Ext., streets of Diesel city, - Afternoon

(The scene opens up with a brief overview of Diesel City; the streets and buildings are dingy, and the air and atmosphere are thick with the gritty residue of heavy industry. The entire city feels rusted and worn, as if having worked itself to near ruins.)

(A voice-over begins, with two characters speaking. Their mannerisms are up-beat and peppy, marking them as stereotypical announcers that could be found at a sporting event. The overview of the city continues as the announcers speak.)

SCOTT

Aaaah, can you smell that Dave?

DAVE

You mean the sulfur, Scott?

Scott

No, Dave, I mean the energy, the excitement! This afternoon marks the start of this years highly anticipated Twisted Metal tournament!

DAVE

Aah, yes. This year marks the first time that a previous winner has ever returned to compete again.

(The overview of the city pans down to focus on a 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Taxi cab parked on a busy street. The camera focuses briefly on the man's cab license, revealing him to be listed as Charles 'Charlie' Mending. Charlie appears to be in his late twenties, clean shaven, has neatly cut brown hair, hazel eyes, and tanned skin. He is dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans.)

(Charlie is seen to be munching on a hot dog, watching the broadcast on a small TV in his dashboard. The television shows the two anchors speaking, and cuts away to footage of last year's tournament as they begin speaking.)

SCOTT

You're referring, of course, to Arkady Vasily, the driver of the monstrous Fright-Train.

(The camera's view point is seemingly replaced with the footage, giving us a clear view first of Arkady's profile, followed by a spec-sheet view of Fright-Train. The vehicle itself appears to be a modified M62 diesel locomotive, who's train wheels have been replaced with a series of off-road tires. It's chassis has been outfitted with a pair of mounted guns, a swarmer missile launcher on the left-hand side, a spiked plow on the front, and a heavy cannon on the right-hand side. The windows have been fitted with armored slats and steel bars, and the paint scheme is a worn grey color with red and black accents.)

DAVE

That is correct, Scott. Arkady has no doubt come back to attempt to rectify his mistake from last year. After defeating the mounstrous Dark Tooth-

(The footage shows Fright-Train slamming violently into the side of Dark Tooth, who apepars similar to his previous appearance in Twisted Metal: Head On.)

DAVE

-Arkady made the mistake of wishing for his family to be resurrected from the horrible train crash that killed them.

SCOTT

I wouldn't call that a mistake, Dave.

DAVE

No, maybe not, but not being careful about what he wished for was certainly a mistake. Calypso, our wonderful benefactor, used the DNA of the bodies of Arkady's family and resurrected them.

SCOTT

But unfortunately, Arkady only asked for them to be brought back to life, and he didn't specify what condition...

DAVE

Right you are, Scott. As it stands, Arkady's family are alive and well, happily spending their summer in a relaxing, peaceful coma.

(The scene briefly cuts to the Diesel City  General Hospital, showing nurses in doll masks cheerfully work around a woman and two children who are bed-ridden and attached to various equipment. The footage cuts back to the banter of the announcers.)

SCOTT

Absolutely, Dave. No doubt that this year, Arkady is back, wishing to have his family woken up.

DAVE

Will he make it? Only time will tell.

(The camera returns to the view of Charlie, who finishes his hot dog and wipes his hands. He chuckles lightly as Dave makes his previous comment, and readjusts his position in his seat. The announcers continue their banter, but inaudibly, as a tapping is heard on the passenger side window of Charlie's cab.)

(Charlie sits forward suddenly, and attempts to learn forward to see the person knocking. However, The viewpoint remains in a position that would be Charlie's angle, and all that is seen of the man is his legs and waist, which reveal that he is wearing dress clothes and a heavy leather trench coat.)

(Rolling down the power window via a switch on his side, Charlie calls out to the standing man.)

CHARLIE

Can I help you?

FARE

Are you on duty?

CHARLIE

Yeah, yeah. Hop in the back.

(Charlie unlocks the doors via another switch, his demeanor indicating that he is pleased to have a fare. He turns to his left to reach for his seat belt, and pulls it down and across his shoulders. As he does this, the fare opens the passenger door and enters the cab. Once again, all that is clearly visible the man's heavy leather trench coat and dress clothes.)

(Charlie tilts his head slightly, indicating his surprise that the man has chosen to sit in the front.)

CHARLIE

Uuh... Fares usually sit in the back.

(The well-dressed man simply stares forward, and says nothing. He pulls down his hood, revealing long black hair luxuriously straight.)

FARE

I'm fine here, thanks.

