THE ELEVENTH
SCREENPLAY BY BRIDGID
First prize winner, 2008 Pocono Mountains Film Festival
EXT.WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER 2- MORNING. IT'S A SUNNY
SEPTEMBER MORNING IN NEW YORK CITY.
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER, TOWER TWO- MORNING
A young photographer sees more than his life pass before
his eyes through the shutter of his camera.
STEVE, handsome, professional man in his mid thirties snaps
a series of pictures of a slinky young MODEL, MIRANDA, twenty
something in age, who perches herself on an office desk. She
cradles a bowl of fruit and holds a banana seductively.
MIRANDA
Remember Seaside Heights, Stevie?
Steve just grins.
STEVE
Turn to the right a little, baby.
Yeah that's it.
He's professional
STEVE (CONTD)
Alright, Miranda, let's take five and
then maybe I'll get some of you over
by the windows. I like the light
there.
He looks at her and adjusts his trousers. She's hot, he's
male but he doesn't do those sort of things anymore. Not
now that he is happily married.
MIRANDA
How much time have we got, Stevie?"
STEVE
Don't tempt me. I've got a wife and
a family now Miranda.
MIRANDA
I guess I'll go sate myself with a
Mars bar. There's nothing better to
stave off frustration.
She gives her hips an extra inch of swing and touches his
cheek with the tip of her index finger as she passes.
MIRANDA
It's the breakfast of champions, you
know?
STEVE
Down boy.
Steve laughs then moves over to the windows to check the
light.
STEVE
The missus would chop my dick off.
He chuckles again as he notes his meter readings. Steve
sets his gear down on the desk. He moves over by one of the
windows and stands there for a few moments.
He presses his arms against the glass and shades his eyes to
look down at the people on the sidewalks below.
STEVE (SARCASTIC)
The ants go marching one by one,
Hurrah. Hurrah!
He raises his eyes to the skyline.
STEVE
Stupid ants.
He lifts his camera to snap a shot of the morning skyline.
Adjusting the zoom he notices something. It's an airliner
and it seems to be off the flight path to LaGuardia. He
takes a couple more pictures of the jet as it closes in.
STEVE
(Muttering to himself)
Hey, what the fuck. Margaret Bourke
White made a fortune with a similar
picture of a plane for Life magazine
a long time ago.
He becomes alarmed at the jet as it closes in even more.
STEVE
Can't be ...
He took more shots then backed away when he saw the eyes of
the man in the cockpit. After a moment he turns to run.
STEVE (PANIC)
Miranda! Miranda, run!
He runs through the office to find her. He sees her as he
passes through the office door as he catches glimpses of
other people running to escape.
EXTRAS (O.S.)
Screaming, shouting
He moves through the office, weaving around desks and knocked
over chairs. As he finds Miranda again he notices the panic
in her eyes.
EXTRAS
Screaming, shouting People are running
toward all of the the stairs and the
elevators, some are attempting cell
phone calls.
The jet collides with the building taking the floor out from
under Steve. Miranda vanishes in the explosion. Steve is
engulfed by searing heat then silence follows. He goes
unconscious for an unknown amount of time. He wakes crying.
STEVE
Miranda? Can you hear me? Miranda?
There is no answer but he can hear others.
EXTRAS
Groaning, crying, coughing.
STEVE
I can't die here. I can't fucking
die here. Have to take Erin to the
park later.
A glimpse of his wife, Elizabeth, pretty brunette, and his
daughter, Erin, dimpled blonde, toothy, smiling, flashes
through his mind.
He goes unconscious again.
INT.FIRE STATION DOWNTOWN - MORNING
The station is full of the sounds of teasing and laughing
while the crew clears breakfast dishes from the table. Two
wash the dishes while the rest return to the table for another
cup of coffee.
A klaxon sounds.
Chief Simon Hanover, male, early forties, moustached,
confident, looked at the bell on the wall. His eyes shot
to the radio box.
DISPATCHER (O.S.)
All hands respond to the south tower
of the world trade center for a
fire….repeating ...Engine one ,
truck company four, rescue one….
Firefighters, three men and one woman, scramble from the
breakfast table.
Three others, all men, get up from recliners in the station.
The Chief copies the information down on his note pad.
