Sceneggiatura originale(terza parte)

AVATAR

written by
James Cameron

GRACE
Alright, look -- I don’t have the answers
yet, I’m just now starting to even frame
the questions. What we think we know --
is that there’s some kind of
electrochemical communication between the
roots of the trees. Like the synapses
between neurons. Each tree has ten to the
fourth connections to the trees around
it, and there are ten to the twelfth
trees on Pandora --
SELFRIDGE
That’s a lot I’m guessing.
GRACE
That’s more connections than the human
brain. You get it? It’s a network -- a
global network. And the Na’vi can access
it -- they can upload and download data --
memories -- at sites like the one you
destroyed.
SELFRIDGE
What the hell have you people been
smoking out there? They’re just.
Goddamn. Trees.
GRACE
You need to wake up, Parker. The wealth
of this world isn’t in the ground -- it’s
all around us. The Na’vi know that, and
they’re fighting to defend it. If you
want to share this world with them, you
need to understand them.
QUARITCH
We understand them just fine. Thanks to
Jake here.
Jake shares a look of alarm with Grace as Quaritch selects a
NEW CLIP on the main monitor --
TIGHT ON MONITOR -- VIDEO-LOG IMAGE of Jake, looking haggard
and borderline deranged, rambling in a late-night monologue.
JAKE (RECORDED)
They’re not going to give up their home --
they’re not gonna make a deal. For what?
Lite beer and shopping channel? There’s
nothing we have that they want. We’re a
horror to them. We’re the monsters from
space.
101.
JAKE watches with a growing dread as his words condemn the
people he has grown to love.
JAKE (RECORDED)
They’re never going to leave Hometree.
Quaritch FREEZES the recording.
QUARITCH
Since a deal can’t be made -- it gets
real simple.
(to Jake, icily)
So thanks. I’m getting all emotional. I
might just give you a big wet kiss.
GRACE
Parker, we have to talk, like rational
people.
SELFRIDGE
Well, I’d cherish that, but unfortunately
you’re out of here on the next shuttle.
All of you. I’m shutting down the Avatar
Program, effective now.
ON JAKE, GRACE AND NORM, speechless.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
A WALL OF FIRE. Silhouettes of direhorse riders cross in SLOW
MOTION, spears and bows held high.
INT. OPS CENTER - MORNING
MONITOR SCREEN IMAGE -- WAINFLEET pans a camera across the
smoldering hulks of BURNED DOZERS. The toppled remains of a
charred ampsuit. Dead troopers bristling with arrows.
WAINFLEET
They hit with banshees first. Set the
ampsuit on fire. Driver’s toast.
Quaritch and Selfridge look on grimly.
QUARITCH
The rest of the squad?
WAINFLEET
Six bodies -- that’s all of ‘em. And the
equipment is totalled.
SELFRIDGE
Christ.
102.
INT. SELFRIDGE’S OFFICE - DAY
Selfridge is stares soberly as Quaritch outlines the plan.
QUARITCH
I can do it with minimal casualties to
the indigenous. We’ll clear them out
with gas first. It’ll be humane. More or
less.
Selfridge sighs and rubs his face.
QUARITCH
Hey, don’t go limp on me now. This is
exactly the incident we needed.
SELFRIDGE
Alright, let’s pull the trigger.
CUT TO:
INT. BIO LAB
MAX and the lab staff are glumly packing files and equipment,
under the watchful eye of armed SEC-OPS TROOPERS. JAKE,
GRACE, NORM stare bleakly at each other.
GRACE
They bulldozed a sacred site on purpose,
to trigger a response. They’re
fabricating this war to get what they
want.
NORM
I can’t believe that.
JAKE
Yup. That’s how it’s done. When people
are sitting on shit you want, you make
them your enemy. Then you’re justified in
taking it.
TRUDY RUNS into the lab, breathless. She’s wearing full
flight gear and carrying her helmet.
TRUDY
Sec-ops is rolling the gunships. They’re
gonna hit Hometree!
JAKE
When?
TRUDY
Now. We’re spooling up now! I gotta go.
103.
GRACE
My God.
Jake pumps furiously toward the door, Grace following.
INT. OPS CENTER - DAY
SELFRIDGE surveys the airfield, where crews swarm over the
gunships, loading ordnance. He turns as JAKE and GRACE
charge toward him.
GRACE
Parker, wait. Stop! These are people
you’re about to --
SELFRIDGE
They’re fly-bitten savages who live in a
tree! Look around -- I don’t know about
you but I see a lot of trees. They can
move.
GRACE
For God’s sake, there are children in
there. Babies!
JAKE
Look Selfridge, you don’t want this kind
of blood on your hands. Let me try to
talk them out. They trust me.
ON SELFRIDGE, considering this.
CUT TO:
INT. LINK ROOM
SELFRIDGE and an escort of armed TROOPERS accompany Jake and
Grace to the links. The two enter their units, as NORM and
MAX prep the system.
SELFRIDGE
You’ve got one hour. Unless you want
your girlfriend in there when the axe
comes down, you get them to evacuate. One
hour.
Jake lowers the upper clamshell. Norm starts the sequence.
CUT TO:
INT. COMMONS -DAY
The entire clan is gathered, with Eytukan and Mo'at
presiding. Jake looks around, feeling the gaze of the People
upon him. He steels himself, and speaks in clear Na’vi --
104.
JAKE
(subtitled)
Eytukan, I have something to say, to
everyone.
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
Speak, Jakesully.
JAKE
(subtitled)
A great evil is upon us. The Sky People
are coming to destroy Hometree. They
will be here soon.
A murmur of fear and anger goes through the crowd.
JAKE
(subtitled)
You have to leave, or you will die.
MO'AT
Are you certain of this?
JAKE
They sent me here to learn your ways. So
one day I could bring this message, and
you would believe it.
NEYTIRI
What are you saying, Jake? You knew this
would happen?
He is unable to meet her eyes.
JAKE
Yes.
(anguished)
At first it was just orders. Then
everything changed. I fell in love--
with the forest, with the Omaticaya
People --
(he looks at her)
-- with you. And by then, how could I
tell you?
Neytiri can barely breathe. She is shaking with the enormity
of it, her voice cracking with rage and pain --
NEYTIRI
I trusted you, Jake!
105.
JAKE
Neytiri. Please, I only wanted to --
NEYTIRI
You will never be one of the People!
NEVER!
TSU’TEY yells to his HUNTERS --
TSUTEY
(subtitled)
Bind them.
They grab Jake, who doesn’t resist. Others seize Grace.
Both are driven to their knees, and their arms bound.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST - DAY
SCORPION GUNSHIPS darken the sky as they come over the tops
of the trees. At the head of the formation is one much
larger ship, a monster 150 feet long -- the GENERAL DYNAMICS
C-21 DRAGON GUNSHIP.
Quaritch, next to the pilot of the Dragon, surveys the world
below like Napoleon astride his horse.
EXT. HOMETREE
JAKE and GRACE are lashed to posts at the front entrance to
Hometree. The People look up as --
THE DRAGON and its escort of GUNSHIPS arrive over the trees.
The DOWN-BLAST from their rotors creates a maelstrom of
flying leaves and debris.
IN THE DRAGON COCKPIT Quaritch watches a targeting screen --
a telescopic image of Jake and Grace tied to posts.
QUARITCH
Well, I’d say diplomacy has failed.
TSU’TEY and another HUNTER hold knives to the throats of the
two avatars, glaring defiantly at the gunships.
QUARITCH
I think they mean to cut their throats if
we don’t back off. Make sure you get a
nice close-up of that. I can tack it onto
the after-action report.
JAKE YELLS to Neytiri, Tsu’tey, the others gathered nearby --
106.
JAKE
You have to get out of Hometree! Run to
the forest! Please, I’m begging you!
EYTUKAN scowls at Jake, then GRABS TSU’TEY and yells --
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
Take the ikran! Attack from above!
Tsu’tey grabs some hunters and runs up the roots of Hometree.
IN THE COCKPIT Quaritch grows impatient.
QUARITCH
Alright, let’s get this done. Give me
forty millimeter gas rounds, right in the
front door.
GUNNER
Roger. CS forties. Going hot.
QUARITCH
Fire.
On the Dragon’s stub-wings the 40mm ROCKET LAUNCHERS open up
with a BARRAGE of leaping fire which FLASHES down and --
K-WHOOM!K-WHOOM!K-WHOOM! -- the inside of Hometree ERUPTS
with multiple EXPLOSIONS of TEARGAS.
THE GAS rolls across the confused villagers. They begin to
cough and gag.
Eytukan and the remaining HUNTERS bravely fire at the
gunships with their longbows.
IN THE DRAGON’S COCKPIT, Quaritch laughs as arrows CLINK
against the armored windows.
AMID CLOUDS of teargas, the Omaticaya run, stumble, collapse.
EYTUKAN
(yelling/subtitled)
Everybody outside! Go to the Forest.
The villagers pour out of Hometree. Everyone is yelling.
Piercing SCREAMS in the boiling gas.
JAKE, eyes streaming, struggles with his bindings.
KA-WHOOM! An INCENDIARY ROUND explodes inside the Commons.
FLAMES ROAR through the base of Hometree.
107.