(Shrugging, Charlie starts the car, turns on the meter, and pulls away from the curb.)

CHARLIE

Suit yourself. Where to?

FARE

The Colosseum.

(The camera becomes an overview once again, and we see a head-down view of Charlie pulling off.)

CHARLIE

Twisted Metal fan?

FARE

The biggest.

Ext., Colosseum, parking lot - a few moments later

(The camera cuts to a side view of Charlie's cab pulling up in front of a massive concrete structure that appears to be a re-purposed football stadium. Huge banners and LED displays brightly and vibrantly announce the Twisted Metal tournament, and announce that it is starting today.)

(A huge crowd of fans, devotees and onlookers have gathered outside the Colosseum, clearly anxious to get in. Tents and TVs are set up, indicating that people have clearly come from far and wide.)

CHARLIE

Big turn out this year.

(The fare nods solemnly, turning his head to look out the window.)

FARE

Very. Would you mind driving around back? I'd like to avoid the crowd.

(Charlie nods, and starts the engine again.)

CHARLIE

I didn't know there was a back entrance.

FARE

Not many do.

ext./int., Colosseum, back entrance - seconds later

(Charlie is seen to have pulled up around back. Rather then a large, clearly defined entrance, the only door appears to be an over-sized, stylized garage door. It's dimensions are similar to a loading bay or warehouse entrance. The door is windowless, and marked with a 'T' interlaced with an 'M'.)

(Charlie observes the door through his window, leaning forward to look up at it through the windshield.)

CHARLIE

What's this, the V.I.P. entrance or something?

FARE

Something like that. You can pull right in, if you don't mind.

(Charlie seems slightly apprehensive, but never looks away from the large entrance.)

CHARLIE

Are you sure about that?

FARE

Very. I'll tip big.

(Charlie appears to to flex his left cheek in indecision, but clearly thinking of the money, he slowly nods.)

CHARLIE

Alright...

(Charlie's cab drives up to the heavy door, which seems to open up in response to his approach. Pulling in, the door closes behind the cab, and Charlie and the Fare are plunged into darkness.)

CHARLIE

Dark enough in here?

(Charlie reaches forward, and turns on his headlights. The beams of light illuminate a seemingly empty warehouse setting. An elevation is seen in the distance, that seems to lead even further into the blackness. Charlie parks the car, and looks over to his fare, expecting him to get out.)

(After a moment of silence, in which the fare doesn't move from his seat, Charlie speaks up.)

CHARLIE

...Well, here we are.

(The fare shakes his head slightly, and gestures forward.)

FARE

It's just a little further on.

(Charlie shakes his head, and seems to be about to decline to go any further, holding his hands out in front of him, when the fare suddenly holds out a fifty dollar bill.)

FARE

For your trouble. Another when we get there.

(Charlie appears to consider refusing the money, but takes the fifty, and tucks it into his back pocket. Taking a deep breath, he puts the car in gear, and pulls forward.)

(After a few moments of driving, the air around them seems to appear to become thick with smoke. The announcers, Dave and Scott, and heard speaking incoherently, albeit loudly and excitedly, in the distance.)

(Straining to try and see past his own hood, Charlie leans forward in his seat. Driving forward slowly, a thud is suddenly felt, and the car appears to lurch to a stop.)

(The volume of the announcers is clearly increased, as if they are getting closer to the source. The crowd can be heard cheering dully, off in the distance.)

CHARLIE

...I think we hit something. You okay?

(Not hearing a response from his fare, Charlie looks over, and is startled to see that the cab appears to be empty.)

CHARLIE

What the...

(Charlie turns around, as if expecting to see the man sitting in the backseat.)

(Sitting back in his seat, Charlie appears confused. Putting the car into reverse, he attempts to back away. However, another thus is heard, and the car jostles once again.)

(Charlie appears to be completely baffled, and tries to look through his back window, but is unable to see anything. In an attempt to get free, he tries pulling ahead once again,only to hit an obstacle once again.)

(Suddenly, the darkness peels away, and Charlie covers his eyes, blinded temporarily by the massive change in lighting.)

(The announcers voices boom out, audibly now, and the cheer of the crowd is no longer dulled, but instead loud and deafening.)

DAVE

Ladies and gentlemen, here... they... ARE!

(Charlie, incredibly confused, tries to look around to see where he is. As his vision finally adjusts, he scans his surroundings from right to left, and sees that his car appears to be positioned up in the stands, letting him have a clear view of the arena around him. To his left, he sees a stylized blue and yellow F1 racer, emblazoned with the word 'TWISTER'.)