Aliens Predator:

                     Deadly Consequences



          Based upon the graphic novel by Dark Horse

                Screenplay by Andrew Searls



The characters and story portrayed here are copyrights of Dark Horse and Twentieth Century Fox.  This screenplay is intended for personal reading (and writing) pleasure only.  Legal mumbo-jumbo, boiler-plate, etc.



PART ONE OF FOUR



*Opening Titles*

[SPACE]



A barely noticeable silhouette grows from the distance.  A small, streamlined shape.  As it draws even with the camera, it does a pirouette.  A quick, efficient maneuver ending in a perfect alignment.  There are no windows.  As the ship continues past the camera, it becomes evident that the ship is entering a binary star system.  The ship comes very close to the farthest planet.  The flat, rounded bottom is facing the planet, obviously as a shield.  The ship skims the thin atmosphere, causing an eerie green trail to follow it.



[SPACE - OTHER SIDE OF FARTHEST PLANET]



The streak rises from the horizon, and the ship clears the atmosphere, moving much more slowly.  Camera follows the ship towards the inner planets of the system.



[SPACE - NEAR RYUSHI, SECOND PLANET OF BINARY SYSTEM]



The ship performs another efficient pirouette to re-align itself with the approach it is making on Ryushi.  The ship enters the atmosphere crossing from the night side to the day side.  The smaller of the two suns peeks out from the same spot of the horizon that the streak of the ship disappeared to.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - OPEN PLAIN]



The ship appears as a shooting star across the sky.  Heat waves make the image shimmer.  The fiery streak continues off camera.  Moments later, a loud sonic boom crosses the plain.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - BOTTOM OF ROCKY CANYON]



The skeleton of a large animal is half buried in the sand.  The bones have been bleached white by the twin suns.  Shimmering in the heat waves coming off of the surrounding rock, the bones indicate a harsh desert climate.  The image is silent and lonely.  The ship, still smoking, streaks overhead, crossing the canyon from one wall to the other.  A moment after the ship disappears above the canyon wall, a loud thump is heard as the ship hits the ground.  Then silence returns.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - PROSPERITY WELLS COLONY]



A modern windmill creaks in a gentle breeze.  Camera backs out and pans, revealing a clean, simple settlement.  Two-horned livestock called rhynth shift in the shady areas of nearby pens.  Machinery can be heard whirring smoothly.  Heat waves shimmer the image, and twin sun reflections shine from some of the white paint of the buildings.  Camera continues to pan and settles on the largest building.  This building is shielded with a conical white tent, giving the appearance of a giant, modern teepee.



	Mason (off screen) "I'm getting something on long range..."



[PROSPERITY WELLS COLONY - HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM]



The room is filled with electronic equipment of varying purpose.  A few screens keep track of the local weather.  Some are monitors for the livestock in the pens.  A large clock is in the middle of the room, reading "19:42:18...19...20...".  Vents maintain a constant breeze that tugs at the workers clothes and any loose papers.  Even so, everyone is wearing tank-tops or short-sleeves and shorts.  Walking across the room brings on a sweat that takes a while to dry off.  Everyone continues their jobs, but at a minimum of physical effort.



	Mason (at back of room) "... it's coming in really shallow.  It _might_ be a meteor, but it doesn't look like it's breaking up."



Second operator lazily wipes the sweat from her brow with a wet cloth.



	2nd Operator "Better alert the boss."



	Mason "Right" Presses a button on the console "Mr. Shimura, we have an unidentified incoming..."



Operator halts as he notices the image on the screen in front of him is _not_ Mr. Shimura, but a woman.



	Mason "Oh, Ms. Noguchi...  I ... uh... I have a message for Mr. Shimura.  Is he there?"



Noguchi appears irritated.

	

	Noguchi "Yes, he's here, but you can give _me_ the message, Mason."



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - MANAGEMENT QUARTERS]



Noguchi is sitting at her desk, still irritated at the image of Mason for preferring to talk to Shimura.  She is wearing a black, short dress and black heels.  She looks like an executive.  The office looks like an executive office.



	Mason "Uh, yes, ma'am.  Long range is showing an unidentified.  It's probably just a meteor, but it looks as though it will come close.  If it keeps it's present course, it'll hit about thirty kliks west of here - open pasture."



	Noguchi "Open pasture?  Then don't worry about it.  We can investigate _after_ the roundup.  Noguchi out."



