big Boss?
STRONGSON
Naw, not "organized crime", dickhead. Caesar
thinks he can get us all legally organized.
You know, democratic representation against
the State.
BLACKBRO 2
Fucker's crazy.
STRONGSON
Dunno. He was in law school before he came
here. Caesar's not so dumb for a white guy.
Fucker'd probably go into politics if he
ever got out of prison.
BLACKBRO 1
Then the dude could pull off some REAL crimes!
STRONGSON
No lie.
BLACKBRO 3
Look, super-pig is back again already...
lookin for more trouble.
Having returned, GARGANTUA assumes his place at the front of
the I.K. once again.
VARIOUS CONS
Man, he makes it hard to digest our food!/
Aw, won't that guy leave us alone?/
Look at those suspicious eyes!
GARGANTUA is standing with his back to the tables where
STRONGSON, POP, and the other CONS are sitting, about 30 feet
away. They study him from behind. STRONGSON takes up an
orange he hasn't eaten.
STRONGSON
(quietly)
Let's give him a little gift of our high
esteem.
BLACKBRO 2
I hear ya!
STRONGSON, once a baseball player, pitches the orange at
GARGANTUA's back with all his strength, then sits down
immediately, innocently back in place on his bench.
(in slo-mo) GARGANTUA viewed from behind, the orange flying
straight towards the back of his head. He seems unaware,
but at the last instant he easily tips his head so that the
orange flies past and is caught in his waiting hand. Without
once looking.
(at hi speed) GARGANTUA twirls and casts the orange back in
the direction it came from, then continues his twirl back
around to his original position with back to us, as if
undisturbed,
The orange hits STRONGSON on the side of the head with an
impact that splatters orange juice over the other cons.
STRONGSON is rocked back and is dumped off of his bench.
STRONGSON
Yowitch!
Other CONS look back at Strongson and laugh.
Cut to: CAESAR'S TABLE.
JOKKO
Holy shit, he didn't even look! How did he
DO that?
CAESAR
Hmm, it's like he didn't NEED to see what
was happening. Almost as if he...knew what
WE were seeing.
Cut to: STRONGSON getting up, helped by the BLACKBROS.
STRONGSON
(holding his head)
Owww! I'm gonna get that guard, just wait...
INT: CELL WHERE CON 5 AND CON 6 ARE CELLIES -NIGHT
Under a bed, a plastic bag is bubbling with illegal
moonshine. CON 5 sticks head under to see how it's doing.
CON 5
Heh heh heh! This pruno is coming along just
great!
CON 6
Yeah, man, I can hardly wait, gonna get...
SOME OTHER CON (v.o)
Blue shirt on three!
CON 6 goes to bars, holding a piece of mirror so that he can
look down the tier of cells.
CON 6
"Blue shirt" on our tier? O shit fuck. It's
HIM! O no no!
CON 5
Huh? Who?
Sounds of sniffing coming closer. Scene ends, but we know
GARGANTUA is coming after them.
INT: NARROW WALLSPACE -DARK
CON 7 and CON 8 are ready to escape, they are in between the
prison walls and have various items of equipment.
CON 7
We should have everything we'll need to escape:
grappling hook, bedsheet rope, dummies tucked
away in our beds. Hah! What can stop us now?
CON 8
Uh...er...behind you...
CON 7
Behind me..?
(turns, sees GARGANTUA
arms akimbo)
Oops.
GARGANTUA
Yes, oops.
FADE SCENE END, no need to show more.
INT. MAIN HALL -NIGHT
C.U. GARGANTUA's face, unmoving and stonelike, except for
suspicious eyes that look here and there, camera moves around
head 360 degrees as CON voices lament about him.
VARIOUS CONS (v.o.)
Watch it, there he is!/
Look out, it's him!/
Bust 'em for everything, bust 'em for anything!/
Run!/
Hide!
FADE END OF SCENE
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY
The usual CONS are gathered, sitting around the grass in the
sunlight. They're all agitated about Gargantua's reign of
terror. We close up on the BLACK BROS.
STRONGSON
Hey, anyone seen Badmouth?
BLACK BRO 2
Haven't you heard, man? He's in the hold.
Gargantua busted him.
STRONGSON
Aw, man, him too? Badmouth had the last of
our stash!
BLACK BRO 3
Yeah, and that's four brothers in the hold now
just this week. We've GOT to do something about
that pig, bros!
STRONGSON
Yeah, who runs this institution anyway, him
or us?
JOKKO approaches them.
JOKKO
Hey, does ANYBODY got any dope to sell?
BLACK BRO 2
Naw man, super cop got it ALL!
JOKKO frowns, walks away disappointed.
STRONGSON
I think we all agree: Gargantua has got to GO!
INT: PASSAGE TO/FROM VISITING ROOM.
LOUDSPEAKER (v.o.)
Strongson, Charlie, 4-33, visit!
STRONGSON
Right here.
STRONGSON steps up to the control booth and hands a visiting
slip into the slot. The barred door slides open and he
enters the VISTING ROOM.
INT. VISITING ROOM -DAY
ROSIE NICE, a young black woman, very tall but also very
pretty, is waiting for him, she seems out of place in a
prison visiting room. And nervous.
ROSIE
(friendly, but not offering a kiss)
Hi, Charlie. How you doing?
STRONGSON
Just cool, baby, cool. And are you looking
bodacious today--mmm-hmmm!
(whispering)
You got something for me baby?
ROSIE
(whispering)
Uh, yeah, I got it. But man, I don't know why
I let you talk me into doing this. This is way
too scary, I could end up in prison myself!
STRONGSON
Calm down, baby, it'll be cool. They didn't
search you?
ROSIE
They sure did! They went all through my purse
and clothes, but I've got it up inside me,
like you said I'd better.
STRONGSON
Hey hey hey, baby, I'll give you a hand
getting it out.
ROSIE
Uh, no thanks. That might attract a little too
much attention.
Then STRONGSON moving towards the Visiting Room Toilet, where
a guard is standing by the door.
STRONGSON
(to VR GUARD)
Hey, gotta use the toilet man. Gotta shit
real bad.
VR GUARD:
(unsuspicious)
Okay.
INT: TOILET STALL
STRONGSON sits on the pot with pants down, preparing a slim
jellied balloon full of marijuana.
STRONGSON
(muttering to himself)
Mm-mmm, what a lovely balloon of marijuana,
all vaselined and ready to slide.
He leans forward and slowly shoves it up his rectum, grunting
with discomfort.
STRONGSON (cont.)
Oooo...that FULL feeling! The things I do
for...ahhwwh...money!
INT. VISITING ROOM
STRONGSON is back, sitting over from ROSIE, they converse.
STRONGSON
Okay, it's all packed away. Thanks, baby,
you're good to me. It's hard time being locked
inside with no grass to smoke. You're a life
saver.
ROSIE
Well, glad to help this once, Charlie, but I
sure won't be smuggling grass in here again.
It's too dangerous.
STRONGSON
Hey Baby, I thought you liked excitement!
ROSIE
Excitement, yes. Prison, no.
STRONGSON
Aw, but I need you to help me out, baby.
You're my link to the street.
ROSIE
No way, Charlie. I was just doing you
a favor without thinking what it would
really be like to have them search me.
Now I know. Besides, now you've got
enough grass to last a long time.
STRONGSON
Not really. I got friends, baby, I owe
favors...
ROSIE
You said just this once.
STRONGSON
And now you know how easy it is.
ROSIE
Hey, you ever wondered why you're in prison,
Charlie? Anyway, I thought there was all
sorts of drugs inside.
STRONGSON
Used to be, but now we got a new improved
bigger better motherfucking guard who changed
all that: Officer Gargantua. He's wiped out
all the drugs.
ROSIE
Gargantua? Oh yeah, that Monster Guard you
told me about? The one who even scares YOU?
STRONGSON
Aw, Gargantua don't scare ME, Baby, but you
DO got to be careful around him, he's
trouble. Busted a lot of guys in here.
ROSIE
Isn't he just doing his job?
STRONGSON
Does it TOO good. We are seriously wondering
if he's human. Pig's more like a machine
than a man: way too strong, too fast, even
too smart, like a computer. Seems to be a
fucking mind reader too...
ROSIE
...and way too strict, you told me.
STRONGSON
No lie about that, Baby, way too strict! This
pig's cold, totally heartless, got no sympathy,
no mercy... Hell, he's got NO emotions at all!
Ever see that Robocop movie? --like him, only
less human! Personally, I think he IS some
kind of robot.
ROSIE
Maybe he's just sexually frustrated or something.
STRONGSON
Naww, I'M the one who's sexually frustrated, he
ain't sexual anything. That pig's got no love
for anything but the law.
ROSIE
He sounds like a terrible man.
FADE OUT end scene
INT: PASSAGE TO/FROM VISITING ROOM.
STRONGSON is on his way out
PASSAGE GUARD
Visit over already?
STRONGSON
Yeah, my visitor had a life in the outside
world.
PASSAGE GUARD
Okay, you know the procedure. Strip search.
STRONGSON
Sho'nuff.
INT: MAIN HALL -DAY
STRONGSON is walking back to his cell, but awkwardly. The
balloon in his gut is hurting him.
STRONGSON (thought-v.o.)
Ooo-ooo, my guts...I gotta get to my cell and
dump this balloon. But it's worth it, this
grass is worth a lot more since Gargantua has
wiped out the prison's entire supply...
(gasps)
...oh oh, it's HIM!
GARGANTUA is standing in the hall, writing a report,
STRONGSON passes behind him, unnoticed but nervous, almost on
tiptoes.
STRONGSON (thought-v.o.)
Dear sweet Jesus, don't let him start on me.
Don't let him notice me, or read my mind, or
whatever it is he does...if I can just get
past him without...aha, I made it...
GARGANTUA slowly turns, alert to something in the air,
although not certain just what yet. He sees STRONGSON, who
is trying to creep on by.
GARGANTUA
Inmate Strongson. Stop right there, I want to
talk to you.
CU STRONGSON (wincing, thought-v.o.)
oh shee-ee-ittt!
GARGANTUA
(closing in aggressively,
sniffing the air)
You've got a balloon of marijuana kiestered,
don't you? Why, yes, you do.
STRONGSON
What you talking about, officer? Not me!
GARGANTUA
I read that you're lying. Let's go up to the
hospital. I'll have a doctor check you out.
STRONGSON
I ain't got nothing on me, pig, get out of my
face! And I ain't goin to no hospit...
GARGANTUA
If you resist I'll have to resort to using
force.
STRONGSON (thought-v.o.)
oh no no no no no...
(v.o. fading as they walk away)
INT: HOSPITAL FLOOR -DAY
GARGANTUA talking with DR DALE, other guards standing around,
including STANDWELL and DUNDER.
DR DALE
(washing his hands)
Yes, Strongson had about 3 ounces of cannabis
sativa tucked up in there.
GARGANTUA
He must have just come from the visiting
Room, there's no other marijuana in the
institution.
DUNDER
(challenging)
Just how can you know that, Gargantua,
don't mind my asking?
GARGANTUA
I've seen to it.
DUNDER
(rolling his eyes, sceptical)
Yeah, right.
DR DALE
Tell me, Officer Gargantua, how DID you know
Strongson had it?
GARGANTUA
Strongson was broadcasting guilt. I'll go check
the visitor's roster, to see who packed it in.
GARGANTUA leaves the hospital floor.
STANDWELL
(respectfully)
That guy is amazing.
DUNDER
(surly tone)
Yeah. Too bad he makes the rest of us look
like incompetent fools.
end of scene
EXT. PRISON PARKING LOT - NIGHT
10:00 PM Shift Change. Several officers are exiting the
building, among them GARGANTUA. The others talk to each
other in the lamp-lit parking lot before getting into their
cars, but not GARGANTUA. He slips into his unmarked black
sedan and drives away.
EXT. STREETS OF TOWN - NIGHT
GARGANTUA's CAR passes through the small town of Mansfield
where the prison is located. He drives legally,
methodically.
INT: CAR MOVING
GARGANTUA drives without music or any diversions, quite
boring. He just happens to notice the BLAZER RESTAURANT on
his left as passing by.
He does a double take, recognizing the name, frowns, makes a
decision. Starts to turn the car around.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE BLAZER RESTAURANT - NIGHT
GARGANTUA'S CAR swings around towards the RESTAURANT. There
is a parking place between cars. He does a very quick and
deft job of backing in with absolute accuracy, establishing
that he can really drive a car if he has to.
INT: RESTAURANT - LATE AT NIGHT
Well-lit, slightly elegant atmosphere for a small town. It's
late, there are no customers left. Two waitresses, black
women, tidying up, preparing to close the restaurant for the
night. ROSIE we've met. Her boss/friend MURIEL is about 30,
also an attractive woman. (ROSIE has come to the town of
Mansfield from big city Seapolis for a job with MURIEL.)
MURIEL is finished cleaning up tables and wiping her hands,
ROSIE is drying glasses.
MURIEL
You still seeing that convict up on the hill?
ROSIE
Yeah, I visited him today.
MURIEL
Girl, I sure don't understand your taste in
men. You can do better.
ROSIE
I know. It's just that I'm a big girl, so I
like big men. Charlie's big.
MURIEL
Yeah? HOW big?
ROSIE
About 6'6".
MURIEL
No I mean HOW BIG? You know...
ROSIE
Oh that? I don't know. He says it's HUGE,
but then they all say that. I don't really
plan on finding out, he's going to be in
there for a long time. Which is probably a
good thing.
MURIEL
So why visit him?
ROSIE
Mostly to see what his world is like, I guess.
Don't know why, but I've always been turned on
by extreme guys.
GARGANTUA enters the restaurant. ROSIE'S back is turned, but
MURIEL sees him.
MURIEL
Lordamighty!
(checking out GARGANTUA)
Uh, Rosie honey, you say you like 'em big? And
extreme? Okay if he's not black?
ROSIE
Oh, I've dated lots of white guys. They think
I'm exotic, heh heh, I like that.
MURIEL
Well honey, I think the man of your dreams just
walked in.
ROSIE
(turning, seeing GARGANTUA)
Huh? Oh...WOW!
(mouth open, stunned by
GARGANTUA's magnificence)
GARGANTUA recognizes ROSIE, advances aggressively and
authoritatively into the restaurant. MURIEL recognizes
the way he's walking.
MURIEL
(to ROSIE)
Oh shit, he's a cop!
(to GARGANTUA)
I'm sorry sir, but we're closed for the...
GARGANTUA ignores MURIEL and stops in front of ROSIE,
looming over her confrontationally. She's a big girl, but
seems suddenly small.
c.u. ROSIE looking up at him, seeing how big he is--and
liking it. Her mouth is still open, she is in awe, but not
afraid, nor does she back away. In fact, she is clearly
interested and attracted. She gives him a sassy smile.
ROSIE
(friendly)
Hi.
GARGANTUA
(strictly business)
You are Rosalie Nice.
ROSIE
(surprised, but still friendly)
Uh...yeah, I know that. So who might
you be?
GARGANTUA
I am the corrections officer who busted
Strongson with the marijuana you packed
in to Westington State Prison today.
ROSIE blinks, suddenly understanding that this big beautiful
guy means trouble and might not be her friend.
ROSIE
Oh...so you busted poor Charlie?
(wincing, then recovering
enough to start lying)
But as for packing drugs? Hey, not
me...
GARGANTUA
I read that you're lying, so don't
bother.
ROSIE
(freezes for a moment,
then goes on offensive)
You "read" that I'm..? Oh now I get it:
you must be that SUPER guard Charlie told
me about--the strict and merciless Officer
Gargantua?
GARGANTUA
Yes, I am Gargantua.
They look at each other. Neither is being friendly now.
ROSIE
I figured. Charlie said you must be a mind
reader or something. So--what?--your psychic
powers led you here?
GARGANTUA
Standard investigatory technique, I checked
Strongson's visitor list. Only one today:
Rosalie Catherine Nice, Social Security
Number 935 70 4709, employed at the Blazer
Restaurant.
MURIEL
(interfering)
That sure sounds like circumstantial
evidence to me. You got any real proof,
honey--like any actual "possession" or
something?
In response, GARGANTUA gives her a cold look, then turns and
sniffs at the air in the restaurant suspiciously, as if he
could smell marijuana anywhere in the building. MURIEL and
ROSIE give each other a worried look. But he detects nothing
and gives up.
GARGANTUA
(to MURIEL, politely)
I don't need proof to start legal procedures,
reasonable suspicion is good enough. And I
suspect HER.
(pointing an accusing
finger at ROSIE)
ROSIE gets mad. Slaps his outstretched hand.
ROSIE
Don't you point your finger at me like that!
GARGANTUA is startled by the slap, actually surprised by what
he senses in the energy exchange of that quick little contact.
ROSIE
(shocked by what she's done)
Oops, sorry! I didn't mean to do that!
She impulsively reaches for his hand with both of hers, to
sooth the slap. And there they are, holding hands, sort of.
GARGANTUA is frozen, says nothing, looking down at her black
hands so small on his big white mitt. He seems to stall, as
if he was not programmed to deal with this.
THIS being that cosmic moment of TOUCH, when the romance
begins --maybe it was the very slap itself--anyway, when
they touch there's this spark of recognition, acceptance,
whatever. They look at each other, hold it for a second, and
then it's over.
GARGANTUA leans slightly back, relaxing his aggressive
posture. Tugs his hand free of ROSIE's hands, although
gently. ROSIE hangs on maybe a bit too long, as if
entranced, then lets go apologetically when she realizes what
she's doing.
ROSIE
(embarrassed)
Uh...sorry.
GARGANTUA
(less severely)
I don't need proof to warn you not to
do bring in drugs again. If you do,
I'll bust you.
ROSIE
So you're not going to bust me now?
GARGANTUA
My authority is inside the prison, not
out here. But now I know that you are
one of the girls Strongson has packing
drugs for him, and now you know who I
am.
ROSIE
(relieved)
Well... okay, thanks for the warning,
I guess. Hey, wait-- what do you mean
"one of the girls"?
GARGANTUA
You figure it out. I hope not to see you
about this again. Goodbye.
GARGANTUA turns to leave without saying more, but ROSIE moves
her hand toward his arm to stop him. He stops, avoiding
contact.
ROSIE
Hey, wait a minute. Um...
(shyly)
...can I offer you a drink?
GARGANTUA gives her a confused look. While MURIEL gives
ROSIE an absolutely amazed look, then shakes her head in
disbelief at her obvious flirt with GARGANTUA.
MURIEL
I swear, I don't believe you, girl!
(stomps off, leaving
them alone)
GARGANTUA
(answering ROSIE, coldly)
I'm not thirsty.
ROSIE
Hey, Gargantua, I'm not a convict,
remember? Can't you even be polite?
GARGANTUA
Uh...no drink, thank you. I must go.
ROSIE
Must you? I have a feeling about you. You're
not going home to anyone special, are you?
GARGANTUA
Where I'm going is none of your business.
ROSIE
I knew it: no wife, no girl friend; you're
a lonely guy.
GARGANTUA gives her an uneasy look. She's just so pushy, and
yet accurate.
ROSIE
You know, I'll bet you ARE psychic after all,
maybe you do sense lies. But you're putting out
stuff too.
(pushing more)
You're not on duty now, are you? One drink
is allowed.
GARGANTUA
I never drink alcohol.
ROSIE
A coke or something? Come on, Gargantua,
it's just an excuse to get to talk to
you.
GARGANTUA
What do we have to talk about?
ROSIE
(struggling with herself,
obviously unwilling to blurt
it out)
Look, okay, we're off to a bad start. But
I like you anyway. Even though I'm a bad
girl and you're a merciless cop...
She gets close, puts her hand on his huge chest.
ROSIE (cont.)
...it's just that you're so big, so strict
--in fact, you're frightening. But I find
that kind of...you know...exciting.
GARGANTUA
(stepping back from her hand)
As you find Strongson exciting? Miss Nice,
I can hardly be flattered when I do not
approve of your value system for admiring
men.
ROSIE
No, this is different. You're different.
Honest. I know that sounds funny...
GARGANTUA
No matter. I may not socialize with visitors
of the institution.
ROSIE
Well, I can understand that.
(shrugs)
What if I stop being a visitor?
GARGANTUA
That would be best. The officers in the
Visiting Room are already eager to search
you much more thoroughly from now on.
ROSIE
Fair enough. So how about it?
GARGANTUA
How about what?
ROSIE
Well, we could start with a "date" or
something?
GARGANTUA
I'm not interested.
ROSIE
Could lead to sex. I'll bet.
GARGANTUA sends her a strict scowl.
GARGANTUA
You have an immoral mentality. Goodbye.
(starts to go)
ROSIE
(offended)
What? You don't like black pussy?
Even the worst racists are usually
ready to make an exception for a
hot jungle bunny like me. Or maybe
you're gay? I'll bet that's it!
GARGANTUA
(not offended)
No, I'm simply...pure.
He goes out the door and is gone.
ROSIE
(calling to him)
"Pure?" Wow, now THAT'S kinky!
End of scene
INT. SERGEANT'S OFFICE -DAY
A crowd of GUARDS assembled in front of the Sgt's Office.
SGT CRUST
(calling)
All right men...
TELEPHONE RINGS
CU SGT CRUST
(taking telephone)
Sergeant's Office...WHAT?
OVERVIEW of 10 guards in the office standing muster, including
GARGANTUA. Sgt Crust listens to the telephone with an agitated
expression, then begins issuing orders.
SGT CRUST
All right, men, there's five Bikers drunk and
crazy on Pruno trying to murder one of the
Mexican inmates up in the game room. They're
armed with clubs and shanks. Get some officers
up there right away or we'll have a body to bag.
GUARD X
Oh oh!
GUARD Y
Clubs and shanks? Hey, what about US?
TOOBS
Yeah, we'd better have weapons or we'll be the
bodies getting bagged!
GUARGANTUA does not wait to hear the argument resolved, he
runs out of the office at full speed.
GUARD Y
Whups! There goes Gargantua.
GUARD X
Hey, wait for us! You'll get killed alone!
SGT CRUST
Go after him. Stop him.
The guards go running down the corridor after GARGANTUA, but
he's already out of sight. They are puffing and panting,
several of them out of shape.
TOOBS
Stop him? How?
DUNDER
Holy cow pies, I've never seen anyone run as
fast as that.
GUARD X
He'll be in the game room before we can catch
up to stop him.
GUARD Z
And then what? I mean, clubs and shanks. We
need some GUNS!
INT: GAME ROOM
FIVE BIKER CONS are holding down one little Mexican named
MESTIZO. They're pretty wasted on pruno and in a rowdy humor,
threatening the Mexican with clubs and home-made knives.
