The Man in The Hat

THE MAN IN THE HAT
Written by
Keane Wong
Blk 102 #16-01 Jalan Dusun

8498 7638
FADE IN:
A hat under a single spotlight and against a dark background.
CUT TO:
INT. DINING HALL - NIGHT
Two gentlemen, THADEUS MAUDRID and HALICON STRAUSS, sit

around the dining table in the hall having dinner and
discussing business. Relaxing classical music plays.
MAUDRID
Mayor Strauss. Back to what we were
discussing.
Maudrid takes a mouthful of the luxurious truffled beef and

porcini stew he has been offered by his host. He touches
Strauss' fingers earnestly.
MAUDRID (CONT’D)
I do hope, Mayor Strauss, that you
will decide to back us. You're the
richest and most powerful man in
the whole of city Phlox, and
whether we like it or not, we do
need the occasional funding if
we're to continue fighting for our
cause.
Strauss weighs his options.
STRAUSS
Of course I'll consider your offer,
Mr Maudrid. Anything for the
citizens of my city.
The lights flicker; THE MITH's silhouette appears. They both

leap to their feet.
MITH
My sincere apologies for
interrupting this meeting.
MAUDRID
What?
STRAUSS
What the hell?
2.
MITH
Sit down, Mr Strauss. Sometimes a
man like you needs to know how to
step down to the rest of us... or
someone'll get hurt.
He points his revolver at Maudrid. His face whitens with

fear.
MAUDRID
No. Please.
MITH
You're campaigning to get Mayor
Strauss to donate to the poor? For
charity?
MAUDRID
Yes... to... to help the poor.
MITH
Respectable cause.
He points his gun upwards. Maudrid gulps.
MITH (CONT’D)
But criminal nonetheless.
He flicks his gun down and shoots. Maudrid falls onto the
ground. The MiTH props his chair back up and takes a seat.
STRAUSS
You son of a bitch! Why?
MITH
He's committing a sin of the worst
class: working with you.
STRAUSS
He's helping the poor! Do you not
have any sense of morality?
MITH
Oh, I assure you, my moral compass
is less demagnetised than your
shattered one. It's clear what he's
doing is wrong.
STRAUSS
And what you're doing is right?
You’re deranged.
3.
MITH
Presumably. I'm cleansing the world
of such atrocious behaviour. I'm a
good man.
STRAUSS
Remind me again why you're here and
what you want?
MITH
Yes. I was getting to that. I want
to send a message. And to start the
first drop down the tip of the
iceberg.
He eats a spoonful of the half-eaten stew, and gestures to

Maudrid.
STRAUSS
You bloody monster.
MITH
Am I a monster, Mr Strauss?
He stands up calmly. The chair topples over. He slams his

palm on to the table and leans towards Strauss.
MITH (CONT’D)
Tell me, what is a monster, Mr
Strauss?
STRAUSS
Someone like you who finds glory in
doing something so blatantly wrong.
MITH
And who says what's wrong?
STRAUSS
You kill people! People who have a
heart for the needy! You take
criminality and call it justice!
You’re a criminal of the worst
kind!
MITH
You execute people. You take
unjustifiably high amounts of taxes
from us. Where’s your heart for th
needy? I reiterate now: what makes
your killing or taking any better
or more justified than mine?
4.
STRAUSS
It's all written in the law.
MITH
And who writes the law? You?
He scoffs and clutches his forehead.
MITH (CONT’D)
What gives you, Mr Strauss, the
power of a god, high above me, and
him, and all the other mere mortals
on earth? The power to play judge,
jury and executioner over morals
themselves? Think about it, Mr,
MAYOR, Strauss. What gives you the
right... to say what is wrong?
STRAUSS
What gives you the right to
question morality and the law?
The MiTH scoffs.
MITH
I’ll put it simply.
He sits down calmly.
MITH (CONT’D)
In my firm belief, only one thing
can determine right or wrong.
That’s one’s morals. Not anyone
else’s. As long as if you adhere to
your own morals, you’re doing the
right thing.
STRAUSS
So your morals include slaughtering
people.
MITH
False. Do your’s?
STRAUSS
Most certainly not.
MITH
Then cheers, you’ve just proved my
point.
He shoots Strauss in the shoulder. Strauss winces, shouts and

clutches the wound.
5.
MITH (CONT’D)
Think about it, Mr Strauss.
He gets up and steps away.
MITH (CONT’D)
Think about it.
Strauss slides down and slams his palm on the table,

struggling to get up as a red patch blossoms on his shirt.
Thunder is heard outside, followed by raindrops' patter on
the rooftop.
STRAUSS
Oh, I will. Just you watch. I will.
He coughs, and falls to the ground.
INT. MITH'S HOUSE - DAY
The MiTH steps into his small house and strides across his
corridor. All over the walls are detailed diagrams in
shorthand detailing different possible encounters with
Strauss. Sliding his hand across a few he pulls out and spins
a pen into his hand, putting a tick onto and one drawing a
line to the next sequence of events.
MITH
Well well well, Mr Strauss. Even if
you're not wrong, I can still play
it all left-wing without needing to
be... right.
He cracks his knuckles, smirks, and draws a few more

connections between nodes in the diagram.
TITLE CARD:
"THE MAN IN THE HAT."
INT. STRAUSS' ROOM - DAY
Strauss releases his hand from the drawers. He brings the tie
to his neck and adjusts it. It is a new day; he prepares to
face the crowd once again. His right arm is in a bandage. Red
stains can be seen from within. His assistant, TRACY, enters
and calls.
TRACY
They're waiting for your call to
action, sir.
6.
STRAUSS
A moment, Tracy. A moment.
She exits hastily. Strauss rotates his arm and winces.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I'll make sure you get what's
coming to you.
He exits through the doorway...
INT. STRAUSS' MANSION - DAY
... and goes down the stairs. There, two butlers are waiting
for him.
BUTLER
We've prepared everything for you,
sir. Just waiting for your call to
action.
STRAUSS
Thank you.
He prompts the other butler, who hands over a dish with

Strauss' branded watch on it. Strauss reaches his arm out
while walking, escorted by the two butlers. The man straps it
swiftly on for him, before wishing Strauss a good day and
marching off with the other.
Strauss continues walking and enters a door into...
INT. OPERATIONS ROOM - DAY
... a room filled with people and computers. There is an

array of large screens on the wall he faces.
MAN
Sir. We've set everything out as
you have planned. We're just
waiting for your call.
STRAUSS
Good. Let us run through the
various Operating Protocols again.
He pulls a slide controller from his pocket and tosses it to

a man. The large screens change to show the slides he has
prepared.
7.
MAN
As you all know, a certain
undesirable sequence of events
occurred last night. Our number one
task is to find this man, find out
what he wants, and give him what he
deserves. Our first step is to
investigate last night's crime
scene, which was done quickly and
efficiently. The man we are looking
for is a 1.75-metre male. He was
seen wearing a brown fedora and
trenchcoat on the night of the
crime.
An approximate image of the MiTH forms on the screen. Strauss

nods.
MAN (CONT’D)
He carries a revolver and is adept
at its use. His intentions are
unclear as of now.
An image of the MiTH's weapon is flashed on the screen.
MAN (CONT’D)
Our next step is to locate the
criminal. Facial recognition will
not get us anywhere since there was
no image of him captured due to his
strategic headgear. Hence, I've
decided that we should track him
down from his last known location:
here.
He taps again. The screens now show an outside view of

Strauss' mansion: there was a taxi waiting outside the
mansion on the night itself.
MAN (CONT’D)
This taxi left after the crime took
place, therefore it would be
logical to assume that our criminal
took a trip in this vehicle.
An image of the seats in the taxi appears.
MAN (CONT’D)
An indentation is found in only the
passenger's seat. Ergo, he
displaced the driver.
Unfortunately, the license plate
was filed off, and thus we cannot
track the vehicle down.
8.
The screen changes to display the tyre tracks.
MAN (CONT’D)
We traced the tyre tracks all the
way to the end of this street.
Here, the vehicle was abandoned.
The screen switches off.
MAN (CONT’D)
I've set up a two-kilometre radius
for a search to be conducted. I
reapeat, we're looking for a man
who is about 1.75 metres tall,
wearing that dark brown fedora and
light brown trenchcoat as well as
leather boots and gloves. He has
straight and neat black hair with a
well-groomed moustache and short
beard.
Strauss turns his head slightly towards his team.
STRAUSS
Thank you, Arnold. Find this man,
and bring him, ALIVE, to me. All
dismissed.
MAN
Yes, sir.
He salutes and a search team of about ten soldiers sets off,

leaving only Tracy, Strauss and the operator in the room.
Strauss strides slowly and deliberately towards the operator.
He leans over and whispers without looking him in the eye.
STRAUSS
Make sure you have eyes on every
single one of them. I don't want
anyone dead without my knowing.
OPERATOR
Yes sir. All operations are
functional. We've got eyes in the
sky.
STRAUSS
Good.
Strauss stands up straight and turns on the large screens to

monitor the progress of the search team.
9.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You can run, but you can't hide.
Men have eyes where they set them,
but justice has eyes everywhere.
The screen blanks out. Suddenly, an image of the MiTH appears

on it.
MITH
I'm confident that eyes aren't
enough to stop me, Mayor Strauss.
Strauss steps back.
STRAUSS
Hell...
MITH
Ha, little trick of mine.
He examines his fingers.
STRAUSS
You’re digging a deeper and deeper
grave for yourself with that steel
nerve of your’s.
He reaches nervously for a chair. Tracy slides him one. He

sits. The MiTH smirks and leans back in his own carved
hickory chair.
MITH
Let's play a game, Mr Strauss.
Strauss raises an eyebrow.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mayor Strauss, I meant. Forgive me.
He laughs coldly.
STRAUSS
Go on.
MITH
I love games. Less for the fun, but
more for the thrill. The excitement
of being able to predict everything
and play ten steps ahead of your
opponent before he even reads the
first line in the rulebook.
Strauss sinks his chin into his hands.

10.
MITH (CONT’D)
If you can play by the rules and
think not how you would play it,
but how your opponent would play
it, and you know EVERYTHING he will
do before he actually does it...
He scoffs.
MITH (CONT’D)
You've won.
STRAUSS
What are you proposing?
MITH
A game of wits.
STRAUSS
Elaborate.
MITH
Since we raised the discussion
topic yesterday, let's see if you
can beat me by doing only things
that are morally right.
Strauss lifts his head.
MITH (CONT’D)
As you put it yourself, it's all
written in the law. You kill me,
you've murdered; you've lost. You
arrest me, you've kidnapped me;
you've lost. Simple rules, simple
game, but are you smart enough to
game the system as well as I do?
STRAUSS
I'll see what I can do. Why don't
you give me some time to start?
Stay right where you are.
He snaps his fingers. The operator gets the cue.
MITH
Oh, most certainly.
The screen goes blank again. The original images appear.
TRACY
You do realise, sir, that you're
giving him exactly what he wants if
you play by his rules?
11.
STRAUSS
No.
He gets up and looks her in the eye.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
What he wants is to prove a point.
The point that I can't play by my
own rules. I'll prove him wrong,
and I'll rip his strategy to pieces
and let them flutter down in
worthless ribbons right in front of
him. Because he’s wrong, and if we
don’t play by his rules, our rules,
it’d be playing against ourselves.
He flicks his hand like ribbons streaming down.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
This man dares to play defiant
against the system; I'm afraid I
can't restrain its wrath.
TRACY
Right. Aspirations, sir, but how
are we to do that?
He snaps his fingers again.
STRAUSS
Replay the footage and pause it.
The man does as told. Strauss points at the screen.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Window.
TRACY
Meaning?
STRAUSS
Opposite building.
TRACY
Oh, you are a genius, sir.
Strauss commands the operator to locate the building

opposite.
OPERATOR
It's called Symphonia, sir. From
the architecture of the buildings,
it could be the residential block
to its west or its east.
12.
STRAUSS
What time is it?
OPERATOR
Nine thirty-four, sir.
STRAUSS
It's the building to the west. The
sun is visible from behind the
block. Let's go get that criminal
and put him in the lockup. About
time we resumed our normal
schedule.
He presses the intercom button.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
All search teams gather outside 6
Holtzclaw Way. We've got our man.
MAN
Copy that, sir.
Strauss nods, smiling, in satisfaction.
TRACY
Absolute ingenuity, sir.
She steps over and places an arm over his shoulder, leaning
in closer. Strauss grins and pats her on the back. She seems
to want to make a further advance, but he already turned back
to the screen.
STRAUSS
I've got you now.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(through intercom)
Do not engage unless the word is
given. I want him alive. Make sure
he holds his position. I repeat, do
not engage.
MAN
Roger that, sir.
EXT. BUILDING - DAY
The men gather around the outside of the building. One man
gestures towards the door. He busts it down and...
13.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
... the men ascend the stairs of the building. They bust down
the door at the top of the stairs and enter the darkened
hallway. It is empty.
STRAUSS
Something's wrong. He's expecting
us.
TRACY
Should we call them back?
The screen changes to the MiTH again.
MITH
Mayor Strauss, you took longer than
expected. Oh yes, have you heard of
this wonderful thing known as a
chroma key? I've heard that they
use it in movies to place a man in
a fake background when the budget's
too low to actually be there. Or
when they just can’t be bothered.
Strauss flinches.
STRAUSS
(through intercom)
Fall back, now.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The men begin to descend the stairs again.
MAN
You heard the man, let's go!
Suddenly, a huge explosion is heard over the intercomm. The

live stream on the large screen becomes white noise and each
man's ECG indicates asystole. Strauss licks his lips and
Tracy covers her mouth. He takes a deep breath and sighs.
He cracks his neck.

14.
STRAUSS
I think to play this a little more
covert.
Strauss detaches a thumb drive from the computer and hands it

to the operator.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
There is a video conversation
stored within this thumbdrive. I
want you to map this man's face and
run it through our citizen
database. Tell me who he is.
The man nods again and hurries out. He slams the door in his
rush.
The MiTH releases his hand from the doorknob of the room he
has just exited. He scoffs.
MITH
Gullible idiot.
He spins a pen out into his hand and clicks it rhythmically.

He reviews his grand plan that is mapped out on the wall and
puts a tick on one diagram. He traces the line out.
MITH (CONT’D)
Next, he's got to be running my
face or something through the
database to find out who I am.
He smirks again.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mr Strauss... I know there's a
monster somewhere in there. I just
need you to come out.
Strauss sits on his bed, staring forlornly at the wall. Tracy

enters the room hesitantly. She shuts the door gently behind
her.
TRACY
Sir? Are you all right?
Strauss sighs.
15.
STRAUSS
I'm fine. Bunch of good men just
died out there in seconds. I’m...
fine.
She approaches him and sits beside him on his bed.
TRACY
What are you doing, sir?
STRAUSS
Thinking.
Tracy looks down and pauses.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Have the investigative team turned
up anything yet?
TRACY
Not yet, sir.
Strauss sits up straight.
STRAUSS
...thank you, Tracy. You've been of
much help to us.
She smiles and looks away.
TRACY
Thank you, sir.
STRAUSS
Would you like something to drink?
TRACY
Oh, yes. Thank you, sir. Anything.
Strauss gets up and pours her a wineglass of water. She

twiddles her fingers and crosses her legs. He hands it to
her.
TRACY (CONT’D)
Thank you.
STRAUSS
My pleasure.
He returns to his seat. Tracy sips the water slowly.

16.
TRACY
Don't think too much about it, sir.
You have your own life to attend
to.
STRAUSS
(jokingly)
This is my life, Tracy. It’s my job
to bring him to justice.
TRACY
Yes, but... sometimes, it's the
little things outside of our work
that make us... human. Hmm?
Strauss looks at her for a brief moment, smiles then looks

down. She leans in towards him and places an arm around his
neck. He closes his eyes and inhales deeply.
TRACY (CONT’D)
(softly)
You must learn to let go sometimes,
sir.
She grins and leans in closer. Strauss shakes his head and
she withdraws.
STRAUSS
Do you know why this bothers me,
Tracy?
She returns to her original position.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
This man's messing up the order.
The whole point of this perfect
system is to have utmost
efficiency. Effectiveness in every
task that every man does. People
are happy in this community. But
suddenly, this maniac pops up and
says, "Mayor Strauss, you don't
know morals." And because of that
the routine is ruined. It screws
everything over and that's when
things get messy. And when things
get messy, people aren't happy.
That's not what I want. Do you
understand?
TRACY
Yes, sir. I know you always have
the citizens' best interests at
heart. You're a good man.
17.
He smiles.
STRAUSS
Thank you.
An alert sounds from Strauss' watch.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
It's a message. The facial
recognition program is done.
He gets up and opens the door. Tracy remains where she is.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You coming?
TRACY
O... of course.
She gets up and goes hastily down the stairs. Strauss eyes
her receding figure and smiles.
INT. INVESTIGATION ROOM - DAY
Strauss enters the room with Tracy at his side. He claps his
hands together.
STRAUSS
(loudly)
News.
The Head of Investigative Operations hurries over.
MAN
I have... good news and bad news,
sir.
STRAUSS
Good news.
MAN
The program successfully completed
the mapping of our terrorist's face
and has run it through our entire
database with 99.99% precision.
STRAUSS
Bad news.
MAN
This man is not in our database.
Strauss stops in his tracks.

