Next Tuesday/Transcript

Teaser Sequence
'''EXT. - OVER OCEAN - DAY'''

[Magnus is struggling to pilot a helicopter over the ocean. Will is sitting behind her panicking.]

WILL: Uh, Magnus...I think I'm going to throw up!

MAGNUS: This is ridiculous! Hold on, I've lost lateral control!

[A tentacle breaks out of a container next to Will and Will yelps.]

WILL: Okay, this is really not going well!

MAGNUS: I know! No lift; I can't get any altitude!

[The creature's tentacle continues thrashing about causing damage to the interior of the helicopter.]

MAGNUS: Bloody hell! Try hitting it with more sedation!

WILL: Yeah, I'm already doing that! What the hell is wrong with...

[Will looks out window.]

WILL: Magnus...Magnus, pull up.

MAGNUS: I can't!

WILL: Pull up now!

MAGNUS: Dammit!

[The helicopter descends into an abandon oil rig.]

MAGNUS: Oh, this is going to be nasty.

[The helicopter's blades contact wires and become entangled.]

Act I
'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - HALLWAY - DAY'''

[Magnus and Will are walking down the hallway.]

WILL: Just-just come on. Just say it with me once... Reykjavík.

[Magnus signs.]

WILL: I love that word.

MAGNUS: Yes, you've told me a dozen times.

WILL: But I'm talking vodka, good food, fresh-faced women with names like Goodmansdottir...stimulating conversation under intricate ice sculptures...

[They enter MAGNUS'S STUDY.]

MAGNUS: Will, I've already told you, you can't go to the conference.

WILL: [Sighing] Why?

MAGNUS: Some things have come up.

WILL: Things, what things?

[Magnus hits some keys on her computer causing a beacon to show on a map.]

MAGNUS: Well, for starters, our sensors have picked up a very rare abnormal in the Gulf of Mexico.

WILL: And?

MAGNUS: Mutated Vampyroteuthis infernalis, a vampire squid; incredibly shy. I've only ever encountered one once before, sixty odd years ago in French Polynesia.

WILL: Okay, so a shy vampire; there's a first.

MAGNUS: Actually, the name is misleading. They're amazingly intelligent and very docile. It's believed that they're called vampire not because of a violent predilection, but more because of their superior intellect.

WILL: You know, this is fascinating, it really is, but--

MAGNUS: The beacon is coming from an abandoned oil rig off the Louisiana coast.

WILL: Okay, so one of our retrieval teams will pick it up, bring it back, boom.

MAGNUS: They're all in mission mode right now. I'd rather not interrupt them for something as simple as this. We will charter a helicopter in New Orleans and fly out there.

WILL: Hey, take Kate.

MAGNUS: Kate can't dive; I need you.

[Will groans dramatically]

WILL: Okay, okay, so...I'll miss the opening reception, but I'll still be there to give my presentation. Fine, I'll go.

MAGNUS: Actually no, I need you here for the next few days.

WILL: Why?

MAGNUS: I have a meeting in Berlin with my UN Security Council liaison; very time sensitive.

WILL: Henry.

MAGNUS: He's in Tasmania surfing.

WILL: The Big Guy?

MAGNUS: Is with him.

WILL: Kate.

MAGNUS: Is not ready for an extended period of being in charge.

WILL: No, no, no, no, no, because I told you about this trip months ago, okay? I'm a guest speaker. They're giving me a nice hotel room. I'm touring fjords.

MAGNUS: There's always next year.

WILL: Which is next year.

MAGNUS: I'm sorry, Will; this is not a request.

TAHITI FIELD OIL RESERVE GULF OF MEXICO, SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM

CURRENT STATUS : DECOMMISSIONED

'''INT. - PLATFORM - DAY'''

[The helicopter has crashed depositing Will into the water and Magnus unconscious sitting at the controls.]

WILL: Magnus!

[Will swims toward the helicopter.]

WILL: Magnus! Magnus!

[Magnus slowly regains consciousness.]

MAGNUS: Will? Will!

WILL: Hey...

[Will reaches skid pad of helicopter out of breath.]

WILL: Hey...

MAGNUS: You all right?

WILL: I don't know. My door kind of gave way when we, uh, you know, stopped. What about you?

