e1f Predator


Predator






                                 "HUNTER"









                                Written by







                        Jim Thomas and John Thomas















   With Revision #1 (Pink)

   April 17, 1986



   With Revision #2 (Blue)

   April 28, 1986



   With Revision #3 (Yellow)

   May 6, 1986



   With Revision #4 (Green)

   May 20, 1986



   With Revision #5 (Goldenrod)

   January 27, 1987

                                                      April 7, 1986

   With Revision #6 (Goldenrod)

   January 30, 1987



   



                              "HUNTER"



         FADE IN



   1     EXT. OUTER SPACE                                       1



         The infinite blackness punctuated by a billion stars.

         As we slowly DESCEND through the varied shades of blue

         of the Earth's atmosphere, we HEAR the first strains of

         a haunting, Central American FLUTE, joined by a swelling

         background of JUNGLE SOUNDS.  We descend further,

         through a lush JUNGLE CANOPY, backlit by a setting sun.



                                                      DISSOLVE TO:



   2     EXT. JUNGLE COASTLINE - DAY (MAGIC HOUR)               2



         Through a collage of shimmering HEAT-WAVES, a dark,

         OTHER-WORLDLY OBJECT drops INTO VIEW, backlit by the

         fiery, ORANGE-RED sphere of a setting tropical SUN,

         heading slowly towards us, floating, as if suspended by

         the rising heat of the jungle.



         Continuing to approach, the shimmering object resolves

         into a MILITARY ASSAULT HELICOPTER, its rotors strobing

         in the fading sunlight.  Drawing closer, the SOUND of

         powerful TURBINES, throbbing in the heavy air, becomes

         dominant, overpowering.



         Guided by COLORED SMOKE and LANDING LIGHTS, the chopper

         looms hard INTO VIEW, pitching forward and settling to

         the ground, kicking up a maelstrom of dust and vegetation



   2-A   INT. COMMAND POST - DAY (MAGIC HOUR)                   2-A  *



         Where a MAN wearing a military UNIFORM watches through

         the large open windows the helicopter as it continues

         to approach.  Before the skids have even touched down he

         SEES the first of the MEN, dressed in CIVILIAN CLOTHES

         but carrying full COMBAT GEAR, alight gracefully from

         the chopper, double-timing in close order to one side,

         the orders SHOUTED by one man lost in the ROAR of the

         chopper.



         The man turns away from the window, to a FIGURE, hidden     *

         in the shadows.



                                 MAN                                 *   

                  He's here.



         He turns back, lowering a BAMBOO SHADE, obscuring the       *   

         window.



   



                                                                2



   2-B   EXT. HELICOPTER PAD - NIGHT                            2-B  *



         On adjoining PADS, two other HELICOPTERS are VISIBLE; in

         the b.g. can be SEEN several concrete and THATCHWORK

         BUILDINGS, a secret command post disguised as a COASTAL

         FISHING VILLAGE.



         The post in a flurry of activity, AMERICAN ADVISORS

         shouting directions to dozens of LATIN AMERICAN SOLDIERS

         who stand by to assist the landing helicopter and to

         lo
190
ad EQUIPMENT into the other choppers.



         Inside the chopper, one man remains, stretched out against  *

         the bulkhead, as if asleep.  He stirs, sits up, lighting    *

         up a CIGAR.  With fatigue showing in his motion, he leans   *

         forward, descending to the ground.                          *



         A JEEP pulls to stop, the man swinging casually into the    
fa0
*

         front seat, tossing his GEAR into the rear.  With a         *

         lurch the jeep heads out towards the command post.          *



         In the doorway TWO MEN solemnly watch as the jeep

         approaches.  Reaching the command post the man alights

         from the jeep, heading towards the two men.



         Into the pool of light cast by the fixture above the

         door steps MAJOR ALAN SCHAEFER, the team leader, 38, an

         intelligent and intense man.  He informally salutes,

         GENERAL H.L. PHILIPS, 55, hardened, close-cropped graying

         hair, his nameplate and insignia identifying him as a

         member of an elite commando unit in the U.S. Army.  He

         clasps Schaefer warmly on the shoulder.



                                 PHILIPS

                         (with affection)

                  You're looking well, Dutch.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  It's been a long time, General.



         They walk up the stairs, entering the palapa, leaving

         the other man on guard.



   3     INT. PALAPA - DAY                                      3



         Large, two room concrete floor, thatched walls and roof.

         Behind a partially drawn curtain in the kitchen, a naked

         lightbulb hung from the rafters illuminates a bank of

         compact FIELD RADIO EQUIPMENT, MAPS and AERIAL

         PHOTOGRAPHS.  Otherwise the rooms are primitive and

         stand out in stark contrast to this high-tech invasion.



         Philips and Schaefer enter the room.



                                                      



   



                                                                3



   3     CONTINUED                                              3



                                 PHILIPS

                         (growing serious)

                  We've got a real problem here,

                  something right up your alley.



         They cross to the center of the room to a folding table,

         covered with a large TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP of the Central

         American highland jungle.  Philips leans over the table,

         circling a set of COORDINATES and a MARK on the open

         map.



                                 PHILIPS

                  Eighteen hours ago I was

                  informed that one of our

                  choppers, transporting three

                  presidential cabinet members

                  from this charming little

                  country, was shot down...

                         (point to

                         the circled

                         area)

                  ...The pilots radioed from the

                  ground that they were all

                  alive.  Their position was

                  fixed by the transponder

                  beacon onboard the chopper.

                         (points)

                  Here.



         Schaefer studies the map.  He looks up at Philips.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  That's over the border,

                  General.



                                 PHILIPS

                         (dead serious)

                  That's the problem.  Apparently

                  they strayed off course.

                         (pause)

                  We're certain they've been

                  captured by the guerrillas.



         Schaefer looks up, puffing lightly on the cigar.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (quietly)

                  What have you got in mind,

                  General.



                                                      



   



                                                                4



   3     CONTINUED:  (2)                                        3



                                 PHILIPS

                  We figure we've got less than

               
190
   twenty-four hours to catch

                  up with them.  After that,

                  there's not much hope.  We

                  want a rescue operation

                  mounted tonight.  That doesn't

                  give you much time.



         Another puff on the cigar.



                                 SCHAEFER   

                  What else it new?  When do

            
fa0
      we leave?



         Philips looks at his watch.



                                 PHILIPS

                  You lift off in three hours.

                         (pause)

                  There's one other thing.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What's that, General?



                                 PHILIPS

                  Someone else will be going

                  in with you.



         Schaefer stubbs out his cigar in an ashtray.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You know we don't work with

                  outsiders, General.



                                 VOICE

                         (o.s.)

                  Who said anything about

                  outsiders, Dutch?



         Schaefer turns, SEEING the outline of a figure standing

         in the doorway of the communications room, holding a

         sheaf of PAPERS.



         Wearing pressed fatigues, DILLON, mid-thirties, black,

         walks into the room.



         Although as rugged looking as the others, his bearing

         and grooming indicate he's been away from the business

         of soldiering for sometime.  His quick intelligent eyes

         reveal his current profession.



                                                      

                                                      

   



                                                                5



   3     CONTINUED:  (3)                                        3



                                 DILLON

                  Last time we danced, it was

                  Lieutenant, Schaefer.



         A grin breaks out across Schaefer's face.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Dillon, you son of a bitch.



         The two men step forward and simultaneous swing from

         the hip as it to land a punch...but their hands SLAP

         together in a gesture of friendship, their forearms

         bulging, testing each other's strength.



                                 DILLON

                         (warmly)

                  How you been, Dutch?



         They continue the contest, Schaefer has the edge, forcing

         Dillon's arm slowly downward.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You've been pushing too many

                  Pencils, Dillon.  Had enough?



                                 DILLON

                         (grinning)

                  No way, old buddy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You never did know when to

                  quit.



         They look into each other's faces, each remembering

         something from the past.  A moment's hesitation and they

         quit the contest.  They laugh, Dillon slapping Schaefer

         on the shoulder.



                                 DILLON

                  That piece of work you guys

                  pulled off at the Berlin

                  embassy last week was really

                  something.  Blew the entry

                  points on three floors and

                  neutralized the opposition

                  in eight seconds flat.

                  Beautiful.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Like the old days, Dillon.



                                                      



   



                                                                6



   3     CONTINUED:  (4)                                        3



                                 DILLON

                  Also heard that you passed

                  on that little job in Libya.



         Schaefer looks at Dillon, quietly considering him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Wasn't my style.  We're a

                  rescue unit, not assassins.

                         (smiles)

                  This must be good.  Big shot

                  fr
190
om the CIA, leaves his desk

                  to come back to the bush.

                  What's so important?



                                 DILLON                                     

                  Those cabinet members are

                  very important to our scope

                  of operations in this part

                  of the world.  They're about

                  to
fa0
 get squeezed.  We can't

                  let that happen.  I needed

                  someone who could get the job

                  done, quick and quiet...no

                  screw-ups.  I needed the best.

                  The best.  So, I pulled a few

                  strings at the State

                  Department...and here we are.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Go on.



         Dillon goes to the map.



                                 DILLON

                  The set-up is simple, Dutch.

                  One day job.  We pick up their

                  trail at the chopper, run 'em

                  down, grab the hostages and

                  bounce back across the

                  border before anyone knows

                  we were there.  You've done

                  it a hundred times.  Nothing

                  out of the ordinary.



         Schaefer considers this.



                                                      



   -----------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                7



   3     CONTINUED:  (5)                                        3



                                 SCHAEFER

                  And nothing we can't handle

                  alone.



         Philips breaks in.



                                 PHILIPS   

                  I'm afraid those are your

                  orders, Major.  Once you

                  reach your objective, Dillon

                  will evaluate the situation

                  and take charge.



         Schaefer looks from Philips to Dillon.  He still doesn't

         like it.



                                 DILLON

                  Not to worry, Dutch.  I

                  haven't lost my edge.  They've

                  got a head start on us in

                  some real tough country,

                  otherwise, believe me, it's

                  a piece of cake.



                                 PHILIPS

                  Gentlemen, we're losing time.

                         (to Schaefer)

                  You'd better get your men

                  ready.

                         (pause)

                  Good luck, Major.



   4     EXT. TWO ASSAULT HELICOPTERS - NIGHT                   4



         Burst over the top of a ridge.  Rising up in silhouette

         they perform a radical left bank turn and descend

         rapidly into an adjoining valley, racing over the

         jungle at treetop level.



         As the helicopters perform dizzying, high-speed

         maneuvers through the winding canyon, the PILOT'S

         VOICES can be HEARD, coordinating their operations.



                                 PILOT ONE

                         (voice over)

                  Redbird Two, Two.  Bearing

                  south, three, five, zero, one

                  o'ckock on the saddle ridge.

                  Over.



                                                      



   



                                                                8



   4     CONTINUED:                                             4



                                 PILOT TWO

                         (voice over)

                  Roger, Blue Leader.  Three,

                  five, zero, on your move.

                  Over.



         The helicopters rise in perfect coordination over

         another ridge and bank sharply into the next valley,

         leveling out as they go.



   5     INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                                5



         Illuminated by the eerie red glow of NIGHT LIGHTS, are

         SEVEN MEN, dressed in jungle camouflage, soft hats and

         camouflage face-makeup.  They wear no identity badges

         or insignias.  The man are checking their WEAPONS,

         making last minute adjustments to their GEAR.



    
190
     The compartment reverberates with the NOISE of the

         THUMPING ROTORS and the ROAR of air from the open

         doors.



         BLAIN, weapons and ordinance specialist, a frightening

         bull of a man, a 240 pound killer, removes from his

         shirtpocket a think PLUG OF TOBACCO.  He looks across

         at:



         MAC, a huge bear of a man, black, holding am M-6
fa0
0

         MACHINE GUN.  Blain holds out the tobacco to Mac who

         refuses with a gentle shake of the head, a knowing

         smile, he knows what's coming.



         Holding the plug between his teeth Blain yanks free

         from his shoulder scabbard a wicked, ten inch COMBAT

         KNIFE.  Placing the razor sharp blade next to his lips

         he slices through the plug as if it were butter.  He

         chews throughtfully.



         Seated by the open doorway is RAMIREZ, a slight,

         angular man, an East L.A. streetwise Chicano.



         Adding a final piece of camouflage TAPE to his pack

         HARNESS, he looks up and smiles, faking a throw and

         the bulleting the tape to:



         HAWKINS, the radioman and medic, Irish, street-tough,

         reading a rolled-up magazine, as if he were a rush hour

         commuter.  He snags the tape with an instinctual snap



                                                      

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                           9

                                                                *

   5     CONTINUED:                                             5



         of the wrist, continuing to read for a moment before

         looking up, grinning at Ramirez, his boyish, eager

         face belying the rugged professional beneath.  He

         turns his gaze to the man next to him:



         BILLY, the Kit Carson Scout, an American Indian, proud,

         stoic, a man of quiet strength and simplicity,

         carefully replacing the FIRING MECHANISM of his M-203,

         working its action several times.  He looks up with a

         smile at Hawkins.



                                 HAWKINS

                         (shouting)

                  Hey, Billy, how many marines

                  does it take to eat a squirrel?



         Billy looks back, shaking his head, uncomprehending.



                                 HAWKINS

                  Two.  One to eat it and one

                  to watch for cars.



         Hawkins laughs heartily at his joke.



   6     EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT                                    6



         Clearing another ridge, the helicopters plunge into a

         steep descent, turning quickly into a DEEP-WALLED

         CANYON, the force of the turn accentuated by the

         changing PITCH of the screaming turbines and the

         biting of rotors into the air.



   7     INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                                7



         The men, suspended in RESTRAINING HARNESSES from the

         bulkheads, lean forward, nearly upside down in response

         to the radical maneuver, handling the situation with

         ease.



         Blain holds out the tobacco to Ramirez, who swats at

         the offending object as if it were alive.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (shouting)

                  Get that stinkin' thing out

                  of my face, Blain!



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          10



   7     CONTINUED:                                             7



         Grinning, Blain proffers the plug to each man, each one

         refusing; they've done it a thousand times.  It's an old

         gag but they obviously care for the man in a big way.



                                 BLAIN

                  ...bunch of slack-jawed

                  faggots around here...

                         (holds up plug)

                  ...this stuff will put hair

                  guaranteed...

                         (chewing)

                  ...make you a God-damned

                  sexual ty-ran-toe-sore-ass...

                  just like me.



         This brings a chorus of HOOTS and SHOUTS from the others.



         The helicopter makes another radical turn.



        
190
 Schaefer and Dillon, seated near the cockpit, communicate

         through HEADSETS, also linked to the pilot.  They

         consult a TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP by RED PENLIGHTS.



                                 DILLON

                         (pointing to

                         the map)

                  Our rendezvous points and

                  radio freqs. are indicated

                
fa0
  and fixed.  AWACS contact on

                  four hour intervals.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Who's our back-up on this?



                                 DILLON

                         (grinning)

                  No such thing, old buddy.

                  It's a one way ticket.

                  Once we cross that border,

                  we're on our own.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  This gets better by the

                  minute.

                         

   



                                                               11



   8     INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT                                   8



         The PILOT and CO-PILOT are surrounded by an array of

         dimly lit GAUGES and SWITCHES.  Before the Co-Pilot is

         a RADAR SCREEN and an INFRA-RED DISPLAY TERMINAL on

         which the TWO HELICOPTERS appear as HEAT SOURCES.



                                 PILOT NUMBER ONE

                  ...roger Bird Two, Two.

                  Reconfirm insertion at Tango,

                  Charlie, Delta One, zero,

                  niner on the grid at zero,

                  two, two, mark four by zero.

                  Over.



                                 PILOT NUMBER TWO

                         (voice over)

                  Two, Two, leader.  Roger your

                  insert co-ord.  Over.



                                 PILOT NUMBER ONE

                  Leader to Bird Two Two.  I

                  bear two minutes to Landing

                  Zone.



         The Pilot throws a SWITCH on the panel before him



   9     INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                                9



         A BLUE LIGHT appears on the forward bulkhead.  Schaefer

         is speaking over a RADIO TELEPHONE.  The Co-Pilot turns

         and hands him a clipboard.  Schaefer reads, notes his

         approval and hands it back.



  10     EXT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                               10



         Flares up into position over the jungle and hovers, as

         the SUPPORT HELICOPTER holds in a protective position

         above.



  11     INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                               11



         Dillon seems comfortable with the men, showing Ramirez

         a battered CIGARETTE LIGHTER from a famed commando

         unit from the past.



         But his ingratiating demeanor is not impressing Mac, who

         regards Dillon with the cold suspicion reserved for an

         outsider.  Mac looks up at Blain, his eyes narrowing.



         Blain's massive jaws roll as he masticates the chew.

         He pauses, eyes moving downward, spotting his target.



                                                      



   



                                                               12



  11     CONTINUED:                                            11



         He hocks a thick, vile stream of TOBACCO JUICE directly

         between Dillon's legs and onto the floor, a gelatinous

         skein lacing across the toe of one boot.  Dillon looks

         up, his face goes cold and menacing.



                                 DILLON

                         (icy)

                  Man, that's a real bad habit

                  you've got.



         Dillon turns back to Ramirez, ignoring Mac and Blain,

         who continues to stare at him.  Mac looks across at

         Blain, wide grins breaking across their huge faces.

         Cradled in Blain's arms, as if it were a part of his

         body, is a large, CANVAS-COVERED BUNDLE.  Blain looks

         down at his bundle, almost affectionately.



         The PILOT's VOICE breaks in over Schaefer's headset.



                                 PILOT NUMBER ONE

                         (voice over)

                  LZ comin' up in 30 seconds.

                  Stand by the rappel lines.



         Looking up, Schae
190
fer gives a hand signal to the nearest

         man who nods and in return,passes the signal down the

         line.



         Ramirez and Blain pick up heavy, METAL CONICAL DEVICES,

         attached to canvas bags filled with rope.



  12     EXT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                               12



         From the open doors the RAPPELLING LINES hurtle into

         space, CRASHING t
fa0
hrough the double canopy of the trees

         and to the jungle floor below.



  13     INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT                               13    *



         The blue light changes to GREEN.  Schaefer nods.

         RAPPELLING DEVICES SNAP into place.  Gloved hands grab

         onto rope.  Combat boots move into position.



                                 DILLON

                         (shouting to

                         Schaefer)

                  You don't know how much I

                  missed this, Dutch!!!  Once

                  you get this in your blood,

                  you never get it out!!!



                                                      



   



                                                               13



  13     CONTINUED:                                            13



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You never were all that

                  smart...let's go!!!



         Schaefer signals.  Men leap from the chopper.



  14     EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT                                   14



         The man crash through the trees and are swallowed up by

         the darkness below.  The helicopters depart, THUMPING

         their way into the night.



                                                      DISSOLVE TO:



  15     EXT. MOUNTAIN RIDGE - DAY (DAWN)                      15



         A light shower passes through the trees.  The sky

         clears, REVEALING a lush and exotic foliage.  Birds

         are beginning to SING but otherwise, all is SILENT.



         The dense growth seems impenetrable, but from a solid

         wall of undergrowth, a HAND appears and signals in a

         downward motion.



         As if by magic, the assault team materializes, quietly,

         cautiously.  Schaefer makes another gesture and the team

         moves forward in perfect harmony in POINT-LOCK step,

         taking their cue from Ramirez, the pointman.  Schaefer,

         highly focused and alert to every sound and movement,

         follows Ramirez, as if organically connected.



  16     EXT. JUNGLE HILLSIDE - DAY                            16



         Descending the steep mountain slope, the team encounters

         an even denser growth of jungle, at times moving by

         instinct, as they are often visually separated.  At one

         point, Schaefer checks his COMPASS, flashing some hand

         signals to Ramirez, indicating a new direction.  Ramirez

         nods and moves on, Schaefer signaling to the rest of the

         men.



  17     EXT. JUNGLE CLEARING - DAY                            17



         Blain, in a defensive position, sweeps the jungle slowly

         with his MP-5.  He steps back and turns, checking,

         revealing in the b.g. the WRECKAGE OF A U.S. ARMY UH-1H

         HELICOPTER, hanging upside down, twenty feet above the

         ground, entangled in vines in the heavy capony, badly

         damaged, rotors bent, its tail section blown away.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/21/86                          14

                                                                *

  17     CONTINUED:                                            17



         A GRAPPLING HOOK is hurled from the ground, CLATTERING

         into the cargo hold, hooking the edge of the airframe.



