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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:30 pm
[Cue news music. Long shot of newsroom, two anchors sit at their desk, chatting amicably and organizing the papers in front of them. The backdrop shows the Durem skyline at night and the words, in big gold letters, GAIA 9 ACTION NEWS. Begin music fade, zoom into medium shot of man and woman co-anchors sitting side-by-side.]
MAN: Good evening, and welcome to a special edition of Gaia 9 Action News. I'm Michael Hunter...
WOMAN: ...and I'm Patricia Olson.
[Close-up on PATRICIA. A graphic showing a well-known Carter City building in ruin, with the caption "CARTER CITY CRISIS", is displayed in the upper-left corner of the screen.]
PATRICIA: As we enter into day 4 of the attack on Carter City, the main evacuation of the city is finally complete. Officials say that while they have successfully moved some 170,000 of the city's 176,000 residents, the remaining 6,000 are missing and presumed dead.
[Close-up on MICHAEL.]
MICHAEL: In response to a series of fliers that have been posted throughout Gaia, officials have blocked the roads leading in and out of Carter City. These fliers are offering a large monetary reward for anyone who manages to destroy one of the robots terrorizing the city. The military disuades any adventurers who might take the law into their own hands, issuing a warning that the machines are too powerful and emphasizing the necessity of complete evacuation.
[Close-up on PATRICIA.]
PATRICIA: We now take you to Gaia 9 reporter Cindy Donovinh, who has been inserted in a special ops team out on the field.
To Be Continued...
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:35 pm
[The frame is shakily held, probably by a field cameraman without aide of tripod or dolly. Medium shot on CINDY DONOVINH, holding a mic and standing in front of a wall that has been reduced largely to rubble. Several men in army uniform talk in the background.]
CINDY: Thank you, Patricia. As you can see, Carter City has been ravaged by the surprise attack days ago. This once great metropolis is now little more than an urban ghost town.
[Cue clip of soldiers preparing for war. Their uniforms are mostly identical, though many have uniqe personal touches. Most of the men carry only military-issue SMGs. Three of them carry katana as well; one of the samurai soldiers is polishing his katana, revealing it as a reverse-blade sword. One soldier rests against a wall, his buster sword laying nearby. A fifth soldier flexes a wolfen arm, a werewolf maintaning a form between man and animal. Cindy continues out-of-frame.]
CINDY: With the collapse of the Gaia Army months ago, Carter City kept its citizens safe by maintaining a local militia, and now that militia is being put to the task. Made up of Carter residents, what they lack in official training they make up in passion for their hometown.
[Cut to a medium shot of a random soldier, with CINDY off-frame holding out her mic to him.]
SOLDIER: Yeah, I'd say that my lack of official training is made up for by my passion for my hometown.
[Cut back to medium shot of Cindy.]
CINDY: There you have it. I have been informed by the squad captain that we will be heading to the downtown battlezone, where a single one of the robots has taken residence.
[CINDY approaches one of the soldiers in the background, the camera shakily follows her. She holds her mic out to one of the soldiers armed with a katana.]
CINDY: Captain Miamoto, could you tell me about today's strategy?
[MIAMOTO turns to face her.]
MIAMOTO: [Boastfully.] certanly, ms. Donavan. u see, as a master stratigist, i have noticed that the robot is good in close qurters but has no power for long distance fighting. so, we'r going to sneak up on it, surround it in the downtown area, and then i'll come out and challenge it to a 1vs1 duel. [He draws his sword.] my blade will taste its robot blod for what it has done1
CINDY: [To the camera.] There you have it, folks. We'll be moving out momentarily. Wish us luck.
MIAMOTO: men, prepare to MOVE OUT!!
[There is a great commotion as the ragtag squadron gathers together, getting ready to test their strength against that of the machine.]
CINDY: Back to you, Patricia.
To Be Continued...
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:58 am
[Two-shot on PATRICIA and MICHAEL, talking in subdued tones in the newsroom. They turn to face the camera.]
PATRICIA: God speed, Cindy.
MICHAEL: Earlier today, authorities reportedly interviewed Dr. Vincent von Vincent, a leading expert in the field of robotics. Although the offending war machines have yet to be identified, the authorities continue to assure us that it is only a matter of time before the true culprit is unmasked.
[Cut to scene of conference. A man in a suit is standing behind the podium, addressing the media.]
MAN: I assure you, we have been working with Dr. von Vincent to our utmost abilities. I can't give out any details at this time, but before the week is out I vow to bring whoever unleashed these monsters on our city to justice!
[Cut back to the newsroom.]
PATRICIA: And now for another field report from Cindy.
[The frame is close to the ground, as CINDY is crouched behind a SOLDIER, watching anxiously. They are in a narrow alleyway, shrouded in darkness. The open city square that they peer out into is almost blindingly bright. A couple of shadows occasionaly zip back and forth in the background.]
CINDY: [Glances back to the camera, before turning her gaze back to the square.] Thank you, Patricia. Captain Miamoto has engaged the enemy robot, and is currently attempting to... what's going on?
SOLDIER: I think... I think he's trying to get away...
