The Rock

This film contains very strong language.

GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS

'We can't hold out much longer, sir!'

'General Hummel, get us outta here!'

'I won't let you down, son.'

'How long do we have to wait? I've lost 15 men already.'

'They're lighting us up like a firestorm!'

'This is Hummel. Get my men out.'

'We can't go behind enemy lines.'

'They're not coming, sir.'

'Congressman Weaver and members of the Armed Services Committee,

'I come to protest a grave injustice.'

'It has to stop.'

I miss you so much.

There's something I've got to do, Barb.

Something I couldn't do while you were here.

I tried.

You know I tried everything,

and I still don't have their attention.

Let's hope

this elevates their thinking. Whatever happens,

please don't think less of me.

Marine, tell the CO General Hummel's here for a security inspection.

It's an honour having you, sir.

I got the access card.

The darts wear off in 30 minutes.

Move it!

The access card, sir.

Let's do it.

Twenty-four hundred magazine check!

It's wet out there.

Check me through, will you?

Clear!

I want 16, Major.

Evac! Seal the door!

Seal it!

Let me out! Oh, God!

Let me out!

Clear out.

Get outta here!

Argh!

Sorry.

Let's move out.

That'll be 5, Isherwood.

I suck.

You guys have too much time on your hands.

She's here. Bring it to me. Thank you, Phil

Why did you get it sent here?

Carla won't approve. She thinks it's dumb to spend 600 on an LP.

She's right. Why don't you spend 13 on a CD?

First, because I'm a Beatlemaniac. Second, these sound better.

ALARM SOUNDS

Could be serious. May be sarin gas.

A dog out at JFK caught a whiff of something in this package addressed

to a Bosnian refugee camp. Could be detergent or sarin gas.

Bosnian refugee camp?

500,000 Serbians live in the US. They don't like Bosnians.

Get suited up.

You bring the cockroaches?

Got 'em.

We have airlock. You're set.

October 1...

0900 hours.

Agent Stanley Goodspeed

and agent-trainee Marvin Isherwood examining crate.

Suspicion of sarin gas inside. Marvin, sarin is a...?

GB aerosol.

That is correct.

Some dirty magazines. Stone Age Cave Girls In The Raw.

Kinky.

Not a good sign.

Ooh! Little baby doll.

Look, Stan.

Hi there, Stanley.

Marvin, don't!

Hi, Stan.

Move back!

Hang on. We'll clear the room. 50 seconds and you'll be OK.

Jesus Christ!

I've got some bad news and some really bad news.

The bad news is the gas is corrosive. It's eating our suits.

It's on my hand.

There's enough C-4 explosive and gas to kill everyone in the building.

Everybody out of the room! Now!

Seal us inside.

Where are the sprinklers, Lonner?

The acid is eating my fucking suit, all right?

Just wash us off.

-Where's my sprinklers?

-It's a flow problem.

That's a big problem. Fix it now!

How much time on the detonator?

-A minute ten.

-Look at this.

Tell them to take the atropine.

Atropine.

Where's my water, Lonner?!

Marvin, the atropine! Now!

Inject it into your heart before your suit melts.

Shit!

Take your dose!

Where's that water?

Get it away from me!

Come on, Phil. Fix it!

Take the atropine, now!

We're fucked.

The poison's mixing.

Why are you waiting? Take the fucking needle!

Oh, fuck! Oh, shit!

40 seconds!

If that suit melts and you die,

we all die! Inject your heart, then defuse the bomb!

What if I miss my heart? I can't see.

Do it now!

You want me to stick this into my heart?

Are you fucking nuts?

Sprinklers are coming.

Sprinklers activated!

How much time left?

20 seconds.

We're not gonna make it.

15.

Clear!

Get me outta here! I nearly stabbed myself in the heart with this.

PLUCKS GUITAR

Stan?

Hey, darling.

Hi, baby.

I had such an interesting day.

I had kind of an interesting day, too.

OK. You go first.

Some terrorists decided to send a box of goodies,

which had to be neutralised before blowing up the office.

I took the rest of the day off. Some wine, guitar. I'm relaxing.

Wow.

The world is being Fedexed to hell on a handcart.

Anyone who is thinking about

having a child in this world is considering an act of cruelty.

I'm rambling. I'm complaining. Sorry. What's your news, baby?

I'm pregnant.

I'm sorry?

I'm pregnant.

HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

Really?

Yeah.

Wow.

Is that all you're gonna say?

You're pregnant?

Three weeks.

How do you know?

Blue. It just turned blue.

So I went to the doctor.

Did you mean what you said?

When?

When you said bringing a child into the world is an act of cruelty.

I meant it at the time.

It was seven and a half seconds ago.

Gosh, kind of a lot has happened since then.

We're not even married.

I know. It's funny you should mention that.

It's funny?

Do you love me?

Of course I love you.

Good.

Will you marry me?

Whoa, whoa. Hey, Marriage Police, pull over.

Come on. I'm proposing to you right now.

"The Rock" is the most famous and most feared prison ever built.

Is it true there was never an escape?

From 1936 until it closed in 1963,

there were 14 attempts. No-one made it to shore.

Alive, at least.

No, er, hey! Tourists are not allowed back here.

I don't give a shit.

Do you give a shit?

Come here. Move.