CHIEF HANOVER
Holy shit, god damn this is going to
be a hot one folks. Mount up.
Chief Hanover jams a plug of tobacco into his cheek.
CHIEF HANOVER
Morgan, take the officer's seat.
I'll be on scene in the chief's car.
BRIDGID MORGAN
(female, blonde,
tomboyish, late
twenties to early
thirties)
Aye aye.
INT. FIRE ENGINE CAB
She jumps up in the seat next to the driver and slips her
arms through the straps of the Scott air pack before lifting
the radio mic.
BRIDGID MORGAN
Comm this is rescue one we're on
that job. K.
DISPATCHER
Ten four rescue one. You're time is
0848 hours. K
FIRE FIGHTER, JOSE
(Male, forties, gray)
Hey, El-Tee, bout time you got
command.
BRIDGID MORGAN
This just happened on my watch, Jose.
Maybe someday I'll get to drive
FIREFIGHTER FRANK DONOVAN (MALE, LATE
TWENTIES, HOTSHOT)
God help us the day they let a broad
drive.
BRIDGID MORGAN
I could write you up for that,
Donovan.
FIREFIGHTER FRANK DONOVAN
(teasingly)
You wouldn't. I'm the best man on
this crew. You'd never make it
without me.
TWO MALE FIREFIGHTERS IN JUMP SEATS
Groans
BRIDGID MORGAN
What the hell?
She looks at the scene as they approach. Smoke pours from
the tower above mid point.
BRIDGID MORGAN
Jesus fucking Christ.
MALE FIREFIGHTER (O.S.)
Are we fucking ready for this?
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER FROM A DISTANCE
A second airliner plows into Tower One. The crew in the
fire engine is silent for a long beat
FIREFIGHTERS (O.S.)
Gasps, swearing
JOSE
Did you fucking see that?
FIREFIGHTERS (O.S.)
Did you see that?
BRIDGID MORGAN
Oh my God. Step it up, Jose.
His foot drives the gas pedal to the floor
INT. POLICE STATION, EDISON NJ.
OFFICER 1
What the hell is going on?
OFFICER 2
World War 3 if you ask me.
The news man on the TV is calling the action
REPORTER
Just after nine AM a second plane
barreled into the north tower...
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAGING AREA
Bridgid and her team are assigned entry to tower two. One
firefighter carries a halogen bar, another has an ax. They
leave their ID tags with the staging officer and proceed
into the main entrance of the building
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER 2, MORNING
The team passes office workers, walking wounded, escaping
from the building as they make their way to the upper floors.
A woman with a head injury grasps on to Firefighter Donovan.
INJURED WOMAN
Help me, I can't go any further,
please.
Donovan drops his tool and supports the woman by her elbows.
DONOVAN
You're going to be okay, ma'am.
We'll get you outside to EMS.
He looks over at Bridgid who nods for him to take care of
the woman. She continues leading the team up the tight
stairwell as they weave past more victims. The smoke becomes
heavier. Soon the team is broken up to assist victims leaving
Bridgid with just one other firefighter. The heat
intensifies.
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAGING AREA
A frantic fire chief calls for his teams to exit the building
after falling debris alerts him to a possible collapse.
Most of the teams don't hear his order including Bridgid's.
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER TWO, - MOMENTS LATER
Intense heat and smoke surrounds Bridgid and the firefighter.
She removes her mask and shouts for him to turn around, head
back. She follows until they arrive on a landing and she
hears the shallow cries of a victim.
STEVE
Help me, Please help me.
Bridgid stops but the firefighter she is with continues on
and disappears into the hazy smoke. She looks toward the
voice and turns to find it.
STEVE
God, don't leave me here.
BRIDGID
Hello, fire department. Keep talking.
I can't fine you unless you keep talking. Where are you?
STEVE
For Christ's sake, I don't know where
I am.
He coughs several times and she gets down on her hands and
knees to feel around for him. She locates him sitting with
his back against a wall on a landing. Her hand lands on his
thigh and he reaches to pull her toward him.
BRIDGID
You're alive. God damn you're alive.
I'm Lieutenant Bridgid Morgan. I'm
here to rescue you. What's your name?
STEVE
Steve. My name is Steve. I...I think
I'm pinned here. I can't move my
leg.
