"Pulling Through" by James Wesley, Rawles ( A Screenplay)

[Deathstyle]

Surprised to stumble across this. If you read his novels then you will notice alot of similarities to "Patriots", in fact I think this is meant to be the screenplay for "Patriots: the movie". But its free and he may include new tips that you haven't thought of before.

http://www.rawles.to/Screenplay.html

[JohnyMac]

This will not open for me Deathstyle.

[APX808]

Neither for me, it seems it was took down. It also appears blank in Google's cache.

[APX808]

I clicked view page source and found it, quoting here:

                            Pulling Through
                                         by
                                James Wesley, Rawles
                              (Revision: May, 2007)
                                 Based on the novel
                       Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse
                                         by
                                James Wesley, Rawles
                          Published by XLibris Publishing
                                (ISBN 1-4257-3407-3)
            ? 2007, All Rights Reserved        
            Registered, WGAw: # 714352 
                                       
            C/o P.O. Box 303
            Moyie Springs, Idaho 83845
            phone # upon request (via e-mail)
            e-mail: rawles@usa.net
            TITLE SEQUENCE BEGINS WITH A BLACK SCREEN
            VOICE-OVER BY G. GORDON LIDDY (OR ALEX JONES, OR A SIMILAR
            TALK RADIO HOST) -- CONTINUES THROUGH ENTIRE TITLES SEQUENCE)
            SFX: Sound of radio tuning from station to station. The
            tuning stops when we hear a talk radio monologue, beginning
            in mid-sentence:
            "...debt has been piling up at the rate of $6 billion a day.
            That equates to $10,000 per second. If you include long term
            unfunded obligations such as entitlements, bonds, and
            military pensions the debt is $19 trillion dollars. The
            Federal government is borrowing 164% of revenue for the year.
            Note: After The first twenty seconds of voice over, FADE IN
            visually (see page 3), while the voice-over continues:
            Behind Washington's smoke and mirrors game, the real deficit
            is growing.  Government spending at all levels is 45% of the
            G-D-P.
             
            We all remember when the chairman of the Bank of Japan talked
            about diversifying out of dollars.  Then, more recently, the
            chairman of the German Central Bank made some "off the
            record" comments to a reporter from The Economist magazine.
            Within hours, his words flashed around the world via the
            Internet: "A full scale default on U.S. Treasuries appears
            imminent."  He had spoken the dreaded "D" word. His choice of
            the word imminent in conjunction with the word default caused
            the value of the dollar to plummet versus the Euro the next
            day.  T-bill sales crashed simultaneously.
            Starting with the Japanese, foreign central banks and
            international monetary authorities began to dump their $789
            billion in US Treasuries.  None of them wanted the now risky
            T-Bills or bonds. Within days, long-term Treasury paper was
            selling at 20 cents on the dollar.
             
            Foreign investors began liquidating their US paper assets-
            stocks, bonds, T-bills--virtually anything denominated in US
            dollars. After some half-hearted attempts at propping up the
            dollar, most of the Euro nations and Japan announced that
            they would no longer employ the dollar as a reserve currency.
             
            The real panic, however, began with the stock market crash.
            The 18 year bull stock market had turned bearish when the
            Internet bubble burst in 2000, but this secondary crash was
            the big one. For the first time in decades, the stock market
            was driven by fear. The bear started gradually with lots of
            rallies that kept investors from giving up hope.  Then last
            month, the bottom dropped out. Because of circuit breaker
            regulations on program trading it took nineteen days for the
            Dow to drop another 6,550 points.  Nobody could believe it.
            Finally, the government suspended all trading. There was
            almost no one buying any of the issues that came up for sale.
             
            Late in the second week of the stock market collapse, the
            domestic runs on US banks began, and suddenly the banks
            needed lots of money. The Fed's $1 sheet presses were quickly
            switched to print $100 bills. With the printing presses
            running day and night turning out fiat currency,
            hyperinflation was inevitable. In just two months, inflation
            jumped from 16 percent to an incredible 2100 percent. Since
            then, the value of the dollar has been pegged hourly, and of
            course is the main topic of conversation.
            People are rushing to put their money into cars, furniture,
            appliances, tools, guns, rare coins--anything tangible. This
            has superheated the economy--just like in Germany's Weimar
            Republic in the 1920s. More and more paper is chasing less
            and less product.
             
