"Over The Edge" Screenplay written by Peter Layton

FADE IN

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
A car stops on a parking lot, facing away from a small town liquor store. Both
front and back license plates are spattered with dried mud, obscuring the numbers.
Three men sit inside…NICK and HACK up front, JOHNNY in the back.

INT. CAR - MORNING
Nick, the driver, is in charge. He’s the oldest, with a lot of hard mileage etched on
his face. Staring into the rear view mirror, he watches a liquor store employee
unlock the front door.

NICK
Everybody ready? Hack? Johnny?

HACK, squat and thuggish, just grunts. His hands tensely grip the sawed-off
shotgun between his knees. In the back seat, vibrating with pent-up energy, 19
year old JOHNNY repeatedly loads and reloads his hand-gun.

JOHNNY
Yeah, yeah, Nick, let’s just do it.

Nick frowns at the tense, pale Johnny, glances over at Hack.

HACK
He’s okay. Just gets hyper when
he’s nervous. Runs in our family.

Grunting, Nick snaps on a cell phone

NICK
Okay, quiet now. It’s show time.

Glancing down at a ripped out page of a telephone book and a town map in his lap,
Nick dials 911.

OPERATOR
911. Police, fire, emer—

NICK
(high-pitched, excited)
My dad’s drunk and beating my mom!

OPERATOR
All right, son, stay calm. What’s your
name, where are you?

Nick’s finger moves from an underlined name in the phone book to a home address
circled on the outskirts of a town map.

NICK
I’m Tim McDonald! 1601 Regina!
Oh God, here he comes! Hurry!

Snapping off the cell phone, Nick looks wryly at the two men. Hack just nods, but
Johnny drums delightedly on the back seat.

JOHNNY
Shit, Nick, that sounded totally real!

NICK
Should. I lived it.

EXT. SMALL AIRFIELD - MORNING
Beside the main hangar, chopper pilot VICTOR “WOZ” WOSNIAK, heavy-set,
50ish, sits up top on a Bell Ranger helicopter, tinkering with the motor. SUSAN
and RICHARD TERRY approach him. Susan’s by far more attractive, Richard is
compact, tough looking, and wears an expensive NHL team jacket.

RICHARD
Mister Wozniak? I’m Richard Terry…

Richard says his name as if it were a trademarked brand name, and automatically
pauses for the reaction.

WOZ
Yes, the hockey player, I know.

RICHARD
Uh huh…and this is my wife, Susan.

Woz hops down to shake hands, taps the “Woz” name stitched onto his flight suit.

WOZ
Call me Woz…everybody does. I’ll
take you up to the lake after this…

Woz gestures up at the open engine hood.

WOZ
Won’t be long. Now, there’s coffee
in the hangar, and…

Woz looks over at two young MECHANICS hovering in the background.
WOZ
…uh, the young guys here…well, uh,
they’re big hockey fans, you know…

RICHARD
Be glad to talk to them.
(off-handly, to Susan)
Won’t take long, honey.

Susan’s faint smile fades as soon as Richard walks away. Turning to the Jet
Ranger helicopter, she looks inside the cockpit with great interest.

SUSAN
Mind if I take the seat? Just play with
the stick a bit?

Susan smiles slightly at Woz’s puzzled look.

SUSAN
I’m a licensed pilot. So far, I’ve
done 30 hours solo on those…

Susan nods over to a covered two-seater Cessna 152 airplane parked near by.

SUSAN
And I’d love to fly a chopper one day.

WOZ
Well, trust me, you do and you’ll never
go back to fixed wing. Like we say,
if it can hover, uh…you’ll love her.

SUSAN
Funny, but I heard a much different
version of that saying.

An embarrassed Woz coughs, glances quickly away from Susan’s wry smile.

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
A few trucks and cars have parked close to the liquor store, some early morning
customers wander in.

INT. CAR - MORNING
Watching in the rear view mirror, Nick speaks to Hack and Johnny.