MAGNUS: Well, you know, any landing you can swim away from...

WILL: What is it with you and flying, anyway?

MAGNUS: Two crashes in 158 years, that's not bad.

WILL: They only invented flying 110 years ago, so...

[Magnus opens to side door to look at her surroundings.]

WILL: Oh, great; we lost our air tanks and half our scuba gear.

[Magnus sees the container holding the creature floating in the water with the door opened.]

MAGNUS: And our friend as well.

WILL: You think it's still around here?

[Will pulls himself up to stand on the skid pads.]

MAGNUS: I'm sure it's long gone. This bore well leads to open water.

WILL: Well, another rare abnormal stays rare.

MAGNUS: Damn it and we had him.

'''EXT. - OCEAN - DAY'''

[An hour before the crash; Magnus and Will in scuba gear in the water as a winch pulls a container up onto the dock.]

WILL: I've never seen something so big fit into such a small container.

MAGNUS: Cephalopod, thankfully a very passive one at that.

WILL: This one doesn't seem too pleased that we captured it.

MAGNUS: It's much safer with us, believe me. These creatures are so passive; they're often killed by other species very early in their life cycle.

WILL: Yeah, well welcome to your new home...Squidly.

MAGNUS: We will not be calling it that.

WILL: Well, there are far more inappropriate nicknames I could give it.

[Will looks at his watch.]

MAGNUS: I'm sure there are.

WILL: Good, there's still time.

MAGNUS: For what?

WILL: A redeye. New Orleans connecting through Halifax landing in the lovely city of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.

[Magnus looks away disappointed.]

WILL: Oh, come on, Magnus. I mean, I know Kate is not your first choice, but can't she just hold the fort down for a couple days? I mean, I'm not going to be gone that long.

MAGNUS: I'm sure she can, Will.

WILL: Ah, see, that's the Magnus I know and love.

MAGNUS: But the answer is still no. Prep it for flight, please.

'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Magnus is at the helicopter controls trying to use radio.]

MAGNUS: Mayday, mayday, mayday!

[Will enters the helicopter.]

MAGNUS: The radio's broken or there's far too much concrete and steel in here for us to get a transmission out.

WILL: Meaning nobody can pick up the chopper's transponder signal, either.

[The heavy wires holding the helicopter above the water creaks and groans. Will exits helicopter to stand on the grid and looks down at the water.]

WILL: How deep do you think this goes?

MAGNUS: Seventy feet, maybe more.

WILL: Without scuba gear...

MAGNUS: ...It's much too far for us to try to dive to the bottom.

[Will opens a side hatch and looks in.]

WILL: Okay, here's what I think. Once we don't check in for a while, those lovely people we rented the chopper from will come looking for us, right? I mean, isn't that how it's supposed to work?

MAGNUS: And if they follow the bogus flight plan that I filed, they'll be looking for us two hundred miles west of here.

[Will slams the hatch.]

MAGNUS: It's how we keep our work private, Will.

[Will sighs.]

WILL: Okay, well, then, according to the mission plan, we're due back tomorrow night. Once we don't show up, Kate's got to get suspicious, she'll just probably...

[Magnus looks at Will sternly.]

WILL: Right, right, you're right. We're totally screwed.

[The wires holding the helicopter start to fray.]

[Magnus sighs. She looks back at Will and then moves to the back of the helicopter.]

MAGNUS: I'm sorry about your trip to Greenland.

WILL: Iceland. It's...it's Iceland.

MAGNUS: I'm sorry your trip to Iceland was scuttled, but obviously we have a far more important problem on our hands.

[Magnus drops a bag onto the skid.]

WILL: Yeah, we always do.

MAGNUS: What's that supposed to mean?

WILL: What does it mean? It means whatever you want it to..

[The wire breaks through causing the helicopter to tilt and throws Will and Magnus into the water.]

WILL: Whoa.

MAGNUS: It's all right; it just shifted position.

WILL: You think it'll hold?

MAGNUS: If the crash didn't bring it down, I doubt we can.

WILL: All I know is the deposit you gave the rental company's history.

[Magnus swims over to a case and using it for a float.]

WILL: You know, Magnus, maybe everything you heard about this creature is wrong. Maybe they're not as docile as you think.

MAGNUS: Nonsense, we captured it easily enough. It offered no resistance.

