INT. ERSKINE’S LAB
DR. CYNTHIA GLASS (30) draws blood from Steve’s veins before leaving the room. Erskine arrives to administer another in a battery of tests, shinning a flashlight into Steve’s eyes.
ERSKINE
Look straight ahead, please.
STEVE
Do you mind if I ask you a question, Doc?
ERSKINE
Of course not. Go ahead.
STEVE
That stuff the Colonel said… Super-soldiers.
Is that even possible?
ERSKINE
Hmmm. Super-soldier is a misnomer, Steven.
Even if we are successful, you won’t be a superman.
You will merely perform at the peak of human potential.
ERSKINE
Realistically, you’d be physically akin to an
Olympic gold medalist. A combination distance
Runner and gymnast, is how Dr. Glass puts it.
STEVE
But how?
ERSKINE
Well, the theory is to use some recently developed drug
Cocktails to stimulate muscle growth, the precise combination
Will be experimented with over the next few months, with you and
Your fellow volunteers’ participation.
ERSKINE
You will be monitored continuously, so you
Needn’t worry. Once that is achieved, bombardment
With relatively benign radiation will be used to stabilize
The chemical compounds in your system.
ERSKINE
Is any of that understandable to you?
STEVE
I got the gist.
Erskine chuckles.
EXT. LEHEIGH HILL – DAY
The Project Rebirth volunteers are in PT gear, hair now properly cut, running a path up Lehigh hill, from which the camp gets its name. As Philips said before, there’s about one hundred and fifty of them, and none of them is in significantly better shape than Steve.
SERGEANT Duffy(45), a grizzled NCO built like a brick shithouse with an attitude to boot and wearing a large brimmed hat that looks like it could’ve belonged to one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, barks at his recruits, letting them know exactly how he feels.
DUFFY
As I live in breathe! What, oh lord, did I ever do
To get punished by having to train a bunch of
Goldbricking, good-for-nothing, candy-assed
Pointdexters!
Steve trips and hits the dirt hard. He winces in pain as he lays there for a moment, before Duffy stands over him.
DUFFY
What is the matter, Private Rogers? Are you tired?
Feel like catching a siesta in the warm Virginia sun?
Go on, get up!
Steve struggles to his knees as the other volunteers pass him by.
DUFFY
God damn it! You are a poor excuse of a soldier!
I heard your father went missing in France! Tell
Me something, Rogers, do you think your father
Looked into your baby blue eyes, saw what an
Embarrassment you were gonna turn up to be and
Decided to step onto a German landmine rather
Than be saddled with you for the rest of his life?
Steve gets up, and while limping a bit at first, he manages to catch up the rest as Duffy quick steps behind him.
DUFFY
I will not have a rabble of children turn this man’s
Army into a farce. Now get moving and maybe we’ll be
Done before Mister Hirohito dies of old age.
EXT. FIRING RANGE - DAY
Days, maybe weeks later, the volunteers have moved on to weapons training. They lay on their bellies, firing .22 rifles at targets set fifty yards away. Steve doesn’t do too bad.
INT. GYMNASIUM
And now they’ve moved on to hand to hand training. It’s not going well.
SERGEANT MORITA(30), an athletic man of Japanese descent, slams several of the volunteers onto the mat. Over and over and over. Of note, Steve keeps coming back for seconds.
INT. BARRACKS
The faces of the volunteers show that the relatively short time they’ve been in Lehigh has taken them down a peg, they don’t feel all that heroic at the moment, but sore and demoralized. Steve is exhausted, has a bandage over his eye, and if possible, he’s lost weight, but beyond that, he feels something like contented peace.
DISSOLVE TO:
SUPERIMPORSE: FOUR MONTHS LATER
While the barracks was packed before, it has since then been depopulated. Twenty-three soldiers out of a hundred and fifty remain, the rest washing out due to not meeting the standards desired for the Project, or unable to withstand military life. Those who remain prepare to head out for another day of testing and training.
EXT. ERSKINE’S LAB – DAY
Steve sits in uniform, allowing the Dr. Glass to draw another blood sample. She laves while Erskine mulls over a file detailing Steve’s medical stats.
ERSKINE
How are you feeling, Steven?
STEVE
Alright. I woke up to throw up twice last night.
ERSKINE
Hmm. That’s no cause for alarm… Everything
Is in order. You’re reacting well within desired
Parameters.