Noguchi turns the communication panel off before Mason can respond.  She sits back, sighs, and turns to Shimura.  Camera pulls back to show both Noguchi and Shimura.  Shimura is sitting on the nearby couch.  He is wearing a tan shirt and shorts, both of which have many pockets.  He holds a helmet and a headset in his lap.  It is obvious that he is dressed for ranching.



	Noguchi "What's it take, Hiroki?  I've been here nearly six months, but they're still reporting to _you_.  The ranchers, and even the staff still treat me like I'm a stranger!  I've done everything I can think of to put my stamp on things around here - to make this job mine!"



	Shimura "Maybe that's your problem, Machiko.  You're trying to adapt the job to _you_, rather than adapting yourself to _it_."



Shimura stands up and approaches Noguchi at her desk.  Noguchi stands up as he approaches.



	Shimura "This is a very nice office you've built for yourself, but you can't run an operation like this and hide from it at the same time."



	Noguchi "What are you trying to say, Hiroki?"



	Shimura "Look, I'll be around for another week or so, after that you are on your own."



Noguchi grimaces at the thought.



	Shimura "In the meantime, I'll do whatever I can to help you."



Shimura heads for the door.



	Noguchi "Hiroki..."



[MANAGEMENT QUARTERS - SHIMURA AT DOOR]



Camera is behind Noguchi, showing Shimura over her shoulder.  As Shimura speaks, camera slowly drops down, stopping when Shimura is framed with Noguchi's legs, and can be seen, full length, between the floor and her short dress.  The camera's coverage of Noguchi makes her thin, lightly athletic build evident.  When the camera is about half way, Noguchi puts her hands on her hips.  As the camera stops, Shimura casually puts his hand on the door knob.



	Shimura "Don't forget that these are human beings you're dealing with.  Treat them as such.  And it wouldn't hurt for you to loosen up some, either.  Get out of your office once in a while.  Get your hands dirty.  Get some rhynth shit between your toes."



Noguchi's feet shift uneasily as Shimura mentions "toes".  Shimura leaves.



[MANAGEMENT QUARTERS - NOGUCHI'S FACE]



Camera shows a thoughtful and anxious Noguchi reflecting on the new advice as the door closes.  Noguchi's expression shows that she's made a decision before she walks off-screen.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - OPEN CANYON - SHIP LANDING SITE]



A short, burned trench ends in a small crater.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Maybe Hiroki was right.  'By the book' wasn't getting me the results I wanted."



[SHIP CRASH SITE - CRATER EDGE]



A small creature, similar to a scorpion, curiously approaches the side of the crater.  Mechanical sounds suddenly come from the bottom of the crater.  The creature jumps into a defensive posture as a shadow looms over it.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "And I'd seen plenty of other execs who had tried to make a career out of keeping a low profile..."



Mechanical treads clear the craters edge and crush the creature before it has a chance to move.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "...left twisting in the wind when the political climate changed."



[SHIP CRASH SITE - NEAR CRATER EDGE]



Treaded machine climbs completely out of the crater, continuing directly away from the crater without hesitating.  The alien machine has no windows.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Maybe it was time to make some of my own moves..."



Treaded machine rumbles past camera.  Camera pans to follow machine.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "...what's the saying?  'You can't make an omelet..."



Treaded machine continues past camera.  Camera stops following machine and zooms in on one of a series of objects being deposited by the machine as it moves.  The objects are roughly a meter tall and look like round, leathery rocks.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "...without breaking a few eggs.'"



[PROSPERITY WELLS - JUST OUTSIDE OF HEADQUARTERS BUILDING]



A group of ranchers are talking next to a large truck.  Rhynth shuffle around in a nearby pen.  Flags lazily sway in the breeze.  Heat waves still make the background shimmer.  Shimura is arguing with the head of the Local Ranchers Association, Ackland.  Shimura is still in his ranching outfit.  Ackland is in a similar outfit, but he is wearing a cowboy hat instead of a helmet.  He has also has leather fringe sewn in to the sleeves and trim of his shirt, in cowboy fashion.  Other ranchers are wearing various hats and bandannas to fend off the heat.  Even though they have been outside for only a few minutes, everyone's collars are already wet with sweat.



	Shimura "But your association has already signed an agreement with the company, Ackland!"



	Ackland "Yeah, but that was _before_ we saw what the market was doing back on Earth.  If we'd known the price of meat was going to jump like this, we'd have asked for more!"