INSIDE HOMETREE it is a burning smoky HELL. Flames roar up
the inside like a chimney. STRAGGLERS scramble outside,
coughing and dragging wounded with them.
High up in the trunk, TSU’TEY and his hunters leap rapidly
from spoke to spoke, climbing barely ahead of the fireball.
OUTSIDE the fire is driven by the rotor-wash toward JAKE and
GRACE who are still bound tightly to the posts.
Out of the smoke, MO’AT appears in front of Jake. She raises
a KNIFE and --
SLASHES DOWNWARD. Jake looks down, surprised, to see his
bonds falling away. He meets her eyes, which are filled with
horror, but also something else. Call it faith.
MO’AT
You are one of us. Help us!
Jake takes the knife and cuts Grace free.
JAKE
We’ve gotta move! He’s gonna blow the
columns.
As Grace realizes what he means, he grabs her and they RUN.
Around them the Omaticaya flee in horror and confusion.
IN THE COCKPIT, Quaritch watches as the Omaticaya stream away
from the Great Tree, running along roots and branches.
QUARITCH
That’s how you scatter the roaches. Okay,
switch missiles. Give me H-E’s at the
base of the west columns.
PILOTS (V.O.)
Copy, switching missiles.
IN TRUDY’S SAMSON -- she hears the other pilots acknowledging
Quaritch’s order.
TRUDY
Screw it.
She takes her finger OFF the fire-control and pulls her
aircraft out of formation.
PUSHING IN ON QUARITCH, the Hometree reflecting in his
glasses.
108.
QUARITCH
Bring it down.
MISSILES stream down from the DRAGON and the other gunships
and --
The base of Hometree VANISHES in a chain of HIGH-EXPLOSIVE
BLASTS. The massive PILLARS fragment into matchsticks, and --
The Omaticaya watch in horror as --
HOMETREE GROANS and starts to MOVE.
In a cacophony of cracking, splintering roots, the mighty
tree TOPPLES with agonizing slowness.
AT THE BANSHEE EYRIE, TSU’TEY and the other hunters spur
their mounts into flight. They swoop among the branches as
the tree, the one fixed thing in their lives, MOVES.
It CRASHES DOWN through the forest canopy, crushing the
lesser trees in its path, FALLING PONDEROUSLY.
HOMETREE hits the ground like the end of the world, raising a
great cloud of dust and pulverized debris.
IN THE DRAGON cockpit, Quaritch surveys the destruction.
QUARITCH
Nice work people. Alright, let’s light
it up.
INCENDIARIES launch from the gunships, EXPLODING into gouts
of FIRE in the debris of Hometree.
THE GUNSHIPS fan the flames through the trees like a firestorm.
The Omaticaya retreat as a WALL OF FIRE advances.
JAKE SEARCHES for Neytiri amid swirling smoke and sparks.
JAKE
Neytiri! Neytiri!
GRACE is gathering crying CHILDREN, and herding them away
from the fire-storm.
NEYTIRI stumbles through the burning wreckage at the edge of
the INFERNO. She sees --
EYTUKAN. A large shard of wood is driven through him like a
spear. He recognizes her as she kneels over him.
109.
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
Daughter -- take my bow. Protect the
People.
In his last living moment he places his bow in her hands.
She collapses over him, her face crumpling in grief.
JAKE reels out of the smoke. Kneels next to her.
JAKE
I’m sorry --
She shoves him away and stands, screaming at him as tears
stream down her face.
NEYTIRI
Get away from me, Jake. Go away! Never
come back!
Jake stumbles back as she slumps down by her father’s body.
Sparks and smoke swirl around him. He watches as --
NETYIRI kneels, grieving. Slumped over, clutching her
stomach. Keening like an animal.
SLOW MOTION -- Jake staggers lost and alone through the
burning forest. Utterly shattered. Eyes vacant.
JAKE (V.O.)
I was a warrior who dreamed he could
bring peace. Sooner or later though, you
always have to wake up...
INT. LINK ROOM
SELFRIDGE watches a video feed of the destruction on one of
the monitors. Max and NORM stare in shock.
SELFRIDGE
Pull the plug.
A TROOPER crosses to the console and grabs the handle of the
MASTER BREAKER --
EXT. RAINFOREST
The strings are cut. Jake flops to the ground, limp.
Elsewhere in the smoky Hell, Grace slumps unconscious. The
crying kids pull at her. Mo’at, leading a group of
Omaticaya, comes upon the scene.
110.
She grabs the kids and pulls them away, leaving Grace’s
avatar helpless in the path of the flames. She hesitates,
then --
MO’AT
(subtitled)
Bring her.
INT. LINK ROOM
BLACKNESS. Then the top clamshell of Jake’s unit is yanked
upward, and troopers grab him, zip-tie his wrists as we --
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST - DUSK
ON A HILLSIDE -- a grieving Neytiri stands with Mo'at and the
Omaticaya refugees. Two hunters pull Grace’s avatar on a
travois.
They watch as the flames burn like a funeral pyre below. A
great pall of smoke darkens the landscape.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LOCK-UP - NIGHT
Jake, Grace, and Norm are in a common holding cell. They
sit, staring in silence. Too wired to sleep, too emotionally
drained to move.
GRACE
They never wanted us to succeed.
AT THE DESK OUTSIDE, the lone TROOPER looks up as --
TRUDY approaches along the corridor, pushing a stainless
steel trolley.
TRUDY
Personally I think steak’s too good for
these traitors.
GUARD
They get steak? That’s bullshit. Let me
see that --
The guard bends to look into the hot cart and --
THE MUZZLE of Trudy’s pistol presses behind his ear.
111.
TRUDY
Oops.
(shoving him down)
All the way down, pendejo.
She WHISTLES and MAX trots around the corner.
Trudy binds the guard with one of his own zip-ties as Max
grabs his KEY CARD and runs to the cell. Swipes the card.
The door is rolling open when --
ANOTHER TROOPER rounds the corner. Trudy takes him down with
a sharp BLOW to the windpipe and a THAI KNEE to the ribs.
Meanwhile the first TROOPER is getting up, but Max CLOCKS him
heartily with a coffee urn. He goes down and stays down.
MAX
That was unexpectedly satisfying.
Trudy plants a kiss on Norm as he runs out of the cell.
NORM
Baby, you rock.
Jake wheels out, grabbing the sidearm from the fallen trooper
as Trudy binds his wrists.
JAKE
(to Max and Trudy)
Thanks.
Jake faces his motley group, chambering a round.
JAKE
So what do you say? Time for a
revolution?
GRACE
I’m free.
Trudy grins and taps his fist.
JAKE
Come on.
CUT TO:
INT. UTILIDOR
In the utility corridor under the base, Jake pumps the chair
furiously, as the others jog. They reach an AIRLOCK and start
donning EXOPACKS.
112.
JAKE
(to Trudy)
Get your ship fired up.
Trudy nods. She grabs Norm and enters the airlock. Jake
turns to Max.
JAKE
Stay here. I need somebody on the inside
I can trust.
Max nods. Jake grips his hand tightly.
CUT TO:
EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT
IN THE SAMSON, Norm is helping Trudy race through the
preflight checks as the turbines spool up. A LIGHT hits
them.
An armored TROOPER approaches, aiming his AR at them.
TROOPER
I need you to shut down and step out of
the vehicle! Now!
JAKE rolls up behind him, aiming his pistol.
JAKE
Take it nice and easy, troop.
The trooper turns, sees the gun.
JAKE
On the ground, face down. Hands behind
your head.
The trooper hesitates.
GRACE
Do what he goddamn says!
He does. Norm jumps down and grabs the trooper’s rifle and
side-arm, covering him, while Grace helps Jake from chair to
the back bay of the chopper. She throws his chair in, and
jumps in herself.
JAKE
Go! Go! Go!
113.
INT. OPS CENTER - NIGHT
QUARITCH, watching a monitor, sees what’s happening down at
the airfield. He slams his palm down on an ALARM BUTTON.
He draws his PISTOL. Strides toward the EMERGENCY DOOR. He
undogs it.
EXT. OPS CENTER/AIRFIELD - NIGHT
HOLDING HIS BREATH Quaritch yanks the hatch open and strides
onto the outer landing. Inside people scramble for MASKS.
THE SAMSON lifts off in a blast of rotor-wash just as --
QUARITCH OPENS FIRE and --
ROUNDS rake the ship. Trudy banks hard, using the bottom to
shield them. Bullets WHACK into the ship as she climbs-out
over the tree-line.
Jake’s fist pumps the air exultantly.
JAKE
Oh yeah, baby!
GRACE
Aaahh, crap. Not again.
He looks over at Grace and freezes. She is looking down at a
BLOODY HAND. She clutches her abdomen, covering the
spreading stain. Looks at Jake, wide-eyed.
GRACE
This is gonna ruin my whole day.
JAKE
Hang on, Grace.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHACK / SITE 26 - NIGHT
NORM’S AVATAR, with an AR slung over his shoulder, stands on
the roof of the LINK MODULE. He gives a thumbs up signal.
The lift cable goes taut and --
The shack LIFTS OFF THE GROUND.