18.
STRAUSS
Excuse me?
MAN
This... this man is not a
registered citizen.
Strauss raises a finger. He opens his mouth to say something

but hesitates and closes it again.
TRACY
We'll have to find some other way
to figure out his identity, sir.
STRAUSS
You see, that's the problem.
He gestures for the man to leave. He bows and hurries off.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
If I'm to play by his rules and
play his game, I have to play it so
he can't possibly twist any of my
actions to seem illegal. We can't
harm him and we can't arrest him.
Yet we need him under our custody.
TRACY
Sir. Back when I was working as a
security officer, we were told to
inform the prisoners that they were
off to a 'correctional facility'
instead of a prison. It would make
them struggle less because they
wouldn't know what they were in
for.
STRAUSS
Playing with a euphemism. Genius.
TRACY
I'm sure my intelligence will be
far from matching yours, sir.
He pats her back. She beams meekly.
STRAUSS
Now we just need to find a way to
page him up.
He snaps his fingers.

19.
INT. ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM - DAY
Strauss holds down the announcement button and speaks into

the microphone.
EXT. HOLTZCLAW WAY - DAY
People walk to and fro on their daily routines.
STRAUSS
(over PA system)
Attention, citizens of Phlox. This
is a public service announcement
from your Mayor Strauss.
The people stop and listen attentively.
STRAUSS (CONT'D)
(over PA system)
As all of you probably already know
from the papers, there has been a
terrorist going around trying to
topple the infallible leadership of
our government.
People look at newspapers excitedly. The headlines read

'TERRORIST STILL AT LARGE; IDENTITY UNKNOWN'.
STRAUSS (CONT'D)
(over PA system)
This is an appeal to all citizens
to stay vigilant and calm in the
face of this adversity. Any
sightings of a 1.75-metre-tall man,
wearing a dark brown fedora and a
light brown trenchcoat, with black
hair and a well groomed moustache,
should be reported immediately to
the police or the relevant
authorities. I repeat, this man is
armed and extremely dangerous. All
sightings of him should be reported
immediately to the authorities.
Thank you for your time and
attention.
Strauss cracks his knuckles.
STRAUSS
That ought to get his attention.
20.
He spins his chair around and gets up.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Now we just wait for our response.
Directly he says this, his phone buzzes. He snaps his fingers

in delight and answers the call.
MITH
Mr Strauss. A pleasure to see that
you're accepting a call for Round
2.
STRAUSS
Oh, I'm as ready as ever.
MITH
Would you like to propose the
location this time?
STRAUSS
I'd call for the same place as the
last time if you don't mind. Just
actually be there in person this
time.
MITH
Oh, most certainly. I'll see you
there tonight. Eight sharp. Be
there on time. I don't like to be
kept waiting.
STRAUSS
You bet.
He puts the phone down.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
We've got our target in the hole.
We just have to send in the flames.
TRACY
Well played, sir.
STRAUSS
Thank you. Let's not get cocky
until we have him under our roof.
The door bursts open.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
What now?
21.
It is a group of Strauss' men restraining a woman bound in

chains. Her hair is dishevelled and she is wearing torn
clothes.
MAN
Sir. We caught her attempting
another murder. She's an assassin.
We've been tracking her operations
in the background for weeks.
Strauss squints at her. The woman snarls and rushes forward.

Strauss flinches slightly. We see the fear in his posture,
but not in his eyes. His eyes speak confidence. The men are
barely able to hold her back.
STRAUSS
Take her away to Maximum Security
Lockdown. Make sure she doesn't get
out.
The men prepare to set off. The woman cackles insanely.
WOMAN
You know what's the good thing
about being in a prison?
Strauss waves her off.
STRAUSS
I don't want to hear it. I've got
more important things to settle.
The men drag her away. She hisses at him.
WOMAN
Unlike your "perfect" little world
out here there's no struggle beyond
your sanity for survi--
The men slam the door. Strauss adjusts his tie.
STRAUSS
A rather undesirable time for such
an event, but you never know.
We hear sounds of struggle and both the woman and men

screaming in the hallway outside.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You never know when someone like
her will come in handy.
A pause as we hear a shout and a crash against the door.

Strauss claps his hands.
22.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Back to where we were. We have
until eight, gentlemen.
INT. MITH'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The MiTH makes his preparations. He loads his small custom-

made wooden pistol with a few wooden bullets.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
Then we shall have our bird right
where the scope is aimed.
Occasionally, he checks the diagram on the wall with a few

pictures of people on it.
MITH
Let's see how you play it this
time, Mr Strauss.
He whistles Raindrop Prelude by Chopin while he straps a

rubber band around his index finger and hides the pistol in a
pocket on the inside of his sleeve.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
We'll push him beyond his limits.
Show him what justice is capable
of. Give him what he deserves for
breaking the peace and order.
He puts on his trenchcoat.
MITH
Let's see just how much it takes to
tip you over the edge.
He tips over a lamp on his table. It topples to its side. He

sets up upright again, dons his hat and exits the house.
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Strauss rounds up his team.
STRAUSS
We all clear on the plan for
action?
MEN
Sir yes sir!
23.
STRAUSS
Perfect. Now we wait for eight.
Remember, anyone harms him, you
answer to me.
He gestures to his private bodyguards and leaves the scene.

The head of the extraction team looks at his watch nervously.
Seven fifty-nine. The men run their fingers over their
triggers in suspense. The clock hits eight. Immediately, the
men burst through the door.
INT. BUILDING - NIGHT
The MiTH swivels his chair around.
MITH
Ah, finally. You come.
The men stream into the room and train their guns on him.
MITH (CONT’D)
Whoa whoa whoa. Where's the man
himself?
MAN
Terrorist. Mayor Strauss would like
to invite you over to his place for
dinner to discuss some terms for
peace.
MITH
I refuse.
The men look at each other. They activate their laser aiming
systems on their rifles. Numerous red dots appear on the
MiTH's body. He laughs.
MITH (CONT’D)
Oh, Mr Strauss wouldn't want me
hurt. I'm sure of that.
He slides the chair across the room. The men keep their guns
trained on him.
MITH (CONT’D)
Enjoy your night, gentlemen.
He pulls a switch on the wall; a few explosives on the floor

are triggered. The floorboards explode. The men fall into the
pit below. The MiTH gets up and steps out of the room.
24.
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
The MiTH hurries out onto the street. There, multiple

military vehicles are already waiting for him. Strauss steps
out of one of them. The MiTH scoffs.
MITH
Mayor Strauss. You want to invite
me to dinner.
STRAUSS
I've changed my mind.
He grabs the MiTH by the arm.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I'd like to invite you over for
an... interview.
MITH
An interview. Sounds interesting,
but my schedule is packed. I
decline your offer.
Strauss shrugs. He steps back to his vehicle and knocks on

the window. The driver steps out. Strauss pulls out a pistol
and puts it to his head.
STRAUSS
Now, driver. It seems our terrorist
isn't very interested in the nice
interview we've planned out for
him.
The man gulps nervously. The MiTH raises an eyebrow. Strauss

hesitates, looks at him and grins.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Alright. I won't call him a
terrorist. He's a nice cultured
gentleman who speaks good reason.
I'll call him the MiTH.
He loads his pistol. The driver gasps in fear.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Driver, would you recommend that
our dear MiTH join us for the
interview this evening?
DRIVER
Yes... yes sir! Most certainly!
25.
The driver looks pleadingly at the MiTH. Strauss turns to

look at him too with a snide smile.
STRAUSS
What do you think, MiTH?
The MiTH nods in approval.
MITH
Alright then. I'll join you for
your interview. Better be good.
Strauss licks his lips in glee.
STRAUSS
Search him.
A group of military personnel hop out of the vehicle and

begin to pat the MiTH down. He shies away.
MITH
I refuse to let myself be molested
by your servants, Mayor Strauss.
Strauss shrugs.
STRAUSS
Ah, whatever then. Just scan him
for metal.
The men pull out metal detectors and scan the MiTH's body. No
metal whatsoever is detected.
MAN
He's clean, sir.
STRAUSS
Good. See? He's a man of
principles. He wouldn't bring a gun
to a war of words, now would he?
MITH
No, of course not. We're all
reasonable people. After all, the
word can easily be sharper than the
bullet.
Strauss grins and invites him into the vehicle.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Strauss handcuffs the MiTH. He takes a seat opposite and

smiles.
26.
MITH
Yes, Mr Strauss?
STRAUSS
I'm still trying to work something
out regarding you. Your intentions
and plan are very unclear, even
after all this while.
The MiTH scoffs.
MITH
Excuse me, Mr Strauss, did you say
plan?
STRAUSS
Yes. In all actuality I did.
He leans in closer.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Every man has a motive for what he
does. Something that pushes them to
live on and do what they do. Some
criminals want revenge. Others want
money. What's yours, MiTH?
MITH
I decline to comment.
He pauses. And leans in too.
MITH (CONT’D)
Why don't you tell me yours, Mr...
MAYOR Strauss? Why do YOU do what
you do? For money? Power? Fame?
Strauss chortles.
STRAUSS
You know, I'm not all that
different from any other powerful
man.
He sits back.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
All across history. Politicians.
Leaders. Any man in a position of
power. I'm just like them. All I
desire is peace. And the only way
to have peace is when there is no
conflict. And there can only be no
conflict when there is order.
(MORE)
27.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
And with order comes control.
Control over what's to happen.
Control such that no one can fight
anyone else. Then there will be no
conflict. But chaos causes
conflict. I despise chaos. And you
introduce chaos. I'm just like any
other man with influence. I work to
take you down. To keep the rest of
the world that you damage happy.
MITH
In fact, take a look at us, Mr
Strauss.
He stands up but his handcuffs restrain him. Strauss sits up.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mayor Strauss.
STRAUSS
Carry on.
MITH
We're not that different either,
you and me.
STRAUSS
You're wrong. We're polar
opposites. I present order and
peace; you present chaos and war.
MITH
Look again. We're both willing to
go to whatever lengths it takes to
get what we want. There are only
two differences between us.
He sits back down.
MITH (CONT’D)
When all comes to a dilemma where
morals are at stake... I fall back
to my principles. You, Mr Strauss,
MAYOR Strauss, take it that all is
written in the law. You defy it
yourself.
STRAUSS
Two things. First, what principles
do you have? You kill people in
cold blood like their lives are
nothing to you. You make deceptive
and manipulative ploys.
(MORE)
28.
STRAUSS (CONT'D)
You have the audacity to rise up
against the perfect system of
government that has withstood
hundreds of years of testing. You
fight back against the very society
that has worked to keep you alive
and happy. Don't give back. Sure.
But you fight back. You fight us
for spending resources to help you.
What principles are those? How much
better of a moralist are you than I
am? And second, when did I ever
defy my own law, and thus morals?
MITH
Look again, Mayor Strauss. I don't
kill those who don't deserve it.
STRAUSS
Thadeus Maudrid? All the men that
I've been sending on extraction
missions where you were the target?
MITH
Oh, Mr Maudrid. He deserved his
death. You see... I've never killed
anyone lower in the hierarchy
before. He was at the top. A man of
a status comparable to yours, who
is faking sympathy for all us
servants toiling in the drudge for
all you gods high up in the
political food chain. He says he
cares about us, but no. He’s never
been here. He’d never know. You're
my targets. You say I want to
destroy the world, but no. I want
to save it from you. Save it from
your stupid government.
STRAUSS
And the men, then?
MITH
(laughingly)
Mayor Strauss... did you really
believe that I killed them? It was
all just a simple flick of a
switch, and I could kill your
connection to their vital monitor
systems. Seemed dead, but really,
just EMPed.
29.
STRAUSS
Clever play. Remind me again,
though, how I fail to uphold my own
values?
MITH
That, Mr Strauss...
He raises a finger.
MITH (CONT’D)
Killing people is against the law,
no? You chide me for it, no? Yet
you do it yourself. You send people
for... executions. You recall the
first conversation we had?
STRAUSS
The intention is a punishment, for
failing to uphold a law. For
committing a severe crime. I put
people in prison whenever I can.
Like you. You belong in prison. I
only kill when it is necessary.
When I know that if I don't, the
man's going to cause even more
unhappiness to the world. It is an
act to uphold morals themselves.
MITH
My intention is a punishment too,
for failing to abide by their own
value systems.
Strauss nods.
STRAUSS
I see. So this is how you play it.
I'll take note. Tell me then, what
is your intention of playing all
these... cumbersome games with me?
This... game of wits, as you call
it? I'm getting impatient.
MITH
First, a test. Of your worthiness
and intelligence. Which I am
beginning to doubt.
Strauss raises an eyebrow.

30.
MITH (CONT’D)
Second, a means of pulling more
time for my real plan to come into
action. While you're distracted by
all my simple plays, my full plan
to overthrow your... “perfect
system” is coming into play. You
just have to watch. And see.
Strauss grins and sits back.
STRAUSS
Tell me, MiTH, why aren't you in
the citizen database?
MITH
I'm an illegitimate child.
STRAUSS
I would have believed as much.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
What's your father's name?
MITH
Oh, you'd know him well, if you
know your history well, that is.
And when I say history, I mean the
truth. Not the story of the
victors. History is always written
by the victors, you know that?
STRAUSS
That doesn't answer my question.
MITH
You dodged my second point too.
STRAUSS
What?
MITH
The second difference between us.
You've strayed from the topic, Mr
Strauss. Did you notice that?
STRAUSS
No, I did not.
MITH
Precisely.
31.
The MiTH cracks his knuckles.
MITH (CONT’D)
I plan everything. When I say
everything, I mean every single
scenario possible, and how I would
respond to it. A contingency plan
for every single thing. I keep
track of everything that's
happening. I observe, I see where
that comes into play in my plan and
I respond accordingly. You, the
other hand, like to play it all
by... intuition. You rely on
instant response and reacting based
on whatever the present situation
is.
The MiTH leans forwards so he is closer to Strauss' face.
MITH (CONT'D)
Now let me tell you, Mr Strauss.
That may seem to aid you now;
flexibility of options is always
good. But soon, later in the game,
you'll realise. I've pulled every
possible action you can take by the
tail. And that is why I'm set to
win.
STRAUSS
Well, tell you what? You've dodged
my question again too.
MITH
Fair enough. I'll make you a deal.
He leans in.
MITH (CONT’D)
You release me from my handcuffs,
and I tell you who my father is.
Identity is a powerful thing, Mr
Strauss. Mayor Strauss. A man's
name is everything. With that sort
of power, you can read exactly why
I do things, how I do things, and
judging by your skills at quick
adaptation you'd find it giving you
much of an edge in this little game
of ours. Right now, you know me
only as the Man in The Hat. This
wonderful free blanket of anonymity
is set to be your downfall.
32.
STRAUSS
I'll consider.
MITH
Terrific. While you think about it,
why not I ask a question instead?
STRAUSS
Shoot.
MITH
How'd you come up with the idea of
calling this little meeting here an
interview, Mr, Mayor Strauss?
STRAUSS
Language, just like identity, is
very powerful. You'd probably know.
Just as you put it, the word is
easily sharper than the bullet. Let
me demonstrate.
He raises his mug to take a sip of water.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Can you hold this for me?
MITH
Sure.
He takes the mug from Strauss' hand. Strauss gets up, walks
over to the MiTH, and punches him in the face. He staggers
and the mug falls to the ground, shattering.
MITH (CONT’D)
Right. What an excuse to take
revenge, Mr, Mayor Strauss.
STRAUSS
Why do you suppose I just punched
you in the face?
MITH
Enlighten me, if you please.
STRAUSS
You committed an act of theft. You
took something that belonged to me
without my permission.
MITH
(laughing)
You asked me to hold it.
33.
STRAUSS
No, I didn't. I asked if you had
the ability to hold it for me. I
never asked you to hold it for me.
MITH
Oh, a clever play on words, huh.
STRAUSS
Words come as part of language. And
language comes with stereotypes and
expectations. Contextual Inferences
and assumptions. Thus, I came up
with the idea for using a euphemism
as part of a legal play to get you
to this very seat here.
MITH
Very clever, Mr, MAYOR Strauss.
STRAUSS
On the note of language.
He returns to his seat.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I cannot help but notice that you
keep making that same correction
every time you address me. Is it on
purpose, I wonder?
The MiTH claps his hands together and rubs them in glee.
MITH
How long did it take you to notice,
Mr Strauss?
STRAUSS
Not very long. I just never had the
opportunity to ask.
MITH
You see, I told you - you are
bright too. Just in a different
way.
He sits back, rubbing the side of his face that got punched.
MITH (CONT’D)
Like I said, Mr Strauss. Identity.
It is the utmost power that a man
can hold. It's what makes me the
MiTH, and what makes you Mayor
Strauss.
(MORE)
34.
MITH (CONT’D)
Without identity, we'd all just be
the same generic... model citizen.
Exactly what the government is
trying to raise us all to be.
Perfect, unquestioning citizens.
That's your idea of order, isn't
it? The very idea I aim to topple?
STRAUSS
And how does that correspond to a
Mr versus Mayor Strauss?
MITH
Why, it's simply an act of satire.
Mr gives much less respect than
Mayor, no? Besides, a man has less
control over order than a mayor.
Strauss scoffs and looks at the MiTH in disgust.
STRAUSS
Scum.
MITH
Why don't you give me a reason to
respect you? We're on the topic of
identity anyway.
He holds his hands up, showing Strauss his handcuffs. Strauss