She pulls her glove off and clicks the flashlight hanging on
her bunker coat. She places her mask over his face.
BRIDGID
Take a breath, deep breath.
Steve takes a breath then pushes her hand and mask away.
STEVE
A woman, a damn woman. You're never
going to be able to carry me.
BRIDGID
Thanks for the vote of confidence,
pal. I passed my test to get this
job. Don't underestimate me.
STEVE
Sorry, honey, what did you say you're
name was?"
She checks him out as she speaks.
BRIDGID
Lieutenant Bridgid Morgan. Take it
easy, Steve. I'll get you out of
here.
STEVE
You mean us?
BRIDGID
Yeah, us.
She feels that his right leg is pinned under a beam.
BRIDGID
You're good and stuck here. You
reckon you can help me move this
beam?
STEVE
Been trying to move it. No luck.
BRIDGID
Get your hands here. When I say
push, you give it hell, okay?
She guides his hands to the beam.
STEVE
Yeah, hell. That's where we are.
She coughs, gags and spits.
STEVE
You okay?
BRIDGID
Better off than you.
She places her hands by his and braces her legs.
BRIDGID
Ready, now push.
Both of them strain to move the beam. Flaming debris falls
from above and Bridgid shields Steve from further injury.
The sound of a constant thud can be heard. Bridgid catches
sight of a man descending through the debris.
BRIDGID
Hey, help. You there, help me get
this man free.
She reaches to grab him but he wriggles free
MAN (PARTIALLY BURNED, FRANTIC)
Let me go, they're all dead. Let me go.
He gets by and vanishes somewhere below.
STEVE
You gotta get out of here, Bridgid.
Just go.
BRIDGID
How the hell could I live with myself
if I left you here, or collect my
paycheck for that matter. Come on,
Steve. We're both going to get out
of here. Just try again.
She braces herself under the beam again and they both push.
It moves, slightly.
BRIDGID
Pull your leg out, Steve. Come on,
I know it hurts, just pull it the
fuck out.
STEVE
Can't
BRIDGID
The fuck you can't.
The beam moves more and Steve manages to pull his shattered
leg out from under it. After a moment to catch her breath
she laboriously lifts him to his feet.
BRIDGID
No time to shit around. There ain't
much air in here.
Bridgid looks at her Scott pack. It's heavy, Steve is heavy.
She has to choose and she leaves the pack.
STEVE
I'm going to buy you dinner when we
get out.
BRIDGID
At least you're positive and I'll
take you up on that. C'mon.
They start down the stairwell
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAGING AREA
Donovan pours a bottle of water over his face. He's been
looking at board and Morgan's ID tag is still hanging there.
He calls to the firefighter, Nichols, who was with her.
DONOVAN
Hey, Nichols, did you see her come
out?
NICHOLS
She was right behind me. She has to
be out by now.
Donovan lifts his chin toward the board
DONOVAN
Her tag is still there.
NICHOLS
There's lots of them there, Don.
Hey chief wants us to pull back.
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER TWO, - CONTINUOUS
There are pockets of good air in the stairwell. Bridgid and
Steve are slowly making their way down. They can hear people
above and below them but it's too dark to see anyone.
STEVE
You're going to regret this, Bridgid.
BRIDGID
At least I'll live to do so. You
know, I'll be expecting lobster for
dinner. No piddly ass burger is
going to do.
STEVE (LAUGHS)
You married?
BRIDGID
You asking?
STEVE
Sorry, my wife wouldn't like it much
if I said yes. You?
BRIDGID
Naw, but I got a guy. I mean I kind
of have a guy. He's out on the left
coast right now. A cop.
STEVE
Long distance relationship, huh?
BRIDGID
For now. I applied to work for
Rampart in Los Angeles. Go figure.
He said he'd never move to New York.
I said I'd never move to L.A cause
of the earthquakes. I figure I made
my mind up after this. No more high
rise fires for me.
STEVE
They have big buildings in Los Angeles
too, kiddo. Santa Anna winds and
brush fires as well.
BRIDGID
I know. Maybe I'll go out there,
marry my cop and become a homemaker.
STEVE
Why do I find that hard to imagine?
BRIDGID
Told you not to underestimate me.
STEVE
You got a point. You want kids?
