Mass Effect Script, Study notes of Voice

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MASS EFFECT

BLOCKING DRAFT 10/12/

Based on Mass Effect [2007]

Revised 11/19/ [email protected]

EXT. SPACE

Blackness. Stars fade in. The sun slowly rises behind a dark planet.

SUPERIMPOSITION:

In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization, the Protheans. In the decades that followed, mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time. They called it the greatest discovery in human history. The civilizations of the galaxy call it...

EXT. SPACE

Sunlight crosses the planet’s horizon. There is a blinding light.

TITLE CARD: MASS EFFECT.

EXT. SPACE - MORNING

A Mass Relay, a huge transportation station with massive energy at it’s center. An Alliance Starship, the NORMANDY, enters from it with a BANG. It flies toward the planet Eden Prime.

INT. NORMANDY, COMMAND DECK

COMMANDER SHEPARD, early 30’s in military attire, walks through the command deck. Crew members work at stations to his left and right. He passes by JOKER, mid 20’s in pilot gear.

SHEPARD Aren’t you supposed to be flying this ship?

JOKER A three hour flight, I walk away for two minutes! Two!

SHEPARD I wasn’t complaining. I actually feel safer.

SHEPARD

When a turian spectre boards your ship during a simple resupply mission, there’s obviously more going on, and about time you told me.

NIHLUS By order of the Council, we’re making a covert pick-up.

ANDERSON A human colony discovered an ancient beacon. The Normandy’s stealth systems made our crew the perfect fit for this mission.

SHEPARD And this beacon...

NIHLUS Prothean.

The ship ROCKS again. The blue skies have turned to storms.

ANDERSON There hasn’t been a discovery of this magnitude since we originally discovered the protheans themselves, back on Mars.

Joker interrupts through the intercom.

JOKER (intercom) Captain, you’re going to want to see this. I’ve patched through to your personal console.

Anderson plays a video message.

ANDERSON The ground team.

EXT. EDEN PRIME, COLONY ENTRANCE - VIDEO MESSAGE

The video shows Alliance Soldiers on the ground. Huge EXPLOSIONS and debris fly everywhere. Gun fire WHISTLES by. An ALLIANCE SOLDER holds the camera towards himself.

ALLIANCE SOLDIER We are under attack. Heavy casualties taken. (MORE)

We’re not the only ones who know of the beacon. I repeat, unknown enemy has come for the beacon. They came out of nowhere, and now-

The Alliance soldier is SHOT. A loud MECHANIC GROAN. The camera falls and shows other alliance soldiers. They stop firing and stare into the distance. An explosion turns the camera. A gigantic starship rises into the clouds, amidst a lightning storm. The camera goes static.

INT. NORMANDY, CAPTAINS QUARTERS

The video ends.

ANDERSON Joker, status report.

JOKER (intercom) Next alliance vessel is 30 minutes out.

Anderson looks at Nihlus.

ANDERSON Land close to that transmission point.

NIHLUS Go as a group and we’ll be sitting ducks. As a small strike team we’ll go unnoticed for as long as we can.

JOKER (intercom) ETA 10 minutes. Stealth systems engaged.

EXT. EDEN PRIME, COLONY ENTRANCE - MORNING

Blue skies have returned, it is peaceful. The Normandy hovers above the surface, docking bay doors open, Nihlus standing. Anderson, Shepard, KAIDAN, and an ALLIANCE SOLDIER appear behind him.

NIHLUS One more thing, Shepard.

SHEPARD Yeah?

ALLIANCE SOLDIER (CONT'D)

Two flying GETH DRONES and a GETH SOLDIER follow behind Ashley. The geth trooper is a humanoid bipedal robot. It’s face has a bright light instead of a face. The geth drone is a small orb with a gun attached. They shoot at the team.

Shepard and Kaidan take cover. Alliance Soldier is SHOT and killed. Ashley dives behind a rock, pinned down. Kaidan draws fire away while Shepard shoots down the geth drones. Ashley kills the geth trooper.

Shepard walks toward the ridge. Ashley and Kaidan follow.

ASHLEY Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, of the 212. Where did you come from? I saw a ship.

SHEPARD That ship is the Normandy, and we’re not going back until we recover that beacon.

ASHLEY The beacon? There’s no way you’re getting close to that.

KAIDAN We have to.

ASHLEY You’ll have to get by the geth. They came from nowhere, blocked our signals, and-

Shepard clears the ridge.

Dragon’s teeth, spiked metal structures, ten feet tall, rise from the ground. Husks, half-human half-machine bodies, lay pierced through them. There are dozens of them.

ASHLEY (CONT’D) Dragon’s teeth.

KAIDAN I thought those were just a fairy- tale. Or, nightmare.

The spikes lower. The husks slide off charge Shepard. He fires at the nearest husk. It falls.

KAIDAN (CONT’D) Are they... human?

Kaidan and Shepard fire at a few husks.

SHEPARD

They used to be.

ASHLEY They used to be my team. My friends.

SHEPARD I’m sorry, but we can’t do anything now.

Shepard and Kaidan continue to fire. Ashley reluctantly joins them. There’s too many.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) We have to get out of here. On me.