sighs.
STRAUSS
Make sure you keep up your part of
the deal.
MITH
Of course.
Strauss unfastens the handcuffs hesitantly. The MiTH rubs his

sore wrists. He looks up slowly at Strauss. He leans in.
MITH (CONT’D)
My father's name is Cassander
Chares Rontez.
Strauss nods.
MITH (CONT’D)
Now, tell me, Mr Strauss.
He gets up to leave.
MITH (CONT'D)
Which is your dominant eye?
35.
STRAUSS
My right. Why?
MITH
Let's see how you continue to play
this little game of ruling with a
little less... dominance. Shall we?
STRAUSS
What?
In one swift motion, the MiTH flicks his index finger

forward, and the small wooden pistol zips into his hand. He
fires and hits Strauss in the right eye. Strauss screams,
clutches his eye, and topples to the ground.
MITH
(to self)
Two outside.
He points his pistol at the door, waiting. Just as predicted,

two men burst in. He shoots twice. He reaches into his coat
and pulls out a pack of C4. Following this, he makes his way
slowly outside. Outside, the whole station of policemen pull
out their guns and train them on him.
MITH (CONT’D)
A little less haste, will you?
He presses on the button. The counter starts counting two

minutes down. The policemen hesitate.
MITH (CONT’D)
There's a twelve-digit kill code on
this thing. Unless you want a
kilometre-wide hole in the middle
of the city I suggest you all drop
your guns and just let me pass.
The policemen look at each other fearfully, but do not drop

their guns.
MITH (CONT’D)
From the looks of it, all of you
aren't very afraid. That can only
mean one thing.
He points his pistol at the stairs leading up.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mr Strauss has got a bomb squad
somewhere up there in preparation
for a situation like this.
(MORE)
36.
MITH (CONT’D)
Last time I checked, which was
yesterday, there were five.
Just as he says this, footsteps are heard from above.
MITH (CONT’D)
I'd say they'll take about seven
seconds to reach here.
In six seconds the first man appears. The MiTH shoots each of
them in turn. They tumble down the stairs and lie at the
bottom, unconscious.
MITH (CONT’D)
Perfect. Now that those guys are
gone, I'd reckon that we have a
minute left. Why not I kick things
up a notch?
He twists a knob attached to the timer. The numbers decrease

twice as fast.
MITH (CONT’D)
You lot have got 30 seconds to let
me go. Come on; I'm sure you all
know what to do.
The men lower their guns unwillingly.
MAN
You're free to go. Just turn that
thing off.
MITH
Not. Just. Yet.
He raises his pistol and shoots each of the policemen in

turn. Soon, all of them have fallen to the ground. Only the
captain remains.
MAN
You son of a bitch!
MITH
What? I pretty much kept to the
terms of the agreement.
The timer hits zero. A loud beep is heard, and the MiTH
tosses the C4 to the captain.
MAN
It's... fake?
37.
MITH
Of course it's fake. A real pack of
C4 would have been picked up by
those filthy metal detectors at the
first instance.
He points his pistol at the man. It clicks.
MITH (CONT’D)
Hmm? I thought I counted 18 men
exactly.
He thinks hard.
MITH (CONT’D)
Ah, yes! I wasted one on Mr
Strauss.
He shrugs.
MITH (CONT’D)
Enjoy your night, Captain. Send Mr
Strauss my regards and an
ambulance.
He strides up to the entrance.
MAN
Mayor Strauss will give you what's
coming to you, for all the things
you've done! You just wait and see!
The MiTH sighs.
MITH
You know what's the one thing I've
learnt from all this, Captain?
He steps over and puts a finger on the man's forehead.
MITH (CONT’D)
Waiting for something to happen
does nothing for you at all.
He pushes the man over.
MITH (CONT’D)
You predict, and you act before it
happens. And that prevents your
opponent from even making that move
against you.
He pushes the door open and steps out into the cool wind
outside.
38.
MITH (CONT’D)
Tell me, Mr Strauss, how does it
feel when all this perfectly
arranged order goes to waste
because of a single moment? That’s
every other man in this world
except you.
He hails a taxi and gets in.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Strauss, lying in a pool of blood, twitches and stops moving.
EXT. OPERATING THEATRE - NIGHT
Tracy twiddles her fingers worriedly. A nurse steps out to

greet her.
TRACY
Is he alright?
NURSE
He'll survive. The doctor is giving
him a cybernetic eye. He'll have to
stay in bed for the whole of next
week, but he'll recover.
TRACY
Oh, the wonders of medicine!
She dashes into the room. The surgeon is operating on

Strauss.
NURSE
Ma'am! You're not supposed to be in
there!
She pulls Tracy out. The latter reflects in impotent

frustration on Strauss' condition.
TRACY
Mere survival isn't optimal at all.
NURSE
Well, it's the best we can manage,
ma'am! Now if you please, there'll
be another 25 minutes before you
get to see him.
Tracy drums her fingers on the wall.

39.
NURSE (CONT’D)
He'll be all right, ma'am. I assure
you of that.
TRACY
I know. It's just that I'm a
little... worried for him.
NURSE
Worried, huh.
She rearranges the surgical equipment on her tray-table while

speaking.
NURSE (CONT’D)
What's he to you?
TRACY
He's my employer.
She scoffs and drops the stryker saw she is holding.
NURSE
You know, if I had the chance to
pull the trigger on my employer
while he slept, you bet dam well I
would've done it years ago. Hal,
It'd be even better if he was
watching me do it.
She detaches its power source as if she was unplugging her

employer's life.
NURSE (CONT’D)
Uh-uh, ma'am. He's more than just
that to you, ain't he?
She looks up at Tracy from the corner of her eyes.
TRACY
Well, I guess you're right.
The nurse grins and prepares to set off.
NURSE
Sometimes love makes you go over
your limits, don't it?
TRACY
Yes, yes it does.
The nurse smiles and walks off. Tracy sighs. Twenty-five

minutes pass, and Tracy gets up from her seat as the surgeon
exits the room, blood all over his uniform.
40.
SURGEON
It's done, ma'am. You can go in to
see him now.
TRACY
Thank you.
INT. OPERATING THEATRE - NIGHT
Tracy opens the door and enters the room. Strauss lies on his
bed. The life-support machines nearby beep intermittently.
TRACY
Sir?
Strauss lies still. His eye is now replaced by a mechanical

socket.
TRACY (CONT’D)
Can I come in?
Strauss moves his hand. She closes the door behind her and
sits on the chair next to his bed.
STRAUSS
(softly)
I assume the surgeon told you how
long it'd take before I can leave
this place?
TRACY
Yes, sir. A week.
STRAUSS
A week.
He strains to get up and groans. Tracy holds him back.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
So for a week that maniac is to run
loose and take over my city,
unleash whatever grand plan he has
to topple the government system and
spread anarchy across the city?
TRACY
No, sir. You can give your orders
to me, and I can convey them to the
rest of the team.
Strauss nods. A few seconds of awkward silence.

41.
STRAUSS
Tracy. You know me better than
anyone else.
TRACY
Yes, indeed I do, sir.
STRAUSS
Do you know why I'm putting myself
on the frontline to put this
psychopath where he belongs?
TRACY
I do believe you've told me that
before, sir.
STRAUSS
This man is upsetting perfectly
established control and order.
He grabs the cup on the bedside table.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Purity.
He flicks a drop of blood into the water. It spreads across

the whole cup.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Chaos.
He pauses.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
All it takes is that little drip of
disorder that spreads and spreads
and look.
The water is stained red.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
This water's undrinkable. The order
is lost forever.
He coughs. Tracy grabs his cup for him and puts it on the
table at the side.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
All I want is to keep this
established order in place and
maintain it. Because that is the
only way to maintain peace. I'll
not be letting an unhinged
terrorist upset that balance.
(MORE)
42.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
That’s all I want. Do you
understand?
TRACY
Yes, sir. But you need to rest. The
rest of the team and I will make
sure we keep fighting. Alright?
You're not just a justice-seeker.
You're a human too.
STRAUSS
To win this fight is what matters.
All else is secondary.
He topples back onto his pillow. She looks deep into his eye.
In it, there is a small glimmer of humanity. A spark of Mr
Strauss' morality and sanity.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
But alright, just for you. I'll do
it.
Tracy nods and quietly exits the room. Strauss groans and
sits up.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I'll make sure you get what's
coming to you. I'll dedicate every
minute of every day making sure
that your plans all fall to pieces.
You want chaos? Play it by chaos.
Topple all your contingencies and
perfect scenarios. Play it with
intuition like me.
He pulls a machine from the ceiling. It slides down slowly.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I've been playing by your rules for
far too long. What with all the
play on words, the play on rules,
the play on morals and the
gaslighting on your part... I'm
tired of playing it legal. Like you
said it yourself...
The machine attaches itself to Strauss' face.
STRAUSS (CONT'D)
... we're willing to do whatever it
takes to get that which we want.
A click and a whir. The machine detaches itself and begins

its ascent again.
43.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Morals don't matter in a war for
power. The ends always justify the
means, and you can go kill yourself
if you disagree.
The machine has slid up enough to reveal that Strauss now has
a glowing mechanical eye.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Now you play by my rules.
Tracy and a few men are running a few scans on the geometry
of the city. Strauss bursts in through the door. A few people
gasp.
TRACY
Sir! You're supposed to be resting!
STRAUSS
I don't give a damn about rest. Not
now.
He slides his hand across his desk. A few stacks of papers

and cups fall to the ground. He slams his palms on the table.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
It's time we upped our game.
Stopped playing by his predictions.
You. Go run a citizen database
check on Cassander Chares Rontez.
Tracy. You go check all your
sources for a registered assassin
or hitman. Anything of the sort.
And I'll make sure that he gets the
chaos that he wants. See how he
chokes down his own poison.
She puts her hand on his shoulder.
TRACY
Sir... you must understand. In
everything that you do, no matter
what the cost, you must not forsake
your humanity.
Strauss looks away. He shakes her hand off his shoulder.
STRAUSS
You've said that a dozen times.
44.
TRACY
I'll say it a thousand times more
until you listen!
STRAUSS
Humanity is not something I'm
fighting to achieve at this point.
TRACY
It's something you must have. No
matter what happens.
He swings around at her. She backs away. He clutches his

forehead, panting.
TRACY (CONT’D)
What has become of you? What has
your power and your obsession over
this man done to the caring Mayor
Strauss I once knew?
Strauss closes his eyes and breathes heavily. We hear voices

swirling around his head. A man shouting, "You incompetent
brat! You shame the family line!". The MiTH, laughing.
Another man, saying, "Security is your number one priority.
All else is secondary." The voices mix and merge and get
louder and faster. He clenches his fists. Then they all stop.
TRACY (CONT’D)
You're obsessed. You're going off
the deep end yourself and you're
letting him win like this.
STRAUSS
Get out of my office. Please.
Tracy shakes herself free from the man's grip.
TRACY
You need to listen. If you continue
in this manner you'll end up no
better and saner a man than...
STRAUSS
I said get out!
TRACY
... Yes... sir...
She hurries out, tears welling up in her eyes. Strauss

adjusts his bloodstained tie. He takes a deep breath and
looks down at his hands, almost regrettably. He gulps. He
closes his eyes.
45.
One, two, three.
STRAUSS
Now, where were we?
MAN
Mayor Strauss, sir - I've got a
relevant article on Cassander
Chares Rontez.
He passes Strauss an old newspaper clipping.
STRAUSS
Perfect.
He takes it and dismisses the man.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You want my true colours, I'll give
them to you.
The paper reads: ‘RADICAL INSURGENT CASSANDER RONTEZ STILL AT

LARGE WITH TERRORIST ORGANISATION’
The MiTH puts the paper down.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. SHATTERED BUILDING - DAY
Cassander Chares Rontez grabs a young Theodore Rontez by the

shoulders and squats down to face him. Bullets fly and people
die in the background.
CASSANDER
Theodore. I don't think there's any
way for us out of this.
A bullet strikes the pillar beside them as he speaks.
CASSANDER (CONT'D)
Stay safe, and keep this.
He passes his fedora to Theodore. He smiles and pats his

head. Following this, he picks up his rifle and dashes out
into the front lines of the crossfire. A large group of
people charge together with him into the battle. Theodore
looks on, even as his father is shot and killed.
46.
END FLASHBACK.
The MiTH looks forlorn, almost sad. He nods.
MITH
I shall not forget. Not now, not
ever. Some things are worth
fighting for...
He looks down at the fedora in his hands. He smiles

cynically.
MITH (CONT'D)
... even beyond death.
There is a buzz coming from the hallway. It is a news report.

The MiTH gets up and picks up the paper.
MAYOR STRAUSS DISCHARGES SELF EARLY DESPITE CRITICAL INJURY

TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
The MiTH smirks. He picks up his revolver.
A woman, escorted by two soldiers, enters the building. Tracy

enters after a short moment.
TRACY
Sir. As requested.
Strauss turns his head slightly. A pause. He turns around

fully.
STRAUSS
And who do we have here?
TRACY
This is TRISTEN. Assassin. We
captured her a day ago, as you
recall.
Strauss nods slowly.
STRAUSS
Yes. I recall.
He examines Tristen in detail. She shows an indignant face.

His eye whirs and focuses on her visage.
47.
TRISTEN
I'd like to believe you lost that
eye in a heroic bloody battle with
the very man you're sending me to
kill.
Strauss grins.
STRAUSS
In actual fact, that is indeed the
case.
Tristen licks her lips and spins a stiletto into her hand.
She spins it playfully around her fingers. The men reach for
their guns. Strauss stops them. She smirks.
TRISTEN
Say, I think I wouldn't mind
working for you, Mayor Strauss.
She spins the knife back into her palm and places the blade
against Strauss' lip. He does not flinch. Tristen releases
her blade and keeps it.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Just state your terms. I get your
man for you, you pay me and I'm
off. No questions asked beyond the
necessary. Oh, and clear the jail
term too.
She looks deep into his eyes with a sparkle in her own. Tracy
looks away. Strauss gestures to a man nearby. He receives a
picture of the MiTH and gives it to Tristen.
STRAUSS
Do you recognise this man?
Tristen takes a glance, but her eyes do not fully leave

Strauss'.
TRISTEN
Of course I do. He's the big bad
guy everyone's been talking about,
right?
She snatches the photograph from him, and tosses it up into

the air. In a swift motion, she throws out a knife and it
pins the photograph violently to the wall. Strauss smiles.
STRAUSS
Fantastic. Off with her handcuffs.
The men look at each other with much hesitation.

48.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Do it.
She flips her stiletto out. One man fearfully uncuffs her.
She smiles playfully.
TRISTEN
Thanks a lot.
STRAUSS
I want you to listen carefully now,
Tristen.
Strauss leans in beside her ear, putting his hand over her
neck.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You shall be doing exactly as I
tell you to do. Do you understand?
TRISTEN
I can't do that, boss. My kill, my
rules. You're gonna help me with
however I decide to get rid of him.
STRAUSS
Now, that's where you're misled.
His hand clicks and bleeps. She pulls away. There is a

microchip implanted there.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You will bring the MiTH alive to
me, or you will die. You are only
allowed to kill him if I give you
the command to. Do you understand?
Tristen smirks.
TRISTEN
Sounds good.
Strauss nods.
STRAUSS
Go prepare. We commence the
operation at one.
She twirls and leaves, giving him a cheeky smile before doing
so. Finally, Tracy approaches Strauss.
TRACY
I have a bad feeling about that
woman.
49.
Strauss raises an eyebrow. Almost as if he knows what she

really meant to convey.
STRAUSS
You think I don't? But desperate
times call for desperate measures.
A bit of bending-the-rules is
sometimes necessary to achieve
success.
Tracy bows her head.
TRACY
I'd like to warn you once again,
sir, of the consequences of
stepping across that very line
you're trying to erase. Even if
it's for that very purpose.
Strauss closes his eyes and sighs.
STRAUSS
Tracy.
He lifts her chin up.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(softly but menacingly)
If we’re standing on the same side
of the line as he is, we’ll burn
with the rest of the fire.
He releases his hand.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(almost in a whisper)
Do you understand?
Yes sir, she mouths.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Good.
He strides off. Tracy retreats into the shadows.
Strauss adjusts his tie in front of the mirror. He leans over

the basin, looking into the mirror.
50.
TRACY
(in his mind)
I'd like to warn you once again,
sir, of the consequences of
stepping across that very line
you're trying to erase...
He looks down and sighs. He looks extremely stressed.
STRAUSS
I know.
MITH
(in his mind)
Let's play a game, Mayor Strauss.
He looks up and sees the MiTH in the mirror.
STRAUSS
You...
MITH
Ay, family reunion, eh?
We see Strauss' eyes fill with fear.
Family.
INT. CHILDHOOD ROOM - DAY
The world is grey. We see a crying wounded child standing on

a wooden floor. It is stained with blood.
Strauss' eyes dart back and forth.
A silhouette of a man towers over the child.
MAN
Incompetent!
He whips the crying boy, who screams.
Strauss closes his eyes and grabs on to the basin.