[Will finds his own case for a float.]

WILL: Yeah, well, something freaked it out; flying, or the vibrations from the rotors, different altitude.

MAGNUS: No, its container was specially designed to mimic its preferred atmosphere. It should have been fine.

WILL: Well, how did it go from happy-go-lucky cephalopod to air-rage squid in a matter of a minute?

MAGNUS: I don't know.

[Something swims below them in the water.]

WILL: You know, I should be learning Icelandic phrases right now and discussing psychoanalytic theory over cocktails.

MAGNUS: Yes, instead, you're stuck here with me.

WILL: You know what I mean.

MAGNUS: Actually, I do. This isn't about conferences or ice sculptures; it's about some immature tryst with a woman you barely know.

WILL: Excuse me?

MAGNUS: Dr. Halstrom or should I say Sigrid; your internet chat friend?

WILL: Internet chat friend? She happens to be the foremost authority on deviant psychology in Scandinavia, thank you very much.

[Magnus laughs.]

MAGNUS: Such an attractive element in a woman...

WILL: She has a PhD!

MAGNUS: Really, Will, it's about priorities.

WILL: My priorities? What is this, an employee training seminar? Why did you want me to stay, anyways, other than to ruin my fun?

MAGNUS: Do not pretend that this is some giant intellectual loss. This is about your libido.

WILL: Come on. If you think that this is all about me chasing...

[A creature swims very close to Will.]

MAGNUS: Do not get self-righteous with me...

WILL: Whoa, hold on.

MAGNUS: What?

WILL: Something just swam past my leg.

MAGNUS: What?

[They both look down in the water.]

WILL: Well, maybe that unhappy vampire squid that we have in here with us.

MAGNUS: Its miles away by now.

WILL: No, I'm telling you; something is in here with us. Something just swam past my leg, and it's slimy...

[Will is pulled under the water. Magnus takes a large breath and dives down after him.]

MAGNUS: Will!

Act II
'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Magnus sees Will is wrapped up in the creatures tentacles. She swims back up to the surface and retrieves a knife from the bag she had previously dropped on the skid. Will is thrust out of the water and back down.]

WILL: Magnus!!

[With knife in hand, Magnus dives back down to a struggling Will. She slashes the knife across the creature's tentacles causing it to release Will. Grabbing Will's arm, she pulls him to the surface.]

MAGNUS: You all right?

WILL: Oh, I'm miles away from all right. You said it would break for open water.

MAGNUS: Well, it should have.

WILL: Then why is it still here?

MAGNUS: I don't know.

WILL: And why does it hate me so much?

MAGNUS: It might have marked this as its territory.

[They both swim back to helicopter.]

WILL: Oh, that's wonderful news.

MAGNUS: I've never seen such aggressive behavior in this species. Come on; you might want to get out of the water.

WILL: Good idea.

[Will climbs up on skid. Catching his breath he points to the creature.]

WILL: I'm going to fry you up, a little tartar sauce...

[Will coughs and Magnus pats his back.]

WILL: I think those tentacles gave me a rash.

'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Magnus is cutting a wire from the helicopter.]

MAGNUS: I've got an idea.

WILL: Why don't we just shoot it?

MAGNUS: I'd prefer not to. It's a very...

WILL: Rare species of abnormal, right.

MAGNUS: What we need to do is send it a clear message...

[Magnus disconnects another wire.]

MAGNUS: At least until we figure out why it's behaving this way.

[Magnus pulls longer wire from the helicopter.]

WILL: Whoa, incoming!

[The creature swims under the helicopter. Will hurries over to other side of helicopter to watch it. The creature swims away as Magnus briefly connects the two wires causing sparks. The creature returns and bumps the helicopter.]

WILL: It's really pissed now.

MAGNUS: Do not touch the water!

[The creature breaches the water and swim directly at them.]

WILL: Okay, do it!

MAGNUS: Clear!

[Magnus throws the wires into the water. Receiving a shock the creature swims away. Magnus cuts the power from the battery.]

WILL: You okay?

MAGNUS: Yeah.

WILL: Well, that seemed to have worked.

MAGNUS: For now, it'll be back, and the battery's pretty much dead.

[Magnus rolls up the wires and replaces them into the hatch. Will sits in helicopter doorway reflecting. Magnus moves to stand next to him.]