  18     INT. HELICOPTER - DAY                                 18



         Ramirez moves cautiously, searching for trip wires,

         using his knife to check the edges of the seats and

         door frames.  Grimly he glances at the TWO BODIES

         slumped over the controls and then exits, snapping

         into and rappelling down the rope to the ground.



         He joins Schaefer standing in the f.g.  They look

         up, watching as Dillon moves 
190
through the cockpit,

         searching through pockets and compartments.  Schaefer

         turns his back to the helicopter.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  The pilots have each got one

                  round in the head.  And whoever

                  hit it stripped the shit out of it.



         Schaefer studies the clearing, eyes always moving, wary.

   
fa0
      He turns back, looking at the chopper.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Took 'em out with a heat seeker.



                                 RAMIREZ    

                  There's something else, Major...



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Mmmnnn...?



                                 RAMIREZ

                  I don't think that was any ordinary

                  army taxi...



         Schaefer looks at him quizically.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  ...looks more like a surveillance

                  bird to me.



         Dillon rappells down the line and approaches.



                                 DILLON   

                  Have you picked up their trail yet?



         Schaefer taps Ramirez on the shoulder and he moves

         away.  Schaefer turns to Dillon:



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/21/86                          15

                                                                *

                                 SCHAEFER

                  Billy's on it.

                         (indicates chopper)

                  Heat seeker.  Pretty sophisticated

                  for half-asses mountain boys.



                                 DILLON

                  They're getting better equipped

                  every day.



         Bill approaches from the b.g.



                                 BILLY

                  Major, looks like there were ten,

                  maybe twelve guerrillas.  Looks

                  like they took some prisoners

                  from the chopper.

                         (points)

                  Then a different set of track,

                  over there.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (puzzled)

                  What do you mean?



                                 BILLY

                  Six others, U.S. issue jungle

                  boots.  They came in from the

                  north, then followed the guerrillas.



         Schaefer turns to Dillon.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Mean anything to you?



                                 DILLON

                  Probably another rebel patrol.

                  They operate in here all the time.



         Schaefer is obviously concerned about this.  He

         turns to Billy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Get ahead, see what you can find.

                         (to Ramirez)  

                  Slow and easy.



                                                      

         

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/27/86                          16



  18     CONTINUED:  (2)                                       18



                                 SCHAEFER (Contd.)

                         (to Dillon)

                  We don't want any accidents.



         Billy takes up the trail, disappearing in to the jungle.

         Ramirez signals, the team moves out.



  19     EXT. JUNGLE - DAY                                     19



         As Billy reconnoiters, Ramirez looks back and gives a       *

         sign...



         Schaefer nods and rappels down cliff.                       *   

         

         As he joins Ramirez, there seem to be butterflies           *   

         everywhere --         

         

                                 SCHAEFER                            *

                  What's he got?



                                 RAMIREZ                             *

                  Same business, guerrillas

                  hauling two guys from the

                  chopper...followed by men

                  with American equipment...



         Ramirez seems concerned by this.  Schaefer signals him
190
 to   *

         move on.  Before he follows, Schaefer looks around:  there's*

         something dodgy about this.  He goes.                       *



         Over his head is a butterfly on a limb:                     *



  20     EXT. JUNGLE - OVERHEAD - DAY                          20



         As the assault team passes below, a BUTTERFLY lands on

         what appears to be the BARK 
fa0
of a TREE.  It fans its wings

         and flies on.



         The impression of the butterfly remains in PERFECT

         RELIEF, as is imprinted on the bark.  The image fades,

         REVEALING for an instant a gridwork of TINY SCALES on

         the bark.



         The bark moves!  Changing colors, like a chameleon,

         REVEALING for an instant the form of something alive

         as it flows into the leaves, once again becoming

         indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage.



         TWO EYES, faintly flowing yellow, appear in the

         foliage.  They blink, disappearing, and then become

         VISIBLE again.



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/27/87                          16-A



  21     EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY                             21



         SEEN THROUGH HEAT-SEEKING VISION, studying the team's

         careful, silent movements at they pass by.



         The SOUNDS of the FOREST are also ALTERED and ENHANCED

         with an electric, STATICLIKE quality.



         The Observer scans over the men...and then focuses

         on Schaefer as he crouches down, signaling forward

         and rear with a circular motion.  He refers to an

         OBJECT in his hand, studying it carefully.



   



                                                               17



  22     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                   22



         Using a MAP in lining out a course on his COMPASS.  The

         other team members appear, silently, clustering around

         him.  Using hand signals, Schaefer indicates a course

         change.



  23     EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY                          23



         Watches closely as Schaefer continues with his hand

         signals, instructing his team.



  24     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                   24



  25                                                  OUT      25



  26     EXT. DENSE UNDERGROWTH - DAY                          26



         The hillside of a steep valley, dark and foreboding.

         Billy passes by and halts, removing his KNIFE.  With

         his other hand he pulls down from overhead a THICK VINE,

         severing it.  A thin stream of WATER emerges which

         he drinks.



         Suddenly he stops, letting the water drip to the

         ground.  He quietly releases the vine and brings his

         M-203 shotgun to bear, listening intently.  Something

         seems wrong.  He brings his eyes upward and stares,

         hard into the treeline of the opposing hillside.



         As his eyes strain to penetrate the dense, intertwined

         canopy, he is engulfed by the rising SOUNDS of the

         JUNGLE, a cacophony of BUZZING and CLICKING,

         amplified in the sweltering heat of the day.  Unable

         to locate a source to account for his anxiety, he

         relaxes, moving on, resuming the track.



  27     BILLY (MINUTES LATER)                                 27



         examines the ground as he moves, growing confused

         and puzzled by what he sees before him.  He stops,

         scrutinizing the jungle, probing the world around him

         with his keen senses.



         HEARING a faint RUSTLING SOUND he looks up, SEEING a

         curtain of MOSS several feet away.  He takes a cautious

         step forward, extending his weapon.  He reaches

         forward with his free hand, touching the moss.



         Behind the curtain a slight shifting of DARK FORMS

         occurs.  He pauses and then with a sudden movement,

         sweeps the moss aside...



         A BLACK EXPLOSION of FLUTTERING WINGS as carrion-eating

         BIRDS rush past Billy's body.



                                                      

         

   



                                                               18



  27     CONTINUED:                                            27



         Billy's face sei
190
zes into a mask of horror, his

         expression descending into a state of complete,

         primitive shock, his eyes staring transfixed, inches

         away from the leering death-grin of a HUMAN FACE,

         upside down, completely stripped of skin.



         Reeling, his body numbed by the sight before him,

         he stumbles backwards and stops.



         Vines threaded thro
fa0
ugh their achilles tendons, the

         BODIES OF THREE MEN, skinned and gutted, hang

         suspended in the think, suffocating air, BUZZING

         with insects.



         Billy turns away, revulsed as Ramirez moves quietly

         INTO VIEW, Schaefer directly behind him.  Ramirez

         stares at the bodies, now seen to be in the first

         stages of deterioration, strips of flesh torn away

         by the birds and other scavengers.  In an almost

         childlike manner, he crosses himself.



                                 RAMIREZ   

                         (hoarse whisper)  

                  Holy Mother...



         Schaefer moves into the clearing, kneeling beside

         a bloody pile of CLOTHING and ENTRAILS.  He examines

         the clothing and then rises, holding a DOG TAG on

         a broken chain.  He reads the tag, his face growing

         hardened and bitter as he stares down at the tag,

         recognizing the name.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (to himself)

                  J.S. Davis, Captain, U.S. Army...



         Schaefer's eyes move from the bloody dog tag to

         the bodies.



                                 SCHAEFER   

                         (coldly)  

                  Mac.  Cut them down.



         Mac moves forward, withdrawing his COMBAT KNIFE.

         The blade flashes, cutting the vine as the first

         body THUDS to the ground.  He bends over, picking up

         other DOG TAGS.



         Schaefer turns to Dillon.



                                                      (CONTINUING)



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/19/86                          19

                                                                *

  27     CONTINUED:  (2)                                       27



                                 SCHAEFER

                  I knew this man.  Green Berets,

                  out of Fort Bragg.  What the hell

                  were they doing in here?  You got

                  any answers for this, Dillon?



                                 DILLON

                         (stunned)

                  Jesus...this is inhuman.

                         (to Schaefer)

                  Uh...I wasn't told of any

                  operations in this area.  They

                  shouldn't have been here.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (angry)

                  Well somebody sent them.



         Schaefer walks off.  Mac steps out of the clearing,

         sheathing his knife with a violent gesture, passing

         Ramirez.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (seething)

                  Must have run into the guerrillas

                  ...Fucking animals.



         Mac moves alongside Blain.



                                 MAC

                         (spits)

                  Ain't no way for a soldier to

                  die.

                         (looks at Blain)

                  Time to let 'ol 'painless'

                  out of the bag.



         Grimly, Blain RIPS apart the velcro closures of the

         CANVAS BUNDLE slung across his shoulder, REVEALING

         a truly awesome weapon, a SIX-BARRELED MINI-GUN adapted

         for field combat.



  28     EXT. BILLY - DAY                                      28



         Kneels at the side of the original trail examining the

         ground.  He rises, holding a spent CARTRIDGE.  Schaefer

         approaches, kneeling beside him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What happened here, Billy?



         Billy looks at him, puzzled.



                                                      

                                                      

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/20/86                          20

                                                   
190
             *

  28     CONTINUED:                                            28



                                 BILLY

                  Strange, Major.  There was a

                  firefight.  Shooting in all

                  directions.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  I can't believe Jim Hopper

                  walked into an ambush.



              
fa0
                   BILLY

                  I don't believe he did, Sir.

                  I couldn't find a single track.

                  Just doesn't make sense.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What about the rest of Hopper's

                  men?



         Billy shakes his head.



                                 BILLY

                         (uncomfortably)

                  No sign.  They never left here

                  Major.

                         (pause)

                  It's like they just disappeared.



         Schaefer ponders a moment.  Then, to Billy:



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Stick with the guerilla trail.

                         (to team)

                  Let's get it over with.  We move.

                  Five meter spread.  No sound.

                  Nothing.



                                                      CUT TO:



  28-A   EXT. BLAIN - DAY                                      28-A



         Blain feeds the magazine of BELTED-SHELLS into the

         weapon, cocking it.  He looks up at Mac, his eyes

         cold, his face taut with anger.



                                 BLAIN

                  Payback time.



         Blain hefts the Mini-gun to his hip as Mac draws back

         slightly on the breech bolt of the M-60, letting it

         snap.



         They move on, Billy pausing to look at the jungle

         before disappearing into the foliage.







   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/20/86                          21

                                                                *

  29     EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY                             29



         carefully watching this exchange from high in the

         treetop canopy.  The Observer watches as Schaefer

         turns and leaves the clearing, cautiously moving

         into the jungle.



  30     EXT. JUNGLE HILLSIDE - DAY                            30



         Mac appears suddenly, materializing out of the

         undergrowth, pausing cautiously, his senses alert,

         intense, almost nervous.  He moves on, his huge body

         barely making a sound as he weaves through the heavy

         undergrowth.



         Dillon appears.  As he moves on, he crosses over a

         fallen TREE.  Stepping down, his foot breaks through

         a rotten portion, a CHUCK of the log breaking free

         and rolling down the hill.



         Dillon at once goes into a defensive position,

         listening.  The jungle is SILENT.  He stands and

         starts to move forward.  Suddenly Mac appears

         within inches of Dillon's face.  Mac's face is

         menacing, angry.



                                                      



   



                                                               22



  30     CONTINUED:                                            30



                                 MAC

                         (hissing; barely

                         audible)

                  You're ghostin' on me, mother

                  fokaaa!...I don't care who

                  you are back in the world...

                  You give away our position

                  again and I'll bleed you quiet

                  and leave your fuckin' ass

                  right here.

                         (hisses; spits)

                  Got it?



         Dillon's eyes are wide and fixed, staring back in

         cold hatred at Mac, controlling his rage...he knows

         the rules.



         Not waiting for a response, Mac turns and vanished

         into the jungle.  Seething with anger Dillon

         focuses on a still moving LEAF and STEM, indicating

         Mac's exit point.  He moves on.



  31     EXT. BLAIN - DAY                                      31



         Crouches under heavy foliage, waiting.  He is

         joined by Mac.  They glance brie
190
fly at each other,

         scanning in opposite directions for movement and

         sounds.  They speak in whispers.



                                 BLAIN

                  Say, Bull.  What's goin' down?

                  We got movement?



                                 MAC

                  No.  Shithead with his

                  trenchcoat and dee-coda-da

                  ring
fa0
 was makin' enough noise

                  to get us all waxed.  I don't

                  like that guy.  Don't like

                  him at my back.  I ain't

                  winding up like those

                  bastards back there.



         Mac, sweating heavily, wipes the moisture from

         his brow with his finger.



         Blain pats the mini-gun affectionately.



                                 BLAIN

                  I know what you mean, Bull,

                  but don't sweat it, me and

                  'ol 'painless' here are

                  watchin' the front door.



                                                      



   



                                                               23



  31     CONTINUED:                                            31



                                 MAC

                  As always, bro...



         They do a gentle fist dap and smile warmly at

         each other.  Two men who have seen it all,

         through a dozen no-win situations, and have lived

         to tell about it.



         Mac advances a few meters and signals slowly.



  32     EXT. KNOLL                                            32



         The assault team moving up the hill, barely

         visible in the heavy foliage, the team moves

         cautiously into defensive positions.  Holding.

         A moment later they continue up the hill,

         crawling.



         On their stomachs, Schaefer and Ramirez clear

         the edge of the knoll, SEEING below a GUERRILLA

         VILLAGE, a huge, spreading PALAPA covering

         implacements dug into a hillside, descending

         to a winding stream bed below.  30 MEN, dressed

         in a mixture of jungle fatigues and civilian

         clothes, armed with AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLES move

         about the camp.  A heavy MACHINE GUN emplacement

         guards the entrance to the camp.  TWO MEN sit

         in the camouflaged emplacement.



  33     SCHAEFER                                              33



         sweeping the camp with BINOCULARS, SEES a

         GUARD above the camp.  One of the man picks up

         a hand-held ROCKET LAUNCHER, placing it beside

         a bandolier of ROCKETS and a RADIO SET and

         CONSULS taken from the U.S. surveillance

         helicopter as if preparing to take them away.



         Schaefer puts down the glasses, looking at

         Ramirez who nods in acknowledgment.  A sudden

         MUFFLED CRY brings Schaefer's attention to one

         end of the camp, where a heavily thatched DOOR

         covers and opening to the PALAPA.  A GUARD

         stands at the door.



         The door flies open as a HOSTAGE, shirtless,

         hands tied behind his back, staggers through

         the door as if kicked from behind.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          24

  

  33     CONTINUED                                             33



         The man falls to the ground, feebly trying to regain

         his footing.  Although difficult to see from Schaefer's

         vantage point, the man's battered face and welt-covered

         back indicate he has been severely tortured.



         Emerging from the palapa, a GUERRILLA LEADER,

         moustached and wearing a SIDEARM, approaches the

         beaten man, kicking him viciously in the stomach,

         rolling him to his side.



         Kneeling beside the man he withdraws an AUTOMATIC from

         his holster and cocks the hammer.  Grabbing the man by

         the hair he jams the muzzle into the man's ear and with

         a violent twist, pulls the trigger.



         The guerrilla leader stands and strides quickly back

         to the palapa, still holding the pistol, closing the

         door behind him.



   34    SCHAEFER                                        
190
      34 

   

         grim-faced at having witnesses the murder, lowers him

         glasses, a look of cold determination on his face.

         Quickly he and Ramirez ease down the escarpment,

         joining the other team members.



         Schaefer makes a circling motion with his thumb

         and the team members gather in close, huddle formation.



                              
fa0
   SCHAEFER

                         (whispering; angry)

                  Just killed one of the                             *

                  prisoners.  No time for                            *

                  invitations.  We take them,

                  now.



  35     EXT. BLAIN AND MAC - DAY                              35



         Crawl silently through the underbrush.  With nearly

         impreceptible movements, Blain slips out of the

         cartridge pack, ditching the Mini-gun.  He withdraws

         his COMBAT KNIFE, placing it between his teeth.



         They move through the underbrush in tandem, like

         two bug cats, stalking.  Mac freezes, the sweat

         pouring from his face, holds up his hand as Blain

         stops.



                                                      

   

   



                                                               25



  35     CONTINUED:                                            35



         Using a BLADE OF GRASS, Mac points out a metal TRIP

         WIRE, following it to a hidden CLAYMORE MINE.  Blain

         grins making a switching GESTURE.  Carefully Mac

         detaches the LEAD WIRES.  Directing the mine towards

         the camp, he reattaches the wires, nodding at Blain.



  36     EXT. JUNGLE - OVERHEAD - ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY         36



         SEEN THROUGH HEAT-SEEKING VISION, FOCUSED ON Blain

         and Mac, lying in the grass below, their bodies

         outlined in LUMONOUS AUREOLES.  The Observer SEES the

         NETWORK of TRIP WIRES guarding the approaches to the

         machine gun nests.  The wires GLOW as if ELECTRIFIED,

         standing out in hard-edged relief in contrast to

         the jungle foliage.  He moves higher into the forest

         canopy.



  37     EXT. BILLY - DAY                                      37



         On Schaefer's signal rises up, pulling a SENTRY to

         him, covering his mouth with his hand, jerking him

         backwards and to the side, knocking him off balance

         with a sweeping motion of his left leg, killing him

         with his COMBAT KNIFE.



  38     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                   38    *



         Belly crawls silently through the tall grass just

         outside and above the main entrance to the camp.  He

         stops, studying the ancient, rusted skeleton of a

         TRUCK parked on a level spot above the camp, its

         engine quietly IDLING.  The truck is jacked and

         blocked up, one rear wheel attached to a belt-drive

         leading to a PUMP, drawing water from a river nearby.

         In the open cab of the truck a GUARD is on duty,

         watching the high ground above the camp.



         Schaefer moves out, heading for the guard.



  39     EXT. MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT - DAY                    39



         While one Guerrilla attends to his equipment, the

         OTHER attentively watches the approaches to the camp.

         He is momentarily distracted by a BUZZING FLY, which

         he annoyingly swats at with his hand.



         He hears something to his side.  Turning to investigate,

         the huge, hamhock fist of Mack smashes into his throat.



         Simultaneously, Blain rises up behind the other man,

         grabs him by the hair, pulling him down, his COMBAT

         KNIFE driving downward.



   



                                                               26



  40     EXT. TRUCK - DAY                                      40    *



         A SATCHEL CHARGE is looped over the gearshift lever,

         resting on the floorboard.  Schaefer, lying low

         across the seat of the truck, turns and looks, SEEING

         the guard, lying in a heap in the foliage.



  40-A   EXT. RAMIREZ - DAY                                    40-A  * 

  

         Moves into position to the side and above the camp.

         He carefully checks 
190
the readiness of his SIX-SHOT

         GRENADE LAUNCHER, also setting his MP-5 in front of

         him, ready for action.



  41     EXT. SCHAEFER                                         41    *   



         Crouched to the side of the truck, watches the camp,

         SEEING below through the dense undergrowth, Ramirez,

         barely visible, signaling.



         Before him are two FR
fa0
AGMENTATION GRENADES.  He looks

         at his watch, and then up the hill to:



  41-A   DILLON AND HAWKINS                                    41-A  *



         their weapons ready.  Dillon picks up his binoculars,

         focusing on the machine gun emplacement, seeing a MAN,

         his face covered by a HAT.  The head rises, REVEALING

         the face of Blain, who looks above the camp and

         slightly nods.  Putting his glasses down, motions

         to Hawkins.



                                 DILLON

                         (to Hawkins)

                  Ready, kid?



         Hawkins grins back.  Together they slip through the

         grass, downward towards the edge of the camp.



  42-                                                 OUT      42-

  43                                                           43



  44     EXT. SCHAEFER                                         44    *



         Holds his huge, COMMANDO MACHETE on a diagonal,

         pushing through the belt, slicing it cleanly.  Turning

         he crawls silently to the rear of the truck,

         positioning himself behind the rear of the one ton

         truck.