BIKER 1
Okay boys, let's do it. Let's see if this
greaser is full of refried beans.
MESTIZO
(pathetic)
Por favor, no! Soccorro!
GARGANTUA enters at speed, sliding to a stop before them.
GARGANTUA
Stop where you are.
BIKER 2
Omigawd, it's Gargantua! We're busted!
BIKER 1
(drunk, nasty, mean)
Busted? Fuck that. Let's waste Gargantua
instead. He can't take us ALL on!
BIKER 3
Yeah, we can take him!
GARGANTUA steps casually in amongst them and is surrounded,
seemingly relaxed.
BIKER 4
Look, he's not even putting up a fight-- must
be scared!
BIKER 5
Yeah, get him!
(closing in, knife lifted)
They charge as a group. GARGANTUA jumps up out of his
relaxed position, snapping explosively into a five-pointed
star, hitting each of the BIKER CONS with feet and fists and
head simultaneously. They are each knocked backwards with
elephantine force.
GARGANTUA lands on his feet in a karate position, but all of
his opponents have been downed by the one blow, and stay
down.
He checks to see if there are any survivors to deal with,
there aren't. They are alive, but groaning. He relaxes his
combat stance.
MESTIZO crawls to his feet, sees all the bikers spread over
the floor, looks at GARGANTUA with wonder, even as the other
GUARDS finally come rushing into the Game Room.
MESTIZO
(grateful)
Senor! Usted ha salvado mi vida! Esos
cabrones fueron locos! Borrachos! Mil
gracias, Senor Gargantua!
GARGANTUA
I don't speak Spanish, but I get the message,
Inmate Mestizo.
MESTIZO
Estoy muy agradacido.
SGT CRUST
(arriving)
Good grief, Gargantua, you've done it again.
Five against one.
DUNDER
(jealous and cynical)
Uh, yeah, didn't even give us a chance to
help. But maybe we can clean up after you.
GARGANTUA
Yes, we'll need to take these inmates to the
Hole.
FADE End of scene
INT: GUARD'S LOCKER ROOM -NIGHT
10:00 at night, shift change. Men are changing out of
uniforms into street clothes.
GUARD Z
Did you hear about Gargantua?
EPSON
Yeah, five guys with one blow.
DUNDER
Hey, I wrote up Jokko today...
WREDNEK
Who wants to stop for a beer?
TOOBS
Hey, count me in!
DUNDER
Right on!
GUARD Z
Can't today.
EPSON
But I can.
STANDWELL
(looking around the lockers, joining in)
I'm up for it.
GARGANTUA enters, writing block in hand.
STANDWELL
Hey, Gargantua, a bunch of us are stopping at
the Silver Dollar for a beer. Why don't you
join us?
GARGANTUA
No thank you, I don't drink.
WREDNEK
(pushy)
Aww, come on Gargantua! You've been working
here for two weeks, join in a little.
DUNDER
(following lead, but
almost reluctantly)
Yeah, you gotta come, man.
GARGANTUA
I'm afraid that...
DUNDER
It's settled, you're coming.
INT: SILVER DOLLAR BAR -NIGHT
Smokey bar, country western music playing in the background,
a few guys playing pool, and 6 WSP guards, including
GARGANTUA sitting at a table: STANDWELL, WREDNEK, TOOBS,
DUNDER & EPSON.
GARGANTUA is clearly uncomfortable, doesn't have anything in
common with the others, and they are clearly trying to see
what sort of fish he is.
STANDWELL
(to GARGANTUA)
Not even a juice?
GARGANTUA
Very well, thank you, an apple juice.
WREDNEK
Well. I'M drinking BEER!
(swigs his mug)
DUNDER
Me too! So, Gargantua, where were you
working before here?
GARGANTUA
I'm not at liberty to say.
WREDNEK
What, you can't tell us where you worked
before? What was it, top secret?
GARGANTUA
Classified government project, yes. Can't
say more than that.
WREDNEK
Oh yeah? Well then, where you from, man? That
can't be secret.
GARGANTUA
I'm afraid it is. Sorry.
WREDNEK
(pouring another beer
from the pitcher)
What IS this crap? Top secret? Big mystery?
C'mon, Gargantua, what ARE you? CIA, FBI?
GARGANTUA
I'm not at liberty to discuss it. Sorry to be
such dull company. Actually, that's why I was
reluctant to come along.
STANDWELL
Look, Gargantua is obviously under some strict
security regulations, let's not press the poor
guy.
WREDNEK
Butt out, Standwell. Look, we'd just like to
know something about who we're working with.
No big deal.
DUNDER
Hey, Gargantua, I've noticed that you work
double shifts every day--and weekends. Don't
you ever get tired of Westington State Prison?
GARGANTUA
No.
WREDNEK
Man, I sure do. You must really need the money
to pull the hours you do.
GARGANTUA
It's not for money. It's where I prefer to be.
TOOBS
So what DO you do with all your free time?
GARGANTUA
That's classified too, sorry.
TOOBS
Ha ha ha. Hey guys, Gargantua just told
a joke.
GARGANTUA
It wasn't a joke.
TOOBS
You're serious?
GARGANTUA
I'm always serious.
TOOBS
Uh, yeah, I guess.
Embarrassed silence for a moment.
WREDNEK
Yeah, well, different strokes...
GUARDS drink and talk, bobbing their heads to the music,
they're ignoring GARGANTUA now and having fun. GARGANTUA
sits and observes, neither bobbing his head nor saying much,
just sipping his apple juice. He finally looks at his watch.
GARGANTUA
Thank you all for the invitation, but I think
I'd better go now. Good night.
GARGANTUA gets up, leaves without further conversation.
The remaining GUARDS watch him go, then talk about him.
TOOBS
Man, is he freaky!
WREDNEK
Yeah, "top secret" my ass.
STANDWELL
He might be telling the truth--he's not a
normal guy.
EPSON
Yeah, maybe he IS "top secret". He's sure
trained better than we are.
WREDNEK
Gargantua is NOT better than we are!
EPSON
Oh. Well, then he's got connections.
DUNDER
I know where he's from, the Planet Krypton!
TOOBS
Or some top secret government laboratory where
they build superhuman androids.
DUNDER
Hey. I'll bet Toobs is right! An android!
WREDNEK
Or a fucking Robot!
STANDWELL
You guys are getting silly.
DUNDER
Silly? You don't think Gargantua acts like a
machine?
TOOBS
Yeah, a cold-hearted, efficient, prison control
machine. What can't he do better than us mere
mortals?
WREDNEK
Well, he can't drink like a man!
(raising his beer in a toast)
The other GUARDS agree and drink, except for STANDWELL, who
is the only one who supports GARGANTUA.
STANDWELL
Granted, the guy's intimidating, but he IS
human--and kind of lonely, I think. He's also
our colleague...
WREDNEK
But he's not our friend, Standwell, he'd as
soon turn one of us in for a violation as a
con.
STANDWELL
He just does the job the way we're supposed
to...
DUNDER
And makes us look like shit doing it.
STANDWELL
Why? Because he's a better corrections
officer than any of us? Hey, Mozart was a
better musician--can't we respect talent? I
know it's hard not to be jealous of someone
like that but...
DUNDER
But bullshit. I'll bet the guy's a misfit
outside the job.
TOOBS
Right on! Guy hasn't got a life. I mean, how
could he? He's inside the prison from 5:30 in
the morning to 10:30 at night. Drives home and
back, that takes time too, he's got to sleep...
WREDNEK
(interrupting)
Anyone know where he lives?
Silence, heads shaking, shrugs.
WREDNEK
Must be classified. Hah!
TOOBS (cont.)
...anyway, he probably gets max 6 hours sleep
a night, then runs around the prison at high
speed through 2 shifts, day after day, week
after week, no sick time, no vacation. Anyone
ever seen him looking even a little bit TIRED?
Silence, heads shaking, shrugs.
TOOBS (cont.)
Well, think about it.
End of scene
INT: PRISON MAIN HALL -DAY
Day shift.
GARGANTUA is standing in the hallway, arms folded on his
chest, watching everyone, looking for violations. Cons walk
by nervously. Guards do too,
Except for MESTIZO, the Mexican GARGANTUA saved the day
before, who approaches him carefully, head bowed with
respect.
MESTIZO
Senor Gargantua?
GARGANTUA
Si, Inmate Mestizo, "Yes, Inmate Mestizo,
habla. speak up."
MESTIZO
(tries to hand GARGANTUA an apple)
Un regalo por Usted. "A gift for you."
GARGANTUA
(looks stern, does not
accept the gift)
Una manzana? "An apple?"
MESTIZO
(looks embarrassed)
No tengo ninguna "I have nothing
mas para regalar. else I can give."
An almost human expression flitters across GARGANTUA's face
as he comprehends the other man's poverty even in prison.
GARGANTUA
Es muy amable pues,Mestizo, "Well, very friendly,
pero creo que esta manzana Mestizo, but I believe
esta robada de la cocina-- this apple is stolen
y eso es una cinco cinco from the canteen--and
cinco: theft. that's a 555: theft."
MESTIZO gets a worried look on his face.
JOKKO and STASH also happen to be passing through the Main
Hall and observe the conversation. They comment to each
other at a safe distance.
STASH
Fuck man, that cold-hearted pig is going to
bust the pathetic little greaser just for
trying to give him an apple. What a burn.
JOKKO
Yeah, what a fucker Gargantua is.
GARGANTUA turns his head their way slightly, having obviously
heard their comments, then back to MESTIZO.
GARGANTUA
(almost friendly tone)
Al menos que tu has "Unless you Found
ENCONTRADO esta manzana? this apple?"
MESTIZO
(nodding to whatever GARGANTUA
wants him to say)
...uh, si! "...uh, yes!"
(then realizes something)
Pero...come es Usted puede "But how come you can
hablar Espanol ahora? Ayer speak Spanish now?
no ha hablado ninguna Yesterday you couldn't
palabra!" speak a word of it."
GARGANTUA
Correcto, es por eso que "Right, that's why
aprendabalo Espanol I learned Spanish
anoche. last night."
End of scene.
INT: DOWNSTAIRS IN THE HOLE.
Hall of cells, half-dark.
TOOBS is delivering food to the inmates who are serving time
for serious violations. He passes a tray into a cell,
STRONGSON is in there. They don't talk.
TOOBS moves on, comes to CON 8's cell with a food tray
TOOBS
Okay scumbag, here's your dinner--shit pie!
Too good for a con like you.
CON 8
(giving the finger)
Just deliver the dinner, pig.
TOOBS
PIG? You don't call ME Pig, Convict!
TOOBS goes amok and throws the tray of food through the bars,
splattering CON 8 in his cell.
TOOBS
(shouting)
I'm not tolerating any more crap from any more
of you dogshit cons!
CON 8
(angry and defiant)
Hey, asshole, you're out of line.
TOOBS
Out of line--you see any line? There ain't no
line. Here let me show you...HEY!!
TOOBS has just been grabbed and lifted by his collar. He is
tossed and twirled around, to find himself dangling in
GARGANTUA's hands, very close proximity. Very intimidating
when the big man speaks--a real voice of authority.
GARGANTUA
A correction officer doesn't do that. This
will merit yet another personal conduct
reprimand, Officer Toobs.
TOOBS
What the FU-U-U-UCK?
STRONGSON, in the next cell over, is watching and listening.
When GARGANTUA leaves TOOBS being a good boy, he looks into
STRONGSON's cell in passing. Their eyes lock.
STRONGSON feels afraid, not moving but breathing heavy, panic
in his eyes. When he dares to look up GARGANTUA has passed
and is gone.
FADE END OF SCENE
RAPID SHORT SCENE CHANGES
INT: A CELL -DAY
CONS 25 and 26 are in the cell. CON 25 is giving CON 26 a
tattoo on his shoulder. Bars behind them suddenly shadowed
by GARGANTUA.
GARGANTUA
Tattoos are illegal, that's a 302: self-
mutilation.
CONS
Yowp! Yeep!
INT: SHOWER ROOM -NIGHT
2 CONS doing it doggy style in the shower. GARGANTUA fades
in out of the steam.
GARGANTUA
That's a major write-up, boy, a 504: sex.
CONS
Oops! Oooooo-oooo-oooops!
EXT: VIEW OF OUTER WALL TOWER POST.
INT: A TOWER
GUARD 35 is reading a detective novel. GARGANTUA's shadow
looms behind him.
GARGANTUA
No reading on post in the towers.
GUARD 35
(jumps, surprised)
Yoix!
INT: MAIN HALL -DAY
GARGANTUA walks down the hall, regarded by CONS and GUARDS
alike.
CONS
Lookout!/
There he is!/
Watch it!/
It's Him!
GUARDS
Lookout!/
There he is!/
Watch it!/
It's Him!
EVERYONE
(mocking GARGANTUA)
"Bust 'em for everything...bust 'em for
anything!"
INT: CELL BLOCK FLOOR -NIGHT
Small gathering of CONS being organized by CAESAR.
CAESAR
(holding a handful of forms)
We have to get a petition together with a
list of valid complaints to get rid of
Gargantua--legally!--then we'll go see the
Warden.
CONS
Far out man!/
Yeah, let's do it!/
INT: OFFICER'S ROOM
WREDNEK
Let's go see Warden Warden, maybe we can get
Gargantua fired.
DUNDER
Yeah, or permanently assigned to a tower.
INT: WARDEN'S OFFICE
CU WARDEN looking to the right and left with an astonished
look on his face.
Although GUARDS and CONS are there at different times, the
scene is edited so that WARDEN is pounded with the same
message, stressing that they all speak unanimously.
VIEWS AND VOICES OF
BOTH GUARDS AND CONS
Warden! Warden! Warden! Gargantua must go!
---please!
WARDEN
(to GUARDS)
Officers, I can understand why the inmates
want to be rid of our stalwart Officer
Gargantua, but YOU all...why? He's a very
efficient Corrections Officer, quite capable,
produces results...
WREDNEK
He's fucking everything up...uh, Warden, sir.
TOOBS
Discipline is suffering.
DUNDER
Morale is at a new low.
WREDNEK
Truth is, sir, he's making enemies of all of
us!
WARDEN
(resolutely adjusting his
glasses, speaking calmly at
first)
All right, men, I'll tell you just what I told
the cons: Officer Gargantua is the best prison
guard I've ever seen in all my years in
corrections, and...
(letting them have it)
...if you think I'm going to interfere with an
exceptional officer doing an excellent job in
favor of those who are jealous, less competent,
less capable, or less ethical...
(full blast)
...well, you're DEAD WRONG! And that's that!
INT. LATER, same WARDEN'S OFFICE -DAY
Now only WARDEN and SGT CRUST present.
SGT CRUST
Quite a storm about this guy Gargantua, eh
George?
WARDEN
Tip of the iceberg, Sam.
I've got both cons and cops begging me to dump
him. Basically I told them all to go screw
themselves. But you know, I couldn't dismiss
our good Officer Gargantua even if I wanted to.
He's here by special appointment from the
Governor.
SGT CRUST
So just who IS he anyway?
WARDEN
That's such an interesting question that I
tried to check it out myself. What I found out
was that Gargantua is under a security wrap
that smacks of Federal or Military levels, and
some very big bucks. He's protected, Sam.
EXT: BIG YARD -DAY
CONS out in the sunshine. STRONGSON shows up, blinking like
he's not used to daylight yet after his time in the Hole.
JOKKO
Hey Strongson, finally got out of the Hole?
STRONGSON
Yeah, but I've lost my visiting rights for 90
days, man. Can't see any of my women.
JOKKO
Aw that's the shits man, who's gonna pack our
grass in?
STRONGSON
Yeah, damn. Gotta call Rosie, tell her I'm
out of the Hole.
INT: TELEPHONE ROOM -DAY
STRONGSON
(into phone, upset)
But...but, baby...
ROSIE (v.o.)
I know, and I'm sorry. But I can't help the
way I feel. Goodbye, Charlie.
STRONGSON hangs up the phone, upset, angry.
STRONGSON (thought v.o.)
Gargantua, that's the last straw! This is it!
I'm gonna kill you, man, gonna KILL you!
(he's almost out of control with
anger, begins talking aloud)
This is so SICK! How could that fucking bitch
fall...?
STRONGSON grabs the phone again and dials a number
resolutely.
STRONGSON
I'll show him...
JUMP AHEAD
STRONGSON (into phone)
...yeah, well, it's personal now, I want this
pig hit! You know I'm good for the bread, man.
Shee-itt, you must know SOME pros, what kind
of pimp are you, man? Okay, I'll check with
you later...
FADE END of scene.
EXT: PRISON PARKING LOT, SHIFT CHANGE. -NIGHT
GARGANTUA walks out the prison building wearing civilian
clothes, blue jeans and a light jacket. He goes to his
car. Then stops.
Someone is waiting beside it, a silhouette in the spotlights.
He hesitates, as if surprised, or even intimidated.
GARGANTUA
What are you doing here, Miss Nice? Visiting
Inmate Strongson after all?
ROSIE turns toward the light so that we/he can see her.
ROSIE
No, I'm visiting you, Officer Gargantua. We
need to talk.
GARGANTUA
About what?
ROSIE
Can we go somewhere a little more private?
GARGANTUA
(crossing arms, assuming formal
stance, keeping his distance)
Absolutely not. I'm not about to put myself
into a compromised situation with some woman
associated to an inmate.
ROSIE
I'm not associated with Charlie Strongson any
more. And I told him so when he called me
today.
GARGANTUA
Ah. I did sense that Inmate Strongson was
especially provoked about something today.
Very well, what is your problem?
ROSIE
I...uh...well, it's you. You're my problem.
GARGANTUA
How so?
ROSIE
Well, Officer Gargantua, this may sound pretty
dumb, but I seem to have fallen in love with
you.
GARGANTUA
(after giving her a long
"are you crazy?" look)
You're right, that does sound dumb. And if
you believe I'm dumb enough to fall for that..
ROSIE
(aggressively)
Hey, you "READ" when people are telling lies.
Why don't you know when they're telling the
truth?
GARGANTUA
(looks at her, senses
that she isn't lying)
very well, but you certainly have no reason to
love me, Miss Nice, I have neither charmed nor
encouraged you in any way.
ROSIE
No, you haven't, but it doesn't work like that.
Haven't you ever just fallen in love at first
sight, seemingly against all logic?
GARGANTUA
No, never.
ROSIE
Well okay, neither have I... until yesterday.
When I touched your hand. There was this...
spark! And you felt it too, admit it!
GARGANTUA
Static electricity, different polarities,
nothing more. Not love.
ROSIE
Maybe not, but you did get a hell of a lot
nicer to me all of a sudden. Look, I know
it's totally whacko --honky pig and bad black
chick, no way that can go down right! I spent
all day trying to talk myself out of it too.
But here I am anyway.
GARGANTUA
Yes, well sorry, but I've already informed
you that I'm not interested in a romance.
ROSIE
Yes you are. I can feel it. There's
something between us.
GARGANTUA
No, you're quite wrong, which is beside the
point. I'm simply not in love with you, nor
anyone. Goodbye, Miss Nice.
GARGANTUA gets into his car, ROSIE stands watching his CAR
driving away from the prison parking lot. She sighs a
hopeless sigh.
FADE END of Scene.
INT. PRISON TELEPHONE ROOM - DAY
Prisoners come and go from the Phone Room.
Through the glass windows to the corridor, GARGANTUA can be
seen passing by. Then STRONGSON comes in to use the phone
again, looking to make sure that GARGANTUA is nowhere near.
STRONGSON (into phone)
It's me, man. Yeah? Cool...
...but listen, they'll have to be GOOD. This
guy is supercop all the way. No lie, he's not
normal-- we don't even know WHAT he is.
It's got to be done with guns, at a distance
--no mano a mano shit--he's a dangerous mother,
they'll have to be careful!
No, no one knows where he lives. But I've
found out he drives a black two-door--don't
know what make--they'll just have to spot him
driving from Westington State Prison after
night shift change. Ten PM. Just tell them to
look for the biggest motherfucker they've ever
seen in their lives...
FADE OUT scene end.
EXT. EDGE OF TOWN NEAR PRISON - NIGHT
A CAR, BEIGE PONTIAC 4-DOOR, is parked on the side of the
road. The prison can be seen up on the hill, and this is the
only road to and from it.
INT: PONTIAC, PARKED
HITMEN 1 & 2, both wearing Italian suits and ties, smoking
nasty cigarettes, lots of smoke, obviously bad guys. HITMAN 1,
tall and elegant, sits in the passenger seat. HITMAN 2, heavy,
brutish, is the driver.
HITMAN 1
(looking through binoculars)
Hey, I think we got our guy's car coming this way.
HITMAN 2
Black car? Big guy?
HITMAN 1
I'm pretty sure. We'll let it pass.
EXT: STREET - NIGHT
GARGANTUA'S CAR passes the PONTIAC
INT. PONTIAC, PARKED.
HITMAN 2
That's got to be him. Let's go!
HITMAN 1
But cool it, I've been hearing about this
super-guard from several sources. I don't
think his car looks like a normal state-issue
beater, so watch it, we don't want to be
getting into a high-speed chase if we don't
have to.
HITMAN 2
(starting to drive)
I wouldn't mind. But let's just get it over
with and go get something to eat.
EXT: HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF TOWN - NIGHT
HITMEN'S PONTIAC pulls out of a side road and casually pulls
in behind GARGANTUA'S BLACK CAR
INT: PONTIAC
HITMAN 1
You know the plan.
HITMAN 2
Yeah. Steady up beside him and pass on
by, casual-like. Don't give him time to get
suspicious of us...you ready?
HITMAN 1
I'm cool. So is my sweet .357 Magnum, ready
to sing.
CU PISTOL being cocked.
EXT: CARS ON HIGHWAY - NIGHT
The town is ending, open highway ahead, mountains off in the
distance, very scenic.
PONTIAC pulls out to pass GARGANTUA'S CAR as they both pick
up speed.
INT: PONTIAC.
HITMEN watching GARGANTUA's CAR as they come up beside it.
HITMAN 2
This is going good, he's a sitting duck now.
HITMAN 1
Just a little closer. Oh, I do believe this
is going to be one of the easy ones...
(carefully hiding pistol from
GARGANTUA'S view)
CU GARGANTUA'S EYES looking their way, he has clearly caught
on to what's happening.
The PONTIAC is slowly and smoothly passing GARGANTUA'S CAR,
windows down. The HITMEN do not look over at GARGANTUA,
although he looks at them. It seems that they will pass on
by.
HITMAN 1 suddenly bringing pistol out in plain view, aiming
at the CAMERA.
HITMAN 2
Now, Lorenzo, NOW!