Girls, are you having a good time? Will you do something for me?

Tell your teacher you need to get back on the boat and go right now.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Broadway.

This cellblock housed the most awesome scum in America.

Ladies and gentlemen, I, Ranger Bob,

invite you to be inmates of Alcatraz. Temporarily, of course.

On the line!

Pretty tight quarters, huh?

Like being a caged animal. Spend a couple of years in there...

Something wrong with the tour?

Tour's over, Bob.

What kind of fucked-up tour is this?!

General Hummel, Captains Frye and Darrow reporting.

Welcome to The Rock. Land the choppers on the back and deploy.

-Aye-aye, sir.

-Move out.

I'm not allowed to carry a gun.

You don't have a gun? I got a gun.

If I'd known this was gonna happen, I'd've brought it. Help!

This is our new home. I want my command centre here.

I want coms up.

Yes, sir.

Put the satellite there. I want to be up at 1600.

Move it.

System's up.

Penetration point in shower. We're setting anti-intrusion.

I brought an anti-motion trembler device.

It's custom-made. Nobody knows about it and nobody expects it.

What's it do?

We head-fake them with a laser beam.

If they disturb Mr Back-up, we own them.

GUNSHOT

SCREAMING

You are being detained against your will. For that, I apologise.

We do not intend to harm you.

We will free you when our mission is complete.

Attention on deck.

Stand easy, men.

Make no mistake about it, gentlemen,

we are now in harm's way.

For Major Baxter and I, this is the last campaign in a career

dating back to Tet '68. Likewise for Captain Hendrix

and Sgt Crisp who cut their teeth with me

in Desert Storm. Frye and Darrow, this is my first situation with you.

Your conduct reflects your reputations.

-Thank you, General.

-Sir.

We got here using poise, precision and audacity. We must add resolve.

We'll be branded traitors, the gravest crime,

punishable by death.

A couple of hundred years ago,

a few guys named Washington, Jefferson and Adams

were branded as traitors by the British.

And now they're called patriots.

In time, so shall we.

God willing, in less then 48 hours, you will evacuate this island

in gunships under cover of hostages and VX-gas warheads.

Your destination - a non-extradition treaty country.

You will each be paid 1 million.

But you can never again set foot on your native soil.

Can you live with that?

ALL: Yes, sir!

The men of Marine Force Recon

carry out illegal operations throughout the world.

When they don't come home,

their families are told lies about what happened

and are denied compensation.

I have choked on these lies my entire career.

Here and now the lies stop!

God be with all of you. Man your positions, men.

PHONE RINGS

This is FBI Director Womack.

Director, be advised,

81, I say again, 81 civilians are under my control as of this moment.

You are to take measures to keep this a need-to-know classified fact.

Who is this?

You have a very serious problem.

VX-gas rockets are presently deployed to deliver a lethal strike

on San Francisco. I'll call at 0000 hours with demands.

Who am I talking to?

Brigadier General Francis X Hummel, US Marine Corps, from Alcatraz. Out.

I'll cancel your reservations.

Get the Pentagon.

Call the San Francisco office. Alcatraz was just reopened.

Last night, General Hummel using brutal force

walked off with 15 VX-poison gas rockets.

He lost one of his men in the process.

Hummel in Vietnam. He was a major at the time.

Three tours in Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Desert Storm,

three Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars, the Congressional Medal of...

Jesus, this man is a hero.

I think "legend" is a better description.

We can add kidnapping and extortion to his list of accolades.

General Hummel is a man of honour.

General, it's him.

Frank, it's Al Kramer.

Hi, Al. How you doing?

'I don't know, Frank. You tell me.'

I got a lot of worried people here.

83 Force Recon Marines have died under my various commands.

47 in Laos and southern China.

We never admitted sending troops into China.

'Who is this? Identify yourself.'

Chief of Staff Hayden Sinclair.

How old are you, Chief of Staff Sinclair?

I'm 33.

'You've no idea what I'm talking about.

'When you were 9, I was on black ops in China. My men had 200 kills.

'Put some tape over Mr Sinclair's mouth. He's wasting my time.'

You wanna continue?

Remember Desert Storm? The hits made by smart bombs, covered on CNN?

'My men made those hits possible by lasing targets.

'20 of them were left to rot outside Baghdad after the war.'

No benefits were paid to families. No medals conferred.

'These men died for the US and weren't given a military burial.

'This situation is unacceptable.

'Transfer 100 million from Grand Cayman Red Sea Trading Company.

'1 million will be paid to each of the 83 marines' families.

'The rest I will disperse at my discretion.'

Do I make myself clear?

Except for the Red Sea Trading Company.

Identify yourself.

FBI Director Womack.

It's a Pentagon slush fund from illegal arms sales.

This is classified information.

Alert the media, I launch the gas. Refuse payment, I launch the gas.

'You've got until noon the day after tomorrow to transfer the money.

'I know your countermeasure. It won't work. Hummel, out.

Identify the hostages and contact their families.

Tell 'em something. Make up a story.

We've got to keep this undercover. If it gets out, there'll be anarchy.

Wait a minute. What is the potential casualty rate

for a single rocket armed with VX gas,

General Peterson?

60 or 70.

That's not so bad.

Thousand. Seventy thousand. Dead.