STEVE
So when do you think I’m going to be bombarded with
Relatively benign radiation that-
Dr. Glass bursts back in, visible shaken.
ERSKINE
What is the matter, Cynthia?
INT. MESS HALL – DAY
As much of the camp’s personnel are gathered inside as they could fit. Sgt. Morita has to endure a lot of dirty looks, but Sgt. Fury places a comforting hand on his shoulder. The Project Rebirth volunteers sit near the entrance, while Philips and Erskine loom in the doorway.
The date is December 8th. Pearl Harbor was attacked the day before, and FDR is on the radio, delivering his speech to Congress, and the nation.
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
The facts are yesterday and today speak for themselves,
The people of the United States have already form their
Opinion and well understand the implications to the very
Life and safety of our nation.
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have
Directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that
Always will our whole nation remember the character of
The onslaught against us.
(applause from congress)
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this
Premeditated invasion, the American people, in their
Righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
(applause from congress)
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
I believe that I interpret the will of the congress and the people
When I assert that we will not only defend ourselves through the
Utmost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery
Shall never again endanger us.
(applause)
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people,
Our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With
Sonfidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination
Of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.
(applause)
RADIO/FDR (V.O.)
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and
Dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of
War has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
(applause)
The eruption of cheers from the camp personnel drowns out the cheers from the Capitol coming over the radio. Steve looks over his shoulder at Philips and Erskine.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREET/ANTIQUE SHOP – DAY
A sedan comes to a stop. Out steps ADMIRAL HAMILTON (60) a distinguished gentleman in a dark suit and coat and his aide, CLEMENSON (30), a strapping man of thirty who wears a gray suit and a fedora. They walk into the antique shop.
INT. ANTIQUE SHOP
Admiral Hamilton eyes the merchandise inside the empty shop, as his aide presents their credentials to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper presses a button under the counter, and a display panel descends into the floor in the corner of the room. Somewhat amused, they walk through the passage which leads to a descending flight of stairs.
INT. UNDERGROUND BUNKER
Arriving at the bottom of the stairs, they present their credentials to an MP standing by a bolted door.
INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH
Admiral Hamilton and Clemenson enter, finding Colonel Philips, and four other generals as well, all dressed in civilian clothes.
HAMILTON
Gentlemen, hopefully I’m not late.
PHILIPS
Of course not, Admiral. Our volunteers are still
being prepared.
HAMILTON
Excellent. Shall we drop by to see them first?
PHILIPS
I’m not sure I see the point, Admiral.
HAMILTON
Please, these boys are putting their life and on
The line. The Least we can do is show our appreciation.
Isn’t that right, Clemenson?
CLEMENSON
Absolutely, sir.
INT. LOCKER ROOM
All twenty-three Project Rebirth test subjects stand around. Grinning widely, their stomachs filled with butterflies. The door opens, and they all stand to attention.
HAMILTON
At ease boys. Just wanted to drop by first, tell you
All what brave young men you are, and wish you
The best of luck.
Dr. Glass comes in through the door.
CYNTHIA
We’re ready for the first test subject, gentlemen.
PHILIPS
We should get the show on the road.
HAMILTON
Of course.
(To the volunteers)
Make me proud, boys.
The brass exit the room.
PHILIPS
Rogers?
Steve steps forward, accompanied by encouraging cheers from his friends.
INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH
The Generals and Admiral are settled back in. They Steve as he’s strapped onto a gurney in the large room overlooked by their booth. The gurney is at the center of an ample space devoid of any other equipment, surrounded by four massive coils.
PHILIPS
Private Rogers grew up about a stone throws away
From here. He made numerous attempts to enlist in the Navy,
Army and Marines but was rejected due to failing to meet the
Physical requirements.
PHILIPS
Upon being recruited to Project Rebirth he trained at Camp Lehigh.
He’d been most responsive to Doctor Erskine’s treatment in it’s orally
Delivered diluted form.
Erskine and Dr. Glass stand by Steve’s head, each holding a large syringe, which they simultaneously plunge into the sides of his neck.
PHILIPS
The first of two infusions of the Super Soldier serum in its
Potent form will be administered to the deep muscle…
Cynthia steps on a pedal beneath the gurney that rotates it so Steve’s face is down.