HITMAN 1
Okay pig, goodb...
CARS side by side. HITMAN 1 is pointing the pistol directly
at GARGANTUA'S head. Suddenly GARGANTUA'S CAR lurches
sideways, coming almost up against the PONTIAC.
CU PISTOL in HITMAN 1'S hand. GARGANTUA'S HAND reaches into
the frame and grabs HITMAN's WRIST. HITMAN screams as his
wrist is squeezed in GARGANTUA's grip.
GARGANTUA pulls his car away and accelerates from the
PONTIAC. With an easy tug, GARGANTUA plucks HITMAN 1 right
out through the open side door window, holding the man up
over the road with one outstretched arm.
Dips him once so that the man's feet hit the rushing road
beneath, violently jerking him backwards. But GARGANTUA still
has him. HITMAN screams even higher. The PISTOL goes flying.
The PONTIAC drops back, then comes charging to catch up with
GARGANTUA'S CAR. When side by side again, GARGANTUA easily
tosses HITMAN 1 back into the PONTIAC.
INT: PONTIAC - MOVING
HITMAN 1 crashes into HITMAN 2 with violent force, face to
face. HITMAN 2 is stunned, loses the steering wheel.
HIGH OVERVIEW OF ROAD.
PONTIAC is out of control, crosses the oncoming lane to the
left side of the road--fortunately there is no oncoming
traffic. It crashes, rolls over into the ditch, ending up on
roof.
VIEW from half-under PONTIAC, looking up past still spinning
wheels to the high bank where the ROAD is. GARGANTUA comes
into sight, calmly walking towards PONTIAC as the HITMEN wail
and cry.
HITMAN 1 (v.o.)
O god o god o god. My back! My head!
HITMAN 2 (v.o.)
I'm hurt!
GARGANTUA descends ditch slope, casually and unruffled. The
doors are crunched and can't be opened, but he easily RIPS a
door off the upside-down PONTIAC with a single jerk.
HITMAN 1
Whazzat?
HITMAN 2
Oh god, it's Him!
GARGANTUA reaches in and takes HITMAN 1 by the neck, pulling
his face in close.
GARGANTUA
All right, who sent you?
HITMAN 1
(afraid and in pain)
Don't...don't hurt me any more. Please!
GARGANTUA
Why not? You were going to murder me,
remember?
HITMAN 1
My arm is broken! My knee!
HITMAN 2
I'm hurt too. You gotta call an ambulance.
GARGANTUA
I'll call an ambulance--and the police--when
I'm finished interrogating you both.
HITMAN 2
Hey, we got our rights, man. You can't do
anything to us but book us, cop...
GARGANTUA
Oh, I'm not a cop. Outside the prison I'm
just a civilian whom you attempted to murder.
This is self-defense.
I can therefore do whatever I deem
necessary to find out who sent you.
HITMAN 2
We ain't saying nothing.
GARGANTUA
Charlie Strongson? That's what I thought.
Thanks for being so cooperative.
HITMAN 2
Hey, I never said nothing.
HITMAN 1
And I never heard of him.
GARGANTUA
I'll tell him so tomorrow when I charge him
with attempted murder.
Suddenly another man stands up on the bank looking down. A
State Patrol car has seen the accident and stopped.
HITMAN 2
Look, a real cop! Help, save us!
STATE COP
(nervous)
Is.. is everyone alive down there?
GARGANTUA
Yes, officer. But call an ambulance, and
bring your handcuffs...
FADE END of scene.
INT: STRONGSON'S CELL - MORNING
STRONGSON is lying in his bunk. His cell door opens along
with all the others in a great rattling of mechanisms.
A GUARD (v.o.)
Mainline on Three!
STRONGSON (thought v.o.)
(smiling, gets out of bed gladly)
Ahhh, it's a pleasure to get up today, knowing
that Gargantua is dead by now! May as well go
to breakfast where I can pretend to be
surprised by the news: "Prison Guard Shot Down
In Cold Blood!"
(laughs out loud)
STRONGSON comes out of his cell, still buttoning his pants,
still smiling. Until he sees GARGANTUA standing in front of
him, waiting, arms folded.
STRONGSON
Wha--? NO!
GARGANTUA
Yes, it's me. Your hit men failed. They'll
probably be showing up here, after their bones
heal.
STRONGSON
What you talking about? What hit men? You
got some kind of solid legal proof that I sent
them?
GARGANTUA
I don't need "proof" when I have personal
knowledge. There's no point in going to court
with this, you're already in prison. I've got
you where I want you, I can deal with you
myself.
STRONGSON
You can't touch me without proof! I...I'll
sue the State if you do..
GARGANTUA
Miss Nice claims to be in love with me now
instead of you. That must hurt.
STRONGSON
(looks shocked, stunned,
then angry)
I can't stand you any more, honky mother
fucker.
GARGANTUA
Abusive language? That's a 202.
STRONGSON
Abusive? I'll show yow you abuse! YAAAAH!
(cocks fist back)
STRONGSON punches GARGANTUA in the mouth square on with all
his strength, GARGANTUA making not the slightest move to
stop him. GARGANTUA seems absolutely unaffected by the blow,
while STRONGSON dances with pain, as if it were a stone statue
he had punched in the face.
STRONGSON
M..m...my HAND! It's broke!
He crumples to his knees with pain, holding his damaged hand.
Now we see that GARGANTUA does have a spot of blood where his
lip is slightly split, but it's very minimal damage. He
wipes it off.
GARGANTUA
There, Strongson, now you've had your shot at
me, for all the good it does you. Which is a
502: attacking a Corrections Officer. Figure
another five years to your sentence.
STRONGSON
Muh muh muh hand...
GARGANTUA
We'll take a trip to the infirmary to check
out that hand before you go back to the Hole.
STRONGSON
God damn, pig--what ARE you anyway? You
REALLY ain't human!
GARGANTUA
Oh, I'm human, Strongson, in my own way. But
of course, that doesn't mean you have a chance
against me.
GARGANTUA pushes STRONGSON ahead of him on their way down the
cellblock tier towards the infirmary.
STRONGSON
(whimpering)
Oh...my hand.
Camera shows GROUND FLOOR OF THE CELL BLOCK as GARGANTUA and
STRONGSON walk on out, a second later SGT CRUST comes running
into the Block, waving his arms and addressing Officer
STANDWELL, who is on duty.
SGT CRUST
(shouting, excited)
We just got the words: the Governor is coming
for a visit right NOW! Get some porters out
to clean up these blocks!
STANDWELL
Right away, Sergeant.
The Block is pretty messy, paper on the floor-- cons just
love to litter, casting stuff out of their cells, their own
way of being outlaws.
INT: LATER SAME CELL BLOCK -DAY
Cell Block is now spotlessly clean, shining. Two men in
suits are taking a tour of inspection, Warden WARDEN and the
GOVERNOR. STANDWELL is running the lock-box in the
background.
GOVERNOR
Everything seems to be in order, Warden
Warden. Your men are doing a fine job.
WARDEN
Well, it's nice to hear that, Governor.
GOVERNOR
Actually, I'm especially interested in one
of your men in particular--Officer Gargantua.
How is he working out?
WARDEN
You know, I thought his name would come up.
But let's discuss him in the privacy of my
office, shall we, Governor?
EXT: VIEW OF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - DAY
Looking in through Warden's Office windows.
WARDEN (v.o.)
I've got to say that Officer Gargantua is the
best guard I've ever known. He's fantastic...
then again, far too fantastic to simply be the
result of that "experimental new training
technique" cover story I was given.
INT: WARDEN'S OFFICE
WARDEN and GOVERNOR are alone. GOVERNOR sits on desk and
lights his pipe.
WARDEN (cont.)
Since he's here by your order, I assume you
must know something about him.
GOVERNOR
Yes, Warden, I certainly DO know...
(takes a puff on his pipe,
draws out the drama of
revealing secrets)
...and yes, it's time to unravel some of the
mystery surrounding Officer Gargantua...
cu GOVERNOR (cont.)
...he is actually the product of a new
technique in criminal rehabilitation.
That's right Warden, Officer Gargantua was
originally a convict himself.
He was serving a death sentence, but instead
of executing him, we erased his memory and
personality and reprogrammed him to be who he
is today--an absolutely dedicate Agent of the
Law. We also physically restructured him into
a bigger, better, stronger, faster monster
athlete--a Superhuman Slave of the State.
WARDEN
What? Isn't what you are saying...illegal?
GOVERNOR
(amused)
Oh, well...we have permission--orders, really--
on the absolute highest level. The President
is concerned with Crime and Law Enforcement,
you know.
The justification of this program is thus: why
allow convicted felons to waste their lives in
prison, as well as all the taxpayer's money,
when they can instead become some of the
absolutely most useful members of society?
We can take these useless dregs, and by a
newly developed scientific process, convert
them into what we call "Amplified Enforcement
Types", A.E.T. for short. Gargantua is the
first of a new breed of superhuman agent.
Right now we are testing him as a Prison
Guard, but he could just as easily be
programmed to perform as Policeman, Soldier,
Spy--whatever category of enforcement
personnel required by the Government. We
could command armies of men like him: all
with machinelike strength and endurance,
augmented senses--including increased
intelligence, and apparently, even certain
psychic sensitivities are showing up.
WARDEN
But what if something like that goes BAD?
GOVERNOR
That's just it: he can't. Gargantua can't
violate his programming. He's like a robot,
I suppose.
WARDEN
But this is ghastly! Gargantua is a man, and
an admirable one at that!
GOVERNOR
You would not have admired the man he used to
be--who has effectively been legally executed
by society. And the best thing is that there
are so many men like him at our disposal
contained in prison, all we have to do is
process them.
WARDEN
(shaking his head)
Aw, man, the human rights people will...
(disturbed by a firm KNOCK on the door)
GARGANTUA walks into the OFFICE. His demeanor military,
crisp, confident.
GARGANTUA
You sent for me, Warden? Hello Governor.
WARDEN
Yes, Officer Gargantua. It seems you already
know the Governor?
GOVERNOR
(nods, but does not offer
to shake hands)
Officer Gargantua, we were just discussing
you. Warden Warden is appalled at how you've
been mistreated. So would you tell us how
you feel about yourself?
GARGANTUA
Certainly, sir. I am satisfied by my work,
Eager to be doing what I do.
WARDEN
Yes, but how do you feel about WHO you are?
GARGANTUA
I'm who I want to be.
WARDEN
But you were apparently someone else before...
GARGANTUA
Perhaps so, but I have no memory of who that
was. I do know that he had been a convict,
so I want no part of his memories or
mentality.
GOVERNOR
Tell us, what is your personal opinion of
Convicts?
GARGANTUA
They are social misfits, to be controlled,
contained, and if possible, converted to
useful members of society.
GOVERNOR
Well, it seems that your own "conversion" was
quite successful, Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
Thank you sir. I think so too.
GOVERNOR
Actually, Warden, I've come here to observe
the local wing of Operation AET-1. From here
we'll be driving out to the laboratory.
Would you like to accompany us?
WARDEN
Governor, I INSIST upon accompanying you!
GOVERNOR
Good. Then let's go.
EXT: A HOUSE TRAILER IN THE WOODS -DAY
GARGANTUA'S BLACK CAR parks in front of the trailer, followed
by the Governor's Cadillac. The men get out of their cars.
Besides the GOVERNOR and WARDEN, 2 AGENTS stand guard.
WARDEN
Certainly is tucked away here. But hardly the
big facility I was expecting.
GOVERNOR
No, it's low key--and top secret. Electronic
surveillance all around the compound.
(opening screen door to trailer)
This is Operation AET-1, or at least the local
wing of it. Gargantua is "maintained" here.
Actually, they're still experimenting on how
to care for an AET.
GARGANTUA
(not an attempt at humor)
I call it home.
INT: TRAILOR -DAY
Looking very scientific, computers, instruments.
DR NIIDLE is waiting for them, a gaunt bespectacled white-
smocked scientist whose face resembles a skull.
DR NIIDLE
Greetings. and welcome, gentlemen.
(to GARGANTUA)
And how are you doing, John?
GARGANTUA
Totally operational, Doctor Niidle.
INT: LAB.
WARDEN and GOVERNOR are observing GARGANTUA lying relaxed
upon an operating table, his shirt off. DR NIIDLE is
applying IV tubes to his arm, electrodes to his head and
body, while carrying on a casual conversation.
DR NIIDLE
Today a good day, then?
GARGANTUA
Yes: wrote up 13 convicts today; put Strongson
in the Hole for assaulting me. Quite
satisfactory.
DR NIIDLE
Excellent. You're really performing well,
John. Now let's plug you into the system...
comfortable?
GARGANTUA
I'm ready.
DR NIIDLE keys a computer, GARGANTUA falls asleep immediately.
DR NIIDLE
(to WARDEN and the GOVERNOR)
He's asleep.
WARDEN
(curious)
So just what are you doing?
DR NIIDLE
Several things. The IV supplies Gargantua
with vitamins and chemicals, hormones, all
necessary to keep his prodigious strength up
to peak power. The electrodes attached to
his head interface his brain-wave patterns
to feed him digital data we have on hard
disk...
GOVERNOR
(proudly)
Gargantua is being programmed. Like a
computer.
On cue, DR NIIDLE points to a computer screen displaying an
"A.E.T." logo. A graphics presentation begins to run as
they speak, illustrating the science of AET production.
DR NIIDLE
We prefer to call it HyperTeaching. For
example, a week ago he requested to learn
Spanish. So we linked him up, fed it to
him, and he was fluent the next day.
We could do the same with quantum Physics,
if we needed to. Any subject, he's already
downloaded an education better than most
college graduates will ever achieve.
WARDEN
Why that's fantastic! Can you use these
techniques on anyone?
DR NIIDLE
Not really--at least, not yet anyway--at this
point of developement there is a certain
requirement that would put most people off:
John's particular sensitivity to HyperTeaching
is catalyzed by the erasing of his original
personality.
This was achieved by selective editing of
his memory--deleting of all his own personal
experiences and events, including childhood
traumas, but retaining the recognition of
language, cultural history, etc.--otherwise
he'd be a useless idiot.
We also nullified his brain's established
synaptic patterns, starting over, so that he
would not repeat his original decision-
making routines, which had been criminal.
Therefore, his brain is like new, almost a
baby's. His intelligence has also been
dramatically augmented by certain drugs that
we use on him. He has a great advantage over
you and me as far as learning goes...
GOVERNOR
...although we might not want to make that
little sacrifice of our own personalities
being exterminated. It's like suicide.
WARDEN
Uh, no, I guess not.
GOVERNOR
Actually, Gargantua is somewhat experimental.
We're still testing the capacity of his
intelligence improvements. When AETs do come
into full production, their standardized
educations will certainly be much lower. Why
give a soldier too much information for his
own good?
WARDEN gives the GOVERNOR an uneasy look. His sense of
humaneness is clearly being tested.
WARDEN
(to NIIDLE)
How did you erase Gargantua's Memory?
Surgically? Prefrontal lobotomy?
DR NIIDLE
Heavens no. We administered a massive dose
of XX-LSD and applied psychwave overload
electronically.
Gargantua's mind is the result of all the
research ever done in brain drugs--seeking
cures for insanity or senility--which has
revealed how chemicals like choline,
hydergine, rna, for example, profoundly
affect intelligence and memory.
WARDEN
And physically? How could you make him that
big and strong?
DR NIIDLE
Oh yes, he's a monster, isn't he? When you
consider that he was originally just under six
foot tall and weighed about 185 pounds...
His size was increased by a chemically
synthesized hormone affecting the pituitary
gland, causing rapid growth. We aimed at 7
feet as an ideal height for an Amplified
Enforcement Type.
Then we pumped him full of mega-steroids to
put on bulk and adjusted his metabolism to
an extremely high energy level with new
amphetamine compounds...
...all of which makes him big and muscular,
but the real secret is the usage of the new
nitrogenous organic polymers--a sort of
"plastic protein"--which has been bonded with
his DNA on the cellular level, increasing the
density of his bones and muscles by a factor
of three. That is really what makes him so
strong and tough.
WARDEN
My God.
GOVERNOR
Gargantua has been, so far, a totally
successful application of the proposed AET
species. Of course, there are certain
sacrifices...
WARDEN
I'll bet. So what are the "sacrifices" for
all this...this tampering with a human body?
NIIDLE
Limited diet. Dependence on drugs. Impotence.
And a life span less than one third normal.
But we're working on..
WARDEN
(wincing as if with distaste)
Oh, poor Gargantua.. this is monstrous!
GOVERNOR
Not at all. Gargantua is a super-man. Don't
you wish you could be like him? Strong, fast,
almost indestructible.
WARDEN
But what sort of personal life can he have
outside of work? Outside prison?
GOVERNOR
None! That's the whole point. He's the perfect
cop, or soldier, whatever. He does his duty
without personal conflict. He can't be bribed,
influenced, seduced, frightened, nor even
depressed. He can't be a pervert, or
alcoholic, or drug addict. He's programmed to
be perfect.
WARDEN
But he IS a drug addict. You made him so.
GOVERNOR
Well, of course. If we cut off his drugs--
he dies. A safety control factor, in case he
ever does violate his programming.
WARDEN
But don't you suppose there will be a public
outcry at what you've done to a human being,
if anyone ever found out about all this?
GOVERNOR
Oh there IS a public outcry indeed! But it's
against CRIME! And the public SHALL find out
when our proposal goes before Congress: to
convert EVERY convicted criminal with a
death--or life--sentence into an AET!
CU WARDEN's face, stunned, mouth open, unable to speak as he
realizes the implications of the Governor's words.
FADE OUT end scene
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE -DAY
SGT CRUST is alone with the WARDEN, listening to his story.
WARDEN
...I don't wonder that they were keeping it
secret--it all seems so ruthlessly insidious,
like some terrorist plot, or 1984. In fact,
I'm sure the terrorists will be manufacturing
AET's too before long.
SGT CRUST
So Gargantua is an...an inmate converted into
a law machine. That's incredible, and yet
it sure explains a lot.
So are you violating some sort of National
Security be telling me all this, George?
WARDEN
Hardly. The Governor told me that it would
be on the evening news tonight. He's
presenting a bill to...
CUT TO TV SCREEN
NEWS COMMENTATOR
...address Congress about implementing
production of what he calls "Amplified
Enforcement Types"--persons with
technologically enhanced physical and mental
powers. These will be actual living super-
men, with colossal strength and computerized
brains, in the service of Law Enforcement.
Cut to:
INT: GAME ROOM, CONS WATCHING TV - NIGHT.
A crowd of incredulous cons is gathering around the public
TV in the Game Room. JOKKO and STASH are among them.
JOKKO
Hey, listen to this!
STASH
Wh' th' Fuk!
NEWS COMMENTATOR (cont.)
If this sounds like a science-fiction fantasy,
it may be startling to know that one such
"A.E.T." already does exist, and has been
serving as a correctional officer--a prison
guard--in a major state institution, with
unparalleled success...
CHORUS OF CONS
Why, that's fucking Gargantua!
Show astounded faces flashing rapidly: JOKKO, STASH, POP,
STRONGSON, etc--and even guards: WREDNEK, TOOBS.
CUT BACK TO TV SCREEN
NEWS COMMENTATOR (cont.)
...the Governor further revealed that the AET
Program is a two-edged sword in the fight
against crime, for not only will AETs act as
agents of law enforcement, they shall also be
conscripted from the inmates in our crowded
prisons and converted from antisocial
criminals into useful minions of society...
TV shows public reactions--
BEARDED MAN
It's a good idea...if it works!
FAT WOMAN
Yeah, let the cons be programmed into cops!
Talk about poetic justice!
INSECURE CITIZEN
But will they be safe? What if they go BAD?
REVOLUTIONARY TYPE
Oh great! They'll just become tools of the
technocratic state!
INT: LOCKER ROOM -DAY
WREDNEK
There go our jobs, men. Can any of us
compete with Gargantua?
TOOBS
We'd have to convert into AETs ourselves!
WREDNEK
Yeah, which is more or less like being DEAD!
EPSON
What about our Union?...
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY
Cons gathering in the Big Yard. CAESAR is organizing them
to action.
CAESAR
This is serious! They could do that to any
of us--or even ALL of us!
JOKKO
Naw, they can't get away with that--uh, can
they? It must be illegal!
STASH
Well, Gargantua exists, man.
CAESAR
Figure it out: they'll be sentencing everyone
from murder to smoking pot for conversion
into AET.
ZOPO
Hey, I'd LIKE to be an AET.
JOKKO
Zopo, you dumb shit, they wipe your brain
clean...it's like being DEAD!
STASH
Don't worry Zopo, they don't want your brain.
DREAMLIKE SCENE: INT. CELL BLOCK
GARGANTUA walking down the cell corridor, inmates and guards
stepping back to let him pass, all stepping back then
turning to watch him pass, no one speaking. But we can hear
their thoughts as Voice Overs...
CON A (v.o.)
Woah, it's fucking Gargantua! Run!
CON B (v.o.)
Man is he creepy!
CAESAR (v.o.)
There walks the ultimate threat to us all.
MESTIZO (v.o.)
Eres soltero, amigo mio.
OFFICER STANDWELL (v.o.)
Poor Gargantua.
CON L (v.o.)
Are they going to make us all into something
like HIM?
POP (v.o.)
Zombie!
CON V (v.o.)
Lucky Gargantua, no worries, no guilt...
JOKKO (v.o.)
I used to be scared of him...now I'm scared
shitless!
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY.
A few days later. Over a dozen CONS sitting together,
having a meeting, viewed from afar, we hear their Voices
Offscreen.
CAESAR (v.o.)
Okay, what are we going to do? We can't let
them get away with turning us into AETs.
CON Z (v.o.)
So why don't you do one of your famous class-
action suites, Caesar?
CAESAR (v.o.)
I've already started it, but the Government's
bigger than city hall, so we'll need more
than a petition. I think we've got to prove
that AETs won't work.
JOKKO (v.o.)
You mean like Gargantua? Excuse me, but it
seems they do.
MOVE CLOSER in to the group, now we SEE who is speaking.
CAESAR is the obvious leader.
CAESAR
There must be some way. We need to think.
There must be something someone can do.
POP
Well.. there IS someone who could probably...
(being ignored by the others)
JOKKO
(being silly)
I know, I'll wrestle Gargantua to the floor
and you guys talk him into quitting!
BUSHY
(being defeatist, shaking
his head in dismay)
He's unstoppable, unkillable...
POP
...ahem! I said I knew someone who can
do it.
JOKKO
(still being silly,
interrupting POP)
Or we could get a truckload of shit and...
CAESAR
(irritated at the level
of discussion)
What was that you said, Pop?