         He squats, and with an enormous, concentrated effort,

         deadlifts the rear of the truck, its rusted springs

         and frame beginning to CREAK and GROAN slightly.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               27



  44     CONTINUED:                                            44



         With a herculean effort he lifts the truck free of

         its blocks and then pushes forward.  He rolls aside,

         disappearing into the ground cover as the truck, its

         tireless rims digging into the earth, lops down the

         hill, slowly picking up speed.



  45     EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE - DAY                          45



         A Guerrilla, alerted by the SOUND of the approaching

         truck, looks up at the hillside, SEEING the vehicle

         still moving down the hill at a moderate roll.  He

         CALLS OUT and several Guerrilla leaves their posts,

         moving out to prepare to stop the truck.



         The truck rolls into the clearing picking up speed,

         heading towards the main palapa.  The men rush

         forward, surrounding the truck, trying to slow it

         down, but the truck rolls, SMASHING through the front

         wall of the palapa.  The men gather around truck

         and then look back up the hill.



  46     EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY                             46    *



         Watching as Schaefer pulls the pin and launches the

         GRENADE into the air, the Observer following its

         arc as it spirals dead-center into the camp, bouncing

         twice before rolling into the FUEL DUMP...which a

         moment later, EXPLODES into an incredible FIREBALL.



         The expanding FIREBALL released from the explosion

         is to the Observer like an erupting sun, momentarily

         blinding him.



  47     EXT. GUERRILLA CAMP - DAY                             47



         The truck is BLOWN up into the air by the explosion...

         a moment later the satchel charge DETONATES with an

         ear-splitting EXPLOSION, tearing the truck apart.



  48     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                   48



         Jumps to his feet, FIRING an M-203 round into the

         camp.



  49     EXT. KNOLL - DAY                                      49



         Schaefer races down the hillside, joined by Dillon,

         leaving Hawkins to cover them.  Bullets burst around

         their feet as they run low, firing short bursts to

         his left and right.



                                                      



   



                                                    
190
           28



  49     CONTINUED:                                            49



         He FIRES the undermounted GRENADE LAUNCHER, sending a

         round into a gun position in the trees.  Still running

         he breaks open the breach, slamming in another 40mm

         ROUND from the cartridge pack at his waist.



         Blain and Mac fire the heavy machine guns, laying down

  
fa0
       a withering curtain of lead, shredding the camp,

         taking out five Guerrillas at once.



  50     EXT. GUERRILLA CAMP - DAY                             50



         A MAN almost completely ON FIRE is hit by an onslaught

         of GUNFIRE, ripping him back into the jungle.



         Ramirez cuts loose a barrage from the SIX-SHOOTER...

         seconds later the MACHINE GUN IMPLACEMENT erupts in

         a series of EXPLOSIONS, blowing two Guerrillas into

         the air.



         At the HILLSIDE HUT, two Guerrillas move into position

         by the window, drawing down on Schaefer as he appears,

         racing down the hill.



         As they are about to open fire, Dillon appears,

         YELLING OUT a warning.



                                 DILLON

                  On your nine!!!



         Schaefer dives, hitting the ground as Dillon OPENS

         FIRE taking out the Guerrillas.  Schaefer rolls to

         his feet, spins, firing the 203 grenade launcher,

         completely destroying the hut.



  51     EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY                             51



         As the Observer regains its vision an eerie, surreal

         experience of sight and sound unfolds:



         BULLETS streak through the air, leaving blood-red

         trails of HEAT, like laser blasts.  As they impact

         into the Guerillas, we HEAR the enhanced SLAPPING

         of BULLETS, SEEING tiny blossoms of HEAT mushroom

         out of their bodies.



         We HEAR the horrific, deformed CRIES and SCREAMS

         of the dying men.



         Another searing, blinding EXPLOSION sends pieces of

         SHRAPNEL ripping through the air, some of them

         ROARING past the Observer's position, like tiny

         meteors.



   



                                                               29



  52     EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE                                52    *



         at the entrance way to the main palapa, a Guerrilla

         stands in the doorway, giving COVER FIRE to his comrades

         as they fall back inside.



         Jumping from the roof of the adjoining palapa, Billy

         drops directly in front of the Guerrilla.



         From the side, unseen by Billy, another Guerrilla           *

         thrusts out with a knife, Billy ducking backwards, the

         tip of the knife SLASHING his face.  With a lightning

         move, Billy whips his arm up and around the Guerrilla,

         locking his elbow, breaking the joint.



         Still holding the man he FIRES, blowing the other

         Guerrilla off his feet with the SHOTGUN portion of his

         weapon.  He looks at the Guerrilla out of the corner of

         his eye.  He suddenly strikes, breaking his neck,

         dropping him in a heap.



         Billy continues on, racing down the stairs, firing the

         M-203.



         Meanwhile, Blain is crouched next to a tree, providing      *

         cover.  Behind Blain, at the edge of the camp, circling

         around from below, TWO GUERRILLAS appear and FIRE a

         grenade round which EXPLODES behind Blain, fragments

         ripping into the tree next to which Blain is standing,

         bark and dirt flying as shrapnel rips into his vest, one

         piece tearing into his upper shoulder.  The hits have

         no effect on the huge man and with a savage GROWL, he

         spins, opening fire, raking the two attackers with the

         Mini-gun.



         Nearby, Mac charges from the jungle on a dead run,

         diving over a fallen tree as machine gun FIRE rakes the

         ground around him.



         Blain, spotting the sniper high in a tree, opens FIRE

         with the MINI-GUN, shredding the tree, sending the

         Guerrilla crashing down through the roof of the

         palapa.



  53     INT. PALAPA - DAY                                     53



         The sniper CRASHES t
190
hrough the roof, landing on the

         floor near Hawkins and Ramirez who do a quick double

         take before opening fire on a group of fleeing

         Guerrillas, taking out two, giving chase to the others.



                                                      



   



                                                               30



  53     CONTINUED:                          
fa0
                  53



         Schaefer and Dillon appear at the top of the staircase,     *   

         Schaefer freezing as he SEES below a Guerrilla raising

         an AK-47, preparing to fire.  Schaefer tackles Dillon,

         the two men hurling into the air, a moment later BULLETS

         ripping into the CRATES behind where they were standing.



         Dillon rises up, kicking over a crate, shooting the         *

         Guerrilla who is trying to bring the gun around to fire

         at him.



         Schaefer crouches, covering the upper entrances to the      *   

         palapa, as Ramirez rushes past, joining Schaefer.  From

         the corner of his eye, Schaefer catches a movement.

         With a whipping, backhanded throw, he lets fly his

         COMMANDO MACHETE...



         The machete impales the attacking Guerrilla, driving him    *   

         backwards, pinning him to a post.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Stick around.



         Schaefer and Ramirez run towards the lower levels, side

         by side, firing as they go.



         They reach a door, Schaefer taking out an ATTACKING

         Guerrilla.  Ramirez grabs the side of the door, shoots

         a look to Schaefer and throws it open.  With Schaefer

         covering him, Ramirez takes a quick peak inside and

         then rushes into the room.

         

  53-A   INT. ROOM - DAY                                       53-A



         At one end is a STAIRWAY, leading to an escape door.

         A Guerrilla, seen from the waist up, scrambles down

         the stairs.



         At the base of the stairs, a Guerrilla, holding an

         AK-47 on his hip, turns and starts to fire.



         Schaefer and Ramirez respond with full AUTO BURSTS

         which rip into the Guerrilla, spinning him around,

         knocking over a crude WOODEN TABLE, scattering a

         BRIEFCASE with burning PAPERS, FOOD CANS, and LIQUOR

         BOTTLES.



         As he spins he FIRES the weapon, an arcing line of SLUGS

         slamming into the tin roof, sending down a shower of

         rust and dirt.  He falls to the ground.  Dead.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               31



  53-A   CONTINUED:                                            53-A



         Ramirez charges through the DUST and thick SMOKE to

         cover the fallen men; Schaefer following close behind,

         jerking a new CLIP from his ammo belt.



         Suddenly, another Guerrilla erupts from behind some

         ammunition crates, drawing down on Ramirez with a

         machine pistol.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (shouting)

                  Down!!!



         As the Guerrilla fires, Schaefer smashes the butt of

         his empty weapon into the Guerrilla's shoulder, knocking

         the gun aside, the SLUGS thudding into the wall

         harmlessly.



         He hits the Guerrilla with a vicious glancing blow to

         the head with the barrel of his weapon.  The Guerrilla

         is hurled backward, crashing into the wooden crates and

         to the floor.



         Ramirez, recovering quickly, descends the stairs with

         catlike agility, disappearing.



         Schaefer crouches and spins, jamming a new clip into the

         rifle, scanning the palapa for any other movement.  He

         races to the main door of the room, shouting into the

         palapa.



         He SEES Blain charging down the steps.  Catching his

         attention he signals him on, out the back to cover

         Ramirez.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (to Hawkins)

                  Hawk, Get Con. Op. on the

                  hook!  Position and situation,

190

                  now!



         As Blain runs down the stairs, Hawkins already has the

         radio off his back, setting up the portable SATELLITE

         DISH ANTENNA.



                                 HAWKINS

                  You got it, Major!



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          32



  53-B   EXT. PALAPA - WATER AREA - DAY                     
fa0
   53-B



         Ramirez, Blain and Billy race down the back stairs

         of the palapa, FIRING Mini-gun, automatic and grenade

         rounds at the escaping GUERRILLAS as they flee the area,

         splashing, charging across the shallow river.



         The guerrillas are history...in no uncertain terms.



  53-C   INT. PALAPA - DAY                                     53-C



         For the first time, Schaefer studies the interior of

         the cavernous palapa, SEEING the enormous stockpile

         of WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES stacked along the

         walls, obviously a major military stronghold hidden

         deep within the mountains.  Mac hustles up to Schaefer,

         a look of urgency on his face.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Any sign of the hostages?



                                 MAC

                         (nods)

                  We found 'em both, dead.

                  And the gear from the chopper.

                  If they're Central American,

                  I'm a fuckin' Chinaman.  By                        *

                  the looks of 'em, I'd say our                      *

                  cabinet minister and his aide                      *

                  are CIA.

                         (pause)

                  Another thing, Major, we were

                  lucky...couple of those guys

                  we waxed are Russians,

                  military advisors by the look

                  of it.  Something big was

                  about to happen here.



         Schaefer looks at Mac a moment, a flush of anger

         beginning to show.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Good work, Mac.  Clear the

                  area, no traces.  Get the men

                  ready to move.



         Schaefer goes back into the room, looking down at the

         unconscious guerrilla, racking a round into the

         chamber, reloading his weapon.



         He kneels, staring into the FACE of a WOMAN, ANNA,

         dark, late twenties.  Despite her blood and

         dirt-smeared face, she is beautiful.



                                                      



   



                                                               33



  53-C   CONTINUED:                                            53-C



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (closes eyes)

                  Shit...



         He checks her pulse and then slowly he bends to pick

         up her PISTOL, ejecting the clip.  He stands, beginning

         to shuffle through the PAPERS scattered about the room.

         Staring at one he looks up, the pieces falling together.



  54     EXT. JUNGLE - DAY                                     54



         Ramirez, at a crouch, runs through the jungle,

         following the obvious signs of the Guerrilla's

         retreat.  He emerges from the trees into an opening,

         leading to a sheer rock cliff, towering fifty feet

         above the ground.  Scanning the wall, he SEES

         movement and quickly takes cover, as automatic

         FIRE rips up the ground before him.



  54-A   EXT. ROCK WALL - DAY                                  54-A



         Near the center of which a narrow cut, two feet

         wide, leads to the top of the cliff, giving access

         to the adjoining ridge.



         Two Guerrillas scramble up through the chimney,

         assisted by a ROPE, which with withdraw as they

         reach the top.  Ramirez takes out one man, the

         other taking cover, returning fire.



  54-B   EXT. BASE OF ROCK WALL - DAY                          54-B  *



         Blain joins Ramirez, behind cover at the foot of

         the cliff.  As they take cover, Ramirez notices

         the wound on Blain's shoulder.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  You'r
190
e hit.  You're bleedin',

                  man.



         Blain looks briefly at the wound.



                                 BLAIN

                         (spits)

                  Ain't got time to bleed.



         On a signal, they both clear cover and fire LONG

         BURSTS from their weapons up the cliff.



                                                      



   



      
fa0
                                                         34



  54-B   CONTINUED:                                            54-B



         The smoke is hardly cleared when they are answered

         by withering FIRE.  They duck down as a grenade

         EXPLODES nearby.  Ramirez quickly replaces the 40MM

         rounds into the SIX-SHOOTER.



                                 BLAIN

                  Son of a bitch's dug in like

                  a Alabama tick...

                         (spits)

                  ...jack us around all day.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  Hell, dude, we don't have all

                  day.



         Ramirez immediately rolls into the line of fire,

         BLASTING six RAPID-FIRE shots on a HIGH-ARC trajectory

         towards the rocks.  Blain reacts.



                                 BLAIN

                  Shit, Pancho!!!



         Blain dives against the protective cover of the

         rock wall, covering his head.  Ramirez casually

         hops across, squatting next to Blain.  They make

         eye-contact.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  What's your problem, dude?



         Before Blain can answer, Ramirez puts his fingers

         into his ears and grimaces just as...



         The entire hillside EXPLODES, blowing the Guerrillas

         into the air, a torrent of vegetation and earth

         raining down the cliff, obscuring Blain and Ramirez.



  55     INT. PALAPA ROOM - DAY                                55



         Schaefer is staring out the window, his weapon slack

         in one arm, still holding the paper.  Dillon enters,

         obviously excited about what he has found.  He sees

         the papers on the floor.  He reads through them

         quickly, growing even more excited.



                                 DILLON

                  This is beautiful!  More than

                  we ever thought.  We got the

                  bastards!



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          35

                                                                *

  55     CONTINUED:                                            55



         Schaefer turns, striding slowly to Dillon, handing him

         the paper he is holding.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  I think this is the one you want.



         Dillon reads it.



                                 DILLON

                         (reacting)

                  Two days...that's all we had.

                  In two days, three hundred of

                  these bastards would have been

                  equipped with all this.  After

                  they crossed the border, it

                  would have taken a year to

                  stop them.

                         (looks up)

                  We've averted a major

                  guerrilla invasion, Dutch...



         Schaefer moves in close to Dillon, face to face,

         anger flaring in his eyes.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (slow; deliberate)

                  It was all bullshit.  All of it.

                  From the start...you set us up,

                  got us in here to do your

                  dirty work.



                                 DILLON

                         (angry)

                  That's right, I set you up.

                  You're a veteran at this, Dutch,

                  I had to.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Why us?



                                 DILLON

                  Because I told you, you're the

                  best.  I knew you could do it but

                  I couldn't get you in here without

                  a cover story.



                                 SCHAEFER

          
190
        What story did you give to Davis?



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          36



  55     CONTINUED:  (2)                                       55



                                 DILLON

                  We've been lookin' for this

fa0

                  place for months.  The chopper

                  must have gotten close when

                  they got shot down.  Hopper                        *

                  was sent in to get my men.

                  He was just doing his job.

                  When he disappeared I had to

                  clean this up,  I had to stop

                  there bastards.  We were so

                  close, we couldn't quit.  We

                  couldn't sleep through this

                  one.  I needed you, Dutch,

                  can't you see that?



                                 DILLON

                  To invade a foreign country,

                  illegally?  You lied, Dillon.

                  Stacked the odds against us.  Set

                  us up.  You could have gotten

                  us all killed.

                         (pause; looking at him)

                  You used to be one of us,

                  Dillon, someone I could trust

                  with my life...



                                 DILLON

                  We've been through a lot together

                  Dutch.  When we were together, no                  *

                  one could stop us, the hottest                     *

                  Goddamned team the army ever saw.                  *

                  But things changed, I woke up.

                  We're fighting them in a dozen

                  Goddamned countries.  It's a

                  fight we can't lose, Dutch.  We're

                  all expendable assets, can't you

                  see that?



         Schaefer takes the paper from Dillon's hands.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  That's your problem, Dillon.

                  You always did put ambition

                  before the lives of your men.

                         (pause)

                  My men are not expendable.  I

                  don't do this kind of work.

                         (crumples up

                         paper in fist)

                  This is your dirty little war,

                  not mine.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          37

                                                                *

  55     CONTINUED:  (3)                                       55



         He stuffs the crumpled paper into Dillon's shirt

         pocket.



         Anna, regaining consciousness, GROANS, a heavy flow

         of blood running down her face from her head wound.



         Hawkins appears at the door.



                                 HAWKINS

                  Major!



         Schaefer turns away from Dillon and steps through

         the doorway into the palapa as Anna moans again,

         MUMBLING something in Spanish.  Dillon kneels,

         beside her.



                                 DILLON

                         (quietly; in Spanish)

                  Are you all right?



  55-A   INT. PALAPA - DAY                                     55-A



         Schaefer is talking to Hawkins who has the field

         radio set on a crate just outside the door.



                                 HAWKINS

                         (urgent)

                  Major, we stepped into some

                  real shit here.  I got a hook-up

                  with aerial surveillance.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Movement?



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          38



  55-A   CONTINUED:                                            55-A



                                 HAWKINS

                         (nods)

                  Guerrillas swarming like flies                     *

                  all over the place.  Can't be more                 *

      
190
            then one, maybe two miles away.                    *

                  Place is going down, Major.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  How much time?



                                 HAWKINS

                  Half an hour, maybe less.                          *



         Schaefer touches him on the shoulder.



                                 SCHAEFE
fa0
R

                         (urgently)

                  Tell Mac we move in five.



         He starts to walk away.



                                 DILLON

                         (o.s.)

                  She goes with us.



         Schaefer turns.  Dillon is at the doorway, supporting

         the still groggy Anna.



                                 DILLON

                  She's too valuable.  She's

                  got to know their whole

                  network.  The whole set up.

                  We take her with us.                               *



                                 SCHAEFER

                  We take her and she'll give

                  away our position, every

                  chance she gets.  No

                  prisoners, Dillon.



         Dillon grabs the handset from Hawkin's radio, shoving it

         at Schaefer.



                                 DILLON

                  You're still under orders,

                  Dutch.  You want to make the

                  call, or should I?



         Schaefer looks at the handset.  Then at Dillon, he knows

         Dillon's won.



                                                      



   



                                                               39



  55-A   CONTINUED:  (2)                                       55-A



         He starts to walk away but stops, turning back, pointing

         a finger at Dillon.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  I'm getting my men out of this

                  damn jungle, Dillon.  She's

                  your baggage.  You fall behind,

                  you're on your own.



  56     EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE - DAY                          56



         Schaefer and Billy are kneeling on the ground near the

         trailhead, studying a MAP.  In the b.g., the team, hidden,

         covers the hillside approaches to the camp, nervous and

         wary, weapons ready.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  This place is too hot for a pick-up.

                  They won't touch us until we're over

                  the border.  We can lift at LZ 49,

                  here.

                         (points to map)

                  Spotter plane says we're cut off.

                         (points to map)

                  Except for this valley.



         Billy shakes his head, following the CONTOUR LINES of

         the rugged terrain.



                                 BILLY

                  Looks bad, Major.  It's gonna be

                  a real bitch.

                         (points to map)

                  If we follow above the river and

                  then down, here, at this canyon,

                  we might find a way out.



         Schaefer turns to Ramirez, kneeling close by.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (decisively)

                  Not much choice.  Pancho, take

                  the lead.  Double time it.



         He turns and looks at Dillon, Anna as his side, her

         forehead bandaged, her hands bound in front of her.

         He turns back to the others.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Lock n' load, watch your ass.



         Blain moves out, swinging the Mini-gun in front of him

         as he goes.

                    

   



                                                               40



  56-A   EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY                          56-A



         Watching as Dillon leads ANNA onward, SEEING her bound

         hands.  Dillon pushes her.



  57     EXT. ANNA - DAY                                       57



         Spins, hurling a string of insults to Dillon in

         SPANISH.



                                 ANNA

                         (in Spanish)

                  You touch me again, pig, and

                  I will cut off your ball
190
s!



                                 DILLON

                         (in Spanish)

                  It's a long walk back, make it

                  easy on yourself.