CINDY: What? [Looking back to the camera.] Rest safe, Gaia! The first of the robots is-
SOLDIER: No, I mean Miamoto! He's trying to get away!
CINDY: [Back to SOLDIER.] What!?
[Blood splatters from the square onto the alley wall. CINDY stumbles back, visibly shaken but too professional to scream on-camera. SOLDIER jumps upright, aiming his SMG at the opening. A figure steps into the gap, completely sillhouetted. It looks like the outline of a large, well-built man.]
SOLDIER: Run! Get outta here!
[CINDY looks to the camera, before the frame swivels haphazardly to face the ground. The feet of the cameraman come into view- torn jeans on legs rapidly pumping to get away. The sound of rapid-fire bullets can be heard, followed by a muffled thump and a scream cut short.]
CINDY: [Off-frame, panting.] Ben, calm down! You're going to get lost! [Her voice becomes fainter and fainter as the sidewalk turns to asphalt back to sidewalk again.] Ben! Ben!
To Be Continued...
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:06 am
[Two shot on PATRICIA and MICHAEL, eyes wide in shock. In the upper-right corner of the frame, a smaller frame showing the footage of BEN's feet running frantically is shown.]
MICHAEL: Cindy...?
CINDY: [V.O.] I'm here, Michael. I'm safe.
PATRICIA: Can you tell us what's going on?
CINDY: [V.O.] It's Ben. He bugged out.
PATRICIA: What happened?
CINDY: [V.O.] I'm- I'm not quite sure. I didn't wait to find out... I think we were under attack.
[MICHAEL and PATRICIA look at each other with concern. Meanwhile, the frame in the upper-right corner stabilizes, and BEN's face comes into view. In the background, there is a row of large transformers, and a concrete building further back. He is saying something.]
MICHAEL: Ben? He's calmed down. [Looks past the camera, off-screen.] Can we get audio on that?
[The upper-right frame expands to dominate the entire screen. BEN's audio is turned on.]
BEN: -don't know where I am, but-
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Hello? Ben? Can you hear me?
BEN: -and I thought we were going to die and I never told my-
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Is your earpiece on? [Looking past the camera again.] Is his earpiece on? Hey, guys! Could somebody check to make sure his earpiece is on?
BEN: -but then his head just exploded and- Michael?
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Ben? Can you hear me?
BEN: Yeah.
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Good. Calm down. Can you tell us where you are?
BEN: I... I don't know.
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Take a look around. What do you see?
BEN: Oh. [He looks up, and the frame drops away to show a chain-link fence that's been torn down.] Huh... an old factory-looking building with this big metal things and... [The frame begins to shake violently.]
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Ben? What's happening? [Pause.] What's going on? Talk to me, kid.
[The image blurs as BEN's arm begins swinging rapidly- he's running towards the remains of the fence. Three sounds mix together in a cacophonous clash: BEN's scream of terror, the sound of his sneakers pounding against the asphalt, and an unnaturally loud creaking of metal. This goes on for several seconds, and BEN makes quite a bit of progress- all the way to an intersection down the block. Then, everything stops. The frame is frozen facing forward down the street, and a large metal spike dominates the upper-left section of the frame. Blood drips down the weapon, then the frame rapidly pans downwards. The sound of the camera hitting the asphalt, but instead of going to static, the frame mercilessly bounces and turns to watch BEN's lower body. His arms hang limp at his side, running with blood. Quite suddenly, he is yanked straight into the air, and out of the frame.]
MICHAEL: [V.O.] Ben? BEN?
[Sound out, cut to black.]
To Be Continued...
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:55 pm
[Five minutes have passed, and finally the image returns. MICHAEL and PAULA are taking their seats at their desk; MICHAEL is panting, and his face is red from exertion. The sound of off-screen shouting dies down.]
PAULA: Sorry about that. Technical difficulties.
MICHAEL: We go back to the field with Cindy.
[Shaky, moving shot of the city streets. The camera is following three soldiers as they hastily try to remember the way out of town. Carter Hill, in the background, grows ever closer.]
CINDY: [Offscreen.] Thank you, Michael. We- we couldn't find Ben. We think he ran across another one of... them. We're getting out of this place.
[Tight shot on PAULA.]
PAULA: And can you tell us where you're headed?
CINDY: [V.O.] We're headed for the hills. We'll be safe there. [A loud explosion can be heard in the background.]
PAULA&MICHAEL: Cindy???
[The frame is sideways- the side of a building is in view. Shouting can be heard, smoke is rising from a nearby crater. The frame jolts to life, as someone picks the camera up and directs it once more at the soldiers. One of them is propped up against a wall, covered in blood and burns. The other two are yelling, charging towards the treeline which has just come into view.]
CINDY: I'm okay, I'm okay. I don't know- oh my God.
[Something shoots up from deep within the woody hills, leaving a trail of black smoke as it flies into the air and out of the frame. For a moment, there is no sound. Then, the projectile- a rocket-propelled grenade- comes crashing down just in front of the two charging soldiers. They share a look of uncertainty before charging back into the woods, screaming and shouting, their weapons held at the ready.]