Trudy’s Samson beats the grass of the mountain meadow,
straining to lift the module on a long-line sling. The shack
sways as Trudy banks across forested slopes and heads deeper
into the HALLELUJAH MOUNTAINS.
114.
INT. SAMSON CABIN - NIGHT
Outside the windows, clouds and cliffs pass by, lit by
Polyphemus.
Jake is yanking stuff out of the Samson’s trauma bag, while
Grace lies curled across two back seats, hugging her bloodsoaked
abdomen. She is pale and shocky.
Trudy is flying on visual only, by the light of Polyphemus.
Her instruments are showing gibberish.
TRUDY
Well, at least they won’t be able to
track us up here. Not this deep in the
vortex.
JAKE
It’s strongest at the Well of Souls,
right?
TRUDY
Yeah.
JAKE
Good, ‘cause that’s where we’re going.
TRUDY
Copy.
He gives Grace an ampule of morphine for the pain.
JAKE
I’m gonna get you some help, Grace.
GRACE
Forget it, it doesn’t matter.
Jake grabs her shoulders.
JAKE
No! The People can help you. I know it.
CUT TO:
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - AERIAL - DAWN
Dawn light paints the massive ARCHES of magnetic rock above
the Well of Souls.
Tiny as an insect, the SAMSON passes.
115.
JAKE (V.O.)
The Well of Souls. The heart of the
forest. I knew the People would go
there.
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - DAWN
The WELL OF SOULS is a deep caldera 100 meters across. It is
ringed with enormous WILLOWS whose roots seem to pour down
the sheer rock walls like candle wax.
AT THE BOTTOM, in a natural amphitheater, the Omaticaya
refugees are clustered around a central rock outcropping
which forms a kind of dais and altar.
Shafts of dawn light reach to the bottom of the grotto,
lighting a single willow -- the MOTHER TREE. Ancient and
gnarled, it grows in the center of the rock.
Its ROOTS spread down to the grotto floor, where they merge
with the roots of the willows ringing the Well -- forming a
braided mat resembling the surface of a brain.
Mo'at stands on the dais, leading them in a CHANT.
MO’AT
(subtitled)
Wise ancestors who live within Eywa,
guide us. Give us a sign.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAWN
The shack descends from the sky like a gift from the gods.
It bumps to the ground.
CUT TO:
INT. SHACK -- DAY
Grace lies, comatose, in her open link. Trudy gives Jake a
look that says “not much time.” Jake feels Grace’s cold
forehead, then crosses to his own link.
As Trudy helps him in, Norm rapidly preps the system.
NORM
(low)
Tsu’tey is Olo’eyctan now. He’s not
going to let you get near that place.
JAKE
I’ve gotta try, Norm.
116.
Jake pulls the clamshell down and we --
CUT TO:
EXT. RUINS OF HOMETREE - DAY
CU JAKE’S AVATAR -- HIS EYES OPEN. He sits up. The forest is
silent, shrouded in smoke that the sun can’t penetrate. The
animals have fled. Ash blows on the wind.
JAKE (V.O.)
Outcast. Betrayer. Alien. To ever face
them again, I was gonna have to change
the rules.
DISSOLVE -- JAKE reaches the top of a rise. The forest
beyond is utterly DEVASTATED. The trees burned and fallen.
Small fires still flicker across a landscape in Hell.
JAKE stares. It is his vision, made real. He stumbles
through the dark wasteland, sparks and ash swirling around
him.
A SCREECH. Jake looks up as --
HIS BANSHEE -- bonded for life -- flaps down to a landing in
front of him. He steps to it, and strokes its head. It
nudges his chest like a horse.
JAKE (V.O.)
Sometimes your whole life boils down to
one insane move.
JAKE
Come on, boy. Time to fly.
OMIITED
EXT. MOUNTAINS - DAY
THE GREAT LEONOPTERYX glides effortlessly along the ridge
where Jake and Neytiri first encountered him.
It scans for prey below, its magnificent indigo-crested head
cocking left, then right.
JAKE (V.O.)
The way I had it figured, Toruk is the
baddest cat in the sky. Nothing attacks
him. So why would he ever look up?
FROM ABOVE -- THE SMALL SHADOW of Jake’s banshee falls across
the back of the mighty Toruk.
117.
JAKE (V.O.)
But that was just a theory.
JAKE DIVES and WE RUSH DOWN toward the great beast and our
own shadow then --
CUT TO:
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - LATE AFTERNOON
The Omaticaya people lift their voices in a SONG filled with
tragic loss and yearning for deliverance.
CLOSE ON NEYTIRI, singing. A SHADOW CROSSES HER FACE. She
looks up, and her eyes go wide as --
A TERRIBLE CRY echoes, turning all eyes skyward. AN ENORMOUS
SHADOW covers the crowd as --
TORUK comes out of the sun, beating its huge wings to slow
its descent. Its crimson and black wings, backlit by the
sun, seem to glow from within.
The People CRY OUT in alarm and scatter as the dreaded beast
alights in their midst. And that’s when they see --
JAKE, riding high on its shoulders, plugged-in to its
antenna. It folds its wings and stands calmly amid the
paralyzed Na’vi.
Toruk lowers its body. They stare in awe as Jake dismounts
and strokes the magnificent animal’s flank.
NEYTIRI, TSU’TEY and MO’AT watch in stunned amazement as the
legendary Rider of Last Shadow walks toward them.
NEYTIRI
(breathing the words)
Toruk Macto.
Neytiri raises her arms.
NEYTIRI
(shouting)
Toruk Macto!
ON THE FACES of the Omaticaya -- new hope dawning in their
eyes. WHISPERS flow among them, the words REPEATED --
CROWD
Toruk Macto... Toruk Macto...
118.
Jake walks through the crowd, straight to Neytiri at the foot
of the dais. He looks into her enormous eyes, and the
emotion between them is powerful and pure.
NEYTIRI
I See you.
JAKE
(a hoarse whisper)
I See you.
Neytiri’s eyes brim with tears.
NEYTIRI
I was afraid Jake -- for my people. I’m
not any more.
Jake takes Neytiri’s hand and climbs the steps of the dais.
MO’AT steps back in awe as he approaches. He turns to
Tsu’tey, who stares at him with fear and incomprehension.
Jake plays to the rapt crowd as he says --
JAKE
(subtitled)
Tsu’tey of the Rongloa, son of Ateyo. I
stand before you, ready to serve the
People.
(then just for Tsu’tey)
You are Olo’eyctan, and you are the best
warrior. I can’t do this without you.
Tsu’tey struggles with his emotions. Finally --
TSU’TEY
I will fly with you.
JAKE
Ireiyo.
JAKE turns to the MATRIARCH.
JAKE
Grace is dying. I beg the help of the
Great Mother.
MO'AT
Bring her, Jakesully.
TIME CUT -- AVATAR JAKE carries Grace’s HUMAN BODY, lightly
in his arms like a child. Jake walks through the crowd to
the dais, followed by NORM, who carries GRACE’S AVATAR.
119.
JAKE
Look where we are, Grace.
Her eyes flutter open. She looks up wonderingly at the Mother
Tree.
GRACE
(with a wan smile)
I need to take some samples.
Mo'at directs them to lay both bodies among the roots on the
altar-rock.
Mo’at touches Jake’s shoulder and he steps back.
MO’AT
(quietly)
The Great Mother may choose to save all
that she is --
Mo’at’s hand indicates Grace’s AVATAR --
MO’AT
-- in this body.
CU JAKE, realizing the enormity of what she’s saying.
JAKE
Is that possible?
MO’AT
Possible, yes. She must pass through the
Eye of Eywa -- and return. But Jakesully--
she is very weak.
Jake kneels next to Grace, taking her tiny human hand in his
avatar hand.
JAKE
Hang on, they’re gonna fix you up.
Grace is barely conscious. She grips his hand.
GRACE
I -- always held back. But you gave them
your heart. I’m proud of you, Jake.
Jake feels his throat close with emotion.
Grace’s eyes blaze with intensity though her voice is faint.
120.
GRACE
Help them. You do whatever it takes. You
hear me?
JAKE
I will.
TIME CUT -- MO’AT stands in a kind of trance amongst the
tendrils of the Mother Tree.
NEYTIRI and the other acolytes dance hypnotically. All the
Omaticaya sway and chant to the rhythm of the drums.
MACRO SHOT -- fine, hairlike THREADS have emerged from the
roots and are gently spreading over Grace’s HUMAN skin.
JAKE, still holding her hand, watches her body being fused to
the root-floor by a thousand connections.
GRACE’S AVATAR is gently connected by the same questing ROOTCILIA--
they entwine with the QUEUE and spread over the body.
The grotto is dark except for the spectral GLOW of the
willows. The CHANT continues, hypnotically. MO’AT, on her
knees beneath the Mother Tree, writhes her arms in the trance
state. Her eyes are rolled back, showing only WHITE.
GRACE GASPS and her eyes SNAP OPEN. Her expression is AMAZED,
as if seeing something so beautiful it can never be
explained.
ON HER HAND -- GRIPPING Jake’s convulsively, as she tries to
anchor herself to this world for a few more seconds --
GRACE
I’m with her Jake --
(an amazed whisper)
-- she’s real --
Grace SHUDDERS, as pain shoots through her. BLOOD seeps
through the silken white root-cilia growing across her
abdomen. Drowning WHITE in shocking CRIMSON.