            This is it, America. I've been telling you for years this was
            coming, and now we have it. Its the end of the world as we
            know it."
            (Edit monologue for length, as needed, to match the length of
            the titles sequence.)
                 

            EXT. DAY - AERIAL - DOWNTOWN OAKLAND CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER             

            As the opening monologue continues, we FADE IN. From a
            helicopter, we see smoke from fires in widely scattered
            locations in an urban area. We hear the sound of countless
            sirens and lots of gunfire. We see looters running in and out
            of stores. Shopkeepers are firing at looters. Cops are
            arresting looters, but it is obvious that they are fighting a
            losing battle. There are not enough police to quell the
            growing unrest. 

            The aerial track continues and focuses on a 15-story office
            building. Then we see just one window on one of the middle
            stories.

                                                           MATCH CUT TO:

            INT. DAY - A DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 

            Sitting at his desk bathed in light from the window is ROLAND
            KELLERING.  Roland is a heavyset accountant.

            Casting note: This role should be cast with someone more
            slender and muscular. His weight will first be shown
            prosthetically, and then gradually reduced in later scenes.
            (See notes in subsequent scenes.)

            Roland is frantically typing away, filling in fields on a
            spreadsheet. A CO-WORKER in the next cubicle is far more
            overweight and nerdy-looking than Roland.       

                                ROLAND
                      This is nuts. How can we do estimative
                      cost-basis accounting when the inflation
                      rate ratchets up every hour?

                                CO-WORKER
                      I dunno, Roland. This is bizarre, as in
                      Twilight Zone-type bizarre.

            A louder than usual bang rises above the "usual" gunfire and
            siren noises outside. In reaction, both accountants swivel
            their chairs toward the window.

                                ROLAND
                      Whoa! That sounded close!

                                CO-WORKER
                      So are you going to bug out to that
                      "hidey-hole in Idey-ho of yours?

                                ROLAND
                      Yep, A-S-A-P.

                                CO-WORKER
                      Any need for an extra pair of hands
                      there?

                                ROLAND
                      Sorry, but they don't need another
                      accountant. Maybe a car mechanic. Or
                      perhaps if you were prior service Army,
                      like me...

                                CO-WORKER
                      If things get any worse I'll prolly head
                      up to my uncle's place near Lake Tahoe.

                                ROLAND
                      I wouldn't recommend going to a resort
                      area. Those places will get over-run. And
                      there's no agriculture so...

            He is interrupted when his phone rings. Roland snatches it up
            anxiously. We hear only his side of the conversation.

                                ROLAND (cont'd)
                      Hello Jen, how are you?
                          (pause while he listens)
                      Yeah, things are getting worse. I
                      should've beaten feet up there sooner,
                      but I promised to help my parents finish
                      packing up tomorrow. My mom is glued to
                      that house. Unless I physically load them
                      --and my mom's Hummel collection--into
                      the RV, they'll never get on the road to
                      my uncle's place. Its just the way they
                      are.
                          (pause while he listens)
                      I'm meeting Jack Moody in 'bout an hour.
                      I'll coordinate with him.

            The co-worker edges in closer, trying to listen-in.

                                ROLAND (cont'd)
                      Jack and Tim Wong should arrive up at the
                      ranch sometime late tomorrow. They're
                      planning to drive straight through. And,
                      God willing, I'll be there the day after.
                          (pause while he listens)
                      I know, Jen. I will.
                          (pause while he listens)
                      I promise you, I'll make it there, no
                      matter what its takes!
                          (pause while he listens)
                      I love you too Jennifer, with all my
                      heart. Goodbye.

            Roland hangs up, and sighs.  He stands and tightens his
            necktie.

                                ROLAND (cont'd)
                          (to his co-worker)
                      I'm going to see the boss and request an
                      unpaid leave of absence. Wish me luck.

                                CO-WORKER
                      I do not envy you, Roland.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            INT. DAY - A DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING - SEPTEMBER 

            We see that Roland has removed his necktie and loosened his
            collar. He is cleaning out his desk. He tucks several items
            into his briefcase including two MRE ration packets and a
            kydex-sheathed black teflon-coated T.H. Rinaldi Enigma
            fighting knife.

