The Blunt Edge
By
Joseph Baker
Copyright © 2014 Joseph Baker
All Rights Reserved.
[email protected]
1
FADE IN:
EXT. ISOLATED BEACH – EARLY MORNING
A young BOY builds a sandcastle near the water’s edge when a
dark shape rising from the water catches his attention.
Huh?
BOY
It’s a SCUBA-DIVER. He has a Hydro-Drive Propulsion Device
strapped to his back and carries a multi-shot spear gun.
The Boy drops his shovel, amazed.
Wow.
BOY
The Scuba-Diver removes his face-mask to reveal SEYMOUR BLUNT
Late thirties, rough but handsome, strong physique. He drops
the spear gun and hydro-drive next to the sandcastle, as His wrist-watch BEEPS. He glances at it:
WRIST-WATCH DISPLAY: “Mission Status?”
He punches a button, and WRIST-WATCH DISPLAY: “Mission Failed”
BLUNT
(softly)
Bugger.
Then, glancing at the boy, sheepish BLUNT
Boo! Buga-boo.
He has an Australian accent, noticeable, but not too strong.
He looks at the sandcastle and a smile of remembrance
flickers in his eyes. He gives the boy a wink.
BLUNT
Nice castle.
The Boy smiles with pride, speechless, as Blunt unzips the scuba-suit and drops it on the hydro-drive.
2
Now, he’s wearing Billabong surf shorts and a sleeveless
Australian Football guernsey. He gives the Boy a stern look.
BLUNT
Don’t touch kid. Not your stuff.
Then, he starts walking purposefully up the beach.
BOY
No way, mister.
Without looking back, Blunt clicks a button on his watch and
an ominous BEEP emanates from the pile of equipment.
Cool.
BOY
He watches Blunt disappear over the dunes and has just
returned to building his sandcastle, when, suddenly Blunt reappears, running, carrying a surf-board. He plunges
into the waves and paddles his way out to sea.
Wow.
BOY
EXT. PAKISTAN – LAHORE - SAFE-HOUSE - MORNING
A roof-top perspective shows neighborhood bustle.
SUPER: “Lahore, Pakistan”
A black SUV is picked out coming down the street. It HONKS
at some boys playing soccer, dispersing them, and pulls up
at the safe-house door. The street is now much quieter.
Then, the SUV’s doors open. Meanwhile INT. LAHORE - SAFE-HOUSE - INTERROGATION ROOM - MORNING
Three Iranian intelligence agents are seated at a table:
OMAR (31), IBRAAM (27) and SAIID (25).
They glance at the closed door, nervous, until The door opens, and Two Pakistanis enter: DR. HAAMZA (51) and COLONEL AKBAR
(63). Both wear suits, but Akbar’s is much more expensive.
3
AKBAR
Good morning. I trust you found the
safe house without too much
trouble. Do you have my money?
OMAR
Yes.
AKBAR
Show it to me?
OMAR
Show me the control unit first.
Akbar motions to Haamza, who opens a Uranium Control Unit
Briefcase, revealing a computer screen and keyboard inside.
Omar leans forward to examine the contents more closely.
OMAR
Is the software loaded?
HAAMZA
Dr. Khan programmed it himself.
Satisfied, Omar motions to Ibraam, who opens a black
briefcase, fully stacked with $100 bills.
OMAR
Do you want to count it?
AKBAR
That won’t be necessary. I know
where to find you, if need be.
Omar closes the control unit briefcase, and starts to say:
OMAR
It’s been a pleasure -But he’s interrupted by these simultaneous events:
- A muted explosion;
- The door bursts inward;
- The light-bulb hanging from the ceiling shatters.
Followed in quick succession by:
- A flash grenade explodes;
- The room fills with smoke;
4
- Red laser beams emanate from the doorway.
Then THREE SWISS MERCENARIES
They burst into the room and quickly fan out in smooth
coordinated movements. Each wears night-vision goggles and
carries an MP-5 close-quarter sub-machine gun with silencer.