BRIDGID
Haven't thought about it. You have
any?
STEVE
One, girl. Her name is Erin.
BRIDGID
Got a picture of her?
STEVE
Yeah, in my wallet.
BRIDGID
Good. I've got something to look
forward to. When we get out on the
street you can show me, ok?
STEVE
Deal.
Steve stops and bends over to counter the pain in his leg.
She pushes him on.
BRIDGID
Pain lets you know you're alive,
Steve. Learned that in the Corp.
STEVE
Marine Corp?
BRIDGID
Yeah.
STEVE
Bet you were shore patrol or some
kind of MP.
BRIDGID
Crash rescue. Stationed at Cherry
Point North Carolina for most of my
stint.
STEVE
Impressive.
BRIDGID
Ooorrah!
She stops and props him against the wall to brush the dust
off of a number to indicate what floor they are on.
BRIDGID
Forty Two. We're doing good. The
air is better now but there's a lot
of fire above us. That's not a good
thing. Can you keep going?
STEVE
Yeah. I'm doing okay.
A few moments pass. She keeps him talking to keep morale up.
BRIDGID
Do you work in this building?
STEVE
No. I was hired to take some pictures
for an advertising agency. One of
the banks here wanted to promote
healthy eating for their employees
so I was ...damn Miranda.
BRIDGID
Who is Miranda
STEVE
Model I was working with. She was
... is a friend. She must have made
it down; she was ahead of me.
BRIDGID
I'm sure she did. We seem to be the
last roses of summer in this
conflagration.
STEVE
She didn't want to take the job.
BRIDGID
Ha, well, I bet she never works for
you again, Steve.
Bridgid stumbles under his weight and goes down taking him
with her.
Steve groans and tries to get up on his own.
STEVE
I'm so sorry. That was my fault.
I'm too much of a God Damned burden
to you.
They both hold their breath as beams groan above them.
BRIDGID
Come on. We've got to keep going.
STEVE
Fuck. I can't
BRIDGID
What's your wife's name?
STEVE
Huh?
BRIDGID
Your wife. What's your fucking wife's
name?
STEVE
Elizabeth. Her name is Elizabeth.
BRIDGID
Elizabeth will fucking kill me if I
don't get your sorry ass out of here,
Steve, so get moving.
STEVE
Yeah, Yeah, okay. She'll kill me,
too.
They strain silently down another flight.
STEVE
Hey, Bridge, I could do your wedding
pictures if you and that L.A. cop
decide to get married. Beth would
love a trip to California and it'd
be great to take Erin to Disneyland.
BRIDGID
Now you're on a positive track.
I've never been there. Maybe we could all go see Mickey.
STEVE
I'm gonna avoid Space Mountain.
BRIDGID
You and me both.
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAGING -
CONTINUOUS
DONOVAN (SHOUTING)
We still got crew up there, chief.
CHIEF
We can't help them if we're dead
too.
DONOVAN
We can't leave them, either.
CHIEF
Do as I say, move it back.
Donovan slams his helmet against the side of the engine before
he relents to climb into the cab. Firefighters and other
emergency services personnel are scrambling around.
Both towers are burning and a crowd watches in horror as
some victims hurl themselves from the upper floors.
The scene below the Towers is a mass of confusion.
EXTRAS AND EMS PERSONNEL
(Shouting, confusion)
INT. STEVE'S APARTMENT IN JERSEY- CONTINUOUS
The apartment is upscale and furnished in a minimalist
fashion. The walls are full of Steve's photos many of which
are posed pictures of Erin.
Elizabeth dials his cell number over and over again. She
gets circuit busy signals. Erin plays on the floor oblivious
to what is going on.
ERIN
Mommy, when's daddy coming home?
ELIZABETH
Soon, honey.
Erin sees her mothers worry. She turns to look at the
television then she looks back at her mommy. Elizabeth shuts
the TV off.
ERIN
Is he stuck in damn traffic again?
ELIZABETH
Erin, where did you learn that word?
She is frustrated and angry but regains control of her tone.
ELIZABETH
I'm sorry, Erin. Yes, he is probably
tied up in traffic.
ERIN (crying)
Is daddy on fire?
Elizabeth gathers the child up in her arms.