She exhales a last shuddering breath -- and goes STILL.
JAKE
Grace!
He sees the roots falling away from her human body.
JAKE TURNS hopefully toward her AVATAR -- but the roots are
falling away from it as well. It sleeps -- VACANT.
121.
MO’AT stops the chant. She crosses to Jake and kneels with
him, touching his shoulder.
MO’AT
Her wounds were too great, there was not
enough time. She is with Eywa now.
NEYTIRI removes Grace’s mask and gently closes her eyes.
Jake stands slowly, barely holding it together.
NEYTIRI comes to him and he sees the despair and hope
conflicting on her face --
-- and he raises his head. TURNS to face TSU’TEY and the
CROWD.
JAKE
With your permission, I will Speak now.
You would honor me by translating.
Tsu’tey gestures assent, and they face the clan together.
JAKE SPEAKS, the pain of Grace’s death in the passion and
fury of his voice. Tsu’tey TRANSLATES beside him.
JAKE
The Sky People have sent a message that
they can take whatever they want, and no
one can stop them. But we will send them
a message. Ride out, as fast as the wind
can carry you, tell the other clans to
come. Tell them Toruk Macto calls to
them. Fly now with me brothers and
sisters! Fly! And we will show the Sky
People that this is our land!
TSU’TEY finishes with a bloodcurdling war-cry, and the entire
CLAN responds, their shouts echoing across the forest.
JAKE takes Neytiri’s hand and runs to the leonopteryx. He
vaults onto its back and pulls her up behind him.
THE HUNTERS run to their banshees, mounting quickly. Jake’s
leonopteryx rises on mighty wings into the night sky. With a
thunder of wings, the banshees take off after it.
LONG LENS -- POLYPHEMUS. Across its face, the banshees rise
like a swarm of bats. Groups of riders peel off in different
directions.
CUT TO:
122.
EXT. CLAN GATHERING - NIGHT
JAKE and NEYTIRI stand before the gathered members of ANOTHER
CLAN. Jake speaks as she translates. We don’t hear the
words.
TRACK ACROSS the faces of the clan, a sea of eyes in
flickering fire-light.
JAKE (V.O.)
We rode out to the four winds. To the
horse clans of the plain, to the ikran
people of the mountains. When Toruk
Macto called them, they came.
VARIOUS ANGLES -- SLOW MOTION as riders vault onto their
armored direhorses. Banshee riders raise spears and bows,
spurring their mounts to leap skyward.
CUT TO:
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - DAWN
With a WHOOSH and the crack of mighty wings, JAKE RETURNS.
Jake and Neytiri alight from his legendary mount.
Around them HUNDREDS OF BANSHEES are landing. A gathering of
eagles.
FROM ABOVE we can see hundreds of Na’vi streaming down into
the Well of Souls and many hundreds more camped in the forest
above it.
DIREHORSE RIDERS are arriving along many trails.
BANSHEE RIDERS circle and swoop, darkening the sky above the
grotto.
JAKE, standing next to the Leonopteryx, watches his army
gathering.
CUT TO:
INT. COMMISSARY - DAY
It’s standing room only as all base personnel are crowded
into the dining hall. A portable 3D GRAPHICS PROJECTOR has
been set up, and the lights are down. QUARITCH stands in
front of the display image -- a classic pre-mission briefing.
QUARITCH
People, you are fighting for survival.
There’s an aboriginal horde out there
massing for an attack. First slide.
123.
The display shows an overhead image of the Well of Souls. It
looks like Woodstock in the jungle.
QUARITCH
These orbital images show the hostiles’
numbers have gone from a couple of
hundred to over two thousand in one day,
and more are pouring in. By next week it
could be twenty thousand. Then they’ll be
overrunning our perimeter here. We can’t
wait. Our only security lies in preemptive
attack. We will fight terror
with terror.
TRACKING ACROSS the grim faces of the miners and troopers.
Fear transforming to hatred in their eyes.
QUARITCH
Next slide. This mountain stronghold is
supposedly protected by their deity.
When we destroy it, we will blast a
crater in their racial memory so deep
they won’t come within a thousand klicks
of this place.
CUT TO:
INT. ARMOR BAY - DAY
TROOPERS issue automatic weapons and magazines to a long line
of mine workers. The miners lock and load like the redblooded
redneck NRA supporters they are.
BLASTING TECHS are setting radio-detonated primer charges
into two-ton stacks of EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND. The stacks are
band-strapped together on pallets.
TRACKING WITH SELFRIDGE, staring around him in growing dismay
as he walks through the full-scale mobilization.
He approaches Quaritch, who is barking orders amid a hive of
activity around the ampsuits.
SELFRIDGE
This thing is completely out of control!
Quaritch ignores him, turning away to focus on ordnance
loading.
SELFRIDGE
Listen to me! I am not authorizing you to
turn the mine-workers local into a
freakin’ militia!
124.
QUARITCH
I declared threat condition red. That
puts all on-world assets under my
command.
SELFRIDGE
You think you can pull this palace coup
shit on me?! I can have your ass with
one call --
Quaritch grabs him and PINS him against the side of an
ampsuit.
QUARITCH
You’re a long way from Earth.
Selfridge is paralyzed. Physical force -- against him?
Quaritch releases him and walks away.
QUARITCH
(to his men)
Get him out of here.
Several troopers converge on Selfridge.
SELFRIDGE
You touch me you’re so fired.
He pushes through them and they escort him toward the door.
CUT TO:
INT. SHACK - DAY
HUMAN JAKE, NORM and TRUDY are gathered around the comms
monitor, talking to MAX.
MAX
I don’t know how secure this channel is.
JAKE
Talk fast.
MAX
It’s crazy here, Jake. It’s full
mobilization. They’re rigging the
shuttles as bombers. They’ve made up
these big pallets of mine explosives.
It’s for some kind of shock and awe
campaign.
TRUDY
Frickin’ daisycutters.
125.
NORM
Holy shit.
JAKE
(to Max)
Can you talk to Selfridge? Maybe we can
cut some kinda deal before this thing
goes all the way.
MAX
No, Quaritch has taken over. He’s
rolling and there’s no stopping him.
JAKE
When?
MAX
Oh six hundred tomorrow.
Jake takes that in.
JAKE
Thanks.
Max signs off.
NORM
We’re screwed.
TRUDY
You know he’s gonna commit those bombers
straight to the Well of Souls.
JAKE
That’s right. Because I gave it to him
on a plate.
TRUDY
We both did.
NORM
If he takes out the Well of Souls -- it’s
over. It’s their main line to Eywa, to
their ancestors -- it’ll destroy them.
JAKE
Then I guess we better stop him.
Jake looks like he’s about to collapse. He’s gaunt, eyes
deeply shadowed, hands shaking.
TRUDY
You need to get some rack.
126.
He grabs a packet of freeze-dried crystals and pours them
directly into his mouth, chewing them up.
JAKE
Gonna have to settle for coffee.
CUT TO:
EXT. BATTLE CAMP - DUSK
TRACKING through the warrior camp above the Well of Souls.
Hundreds of hunters from many clans prepare their weapons.
Hunters paint the wings of their banshees like war ponies.
DIREHORSES are painted and ornamented with totemic streamers.
The Na’vi paint and pierce themselves. Dance. Bathe in the
smoke of cleansing herbs -- RITUAL PURIFICATION. HUGE DRUMS
are beaten. A dark primeval energy. They are psyching
themselves up for battle.
JAKE (V.O.)
I was a warrior who dreamed he could
bring peace. But there was only one
thing I was ever really good at. Ooh-rah.
TIME CUT -- Jake, Neytiri a group of banshee riders squat
around an animal skin on which he has drawn the silhouette of
a Scorpion gunship -- like a hunt totem.
JAKE
(Na’vi/subtitled)
Strike here and here.
Jake splats red dye at the centers of the circles symbolizing
the rotors. The Na’vi absorb the lesson eagerly, like kids.
He sees TRUDY approaching and breaks off. Neytiri stays with
the hunters, talking about what they’ve learned.
TRUDY
(low)
You know our chances suck.
JAKE
Yeah.
TRUDY
Going up against gunships with bows and
arrows...
JAKE
What’s your point?
127.
TRUDY
(nodding)
Right.
She taps his fist and walks away toward her SAMSON.
CUT TO:
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - NIGHT
The cook-fires of the battle camp FLICKER like a
constellation around the edge of the Well of Souls as --
JAKE slips down into the darkened, empty amphitheater.
He moves to the MOTHER TREE -- gnarled, ancient, MAJESTIC.
The roots spread in all directions, like the center of the
world.
Jake steps forward. The willow-like tendrils SWAY toward
him, moving in a breeze that isn’t there.
JAKE
I’ve never done this in my life.
He squats at the base of the tree.
JAKE
And I’m probably just talking to a tree
right now. But if you’re there -- I need
to give you a heads up.
He looks up into the tree. The hanging tendrils undulate
softly. It’s easy to imagine a presence.
JAKE
If Grace is there with you -- look in her
memories -- she can show you the world we
come from. There’s no green there. They
killed their Mother, and they’re gonna do
the same thing here.