                                CO-WORKER
                      Well,  you know how it is with him: "100%
                      commitment and team-players-only need
                      apply."
                          (beat)
                      What a crappy time to get fired.

            With a key from his key ring, Roland unlocks a credenza and
            pulls out a heavy rectangular guitar case with a Fender
            maker's logo.

                                CO-WORKER (cont'd)
                      I didn't know you kept an instrument
                      here! What do you play, bass?

                                ROLAND
                      Bass staccato.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            STUNT / EXT. DAY - AN URBAN CALIFORNIA STREET IN A SHOPPING
            DISTRICT - SEPTEMBER /STUNT

            Roland is driving his restored flat brown-painted 1968 Ford
            Bronco with an Idaho vanity plate that reads "XM177E2". It
            has an unusually large rack sheathed in expanded-metal on the
            tailgate.

            He is driving to meet his long-time friend, Jack Moody. The
            littered streets look more like Afghanistan than California.

            A pair of police squad cars with lights and sirens on flash
            by in the opposite direction. Roland sees a long line of
            patrons waiting to get into a bank.

                                ROLAND
                          (to himself)
                      And what will your maximum $200
                      withdrawal buy you these days? A coupla
                      cans of beans?

            Roland pushes down the accelerator, lets up, and shifts with
            practiced precision into third gear. He has a determined look
            on his face. Suddenly, looters surge out into the street. He
            swerves to avoid them.

                                ROLAND (cont'd)
                      Whoa!

            More looters, closer now. Roland brakes sharply. A looter
            drops a television right in front of the Bronco, and the TV's
            picture tube implodes with a bang. Roland brakes to a full
            halt, and then pre-selects first gear, as is his habit.
            Looters surge toward the Bronco. One runs up and gets in
            Roland's face.

                                LOOTER
                      Hey man, whatcha got in there?

            Roland pulls his Colt Gold Cup .45 from under his thigh and
            levels it at the man.

                                ROLAND
                      There's this, but I've got to give you
                      the magazine contents first!

            The looter back-peddles, showing his palms.

                                LOOTER
                      Hey, don't come off on me, man!

            The looter turn and runs. The other looters get the idea and
            do likewise. Roland tucks the .45 back under his thigh and
            lets out the clutch and picks his way through the crowd,
            gathering speed.

                                ROLAND
                          (to himself)
                      Definitely time to get out of Dodge!

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

[APX808]

SECOND PART:

            EXT. DAY - IN FRONT OF A PUBLIC STORAGE SPACE - HAYWARD, CA
            SEPTEMBER

            JACK MOODY, Roland's college roommate from a few years before
            is waiting with his flat forest green Ford four-wheel-drive
            pickup with California vanity plates that reads EAT LEAD.
            There is a box trailer hitched behind. Jack has already
            pulled the tarp on the trailer forward and flipped down the
            tailgate/ramp. Jack glances down at his big Rolex wristwatch.

                                JACK
                      I knew you'd make it! And right on time.
                      You are so punctual you make me want me
                      wanna puke. Any trouble getting here?

            Roland shuts off the Bronco's engine and then tosses Jack a
            brass padlock key.

                                ROLAND
                      I had to do a little social work, but
                      they bluffed easily enough.
                          (beat)
                      I'll pull security while you load, Jack.

            Jack catches the key and deftly opens the padlock and rolls
            up the door to the storage space. A row of gas cans stacked
            two-high lines one entire side wall. Jack immediately starts
            sorting them by their tags. He grabs one can in each hand and
            starts loading them into the trailer.

                                JACK
                      Sounds like a plan. The Wong-man should
                      be here in less'n an hour. Then I can
                      pull security while he loads.
                          (beat)
                      The Fire Marshall would have a heart
                      attack if he saw this! So what's the
                      status on this gas?

            Jack continues to load gas cans two at a time while Roland
            stands at the door of his Bronco, scanning the area. We see
            that the latches on the guitar case have been flipped open,
            but the case remains closed.

            Meanwhile, at a storage unit at the far end of the row, a
            black family is frantically loading some of their possessions
            into an RV camper van.