Shimura is upset, but contains his frustration in dealing with Ackland.



	Shimura "That's all part of the gamble of being in business!  The price could just as easily have _dropped_.  If the bottom had fallen out of the market, would you have offered to take less?"



Another rancher steps towards Shimura and points a finger at him.



	Rancher "That's not the point, Hiroki!  The company's making a killing from out sweat, and we're getting screwed.  Right, Ackland?"



Ackland lights a cigarette, appreciating that his fellow ranchers are supporting him.



	Ackland "That's the way the Rancher's Association sees it."



Shimura continues getting more agitated.  No one notices as the door to the headquarters building opens.  A small figure, Noguchi, steps out and approaches the group as they continue to argue.  She has changed into a company ranching uniform very similar to Shimura's.



	Shimura "I don't even know what I'm discussing this with you.  Ms. Noguchi is in charge now.  You should be talking with her and not..."



Ackland cuts Shimura off in an angry response.



	Ackland "_That_ bitch?  She doesn't give a shit about us."



	Rancher 2 "Maybe if she got laid one in a while, she wouldn't act like she had a bug up her ass!"



Noguchi gets closer, obviously within earshot, but still no-one notices.



	Rancher 3 "I'd take a piece of that action!"



	Rancher 2 "Are you kiddin'?  Probably freeze your di..."



Rancher 2 cuts short and gasps as he notices Noguchi, less than a meter away.  Noguchi doesn't react, but continues to march towards the group as if nothing has happened.  She stops in the middle of the group, directly in front of Shimura and folds her arms.  She looks sideways at Ackland as she speaks.



	Noguchi "I thought we were in the middle of a roundup, gentlemen!  Ackland, I'll talk to the company and see if I can swing a larger cut for your ranchers, but there won't be _anything_ for _anyone_ if your rhynth aren't ready for shipment by the time the Lector arrives.  Remember, staggered sleeping schedules.  This is a thirty-three hour-a-day job gentlemen!  Now, everybody back to work!  Hiroki, ready two bikes, we're going out."



The ranchers shuffle off to their jobs.  Some working on nearby equipment, some leaving on hover bikes to their respective plots.  The hover bikes are turbine-powered ground-effect vehicles, capable of carrying two people motorcycle-style.  Forward swept delta wings, reminiscent of manta rays, sweep dust clouds as they capture the air and keep the hover bikes off the ground.  The turbines exhaust is vectored for hovering and for maneuvering.  Noguchi and Shimura walk to two nearby hover bikes.  On-board computers quickly go through a warm up sequence before the two bikes lift their drivers a couple of feet into the air.  Noguchi adjusts the microphone on her headset as the engines wind up.  She gives Shimura a look as he adjusts his headset and helmet.



	Noguchi (over headset) "Don't say it.  Don't say anything."



Shimura smiles and accelerates off-screen.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - RIVER BANK JUST OUTSIDE OF PROSPERITY WELLS]



Noguchi slows and falls behind Shimura as she notices the plant life on the river bank.  Shimura notices that Noguchi is no longer with him and slows down.



	Shimura (over headset) "What's wrong?"



	Noguchi "Nothing.  I thought we were in the middle of a barren desert."



	Shimura (over headset) "You really need to get out more often..."



Shimura guns the engine and pulls farther away.  Noguchi speeds back up to catch up with Shimura.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - OPEN PLAINS]



The smoking remains of the alien treaded machine bakes as the shadows of the line of leathery rocks grow longer.  A heard of rhynth approaches the line of rocks curiously.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "I was beginning to see Ryushi in a different light.  It was still a harsh and unforgiving world, but there was a beauty and diversity I hadn't noticed before.  I began to understand the ranchers - what is was that moved them to leave Earth and make Ryushi their home."



The closest of the rhynth reaches a leathery rock and begins to sniff at it.  The top of the rock is open, revealing a hollow inside.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Unfortunately, is was too late for this new understanding to change my standing with the ranchers.  I couldn't blame them, though.  I'd been jumping down their throats since day one."



Just as Noguchi finishes her narrative, a spider-like facehugger jumps from the shadow of the rock, using it's tail as a spring.  The facehugger immediately attaches itself to the rhynth and wraps its tail around the rhynth's throat.  The rhynth is barely able to cry out before the facehugger shoves its tendril into the rhynth's mouth.



