Cardinal

By
Andrew Lange
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THE SOUNDS OF WARPLANES AND GUNSHOTS, from a great distance,
growing louder.
FADE IN
WE ARE VIEWING multiple black-and-white newsreels and
footage of World War II.
VOICE (V.O.)
In 1945, we were at the peak of the
war. The Americans and us, the
Allies, had a chance to strike at
the heart of their plans.
WE SEE images flashing of the AMERICANS and ALLIES generally
winning the war, spliced with photos of the Nazis and their
own war machines.
VOICE (V.O)
We were almost there. But somehow,
they stepped up. They had a new
technology that would be the end of
us.
Footage is shown of several SS SOLDIERS gunning down
civilians across Europe, from France to Poland to Italy.
VOICE (V.O.)
We didnt know what it was. They
decimated us so quickly, we
couldnt even see what was coming.
SOLDIERS with bulky, electric CANISTERS on their backs drag
civilians by their feet.
VOICE (V.O.)
Whatever the fuck it was that they
had, whatever they used, we
suffered too many losses. And that
was when the world lost the war.
But for them? They built the New
Order.
As the voice over ends, we see grainy footage of two SS
soldiers standing next to a large, malicious-looking ROBOT.
As a CIVILIAN struggles to crawl away from the monstrous
individuals, the BOT prepares to stomp on the mans head.
Before the violent act can be committed, the camera fades to
black.
2.
EXT. COTTAGE - NIGHT
FADE IN
SUPER: FEBRUAR 1961, LUBLIN, POLAND
DOLLY IN on a small, homely COTTAGE, the Blazkowicz
residence (as of now).
INT. COTTAGE - NIGHT
MARIE BLAZKOWICZ, 30, tucks away her children as the
thunderstorm outside takes it toll on the roof, the rain
pounding against the walls of the already small and stuffy
home.
She comforts her eldest DAUGHTER, red-haired HANNAH
BLAZKOWICZ, 14, who incessantly and fearfully questions her
mother as to where they are going to hide.
MARIE places a hesitant kiss on all of her children, and
tearfully hands HANNAH a family TOTEM, clasping the childs
hands.
MARIE
Hannah, whatever you do, whatever
happens, keep this from them. Make
sure that no one ever gets it. What
happens within the next hour is not
in my control, and I am going to
need you to stay--
HANNAH:
(interrupting)
Mother, there is no place to hide.
They will find us and take us to--
MARIE hits her daughter.
MARIE
Do not say that!
HANNAH briefly recoils, and her mother takes her head in her
palms.
MARIE
Protect your brother and sister.
Stay quiet, and keep what I gave
you. I love you.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
HANNAH
I love you too, mother.
MARIE pauses for a brief moment to look into her daughters
eyes for the last time and hands her a key.
MARIE
Lock the door.
INT. COTTAGE KITCHEN - NIGHT
Maries husband, WILLIAM BLAZKOWICZ, 34, loads a .38 snub
nose, tucking it within the hem of his trousers. His wife
worriedly glances at him, and he walks to her, taking her
within his wide arms.
WILLIAM
It was only a matter of time,
Marie.
MARIE
I thought we had more.
WILLIAM kisses his wife.
WILLIAM
Did you keep the children safe?
MARIE
Yes, Hannah has the key, and I gave
her the instructions inside the
box.
WILLIAM
Shell never forget it, dear.
MARIE
She cant.
As the COUPLE organize the items in the kitchen in an
excruciatingly neat fashion, an extremely loud ROAR rattles
the dishes, and bright lights surround the front of the
house.
A horrified MARIE looks around, only to find a white light
illuminating the trees outside.
4.
EXT. COTTAGE - NIGHT
A large, ghost white colored 1943 MERCEDES-BENZ TYP 770
pulls up near the entrance of the house. A tall, slender
MAN, a colonel of the SS, wearing his honorary uniform,
exits the vehicle. Raindrops trail from the tip of his
embroidered hat, avoiding his face.
He is followed by two guards, DOOMTROOPERS, six-foot
soldiers covered in padded, reinforced . However, these
troopers are immensely different from what youve seen on
the History Channel.
Each guard wields a three-round burst, chrome black STG-66
storm-assault rifle, complete with with an underslung
grenade launcher firing 40mm mass-reactive projectiles.
They are musclebound beyond belief, and their facemasks are
nothing more than appropriately hollowed eyeholes bound by a
symmetrical helmet pleasing to the eye.