                                ROLAND
                      It was rotated-in, last February, winter
                      formulated so it stores better. And we
                      added gas stabilizer, as usual. It should
                      burn fine.

                                JACK
                      Ten of these cans are tagged for you,
                      right?

            Roland nods.

                                JACK (cont'd)
                      You know, it'd be safer if all three of
                      us convoyed up together...

            Jack switches to loading green-painted ammo cans. There are a
            lot of them. They are obviously full and heavy.

                                ROLAND
                      Yeah, I know, but I promised to help get
                      my parents on the road to Arizona. Don't
                      worry. I'll be up in Idaho just a day
                      after you 'n Tim. If for some reason I
                      get delayed, promise me you'll look after
                      Jennifer, okay?

                                JACK
                      Sure thing. I can see why you got
                      engaged, Roland. That ranch is a killer
                      set up!  Gravity fed spring water, wood
                      cook stove, big barn, garden, hay
                      field...

                                ROLAND
                      Oh no, you've got me wrong! It was love
                      at first sight. I would have fallen in
                      love with Jennifer even if she lived on
                      Manhattan Island.

            Jack switches to loading brown cardboard cases of MRE
            rations. There is a small mountain of them.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            INT/EXT. DAY - JENNIFER HANSEN'S RANCH, NEAR BOVILL, IDAHO -
            DAY.

            JENNIFER HANSEN, a pretty young woman, wears what at first
            glance looks like typical western ranch wear: blue jeans and
            oilskin jacket. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail. But
            she is not wearing cowboy boots. Instead, she has well-worn
            combat boots.

            An olive drab military pistol belt can be seen in the gap in
            the front of her unzipped jacket.  A bulge beneath her
            jackets reveals a Colt M1911 .45 automatic pistol in an O.D.
            Bianchi UM-84 hip holster, with quad magazine pouches. Just
            looking at her, its obvious that she really knows how to use
            a gun.

            Jennifer is carrying a pair of stamped envelopes.

                                JENNIFER
                      Come on Molly!  Time to get the mail!

            Her dog Molly, a Black and Tan hound, runs up joyfully, and
            then pads alongside her, silently.

            Jennifer passes through a beefy-looking gate that looks
            custom made. She reaches the mailbox. It has large sun-faded
            stickers that spell out "HANSEN", and below that, smaller
            ones that spell out "RT 1 BOX 308". Jennifer opens the
            mailbox, inserts the envelopes and closes the lid. She flips
            up the red metal flag.

            The finality of the situation hits Jennifer hard. There are
            tears welling up in her eyes. Jennifer and Molly walk back up
            the hill,

                                JENNIFER (cont'd)
                      I wonder how much longer the mailman will
                      be coming.
                          (beat)
                      Hurry up 'n get here, Roland! Please!

            They walk though the gate in a high chain link fence that
            surrounds the ranch house. Jennifer latches the gate. Molly
            is left outside the house, as is their routine.

            Jennifer closes and locks the door, hangs up her coat, and
            then takes off her pistol belt and hangs it on a peg above
            her scoped Colt CAR-15 carbine and her woodland camouflage
            airbrush-painted .308 Scout bolt action carbine.

            The guns are stored in a 18-gun capacity "Ready Rack" in the
            hallway. (The rack is only partly full.)
            Prop note:  To get a rough idea of what her scout carbine
            looks like, see:
            http://www.impactguns.com/store/product659.html

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            INT. NIGHT ? THE HANSEN RANCH HOUSE ? FRONT HALL             
               

            Jennifer is sipping a cup of tea, looking nervous. Molly
            barks repeatedly.  We hear gravel crunching as a pickup truck
            is heard approaching. It stops and the engine is turned off.
            Molly continues to bark.

            Jennifer is looking even more nervous. She heads to the ready
            rack.

            There is a series of knocks from the knocker on the front
            door. Jennifer approaches the door with her CAR-15 tucked
            into her shoulder, held at "low ready", stock extended. She
            stands to one side of the hallway to avoid being directly in
            front of the door.

                                JENNIFER
                      Who's there?

                                AARON
                          (o.s.)
                      It's me, Aaron. All's well.

                                JENNIFER
                      Plate!