PHILIPS
…The second will into the bone marrow centers.
With a moment of hesitation, Erskine plunges a third syringe into Steve’s spine, exposed through an opening in the gurney. Steve convulses, but the restraints keep him in place. Cynthia rotates the gurney back into its proper position, and with a few encouraging words, both she and Erskine retreat to a console.
PHILIPS
The final step is to bombard Private Rogers with Vita rays,
Which will assimilate the serum into his body’s biochemistry.
Clemenson checks his wristwatch anxiously.
While down on the ground, Erskine works the console, bringing the coils to life with a faint hum that rises steadily.
On the gurney, Steve’s eyes are wide open. His pupils shrink until his eyes are like blue marbles. The hairs on his arms stand up. The hum is now deafening.
And suddenly, Steve’s body convulses violently….. and begins to swell. Protruding ribs grow faint, covered by newly formed muscle tissue. In no time, Steve is almost unrecognizable; now possessing a fairly decent physique that would’ve gotten him into the service had he had it months ago.
The brass are at once terrified and in awe.
INT. LOCKER ROOM
The twenty-two other test subjects are split into three groups, each playing a game of cards as they wait their turn at glory.
INT. CORRIDOR
The doors to the locker room EXPLODES forward, sending smoke and flame spreading down both directions.
INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH
With only a moment of the Generals exchanging shocked looks as the bunker rocks, Clemenson and Admiral Hamilton reach for their coats, each producing a pistol. Clemenson and Hamilton gun down the other officers.
The medical staff in the operation room below scramble. Erskine looks up with horror as Clemenson and Hamilton shoot the glass separating the above area to shards, only stopping to reload. Erskine looks toward Steve, his body still transforming, writhing with pain as it stretches and swells, trying to escape the restraints.
Fresh clips in place, Hamilton and Clemenson take aim again. Without a second’s hesitation, Erskine flings his body toward Steve, in time to look Steve in the eye and say…
ERSKINE
Make the best of it.
…And then the bullets plunged into his back. He SPASMS, trying to keep shielding Steve, but he crumbles soon enough. Hamilton holds his pistol with both hands, aiming carefully at Steve’s head, but before he can pull the trigger, someone else does.
Clemenson turns to see Philips rise to his knees as Hamilton falls. The slug in Philips’ right shoulder not enough to keep him down. He raises his sidearm with his left at Clemenson who returns the favor.
Clemenson misses by a hair, while Philips hits him in the arm, forcing him to drop his pistol as he curses…
CLEMENSON
Schiss!
Philips takes another shot, hitting him in the shoulder. Clemenson staggers back and then slips out the door, dodging a third bullet in the process.
INT. OPERATION ROOM
Dr. Glass, returned to her wits, scrambles to the console, shutting it off. She would run to free Steve, but at that instant, Steve’s struggles pay off as his right arm rips out the constraints and goes to tear off the rest. Within seconds, he’s on his feet and climbing the surrounding machinery. He leaps through the shattered window.
Philips doesn’t even pause to admire Steve’s newly muscled yet sleek physique as he gives the untested soldier his first combat order of the war.
PHILIPS
After him.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREET – DAY
Clemenson gets into a car that promptly speeds off. A few seconds later, Steve comes running out the door and gives chase.
INT. GETAWAY CAR (MOVING) – DAY
A PASSENGER helps Clemenson remove his jacket in the back seat. The DRIVER and the man in the SHOTGUN seat speak in rapid fire German.
CLENEMSON
(speaking German, pained)
Careful… Careful!
SHOTGUN
(speaking German)
What happened?
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
We got the test subjects, we got the traitor
And we got all the targets but one; Philips.
DRIVER
(speaking German)
Who’s that running after us?
Clemenson looks back and sees Steve giving chase on foot. At worst, he’s keeping up.
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
I can’t believe it, the whelp made it.
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
Who is that?
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
He’s their superman!
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
I thought you said you got them all.
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
I was sure Kerfoot got him!
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
You’re not meant to be sure, you’re meant
To make it so you know. What happened to
Kerfoot?
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
Philips got him.
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
And you left him alive?
CLEMENSON
(speaking German, angered)
Do I look like I didn't try?
The car PLOWS into the door of a parked Taxi just as the passenger opens the door, ripping it off. The Taxi driver curses at them, livid as all hell.