51.
MITH
Did I ever tell you what happens to
those who don't live up to
standards?
We see a side view of the MiTH sticking his head out of the
mirror and grabbing Strauss' chin with his hand.
STRAUSS
(desperately)
No!
The man whips over and over again at the screaming boy who is
cowering in fear as wounds appear torrentially on his arms.
MAN
You bring so much shame to our
family! We put in so much effort!
So much time! And you don't bring
us the honour by succeeding in even
the simplest things...
MITH (O.S.)
I thought so.
Strauss is panting. The MiTH is gone, he shakes his head and

blinks his eyes. He sees himself in the mirror, dishevelled.
There is a smoking hole in the centre of the cracks and his
pistol in his hands.
TRACY (O.S.)
Sir?
Strauss turns. Tracy is at the door.
TRACY (CONT’D)
Sir, you told me to bring you lunch
when it was time.
She is carrying a tray with some food on it.
STRAUSS
Take... take it away. I have no
mind for such... luxuries at the
moment.
52.
TRACY
Sir, you've skipped last night's
dinner and this morning's breakfast
too. Why aren't you eating?
Strauss slams the gun on the table. Tracy steps back.
STRAUSS
(shouting now)
Why aren't I eating?
He runs up to her.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(softly)
Why would I be when there is a
lunatic roaming my streets as a
free man, almost like his very
existence jeers at my failed
management of law enforcement?
TRACY
Sir.
She puts the tray down.
TRACY (CONT'D)
You're obsessed.
STRAUSS
I am not obsessed!
In his rage his tie comes unloose and the crumples on his
suit make his hair look almost as dishevelled as Tristen's. A
few seconds of heavy breathing as we admire the irony.
TRACY
You can't go a minute without
thinking about him and his plans,
about yourself and your plans, and
about how you two are going to
showdown to the death one day.
She crosses her hands defiantly.
TRACY (CONT’D)
You skip all your meals, you've
abandoned rest altogether and
you're going around terrorising
your subordinates. Tell me you
aren't obsessed.
Strauss is silent. He adjusts his tie and clears his throat.

53.
TRACY (CONT’D)
And for what? For a man who isn't
even worth half of the shit you're
going through. Look at yourself.
She gestures towards the mirror. Strauss looks and sees

himself. For once, an animal. In the cracks. She is right.
He’s calming down. And regretting.
TRACY (CONT’D)
You're letting him consume your
mind. You're letting your hatred
consume your mind. And that's
exactly what he wants. Can't you
see it? You're letting him win.
Strauss knows the truth in these words. He bows his head.
STRAUSS
I'll eat later.
MITH (O.S.)
(in his mind)
There is no "later" in decision.
STRAUSS
Leave me alone. Please.
TRACY
Why are you doing this? Who's
seeing the pain that you're going
through? None but me. And yourself.
Don't give him what he wants. Don't
let him laugh while you suffer.
She leaves the room. Strauss turns and looks at the tray.
Besides the food, he sees a note with Tracy's handwriting on
it and a rose attached.
"For Mr Strauss' humanity. From Tracy.” it reads.
Strauss looks at the tray, tears streaming from his eye. It's
his final chance to step back from the dark side and stay
sane. Will he? He looks down at the bullet wound on his arm
with his mechanical eye. It has reopened in his rage. He
screams in desperation. The pain floods back as fast as his
blood and he pushes the tray away.
STRAUSS
Why me?
He buries his face in his hands and cries.

54.
Strauss strides in. One would expect renewed confidence but

no, there is still some bit of Strauss left inside that
monster. He is almost hesitant. He refuses to let it show.
STRAUSS
One sharp. We set off.
The men nod and exit. He stops Tristen at the door.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(softly)
Remember.
He taps the bleeping microchip soundly. She pauses and grins.
TRISTEN
Keep him alive, I know.
She swipes his hand away playfully.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Geez, what happened to you, boss?
Spent the last hour somewhere fun?
STRAUSS
Remember the plan, team.
EXT. BUILDING - DAY
A few military vehicles stop outside of the building. A

helicopter hovers over the area.
STRAUSS
(through intercom)
Chopper drops her on the roof and
she gets in through the top floor
roof access. We'll pin the busted
in his hole right where he'll least
expect it.
INT. HELICOPTER - DAY
Tristen grabs onto the line and zips down...
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
...onto the rooftop. She breaks the lock on the roof access,
flips the metal trapdoor open and hops in.
55.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH sits on his armchair, reading an old newspaper

article. We see a picture of his father leading the uprising
against the government. The MiTH sinks into memory...
...but is jolted out of it by the sound of military vehicles

approaching. He puts the paper away and looks out of the
window.
MITH
Ooh, Mr Strauss. I see you've upped
your game.
He loads his custom-built revolver.
MITH (CONT’D)
You don't usually operate at this
hour. Too bad I'm still prepared
anyway.
He heads for the door, then pauses. He knows something is

wrong. He laughs.
MITH (CONT’D)
I know you're there. You don't need
to hide.
Tristen leaps down from the rafters. He dodges and she misses
him narrowly. He spins his gun back into its holster.
MITH (CONT’D)
Oh, and who are you, miss?
TRISTEN
Your inevitable death.
She flips out two foldable blades and lets them drag against
the floor as she steps towards him.
MITH
Ah, what a pleasant introduction.
He leaps back as she misses a horizontal slice narrowly. A

few repeated slashes and dodges. We see Tristen's expertise
with her weapons and the MiTH's swiftness.
But knowledge cannot long match up to experience. The MiTH

begins to falter as Tristen increases the speed of her slices
and switches her style.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mr Strauss!
56.
He dodges a feign slash. Tristen takes the opportunity and

hits him from the other side. He leaps back and wipes the
blood off his cheek.
MITH (CONT’D)
I know you can hear me through her
intercom.
Strauss watches the footage with crossed arms. The MiTH's

voice sounds through the speakers but he does not respond.
Almost imperceptibly, we see him drumming his fingers over
his biceps.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH ducks as Tristen's blade comes sweeping overhead.
MITH
So this is what your play has
become, huh? You, a civilised man,
or so I thought...
He spins clockwise as she swings her blade vertically,

slicing the edge of his shirt.
MITH (CONT’D)
...resorting to a method as
primitive as hiring an assassin off
the dark web or wherenot.
Tristen pulls her blade back to her shoulder side.
TRISTEN
Did you just call me primitive?
MITH
Of course not. I meant that Mr
Strauss was more primitive than you
were. What an image for the man
whose face represents this city.
Strauss hears this. His fingers stop drumming.

57.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
TRISTEN
Well, that's great then.
She retracts both swords and stows them, pulling out a kukri
instead.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
I may spare you half the pain.
She spins it around twice as masterfully as she did the dual

swords before, cutting the MiTH on his arm. He winces and
continues dodging.
While Tristen swings her knife efforlessly and the MiTH hops
about getting minimal injuries on the occasion, he sneaks a
glance outside. The men are talking through the intercom.
Strauss is saying something.
The MiTH whips around to see Tristen, not receiving anything

through her intercom. Something isn't adding up. Strauss has
a second card up his sleeve. It doesn't look fun.
MITH
(in French)
Ah, I'm so sorry for this, ma'am.
Tristen holds her knife out in front of her, pointed at him,

with her left arm guarding herself. She stops moving and
raises an eyebrow.
TRISTEN
What?
The MiTH scoffs.
MITH
It means...
In one swift motion, he claps his hands together, one over

her wrist and one over her knuckles, sending the knife right
out of her grip. Tristen is appalled. But before she knows
it, or realises what is going on, the MiTH pulls her arm
forward, and with a Tai Chi strike to the shoulder blade, he
flips her over his leg.
MITH (CONT’D)
...there's been a change of plans.
I have to make a hasty exit now.
He spins out his revolver and shoots the throwing knife that
Tristen flings out just in time, and keeps it trained on her.
58.
TRISTEN
Oh, you sneaky bastard. Why didn't
you show earlier?
He steps closer to the door, not shifting his aim.
MITH
There was no point, really. You're
not the one who should be taking
the hits from me.
He winks. She smirks.
Strauss looks pressured. He puts his palms on the table.
STRAUSS
What's going on? Sniper, what do
you see?
SNIPER
(through intercom)
Assassin is down, sir. He's got her
in his crosshairs.
STRAUSS
Can you hit him?
SNIPER
I would've shot him if he wasn't
smart enough to dodge behind the
pillar the moment he got her down.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
SNIPER (O.S.)
(through intercom)
It's almost as if he knows that I'm
here.
The MiTH takes a sneaky glance towards the sniper's aiming

laser on the wall as he continues to inch for the door.
Barely noticeable, but he knew what he was looking out for.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
(through intercom)
Well then, I guess we have no other
choice.
59.
We see a closeup of Strauss' chapped lips.
STRAUSS
It seems collateral damage is
unavoidable.
He gets up.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Initiate contingency plan.
Tracy strides in.
TRACY
Contingency plan?
STRAUSS
You're not going to stop me. You
can't.
TRACY
No.
She puts her foot down.
TRACY (CONT’D)
No. I am not giving up on you, sir.
You don't give up on yourself
either. Deep down in there. I know
there's still some remnants of a
human part of you. I'm appealing to
that part now. Please, Mayor
Strauss. Please don't lose your
grip on humanity for this man.
STRAUSS
I'm afraid I have no choice, Tracy.
Words sound in his head. “Security above all else.”

“Collateral damage if you need to.” She stomps her foot in
indignant defiance.
TRACY
No! You will call off your plan
right now!
She grabs his pistol and points it at her own head. The men
in the room all aim their guns at her.
TRACY (CONT’D)
You don't want me stopping you from
doing this, you kill me.
(MORE)
60.
TRACY (CONT’D)
And you kill your human side too
with that bullet.
Strauss sighs. He takes the pistol from her hands and slides
it in his holster. His hand doesn't leave.
STRAUSS
Kill you? You know I can't do that.
Tracy looks into his eyes. The glimmer of humanity is gone.

It was gone since he pushed the last offer to hold on to it
away. And she knew that it was. This wasn't the eye of a man
she was looking into.
TRACY
Then you call off your plan.
Was it, maybe? Strauss' human eye looks down.
MAN (O.S.)
(in his mind)
Incompetent!
MITH (O.S.)
(in his mind)
You're going to lose.
STRAUSS
And we both know that that's the
harder option.
It was the eye of a monster.
In a motion quicker than anyone could register, Strauss pulls

his pistol out and fires. The bullet casing flies out of the
barrel.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Light them up. Both of them.
The bullet casing falls, tumbling, through the air.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH finally pushes a secret backdoor open and starts his
hasty descent down the stairs.
EXT. BUILDING - DAY
The military vehicles fire multiple shells into the windows

of the building.
61.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The shells fly in. Tristen watches them.
TRISTEN
Boss, what's going on?
The bullet casing and Tristen's body hit the ground one after
the other.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
Sorry, sweetheart. The ends justify
the means.
INT. BUILDING - DAY
Gas spews out of the shells and covers the whole building.
Tristen coughs and chokes, falling over.
The MiTH halts in the stairwell and dons his gas mask.
MITH
You're starting to scare me more
and more with your tactics, Mr,
Mayor Strauss. It seems the last of
your civility was gone with that
eye.
Tristen's body lies, motionless, in a puddle of blood.

Strauss, looking at the pistol in his hand, looks almost
taken aback by his own actions. His hand quivers.
MITH (O.S.)
Who's the monster now, huh?
INT. BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH takes a hesitant step forward. He pauses.
MITH
Ah, dammit.
He braves the gas and runs up the stairs, grabbing Tristen

with one arm. He starts to cough. He struggles, dragging her
limp form down the stairs, barely keeping the mask on
himself.
62.
He bursts the thin wall at the end of the stairwell down with
his leg and lays Tristen down, panting for a breath of fresh
air himself.
He coughs, chokes and splutters. Lifting her with two arms

now, he hurries down a narrow alleyway and enters his home
through the backdoor.
Strauss stares off into space, forlorn, as his crew clean up

the mess.
STRAUSS
I'm pretty sure he managed to get
out. Knowing him he's probably
going to find some way to get back
to me and taunt me about it. But
search the building for their
bodies nonetheless. Leave no stone
unturned. Shoot on sight. Just...
just to make sure.
He deactivates the intercom system and heads out of the room.

He doesn't even peer apathetically at Tristen. Collateral
damage is unavoidable. Or maybe he doesn't dare to do it.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
The rest of you. Dispatch Team B to
the location specified earlier.
He puts his hand on his forehead and slams the door behind
him.
He’s standing in front of his newly replaced mirror, looking

at himself. It’s a look of hatred. Of disgust.
STRAUSS
You idiot.
He looks at his hands. Bloody.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You FUCKING IDIOT!
He slams the basin in rage. Tears come to his human eye. He

wipes them away and looks back at his reflection.
63.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Why? Why must I always be the bad
guy?
Tears only stream from one side of his face.
The MiTH sits on his couch, nursing his wounds. He coughs

softly and clears his throat. Tristen lies, unconscious, on
his makeshift surgery table. A few bloodied instruments and
the removed microchip lie on the tray nearby, along with
Tristen's large array of weapons and a teacup.
The MiTH winces and sighs as he bandages a cut on his arm.
A few seconds of silence as he watches Tristen. She opens her

eyes, recovering consciousness. She gets up and is face-to-
face with him.
TRISTEN
What the hell?
In a split-second she flips up a knife on the table, catches

it, rams into the unsuspecting MiTH, and pins him to the wall
with the knife against his neck. He merely laughs. She is
enraged beyond words.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
What happened? Where am I?
The MiTH laughs.
MITH
Honestly, why should I tell you?
He pushes her back with a finger.
MITH (CONT’D)
Why must I tell you?
She grunts and slams him against the wall again. The MiTH
looks sarcastically impressed.
TRISTEN
You tell me now or I will kill you.
MITH
You're not going to kill me.
TRISTEN
Yes I am.
64.
MITH
No, you're not.
He grabs her wrist and presses the blade harder against his
neck. A small drop of blood leaks down.
MITH (CONT’D)
Go on, then. Show me you're going
to kill me.
TRISTEN
I will!
She pulls the knife back, then makes a motion as if to slash

his head off. He doesn't even flinch. Instead, he calmly
wipes the blood off.
MITH
No, you won't.
He pushes her back and sits back down.
TRISTEN
And how do you know for sure?
The MiTH reaches for a bandage.
MITH
Simple.
He tapes up the part of his neck that got slit.
MITH (CONT’D)
I took a look at this situation
from your perspective.
He rips the rest of the bandage supply off and sets it on the
table.
MITH (CONT’D)
Why would you want to kill me? If
you kill me, there will be two
results. First, you're not going to
find out how you got here, where
you are, and why you're here.
Secondly, you're not going to be
able to get out of here, because
I'm the only one that can let you
out if I'm dead.
He picks up the teacup and sips slowly.
MITH (CONT’D)
And lastly.
65.
He sets the cup back down.
MITH (CONT’D)
I know that you weren't going to
kill me, because if you were going
to, you'd have done it at first
instance.
He gets up.
MITH (CONT’D)
You're a well-trained assassin. And
a woman like you would know that
drawing first blood would be a wise
move.
He walks over to his diagrams.
MITH (CONT’D)
Besides... I know you have one
burning question for me. More than
just where this is and why you're
here.
TRISTEN
Which is?
The MiTH tears some of the pieces of paper down. He turns to

face her.
MITH
Why I didn't kill you while I had
the chance.
He rips the paper up and tosses it away. He starts rubbing

some of his markings out.
TRISTEN
Yeah. Why didn't you?
MITH
Because.
He flips out a marker and starts drawing a few new lines and
connections.
MITH (CONT'D)
It's against my principles.
He caps up the marker and turns to face her.

66.
MITH (CONT’D)
In my firm belief, only those who
deserve it should be killed. By me,
at least.
He steps over to her slowly and deliberately.
MITH (CONT’D)
You see, I don't kill those who
have no part or say in this whole
game of me and Mr Strauss'. You
don't deserve my shot for getting
in the way. Unless you're the one
who wanted me dead in the first
place, I find some other way to
deal with you. You’re just an
unwilling puppet to the system.
He stops in front of her.
MITH (CONT’D)
Mr Strauss wants me dead. Very
badly, and very desperately. So
much to the point that he's
breaking his own name to go call
you up from the wrong side of his
bed so that you could kill me for
him. He gets this.
He spins out his revolver and cocks it.
MITH (CONT’D)
You, on the other hand...
He spins it and holsters it.
MITH (CONT’D)
...don't want me dead. You need me
dead. Hence you get this.
He gestures towards the surgery table.
MITH (CONT’D)
So I don't kill you.
Tristen nods slowly.
TRISTEN
That still doesn't explain why you
didn't just leave me to die in that
gas instead of dragging me here at
the risk of your own life.
The MiTH chokes.