                                AARON
                          (o.s.)
                      Plate o-Shrimp!

            She looks through the door's fish-eye peephole to visually
            confirm what she's heard. Jennifer steps forward and unlocks
            the door. The door opens to reveal the bright glare of MOTION
            SENSOR SECURITY LIGHTS on the porch. Her cousin AARON CECIL
            steps in, carrying a Springfield Armory M1A semi-auto rifle.
            The door is promptly closed and locked behind him.

            Aaron wears thick glasses. He is Jewish, in his 20s, a
            bachelor. He is a shy, soft-spoken, bookish, an electrical
            engineer. 

            He wears RealTree BDUs and a full set of LC-2 load carrying
            "web gear". The harness has been painted with large blotches
            of brown paint to make it blend with his BDUs. The harness is
            complete with magazine pouches, a canteen and pouch, a
            holstered Colt Commander .45 ACP PISTOL, compass pouch, first
            aid pouch, and a green Glock sheath knife.

                                JENNIFER
                      Cousin Aaron!  It is sooooo good to see
                      you!

            They hug each other.

                                AARON
                      Has anybody else arrived?

                                JENNIFER
                      Nope, you're the first. Tim and Jack are
                      already on their way up. God willing,
                      Roland is heading up tomorrow.  Did you
                      bring your trailer?

                                AARON
                      Yeah, its crammed full, and so's the
                      pickup. Even so, I had to leave a lot
                      behind as charity for my neighbors.  I
                      should've pre-positioned more of my food
                      and gear here at the retreat.

            They place their long guns in the Ready Rack in the hallway.
            Aaron hangs up his web gear on one of the long row of pegs on
            the wall above the rack.

                                JENNIFER
                      Any trouble on the way up from Boise?

            They enter the kitchen, and sit down at the table to talk.
            Jennifer prepares Aaron a cup of tea,

                                AARON
                      A gas station charged me a hundred and
                      fifty bucks a gallon for gas. That was
                      trippy.

            Aaron looks anxiously at Jennifer.

                                AARON (cont'd)
                      So whadaya hear from Terry and Teesha?

                                JENNIFER
                      Teesha sent me an e-mail. She said that
                      they should be here late tomorrow
                      afternoon.
                          (beat)
                      Well, lets get your gear unloaded!
                      Hopefully in a couple of hours we can get
                      some sleep. 

            They step outside.

                                AARON
                      Boy, it sure is quiet here.

                                                                     
                                                                   CUT TO:

            STUNT / EXT. ? NIGHT ? DOWNTOWN NEW YORK IN POWER BLACKOUT /
            STUNT

            SUPER: New York City

            We see a woman's face. She is screaming. The woman turns and
            runs away, frantically. Sirens wail.

            Looters smash their way into a row of downtown stores, using
            cars to pull off or push in stores' retractable security cage
            doors. Bursts of gunfire are heard in the distance.

            Meanwhile, across the street, a fire burns out of control.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            STUNT / EXT. ? NIGHT ? DOWNTOWN SEATTLE / STUNT

            SUPER: Seattle

            Shouting. Police and fire engine sirens. Numerous gunshots
            are heard close-by.

            A furniture store is on fire. Several fire trucks are there
            with lights flashing, but no hoses are directed at the
            flames.  The firemen take cover to avoid sporadic gunfire
            from looters.

            CG Visual Effect: Tracer bullets streak through the night
            sky. 

                                FIREMAN #1
                          (To another fireman, also
                           taking cover from the
                           shooting.)
                      They ain't payin' us enough for this!

                                FIREMAN #2
                      With the in-flation, they should be
                      paying us about a thousann bucks an hour.

            SFX+CG: A bullet ricochets under the truck, directly between
            them.  It cuts an angry gouge in the asphalt. They both hear
            the impact and see the gouge. They gasp and look at each
            other, wide-eyed. They step up onto the pumper's running
            board for additional cover.

                                FIREMAN #1
                      Yeah, maybe if they paid us in twenty
                      dollar gold pieces!
                          (beat)
                      Maybe.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            EXT. ? NIGHT ? WEST LOS ANGELES IN POWER BLACKOUT 

            SUPER: Los Angeles

            Sirens wail. The crackle of gunfire is almost constant. 