[RYUSHI PLANETSIDE - ACKLAND's RANCH - OPEN FIELD]



A large truck is loading rhynth.  Several hover bikes are sitting to the side of the truck.  The rancher's hover bikes have different paint schemes, some are painted like race cars, some in green and black tiger stripes, only a few are left in the original white.  A handful of ranchers are walking around the rhynth, prodding them with shock-sticks to keep them moving onto the truck.  Shimura and Noguchi climb off their hover bikes and approach the group.  Ackland is giving orders to a group of ranchers beside the truck.  He points to a map on a portable table as he speaks.



	Ackland "Roth, take some of the boys and run these three gullies.  Drive 'em down and into Beriki Canyon and hook up with Cho's group."



Ackland stops as he notices Shimura and Noguchi walk up.



	Ackland "What's the problem, Hiroki?  You and the boss-lady get lost?"



Shimura and Noguchi casually stop just outside the group at the truck.



	Shimura "We're just making the rounds."



	Ackland "Yeah, right.  So what's the _real_ reason for the visit?  The company shoot down the price increase?"



Noguchi hides her irritation better than she did with Mason.



	Noguchi "You know 'Little Cygni' puts out too much interference during the day for us to patch through to Earth.  I'll contact them this evening, and I'll do all I can to get you a bigger cut."



Ackland turns his back to Noguchi and casually regards his map.



	Noguchi "In the meantime, we're checking everyone's progress.  Seeing if there's anything we can do to help."



Ackland quickly turns back to face Noguchi.



	Ackland "Yeah, you can help.  You can help by staying out of our way.  The last thing we need is interference from corporate paper-pushers."



Shimura and Noguchi quietly walk back towards their hover bikes.



	Shimura "I'm sorry about the way Ackland treated you..."



	Noguchi "Don't be.  He had every right.  I know what kind of a bitch I've been... "



Noguchi stops short, staring offscreen.



	Noguchi (whispering) "Wow."



	Shimura "What's the matter?"



Shimura looks in the same direction as Noguchi.



	Shimura "Oh, you really haven't gotten out much since you arrived, haven't you?"



[ACKLAND's RANCH - OPEN PLAINS]



Camera shows over Noguchi's shoulder a binary sunset.  Everyone has stopped working to watch the show.  The smaller, whiter sun causing one side of the sky to turn a lighter blue.  The larger, more orange sun causing the other side to turn more of a yellowish orange.  The sky in-between showing rich shades of green, which shifts as the smaller star tucks below the horizon first.  The sky turns orange, and then deep red as the larger star also drops below the horizon.



[UPPER RYUSHI ATMOSPHERE - AT EDGE OF NIGHT SIDE]



A large ship consisting of four huge containers being towed by the space tug Lector orbits over the night side of Ryushi.  The Lector detaches from three of the containers, carrying the fourth with it as it begins entering the atmosphere.  The pilot, Tom, and co-pilot, Scott, can be heard talking casually as the air around the Lector begins to burn.



	Scott "Shit, Tom, what kind of mouth-breather would want to move all the way out to this hell-hole, especially when there's land available on Nova-Terra?"



	Tom "I dunno, Scott,..."



[PREDATOR TROOP SHIP - INTERIOR]



A large number of predators, already suited for battle and visibly anxious to begin the hunt, shift restlessly in their seats as their pilot directs the ship into the atmosphere from the day side of the planet.



	Tom (offscreen) "...Ryushi is somebody's idea of paradise."



[PROSPERITY WELLS - HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM]



One of the staff, Collins, pulls a piece of paper as it is spit out of a printer.  He reads it before he notices Noguchi walk in.



	Collins (to another worker) "Here she comes.  Now it's really gunna hit the fan."



Collins approaches Noguchi and gives her the paper.



	Collins "This message just arrived for you, Ms. Noguchi.  It's from the shuttle Masuko-Maru."



	Noguchi (reading) "'E.T.A. seven standard Earth days...Shigeru Chigusa on board...coming to inspect the operation _personally_'?  Shit, they say that trouble comes in threes.  I hope the next two disasters will at least wait until morning."



Collins grunts in agreement as Noguchi tosses the paper aside and marches angrily offscreen.