         She spits at him, turning forward with a twist of

         her head.



         Dillon picks up his back, shouldering it.  As they

         move on, Mac calls out to him.



                                 MAC

 
fa0
                        (quietly)

                  Hey, Dillon, over here.



         Dillon doesn't respond.



                                 MAC

                         (louder)

                  Dillon, over here.



         Dillon turns and approaches, warily, holding

         the girl.



                                 DILLON

                  Yeah, what is it, Sergeant?



         MAc unsheathes his knife.  He gives Dillon a cold

         look and turns him by the shoulders.  Crawling

         across the PACK on Dillon's back is a huge SCORPION.



         Mac skeweres the scorpion with the tip of his

         blade, holding it before the wincing Dillon.  Anna

         smirks, nodding to the writhing, stinging insect.



                                 ANNA

                         (in Spanish)

                  When my people catch you,

                  you'll wish you were him.



                                                      



   



                                                               41



  57     CONTINUED:                                            57



         Dillon looks at Mac.



                                 DILLON

                  Thanks.



                                 MAC

                         (coolly)

                  Anytime.



         Mac flings the scorpion to the ground, crushing it

         with his boot.  He looks up at Dillon, walks away.

         Dillon follows, pulling Anna behind him.



         Billy, guarding the rear, glances furtively around

         the clearing.  He moves a step forward and stops,

         freezing.



         Slowly he turns back, his eyes riveted upon the

         treeline above the camp.  His eyes strain, his

         senses registering a fear he cannot name or see.



         Something is out there, in the trees, waiting,

         watching.



         Billy turns and walks into the jungle, pausing

         one last time to look behind him before he too

         disappears from sight.



         The jungle GROWS SILENT.



  58     EXT. OBSERVER'S ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY                  58



         LOOKING DOWN from his vantage point TO the treeline

         below, terraces like stepping stones, FOCUSING ON

         a TREE, fifty feet away.



         The Observer utters a LOW TRILL and springs outward

         into space, hurtling downward towards his landing

         point, the canopy of the trees approaching in a

         staccato rush of green.



         The SOUNDS of the FOREST are again altered and

         enhanced with an electric, STATIC-LIKE quality as

         the Observer descends fluidly through the trees

         and to the ground.



         He enters the camp, surveying the terrible

         destruction and carnage.  He SEES the dead

         Guerrillas, the dissipating heat from their bodies

         leaving them pale and GHOST-LIKE, as if fading

         light about to extinguish.  He sees their weapons,

         the cold hard steel of the barrels registering

         ICE BLUE in his vision.



   



                                                               42



  58-A   EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. OF HIS HAND - DAY              58-A



         As it appears, pulsing in a pale magenta heat, low

         to the ground, holding his weapon.  He lays down

         the weapon, picking up the SCORPION, turning it

         slowly in his fingers, examining it.  It looks like

         an exotic flower, its color fading from sight,

         turning to BLACK.



         A low SOUND is uttered, something vaguely familiar

         about it:  A NEARLY HUMAN VOICE, a distorted

         imitation of Mac.



                                 HUNTER

                         (o.s.; filtered)

                  Dillon, over here.



         Again the phrase is uttered, improving, closer to

         Mac's inflection and accent.



                                
190
 HUNTER

                         (o.s.)

                  Dillon, over here.



         The Hunter lowers the pitch.



                                 HUNTER

                         (o.s.)

                  Dillon, over here.



         The last effort is a chilling simulation of Mac's

         voice.



  59     EXT. OBSERVER'S HAND - DAY                            59



         Drops 
fa0
the scorpion and picks up the weapon which

         changes instantly back to the Observer's skin tones.



  59-A   EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY                          59-A



         He turns and focuses on the area where the team

         left camp.



         He crouches and springs to the lower branches of a

         tree, grasping them with his clawed, three-fingered

         hands, pulling himself up and through the branches

         with astounding speed and simian-like dexterity; his

         spurred prehensile feet, grasping and thrusting him

         to a vantage point, fifty feet above the ground.



         As he moves on, the jungle grows suddenly QUIET, as

         if aware, sensing that the HUNTER is now stalking, no

         longer observing!!!



   



                                                               43



  60     EXT. JUNGLE VALLEY - DAY                              60



         The twilight world of a PREHISTORIC FOREST, filled

         with gigantic plants and towering trees, overgrown

         with vines and creepers.



         The team, with Billy at point, walk alongside a

         wandering STREAM BED, weirdly illuminated by SHAFTS

         OF LIGHT, streaming through openings in the trees,

         as if from spotlights, a hundred feet above.



         It is midday, hot and humid, the air BUZZING with the

         sounds of insects, the CRYING of birds and monkeys.

         The men are moving fast and quiet, straining to see

         into the dense jungle, aware of every sound, sweating,

         quietly slapping at biting insects.



  61     EXT. GIANT HARDWOOD TREE - DAY                        61



         Lies across their path.  As the man climb over a

         rotten section, Mac stops to assist Blain with his

         Mini-gun.



                                 MAC

                  I've seen some badass bush

                  before, but nothin' like

                  this, man.

                         (pause)

                  Little taste 'o home?



         Blain nods and pauses to rest, looking around him

         as Mac withdraws a small silver POCKET FLASK.  He

         takes a nip, passing the flask to Blain who also

         takes a sip.



                                 BLAIN

                  I hear you bro, this is some

                  shit.  Makes Cambodia look

                  like Kansas.  Lose your way

                  in here, man, you be in some

                  kinda hurt.



         Blain hands back the flask, Mac replacing it inside

         his vest.  They do their hand dap, looking warily

         behind them before they move on.



  62     EXT. ANNA AND DILLON - JUNGLE - DAY                   62



         Have fallen behind, Dillon looking worriedly ahead

         at the them out distancing them.  Anna is keeping

         her pace purposefully slow.  She trips on a root

         falling to the ground.  She lies there, motionless.

         He quickly reaches down to haul her to her feet.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          44



  62     CONTINUED:                                            62



                                 DILLON

                         (urgently)

                  Shit.  Come on...



         Like an uncoiled spring, Anna turns, flinging a

         handful of DIRT into his face, momentarily blinding

         him.  She lunges for his rifle with her bound hands.



         Suddenly the BARREL of an MP-5 is thrust into her face.



         Looking up she SEES Ramirez, calmly holding the weapon

         on her, the look in his eyes indicating he'd hove no

         trouble shooting her.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (in Spanish)

                  Don't try it.



 
190
        She looks back at Dillon, wiping the dirt from his eyes.

         She moves on.  Ramirez gives him a cold look as Dillon

         hurries past.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (coolly)

                  You should put her on a leash,

                  Agent Man.  If you can't handle

                  her, just say the word.



         Dillon move
fa0
s on, ignoring Ramirez, who turns, scanning

         the jungle behind him before moving on.  Dillon catches

         up with Anna, turning her sharply by the chin.



                                 DILLON

                         (cold; in Spanish)

                  Try that again.  Please.                           *



         She looks at him contemptuously, undaunted.  She will

         try it again.  She breaks away from his grasp and

         moves on, Dillon watching her go, he won't hesitate

         next time.



  63     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            63



         As he travels, directly overhead, timing his movement

         with those of the team.  He moves lower, closer to

         the slowly moving humans.



  64     EXT. RIVER BED - DAY                                  64



         The team moves cautiously through the winding stream

         bed, now wearing their clothing in various stages of

         disarray for comfort, sweat dripping from their bodies.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          45



  64     CONTINUED:                                            64



         Billy, in the lead, picks his way along the riverbank,

         his concentration rapt, aboriginal.  His face a

         trancelike mask of expectation.



         Blain, cradling the heavy Mini-gun as if it were a

         toy, swings the weapon relentlessly across his field

         of view.  He pauses to adjust the hanging, belted

         loop of cartridges trailing from the back pack

         magazine.  An INSECT lands on his face and is trapped

         in the grease paint near his lips.  He draws the

         hapless bug into his mouth with his tongue and quietly

         spits it out, his concentration unbroken.



         Mac follows, holding the M-60 high across his chest.



         Schaefer, bent, cautious, his feet moving aside the

         dry leaves on the ground, heel to toe and on foot

         edges.  He glances around, checking the team's

         position and progress.



         Hawkins follows, his mouth open, breathing deeply,

         exhausted, the radio a 60 pound demon.



         Anna, struggling to climb a section of the stream

         bank, slips on some loose dirt.  Unable to assist

         herself with her hands tied, she nearly falls.

         Dillon prods her with his rifle, forcing her to

         her feet.  She scrambles up the bank, Dillon following.



  65     EXT. RIVER BANK - DAY                                 65



         As Billy enters a small clearing, bordered on one

         side by the towering trees, carpeting the

         mountainside.  High above in the thick, impenetrable

         treeline, brightly colored birds SQUAWK loudly,

         chasing each other from branch to branch.



         Suddenly Billy stops.  Schaefer holds up his hand

         and the team freezes in position.  An eerie SILENCE,

         like a slowly falling curtain, descends over the

         jungle until even the BUZZING and CLICKING of insects

         have CEASED.



  66     EXT. TEAM MEMBERS - DAY                               66



         Sensing an ambush, move quietly into the foliage.

         Dillon moves into the undergrowth, dragging Anna

         with him.  He slings his MP-5 over his shoulder,

         withdrawing his KNIFE.  Grasping Anna by her shirt

         collar and pushing her to the ground he holds the

         weapon near her throat.  Dillon signals to Ramirez          *

         who approaches.  Dillon hands Ramirez the knife.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          46

                                                                *

  66     CONTINUED:        
190
                                    66



                                 DILLON

                  Watch her.



         Before Ramirez can respond, Dillon slips into the

         undergrowth.  Ramirez holds the knife on Anna,

         cautiously scanning around him for movement.



         Unseen by Ramirez, Anna's outstretched hands slowly

         tighten around a stout ROOT-BURL, lying 
fa0
loose on the

         ground.



  67     EXT. BILLY - AT THE RIVER BED - DAY                   67



         He remains frozen and transfixed, staring into the

         treeline.  Something is moving, fluid, silently and

         downward, into the forest.  Billy remains rooted to

         the spot, lost in concentration.



  68     SCHAEFER                                              68



         sensing something very wrong with Billy, moves alongside

         Mac.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What's got Billy so spooked?



                                 MAC

                  Can't say, Major...been

                  squirrely all mornin'...

                  fuckin' weird...sometimes

                  I think that nose of his is

                  too good...smells things that

                  ain't there.



         Schaefer signals for Mac to cover him and then moves low

         and quiet towards Billy.  Dillon appears, looking to

         Mac for an explanation.  Mac ignores him, concentrating

         on the jungle.  Dillon looks forward at...



         Billy, his eyes riveted to the capony above, as he

         unconsciously reaches to his throat, grasping a LEATHER

         POUCH, secured to his neck by a thong.  He fingers the

         MEDICINE BAG talisman.



  69     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            69



         As he slowly descends through the trees, moving

         towards Billy, who's eyes search the treeline for

         movement.



   



                                                               47



  70     BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER                                70



         approaches Billy, gripping his shoulders and in a

         hoarse whisper, speaks his name.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What is it...?



         Billy, rigid, does not respond.  Schaefer forcefully

         jerks his around to face him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Billy...What the hell's wrong

                  with you?



                                 BILLY

                         (low)

                  Something...in the trees...



  71     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            71



         Still closing in on Billy.  Billy turns back, looking

         high into the trees, puzzled and frightened.  He's

         lost sense of the Hunter's presence.  He lowers his

         vision, looking towards the Hunter, now on the ground,

         30 yards across the clearing from Billy.  The Hunter

         pauses.



  72     BACK TO SCENE/BILLY AND SCHAEFER                      72



                                 BILLY

                         (whispers)

                  Can you see anything...

                         (points)

                  ...there?



         Schaefer stares hard at the jungle.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  It's...nothing...



  73     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            73



         Moves behind a broad fern, skirting around Billy

         and Schaefer, heading away from the column.



  74     BACK TO SCENE/BILLY AND SCHAEFER                      74



         Schaefer shakes his head, continuing to stare into

         the jungle.  He turns to Billy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What do you think...?



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          48

                                                                *

  74     CONTINUED:                                            74



         Billy turns, a puzzled look in his eyes.  He nods

         in agreement.



                                 BILLY

                  It's nothing...



  75     EXT. ANNA AND RAMIREZ - DAY                           75



         Sensing the da
190
nger has passed, Ramirez releases his

         grip on Anna.  As they start to rise, Ramirez sheaths

         his knife and unslings his MP-5.  Anna still stares

         hard into the jungle.



         Suddenly, without even looking, Anna with the trained

         reflexes of an experienced fighter swings the BURL with

         all her might, catching Ramirez hard on the side of the

     
fa0
    head, just above the eye, opening a wicked gash.

         Spinning around she knees him brutally in the groin.

         As Ramirez goes down, doubled over in pain, Anna turns,

         scrambling up the embankment, running for the jungle.



         Ramirez CRIES out.



  76     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                   76



         HEARING Ramirez' cry, Schaefer signals to Hawkins to

         move.  Hawkins moves out, fast, heading towards the

         sound...



  77     EXT. HAWKINS - DAY                                    77



         SEES Anna running away.  He gives chase.



         Anna, although bound, is light and fit and runs fast,

         hurdling fallen logs and branches, charging through the

         undergrowth.  SHe has a good start.



         Hawkins, hampered by the radio and weapon but in

         tremendous shape, thunders after her, closing the

         distance.



  78     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            78



         As he passes from behind a large tree, surrounded by

         dense foliage, SEEING the fleeing Anna.  He watches

         her and then begins to move parallel with her, only

         faster, the green of the jungle rushing by in a blur.



  79     EXT. ANNA AND HAWKINS - DAY                           79



         Anna, bursting through a grove of ferns, drives on,

         breathing hard with the exertion.



                                                      



   



                                                               49



  79     CONTINUED:                                            79



         Hawkins, ten yards behind, closing the distance,

         taking advantage of any hesitation Anna makes,

         struggling with the dense jungle.



         Anna hits a small clearing, an alleyway through

         the trees.  She sprints hard across the clear

         ground.



  80     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                            80



         Moving through the jungle.  As he steps clear of

         the foliage he SEES Anna driving hard into the

         alleyway, running directly towards him.  Twenty

         yards away, Hawkins, closes in.



  81     BACK TO SCENE/HAWKINS                                 81



         Only a few feet behind Anna, lunges forward, knocking

         her to the ground.  In a second he's on her, his

         weapon ready.  She struggles to her feet, fighting,

         gasping for breath.  Hawkins holds the MP-5 on her,

         looking at her, almost pleading.  He doesn't want

         to shoot her, but he will if he has to.



                                 HAWKINS

                  Please...



         She looks at the weapon, to Hawkins and then,

         hopefully, to the jungle.  She stops, staring hard

         down the alleyway.  Something...suddenly she sees it!



                                 ANNA

                         (in Spanish)

                  Look out, behind you!!!



         Hawkins spins...



  82     EXT. HAWKINS AND ANNA'S P.O.V. - DAY                  82



         SEEING the MOTTLED OUTLINE of the Hunter's body,

         racing towards them, as if the entire wall of the

         jungle were rushing in.  The Hunter's WEAPON

         flares to life.



  83     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - ANNA AND HAWKINS - DAY         83



         As he hurtles towards them, their faces frozen in

         surprise.



  84     BACK TO SCENE/ANNA AND HAWKINS                        84



         A splitting THUD as Hawkins is hurtled backwards into

         the undergrowth, the Hunter's hand and WEAPON flashing



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          50

                                                                *

  84     CONTINUED:                                            84



         through the air.  BLOOD splashes on Anna's f
190
ace.

         She SCREAMS as Hawkins' MP-5 FIRES a short BURST

         into the air.



  85     EXT. RIVER BED - DAY                                  85



         HEARING the GUNFIRE, Schaefer WHISTLES low and sharp.

         Ramirez, face bloody, swings into action, moving in a

         coordinated defensive/offensive pattern into the

         jungle.



  86     HAWKINS/BACK TO SCENE   
fa0
                              86



         The Hunter's ARM and SPUR hook into Hawkins' leg, and

         he is dragged into the jungle.



  87     EXT. RAMIREZ - DAY                                    87



         Ramirez runs forward ten paces, drops to a crouch,

         scanning to each side.  Immediately Schaefer runs

         forward twenty paces.  As he passes Ramirez, Ramirez

         turns and scans the rear and flanks.



         Dillon, Mac and Blain repeat the maneuver, leap-frogging

         forward, canvassing the jungle, providing areas of

         intersection cover.



  88     EXT. RAMIREZ                                          88



         Entering the alleyway where Hawkins was killed he SEES

         Anna, cowering in the bushes, her blood splattered

         face glazed with terror, his eyes vacant.  He

         approaches, angry, wary, but the girl is so stunned.

         He SEES the trail of BLOOD and CRUSHED GRASSES leading

         into the jungle.  He gives a LOW WHISTLE and then moves

         on, the rest of the team assuming defensive positions

         around the clearing.



         He follows the trail, finding first Hawkins'

         blood-covered weapon, and then, a few yards later,

         the radio.  Ramirez cautiously parts the brush before

         him.  A look of puzzlement and then revulsion comes

         of his face.



  89     EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY                                   89



         Blain and Mac at either end, cautiously searching

         the jungle; Billy covering their flanks.



                                                      



   



                                                               51



  89     CONTINUED:                                            89



         Schaefer and Dillon approach Anna.  She seems unaware

         of their presence, staring numbly ahead.  Schaefer

         checks her out, looking for wounds, he wipes some of

         the blood from her face.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  It's not her blood.



         Ramirez emerges from the jungle carrying Hawkins'

         MP-5 and radio.  He approaches, dumping the equipment

         on the ground.



                                 RAMIREZ                                    

                  Major, you'd better take a

                  look at this.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Hawkins?



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (oddly)

                  I can't tell.



  90     EXT. SCHAEFER AND RAMIREZ - DAY                       90



         Dillon in the b.g., as Ramirez parts the brush with

         his weapon.  Before them, covered with dirt and

         leaves, are Hawkins' ENTRAILS.  There is no body.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (shocked)

                  What in God's name...?



                                 RAMIREZ

                  I think it's Hawkins.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Where the hell is his body?



                                 RAMIREZ

                  There's no sign of it.



  91     EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY                                   91



         The entire team is gathered, still holding defensive

         positions.  Anna, still stunned, is beginning to

         come around.  She looks up at Schaefer.  He turns to

         Ramirez.



                                                      

                                                                 

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          52

                                                                *

  91     CONTINUED:                                            91



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Ramirez, ask her wha
190
t

                  happened.



         Ramirez drops to one knee and talks softly to her in

         SPANISH.  She mutters incoherently in Spanish, still

         dazed, shaking her head.  Dillon listens closely to her

         response.  Ramirez turns to Schaefer.  He seems

         confused.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  She says...the jungle came

      
fa0
            alive, and took him...



                                 DILLON

                  That isn't what she said...

                  she said...

                         (pondering; to

                         Ramirez)

                  ...she doesn't make sense.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (growing angry)

                  Couple of sappers been

                  trailing us all the way from

                  the camp, Major.  Billy heard

                  them.  She set us up, ran

                  for it...They were waiting.

                  I should've wasted the bitch

                  when I had the chance.



         Schaefer, looking at Hawkins' bloodstained equipment

         lying at Anna's feet, looks up.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (quietly)

                  Why didn't they take the

                  radio and his weapon?

                         (pause)

                  Why didn't she escape?



         Ramirez and Dillon look at the equipment and then

         to the girl, still numb with shock.



                                 DILLON

                         (grimly; remembering)

                  They did the same thing to

                  Davis...



                                                      

  

   



                                                               53



  91     CONTINUED:  (2)                                       91



         The two veteran commandos look at each other, finding

         no explanation between them.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (urgent; to the others)

                  I want him found.  Sweep

                  pattern and double back.  Fifty

                  meters.



         They move out.  Schaefer moves into the jungle,

         searching.  He crouches at the base of a huge

         MAHOGANY TREE, covered with vines, studying the

         jungle.  He moves away from the tree and into the

         forest, looking for signs on the ground.