One teaspoon of this hits the floor, it's lethal up to 100 feet.

One teaspoon in the atmosphere will kill everything within eight blocks.

Get the point?

Yeah.

The countermeasure?

Standard poison is countered by napalm, it burns it up.

VX-poison gas is designed

to withstand napalm. That's where thermite plasma comes in.

Thermite plasma incendiary systems burn hot enough to consume VX,

but it's in the test phase. It's not operational. Hummel knows this.

He's a smart sonofabitch.

What'll it take to equip F-18s with thermite plasma within 36 hours?

An act of God.

Excuse me?

We can try. But please consider this as a secondary initiative.

Let's go to our primary initiative. Admiral?

Bring in our SEAL commander - Commander Anderson.

Mr Womack, who is your best chemical-biological man?

That's interesting.

That's very compelling.

You like my pigtails?

Oh, yeah. The pigtails are very naughty. Naughty, naughty.

Amaretto cream and peach sorbet persuasion.

PHONE RINGS

This isn't happening.

Don't answer it.

This isn't happening!

Don't answer it. It's OK.

It's the office. They know I'm home.

How could they know?

It's the FBI.

Stanley...

Goodspeed.

OK. Yeah. I'll be down. Downstairs in ten minutes.

No, you won't.

I have to go to San Francisco.

No, you don't.

You do not have to go to San Francisco.

You need to stay and talk to me about things.

I've got to go.

Do you realise I'm Catholic?

I am pregnant and unmarried. This causes a serious problem for me.

I love you.

I will marry you. I just didn't plan on this, that's all.

Come to San Francisco.

Really?

I'm sure it's a training exercise. Order champagne in the hotel.

We'll finish what we started. You're going to marry me?

Ow! Oh, I got to go!

A night-time airdrop incursion is out due to the full moon.

If shots are fired,

Hummel might launch. We can attack from within.

Penetrate through the tunnels under the prison.

We can jump the marines and take the rockets without firing a shot.

You've studied the architectural plans?

Alcatraz has been rebuilt. Under there is a maze of shit.

We need first-hand intelligence of the tunnels.

What about the warden?

Died in 1979. The guards we contacted

were useless.

There is someone who I think can help us.

This is for national security.

It was national security that got us here 33 years ago. I knew.

I knew this would come back to bite us. Forget it. He does not exist.

He does. We chose to forget him for 30 years. We threw away the key.

He broke out of two maximum-security prisons. If he hits the streets...

He won't, Jim. 30 years ago, he was a highly-trained SAS operative.

He's my age now. I get up three times a night to take a piss.

We can't risk letting him out.

'He is a professional escape artist.'

Neat. Neat plane.

Dr Goodspeed. James Womack.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

You come highly recommended. BA, Columbia. MA, PhD, Johns Hopkins.

Biochemistry-toxicology.

Fortunately, I like my job, sir.

Got a chemistry set at 7. Blew my eyebrows off. Been hooked since.

What do you know about VX gas?

Failed pesticide discovered by mistake.

Like champagne. Franciscan monks were making white wine. Voila!

The gas, Dr Goodspeed.

It's very horrible, sir. Something we wish we could disinvent.

It isn't a training exercise, is it?

No, Dr Goodspeed, it's not a training exercise.

Morning, Director.

Ernest Paxton, Agent in Charge, West Coast.

Dr Goodspeed.

How do you do, sir?

It's been an interesting day. The prisoner's here.

My boys can't find a file on him. Who is he?

John Mason. A British national incarcerated on Alcatraz in 1962.

Escaped in 1963.

I thought no-one ever escaped from Alcatraz?

Paxton, don't argue.

He has no identity in the US or the UK. He does not exist. Understand?

I want one thing -

how he escaped The Rock. The route through the tunnels.

The papers are in order, sir.

Offer him a full pardon. Paxton,

no strong-arming Mason. I know him too well.

Why don't you question him?

He'll remember me. I don't want his anger clouding the issue.

I'll take care of it.

Mr Mason, I'm Special Agent in Charge, Ernest Paxton.

In charge of what? Fucking me over for another three decades?

I don't know about that. There's a situation you could help us with.

What might that be?

I've been in jail longer than Nelson Mandela. Do you want me

to be President?

Not exactly.

Pity. I feel rather like Alcimedes.

Who?

He was imprisoned by his king in ancient Greece.

Like Sir Walter Raleigh.

James the First.

Even someone as bright as you

must be aware there's a pattern emerging here.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Didn't he play hockey for the fucking Red Wings?

That's the chap.

Get this straight. I don't

like you any more than you like me.

I'm here to make you an offer.

You want to hear it or not?

'By all means, dear Paxton. By all means.'

We've got a problem in a place you know. Hostages on Alcatraz.

Hostages?

81 tourists.

The Rock has become a tourist attraction?

Cut the shit. You broke out of The Rock.

Yes, successfully.

Yeah.

Do yourself a favour and help us.

Get out of jail while you're vertical.

While you've still got lead in your pencil.

While I'm considering your offer, I want a suite at the Fairmont Hotel.

You know, I'm here to cut you a deal.

I'm not here to bend over and take it up the ass from you.

Here. Here's a quarter.

Do yourself a favour, call your lawyer. You're going back to jail.

You're sending him back to jail?

