[On bullhorn to Evan]
Before you murder us, make up some bullshit why it had to be done. Look at all these people who know, the truth. Are you willing to kill all of them? Because I am. I'm holding on to this bullhorn with my right hand. My left hand is in my front pouch, wrapped around 12 pounds of black Irish. [Supporters get spooked] When I used to work at Network Public Utility, you get these two ton fatbergs, take less than a gram to blow those up. Twelve pounds. It'll vaporize everything in a half mile radius. [Supporters all turn running]
[Into his bullhorn]
Bullshit. BFE 20 is the most highly regulated industrial explosive and you haven't even set foot in a state that sells it.
Guess Molie didn't tell you everything. I got my finger stuck in the detonator ring and it's on half ****. [Evan hands bullhorn to subordinate] So, I want one of those big fancy flying V airplanes. [Evan takes off sunglasses] I want two auto shoots handed to Amelia at the bottom of the ramp. If the shoots are sabotaged, if you make any sudden moves, [Evan cleans sunglasses with shirt] if you don't back those trucks up and let me on that tarmac right **** now, you won't even hear it go boom. I'll just see you in hell and let you laugh in your face. You got one minute. [Throws bullhorn on ground and closes vehicle door] Shouldn't take long. He's got a direct line to the boss. Last chance to run.
No. You made me feel like I'm the bad guy. Now I have to prove I'm not.
Why don't you give a shit what I think?
You're not the one I'm trying to prove it to. So what's our plan?
I'm gonna convince them your handbag is a bomb long enough to bail out over Canada. They'll never let me win, so I'm gonna slip out the back door and wait out the clock. We just have to keep the audience entertained until that jet crosses the border.
What if they call your bluff?
You make sure they know it's real. Get scared, freak out. Curse, scream. Call me the worst names possible. Just remember, everything bad, it's all good Free-Vee. Act terrified when McCone hands you the chutes.
He grabs his gun, you'll know it's time to go off. [Amelia boards plane] So, you think you're the guy who stops me from seeing my daughter again?
Show starts at eight. Get on the plane.
Only if you take your mask off. Audience will love it.
Dan Killian [Over commlink]
Do what he says.
[Holds finger to commlink]
No copy.
Dan Killian Do what he says. [He complies and Ben boards plane]
FO First Officer Dunninger
The seatbelt sign is now off. Feel free to move about the cabin.
Hey Richards, six minutes to showtime. You should get that last meal before they clear me to blow your head off in front of a couple billion people.
Oh yeah? You know, you should really put some makeup on before the show starts.
[Throws magazine aside and gets up]
**** the show! Let's go!
[Gets up]
You want to go? We can all go right now!
[Gets up and stands between Ben and Evan]
No, no, no! Just stop!
Show him the bomb! Show it to him before he shoots you and kills us all!
[Attempts to grab her wrist and she pulls back]
Ma'am.
[Walks up to Ben]
No, just show it! [Evan pulls her away] 'Cause I don't want to feel like this anymore! Do you **** hear me?! I'm done!
I'm **** done! [Evan seats her]
[Walks up to Ben]
Alright Richards, what if I offer you an amnesty deal and an exit visa?
You're nothing but a Halloween costume. You can't offer me shit!
Dan Killian [Appears on overhead screen]
Too true, Mr. Richards. He can't. But I can.
How about I offer you a deal? You tell your hunters in the cockpit to do what I tell them. Otherwise... I blow up this jet and everyone on it!
Dan Killian Ben, I admire your commitment to the bet but we're short on time so... I'll be blunt. We know you're bluffing. The Flying V Mark II has scanners built into the doors. It's been wildly entertaining. But you can give Amelia her lovely handbag back now. [Evan laughs, Ben sits and takes out Amelia's bag, throws it on ground and Evan walks up to Ben with gun drawn] Evan? Evan, don't.
NO Navigation Officer Donaghy
[With guns drawn with co-pilot]
Safety of that weapon, sir.
Dan Killian Evan, are you insane? The show hasn't even started. Hand over your gun and go to the back of the jet. [Evan hands over gun to pilot] Thank you. [Evan walks to back] You can remain there until I say otherwise. I need a moment to have a word with Mr. Richards. To discuss a sensitive matter. [Dan appears on screen near Ben] Let's keep this between us. You know, it wasn't too long ago that someone with my job thought it was more important to force some hypocritical moral message down society's throat than to simply entertain them. They forgot about the power of illusion, the power of the star, which is what you are, Richards. And this is why we want to offer you your own show. Now picture it. A former runner, redeemed through righteous vengeance, turns his life around to become a lethal force for good. They call him... The Hunter. The board has authorized me to pay you five million new dollars per season. There's only one condition. Sit back, watch the intro, and when Bobby cues you, kill every hunter on that jet. Conditions met, I'll remote pilot you back to the studio jet port where the president of the United States will induct you as hunter number six. [Waves hand] Another title idea I'm playing with. The data says the revenge plot... revenge.