MERCENARY-1 NIGHT VISION POV: Scanning the room, finds Omar,
near the table, stunned, hands still on the metal briefcase.
A red laser dot appears on his temple, and –
THUNK! Omar crumples.
MERCENARY-1
Bravo down.
Meanwhile, Mercenary-2 sweeping the room finds Akbar
reaching for a weapon inside his suit jacket, and –
THUNK! He takes one in the back of the head.
MERCENARY-2
Alpha, clear.
Also, Mercenary-3 finds Ibraam, seated, resigned, waiting
for the end, and –
THUNK-THUNK-THUNK! It comes with three to the chest.
MERCENARY-3
Charlie, clear.
Then, alerted by movement under the table, he pivots, and THUNK! Saiid gets it right between the eyes.
MERCENARY-3
Delta makes four.
Now, huddled in the corner is Dr. Haamza, whimpering. Three
laser dots appear on his forehead and merge to become one.
HAAMZA
Please, I have a family.
A fourth mercenary enters the room. This is KARL-HEINZ
CARUSO: late-thirties, pale, aristocratic, sadistic.
5
CARUSO
Now, now, Dr. Haamza - it is Dr.
Haamza, right?
Haamza nods, weakly. Caruso squats before him, affable.
CARUSO
And I am Karl-Heinz Caruso.
Everything’s going to be alright,
just you wait and see. I only need
to ask a couple of questions. Okay?
Haamza nods again, uncertain, but calmer, as Caruso’s mood suddenly shifts to anger.
CARUSO
(yelling)
Where are the uranium fuel rods?
HAAMZA
(startled)
On a ship in Karachi Harbor.
CARUSO
How much is it carrying?
HAAMZA
508 assemblies.
Satisfied, Caruso’s mood becomes affable again.
CARUSO
Excellent. More than enough to
power the Genesis Machine. And the
ship is bound for Bushehr, yes?
Haamza nods, anxious to please.
CARUSO
When does it leave?
HAAMZA
Tomorrow morning, at dawn.
CARUSO
How many guards?
HAAMZA
Don’t know for sure. Not many,
maybe ten.
Enraged, Caruso raises his pistol to Haamza’s head.
6
CARUSO
Let’s try this again, shall we?
(louder)
How-Many-Guards-On-Board?
HAAMZA
(blubbering)
Ten! Yes, definitely. Ten! I heard
them talking.
Pleased, Caruso lowers the pistol, turning to Mercenary-1:
CARUSO
Can you handle that?
MERCENARY-1
No worries.
CARUSO
Good. Not long now boys. Homecoming
is close at hand.
Gleefully, he jumps to his feet, grinning ear-to-ear.
CARUSO
Thank you, Dr. Haamza. You have
been most helpful. One last
question though. What’s the name of
the ship?
HAAMZA
(panicked)
I don’t know... I’m sorry... I
wasn’t given that information.
CARUSO
(smile widening)
I guess we kept the wrong guy alive
then, didn’t we?
He turns his back and starts to leave.
Kill him.
But --
CARUSO
HAAMZA
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! Haamza takes three in the chest, as Caruso gestures and the mercenaries exit, guns at the ready.
Caruso follows, carrying the uranium control unit briefcase.
7
But left behind, is the black suitcase, open on the table:
Still filled with money.
INT. UNI HEADQUARTERS, CORRIDOR - DAY
Seymour Blunt steps out of an elevator and walks down a busy
corridor bustling with people of different nationalities.
SUPER: “United Nations Intelligence (UNI) Headquarters”
He bumps into MACCA, a huge block of a man, late-thirties,
brash and endlessly cheerful. Both men smile.
MACCA
Blunt! Mate! How’s it been?
Macca speaks with a thick Australian drawl.
BLUNT
Hey Macca. Seen better days.
MACCA
Yeah. I heard. What now?
BLUNT
Jump back in. Trail’s still hot.
Got a new lead.
MACCA
And you’re sure about this one?
BLUNT
Damn sure. Why?
Macca hesitates, uncertain to speak his mind, until MACCA
I’m worried about you.