The team sprints through the husks. One grabs Kaidan. Shepard wrestles it off, but two more grab him. Ashley shoots them off. Running and shooting they make it to the colony entrance.

EXT. EDEN PRIME, BEACON

The prothean beacon sits near a rocky ledge. Storage containers and cranes are everywhere. Nihlus, stands around the corner, back against the wall. SAREN, another turian spectre, studies the beacon, his back turned to Nihlus.

Nihlus scans the area. The coast is clear. Nihlus charges forward, weapon aimed and steady.

Nihlus nears Saren. He slows to a walk and lowers his weapon.

NIHLUS Saren?

SAREN Nihlus.

Saren turns. Nihlus drops his weapon on a nearby storage crate.

NIHLUS This isn’t your mission Saren.

SAREN The council thought you could use some help on this one. Having another spectre around can’t hurt.

EXT. EDEN PRIME, BEACON

Shepard and team spot Saren hopping on board the ship Nihlus spotted. Geth troopers fire from on board. Shepard spots Nihlus’s limp body.

SHEPARD Kaidan, get me a visual. Ashley, protect the beacon.

Kaidan runs right while using binoculars to get a visual.

Ashley takes cover in front of the beacon.

Shepard slowly advances forward as the ship takes off. The geth troopers keep firing, but not at the team. Shepard notices they’re aiming for the beacon.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) Don’t let them destroy the beacon!

Shepard pushes closer. Kaidan provides cover fire. Ashley is pinned down. A couple stray shots hit the beacon as the ship takes off. Shepard gets on his radio.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) Shepard to Anderson. Beacon secure. Nihlus didn’t make it.

The beacon sparks. A loud RUMBLE resonates from within. The beacon flashes. Ashley is pulled toward it.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) Ashley!

Shepard drops his radio. Anderson, muffled, calls out to Shepard. Shepard pushes Ashley out of the way.

KAIDAN Commander!

Shepard is pulled to the front of the beacon.

SHEPARD Stay... back...

Kaidan and Ashley watch as Shepard is pulled into the air. A series of images flash before he eyes. He drops to the ground.

The beacon bursts apart. Debris from the beacon is everywhere. Nihlus’s and Shepard’s body lay within feet of each other in front of the beacon.

Ashley gives Shepard CPR. Kaidan grabs the radio.

KAIDAN Shepard is down. Need an evac stat.

ANDERSON What the hell happened down there?

KAIDAN I don’t know, Captain. I don’t know.

EXT. CITADEL - DAY

The Normandy flies toward the Citadel, a massive space station. Five wards, fifty kilometers long, branch off from a center ring, like a five pointed star. At the center of the ring is the citadel tower.

EXT. CITADEL, HANGER

The Normandy docks in the citadel hanger.

INT. CITADEL, PRESIDIUM

The Presidium is the center ring of the Citadel. It is a beautiful area including businesses, shops, trees, lakes, and lots of aliens.

Shepard, Anderson, and ambassador UDINA walk toward the citadel tower in the distance. They are ants among a city.

INT. CITADEL TOWER

Shepard, Anderson, and Udina exit an elevator and walk up steps leading to the Citadel Council. Shepard bumps into a KEEPER, a short green alien with four legs and two arms.

SHEPARD Damn Keepers.

The keeper doesn’t flinch. It continues on it’s way.

ANDERSON The Keepers were before the asari first discovered the Citadel. They don’t mind us, and we would do well to not mind them.

The council sits on a platform in public space. Onlookers watch the proceedings. Saren is connected via hologram.

TURIAN COUNCILOR Commander Shepard. Pleased to see you’re alright.

Shepard nods.

TURIAN COUNCILOR (CONT’D) That said, Nihlus is dead, the prothean beacon is destroyed, and your report says the geth have returned. This is not good.

ASARI COUNCILOR Geth haven’t traveled outside the Veil in two centuries.

TURIAN COUNCILOR Not to mention, the C-Sec investigation of Saren has come back with no evidence to support your charge of treason.

Shepard shakes his head.

UDINA Shepard heard the gunshot, and Kaidan witnessed Saren fleeing the scene!

SALARIAN COUNCILOR I’ve read the report. Kaidan witnessed a turian that looked like Saren, but can not be one-hundred percent certain.

From the hologram, Saren rolls his eyes.

SAREN I resent these accusations. Nihlus was a fellow spectre, and a friend.

Captain Anderson pounds his fist on the podium.

ANDERSON Which is why he let his guard down!

Udina gives Anderson a glare.

SAREN

Captain Anderson, you always seemed to be involved when humanity makes false charges against me. And this time you brought Commander Shepard. Wasn’t destroying the beacon enough, commander?

SHEPARD You’re the one who destroyed the beacon, then left me to be framed!

SAREN Sure, shift the blame to cover-up your own failures. Just like Captain Anderson. He’s taught you well.

SHEPARD I’ll teach you-

SAREN Learn your place in the galaxy, human. You’re not ready to join the council. You’re not even ready to join the spectres.

UDINA He has no right to say that! It is not his decision!