POP
I said, there IS one person here in this
prison who can stop Gargantua.
Suddenly everyone is listening.
BUSHY
Yeah? So who is that, Pop?
POP
(hesitating)
Well, it's a secret. I don't dare mention
his name without his permission. But I know
who he is and where I can find him...if I
can just get to him. And if he decides to
help...well, then even Gargantua must fall.
CAESAR
If you've got something--anything--go for it.
POP
Okay, but he's isolated. I'll need the help
of a guard to get to him.
CAESAR
Go see Officer Wrednek. He wants to be rid
of Gargantua as bad as we do.
INT. CORRIDOR -NIGHT
POP has found OFFICER WREDNEK. They are off to the side in
a private conversation.
WREDNEK
(rubbing his chin,
thinking, deciding)
Okay, Pop, I'll help you out. I think
dumping Gargantua is something we can work
together on.
POP
I need you to take me to someone--but you
gotta swear to secrecy about this. No one--
guard or con--can know were we're going or
who we're going to see.
WREDNEK
Sounds pretty mysterious. Is this guy that
heavy?
POP
Oh, yeah. Heavier, and more powerful than
you can imagine.
WREDNEK
Okay, I swear to keep the secret.
POP
(looking around
nervously, making
sure no one can
hear them)
Go to Sally Port Control and get the 99 Key-
ring. And a flashlight. Then meet me by the
elevator.
WREDNEK
(also looking around,
guiltily)
All right, see you there.
INT. SALLY PORT CAGE
Inside the cage, STAN controls the keys. WREDNEK comes to
his window.
WREDNEK
Hey Stan, loan me the 99 Keys, please.
STAN
99? okay...
(has to rummage a
while to find them)
Hey, look at the dust on these keys,
like they haven't been used for years.
WREDNEK takes the keys and leaves, while STAN ponders out
loud, talking to GRIDIRON in the Sally Port chamber..
STAN
Funny, I don't remember anyone ever asking
for the 99 Keys before, in the 8 years I've
been here. What doors are they for?
Thought I knew them all.
INT. ELEVATOR BAY.
POP and WREDNEK standing by the elevator door. They both
look around suspiciously, and when the door opens they
go in together hurriedly.
INT: INSIDE ELEVATOR.
WREDNEK turns a key to activate the elevator.
POP
Down.
WREDNEK starts elevator. They avoid looking at each other.
Embarrassing elevator silence.
WREDNEK
(small talk)
You've been here a long time, haven't
you Pop?
POP
Yep, over 40 years.
WREDNEK
Holy shit!
POP
But the guy we're going to see has been
here even longer...
WREDNEK
What? Who can that---oops, here we are,
basement.
POP
Now take the smallest key on the 99 ring--
use it there.
POP points to an almost hidden key slot. WREDNEK gives him
a confused look, but does as he's told. The elevator starts
going further down.
WREDNEK
Hey, we're going down some more! That's
impossible, we were already at the bottom!
POP
Not really, sonny, but that's where we're
headed now.
Elevator door opens to a dark corridor.
WREDNEK
I'll be damned, I didn't know this level
existed...I don't think anyone knows!
POP
Nope. Haven't been here for 23 years myself,
and that was the last time anyone came down
here, far as I know. It was a secret then,
and it's been sort of forgotten ever since.
WREDNEK turns on his flashlight and they go out into the
dark corridor.
WREDNEK
(a bit scared)
Brr, cold!
POP
(stops, excited)
Hear that?
An "Ommmmm" can be heard, faint, distant.
POP
It's HIM! He's still alive!
WREDNEK
What IS that? Who IS this we're going
to see?
POP
The Tattoo Master.
As they walk down the long dark corridor, POP tells his
story.
POP (cont.)
He was a con here, like me. Over 40 years
ago he was already considered an old-timer.
He was also considered the best tattoo
artist in the joint.
He was into symbolism, studied it, like it
was a religion. One day he got Enlightenment,
saw God and Satan, said they were One. From
that day on his tattoos were magical. They
weren't just decorations any more, they
actually CHANGED the persons who wore them.
The guards got scared of him--they wanted to
send him somewhere else--but by then he
didn't want to go, and those tattoos gave him
a hell of a lot of control over his own
situation. So he had this secret cell built
just for him...and he's been down here ever
since...alone.
WREDNEK
What is this crap? You expect me to believe
a yarn like that? God damn, if you're
shitting me, Pop...
POP
The Tattoo Master can beat Gargantua.
WREDNEK
Well...heh, I'll try anything once.
The SOUND of "Aum Mani Padme Haummmmm..." becomes louder.
WREDNEK looks nervous, wondering how much of POP's story is
true.
They walk down the dark corridor, getting closer to the
chanting. In the spot of the flashlight, bars of a cell can
be seen at the end.
POP
That's his cell.
WREDNEK
But it's dark and cold, how could anyone...
We see them arriving from inside the bars. The chanting is
overwhelming now, powerful, deep tones, high harmonies.
TATTOO MASTER (chanting o.s.)
Aum mani padmi haummmmm.
Oooooooommmmmmm....
POP
Hello again, Tattoo Master.
WREDNEK
(obviously seeing something
that rattles him)
Gulp.
WE finally see the TATTOO MASTER in the erratic light of the
flashlight, sitting in a lotus position on the cement floor
of his cell, which is bare except for innumerable sketches
on the walls, paper drawings scattered upon the floor. He
is a thin little old--very old--white man, with long white
hair to the floor, wearing ragged tatters of a prison
uniform. His body is covered with tattoos, including an OM
sign on his forehead. His eyes are closed, as if still in
meditation.
TATTOO MASTER
...oooooooommmmmm....Back again already,
Elwin?
POP
Yeah, well, it's been 23 years, Tattoo Master.
TATTOO MASTER
(finally opens his eyes)
To you it has. To me it has been the blink of
a third eye. Last time I had to remind you
that I do not do tattoos any more--no one is
worthy of those I do.
POP
I ain't here to get no tattoo. I'm here to ask
for your...
TATTOO MASTER
Yes, yes, Elwin, I know why you're here. But
why do you think I would ever help in your
struggle against Gargantua? He is one of the
few good men who bring order to a mad world.
Unlike Officer Wrednek here, who is selling
out his own man to the cons.
WREDNEK
(rattled at being named)
Gargantua is NOT one of us--he...he was a CON,
after all!
TATTOO MASTER
Pitiful, Wrednek, pitiful.
WREDNEK
How do you know who I am? In fact, how do you
even live down here in this cold and dark,
with no food, nothing?
TATTOO MASTER
I have my tattoos. Tattoos of power. See?
(he holds out his arm to show
the symbols written there)
They sustain me.
(points to a symbol of an eye)
And I know who you are because I watch all
that goes on upstairs. This tattoo gives
me vision.
WREDNEK
Then...then you know that Gargantua is an
unnatural thing...a zombie that threatens us
all!
TATTOO MASTER
Gargantua threatens no one. He enforces law.
Those who obey law are, in fact, protected by
him.
Actually, there IS one worthy of my tattoos:
Gargantua! HE is pure.
WREDNEK
(angry)
Pure? Pure machine, you mean. Pure zombie
slave!
(he points at the TATTOO MASTER,
his hand inside the bars)
Listen old man--if you can help us, you'd
better! Unless you want me to write you up.
You ARE still an inmate, you know.
TATTOO MASTER
(laughs heartily)
Haha--oh Wrednek, you are of value after all--
as a comic!
WREDNEK
Yeah, well...look, I can do things for you. I
can...I can get you out of here! Move you
upstairs to a more comfortable cell...
TATTOO MASTER
heheh! Wrednek, you are precious.
(then stern)
You can do nothing TO or FOR me. Write me up?
Put me in solitary? Set me FREE? Do you really
think I yearn to join the world of economic
slavery and dread of terrorism? I am at the
center of the Universe.
WREDNEK
(now sly)
There is something else I can do. If you've
really been down here for 40 years, your
sentence must be up...heh heh...I can have you
thrown out on the street.
(he is fondling the bars)
CU TATTOO MASTER's eyes, frowning.
POP
Officer Wrednek, you dumb shit, you don't know
what you're doing! Don't threaten the TATTOO
MASTER unless you want to be deaf, dumb and
blind, as well as paralyzed...
(THWIP! sound o.s.)
...oops. Well, never mind.
WREDNEK
(startled, looks at his hand)
Ow! Oh, my arm stings like....omigawd, what's
that?
CU WREDNEK's right arm, sporting a brand new symbolic tattoo.
WREDNEK looks at it in astonishment, then at the little old
man who is still sitting on the floor of his cell too far
away to have touched him.
TATTOO MASTER
I've decided that you are worthy of one of my
tattoos, after all, Officer Wrednek.
WREDNEK
Oh shit o shit o shit, it's really there! But
how? How could you tattoo me, you haven't
moved...
TATTOO MASTER
One of my more inspired tattoos allows me to
slip in and out of relative time... so I can
work quite fast by your perspective.
Now, Elwin, let's go back to my original
question: why should I help you?
POP
Because...because it's the cons against the
State, and you're a con...
TATTOO MASTER
I am the Tattoo Master. The word "con" no
longer applies to me.
POP
Then because...because it's inhuman what
they've done to Gargantua, and we may all be
next!
TATTOO MASTER
The word "human" no longer applies to me.
POP
Well then because...because--I don't know,
shit--because you're the ONLY ONE who COULD
do it, that's why.
TATTOO MASTER
Ah, indeed, now we're getting somewhere.
POP
(surprised)
You'll do it?
CU TATTOO MASTER
Yes, I shall do it. But for my own reasons,
not yours. For the challenge of magic against
science. For the testing of my own skill
against Gargantua's spirit. Yes, bring him to
me.
Elwin, you will give Gargantua this message:
the Tattoo Master awaits.
Wrednek, you will return the 99 Key-ring and
forget that you ever heard of me.
Now go.
INT. BACK STAIRS of D Block
GARGANTUA and STANDWELL are walking down the stairs
together.
STANDWELL
They don't much like you being as good as
you are, Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
No, well, I'm afraid I can't help that. I
do what I do.
STANDWELL
I guess you're aware that most of them
consider you to be some sort of pre-
programmed zombie robot.
GARGANTUA
I've picked up on it, yes. People forget
that everyone is programmed to some degree.
STANDWELL
So how do you feel about what's been done
to you? Being turned into an AET, I mean.
GARGANTUA
Grateful.
STANDWELL (smiles)
Does that means you DO feel?
GARGANTUA
(pause, reflection,
then a little nod)
Sure.
STANDWELL
Look, Gargantua, you don't seem to need any
friends, but it must bother you that most
people treat you like their enemy.
GARGANTUA
No, it doesn't bother me. That's part of the
program, so to speak. All law enforcement
personnel have to deal with a certain
amount of social ostracism...and an AET will
have to deal with more. It's natural for
people to fear me because I cannot
compromise myself.
He observes STANDWELL.
GARGANTUA
But you don't fear me.
STANDWELL
No. I don't fear you, we're on the same
side. You're pretty weird, but for some
reason I sort of like you. I think you're
doing a great job--just like you're supposed
to do. You enforce the law. I could never
do it as well as you do, but I'm not
jealous.
Anyway, if you ever need a...a fellow
officer to back you up, call on me.
They reach the bottom of the stairs, where their ways part,
STANDWELL heading for another Cell Block.
GARGANTUA
(stops)
Thank you, Officer Standwell. I appreciate
that.
STANDWELL
(backwards wave of the hand)
Sure. See ya.
POP sees GARGANTUA standing there and seizes his chance,
approaches.
POP
Uh, Officer Gargantua--I have a message for
you.
GARGANTUA
Yes?
CU POP
The Tattoo Master awaits.
GARGANTUA
Is that supposed to mean something to me?
Who is the "Tattoo Master" and what is he
awaiting?
POP
It's hard to explain. If you come with me,
I'll show you.
GARGANTUA
(suddenly sensing something
in the distance)
Not right now, I'm busy.
(walks off)
POP
But...but...hey!
Farther down the corridor, GARGANTUA and WREDNEK pass each
other, heading in opposite directions, WREDNEK returning the
99 Key-ring, scratching his head, confused.
WREDNEK (thought v.o.)
Damn, I must be getting senile...can't even
remember where I've been for the last hour!
WREDNEK comes to the Sally Port, hands the 99 Key-ring to
STAN through the slot.
STAN
Hey, Wrednek, what door do these 99 Keys go
to anyway?
WREDNEK
(shrugs, confused, wandering off)
Hell if I know.
INT. CORRIDOR -DAY
JOKKO and STASH witness GARGANTUA pass, carrying convict
PARSONS by his collar, effortlessly dangling the man in
front of him with one hand as he briskly walks to the Sgt's
Office.
PARSONS
(vainly trying to struggle)
Hey pig, lemme go! Ow!
STASH
Well, Gargantua's got that new guy Parsons
already. He just got here.
JOKKO
Probably for some micky-mouse bullshit.
INT. CELL BLOCK -NIGHT
We're in front of POP'S CELL. Pop is sitting in there,
watching TV. Suddenly GARGANTUA is looming on the other side
of the bars.
GARGANTUA
All right Pop, about this "tattoo master"--
tattoos are a violation of W.A.C. 302. I'd
like to talk with him now.
POP
(startled)
Huh? Oh er uh... All right, yeah, sure.
Let's go.
(once outside the cell)
You'll have to get the 99 Key-ring.
GARGANTUA
The 99 Keys? That's odd. Where do they go
to?
POP
I'm not allowed to say, but I can show you.
INT. SALLY PORT WINDOW -NIGHT
GARGANTUA
(addressing STAN through the bars)
99 Key-ring, please.
STAN
Yet another for the 99 Key? Will someone
tell me what that ring is for?
GARGANTUA
It seems to be a mystery. I'll let you
know when I find out myself.
cut to:
INT: TUNNEL UNDER PRISON. TATTOO MASTER'S CELL.
Darkness, shadows, one candle.
Seen from behind the TATTOO MASTER, who is seated like a
yogi. GARGANTUA is looking in, somewhat amazed. POP waits
in the background.
GARGANTUA
Well...hello. So you are the Tattoo Master?
TATOO MASTER
Yes, hello yourself. I am very pleased to
meet you, Officer Gargantua.
GARGANTUA is uneasy, obviously sensing psychewaves.
CU TATTOO MASTER
(relaxed, smiling,
softly singing)
Ommmm...
CU TATTOO MASTER's hand ,coming up as if offering peace, but
revealing an arcane symbol tattooed on his open palm.
FX: the TATTOO MASTER's face seems to rush at us out of the
symbol on his palm, at incredible speed.
CU GARGANTUA
(frowning)
What ARE you?
(realizing)
Why you're a sorc...
GARGANTUA suddenly realizes he's in danger, but has no time
to react, because the TATTOO MASTER draws a tattoo on the
inside of GARGANTUA's left forearm at blinding speed.
GARGANTUA (cont.)
..eror...OW!
GARGANTUA snaps back away from the bars at high speed, out of
range, but it's too late, he's already been tattooed.
CU TATTOO MASTER
(brooding eyes, wicked smile)
Your reflexes are amazingly fast, Gargantua,
but when I slip into relative zero time I
could easily tattoo your entire body before
you would even begin to realize it.
GARGANTUA glares sternly at the tattoo, obviously a symbol.
He could be angry or afraid, it's hard to tell, but he IS
feeling something.
His hand begins to shake. He steadies it by making a fist,
but the shaking continues. He becomes agitated, shaking his
head, rubbing his eyes.
GARGANTUA
What have you done to me?
TATTOO MASTER
(raising a finger demonstratively)
It's what I have UNdone. Is it not?
GARGANTUA
(turning, twisting,
suffering, tears running)
O fuck! I was dead! And glad to be dead...
and now...and now...
CU GARGANTUA's agonized face, teeth bared, tears streaming
down.
GARGANTUA (cont.)
...now I remember it all... ...who I was.. ...
oh shit, who I AM! ...that I was a convict...
...and what I DID! ...and, oh to be dead
again!
GARGANTUA throws his head back and screams, then runs off
down the dark corridor in panic.
POP
(to the TATTOO MASTER,
in amazement)
Kee-riist! He sure did react to whatever
you did to him! Lookit him go!
TATTOO MASTER
As well he should. Now I suggest that you
catch up with him-- he has the key.
POP
(running down the dark
corridor as fast as he can)
Gargantua! Wait up for me! Don't leave
me locked down here!
POP almost falls over GARGANTUA, who has collapsed weeping
in front of the elevator door)
POP
Gargantua?
POP is surprised to find the AET helpless, realizes he has
to take charge now.
POP
Here man, let me help you. We've got
to get back upstairs.
GARGANTUA
(whimpering, sniffing, nods)
Okay...thanks.
POP
We've got to take the elevator. C'mon. Here,
give me the keys, I'll get us upstairs.
GARGANTUA
The keys? Okay--
(starts to hand them to
POP, but shakes his head)
--no wait, I can't give a con the keys, that's
against programming. Have to use them myself.
INSIDE ELEVATOR
GARGANTUA is slumped against the wall as they ride up, eyes
closed, tears still streaming
POP
Did I hear you say...you remember who you are?
Or who you were before they changed you? Back
when you were...a con?
GARGANTUA
(unaware)
Yeah. John Burden. I was in for...
(stopping, suddenly aware
of what he is admitting)
The elevator arrives, door slides open.
POP
Yeah? What? What were you in for?
GARGANTUA
(wild eyed in fear that he's
already said too much)
Never...never mind!
GARGANTUA stumbles out of elevator, looking around confusedly.
POP cautiously follows him out. They are alone in the corridor.
GARGANTUA (cont.)
O fuck, I can't go back to WORK! I'll
crack up...
(forgetting about POP, walks
away, not looking back)
I've got to get out of here!
POP lets GARGANTUA shuffle away from him, hanging back, not certain
what the AET will do in his panic. Then GARGANTUA breaks into a
staggering run and is gone.
CU POP
(closer and tighter as we
hear his thoughts v.o.)
Kee-riist, the poor guy! He's really fucked
up. Maybe the Tattoo Master was too rough on
him.
But that's bullshit. There isn't a man here
who doesn't have to live with the memory of
what he's done.
(spoken)
Besides, this is a WAR: cons against the mind-
killers.
(back to thought VO)
They want to turn us into super watch-dogs
like they did to Gargantua. John Burden, eh?
Wonder what he did? It sure seemed to be hard
to live with.
But anyway, when they see that their AET has
come undone...hee hee hee.. looks like we're
gonna WIN this war!
VERY CU, POP's smile.
POP
(spoken)
Wait till I tell the guys.
cut to:
INT. MAIN CORRIDOR -DAY
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
(running frantically now)
Got to escape!
(comes to a junction, has to
decide which way to run. pauses)
No, wait! This is crazy, I've got to get
a hold of myself...don't panic!
(turns, thinking,
shrewd expression)
I can get out of here if I can just pass
for Gargantua.
GARGANTUA approaches the first of the three Sally Port
doors, holds the bars wistfully. There are several guards
in the port chamber.
GARGANTUA
O-open it, please.
STAN (v.o.)
Okay, Gargantua.
There is a big fat CLICK, and GARGANTUA slides the bars back.
His demeanor is sneaky, steps through carefully.
OFFICER GRIDIRON
(casually)
Hey, Gargantua, Sgt Crust wants to see you.
GARGANTUA
(panics, starts walking out fast)
Yeah, later, busy right now...
STAN
(from inside the key cage)
Hey Gargantua, what about the 99 keys?
OFFICER GRIDIRON
Too late, Stan, he's already outside.
Seemed to be in a hurry.
STAN
Hey-- he can't take those keys out, that's
against regs! Crap!
EXT. FINAL OUTSIDE PORT -DAY.
Port opens with a CLICK, GARGANTUA steps out into the Real
World cautiously.
CU GARGANTUA (THOUGHT v.o.)
(sweating, stressed)
I'm out! Should I run for it?
No, don't panic. There are gun towers--I'm
not clear yet. Stay calm, they won't
suspect a thing. Or will they? It's hours
before my shift change. Act natural, what
would Gargantua do? Change clothes, get in
his car, calmly.
EXT. PARKING LOT -EVENING
GARGANTUA has changed clothes and is walking easily across
the parking lot to his car. He gets into the car, starts
it, and slowly drives out of the prison compound.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
I'm getting over the shock now. I can do
this, I know how to act, I've got
Gargantua's memories as well as my own--
hell, I AM Gargantua. No one's going to
even try to stop ME.
As if they could, with this body. I never
had it so good as my own self. Those
scientists did me a big favor. But of course,
they murdered ME in the process, the
fuckers!
I may just get revenge. John Burden is free
again...and superhuman. I can do anything I
want!
They killed me but they screwed it up--even
though I really did deserve to die (if only
they'd done it right!) We all do what we do
(fuck, why aren't I dead? I don't want to
be ME!)
...past the towers...
He waves to guard in the gun tower, Guard waves back.
...I'm clear!
EXT. CAR ON PARKING LOT ROAD --EVENING
GARGANTUA's CAR peels out with a display of power that reveals
the unmarked sedan to be a special model made for an AET.
Out on the highway it accelerates up to extremely high
speed, coming directly towards us.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Yaha ha ha ha! John Burden has just broken
out of prison!
Driving wildly. Suddenly he passes a "Speed Limit 25" sign,
slams on the brakes, and is then driving the speed limit on
into town.
INT. CAR. GARGANTUA driving, thinking.
GARGANTUA
Huh? What just happened? I wanted to go
fast!
(thought v.o.)
No wait, there must be cops here in town,
better that I cool it just for now.
Got to think this out. I don't want to blow
it. I'm free, but I'm not, as well.
Gargantua is locked into this "Amplified
Enforcement Type" thing. It's a Federal
opertion, so if I make a break for it the
entire United States Government will
definitely come looking for me. I don't think
society wants escaped AET's on the loose.
Of course, if just I continue to act out the
part of Officer Gargantua I can have time to
prepare for a proper escape.
(spoken)
But I'll need money. Lots of it.
(thought v.o.)
There's no more than $20 in my wallet--
Gargantua had no vices to spend money on and
the AET program took care of his every need.
GARGANTUA sees a Bar coming up on the street. Slows the car.
GARGANTUA (spoken)
Now, I DO have vices. And I sure could use a
drink.
INT. BAR
The bar is quiet, it's early afternoon in a small town, there
are no other customers. GARGANTUA steps up to the bar and
signals the BARTENDER.
GARGANTUA
I'll take a double JD on the rocks.
BARTENDER
Sure thing.
The drink arrives, GARGANTUA looks at it as if were his dream
come true. Then quaffs it in one greedy swig.