CUT TO:
EXT. COTTAGE DOORWAY - NIGHT
The MAN knocks on the door of the house, to no response. Not
to waste time, the TROOPERS break down the door together
with the butts of their RIFLES.
INT. COTTAGE KITCHEN - NIGHT
WILLIAM and MARIE sit at the kitchen table, awaiting their
fate. The TROOPS immediately spot them, and the COLONEL
enters the frame, taking a seat and removing his hat. He
smooths over a head full of blonde hair.
He stares down the couple with icy blue eyes, almost
eye-fucking them.
NAZI COLONEL
Why so serious? The Blazkowiczs, I
presume?
MARIE
Yes.
The COLONEL giggles.
NAZI OFFICER
Good lord, you could cut the
tension in here with a knife. Good
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
NAZI OFFICER (contd)
evening and it is a pleasure to
meet you, Blazkowiczs. I am Colonel
Hans Strauss of the S.S.
WILLIAM
How may we be of assistance?
STRAUSS
Oh, nothing, really. Well, kind of
something.
STRAUSS pauses, before signaling his guards.
STRAUSSE
Stand at the doorway.
STRAUSSE
Now, I do regret to inform you that
I have been sent to your current
home, well, because it is my job.
Im aware that you are all
non-Aryans living in the wrong side
of Europe at the wrong time. I know
too much about you, but do you know
what I do?
MARIE
We can draw our conclusions.
STRAUSSE
Then what do you assume are my
assignments?
WILLIAM
Youre in charge of exterminating
anyone who doesnt fit the Fuhrers
golden standards for being
considered human.
STRAUSSE
Bingo. Couldve skipped the sass,
but precisely. This is good. Now
that weve got the exposition out
the way, I must ask about the other
three Blazkowiczs.
WILLIAM
What about them?
STRAUSSE
Theres no mistake, Mr. Blazkowicz.
Theres Marie, William, Hannah,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
STRAUSSE (contd)
Marcel and Aleksander. Five of you.
And well...I wouldnt be earning my
paycheck if I didnt ask these
questions.
MARIE
Officer, before you go further, I
want you to consider. Im not one
to bargain, and Im not considering
it now. I respect your position and
the power you have, but I cannot
say the same about what you do.
MARIE (CONT.)
I have worked tireless hours for
the past decade, ensuring the best
for myself and my husband. The very
last thing Id ever want to allow
to come between my love and my
family is a fascist.
MARIE (CONT.)
Once more, I admire your status and
militant charisma. With respect,
you can go fuck yourself with a
sharpened stick before you enter my
household and threaten the life of
my family.
STRAUSS sits speechless before revealing a flask from his
inner coat pocket and begins drinking, speaking in between
swigs.
STRAUSSE
I appreciate that sass too, but at
the end of the day, youre just a
bitchy woman with admirable
bravery.
WILLIAM
You shut your fucking trap.
STRAUSS gives a malevolent grin.
STRAUSS
Enough of this shit-- Im going to
give you a choice. Yourselves, or
the children. Of course this answer
seems obvious to a pair of parents
like you both, but Id rather let
my thoughts sink in before allowing
myself to die. After all, it would
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
STRAUSS (contd)
be such a shame if your "babies"
were to grow up never knowing what
happened to their parents.
MARIE and WILLIAM remain silent, both scowling at the
colonel.
STRAUSS
Give me the stink eye all you want,
but do keep in mind that I dont
have to keep you two alive.
The couple keeps their mouth shut, as MARIE slowly
brandishes a knife atop a loaf of bread.
WILLIAM
Youre going to be punished for
this. Soon.
STRAUSS sneers.
STRAUSS
I doubt it.
MARIE angrily warns STRAUSS.
MARIE
Dont you dare touch my children,
you redeemable sack of shit.
STRAUSS
Allow me to correct you, woman. You
are not going to do anything. In
matter of fact, Im not going to do
anything either, but save you both
the heartache.
STRAUSS removes a silenced, boxy LUGER from his holster,
cocking the lever with a swift move of his thumb.
MARIE looks at her husband in horror. WILLIAM gives her a
small nod, sorrowful.
Placing the flask back into his coat pocket, STRAUSSE
casually shoots WILLIAM, blood splatter spraying and
staining the wallpaper and cabinets.
