CHAPTER 2

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS (LAS VEGAS) – DAY OR NIGHT

DOWNTOWN EMPIRE SUBJECTS, dressed in purple, watch in shock as armored columns of U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS file past.

Soldiers disembark and take up positions facing the Downtown Empire Subjects.

NEWSCAST #1:

NEWSCAST #1 – Local Screening Right Share

INT. “CAESARS PALACE” RESORT/BAR – CONTINUOUS

NEWSCAST #1 plays on a television above the bar. The bar is filled with CAESARS EMPIRE SUBJECTS, in purple uniforms of varying styles. They talk animatedly with each other, MOS.

EXT. “CAESARS PALACE” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

The porte cochere and the fountain areas are filled with Caesars Empire Subjects. U.S. Army Soldiers are on the street out front.

NEWSCAST #2:

NEWSCAST #2 – Local Screening Right Share

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – “MANDALAY BAY” RESORT – CONTINUOUS

NEWSCAST #2 plays on TVs.

SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, in slick futuristic purple-themed UNIFORM with technical insignia, watch the previous broadcast while seated around a conference table.

One of them switches to NEWSCAST #3:

NEWSCAST #3 – Local Screening Right Share

EXT. “BELLAGIO” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

BELLAGIO EMPIRE SUBJECT #1 shows NEWSCAST #3, on her holographic cell phone, to BELLAGIO EMPIRE SUBJECT #2. Both are in PURPLE UNIFORM.

INT. LUXURY SUITE – “BELLAGIO” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

Mature BELLAGIO EMPIRE SUBJECTS review DOCUMENTS.

INSERT – DOCUMENT HEADINGS:

“Universal Birth Into First Class”
“Freedom at Age Six”
“Elevation to Royalty”
“Ordination to Priesthood”
“Demotion to Lower Classes”

INT. WHITE HOUSE (WASHINGTON, DC) – CONTINUOUS

The previous BELLAGIO scene is on a TELEVISION in the room. GENERALS, INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS, and CABINET MEMBERS hover around the U.S. PRESIDENT.

INT. CORPORATE BOARDROOM – CONTINUOUS

A CEO yells and gesticulates (MOS) toward a MONITOR showing the previous WHITE HOUSE scene, with its BELLAGIO inserts.

INT. CONFERENCE CENTER – “NEW YORK, NEW YORK” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

A large room holds uniformed EMPIRE REPRESENTATIVES representing countries around the world.

NEWSCAST #4 – REPORTING “NEW YORK, NEW YORK” (MOS)

CHYRON:

“Mirror Empire Poised to Supplant Governments”

INT. PARASOL BAR – “WYNN” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

NEWSCAST #4 plays on a screen behind the bar (MOS). An elegantly-uniformed elderly EMPIRE OFFICIAL sits at the bar. He receives a portable document viewer from an official- looking COURIER. As he rises, a double row of EMPIRE HONOR GUARDS snaps to attention. He hardly notices as he touches a button on the tablet computer.

ON TABLET COMPUTER:

The following scene outside the “Paris” Resort:

EXT. “PARIS” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

PARIS RESORT EMPIRE SUBJECTS are lined up along the sidewalk, holding position as lines of MILITARY TRUCKS, TANKS, and SOLDIERS file up Las Vegas Boulevard. Military attack helicopters and jets fly overhead.

EXT. “EXCALIBUR” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

Uniformed EMPIRE CHILD SUBJECTS, 6 to 11, stand in awe as the military procession marches by.

EXT. “LUXOR” RESORT (LAS VEGAS) – CONTINUOUS

LUXOR EMPIRE SUBJECTS watch the military deployment. LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS are pushed aside. A POLICE CRUISER is crushed by a tank.

INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE – “MANDALAY BAY” RESORT – CONTINUOUS

EMPIRE OFFICIALS stand at a window and watch the military deployment filing up from Harry Reid Airport.

INT. WHITE HOUSE – DAY

The U.S. President and Officials watch the previous scene on a screen.

AIDES bustle in and out.

INT. “M” RESORT/PENTHOUSE SUITE – LAS VEGAS – DAY

An “M” RESORT EMPIRE OFFICIAL nods to FUNCTIONARIES. The Functionaries speak into phones (MOS).

INT. “ARIA” RESORT/CONVENTION ROOM – CORONATION

An EMPIRE PRIEST lowers a crown onto a man’s head. We don’t see his face.

INT. MILITARY COMMAND HEADQUARTERS

Generals share stern looks. One speaks to an Aide (MOS). The Aide exits.

EXT. LAS VEGAS STREETS – DAY

MILITARY COMMANDERS give orders into Walkie-Talkies. TANK TURRETS swing toward the CROWD. Soldiers AIM their weapons. Crowds react (MOS).

FADE TO BLACK.

SOUNDS of ARTILLERY and GUNFIRE.

TITLES:

“A wicked archer I’ve become; the ends of my bow kiss.”

FADE TO WHITE.

TITLES:

“Only the strongest bends his bow like this.”