BLUNT
Worried? Why?
MACCA
Well, for starters, I haven’t seen
you in yonks. That’s not like you.
BLUNT
I’ve been busy.
MACCA
So busy you can’t give me a ring?
8
BLUNT
Yeah. What is this anyway? Why you
busting my balls all of a sudden?
MACCA
Like I said, I’m worried. You
seem....
What?
BLUNT
MACCA
Tightly wound.
BLUNT
What’s that supposed to mean? You
think I’m losing my edge, or
something?
MACCA
No, you’re the best, no question.
Nobody drills deeper. It’s just...
What?
Nothing.
BLUNT
MACCA
BLUNT
No. Tell me.
Macca hesitates again but musters the courage to say it all.
MACCA
Okay. You’ve lost objectivity.
BLUNT
Is that so?
MACCA
Yeah. You’re fixated.
BLUNT
Fixated!? About Shane, huh?
MACCA
Yeah. It’s not healthy
BLUNT
Well I make no apologies for that.
I need to finish what I started.
9
MACCA
Look, I get it. I understand. It’s
just...
What?
BLUNT
MACCA
How can you be sure this
“Quartermaster” evil genius of
yours was actually responsible? The
newspapers said an Indonesian
Jihadi group did it.
BLUNT
(frustrated)
They outsourced it to him. That’s
the point. Terrorist groups pay him
to plan and carry out this shit.
Then they take full credit.
MACCA
So you say. But what do you really
know about him?
BLUNT
Everything!
MACCA
Except, where he is or what he
looks like. How are you even going
to know it’s him, if and when you
actually find him?
BLUNT
(excited)
That’s just it, my new lead.
He pulls a Spider Sketch from his pocket.
BLUNT
He has this tattooed on his wrist.
Macca glances at the spider sketch, unconvinced.
MACCA
Come on, mate. Get real. You could
spend years searching for a guy
with a tattoo like that and never
find him. What then? Do you keep on
searching, forever?
BLUNT
If it comes to that, yes.
10
MACCA
Jesus, Blunt! Is that really the
best way to honor Shane’s memory?
BLUNT
Blood oath!
MACCA
Look, I may be way out of line
here, but I think Shane would
expect more from you than this.
BLUNT
More?!
MACCA
Yeah. More.
BLUNT
More what?
MACCA
A finished cabin, for one thing.
When’s the last time you worked on
it?
BLUNT
Can’t remember.
MACCA
That’s what I’m talking about, man.
Finish it. Shane would want that.
BLUNT
I need to finish this first.
Blunt’s eyes go distant, troubled.
Macca gently puts a hand on his shoulder.
MACCA
Hey, he was a good kid, and he’d be
proud of what his Old Man’s doing absolutely, no question - but he’d
also want you to be happy.
BLUNT
Yeah. I know.
MACCA
When did you last talk to Sadie?
BLUNT
Months ago. She still blames me.
11
MACCA
That’s not fair. It had nothing to
do with you, a random thing.
BLUNT
Not the way she sees it. But no
matter. We were effectively over
anyway. This just sealed it. We -Macca’s wrist-watch BEEPS. He glances at it, frowning.
MACCA
Sorry mate, can’t dawdle. Been
called out on a “Search and
Destroy”. Something about a missing
uranium ship. We’ll talk more when
I get back though, okay?
BLUNT
Sure. Be safe.
Macca turns to leave but Blunt stops him BLUNT
Hey, Macca.
Yeah?
Thanks.
MACCA
BLUNT
MACCA
No worries. Timor L’Este, forever!
BLUNT
Yeah, Timor...
Macca disappears around a corner and Blunt enters INT. BLUNT’S OFFICE – DAY
On one wall is a cluster of photographs. Among them:
- Blunt, early twenties, a life-guard at Bondi Beach;
- Blunt and Macca with their SAS unit in East Timor;
- Blunt holding his new-born son, SHANE, in his arms;
- Blunt and Shane (age 6) making a sandcastle;
- Shane (age 10) smiling, next to a half-built cabin.
