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IMPERVIOUS

Eccentric billionaire, convinced that nuclear war is imminent, lures his family and workers into a subterranean bunker. But his builders released a life form living underground for 280 milion years to hunt the humans.

American high-tech multi-billionaire Craig McHenry has bought a subterranean "Noah's Arks" 2 KM under a mountain. He brings his wife ELLIE and his two daughters MELISSA, 22, and ANNIE, 18, to ground in the super-shelter IMPERVIOUS. Protected by a steel superstructure hardened with tungsten, carbon and titanium, residents can live for more than a decade with every amenity—Hyper-compact, multi-redundant generators supply power. The bunker is biologically self-sustaining, with a state-of-the-art infirmary. OPEN ON UNDERGROUND TUNNEL CONTROL CENTER: Engineer LANCE WRIGHT, 28 has designed a system that delivers unlimited water from a Mesozoic era aquifer. After tense moments, a fountain of pure water bubbles up. The engineers throw their hardhats in the air, plunge their faces into the water and drink. Later, they leave to collect their paychecks and return to the world. They think Craig is crazy, but they’ll take his money. As the engineers leave, a TINY COLORLESS LIFE FORM follows them into the main bunker. Craig refuses to let anyone out. During an initiation ceremony, he explains that he chose them to survive the coming nuclear ruin and begin a new civilization. When Lance challenges him, Craig has him locked up. Melissa sneaks down to be with him. Her fearlessness and his scientific mind draw them together as a team. TIME PASSING The CREATURES find the food supplies and gorge. Melissa hears scratching at a closed hallway door. When he opensit, a MONSTER confronts her with an arsenal of teeth. Melissa screams, backs out, slams the door and flees. Lance and the engineers have decided to hack the bunker' security system and escape. They make their way through the underground tunnel to the control room, where they confront another monster. After an extended fight, it kills an engineer. Lance realizes that during the Permian Extinction, the CREATURES took refuge underground and evolved to survive while 90% of earth’s biota went extinct. Now they rely on “blindsight” as light-reactive proteins cover their skin, turning the whole body into a compound eye. Craig McHenry gathers his family and workers in a "keep" as a last refuge against breach. He arms and organizes a hunting expedition, leaving Lance to extract his family if he doesn’t return. The hunters descend into the tunnel and stalk the CREATURES with weapons and flame throwers. Craig, mortally wounded, orders Lance to make for the exit, as his team lures the CREATURES deeper in he tunnel. Hotly pursued, Lance leads survivors through the twists and turns of the underground tunnel. They reach the entrance and enter the AI exit code. But the massive door opens to nuclear chaos: Military transports pass. The atmosphere catches fire as mushroom clouds erupt and shock waves blow them backwards. Now the group must decide: try to survive the nuclear holocaust or return to the bunker and fight for their lives as early Man did against predators. As TITLES RUN, the humans re-enter IMPERVIOUS to survive until earth is habitable again—if ever.

Script Excerpt
Written by:
Format:
Screenplay
Starring Roles For:
Natalie Portman
George Clooney
Edward Norton
In the Vein Of:
Shutter Island
End of Days
Clear and Present Danger
Posted:
03/21/2019
Updated:
11/28/2025
Author Bio:
Linda Boroff Film and Fiction Bio With References 650-996-2750 I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English. My coming-of-age short story published in Cornell University's literary magazine, Epoch, was optioned to Sony and director Brad Furman. I'm represented for literary, film and TV by agents Sandstone Artists—Tammy Hunt and Jamie Bradley Below is a link to my short stories published in Cornell University, Dartmouth, McSweeney’s, The Guardian, Gawker, and many other publications.

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