Then reacts as if he's just swallowed acid, face screwed up,
body jerking spasmodically. He looks like a man in great
pain for a few seconds, then recovers, still shaking.
GARGANTUA
(to BARTENDER)
Holy -cough- shit! What the fuck did you
give me?
BARTENDER
(suddenly nervous)
Uh...just what you asked for: Jack Daniels
Whiskey on the rocks.
Now the alcohol hits him, GARGANTUA sways on his feet,
instantly drunk, just barely collapsing on a barstool. Sits
cowering helplessly, holding his head.
GARGANTUA
Who-a-a-a, wotta rush!
(thought v.o.)
But it tastes real weird...so strong. Must
be my amplified senses.
Oh shit, can't keep it down! I'm gonna...
He BARFS. Then slumps face down on the table for a moment.
(thought v.o.)
Uh...woe! No wonder Gargantua didn't drink--
he can't!
This is shit! I'm not gonna let Gargantua
run my life! And drinking is important to
me...maybe something not so strong.
(spoken to BARTENDER)
Hey, gimme a beer.
BARTENDER
Are you okay, buddy?
GARGANTUA
Yeah, I'll be all right. Just gimme a beer.
He sips from a beer, face screws up, shudders.
GARGANTUA
Ga-a-ak! Tastes like piss! But I'll force
it down in slow sips. Fuck Gargantua.
(thought v.o.)
Speaking of Gargantua, I should see what his
wallet holds.
(going throught it)
Credit card for gas, driver's license,
Department of Corrections I.D. card. All
confirming a phoney identity provided by
the AET Program.
(reading)
"John B. Gargantua." Haha! The "B" is for
"Burden".
And oh god, a burden it is to be myself again.
How much simpler it was just to be "Officer
Gargantua, AET". No problems, no...guilt.
How strange to be bad again.
Is all this really because of this little
tattoo? How could this bizarre little mark on
my arm bring me back to life?
And who the hell was that "Tattoo Master"
anyway? What was he? Gargantua was picking
Up psychewaves like some kind of sorcerer, a
shaman.
Whatever I do, I can't let anyone know who I
am now. If the Guards find out I'm really
John Burden again I'll end up back in prison.
And if the cons find out what I did I'd be...
c.u. GARGANTUA'S suddenly horrified face.
(spoken)
Pop Elwin! He knows! I told him my name!
(thought v.o.)
Maybe he didn't really hear it...or maybe he
won't remember...or maybe no one will believe
him...
(spoken)
Or maybe I'll have to snuff him out.
(grabs his head, as if
blinded by pain)
Yah, ow, my head!!
End of scene
EXT. BIG YARD - DAY
CAESAR is talking to BUSHY out in the Big Yard, they seem
concentrated on something important. POP walks up to them.
POP
Hey Caesar, I gotta talk with you.
BUSHY nods to both of them and leaves, on some assignment.
CAESAR
Hey Pop, how's it going? Any action on that
guy you mentioned?
(not expecting anything)
POP
Yeah, I'll say. He did it! Gargantua is
just about finished!
CAESAR
(surprised)
Uh, really? How so, Pop?
POP
His programming is all shot to hell. He's
got his original personality back--he's a con
again!
CAESAR
Wha-a-a-at? How can that be? Who IS this
guy you went to see, a magician? I find that
pretty hard to believe, Pop.
POP
I'll bet. But just watch Gargantua when...IF
he comes back.
CAESAR
Now wait, as I understood the AET programming
process, they permanently wiped his brain
cells with chemicals and electroshock--there
should be no way to bring that personality
back. What did your man do?
POP
Well, I'm sworn to secrecy--hell, I couldn't
tell you anyway, I don't even know.
CAESAR
Well, okay. We'll watch him and see what
happens. If you're right, this could blow
the entire AET program right out of business.
Say--who WAS Gargantua before? Did you get
his name?
POP
You'll have to ask Gargantua that.
(thought v.o.)
At least until I find out who John
Burden was myself.
End of scene.
INT: BAR - NIGHT
GARGANTUA is still slouched at a table, empty bottles of beer
in front of him. He is slightly drunk now.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Hah! Getting drunk after all. That headache
is finally diminishing. Whew! Wonder what
caused that?
What I need now is some hot wet pussy.
On cue, ROSIE and TERRY walk into the BAR, just behind where
GARGANTUA is sitting.
TERRY is a nice young white guy who's interested in a flirt
with ROSIE, but he's shorter than her, so although ROSIE
likes him, they're just friends.
ROSIE
(entering)
...I just saw the latest Lord of the Rings
last night, and loved it!
GARGANTUA turns.
GARGANTUA
(thought v.o.)
Hey, I know that voice. It's wazzername...
(spoken)
Hey! Mizz...uh...Nice!
ROSIE
Oh! Officer Gargantua, well hi! What are
you doing here...
(disappointed look)
...uh, drinking? I thought you didn't.
GARGANTUA
Had a head change, baby. About everything.
ROSIE
Everything? Oh, how...exciting!
GARGANTUA
(standing up)
Yeah, wanna have a drink with me and talk
about it?
ROSIE
Well...sure, but later, okay? Right now I'm
having a drink with a friend from college.
Terry, this is Gargantua...
TERRY
Hi, man.
GARGANTUA
Fuck Terry. Come with me.
GARGANTUA grabs ROSIE'S wrist and pulls him toward him.
ROSIE
Ow!
TERRY
(stepping forward)
Hey, buddy!
GARGANTUA
(arrogant, squaring off)
I'm not your buddy. Get lost or get creamed.
GARGANTUA is over a foot taller than TERRY, and a wall of
muscle. His demeanor is very threatening , psychopathic,
in fact.
TERRY
(afraid)
Oh shit!
ROSIE
Gargantua! My god, what are you doing?
You're drunk! What happened to being pure?
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Pure? Oh yeah, shit, I'm blowing my cover.
She knows who I am. How would Gargantua act?
He releases ROSIE'S wrist, and steps back, hands up in
apology.
GARGANTUA (spoken)
Uh...you're right. I apologize. I haven't
been myself lately. Excuse me, I'm sorry if
I offended you, Miss...uh...Nice.
And you too, Terry. My manners were
unforgivable. You two go on, and I'll leave
before I make an absolute fool of myself.
GARGANTUA backs away from them, and heads for the exit.
ROSIE
Gargantua, wait? Is there something wrong?
GARGANTUA
Just a mild case of schizophrenia. Now you
see why I don't drink.
EXT. OUTSIDE RESTURANT, CITY STREET - NIGHT
It is raining slightly, GARGANTUA shakes his head and wonders
how he suddenly got there.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
That was weird! I didn't want to leave, but
it seemed like what Gargantua would do. Now
what?
It's raining. Where to go? I sure don't
want to go "home" to that laboratory. Dr
Niidle will know I've been drinking. Then
he'll strap my head to his computers and
reprogram my brain. I can't let that...
ROSIE (o.s.)
Gargantua, wait for me!
GARGANTUA turns to see ROSIE coming out of the BAR after him,
putting on her coat.
GARGANTUA
What about Terry?
ROSIE
Terry's a nice guy, he understands.
Although he did think you were a creep.
GARGANTUA
Hey, let's get out of the rain.
EXT. GARGANTUA'S CAR PARKED ON STREET - NIGHT
GARGANTUA gets in on his side, ROSIE hurries into the other
side, trying to keep from getting too wet.
INT. CAR, PARKED.
GARGANTUA is sitting in the driver's seat, even though he's
been drinking, ROSIE faces him from the passenger seat. The
rain is drumming on the roof and windshield, light from a
streetlamp swirls patterns of running water over the two of
them.
ROSIE
I want to ask you something, Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
Sure, bay...Miss Nice.
ROSIE
I saw the news on TV the other night about a
government project making superhuman soldiers,
police...guards. "A.T.E.s" or something like
that...
GARGANTUA
A.E.T. Amplified Enforcement Type.
ROSIE
Right. And they said there was one already
secretly working as a prison guard. Well...
that's you, isn't it?
GARGANTUA
(long pause--considering what
the real GARGANTUA might say)
That's classified information, ma'am.
ROSIE
I knew it! Charlie Strongson insisted that
you were some kind of merciless robot super-
pig, oops, I mean...
GARGANTUA
It's okay, super-pig's about right, but hey,
I AM human. Would a robot be caught drinking?
ROSIE
Oh, I know you're human, Gargantua. I knew
that when we met, even though you were acting
like the coldest hardass in the world.
Although, if you are this..."AET", how CAN
you be drinking?
GARGANTUA
Like I said, baby, classified stuff. Sorry.
Oh, and sorry for how I acted in there. Just
jealous of your boy friend, I guess.
ROSIE
Uhhh...I don't get it: last time we talked you
wanted nothing to do with me--and now you're
jealous?
GARGANTUA
Okay, maybe I was really just drunk and horny,
sorry about that.
ROSIE
Terry's not my boy friend, although he'd like
to be. We just study together at Westington
University.
GARGANTUA
Ah, so he IS hot for your black bod, can't
blame him. But what--he's too white for you?
ROSIE
Naw, too short. I've dated white guys, long
as they're taller than me. I don't like
being bigger than a guy I'm with.
GARGANTUA
Yeah, you're a big momma, all right. Good
thing I'm bigger than you.
ROSIE
You're bigger than anyone, Gargantua. Sure
scared poor Terry. And he didn't even know you
were an "Amplified Enforcement Type".
GARGANTUA
Aw, I was just bluffing, I wouldn't have really
hurt the guy. Wouldn't have been fair.
ROSIE
I guess not. Charlie Strongson said you were
so strong it was scary....so how strong ARE you,
anyway?
GARGANTUA
Well, baby...no wait, let's go somewhere more
comfortable to talk.
ROSIE
Uh, well...okay. I'd really like to hear
about what it's like being an AET. But...
uh...you sure you can drive? You've been
drinking.
GARGANTUA
No sweat, I'm in total control, got special
AET Super Powers. Besides, I'm a cop. Sorta.
ROSIE
Yeah, that's just it, I'd think you'd be more
law-abiding. Look, I could drive, if you want.
GARGANTUA
Naw. I got it.
(starts motor)
ROSIE
Where are we going, by the way? Your place?
GARGANTUA
Uh...my place isn't good. Too many people
there.
ROSIE
Funny, I would have thought you lived alone.
GARGANTUA
I have a celly, so to speak. A cold-hearted
scientist. AET stuff, you know...oops, that
was classified too.
ROSIE
Well, I don't live too far away. We could go
to my place--it's kind of messy, tho.
GARGANTUA
I don't mind. Let's go there.
EXT. CAR DRIVING THROUGH STREETS OF TOWN
They pull up in front of a two-story apartment building, park
and get out of the car.
ROSIE
This is it. Upstairs.
INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
It's a small but pleasant 2-room apartment, dining-living
room with sofa and coffee table, separate bedroom. Not
especially messy after all.
ROSIE
Would you like some coffee or tea?
GARGANTUA
(sniffing)
I can smell grass, how about some of that?
He sits back on the sofa, like a king waiting to be served.
ROSIE
Grass? Oh shit, you gonna bust me for that?
GARGANTUA
Naw. Like I said, I've had a real head
change, Miss Nice.
ROSIE
Call me Rosie. Well, I'm glad you have--I
guess--but it does seem kinda odd. You were
so resolute about us not being...friends.
What's happened to you, Gargantua?
She sits on the sofa and offers him a joint. He takes it.
GARGANTUA
Call me John.
He lights the joint, takes a big drag.
ROSIE
I like "Gargantua" better.
GARGANTUA
(holding the smoke in)
I don't. Name is John Bur...er...
(shakes his head, coughs
out a cloud of smoke)
...just John.
ROSIE
Well, okay... (reluctantly) ...John.
GARGANTUA passes the joint to ROSIE. She almost takes a hit
of it--then decides not to.
ROSIE
Oh, no, not right now.
(she wants her senses clear).
So...uh...John, what DID cause this
dramatic head change of yours?
GARGANTUA
I...uh...can't talk about it. Not yet,
anyway, sorry.
ROSIE
Oh come on, give me a clue. Personal problem?
GARGANTUA
Personal? Nah, it has to do with work, so
it's...uh...classified, that's all.
ROSIE
Sheeit, is everything I ask about classified?
She looks at him without saying more, but clearly nagged by
something. There is a pause in the conversation. She
studies him.
C.U. GARGANTUA's eyes studying her, looking shifty, dangerous.
He finishes off the joint and is ready to make his move.
GARGANTUA
Well, you asked if I like black pussy. I do,
and I want some now!
ROSIE
(surprised)
Uh! This MY black pussy we're talking about?
GARGANTUA
It'll do.
ROSIE
Well, so you're a romantic, after all.
GARGANTUA
Hey, you practically threw yourself at me,
whaddya expect?
ROSIE
Well, yeah, okay maybe I did, but you seemed
different then...now I'm not so sure. I just
need a little time to get used to this new
guy.
GARGANTUA
Heh heh. No new guy here, just the same old
Gargantua.
ROSIE
(seriously)
No, you've really changed. It's like you're
not the same guy at all. You FEEL different.
Actually, I LIKED the "pure" guy better.
Sorry.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
I think it's time to fuck this bitch.
Standing, GARGANTUA reaches down and lifts ROSIE effortlessly
from the sofa, balancing her on his hands out at arm's length
as if she weighs nothing. She is amazed at his strength.
ROSIE
What are you...? omigawd, are you STRONG! I
don't believe this, it's like I weigh nothing!
GAGANTUA
You like 'em strong?
GARGANTUA drops his right hand, and now ROSIE's bottom is
balanced on his left palm at arm's length. He seems to be
expending no effort at all.
ROSIE
You're almost TOO strong, it's scary! Put me
down, please! Now please, I don't like this!
GARGANTUA
Sure, baby. I'll put you down.
GARGANTUA bears her into the bedroom and dumps ROSIE on her
bed. Then he pulls off his shirt, pants, and is naked.
GARGANTUA
(commanding)
Now it's your turn. Strip!
ROSIE
No, John, I don't want to!
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Wow, this is great! It's been so long since
I've had a a hard-on. As an AET I was
supposed to be impotent, hah!
ROSIE (cont.)
Come on now, you're scaring me.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Yeah, bitch, maybe you should be scared--I
killed the last ones I fucked. What a thrill
that was, yeah! Just for kicks, I might fuck
you and kill...
GARGANTUA's headache returns as a sudden explosion,
overloading all his nerves with intense pain. He begins
thrashing wildly and with great strength. ROSIE springs
from the bed with a shriek of fear.
GARGANTUA (screams aloud)
YAAAAAAAA!
He collapses on the bed, then over to the floor, jerking with
violent and uncontrollable spasms.
ROSIE
What's wrong?
GARGANTUA
Arrr! Ohhh! My head!
ROSIE
John? Are you all...?
GARGANTUA springs to his feet-- and on over --to crash down
again, thrashing even more violently now.
ROSIE (cont.)
...o god! Yeek!
Then his fit is over. GARGANTUA lies sprawled half-off the
bed, holding his head, trying to clear it of residual pain.
He lies still, regrouping his senses.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
There's no doubt in my mind what all this is
about: Gargantua's AET programming is making
my head explode whenever I think of kill...
ow!...don't think that! don't think that!
Whew!
ROSIE (thought v.o.)
Oh, this is awful! This guy seems pretty
screwed up! But he needs help right now.
(spoken)
J...john, try to sleep.
FADE OUT end of scene
EXT: VIEW OF THE PRISON - NIGHT
INT. HALLWAY TO PRISON LIBRARY
POP is coming down the hallway to us. There are a few cons
in the halls, but not many. He turns into the door to the
INMATE'S LIBRARY.
INT. PRISON LIBRARY
POP is there to find SCHOLAR, a con who runs the LIBRARY, and
reads everything in it, and therefore knows a lot. He's the
guy who can find stuff in the reference materials. He has
his own desk to study at, since he runs the library, and
he's reading a book as POP comes up to him.
SCHOLAR is slightly overweight, has long hippie hair and
round glasses.
POP
Hey Scholar, didja ever hear of a con named
Burden? John Burden?
SCHOLAR
Hmmm? Naw, don't know him. Or wait--wasn't
there a John Burden they fried in the chair
at Sing Sing last year?
POP
I dunno, don't think it could be him. What
was he in for?
SCHOLAR
Oh shit, you name it: rape, murder, robbery,
arson. He was bad. Very bad.
POP
Oh well, if he's dead it's probably not the
same guy.
SCHOLAR
Just as well, now that I think of it. He
actually got the death sentence for the
multiple rape-murders of an entire girl scout
troop. Brownies, all about 9 to 11 years old,
kids, 13 of them. The guy was a baby-raper,
man.
POP (thought v.o.)
So Gargantua was a baby-raper! If this gets
out...should I tell? Or should I save this
piece of info for a better time?
CUT back to INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
GARGANTUA is collapsed face-down on the bed, covered with a
blanket.
ROSIE stands in the doorway and studies him. Then she goes
into her living room, closing the door. She's got a cell
phone in her hand.
ROSIE
(softly into phone)
Muriel, you still there? Yeah, he's asleep
now, thank god.
MURIEL (telephone, o.s.)
Doesn't sound like this guy's what you thought
he was.
ROSIE
No...actually, I believed he was some sort of...
superhero or something, but now he just seems
like a big strong fuck-up, a loser not in
control of himself. I'm feeling kind of
nervous around him, like he's dangerous or
something. I'm glad we didn't get around
to making love!
MURIEL (telephone, o.s.)
Love? Girl, you gotta learn to read men better
than you do, stop picking the wrong guys. Yeah,
I saw him as some kind of big hero too, very
impressive man, but I could also see that he
had a frozen heart. You ain't never gonna get
no love outta this guy!
As ROSIE unburdens her heart, we gradually c.u. to GARGANTUA
on the bed in the other room. He's asleep, but fitfully--
making sounds, mumbling words once in a while. His head
fills the screen, we FADE INTO what's going on in there.
GARGANTUA
(mumbling, half-asleep)
Got to keep running! Can't let them catch me!
We fade into
FX: DREAM SEQUENCE #1.
GARGANTUA is running naked through tunnels of flesh,
resembling a vast labyrinth of gigantic blood veins. He
comes to a multiplicity of junctions. Pauses, lost, confused.
Breathing heavily, in panic, hardly like an AET with
superhuman powers. He is totally JOHN BURDEN now.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
Which way? Where am I?
(looks back, in panic)
Oh no, they're coming!
FURTHER BACK IN THE TUNNEL, a troupe of 13 dead Girl Scouts
are slowly but steadily following JOHN BURDEN. The girls
are moving like zombies, their flesh rotting, eyes sunken,
death-faces, uniforms in tatters. These are the girls the
evil John Burden had killed, and now they are after revenge.
DEAD GIRL SCOUTS
(chanting)
BURDEN! BURDEN! BURDEN!
(spoken spookily)
You cannot escape us.
We are your burden.
Death and disgrace, death
and disgrace.
Burden! Burden!
BURDEN-GARGANTUA chooses the nearest tunnel, runs down it.
Passes other junctions--and notices a light at the end of
one tunnel. He stops and looks, trying to decide where to
run to.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
This passage looks...familiar somehow.
He runs toward the light. He hears a faint mumbling
CHANTING, getting louder the closer he comes to the light,
but still undecipherable.
As he approaches the light, he sees that the tunnel ends
here, and he makes out the bars of a prison cell, lit by a
candle inside. It resembles the cell of the Tattoo Master.
A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE sits inside the cell, a dark silhouette
facing the light inside, his back to BURDEN-GARGANTUA. It
is he who is chanting, and now the chant is clear.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE
(chanting)
Bust 'em for anything,
bust 'em for everything,
bust 'em for anything...
As BURDEN-GARGANTUA approaches the MYSTERIOUS FIGURE from
behind, he can see the prison guard uniform, huge muscular
shoulders. He looks to see who the man is, studying what he
can see of the man's sharp profile.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(amazed)
Why, it's Gargantua.
The PURE GARGANTUA inside the cell is evidently in a trance,
oblivious to his other self behind him. BURDEN-GARGANTUA
shakes the bars.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(taunting)
Hey, superpig! Now it's you who's locked in!
How does it feel? ha ha ha ha
DEAD GIRL SCOUTS (v.o.)
(chanting)
BURDEN! BURDEN!
BURDEN-GARGANTUA turns in terror, seeing that he's trapped at
the end of this tunnel.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
Oh god, they're here! I'm trapped!
The DEAD GIRL SCOUTS have arrived, reaching for him.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA is bigger than them, but he is shaking in
terror, his back up against the bars of the cage.
They are reaching for his face, touching him now.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
Gargantua! Help me! I don't want to be
John Burden any more! Save me!
PURE GARGANTUA
(chanting, entranced, oblivious)
Bust 'em for everything,
bust 'em for anything...
DEAD GIRL SCOUTS
(louder, harsh)
BURDEN! BURDEN! BURDEN! BURDEN!
The DEAD GIRLS are touching him everywhere, he seems powerless
to defend himself, weeping, helpless.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(screaming)
I WANT TO BE GARGANTUA!
BURDEN-GARGANTUA screams his way out of the DREAM SEQUENCE
back to:
INT. ROSIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Where he is screaming and thrashing in the bed, falling onto
the floor.
GARGANTUA
(hysterical)
YAAAAAAA! I WANT TO BE GARGANTUA!
ROSIE was checking on him, and she jumps back in fear. She
still has the cell phone in her hand.
ROSIE (into phone)
Ye gods, Muriel, this guy is really
freaking!
MURIEL
What if he gets violent? You better get
out of there, girl! Now!
ROSIE doesn't even answer, looking torn between helping
someone in distress and fear for her own safety.
Then she runs. leaving the room just as GARGANTUA shakes his
head and is fully awake again.
GARGANTUA
(to himself)
Fuck, what a crazy nightmare! I don't want
to be Gargan...
He hears the click of the door locking as ROSIE makes her
escape.
(cont.)
...where's the slut?
(looks around)
She's gone. Shit, I was gonna fuck her.
(holding his head,
clutching his belly)
(thought v.o.)
Actually, no matter. I don't feel too good.
Hangover!
(looking up, realizing:)
Oh-oh, just remembered that I have to get my
vitamins, hormones and drugs from Dr Niidle--
or I'll die.
EXT: OUTSIDE ROSIE'S APARTMENT COMPLEX - NIGHT
Raining. GARGANTUA stumbles to his car.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
I guess I better go home. If Niidle gives me
any trouble I can kill him--ow!-- no, I don't
want to think that. Come on, I didn't think
that-- no more headaches, please!