12
At the center, is Shane’s Painting: a sunrise in the
mountains, bursting with boyish color and joy.
On a facing wall is the Quartermaster’s Web, an intricate
mixed media collage of worldwide terrorist connections:
- Newspaper articles of bombings, kidnappings, coups, etc.
- Photographs of insurgent leaders and arms smugglers;
- Intelligence reports and financial records;
- Hand-scrawled sticky notes and journal entry pages.
Interconnections are tied together with pins and threads.
At the center, is scrawled a question:
“Who is the Quartermaster?”
Underneath is A newspaper article: “Dreamtime roller coaster bombing... 42
killed... among the dead... Shane Blunt, aged 11...”
Blunt glances at the photographs, dwelling a long time on
the one of Shane and the cabin. A smile flickers, until His gaze shifts to the painting and his eyes become wistful.
Then, he turns to face the Quartermaster’s web, scanning it,
searching for meaning, frustrated, until his eyes finally
come to rest on the question, his face hard.
Briefly, he turns back to face the photographs again, giving
one last apologetic glance at the cabin photograph, before –
Back to work! He pins the spider sketch beside the question
and starts rearranging threads in the Quartermaster’s web.
EXT. SWISS ALPS - NIGHT
It’s pitch black. Howling WIND, beating RAIN, and occasional
rumbles of distant THUNDER are heard, until –
A CABLE-CAR
It rises from the gloom, old but well-kept, lit from within.
INT. CABLE-CAR - NIGHT
Seated at one end is –
13
MRS. SOMMERS
A kept together middle-aged woman, anticipating, nervous.
Across from her sits CARUSO’S COURIER. The uranium control
unit briefcase is handcuffed to his wrist.
Ahead of the cable-car, through the windows, can be seen THE CASTLE
It looms out of the rain, its harsh forbidding features
accentuated by occasional flashes of lightning. Then EXT. SWISS ALPS - NIGHT
The cable-car disappears inside a brightly lit cave.
Above the cave opening, behind a wall is THE MANSION
An imposing gothic building with two bay windows opening
onto a courtyard. Rising into the gloom at the rear is THE TOWER
A massive rectangular structure of cold hard stone.
Through the right-side bay window, is INT. HERRMANN’S STUDY - NIGHT
It’s dimly lit, the full extent cannot be seen, but Flickering light from a fireplace reveals –
DR. VICTOR HERRMANN
Tall, late-40s, with thick silver-grey hair. Though not
overly muscular, there’s something powerful about him.
He sits at a pipe organ keyboard, playing a rancorous duet
with the storm, gesticulating wildly: exhilarating.
On a mantle above the keyboard is A HUMAN BRAIN
It floats inside a bell-jar of formaldehyde. Eventually -
14
Herrmann’s playing reaches a crescendo with the thunder then
descends onto one last note of startling sadness and beauty.
The storm subsides, and Herrmann sags, emotionally spent.
He rests a moment, then rises, striding to the bay window.
Motion-activated chandeliers brighten to reveal a vast
Victorian ballroom. He sits at a desk near the window, as The door opens, and Mrs. Sommers is escorted in by Herrmann’s assistant, OLGA:
mid-60s, masculine, cold and impersonal.
Olga carries the uranium control unit briefcase.
OLGA
Dr. Herrmann, may I present Mrs.
Samantha Sommers, just arrived from
Atlanta, Georgia.
HERRMANN
Welcome Mrs. Sommers. Please, sit.
Olga hands Herrmann the briefcase and whispers in his ear.
OLGA
This just arrived from Monte Carlo.
Mr. Caruso wants to know if the
Genesis Machine will be completed
by “Day One”, as planned.
HERRMANN
(annoyed)
Tell my nephew preparations for the
machine are proceeding on schedule.
His only concern is to make sure we
have enough uranium to power it.
Olga nods and leaves. Herrmann claps his hands together.
HERRMANN
Welcome Mrs. Sommers. I know you’ve
had a long and tiring journey so I
won’t keep you long. I just wanted
to see if you had any questions
before you check into your room.