67.
MITH
No thank you?
TRISTEN
Not until you tell me why.
The MiTH frowns jokingly, then grins.
MITH
Because I believe that you, unlike
the rest of them who are after me,
are redeemable.
She scoffs.
TRISTEN
Redeemable.
She laughs, almost conceding.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
For a woman that is far beyond hope
of ever being good, you risk your
life just because you're deluded
into thinking that she's
redeemable.
MITH
Yes. You got that right.
He gets up.
MITH (CONT’D)
Tell me, what's your name?
TRISTEN
Tristen.
MITH
Nice name. I'm Theodore.
He shakes her limp hand.
MITH (CONT’D)
Tristen. I shall tell you this now.
Everyone fights for something.
Everyone. Everyone has a cause that
they believe in and that they
defend. I, for one, believe in
freedom. I believe in the power of
the people, not the rulers.
He walks over to the hanger and starts wearing his

trenchcoat.
68.
MITH (CONT’D)
I may not know what you fight for,
Tristen, but I'll give you this.
He tosses one of her knives to her. She catches it.
MITH (CONT’D)
You can fight for the man who hired
you to kill someone then
backstabbed you and left you to
die, or...
He puts his hat on and smirks.
MITH (CONT’D)
...you can fight for the man who
saved your life at the risk of his
own.
Tristen looks down at the knife. The MiTH leans in and

whispers something to her. She looks appalled.
TRISTEN
I think I'll take my chances.
MITH
Well, I guess it was worth a shot.
He turns to the bleeping microchip on the table.
MITH (CONT’D)
Because you see, Tristen, that is
no bomb.
It bleeps louder and louder as we zoom into it.
MITH (CONT’D)
It's a tracker.
The door bursts open and Strauss' men dash in, all their guns
trained on the MiTH. He puts his hands up and smiles.
MITH (CONT’D)
Choose your loyalties wisely,
m'lady.
She determinedly puts the blade to his neck and pushes him
forward. Strauss nudges his way through the crowd and she
presents him to the man.
STRAUSS
Very good.
69.
He grabs the MiTH from her and punches him in the face. The
MiTH falls to the ground, his nose bleeding. The MiTH starts
laughing. The men pin him down. Strauss passes a wad of
dollar notes to Tristen.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(indifferently)
As promised. You're free to go.
Take the building for yourself,
whatever you want. The city thanks
you for your services. If you see
him anytime just kill him. That's
all. Have a nice day.
She takes the cash but does not respond. Strauss gets the men
to haul the MiTH, now handcuffed and gagged, into the
vehicle. Strauss looks back at Tristen with his mechanical
eye and smirks before going off. The door of the vehicle is
slammed shut.
INT. TORTURE CHAMBER - DAY
The MiTH awakes. He is buckled to a chair. The room is dark

except for the spotlight above him. His gag is removed. He
gasps and laughs.
STRAUSS
(from the shadows)
What's so funny?
MITH
This... all this...
He laughs. Strauss steps into the light. His face is half-

shrouded in the shadows, making him look more like the
monster he really is. The glowing red eye shows all.
MITH (CONT'D)
...you're just proving my point.
Strauss puts on a pair of gloves and pulls out an electric

cable.
MITH (CONT’D)
Woah there, Mr Strauss.
Strauss flicks it between his fingers as he steps closer...
MITH (CONT’D)
You ought to be careful with that,
or you'll just be hurting yourself.
70.
Strauss plugs it in and flicks the switch. The electric chair

powers up, and the volts fire through the MiTH's body like
Christmas lights. He screams in agony. Strauss flicks the
switch. It is over.
STRAUSS
(emotionlessly)
Tell me about your plan. Everything
about your plan.
The MiTH coughs and smiles weakly.
MITH
It's really quite simple, Mr
Strauss.
Strauss slaps him.
STRAUSS
That's Mayor Strauss for you.
The MiTH spits a globule of blood out, grinning defiantly.
MITH
I just need you to do exactly what
you're doing now, and show the
world what you really are. That's
all there is to my plan.
Strauss flicks the switch again. The MiTH screams as if he

was being cooked alive. He pretty much was. Strauss switches
the system off and presses the buzzer. A few men enter the
room and unbuckle the still steaming MiTH.
STRAUSS
Take him to the cell.
The men haul him off.
MITH
Don't stop now, Mr Strauss. Give me
more. The more you destroy me, the
more you destroy yourself.
STRAUSS
Just wait. I'll give you more
tomorrow. Much more.
He pulls out a scalpel and admires it as the MiTH is dragged

off in the distance. Strauss looks down at his shirt in the
spotlight. His arm is bleeding again. He takes the scalpel
and cuts the fabric off. The wound is inflamed.
71.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
And fetch me a doctor while you're
at it too.
INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT
The men throw the still-singed MiTH into his cell. He coughs
but keeps the smile on his face throughout. They slam the
door shut and lock it.
MITH
Hey, you, could you tell me what
the time is now?
The man stops and turns back to look at him. He laughs

wickedly.
MAN
What, the time?
He nudges his colleague, who laughs too.
MAN (CONT’D)
What, you got a date or something?
The MiTH calmly smiles as they continue their banter.
MITH
In actual fact, yes I do.
The men stop laughing and look serious.
MAN
Alright then. In which case the
time is 5.42pm.
He pauses. Then, he and the other man burst out laughing

again.
MAN (CONT’D)
Good luck getting there on time!
He whacks the bars of the cell with his baton. The two men
leave.
MITH
Oh, and could you fetch me a pencil
or a piece of chalk or something?
I'm bored.
The man tosses a pencil behind him without turning back. It

rolls just short of the MiTH's cell.
72.
MITH (CONT’D)
(to himself)
Dammit.
The men slam the door to the large isolation room. The MiTH
stares forlornly at the pencil.
He reaches out through the bars of the cell, but the pencil
is out of reach.
MITH (CONT’D)
Dammit!
He gets up and paces around his cell. He settles to sit on

the mattress on the cold, hard ground. He starts observing.
The door. The lock. The bars. He lies down on the mattress
and dozes off.
A moment passes. He hears a click and a buzz and gets up. The
door to the large containment chamber is opened, a guard
walks in. The MiTH walks to the door of his cell and puts his
hands on the bars.
MITH (CONT’D)
And who are you?
MAN
I'm afternoon shift. Supposed to
check you out before the other guy
starts staring through those
cameras.
He points at the multiple cameras on the ceiling.
MAN (CONT’D)
See those guys? You're never
getting out of here. Don't even
bother trying, it's better for you
and me.
The MiTH looks out of the open door without shifting his
head. The guard in the room is on a phone call.
MITH
Well then, I guess I'll be trying
my luck if I do.
The man scoffs.
MAN
No amount of luck is gonna get you
out of here.
73.
He walks out and locks the door. The electromagnetic lock

locks itself shut and the light flashes green.
INT. CLINIC - DAY
Strauss' private doctor examines his wound.
MAN
The wound is severely inflamed,
sir.
STRAUSS
Whatever, dump some antiseptic and
seal it up again.
MAN
Sir...
STRAUSS
DO IT.
The man nods and does as told. Strauss doesn't even flinch.
Pain isn't a thing to him anymore.
MAN
You must make sure, sir, that you
do not strain yourself. If you do,
the wound will reopen itself again.
If it gets too badly infected, I
won't be able to do anything to
help you.
STRAUSS
It doesn't matter, really.
He gets up to leave.
INT. PRISON CELL - DAY
A prison bell. It's time for lunch. A guard kicks the MiTH,
who is lying on his bed, awake. He already is.
MAN
Lunch time, maggot.
He gets up and puts the handcuffs on. He follows the man

outside.
74.
INT. CANTEEN - DAY
The MiTH stands in the line with the other prisoners. They're
all powerhouses - with big bulging muscles and scars of
battle on their bodies. He's by far the shortest among them.
They look like they can lift tanks. He's just a regular guy.
He sits down at the table with them. They all stare at him.
The man sitting beside him nudges him. He almost falls off
his seat. They all laugh. He chuckles nervously.
MAN
So, you're the new guy, huh?
MITH
Yes, yes I am.
The men laugh.
MAN
What did you get in here for? You
hack into NSA or something?
MITH
Not exactly.
The men laugh again.
MAN
You know what I got in here for?
MITH
Tell me.
The man gets up from his seat.
MAN
I went into a hospital, carrying a
big minigun, and I sprayed and
killed 200 women and children.
The rest of the men applaud him. He sits back down smugly.
MAN (CONT’D)
For that sort of stuff, you get
locked down here.
He takes a big mouthful of his food and looks at the MiTH.
MAN (CONT’D)
So, how'd you get in here?
MITH
Well, I shot a man.
75.
MAN
And then?
MITH
And then I end up here.
The table is silent.
MAN
A man?
MITH
Yeah. A man.
The men stare at each other. The man puts his arm around the
MiTH's neck and pulls him in. He is barely able to breathe.
MAN
Kid, you know what this place is?
MITH
A prison?
MAN
Not just any prison. This is
goddamn max security lockdown,
brother. Just look at this place.
He gestures from the cameras on the ceiling to the guards

standing at the door.
MAN (CONT’D)
This is hell, right here. You only
get down here if even the death
sentence ain't good enough for you.
MITH
Well, I did piss off the mayor.
MAN
Still ain't good enough.
He points to the man opposite.
MAN (CONT’D)
Lucas here put poison in the city's
water tanks and killed half a
thousand. That's how he ends up
here.
He finally lets go of the MiTH.

76.
MAN (CONT’D)
You, fine man, don't look like you
belong here.
MITH
Well, I'm here, nonetheless.
The men laugh. They eat in silence for a few seconds.
MITH (CONT’D)
Say, anybody every tried breaking
out before?
MAN
Breaking out? Believe me, we've
tried! All of us have tried. We
barely make it two steps out of any
room and we get eighteen tranq
darts in our arm.
MITH
Seems impossible, then.
MAN
During lunch or work, at least.
We've been stuck here for years and
no sign of hope at all. We just
leave it as it is and try to make
the most out of this heap of shit
they've given us. Ain't no other
way to live.
MITH
Tell you all gentlemen what.
He moves in closer and whispers to them.
MITH (CONT’D)
I've got sort of a plan to get us
all out of here. I'm still working
the details out, but in two days I
bet you all we'll be free men.
The men burst out laughing.
MAN
Little man, I've told you a million
times! This place is a model of
Alcatraz in a snow globe, on the
table of the prison guard of
Alcatraz. Ain't nobody every
getting out. Ever.
The buzzer rings.

77.
MAN (CONT’D)
Ah, damn. Lunch time's over. We'll
see you and your fantasy ideas
tomorrow, little man.
The men get up to leave.
MAN (CONT’D)
Sometimes a fun little idealist
like you brightens up our day. But
you guys don't last long. Not in
here.
They all leave. A guard nudges the MiTH with his rifle. He
gets up with the rest.
INT. WORKSTATION - DAY
The MiTH dully works at the carpenter's table. The rest of

the men around him are still figuring out out to straighten
out a piece of wood. The MiTH has already finished two chairs
and is working on this third. The guard walks past him. The
MiTH's eyes dart past, following the man.
He takes a small and slender piece of wood and begins to

carve it intricately.
A guard taps on his shoulder. He turns around in shock.
MAN
What're you working on?
MITH
A toothpick.
The man glares at him. A second of suspense as he prepares to

load his rifle. He scoffs and walks off. The MiTH heaves a
sigh of relief.
Buzzer.
A man lashes down with the whip in his hand. The MiTH, bound
to a wooden chair, screams and falls over. Strauss paces
around him in a circle. Any second, he could strike... he
advances and the MiTH shies away. Strauss laughs. The MiTH
laughs too.
MITH
What are you doing, Mr Strauss?
78.
Strauss paces around him like a predator.
MITH (CONT’D)
You're getting a man to whack me
with that thing as if it's going to
help you win this whole fight of
our's.
He gets whipped and winces again.
MITH (CONT’D)
After all this while, I'm eighteen
steps ahead of you and you're still
spamming the "skip turn" button not
even realising that you're helping
me play.
He groans. Buzzer. The man unbuckles him and drags him by the
shoulders. We hear a door slam.
The MiTH sits back down on his bed. His body is aching but
his mind is buzzing; calculating. He is still counting the
time. He lies down and stares up at the ceiling, spinning his
pencil. A moment passes. He gets up and mouths the numbers
out.
Fifty-four. Fifty-five. Fifty-six. Fifty-seven. Fifty-eight.

Fifty-nine.
Zero. One. Two.
He hears the faint opening of a door and the ringing of a

phone.
MAN
(faintly)
Hello? Yeah, darling. It's me. I'm
fine, yes. I'll be home at the
usual time.
Twenty-two. Twenty-three.
MAN (CONT’D)
(faintly)
Oh. Joey got another A? That's
great!
Thirty-one. Thirty-two.
The lock is opened and the door swings open. The afternoon
shift man is in again.
79.
MAN (CONT’D)
You been waiting for me?
The MiTH's eyes do not leave the man in the control room.
MITH
Yes, pretty much. Not much others I
can talk to.
The man smirks and closes the door, locking it.
Buzzer.
INT. CANTEEN - DAY
The MiTH is at the table, eating with the men.
MAN
Really? After all that you've seen,
you still don't believe it's
impossible to get out of here?
MITH
Tomorrow, gentlemen, tomorrow.
We'll all be free.
The men are doubtful of this but nod nonetheless. This guy
did seem quite the genius.
MITH (CONT’D)
All you need to do is wait. When
the moment is right, you'll know.
Buzzer.
The MiTH has finished a whole array of furniture. Two sets of

tables and four chairs, as well as a full set of miniature
models. He works some more on the small slender piece of
wood. It's done. He goes to work on a second piece. It is
flat but bent at the end.
MAN
Nice toothpicks.
MITH
Thank you.
The man walks off and the MiTH smiles to himself.

80.
MITH (CONT’D)
Say, could I take some of the
models I like to my cell?
MAN
Yeah, whatever.
The MiTH grins. He takes a miniature chair and his first

toothpick.
Buzzer.
The MiTH lies in a tub of ice cubes, shuddering.
MITH
If you're thinking you can break
me, Mayor Strauss...
He shivers.
MITH (CONT’D)
You're right. But it doesn't matter
if I am broken, because the idea
lives on. You can't ever break an
idea.
The man standing at his side shakes his head. Lunatic.

Buzzer.
Twenty-seven. Twenty-eight.
MAN
(faintly)
Yeah, I know. I'll go ask Mayor
Strauss for a pay rise one of these
days. Maybe he'll give it to me,
you never...
Thirty-two.
The door swings open. The MiTH is on his bed, twirling his
pencil. The man sees his chair.
MAN (CONT’D)
Nice model. You done carpentering
before?
81.
MITH
You could say that.
The man slams the door. The MiTH smiles.
Buzzer.
INT. CANTEEN - DAY
The men are gathered in a small circle.
MITH
Just wait for the signal. Watch for
the sign. When you see it, you run.
Got that.
They all nod.
MAN
Hey, little man. If this works and
we all get out, we don't know how
we're gonna thank you.
They all agree.
MITH
Don't need to thank me. You can
show your gratitude by making sure
Mr Strauss gets exactly what he
deserves for putting all of us in
here.
The men all nod and crack their knuckles eagerly.
MITH (CONT’D)
Just wait for the perfect moment.
Buzzer.
The MiTH perfects his second toothpick. It looks like a

miniature crowbar. The guard walks past again.
Buzzer.
He picks up a miniature table, his second toothpick, and

leaves.
82.
The MiTH lifts his head out of the water tank. He gasps for
breath and splutters. The man lets him fall onto the ground,
gasping for breath. Ten seconds. He grabs the MiTH and dunks
him into the water tank again. Buzzer.
The MiTH counts.
Fifty-seven. Fifty-eight. Fifty-nine.
Zero. He hears the phone door open.
He pulls his two toothpicks out from under his covers and
rushes to his door while counting.
Nine. Ten.
He inserts the long one into the lock and the crowbar in,
like a key. He works away, pushing one pin after the other
in.
Twenty-three. Twenty-four.
The phone rings. He works faster. Suddenly, the lock springs

open. He picks up his pencil and dashes to the wall at the
other end.
Thirty. Thirty-one. Thirty-tw...
The door slams open. The MiTH holds his breath.
MAN
What the hell?
He takes a step forward, into the MiTH's line of sight.