FROM UP IN THE TREE, looking down. WOODSPRITES float in
silence, moving around aimlessly.
JAKE
More Sky People are gonna come. They’re
gonna come like a rain that never ends --
Neytiri approaches silently behind him, listening.
JAKE
-- until they’ve covered the world.
Unless we stop them.
128.
(MORE)
Look, you chose me for somethin’. And
I’ll stand and fight, you know I will.
But I could use a little help here.
Jake senses Neytiri and turns.
NEYTIRI
Our Great Mother does not take sides.
She protects only the balance of life.
She comes to him, intertwining her long fingers with his.
JAKE
It was worth a try.
They lean in, foreheads touching, bodies pressed together.
Holding each other -- in this, the last moment of peace.
CUT TO:
TIGHT ON a turbine as it starts to turn. Its RISING WHINE
carries over --
A SERIES OF RHYTHMIC CUTS:
MAGAZINES are slammed into automatic weapons. AMMO BELTS are
fed into rotary cannons. MISSILES are attached to gunship
stub-wings.
TIGHT ON BLUE HANDS sharpening wooden arrows. Stringing
bows. Cinching direhorse harnesses.
TROOPERS DROP into ampsuit cockpits. PILOTS close gunship
canopies. TROOPERS run up shuttle ramps.
LONG LENS STACK, tight and abstract on gunships as they rise
in a swarm amid boiling turbine exhaust and blasting rotor
wash.
EXT. RAINFOREST/ AERIAL - DAWN
WIDE SHOT -- TILTROTORS fill the sky. Deadly armored beetles.
The DRAGON leads the formation, flanked by SCORPIONS. Behind
that is a wave of SAMSONS, and last, the two enormous
VALKYRIE shuttles, packed with troops and ampsuits.
INSIDE THE DRAGON, Quaritch surveys his armada as they skim
over the tree tops.
THEY SWEEP toward the Hallelujah mountains in a thundering
wave.
129.
JAKE (cont'd)
EXT. MOUNTAINS/ AERIAL - DAWN
SQUADRONS OF BANSHEES darken the sky in waves, led by a
single GREAT LEONOPTERYX. Jake sits astride his mount,
flanked by Neytiri and Tsu’tey on their banshees.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - DAWN
THE DRAGON DESCENDS on final approach to a large clearing --
the LZ. The Samsons flair and touch down, disgorging troops,
while the gunships hover protectively.
THE VALKYRIES blast the ground with their powerful lift jets.
They land. The ramps drop. Troopers pour out, weapons
leveled, advancing in a cordon.
UP ANGLE as AMPSUITS descend from the Dragon on cables.
Their massive feet smash down, and they march forward,
leading the army into the forest.
LYLE WAINFLEET, walking point in his hydraulic suit, scans
his cockpit screens. He sees movement on the FLIR display --
ghostly THERMAL SIGNATURES.
WAINFLEET
Contact. Two hundred meters.
A chilling SOUND echoes through the forest -- the ululating
WAR CRIES of untold Na’vi. The troopers, look around,
spooked. They can’t tell where the sound is coming from.
Then they feel it -- the GROUND ITSELF SHAKING. They grip
their weapons, bracing themselves as --
THREE HUNDRED NA’VI HORSEMEN charge through the forest at a
full gallop, their hooves POUNDING the earth. It is an
awesome sight.
NORM SPELLMAN rides with the Na’vi hunters, carrying an
assault rifle.
THE NA’VI CHARGE thunders toward the human line. The hunters
raise their bows as --
THE AMPSUITS raise their GAU-90’s.
ON THE THERMAL IMAGERS target-cursors track the ghost riders.
QUARITCH
Fire for effect.
The entire line of troopers opens fire. TRACERS riddle the
jungle, blasting foliage into confetti.
130.
CHARGING DIREHORSES crash down, flipping over. Riders are
flung off. The withering fire continues, and the ranks are
decimated as --
RIDERS LAUNCH their arrows at a full gallop. A few hit their
marks among the troopers. NORM FIRES his AR on full auto.
TWO CHARGING DIREHORSES have a heavy log slung between them
like a battering ram. At a full gallop they hit an ampsuit,
FLIPPING IT onto its back with a blown-out canopy. Victory
is short lived as the two riders are cut down.
NORM’S HORSE is hit by tracer fire. He is flung off as the
creature cartwheels. He hits hard, scrambling for cover as --
A WARRIOR HURLS his spear a moment before his horse is cut
down. It SLAMS through an ampsuit’s canopy but --
THE MERCILESS FIRE continues. Horses rear and collapse.
Riders pivot their mounts to flee and --
THE THERMAL SCREENS show the remaining ghost riders
scattering.
LYLE signals and the line advances, firing sporadically at
moving targets.
OVERHEAD, NA’VI HUNTERS stream through the trees, running
along the branches.
As the troopers advance into bow range, the NA’VI open fire
and --
TROOPERS SPROUT ARROWS in throat, legs, masks -- the targets
Jake taught them, but --
THE FIRING LINE aims upward, tracking the THERMAL TARGETS.
TRACERS rip through the foliage and --
NA’VI FALL while others retreat as bark and wood is blasted
off the limbs beneath their feet.
NORM sprints frantically through the woods, shouting into his
HANDSET --
NORM
Jake! Jake! We’re falling back!
SURVIVING NA’VI flee the horrific onslaught. It is a total
rout.
IN THE DRAGON, Quaritch catches glimpses of the figures
streaming through the forest below.
131.
QUARITCH
Blue team, switch forties. Fire at will.
Led by the Dragon, the gunships FIRE streamers of 40mm
ROCKETS ahead of them. The jungle EXPLODES with HE bursts.
Circular SHOCK WAVES flash outward through the jungle --
STROBOSCOPIC GLIMPSES of terrified horses rearing, Na’vi
leaping, as the jungle rocks with the concussive onslaught.
HUNTERS LOOK UP as a dark shape hovers overhead. The
downblast of the VALKYRIE’S lift jets shreds the forest.
INSIDE THE SHUTTLE’S cargo bay, a row of DAISYCUTTERS are
lined up. Troopers roll the first pallet down the ramp.
THE PALLET falls into the jungle below and --
BA-WHOOOOOM! -- an enormous high-explosive blast rips a huge
hole in the forest. A white concussion wave flashes out
across the ground for hundreds of meters in all directions.
AT GROUND LEVEL it is an apocalypse. Running Na’vi are
blasted out of existence by fire and shock waves.
IN THE CARGO BAY the troopers WHOOP and high-five.
TROOPERS
Yeah baby! Get some!
GROUND TROOPS ADVANCE, firing flamethrowers, AR’s and GAU-
90’s.
EXT. FLOATING MOUNTAINS - AERIAL
Quaritch’s fleet flies into the shadow of the Mountain of
Truth.
QUARITCH
Blue team, stay with the ground units.
Red team, with me. We’re punching for
the main target.
Quaritch glances up to see --
A squadron of WINGED SHAPES, diving out of the morning glare
like birds of prey.
CLOSE ON JAKE, rushing straight down, SCREAMING a war cry as
he leads the charge and --
SCORES OF BANSHEES SLAM into the gunships and Samsons like
falcons hitting fat turkeys. The air battle is joined.
132.
JAKE’S GREAT LEONOPTERYX flairs into its signature crimson X
shape just before --
K-WHAM!! -- it knocks a Scorpion tumbling. It coils around
the gunship, slashing furiously as they spin together. JAKE
can barely hang onto the gyrating creature.
The pilot of the Scorpion sees nothing but jaws slamming into
his canopy. Jake releases the gunship and it careens into a
CLIFF, tearing off one rotor -- then plummets into the trees.
There is a satisfying FIREBALL.
SCORPIONS fall out of formation to pursue individual banshee
riders, FIRING cannons and rockets.
JAKE BANKS as the cliff face next to him explodes with
cannon rounds. SCREAMING down on him is another Scorpion.
JAKE tucks and dives along the cliff, feeling the rounds
splitting the air around him and --
The Scorpions bank after the furiously jinking banshees as
they head for cover among the floating mountains, or dive
down into the trees.
DOOR GUNNERS in a SAMSON are shooting down banshees like
Messerschmidts from a B-17 as --
WE FOLLOW TSU’TEY’S BANSHEE in a full delta dive. He swoops
in from its blind spot and --
THE GUNNERS SWIVEL too late as Tsu’tey flashes past them,
SHOOTING ARROWS with deadly accuracy.
A SCORPION gunship dives after a banshee. It fires an air-toair
missile and the banshee vanishes in an EXPLOSION.
WIDE SHOT as thirty ships and hundreds of banshees wheel and
dive, like the Battle of Britain. Banshees are hit by guns
and missiles, falling out of the sky. The occasional trail of
smoke and fire marks the demise of a tilt-rotor.
IN THE CENTER the Dragon is pouring out hellacious fire --
tracer rounds from multiple turrets and missiles from the
stub-wing pods.
NEYTIRI BANKS hard as TRACERS flash past her. A Scorpion is
right on her ass as --
SHE ROLLS inverted and dives under the edge of Mons
Veritatis, then rolls out, zig-zagging through the dangling
vines but --
133.
