Pandora Productions presents...
The Contract
a Goudreau/Rackliffe film


INT. RUINED CITY – DAY

Leon is lying in the corner of a building.  He is using his bag as a pillow and his jacket is over him like a blanket.  He stirs and sits up.  When he removes the jacket we see that he has his shotgun held close to him.  He sits up and puts his pads on.

We cut to Leon eating some food.  He finishes some and puts the rest back in his bag.  He stands up and pulls on his jacket and bag.  He puts the headpiece in his ear.  He then removes the Delphi 200 from is bag and opens it.  The computer spews static a few times and Leon has to mess with it a few times before it begins working properly.

        DELPHI
    Delphi 200 is now awake.  Good morning, Leon.

        LEON
    Morning.

        DELPHI
    I have passed my 120-day operational period.  For
    peak operational performance I recommend an update.  
    I am not detecting a wireless signal for automatic
    update.  Please access a wireless node for-

        LEON
    Shut up.  Access atmospheric data.

        DELPHI
    Ambient radiation is currently at .8 gray.  Operating
    conditions are safe but prolonged exposure is
    discouraged.  Hydrostatic pressure is 90.1 mbar and
    dropping.  Wind is 4 kilometers per hour from the
    north.  Chemical readings of the wind and dropping
    of pressure indicate an acid cloud approaching slowly.  
    If an easterly course is planned I suggest veering
    south at an increased pace to avoid the rain.

        LEON
    Thank you.  Access current contracts.

        DELPHI
    You have one current contract.  Persia is currently
    wanted in Yearly for aggravated assault of a state
    official and in Jefferton for holistic indemnity.  A
    bounty is currently offered by the Provincial Authority
    Commission and attainable from Annihilator Troop H14.  
    The bounty notice lists her crime as Undefined Class 4
    Revolutionary Activities.  Provincial Bounty is
    currently set at-

        LEON
    Current whereabouts.

        DELPHI
    I’m sorry, I didn’t get that.  Please repeat clearly.

Leon sighs and presses a button.

        DELPHI
    Persia’s current whereabouts are unknown.  She was
    last seen in Lawrence.  Collected intelligence
    indicates she has moved east toward unknown ruins.

        LEON
    She’s not here.  Access available maps and determine
    a northeasterly destination.  Do not adjust for
    atmospheric data.

        DELPHI
    Current maps are incomplete and show only wilderness
    to the northeast.

        LEON
    Determine the fastest route to the coast by foot.

        DELPHI
    Fastest route to the eastern ocean along a
    northeastern path is six days at current speed.

        LEON
    That puts me four days out and her five days.  
    So I should catch up in three days.

        DELPHI
    I’m sorry, I didn’t get that.  Please repeat-

        LEON
    Taking into account only the maps and charts
    uploaded in Lawrence display likely routes to the
    coast.

        DELPHI
    Okay.

Leon looks at the screen for a few moments.

        LEON
    Highlight and save route 2.

        DELPHI
    Route 2 has been saved.

        LEON
    Shut down.

        DELPHI
    I’m sorry, I didn’t-

Leon presses button.  

        DELPHI
    Delphi 200 is shutting down.  Good bye, Leon.

Leon closes the computer and puts it away in his bag and takes out his earpiece.  He then turns and leaves.


EXT.  WILDERNESS – DAY

At a campsite Persia, Mardon and Darius are sitting around eating.  Mardon is sitting on an old television.

They discuss why Mardon is still carrying a broken television around.

Eventually they break camp and continue on their way.


INT.  RUINED CITY – DAY

Darius is wandering.  After a time he comes to a pile of ruble and pulls a tattered baby doll from beneath it.  He spends a long few moments looking at it and brushing dust and dirt from its face.  Finally he places it gently in his bag and moves on.


EXT.  THE MEETINGPLACE – DAY

We begin with Mardon atop a hill watching the distance with a pair of binoculars.  He takes them down and we see him concerned in close up.

        MARDON
    Shit.

He turns and walks down the hill to where Persia and Darius are taking a break.

        MARDON
    Persia, we got company.

        PERSIA
    That same guy you saw in the Barrens?

        MARDON
    Yeah, he’s makin’ good time too.  He should be
    on us in a few hours.

        PERSIA
    You sure he’s on our trail, Mardon?

        MARDON
    Ain’t no other trails to follow.  He’s definitely
    following us.  You think it’s this guy?