WILL: Hey, uh...thanks for, uh...

MAGNUS: Of course.

[Magnus climbs into the helicopter and goes to the other side.]

WILL: So what now?

MAGNUS: Well, we can't send an SOS. Eventually someone will notice us missing and start a search. In the meantime, I want to know what turned this creature violent.

[Magnus is rummaging in the bag on the skid.]

MAGNUS: Come on, we should change; otherwise, we'll freeze to death.

[Will exits the helicopter and Magnus hands him a scuba suit. Will looks at Magnus who nods as both are uncomfortable.]

WILL: I'll change somewhere else.

[They change on opposite sides of the helicopter.]

WILL: Maybe, uh...maybe it's environmental. You know, something from the rig is poisoning its food supply.

MAGNUS: No, scans didn't indicate any sea water anomalies.

WILL: Okay, fine, then it's just a crazy giant squid.

MAGNUS: Honestly, Will, they are one of the most docile creatures in the entire ocean.

WILL: You got to stop using that word to describe it, 'cause it is not docile.

MAGNUS: It feeds on plankton, it lives in coral caves, it can create entire Mandelbrot mathematical patterns on the floor of the ocean. I have never known one to attack another life form.

WILL: Really? Well, what about bringing down a chopper 'cause this one did.

40 MINUTES AGO...

[The helicopter is on the landing pad preparing to lift off. Will is closing a hatch. Magnus finishes securing the container an climbs to the controls.]

WILL: Delegates from around the world are going to be there! Plus, there's an intense discussion group on amygdaline mutation! I think it would really benefit our work!

MAGNUS: Would you tie off the other side, please?

WILL: Yeah! Anyway, I think my being there would expand my knowledge of cutting-edge psychological theory! The cross-over in treating abnormals would be endless!

[Will enters co-pilot's seat.]

MAGNUS: Uh, Will, could you sit in the back, please? Just in case it needs sedation!

WILL: Really? It...it seems fine.

MAGNUS: Better safe than sorry! Sea creatures rarely like flying!

WILL: All right.

[Will moves to the back and Magnus shuts her door and puts earphones on her head. She looks back at Will.]

MAGNUS: All set?

WILL: Let's go.

[They lift off. Suddenly the creatures tentacle bursts from the container.]

WILL: Whoa! Hey!

'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Will and Magnus dive into the water and then turn to look at helicopter.]

MAGNUS: Fuselage is intact. What the hell made us crash?

WILL: I remember a loud noise and then the squidapus went insane, so maybe it just really didn't like flying.

MAGNUS: Possibly, though why it's still upset is anyone's guess.

[Magnus swims to the front and the helicopter and looks it over.]

MAGNUS: Antenna's broken; means the radio is definitely out.

WILL: Hey...I should have come clean to you about Sigrid, I'm sorry.

MAGNUS: What you do in your own time is your own business, just so long as it doesn't affect our work.

WILL: Granted, but...what's wrong with taking a little time off? Things have been pretty hectic around here.

MAGNUS: What's your point, Will?

[Will swims over next to Magnus.]

WILL: Well, don't you ever want to take a break?

MAGNUS: Not really; stranded.

WILL: Well, we've got some flares. We could wait till night, fire them off.

MAGNUS: Flares only work if there's someone in the vicinity to see them. This rig is miles from the nearest shipping lanes.

WILL: Okay, well, you must have been stranded at sea before.

MAGNUS: Only once, April 14th, 1912.

WILL: Really?

[Magnus looks sorrowful and looks away from Will.]

WILL: I wonder how they serviced the drill apparatus when it was in here. I mean, do you see right up there, right up by the lights? I bet you those air vents double as maintenance portals.

MAGNUS: And the pattern continues down below.

WILL: Yeah, how far do you think down that is; thirty, forty feet? That's doable as a free dive, right?

MAGNUS: Yeah.

WILL: Okay, so, we take the transponder from the helicopter, we swim down to the portal, out to the surface, and signal for help; unless of course, the docile squid attacks us before then.

[They both swim back to helicopter.]

MAGNUS: Well, if it attacks both of us, we don't stand a chance, but if one of us were to stay here...

[Magnus retrieves flippers and mask from bag.]