EXT. CAR LEAVING TOWN, ON OUT INTO COUNTRY -NIGHT
INT. CAR MOVING
GARGANTUA is pulling into the driveway at the HOUSE TRAILER
IN THE WOODS where he lives, parking and thinking for a
moment.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Getting shaky.
(watching his hands tremble)
It's not serious yet--I can probably
go a couple days without my chemicals
--but I do feel pretty rotten.
(spoken)
This is quite a hold over me.
INT. HOUSE TRAILER - NIGHT
It's dark inside, GARGANTUA is sneaking in like a errant
husband.
Suddenly the lights are turned on and DR NIIDLE is there,
with a stern expression on his face.
NIIDLE
All right, John, it's after 2 o'clock in the
morning! What do you think you're doing?
GARGANTUA
(startled)
UUUPS! Oh, hi, doc.
NIIDLE
(frowns)
I surprised you? That's odd, you should have
detected me from outside. Didn't you pick up
my psychewaves? Are you all right?
GARGANTUA
Well, to tell the truth, I don't feel too
well, doc.
I...uh...had to rescue a lady I know from the
prison. She had car trouble. We ended up at
her place, it became a social scene and I
couldn't get away.
NIIDLE
John! You know that you are not to get into
social situations! We've got to be extremely
careful about you until the AET bill passes
through Congress. If that funding does not
go through...
GARGANTUA
I know. It was unavoidable. Anyway, Doc--if
I could get my dinner?
NIIDLE
(urgently)
Yes, dinner! You're 9 hours late for your
nutrients, no wonder you feel unwell. It's
all ready in the lab.
INT. LAB
GARGANTUA is laying on his bed, tubes and electrodes
connected everywhere. A look of relief on his face. DR
NIIDLE is adjusting controls, writing notes, doing scientific
stuff.
GARGANTUA
ahhhhh...
NIIDLE
(setting a disc into a computer
linked to GARGANTUA's head)
I've also got a new psychology course for you
to download. It should be interesting.
GARGANTUA's POV: NIIDLE clicks download, vision becomes
scrambled as if fast-forwarding.
BLACK OUT end of scene.
EXT. SUNSET OVER HOUSE TRAILER IN THE FOREST - DAWN
We see trailer from outside. It's still dark. A light goes
on in the lab window.
NIIDLE (v.o.)
All right, John, time to get up.
INT. LAB - MORNING
GARGANTUA rolls off his cot, has a new spring to his step.
GARGANTUA
(delighted)
Man, do I feel better!
NIIDLE
(all business, writing
notes on a clipboard)
You'd better do your exercises, John.
You missed your session yesterday...
while "socializing".
NIIDLE nods toward the weight machines and training equipment
in one corner of the lab.
Behind NIIDLE's back, GARGANTUA wrinkles his nose, obviously
doesn't want to make any such effort, but does it anyway.
He gets under the lift bar and gets ready to lift the
weights.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
I hate exercise! But guess I'd better play
the role pretty close now for awhile. At
least until I figure out my escape plan.
With a grunt he pushes the heavy weights up. They resist,
but slide steadily up, GARGANTUA expending a great effort.
Once all the way up, he holds them there for a moment before
letting them come down slowly. Flexes his body, realizing
that it feels good to use his strength.
Then he wonders how much weight he has just lifted, looks at
the discs.
GARGANTUA
A thousand pounds? No sweat.
He lays another hundred pounds of discs onto the machine,
lifts them too, but slower. As he works out he is pondering.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Now that I speak Spanish I could always get
lost in Mexico or South America. Only what
can I do about my nutrients? That's a snag.
He looks at the computer used to download data to his brain.
(thought v.o. cont.)
Hmmm. Maybe I could program myself to mix my
own.
One thing though, I was programmed last night,
and I can barely remember what it was about.
As Gargantua I'd memorize everything 100%.
Another thing, I seem to have lost my
sensitivity to psychewaves. Doc Niidle is
just a blank, he used to hiss like radio
static.
EXT. HOUSE TRAILER - MORNING
Now wearing civilian clothes, GARGANTUA is leaving the lab.
DR NIIDLE sends him off with a little smile, like a mother.
NIIDLE
Off to work you go, John.
GARGANTUA gets into his car and drives off.
INT. HOUSE TRAILER
Once the door is closed, DR NIIDLE's smile fades and he looks
quite serious. Takes up a dictaphone to record spoken notes.
NIIDLE
(into dictaphone)
Gargantua's behavior erratic, imperfect. He
should never have stayed away without my
clearance, a clear violation of procedure.
Be alert for any other irregularities. If
he's suffering some sort of breakdown...
FADE OUT scene end.
INT. OFFICER'S ROOM - MORNING
Roll call, guards sitting around drinking coffee, relaxed.
SGT CRUST calls out their names and daily assignments.
CRUST
Standwell?
STANDWELL
Right here.
CRUST
You've got D Block again today.
Wrednek?
WREDNEK
Yowm.
CRUST
D Block with Standwell.
Gargantua? Oh...Gargantua?
GARGANTUA
(remembering who he's
supposed to be)
Oh...uh... yeah, here.
CRUST
Special Patrol, as usual. Oh, by the way,
see me after roll call. Toobs?
TOOBS
Yo.
CRUST
You've got The Hole.
TOOBS
(disgruntled)
My home away from home.
CRUST
All right men, everybody knows where to go
and what to do. Let's go to our assigned
posts.
The other guards leave, GARGANTUA approaches SGT CRUST almost
timidly, not wanting to say the wrong thing and be exposed.
CRUST
What happened to you yesterday? I sent for
you and found out that you'd just left the
institution early--with Keys on you!
GARGANTUA
I...I was called upon a top priority
assignment from the Governor. It's
classified Top Secret, so I can't go into
detail. Sorry.
CRUST
Hmpf!
INT. HALLWAY
GARGANTUA walks along with his hands in his pockets, seemingly
just rambling, unsure of where to go or what to do.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Guess all I have to do is pretend to be a
pig. Hell, this may even be fun.
Sniff--I smell pruno.
INT. CELL IN B BLOCK - MORNING
View from within cell, looking out at the tier. We see 2
cons sleeping in their bunk beds. Suddenly GARGANTUA fills
up the view on the other side of the bars.
GARGANTUA
All right you cons, you've got pruno brewing
under your bunk, made from ingredients stolen
from the kitchen. We'll start with a 555.
CON 12
Huh, wuzzat?
CON 14
For chrissake, cop! It's 6:30 in the morning,
couldn't you bust us later? Shit.
GARHANTUA walking briskly toward the Officer's Room, a
fistfull of write-up forms in his hand, looking very smug.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Poor shits. Oh well, fuck 'em. Teach 'em not
to mess with Officer Gargantua. Hey, this is
great, what a power trip.
Hey, maybe some one will go off on me today.
It would be swell to use my AET strength and
programmed fighting techniques. Heh heh heh.
INT: INMATE'S KITCHEN - BREAKFAST
White guys' table: POP, STASH, JOKKO, CAESAR are eating
together, watching for GARGANTUA to show up.
POP
Watch Gargantua today. I think you'll find
him a changed man.
JOKKO
Fuckin' hope so, he couldn't be worse.
STASH
Changed? I was hoping for dead.
CAESAR
Well Pop, I certainly hope you're right
about this.
JOKKO
Hey, there he is!
LONG SHOT of I.K., GARGANTUA walking in.
CONS MUMBLING
It's him./
Hey, it's Gargantua!/
Pssst, look!
Gargantua./
Supercop is here./
Lookout!/
Watch!
c.u. GARGANTUA pausing, studying the situation, eyes
narrowing suspiciously.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
They know.
But what do they know? How much did Pop tell
them?
He looks over at the table where POP is sitting.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Pop, you old sonofabitch, I may have to ki--
ow!-- nonono, don't think that!
I'll just bluff them out. After all, who
could believe what Pop must have told them
anyway? I sure wouldn't.
(spoken aloud, aggressively
to someone offscreen)
Hold it you!
GARGANTUA'S P.O.V. Inmate HUMBERT, a totally inoffensive
middle-aged con, balding, slightly overweight, is passing
with his breakfast tray. He looks up at GARGANTUA with
dread in his eyes, cowering.
HUMBERT
Who, me? But I didn't do anything. Officer
Gargantua, s-s-sir!
GARGANTUA
You have an extra slice of bread. That's a
555: theft.
HUMBERT looks as if he'd been caught with the Warden's
daughter.
cut to: JOKKO & STASH
JOKKO
Yeah, he's changed all right-- he's worse!
STASH
What do you say, Pop? Still stick to your
story?
POP
Yep, it's all an act. Just keep watching him.
INT. HALLWAY IN FRONT OF D BLOCK
Among the traffic in the hallway, STORM comes toward us.
GARGANTUA's face moves into the frame, turning and looking
at STORM.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Hmmm.
(a nasty smile)
STORM doesn't notice GARGANTUA until it's too late, just
walking merrily along. For a moment they are alone in the
hallway.
GARGANTUA
All right Storm, I want you to come here.
STORM
Hey man, okay. I don't want any trouble.
Whatever you say, Officer Gargantua, sir!
GARGANTUA
I want to see if you're up for finishing that
fight you once started with me.
(pokes him with a finger)
STORM
Ooop! Hey, ow! Hey, uh...sir. Look, I'm
sorry I swung on you that time in the I.K. I
just got a real bad temper...but hey man,
just don't push me, it ain't right.
GARGANTUA
I hear you're a homo, you fucking cunt!
STORM
What? What is this shit? You can't talk to
me like that! Fuck you, fuck you! And if
you think you can pull that hair trick on me
again...
GARGANTUA
Nah. No hair trick.
Even as he speaks, and with no warning, GARGANTUA punches
STORM in the face with his left hand. There is a loud THWOP
sound and a brief cry from STORM, who is almost flipped over
backwards with the power of the blow and crashes to the
floor, unconscious and bleeding.
cut to:
INT. CELL BLOCK PORT
Several cons come to see what happened.
CON 12
What happened? Oh my god!
CON 13
I heard a sound like a dropped watermelon.
CON 14
It's Storm, he's down!
Officer WREDNEK comes to the port and looks down at STORM,
does a double take, shocked at the sight of the bloody inmate.
WREDNEK
(to GARGANTUA)
Did you really HIT him?
GARGANTUA
(emotionless)
Inmate Storm attacked me. I had to defend
myself. Better take him to the infirmary.
WREDNECK kneels to see how badly STORM is hurt. Shakes his
head, looks up at GARGANTUA
WREDNEK
Well, he's alive. But shit, is he smashed up!
End of scene.
INT. SGT's OFFICE
c.u. SGT CRUST's angry face.
CRUST
Damn! Gargantua, what the hell did you do
that for? Inmate Storm has a broken jaw, and
the prison may have a lawsuit.
GARGANTUA
He attacked me, Sgt. I was only defending
myself.
CRUST
He said YOU attacked HIM.
GARGANTUA
Well, that's the word of a convict against a
guard, isn't it?
A few moments later. GARGANTUA can be seen leaving. SGT
CRUST is angry. He takes up the telephone, calls the WARDEN.
CRUST (into telephone)
Yes, Warden I talked with GARGANTUA. He says
it was self defense, and we might have to buy
that to avoid legal percussions of this. But
really, how could Storm have been a threat to
an AET?
WARDEN (phone v.o.)
Yes, Sam, Gargantua has disarmed 5 men at once,
without ever really harming anyone before.
Why this now?
CRUST
I don't like this. This whole AET thing.
But then I never liked Gargantua either. It
might just be my own prejudice. And if anyone
ever deserved a clobbering, it was Storm.
But still...
WARDEN
Yes, he's so powerful: if he goes off...
fade to:
INT. HALLWAY
GARGANTUA is patrolling the hallway, cons are getting out of
his way extra fast. They're more afraid of him than ever now.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Guess I'd better cool it. It was just so
tempting to see what I could do. And that was
SO easy. I could have killed the guy if I'd
really let go.
I like being Officer Gargantua. It's a hell
of a lot better than being a con. Especially
a supercop. All thanks to this little tattoo.
But what should I do about that Tattoo Master?
He's still down there. He made me alive
again, but is he my friend, or something else?
I'd better not fuck with him until I know more
about him.
But I think I'll check out Pop Elwin.
He walks into D BLOCK and starts up the stairs to the second
tier.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
Not in his cell. Oh well, I'll find him.
Probably in the hobby shop. sniff--I smell
pruno.
GARGANTUA sneaks up to a cell and barely peeks in. We can
see that 2 CONS are on their bunkbeds, drinking something
and having a good time, giggling and tittering.
GARGANTUA considers writing them up, then dismisses the idea
with a wave of his hand and walks away.
ARGANTUA
Screw it. I've done enough write-ups this
morning to cover my ass.. That's all I care
about. Can't be bothered with all the
paperwork. I'll go find Pop instead.
INT. GAME ROOM - EVENING
This is the con's hangout in the evenings. There are tables
with chess and checker boards, a pool table, cons playing
cards.
POP is sitting at a table, playing checkers with old inmate
HUMBERT.
GARGANTUA enters the room and sees POP, going directly to him.
GARGANTUA
Inmate Elwin. I want to talk to you, Pop.
HUMBERT sees GARGANTUA and his eyes go wide in fear, he
freezes like a rabbit in headlights.
GARGANTUA
I want to speak with Pop alone. Leave!
HUMBERT leaves like a rabbit too, with great bounds. Then
other cons leave too, all afraid of GARGANTUA, and suddenly
the two men are alone.
POP
(smugly)
Why it's Officer Gargantua. How are you
feeling today?
GARGANTUA
I feel fine. Better than ever, in fact.
Which brings up the subject of the Tattoo
Master. What is he? What did he do to me?
POP
The Tattoo Master was once a con who became
enlightened, now he's a wizard. He draws
magic tattoos. One of which you now own.
GARGANTUA
But why did he tattoo me?
POP
Why? Who knows why the Tattoo Master does
anything? We asked him to do it so that the
AET program would fail. But he had his own
reasons. So I don't know, better ask him
yourself. If you're ready to face him again.
GARGANTUA
Uh--maybe later. Right now I'm facing you,
Pop. How much have you told about what
happened?
POP looks away nervously. Then decides to be forthright.
POP
Okay, I'll be square with you. All I cared
about was screwing up the AET program. I
haven't got anything against you personally.
The Tattoo Master is a secret, I can't tell
about him-- and you'd best not either, if you
don't want your tattoo to burn to your soul.
So I said that you'd been hypnotized back to
your original self.
GARGANTUA
And my name? Did you tell my name to anyone?
POP
(careful)
Name? Naw, I don't remember it. What did
you say it was?
GARGANTUA and POP study each other warily, obviously thinking
"Look out, this is a dangerous moment. Can I trust this man?
Am I safe? Or will he screw me over?
Then GARGANTUA decides he can't take the chance.
GARGANTUA
Let's go see the Tattoo Master, Pop. Now!
POP
Oh, can't right now.
(thought v.o.)
Kee-riist, he's going to kill me if I go with
him.
POP gets up, backing away.
GARGANTUA
Then I'm busting you and taking you in.
He grabs POP's shirt and lifts him off the floor.
POP
Oh Gawd, help!
GARGANTUA
Help? Against "Officer Gargantua"? You must
be kidding, Pop.
Outside the GAME ROOM, CAESAR and BUSHY have hurriedly arrived.
Cons are looking in through the glass, seeing POP being
lifted by GARGANTUA. They continue on into the GAME ROOM.
POP
Ow, ow!
BUSHY
Hey man, what are you doing with Pop?
CAESAR
Officer Gargantua, he hasn't done anything.
GARGANTUA
(stern)
Any interference with my duties as a
correctional officer shall be dealt with
severely! Now stand back and let us through.
BUSHY
But, but...
GARGANTUA
(ferocious)
I do not have to explain my actions to
inmates.
POP
Don't let him take me! He's going to kil...
urrk!! ow!!
GARGANTUA pulls POP's head back by his hair.
GARGANTUA
You be quiet or I'll snap your neck like a
twig.
CAESAR
You know, Gargantua--or whoever you are--
if we didn't believe your convict self was
restored, we sure do now! You're going to
murder Pop, aren't you?
GARGANTUA
(stares angrily at CAESAR,
then smiles smugly)
You think you can take me on, Caesar?
CAESAR
We can't physically stop you from taking Pop,
but we'll call the Warden's Office and let
them know that you have Pop Elwin in your
custody. We can also let them know that you
are no longer Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
I don't know what you're talking about. And
neither will the warden.
(thought v.o.)
First rule: admit nothing!
Big fat Officer SLUGG comes into the GAME ROOM.
SLUGG
What's the problem here, Officer Gargantua?
GARGANTUA
None at all, officer Slugg. I'm busting Pop,
and these men are objecting, that's all.
SLUGG
Oh well hey, clear the way for the officer!
Clear the way!
GARGANTUA takes POP out the door into the HALLWAY, which is
full of cons. He goes to the Officer's Room, and closes the
door. They are alone now. He sends POP sprawling to the
floor.
For a moment the two men are frozen, you can see them each
thinking, "o no, what do I do now?"
POP
(still lying on floor)
Look, uh, Gargantua. Maybe we can make a
deal. It won't do you any good to snuff me.
GARGANTUA
Snuff you? What makes you think I want to do
that?
POP
Let's cut the bullshit, sonny. We both know
what's going on. You can't kill me with your
superhuman hands without getting caught.
They'll know who did it, and I'll bet an AET
must be programmed against killing. You'd be
investigated, found out, and back in prison
yourself. Then your name, and what you did,
would be common knowledge. You're stuck, man.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
What am I to do? If he does tell who I am,
the cons will know what I did. And the whole
damn prison will be out to kill me. When I
was Gargantua I could read psychewaves. I
KNEW when someone was lying. If I could just
call that ability up again...
(spoken)
Tell me, Pop. Do you know my original name?
POP
Naw. I don't know it. You mumbled something,
but I never caught it.
GARGANTUA (thought v.o.)
...if I can just think like Gargantua. Yes,
I feel it..
(spoken to POP)
You're lying! You know I am John Burden.
You also know that I was sentenced to death
for the rape-murder of those 13 girls. And
you're planning to tell everyone as soon as
you get away so that it won't be your secret
any more!
Sorry, Pop, I'm going to have to kill...OW!...
oh no! headache!!!
The room seems to darken around GARGANTUA, great sparks of
electricity seem to zap around him. Becoming a lightning
storm.
(thought v.o.)
I've got to do it anyway! I've got to kill
him --yeeeoooww! groan GAH! I'll push on
through and DO it... just like I got myself
drunk... Gargantua can't rule John Burden...
oh my head!
He lunges forward in the darkness and grabs POP by the neck,
to strangle him. POP is helpless in his grip, but GARGANTUA
is having a hard time of it. Lightning flashing closer,
roaring sounds
GARGANTUA
(shouting)
FUCK YOU, GARGANTU-A-A-A-a-a-a-a....
dissolve into:
DREAM SEQUENCE #2
(cont. shout, sustained, echoing)
...a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a...
A naked BURDEN-GARGANTUA is sliding down one of those organic
arterial corridors, unable to stop until he coasts to the end,
where that cell resembles the TATTOO MASTER's cell, and where
the PURE GARGANTUA now sits, chanting his mantra.
PURE GARGANTUA
...bust 'em for everything,
bust 'em for anything...
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(confused)
What's happening? Why am I in this dream?
Did I pass out?
PURE GARGANTUA is sitting in a lotus position, his face blank,
in a trance. But slowly he turns to look at BURDEN-GARGANTUA
with stern glowing eyes.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
Oh God, it's HIM!
PURE GARGANTUA
Attempted homicide, Burden: that's a 501!
He stands, facing his evil self from behind the bars.
(cont.)
You're violating programming...
He spreads the bars apart with his hands, they bend and rip
and snap as easily as wet spaghetti, and he steps out of his
cell toward BURDEN-GARGANTUA.
(cont.)
...so I'm taking over again.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(cringing in fear)
You...you...you can't! No!
cut to:
INT. REAL WORLD, OFFICER'S ROOM - DAY
Where POP is still being held by the neck, but is surprised
to note that he's not dead. GARGANTUA has him, but isn't
squeezing. He's not moving at all, in a trance!
POP struggles desperately to slip out of GARGANTUA's hands.
He finally slides free, and still GARGANTUA remains stiff.
POP hesitates to look in wonder at the entranced AET.
POP
Jeezis Keerist!-- better get the fuck outta
here!
POP runs away as fast as he can.
cut back to:
DREAM SEQUENCE #3
PURE GARGANTUA is looming over BURDEN-GARGANTUA, who is
leaning back to get away.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
You can't take over because I've got my
tattoo! See?
(holds up his left arm to
show PURE-GARGANTUA the
tattoo.)
The sound of LAUGHTER v.o.
BURDEN-GARGANTUA
(offended)
Laughing! Who's laughing about this?
Turning his head, BURDEN-GARGANTUA sees that it's the TATTOO
MASTER who is laughing from his cell.
(cont.)
Why it's...
PURE GARGANTUA bites down hard on the tattoo on BURDEN-
GARGANTUA's arm. BURDEN-GARGANTUA screams in pain.
cut to:
REAL WORLD, INT. OFFICER'S ROOM - DAY
GARGANTUA is in reality biting the tattoo on his own arm.
He tears the tattooed skin off his arm with his teeth, one
ferocious bite and jerk ripping it free.
It is obvious that this hurts, he grunts loudly.
Then he spits out that chunk of skin with a great "ptoo!"
GARGANTUA staggers slightly, then shakes his head and stands
tall once again. He even smiles broadly.
GARGANTUA
It hurts, but it's worth it to be free of
that burden... and to be Gargantua again.
He looks at the open wound on his arm where the tattoo had
been.
(cont.)
Better go to the infirmary and patch
this up.
We see him go from below, this being the POV of the TATTOO
MASTER, who can see through the eye tattooed upon the patch
of skin lying on the floor.
A gradually tightening c.u. of the TATTOO.
TATTOO MASTER (o.s.)
Very good, Gargantua. Excellent, in fact...
cut to:
TATTOO MASTER's face flickering in candlelight, down in his
cell.
(cont.)
...you have passed the test of SELF, the
foremost challenge to one who would be a Master
of Life.
But we are not yet done, my boy. There are
two tests more. Already the elements of
SITUATION are coming to a boil...and now I
prepare for the test of...
His hand comes down upon a complex drawing on paper.
(cont.)
...OTHER.
End of Scene.
INT. CELL BLOCK, looking up at tiers. Officer WREDNEK is
trudging down the tiers, keys in hand.
WREDNEK (thought v.o.)
Ow! This tattoo is stinging!