Mistake. In one swift motion, the MiTH grabs him by the mouth
and stabs him in the neck with the pencil. The guard screams
but is muffled out by the MiTH's hand. He falls to the
ground.
MITH
Sorry, pal.
He begins to unbutton the man's clothes. He unbuttons his own

shirt too.
83.
INT. JAIL - NIGHT
The MiTH, wearing the prison guard uniform and carrying his
rifle, strides smugly along the corridor of the jail.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
MAN
Yeah. I love you too. See you
tomorrow. Bye.
He puts the phone down and stretches, yawning. He looks up at

the cameras. He sees the MiTH in his cell, fast asleep on his
bed. In the screen beside that, he sees the afternoon guard
walking down the corridor as he should.
MAN (CONT’D)
Damn useless job. Not like anything
fancy's ever gonna happen around
here for a few years.
INT. JAIL - NIGHT
The MiTH swings the identification card on the keychain

around his index finger, whistling Barber’s Adagio for
Strings as he goes along. He stops before another cell.
"Lucas Staxer", it said.
MITH
Poisoning water, huh.
He taps the card against the lock. It bleeps and the heavy
door drags open.
MITH (CONT’D)
Sounds like a much more worthy
crime than shooting one miserable
man.
He walks on some more and taps cards on his left, on his

right, on his left, on his right... and he reaches the end of
the corridor.
He turns around to look at his handiwork. The men all

confusedly walk out of their cells and turn to look at the
MiTH. Expressions of wonder. Of thanks. Of excitement.
The man is messaging on his phone. He looks up briefly and

gets the shock of his life. He drops it.
84.
MAN
Oh shit...
INT. JAIL - NIGHT
The MiTH claps his hands together.
MITH
Gentlemen?
He takes off his cap.
MITH (CONT’D)
May the freedom...
He tosses it up into the air.
MITH (CONT’D)
...begin.
All madness breaks loose as a whole swarm of prisoners rush

out across the halls like mad bulls.
The man frantically slams against the emergency alarm button.

The alarm blares.
MAN
(into intercom)
This is Max Security Lockdown
control room, reporting a breakout
at...
The door is ripped from its hinges as a man kicks it down and
grabs the man by the shoulders.
INT. JAIL - NIGHT
The MiTH strides down the jail corridor cooly and calmly as
insanity flies around him. Guards fly across the corridor,
prisoners pound them against the walls...
He goes down the staircase, taps his card on the door, and
kicks the door open. A quick spray of bullets and the guards
waiting there are down on the floor. He goes into the door
that is titled "Weapons Impoundment".
Back into the game.

85.
He grabs his trenchcoat. His hat. His revolver and other

small gadgets. He zips up and puts his hat on.
MITH
Have fun, Mr Strauss.
He spins his revolver around his finger, reloads, and cocks

it back.
MITH (CONT’D)
Now, to get what I came for.
He steps calmly across the halls. A guard points his gun at

him and fires. He misses.
MITH (CONT’D)
Say...
He disarms the man and pins him against the wall with the
revolver to his head.
MITH (CONT'D)
...would you happen to if the
camera footage of this jail is
archived?
MAN
(nervously)
Yeah, it is.
MITH
Thanks.
He whacks the man unconscious and walks on.
The MiTH opens the door and pulls out a thumbdrive from his
coat pocket. He plugs it into the computer and pulls the
chair in.
MITH
A little touch of magic, Mr
Strauss.
He taps away rapidly at the keys.
Strauss is cracking his knuckles and adjusting his tie.

86.
MAN (O.S.)
Sir, we're receiving reports of a
massive breakout at Max Security
Lockdown.
Strauss pauses.
STRAUSS
Let me guess. It's our old friend
with the hat.
The man nods nervously. Strauss sighs.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Let's go meet him at the exit. Full
battalion. Let's go.
He loads his gun.
The computer screens are scrolling rapidly through the

archives. The MiTH's eyes dart back and forth, scanning each
one. A few videos open up successively, showing scenes of the
various prisoners getting tortured harshly. The MiTH copies a
few of them into the thumbdrive. When satisfied, he unplugs
it and leaves.
INT. JAIL - NIGHT
He hurries down the corridor, to the door at the other end.

The men follow. He gestures for them to wait. He kicks it
down, and dashes into...
EXT. JAIL - NIGHT
...Strauss and his men, there waiting for him.
MITH
Damn it.
Strauss points his pistol at him.
STRAUSS
I knew you'd get out eventually. It
was just a matter of when.
The MiTH scoffs.

87.
MITH
And if you knew that I'd get out,
why didn't you kill me in the first
place?
STRAUSS
How were you so sure, for that
matter, that I wasn't going to kill
you?
MITH
Because if you wanted you, you
would've asked that nice assassin
of your's to slit my throat the
moment she had the chance.
He slides his finger across his neck.
MITH (CONT’D)
So tell me, Mr Strauss. Why spare
me?
STRAUSS
Two reasons.
He starts pacing around.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
One. If I killed you, what would
the public say? To be very
technical, you only killed one man
in your whole spree. If you broke
out, however, that would be some
proper justification to want... I
mean, need you dead.
The MiTH shrugs.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Two. What good is death a
punishment for you? You'd be
allowed the easy way out. Now, we
wouldn't want that, would we? After
all that you've done?
The MiTH laughs.
MITH
So this is what it's come to, huh?
Mr Strauss, just look at yourself.
You've become a sadistic tormentor.
All that talk about order and
peace, it was all just a cover.
Euphemism, as you say.
(MORE)
88.
MITH (CONT'D)
You don't really want peace; you
don't really want order. What you
really want is control.
He spins out his revolver. Strauss' men all raise their

rifles.
MITH (CONT’D)
Brought backup, now did we?
He pulls the door behind him open.
MITH (CONT’D)
Well, so did I.
A hoard of prisoners rushes out at once. Strauss' men go mad

with the firing. The MiTH sprints out in a different
direction. Strauss breaks off from his men and pursues him.
The MiTH and Strauss exchange fire. The MiTH dodges behind a
vehicle as Strauss shoots the door twice.
MITH (CONT’D)
So this is what it has come to,
huh, Mayor Strauss? This is the
real you?
STRAUSS
Yes, it is.
He circles around the vehicle.
MITH
Want a reminder of the times that
once were?
He whips around and fires a single well-aimed bullet. It

flies and strikes Strauss in exactly the same place as his
arm wound. He screams like fire is tearing through his veins
and falls to the ground. The MiTH continues running, shooting
one of Strauss' men in the shoulder and diving under the
barrier. He turns around just before he leaves to watch the
anarchy unfold.
MITH (CONT’D)
Cheers, Mayor Strauss! Hope you
didn't leave anything behind!
He sprints off into the surrounding foliage.
Tristen is examining the MiTH's hidden compartments in his

house. She hears a knock on the door. She opens it.
89.
EXT. MITH'S HOUSE - NIGHT
It's the MiTH. Dishevelled, distraught, and exhausted. She

takes a step back as he falls to his knees, panting.
TRISTEN
I'm supposed to kill you.
MITH
Do it.
Tristen pauses. She goes back inside and slams the door in
his face. A moment as the MiTH takes a deep breath. She opens
it and tosses him a towel.
TRISTEN
Come inside and get cleaned up.
You're gonna get sniped if you
stand out here.
He smiles wearily and gratefully, and slams the door shut.
The MiTH sits down on the couch, closes his eyes, and sighs.
Tristen swipes a whiplash on his neck with alcohol. He winces
slightly.
MITH
Tell me, Tristen, have you made
your mind up?
TRISTEN
What do you think?
MITH
I'd fancy an adventurous yes, but
hey, you never know.
Silence for a few moments as he dresses his own wounds.
MITH (CONT’D)
If I were you, the answer would be
without hesitation.
He stands up and stretches.
MITH (CONT’D)
But I know you've got fears locked
deep down inside you, Tristen. It's
in your eyes. The way you look at
people just screams distrust. Dark
past, huh.
90.
Tristen remains silent. We hear a girl laughing off-screen.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. MEMORY LANE - UNKNOWN
Young Tristen runs and plays, frolicking in the snow. All is

silent, her laughter echoes in the ashy darkness. She runs
into a narrow corridor and a man grabs her from behind,
covering her mouth. She screams.
CUT TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
INT. KIDNAP ROOM - NIGHT
Tristen is chained up to the wall in a dimly lit room. She

opens her eyes. Her clothes are torn, she is injured and
bleeding all over. She struggles, but to no avail. A man
steps up to her. He is half-shrouded in the darkness.
MAN
Do you know why you're here?
We see her face. Tears streaming down. Fear in her eyes.
INT. KIDNAP ARENA - NIGHT
She hits the ground after being thrown into a large ring. She
is bound up with ropes. There is a knife ahead of her in the
ground. She struggles to untie herself. A shot hits the
ground in front of her. She looks up. The man in the shadows,
holding a smoking gun.
MAN
Untie yourself.
Tristen fearfully and hurriedly unties herself. She gets up,

her hands bleeding. Another young girl is thrown into the
ring with a knife. She unties herself and gets up fearfully
as well.
MAN (CONT’D)
Fight.
He loads his gun. Tristen picks up her knife, and the other
girl follows suit. She is shaking with fear. A shot rings
out. She screams, and dodges back. The other girl can't even
hold her knife properly. She drops it.
91.
MAN (CONT’D)
Kill her.
Tristen looks at her reflection on the blade. She's just an

innocent, scared little girl... she's never done something
like this bef...
Gunshot. She leaps up to the other girl and plunges the

dagger into her chest.
She is brought back into the room and thrown a small pack of
uncooked rice.
MAN
Eat. You fight again tomorrow.
She devours it voraciously, tears streaming from her eyes as

the rice is stained red.
She hits the ground and rushes for her knife. She picks it
up. The boy at the other end of the ring looks ready to kill.
Without waiting for the call he rushes up to her and slashes
wildly. Blood splatters across the ground as she is struck on
the face.
He has pinned her on the ground, seething with rage. She is

grabbing his wrist, the only thing stopping her from death.
She screams. The man in the shadows grins. With a shout of
rage, she flips her adversary the other way and stabs once,
twice, thrice... he slashes at her arms helplessly, screaming
in pain... seven, eight, nine... he stops squirming.
She gets up. Her arms are covered in cuts and her hands in
blood. She is no longer the innocent little girl she once
was.
She is thrown her pack of rice again. Before the man leaves
she runs up to him but she is met with a door to the face.
The spotlight burns down on the other girl. She looks too
exhausted to move.
92.
Tristen picks up her knife and walks over, circling her

opponent. The man in the shadows grins bloodthirstily.
Tristen drops her knife.
MAN
Kill her!
He picks up his gun and shoots, missing her by an inch. She

doesn't even flinch. With steely determination she grabs the
other girl by the neck with her bare hands and screams with
fury. The other girl's fear is eminent in her last moments as
she chokes and dies. Tristen gets up. The man in the shadows
gives her a standing ovation, but her rage is not sated.
TRISTEN
Let me go!
The man laughs.
MAN
No. You're going to keep coming
here every day and you're going to
keep fighting for me. Until the day
that somebody kills you.
She screams as two burly men enter the ring to drag her back
to her room. She picks up her knife and leaps onto the first,
stabbing him in the forehead. The man in the shadows gets up
and aims his shot. He hits the other man by accident.
MAN (CONT’D)
Oh sheet...
Tristen grabs her knife and slashes. Blood splashes across

the ground.
EXT. MEMORY LANE - UNKNOWN
She sprints across the snow, leaving a bloodied trial behind.

She holds on to her knife as she runs; no longer an innocent
little girl. The snow comes down like ash as she runs on,
tears streaming down from her eyes...
END FLASHBACK.
Tears stream down from Tristen's eyes. The MiTH sits down
beside her.
93.
MITH
Did I ever tell you why I do all
this now?
She shakes her head and sobs, leaning against his shoulder.
MITH (CONT’D)
My father used to do the same
things that I do now. He was a
great man. Brilliant. Courageous.
Dangerously good-looking and most
importantly of all influential.
He gives her a tissue. She dries her tears. He puts his arm
around her neck.
MITH (CONT’D)
He was the only one who saw this
preset the government was setting
for us. And he didn't like it. So
he spread the word and gathered
support. When they were ready, he
led the uprising against the
government. A group of a thousand
brave men willing to die for the
future of our people.
He takes a deep breath.
TRISTEN
Did they succeed?
MITH
No. They didn't. The plan was
perfect. The execution was
impeccable. But still, they had
underestimated their enemy. Every
single last one of them was
slaughtered. It was a bloodbath. A
thousand men dead in two days. Not
one survived. Following that the
government covered it up for the
future generations and they tried
to wipe my father from the memory
of the people, but no.
He takes off his hat.
MITH (CONT’D)
His legacy lives on.
She nods.
94.
MITH (CONT’D)
I still remember his final words on
the battlefield that day as I
watched him die. He was rallying
his shattered resistance against
the soldiers.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SHATTERED BUILDING - DAY
Cassander Chares Rontez punches the air with gusto.
CASSANDER
People come; people go. People
live; people die. But ideas, ideas
last forever. I die today, but my
legacy lives on, even though I am
dead. Charge forward!
Young Theodore watches in fear from within the building.
CASSANDER (CONT'D)
May the cause... live on!
The men all cry and rush forward, shooting wildly. A bullet
flies and hits Cassander in the forehead. Tears stream down
Theodore's face but choke him too much for him to cry.
END FLASHBACK.
MITH
I will never forget him, I will
never forget his ideals. He wasn't
named, ever. But he died a nameless
hero, and people remembered his
cause and not his face. I guess
that was enough for him, as it is
enough for me.
Tristen sniffs. He pats her on the back.
MITH (CONT’D)
Want to talk about it?
She nods.
MITH (CONT’D)
Tell me. I'm listening.
95.
We pan out of the window.
INT. OPERATING THEATRE - NIGHT
Strauss lies in bed. His arm is replaced by a cybernetic

implant. He is alone.
STRAUSS
I know you're out there.
He sits up.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I know where you are.
His arm clicks. There is a submachine gun on the end, on his

wrist. It loads.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
And I'm coming for you.
He smirks. He laughs. Louder. Cackling.
EXT. MEETING ROOM - DAY
Strauss' new assistant helps him straighten his tie and wear
his gloves over the gun. He puts on a pair of sunglasses. A
man opens the door.
MAN
Sir. The governor will speak to you
now.
Strauss gets up and enters.
INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY
He takes a seat at the long end of the table. Many important-

looking people stare at him. The GOVERNOR at the other end
clears his throat, and speaks his missive.
GOVERNOR
Mr Strauss. Do you know why we
called you here?
Strauss shakes his head. The Governor leans forward, arching

over the table.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
Mr Strauss. There has been a breach
in security.
96.
STRAUSS
That I know. There's been a
terrorist going around breaking out
of prison.
GOVERNOR
No, no, no. I'm not talking about
that. That's for your local police
force to deal with. What I'm
talking about is a leakage of
information.
The Governor taps on the tablet in front of him the screen

above him powers up and shows a directory of files.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
Yesterday night, we've found that a
few files were copied from the
secure government disk.
He taps into the logs and the files appear in sequence.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
Do you know what these are, Mr
Strauss?
STRAUSS
Prison footage.
GOVERNOR
Not just any prison footage.
He taps into one of the files and it shows a prisoner being

whipped.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
Punishment footage.
The Governor deactivates the screen and stands up.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
Do you know what this means for us,
Mr Strauss?
Strauss remains passive.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
If this information gets out, the
whole government system will face
an uprising like it did twenty
years ago. People will see this and
start questioning the system!
Strauss nods, unimpressed.

97.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
If you're unable to retrieve these
file and perform your duties with
the utmost excellence of which you
are expected, I will have no choice
but to let your successor take
over.
Strauss removes his sunglasses. The people in the room start

murmuring.
STRAUSS
Excuse me?
GOVERNOR
We cannot risk any more sloppy
behaviour on your part. If you do
not achieve perfection, someone
else will.
Strauss begins a maniacal laugh. He turns to look at his

assistant. The man shakes his head, glancing nervously at the
Governor. Strauss turns back to look at him with a grim
smile.
STRAUSS
Fear not, Governor. I will make
sure those files are retrieved and
the thief is brought to justice.
GOVERNOR
You had better, for your own sake.
Meeting over. Leave us, Mr Strauss.
Strauss gets up and leaves, the insane smile on his face. He

puts his sunglasses on again.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
David, a word wit...
The door slams shut.
The MiTH and Tristen sit on the couch. He is working away at

his laptop.
TRISTEN
What's that?
MITH
The only thing I need to finish.
98.
His fingers fly across the keys.
TRISTEN
That's not an answer.
She leans in closer to him and whispers lightly in his ear.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Come on, tell me.
The MiTH glances at her unnoticeably and smirks.
MITH
It's our secret weapon. When this
gets out the world will be able to
see how brutal Strauss really is
and I can call up the second
uprising.
TRISTEN
So this is your grand plan?
MITH
Yes, in a way it is.
She smiles.
TRISTEN
I don't know how this is going to
work but given how smart you are...
She taps his nose playfully.
TRISTEN (CONT'D)
...I'm sure it will.
She gets up to get a glass of water. The MiTH looks up from

his screen to watch her do so. It's the first time she's
truly happy and not... hungry for the kill. She takes the
filled glass and returns. The MiTH looks down immediately,
hoping she didn't see him.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Here you go. For my little master
hacker and strategist.
She sets it down beside him. He looks up at her and smiles.