MARIE screams, tears in her eyes and her loves blood
staining her sweater. STRAUSS shoots her as well, ending her
agony.
CUT TO:
8.
INT. COTTAGE DOORWAY - NIGHT
The two GUARDS remain stationary, occasionally fiddling with
their weapons. We hear six loud GUNSHOTS coming from the
kitchen.
INT. COTTAGE KITCHEN - NIGHT
STRAUSS gets up from his seat, his face smeared with
droplets of blood. He takes a swipe with his hand, studying
it as if it is nothing special.
He then holsters his pistol and walks from the room.
INT. COTTAGE HALLWAY -NIGHT
STRAUSS walks towards the troopers.
TROOPER
What about the children?
STRAUSS
What about them?
TROOPER
The commander wanted zero
witnesses.
CUT TO:
INT. COTTAGE BEDROOM - NIGHT
A silent HISS passes through the night, and we hear
absolutely nothing but rain spatter across the hay roof of
the home. All of a sudden, the DOOR of the bedroom slams
open, kicked in by STRAUSS himself, who searches for the
children.
He leaves the room.
The TROOPS then come in and shoot up the entirety of the
wooden floor, making an incredibly excessive amount of
noise, and revealing a heavily padded, blanket-covered dirt
patch. After deciding that their effort is complete, they
leave the room.
Thirty minutes pass.
9.
INT. COTTAGE HALLWAY - NIGHT
After their extra thorough search, both troops return to
STRAUSS, who is taking a smoke. STRAUSS, back to his men,
turns so that we can see that a CIGARETTE dangling so far
from his lips that they reach a near-perpendicular angle.
STRAUSS
Nothing?
The TROOP shrugs vaguely.
STRAUSS
Okay then.
The three NAZIS finally leave the premises, sick and tired
of their work for the day.
INT. COTTAGE HALLWAY - NIGHT
After thirty minutes, a terrified HANNAH emerges from her
closet, deeply inflicted with fear.
She slowly walks on her heels around the splintered wood of
the floor, careful not to hurt herself.
INT. COTTAGE HALLWAY - NIGHT
HANNAH carefully walks down the wet hallway, her mothers
items in her pockets.
INT. COTTAGE KITCHEN - NIGHT
HANNAH enters the kitchen. She sees the two dead bodies, and
breaks into a silent scream, tears immediately forming.
She breaks down onto her knees, retrieving the supposed
family "gift" from her pocket.
She opens her HAND, revealing to us a SOLID GOLD EAGLE, a
highly valuable heirloom.
Looking back at her deceased parents, each with a bullet in
their brain, the poor girl sobs, loudly and lonely, with
only two young, innocent other voices to hear as she
trembles with emotions. Hate, fear, remorse. Anger.
FADE OUT
10.
INT. METRO TRAIN - DAY
SUPER: OKTOBER 1986, OCCUPIED ENGLAND
FADE IN
We hear the mellow, somber bears of 10ccs "Im not in Love"
play. CLOSE UP on an orange WALKMAN, grasped by three
feminine FINGERS. A THUMB calmly plays with a long-broken
button, and amps up the volume.
The TRAIN, full of plenty of slovenly looking CHARACTERS,
all tired, stare at the daily paper with glazed eyes.
Theres not much to live for, after all. The train makes a
stop, and an entire gaggle of unenthusiastic PASSENGERS
leave, only for more to arrive.
Several other PASSENGERS walk on until a LARGE MAN WIPES
FRAME, revealing CIA agent MARION BURKE, a weathered yet
attractive woman, sitting in a graffiti-laden portion of
seats. At 43, her pleasant, happy hazel eyes easily mask a
shady adult life of secrets, espionage, and killing.
Her unobtrusive short locks give a good look at her round
face, as well as helping with anonymity; shed never met a
man who thought it looked too great. But then again, it was
her own decision to cut her hair.
She stuffs the small, angled EARBUDS back into her coat
pockets to make sure she gets off at the right stop.
As the train prepares to leave, a group of supremacist CHAVS
hitch a ride, loudly. TWO of THEM begin a dispute.
CHAV #1 (O.S.)
Dont be a cunt, mate. You saw that
she had the...the slimy. Dont deny
that you might have given it to
her.
CHAV #2 (O.S.)
Youre already the cunt for letting
me have a go!
CHAV #1 (O.S.)
(annoyed)
Dont make this happen on this
train, mate.
CHAV #2 (O.S.)
