“RAID ON OSIRAK”
by Charles Proser
TEASE
FADE IN:
1 EXT. AERIAL - U2 -BLACK SPYPLANE AT ALTITUDE - STOCK
2 EXT. TAMPA AFB -- DAY
SUPERIMPOSE -- CENTCOM -- US CENTRAL COMMAND HEADQUARTERS
3 INT. TAMPA - CENTCOM - INTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Spooks and analysts look at photo recon data. The CENTCOM
COMMANDING OFFICER, GENERAL ZIMA, in Marine Fatigues is a
gruff, no-nonsense fireplug. His deputy, ADMIRAL YEAGER is
more polished, in Navy Khaki. The SPOOK, is in tweeds and
hornrims. He points to a rounded dome on the pictures.
SPOOK
That’s it. Osirak!
ADMIRAL YEAGER
Saddam's at it again. Unbelievable!
GENERAL ZIMA, steps up, nods for the briefing to begin.
SPOOK
Okay, I’m sure you all remember the
Osirak nuclear reactor? Here...
just north of Baghdad.
GENERAL ZIMA
The Israelis took it out in ‘81.
SPOOK
Yes Sir, but the Iraquis have secretly
rebuilt it. Its a breeder reactor,
takes low-grade uranium and turns it
into bomb-grade plutonium. Once the
fuel’s in, it cannot be attacked
without spreading a radioactive cloud.
Where that cloud would drift, nobody
knows... but it would make Chernobyl
look like a bad day at Bubba’s
Barbecue. The decision has been
made to take it out.
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2.
GENERAL ZIMA
Without a warning?
SPOOK
As a warning... To Iraq and to any
others who think they can pull this
stuff on us.
He hands him the closest angle. The General studies it.
SPOOK (CONT'D)
The Joint Chiefs want a mission. You
guys better have a plan for them
...in 48 hours.
The General turns to his deputy, hands him the picture..
GENERAL ZIMA
What assets do we have in the area?
ADMIRAL YEAGER
Third Marines. Quick Reaction Force.
SPOOK
We have a short window. One good
chance. You have a team ready?
GENERAL ZIMA
I have a man.
SPOOK
Is he good?
GENERAL ZIMA
Oh, yeah. A real hard-charger.
Tim, get me Bill Kelly down at
Pensacola.
FADE OUT:
END TEASER
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3.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 EXT. PENSACOLA - BASE GOLF COURSE - SAME TIME
Kelly is on the phone while his enlisted personalman, CORPORAL
RICARDO, waits, holding a golf club, taking practice swings.
KELLY
Yeah, cold in Maine? Oh it's rough
down here, Prudence. About 73. When
do you land? Ten-fifteen, flight
46? No, I'll send a cab. We’ll have
a great time, catch up on everything.
Hands the phone to Ricardo. Who hands him back a three wood.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Whew! Prudence. My sister’s girl.
He hands Ricardo a picture.
INSERT
A young lady in conservative dress and hairstyle... Prudence.
ANGLE ON KELLY
Kelly lines up on the tee...listens to birds.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Ah, peace at last. Quiet, even.
(orders the birds)
Quiet!
Miraculously, they shut up. He addresses the ball. Just as
he’s into his swing, his CELLPHONE HONKS. He shanks it into
the clubhouse to the sound of BREAKING GLASS. Ricardo cocks
his head, flips his pad open, writes.
CPL. RICARDO
I’ll take care of that, sir.
Kelly is not amused. He punches the phone.
KELLY
Hammer, I thought I told you not to --
Oh, hi, General, how are you?
(MORE)
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4.
KELLY (CONT'D)
No... I was talking to somebody else.
Why no, not busy at all. My time is
your time. Yes sir. When do you
want us?
(beat)
An hour ago. Right, Sir. On the way!
5 EXT. PENSACOLA - FLIGHTLINE -- MOMENTS LATER
Hammer catches up to Kelly, in flight suits, carrying helmets.
HAMMER
Hey, Skipper, what do we have?