No. We're giving him something to think about.

We don't have time.

Oh, really?

Goodspeed's right. You talk to him.

Me? I'm not qualified for that.

-You're an FBI agent.

-What's your speciality?

Chemical weapons.

Don't mention that.

You want me to lie?

Yeah, lie. We got less than 24 hours. Give it a shot.

OK.

Hi.

I'm an agent with the er...

Federal... FBI.

I'm Stanley Goodspeed.

Of course you are.

He got his name right.

Of course I am.

And you have an emergency.

That's right.

And you need my help.

Exactly right.

Coffee.

No, I'm fine. Thank you.

Offer me coffee.

Oh, yes. That was going to be my next...

Can we get a cup of coffee in here?

And offer to take these off.

Mr Mason, really...

As a gesture of your good faith.

-Prisoner requests to have his handcuffs removed.

-(No, no.)

Why don't you go ahead and take his handcuffs off?

Well, I guess that's one way to go.

This is a pardon from the Attorney General. You're a free man,

provided you cooperate.

If you'll just sign where it says...

"Signature?"

Yes. "Signature."

Timeo Danaos

et dona ferentis.

"I fear the Greeks

"even when they bring gifts."

An educated man. That rules out the possibility

of you being a field agent.

In fact, I am a field agent, Mr Mason.

Really?

Yes.

In which field?

Anti-terrorism.

You're trained in weaponry, explosives, mortal combat.

Well trained.

It's the Fairmont.

OK.

I want a suite. A shower, a shave, and the feel of a suit.

May I also suggest a haircut?

Am I out of style?

Not for a 20-year-old guitarist from Seattle. It's grunge.

Grunge?

Yeah. Well...thank you very much.

Call the Fairmont. Close the floor.

Seal it off. He gets two hours max.

Great job, Goodspeed.

Why not give him a trip to Tahiti?

This goes to the Attorney General?

No, give it to me.

Take Attorney Reynolds to his car.

That's a signed federal document. Isn't that illegal?

You don't know the full facts.

I'd like some clarification, sir.

I gave him my word.

You're on a need-to-know basis.

You don't need to know.

It's kind of curious, but...

Sir Walter Raleigh, Alcimedes, Solzhenitsyn

were all wrongfully imprisoned.

ALARM SOUNDS

Womack?

Why am I not surprised?

You piece of shit.

Peace! Peace.

-ANSWERING MACHINE:

-'We're not home. Leave a message.'

It's me. Listen. Don't come to San Francisco. Do not come.

Stanley, no! Like hell I'm not coming!

Wait, Carla.

Who's Carla?

Why don't you want her to come to San Francisco?

You're on a need-to-know basis. You don't need to know.

HE BARKS

Watch it. He'll bite you.

Good. Mobile Command is fully operational.

We'll be there in two hours.

I'm not armed, sir. I'm unarmed, sir.

Where's your issue?

I left it...

HE CLEARS THROAT ..in my sock drawer.

A gun? For what? You're a chemical freak.

I'm a chemical super-freak, actually. But I still need a gun.

Give him a goddamn gun.

You fired one since the Academy?

RADIO PLAYS "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie

# ..in your hair

# If you're going to San Francisco

# You're sure to meet some

# Gentle people there

# And you come from...

# If you're going to San Francisco... #

Room service?

This is the penthouse. Do you have any snacks, drinks?

Hello?

You the barber?

No, stylist.

Barber.

Just clippers, no scissors.

No scissors? You're kidding. Did they tell Picasso, "No brush"?

He could kill you.

I can't cut anyone's balls off with a trimmer, can I?

Let's do this outside. Get some sun.

Who did this to you? It's just not right.

It's nasty.

It's a grunge thing.

Do we have time for a sea-kelp protein pack and some colour?

No.

OK.

Not very nice, is he?

No, he's not.

Somebody ordered it. Can't let it go to waste.

Don't you ever stop eating?

Not when it's free.

We're on duty.

He's an old man.

The boss is watching him. Try some lobster.

My secretary here will settle the bill.

So, what do you have in store for me, Womack, when this is over?

You'll get your life back.

You could've given me my life back years ago.

Why should I trust you now?

You've got my word.

Will you shake on it?

Freeze, mister!

Help!

Drop the gun, or I drop your boss.

You will not.

Argh!

He's getting very heavy.

Then pull him up!

Please don't.

Help! Shit!

Have a scallop. Come on. Catch.

You hoist him.

Help! Help! Help me!

Hang on!

Where's Mason?!

-Mason's gone?

-Gone?

Living room's clear!

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Signal six! He's in the hotel!

I know nothing. I never saw you throw that man off the balcony.

All I care about is are you happy with your haircut?

Watch it, you fuckhead!

You're gonna pull my arm out.

HE SHOUTS IN CHINESE

That's my Humvee. I don't want any scratches, or I'll have your ass.

Hey, stop! Hey!

FBI.

Suspect is in a black Humvee.

Heading west on California at 70mph.

Out of the way!

I want a net on this sonofabitch.

He's hitting everything. Block him!

Are you insured?

Why not?

You're goin' down!

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

'Sie haben meinen Hummer gestohlen!'

I'm only borrowing it.

Information?

San Francisco.

Jade Angelou. A-N-G-...

Welcome aboard. How you doing?