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
Drive straight, you bastard!
SHOTGUN
(speaking German)
Skull is going to have our eyes for this.
CLEMENSON
(speaking German)
We’ve crippled their program and taken five of their
General officers. All they have is one soldier slightly
stronger than the rest, and I’m going to remedy that right now.
With his good hand, Clemenson reaches for an M3 submachine gun from under the driver’s seat.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREET - DAY
Clemenson peers out the window and fires it Steve one-handed. Steve isn’t hit, but it does force him to slow down. Shotgun produces a Tommy gun and sticks his upper body out the window, sitting on the window’s edge and fires at Steve.
Steve jumps for cover behind the Taxi, but only long enough for the spies to stop shooting. He gives chase again, picking up the Taxi door as he does so.
INT. GETAWAY CAR (MOVING) - DAY
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
I cannot believe this.
Clemenson and shotgun open fire again, but Steve uses the taxi door to block their fire as he gathers speed. Suddenly, his path is cut off by a truck that lumbers past, forcing him to stop.
Shotgun retreats back into the car as the driver makes a sharp right turn.
CLEMENSON
(speaking German, handing the M3)
Reload.
PASSENGER
(speaking German, loading the M3)
You know what, Krueger? Why don’t you get him
Up close?
CLEMENSON
(speaking German, taking the M2 back)
What?
PASSENGER
(speaking German)
Time we lost the dead weight.
The passenger PUSHES Clemenson/Krueger into the door which gives away, tossing him out onto the street.
DRIVER
(speaking German)
What did you do!
PASSENGER
(speaking German, shutting the door)
Krueger will distract the American long enough
For us to make good our escape.
EXT. GETAWAY CAR (MOVING) - DAY
The car makes a turn, aligning it with the bus we saw earlier.
PASSENGER (V.O.)
(speaking German)
Get us to the safe house on Coney Island.
Steve STANDS up from the roof of the bus, and JUMPS at the getaway car, landing flat on its roof.
INT. GETAWAR CAR (MOVING) – DAY
The car ROCKS.
SHOTGUN
(speaking German)
He’s on the roof, shake him.
EXT. GETAWAR CAR (MOVING) – DAY
The sedan swerves through traffic, but Steve has his hooks in and doesn’t fall off. Eventually, it steadies back, which is Shotgun’s cue to peak out again with him Tommy, trying to shoot Steve at point blank range. Steve grabs the magazine as he pulls the trigger and knocks his aim up, leading to a .45 slugs hitting third story windows on adjacent buildings. Steve shoves the Tommy into shotgun’s face, knocking him out.
Steve then rolls over to the other side, shatters the window with the machine gun, reaches in through shards of the glass, seizes the driver by back of the head and smashes him against the steering wheel face first twice, knocking him out, before pulling the wheel to the left and jamming it in place by stuffing the Tommy gun between it and the driver’s slumped body.
Steve jumps off the car as it careens off course and slams into a bridge support beam. He lands on both legs and an arm.
Steve walks calmly toward the car. The passengers spills out of the back of the car, lips foaming as he convulses and then slumps. POLICE SIRENS are heard approaching. Steve checks on the passenger and sees that he has died, he looks into the car and sees that Shotgun had foamed similarly.
Steve pulls the driver out into the street, tries slapping him back to consciousness. He comes out of it as we hear police cars coming to a screeching halt, and as soon as coherent he is to know what is what, he panics and reaches into his mouth. Steve restrains him, figuring he’s stopping him from foaming at the mouth himself.
STEVE
Who are you?
POLICEMAN #1
Step away from him!
STEVE
(sterner)
Who are you?
POLICEMAN #2
Get away from him, now!
STEVE
This man is a spy.
The twe policemen pull Steve off of the driver.
STEVE
That man just helped kill four generals!
POLICEMAN #1
Why don’t you tell it to Sarge Hammond down
At the station, big man.
Steve wriggles out of their grasp and shoves them away. He returns his attention to the driver… Who has produced a revolver that he aims square at Steve’s chest.
Before he can take his shot, a third policeman opens fire, killing the driver in an instant.
Steve looks at the dead German’s body, somewhat frustrated. A moment of confusion passes, and then the policemen get to their feat and grab hold of Steve, aided by newly arriving policemen who drag him to a squad car.
TO BE CONTINUED