[ACKLAND RANCH - OPEN PLAINS]



Ackland pulls onto the screen in his truck.  A large group of rhynth is laying down.  Some of them are coughing.  A couple of ranchers are standing around the rhynth, scratching their heads.  Roth, the blond woman Ackland had given orders to earlier, is adjusting her hover bike to light the rhynth better using the hover bike headlights.  She shuts the hover bike engines down, but leaves the headlights on.  She gets off the hover bike and walks towards the truck as Ackland gets out.



	Ackland "I got your message, what's the problem?"



	Roth "Take a look, Mr. Ackland."



Roth opens her backpack and lifts out the remains of a facehugger with a stick.



	Ackland "Christ!  What the hell is it?!"



	Roth "Besides uglier than shit?  I was hoping you'd tell me."



Ackland takes the stick from Roth and examines the spidery exo-skeleton.



	Ackland "I've never seen anything like this before.  Where'd you find it?"



	Roth "Up at the head of Beriki Canyon.  There were a couple of dozen of them lying around.  That's where we scared up these poke-snoots..."



Roth gestures to the rhynth lying on the ground.



	Roth "...They were stumbling around, bumping into each other.  They act like they're half asleep.  Maybe they're sick or something..."



Ackland tosses the facehugger and stick aside as he cuts Roth off.



	Ackland "You did the right thing, Roth.  Look, let's not spread this around.  We don't _know_ that there's anything wrong with the rhynth.  We don't want some dickhead from the company to panic and quarantine _our_ whole herd.  We've got too much riding on this, understand?"



	Roth "Yeah, I understand.  What should I do with these?"



	Ackland "Give them to Dr. Revna, but tell him you found them in Iwa Gorge.  You're doing a great job, Roth.  There'll be a bonus for you when this roundup is over."



Auckland pats Roth's shoulder and climbs back into the truck.



[PROSPERITY WELLS - MEDIAL BUILDING INTERIOR]



Various cages hold native Ryushi animal life along one wall.  Computers and various medical equipment fill the rest of the room.  Dr. Revna, his wife, Miriam, and Roth are looking at a facehugger exo-skeleton on an examination table.



	Dr. Revna "Iwa Gorge, you say?  I am not familiar with that area, but it appears that I will become so.  Give Mr. Ackland my thanks."



	Miriam "What do you make of it, Kesar?"



Dr. Revna is staring at the specimen, and begins to poke at it with a probe, bringing his face close to the soft proboscis.



	Dr. Revna "Fascinating."



[PROSPERITY WELLS - OPEN COURTYARD BESIDE LANDING PLATFORM]



The courtyard has been turned into a giant BBQ party.  Tents cover tables and chairs where some people are eating.  Rhynth meat turns on large spits over mirrored cooking pits.  Kids are running around with baby rhynth.  Since the suns are down, lights on towers keep the courtyard lit, and the heating elements in the cooking pits are glowing red.  The wind has picked up, and everyone is wearing warmer clothing.  Shimura and Noguchi walk down between the tents and the cooking pits, strolling from the headquarters building towards the communications tower.



	Noguchi "A party?!  Is this really necessary?"



	Shimura "I said before, you can't run people like machines.  These people have been breaking their backs for three years for this first roundup.  This is everything they've been working for.  If they want to celebrate their accomplishment, _let_them_!  Otherwise, Shigeru Chigusa will arrive just in time for a full-scale revolt."



	Noguchi (sighs) "You're right again, Hiroki."



	Shimura "Come on, let's go greet the ship.  It's due any minute."



Shimura and Noguchi continue walking to the communications tower.



	Shimura "Oh, the home office called.  They approved the price hike for the ranchers.  I haven't told anyone.  I figured you'd want the pleasure."



	Noguchi "Good, I can't wait to see Ackland's face."



They reach the communications tower.  Shimura starts to climb the access ladder.



	Shimura "Up there.  The antenna tower is the only place to watch a landing."



Noguchi hesitates, looking at a sign on the tower that reads "CAUTION: 300 LB Weight Limit".



	Noguchi "Can it support both of us?"



	Shimura (not stopping his climb) "Let's find out."



[PROSPERITY WELLS - COMMUNICATIONS TOWER]



A pair of figures, silhouetted against the lights, climb to the top platform of the tower.  Upon reaching the top, they step out to the platform.  One of them looks down, and immediately jumps back towards the center of the platform.  The other, taller figure looks down on the festivities with interest.