Hang on.

Holy shit!

Save yourselves!

My baby!

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Hey, man, you just fucked up your Ferrari.

It's not mine.

Neither is this.

Damn! This sucks! Where is that sonofabitch?

I'll hunt him down! He ain't safe nowhere!

-PHONE RINGS

-Isherwood.

Look up Wolfburg Federal Penitentiary.

The inmate is Mason, John.

I'm getting out of this shithole. I'm going to design roach motels.

I stole a motorcycle. I don't feel good about it! Wolfburg!

Yeah, I got it. Magrane, Masconi, Masters. No Mason.

Go to February '76. Who was transferred there from San Quentin?

This is weird.

They've got medical records, place of birth - Glasgow, but no name.

They've got a next of kin. Jade Angelou of 32 Stenson Drive,

'San Francisco.'

Jade?

I'm Stacy. Jade's friend.

Were you afraid to come alone?

Yeah.

It's OK.

I'll be over here if you need me.

The last photograph I had of you, you were about ten.

I found a picture of you among my mom's things when she died.

Oh, yeah? Well, er...

Let's take a walk.

I got him. The Palace of Fine Arts.

Your mother, well, she was very special.

She was. We shouldn't romanticise what happened between you and her.

Meeting in a bar after a Led Zeppelin concert.

Hit out and I was the result.

I'd like to think it would have

led somewhere if only...

Six marshals hadn't kicked down her door and dragged you back to prison.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

So, they let you out?

Yeah.

That's good.

What did you do?

Jade,

I don't have a great deal of time here.

But I'll be coming back and er...

maybe we can...

What? We can what?

You know,

you're almost the only evidence that I exist.

But I don't know you.

That's what I want to change.

I've rehearsed this speech a thousand times in case we met.

Here we are and I'm lost.

I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, either.

Jade, I'm not an evil man.

If you can believe that, then it's a start.

OK.

SIRENS WAIL

Is this about you?

You broke out of prison?

Why did you come to me?

FBI. He's working with us.

Helping us resolve a dangerous situation.

He is?

Yes. We'd better get going.

Whatever you say, Stanley.

Thank you for that.

What do you say we cut the chitchat, A-hole?!

You almost got me killed twice and my jaw hurts like hell.

Good.

Cocksucker, if I had my way, you'd be shipped

back to Wolfburg for fucking life! You wrecked half the city!

Tell me about the tunnels.

If you know the system,

it will take you anywhere.

There's an intake pipe here below low tide.

Is that our best access?

Yes. That's where I came out.

Beneath the cistern is the septic system. How many feet?

Er...

57 paces.

Where do we go from there?

Where do you go from there?

That's a good question.

I've no idea.

What?

I mean, I'll know when we're all inside.

No. You're not goddamn going. Show us

on the blueprints.

I can't. My blueprint was in my head.

I was underground for three days in the dark,

just waiting for the tides to be right.

It'll all come back to me.

You're not going anywhere, Mason.

Wait a second.

He might be the only chance those people have.

Why did we get him out of jail?

He's smart.

I got him out to get you in, not go with you.

If it's the only way, he goes.

He'll fuck with you.

You compromise my men's lives, I'll bury you.

Now, Womack,

you're between The Rock and a hard case.

How's your bowling arm?

The goal is to take out the launchers then neutralise the VX.

The poison is in the prison morgue.

We know from satellite thermal imaging, these colourised dots.

Have you seen one of these devices?

No, but I've studied them.

I'll brief you on defusing and detoxification. I've got a layout

of the chem round and the rocket. Let's roll.

That won't be necessary.

Oh, it's very necessary, sir.

The power of this chemical is beyond anything you can imagine.

An ecological disaster, sir.

The devices are complicated.

So you're coming with us.

I am?

You're the expert. What's your problem?

You mean I'm going, going out there, under the water?

Earlier, you wanted a gun. Now you get a gun and a wet suit.

Have you ever been in combat?

Define "combat", sir.

Shep?

An incursion to retake a fortress held by elite Marines

holding hostages and 15 rockets armed with VX-poison gas.

Oh.

In that case, no, sir. Excuse me.

HE RETCHES

Here.

Thank you.

You don't look too good.

In fact, you look like shit.

My stomach is doing hula hoops around my ass.

You OK? Are you going to make it through this thing?

I don't know. I always expected something like this would happen,

but nothing prepares you for it.

Now I'm responsible

for a whole city.

I know this isn't easy for you.

You were trained for this, it'll come back to you.

You got the best US SEALs with you.

OK.

You're right.

I'll be on the wire to talk you through it.

There's something else.

It's terrible.

No, it's wonderful.

Except it isn't.

My girlfriend's pregnant.

And she's just flown in to see me.

Keep your mind on what you're doing.

We'll pick up your girlfriend and bring her here.

Hummel.

'Hello, Frank. Lou Linstrom. I'm at the White House'

with General Kramer.

We're having problems with the transfer.

'Don't tell me problems, tell me solutions.'

You're aware of the President's stance on terrorism.

This is about justice

and people you found it politically convenient to forget.

This is going nowhere.

I'll tell you what is. 15 VX-gas rockets

into San Francisco. You've got 17 hours.

Or be prepared to reap the whirlwind.

What's the word from Mojave?