        PERSIA
    Yeah, it’s probably Leon.  How far out is he?

        MARDON
    He’s travelin’ real light so he’ll be on us in a
    couple of hours.

Persia looks around and seems to be thinking for a moment.

        PERSIA
    Okay, you guys move ahead a couple miles and find
    a good spot.  I’ll send him right to you then hook
    up later.

        MARDON
    Sounds good.

Mardon turns and picks up his television.  Darius starts to pick up the group’s duffel.

        PERSIA
    No, Darius, leave it.  I’ll need it.

Darius nods and he and Mardon move away.


EXT.  THE MEETINGPLACE – DAY

We see Leon moving along a worn path and sees Persia in the middle of the clearing.  She has donned her disguise.  He draws his gun and moves slowly forward, scanning the perimeter.  He finally circles around and stops facing her with his gun drawn.  She seems to no notice him.  He creeps forward and nudges he with his foot.  She starts and he steps back quick with his gun on her.

        LEON
    Who are you?

Persia makes a show of her hands and slowly reaches under her blanket.  She slowly removes a small device.  Leon watches her closely.  

She points the device at her neck and tries to speak.  However all we hear is a static filled warble.  She taps the device against the concrete a few times and tries again.  This time it works but the voice is severely distorted at first.

        PERSIA
    I am only a traveler.  I mean you no harm,
    stranger.

        LEON
    What are you doing out here.

        PERSIA
    I do not prefer the company of others.

        LEON
    Where have you come from?

        PERSIA
    Lawrence, seven days ago.

        LEON
    Have you seen anyone else out here?

        PERSIA
    Not for some days.

        LEON
    When?

        PERSIA
    Three days ago.  A woman and a man.  Traveling
    northeast.

Leon reaches in his pocket and removes a folded piece of paper.  He shows it to Persia.

        LEON
    Is that the woman?

        PERSIA
    Yes.  She is a criminal.  That means you are a
    bounty hunter.  That means my information is
    worth something to you.

Leon snatches the paper back from her and levels his gun on her.

        LEON
    It’s worth the cost of a bullet if you prefer.

Persia shies away and holds her hands up defensively.

        LEON
    Now, which way did they go?

        PERSIA
    They were moving for the coast, avoiding the
    glow to the south.  Going almost straight northeast.

        LEON
    Thank you.  Go your way traveler but if I see you
    on my tail you will die, understood?

Persia nods.  Leon turns and walks away from her and out of the clearing.

After a few moments Persia pulls a radio from under her blanket.  She keys it and holds it to her mouth.

        PERSIA
    He’s headed right for you guys, get ready.

We cut quick to Mardon and Darius at the Battleground.  Mardon brings his radio to his mouth.

        MARDON
    We’ll be ready for him.

        PERSIA
    Good.  I’ll meet up with you at the fort.

        MARDON
    Okay, well radio once he’s dead.

        PERSIA
    Okay.

Persia then stands up and sheds her disguise.  She puts it in the bag, shoulders it and moves on at a jog.


EXT.  BATTLEGROUND – DAY

Leon approaches slowly.  He comes across the broken television.  He studies it for a moment and nudges it with his foot.  Finally he moves on slower and more carefully.

Leon reaches the Battleground and stops.  At the other end we see Mardon and Darius.

        LEON
    Don’t tell me, it was a setup.

        MARDON
    Smarter than you look.

Mardon tosses his poncho over his shoulder to reveal the Uzi he carries there.  Darius moves back his jacket to make access to his gun easier.

After a tense moment they all make grabs for their guns.  A full-tilt gun battle between the three commences with Leon coming out victorious and Darius and Mardon both shot up badly.

Leon walks to Mardon who is barely alive.  He puts his gun to Mardon’s head.

        LEON
    Where is she?

        MARDON
    Fuck you.

Leon smashes the butt of his gun into Mardon’s face.

        LEON
    You’re already dead, mercenary.  It’s up to you
    how long it takes you to die.  Now where is she?

        MARDON
    She’s headed for an old sea fort.  ‘Bout forty
    miles from here.

Leon stands up and begins to walk away.

        MARDON
    Hey, you said you’d end this.

        LEON
    You’ll probably bleed out in a couple of
    hours.

Leon then turns and leaves.


EXT.  WILDERNESS – DAY

We see shots of Persia moving quickly through the wilderness and finally arriving at the fort.  Intercut with that we have shots of Darius moving through the wilderness more cautiously.