Or what?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
CHAV #1 (O.S.)
Or Ill bash your fuckin head in,
swear on me mum.
As soon as the train takes off, a third CHAV with cargo
pants sagging below his knees appears, shoving his hands
into his pockets and spreading his legs, not even bothering
to use the handrails. He maliciously eyes BURKE.
BURKE stares back.
In response, the CHAV licks his lips, revealing a pierced
tongue.
BURKE shakes her head and gives him a cold stare.
The CHAV laughs it off and turns back around to his friends.
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
Burke enters a parking lot.
DOLLY IN on her CAR, an ugly, olive drab Volkswagen station
wagon.
BURKE bends over and pokes her fingers through the spokes of
a front wheel, feeling around until she finds her KEY.
EXT. MANSION - MIDDAY
A LARGE MANSION enters the frame, its iron gates opening and
allowing BURKE and her CAR entrance.
The building itself looks to be of Victorian origin,
embroidered with a plethora of royal art and designs
scattered across the grand doors to the house.
This building, however, is none more than the headquarters
of the LONDON FRONT itself, home to the five brains of the
operation.
TIME CUT -- BURKE exits the vehicle and walks the grand
stairway, entering the mansion.
INT. MANSION - MAIN HALL - NIGHT
As Burke locks the doors back, a familiar voice rings
throughout the hallways until a CLUMSY, STUBBLED MAN comes
strolling by casually, carrying a covered cardboard box.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.
OLIVER CARSON, 42, stops momentarily to greet his fellow
agent.
CARSON
Youre home earlier than normal.
BURKE hangs her coat on a wall rack.
BURKE
There was a health violation of
sorts, to say the least.
CARSON
Vagueness is not a particularly
strong suit to have in this
environment, but Ill just take
your word for it then.
BURKE
Piss off.
BURKE stretches for a moment, allowing CARSON to have a
sufficient male gaze before she looks back.
CARSON
Oh, and BTW, command sent us a new
objective. Something really
exciting by the looks of it.
BURKE
The fuck does BTW mean?
CARSON
By the way.
She pauses.
BURKE
Oh, thats right.
CARSON
Mr. Hartwell--
BURKE interrupts.
BURKE
Im sorry to interrupt, but may we
sit down and converse or something,
because my legs are killing me.
CUT TO:
13.
INT. MANSION LIVING ROOM - MIDDAY
Both CARSON and BURKE sit in the lamp-lit room on rather
roomy looking chairs, the light reflecting on CARSONs
sweaty brow.
He opens the box and lays out several white file folders,
each marked with a red stamp in the upper right corner;
BURKE begins sifting through them as he sorts out the last
few.
CARSON
I think we may have stumbled onto
something, Mary.
BURKE
These are targets for some kind of
project theyre planning...this is
old news, Oliver.
CARSON
The project might be, but these
files see otherwise. See in that
corner right there--lemme show you.
Feeling patronized, BURKE instead grabs the file and sees
for herself.
CARSON
See that? Soklov, Anna. Born on
August 15 1919, blood type O,
assigned neurosurgeon to be
decided.
BURKE
Neurosurgeon. Theres no reason for
them to have such a specific
medical adviser.
CARSON
I deduce that it can only be for
organ harvesting, which would of
course raise the question of what
theyre attempting to accomplish
here.
BURKE
Or, perhaps theyre doing that
Super Soldier program they
supposedly canceled in 79.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
CARSON
We cant guess if we dont know.
BURKE
Dont say that. Ubersoldaten is a
pretty serious project that theyve
poured too much money into over a
length of time for them to just
abandon it like that.
CARSON
Like how?
BURKE
Like the way youre thinking.
CARSON
So youre suggesting that there is
an easily deducible theory behind
why theyve been recruiting people
with O-type blood and wanting their
brains of anything else?
BURKE
Yes.
CARSON
(pauses)
Fair enough, then.
Both agents sigh.
BURKE
So how did the raid go?
CARSON
Surprisingly well. Gideon nearly
got shot in the ass and three
people were injured. So thats
something.
BURKE
Oh, sounds interesting. Elaborate.
CARSON
I dont want to bore you.
BURKE
So this is just going to be a
noodle incident then?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
CARSON
Yes, yes it is.
BURKE gets up from her chair, stretching once more and
heading upstairs, effectively ending the conversation.
BURKE
Goodnight, Oliver.
