AGE OF MACHINE, PAGE 26 – 28

ABAI

Hang on. There’s a problem inside my system. I need to check...

 

Abai’s voice fades. Marek and Luis look at each other in surprise. The screens have now gone black with some messages of initializing processes and resetting parameters.

 

INT. BASEMENT OF THE NTI  ––  NIGHT

Marek leaves the Interface Room and runs to the computer facilities room, seeing the dead bodies of the soldiers that tried to break into the room. The door is still locked.

 

INT. MILITARY PLANE  ––  NIGHT

The plane’s cockpit starts to lean forward.

 

PILOT (shouting)

We’re losing height! We’re gonna crash in a couple of minutes if I can’t get back to manual.

 

Flink looks at Arika.

 

FLINK

I hope it’s not the dormant virus that you’ve just activated.

 

We see the plane descending and slowly approaching the ground.

 

INT. INTERFACE ROOM OF THE NTI  ––  NIGHT

Marek is back in the room. They see the screens coming back to normal. Suddenly also Abai’s voice comes back, first sounding like a 20th century robot, but then in its normal high-quality voice emulation.

 

ABAI

Recovering functions... Virus found... Removing...

Well guys. It seems that I’ve just survived an attack from inside.

 

INT. MILITARY PLANE  ––  NIGHT

The plane’s cockpit is in horizontal position again.

 

PILOT

We’re regaining height. But I still can’t take over control. We continue heading for Washington DC.

 

HUNT (to Arika)

Obviously your virus has failed.

 

Hunt raises his hand to his earplug again.

 

HUNT

Hunt again. You have a go.

 

EXT. IN THE AIR  ––  NIGHT

We see two futuristic, self-flying B-2031 bombers change their course and fly in the direction of the NTI in Sacramento.

 

INT. INTERFACE ROOM OF THE NTI  ––  NIGHT

On the screens in the Interface Room we the see B-2031 bombers fly through the dark night.

 

ABAI

Have a look at this. Now an attack is threatening from the outside. Hunt sends military planes to bomb the institute. Don’t worry, I’ll deal with it.

 

EXT. IN THE AIR  ––  NIGHT

When the B-2031’s approach the NTI, their course changes again. They pass north of Sacramento and fly towards the Pacific Ocean.

 

INT. MILITARY PLANE  ––  NIGHT

Hunt is still on his phone, listening.

 

VOICE OVER (via Hunt’s earplug)

Sir, this is absolutely incredible. Both B-2031’s are dropping their bombs 25 miles off the coast.

 

Hunt’s face freezes. He looks at Flink and Arika in disbelief.

 

INT. MILITARY PLANE  ––  NIGHT

A few hours later, when Hunt’s plane is within 30 miles distance of Washington DC, it starts descending again.

 

PILOT

Sir, our plane is descending. 

 

Everyone in the plane now fears a crash into Washington DC. Hunt stands next to the pilot, and looks at the control panels. Then he looks outside, nervously playing with his silver box.

 

HUNT

Where are we heading? Is there an airport nearby? 

 

PILOT

If the descent continues in this direction, we might land on the White House. Or the Pentagon.

 

HUNT (shouting)

So do something goddamnit! We can’t let this happen.

 

Two air force jets now fly alongside the plane. One of the pilots gestures to the pilot of Hunt’s plane.  

 

Voice Over (in the pilot’s headphone)

Please change your flightpath. You’re heading straight for the Pentagon. We can’t allow this.

 

PILOT (talking in his microphone)

We’re having trouble with the automatic pilot. It’s blocked. Can’t switch to manual.