KELLY
Let me brief you on what I know.
Nothing.
Corporal Riccardo, runs to catch up to them. Kelly walks
around kicking the tires and per-flighting as he talks.
CPL. RICARDO
Sir, you're both going?
KELLY
OPSO's in charge until we get back.
CPL. RICARDO
Uh, sir, can you tell me when that
might be?
KELLY
No, Corporal. You don't know where
I went and I don't know when I'll
return.
CPL. RICA
But sir, it's ...you know...Prudence.
KELLY
Oh, yeah... Okay. I want you to
provide her with a responsible escort
until I return.
6 INT. KELLY’S COCKPIT - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
As the ground crew straps him in, he keys the radio.
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5.
KELLY
Shooter One request taxi clearance.
Shooter Two, you with me?
HAMMER (V.O.)
Roger, that. One.
KELLY
Okay, light 'em up! Let's go!
7 EXT. FLIGHTLINE - TWO HORNETS - DAY (STOCK)
They take off and climb out, headed for Tampa.
8 INT. AERIAL - HAMMER'S COCKPIT - DAY
HAMMER
You worried, Raider, with us both
gone?
9 INT. AERIAL - COCKPIT - KELLY - DAY
KELLY
Relax, Hammer. You gotta have faith
in your people. Besides, it's only
a few hundred men and several hundred
million dollars of the Corp's
aircraft. What can go wrong?
10 EXT. AERIAL - HORNETS - DAY - (STOCK)
They roll and pull in formation, arcing away...
11 INT. READY ROOM - SAME TIME - DAY
Burner and Spoon check the boards.
SPOON
The CO and XO both gone? Ice and
half the squad on DET... Geez. Let's
get outta here.
BURNER
What's the problem?
SPOON
I don't like the look of this. They
stick us with some extra duty...we
can forget about the beach.
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6.
BURNER
No!
SPOON
...And the Tropical Lotion volleyball
weekend. And all that means.
BURNER
Yeah, the free suntan lotion.
SPOON
Lots of it. Most... on babes. On
the parts of beautiful buffed babes
that bikinis don’t cover. On hot
semi-naked women. Like the ones I
lined up. Come on, grab your
gear...let's book it, before...!
12 INT. SQUADRON CORRIDOR - SAME TIME
Ricardo walks down the corridor conferring on the cell phone.
CPL. RICARDO
But, OPSO, it's the Colonel’s personal
detail. Sir? Who’s on DET? Oh,
they are... all of them? Well, there
must be somebo...
He glances at the Ready Room, stops, backs up.
CPL. RICARDO (CONT'D)
Uh, OPSO...Hold on.
RICARDO’S P.O.V.
Burner and Spoon grabbing their charts and gear.
13 INT. READY ROOM
BURNER
Your date is Gloria. And she is! I
mean they pick these models for
their...their... Oh, no!
Ricardo steps in grinning. They fall silent as he gives
them the enlisted evil eye.
CPL. RICARDO
Gentlemen. Your detail...
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7.
SPOON
No...
CPL. RICARDO
...A Prudence Escort. The Colonel
asked for you 'specially.
BURNER
A what? What the heck’s a prudence?
CPL. RICARDO
Sirs, a Prudence is a Colonel's niece,
your commanding officer’s niece.
Ricardo hands them Prudence’s picture.
CPL. RICARDO (CONT'D)
Think of her as a fragile porcelain
doll to be handled with the greatest
delicacy. Now, if the Colonel returns
and there’s one little finishing
school hair out of place, it is my
belief that both of you or your better
nether parts will be deep fried in
peanut oil and served up for the
ladies auxilliary buffet. Do I make
the Colonel’s express wishes clear?
SPOON
Corporal, what are we supposed to do
with her?
CPL. RICARDO
It’s what you’re not that’s important.
BURNER
Let me guess. We grab a dictionary,
look up every verb in it and put a
“don’t” in front of it. That about
cover it?