WILL: What, like as a distraction?

MAGNUS: It seems to hate you more.

WILL: Yeah, it really does, doesn't it?

[Magnus puts on the scuba gear as Will puts the transponder into a bag Magnus is wearing on her back.]

MAGNUS: All right?

WILL: Hold on a second.

[Will zips the bag closed.]

WILL: All right, you're good to go.

MAGNUS: All right, if I make it out...

WILL: Throw me down a sandwich and an Uzi. Hey...are you sure you're all right?

MAGNUS: Yeah.

[Magnus takes a deep breath and dives down. She swims to the portal and tries to pull the vent open with no success. She gets a knife strapped to her leg and tries to pry the vent open. Will watches her progress from above. The vent suddenly opens and turns on, suctioning her arm into the vent. She struggles to free herself.]

Act III
'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Magnus is unable to free herself. Will swims down to Magnus and attempts to free her. Magnus pushes him away and indicates for him to return to the surface. Will refuses and remains to try and free her. She passes out from lack of oxygen. The vent shuts down and Will is able to free her and pull her to the surface. Coughing Will turns Magnus so she is facing the air.]

WILL: Come on.

[Magnus starts breathing and start coughing and gasping for air. Will pulls her to the helicopter and they both grab hold of the grid recovering.]

WILL: Okay, so when you say priorities...does that include drowning?

MAGNUS: Thank you.

WILL: Don't thank me, the system purged itself. You got lucky.

[Still coughing Magnus grabs hold of a wire holding the helicopter above the water. She looks up the wire all the way to the sky above.]

MAGNUS: Of course!

[Magnus takes the bag from her back.]

WILL: What?

MAGNUS: Why didn't I think of this earlier? If we can salvage enough wiring, we run an extension from the radio's internal antenna...

[Magnus swims to the front of the helicopter and the external antenna.]

WILL: ...Right to the wall.

MAGNUS: Yeah.

WILL: We can use the entire rig to boost the signal. But isn't the battery almost dead?

MAGNUS: We should be able to get one last transmission out.

WILL: All right, bring on the Hail Mary.

[Magnus gives Will an alarmed look perhaps remembering when she last heard him use that phrase in the vision the mystical Amazon creature gave her. Will sees the look she is giving him and misinterprets it.]

WILL: What, it's worth a shot.

[Will swims away as she stares after him. The move to opposite sides of the helicopter and Magnus takes off the scuba gear.]

MAGNUS: All right, start with the avionic wiring. We definitely don't need that anymore.

WILL: All right.

MAGNUS: Rip as much wire as you can; start splicing.

[They both get to work.]

WILL: So you never go on vacation, huh?

MAGNUS: I travel all the time, you know that.

WILL: Yeah, on missions or for research; I'm talking about, you know, flopping down on a beach with a good book, a never-ending supply of mojitos.

MAGNUS: I own a villa in Italy, on Capri, near Naples. I go there every seven years.

WILL: Seven years?

MAGNUS: Yeah, for a long weekend.

WILL: Wow, I take it back. You really do know how to unwind.

MAGNUS: That's about as long as I can stand doing nothing. British, remember?

WILL: Wait a second. Let me get this straight; you own a villa in Italy, and you never told me about it?

MAGNUS: I own a lot of things you don't know about.

WILL: Really, what about a working helicopter?

MAGNUS: Yeah, several.

WILL: She's nice, you know...Sigrid. She's friendly and charming. She's chair of advanced psychology at Stockholm University.

MAGNUS: She sounds lovely.

WILL: You know, ever since Clara, things have been kind of...

MAGNUS: Lonely.

WILL: Yeah.

MAGNUS: Well, goes with the territory, I'm afraid.

WILL: Yeah, but doesn't it make us all more productive if we have, you know, normal, healthy relationships?

MAGNUS: You're not being serious, are you?

WILL: What am I talking about; nothing we do is normal.

MAGNUS: I don't think the bout of occasional loneliness is too high a price to pay for what we do; maybe you do.

WILL: You just should have told me about it when you recruited me.

[Magnus laughs.]

MAGNUS: But then you never would have taken the job.

WILL: Probably not.

MAGNUS: And you'd be miserable. So, what's your cover with Sigrid, greeting card salesman?

WILL: Fire insurance.