The camera circles the tower, still keeping the platform in the center of the screen.  The camera stops when facing the landing platform.  Suddenly, clouds drop into the landing platform.  A roar is heard above.  Both figures on the platform look up.  Their heads follow the Lector as it drops into view, landing engines spouting flames against the blast deflectors.  The blast deflectors shake as the Lector nears the ground.  The landing engines shut off as the landing gear compresses with the weight of the ship.



Everyone has stopped to watch the landing, and remain still and silent for a few moments after the engines shut down.



[PROSPERITY WELLS - OPEN COURTYARD]



The crowd walks up to Scott and Tom as they walk down the loading ramp.  Ackland is in front of the crowd and shakes Scott and Tom's hands.



	Ackland "Ackland's the name.  I'm the head of the local rancher's association.  I hope you and your crew are ready to party, captain...?"



	Tom "Strandberg, but call me Tom.  This is my co-pilot, Scott Conover."



Noguchi steps up close to the Lector crew and stands on a box.



	Noguchi "Can I have everyone's attention?"



The crowd quiets and turns to face Noguchi.



	Noguchi "I know you're all anxious to begin the festivities, but first, I have an announcement!"



	Scott (whispering to Ackland) "Who's the babe?"



	Ackland (whispering back) "You mean bitch."



	Noguchi "Loading will proceed as follows:  Ackland, you're first on deck.  Harrison's next, followed by Luccini and Marianetti.  One more thing, the company gave their answer on the price adjustment."



Ackland gives a doubtful grunt.



	Noguchi (smiling at Ackland) "You'll be getting the increase you requested.  Enjoy the party everyone."



Noguchi steps down from her box and walks past Shimura towards headquarters.



	Shimura (as Noguchi passes) "Good job, Machiko."



	Noguchi (sighing) "It doesn't undo six months of stupidity, but..." 



Noguchi shrugs and continues into Headquarters.



[PROSPERITY WELLS - OPEN COURTYARD]



The smaller sun, Little Cygni, has just cleared the horizon.  The larger sun is just peeking over the edge.  Rhynth are being prodded up the loading ramps into the large container carried by the Lector.  The ranchers are starting to get tired, clearly close to the end of their shift.  Some of the rhynth stumble and cough as they plod up the ramp.  The ranchers use their shock-sticks on these rhynth more often.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM]



Noguchi walks in from her quarters, wearing a black jumpsuit that is covered in front and back by a red cape-like dress.  A belt keeps the cape from swaying around too much.



	Noguchi "Collins? Why are you still here?"



Collins, looking up from a panel, shrugs.



	Noguchi "Why don't you get out to the party before the food's all gone.  I'll keep an eye on things."



Collins steps away, obviously relieved.



	Collins "Thanks Ms. Noguchi."



	Noguchi "It's just 'Machiko' from now on, ok?"



	Collins "Er...ok."



Collins starts to leave, and then stops.



	Collins "Oh, when doc gets back, tell him corporate received his report.  It's in the tray with his notes."



	Noguchi "Dr. Revna gets back?  From where?"



[IWA GORGE - NEAR TOP]



Dr. Revna pants lightly in the growing morning heat.  He lifts a pair of sophisticated binoculars, searching the gorge.



	Collins (offscreen) "A couple of hours ago he signed out for a hover bike.  Said he was going up to Iwa Gorge to look for something."



Dr. Revna lowers the binoculars, visibly disappointed.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Iwa Gorge?  I wonder what he's looking for up there."



Dr. Revna spots something and raises his binoculars.



[IWA GORGE - VIEW THROUGH BINOCULARS]



An alien Predator ship sits in a small clearing among the rocks.  Predators walk around the ship, some working on equipment on or near the ship, some looking around the area.  None of them are shorter than 2.5 meters tall.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "I scanned the report he had beamed to Earth.  Most of it went beyond the basic XT Biology courses I had in school.  A lot of talk of 'hybrid silicon-carbon cell construction', and 'possible epiphytic or parasitic procreation'."



[IWA GORGE - NEAR TOP]



Dr. Revna's white face and gaping mouth become evident as he lowers the binoculars.  He takes a deep breath, and then looks through the binoculars again.



[IWA GORGE - VIEW THROUGH BINOCULARS]



The Predators continue their work.  One of the Predators motions to a small group.  The group walks to the back of the ship and begin moving equipment out of the ship to a pile in the clearing.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Whatever it was, Revna's discovery evidently excited him."