CARSON
Youre rude.
CARSON obliges and continues eying Burkes rear as she
leaves the area.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
The STEAM generated from a spewing showerhead fills the
area, fogging up BURKEs mirror. She places a finger through
the curtain to test the waters warmth before stripping
completely, removing all articles of clothing.
She steps into the SHOWER, allowing the warmth of the water
to run over her and pushes her hair back as well, indulging
in the incredible aura of comfort and humming to herself.
CUT TO:
INT. BURKES BEDROOM - NIGHT
BURKE sits on the edge of her golden bedspread in an
absolutely luxurious bedroom, tinkering with her watch. A
WIRED PHONE rings off the hook, prompting the answering
machine to automatically list off the callers name.
ANSWERING MACHINE
Call incoming. Seven. zero. three.
Four. eight. two. zero. six. two.
three. Hartwell, Philip.
BURKE
Shite.
Shocked, BURKE rushes over to the phone and picks it up,
clearing her throat.
BURKE
(into phone)
Good evening, Philip.
16.
INT. CIA OFFICE - AFTERNOON
In a roomy, underground office in Portland, Oregon, a
mustached MAN in a rather fashionable suit-and-tie sits
behind a mahogany desk as he picks up the phone.
This MAN is no other than PHILIP HARTWELL, 56, the ASAC of
the revived Central Intelligence Agency, run covertly under
Nazi America.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Marion?
BURKE
(into phone)
Good evening, sir.
INTERCUT with Burkes bedroom.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Good evening, agent. Hows life
amongst the Krauts?
Although she knows he cant even see her, BURKE gives a
slight grin.
BURKE
(into phone)
F-a-n-tastic.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Good to know. Youve got a new
assignment thats being faxed as we
speak.
BURKE
(into phone)
What do you want me to do?
(beat)
HARTWELL
(into phone)
We need you to break Taube out of
prison.
BURKE pauses in a state of disbelief.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Look, I know that it seems
impossible, but it is what needs to
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
HARTWELL (contd)
be done. Intel isnt cutting it,
and he is the very last key to this
operation, a valuable asset.
BURKE
(into phone)
Captain, the last thing we need to
do is find the time to extract an
HVT in a fortified, occupied piece
of land devoid of human life.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Not exactly. Eigenstate Peni,
located in the middle of Scotland.
Theyve changed locations so that
connections to the bridge will be
closer, but you guys dont even
have to worry about any of that.
BURKE
(into phone)
This is an enormous risk on our
people, resources, and fuel.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Itll pay off.
BURKE
(into phone)
No.
HARTWELL
(into phone)
Okay, thanks bye.
HARTWELL abruptly hangs up.
BURKE puts the phone down, in a state of mild shock.
BURKE
Goddammit.
EXT. BERLIN, GERMANY - DAY
We peer into a modern Berlin, toned out with colors of grey,
white, and a more significant metropolis look. Its a super
Nazi Germany, basically.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.
The city is lively, with a population of people who openly
support the Nazis, having grown up with generations of hate
and nationalism. The massive metropolis is overshadowed by a
capital dome building, the MEISTERSCHLOSS, a building home
to the Reich and all members.
It houses numerous generals, representatives, and various
people of the SS-Waffe, but most importantly the Fuhrer.
INT. CAPITOL OFFICE - DAY
A FIGURE in a turtleneck peers from a window, staring at the
city below. This is no other than LUDWIG BRAUN, 31, blond
and pale, the current Fuhrer and son of the former.
His hideous comb-over, creepy yet faint mustache, frail
build and clear hippie sunglasses suggest a sheltered inside
life; a person who was imbued with the wrongness of his
faction from birth.
His bright BLUE EYES are the result of some gene tampering
in order to achieve racial perfection. In short, the vision
of a perfect Aryan personified.
He puts out his cigarette when he hears the door knock.
BRAUN
Come in.
A familiar face enters.
STRAUSS
Guten tag.
The two share a hug, before sitting down alongside one
another.
BRAUN
Youre just in time. Share a drink?
STRAUSS
No, Im saving anything related for
the later weeks. Oktoberfest.
BRAUN
Of course, of course. Where the
hell have you been?
STRAUSS
Investigating new candidates for
the harvester.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.
BRAUN
That fool of a man?
STRAUSS
He does well. We keep funding, he
keeps churning.
BRAUN
True, although after doing some
speaking with the board,
conclusions were...made and perhaps
we should let him go.