(irritated, rubbing his arm)
Wish I could remember where the hell I picked
it up...
(spoken realization)
WAIT! I DO remember:
(a moment of amazement)
The Tattoo Master!
(thought v.o.)
And he wants me to do something for him right
now...
(frowning, then trancing out)
...so I guess I've got to do it.
WREDNEK trudges on out of the cell block.
cut to:
INT. HALLWAY FROM SGT'S OFFICE
SGT CRUST is being urged along by a committee of CONS out to
save POP, led by CAESAR. JOKKO and BUSHY are among the cons.
They are moving along briskly toward the Officer's Room.
CAESAR
Hurry, Sgt Crust, or we'll be too late to
save Pop from Gargantua.
CRUST
This is all pretty hard to swallow, Caesar,
but I'll check it out.
JOKKO
Hey look, it's Pop!
POP runs toward them, in wild panic, shouting his secret out
as loud as he can.
POP
BURDEN! BURDEN! Gargantua is John
Burden! Gargantua is John Burden!
CAESAR intercepts POP and they cling to each other for a
second.
CAESAR
Pop! Are you okay?
POP
(looking back)
Help me! Don't let him get me!
CRUST
Easy now Elwin, what's the matter anyway.
You're safe here.
POP
Safe? You don't know about Gargantua! He
wants to kill me, he just tried to!
CRUST
What? Why would he do that?
POP
Because I know his secret: he was John Burden
--and now he is again!
CRUST
Huh? Who's that?
POP
The con they turned into that AET! He's
back!
CAESAR
Burden?
(contemplating)
That name sounds familiar...
CRUST
It doesn't matter who he was, Elwin, his
former personality is gone.
POP
Not gone any more, John Burden's alive again,
in a superhuman AET body. And that guy is
EVIL!
CAESAR
Burden, wasn't he...? No wait. Burden was
executed at Sing Sing last year...or so they
said.
BUSHY
You mean the girl scout raper? THAT John
Burden?
INT. SALLY PORT
GARGANTUA is walking past the control window, on his way up
to the infirmary. STAN notices him and calls out.
STAN
Hey, Officer Gargantua! Where are the 99
Keys? You forgot to turn them in.
GARGANTUA
(searching his pockets.
and finding the keys)
Oh yes, you're right. Sorry, an emergency
came up. Here. I've got to go up to the
infirmary.
STAN
Okay. Say, did you ever figure out where
these 99 Keys go to?
GARGANTUA
Yes, the basement.
GARGANTUA delivers the keys, but cuts off conversation, turns
and leaves immediately.
STAN (thought v.o.)
Funny, I didn't know there was a basement.
Also funny, Gargantua never forgets things
like keys. I wonder...
WREDNEK
(coming up suddenly)
99 Keys, Stan.
STAN
What, again? What's going on in that
basement?
WREDNEK
Oh...oh. I can't say.
cut back to:
INT. HALLWAY FROM SGT'S OFFICE
CAESAR and a group of cons have gone to the Sgt's Office to
get SGT CRUST, who is now accompanying them back to find POP.
CRUST
Gargantua can't be who he once was, his brain
was erased. It's foolproof...I think. Hmmph!
CAESAR
But look at Gargantua's behavior today, Sgt
Crust: he broke Storm's jaw. Gargantua was
strict but never cruel and vicious before.
cut to:
INT. SALLY PORT
SGT CRUST speaks to STAN in the CONTROL CAGE.
CRUST
Stan, will you page Gargantua? I want to see
him.
STAN
He just went up to the infirmary, Sergeant.
INT. INFIRMARY
GARGANTUA's wound is being disinfected and bandaged by DR
DALE.
SGT CRUST comes storming in just in time to see the raw
flesh of the bite-wound.
CRUST
Gargantua, I want you to come with me to--
omigawd, what a wound!
DR DALE
Yes, that's a lot of skin to lose. This man
should go home and rest.
cut to
INT. DOWN IN THE HOLE
WREDNEK
Hi, Sgt Strident, I've come to pick up
Strongson. The Master wants to see him.
STRIDENT
That's funny. No one sent word about that...
The block telephone RIIINGs. SGT STRIDENT takes it.
STRIDENT
(into phone)
Sgt Strident here. Oh yes sir, Officer
Wredneck is here for Strongson now. Right
away, sir.
(hangs up, addresses WREDNEK)
That was the warden, he just confirmed it.
But funny, he sounded so...old.
INT. STRONGGSON'S CELL in the HOLE
c.u. STRONGSON face, bars between him and the corridor where
WREDNEK is walking toward him.
WREDNEK
Let's go, Strongson. We're going to see the
Tattoo Master.
STRONGSON
(confused, but glad to get
out of the hole for any
reason, thus playing along)
Oh yaas, Massah!
(salutes with The Finger)
cut to:
INT. SGT'S OFFICE
CRUST is talking to GARGANTUA, who is adjusting the bandage
over the wound on his arm.
CRUST
Pop Elwin says that you tried to murder him.
GARGANTUA
If I had, Sgt Crust, he would be dead.
(looking SGT CRUST
straight in the eye)
Sgt, I cannot lie. I am programmed against
it. And yet I cannot tell you what happened
at present, which leaves me in a quandary.
Let me say that I've been the victim of an
attack which has tampered with my behavior,
but I've resolved the problem.
CRUST
Then tell me one thing: were you once a con
named John Burden?
cut to:
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY
CONS are gathering, getting worked up about GARGANTUA.
CON 15
John Burden? No way, man, he was fried in the
chair.
JOKKO
Who says, the State? You don't think they'd
lie?
STASH
He's our AET, man.
CON 15
But...do you know what John Burden was IN for?
cut to:
INT. HALLWAY TO ELVATOR
WREDNEK
Strongson, I'm not taking you to the warden.
STRONGSON
So what is this?
WREDNEK
We're going to see a man of much greater power
who has a quest for you.
STRONGSON
Huh? What the fuck you talking about?
WREDNEK
The Tattoo Master needs a willing champion,
one who hates Gargantua.
STRONGSON
Say what? Then I may just be your man.
cut back to: SGT'S OFFICE (cont.)
GARGANTUA
Sgt, my original identity is classified top
secret by the Federal Government. Even if I
had been Burden, I would not be at liberty to
say so.
CRUST
Well, right now Pop Elwin is telling all the
cons that your original personality has
returned, and that you are no longer Gargantua,
but a convict named John Burden. What do you
have to say about that?
GARGANTUA
I say I am Gargantua, no other. Whoever I was
before is now gone.
CRUST
Damn! You WERE him!
Do you know what the other inmates will do if
they even think that a guard is an ex-baby-
raper? Well. of course you do. We've got to
get you out of here before we have a...
cut to:
EXT. BIG YARD -DAY
CONS are milling, gathering, restless.
BIG BRUISER
RIOT! That's what we gotta do, men. They
can't put a fucking baby-raper in here to
write us up and tell us what to do.
CON XV
It's the ultimate insult to us cons!
CONS IN CROWD
We gotta kill Gargantua./
Agreed./
Fuckin' right on.
INT. CORRIDOR UNDER PRISON - DARK
POV TATTO MASTER'S CELL. Bars, corridor, candlelight.
Them two men approach with flashlight. WREDNEK and STRONGSON,
come up to the bars and stop.
WREDNEK
(obedient slave)
Here is Strongson, Tattoo Master.
STRONGSON
(amazed at what he sees
inside the cell)
Dear sweet Jeezuz, what IS this?
TATTOO MASTER looks up from his sitting position, seen from
STRONGSON's POV.
TATTOO MASTER
Charlie Strongson, I am the Tattoo Master. My
tattoos are magical power symbols that effect
dramatic changes.
He lifts his right hand, a light shines from the tattoo drawn
upon his palm.
(cont.)
Do you doubt my word?
STRONGSON
Uh...no...no, sir, I don't.
TATTOO MASTER
I seek a champion to do battle with Officer
Gargantua. One who is motivated by negative
emotions. Him shall I endow with the spirit
and strength and power of the Earth Demon
Itself. Do you accept?
STRONGSON
I...I dunno...I mean, I hate Gargantua, but...
but...
Their dialogue continues v.o. as we see STRONGSON lying down,
candles all around him, the TATTOO MASTER drawing large
format tattoos on STRONGSON's chest.
TATTOO MASTER (v.o.)
But what will this cost you, eh lad? No,
Charlie, I am not the devil. Ha ha ha
STRONGSON (v.o.)
I mean, what chance could I have against an
AET?
TATTOO MASTER (v.o.)
More than a chance. You would be the
stronger, the more ferocious, the more
monstrous.
STRONGSON (v.o.)
Then...hell yeah, man.
back to:
EXT. BIG YARD (cont.)
CONS are get ready to go off. CAESAR is trying to maintain
control.
CAESAR
Now wait, let's not go berserk. A riot will
cost us plenty, a murder will mean a major
lockdown.
BLACK BRO 5
Fuck you Caesar, this is gonna happen!
CAESAR
But must it happen stupidly? How do we KNOW
that Gargantua was John Burden? What
evidence do we have? What proof? Does
anyone here even know what Burden looked like?
JOKKO
Well, I don't, actually.
BLACK BRO 4
Never saw the guy in my life.
SPECS
Well, I read about him.
CAESAR
You see? What if Gargantua is NOT Burden?
Do we want to spend what it will cost to be
rid of him? Be certain first: let's find out
if he is Burden.
BUSHY
Yeah, Caesar's right. Make sure first.
BIG BRUISER
It don't matter anyway, we gotta stop ALL the
fucking AET's.
CAESAR
Yes! We DO want to stop the AETs--but
LEGALLY, not with a riot. They'll just send
in more AETs if we go off.
SPECS
Hey, we can look up Burden's picture on
Internet. His trial is on record.
cut to:
INT. SGT'S OFFICE (cont.)
CRUST
All right, Officer Gargantua, I don't know
what's going on between you and Pop Elwin,
and I don't care, you're getting out of here
before this prison blows up. I think this is
the end of the AET experiment as far as this
institution goes.
(thought v.o.)
And good riddance, I say. Hrmpf...oops, just
remembered he's psychic.
GARGANTUA
Well. Sgt Crust., I'm afraid I'm not ready to
go. I have business to finish here. If you
wish to contest that, I suggest you call the
Governor.
c.u. CRUST
(determined)
You bet your ass I will.
end of scene.
Later--INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE -DAY
CRUST is complaining to the WARDEN, standing in front of his
desk.
CRUST
Warden, this AET thing is a mess. The inmates
found out who he was and are going off. We're
going to have a riot.
WARDEN
Well, then let's get Gargantua out of the
institution.
CRUST
I ordered him to go and he refused. He said
I'd better call the governor. Hrmpf!
WARDEN
Yes, well let's do that now.
(reaching for his telephone)
cut to:
INT. SALLY PORT, KEY CONTROL
GARGANTUA arrives at the control room window and speaks into
the microphone to STAN inside the glass and steel cage.
GARGANTUA
99 keys, please.
STAN
They're not here, Gargantua. Wrednek still
has them.
GARGANTUA
Wrednek? Hmmm. All right, I'll come back
later.
end of scene.
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE (cont.)
WARDEN is talking with the GOVERNOR on the telephone.
WARDEN
And that's the situation, Governor.
GOVERNOR (telephone o.s.)
Yes, well, Warden...
cut to:
INT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE (cont.)
GOVERNOR is sitting at his posh desk talking into a hands-
free telephone. A modest city with some skyscrapers can be
seen outside his window.
GOVERNOR (cont.)
...we knew when we chose our subject that this
could happen, but we are confident of Gargantua's
ability to handle the situation. In fact, we
consider it part of the experiment. I want that
AET to remain on duty.
cut back to:
WARDEN and CRUST in the SGT'S OFFICE (cont.)
WARDEN (to phone)
But Governor, if we have a full-scale riot,
Gargantua will not be the only one in harm's
way. Other officers, and certainly inmates,
are going to get hurt.
You know he broke a man's jaw today. What
will he do if he has to defend himself against
a mob?
GOVERNOR
That's what we intend to find out, Warden
Warden. Leave him in.
cut to:
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE (cont.)
WARDEN puts down the telephone, his conversation with the
Governor is ended.
WARDEN
I don't believe it. The cold-hearted bastard.
The Governor has AET fever.
CRUST
So what're we gonna do, sir?
GOVERNOR
Do? There's not a thing we can do. Gargantua
stays on duty. But I tell you one thing: if a
riot comes down over all this, I'm afraid our
man Gargantua may be on his own.
end of scene
INT. CELL BLOCK D
OFFICER DUNDER is operating the lock-box as GARGANTUA enters.
GARGANTUA
Is Officer Wrednek here?
DUNDER
No, Gargantua. Although he's supposed to be.
I don't know what happened to him, he got all
spaced out and said he had to go somewhere.
GARGANTUA turns to go. DUNDER calls out after him.
(cont.)
Hey, if you do find the sonofabitch, tell him
I don't appreciate being left alone to run
the block for over an hour.
INT. HALLWAY, IN FRONT OF ELEVATOR
GARGANTUA stands in front of the elevator door, studying it,
thinking. He knows the TATTOO MASTER is downstairs, but
without the 99 Keys, he can't get down there.
cut to:
INT. PRISON LIBRARY
CONS sitting around tables, reading, writing, using the
computer. CAESAR and BUSHY among them, talking to SCHOLAR at
his desk.
CAESAR
Scholar, found a photo of John Burden yet?
SCHOLAR
Well I've found some pics on Internet,
attached to newspaper articles, but nothing
very clear, they're all lo-res, black and
white, grainy...none of them look much like
Gargantua.
CAESER
Hmm, yeah. Hard to tell. Dark hair,
otherwise just a guys with one nose and two
eyes...
CAESAR
We have to take into account that his AET
modifications are drastic: he's much bigger
now, heavier, his face may have changed
shape...
JOKKO
(running in)
Hey, Caesar! We found a guy who used to know
Burden at Sing Sing!
cut to:
EXT. BIG YARD
CONS are still getting themselves worked up out there.
BIG BRUISER
Fuck Caesar, he's just a chickenshit ass-
kisser who wants to do everything legal. Us
real cons are gonna get Gargantua once and
for all. Out in the Big Yard.
BLACK BRO 5
Well there'd better be a lot of us in on it,
he's an AET.
BIG BRUISER
There's enough of us to cream Superman.
cut to:
INT. TATTOO MASTER'S CELL -DARK
The TATTOO MASTER finishes his drawing, his hand comes up
and makes a dramatic gesture.
TATTOO MASTER
It is done.
STRONGSON
(whimpering)
Oh jeeziz
TATTOO MASTER
Wrednek, take our champion back up to his
cell.
WREDNEK
Right, Tattoo Master.
STRONGSON is dizzy, confused. WREDNEK leads him out into the
dark corridor.
STRONGSON
Man, I feel pretty spaced.
STRONGSON stumbles, almost falls. WREDNEK supports him,
heading them toward the elevator.
(cont.)
Whoa, am I dizzy, shaking. What did that old
honky DO to me? Why did I let him?
WREDNEK
You'll make it. Come on.
INT. MAIN HALL
GARGANTUA is passing through, looking for WREDNEK. There are
a few cons, and Officer EPSON on his way to the SGT'S OFFICE.
GARGANTUA
Officer Epson, have you seen Wrednek?
EPSON
Not in a while, sorry.
GARGANTUA passes on through, as does EPSON. Other guards
pass through. The cons watch GARGANTUA's every move and hang
around, looking suspicious, waiting for something to happen.
GUARD X
(observing)
Hey, is something going down? This place is
too quiet right now.
GUARD Z
I don't know, but have you noticed the way
the Inmates are looking at Gargantua?
end of scene.
EXT. OUTSIDE MAIN BUILDING, YARD CHECKPOINT -DAY
GARGANTUA continues on outside in his search for Wrednek,
passing the booth where cons are scanned on their way back
into the building after being in the Big Yard. There are
scattered cons hanging out there who watch him go by.
CONS 12 and 13 are obviously on lookout duty. They speak
softly after GARGANTUA has passed them.
CON 12
Okay, there he is.
CON 12 raises his hand in a signal to the other CONS waiting
out in the Big Yard.
CON 13
(dramatically)
Yeah, heading for the Big Yard all right.
This is it.
GIRLGUY, a very feminine gay con approaches GARGANTUA to speak
with him.
GIRLGUY
(extremely swishy)
Oh dear me, Officer Gargantua, sir--there's
a nasty old fight out in the big yard.
He(she?) points out to where several men are fighting and are
surrounded by a large group.
GARGANTUA
Yes, I see it.
(studying it)
I may as well go spring the trap.
cut to:
EXT. BIG YARD
60 CONS are gathered in a ring surrounding 2 CONS who are
faking a fight for their lives. GARGANTUA is approaching
Them at a leisurely pace.
CONS WHISPERING
Here he comes./
Oh shit, this is it!/
Get ready.
GARGANTUA walks into the ring of CONS, which opens to let him
pass into the circle and become surrounded. When he stops in
the center, the 2 fighters have already joined the ring.
GARGANTUA
You can quit pretending to fight now guys,
I'm here.
BIG BRUISER
All right, Burden, we've got you, baby-raper.
GARGANTUA
Who you have here, men, is no one but Officer
Gargantua, AET. Consider that well before
you attack me.
BIG BRUISER
We know you're tough, Gargantua...
He pulls a home-made baseball bat from behind him and slaps
it against his palm as a threat.
(cont.)
...but not even you can fight us all off.
GARGANTUA
(an unconcerned smile)
Yes I can. There's only 62 of you.
I won't kill, but I can break the right femur
of every man here
(snaps his fingers)
before any of you can escape.
(addressing BIG BRUISER)
And since you have made the first challenge,
Bruiser 257382, I'll break your leg first.
Well, come on.
BIPLEY, a tough little con wearing a leather vest, runs up
behind GARGANTUA and stabs him in the back with a homemade
knife.
BIPLEY
Eee-yah!
(thrusting with all his
strength, knife-hand slamming
to a stop. looks with wonder.)
Holy shit, it's like trying to stab a tree!
GARGANTUA
(turning, disarming and grabbing
BIPLEY with blinding speed)
That's a 502: assault, Bipley. Now, do YOU
believe I am Burden?
BIPLEY
(afraid)
N-no, Officer Gargantua, sir!
INTIMIDATED CONS
(leaving hurriedly)
Screw this, I'm splitting./
Me too.
BIG BRUISER
Hey, hang tough! Get him men, get him NOW!
He charges at GARGANTUA with his baseball bat ready, leading
the way for the others...who still hesitate.
Coming from behind, he has a shot at GARGANTUA's head, swings
the bat with all his strength.
Barely looking, GARGANTUA reaches casually back and deftly
catches the bat in the palm of his right hand and snatches it
away from BIG BRUISER.
Taking the bat in both hands he snaps it in two like a twig
and tosses the stumps away. Even as he swings his foot in an
arc that sweeps BIG BRUISER off his feet and drops him heavily
in the dirt.
BIG BRUISER is flat on his back as GARGANTUA descends upon him.
Realizing how much stronger and faster GARGANTUA is than
himself, he's afraid.
BIG BRUISER
Help! Someone stop him!
But no one can stop GARGANTUA. He reaches down and grabs BIG
BRUISER by the thigh with both hands, easily lifting the big
man over his head.
There is a loud CRACK! as the man's femur is also snapped
like a twig, as promised. BIG BRUISER screams.
Then GARGANTUA casts BIG BRUISER into the crowd of CONS with
such force that they topple like bowling pins.
The CONS run, all of them who are still standing. They've
seen enough to realize they can't take GARGANTUA.
GARGANTUA
(ready for more,
disappointed)
Isn't anyone going to at least try? I
just got rolling. What a bunch of flakes.
cut to:
INT. MAIN HALLWAY
WREDNEK and STRONGSON are up on ground level again, moving
through the traffic of the MAIN HALLWAY, the GUARD taking
the CON back to his cell in the hole.
But STRONGSON is having trouble walking at all, he's dizzy,
sweating, confused, hallucinating, covering his eyes,
whimpering as if in pain. Then collapses to his knees.
WREDNEK
Strongson?
STRONGSON
Aw man, I feel...grrb, zish. Can't...unh...
Officer EPSON on hallway duty notices WREDNEK trying to keep
STRONGSON on his feet and comes over to help.
EPSON
Hey, Wrednek, need help?
The two GUARDS try to lift STRONGSON to his feet, one on each
side. Suddenly STRONGSON jumps to his feet and tosses them
both flying in a flash of extreme energy.
STRONGSON
(cry)
YAAbRThz!
EPSON
(getting up)
Hey, stop that man! He's gone nuts!
WREDNEK
(also getting up, but
totally confused)
What's going on? What the hell am I doing
here? Last thing I remember was working in
C Block.
Officer GRIDIRON is also in the hallway. He hears the
commotion, sees that STRONGSON is headed his way, and stands
ready to intercept him. He holds up his hand like a stop
sign.
GRIDIRON
Stop!
STRONGSON is now moving faster than any human could, and does
a blurred zig-zag on past GRIDIRON.
(cont.)
Shit, I wish!
REALLY UGLY CON
(speaking directly to us)
My god, did you see his Face?
CONS IN HALLWAY
Run, it's a monster!/
It ran into Delta Side.
STRONGSON is ripping off his clothes as he runs into D Block,
totally wild. We see that his black skin is becoming even
blacker, reflecting almost nothing, and his tattoos are
beginning to glow a dull red. He stops for a second so we
can see all this. We can't see his face, however, it's just
a shadow, but he resembles an animal.
GRIDIRON has not given up, he jumps STRONGSON from behind,
catching him in a headlock.
GRIDIRON
I've got you!
STRONGSON
Zrbhs!
cut to:
INT. OUTSIDE D BLOCK.
GRIDIRON comes flying out of the block portal at dangerously
high speed. CONS leap out of his way. He cries out a big
"YIIIIIPE!"
GARGANTUA intercepts the flying Officer GRIDIRON, catching
him before he gets hurt.
GARGANTUA
Whups, I've got you. What's going on?
GRIDIRON
It's...I don't know, some kind of "INCREDIBLE
HULK" or something. God is it strong!
INT. DELTA BLOCK.
GARGANTUA goes into the cellblock. There is a crowd of CONS
and GUARDS forming, looking up at the 4th tier. STANDWELL
sees GARGANTUA and comes to him.
STANDWELL
Gargantua, thank God, just when we need a
superhero! Strongson has become some sort of
monster all covered with weird tattoos. He's
ducked into an open cell up on the 4th Tier.
GARGANTUA
Tattoos? Okay, I'll take care of this. I
think I know what it's about.
GARGANTUA is already on his way up the stairs.