They gaze into each others' eyes for a moment. She smiles and
walks off. The MiTH sighs and works on, reenergised. A few
clicks, drags, taps. A final, confident tap on the enter
button.
MITH
I'm done!
99.
Tristen comes over excitedly. The MiTH plays the video.
MITH (CONT’D)
(from video)
My name is Theodore Rontez. If
you're watching this video now,
that means that my plan succeeded.
I could be alive, or dead. It
doens't matter. What's important is
that this messsage gets across to
you.
We finally see what's being played. We see an image of

Strauss.
MITH (CONT’D)
(from video)
This is Mayor Strauss. Everyone
thinks he's a nice guy. But is he,
really?
The video shows footage of Strauss whipping prisoners and

laughing as he does so.
MITH (CONT’D)
(from video)
Is this really your idea of what a
caring man should look like?
The video shows a picture of Strauss' patient profile from

the hospital. It show his dishevelled hair, his prosthetic
eye and arm, his bloodied shirt and his deranged smile.
MITH (CONT’D)
(from video)
The government is always watching
us. Why do you think that is so?
The answer is simple. They want
absolute, complete control over us
and every aspect of our lives. They
say it's for efficiency. They say
it's for progress. But for
efficiency, does the government
cover up an uprising from a few
years ago? No, it doesn't. This
perfect world isn't that perfect.
They're al...
A buzzer sounds. The MiTH slams his computer shut.
MITH (CONT’D)
Public announcement.
100.
STRAUSS
(over P.A. system)
Citizens of Phlox. This is your
Mayor Strauss speaking.
There is a diabolical tone to his voice.
STRAUSS (CONT'D)
(over P.A. system)
By order of the Governor the fight
against terrorism has come to a red
zone. In order to up our
effectiveness at apprehending those
that are involved, the government
will be conducting several checks
on the citizens of our city,
including a few which may be viewed
as an invasion of privacy or
interruption of workflow. These
checks are mandatory in the process
of investigation and tracking down
those to be punished. Any form of
resistance to authorities or aid to
terrorists will be dealt with
severely. Those caught will be
punished in the same way as the
criminals. This is Mayor Strauss,
signing off. Have a pleasant day.
The MiTH and Tristen look at each other.
MITH
Okay, maybe I'm short of a
broadcast medium. I wounded Strauss
and broke a few of those dangerous
criminal loose, which I thought
would buy us enough time to find
one, but evidently Strauss has
upped his game to an inhumane
level.
TRISTEN
I don't get much of what you're
saying, but I'll help you however I
can. I've seen firsthand what
Strauss' shitty rule has done for
the people. 'Specially us folks who
struggle to get a living every
single day.
MITH
Precisely. Think of it this way. I
have a letter and my goal is to get
the letter to the entire world.
(MORE)
101.
MITH (CONT'D)
What I need is a mailman to deliver
a copy of this letter to everyone
on earth. Where I'll find this
mailman is the real question.
Tristen thinks.
TRISTEN
What about that big satellite dish
thingy on top of the radio tower?
Strauss uses it for TV broadcasts,
right?
MITH
That is true. And I've considered
it, believe me. Few problems with
that, though. First of all, the
comms tower itself is connected to
one large central computer system,
which is where I'd have to upload
the file. The problem would be
getting the file in there. Strauss
probably has some password or
something guarding the computer's
software. I'm going to have to hack
that, but it could take quite
awhile depending on how complicated
it is.
TRISTEN
I'm sure you can do it. You're a
pro. And a genius.
MITH
Yeah, but no matter how much
intelligence I have, I'm still
gonna have some trouble getting my
laptop into one of the most heavily-
guarded buildings in the city. And
I'll have to survive in there long
enough to get through the password,
upload the file, and transmit it.
Now that's going to be a problem.
Tristen shifts closer to him and puts her arm around his
neck.
TRISTEN
(soothingly)
Hey, listen to me.
He looks at her.
102.
TRISTEN (CONT'D)
I know I probably don't have the
right to comment here, but I
believe in you, okay?
He smiles.
MITH
Thanks, love.
She ruffles his hair and gets up, stretching.
TRISTEN
So, we breaking in or what?
She flips out a dagger.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
I haven't gotten a kill in quite a
while. I miss the thrills.
She spins it repeatedly. The MiTH gets up.
MITH
Not without a plan, love.
He spins out a pen.
MITH (CONT’D)
Come forth, Mr Strauss. Give us
your best. We're ready.
INT. QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
STRAUSS
(into microphone)
Next.
A man steps forth.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Arnold Hazengras?
He nods.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
ID.
The man presents his identification card and scans his

thumbprint against the scanner.
103.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You're free to go.
The man nods.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(into microphone)
Next.
Another man steps forth.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Mars Rex Nymatoftyl?
He nods.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
ID.
The man presents his identification and scans his... it

bleeps red.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You've been convicted of arson and
murder?
MAN
What? No! I got acquitted!
STRAUSS
Please step to the side.
The man is hauled off, struggling and protesting, by Strauss'

men. He is dumped into a military truck with a machine gun on
top with a few other terrified people.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
(into microphone)
Next.
The line stretches for miles and miles.
The MiTH stretches a massive piece of paper over his wall. A

fresh start.
MITH
This is the approximate layout of
the communications building, from
what I've researched.
He draws a few lines out.

104.
MITH (CONT’D)
(while drawing)
The thing is out in a rather remote
area up West. There are five levels
in the entire building. That's
going to be an extra problem for
us, because the stairs are an area
of vulnerability. You would know.
TRISTEN
Yeah. If they get the high ground
we're screwed.
MITH
Hence, we'll need to find a way to
get in there via unconventional
means.
He steps back and observes his floor plan again.
MITH (CONT’D)
This is the room we need to get to.
He points at the top floor.
MITH (CONT’D)
There are two windows, one here and
one there.
He points at the windows.
MITH (CONT’D)
If I can get in through either
window, we might have a chance. The
problem is, we need a distraction,
and a way to get the computer into
the room.
TRISTEN
I could do the distraction, no
problem.
MITH
Now, I'm going to need a way to get
through the password. But while I'm
at that, there are gonna be cameras
staring down my back, no? So I'm
gonna need to hack into those too.
But the guy in the control room is
still going to alerted if the
cameras blank out, which means I'll
need to play the same footage over
and over and over again so he
doesn't notice the difference.
105.
TRISTEN
Sounds like a plan.
MITH
But I need the password.
TRISTEN
Can't you like... hack it or
something?
The MiTH laughs.
MITH
That's not how hacking works, love.
If I'm going to crack that password
manually I'd need at least an hour
with my laptop sitting there. And
we definitely don't have that long.
So I'll need to get that password
through a different kind of hack.
TRISTEN
What?
MITH
Social engineering.
INT. COMMS ROOM - DAY
A man sits at the computer terminal, running maintenance

checks.
MITH (O.S.)
Think about it carefully. Who's the
only person that knows the password
to the computer at the terminal?
The IT guy that runs the
maintenance checks every now and
then. If we can get the password
from this guy, we've gotten our way
in there.
TRISTEN (O.S.)
And how are we going to do that?
MITH (O.S.)
Simple.
We zoom out and see the whole building on top of the hills.
MITH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Remember how I said that the place
was really remote?
(MORE)
106.

I know that there's one coffee
place nearby. I bet a million bucks
that's where the guy hangs out
during his breaktimes.
We see the coffee place and zoom in to see the man buying a
flat white from the counter.

All we need to do is a little bit
of scouting.
We zip all the way back into the MiTH's house.
MITH (CONT’D)
And that's how it's done.
Tristen grins.
TRISTEN
I like it.
The MiTH smiles smugly. Public announcement buzz.
STRAUSS
(over P.A. system)
Citizens of Holtzclaw District,
this is Mayor Strauss checking in.
The army will be performing
uninformed house checks in the
district. Please remain
cooperative. Any form of resistance
will be seen as an attempt to aid
the terrorists, and will be dealt
with severely. Thank you. This is
Mayor Strauss, signing off.
MITH
House searches, huh. That's a
bummer. We'll have to work fast.
He slams the computer onto the table and boots up Kali Linux.
He goes into Metasploit.
MITH (CONT’D)
Alrighty. Here's how the thing's
going to work.
He slams a piece of paper on the table and draws a few boxes.
MITH (CONT’D)
This here is my computer. This here
is the camera.
107.
He labels the boxes.
MITH (CONT’D)
What links the two of them
together?
TRISTEN
The Wifi network?
MITH
Yes. Exactly.
TRISTEN
So you're using the Wifi network to
hack the camera.
MITH
Yes. Precisely.
He draws a few lines and labels them "wifi".
MITH (CONT’D)
But in order to do that, I'll need
to find an open port that I can use
to establish a connection to the
camera. I do that through a port
scan.
He runs an NMap scan.
MITH (CONT’D)
Like the one here. Now that's going
to take awhile. In the meantime I'm
going to do a scout of the location
as well as the coffee place. You
stay here and make sure Strauss
doesn't kidnap the computer while
I'm gone, alright?
TRISTEN
Aww, all by myself?
She winks at him playfully. He grins and gives her a small

kiss on the cheek.
MITH
I'll be back soon.
He shuts the door behind him. Tristen leans back on the chair
and sighs, smiling.
108.
INT. RANDOM HOUSE - DAY
The door swings open with a bang. A few soldiers dash in

carrying heavy pulse rifles.
Bang. Strauss shoots a picture of him with Tracy with his arm
cannon. He picks up the frame with the shattered glass and
smoking picture.
STRAUSS
Did I ever tell you...
INT. RANDOM HOUSE - DAY
The soldiers grab a man and throw him on the ground, shooting
him rapidly in the head. His wife screams. The men grab her
and throw her to the side, off-screen.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
...why I do what I do?
He crushes the photo frame with his bare hand. The glass and
metal cut into his skin but he doesn't care.
STRAUSS
I don't think I did.
He swipes it off the desk. We see his dishevelled and hideous

face. His hand is bloody but he doesn't even bother to wash
it.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Regardless.
EXT. RANDOM HOUSE - DAY
The house door is busted down and the soldiers dash out. The
woman is left inside with torn clothing, crying.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
I'm coming for you.
109.
INT. COFFEE PLACE - DAY
The MiTH orders a long black and sits inconspicuously at the

table. He is disguised as a random police officer. He
eavesdrops on the conversation coming from the table beside
him.
MAN
What? Yeah. I ran the scripts this
morning. All's good. No viruses or
attacks or anything. Everything's
going as expected.
He sips his coffee slowly.
The computer bleeps. Tristen hurriedly gets up to check what

had happened. The scan is complete.
TRISTEN
Ah, damn it!
She looks at all the options in the menu in front of her

cluelessly. Making sure no one is looking, she closes the
laptop carefully. A knock on the door.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Shit.
She stows the laptop under the tea table and opens the door.
Strauss.
TRISTEN (CONT’D)
Mr. Mayor.
STRAUSS
Tristen. Pleasure to see you again.
TRISTEN
Boy, you're looking fine...
Strauss enters the house. He speaks without looking at her.
STRAUSS
Say, you haven't seen him around
here recently, have you?
TRISTEN
Who?
Strauss squints.
110.
STRAUSS
You know who.
TRISTEN
Uh... no...? If I did I would've
killed him like you told me to.
STRAUSS
You sure?
He walks over to where the laptop is hidden and glares at the

spot. Tristen gulps.
TRISTEN
Yeah. Affirmative.
She grips on to the blade at her hip.
STRAUSS
Good.
Strauss exits the house. A device in his hand bleeps.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Send him my regards.
He slams the door behind him. Tristen dives for the phone.
The MiTH picks up his phone.
MITH
Yea, love?
TRISTEN
(over phone)
Hey, we have a really big problem.
EXT. HOLTZCLAW WAY - DAY
Tristen sprints along the street, carrying the MiTH's laptop.
MITH
(over phone)
I know.
She stops.
TRISTEN
What?
111.
MITH
This'll all be over by tonight,
okay? Just trust me.
He puts the phone down and gets up, walking towards the
counter. The other man at the desk gets up too. They collide.
His glasses fall to the ground.
MITH (CONT’D)
Oh, curse me!
With a swift sleight of hand he switches the man's glasses

with a pair he has hidden up his sleeve.
MAN
Gawd, look where you're walking,
mate!
MITH
Here you go. Say, do you happen to
work at the intercomms tower?
MAN
Yeah, ‘course.
MITH
Hey, tell you what. I'll buy you a
beer to make up for it.
MAN
Sure.
INT. STRAUSS' MANSION - DAY
Strauss loads his arm cannon.
STRAUSS
Stroke of luck, eh boys?
He double-taps his wrist. A popup appears.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Seems we've got a clear shot of
where he's going to hit next.
Infocomms tower, huh.
The popup disappears.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
No time for that.
112.
He gestures for the rest of his team to follow him.
The MiTH sits at the table with the other man.
MITH
Say, what do you do, exactly?
MAN
Me? I'm the security guy. Nothin’
much, really. I just run some
maintenance scripts and all to make
sure everything's up and running
perfectly. No viruses or attacks or
anythin’.
MITH
Cool.
He nods in approval. His phone buzzes again.
MITH (CONT’D)
Yea, love?
TRISTEN
Theodore, you don't understand!
Strauss is coming for you!
MITH
I know he is. I've set him up to go
to the other end of the city. It
should buy us an hour or two.
You're out of the house?
TRISTEN
Yes? With your laptop?
MITH
Perfect. Go take a taxi to the
building opposite the infocomms
tower. The empty one. I'll meet you
there in a bit.
He puts the phone down.
MAN
Your girl?
MITH
Well, you could say that.
The man nods.

113.
MAN
I mean, in a profession like our's,
life gets kinda lonely and all from
time to time.
MITH
Yes, indeed it does.
MAN
It's great to have people we care
about to hold us down to earth so
we don't lose it. They're
important.
MITH
Yes. Indeed they are.
He gives a grin and gets up.
MITH (CONT’D)
Pleasure meeting you today. I'll
see you.
He grabs the beer.
MAN
Cheers, mate. Nice meetin’ you.
MITH
You off to work?
MAN
Yeah. Gotta run some anti-virus now
before lunch.
MITH
Sure. Cheers.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
Strauss' army arrives outside an abandoned warehouse.
STRAUSS
This is the end.
He loads his arm-cannon again.
MAN
You sure this is the right place,
sir?
STRAUSS
Don't doubt me.
114.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
Strauss knocks the door down and enters the dark warehouse.
It is empty.
MAN
You very sure you got the right
place, sir?
STRAUSS
I tracked his IP all the way here.
He tried sweeping our network but
stupidity made him leave his IP
visible. I tracked it all the way
here.
MAN
Where'd you learn to hack, sir?
STRAUSS
The same place he's going to be
tonight.
Strauss approaches the chair at the centre of the room.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Game over. I win.
He sprays an onslaught of bullets into the chair. It shreds

the velvet like paper. He stops and walks closer. There is a
note on the chair.
"Let's play a game, Mr. Strauss."
Explosion.
INT. OPPOSITE BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH hurries up the stairs.
MITH
I'm here.
TRISTEN
Where've you been?
MITH
Getting to know a new friend.
He cracks his knuckles.
MITH (CONT’D)
Now we get to work.
115.
He pulls out a zipline and sets it down at the windowsill. He

takes his laptop from Tristen and flips it open.
MITH (CONT’D)
And there goes the cameras. Now we
need a little bit of luck.
He taps a few buttons and a video screen opens up.
MITH (CONT’D)
Bingo.
It shows the man entering the broadcast room and sitting in

front of the computer.
TRISTEN
Is that...?
MITH
Yes it is, love.
The man types the password in.
MITH (CONT’D)
The password is "Veritas". Some
irony there. You going by the
bottom, love?
TRISTEN
As per planned.
The MiTH grins. He passes her a bulletproof vest inside his

backpack.
MITH
Take this and wear it. It'll keep
you alive when I can't.
TRISTEN
Got it.
She puts it on.
MITH
For the freedom of the people.
Forever.
TRISTEN
For the freedom of the people.
She dashes out. The MiTH fires the zipline into the building.
It smashes through the window and locks itself there.
116.
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
Strauss laughs hysterically as the warehouse around him is

engulfed in flames and his flesh melts off his bones.
STRAUSS
You think this can stop me? I'm
still playing as well as ever!
INT. OPPOSITE BUILDING - DAY
The MiTH grins.
MITH
Let's play a game, Mr. Strauss.
The man looks up from his seat and stares up at the MiTH
through the window, stunned.
MITH (CONT’D)
Cheers, mate.
He fires a dart from a small blaster and knocks him

unconscious. Following that, he ziplines into the building
and lands on the floor.
INT. COMPUTER ROOM - DAY
MITH
Let's get to work.
He slams a Raspberry pi minicomputer on the table. "Just in

case", it reads. He plugs his thumbdrive in and uses a piece
of tape removed from the beer bottle earlier for the
thumbprint scanner. The computer boots up and the MiTH rubs
his hands in glee. He opens up the file and clicks on
"upload". "Please enter password", he is prompted. Easy. He
types "Veritas" in.
INT. COMMS BUILDING GROUND FLOOR - DAY
Tristen strides into the building. The guards immediately

take notice.
MAN
Ma'am...
She grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him closer. He looks
terrified.
117.
TRISTEN
Shh...
Following this, she pushes him away. He falls to the ground,

dead. She flips the dagger in her hand up again.
MAN
What the...
She throws a throwing knife and it strikes the man in the

forehead before he can react. The crowd screams and plunges
into anarchy.
EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY
Strauss steps out of the burning building as it crumbles to

pieces. A few men come and check if he is okay.
MAN
Sir, you need some medical
attention. Let me get you patched
up.
Strauss swipes his hand away.
STRAUSS
Only mortal men need healing.
He loads his arm cannon again, smiling maniacally.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Communications tower. Now. Full
artillery. Shoot on sight. No
mercy, no hostages. Collateral
damage will be dealt with later.
He steps into the car and slams the door.
The MiTH sits and waits impatiently. The upload is completing

soon. He snaps his fingers as the loading bar fills up.
"Confirm broadcast?" YES, he clicks. "Please verify with
audio cue."
The MiTH's face goes white.
MITH
Oh shit.
He plugs the thumbdrive out and plugs the pi in.