Revenge for what? Who is gonna root for a guy who kills your national heroes? [Dan squints eyes] I call bullshit, Dan. [Dan waves hand]
Dan Killian Let me worry about the creative.
No deal. The truth, then.
Dan Killian Revenge for your wife and child.
Why would I ever believe you?
Dan Killian Because. If they were still alive, I'd hold them at gunpoint and force you to do whatever I want. And torture them right in front of you. I didn't want to show you this. But I'm out of time to save your life. [Screen shows footage of hit squad arriving at apartment door] The hunter you killed was part of a tight crew. McCone and the men in that cockpit flew to Co-Op City, to Sheila and Kathy's secret uptown location.
Dan Killian They badged their way past the family alliance agents and... I'm sorry, Ben. Not all accidents are happy. [Hit squad opens fire into apartment and Ben screams primally hitting screen] We want you to win. The audience is already on your side. Once I show them footage of McCone and his men killing your family, they will follow you into hell. Think of what this does for your narrative. Thirty seconds to showtime, Ben. You'll find a gun by the coffee station in the galley. But if you don't sign before the theme music ends, I'll order the bastards that killed your family to kill you, too. [Ben grabs screen out of stand and smashes it on table]
[Amelia pushes Free-Vee button on armrest and a screen turns tuned into The Running Man show, Bobby to audience]
Everyone, everyone. Please settle. Now, now. [To camera] We start today's episode with a heavy heart. We here at the Running Man believe in following the rules. So it pains me to tell you that one of our most important rules has been broken by the very men we entrust to enforce them. Chief McCone and his hunters. And that rule is... [holds up cue cards] we protect the Runner's family from harm. No one would play if we didn't. We thought it only fair to let Richards administer the penalty for this grave infraction. [First Officer Duninger gets gun] As we go live to Richards, we pray he has what it takes.
FO First Officer Duninger
[To Ben]
Hey, Richards. You making coffee?
Yeah. How do you take it?! [Shoots Duninger and engages two other pilots in struggle for firearms, causing the plane to drop down]
AV Automated voice
Altitude alert. Remote pilot engaged. Disengaged. [Finishes off two pilots in free fall] Altitude alert. Remote pilot engaged.
And then... there was one. Three hunters down. But the deadliest among them is still somewhere on this jet.
[Opens cockpit door and she gasps with her holding parachute pack]
He took the other parachute. I couldn't stop him.
Strap that on. Keep your head down.
The prey has become the predator. Evan cone is trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Mr. Williams is checking all of the flying V's in executive toilets. It's four. The fuse has been lit. It's just a matter of time. Okay, here we go. The moment of truth.
[Kicks open lav door to find it empty]
Six, bitch.
Uh-oh. That's gotta be disappointing. The tension is higher than ever Running fans. It all comes down to this.
[Evan knocks down Ben]
Ben! [Evan hoists up Ben]
[Shoves Ben into a lav]
You wanna know who's stopping you from seeing your kid again? You! [Smacks Ben's head against a mirror shattering it.
That had to hurt! [Ben smashes Evan into a mirror]
[Evan slashes Ben's abdomen with a mirror knife]
Oh, no. Richards has taken a savage blow!
Shut the **** up Bobby! [To Ben, taking off sunglasses] If this is how they fire me, what do you think they'll do to you? Chump. You think you're the only Runner ever got offered a deal? You think surviving two weeks and change makes you big shit? [Pulls mirror shard out of left eye] Try 29 days. What's more likely? A: I killed your family. B: Killian sold you just the right lie to get a bloodbath season finale. Or C: you're too **** stupid to figure it out? [Picks up gun from floor] Take it from someone who took the deal to be a hunter instead of the hunted. The only time you'll ever see your family again is when they torture them in front of you. [Loads magazine in gun] **** with your head enough to make you wanna kill it all away.
You're full of shit. You're all full of shit.
Truth is...? [Aims gun at Ben and Amelia gasps] ...I'm doing you a favor. [McCone shoots, but misses as the plane tips and the interior loses air pressure]
AV Automated voice
Cabin pressure compromised. Emergency doors disarmed.