ELIZABETH
Whatever gave you that idea, Erin?
No, Daddy is not on fire.
ERIN
I saw it on the TV, mommy.
ELIZABETH
Daddy isn't by that fire. He'll be
home soon.
She lies to the child. Elizabeth distracts her by shuttling
her out into the kitchen to make something to eat. She sets
the phone on the table and tries not to keep looking at it.
It rings and startles her. She answers it.
ELIZABETH
Steve?
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
No, Lizzy it's your mom. Have you
heard from him?
ELIZABETH
Mom. No, I haven't but I'm sure he's
okay. He couldn't have gotten there
yet.
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
Of course not, my darling. Is Erin
alright?
ELIZABETH
Yes, she's right here. Mom, I'm
worried.
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
I know you are, Lizzy, but like you
said, He couldn't have gotten there
yet. He's probably on his way back
by now.
ELIZABETH
I'm so scared, Mom. What's going
on. What's happening?
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
I don't know. I'm ...I'm scared,
too. Ever since your father...I
don't like being alone, Lizzy, and
with all of this going on I just
don't know.
ELIZABETH
I'd come out there mom but...
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
Don't worry about me. As long as
you and Erin are alright. Honey,
Steve will be home soon. I feel it
in my bones.
ELIZABETH
Thank you, Mom. I'll call you as
soon as he does.
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (V.O.)
I had a hard time getting you on the
phone. Maybe he is trying to call
and can't get through.
ELIZABETH
Maybe. I can't get through to his
cell.
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
I'll let you go, just in case. I
love you. Tell Erin her gran loves
her.
ELIZABETH
I will, mom. Love you, too.
She puts the phone down and tries to smile at Erin.
ELIZABETH
Gran says she loves you. So, do you
want to make some cookies for daddy
when he gets home?
ERIN
You betcha!
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER TWO, - CONTINUOUS
STEVE
Bridgid, you smell that?
BRIDGID
What?
STEVE
Fresh air, I mean outside air.
Bridgid takes a deep breath but she coughs hard.
BRIDGID
Yeah, Steve. We must be getting
close to the ground floor.
He bore a little more of his own weight. They get to the
next landing and a sliver of light shows above them.
BRIDGID
I think we made it. I do smell fresh
air. I think I can taste lobster,
too.
She chuckles and their pace picks up. There's a silence in
the building and all of the creaking and groaning seems to
have stopped.
STEVE
Maybe your crew got a handle on this.
I swear I'm going to move my family
to Pennsylvania. Far away from here.
I'll shoot pictures of hay fields
and covered bridges from now on.
BRIDGID
Don't tell anyone but I'm going to
give my notice this week. Love my
job but I'm going to L.A. A-sap.
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER TWO, - CONTINUOUS
The odd silence is not ignored by the remaining crews on the
ground. Some look up but some begin to flee on instinct. A
few papers fall, a beam buckles inside of the building from
the heat and the silence ends.
Donovan looks up with his mouth agape. He just stands there
as tons of the building begins to fall into itself. Before he
hears the sound he and the fire engine he piloted to the
scene are buried along with hundreds of his fellow fire
fighters, police and EMS workers.
People in the streets run from the cloud of debris and dust.
EXT. WORLD TRADE CENTER FROM A DISTANCE - CONTINUOUS
A woman standing in New Jersey witnesses the carnage from a
distance. She screams
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER TWO,
Steve and Bridgid look up as the roar from above came their
way. For a split second the walls opened and they see each
other in the daylight for the first and last time.
INT. STEVE'S APARTMENT IN JERSEY- CONTINUOUS
The phone rings.
ELIZABETH
Steve are you okay?
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
I...I'm sorry honey. He's not home
yet?
ELIZABETH
No. Mom, what's wrong.
ELIZABETH'S MOTHER (O.S.)
Lizzy, honey. Put your TV on.
She sets the phone down, picks up the kitchen TV remote and
turns it on. The face of a news man is on the screen and he
appears upset.
NEWSMAN
At ten twenty eight this morning the
World Trade Center's north tower
collapsed from the top down as if it
were being peeled apart, releasing a
tremendous cloud of debris smoke…
and souls. God Bless them.
Elizabeth hangs up the phone and hugs her daughter.
Fade to black
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