General Peterson can give us no assurance on the thermite plasma.

That is the word.

Green light the SEAL incursion.

Fall in!

All right, listen up.

Mr Mason will run point.

Shepard will be attached to his hip. You breathe, he breathes.

You piss, he helps. Understood?

When Dr Goodspeed neutralises the threat

we launch green flares and wait for the cavalry.

Make no mistake, we are in the fight of our lives against

the greatest commander in the Vietnam War. I shit you not.

Any questions?

Load up.

After you, Ace.

Pass out and activate

the minicams.

Minicams operational?

Roger, sir. We are on line.

Shep, what's the status on that operational gear for Mr Mason?

Let's see. We have er...

we have one quart of kerosene in a squeeze bottle.

Three washers. Waterproof matches.

Use green flares when the threat is neutralised.

This is atropine. If you're in contact

with the gas, inject this into your heart. It may save your life.

I have three incoming bogeys reading 275. Range -

6,000 metres.

FBI Command Centre?

I'd just love for you to tell me what's going on.

Stanley Godspeed is my boyfriend. Actually, my fiance. Where is he?

Classified, lady.

You sit here and act like a Bureau bonehead.

Where are you going? Goddamn it.

Decoy choppers on way to Alcatraz.

I just lost one, sir.

We only got two. I lost one.

Shit.

In my day

we did it with a snorkel and flippers.

Your day?

Yes. Didn't you read my resume?

I don't know anything about you.

-I know about you, Godspell.

-Goodspeed.

Goodspeed, Godspeed, Godspell.

You never went to any anti-terrorist school.

Make sure you don't get us all killed.

We're going dark.

Night vision.

Raider One is below radar coverage around Treasure Island.

Two bogeys bearing due east and closing.

Decoys?

Prepare to deploy!

Good luck.

Raider One is at drop zone.

Stanley is not a very good swimmer. He can't even snorkel.

Everyone good to go?

Good to go!

Good to go!

SDUs deployed. The Eagles are in the water.

I want the perimeter patrolled to the west.

Yes, sir. Hendrix!

-Lead the patrol.

-Aye, sir.

Let's move. Move out! Move out!

Eagles are on The Rock. They're in the cistern room.

Thank you, Mr Mason. You've brought us into a room with no exit.

Any ideas, Dillinger?

Think. We're sitting ducks.

We're tight on time.

Stand by the door until I open it.

How do you plan on accomplishing that?

Through here.

You're shitting me.

I memorised the timing. I hope it hasn't been changed.

You catch a flame burst, you're a corpse.

Thank you.

You said never leave him, but...

Stand fast, Lieutenant.

Have a nice day.

Where did you dig up this guy?

That's classified.

Clear here, sir.

'No motion sensors tripped.'

Nothing.

Tell them to stay out there.

Sweep forward.

Looks like he fucked us, Commander.

I knew it. That sonofabitch jumped ship.

Welcome to The Rock.

Mason.

That's a no-no. That's the subway.

That goes to the tunnels.

Do it.

The Eagles have breached the tunnel system.

Are you enjoying this?

It's more enjoyable than my average day.

Reading philosophy, avoiding gang rape in the wash rooms.

That's less of a problem these days. Maybe I'm losing my sex appeal.

Seismic activity - storm grate, north side.

Continue patrolling the area.

Sweep forward!

Hold it. We got movement.

They're hearing sounds above, sir.

West drain's clear.

97 paces to the shower room.

Eagles are at the tunnel under the shower room.

Fibre optics.

Something's not right.

I got a bad feeling.

CONSOLE BEEPS

Quiet.

Motion sensors.

Beams cutting across the manhole covers.

Deal with it.

Commander, the beam is hitting some sort of reflective device,

possibly a prism.

I want to use the mirror to cut the beam and send the beam

back to its source. Then I'll move the prism.

ALARM BEEPS

Motion on the shower-room trembler.

We got visitors. Move.

Got it.

Good to go.

I knew this would happen! Fuck!

We'll secure the area.

They're entering the shower room, sir.

They're securing the area.

Just sit tight.

Drop your weapons!

Drop 'em!

Drop your weapons!

Hold your fire!

It's a fucking trap.

This is General Hummel. Drop your weapons.

Drop 'em!

Anderson here, General Hummel. Commander. Team leader.

If you have concern for your men, order them to place their weapons

-'on the deck.'

-This is not happening.

We know why you're out here. God knows, I agree with you.

Like you, I swore to defend this country against all enemies,

foreign, sir, and domestic.

General,

we've spilled blood in the same mud.

You know I can't give that order.

We're dead.

You're covered from an elevated position.

I'm not going to ask again.

Don't do anything stupid.

No-one has to die here.

You men following the General,

you are under oath as US Marines. Have you forgotten that?

We all have shipmates we remember. Some were

pissed on by the Pentagon.

That doesn't give you the right to mutiny!

Call it what you want. You walked into the wrong goddamn room!

Stand fast.

Tell your men to drop their weapons.

I cannot give that order!

-I won't repeat it!

-I won't give that order!

-What is wrong with you?!

-Stand fast!

-My God.

-Let's waste these fuckers.

Order your men to drop their weapons.

Cease-fire!

Don't go.

Cease-fire!

Cease-fire!

Let go of me! Let go!

