Her voice fades into the rising WHITE NOISE and Nile's faltering HEARTBEAT.
DIZZY (CONT'D)
(pleading--)
Come on, Nile. Don't
you go on me...
Nile's world begins to BLEACH OUT...
The blade SLASHES her neck. Arterial blood rushes from her body. Sadeq lets go his death rattle as Nile topples, eyes wide, her mouth working SOUNDLESSLY.
DIZZY
Nile!
Dizzy dives for Nile.
.
NILE
(desperate-)
C'mon, man. I'm trying to
save you.
(turns to Dizzy)
Dizzy, a little help--
With his last breath, Sadeq's other hand WHIPS a PESHKABZ just as Nile turns back.
.
NILE
Not if he bleeds out. They
wanted him alive,
remember?
Sadeq feebly tries to push Nile away one-handed.
SADEQ
(in Pashtun-)
Do not... do not touch me.
She quickly goes, as Nile drops to a knee, eyes wide. She tears a compression bandage from her harness and applies it to Sadeq, working urgently to save him. Dizzy takes in the room. It's an IED factory.
DIZZY
You see all this shit?
Jackpot.
INT. VILLAGE HOME - WORK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
-- and advances, MA at her shoulder. Nile spots SADEQ in the corner reloading his AK-47.
NILE
Stop!
Sadeg pivots to shoot and Nile drops him with two quick shots to his chest.
The Village Women dive, shielding their daughters. THE RUG DROPS, REVEALING A WOODEN DOOR. A PAUSE in the gunfire.
NILE (CONT 'D)
Go, go, go!
Nile kicks the door in--
They quietly approach, weapons ready. Nile uses the nose of her rifle to peek behind the rug.
NILE
Thank you for allowing us
into your home. We will
leave you in peace--
A HAIL OF BULLETS tears through the rug, narrowly missing Nile.
.
OLD WOMAN
There are no men here. To
use women as shields is to
be no man at all.
Nile sees her shift her gaze past her to a HANGING RUG. Nile nods in understanding. Gives a hand-signal to Dizzy and Jordan.
.
NILE (CONT 'D)
Have any of you seen him?
You do not disrespect
your family by telling us
where he is.
Most of the women keep their eyes down. But an OLD WOMAN fixes Nile with her gaze.
She shows the photo of Sadeq, noting reactions as she moves through the space. Gita follows, TRANSLATING INTO PASHTUN.
NILE (CONT 'D)
We are searching for this
man. He has killed many of
our people and many of
yours. Have you seen him?
Nile, Dizzy, Jordan, and Gita enter. Dizzy and Jordan keep watch. Nile removes her helmet.
NILE
As-salam alaykum.
(in Pashtun--)
My name is Nile, I am an
American Marine.
.
DIZZY
Don't we always?
NILE
Never hurts to repeat it.
INT. VILLAGE HOME - SHORT TIME LATER
The interior courtyard is crammed with WOMEN and GIRLS. Apprehension is PALPABLE.
.
NILE
Roger that.
Nile motions her team forward. GITA, a young Afghan woman in US military fatigues follows. She is their TRANSLATOR.
NILE (CONT 'D)
Keep it respectful.
Two Marines follow her, DIZZY and JORDAN (20's). Together, they are a FET Team -- female engagement team. They pack full battle rattle same as any other Marine.
SERGEANT
The women are holed up in
the house on the NW corner.
Get me some information.
Nile grins, reaches into her pocket, pulls a handful of gum. The boys scramble to grab a piece.
SERGEANT (O.C.)
Freeman! Where you at?
Nile hops up.
NILE
Sergeant, here!