NICK
They collect the money from these hick
town booze shops the day after the
welfare checks come out. Nobody deals
drugs better than the government…

Nick’s eyes narrow, he frowns as FRED and MILDRED THOMPSON, an elderly
couple, totter into the store.

NICK
…and they hate competition. That’s
why they put me away.

INT. LIQUOR STORE - MORNING
A lone CASHIER grins at ROB and DAVE, two hunters in full camouflage
hunting gear wheeling a shopping cart full of six-packs.

CASHIER
Wow, successful hunt so far, eh?

The two hunters smile, then suddenly look like sheepish school boys when old
Mildred abruptly fixes a stern gaze on them.

ROB
Oh…uh, hi, Mrs. Thompson.

MILDRED
Robert…David.

Mildred drops a disapproving eye down at the cart full of beer. With guilty
expressions, the two mighty hunters quickly wheel away.

INT. HANGAR - MORNING
At the air field hangar, Richard has a beer in his hand and the undivided attention
of the two young, admiring, mechanics.

MECHANIC #1
Hey, I got your fight with Probert on
tape. Best scrap I’ve ever seen!

MECHANIC #2
Man, McSorley, Domi, you fought all
the tough guys.

RICHARD
Yeah, my dance card was always full.

MECHANIC #1
Funny, all those fights…I thought you’d
look like this…

Comically, the mechanic bends his nose with his thumb.

MECHANIC #2
Yeah, face all busted up, no teeth…

RICHARD
That’s how I looked when I first started.
They just beat the ugly right out of me.

INT. CAR - MORNING
In the back seat, unable to contain himself, Johnny rattles the door handle rapidly
up and down. Hack twists back, frowns at Johnny.

HACK
Johnny, you taking your meds?

Hack sighs as Johnny defiantly looks away. Nick frowns deeply.

NICK
Meds? What’s wrong with him?

HACK
It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.

With an apprehensive grunt, Nick glances at his watch, checks all the mirrors, and
fires up the engine.

NICK
Get your masks on.

As the car starts to move, Hack and Johnny tug down their black ski-masks.

INT. HELICOPTER - MORNING

Watching Susan work the chopper’s flight stick and foot-pedals, Woz frowns,
points to her right foot.

WOZ
You’ve pushed the tail rudder too far
over. At full speed…

Woz spins his finger rapidly around, making a whistling “bomb drop” noise.

WOZ
…you’re in a death spin.

SUSAN
How do you get out of it?

WOZ
Usually…by hitting the ground.

INT. LIQUOR STORE - MORNING
It’s quiet, a dozen customers placidly browse the aisles. Suddenly, outside the
front window, Nick’s car screeches up. Johnny and Hack jump out and burst in.

HACK
Freeze! Nobody move!

Everybody freezes in shock at the sight of two masked gunmen. A frenzied, hyper-
ventilating Johnny charges up to the stunned cashier.

JOHNNY
The money! Now! The cashier doesn’t argue with a gun. He slaps open the cash register, steps aside.

Johnny scoops a handful of 10’s and 20’s, yells over to Hack.

JOHNNY
Got it! Let’s go!

HACK
That’s the daily float. Punk change.

Hack marches up to the cashier, kicks him hard in the thigh.

HACK
No more games! Open the safe!

Holding his leg, the cashier stares wide-eyed at the menacing Hack.

CASHIER
I…I can’t. It’s time-locked.

Again, Hack kicks the terrified cashier, dropping him. One of the hunters just
can’t contain himself, blurting out.

ROB
Hey! Don’t!

Both Hack and Johnny whip their guns over to Rob. He quickly shrinks back.
Hack puts the shotgun to the cashier’s head.

CASHIER
No, please, I got kids. The truck comes
tomorrow. I can’t open it until then!

The cashier’s too scared to be lying. For a second, Hack and Johnny just stare at
each other, then Hack moves the shotgun away from the cashier’s head.

HACK
Fuck…we’re not leaving with nothing.
(to customers)
Wallets and purses! Drop ‘em! Now!