         Where he was sitting, a DROP OF BLOOD falls.  Another

         drop falls, dripping from a leaf and above that, from

         another leaf.  Above that, high in the top of the

         tree, SUSPENDED from vines from his ankles, is

         HAWKINS' BODY, his chest a gaping wound.



         He hands there as if he were an animal, field dressed.



  92     EXT. BLAIN - DAY                                      92



         Crouched in the undergrowth.  There is a movement in

         the brush before him.  He wipes the sweat from his

         eyes and clicks his safety on the Mini-gun to fire.



         The SOUND is growing closer.  Blain levels the weapon.

         A smile crosses his face.



                                 BLAIN

                         (whispers)

                  Come on in you fuckers...come on

                  in.  'ol 'painless' is waitin'...



         The movement in the brush is GROWING LOUDER.  Blain's

         finger moves closer to the trigger.



         Suddenly a small TAPIR bursts through the leaves,

         startling Blain.  He relaxes momentarily as he

         watches the animal scurrying from sight.  He

         stands...



                                                      



   



                                                               54



  92     CONTINUED:                                            92



         SOMETHING grazes his shoulder, a gout of BLOOD erupting.

         He starts to turn, the Mini-gun held low, ready to

         fire...



         ...from out of the jungle, 75 feet away, the Hunter's

         WEAPON streaks toward him like a missile.  He SCREAMS

         as it enters his back, erupting from his chest in an

         EXPLOSION of BLOOD.



  93     EXT. MAC - DAY                                        93



         Has heard B
190
lain's cry.  He moves fast through the brush.

         He HEARS a RUSTLING in the bushes.  A wet SUCKING SOUND.

         Mac charges into the clearing.  In the instant before

         the Hunter disappears into the forest, Mac SEES a vision

         so brief and fantastic that it seems like a

         hallucination.



         The Hunter's EYES flare momentarily from the green

         befo
fa0
re they vanish.



         Mac sees his friend, lying on the ground, his chest

         open, the powerful man, dead.



                                  MAC

                         (shouting)

                  Contact, 30 Right!!!



         He OPENS FIRE with his M-203, belted shells slamming

         into the weapon from the magazine at his waist,

         expending it in one LONG BURST.

  

  94     EXT. THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS - DAY                     94



         Flying through the jungle, weapons ready, eyes searching

         for movement.



  95     EXT. MAC - DAY                                        95



         He throws down the weapon and with a cry of rage, lunges

         forward, grabbing the Mini-gun.  As he stands, the

         CARTRIDGE BELT, attached to Blain, strings out between

         them.



         He opens FIRE and the foliage before him EXPLODES with

         the fury of the terrible weapon.  Mac sweeps the

         Mini-gun from left to right, like a man possessed,

         mowing down the jungle.



         The other team members race INTO SIGHT and begin firing

         with Mac.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          55



  95     CONTINUED:                                            95



         Ramirez opens FIRE with the SIX-SHOOTER grenade

         launcher...EXPLOSIONS rock the jungle.



  96     EXT. HUNTER - DAY                                     96



         Moving.  A piece of SHRAPNEL cuts his shoulder.  A

         splash of ORANGE BLOOD spatters across the LEAVES

         of a nearby tree, bullet holes ripping through the

         surrounding foliage.



  97     BACK TO SCENE/MAC                                     97



         More FIRING.  Mac, his weapon expended, continues

         to thrust the Mini-gun forward, still squeezing the

         trigger.



         Suddenly, as quickly as it started, THE FIRING STOPS.

         The men move catlike into the jungle, reloading,

         searching, their nerves taut, stretched to the limit,

         ready to fire again at any second.



         Mac is frozen, eyes wide, unblinking, his breath

         coming in rapid gasps as he stares into the jungle,

         still squeezing the trigger of the weapon, its

         breech locked open, GUNSMOKE wafting from the chamber

         and barrel.



         Schaefer moves in front of Mac, still staring into the

         jungle.  Dillon pushes Anna into the clearing, moving

         towards the body.  Anna looks at the body and then up

         to Mac.  Schaefer sees a terrifying moment of

         recognition flash in her eyes as she continues to

         stare at Mac.  He turns to Mac.



                                 MAC

                         (confused)

                  I...saw it.



         At these words, Anna reacts in shock, drawing a             *

         slight breath.  Schaefer turns, sees her staring at         *

         Mac.  He turns back.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You saw what?



                                  MAC

                         (still dazed)

                  I saw it.



         Schaefer turns back to see Anna, staring fixidly at Mac,    *

         watching his lips.  Schaefer turns quickly to Blain's       *

         body and kneels alongside Dillon.



  98     SCHAEFER                                              98



         is at Blain's side, shocked at the sight of the

         mutilated body.  He is joined by Dillon.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               56



  98     CONTINUED:                                            98



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (
190
to himself)

                  Blain...

                         (puzzled)

                  ...Just like the others...no

                  powder burns, no shrapnel.



                                 DILLON

                  The wound all fused,

                  cauterized...what the hell

                  did this?



         Schaefer stands, looking at the body.  In the b.g.

        
fa0
 Anna drifts away from the group.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (to Mac)

                  ...Mac!



         Mac stares ahead, dumbly, not hearing.  He grabs Mac

         by his shoulders, shaking him violently back to

         awareness.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (demanding;

                         angry)

                  Mac!  Mac!  Look at me!



         Mac turn to face Schaefer, a shocked expression on his

         face.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (urgent)

                  Mac, who did this?



         Mac is suddenly angry and frustrated, he has no

         explanation.



                                 MAC

                  I don't know.  Goddamn it,

                  something...I saw something/.



         Ramirez runs from the jungle, breathing hard, shaking

         his head.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  Nothing.  The same thing.

                  Not a fucking trace.  No

                  bodies, blood, anything.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               57



  98     CONTINUED:  (2)                                       98



         Mac stands.  Instinctively the team has now grouped

         around Schaefer, their weapons pointing into the jungle,

         ready, their nerves on total edge.  Schaefer looks

         upward at the darkening sky.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (quietly)

                  We're losing the light.  Mac,

                  I want a defensive position

                  above this ridge, mined with

                  everything we're got.



         Man is again the hardened professional.



                                 MAC

                  Yessir.



         Schaefer looks down at Blain's body.  He turns to

         Ramirez and Billy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Put him in his poncho and

                  liner and carry him back.

                  We'll bury him in the morning.



                                 MAC

                  I'll take him.



  99     ANNA                                                  99



         as they leave approaches the brush, her attention

         focused on something clinging to the leaves, well off

         to the side of where Mac saw the Hunter.  She draws

         closer, reaching out, hesitant, as if drawn magnetically

         to the leaves.



 100     EXT. DETAIL - HUNTER'S BLOOD - DAY                   100



         Clinging to the leaves, thick, viscous, pale-orange,

         almost like the sap of an exotic plant.  Her fingers

         hover above it, hesitantly, and then touch it.



 101     ANNA                                                 101



         examines the blood, transfixed.  Dillon appears at her

         shoulder, startling her.  He motions for her to return.

         She turns, wiping the blood onto her pants leg.



 102     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DUSK                               102



         The team is dug into the foxholes in a dense grove of

         trees, a solid wall to their backs.  The men are barely

         visible they blend in so well.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               58



 102     CONTINUED:                                           102



         Nearby, Mac is stringing a TRIP WIRE, low to the ground,

         covering it with leaves and grass.  He moves into camp

         and reports to Schaefer.



                                 MAC

                  We've got most of the flares,

        
190
          frags. and two claymores just

                  outside.  Nothin's comin'

                  close to here without trippin'

                  on somethin'.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Thank you, Sergeant.



         Mac starts to go but Schaefer places his hand on his

         shoulder.



                                 SCHAEFER

                
fa0
  I'm sorry, Bull.  It's never

                  easy.  He was a good soldier.



                                 MAC

                         (hardened)

                  The best friend I ever had.



         Mac turns and walks through the camp, stopping beside

         a DARK OBJECT on the ground.  He kneels beside the

         PONCHO pulling back the zipper REVEALING Blain's face,

         looking peaceful in death, as if lying in state.



         Mac removes something from his pocket, holding it in

         his hand, studying it.



 103     DETAIL OF OBJECT IN MAC'S HAND                       103



         The small WHISKEY FLASH, the chrome rubbed away in

         places REVEALING the brass beneath and a MEDALLION

         depicting the 101 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION.



 104     MAC                                                  104



         takes a tiny sip from the flask.  He replaces the cap

         and lifts the flap of Blain's shirt pocket, placing

         the flask inside.  He lingers on the face and then

         closes the zipper.



                                 MAC

                         (softly)

                  Good-bye, Bro.



   



                                                               59



 105     ANNA                                                 105



         is huddles into a foxhole, her hands still tied in front

         of her.  She looks down at her pants leg.  The Hunter's

         BLOODSTAIN glows with a faint luminosity.  She places

         her fingers near the stain.



 106     INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT                           106 

 

         Hawkins' BODY impacts the floor with a THUMP.



 107     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (DUSK)                         107 

 

         A momentary HUSH falls over the symphony of night

         sounds.  Anna and Billy turn towards the trees with a

         growing look of wariness.  The others, setting up the

         RADIO, show no response.

 

 108     INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - DAY (DUSK)                      108 



         The Hunter's foot steps on the upper leg of the corpse,

         the PREHENSILE SPUR digging deep, pinioning the body

         to the ground.  The Hunter's HAND extends, his

         FINGERS puncturing the skin at the base of the spine,

         gripping the vertebrae.



         With otherworldly strength the arm pulls, the entire

         SPINAL COLUMN ripping free from the body, a sickly

         SNAPPING and POPPING of cartilage separating from bone

         and tissue.



 109     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (DUSK)                         109 

 

         Ramirez is tuning in the compact FIELD RADIO, equipped

         with a CRYPTO-PHONE device.  Dillon holds the handset.



                                 DILLON

                         (to phone)

                  Blazer One, say again...



         A CRACKLE of STATIC over the radio.



                                 BLAZER ONE

                         (voice over)

                  Red Fox, I say again.  Your

                  request for extraction denied.

                  Your area still compromised.

                  Proceed to Sector 3000 for

                  prisoner extraction, Priority

                  Alpha.  Next contact at 1030

                  hours.



                                                      

 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          60

                                                                *

 109     CONTINUED:                                           109



                                 DILLON

                         (to phone;

                         angry)

                  Roger, Blazer One.  1030

                  hours...damn, bastards.



         He puts down the phone, turning to the group, huddled

         together in a tight circle, Ramirez and Billy facing

         outward in defensive positions, Anna, silent, w
190
atching.

         Schaefer is look at him.



                                 DILLON

                         (angry;

                         shocked)

                  We're still too far in, they

                  won't risk coming in for us.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Expendable assets, Dillon.

                  Seems Langley is never around

       
fa0
           when you need them.



                                 DILLON

                  I can accept that, it comes

                  with the job.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Bullshit.  You're just like

                  the rest of us.



         Dillon glares back.  Schaefer leaves, lost in thought.

         Ramirez looks up at the impenetrable canopy.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  Shit load o' good a chopper'd

                  do us in here anyway.



         Dillon turns to Mac.



                                 DILLON

                  Mac.  Who hit us today?



         Mac is still obviously feeling the anger and bitterness

         of the mystifying event.



                                 MAC

                  Don't know, only saw one of

                  'em.  Camouflaged.  He was

                  there...

                         (remembering)

                  ...Those fucking eyes...



                                                      

 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          61

                                                                *

 109     CONTINUED:  (2)                                      109 

                               

                                 DILLON

                         (abruptly;

                         pushing)

                  What, Sergeant?



                                 MAC

                         (returning;

                         angry)

                  Those eyes...disappeared.  But

                  I know one thing, Major...

                         (pause)

                  ...I drew down and fired

                  right at it.  Capped-off two

                  hundred rounds and then the

                  Mini-gun; the full pack.

                  Nothin'...nothin' on this

                  earth could have lived...not

                  at that range.



         Dillon ponders this for a moment, staring hard at Mac.

         Mac gets up.



                                 MAC

                  I've got the first watch.



         Mac departs.  Dillon watches Mac as he creeps forward

         to the sentry position.  He turns to Ramirez.



                                 DILLON

                  Ask her again.  What did she

                  see?  What happened to

                  Hawkins?



         Ramirez turns to Anna.  They talk quietly in Spanish,

         Dillon watching, listening carefully.  Ramirez turns

         back to Dillon.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (interpreting)

                  She says the same thing...

                  It was the jungle...



         Ramirez looks up at Billy who continues to stare into

         the jungle, aware, catlike, reacting to every sound,

         his nerves on edge, as if ready to snap.  Ramirez

         rises, moves alongside his friend, Dillon watching

         closely.



                                                      

 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          62

                                                                *

 109     CONTINUED:  (3)                                      109



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (whispering;

                         imploring)

                  You know something Billy, what

                  is it?



         Billy turns, his face a mask of primal fear.  He moves

         close to Ramirez.



                                 BILLY

                  I'm scared.



         Ramirez is frightened by this.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (shaken)

                  Bullshit.  You ain't afraid

                  of no man.



         Billy looks deep into his eyes, chilling Ramirez to the

         bone, looking at his with eyes 
190
which have seen on an

         instinctual level what the others have so far only begun

         to sense.



                                 BILLY

                  There's something out there,

                  waiting for us...it ain't

                  no man.



         Billy turns away, moving a short distance away, taking

         up his position.  Dillon looks after him and then in
fa0
to

         the blackness of the jungle canopy.  Dillon speaks to

         Ramirez.



                                 DILLON

                  He's losing his cool.  There's

                  nothing out there but a couple

                  of men that we're going to

                  have to take down.



         Despite his words, there is an edge of doubt in his

         voice.  Schaefer returns.  He's overheard this exchange.

         He's holding the group of DOG TAGS taken from Davis' men.

         He holds them up for Dillon to see.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You still don't get it, do

                  you Dillon?  He took Davis...

                  and now he wants us.



   



                                                               63



 110     INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT                           110 



         CLOSE ON an oval CHAMBER made of an otherworldly looking

         metal with a strange copperlike patina, its interior

         bathed in INTENSE BLUE LIGHT.  In the chamber is

         Hawkins' SKULL CAP and SPINAL COLUMN still attached.



         The light field suddenly changes as all connective

         tissue, flesh and blood and drawn away from the bony

         structures with incredible force, disintegrating as they

         rush toward the sides of the chamber.



         The light changes in frequency to a dull glow as the

         Hunter's hands remove the GLAZED, POLISHED trophy from

         the chamber.  He turns, carefully placing it upon a

         GLOWING SURFACE.  He touches the trophy gently, feeling

         its texture, as a man might touch the hide of a big cat.

         He pulls his hand away and instantly an opaque FORCE

         FIELD covers the trophies.



 111     EXT. MAC - NIGHT (LATER)                             111 

 

         Hunched down in a foxhole, the Mini-gun on a tripod

         before him.  It's nearly a FULL MOON, the jungle a

         montage of SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS.  Mac stares into

         the night, his eyes always moving.



                                 MAC

                         (distant;

                         whispering)

                  It's the same kinda jungle,

                  Bro, same moon...

                  everything...

                         (pause)

                  ...a real number ten night.

                  Remember Bro?  Only you and

                  me, the only one's out of the

                  whole fuckin' platoon who made

                  it out.



         His eyes probe the darkness, remembering.



                                 MAC

                  ...we walked out on top of

                  'em.  Not a scratch, not a

                  fuckin' scratch.

                         (spits into

                         the night)

                  No fuckin' chili-choker got

                  to you, Bro...you were just

                  too good...



         He ponders this a moment.



                                                      



   



                                                               64



 111     CONTINUED:                                           111 



                                 MAC

                  ...I promise you this, Bro...

                  whoever he is, I hope he's

                  plannin' to hit us again...

                         (pauses;

                         spits)

                  ...'cause he's got my name

                  on 'em.



 112     INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT                           112



         A FORCE FIELD that permeates the jungle, becoming one

         with the trees and foliage.  The Hunter walks down a

         CORRIDOR of SOLID LIGHT, leading to an opening to the

         jungle.  As the Hunter reaches the doorway he changes

         from visible to invisible, moving on into the night.



 113     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - N
190
IGHT                              113



         The mist has thickened, the night alive with a million

         JUNGLE SOUNDS.  The team members sleep uneasily, if at

         all.



         Mac, although weary, stares hard into the night,

         waiting, each small sound a potential enemy.  A LULL

         spreads over the jungle, animals and insects QUIETING.

         Mac tightens his
fa0
 grip on the Mini-gun.



         Billy awakens, peering into the night.  Nothing.



         Suddenly, a metallic CLICK, a POP, the SOUND of a

         warning flare rocketing into the canopy.  A moment later

         a brilliant FLASH as the flare burns, illuminating the

         camp.



         An echoing eerie SCREAM fills the night as a DARK SHAPE

         in the mist rockets through the undergrowth towards Mac.



         Mac spins, hauling the heavy gun around, just as

         something crashes into his upper body, driving the huge

         man into the foxhole.



         A desperate battle for life ensues, illuminated with

         the strobing light of the descending flare.  Mac's

         enraged SHOUTS and ROARS mingled with horrific SCREAMS

         fill the night.



         Mac's razor-edged KNIFE slashes in the light; BLOOD

         spatters his face as he attacks fiercely.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               65



 113     CONTINUED:                                           113 



         Schaefer and Ramirez rush at a crouching run towards

         the foxhole, their weapons ready.



         A tremendous climatic SCREAM from the foxhole AND THEN,

         SILENCE.  Schaefer and Ramirez approach, cautiously.

         Mac stands, his face and clothes drenched in blood,

         some of it his, his breath coming in rapid gasps.  He

         looks at Schaefer, whispering hoarsely.



                                 MAC

                  Got the motherfucker...



         As the flare breaks through the canopy, dying out in

         great flickering bursts, the man stare down into the

         foxhole.  A huge, jungle BOAR lies mutilated in a pool

         of blood, still quivering in the final throes of death.

         The flare dies out.



         Mac, shaking from adrenalin, breathing heavily, looks

         down at the dying animal.



                                 MAC

                         (incredulous)

                  A pig...just a fucking pig...



         Schaefer shines his TEKNA-LIGHT onto the boar, playing

         the light along its massive hulk, its razor edges tusks

         gleaming in the light.  Ramirez appears by his side,

         looking down at the huge carcass.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  Holy shit, Mac.



         Nearby, unnoticed by the men, Anna stoops, her hands

         still bound, picking up an MP-5 from the ground.  She

         turns, looking for an avenue of escape, running for

         the jungle.



         But the forest looks foreboding and sinister.  She

         stops, staring at the jungle, the moonlight reflected

         off leaves like a thousand eyes.  For a brief second

         she imagines she can see the Hunter's eyes, crashing

         towards her, the shifting patterns of light and dark

         making the jungle seem to strobe, like it is about to

         rush in at her.  She freezes, paralyzed by fear, by her

         memories of the attack.



         She drops the MP-5 to the ground.



         Back at the foxhole, Schaefer and Ramirez help the

         still shaken Mac from the hole.  Schaefer looks at

         Mac, at the huge gash across his chest.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               66



 113     CONTINUED:  (2)                                      113



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Get a field dressing on that

                  right away.



         Suddenly he remembers, Anna.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Where's the girl?



         They all turn, ready to move and then stop.  Coming

         forth from the shadows Anna appears, still frightened,

         seeking the security of the soldi
190
ers.



         From the darkness nearby, Billy's VOICE in a hoarse

         WHISPER.



                                 BILLY

                         (o.s.; urgently)

                  Major, over here.



         Schaefer turns, apprehensive, something in Billy's

         voice...



         He walks over to Billy, standing with a FLASHLIGHT

         pointing to the ground.  They see B
fa0
lain's BODY BAG

         slashed open, covered in blood.  Ramirez appears.



                                 BILLY

                  The body...it's gone.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  Came in through the trip

                  wires, took it right out from

                  under our noses...



         Anna appears between Schaefer and Ramirez, staring down

         at the empty, blood-soaked body bag.  She looks up, into

         Schaefer's eyes.



 114     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (PRE-DAWN)                      114



         A patchy GROUND FOG covers the area.  Anna, in her

         foxhole, awakens, LISTENING to the rising SOUNDS of

         the jungle.  MONKEYS begin to forage, their noisy

         CHATTERING and SCREECHING filling the air.