Don't go.

It's over.

Oh, God!

CONSOLE BEEPS

We got some movement. Two of 'em.

Who is it?

Goodspeed and Mason.

Get a team together. We've got to move with the second option.

For another massacre? No way.

We've got a 60-year-old convict and a lab rat. It's over.

Not for Mason it isn't.

Goodspeed.

I'm not gonna kill you.

Where are you going?

Off this bloody island.

Why? What for?

'Goodspeed? Goodspeed? Do you read me?'

It's for you.

Sir?

'What's the status?'

The status is they're dead! It's just me and Mason. He's leaving.

'That is unacceptable. Unacceptable.'

Well, there's a problem, sir. He's got a gun.

You got a water pistol?

No, sir.

'Go after him and stop him.'

I didn't want this.

We knew it might happen, Frank.

Maybe now they'll pay up.

Maybe they won't.

Maybe we need to execute hostages.

I got a live one.

Put a bullet in him.

You heard him. End it.

Holster that gun, Captain.

Sir?

'You made a terrible mistake.

'More of our brothers have died in vain.

'Damn you for forcing me into this position.'

I need to talk to you right now, alone.

You said I'm on a need-to-know basis.

I need to know who the fuck John Mason is right now, sir.

You want to know? 1962 - J Edgar Hoover is head of the FBI,

some say the country.

He kept files on prominent Americans and Europeans -

De Gaulle, British MPs, the Prime Minister. He had dirt on everyone.

I know all the stories. Where does Mason fit in?

He was the British spy who stole the files.

We caught him at the Canadian border.

The British claimed they'd never heard of him.

We held him without trial until he gave up the microfilm.

But he never did.

Why didn't Hoover use his daughter?

Hoover died in '72. She wasn't born.

Today, well, it's a different Bureau.

Held without trial his whole life? No wonder he's pissed.

He knows our secrets from the last 50 years.

The alien landing at Roswell.

The truth about the JFK assassination.

Mason's angry. He's lethal. He's a trained killer.

And he is the only hope that we have got.

Mason? Mason?

There are 81 hostages still up there.

Yeah. Like me.

You want to play tough with me? OK! FBI!

Freeze, sucker!

I'll fire.

No, you won't.

Throw down.

You're not the sort.

Let's find out.

I could. You, no.

Besides,

the safety's on.

'Goodspeed, have you resolved the situation?'

Not yet.

He's got all the guns now.

Shit!

I don't use guns and I don't kick down doors. This is what I do.

I haven't got my glasses.

It says, "Chemical Weapons Specialist."

That's right. I got a lunatic with 15 missiles armed with funky stuff.

That lying Womack.

You could have told my daughter.

It was classified. Look, I'm in the same situation.

I got my pregnant girlfriend in the city.

I can defuse the rockets.

I really can. But I'm gonna need your help right now.

This man's weapons and radio are missing!

Shit! We got a rodent problem. Flush the pipes!

There's probably a maze of tunnels. Check every access.

Even if you escape the island, you can't escape the rockets.

So, where you gonna go?

What are you gonna do?

Show me where the morgue is, Mason.

I'm out of here.

What about your daughter?

Mason?

Rodents located.

The way I see it, you don't have a choice, do you?

I don't think you do.

Move!

They're onto us.

Burn them out.

This'll blow big!

EAR-PIERCING ROAR

How could we lose radio contact all of a sudden?

We still got them on locators.

So, what's it going to be?

What?

How do you like your choices?

I don't.

That's what I thought.

Come on.

This is the oldest part of Alcatraz.

Did you know it was originally a Civil War fort?

Really? Wow(!)

I like history, too. After this, we can stop by the souvenir shop.

But right now, I just wanna find some rockets.

Don't tempt me.

We are going to the morgue.

Are you ready for this?

I'll do my best.

Your best?

Losers always whine about their best.

Winners go home and fuck the prom queen.

Carla was the prom queen.

Really?

Yeah.

Locaters have them approaching the morgue.

Come on. You can do it, doc.

You must never hesitate.

You're shooting too close to the rocket. Him, but not the rocket.

Any other news, professor?

Not the rocket! Not the rocket!

I got something for you.

Yeah. OK. That's just about the most awful thing I've ever seen.

Mason.

The second you don't respect this, it kills you. Put it over there.

You've been around a lot of corpses. Is that normal?

-The feet thing?

-Yeah, the feet thing.

That happens.

I can't concentrate. Do something.

Like what? Kill him again?

I'm a biochemist. I work in a glass jar and lead an uneventful life.

I drive a Volvo, a beige one. But what I'm dealing with

is a very deadly substance. Cut me some frigging slack!

An elegant string-of-pearls configuration.

Unfortunately, very unstable.

What exactly does this stuff do?

If it's rendered aerosol, it can kill a city.

Really?

And what happens if you drop one?

Happily, it'll just kill you and me.

How?

It stops the brain sending messages down your spinal cord.

Any epidermal exposure, and you'll know.

A twinge in your back as the poison seizes your nervous system.

Do not move that!

Your muscles freeze. You can't breathe.

You spasm so hard you break your back and spit your guts out.

That's after your skin melts off.

My God.

I think we'd like God on our side, don't you?

What I'm doing now is removing the guidance-system chips

so the rocket will splash down after 500 feet.