            From an aerial view, we see that a flood of refugees from
            L.A. clogs the highways. 

            As cars run out of gas, they transform the highways into grid
            locked parking lots.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            STUNT / EXT. ? NIGHT ? SOUTH OAKLAND RIOTS / STUNT

            SUPER: Oakland

            A squad car with two Oakland police officers is ambushed with
            a massive volley of gunfire from gang members with bolt
            action rifles and pump action shotguns. The police don't even
            have the chance to get out of the car before they are shot
            dead.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            EXT. ? NIGHT ? DOWNTOWN OAKLAND RIOTS 

            AERIAL SFX/CG: Fires burn out of control throughout the
            downtown area.

                                                                 CUT TO:

            STUNT / EXT. ? NIGHT ? DOWNTOWN OAKLAND RIOTS / STUNT

            At street level, we see a retail business district. Fires on
            both sides of the street.  Looters run through the street
            carrying stolen merchandise. Some are laughing. The crackle
            of heavy gunfire is heard in the distance.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            INT. /A.M. - JENNIFER HANSEN'S RANCH, - MORNING

            Jennifer looks exasperated after trying to make a phone call.
            She hears a series of tones and a recording: "All circuits
            are busy now. Please hang up and try again..."  She punches
            the "Talk" button twice, and then the re-dial button.  She
            gets the same recording. She tries yet again. This time there
            isn't even a dial a tone--just a humming noise. She hangs up
            and she looks like she is about to cry.

                                                                     
                                                                   CUT TO:

            STUNT  EXT./ DAY - JUST NORTH OF WEED CALIFORNIA - ON HIGHWAY
            97 ? MORNING ?    STUNT

            JACK MOODY and TIM WONG continue their drive toward Idaho.
            We see them take the Highway 97 turnoff from Interstate 5. As
            the pass through Weed, they see that all of the gas stations
            have signs spray-painted on 4 x 8-foot plywood panels that
            read "NO GAS". The stations are guarded by men with rifles.

            The highway is now deserted. Jack is now in the lead.

            As Jack rounds a sharp bend, he sees a truck blocking one
            lane of the road, and a pickup parked alongside it, blocking
            the other lane. Jack slows down. The truck is loaded with
            railroad ties. Realization flashes across his face: This
            could be a road block! By the time he figures this out, his
            Bronco is within 50 yards of the obstruction. 

            Jack has no time to call Tim on the CB to warn him. And with
            trailers on behind their pickups, they cannot easily turn
            around.

            Jack hits the gas and swerves around onto the shoulder, and
            narrowly misses one of the trucks. Two men dive out of the
            way. Tim follows Jack's lead, also accelerating.

            As they skirt around the pile, two men armed with traditional
            long-barreled pump action bird hunting shotguns stand up
            behind the truck on the right hand side. Tim and Jack
            instinctively duck down and keep going.

            Four blasts come at Tim Wong's pickup. The first takes out
            the windshield The second hits the passenger-side window. The
            third and fourth shots pepper the camper shell--the pellets
            shatter the back window.

            Just down the road, Tim often checks his rear view mirrors,
            to be sure that the ambushers aren't following.

            He radios Tim on his CB:

                                TIM
                          (into handset)
                      Oh maaan!  A little pucker-factor there!

                                JACK
                          (into handset)
                      Are you intact, Wong-man?

                                TIM
                          (into handset)
                      Yeah, I'm okay.  But there's glass
                      everywhere.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

[JohnyMac]

Thx APX.

I wonder how much "they" will have to cut out of the book to have a 90 minute movie. 

[APX808]

They should cut 90% of the book to make a watchable movie 

I think "Patriots" book is terrible and the characters are a bunch of millionaires assholes.

[JohnyMac]

"They should cut 90% of the book to make a watchable movie  " 

Let's face it, Patriots is a fantasy, not unlike Lord of the Rings or Lights Out. Personally, I like the book and have read it probably three times. I like the book not because it is a literary masterpiece but for the different survival idea's within the book.

My copy of Patriots is full of yellow and pink highlighter and many pages are dog eared. As an example; when looking for a ham radio, I reference back to the section on communication. Then start to do my own research.