         A BIRD flutters back to its nest; a CHAMELEON emerges

         onto a leaf, directly above Anna's head.



                                                      

 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86                           67



 114     CONTINUED:                                           114



         Anna carefully extends her arm, allowing the lizard

         to crawl onto her, watching, fascinated as it changes

         colors.  She carefully places the chameleon back on the

         leaf, which changes color again, becoming nearly

         invisible.



         Near the empty PONCHO, Schaefer, Billy and Ramirez

         are examining the ground and the trip wire to the

         flare.  Billy stands, turns to Schaefer.



                                 BILLY

                  Boar set off the trip flare,

                  Major.  No other tracks.



         Schaefer kneels and examines the thin, well hidden

         WIRE.  He stands, looking around the camp.



                                 RAMIREZ

                  How could anyone get through

                  this, carry Blain out, right                       *

                  under our noses without leavin'                    *

                  a trace?



                                 SCHAEFER

                  He knows our defenses.                             *

                                                                     *

                                 RAMIREZ

                  Why didn't he try to kill one

                  of us last night?



         Schaefer looks at him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  He came back for the body.

                         (pause)

                  He's killing us, one at a

                  time...



         Schaefer turns and looks at Billy, asking with his

         eyes for a viable explanation.



                                 BILLY

                  Like a Hunter.                                     *



         Schaefer stares at him, the words sinking in.  He           *

         looks up, reconstructing in his mind the possible           *

         events of last night, his eyes following the tree line,     *

         tracing the path of the intruder as he might have           *

         travelled through the trees and down to the ground.         *

         He looks up at Billy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  He uses the trees.                                 *



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86                           68



 114     CONTINUED:  (2)                                      114 



         Billy and Ramirez stare up at the trees, a wave of fear     *

         passing through them...from the trees.  Schaefer turns,     *

         moving to where Dillon is guarding Anna, sitting on the

         ground.  Reaching down, Schaefer pulls her firmly to her

         feet, looking at her intensely.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Yesterday.  What did you see?



         She 
190
stares back at him.



                                 DILLON

                  You're wastin' your time.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  No more games.



         She looks at him a long moment, and then answers in

         English.



                                 ANNA

                  I don't know what it was.

                  It...



         Dillon 
fa0
does a double take.  Schaefer continues to look      *

         at Anna.  He wasn't surprised:  he knew it yesterday.       *



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Go on.



                                 ANNA

                  It changes colors, like the

                  chameleon.  It uses the jungle...



                                 DILLON

                         (derisively)

                  Shit, you trying to tell me

                  Blain and Hawkins were killed

                  by a fucking lizard?  Don't

                  listen to her.  Its's a psych-job.

                  Two, maybe three of them, that's                   *

                  all.  We keep our cool, out-think                  *

                  them 'til we're across the                         *

                  border...                                          *



         Ignoring him, Schaefer takes her hands, drawing his

         COMMANDO KNIFE, looking squarely into her eyes.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  What's you name?



         She looks back into his eyes.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86                           69



 114     CONTINUED:  (3)                                      114 

 

                                 ANNA

                  Anna.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Anna.  He's hunting us.  You

                  know that?



         She nods.  With a sudden movement he slices through

         her bonds.



                                 DILLON

                  What the hell do you think

                  you're doing?



                                 SCHAEFER

                  We're going to need everyone.                      *



                                 DILLON

                  What are you talking about?

                  We'll be out of here in ten                        * 

                  minutes.                                           *



                                 SCHAEFER

                  We're not going.                                   *



                                 DILLON

                  That rendezvous is ten maybe                       *

                  twelve miles, at most!  We're                      *

                  almost home.  But the chopper                      *

                  won't wait.



         Schaefer turns to face him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Dillon...This thing doesn't                        *

                  care who we are, who she is.

                  We make a stand or there won't                     *

                  be anyone left to make that                        *

                  chopper.



         Dillon stares back, not wanting to hear what he

         already knows to be true.



         Anna touches Schaefer's arm.



                                 ANNA

                  There is something else.  When

                  the big man was killed, you

                  must have wounded it.

                         (pause)

                  It's blood was on the leaves.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86                           70

                                                                *

 114     CONTINUED:  (4)                                      114



         She touches her pant leg, the stain is faded but still

         there.  Schaefer turns to Dillon.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  If it bleeds, we can kill it.



 115     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - MORNING (LATER)                    115 

 

         Anna at the base of the rocks scans the jungle with

         binoculars watching the tree l
190
ine.  Mac moves past her,

         uncoiling a trip wire linking up four CLAYMORE mines

         hidden at various points with leaves and foliage.  In

         a tree at the edge of the clearing, Billy tosses an

         uncoiling roll of wire to Ramirez who attaches it to

         a GRENADE, wedged it the crouch of a tree.



         Wires attached to GRENADES and CLAYMORE MINES lead off

 
fa0
        through the underbrush and trees leaving a long, unmined

         corridor leading from the camp and into the jungle.



         At the corridor's end, where the rocks merge with

         the jungle, Schaefer hauls down on a HEAVY VINE,

         straining with every ounce of strength, his muscles

         bulging, while Dillon takes up the slack of the vine



                                                      

                                                      

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86                          71



 115     CONTINUED:                                           115 



         around the base of a tree.  The vine is attached to a

         forty foot SAPLING, arcing closer to the ground in a

         gigantic bow with every pull, CREAKING and GROANING

         with tension.  With a last mighty heave, Schaefer draws

         the tree almost within reach, gesturing to Dillon to        *

         tie it off, who does.                                       *



                                 DILLON

                         (straining)

                  I'm tellin' you, this little                       *

                  'boy scout' stunt is a                             *

                  Godamned waste of time.                            *

                         (stands)                                    *

                  We've got to get the hell out                      *

                  of here, now, while we've still                    *

                  got the chance.



         Ignoring him, Schaefer rapidly drags into position a

         NET crudely woven of differing sizes of vines, their

         LEAVES still attached.  He carefully begins to cover

         the net with leaves and debris.  Dillon watches him

         in growing frustration as Schaefer moves quickly,

         picking up a FRAMEWORK of STICKS he has tied together,

         a TREADLE-SPRING TRIGGER.  He holds up the framework,

         hurriedly examining his work before placing it on

         the ground.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  He'll be looking for the trip wires.

                  If we're lucky, he won't see this.



                                 DILLON

                  Now what, Dutch.  You going to

                  send your mystery guest an

                  invitation?



         Schaefer turns, there is a touch of fear in Dillon's

         eyes.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You're catching on, Dillon.



         Schaefer returns to his work on the net and trigger.        *



   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/30/87                          72

                                                                *

 116     EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (LATER)                        116 



         Morning passes.  Fog lifts as the sun creeps into the jungle.

         Insects swarm and are fed upon by BIRDS and other predators.



         At the entranceway to the rock outcropping, the net and trigger

         are hidden beneath the leaves, the framework of the trigger

         bulging with tension from the straining vine attached to the

         bent tree.



         At the other end of the corridor, several meters above the

         jungle floor, Schaefer and his team, heavily camouflaged,

         nearly invisible, lie hidden, waiting.  The team members, as

         if hypnotized by the BUZZING din, stare into the jungle,

         fixated, alert.



         ANNA while waiting at the net:



                                 ANNA

                         (hushed)

                  When I was little we find a man --

                         (she struggles for

                         the words)

                  -- like a butcher.  The old ones in

                  the village cross themselves and

                  whisper crazy things.  'Demonio,

            
190
      cazador de trofoes...Only the hottest

                  times of the hottest years...'  Crazy

                  things...This year is grows hot.  And

                  we begin finding our men.  We find

                  them sometimes without their skin.

                  Sometimes...much, much worse.  Cazador

                  de trofoes...means the demon who takes

                 
fa0
 trophies.



         SLOW RACK TO Schaefer's face.  Ashen.  HOLD.  Suddenly an

         EERIE SILENCE moves over the jungle:



         He whips his face forward.  The silence is SHATTERED by a

         bird flapping from the brush.



         Schaefer sits back and scratches his head, frustrated and a

         little chagrined.



                                 DILLON

                         (o.s.)

                  What'll you try next -- cheese?



         Schaefer glares at him.  Turns to go --



         He stands and begins to move low to the ground toward the

         waiting snare.



                                                      



   



         REVISED - "THE HUNTER" - 1/27/87                      72-A

                                                                *

                                                              116 Cont.



         Behind him, sighting down their well-hidden gun barrels, the

         others scan the jungle, alert for the slightest sound or

         movement, covering him.

         

         Schaefer reaches the trap, carefully skirting the trigger

         hidden beneath the leaves.  He reaches the end of the corridor,

         moving out into the jungle.  He moves further away from the

         others, the silence crushing down on him.  He stops and waits,

         sweat pouring down his face, his finger tightening on the

         trigger of his M-203, eyes scanning the jungle.



         He turns his back on the jungle, waiting.  Nothing.  He moves

         back towards the corridor, reaching the net, again waiting,

         listening, sensing.  Nothing.  He turns around, looking at the

         jungle one last time, his face measuring defeat and then, with

         carefully, measured strides, he walks back to the camp.



         Schaefer looks at Billy who shakes his head in puzzlement.

         Nearby, Dillon starts to rise.



                                 DILLON

                         (low; whispered)

                  Satisfied?  Now let's get the hell

                  out...



                                                      

                                                      

   



                                                               73



 116     CONTINUED:                                           116



         Suddenly, behind Schaefer at the end of the corridor,

         with a resounding SWISH and SNAP, the NET explodes off

         the floor of the jungle in a hail of leaves and sticks,

         rocketing upward into the treetops.



         Schaefer spins, the others leaping to their feet as

         they SEE the net as it tears into the treetops, a

         large struggling bulge trapped within as a long,

         unearthly TRILLING SCREAM ECHOES through the jungle.



         Schaefer and the others charge from the rocks towards

         the jungle and the bobbing net, their weapons ready.

         Anna remains behind, watching terrified from the rocks.



         They arrive under the net, raising their weapons to

         fire...but before they can fire the entire net

         EXPLODES into a flurry of leaves, twigs, vines, dirt

         and a FLASH of PULSATING CRIMSON.



 117     EXT. HUNTER'S HAND AND ARM - DAY                     117



         As the Hunter leaps from the net his WEAPON activates,

         his arm slashing out, severing a THICK LIMB of the

         spreading tree capony, entangled in vines.



 118     EXT. THE TEAM - DAY                                  118



         The limb CRASHES down from the trees, Schaefer, Dillon,

         Billy and Mac Diving for safety.  But Ramirez, following

         the Hunter's leap, SEES too late the pendular movement

         of the severed limb and is struck a THUDDING blow in

         the ribs, which lifts him off his feet, hurling him

         backwards like a rag doll, his shirt torn open,

         e
190
xposing a BLOODY WOUND.



         As Anna runs to Ramirez's side the others, still

         stunned, look upward, frozen in shock SEEING:  THE

         HUNTER, clinging to a side of a tree, flushed bright

         crimson.



         Dillis is dumbfounded, like the others, rooted to the

         ground staring upward.



                                 DILLON

                  What is God
fa0
's name...?



         The Hunter utters an unearthly SNARL and HISS from his

         open mouth as an instant later his camouflage resumes

         and he vanishes from sight...a rapid, furtive movement

         through the trees.



                                                      



   



                                                               74



 118     CONTINUED:                                           118 



         Mac OPENS FIRE with the M-60, the others joining in,

         shredding the foliage, but they know the creature is

         gone.



         With a SHOUT, Mac races into the jungle, in pursuit

         of the Hunter.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Mac!



         Schaefer hurriedly ejects the spent clip from the M-203,

         slamming in a new one.  He shouts an order to Billy.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (to Billy)

                  Get Ramirez on his feet!  Take

                  the girl and get the hell out

                  of here!



         He turns to run after Mac.  Dillon steps in front of

         him, putting his hand on Schaefer's chest.



                                 DILLON

                  No way, Dutch.  I'm going.

                  You get these people and get

                  the hell out of here.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  This isn't your style, Dillon.



                                 DILLON

                  Guess I've picked up some bad

                  habits from you, Dutch.  Now

                  don't argue with me, you know

                  I'm right.  Get to that

                  chopper and hold it for us.

                  We'll be along.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You know you can't win this

                  one.



         Dillon stares at him.



                                 DILLON

                  You know me, Dutch, I never

                  did know when to quit.



         Dillon turns and begins to move out.



                                                      



   



                                                               75



 118     CONTINUED:  (2)                                      118 



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Dillon!



         Dillon turns.  Picking up the spare MP-5, Schaefer

         tosses the weapon to Dillon, who grabs it with one

         hand.  They share a look, knowing this is farewell.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  I'll see you there.



                                 DILLON

                  Right behind you.



         Hefting both weapons at the hip he runs into the jungle

         after Mac.  Schaefer watches him leave.  He breaks and

         goes to Ramirez, attended by Anna and Billy, who is now

         sitting up, holding his ribs and gasping for breath.



                                 BILLY

                  He's busted up, bad, Major.



                                 RAMIREZ

                         (gasping)

                  I can make it, Major.



         Schaefer lifts him to his feet, supporting him.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Come on, Poncho, we're getting

                  out of here.

                         (to Billy)

                  Billy, take the radio, leave

                  the rest.  Come on!



 119     EXT. MAC - DAY                                       119



         Creeping low to the ground, his eyes searching through

         the trees.



                                 MAC

                         (whispered)

                  Come on, you motherfucker!



 120     EXT. DILLON - DAY                                    120



         Moving through the underbrush HEARS a slight RUSTLING

         in the foliage.  Mac?  He strains to locate t
190
he source

         of the movement.



         He HEARS A SOUND, too faint at first it identify.  He

         listens.  Silence.  He hears is again, the SOUND of

         a VOICE, barely audible.  A VERY QUIET WHISPER.



                                                      



   



                                                               76



 120     CONTINUED:                     
fa0
                      120



                                 VOICE

                         (o.s.)

                  Dillon, over here.



         Dillon locates the direction of the voice and moves

         towards it.



                                 VOICE

                         (o.s.; barely

                         audible)

                  Dillon, over here.



         Dillon moves a few feet into the undergrowth.  He

         carefully parts the thick leaves and vines and enters

         a tiny opening.  He looks around, seeing nothing.



                                 DILLON

                         (whispering)

                  Mac?



         Suddenly a HAND appears and covers Dillon's mouth.

         Dillon gasps as Mac pulls him down to where he is

         hiding.



                                 MAC

                         (whispering;

                         close)

                  Out there.  Past the rocks...

                  can you see it?



         Something seems to MOVE in the direction Mac is pointing.



                                 DILLON

                         (whispering)

                  I see it!

                         (pause)

                  We're gonna take this thing.



         Dillon points to an OUTCROPPING OF ROCKS, covered with

         VINES.



                                 DILLON

                  Take a position over there.

                  I'll work around towards you.

                  When I flush him, you nail

                  him...



                                 MAC

                         (a mean look)

                  ...Right, I got a score to

                  settle for the Bro...



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               77



 120     CONTINUED:  (2)                                      120



                                 DILLON

                  We both got scores to settle.



         Dillon silently disappears into the jungle, Mac

         watching him go.



         Mac makes his way toward the rock outcropping, working

         his way between the rocks and the vines.  He takes up

         a position and scans the jungle before him.



 121     DILLON                                               121



         moving quietly, his face intense, determined.  He

         stops and listens.



 122     MAC/ROCK OUTCROPPING                                 122



         straining to hear VAGUE SOUNDS coming from the jungle.

         He reaches out and grabs a VINE and carefully pulls

         himself forward into a better position.



 123     BACK TO SCENE/DILLON                                 123



         moving, searching.  He goes into a crouch.



 124     MAC/ROCK OUTCROPPING                                 124



         There is MOVEMENT in the undergrowth.  He begins to

         sweat.  He moves the safety to fire; reaches out and

         grabs another vine to pull himself forward.  Mac

         reacts in shock.



         The vine is alive!  Before he can move, the Hunter's

         HAND appears from the vines, grabbing Mac by the

         wrist.



         In the moment before he is killed, Mac turns and SEES

         the Hunter's glowing EYES.



         A FLASH as the Hunter's other hand, moves with

         blinding speed, Mac's face contorting in pain as the

         Hunter's razor-sharp SPUR rips deep into his throat.

         He falls forward into the leaves.



 125     DILLON                                               125



         He HEARS the faint disturbance in the leaves.  He

         pauses, turning in Mac's direction, listening.

         Hearing no further sound he relaxes, moving on.

 

   



                                                               78



 126     EXT. NARROW 
190
RIVER GORGE - DAY                        126



         Anna in the lead, followed by Schaefer carrying Ramirez

         on his back.  Billy, carrying the RADIO is covering

         them from above, as they skitter and slide down the

         loose gravel of a rocky slope, leading to a river

         crossing.



 127     EXT. DILLON                                          127



         He
fa0
 stalks through a narrow corridor of tangled vines

         and moss, leading to the rock outcropping on the other

         side, his face alert, showing no signs of fear, his

         weapon ready.



 128     EXT. VINES AND MOSS - DETAIL - DAY                   128



         Through the thick tangle of undergrowth, there is

         MOVEMENT, a slight, undulating distortion, drifting

         through the hanging vegetation, as if cast by a

         passing shadow.



 129     DILLON                                               129



         as he stops and crouches slightly, listing behind him.

         Did he hear something?  He moves on.



 130     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                           130



         Behind Dillon and to the side of the corridor.  The

         Hunter syncopates him movements precisely with those

         of Dillon.



         Dillon stops.  The Hunter freezes in position.



 131     BACK TO SCENE/DILLON                                 131



         He does sense something behind him.  He crouches and

         spins, leveling the weapon.  The corridor behind him

         is empty, quiet and undisturbed.  He studies the trail

         intently.



 132     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                           132



         Peering out through the vines.  Dillon is looking

         directly at him.  Dillon turns, moves on, as the

         Hunter resumes his stalk, timing his movements

         perfectly with those of Dillon.



 133     BACK TO SCENE/DILLON                                 133



         as he approaches the rock outcropping.  He signals.

         Receiving no response he moves closer, turning

         cautiously to right and left.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               79



 133     CONTINUED:                                           133



                                 DILLON

                         (whispering)

                  Mac...Mac.



         He moves closer to the rocks, eyes probing.  Through a

         gap in the rocks he SEES Mac's face, staring up at him,

         eyes frozen wide in death.



         Dillon spins hard.  He stares at the solid wall of

         undergrowth.  He looks from one side of the corridor

         to the other.  Something it out there.  Where?



         Something in the vines has caught his attention.  He

         stares hard at a section of moss.



 134     EXT. MOSS - DETAIL - DAY                             134



         Suddenly the right combination of light and shadow

         prevail and Dillon SEES in an instant, the Hunter's

         EYES materialize and then disappear.



 135     BACK TO SCENE/DILLON                                 135



         With a growl and exhalation of breath, charges,

         bringing the weapon to bear.  A short BURST OF GUNFIRE

         erupts from the barrel.



 136     EXT. THE HUNTER - DAY                                136



         In an indiscernible blue of camouflage releases his

         weapon.



 137     DILLON                                               137



         SCREAMS, his arm instantly severed halfway between

         his shoulder and elbow.  The weapon drops to the

         ground, the forearm still attached, still FIRING.



         With his left hand he FIRES the second weapon

         SHOUTING INSANELY as swings it towards the blurred

         image of his unseen attacker, hitting nothing.



         The Hunter reloads his WEAPON which turns INVISIBLE

         again.  Dillon continues to fire.  The Hunter's

         weapon appears from below, cutting into Dillon's

         unprotected abdomen, which, as if hit by a samurai

         sword, bursts open.  Dillon CRIES OUT as the huge man

         hits the ground.



 138     EXT. LOG CROSSING - DAY                              138



         spanning the narrow go
190
rge, Schaefer and Anna with

         Ramirez between them, move onto the log, preparing

         to cross.  They stop, HEARING Dillon's GUNFIRE.

                                                        

   



                                                               80



 139     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                           139



         Moving through the jungle with incredibl
fa0
e speed,

         leaping, tearing from tree to tree, the jungle a rush

         of HEAT TRAILS as he charges on.