CPL. RICARDO
Yes Sir! I do think you have the
general drift. Meet her cab at the
gate at 1100 hours, and deliver her
to the Colonel on his return all
nicely covered in bubble wrap.
ANGLE ON BURNER AND SPOON - THE CONDEMNED...
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8.
14 EXT./INT. TAMPA - CENTCOM FLIGHTLINE - DAY (STOCK)
Kelly and Hammer’s Hornets land and taxi past hangers.
SUPERIMPOSE: US CENTRAL COMMAND HEADQUARTERS - TAMPA
15 INT. TAMPA - CENTCOM HQ - SHORT TIME LATER
A Marine Colonel sees Kelly walk in and greets him warmly.
SLIDER
Hey, Raider, how are you? What are
you doing here?
Kelly walks right by him.
KELLY
Hi, Slider, I’m fine. And I'm not
here.
Slider watches them disappear into the top security spaces.
16 EXT. PENSACOLA - BASE FRONT GATE - SAME TIME - DAY
Spoon and Burner stand near the gate waiting.
SPOON
Must be some kind of flap for the CO
and the XO to both disappear.
BURNER
Well, also disappearing...our weekend.
SPOON
And the Tropical Lotion models...
They're only here for forty-eight
hours!
(a beat)
Look, no reason we should both lose
out. How hard is it to handle one
little girl...?
BURNER
I agree. You do it.
SPOON
Look, we switch off. Pick her up...
some fast food, show her the beach,
park her somewhere. Four hours on,
(MORE)
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9.
SPOON (CONT'D)
four hours off. I'll even take the
first watch.
BURNER
I donno...if that's gonna work...
SPOON
It has to. It's the only way we can
handle this mission and still salvage
something of the weekend.
BURNER
I donno...
SPOON
Look you want to spend half the
weekend on this detail and half with
the Tropical models or all of it
with...
A cab pulls up, a pretty, demure schoolgirl in conservative
dress gets out and looks to them. Prudence. They smile.
BURNER
Oh, Geez. This is gonna be brutal.
SPOON
Smile like an officer and gentleman.
Burner tries on a grin. Doesn’t quite make it. The girl
looks confused. Looks behind them, looks around. They walk
to her.
SPOON (CONT'D)
Hello. I’m Lt. Henry, this is Lt.
Barnes. You must be Colonel Kelly’s
niece... Miss Atwater?
PRUDENCE
Yes. Hello. I’m Prudence.
(looks around)
Where’s Uncle Bill?
SPOON
Uh, thing is.. we don’t exactly know.
ANGLE ON PRUDENCE
She gives them a hard stare. Burner just grins like a loon.
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10.
17 INT. TAMPA - CENTCOM INTEL ROOM - SAME TIME
The Spook turns from a screen filled with an aerial of the
Nuclear plant. Zima, Yeager, Kelly, Hammer and Intel
Officers cluster around.
SPOOK
...and the fuel is somewhere in
country...and on its way to the
reactor. That's what we know for
now. General?
He nods to Zima who steps up.
GENERAL ZIMA
Look familiar, Bill?
KELLY
Like a bad dream.
GENERAL ZIMA
What I see in my sleep is a bunch of
nuclear weapons we cannot control.
ANGLE ON KELLY
GENERAL ZIMA (CONT'D)
You’ve been there, in Desert Storm.
KELLY
Yeah. Was hoping we wouldn't have
to go back.
The General looks to the Spook. He’s a nerdy, academic type.
SPOOK
Saddamn Insane has surrounded the
target with his usual cast of camera-
friendly civilians. This has to be
a surgical strike, with a very sharp
scalpel. Any collaterals are gonna
be stars of the evening news.
Zima nods to his deputy.
ADMIRAL YEAGER
They’ve ringed the reactor with SAM’s.
Their threat envelopes overlap. ZSU
57’s down low. SA8’s and 10’s here.
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11.
Zima turns to Kelly.
GENERAL ZIMA
You’ve done the most recent work-up
on the target in your War Fighting
Lab. That's why you're here. You’ll
plan the mission.