[Magnus laughs.]

WILL: Oh, god.

MAGNUS: All right, ready?

WILL: Hang on a second.

[Will finishes with the wire and then goes and turns on the power to the battery. Magnus picks up the earphones.]

WILL: You think this'll work?

MAGNUS: It should do. I've never been stranded for too long.

WILL: So, uh...the Titanic?

MAGNUS: I was fished out of the water by Molly Brown. She hauled me into her life raft. I was very lucky.

[Magnus turns on the radio.]

MAGNUS: Mayday, mayday, mayday! This is A-star 350 N-zero-X-one-seven-J; aircraft down. Requesting immediate assistance; we are at 27 degrees north by 89 degrees west. Two souls onboard. Mayday, mayday, mayday...

[The power fizzles and dies.]

WILL: Oh, come on...

[Will pounds on the panels.]

WILL: No, the battery's gone.

MAGNUS: You weren't kidding about the Hail Mary.

WILL: Do we have any food?

MAGNUS: Yeah, there's MREs in my gear bag.

WILL: Well, did you move it?

MAGNUS: It was right there. Maybe it got knocked into the water.

WILL: You don't think it took it, do you?

MAGNUS: What, the squid? After the shock we gave it, highly unlikely. Besides, it wouldn't be remotely interested in our emergency rations.

[Magnus exits the helicopter and moves toward the back of it.]

WILL: They're kind of a last resort for me too.

[Magnus notices a substance on the side of the helicopter and retrieves the knife and gets a closer look at it.]

MAGNUS: What is this?

[Will comes over to look.]

WILL: Some kind of residue the squid left behind when it attacked?

MAGNUS: Adult vampire squid don't secrete anything remotely like this.

WILL: Well, then, what the hell...

[Movement is heard coming from inside a compartment hatch.]

MAGNUS: [whispering] Quiet.

[Magnus taps on the side of the helicopter with the knife. Lots of movement is heard. Will has moved inside the helicopter. Magnus climbs in with him and taps on the compartment from inside the helicopter. Tapping is heard coming from inside the compartment.]

WILL: Holy crap, don't tell me it's another squid.

[Magnus goes to the other door and moves to the back compartment.]

MAGNUS: Maybe one of its young; it explains why it gave us such a hard time when we tried to take off. Now, we have to be extremely careful not to hurt or frighten it.

[Magnus opens the compartment and a huge scorpion hisses at them. Magnus and Will both jump off the skid into the water.]

WILL: Whoa!

[They both surface and stare up at the scorpion.]

WILL: Okay, that is definitely not a baby vampire squid!

Act IV
'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[The scorpion continues to threaten them. Magnus throws the knife she is still holding and hits the lever holding the compartment open. It closes on the scorpion. Magnus pulls herself onto skid and secures the hatch.]

MAGNUS: Southern-hemispheric sea scorpion very rare, extremely dangerous!

WILL: How the hell did it get inside the chopper?

MAGNUS: I knew I wasn't that bad a pilot.

FLASHBACK TO HELICOPTER TAKING OFF

[The helicopter lifts off and the scorpion is seen jumping onto the rear. The tentacle burst out the container.]

WILL: Hey, I think I'm going to throw up!

MAGNUS: This is ridiculous; hold on, I've lost lateral control!

[Tentacle continues causing damage inside the helicopter.]

WILL: Okay, this is really not going well!

RETURN TO PRESENT

[Will is in the water looking up at the tail section of the helicopter.]

WILL: Looks like it climbed onto the tail as we took off; crawled inside the exhaust louver.

[Magnus has swims over to have a look.]

MAGNUS: It must have got trapped in the engine compartment. That's why I lost flight control.

WILL: I thought vampire squid weren't aggressive, that other creatures killed them off?

MAGNUS: Yeah, ordinarily, they're the victim. It could be that the sea scorpion is the one species that triggers its fight response. Both these creatures must have claimed the rig as their territory. They'll fight to the death if we let them.

[Will climbs back onto helicopter.]

WILL: So it's a turf war, wonderful.

MAGNUS: It must have sensed its adversary was nearby when we loaded it into the chopper.

WILL: But see, if the scorpion hates the squid so much, why doesn't it just jump into the water, and they can, you know, do battle?