THE GUNSHIP stays on her. It rips through the vines, and
tracers FLASH toward us as --
SHE JINKS the banshee around a thundering waterfall but --
HER PURSUER explodes right through the curtain of water. It
launches an air-to-air missile. NEYTIRI jinks hard, diving.
The missile hits a rock outcropping, pummeling her with the
shock wave.
THE GUNSHIP follows her through a narrow slit between Mons
Veritatis and a smaller floating island. They run this slot
rolled up on their sides and --
THE SCORPION GUNNER locks up Neytiri for a missile shot but --
A SHADOW crosses his canopy. Out of the sun comes a crimson
demon, shrieking over the roar of the turbines, and --
K-WHAMMM!! The leonopteryx SLAMS the gunship, driving it
downward in a dive. The leonopteryx lashes at it with claws
and teeth as they fall together out of control.
Jake kicks the gunship loose and it falls like a brick,
breaking its back on a rocky promontory and EXPLODING.
FLYING WITH A SAMSON as a SECOND SAMSON falls in beside it.
This one has its pilot door off, and the PILOT is wearing a
breathing mask. The door gunners wave at --
TRUDY, her expression grim behind her mask. She holds the
cyclic stick between her knees while she RAKES the other ship
with BURSTS from an AR in her lap.
The pilot slumps over and the craft tumbles out of control.
TRUDY
You’re not the only ones with guns, you
pricks.
NEYTIRI JINKS her banshee hard, an enemy Samson right behind
her. The pilot is a hotdog, following her down into the
trees, under the canopy.
They slalom among the trunks at high speed. The gunners hang
half out the doors, firing. Bark and leaves explode around
Neytiri as she zig-zags through the jungle.
THE BANSHEE dives under a huge tree limb, and the pilot
follows. He looks up at the last second, catching a glimpse
of blue-skinned figures.
THE HUNTERS drop a net of woven vines behind Neytiri and --
134.
The SAMSON hits it hard. The net fouls the ship, FLIPPING IT
backwards. It crashes upside down to the forest floor.
KABOOM!!
NEYTIRI’S BANSHEE is hit by GROUND-FIRE. It folds up like a
broken kite, crashing down through branches and --
SHE SLAMS into the ground, stunned.
IN THE DRAGON Quaritch looks ahead, seeing the WELL OF SOULS.
He taps the pilot and points --
QUARITCH
There it is.
(into his headset)
Valkyrie One, this is Dragon. Target is
in sight.
IN THE CARGO BAY of Valkyrie One, the troopers ready their
deadly loads.
TROOPER
Target in sight.
CIRCLING ABOVE, Tsu’tey falls in beside Jake, who talks to
him by AIRCOM HEADSET.
JAKE
We have to stop the shuttles, no matter
what it takes.
TSU’TEY nods. He signals, gathering other hunters, who fall
in with him as he dives. Jake rolls in after them but --
A GUNSHIP drops in behind him and he is forced to evade as --
TSU’TEY LEADS the attack on the first shuttle. Hunters jink
and weave through WITHERING FIRE from the escort ships.
GUNNERS with jerry-rigged gun mounts ride the broad backs of
the shuttles, picking off banshees who get past the escort.
TSU’TEY is RAKED by a burst from the dorsal gunners. His
mount crumples, plummeting with a dying scream and --
WE SPIRAL DOWN with him, the forest rushing up and --
A BLINDING BLIZZARD of green as he tears downward, catching
at leaves and vines. He SLAMS to the ground, badly injured.
NEARBY, ampsuits and troopers advance across the forest
floor, firing their cannons and flamethrowers. The GAU-90s
rip the forest to shreds.
135.
Norm, firing as he retreats, is HIT. He collapses, his avatar
body mortally wounded as --
HYDRAULIC FEET approach, passing the bodies of direhorses and
Na'vi hunters. Norm painfully tries to load another
magazine, panting in fear and pain as --
AN AMPSUIT stomps up. Aims its cannon point blank. B-BLAM!
INT. SHACK
The top of Norm’s LINK bangs open. He reels out, collapsing
onto the floor, clutching himself as if he can still feel the
pain of death.
He sits, huddled, shivering -- crazed.
EXT. RAINFOREST
TSU’TEY lies gasping, mortally injured. He looks up,
grimacing, as an ampsuit looms over him.
LYLE WAINFLEET reaches down and grabs Tsu’tey by his queue,
lifting him painfully.
WAINFLEET
I hear this is worse than death for you,
chief.
WAINFLEET cuts Tsu’tey's queue off near the base. TSU’TEY
SCREAMS in agony, his nervous system exploding on overload.
Grinning, Lyle holds up the queue -- Tsu’tey's only
connection to the world-consciousness which is his life.
NEYTIRI -- bleeding, bruised -- staggers amid burning
wreckage. AMPSUIT footsteps approach and she crouches behind
a tree. Troopers are seconds from seeing her as --
NEYTIRI knocks an arrow to HER FATHER’S BOW, and readies
herself for a last kamikaze shot when --
THE TROOPER on the far right of the firing line sees
something on his screens.
TROOPER
Right flank -- something’s coming! It’s
all lit up out there.
The troopers become aware of the GROUND SHAKING. A slow
building thunderous ROAR and --
AN AMPSUIT comes FLYING out of the trees, cartwheeling past
them, and the SHAKING BUILDS --
136.
EXT. WELL OF SOULS
Mo'at opens her eyes in sudden realization as --
EXT. FOREST
The troopers pivot to face --
A WALL OF CHARGING HAMMERHEADS CRASHING out of the foliage in
a shower of broken branches as --
THE TROOPERS open fire but -- the stampede drives over them
like a wave. Tree-trunk feet shatter the ampsuit cockpits.
Troopers are crushed or asphyxiated.
NEARBY the foot-soldiers see LIVING SHADOWS flow out of the
gloom as --
VIPERWOLVES race among them with flashing jaws. The troopers
FIRE wildly as they go down, hitting each other as much as
their attackers.
The survivors break and run as more viperwolves bound out of
the shadows.
JAKE BANKS, watching as HUNDREDS of rider-less WILD BANSHEES
converge on Quaritch’s ships. They literally darken the sky.
JAKE
What the hell -- ?
The wild banshees wheel among the ships, ripping into them.
ON JAKE -- slowly getting it. EYWA is in the fight.
JAKE
WHOO-HOOOO!
A GUNNER fires from the door of a Samson. There is a CRASH
and the head of a BANSHEE lunges in the open door, jerking
him out. Other banshees tear at the pilot’s windshield.
NEYTIRI watches in awe as the ground troops scatter in
disarray. The viperwolves flash past her, ignoring her.
She senses something and turns slowly to see --
A THANATOR emerging from the smoke behind her. A glistening
black demon. She stands paralyzed before its stygian gaze--
-- and the thanator lowers itself, until its head is just
above the ground. It holds that position -- waiting.
137.
Trembling, she approaches the waiting demon.
EXT. FOREST
A smoky hell. Fires burn all around. The troopers are
disorganized, falling back. Shooting at shadows. Panicked
yelling fills the comm freq.
WAINFLEET and another AMPSUIT are charging together through
the smoky gloom.
WAINFLEET
A and C squads -- rally at my pos. I
want --
(screaming on the comm)
Who’s screaming God damn it?!
TROOPER (ON RADIO)
We gotta get outta here! Whoever’s in
charge, call for extraction!
WAINFLEET
Shutup you crybabies!
SOMETHING slams into the other ‘suit, tackling it OUT OF
FRAME. Wainfleet whirls to see his squad-mate missing. He
moves through a screen of foliage to reveal --
The AMPSUIT -- ripped open. Driver gone. Blood inside the
cockpit. He WHIRLS at a sound in time to see --
A THANATOR LEAPING straight at him -- WAINFLEET raises his
cannon but--
WHAM!! It’s on him, slamming him to the ground. The cannon
goes flying. He’s face to face with its nightmare jaws,
right outside his canopy--
On its back is NEYTIRI, and it’s a toss up which one looks
more pissed off. The thanator rears back, muscles rippling
as it poises to strike and --
K-KRAAACKK! Slams its teeth right through his canopy.
Wainfleet’s SCREAM is brief.
Neytiri’s demon mount rears up and its triumphant ROAR echoes
through the forest.
INT. CORRIDOR
Max runs down the hall, leading the other scientists. He’s
yelling into an AIRCOM HANDSET --
138.
MAX
Rogue One, Rogue One, this is Max. Tell
Jake we are in motion.
(to the scientists)
Get in there. Barricade the door!
INT. LINK ROOM
The door is hurled open and the SCIENTISTS charge in.
Science geeks barricade the door as AVATAR-DRIVERS scramble
into their link units, pulling the clamshells down.
INT. CORRIDOR
Max checks the door is secure from his side then runs down a
connecting corridor.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHACK
HUMAN NORM emerges from the airlock, wearing breathing gear
and carrying an AR. He stumbles, dazed, toward the battle.
EXT. MOUNTAINS/ AERIAL
JAKE SIGNALS and a formation of hunters rolls in, diving at
the lead shuttle, which is already besieged by winged
creatures.
THE CARGO RAMP is the scene of a pitched battle. Na’vi
hunters hurl themselves off their mounts in waves,
overwhelming the troopers.
HUNTERS are shot, falling out of the ship, as others fly in.