The head of a Predator, much closer than the clearing, comes into view.  The closer Predator is climbing up towards Dr. Revna's general direction.  Suddenly, the Predator stops and looks directly towards Dr. Revna.



[IWA GORGE - NEAR TOP]



Dr. Revna drops his binoculars and runs to the hover bike.  He jumps into the seat as he hears the Predator roar to the others by the ship.  Dr. Revna hesitates and shudders at the inhuman sound.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "I punched up a map of the Iwa Gorge area."



Dr. Revna shakes as he grabs the keys and attempts to start the hover bike.  As he shakes, he bumps a switch, and the hover bike computer shuts down.  Dr. Revna looks up at a sound.  The closer Predator is nearly at the edge of the gorge.



	Dr. Revna (shakily) "Dear God, please start...Oh, _please_ start!"



	Noguchi (offscreen) "With terrain that rough, even an hover bike would have troubles."



The Predator jumps over the edge, brandishing a double-ended spear in a threatening manner at Dr. Revna.  The hover bike computer begins a quick warm-up sequence.  The Predator starts towards Dr. Revna at the sound of the engine.  The Predator steps onto the back-end of the bike as the engine winds up.  Dr. Revna guns the engine, and the hover bike leaps into the air.  The Predator falls back onto the ground as the hover bike clumsily lurches over the edge of the gorge.



[IWA GORGE - PREDATOR SHIP]



A number of Predators have already started running towards Dr. Revna and the first Predator.  The others have stopped working and watch with interest.



[IWA GORGE - NARROW CANYON]



Dr. Revna is barely keeping the hover bike off the canyon walls.  In his panic, he doesn't notice that he is headed towards the Predator ship.  The twisting canyon keeping the ship from view.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Nothing but a twisted maze of narrow box canyons, small clearings, and gullies."



[IWA GORGE - SMALL CLEARING]



A couple of Predators run out into an empty clearing, momentarily confused by the echoing sounds of a turbine engine under stress.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "It seemed like an unlikely place to look for anything, especially something living."



The Predators turn to face a canyon opening into the clearing as the sound of the hover bike becomes suddenly clear.  Dr. Revna and the hover bike pop around the corner and into the clearing.



[IWA GORGE - HOVER BIKE]



Dr. Revna barely has time to gasp as he attempts to veer his hover bike away from the Predators.  He narrowly misses one, but clips the next in the shoulder with one wing.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "But Revna was a smart man, if he was looking for something in Iwa Gorge, that must be the place to look for it."



The hover bike careens off the Predator, sending the Predator into a nearby rock.  Dr. Revna looses his footing on the bike as it smashes into the canyon wall, damaging the other wing.  The turbine screams as Dr. Revna tries to hold on.  The bike lurches ahead at full throttle, and Dr. Revna is horizontal from the acceleration as he clings to the handlebars.



[IWA GORGE - PREDATOR SHIP]



	Noguchi (offscreen) "I liked the doc..."



A Predator jumps out of the way as the hover bike explodes out of the nearby canyon.  Rocks fly away from the impact with the bike and pelt the Predator as he lands.



[IWA GORGE - HOVER BIKE]



The engine, still screaming, is starting to make unusual mechanical noises.  Dr. Revna, still unable to regain control, looks helplessly as the bike heads directly for the back of the Predator ship.



[IWA GORGE - PREDATOR SHIP]



	Noguchi (offscreen) "I hoped he would find what he was looking for."

	

The Predators scatter as the hover bike bounces off the loading ramp and explodes inside the ship.  The energy from the collision and explosion rips a hole open near the front of the ship.  Smoke begins to billow out of the hole and the door of the ship.  Just as the Predators begin to shift to look over their respective rocks and equipment piles, the ship disintegrates in a large explosion.



[IWA GORGE - CLOSEUP OF GROUND NEAR REMAINS OF PREDATOR SHIP]



The flames subside and the clouds begin to clear.  Wreckage is everywhere.  A Predator hand reaches behind a twisted sheet of metal.  A human skull, nearly burned clean, is lifted into view.  The skill is still connected to a mass that is no longer recognizable.  The Predator shakes the skull free from the rest of the mass.



[IWA GORGE - REMAINS OF PREDATOR SHIP]



The other Predators begin to approach the first as he lifts the skull high above his head with one hand.  The Predators stop at the gesture, and watch as the skull is crushed in the hands grip.  All Predators start howling and waving their weapons in approval.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM]



Noguchi is sitting at a desk, reading Dr. Revna's report on the facehugger.