MAGNUS: It's a bottom-dwelling arachnid amphibian. It can't swim; the squid can.

WILL: Ah, so it needs solid ground to settle the score.

MAGNUS: They're actually very well suited as enemies. The sea scorpion is also more intelligent than it looks. It's just that it's incredibly vicious.

[Will looks around inside helicopter.]

WILL: It's the vicious part that I'm worried about, not so much the smart.

[A latch to a bottom compartment rattles and Will looks at Magnus with alarm. The latch turns and the scorpion attacks. Will backs up to the co-pilots seat dodging the scorpion's tail.]

WILL: Whoa! It unlocked the hatch? How did it know how to unlock the hatch?

MAGNUS: I told you it was intelligent! Hold on, Will, I'm coming!

[Will grabs the harpoon and points it at the scorpion.]

MAGNUS: Will, you have to load the harpoon!

[Will growls in frustration and thrusts the harpoon at the scorpion to get it to back off. The scorpion returns to the compartment.]

WILL: What is t about me that makes these things hate me so much? Where is it?

MAGNUS: It's gone to the other side, I can't see it!

[Scorpion attacks Will from the open doorway. He dives to floor.]

MAGNUS: Will, it's coming 'round this side!

[The scorpion moves to the other doorway on opposite side of helicopter and tries to strike Will with it's stinger.]

WILL: Magnus!

[The Squid surfaces behind Magnus.]

MAGNUS: Hello, beastie.

[The squid dives back down and swims to helicopter and attacks the squid. Will loads the harpoon and shoots at squid. The squid dives back into water and Will reloads. The scorpion rushes to door.]

MAGNUS: Will!

[Will ducks as Magnus throws a knife at the scorpion striking it. The scorpion hisses in pain as Will dives into the water. The scorpion rushes back to the hatch. Will climbs up on helicopter and reaches in to hold the hatch close as Magnus wedges a piece of metal into the latch.]

MAGNUS: The other hatches are sealed; this should hold it for now.

[Will gasps for breath and collapses wearily. Magnus climbs in and sits back on hatch. Will sits next to her.]

WILL: I now officially hate seafood.

MAGNUS: We have to get these two creatures as far away from us as possible.

WILL: Agreed, but how?

[They look at each other.]

BOTH: We drop the chopper.

WILL: Okay, okay so...scorpion can't swim, the squid won't leave until it gets the scorpion.

MAGNUS: We cut the helicopter loose, squid will follow it down.

WILL: How are we going to do that?

MAGNUS: The acetylene torch from my diving kit; it should be able to cut through those wires.

WILL: Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second. So we're going to use...a torch on top of a fuel-soaked chopper that has a sea scorpion trapped inside so the giant vampire squid will follow it down?

MAGNUS: Sounds like a plan. No beaches, no mojitos, no fancy villas.

[Will stares at her disbelievingly.]

'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[They get to work with Will on top of the helicopter cutting the wires from the blades with a torch. Magnus is standing guard on the skid with the harpoon.]

WILL: These cables are really thick; it'll take me forever to get through.

MAGNUS: Just try weakening the major stress points.

WILL: Yeah.

[Magnus moves the doorway of the helicopter. The scorpion moves around and Magnus pounds on the hatch. Magnus returns to guarding.]

WILL: So the UN.

MAGNUS: Yeah, what about it?

WILL: Well, why does the liaison want to meet with you?

MAGNUS: Uh...he wants to talk to me about how I exposed Emma Correia as a mole in our Network.

WILL: In person, you averted a major security breach couldn't you just do a teleconference?

MAGNUS: I don't mind; Munich's lovely this time of year.

[Will lowers the torch thinking.]

WILL: You mean Berlin.

MAGNUS: Right, yes, of course, I mean Berlin. Berlin.

WILL: Because you said Munich...

MAGNUS: Yeah, both are in Germany, Will.

WILL: Yeah...but isn't Munich where...Olaf lives?

MAGNUS: Who?

WILL: You think I don't know about you and Olaf Von Ausburg? Super-rich guy, he owns the Bremen Soccer Club.

MAGNUS: I haven't seen him in decades.

WILL: Okay...you look me in the eye and tell me that you were going to meet the UN liaison and not Olaf.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - DAY'''

[Magnus has flashback of video conference.]