 140     EXT. LOG CROSSING - DAY                              140



         The jungle is still deathly SILENT.  Schaefer, Anna

         and Ramirez cross the log, moving onto the other side.

         Billy, still at the foot of the log, providing cover,

         turns to face the jungle.



         He lifts his head towards the trees, feeling the

         onrushing presence of the Hunter.  He shrugs off the

         radio letting it fall, smashing into the rocks

         below.



         He casts away his weapon.  Staring forward he reaches

         into his cargo pocket, withdrawing a small

         GREASE-PAINT TIN.  Covering his finger in BLACK

         PAINT he applies dark slashes under his eyes and

         again, vertically down his cheeks.  Taking another

         dap of paint he makes a SYMBOL on his bare skin, over

         his heart.



         He drops the tin, withdrawing his COMBAT KNIFE.  Holding

         the knife he grasps the MEDICINE BAG around his neck,

         yanking it free with a quick snap.  He wraps the

         leather thong around his hand and knife, binding the

         weapon and bag together.



         Staring outward, as if in a trance, he begins a low

         CHANT.



         On the other side, Schaefer carrying Ramirez on his

         back, laboring up the steep slope, nearing the top,

         turns and SEES Billy standing, waiting at the foot of

         the bridge.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (screaming)

                  Billy!!!



         But Billy stands at the foot of the bridge, knife

         raised, waiting, accepting his oncoming destiny.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Billy!!!



                                                      

 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                          81

                                                                *

 140     CONTINUED:                                           140



         In frustration, Schaefer hikes Ramirez higher onto his

         back, digs in and sprints to the top of the hill, Anna

         waiting at the top.



 141                                                  OUT     141



 142     EXT. BILLY - DAY                                     142



         Crouches low, knife extended in a fighting position.



 143-                                                 OUT     143-

 144                                                          144



 145     EXT. RIDGETOP - DAY                                  145



         Over the top, in a low depression, Schaefer props

         Ramirez against some rocks, reaching for his weapon.

         They HEAR Billy's echoing SCREAM.  Instantly their

         weapons are raised, cocked and ready.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Get back, into the rocks!



         Schaefer sweeps Anna behind him as Ramirez struggles

         to his feet.  Together they back up, covering the

         ridgeline over which they've just come.



         Suddenly, from one side, near Ramirez, the Hunter

         bursts from the jungle, Ramirez, seeing the Hunter,

         spins raising his weapons to fire...



         Ramirez SEES the Hunter's onrushing face, still in

         camouflage, a montage of organic textures and colors,

         his yellow eyes burning.



         Whipping the MP-5 is the direction of the Hunter

         he is hurled backwards from the impact of the Hunter's

         weapon, his neck gushing BLOOD, the MP-5 flying

         through the air, landing in front of Anna.  She moves

         for the weapon...



         The Hunter, with unearthly speed, turns towards

         Anna, as Schaefer starts to spin, SEEING the Hunter

         about to strike as Anna dives for the 
190
weapon.

         Schaefer lunges kicking the MP-5 out of Anna's reach.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (to Anna)

                  Run!  Get to the chopper!



                                                      

 

   



                                                               82



 145     CONTINUED:                                           14
fa0
5 



         Schaefer spins and FIRES, bullets THUDDING into the

         ground, the barrel arcing towards the Hunter as Anna

         stumbles to her feet running into the jungle.



         In a blur the Hunter spins back, hurling his weapon at

         Schaefer which slices through the wooden stock of the

         rifle, SPARKS FLYING as it severs the trigger guard

         and steel breech.



         The M-203 flies out of Schaefer's hands as the Hunter's

         weapon cuts deeply into his left shoulder, laying open

         the flesh.



         The M-203 hits the ground, where it lies broken in half,

         useless.



         Schaefer hits the ground and is rolling, up and running

         for his life, the Hunter charging after him.



 146     SCHAEFER                                             146



         crashes headlong through the jungle.  He leaps a fallen

         log, stumbles, struggles to his feet, running on pure

         adrenalin, his shoulder pulsing blood, his eyes filled

         with terror.



         Behind him he can hear the Hunter in pursuit, closing.



         Schaefer spins to look behind him, a wild desperate

         look on his face; he turns back, ducks an overhanging

         limb and lunges on.



 147     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. OF SCHAEFER - DAY               147



         Closing rapidly...another few yard.



 148     BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER                               148



         runs like a madman, the SOUND of the Hunter's FOOTSTEPS

         close behind.  He's losing ground.  He knows he's going

         to die.



         Schaefer SHOUTS.  Suddenly the ground before him

         COLLAPSES and he disappears from sight.



 149     EXT. CANYON WALL - DAY                               149



         In a shower of leaves, flailing arms and legs, Schaefer

         crashes through the trees at the canyon's edge, free

         falling into space.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               83



 149     CONTINUED:                                           149 

 

         With a sickening IMPACT, he hits the branches of the

         first trees lining the canyon and falls, a hundred feet,

         through one canopy after another, desperately grabbing

         for limbs and branched to break his fall.



         He hits the bottom branches of the list line of trees,

         impacting crosschest on a large BRANCH, knocking his

         wind out.



         Semi-conscious, he hangs momentarily before he slides

         off, fingers digging into the bark, falling another ten

         feet into the swiftly moving river.



 150     EXT. RIVER - DAY                                     150 

 

         Weighted down by his boots and clothing, Schaefer

         struggles to stay afloat.  Gasping for air he ducks

         underwater, untying one of his boots.  He surfaces,

         fills his lungs and dives again, releasing the other

         boot.  He surfaces, strips off his shirt and pants and

         begins to swim towards shore, stroking with one arm.



 151     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                           151 

 

         As he nears the edge of the precipice from which

         Schaefer has fallen.  The Hunter in close pursuit does

         not hesitate but LAUNCHES himself off the cliff in

         a spectacular LEAP, streaking downward towards the tops

         of the trees that grow out from the canyon wall.



         The Hunter tears through the canopy of the first tree,

         the branches and leaves rushing past in a KALEIDOSCOPIC

         BLUR.



         The Hunter bounds off of one branch after another,

         moving through the trees as an expert skier might

         negotiate a series of downhill gates.



         The Hunter leaps free of one tree, bounds across twenty

         feet of open space to a
190
 large branch of a huge tree,

         affording a good view of the river below.  From his

         vantage point, looking down at the windening, slowing

         expanse of river, Schaefer is nowhere to be seen.



 152     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                  152



         He is swept into a still FASTER CURRENT and is carried

         helplessly downstream.  Boiling WHITEW
fa0
ATER appears.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               84



 152     CONTINUED:                                           152



         Out of control he is swept through a series of rapids,

         pulling his further and further downstream until he is

         finally ducked into the undertow and hurled over the

         top of a six foot falls, driven deep underwater by the

         pounding force of the water.



 153     EXT. POOL AT BASE OF FALLS - DAY                     153



         There is no sign of Schaefer.  Precious seconds pass.

         Slowly, looking like a drowned rat, he surfaces, taking

         a feeble breath.  He is nearly finished, his energy

         sapped.  But the water is calm and a few strokes are

         enough to carry him near the shore.  His feet hit

         bottom.



         He tries to stand but pitches headfirst into the thick

         MUD SLURRY at the river bank.  With his last ounce of

         strength, he crawls, panting and gasping into a

         sheltered mud OVERHANG, collapsing beside the exposed

         ROOT-SYSTEM OF A DEAD TREE, his body completely covered

         in thick, gray MUD.



         Nearly unconscious, he raises his head and looks to the

         opposite side of the river, scanning the bank.  There is

         no sign of the Hunter.  He collapses in relief.  He's

         escaped.



         Suddenly, the Hunter impacts the water, throwing up a

         huge SPLASH.  He stands up in the waist deep water.  As

         the water streams off of his body, the chameleon effect

         rapidly changes, struggling to match the shifting color

         patterns of the shimmering water.



         His glaring yellow orbs stare directly at the spot where

         Schaefer lies helplessly trapped.



         The Hunter surges forward, relentlessly closing in on

         this prey.



 154     SCHAEFER                                             154 

 

         is frozen in terror, paralyzed with fear, his eyes

         locked ontothe incredible creature that is about to

         kill him.



 155     EXT. HUNTER - DAY                                    155



         Closing rapidly, another ten feet.  He leaves the water

         and walks through the mud, stopping, towering over

         Schaefer.

 

   



                                                               85



 156     EXT. SCHAEFER'S P.O.V. - DAY                         156



         As the Hunter's feet surge though the mud and stop,

         three feet away.



 157     EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY                                  157



         Realizing his life is about to end, closes his eyes,

         awaiting the Hunter's killing blow.



 158     EXT. HUNTER'S EYES - DAY                             158



         The fierce yellow orbs look downward.



 159     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY                           159



         He's looking directly at Schaefer, EXCEPT HE CAN'T

         SEE HIM.



         He can clearly see the EXPOSED ROOT-SYSTEM, but because

         of the heavy mud blocking Schaefer's body heat, Schaefer

         registers in the Hunter's vision as merely an indistinct

         lump of clay, unrecognizable to the Hunter as a human

         being.



         He scans the bank, searching, looking for heat sources.

         Detecting none he moves on sounding a questioning TRILL

         several times.



 160     BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER                               160



         disbelieving that he's still alive, opens one eye,

         SEEING the Hunter's feet move away, his prehensile

         spurs dragging in the mud.  He rounds a bend and

         disappears, heading for the undergrowth.



         Astonished, he tries to raise up on his hands but a

         sudden jabbing pain in his shoulder causes him to

         coll
190
apse, falling onto his side, unconscious in the

         mud.



 161     EXT. RIVER - DAY                                     161



         As a HUEY ATTACK HELICOPTER breaks over the top of the

         ridge, diving forward, moving down the canyon.  The

         chopper flares up into a holding pattern.



         In the open doorway, a SOLDIER searches the top of

         the canyon wit
fa0
h binoculars.  Seeing no sign of life,

         the chopper flies on, disappearing down the canyon

         rim.



 162     BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER                               162



         lies unconscious in the mud, the distant SOUND of the

         helicopter THRUMPING into the distance.

                                                

   



                                                               86



 163     EXT. ANNA - DAY                                      163



         She runs into a clearing, stopping momentarily, gasping

         for breath.  She is startled by a sudden movement

         behind her.  She spins, looking.  There is nothing

         there.  She runs on.



 164     EXT. THE CANYON - DAY (DUSK)                         164



         Schaefer GASPS as his eyes bolt open in fear.  As if

         the Hunter were still attacking, Schaefer rolls to his

         feet and runs, slogging through the THICK MUD, stumbling,

         lunging forward, gasping for breath.



         Schaefer spins and staggers backwards into a shallow

         POOL, scuttling, crablike into the chest deep water.

         Schaefer backs into the moss-covered wall by the

         waterfall, looking for movement, regaining his senses.



         As the water settles, he looks down, SEEING the image

         of himself, reflected in the pool; his hair and face

         covered in THICK CLAY.  He stares, mesmerized at the

         image.



         He lifts his arm from the water, his fingers wiping the

         MUD from his face, exposing a PATCH of SKIN.  He studies

         the mud in his hand and then looks at the image of

         himself in the water, SEEING the exposed skin.  HE

         stares at it, a wave of realization rushing through

         his mind.  He places the mud back on his face, again

         looking at his image.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  You couldn't see me.



         He looks up, out into the failing light, at the treeline

         of the deepening forest, realizing that fate has given

         him a fighting chance.  Slowly a look of vengeance and

         hatred crosses over his face.



 165     EXT. CLAY BANK - NIGHT                               165



         Using his MACHETE he carves MAGNESIUM SHAVINGS from a

         fire block into a pile of KINDLING.  He removes a match

         from the hollow handle of the machete, also containing

         a coil of PIANO WIRE, GREEN TAPE and MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

         He lights the shavings which burn with a brilliant white

         light.  Schaefer shelters the fire with a banana leaf

         until the flame dies down.  He feeds the fire with more

         kindling, fanning it with a leaf.



 165-A   SCHAEFER - BOW AND ARROW MONTAGE - NIGHT (LATER)     166



         Holding a three foot section of FIRE-HARDENED sapling

         between his feet and shoulder, he scrapes the char

         from the seasoned wood with his machete.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



                                                               87



 165-A   CONTINUED:                                           165-A 



         He bends the bow and attaches a long piece of PIANO

         WIRE to one end, carefully wrapping it for strength,

         using strips of green tape to cover the sides of the

         wire where the nock of the arrow will fit.



         He attaches split quilled FEATHERS with fishing line to

         an ARROW,  its tip fashioned into a series of barbs,

         rubbing them to a polished hardness against a smooth

         stone.  When finished he places the arrow on the ground

         next to three other identical arrows.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  One chance, that's all.



 166     EXT. CLAY BANK - NIGHT           
190
                    166 

 

         Schaefer is pounding a peeled root between two stones.

         He pauses to drool saliva into the pulpy mass.  He

         scrapes the milky substance onto a BANANA LEAF, mixing

         it with a sticky SAP, holding it over the coals until

         the mixture steams.



         Schaefer coats the arrow tips with the sticky poison,

         holding the
fa0
m over the coals until the sap bubbles and

         smokes.  He spins the arrows in his hands, blowing on

         the tips to cool and harden the mixture.



         Using the tip of his machete, he pries open the casing

         of one of the 40MM grenades, discarding the warhead.  He

         dumps the PROPELLANT POWDER from the shell onto a leaf,

         mixing that with a mound of MAGNESIUM SHAVINGS.



         He opens the narrow, tight roll of GAUZE taken from the

         first aid kit of the machete handle, fluffing it into a

         large, loose BUNDLE, the size of a baseball.  He pours

         the powder-mixture into the gauze, mixing it into the

         fabric.



         He transfers the ball of explosive ladened gauze to a

         pliable DRY LEAF, closing it into a bundle, binding it

         at the top with a long strand of jungle-grass.



         He twists the remaining gauze around a MATCH, leaving

         the head exposed, forming a self-striking FUSE.



         He coats the fuse with SAP and then thickly covers it

         with more powder from the 40MM grenade.  He pokes the

         fuse down into the leaf.  Taking a long strand of JUNGLE

         GRASS he makes a large loop, tying it onto the grenade,

         slipping the loop and grenade over his head.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               88



 166     CONTINUED:                                           166 



         Finally, using several sections of BAMBOO of differing

         diameters, he fashions a crude, anti-personnel

         SPEAR-BOMB, a BANG-STICK like weapon, using the

         sharpened TONGUE from his belt buckle for a FIRING PIN

         and a 40MM GRENADE from his belt pouch as an explosive

         charge.



 167     EXT. RIVER'S EDGE - NIGHT                            167



         Schaefer appears, he has covered him entire body with a

         variety of CLAYS and OCHERS, creating a mottled, EARTHEN

         CAMOUFLAGE pattern.



         Holding his weapons in one hand, he moves up the canyon,

         ascending into a rising boulder field.



 167-A   EXT. BOULDER FIELD - NIGHT                           167-A



         Where the river flows into a series of falls and pools,

         surrounded by massive boulders and table top rocks,

         their crevices jammed with large amounts of DRIFTWOOD

         swept down at high water from the forests above.



         On a flattened section of rock, Schaefer drags a large

         section of BRANCHES INTO VIEW, adding it to a growing

         mound of FIREWOOD.  He kneels, tending to a pile of

         DRIES GRASS, LEAVES and other tinder.  Using the last of

         his precious matches, he sets fire to the tinder, gently

         coaxing the tiny blaze into a slowly consumming FIRE,

         flames starting to lick upward through the dry wood.



         He stands, staring into the rapidly growing blaze.  He

         turns, facing the canyon rim, raising his weapons in one

         hand.  From the depths of his soul, a SOUND emerges;

         primitive and visceral, as if from an animal in pain.



         He throws back his head and SHOUTS.



 168     EXT. CANYON RIM - NIGHT                              168



         A hundred feet below, Schaefer stands in the boulder

         field, his mud coated body bathed in RED FIRELIGHT,

         looking like a fierce, primitive warrior; a timeless,

         prehistoric sight, his long and WAILING CRY, ECHOING

         endlessly through the canyon.



 169     EXT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT                           169



         Backlit by the LIGHT of the open door, the Hunter's

         head, in three-quarter profile, his eyes gleaming, rears

         INTO VIEW, looking up at the sky, HEARING Schaefer's cry.



                                                      

 

   



190

                                                               89



 169     CONTINUED:                                           169 



         Responding with a low HISS, he turns back, raising in

         one hand his weapon, in the other a U-shaped SHARPENING

         DEVICE.  As he passes the weapon through the device, it

         FLASHES into life, a deep, HARMONIC HUM emitted as the

fa0

         blade grows with energy, growing hotter, hotter and

         HOTTER with each stroke.  He draws the blade now WHITE-HOT

         through the device for the last stroke.  He lifts

         it, testing its balance, the WHITE-HOT blade

         illuminating his alien face.



 170-                                                 OUT     170- 

 177                                                          177 

 

 178     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - JUNGLE - NIGHT                178 

 

         Emerging from his camp, the Hunter swings into the

         nearby tree line, moving to the uppermost branches.

         The Hunter travels silently from tree to tree, arriving

         at the canyon rim where far below he SEES in the

         canyon, the BONFIRE, a leaping, shifting, multi-colored

         collage of HEAT WAVES and FLARES, luring him onward.



 179     SCHAEFER                                             179 

 

         hidden back within the deep notch of several large

         LOGS and broken trees, in the river canyon.  Below

         him, on the rock plateau, is the bonfire, illuminating

         in SHIFTING PATTERNS of LIGHT, the awaiting arena of

         destiny.



         His eyes shift, trancelike, moving from side to side,

         watching the approaches to the fire below.  His senses

         are alert; his nerves on a wire edge.



 180     EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT                                  180 

 

         His SHADOW-FORM descending through the canyon, a

         rippling movement of grays and blacks, passing through

         the shifting light patterns on the rocks, cast by the

         growing bonfire below.



 181     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - NIGHT                         181 

 

         His eyes probe the canyon, drawn to the swirling

         patterns of HEAT given off by the gaseous COMBUSTION

         of the bonfire.



 182     EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT                                  182 

 

         Continues on, moving silently down through the canyon.

 

   



                                                               90



 183     SCHAEFER                                             183 



         sits motionless, nearly invisible in his mud camouflage

         amid the darkness of the logs.



         Suddenly, over the CRACKLING of the FIRE, the BUZZING,

         CLICKING of INSECTS, and the CROAKING of FROGS, suddenly

         CEASES.



         Slowly, painfully he draws the bow to full arch, his

         wounded shoulder trembling, the BLOOD beginning to seep

         through the bandage.



         The bow straining at full draw, Schaefer stares intently,

         concentrating, searching for the Hunter's form in the

         dancing light below.



 183-A   EXT. THE HUNTER - NIGHT                              183-A



         Like a giant insect, drops from above, fifteen feet

         above Schaefer, his steel-like spurs digging deep into

         the log.



 183-B   EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT                                183-B



         He freezes at the sound of the Hunter dropping, his

         eyes wide with fear.  The slightest movement will bring

         an instant attack from the Hunter behind him.  But to

         wait, his back exposed.



 183-C   EXT. THE HUNTER - NIGHT                              183-C



         Jumps from the log above and to Schaefer's left, onto

         a boulder, gaining a better vantage point of the arena

         and fire below.  He raises his weapon, his EYES

         glistening in the dim light, searching.  A quiet HISS

         emerges from his mouth.



 183-D   EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT                                183-D



         Spins and fires at the movement of the Hunter.



 184     EXT. ARROW - NIGHT                                   184



         Flies into the night, lodging into a BRANCH of an

         exposed tree, just missing the Hunter's head.



         In a blur, 
190
the Hunter's arm streaks downward, a dull

         flash of light leaving his fingers as he fires the

         weapon, the projectile STREAKING downward, EXPLODING

         into the log, inches from Schaefer, sending a SHOWER

         of wood chips and bark, flying in every direction.



   



                                                               91



 185     SCHAEFER              
fa0
                               185



         in a flash, is up and running, clutching his weapons,

         leaping from boulder to boulder.  He jumps down into the

         lighted area below, landing hard, rolling into the

         protective shadows of the rocks, putting the loping fire

         between he and the Hunter's position on the rocks above.