Nobody argues. Wallets and purses fall to the floor. As Hack and Johnny move
out to get them, the fallen cashier behind them quietly unlocks a drawer. Hack
approaches Fred and Mildred, snapping at the white-haired woman clutching her
purse in terror.

HACK
C’mon, granny, you too. Drop it.

Wide-eyed, the elderly woman gasps, trembles. Impatiently, Hack yanks the purse
from her. Mildred suddenly shakes violently, collapses to the floor, choking for air.

FRED
Mildred!

Momentarily paralyzed, both Johnny and Hack stand uncertainly. The elderly Fred
drops stiffly down beside her, calls out in a quavering voice.

FRED
She’s not breathing! Call 911!

A few people make movements as if to reach for cell phones. Hack swings his
shotgun about in a wide arc.

HACK
No! No calls!

Behind Hack and Johnny, the cashier carefully eases a handgun out of the drawer.

HACK
(to Johnny)
Move! Get the money!

Johnny scrambles about, dumping cash out of the wallets and purses. Rob and
Dave, the two hunters edge cautiously forward.

ROB
Hey, I know CPR…I can help her.

A few other customers edge closer. Hack swings the gun about in a wide arc.

HACK
I said, nobody move!

Taking a deep breath, Rob and Dave both take a small, careful step forward.

DAVE
Relax, we just want to help her, okay?

Hack lifts the shotgun, aims it at Rob and Dave.

HACK
One more step and I’ll fucking--

JOHNNY
Look out!

Out of the corner of his eye, Johnny’s just spotted the cashier aiming at Hack.
His warning scream whips Hack around to face the cashier. BOOM! BANG!
Both SHOOT and both crash to the floor. There’s a second of frozen shock, then
a mass stampede for the door.

INT. CAR - MORNING
Aghast, Nick gapes at the people pouring out. He’s parked so close to the door,
they literally run over and around his car.

INT. STORE - MORNING
On the floor, gun out, Johnny eyes the cashier lying motionless in a pool of blood,
then he quickly crawls over to Hack, holding his stomach, groaning in pain.

JOHNNY
Hack! You okay?

Hack is not okay, his breath is coming in short gasps. Quickly Johnny starts
dragging him to the front door. Outside, the car horn sounds in one long blast.

INT. CAR - MORNING
Laying on the horn, Nick looks all around. The customers outside are gathering,
some yelling into cell phones. Running to their truck, Rob and Dave jump inside,
rip down the hunting rifles mounted inside.

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
Crouched behind their truck, Rob and Dave line up Hack and Johnny in their gun
sights, then hesitate. They’re hunters, not killers. A nearby MAN screams at them.

MAN
Shoot! Shoot them!

Flushed and pale, fingers on the triggers, Rob and Dave look at each other, then
Rob abruptly aims up, FIRES two shots into the sky.

EXT. LIQUOR STORE - MORNING
Dragging Hack out the front door, Johnny’s head snaps up at the two loud gun
shots. Still clutching his shotgun, Hack painfully twists around, raises his gun.

HACK
Get in the car, kid…go…

Hack BLASTS his shotgun at the two hunters.

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
Rob and Dave dive to the ground as shotgun pellets rip into their truck. Whatever
hesitations they’d had earlier instantly vanish. They SHOOT back, rapid-fire. INT. CAR - MORNING

KACHUNK! A bullet hits the side of the car. SMASH! A hole is blown through
the back window, spraying Nick with fine glass shards. He floors the gas pedal.
As the car peels out, Johnny dives into the back seat.

JOHNNY
Wait! Wait for Hack!

But Nick’s not waiting. Out the back window, Johnny hears more SHOTS, sees
Hack shudder, the shotgun fall from his hands.

JOHNNY
No! No!

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
Fish-tailing, the car roars out of the parking lot, tires squealing as it turns a hard
left onto the street. A stunned Rob and Dave just watch it go, then turn to stare
at Hack’s limp body. Both are pale, looking like they might get sick. The nearby
man who had urged them to shoot rushes up, hands Rob his cell phone.