118.
MITH (CONT’D)
(into intercom)
Hey love, we've got a serious
problem.
Tristen roundhouse kicks a guard in the jaw.
TRISTEN
(into intercom)
What's up?
MITH
(through intercom)
There's an extra voice key now. I
need Strauss to say something in
order for me to upload it.
TRISTEN
(into intercom)
Dammit.
She slashes a guard and gets grabbed by the shoulders from

behind.
The pi blinks green. The MiTH unplugs it.
MITH
(into intercom)
I've got a really desperate plan to
salvage the situation. We're going
to need to fall back, because
Strauss already knows we're here.
He's prepared.
He grabs the pi and shoves it up his sleeve, making a dash

down the stairs.
Tristen looks overwhelmed. Suddenly, the two men beside her

are shot in the shoulders and fall to the ground. The MiTH
grabs her hand.
MITH
Run.
119.
They make a sprint for it as guards shoot at them from all

directions.
EXT. COMMS BUILDING GROUND FLOOR - DAY
Outside, a few soldiers are waiting for them. The MiTH pulls
Tristen and himself behind a pillar just in time before a few
rifle shots obliterate where they were standing.
MITH
All we need is to stall a little
time.
He checks his watch. Five thirty.
MITH (CONT’D)
We may not have that much left.
Let's just hope for the best.
He holds his breath.
MITH (CONT’D)
On three.
TRISTEN
Two.
MITH
One.
They leap out. The MiTH shoots at the men once and they
sprint for it.
EXT. VICTORY LANE - DAY
The sun is beginning to set. Tristen and the MiTH sprint for
their lives across the street.
INT. STRAUSS' CAR - DAY
Strauss sits on the seat, looking deranged.
MAN
Would you like some water, sir?
STRAUSS
Sure.
He takes the cup and cackles without drinking. The man sits
back and gulps.
120.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
How long more?
MAN
About a minute, sir.
STRAUSS
Perfect.
He loads his arm cannon for the third time.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
I've got you now. You can run, but
there's no escape from the
inevitable.
The MiTH sights a few military vehicles approaching. He

changes direction.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
Very soon, your crimes against
humanity are going to catch up to
you. And when they do...
INT. STRAUSS' CAR - DAY
Strauss crushes the glass between his hand.
MAN
Sir! You're bleeding!
STRAUSS
Pain only makes me stronger.
He cracks his knuckles.
MAN
(in his mind)
Imbecile! Shame!
MITH
(in his mind)
Let's play a game, Mr Strauss.
Strauss grins. The man looks terrified.
STRAUSS
It's the very reason that I'm going
to win this fight.
121.
A bullet strikes the marble statue just in front of the MiTH.

He stops short, his face going pale. That trail was all too
familiar.
MITH
Sniper! Get down!
He and Tristen dive as the next shot narrowly misses them by

a centimetre. The MiTH starts panting heavily. He snaps his
fingers, stressing over the next course of action.
He takes off his hat and throws it in the air. As predicted

the sniper shoots the area just below it. In a split second
the MiTH gets up and fires a revolver shot in the direction
that the sniper shot came from. He grabs Tristen and they run
for cover.
They stop behind a building just before the next sniper shot
comes through. They are both exhausted.
TRISTEN
Why are we running? We should be
staying to fight!
MITH
Some fights you can't win unless
you lose the small battles and win
the war.
For once he seems like he is losing his cool. He clutches his

heart and slides down the wall he is leaning against. Tristen
puts her arm around his neck and gives him a small kiss.
TRISTEN
Hey, stay strong, alright? You got
this. Don't give up now?
MITH
The plan screwed up and I didn't
even remotely see this coming.
We're absolutely screwed. Strauss
has got his whole army coming for
us. We can't...
TRISTEN
Shh...
She strokes his head and gives him an embrace. He calms down
slightly and takes deep breaths.
122.
MITH
You know that there's a chance that
neither of us will survive this,
right, love?
TRISTEN
I know. I don't mind dying
alongside you.
MITH
I don't want you to sacrifice
yourself for me. I don't want you
to get hurt.
TRISTEN
I don't want you to sacrifice the
mission for me either. I've done
some terrible things in my life and
I deserve some comeuppance.
He pats her twice on the back and gets up. He checks his
watch. Six twenty-four.
MITH
You won't need to. Let's go.
EXT. VICTORY LANE - NIGHT
The sun is halfway down its horizon. Military vehicles close

in from all corners.
MITH
They're bringing bigger and bigger
guns. These are for crowd control.
Pretty soon they're going to be
dropping nukes on us.
The vehicles all stop, suddenly.
MITH (CONT’D)
Oh dear.
They withdraw, one by one. A limousine pulls in.
MITH (CONT’D)
En garde.
Tristen whips out her dagger. The MiTH spins his revolver and
reloads it. Strauss steps out of the limousine.
MITH (CONT’D)
You're in a state, Mayor Strauss.
123.
STRAUSS
Of course. You gave me quite the
slip there, didn't you?
The pi in his hand bleeps green at the sound of Strauss'

voice.
INT. COMPUTER ROOM - NIGHT
The computer screen changes. "Voice verified. Press enter to

upload."
MITH
What's wrong? Euphemisms failing
you?
Strauss wheezes a weak but broken laugh.
STRAUSS
I have no energy to waste on
trivialities.
He loads his arm cannon and shoots twice. The MiTH dives for
cover and rolls, dodging the incoming fire.
MITH
Hardware upgrade?
STRAUSS
You could say that.
Strauss' men step out of the car with their guns in their
hands. The MiTH points his gun at Strauss.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Go on.
The MiTH fires and shoots Strauss' men one by one in the
shoulder. Strauss cackles.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Nothing to it. The more bodies you
drop, the more you're going to have
to pay for when you're finally done
with this charade.
MITH
Well, I'm done. Go get him, love.
124.
Tristen hisses at Strauss and dives at him. Strauss dodges

and strikes her back. She slashes at him repeatedly, but he
is unperturbed by his wounds. He simply laughs.
He grabs her arm and trips her, taking the opportunity to

take a shot at the MiTH. He dodges and shoots back. The shot
hits his elbow but Strauss doesn't care.
He grabs Tristen by the neck. A retractable blade ejects

itself from his wrist; he presses it against her neck. The
MiTH hesitates.
STRAUSS
You know the drill.
The MiTH throws his head up into the air and groans.
MITH
Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me.
Strauss' arm-cannon clicks and reloads.
STRAUSS
Drop your gun or I'll open her up.
And then use her as tar for the
road.
Tristen struggles, but to no avail. Strauss' mechanical body

holds fast, dripping with blood.
TRISTEN
Don't do it.
MITH
Are you kidding me, Mayor Strauss?
This, after all that you've
preached about righteousness and
the law, this is the most lawful
way you can come up with to beat
me?
Strauss cackles.
STRAUSS
The law is blind, you idiot.
Collateral damage is unavoidable.
It doesn't matter that I play by
your rules, or anyone's rules, as
long as if I win!
He presses the blade closer and a drop of blood forms at the

sharp edge.
125.
MITH
You know what? No thanks.
He reloads his gun.
MITH (CONT’D)
Do it.
STRAUSS
What?
MITH
Do it.
STRAUSS
Excuse me?
MITH
Kill her!
STRAUSS
What?
Tristen struggles and nods.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Shut up!
MITH
Kill her, for goddamn's sake!
STRAUSS
You don't want to save her?
MITH
Oh bother.
He spins his revolver around his finger.
MITH (CONT’D)
Fine. I'll do it myself.
He shoots her. She falls, and Strauss releases his grip on

her.
STRAUSS
What the actual hell is going on?
MITH
Plot twist.
He shoots him once in the head. Strauss staggers.

126.
MITH (CONT’D)
That was for what you did to me.
He shoots him again.
MITH (CONT’D)
That was what you did to my father.
He shoots him a third time.
MITH (CONT’D)
And that is for what you’ve done to
the world.
Strauss inhales deeply, sinking to his knees, and blood drips

down slowly between his eyes.
He laughs. Manically. As he laughs the blood flows down from

his forehead to his mouth. He starts to choke.
STRAUSS
You know nothing. You know nothing
about the system or what you're up
against. You're just a little
idealistic terrorist trying to live
up to his father's miserable name.
He falls to the ground; he tries to break his fall but he

rolls over to his side and continues laughing in the puddle
of blood. The MiTH shoots again.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
But guess what?
He giggles as his mechanical eye fizzes into oblivion.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You failed.
The MiTH shoots him again and Strauss stops squirming.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
For a man with both eyes left...
He chokes out a globule of blood as he stutters one last

laugh.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
You’re blind.
His torn-up remains of a face/machine contort into the

grotesque figure of a grin. The grin of triumph.
127.
MITH
You know nothing about symbolism,
do you?
Tristen gets up slowly and pulls off her bulletproof vest.
MITH (CONT’D)
It doesn’t matter if I fail. The
world still wins.
TRISTEN
How did you know he wouldn't kill
me?
MITH
If he had killed you, wouldn't I
have shot him the next instant?
She grins.
MITH (CONT’D)
Logic.
A faint rumbling is audible in the distance.
MITH (CONT’D)
Now, love. I need you to trust me
on this. The army's about to come
for me now, and they won't spare
me. But I've got a plan for all
this. I need you to run as far away
from here as possible, and whatever
you do, don't look back. Okay?
TRISTEN
What? I...
MITH
GO.
Tristen grabs him by the shoulders.
TRISTEN
Don't leave, Theodore. I can't bear
to lose you.
MITH
Love - listen and trust me, I am a
man of my word; I will come back
for you. I've got a plan. I
promise.
She stares longingly into his eyes for a moment.

128.
MITH (CONT’D)
Trust me.
She nods hesitantly then sprints off, not looking back. The
rumbling gets louder. It is the sound of military vehicles.
The MiTH pulls out the pi and places it on the ground. It
plays Tristesse by Chopin.
The computer flashes "UPLOADING..."
MITH
People come, people go. People
live, people die. But ideas - they
last forever.
He takes off his hat.
MITH (CONT’D)
Today, my time has come. I die as a
nameless servant of the people. I
need no name; it's not my purpose.
My purpose is to fuel the hope that
- someday - this symbol, this
crusade... I will have other
faceless men in the hat to pick up
this mantle; this ideal; and
continue on in my quest.
The tanks arrive and train their guns on him. He smiles and
throws his hat up into the air.
MITH (CONT’D)
May the cause... live on!
Only Tristesse and the faint firing of the chainguns in the

background are heard as hundreds of bullet wounds appear
torrentially on his body. Tristen turns and sees it.
TRISTEN
Theodore!
She charges to the scene; armed guards try to grab her as she
slices through them.
She reaches the MiTH's body where she grabs him, screaming
and throwing her head back.
129.
The computer suddenly flashes “Broadcase failed: broadcasts

blocked by central system.”
Tristen gets pinned to the ground and struggles, screaming

and clawing at the ground in an effort to reach him even as
she is lifted into a military truck and it disappears.
INT. CHURCH - NIGHT
It is winter. Snow flutters down cheerfully as people merrily

sing Christmas carols under the new mayor's careful and
decisive guidance.
MAYOR
Today we commemorate the honourable
death of our late beloved Mayor
Strauss. He was a good man. His
worthy life was lost at the hands
of a brutal terrorist, who has now
been brought to justice thanks to
his selfless sacrifice. Let us now
have a minute of silence to honour
his contributions to our society.
The citizens bow their heads. The Mayor takes his leave. As
the citizens reflect on the deep meanings of the words.
Offstage, he whispers to his secretary.
MAYOR (CONT’D)
They'll never know the truth?
MAN
It's been all covered up, Mayor
David sir.
MAYOR
Perfect.
INT. MEETING ROOM - NIGHT
The Governor nods satisfactorily as he watches the footage

from his screen. He flicks a switch. The text on it changes
to "Broadcasts now reauthorised".
GOVERNOR
Idiots.
130.
He scoffs and taps on a screen beside him. A few notes

detailing a massive contingency plan appears. He slides one
away, whistling to himself. He pulls another note and adds
one to the number on it. 148.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
All of them idiots.
The man standing beside him nods. The Governor seems to be

whispering to himself, not wanting the man to hear him.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
You'll get your chance, Houston.
Just wait for the next slip-up.
The Governor sits back and relaxes, not turning to face the
man even once.
GOVERNOR (CONT’D)
They just never stop coming, do
they?
He smiles ever so slightly, almost amused, staring off at the

window where he can see the whole city.
His beautiful white-and-black chess board.
INT. ASYLUM - NIGHT
We see the footage of the commemoration playing on the

television screen of the asylum. Across the halls, we can
faintly hear maniacal laughter.
STRAUSS (O.S.)
You'll never get out of this alive!
I'm coming for you! I will get you
and make sure you get what you
deserve!
Two nurses push a trolley with surgical equipment and a

massive set of pliers on it. The look at each other. One
shrugs and picks up an especially large syringe.
STRAUSS (CONT’D)
Standards? You know nothing about
standards! You miserable
disappointment! You unworthy piece
of...
Laughter.
131.
Tristen lies on the ground, sobbing. She looks almost on the

edge of going mad herself. All around her are prisoners
fighting their captors, refusing to be taken. But no, she's
done fighting.
MAN
You effin’ liars! All of you effin’
liars! Little man, we’ll never
forget what you did for us. Never
stop fighting, you showed us that,
and we never will!
The men roar in agreement. Tristen collapses to her side,

weeping.
Outside, the snow comes in billows... somewhere, in a

desolate snow pile, there lies a hat, half-buried.
FADE OUT:

The Man in The Hat

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The Man in The Hat

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THE MAN IN THE HAT

Blk 102 #16-01 Jalan Dusun

A hat under a single spotlight and against a dark background.

INT. DINING HALL - NIGHT

Two gentlemen, THADEUS MAUDRID and HALICON STRAUSS, sit

Maudrid takes a mouthful of the luxurious truffled beef and

Strauss weighs his options.

The lights flicker; THE MITH's silhouette appears. They both

He points his revolver at Maudrid. His face whitens with

He points his gun upwards. Maudrid gulps.

He eats a spoonful of the half-eaten stew, and gestures to

He stands up calmly. The chair topples over. He slams his

He scoffs and clutches his forehead.

The MiTH scoffs.

He sits down calmly.

He shoots Strauss in the shoulder. Strauss winces, shouts and

He gets up and steps away.

Strauss slides down and slams his palm on the table,

He coughs, and falls to the ground.

INT. MITH'S HOUSE - DAY

He cracks his knuckles, smirks, and draws a few more

"THE MAN IN THE HAT."

INT. STRAUSS' ROOM - DAY

She exits hastily. Strauss rotates his arm and winces.

He exits through the doorway...

INT. STRAUSS' MANSION - DAY

He prompts the other butler, who hands over a dish with

Strauss continues walking and enters a door into...

INT. OPERATIONS ROOM - DAY

... a room filled with people and computers. There is an

He pulls a slide controller from his pocket and tosses it to

An approximate image of the MiTH forms on the screen. Strauss

An image of the MiTH's weapon is flashed on the screen.

He taps again. The screens now show an outside view of

An image of the seats in the taxi appears.

The screen changes to display the tyre tracks.

The screen switches off.

Strauss turns his head slightly towards his team.

He salutes and a search team of about ten soldiers sets off,

Strauss stands up straight and turns on the large screens to

The screen blanks out. Suddenly, an image of the MiTH appears

Strauss steps back.

He examines his fingers.

He reaches nervously for a chair. Tracy slides him one. He

Strauss raises an eyebrow.

Strauss sinks his chin into his hands.

Strauss lifts his head.

He snaps his fingers. The operator gets the cue.

The screen goes blank again. The original images appear.

He gets up and looks her in the eye.

He flicks his hand like ribbons streaming down.

He snaps his fingers again.

The man does as told. Strauss points at the screen.

Strauss commands the operator to locate the building

He presses the intercom button.

Strauss nods, smiling, in satisfaction.

EXT. BUILDING - DAY

INT. BUILDING - DAY

INT. OPERATIONS ROOM - DAY

The screen changes to the MiTH again.

INT. BUILDING - DAY

The men begin to descend the stairs again.

INT. OPERATIONS ROOM - DAY

Suddenly, a huge explosion is heard over the intercomm. The