(a beat.)
...and Mac has the most ground attack
experience. He’ll lead.
Hammer quickly reacts, surprised and confused.
HAMMER
Sir, Colonel Kelly is my CO.
GENERAL ZIMA
I’m aware of that.
(a beat)
Colonel Kelly will be your CO again,
after the mission.
HAMMER
Yessir.
He looks at Kelly. It goes down hard in front of the others.
KELLY
Whatever you say, General.
The others turn away to their tasks. Zima moves to Kelly.
GENERAL ZIMA
I knew you’d understand, Bill..
Better go start working the books. I
need a prelim plan by 1300 to take
up the chain...
KELLY
Aye, Sir.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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12.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
18 EXT. PENSACOLA - BASE - DAY - STOCK
19 INT. VMFAT 101 CORRIDOR OUTSIDE KELLY'S OFFICE
Prudence strides on, fuming. They hustle after her.
PRUDENCE
You mean he just... disappeared?
SPOOK
Not disappeared exactly, its just
that, well, he’s not exactly here.
PRUDENCE
And where exactly is he?
BURNER
We don't exactly know. If we did,
we’d have to lie. This way makes it
easier for everyone.
She stops, steams for a moment on that.
PRUDENCE
Well, I’ve come all the way from
Colby, Maine. Who’s supposed to
take care of my vacation?
BURNER
We are.
She strides off again, to the CO's office.
PRUDENCE
You two.
BURNER
Uh, huh, ma’am. Us.
She stops at Kelly's door, disbelieving...
PRUDENCE
And my Uncle Bill isn’t here?
SPOON
Well um, technically... no.
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13.
She steams for a beat. then...
PRUDENCE
Cool!
She walks right by them into Kelly's office, slams the door.
SPOON
Well we can forget about the beach.
BURNER
The beach! The volleyball weekend.
Our dates... Everything.
SPOON
An entire beach full of women in
very little and we’re stuck escorting
Prudence from Maine.
They ponder that for a moment.
BURNER
It’ll be okay.
SPOON
Okay!!! When we could be out with
top stuff. like... like...
Burner follows Spoon’s eyes. He turns... A babe is walking
toward them, dressed hot and punk, spiked green and blue
hair, rings, studs, bare midrift halter and shorts...
GIRL
Hi, boys!
BURNER
Hi??!! Now, if we could just...
Something... He turns to the girl. She’s looking at them.
BURNER (CONT'D)
Prudence?
PRUDENCE
Yup.
SPOON
What’s up?
She hooks her arms in theirs.
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14.
PRUDENCE
Time’s up. Uncle Bill promised me a
good time. Let's Rock and Roll!
20 EXT. TAMPA - CENTCOM - EVENING (STOCK)
21 INT. CENTCOM - INTEL ROOM - SAME TIME
The planners cluster around a console. Maps, Sat imagery and
targeting data are projected on the table and on wall screens.
KELLY
Okay, the reactor’s on a plateau. A
valley leads up to it. It’s the
only way in, under the radar and the
SAM and triple-A threat.
The Spook and Intel Officers... are uneasy.
SPOOK
They know. They’ll be waiting in
the valley.
INSERT - TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP - INTERCUT
KELLY
We’ll ingress, in this valley to the
east. They’ll know we’re coming but
they’ll be looking here. And for a
while, that’s where they’ll see us.
CU MAP DETAIL
KELLY (CONT'D)
Right here there’s a break in the
ridges. We’ll pop over, let down in
the western valley, and drive straight
in.
He looks up at them. They are silent for a beat.
GENERAL ZIMA
You sure there’s a pass there?
KELLY
Last time I looked.
ADMIRAL YEAGER
We can’t pick it out on the topo’s.
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15.
KELLY
It’s small. Just room enough for a
Hornet. We’ll pull inverted over it
and down, hugging these hills. If
we don’t pop up too high, they’ll
never see us.
GENERAL ZIMA
Inverted, with a full bomb load?