The Council turns to Saren.

ASARI COUNCILOR Shepard’s admission into the spectres is not the purpose of this meeting.

SAREN This meeting has no purpose! The humans are wasting your time, councilor. And mine.

ANDERSON You can’t hide behind the council forever. And we haven’t addressed Shepard’s vision. The one caused by the beacon.

Shepard closes his eyes. The images race through his head.

The keeper shuts the vent, takes a few steps and opens another. Shepard and Anderson have to get out of the way.

ANDERSON (CONT’D) To exterminate the entire human race.

Udina rolls his eyes.

ANDERSON (CONT’D) I don’t know what else was in that beacon, but you can be sure Saren will find a way to use it against our ships, colonies, maybe even Earth.

UDINA Even if he’s half as dangerous as you say, he’s virtually untouchable. He’s a spectre.

The keeper walks up the mass relay statue and attempts to move it. The keeper is not strong, it doesn’t budge.

ANDERSON I have a contact in C-Sec. He was leading their own investigation of Saren. It’s as good a place to start as any.

UDINA I will not have the council use your history with Saren as an excuse to ignore anything we turn up. Shepard will handle it.

SHEPARD I’ll take care of it.

INT. CITADEL, C-SEC - LATER

Shepard walks in to C-Sec, the Citadel police station.

CONRAD VERNER is walking out. He blocks Shepard’s path.

CONRAD Commander Shepard? The Hero of Eden Prime! It’s an honor!

Shepard tries to step forward, but Conrad won’t budge.

SHEPARD Uh, do I know you?

CONRAD

No, no. I’m just a fan. You’re biggest fan! The names Conrad Verner.

Shepard tries to dodge him. Conrad steps in front of him again.

SHEPARD That’s great Conrad, but I‘m kinda busy right now.

CONRAD I heard you killed a hundred Geth!

SHEPARD Right...

Shepard physically moves Conrad out of the way.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) I really need to be going, Conrad.

CONRAD Next time then! Maybe I’ll get your autograph! The pleasures all mine!

Shepard continues into C-Sec. GARRUS, a turian, is standing impatiently.

SHEPARD You must be Garrus.

GARRUS Where’s Anderson?

SHEPARD Too much baggage with Saren.

GARRUS You don’t have to tell me.

Shepard is puzzled.

GARRUS (CONT’D) Anderson was almost a spectre once. His final trial was with Saren.

SHEPARD I’m guessing something went wrong.

INT. CITADEL, CHORA’S DEN - NIGHT

A seedy nightclub. Asari strippers captivate locals. Salarians gamble. Humans drink at the bar. People dancing.

WREX, a hulking Krogan with a scar down the right side of his face, makes his way to the back of the club. Krogan are reptilian bipeds that stands seven feet tall, and covered in armor.

At the back of the club is a door with a NO ADMITTANCE sign posted. A KROGAN BODYGUARD blocks the door. He notices Wrex approaching.

KROGAN BODYGUARD Back off Wrex, Fist knows you’re coming.

WREX Fist leaves now if he even wants a chance to live.

KROGAN BODYGUARD Nobody gets in to see Fist right now. Especially you. End of story.

WREX This story’s just beginning.

KROGAN BODYGUARD Do you want me to escort you out?

Wrex takes a step back.

WREX I want you to try.

Wrex turns around to leave, then swings back around and knocks the bodyguard out cold. The Krogan Bodyguard falls and his guns goes off. People start screaming, running. Chaos in the bar.

Other bodyguards reveal themselves and take shots at Wrex. Wrex BARGES through the NO ADMITTANCE door and shuts it behind him.

Garrus and Shepard show up at the front entrance of Chora’s Den. Everyone streams out past them.

GARRUS This can’t be coincidence.

SHEPARD Someone else must be after Tali!

Shepard leads while Garrus falls back. Two Krogan bodyguards run toward Shepard. Shepard takes one down. Garrus hits the other with his sniper rifle. Shepard turns.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) I could have taken him.

Garrus is pushed to the side by a biotic shockwave of enormous power.

An asari bodyguard raises her hands to Shepard and shoots another biotic shockwave in his direction.

Shepard leaps out of the way. He lands at the feat of a turian bodyguard. Shepard smiles uneasily. Another shockwave blast. The turian and Shepard are both knocked back.

The asari bodyguard walks up to Shepard and puts her hand in his face, as threatening as a gun. She laughs in contempt of Shepard. She motions to summon another shockwave blast when she’s SHOT. Shepard stands up. Garrus is the only other person left standing in the club.

SHEPARD (CONT’D) You’re handy to have around.

GARRUS Back of the club. Let’s go.

Shepard looks at the NO ADMITTANCE door.

GARRUS (CONT’D) Fist will be in there.

INT. CITADEL, FIST’S OFFICE

FIST, a human, is speaking with TALI, the quarian. Tali has a human physique but lives in a bio-suit. Her face is blocked under a mask. Tali sits at a table while Fist circles her.

FIST Giving me the data is the only chance you have of leaving here alive.

TALI No Shadow Broker. No info. I made a deal.

Fist flexes his hands to show off his brass knuckles.