MRS. SOMMERS
Well, perhaps one. When will you be
performing the procedure?
15
HERRMANN
That depends entirely on you. Are
you in a particular hurry?
MRS. SOMMERS
No. But plastic surgery is rather a
big step. I’m very much looking
forward to starting anew, but I’m
also somewhat nervous about it.
HERRMANN
I understand perfectly. No hurry. I
suggest you take a few days to
settle in before we get started.
Read a book. Go for some walks.
Enjoy the fresh mountain air.
MRS. SOMMERS
Yes. I think I will.
HERRMANN
Splendid. Let’s aim to have our
first appointment on Tuesday.
Mrs. Sommers rises from her chair.
MRS. SOMMERS
Okay. But now, Dr. Herrmann, I’d
like to check into my room please.
Certainly.
HERRMANN
They head to the door and arrive as it’s opened, by Olga.
Herrmann clicks his heels together and bows.
HERRMANN
A very good night, Mrs. Sommers.
MRS. SOMMERS
And you too, Dr. Herrmann.
OLGA
Follow me please.
Olga and Mrs. Sommers leave.
Herrmann closes the door and the chandeliers darken again.
He resumes his seat at the organ keyboard and retrieves a
photograph from the mantle: Herrmann (age 10) in a school
uniform, standing with his mother. The photograph reveals -
16
Herrmann’s mother has a strong resemblance to Mrs. Sommers.
He replaces the photograph and starts playing the organ
again, softly, while speaking to his long dead mother.
ON THE PHOTOGRAPH: Herrmann is happy; his mother looks kind.
HERRMANN (O.S.)
Well, Mother, I think we’ve finally
found her.
ON HERRMANN: Smiling, child-like, creepy.
Likewise, the MUSIC is happy but kind of creepy too.
HERRMANN
And just in time. The Genesis
Machine is almost ready.
WIDER: To reveal he isn’t speaking to the photo, at all HERRMANN
It’s a pity I had to involve KarlHeinz though.
No, he’s talking to the Human Brain.
HERRMANN
His ambitions for the machine are
disturbing. But I couldn’t have
done it without his men and money.
The MUSIC rises in tempo and volume. The THUNDER resumes.
HERRMANN
I know I disappointed you last
time, Mother. I’m not sure why. But
now, we have a second chance.
The MUSIC reaches a final crescendo as the storm peaks in
one last resounding clap of THUNDER and flash of lightning.
HERRMANN
This time, I’ll make you proud of
me, Mother. You’ll see.
The fire dies. And the room becomes dark and silent.
INT. BLUNT’S OFFICE – DAY
Blunt is still working at the Quartermaster’s web, when –
RING! He answers his phone. Angry CHATTER emanates from it.
17
BLUNT
(into the phone)
Yes sir, got in last night.
(listens)
It’s in my report, typing it now.
(listens)
Okay, okay, on my way.
He hangs up and walks into the hallway. Moments later INT. SINGH’S OFFICE - DAY
Blunt sits across a desk from GAJENDRA SINGH: mid-fifties,
Nepalese, authoritative. He wears a Dhaka Topi hat.
SINGH
Look Blunt, this amount of
collateral damage is unacceptable.
He’s holding a photograph of a smashed up restaurant.
SINGH
You call this “under cover”?
BLUNT
Fair go, boss. There were three of
them.
SINGH
Yeah. And now, all three are
chilling together at the morgue.
BLUNT
What can I say? Undercover work can
be brutal.
SINGH
Brutal, yes, but not barbaric.
There’s a difference. You’re
skating far too close to the edge.
BLUNT
Edge of what?
SINGH
What separates us from them.
Blunt’s eyes narrow, in anger. But he collects himself.
BLUNT
Okay, point taken. Can I go now?
Singh shoots him a withering glare.
18
SINGH
Why? Are you busy?
BLUNT
Yes. I have a new lead.
SINGH
Not today. I have a real job for
you. Arrived this morning.