Let go. Just back away. Back away.

Sir, morgue team has not checked in.

Blackbird One, this is Blackbird.

'Blackbird One, this is Blackbird. Come in, goddamn it!'

Somebody's still here.

Let's move it! Rats alive.

Close on the morgue!

Go, go, go, go, go, go!

Frye, Darrow, hustle up! We got more company!

Hold it! Converge on the morgue! Move out!

Goodspeed, come on. Come over here.

I love pressure, I eat it for breakfast.

Come on. Time's up!

We have to find three more rockets.

Come on!

I'm too old for this.

Where does it go?!

I have no idea.

Sir, the guidance chips are gone.

You didn't kill the rats. Two dead men suggest you finish the job.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir!

Rios, Royce, let's go!

You don't know where this goes?

No, I don't.

You know how to slow it down?

No.

Argh!

God!

Mason? You all right?

Yes, perfectly OK, you fucking idiot!

They're coming.

Who?

The Marines!

Where?

No! No! No!

No! Aaargh!

What's going on?

Let's cut him off.

Mason?

Mason?

You motherfucker!

Die!

Die! Die!

I'm rather glad

you didn't hesitate too long.

How do you...do it?

Oh, I was trained by the best.

British Intelligence.

Come on.

But in retrospect, I'd rather have been a poet or a farmer.

OK.

OK. The President arrives in three hours.

He says string Hummel along until the air strike is operational.

What's the word from Mojave?

Same as last time. They're going as fast as they can.

What do we have here?

On your knees!

'Navy SEALS, you got something that belongs to me.'

12 guidance chips, to be precise.

Let me remind you there are civilian lives at stake.

Speak up.

Speak up!

I er...

Tell them your name.

My name is Larry Henderson.

Oh, man.

'I am a father of three.'

They got a gun to my head.

You've got three minutes

'to return the guidance chips or he won't have a head.'

Now, three to go.

You find them and defuse them, OK?

All right.

I'll try and delay Hummel

and give you more time.

Hey. What about Mr Henderson's head?

OK? What do you mean?

OK.

General.

Who the hell are you?

I'm all that is left of the enemy.

Bingo.

Stand easy.

I thought I'd been in the service a long time.

Name and rank, sailor?

It's army, actually.

Answer and address him as "General, sir."

Captain John Patrick Mason, General, sir,

of Her Majesty's SAS.

Retired, of course.

You're a long way from home. How are you involved in this?

I have a unique knowledge of this prison facility.

I was formerly a guest here.

Hi, sweetie.

Come back here, little boy.

Did they bother to tell you why I'm doing this? Or are they using you?

All I know is

you were big in Vietnam. I saw it on TV.

Then you don't know what it means

to see men's memories betrayed by their government.

I don't see how you cherish the memory of the dead

by killing another million. And...

this is not combat.

It's an act of lunacy,

General, sir.

I think you're a fucking idiot.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed

"with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.

"Patriotism is the virtue

"of the vicious." Oscar Wilde.

Thank you for making my point.

Where are the guidance chips? Where are the chips?

I destroyed them.

Bad move, soldier.

Does that mean you'll execute us both?

GUNFIRE

Lucky Hummel wants you alive.

I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy.

I'd take pleasure in gutting you, boy.

I'll take pleasure in gutting you, boy.

What's wrong with these people, Mason?

There's a lot of anger floating around this island.

Kind of a pubescent volatility.

A lot of angst, "I'm 16. I'm angry at my father" syndrome. Grow up!

We're stuck here with a bunch of psychopathic Marines!

Shame on them!

Anyway, I only got one chem round. There's two left.

Mason?

Yes, I'm here.

I was just thinking how wonderful it was

when the inmates weren't allowed to talk.

Not allowed to talk?

How did you do it?

I nurtured the hope that there was hope.

That one day, I'd breathe free air.

Perhaps meet my daughter.

Modest hopes, but they kept a man alive.

What did they put you away for, John?

Well, that's a long story.

Well, I'm not going anywhere.

When did we last hear from our men on Alcatraz?

Seven hours.

Thermite plasma is operational.

Get me the President.

Consider yourselves on Ground Alert. If we receive launch authority,

your mission is the destruction of Alcatraz.

The island is to be blanketed. Not one inch missed.

81 civilians and a number of US Marines will die in this air strike.

Why didn't you tell them where the microfilm was and create a solution?

The moment they had the microfilm, they'd suicide me.

Some solution.

And you ended up here.

I have another question. You broke out -

let's get this right - you went down the incinerator chute

on the mine cart through the tunnels to the power plant,

under the steam engine - that was really cool -

and into the cistern through the intake pipe.

But how, in the name of Zeus's butthole,

did you get out of your cell?

I only ask because in our current situation,

well, it could prove to be useful information, maybe!

Trade secrets,

my son.

Wow.

Two operational rockets left.

One's at the lighthouse and one's on the roof. Both are ready.

Can you hear me?

I heard you, Captain.

Just making sure.

Should we...

prepare for launch?

I'll handle the strategy, Captain.

Yes, sir.

The hour is approaching. Just letting you know.

I'm very aware of the time, Captain.

Aye, sir. Letting you know.

We're ready to cock, lock and rock.

Mason, where are you going?