         He moves forward, darting to look backwards before

         leaping off the lip of the table rock into the boulder

         field below, a flat plane littered by weirdly shaped,

         water-erroded rocks, forming a giant stone AMPITHEATER.

         Shadows leap and dance across the boulders, cast by the

         bonfire from the plateau above.



         Schaefer crouches between two large boulders, quietly

         breathing through clenched teeth, feeling the pain of

         his now freely bleeding shoulder wound.



 185-A   EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT                                  185-A



         A nightmarish silhouette appearing for an instant on the

         rim of the plateau above.



 185-B   EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT                                185-B



         Over the SOUNDS of the FIRE and the softly flowing

         RIVER, distinguishes a NEW SOUND, one that brings fear

         and a savage determination to his heart:  the rhythmical

         CLICK-SCRAPE, CLICK-SCRAPE of the Hunter's feet, moving

         over the rocks, somewhere above him.



         Drawing back on the bow, Schaefer moves around the

         boulder to his left, heading towards the sound of the

         Hunter.



 186-                                                 OUT     186-

 197                                                          197



 198     INT. HUNTER. SOMEWHERE IN THE BOULDERS - NIGHT       198



         REVEALED in flashes of strobing light, pauses at the

         juncture of several towering rocks.



         He stands, erect, tilting his head slowly, turning it

         from side to side, his ears trying to orientate to the

         diversity of SOUNDS reflecting off the circular walls,

         enclosing the boulder field.



 199     INT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - NIGHT                         199



         His vision, accustomed to another spectrum, has little

         available heat to register vivid images of the inert,

         lifeless forms of the stones.  He SEES instead, a world

         of soft, ill-defined shapes in a pale MAGENTA field of

         flickering heat.



   



                                                               92



 200     INT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT                                200



         Creeping forward, carefully placing one foot in front

         of the other, suddenly stops, hearing the CLICK-SCRAPE,

         CLICK-SCRAPE, now on his right.



         Starting to move in this new direction, he stops again,

         HEARING the sound now directly across from him.

         Listening, he hears the sound again from yet another

         direction, the sound ECHOING in the natural ampitheater

         of rock.



         Schaefer, uncertain of where to turn, waits.  Suddenly

         he crouches and freezes, HEARING the unbelievable SOUND

         of a HUMAN VOICE, softly echoing through the

         ampitheater.



                                 ANNA'S VOICE

                         (o.s.; filtered;

                         in Spanish)

                  Look out, behind you!!!



         Schaefer spins, his breath catching at the sound of

         Anna's voice.  Wide-eyed, straining, he waits, hearing

         only the muted FLOWING of water, the HISSING and POPPING

         of the dying fire above, the shadows growing longer,

         darker with each minute.



         And then again, Anna's VOICE.



                                 ANNA'S VOICE

                         (o.s.; in

                         Spanish)

                  ...Look out, behind you!



 
190
                                SCHAEFER

                         (to himself)

                  Anna...?



         Tracelike he moves towards the sound.



 201     THE HUNTER                                           201



         his head canted, throat distended, utters another

         mimicry.



 202     SCHAEFER                                             202



         moving towa
fa0
rds the space between two boulders from which

         the VOICE seems to emanate.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               93



 202     CONTINUED:                                           202



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (louder)

                  Anna...?



 203     THE HUNTER                                           203



         his ears now directed towards the SOUND of Schaefer's

         voice, his slowly approaching FOOTSTEPS, raises his

         weapon.



 204     SCHAEFER                                             204



         pauses before the opening of the passageway.  All is

         silent.  He hesitates to enter.  Listeneing.  He starts

         to move and then hears a NEW VOICE:



                                 HUNTER

                         (o.s.; Mac's

                         voice)

                  Dillon, over here...



         Schaefer, horrified at the sound of the dead man's

         voice, backs quickly into the space between a boulder

         and the high rock wall of the ampitheater.



 205     INT. HUNTER - SOMEWHERE IN THE BOULDERS - NIGHT      205



         His feet moving quietly over the rock, the shadow-light

         deepening with the dying fire above, closing in.



 205-A   EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT                                205-A



         Bow drawn, trapped against the rock, HEARING the sound

         of the Hunter approaching from the left, now the

         right, is helpless, not knowing where to fire, the

         Hunter's deadly strike only an instant away.



         Still holding the bang-stick in his bow hand, he

         carefully releases the draw on the string, reaching

         to his neck for the FLASH-GRENADE.  With painstaking

         care he removes the grenade from his neck.



         Focusing on the rocks before him and the still

         approaching SOUND, he reaches down with the grenade,

         gripping with his fingertips the matchhead fuse,

         placing it against the rocks at his side.



         With a sudden jerk of his hand he strikes and throws

         the grenade, snatching up the bang-stick with his

         good hand.

 

                                                      



   



                                                               94



 205-A   CONTINUED:                                           205-A



         The matchhead SPUTTERS as the grenade flies through the

         air, an instant later a blinding, WHITE FLASH of light

         illuminates the ampitheater...



         In that instant Schaefer SEES above him and to his left,

         the HUNTER, poised on top of a rock, his weapon raised,

         about to strike!  Momentarily blinded by the flash of

         light, the Hunter's head recoils to the side.



         Darkness swallows the image of the Hunter, but in that

         second, Schaefer seizes his advantage, hurling the

         bang-stick spear.



 206-                                                 OUT     206-

 213                                                          213



 214     INT. THE SPEAR - NIGHT                               214



         It smashes into the boulder at the Hunter's feet.  The

         Hunter leaps as the grenade DETONATES, shrapnel tearing

         into his body.



         With a terrifying SCREAM of pain and anger, the Hunter

         clutches frantically at the WOUNDS in his neck and

         chest.  Another bloodcurdling SCREAM OF RAGE and the

         Hunter is gone.



 215     INT. WATERFALL - NIGHT                               215



         Cascades over the rocks, fed by a small stream running

         through the ravine.  A pile of BOULDERS breaks the

         falls, filling the area with an everconstant MIST.



         Schaefer appears, holding the bow and a
190
rrow, following

         the LUMINOUS BLOOD TRAIL of the Hunter over the rock.



         Moving behind the falls, Schaefer's body is briefly

         soaked by the water, the hardened and CAMOUFLAGE

         beginning to dissolve, running off his body.  He

         continues on, slowly, cautiously following the blood

         trail.



 216     INT. TABLE TOP BOULDER - NIGHT                
fa0
       216



         Next to the flowing stream, surrounded by an open area

         of rock.



         Schaefer, smeared with blood and sweat, his clay and

         ochre camouflage partially washed away, climbs up a log

         onto the boulder.  Oblivious to the searing pain in his



                                                      



   



                                                               95



 216     CONTINUED:                                           216



         shoulder, he breathes in hot, powerful exchanges, his

         eyes wide and glowing with vengeance.



                                 SCHAEFER

                  Bleed, you bastard.



         His bow down, Schaefer follows the blood trail across

         the rock, edging alongside a huge vertical boulder.

         The blood trail stops.



         He takes another step forward, past a darkened ALCOVE...



         Schaefer spins, SEEING in the alcove the SURPRISED

         Hunter whirl and spring towards him...



         Schaefer in a bound closes the distance, savagely

         kicking the Hunter's arm.  The WEAPON flies from the

         Hunter's hand CLATTERING to the rock.



         Before he can recover, Schaefer follows with a karate

         kick to the chest, hurling the Hunter to the ground,

         his back exposed.



         In a flash, Schaefer is standing over the Hunter, the

         bow drawn, poised, the blood from his open wound

         dripping onto the Hunter's back.



         The Hunter slowly rolls onto his back, REVEALING his

         face, his eyes bleached white in shock from the loss of

         blood.  The Hunter's body, rippled out of control,

         trying desperately to orientate itself to the

         environment.



                                 SCHAEFER

                         (incredulous)

                  Who the hell are you...?



 217     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. OF SCHAEFER - NIGHT             217



         Schaefer's body, looms over him, MOTTLED and STREAKED

         from his exposed skin, blood oozing from the shoulder

         wound, his eyes like black sockets in his almost

         skull-like face.  Seen from this perspective, Schaefer

         is a frightening, horrible visage.



 218     THE HUNTER                                           218



         shudders, GASPING hungrily for air, strugging to speak.

         From his throat, Schaefer HEARS the feeble, distorted

         efforts of the Hunter, at first garbled,

         incomprehensible and then, slowly, chillingly, taking

         on the timbre and quality of his OWN VOICE.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               96



 218     CONTINUED:                                           218



                                 HUNTER

                         (electronic;

                         filtered)

                  Who...

                         (improving)

                  ...the hell...

                         (nearly perfect)

                  ...are...

                         (perfect)

                  ...You?



         The Hunter's strength seems to fade even more...



         Then, suddenly, with the last of his diminishing

         strength, he lashes out with one arm, activating the

         lethal, razor sharp SPURS on his wrists.



         The Hunter's coiled leg kicks upward with incredible

         force, his terrible spur ripping into Schaefer's thigh,

         hurling Schaefer into the air, flipping him over,

         sending him crashing to his back into the shallow pool

         of water, momentarily losing his bow.  He flounders

         desperately in the water, searching for the bow.  He

         finds it just as...



         The Hunter rises slowly to his feet, GASPING desperately

         for breath.  He inhales deeply, hungrily, gain
190
ing

         strength with each breath.



         Schaefer looks from the pool to SEE the Hunter, raising

         his weapon to throw.



         In one totally instinctual movement, Schaefer draws

         back on the arrow to its very tip and fires.



         The arrow, with a deadly THUD, penetrates deeply into

         the Hunter's neck.  Another bloodcurdling SCREAM of RAGE

       
fa0
  as the Hunter clutches his throat, dropping his weapon.

         An instant later and the Hunter is gone.



 219     EXT. LOG BRIDGE - NIGHT (PRE-DAWN)                   219 

 

         Emerging onto a huge log leading to the rim of the

         canyon, Schaefer holding the Hunter's weapon, pauses

         several times, finding more traces of the Hunter's

         blood, the deep WOUND in his thigh flowing heavily.

         He continues across the log and climbs the bank,

         following the traces into the jungle.

                                              

   



                                                               97



 220     EXT. JUNGLE - PRE-DAWN                               220 

 

         Moving along the rim of the coulee, Schaefer follows

         the thick, orange blobs hanging on leaves and spent on

         the forest floor.



         Too weak to move through the trees, the Hunter has

         left a SWATH of trampled grasses, broken twigs and

         branches in his headlong retreat from Schaefer:  the

         Hunter turned Hunted.



 221     EXT. TWO ATTACK HELICOPTERS - DAY (PRE-DAWN)         221



         Powering upward from the canyon, the WATERFALL in the

         b.g., clear the rim, racing along at treetop height,

         heading towards the island promontory.



 222     EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - CAMP -PRE-DAWN                222



         Staggering into the clearing, bleeding severely.  The

         Hunter is rapidly losing his camouflage ability, his

         skin turning a PALE GREEN, flexing and pulsing in

         shock.  The glow of light from the ENERGY FIELD

         reflecting off the spreading apron of BLOOD flowing

         from his wound.



         With trembling hands he grasps the arrow and breaks

         it, pulling the shaft from his neck.  He screams in

         pain.



 223     EXT. GLEN - PRE-DAWN                                 223



         Schaefer follows the blood trail, deeper into the

         incredibly dense vegetation, ripping aside the heavy

         growth, plunging onward.



         Before him, covering a narrow passageway, is a huge

         SPIDER WEB, intricate, four feet across.  Schaefer

         starts to sweep aside the web.  With a sharp intake

         of breath, he halts, inches from the wed.  Something

         is wrong.



         Examining the web closer he sees not silken threads

         but a hard and shiny network of HAIR-FINE WIRE: A TRAP.



         He backs up, picking up a hefty branch from the ground.

         He swings the branch with a mighty heave, clenching

         his teeth in pain.  The branch sails end over end

         into the web impacting the strands.  A metallic SNAP

         is HEARD; a high-pitches WHINE and the log is violently

         severed, the pieces flying in opposite directions with

         great speed.



                                                      

 

   



                                                               98



 223     CONTINUED:                                           223



         Schaefer runs on, again picking up the blood traces of

         the fleeing Hunter.



 224     EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP                                   224 

 

         At the edge of the site.  He SEES the Hunter staggering

         through the foliage.



         Schaefer starts after him but then stops, dumbfounded

         by the incredible images that crash in on him:

         TRANSLUCENT HUMAN SKINS stretched over frames, the hair

         of the attached scalps moving lightly in the wind;

         SKINNED BODIES, some lying on the ground, others hung

         from the trees, like Hopper and his men were.



         He turns back, SEEING the Hunter as he passes through

         the shimmering distortion of a FORCEFIELD enveloping

         the forest.  Within the force field he SEES the vague,

         nearly transparent O
190
UTLINE of the Hunter's ship.



         He approaches it, wide-eyed, his senses reeling with

         astonishment and rage.



         From within the force field, a PASSAGE WAY of BLUE LIGHT

         appears, the Hunter's form backlit as he ascends the

         RAMP to his spacecraft.



 225-                                                 OUT     225- 

 226                               
fa0
                           226



 227     THE HUNTER                                           227



         as he passes his hand through a light BEAM, the ship

         instantly responds, as a low, TURBINELIKE HOWL is

         HEARD, building slowly in volume and pitch.



 228     SCHAEFER                                             228



         in his weakened condition staggers forward, looking

         up, SEEING the passage way of light diminish as the

         door begins to close.



         As rising HEAT WAVES begin to envelope the ship, the

         Hunter stares out at Schaefer, the heat waves

         increasing as the KEENING WHINE of the ship's drive

         builds.  He enters the force field, the door now

         inches from closing.



         On the ground, nearly obscured by the grass and leaves,

         Schaefer SEES the Hunter's WEAPON, lying where he

         dropped it in his desperate flight to escape.



                                                      



   



                                                               99



 228     CONTINUED:                                           228



         Schaefer grabs up the weapon and holds it.  How the

         hell does it work?...He squeezes the handle of the

         weapon feeling it resist.  Nothing happens.



         With the last ounce of his strength, and with a BELLOW

         of RAGE, his arm muscles bulging, he crushes down on

         the handle...



         In a FLASH of blue-white light, the weapon becomes

         ACTIVATED.



         Schaefer raises the weapon, sensing its power and

         function.



         In the final seconds before the door closes, Schaefer,

         with a triumphant SCREAM, fires the weapon...



         The weapon, flaring with deadly energy, drops and turns

         sideways, accelerating through the door and into the

         spacecraft.



 229     INT. SPACECRAFT - DAY                                229



         The weapon impacts the Hunter, his head EXPLODING in

         a fountain of orange blood and pale green tissue.



         The weapon continues on, burying itself into the energy

         field, bolts of plasma-energy begin arcing from the

         force field.



         Schaefer falls forward onto his hands and knees,

         staring at the Hunter's ship.  The SOUND of the

         hyper-drive continues to increase, as the ship begins

         to tremble.



 230     EXT. HELICOPTER COCKPIT - DAY                        230



         As suddenly the instrument panel goes wild, gauges

         spinning, digital readouts racing out of control.

         The SOUND of the turbine faltering, changing pitch.

         The pilot lurches forward with the stick, fighting

         for control.



 231     EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP - DAY                             231



         The multi harmonic whine of the Hunter's ship is

         still building as the ground begins to shake.



         Schaefer, realizing that the ship is going to explode,

         and ignoring the pain of his shoulder and leg, runs

         desperately, searching for cover.  He sprints for



                                                      

 

   



                                                              100



 231     CONTINUED:                                           231 



         the edge of the clearing, diving over the embankment

         just as:



         A blinding purple FLASH blows the ship to pieces.



 232     EXT. HELICOPTER - COCKPIT - DAY                      232



         Enveloped in the flash of intense light.  CRIES of

         surprise fill the ship as the SHOCK-WAVE hits the

         chopper, heeling it hard over to one side.



         Below, the concentric waves of energy race outward

         from the center of the blast, an unearthly sight, like

         the miniature birth of a star.



         The helicopter su
190
ddenly regains control, its power

         restored.



                                 PILOT

                  Holy, fuck, what was

                  that...?!!!



                                 PHILIPS

                  Orbit right...check it out!



         The helicopter levels out and heads toward the smoking,

         devastated site of the blast.



 233     EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP - D
fa0
AY                             133



         The jungle has been completely transformed.  No longer

         lush and verdant, the area is clear-cut, two feet

         above the ground, covered in FINE WHITE, smoldering

         ASH.  Amongst the shattered stumps, debris from the

         ship, bright as magnesium flares, burns with exotic

         colors.



         If the f.g., Schaefer, a living dead-man, streaked

         with the alien ash, rises up from a shallow depression,

         staring dumbstruck at the site.



         Breaking in low over the treetops, the HELICOPTERS

         flare up into position, one preparing to land.



         As the chopper descends, the crew, standing in the

         door way, stare transfixed at the devastation, their

         eyes trying to penetrate the dense white smoke.



         As the helicopter slowly descends, its propwash creating

         a raging storm, Schaefer materializes from the SWIRLING

         SMOKE AND ASH, his features taking form as he

         approaches, his naked body covered in mud, blood and

         ash.

 

   



                                                              101



 234     EXT. SCHAEFER'S P.O.V. - LANDING HELICOPTER - DAY    234 



         As the chopper, emerging from the vortex, settles

         towards the ground where the spacecraft once stood.

         Through the distorted veil, the helicopter, bristling

         with WEAPONS, VISORED and HELMETED MEN, now covered

         with WHITE ASH, looks like a landing spacecraft.



 235     EXT. HELICOPTER - DAY                                235



         The door gunner swings the M-60 into firing position,

         pointing it at Schaefer.  He racks the bolt, loading

         a round.



         The crewmen look tense, frightened.



         Anna, standing next to the door gunner, stares at the

         strange creature before her, narrowing her eyes,

         uncertain.  Is there something familiar about the

         figure?



 236     SCHAEFER                                             236



         stands in the clearing, staring at the helicopter and

         the array of weapons pointed at him.  He looks dazed,

         like a man making contact with members of an alien

         race, for the first time.



 237     THE HELICOPTER                                       237



         hovers low to the ground, the tension inside building

         as Schaefer approaches.



         More weapons swing into position.  Fingers tighten on

         triggers.  Suddenly Anna recognizes the figure.

         Realizing the danger she holds up her hands, shouting



                                 ANNA

                  NOOOOOO!!!!!!



 238     EXT. HELICOPTERS - JUNGLE - DAY                      238



         Flash overhead, heading across the trackless jungle,

         their rotors THUMPING like heavy machine gun fire.



 239     INT. HELICOPTER - DAY                                239



         Schaefer, a blanket over his shoulders, still in the

         remains of his mud camouflage, his body laced with

         deep cuts; his chest and shoulder caked with dried

         blood, is seated on a bench in the cargo hold.



                                                      

                                                                 

   



         REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86                         102

                                                                *

 239     CONTINUED:                                           239



         Near the cockpit are General Philips, an ARMY MEDIC,

         two MACHINE GUNNERS.  They look at Schaefer in awe.



         The Medic, holding an open FIELD KIT, a syringe and

         bandages, turns to Philips.



                                 MEDIC

                         (shaking his head)

                  Looks like he's been through

                  hell...can't be
190
lieve he's

                  still alive.  What the hell

                  went on down there?



                                 PHILIPS

                  If it hadn't been for her, he'd

                  be dead now.  That story she

                  told us...I still can't believe

                  it.



         He looks at Anna, her eyes meeting his, as if asking

         for an expl
455
anation.  She looks at him a moment before

         turning back to Schaefer, staring at him as if he were

         risen from the dead.



         She looks into Schaefer's face, Schaefer returning her

         look, recognition passing between them.  Anna extends

         her hand.  Schaefer slowly reaches out, touching her

         fingers, then clasping her hand.



         Schaefer turns his eyes to stare out the open door,

         beyond the passing jungle below, out to the heavens.

         He turns back, looking at Anna, a faint smile crossing

         his face...they made it.



 240     EXT. TWO HELICOPTERS - JUNGLE - DAY                  240



         Pull away and head towards the distant, green horizon.



                                                      FADE OUT



                              THE END




This script was found in INFlow. It was shameless taken off from somewhere else, may god, copyright owners and people who worked hard and were not credited forgive us.


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