He pulls a file from a huge pile on his desk.
But --
BLUNT
SINGH
Look Blunt, I’ve given you way too
much leeway on this Quartermaster
obsession of yours. Time to rein
you in and get you back on task.
This one’s a ticking time-bomb, and
I need you on it – now! Capiche?
BLUNT
Okay, okay. What are the stakes?
SINGH
Loose uranium.
Blunt raises an eyebrow, suddenly eager.
BLUNT
Fill me in.
Singh opens the file and scans through it as he speaks.
SINGH
Two months ago our people in Lahore
tapped into some chatter on the
A.Q. Khan network: a big uranium
deal going down with the Iranians.
BLUNT
Let me guess: the Iranians are
trying to open a back channel with
the Pakistanis to keep their
nuclear program active, away from
the watchful eyes of UN inspectors.
SINGH
Something like that, yes.
BLUNT
So what’s our posture?
19
SINGH
Until last week, sit tight in the
shadows and monitor negotiations.
We were hoping to flush some of
Khan’s “big fish” into the open.
BLUNT
What’s changed?
SINGH
There’s been some sort of doublecross. Three dead Iranians at a
Lahore safe-house, and a whole
bunch of Khan’s men dead too.
BLUNT
I see. And the uranium?
SINGH
Gone. The day after the hit on the
safe-house, a ship mysteriously
sank off the coast of Karachi. We
believe it was carrying the uranium
and was probably hijacked.
BLUNT
Jesus! Hijacked by whom?
SINGH
Most likely, this fellow.
Singh passes a photograph of Caruso to Blunt.
SINGH
This was taken near the Lahore
safe-house two days before everyone
inside ended up dead.
BLUNT
Nasty looking customer.
SINGH
Yes, he seems a most unpleasant
man: Karl-Heinz Caruso, a Swiss
mercenary and arms smuggler, as
best we can make out.
Blunt’s interest intensifies. He stares at the photograph.
BLUNT
Is he connected with terrorism?
20
SINGH
No. Some right-wing agitation
during his student days, but
nothing serious, purely political.
BLUNT
What was his beef?
SINGH
Swiss neutrality. He formed a
political action committee, the
“Reislaufer Group”, with the stated
goal of reversing the policy.
BLUNT
Is there a constituency for that?
SINGH
Apparently not. He left Switzerland
in disgust about 8 years ago and
has been a mercenary for hire ever
since. His core operation seems to
be propping up African rebel
groups. That’s what makes this
business so puzzling. Uranium
smuggling is not his usual style.
Blunt stares again at the photograph.
BLUNT
Where is he now?
SINGH
Not sure. He quickly dropped out of
sight in Lahore but he’s known to
frequent the Casino Triomphe in
Monte Carlo. That’s as good a place
as any to get started.
He pauses for dramatic effect, amused.
SINGH
You’ll need a tux.
BLUNT
(not amused)
Ummm... yeah. Is that all?
SINGH
One more thing.
Singh hands the file to Blunt.
21
SINGH
Over the past few weeks signals
intelligence has picked up
something new: a couple of verses
from the book of Genesis and
increasing chatter about something
called “Day One”. The Genesis
verses are likely call signs definitely related to recent events
in Pakistan. Your job is to use the
call signs to penetrate Caruso’s
organization and track down the
missing uranium before this “Day
One” eventuates, whatever it is.
Dirty bombs - or worse! It doesn’t
bear thinking about.
BLUNT
Any idea when “Day One” might be?
SINGH
All intelligence suggests three
days from today.
Blunt nods grimly, then turns to leave but Singh stops him SINGH
Blunt, you should probably know you
weren’t my first choice for this Op
but all other agents are tied up in
the field. You’re a good man, no
doubt, but a little rough around
the edges, and this one’s going to
require a certain...
He trails off, unable to find the right word BLUNT
Finesse, sir?
SINGH
Yes, quite.
BLUNT
I won’t let you down.
SINGH
Yes, well, just... be careful.
Singh sighs, and grabs another file from a huge stack.
Blunt leaves.