STANDWELL
(shouting up to GARGANTUA
and pointing)
I think it ducked into cell 4-13, it was open
for cleaning.
GARGANTUA
(down to STANDWELL)
Yes, he's up here all right, my psychic sense
is going wild. He's not exactly human.
STANDWELL
Gargantua, come down! Wait for the tact squad.
Don't mess with that thing by yourself.
GARGANTUA
I'm the only one that it's here for.
GARGANTUA approaches cell 1-13, which is open and dark
inside. The only thing we can see in there are fiendish
yellow eyes and teeth, which are gleaming, and the glowing
tattoos.
GARGANTUA senses powerful negative psychewaves, hitting him
with some force, like a bad smell. He winces, shakes his
head to clear the static.
GARGANTUA
Whew!
(calls into the cell)
Strongson. Strongson?
But STRONGSON is no longer himself, or even a man, his body
has become the host for the EARTH DEMON. And when the DEMON
speaks he des not sound like STRONGSON at all, his voice
bubbles thickly, lilts with a vague accent, harsh and evil.
DEMON
Gargantua.
Hearing the weird quality of the DEMON's voice, GARGANTUA
moves in front of the cell to see what awaits him there,
seeing the glowing red animation of a demonic face tattooed
on STRONGSON's chest.
GARGANTUA
(calm but impressed)
The Tatto Master has outdone himself. Your
tattoo is alive.
Without hesitation, growling like a monster, the DEMON steps
forward and hits GARGANTUA with a powerful punch.
GARGANTUA goes flying backwards, landing several meters away
on the tier.
He rubs his jaw, looks surprised.
Cut to:
FLOOR BELOW THE TIERS. Crowd gathering to see the fight,
JOKKO and STASH among them.
CONS LOOKING UP
Hey, did you see that?/
Strongson knocked Gargantua down!/
If you can call THAT "Strongson".
STANDWELL
But how could he DO that?
JOKKO
Yayy! I'm rootin for him!
STASH
Yeah, pound that super-pig into the cement!
cut back to:
UP ON 4TH TIER
Now we finally see the DEMON clearly, having come out of the
dark cell. It is extra extra black now, only a silhouette
of the big muscular man who had been STRONGSON. The red
neon drawing of an evil face upon its chest moves as it
speaks (animation fx).
DEMON speaks dramatic phrases in some lost language.
GARGANTUA springs to his feet, ready to continue the battle.
GARGANTUA
I don't know what the Tattoo Master has in
mind, but you are coming with m...e..
GARGANTUA reaches for the DEMON's shoulder, but his hand is
caught by the speed of the DEMON's grip. The DEMON locks
fingers with GARGANTUA, squeezing, pressing down. GARGANTUA
has to drop to his knees.
But although his right hand is being held in a grip he can't
break, he comes into position to catch the DEMON with his
left elbow. Which he does with all his strength.
The DEMON is staggered, roars, angry now, grabbing GARGANTUA
by the throat, cursing in that old language.
(cont.)
Well, you felt that, at least.
It grabs GARGANTUA in both hands and lifts him like a toy
doll, readying to throw him off the 4th Tier.
(cont.)
You leave me no other option than to go into
emergency overdrive.
cut to:
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE. -DAY
WARDEN is alone, shouting into the telephone.
WARDEN (into phone)
But how can that be? What's keeping the
tact squad?
Behind him, DOC NIIDLE walks in, yet unseen.
NIIDLE
Warden Warden?
WARDEN
(turning)
Who? Oh, Dr Niidle!
NIIDLE
I received a call from the Governor relaying
a complaint that our AET had used excessive
force. Something about a broken jaw?
WARDEN
You can add a broken leg to your data bank.
But the most disturbing news is the phone call
I just got: Gargantua is fighting some berserk
inmate--and losing!
NIIDLE
That's impossible! No human being can match
his strength and skill.
WARDEM
Well, according to the call it seems the
inmate has become some sort of monster
himself.
NIIDLE
We must go there. This might become a test of
the AET's Emergency Overdrive.
WARDEN
Emergency Overdrive? What's that, Dr Niidle?
NIIDLE
A program whereby the metabolic processes are
supercharged by a massive surge of adrenaline
and hyper-amphetamines, unleashing a maximum
outburst of strength and effort. Very
effective, but also quite dangerous for the
AET, designed for crisis situations when his
own life in secondary to his mission.
Burnout is quick.
They leave the WARDEN'S OFFICE hurriedly, walking briskly down
the HALLWAY.
WARDEN
Burn-out?
NIIDLE
Yes, the intensity of vitality will last about
3 minutes before system collapse and possible
death.
WARDEN
My god, a Kamikaze program!
cut to:
UP ON 4TH TIER
The DEMON has GARGANTUA lifted high above his head, and CASTS
him over the 4th tier railing.
But GARGANTUA grabs the DEMON's wrist, swinging himself under
the tier. Where he hooks a toe under the railing there, and
YANKS the DEMON over the rail above and throws him to the 2nd
tier below.
The DEMON lands on his back, but gets up unhurt, even as
GARGANTUA swings down to the 2nd tier to carry on the fight.
GARGANTUA
I don't want to have to hurt you, Strongson,
but I won't let you hurt me either. Unless
you surrender, I'm going to use full force on
you.
DEMON
Yes, you do that, Gargantua. That is what
this is all about.
fx animation: As the DEMON speaks, it comes nearer, filling
the screen with the face that is tattooed on STRONGSON's body,
we can see its lips move, eyes rolling.
GARGANTUA
All right then.
(punching)
The DEMON charges. GARGANTUA hits it with a blow that would
fell an ox. Followed by expertly delivered blows that would
kill elephants. Brutally heavy impact sounds. The DEMON is
rocked, but not downed.
Then the DEMON strikes back. One blow that sends GARGANTUA
to his knees with a great "Ooof!"
Then it has GARGANTUA by the throat, choking him. GARGANTUA
can't break free, he's overpowered. Looks bad for our hero.
DEMON
(triumphantly)
Die, AET!
cut to:
INT. GAME ROOM -DAY
CAESAR is talking to TWILLER in the Game Room, an older con,
fat and balding, smoking a cigarette, playing cards with
another unnamed CON.
CAESAR
Twiller, you knew John Burden personally?
TWILLER
(looking up from his card hand)
Oh hell yeah. We were cellies in Folsom
Prison six years ago. Before he escaped and
killed all those little girls,
CAESAR
Were you friends?
TWILLER
(tossing out an ace)
Friends, with that rat? Hell, no! John
Burden never had a friend, least not one who
didn't turn into an enemy. He was a back-
stabbing no-good turd all the way.
CAESAR
Do you think he could be Gargantua now?
TWILLER
Well, I dunno. He wasn't near that big, but
they say that's part of the AET process.
Dark hair, that's the same. Face? I dunno,
never seen Gargantua close up.
CAESAR
If you did could you recognize him?
TWILLER
I'll bet I could. Burden had this aura of
nervous mean-ness. He just plain radiated
cruelty.
(c.u. eyes narrowing)
Yeah, think I'd know the sonofabitch.
BUSHY
(rushing into the Game Room)
Hey Caesar! Gargantua is battling it out
with some kind of monster and is getting
TRASHED, man!
CAESAR
What? Where?
BUSHY
Delta Side!
CAESAR
Let's go. Twiller, you come too.
cut to:
INT. CELL BLOCK D
POV of the CONS looking up at the battle on the 2nd tier.
GARGANTUA is bent backwards over the railing and the DEMON
is strangling him.
CONS IN CROWD
Come on, Blackie, kill that fucking guard./
Down with AET's!/
Snuff that superpig! Come on man, do it!
He's a baby-raping motherfucker!/
Kill the AET!/
KILL GARGANTUA! KILL GARGANTUA!
c.u. DEMON'S TATTOO-FACE (fx animation)
DEMON
Do you hear that, Gargantua?
You are alone. No one stands with you or for
you. It is better to die than live so alone.
You are hated and feared by everyman. No
friends, no lovers, only duty and enemies.
Not even your fellow officers raise a finger
to help you. Neither the State nor the
institution cares for an AET except as an
experiment.
GARGANTUA
I need no one. I am Gargantua. And you have
not yet seen what I can do, I can still call
upon my emergency overdrive.
DEMON
To fight me? Why? Oh. perhaps you could
physically overpower Strongson's flesh, but
then you could not slow down your heart
before it bursts. You would die of your own
power.
Also, to stop me you must kill Strongson,
whose body I am using. Is that ethical? At
best you would be taking him with you when
you go, for he is mortal but I am the eternal
Earth Demon.
GARGANTUA
Demon, yes, and devil, to suggest that I submit
to death without a struggle. But I shall not,
demon!
I'm going into emergency overdrive (gasp!)
DEMON
Ahhh, yes. I can feel your heartbeat
accelerating, your strength increasing
manifold, but it will take a few seconds to
maximize--and you do not have that time, for
you die NOW!
The DEMON raises his fist for the killing blow.
cut to:
VIEW OF CONS WATCHING STRUGGLE
CONS IN CROWD
This is it! Watch, watch!/
Shit man, I don't want to watch./
TWO CONS
(simultaneously, but
each pointing in
opposite directions)
Hey, what does that guy think he's doing?
BROAD VIEW OF 2ND TIER
DEMON and GARGANTUA struggling in center, and a man rushing
in from each side, MESTIZO from the left, STANDWELL from the
right. They leap onto the DEMON to help GARGANTUA.
CONS IN CROWD (v.o.)
Look, it's Mestizo, that Mexican
Gargantua saved./
And Officer Standwell, doing his duty.
UP CLOSE, THE STRUGGLE
The two men try to wrestle with the DEMON, but it's far too
strong for them. With a backhand swipe STANDWELL goes flying
backwards down the tier. Fortunately landing in a long skid,
rather than against the railing or flying over it.
Still holding GARGANTUA with one hand, the DEMON turns to swat
MESTIZO, who is trembling with fear, but does not back away.
MESTIZO
Tengo miedo, pero no puedo permitar eso.
The Mexican has a CROSS hanging on a chain around his neck,
which he pulls out of his shirt.
A good close-up of the cross, shining like gold.
(cont.)
Toma este, Diablo!
MESTIZO presses the cross against the DEMON's neck. There's
a flash, sizzling sounds, smoke, popping. The DEMON screams
like an animal, falling back, dropping GARGANTUA.
But it recovers almost instantly, snarling in rage, grabbing
MESTIZO by the shirt and swatting the cross out of his hand.
DEMON
Die, mortal. And when I finish with
Gargantua, I shall kill everyone here.
Everyone in this prison!
The DEMON casts MESTIZO up into the air, as high as it can.
CONS IN CROWD
Oh oh, there goes Mestizo!/
Shit, he's gonna hit the ceiling!/
MESTIZO apexes and begins to fall toward the cement floor 5
stories below, arms waving, screaming.
JOKKO
Uh, what was it that thing said about "kill
everyone"?
Just as MESTIZO is about to get splattered, GARGANTUA comes
running across the floor at very high speed, and catches the
Mexican, saving him.
GARGANTUA
Gotcha!
GARGANTUA sets MESTIZO down and continues moving across the
crowded floor like a lightning bolt, springing up to the 2nd
tier, where the DEMON is still standing and looking for him.
CONS IN CROWD
Didja see that?/
Lookit how he moves now!
GARGANTUA moving towards the camera, closer, filling the
screen with his size and power. He's sweating, trembling,
breathing heavily, and his muscles are pumped up tight,
blood veins swollen, eyes wild, teeth showing.
GARGANTUA
You've blown it, Earth Demon. Now I have had
time to maximize. And I don't have a lot of
time to waste. So I'll waste you instead.
cut to:
VIEW OF CROWD
We don't see the fight itself, just the reactions of the
spectators.
STASH
Holee shit, lookit what he's doing to that
poor monster!
JOKKO
Poor monster, my ass, it was gonna get US
next, you heard it.
GIRLGUY
Ohh, he's so manly!
SCHOLAR
You know, this sorta reminds me of a Popeye
cartoon, you know, he eats the spinach...
BUSHY
Yeah, it IS sorta like that--go, Gargantua,
go!
cut back to:
GARGANTUA holding the DEMON by the neck, shredding
STRONGSON'S tattoos apart with his fingernails.
GARGANTUA
I've found that the best way to deal with
these tattoos is to remove them.
The DEMON's strength fades, as does its blackness, becoming
more the dark brown STRONGSON had been.
STRONGSON
(suddenly himself)
Oh, stop! Stop! I give! I'm myself now!
Woah, that stings!
GARGANTUA drops STRONGSON, who collapses whimpering to the
floor.
CHEERING CONS & GUARDS
YAAAAAY, GARGANTUA!
World's Mightiest Prison Guard!
c.u. GARGANTUA, sweating, gasping, looking as if he's about
to go into shock.
GARGANTUA
(gasping, clutching his heart)
Got to slow my heart down...but it's
speeding even more
cut to:
CROWD.
Zooming in on POP and CAESAR, standing near each other.
c.u. POP (thought v.o.)
(observing GARGANTUA)
His tattoo is gone, just a bloody wound where
it was, that means...
(spoken)
Hey, Gargantua isn't John Burden any more!
CAESAR
What do you think, Twiller?
TWILLER
Hell, that man ain't Burden. No fuckin way.
CAESAR
Hmm. Guess Pop just fantasized it. Getting
senile.
cut to:
UP ON TIERS
Several GUARDS are taking STRONGSON away to the infirmary,
his skin has been ripppped up pretty badly and now he's
bleeding. But he is alive.
GARGANTUA slumps against the tier railing, looking manic and
exhausted: sweating, breathing raggedly. STANDWELL arrives
and sees that GARGANTUA is in bad shape.
STANDWELL
Gargantua, are you...oh man, you look like
you're about to explode!
GARGANTUA
Yes, I am--
He sees DOC NIIDLE and the WARDEN rushing into the block.
(cont.)
--wait, there's Doc Niidle.
He leaps down from the 2nd tier, landing in front of DR
NIIDLE.
GARGANTUA
Doc, my system is still accelerating. What
can I do?
NIIDLE
Oh my, I don't have any depressants here...I...
oh...ah...there's nothing I can do in time!
GARGANTUA
Wrednek, give me the 99 keys!
WREDNEK
Huh? I don't have...
(checking his pockets,
he finds them)
...wait, what are these? How did I get
them?
Keys in hand, GARGANTUA runs from the Cell Block at very high
speed.
NIIDLE
(calling futily)
Gargantua, where are you going?
cut to:
INT. BEFORE TATTO MASTER'S CELL - DARK
GARGANTUA faces the TATTOO MASTER, standing as if at
attention before the cell. With respect, rather than
anger.
GARGANTUA
Have you tested me to your satisfaction?
TATTOO MASTER
Yes. And you have proved a worthy man,
Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
Good. Now I will test you.
With a swipe of his arm the bars of the cell are shattered
and are gone. The TATTOO MASTER holds his hands up to
protect himself from flying metal.
(cont.)
Save me...before my heart...
GARGANTUA gags, collapses backwards, passing out dramatically.
fade to black.
fade into TATTOO MASTER'S CELL - LATER
Candle light. GARGANTUA is lying on his back, shirt off,
looking dead. Then he blinks and looks around, apparently
calm and refreshed. The TATTOO MASTER sits beside him,
cleaning his tattoo equipment, having finished his latest
work of art.
GARGANTUA
I feel good.
TATTOO MASTER
(friendly smile)
And you always shall. Your body is in balance
now. You are released from the AET life cycle,
this tattoo has made you self-sufficient.
c.u. of the small tattoo on GARGANTUA's chest.
GARGANTUA sits up, flexes his shoulders and neck.
GARGANTUA
Well...I thank you.
TATTOO MASTER
You are also no longer a slave to the State,
in servitude to their programming. You are
free now, a Master of Life.
GARGANTUA
That's good. But I think I shall continue
doing what I do. I enjoy being a master of
that.
TATTOO MASTER
Good. As the Chinese say, "before
enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying
water...after enlightenment, chopping wood and
carrying water."
They both laugh simultaneously.
TATTOO MASTER
But is there nothing you would change from
your life as an AET?
GARGANTUA
Yes. The Earth Demon was right. I need
to know compassion, friendship, love, those
human emotions. People have touched me, and
now they matter to me: Standwell, Mestizo,
Rosie, even Sgt Crust. You.
TATTOO MASTER
Gargantua, I have a confession to make: when
I did your tattoo it was to save your life,
but I impulsively added a little flourish. A
signature, as it were. I couldn't help it,
I'm an artist. It assured that you would like
me. Not forget me. Love me as a father.
Can you forgive me that?
GARGANTUA
Forgive? I must thank you once again. You
have opened the door to my feelings.
TATTOO MASTER
Do you fear that those feelings will
compromise your role as a prison guard?
GARGANTUA
They will change me, of that I have no doubt.
Whether for the better or the worse remains
to be seen.
But I was already changed. Although I have
exorcised John Burden, I clearly remember how
bad it was to be slave to the self and
prisoner of guilt. All those prisoners
upstairs are not so fortunate as I, who was
made free.
TATTOO MASTER
No. Gargantua, you made yourself free. Just
as each man upstairs, and anywhere, must
create the perception of his own freedom. I
myself have remained in this cell for 40 years,
a self-imposed illusion of imprisonment. Why?
Because I feared my power to be greater than
my compassion. And so I tested you, for we
are the same. Your victory is mine, my son.
end of scene.
INT. HALLWAY BEFORE ELEVATOR
The elevator door OPENS, GARGANTUA steps out, uniform
tattered, shirt open, but himself looking tall and strong, as
if he had just ascended from a victorious quest into the
Underworld and been bequeathed with new powers, etc.
There is traffic, CONS and GUARDS passing by. STANDWELL
happens to be one of them.
STANDWELL
(concerned)
Gargantua, there you are! Are you okay?
GARGANTUA
I'm fine, Standwell, the crisis is over. Oh,
and thanks for helping up on the tier.
CONS IN HALLWAY
Hey, guys, he's alive!
A CROWD gathers, all well-wishers and hero-worshippers in the
happy ending tradition.
CONS IN CROWD
Hey cop, good show!/
Far out, you saved us all!/
Wayta go!
GIRLGUY
(approaching)
Officer Gargantua, I want to be an AET like
you. Where do I sign up?
GARGANTUA
Really? Why?
GIRLGUY
It's better than life in prison, or suicide.
I'd be a superman. Of use to society...and
free of guilt.
GARGANTUA
Well, I don't know...ah...
He sees DR NIIDLE approaching through the crowd along with
WARDEN.
(cont.)
...go see Dr Niidle
there.
NIIDLE
(rushing up)
John, we've got to get you to the lab! Tests,
shots, graphs...
GARGANTUA
Later, I'm fine for now.
NIIDLE
What? How can you be?
GARGANTUA
Magic.
NIIDLE gives him an incredulous look. Before he can formulate
a scientific protest the WARDEN is there.
WARDEN
A good job on that Strongson affair, Gargantua.
And I got a report on that Big Yard riot--well
handled.
end of scene.
INT. HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
WREDNEK is standing in the hallway, GARGANTUA walks past.
WREDNEK
(amazed)
Gargantua, you're alive? You should be in
the hospital! Or dead.
GARGANTUA
(not pausing to talk)
No, I'm fine. Thanks to you.
WREDNEK is boggled, mouth open, in vast confusion as he
watches GARGANTUA pass. And a little bit afraid.
WREDNEK
(muttering)
Thanks to me...?
end of scene.
INT. SGT'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
SGT CRUST is sitting at his desk. GARGANTUA walks in and
picks up a stack of Incident Report Forms.
CRUST
(surprised)
You're alive!
GARGANTUA
Yes, I know that, Sgt Crust.
(smiles a little)
SGT CRUST wonders for a moment if GARGANTUA was actually
being humorous.
CRUST
What are you doing here?
GARGANTUA
I came to write up the proper Incident
Report Forms before shift change.
CRUST
Hrmpf! You're incredible, Gargantua.
GARGANTUA
Just doing my job, Sgt Crust.
CRUST
Well, I have to go see the Warden. You can
have the office to yourself for a while.
GARGANTUA
Okay.
SGT CRUST leaves. GARGANTUA sits at a desk and starts to
write, then notices the telephone on the desk. He considers
it for a moment, then picks up the phone book beside it.
fade to a few moments later:
GARGANTUA
(into telephone)
Miss Nice--I mean Rosie? This is Gargantua.
ROSIE (v.o.)
Oh, uh, yeah...hi.
GARGANTUA
I believe I must have scared you last night,
for which I apologize. I'd really like to
meet you and explain what happened.
cut to:
INT. ROSIE IN THE RESTAURANT -EVENING
ROSIE
Does it matter? You told me to forget you,
so I will.
GARGANTUA (telephone v.o.)
I wasn't free to respond to you then, now I am.
I'd really like to see you. Dinner, perhaps.
ROSIE
Uh...look, I don't think there's any point to
that, uh, John.
cut back to:
GARGANTUA
This is Gargantua, not John. "John's"
personality was the effect of an involuntary
mind-alternating something forced upon me. I
am not that guy.
cut to:
ROSIE
Oh? Well, I'd really like to believe that.
I didn't like "John" and, well, I felt pretty
sad that "Gargantua" was lost. But, well...
how dumb do you think I am?
GARGANTUA (v.o.)
Listen to my voice, Rosie. You knew when
there was something wrong with me, why can't
you know when I'm telling the truth?
ROSIE
Mmmm, yeah, heh heh. Got me there.
cut to:
GARGANTUA
I'm back, Rosie, and with an interesting tale
to tell.
cut to:
ROSIE
You know, I DO believe you. All right, meet
me in the restaurant after work.
GARGANTUA (v.o.)
Oh boy.
end of scene
EXT. OUTSIDE PRISON BUILDING - NIGHT
Shift change, 10:00 pm, Guards are walking to their cars.
STANDWELL is on his way out when GARGANTUA leaves as well.
STANDWELL
Hey, whew what a day, eh Gargantua? I'm sure
glad it's shift change at last. And weekend!
GARGANTUA
So am I. Happy, in fact.
STANDWELL
Hmmm? You know, that's the first time I've
ever say you were "happy" about anything.
Good sign, maybe AET stoicism isn't total
after all.
GARGANTUA
Well, it's been a dramatic day, brings on
changes.
STANDWELL
I guess. Well then, Gargantua, how do you
feel about your life?
GARGANTUA
Feel about my life? Why, I feel...like this!
GARGANTUA spreads his arms wide, to embrace the world, a
great smile on his face, and he springs up into the air and
clicks his heels, still going up, and up, and up in slo-mo.
end of movie.
3R
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