MAGNUS: I appreciate the offer, Olaf, but it's not a good time right now.

[Olaf chuckles indulgently.]

OLAF: It never is, Helen.

MAGNUS: Honestly, I don't know why you keep asking.

OLAF: Because even you need some time off once in a while, especially after everything you've been through. Please let me be there for you, hmm? You need this.

'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

[Magnus returns to present.]

MAGNUS: He offered me a weekend away; I was considering going.

WILL: I knew it! It was a romantic getaway, wasn't it?

MAGNUS: It's my prerogative how I spend my personal time.

WILL: Oh, but when I try to get away, I get the speech about priorities; double standard much?

MAGNUS: I've been doing this a lot longer than you have, Will.

WILL: Which I respect, but just don't give me a hard time when I try to take care of myself.

MAGNUS: Oh, please, with Sigrid?

WILL: Yeah.

MAGNUS: You can do much better than that.

WILL: Oh, and Olaf is some prize catch? The guy looks like a Maserati salesman.

[Magnus laughs]

MAGNUS: It doesn't matter anyway; I'm not going.

WILL: Why?

[Magnus won't look at Will.]

WILL: Magnus?

MAGNUS: Far too many things going on.

WILL: That clears the air. Well...I think you should have taken him up on his offer.

[Both of them look up as a wire breaks free from the platform.]

WILL: Look out!

MAGNUS: Will, hold on!

[Magnus dives into the water and Will clings to the blades.]

MAGNUS: Will! Don't move!

[Will looks up at the scorpion.]

WILL: I know.

Act V
'''INT. - SONATECH RED DOG II GAS/PETROLEUM PRODUCTION PLATFORM - DAY'''

MAGNUS: Any sudden movement and it will strike!

WILL: Okay.

MAGNUS: Will, look out!

[The squid grabs the scorpion.]

MAGNUS: Will get out of there!

[Will removes the safety harass and dives into the water as the creatures battle. Magnus swims over to Will.]

WILL: Ah, that's not good.

MAGNUS: As long as the copter is above water the squid can't win. We have to end this, and now!

WILL: Well, that thing ain't coming down any time soon, not without something stronger to cut those cables.

MAGNUS: Stay here.

WILL: Hey, where are you going?

[Magnus swims to helicopter and takes the emergency kit form helicopter. She returns to Will and takes out a flare from the kits.]

MAGNUS: How deep can you dive?

WILL: Light it up!

[Magnus lights the flare and throws it into the copter. They dive down into the water. Light from the explosion can be seen. They wait until the light disappears and surface. The helicopter sinks.]

WILL: Whoa! Wow! Wow! You just blew the whole thing! It's just...gone!

[Small fires are still burning on top of the water.]

WILL: You're crazy, you know that? You're absolutely certifiably insane.

MAGNUS: That was pretty cool.

WILL: Cool, yeah, that was, like, James Bond, Die Hard cool.

MAGNUS: Better than room service in Reykjavík?

WILL: Yeah, way better.

MAGNUS: Never let it be said that I don't know how to show someone a good time.

WILL: Yeah, you got it, believe me.

[Magnus looks thoughtful. She expels a breath and glances at Will briefly.]

MAGNUS: Tuesday is Ashley's birthday.

[Will turns to Magnus.]

MAGNUS: That's the real reason I wanted you to stay. I just...I didn't know how to ask you.

WILL: Oh, Magnus, I...I guess it didn't help that I was desperately trying to get away to Iceland.

[Will sighs heavily.]

WILL: It's hard, isn't it...to find someone worth a damn.

MAGNUS: You're kidding, right? I mean, there's plenty of fish in the sea.

[Magnus and Will laugh.]

WILL: No, no, no....no, no, no, you...you didn't just make that joke. You didn't just make that joke right here.

MAGNUS: You laughed.

WILL: No, I didn't. I-it was derisively, out of pity.

MAGNUS: Ah, a laugh's a laugh.

WILL: Yeah, no, I was just choking on helicopter fuel. You know...we sent up a pretty good flare just now.

[They trend water recovering.]

MAGNUS: I think so.

WILL: You think anybody'll see it?

MAGNUS: I don't know, with my luck...

WILL: Seriously how are we going to get out of here?

End Credits
/Credits