MAN
Here! I got the RCMP! Follow them!
And gimme that, I’ll cover him!

Numbly, Rob hands over his rifle to the excited man.

MAN
You guys are goddamn heroes! Go!
Don’t get too close!

More following orders than going willingly, Rob and Dave hop into the truck, and
start after the fleeing getaway car.

EXT. AIR FIELD - MORNING

Sitting in the pilot’s chair, Susan giggles as Woz’s ample stomach make a loud
rumbling noise.

SUSAN
No breakfast?

WOZ
Yeah, but it’s always complaining.

Woz looks up at the open engine hood.

WOZ
I should finish up there…

SUSAN
What’s the problem?

WOZ
Actually…nothing, I just had to change
the oil. Takes five minutes. But when the
boys here found out who I was taking up…

Nodding in understanding, Susan looks over Woz’s shoulder to the hangar, where
Richard is having a beer with the two mechanics.

SUSAN
Take your time. He’s perfectly happy.

INT. HANGAR - MORNING
Indeed, a free beer, two spellbound fans, Richard is perfectly happy. Until one
mechanic opens his mouth and says…

MECHANIC #1
Hey, I heard you got that…head thing…

RICHARD
Post concussion syndrome. And that’s
crap, I feel fine, just the doctors don’t
want get sued, so they won’t give me
medical clearance. So…I had to retire.

Shaking their heads, the two mechanics groan in unison.

MECHANIC #1
Well, sorry…but wish I could retire.

MECHANIC #2
You got it made. What are you going
to do now?

RICHARD
I have no idea. I wish I knew.

EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
It’s a small town, Nick’s car is already on the highway. But it’s being tailed by
Rob’s V8 powered truck, keeping a discreet distance back.

INT. CAR - MORNING
Looking in the passenger side mirror, seeing Dave speak on the cell phone, Nick
bangs the steering wheel in frustration.

NICK
Goddamn it! They’re talking the cops
right to us!

Nick suddenly slams on the brakes.

EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
The getaway car locks up, burning rubber tracks on the highway. Rob’s truck hits
its brakes, sliding sideways on the pavement.

INT. CAR - DAY
Nick throws the car into reverse, smoking the tires as he backs towards the truck.

NICK
Johnny! Get them off our ass!

As they race backwards towards Rob’s truck, Johnny FIRES wildly through the
window, totally shattering it. BAM, BAM, BAM!

INT. TRUCK - MORNING
Both Rob and Dave duck as gunshots SMASH their windshield. Rob rams it into
reverse, floors the gas pedal as more bullets RIP the seats behind them.

EXT. HIGHWAY - MORNING
It’s a car chase in reverse, the car in front going after the truck behind it. The two
vehicles weave and swerve all over the road. INT. CAR - MORNING
Being thrown from side to side, Johnny squeezes off more SHOTS at the wildly
retreating truck behind them. BAM, BAM, BAM! Then CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.
Johnny squeezes the trigger, but his gun’s empty.

JOHNNY
I’m out! Go, go!

Nick stops, throws the car forwards. As they accelerate away, Johnny snaps open
his handgun, digs into his coat pocket, hauls out a box of shells. Shotgun shells.

JOHNNY
Aw shit! HACK
What?

Rummaging frantically through the pockets, Johnny tosses out more boxes of
shotgun cartridges.

JOHNNY
Me and Hack must have switched coats.
He’s got my ammo. Gimme your piece!

NICK
I don’t have one. Anyway, relax, they
gave up.

Peering out the back, Johnny can see the truck pulled over, fading in the distance.
Leaping over into the passenger side, Johnny stares at Nick.

JOHNNY
You got no piece? You do a job and
you don’t bring…
(suddenly, realizing)
No gun, less jail time. You’re just the
driver, right?

Nick replies with very loud silence. Disgustedly, Johnny pulls the trigger
repeatedly, clicking the empty gun loudly.

JOHNNY
Great! One gun and it’s empty!