Hey, Killian! You think I need a gun to waste this loser?! [To Ben, who he pulls a knife on] You outran Fate. You can't hide from Destiny! This is my show now! [Ben activates McCone's parachute, pinning him against the wall of the plane. Ben stalks up to him] Do it, tough guy! See if I twitch!
[Stabs the hunter in the chest]
That's game!
I'm sorry they did this to you!
It's a sign! I'm not supposed to... [gets sucked out door, to camera ball] Stop **** filming me! Assholes!
[Ben enters cockpit]
Richards lives, ladies and gentlemen! Keep going kid! You've got this! Ben Richards, you are the man! We have command of the jet! Our best trauma surgeons are already on the tarmac, ready to patch you up as good as new. [Holds finger to commmlink] But wait. Making his Free-Vee debut with a special message. The creator of Running Man, super producer, Dan Killian!
Dan Killian [Appears on screen of stage]
Mr. Richards, we here at the network believe you embody the raw strength and salt-of-the-earth moral backbone this country stands for. And we want... No. We need to see more.
IC Introducing commercial voiceover
[Faked footage of Ben as a Hunter on a motorcyle aiming a gun]
This summer, Ben Richards is... Hunter 6!
Dan Killian Congratulations, Ben. [Holds up and parts both spread hands] And welcome to the network family!
I already got a family. Did you kill them or not, Dan? [Screen blacks out]
AM Audience member
**** you Dan!
Give it up for Dan Killian! Come on. We're live. How many times do you get to tell two billion people how you really feel? How does it feel to be a hero, Ben?
Nothing I've done on this show makes me a hero. I tried to be a hero once. And they blacklisted my ass. My daughter got sick. This is the only job I could get. Seems like the whole point of Free-Vee is to make us hate each other. So they can keep stealing from us. While we fight in the mud. You want the truth. Turn it off. We are all being **** by the network. Find out who really runs it. Record. Report them. Get their names. You just met one of them. Dan Killian. You remember that face. Don't watch Free-Ve. Watch who pays for it. Turn it off.
Dan Killian [Does slow clap]
Great speech. Too bad I'm the only one who saw it. We've been on an ad break since you said nothing you did on the show made you a hero. You think it was worth it? You think your little rant makes you a martyr? We're going live again in 30. And this time you'll play your part. Because if not, we're gonna run this instead. [Plays faked clip]
I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it!
Dan Killian Work with me, Richards. Don't throw your life away. Don't make me fly that jet into the network building. They'll blow you out of the sky.
Are they dead or alive, Dan?
Dan Killian Who?
Dan Killian Who cares? If I told you they were alive, would you even believe me? We are alive in five, four, [Ben holds up three finger in countdown sync] three, two, [Ben displays middle finger] one. [Does a hand sweep] Okay, have it your way.
I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it! I will see you in hell and laugh in your face!
Ben, are you insane? There's 5,000 innocent people in this building.
AV Automated voice
Remote pilot engaged.
Dan Killian Look at what you've done. You happy?
I told you I was gonna **** you up.
Dan Killian Yeah.
AV Automated voice
Warning. Collision alert.
AV Automated voice
Missile inbound. Missile inbound. [Missile implodes plane]
[Witnessing audience chanting "Richards Lives!" from backstage]
Goddamn, Richards! You are indeed a tough act to follow. [Turns and walks]
Dan Killian Where do you think you're going?
You don't hear that? I'd say that's invaluable. Valuable audience feedback, Dan.
Dan Killian No, no, no, no, no. You get back out there and you do your job.
How about you do my job? [Hands microphone to Dan and walks]
Dan Killian Hey, we've been crushing the ratings for twenty years. I own that audience. You don't think I can turn this around?
[Turns to Dan]
You're the one who wanted to make him a star, Dan. Mission accomplished. It's his show now. [Turns and two security men aims their guns at Bobby]
Dan Killian You think he can just walk?
[Lowers security guns with his hands]
Sweeties, please. [Turns to Dan] Take another look at my contract. Page 42, paragraph 6. There's a special clause. And the smallest of clauses. The print that reads, **** YOU!
C Coordinator
Ten seconds!
Ten seconds, Dan. [Walks away between security men] Coco, come on, let's go.
Dan Killian You know what? **** that! This is my house! I set the rules! Max the theme, drown them out! [Walks onto stage only to realize out-of-control unruliness of fire-bombing audience and Ben emerges with a gun from audience]
Dan Killian No.
Dan Killian No.
Two, one. And action. [Ben shoots at Dan]