STRAUSS
Why? He appears to have made rather
significant progress since we let
him just..do his thing.
BRAUN
Because we want believable science,
not mad science. Besides, Cardinal
is in the final stages of prototype
testing.
STRAUSS
Youve got some fucking limited
time if you want to get that done.
BRAUN
Weve got a solid month, is what
you mean to say.
STRAUSS
Im not trying to discuss this.
BRAUN
What would my father say if he were
here to see this day?
STRAUSS
He would smack you upside your
young head and explain that things
take time.
BRAUN
You knew him?
STRAUSS
Of course. I was one of his closest
advisers. I was there for all of
his triumphs. We narrowly avoided
several predicaments, thanks to
Joss of course.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
BRAUN
And the Acht von Hass?
STRAUSS
I promise you, Braun. Nothing is
ever, ever going to get bad enough
to the point where we whip those
out.
BRAUN
Why not activate them in the
meanwhile? Its not as if we dont
have a plethora already at arms--
STRAUSS
Just no. Theyre doomsday weapons.
BRAUN
Youre saying that we will not
encounter future problems.
STRAUSS
What "problem"?
In dramatic fashion, BRAUN rises from his seat, facing his
offices large window once more.
BRAUN
The Resistance.
STRAUSS locks a hard look at Braun.
STRAUSS
We remain unopposed. Any little
chance of opposition is completely
eliminated. We weed everything out.
Even if there are, say, undercover
operatives or any signs of
infiltration, its not our shit to
deal with.
BRAUN
Im speaking of the London
Resistance.
STRAUSS
No such thing.
BRAUN
Oh? Do you remember Robert Taube? A
Brit fighter we put away a few
years ago.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
STRAUSS
No.
BRAUN
Files on the table.
STRAUSS opens up the folder, scanning over the information,
eyes widening.
STRAUSS
Christ. Man slaughtered hundreds.
But most of them did....what about
him?
BRAUN turns to face his apprentice.
BRAUN
He was the head of the group
STRAUSS
Theyre already dead; theres
logical reason to--
BRAUN
They are beginning to pop up again.
We have the city under control, but
theyre getting smarter. Advancing.
Theyve been coordinating and
conducting attacks in Eastern
bunkers, stealing everything. The
issue is that nobody knows where
they are.
STRAUSS
And what do you suppose I do about
it? Taube is locked down in
godforsaken Scotland and we have a
group sneaking in the trenches
trying to find a hole in our
system. If hes the head as you
say, they havent got long.
BRAUN
Hans, you are my dearest companion
in this world, as if it wasnt
already perfect enough.
STRAUSS maintains a perfectly stoic face.
BRAUN
And I trust you with every
operation, execution,
project....even my own life.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
STRAUSS
And.....
BRAUN
I sense a rebellion, and I want it
dealt with. This....movement is
blooming and its getting
aggressive day by day.
STRAUSS
This must be the most legitimately
stupid thing youve ever put me
through.
STRAUSS patronizingly pats BRAUN on the shoulder and gets
up, grabbing his hat and preparing to leave the room.
BRAUN
Dont walk away from me.
STRAUSS
Theres no point in doing something
like this! No ragtag organization
of pirates and homesteaders can
legitimately lead an attack on the
heart, nevertheless a washed-up
former leader rotting away in a
concrete facility. Its cynicism
and stress talking to you, Ludwig.
As STRAUSS opens the door, BRAUN finally catches his
attention.
BRAUN
Do this for me, Hans, and Cardinal
is in your name. Files, subjects,
hosts...
STRAUSS turns.
STRAUSS
Fucking lie.
BRAUN
Im not.
BRAUN gets up, pulling out a pair of squared keys from his
pocket and dangling them as he monologues.
BRAUN
These are the keys to the primary
mainframe.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
STRAUSS
Oh, how skilled you are at
persuasion.
BRAUN
Of course. Weed out the few rats
that we have hiding in Britain, and
I promise, you will have full,
unprecedented access to the weapon.
BRAUN extends his cold, spindly hand.
BRAUN
Deal?
Reluctant for a moment, STRAUSS shakes.
STRAUSS
Whatever I can do.
BRAUN emits an oddly charming grin.
BRAUN
Wunderbar. Anything in mind for an
opening plan?
STRAUSS
Of course. Trap them in a corner.
SUPER: CARDINAL