They shoot arrows and spears from the end of the ramp, and
troopers fall back deeper into the fuselage.
The panicked CREW CHIEF slams a switch and the ramp begins to
close, a second before he is cut down by a spear.
JAKE’S LEONOPTERYX plummets at the shuttle from behind. He
swoops down, flairs to reduce speed, rolls off his mount and
lands, tumbling on the shuttle’s broad back as --
GUNNERS try to swing their guns toward him but he RAKES them
with his AR, still running forward and --
JAKE PULLS two grenades from his battle harness, yanking the
pins out with his teeth. He hurls them down the intakes of
the VTOL turbofans as --
HIS LEONOPTERYX BANKS in a tight arc back toward him and --
139.
HE SPRINTS ON as the grenades EXPLODE, shattering the
turbines, which riddle the fuselage with shrapnel and --
JAKE LEAPS INTO SPACE, landing on the back of his mount and
reconnecting. They flap away, gaining altitude as fire
BLASTS out of the bottom of the shuttle.
ON THE FLIGHT DECK, the pilot feels the ship dropping.
PILOT
Mains to a hundred percent! Get me
airspeed!
The pilot and copilot slam the throttle levers forward and --
The FUSION ENGINES BLAZE, thrusting the shuttle forward. It
still falls, its remaining lift fans screaming, until --
IT’S CLIPPING the tree tops when it gets enough translational
lift to fly and --
THE PILOT PULLS back on the stick, lifting the nose.
PILOT
We’re good!
BEHIND HIM, a surviving Na’vi hunter runs forward and --
THOONK! ARROWHEADS sprout from the pilots’ necks and chests.
THE SHUTTLE CLIMBS out of control, at full acceleration. It
SLAMS into the underside of MONS Veritatis. It EXPLODES, and
hundreds of tons of flaming debris drop back into the forest.
ON THE FLIGHT DECK of the other SHUTTLE, the pilots watch the
wreckage falling.
PILOT
Valkyrie Two is breaking off. And if any
of ya’ll want to get off this piece of
shit planet, you better cover our ass,
‘cause we’re the only way back to orbit.
GUNSHIP PILOT
Roger that.
FROM THE DRAGON COCKPIT Quaritch watches the shuttle bank
away, with most of the remaining gunships following.
QUARITCH
Get back here you worthless pukes!
140.
PILOT
Are we breaking off?
Quaritch draws his pistol.
QUARITCH
What do you think?
He is over the edge-- no logic in his brain now. Only death.
INT. OPS CENTER/CORRIDOR
Techs and troopers crowd around consoles, listening to all
the yelling and confusion as they try to plot the
disintegrating battle.
SELFRIDGE
(in growing alarm)
What the hell is going on out there?
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST
Regular troopers and volunteers FLEE through the jungle,
scrambling to board SAMSONS as they touch down.
INT. DRAGON COCKPIT
The pilot listens to comms from Hell’s Gate.
PILOT
Sir, all ground units are falling back to
the LZ.
Quaritch’s jaw clenches.
QUARITCH
Stay on target.
EXT. WELL OF SOULS
Mo'at LOOKS UP as the DRAGON appears over the trees like the
shadow of Death. Around her, the Na’vi mothers clutch their
children to them. We see AKWEY’S BOY among them.
INT. DRAGON COCKPIT
Quaritch sets the target cursor on the MOTHER TREE and what
we recognize is the ghostly figure of Mo'at.
QUARITCH
Switch missiles. Arm all pods.
141.
PILOT
Arming.
QUARITCH
Let’s see what these blue bastards do
when I bitch-slap their goddess.
EXT. MOUNTAINS/ AERIAL
JAKE’S LEONOPTERYX drops toward the Dragon like a Mig 29. He
pulls out, skimming over the ship. Uncoupling, he rolls
backward off his mount and --
JAKE HITS, skidding, on the hull of the Dragon. He rolls to
his feet, already running as --
QUARITCH sees the leonopteryx WHOOSH overhead and flap away
with no rider. He snap-looks aft to see --
JAKE SPRINTING along the spine of the ship, yanking two
grenades from his battle-harness, pulling the pins with his
teeth, then --
QUARITCH’s hand shoots out and SLAMS the pilot’s CYCLIC STICK
hard over. THE DRAGON lurches sideways, rolling sharply with
a ROAR of protesting rotors and --
JAKE IS FLUNG off his feet. The grenades miss the TURBINE
INTAKES. One bounces off the ship. The other lodges against
a cowling and --
JAKE SLIDES OFF the ship, falling as -- K-BLAM! The grenade
blows a two meter hole in the hull --
WHOOOSHH! Pandoran air swirls inside.
QUARITCH
(to the pilot)
Put your mask on.
Quaritch leaps out of his seat, heading aft as --
JAKE GRABS the edge of a weapons pod, his feet dangling over
open space.
HOLDING HIS BREATH, Quaritch blows a RESCUE HATCH and leans
outside. Jake sees him aim his massive PISTOL.
K-WHAM! K-WHAM! Rounds clang next to Jake’s head. He LETS GO,
plummeting into the trees --
Jake plunges through jungle canopy. He catches a HUGE LEAF,
as Neytiri taught him -- it bends down, breaking his fall --
142.
HE LETS GO, dropping again only to catch ANOTHER LEAF, and
then another, and --
WE RUSH DOWN with him through this green blur. Jake drops to
the ground in a feral crouch. Unhurt.
JAKE
(into his headset)
Quaritch is gonna take out the Well of
Souls! He’s got a clear shot. Hit him,
anybody that can! Do it now!
IN HER SAMSON Trudy Chacon is all business.
TRUDY
On it.
SHE BANKS hard, pulling g’s, coming around on the Dragon.
She pours on the coal and the Samson leaps forward, straight
at the WARSHIP.
QUARITCH, DRILLS a stream of tracers at her, tearing through
her canopy, ripping chunks off her fuselage.
IN THE JUNGLE BELOW, Norm watches her kamikaze run --
NORM
No!
TRUDY
(clipped, pilot-like)
Norm, I love you.
TRUDY DIVES, raking through treetops and then, at the last
instant, YANKS BACK on the stick and --
THE SAMSON leaps straight up and -- K-KRASH!! SHEARS OFF THE
COCKPIT of the Dragon as --
QUARITCH THROWS HIMSELF aft along the aisle and --
TRUDY’S SAMSON disintegrates, the wreckage burning as it
tumbles into the jungle.
MILES QUARITCH grips the bulkhead as he stares out the open
front of the fuselage. Wind howls through wreckage where the
pilot used to be. The forest rushes up to meet him and --
THE DRAGON CRASHES through splintering trees, IMPACTING in a
lake with a WHITE BLAST of water.
143.
EXT. RAINFOREST - DAY
Norm takes a few steps and drops to his knees. Imploded by
grief.
INT. OPS CENTER/ HELL’S GATE
ON THE PLOTTING DISPLAY as Quaritch’s TRANSPONDER ICON
disappears.
TROOPER
Dragon is down. It’s off the board.
SELFRIDGE
What do you mean, off the board?!
Selfridge is stunned. Suddenly the ROAR of an ENGINE makes
them all look up.
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, MAX sits in the cab of an enormous SLASHCUTTER.
Max flips Selfridge the bird and pushes a lever
forward --
SELFRIDGE
Oh shit.
Selfridge DIVES as --
K-RASHHHHH! The SPINNING TEETH of the SLASH-CUTTER tear
through the window in a blast of glass and lethal air. Alarms
go off. The technicians dive for cover in a blizzard of
glass and shredded debris.
The slash-cutter head pulls back, and AVATARS SCRAMBLE
through the gaping hole into the Ops Center --
The TROOPERS look up to see blue giants aiming weapons down
at them. The battle is over in seconds. The avatars are
holding the Ops Center.
Selfridge lies there gasping, in his emergency mask. In
shock. How could this be happening?
CUT TO:
EXT. LAKE
THE DRAGON lies half submerged. Out of the water FG, a shape
rises -- a AMPSUIT. Inside -- MILES QUARITCH, his face
bloody, his eyes burning.
He slogs out of the water, covered with mud, then strides
into the forest.
144.
QUARITCH’S AMPSUIT THUDS relentlessly through the jungle. He
sees something through the foliage ahead -- the SHACK.
INSIDE THE SHACK Jake is oblivious under the link. Through a
window we see Quaritch's AMPSUIT step into the clearing.
QUARITCH levels his GAU-90 at the shack. His finger goes to
the firing button--
WHAM!! A six-legged BLACK DEMON tackles him.
Quaritch pivots as he falls, FIRING the cannon. It misses
Neytiri by inches. He grapples with the THANATOR as its
razor claws SCREECH over his metal armor.
THE TITANS twist and struggle. QUARITCH UNLEASHES a long
burst from the cannon. Rounds tear into the creature, which
SHRIEKS but --
NEYTIRI wills it to SMASH the cannon hard against a rock,
tearing it loose from the ‘suit’s hand but --
Quaritch SLAMS the thanator back against a tree-trunk, almost
crushing Neytiri.
CLOSE ON one hydraulic hand, as it draws the ‘suit’s KNIFE
and --
QUARITCH TWISTS violently, ramming the knife up under the
thanator’s chest armor. The creature ROARS and Quaritch flips
on top of it, stabbing.