A faint rising siren wail jerks Johnny bolt upright. Flashing police lights flicker
dimly on the horizon, coming towards them.

JOHNNY
Oh shit!

Nick peers up ahead at an exit sign, slams on the brakes, twists the wheel.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Tires squealing, the getaway car makes a sharp turn off the highway, onto an exit
road, past a sign that reads AIR FIELD 3 Km.

EXT. AIR FIELD - MORNING
Still in the pilot’s seat, Susan plays gently with the controls. As Woz hops up onto
the chopper, he looks over at the hangar. And looks again. Richard is tugging
around one of the mechanics in some rough-house horse-play.

INT. HANGAR - MORNING.
It’s Hockey Fighting 101 as Richard demonstrates on a hapless mechanic.

RICHARD
Most enforcers were bigger than me,
so instead of just dropping my gloves,
I’d throw them in their face.

Richard pretends to fling imaginary gloves at the mechanic’s face, then makes a
flipping motion to the back of the man’s head.

RICHARD
I’d yank their helmet over their eyes,
kick their skates, go psycho…give them
an eye-fucking like this…

With an axe-murderer glare, Richard locks eyes with the mechanic, whispers.

RICHARD
Hey…you screwing my wife?

Blood and rage flickers in Richard’s eyes, he jerks the man around hard, like a rag
doll, then abruptly relaxes, releases the man, and grins.

RICHARD
How’s that? Give you an idea?

Wide-eyed, the mechanic steps back, manages a weak, pasty smile.

MECHANIC
Oh, yeah…shit, yeah…Jesus…

Richard smiles back, but his fists remain clenched, his eyes hard. The fire isn’t out
just yet. Both mechanics glance at each other and both sort of ease away, giving
the dominant alpha male a little more territory now.

EXT. ROAD TO AIR FIELD - MORNING
The getaway car clips along the road at a high rate of speed.

INT. CAR - MORNING

Red-eyed, Johnny sits slumped in the back seat, holding his head.

JOHNNY
They fucking shot Hack…Jesus…

NICK
Hey, kid, I’m sorry about your uncle.
But we got real big problems…

Nick’s staring in the rear view mirror. Twisting around, Johnny peers through the
dust cloud at a far off flashing police light and a faint siren.

NICK
And this just goes to the air field.
We’re seriously fucked.

EXT. AIR FIELD - MORNING
As Richard approaches the helicopter, Susan waves gaily from inside the chopper.

SUSAN
I’m flying today, honey!

Grinning, Richard rolls his eyes up, cocks his head at the faint sound of a siren.

RICHARD
And here comes the ambulance now!

From on top of the chopper, Woz gestures back to the hangar, where the two
mechanics are mock-fighting each other, practicing what they’ve just learned.

WOZ
If you’ve finished training the boys,
mind handing me that oil?

Woz points to several 1 litre cans of aviation grade engine oil. Richard tosses one
up to Woz, who punctures it with a spout.

WOZ
Thanks. You know, one time, I took up
Stan Mikita … a different generation, I
know, but that’s when I watched hockey.

Pouring the oil into the engine, Woz shakes his head.

WOZ
Now…there’s too many teams, the season
goes on forever, half the players are called
Vladimir and the…

Woz’s voice trails off. High up on the chopper, he can see flashing lights and
dust trails racing down the road.

WOZ
What the devil…?

INT. CAR - MORNING
Excitedly, Johnny points ahead to the helicopter parked on the tarmac. Only way
there is through the parking lot, past the locked gate.

JOHNNY
There! There! That chopper!

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING
Roaring past a half dozen parked vehicles, the getaway car flies up to the locked
gate, SMASHES through, sending mesh and steel pipes flying into the air.

EXT. TARMAC - MORNING
Shocked, Woz drops the oil tin, spilling it over the engine. Richard just stands
frozen, eyes wide as the car smokes rubber towards him. Even before the car has
slammed to a stop, Johnny’s jumping out, pointing his gun at Richard.

JOHNNY
Out of the way!