CINDY: Wait! Don't leave me! [The frame shifts to look at the injured soldier. He has died in the passing moments.] Okay... back from where I came...
[The frame turns around again, and CINDY makes her way South.]
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:59 pm
[CINDY has been running full-speed for nearly seven minutes now. Suburbia has given way to the quaint Old Carter district, to the green fields near the south city limits. In the distance, the Intercity 280 Freeway marks the horizon. A gruff voice calls from out of frame.]
VOICE: HEY!
[The frame spins around. The SOLDIER with the buster sword is running towards CINDY. His blade has been smashed, and only the hilt remains. He waves to her frantically.]
SOLDIER: Cindy! You're okay!
CINDY: [Out of frame.] cloud_666! Where are the others?
CLOUD_666: [Coming to a halt right in front of CINDY, he dominates the screen.] I... I don't know. We tried to take the subway to... divert... that machine's attention. [He looks to the side ruefully, dramatically. His jaw is clenched.] That... was a mistake...
CINDY: What do you mean?
CLOUD_666: They were waiting for us. The four of them... waiting. [He looks resolutely, not at CINDY, but the camera itself.] We need to get out of here... don't worry, I will protect you.
[The frame swivels 180 degrees, and they start a slow walk towards the highway. They go in complete silence.]
[Cut to medium two-shot on PAULA and MICHAEL. They watch a monitor off-screen for several moments.]
STAGEHAND: [Out of frame.] Guys! You're on!
[The two anchorpeople turn suddenly to face the camera.]
MICHAEL: I'm Michael Hunter.
PAULA: And I'm Paula Olson. This has been a GAIA 9 Action News special report.
[Cut to black.]
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:36 pm
[Several days later. Cue news music. Long shot of newsroom, MICHAEL and PATRICIA exchange concerned glances. MICHAEL's grip on the papers before him turn his knuckles white. Fade music, zoom into two-shot of the co-anchors.]
MICHAEL: Good evening, and welcome to a special edition of Gaia 9 Action News. I'm Michael Hunter...
PATRICIA: ...and I'm Patricia Olson.
[Close-up on MICHAEL. The "CARTER CITY CRISIS" graphic from previous broadcasts is displayed in the upper-left corner of the screen.]
MICHAEL: Controversy erupted today as the military announced its plans for a tactical missile strike against Carter City just as reports arrived indicating the arrival of dozens of bounty hunters to the warzone. In a statement issued by the army half an hour ago, Carter Militia General BagOfBad stated that the army will not be dissuaded from what he claims is its only remaining recourse, and alarms will be set off throughout the city to alert any living being of the encrouching danger.
[Cut to close-up on BAGOFBAD, in front of a podium speaking into several dozen microphones.]
BAGOFBAD: The buildings are not what make our home. Carter City makes our home. And rest assured, the spirit of Carter City lives on! [Cut to same scene, different time.] The vigilantes are, in essence, criminals. We'll give them fair warning, but if they can't get out of there in time, it's their own damn fault for meddling in the first place.
[Cut to two-shot of MICHAEL and PATRICIA.]
PATRICIA: Strong words from the little man. [MICHAEL shoots PATRICIA a look.]
MICHAEL: ...yes. [MICHAEL looks to the camera.] I would like to repeat this warning for the public: if you're anywhere near Carter City, get as far as you can. Now.
[PATRICIA opens her mouth to speak. Cut to commercial.]
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:09 pm
[Return from commercial to a close-up on MICHAEL.]
MICHAEL: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. It is with heavy heart that I tell you that, not two minutes ago, Carter City was demolished. As promised, the military launched three Flashpoint Tactical Missiles in an effort to destroy the robot threat. No word yet on the fate of the bounty hunters who had infiltrated Carter City earlier today.
[MICHAEL looks out of frame, squinting as somebody's muffled voice yells at him from behind the camera. His eyes grow wide, then he looks back into the lense.]
MICHAEL: This just in. Apparently Dr. Vincent von Vincent, a robotics expert authorities have been consulting with, is holding an impromptu press conference. We take you now to the scene.
[Cut to VINCENT, standing in front of a podium, and all of that good stuff.]
VINCENT: It took quite a bit of searching, but I now believe that our robot aggressors are all combat prototypes created by Cat's Cradle Robotics. Top-secret projects, to be sure, but the mark of Shen Fei's design on one of the more prominent robots is undeniable.
[Cut to MICHAEL.]
MICHAEL: Shen Fei, CEO and founder of Cat's Cradle, was found brutally murdered last month, along with four of his colleagues and three bodyguards. They were located in a training facility that was apparently the testing grounds for some kind of combat-oriented machine, and it now seems that the two events are indeed connected.
[Again MICHAEL looks off-screen as someone tries to tell him something.]
MICHAEL: This just in! The fliers advertising the bounty on the robots' heads has been traced back to Henrik Weissmann, the new CEO of Cat's Cradle Robotics! Police converged on both his office and home fifteen minutes ago, but reports indicate that he has gone into hiding and is nowhere to be found. Speculation into what has transpired is spreading like wildfire.
[MICHAEL stares dumbly at the camera, uncertain of what to say next. Cut to commercial.]
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