ESCAPE FROM CMU
by
Dan Goldwasser and Brendan Dunham
Third Draft
February 7, 1997

1.	(graphic of CMU MAP, mirroring speech below)
	
	V.O., female voice
In the year 2013, the New Imperialist America takes over Carnegie Mellon University
		by force to create a new “Learning Center”.  

		A 90 foot steel-reinforced concrete barrier is erected surrounding the campus.
	
		Guard towers are placed at strategic locations around the barrier.

This is where people opposed to the ideas of the Moral America are processed to learn 
the new order of thinking.

		Once you go in, you might not come out.

2.	Graphic “FROM THE MAKERS OF ESCAPE FROM MIT”

3.	SHOT of Guard in front of SEI.  Sign says “Carnegie Mellon University” with “Carnage” 
spraypainted over the “Carnegie”

	Camera tracks up to reveal a large wall, and then over the top of the wall is a shot of campus
	with fires around.

4.	PERKINS, a “Stacey Keach” type of guy from EFLA (to Snake)

	PERKINS: 	“At 2315 tonight, Air Force One, carrying President Walton was shot down,
			and the escape pod indicates that he landed within CMU.  You got him out of
MIT last year, and we need you to get him out of CMU now.

Snake, the President is carrying a secret black box.  It’s a weapon our 
government was developing in the war against Microsoft.  If activated, it can 
disable any computer network.  If it fell into the wrong hands, it could destroy 
the Internet as we know it.”

	SNAKE:	“I guess you better check your mail for the last time.”

	PERKINS glares at SNAKE.

	SNAKE:	“How do I get in?”

	PERKINS: 	“The Steam Tunnels.  No one ever looks in there.
		
	SNAKE points to the fraternity quad on the map

	SNAKE:	“What’s this?”

	PERKINS:	“The fraternity quad.  We walled them off from the rest of the compound.  We
			send in 20 kegs of beer a week to keep them from getting restless.”

“Here.  This,” (hands him a wrist device) “is your countdown timer.  
Check it out.”

	SNAKE presses button - wrist device lights up with symbols:
		4 - 0 - 0

	PERKINS:	“You have 4 years to get out of CMU.  If you don’t get out of CMU…”
		(Shot of SNAKE’s face)
			“You become Staff.”

4.5	TITLE “Escape from CMU”

5.	SHOT of Hamerschlag Hall - the Smokestack is a raging inferno

6.	SNAKE at the park behind CFA (near GSIA/Hunt)

GUY: 	“Aren’t you Snake Pliskin?”
	(shot of  SNAKE looking bad-ass)
	GUY: 	“I thought you graduated.”

7.	SNAKE at the FENCE, with a GROUP OF THUGS

	HEAD THUG:	“Where do you think you’re going?”

	SNAKE:	“I thought I’d paint the fence.”

	HEAD THUG:	“Oh yeah?  What color?”

	SNAKE:	“Red.”
	
	HEAD THUG:	“Where’s your paintbrush?”

	SNAKE:	“Right here.”

	SNAKE pulls out gun, and shoots all the THUGS dead

8.	SNAKE in CFA, with GIRL
	
	SNAKE:	 “Who are they?”  
(referring to the group of disfigured Art majors slowly approaching)

	GIRL: 		“Art Majors - they got into some toxic paints, and they’re looking for food….. 
but they 	only consume human flesh.”

	SNAKE: 	“Pity.”

	GIRL:		“It looks like they’re on their way to Highlander for their daily feeding…”

9.  SNAKE is walking towards the camera along a path.  Just before he reaches a crossing path, a 
MAN runs screaming from left to right.  He is chased by a HUMMER, which is firing its machine 
guns at him.

	SNAKE (to GIRL):	“What was that?”
	
	GIRL:	“SafeWalk”.

10. 	 SNAKE inside UNIVERSITY CENTER (Kirr Commons) - banners are changed to reflect 
insignia of  NEW AMERICA

	SNAKE (to himself): 	“What is this place?”

	MAN approaches SNAKE

	MAN: 	“Hey, aren’t you Snake Pliskin?”
		(SNAKE looks at the man)
	MAN: 	“What are you doing at CMU?  I thought you graduated.”

	SNAKE:	“Maybe I like Pittsburgh.”

	MAN:	“Yeah, and I like Highlander Food.  Don’t lie to me, Snake.”

	SNAKE:	“I have to rescue the President.  Where is Smith Hall?”

	MAN:	“You think you can save the President?  Oh man… you are out of your league!
		You think that just because you can get in and out of MIT that you can escape from
		CMU?  That school is for pussies!  This is where the real psychos are!”


11.	SNAKE:	“Perkins, they’re hiding the professor at Smith Hall - but I have no idea how
to get there.”
	
	PERKINS:	“Use the on-campus phone.”

	SNAKE goes to a campus phone, and plugs in a number.

	DISPATCHER (V.O.):	“SafeWalk, how can I help you?”

	SNAKE:	“I’d like an escort.” 

12. 	SNAKE walking towards WEAN (on the MALL) with GIRL2

	SNAKE:	“God - what’s that stench?”

	GIRL2:		“See those people over there?”  
(pointing to a group of people massing around the entrance to WEAN)
	
	SNAKE: 	“Yes, what about them?”

	GIRL2: 		“Computer Science Majors - their network access was removed a couple
			of years back - they cannot function properly, and will never graduate
			on time.  Most become Staff.”

	SNAKE:	“But the smell….?”

	GIRL2:		“They always smelled like that.”

13. 	SNAKE at Smith Hall with the President.  Snake has the Black Box.

	PRESIDENT:	Snake, calm down.  If you use that box the entire Internet will be disabled. 
			Snake, do you know what this means?  No e-mail, Snake; no World Wide Web.
			You’ll send the entire planet back into the dark ages!

	SNAKE:	When the computer malfunctions, you have to shut down and reboot.  And your
			files are seriously corrupted, Mr. President.

	SNAKE presses the button on the black box.

14.	TITLE “Escape From CMU”

15.	Credit Lines (for film)

16.	Credits (for EFCMU).