Jerking open the passenger door, Johnny throws out Woz’s helmet, and jumps
inside beside Susan, pointing his gun at her. Nick dives into the back.

JOHNNY
Get us outta here! Now!

A RCMP cruiser screeches to a stop beside the getaway car, close to the chopper.
Staff-Sergeant PAT PATTERSON, tall, lean, and bald as an egg, ducks behind his
open door, gun out.

PATTERSON
Drop your weapons!

INT. CHOPPER - MORNING
In the back seat, with nowhere to hide, an armed Mountie just feet away, Nick
looks about frantically. Scooping up a flashlight taped to the side, Nick pockets it,
reaches out and grabs Richard, standing frozen beside the door.

NICK
You! Get in here!

With his free hand, Nick hauls Richard in as a shield, shoving the pocketed
flashlight hard into his back. Johnny screams again at the petrified Susan.

JOHNNY
Come on, lady! Let’s go!

WOZ
She can’t fly this.

Startled by the voice directly behind him, Johnny whips around, points his gun at
Woz climbing down off the chopper.

WOZ
Whoa, whoa, easy, I’m the pilot.

In the distance, sirens sound as more police race to the rescue.

JOHNNY
Then get in here!

Holding Susan as a shield, Johnny backs out of the chopper, gestures with his gun
at Woz to hop inside. A frustrated Patterson hollers through a megaphone.

PATTERSON
Last warning! I’ll shoot!

But he can only watch as Woz is shoved into the pilot seat. The civilians are in
the line of fire, and there’s no back-up yet. Shoving Susan away, Johnny hops into
the passenger seat. Standing free, Susan locks eyes with Richard, then impulsively
jumps into the back seat of the chopper.

RICHARD
Susan! No! Get out!

Up front, Woz starts strapping himself into his flight harness, but Johnny slaps it
away from him.

JOHNNY
Never mind that shit! Just go! Now!

Pushing the starter button on a lever, Woz speaks slowly and calmly.

WOZ
This isn’t a car. I can’t just turn the
key and hit the gas. It’ll take time.

Sirens screaming, two more RCMP cars tear down the road towards the airfield.

JOHNNY
We just killed two people. We don’t
have time. Go!

The engine whines as the big overhead blades slowly start rotating.

EXT. TARMAC - MORNING
A crouching Patterson flinches as the big blades sweep just over his cruiser. The
two police cars screech to a stop behind him. Guns out, two Mounties run low
to join Patterson, who yells over the noise of the helicopter.

PATTERSON
Two gunmen, front and back! Three
hostages! Get close and box them in!

INT. CHOPPER - MORNING
Johnny almost jumps out of his seat when he sees the two Mounties rush back to
their cruisers and start backing up. He jabs Woz hard with his gun, but Woz stares
at a rotor RPM gauge and shakes his head.

WOZ
Turbine’s not up to speed yet.

The two cop cars peel off in opposite directions. In the back, Nick twists and
turns, trying to follow.

NICK
They’re surrounding us!

Johnny jams his gun into Woz’s graying temple. Swallowing heavily, Woz points
to the slowly rising rotor RPM gauge.

WOZ
We don’t have enough RPMs. A gun
doesn’t change how a helicopter flies.

One cruiser screeches beside the chopper, the other stops dead in front. Both
Mounties leap out behind their doors, guns leveled. Patterson hollers through a
megaphone over the increasing scream of the blades.

PATTERSON
Surrender now or we’ll open fire!

NICK
No, they won’t! Cops’ll never shoot,
not with hostages!

Johnny looks wildly back at Nick jammed safely in between Richard and Susan,
then out the glass window at the RCMP corporal right in front aiming at him.

JOHNNY
You’re not sitting up here!

EXT. TARMAC - MORNING
Blasted by the wind of the blades, the Mountie in front steadies his aim at Johnny in
the glass bubble before him, he can’t miss. But neither man on either side of the
chopper have a clean shot at Nick in the back.

INT. CHOPPER - MORNING
Johnny suddenly spins around, aims at Susan’s head, screams at Woz.