	Noguchi (reading aloud) "...sole purpose appears to be nothing more than that of a living delivery vehicle, and 'ambulatory penis' if you will.  While it is risky to postulate too much from such a tiny sam..."



Scott stumbles through the door.



	Scott "'Ambulatory penis' eh?  Conzures up quite an imase, don't it?"



	Noguchi (startled and disgusted) "You're drunk."



	Scott "Yeah, but not too drunk, if you know what I mean, Ms. Nogushi."



Scott gets up and approaches Noguchi, grabbing her wrist.  Noguchi glares back.



	Noguchi "It's NoguCHI, but you can call me ma'am."



	Scott "Yeah?  I heard about what a nut-buster you are.  Toush lady.  Company ramrod."



Scott pulls Noguchi closer to him.



	Scott "Well, I got your ram-rod...right here."



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM DOOR]



Tom steps through the door and begins to look around the room.



	Tom "Scott?"



Tom is answered by Scott flying through the air.  Scott hits the wall beside the door, back-first.  He is upside down, and hits his head on the floor as he falls.  Tom is startled and frightened at what has happened to his co-pilot.  He looks offscreen to the direction that Scott came from.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - NOGUCHI IN MIDDLE OF ROOM]



Noguchi is in a ready stance.  Ready for fighting.



	Noguchi "Are you next?"



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM DOOR]



Tom steps over and looks at Scott.  Scott is unconscious, but otherwise all right.



	Tom "No, NO!  I... I just wanted to get Scott.  The first container is loaded, and we're just about ready to take it up and get another one down.  Just as soon as the inspectors give your critters a clean bill of health."



	Noguchi "Better have them check _this_ critter, too, Captain...especially his judgment."



Still laying in an awkward position, Scott begins to snore.  Tom gingerly begins to lift Scott onto his shoulders.  He stands up and faces Noguchi.



	Tom (hesitantly) "I...uh...look...  I'll make sure that... Scott won't bother you again....ok?"



Tom carries Scott out the door.



[OUTSIDE OF HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - NEAR LOADING RAMP]



The shadows are beginning to shorten and the heat is beginning to increase.  The open courtyard has already been cleaned up and deserted.  Tom half-carries Scott up to the loading ramp to board the Lector.



	Scott "Damn bitch.  She can't treat me like that."



	Tom "Yeah?  Maybe you want to go back and tell _her_ that."



The two reach the door of the Lector.  Scott fiddles with a control panel just inside the dark room.



[INSIDE LECTOR AIRLOCK]



	Scott "What's with the lights?  Prindle's team is getting sloppy, the maintenance on this tub has gone to hell!"



Tom releases Scott, grabs a flashlight and shuts the outer door.  The two are in total darkness for a moment before Tom turns the flashlight on.  Scott is recovering, but still agitated.



	Scott "I'm a goddamned star-pilot!"



[INSIDE LECTOR - CARGO AREA]



Tom begins walking down the wall towards the cockpit of the Lector.



	Tom "Yeah, so?  She's corporate.  She pulled rank on you."



Scott slowly follows Tom, still in pain.



	Scott "That's not all she pulled.  Ow!  I think my back's been broken."



Tom stops in front of one of the cargo bay doors, which is halfway open.



	Tom "Hey...who left this hatch open?"



Tom and Scott step inside to check on the rhynth.



	Tom "Well, that Ackland guy warned you...  Jesus, the floor's all sticky. ... but you wouldn't listen to him."



[CARGO AREA - INSIDE CARGO BAY 2 - TOM AND SCOTT AT DOOR]



Tom's flashlight starts at the door frame and sweeps along a blank wall.  Something dark above the two begins to move.



	Tom "No... you had to go mess with the queen..."



[CARGO AREA - INSIDE CARGO BAY 2 - AREA ILLUMINATED BY FLASHLIGHT]



The spot lit by the flashlight continues along the wall, suddenly coming upon a dark mass in the middle of the bay.  The mass immediately begins to shift.



	Tom (whispering) "...bee."



The mass continues to move.  It becomes clear that the mass is a group of dark things, Aliens.  The dark Alien above the two hangs on the door, pulling it closed.  Before the door closes, a Queen Alien in the middle of the mass extends her jaw and hisses at the two.  The door slams shut with a loud, metallic "Bang!"



END OF PART ONE