QUARITCH STABS DOWN AGAIN. The thanator slumps, pinning
Neytiri's legs under its great bulk. She is trapped.
Quaritch looks down at Neytiri. She glares back at him,
panting, scared but defiant.
JAKE (O.S.)
It’s all over Quaritch --
Quaritch turns, seeing Jake DROPPING from a tree limb. The
‘suit rises slowly, knife glinting in the morning sun.
QUARITCH
Nothing’s over while I’m breathing.
JAKE
Kinda hoped you’d say that.
QUARITCH SURGES forward. JAKE closes fast, snatching up the
broken CANNON as --
145.
Quaritch SLASHES DOWN with the knife and Jake parries,
blocking it with the cannon. He CLOSES faster than the suit
can move and --
K-CRACK! -- SLAMS the end of the cannon into the canopy,
crazing it with a web of cracks as QUARITCH SLICES air with
the huge knife. Jake ducks, coming up to meet the next slash
and --
SMASHES the knife hand with the cannon once -- twice -- again
-- in a furious attack -- knocking the knife flying.
QUARITCH catches him with the other arm, hurling him away.
Jake rolls just before --
THUDDD! -- the massive foot stomps down where he just was. He
scrambles up as Quaritch CHARGES and --
JAKE DUCKS another round-house, LEAPING forward to smash the
canopy again -- then again -- until it is WHITE with cracks.
Quaritch manages to GRAB the cannon barrel but --
INSIDE THE COCKPIT, he sees nothing but the sun on the
shattered glass. HE HURLS the cannon blindly, but Jake ducks.
The massive cylinder cartwheels toward the shack and --
FROM INSIDE we see it CRASH against pressure window, crazing
it but not penetrating. Jake’s link sits just inside.
INSIDE THE COCKPIT, Quaritch yanks a yellow handle and --
P-FOOM! -- the canopy BLOWS OFF, flying through the air.
Quaritch can see again. He dons his breathing mask. Bends to
pick up his KNIFE.
NEARBY NEYTIRI struggles furiously, trying to get her legs
free from underneath three tons of thanator.
QUARITCH, panting, glowers at Jake.
QUARITCH
How does it feel to betray your own race?
Then, inexplicably, he TURNS. Walks away.
FROM INSIDE the shack, we see him charge straight toward us
and --
CRASH! -- he puts his hydraulic fist right through the
window. He is reaching inside for the Link when --
JAKE HITS in a flying tackle with every ounce of force he
has, knocking the ampsuit sideways and --
146.
JAKE REACHES around the suit, grabbing Quaritch’s shoulder
and, yanks him forward HARD, SMASHING his face into the edge
of the cockpit but --
QUARITCH flings him off with a sweep of his arm, and Jake
slams to the ground.
INSIDE THE LINK Jake is holding his breath as the toxic
Pandoran air swirls in. GAS ALARMS SHRIEK.
NEYTIRI shoves with one free leg, desperately trying to pull
her other leg out.
THE AMPSUIT charges, the knife flashing down and --
JAKE just manages to catch it in both hands, but the force of
the attack drives him to his knees as --
QUARITCH pushes the knife down inexorably, until Jake is
pinned against a rock, the blade now inches from his throat.
INSIDE THE LINK Jake is straining to stay conscious, to stay
connected as --
THE KNIFE reaches his throat as --
THWAP! AN ARROW APPEARS in Quaritch’s chest. He looks up.
NEYTIRI STANDS -- a FURY released. A classic archer figure,
she NOCKS another arrow. Then draws and releases smoothly.
TH-WHAP! The machine TOPPLES off Jake and lies still.
QUARITCH STARES at the two arrows in his chest. He touches
the feathers of the ancient weapon, then -- with an ironic
laugh -- he dies.
NEYTIRI runs up, another arrow nocked, bow drawn. Seeing
Quaritch, she lowers her father’s bow.
JAKE sees her, then goes limp, his eyes rolling back, and --
INT. SHACK
HUMAN JAKE EXPLODES out of the Link, slamming to the floor
where he gags for breath. With his last strength, he claws
toward an emergency breathing mask -- across the room.
He scrambles toward it, on the edge of unconsciousness.
NEYTIRI VAULTS through the shattered window, landing in the
debris like a cat. She GRABS the mask and flashes to Jake’s
side -- puts the mask over his face and --
147.
JAKE drags in breath after breath. He looks up at Neytiri,
studying him as she holds him -- seeing his human body for
the first time.
Jake touches her face, his pale human hand against the blue
of her skin. There eyes meet across the glass of the mask --
together, separate. Worldless.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST - DAY
MO’AT tends to the mortally wounded TSU’TEY as AVATAR JAKE
arrives with Neytiri. Mo’at has bound his wounds, but by her
expression, it is clear he cannot be saved.
Jake kneels and Tsu’tey opens his eyes. Through a haze of
pain, he recognizes Jake.
TSU’TEY
(Na’vi)
I See you, Jakesully.
JAKE
I See you, Tsu’tey te Rongloa Ateyitan.
TSU’TEY
Are the people safe?
JAKE
They’re safe.
Tsu’tey weakly clutches his severed queue.
TSU’TEY
I can never ride again, or bond with my
woman -- or hear the voice of Eywa. I can
not lead the People. You will lead them,
Jakesully.
JAKE
No. I’m not officer material.
TSU’TEY
It is decided. Now do the duty of
Olo’eyctan. Set my spirit free.
JAKE
I’m not killing you.
TSU’TEY
I am already dead.
148.
JAKE
No.
TSU’TEY
It is the way. And it is good. I will be
remembered --
Tsu’tey’s voice is weak, but thick with emotion.
TSU’TEY
-- I fought with Toruk Macto, we were
brothers -- and he was my last shadow.
TSU’TEY’S HAND clasps with Jake’s in a fierce grip. Jake
draws his knife.
TSU’TEY’S POV -- Jake leans forward, blocking the sun.
HIS SHADOW falls across Tsu’tey.
JAKE
(Na’vi)
Forgive me, my Brother. Go now to the
Mother Spirit.
By his movement, we know that he has ended Tsu’tey’s pain.
Jake’s eyes well with tears as he continues reciting the
prayer for the dead, and his Na’vi words carry over as we --
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HELL’S GATE -DAY
Na’vi ride direhorses among the abandoned machines of Hell’s
Gate.
Banshees roost on the roofs of the modules, and stingbats
flutter about, unimpeded. The SENTRY GUNS are silent, and
the GATES are open to the forest.
JAKE (V.O.)
A few chose to stay. Fewer were chosen.
Max, Norm, and a few of the avatars hold AR’s as the
personnel of Hell’s Gate file up the cargo ramp of the
remaining shuttle. The evicted humans are sullen and angry,
like POW’s.
JAKE and NEYTIRI stand together, watching the departure of
the Sky People.
PARKER SELFRIDGE shuffles up the ramp. His eyes -- the eyes
of a lost soul -- meet JAKE’S. He disappears into the ship.
CUT TO:
149.
EXT. SPACE
ISV VENTURE STAR hangs suspended against the dark side of
PANDORA. The ISV’s antimatter engines BLAZE to life and it
accelerates out of orbit.
What remains IN FRAME is a virgin, primeval world. Spanning
the black continents is a vast reticulated lace-work of
BIOLUMINESCENCE -- a ghostly WEB connecting all of Pandora.
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST - DAY
The sun’s rays shaft down through the layers of canopy.
JAKE (V.O.)
The forest will heal, and so will the
hearts of the People. New life keeps the
energy flowing, like the breath of the
world.
NEYTIRI, obviously pregnant, is bow-fishing in the shallows.
Children jump and squeal with laughter in the river.
JAKE (V.O.)
This is my last videolog.
INT. LINK ROOM
VIDEO IMAGE -- Jake sits in a chair, talking straight TO
CAMERA. He is thin, pale. He looks around the high tech room.
JAKE
The science guys will keep the lights on,
here. But I won’t miss this place.
EXT. WELL OF SOULS - NIGHT
THE WILLOWS glow softly. The entire Omaticaya clan is
gathered, seated in a prayer circle around the Mother Tree.
JAKE (V.O.)
I better wrap this up. There’s a funeral
tonight, and I don’t want to be late. It
was someone very close to me.
WIDE SHOT, moving in across the concentric rings of people,
all plugged-in and softly chanting. MOVING toward the
center, over the figure of Mo'at, to hover above --
NEYTIRI, kneeling beside two FIGURES on the dais --
150.
JAKE and his AVATAR lie head to head. Human Jake is wearing
an exomask. Both figures are still, hands folded, covered in
translucent silken shrouds of ROOT-CILIA.
CAMERA CLOSES IN as Neytiri removes the mask from Jake's
human face. She gently closes his dead eyes with her
fingertips. Then bends and kisses him.
MOVE INTO CU on AVATAR JAKE as Neytiri’s hand comes into
frame, stroking his cheek. TIGHTENING slowly to--
ECU JAKE’S EYES. Hold a beat, then --
They open.
CUT TO BLACK
151.

Fonte: www.foxscreenings.com/media/pdf/JamesCameronAVATAR.pdf