Finally Leon arrives at a hilltop that overlooks the fort and watches it through his binoculars.


EXT.  THE SEA FORT – DAY

At the fort Leon moves in and we see its castle-like edifice.  Nearby Persia is seen.  Leon draws his gun and they face off for a moment.

        PERSIA
    You’re good, Leon, I thought Mardon and Darius
    would have you.

        LEON
    You need to hire better help, Persia.  Those guys
    were jokes.

        PERSIA
    Not everybody can be Annihilator trained, Leon.

        LEON
    Best of the best.

        PERSIA
    Too bad it wasn’t best and brightest.

Leon scowls and draws his gun.  They battle with Leon the dominant force.  When Leon is injured, they pause.

        PERSIA
    I didn’t think these guns would ever be together
    again.

        LEON
    ‘Cept this time their against each other.

        PERSIA
    It’s been four years, Leon.

        LEON
    I know.  I’ve been counting, Persia.

Leon rushes at her and they battle again, this time they are evenly matched.  When Leon suffers another injury they pause again.

        PERSIA
    It doesn’t have to be like this, Leon.  I’ll
    let you walk.

        LEON
    I’m not leaving ‘til I get what I came for.

        PERSIA
    No fucking way.  You can’t bring her back, Leon.

        LEON
    You were always so fucking stubborn.

They engage again.  This time they are even.  When Persia is injured they pause once more.

        LEON
    You ready to end this, Persia?

        PERSIA
    It’s been over for years, Leon.  You need to
    let go.

        LEON
    Not until you hand it over.  The theft had you
    written all over it.  I know you too well.  Now hand
    it over.

        PERSIA
    You know, I loved you Leon.  In some fucked up way
    I still do but you will never have it back.  I wanted
    you to know that it was me.  I thought maybe you’d
    leave it alone but I should have known better.

        LEON
    Yeah, you should have.

        PERSIA
    I won’t hand it over, you’ll have to kill me.

        LEON
    I will if I have to.

        PERSIA
    I know, Leon.  You were the dumb muscle and nothing
    if not the most stubborn man I ever met.

Leon makes a quick move but Persia is ready for him and they battle.  This time Leon is the dominant one and Persia is constantly on the defensive.  When she is injured again Leon is on her, quick to press his advantage.

She holds her hands up and tosses her shotgun aside.

        PERSIA
    Fine, you’ve won.  Take it.

She angrily pulls the package from her bag and thrusts it at him.  He takes it but a photo falls from Persia’s bag.  Leon pauses with the package in his hand, looking at the photo.  He picks it up and we see that it is of a little girl.

Leon’s entire demeanor changes suddenly.  All the fight is gone from him.  He drops his shotgun and we see it fall next to Persia’s.  He turns and slowly walks from the scene.


EXT.  THE SEA FORT – DAY

Leon sits down heavily on a bench.  Persia drags herself over and sits down next to him.  The package is between them.  Leon looks at her.

        LEON
    I have some nanite paste in my bag.

She looks closer at her wounds.

        PERSIA
    It’s not so bad, but thanks.

They are quiet for a few moments.  Leon motions with the photo.

        LEON
    This was taken in Region 7 after the smuggling
    job, right?

        PERSIA
    Yeah.  Two months before she died.

        LEON
    I never did find who set the bomb.  I did find out
    that there was an Interceptor sergeant staying
    underneath us.  He didn’t make it either.

They are both quiet for a time again.  All the while leon is looking at the picture.

        PERSIA
    You can’t bring her back.

        LEON
    You took all I had left of her.

        PERSIA
    I took it because I caught wind that you were
    gonna do something monumentally stupid.

        LEON
    How?

        PERSIA
    I knew one of the guys at the lab.

        LEON
    I had to try.

        PERSIA
    Don’t destroy her memory, Leon.

        LEON
    What am I supposed to do?  Hold this damn box
    when I miss my daughter?

        PERSIA
    I miss her too but you can’t bring her back.

Leon is quiet for a time.

        LEON
    I’ll trade you.  That for this.

Persia is quiet for a few moments.

        PERSIA
    Okay.

Leon quietly stands up and Persia drags herself to her feet.

        LEON
    Goodbye, Persia.

        PERSIA
    Goodbye, Leon.

They both part ways and we cut out to the end credits.