Title:
Top Gun: Apocalypse
Screenplay Draft
Written by [Joe Jukic]
Opening Scene: The Warning Shot
Exterior: The skies over the Persian Gulf โ day
A squadron of American F/A-18s, led by Captain Pete โMaverickโ Mitchell, cruises in tight formation. The shimmering heat of the desert reflects off their wings. Below, an Iranian oil facility burnsโa remnant of escalating tensions.
Radio chatter:
Maverick (calm, commanding): โStay frosty, team. Eyes peeled for any surprises. Intel says hostiles have gone silent, but you know how that goes.โ
Suddenly, radar alarms blare across the cockpits.
Lieutenant โJinxโ Hernandez (panicked):
โMultiple bogies inbound! Fast moversโRussian Su-57s and Chinese J-20s!โ
Maverick:
โAll units, defensive positions. Weโre not here to start World War IIIโฆ unless they make us.โ
The enemy jets emerge from the horizon like a storm, sleek and deadly. Maverickโs squad engages in a breathtaking dogfight. He pulls off impossible maneuvers, evading missiles and disabling an enemy plane with precision gunfire.
Scene 2: Enter Mace
Interior: NATO briefing room โ night
The room buzzes with tension. Commanders from allied forces debate strategies. At the head of the table, Maverick leans back in his flight suit, uncharacteristically quiet.
The doors swing open, and a striking figure entersโSquadron Leader Alexandra โMaceโ Bishop of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Sheโs a renowned ace, known for her fearlessness and innovative tactics.
Mace (confident, direct):
โLooks like you boys need a little maple-flavored backup.โ
Maverick (smirking):
โMaple-flavored? Hope you brought more than syrup to this party.โ
Mace:
โDonโt worry, old man. Iโve got more confirmed kills than your entire squadron.โ
Scene 3: The Plan
Mace and Maverick examine a holographic map of Iran, displaying key Russian and Chinese strongholds.
Mace:
โTheyโve got drones, hypersonics, and a lot of nerve. But theyโve got one weaknessโcoordination. We hit their comm hubs here, here, and here, and theyโre flying blind.โ
Maverick:
โYouโre assuming we can even get close to those hubs without starting an international incident.โ
Mace:
โThatโs why Iโm flying with you. Two legends against the world. What could go wrong?โ
Scene 4: The Mission
Exterior: Iranian desert โ night
The team flies a daring low-altitude mission to avoid detection. Maverick and Mace banter over comms, their mutual respect growing.
Mace:
โYou fly like a maniac, you know that?โ
Maverick:
โTakes one to know one.โ
They penetrate enemy airspace, dodging surface-to-air missiles. Mace performs a high-risk barrel roll to avoid a missile lock, drawing enemy fire away from Maverick.
Scene 5: Apocalypse Now
Exterior: Tehran โ dawn
A full-scale aerial battle erupts as NATO forces clash with Russian and Chinese jets. Maverick and Mace lead the charge, taking down enemy fighters in a series of jaw-dropping maneuvers.
Mace (grinning):
โHey, Maverick, you ever hear of the Canadian Cobra?โ
Maverick:
โCanโt say I have.โ
Mace:
โWatch and learn.โ
Mace executes a dazzling move, feigning a stall before flipping her jet and destroying two enemies in one burst.
Maverick:
โOkay, Iโll admit itโthatโs impressive.โ
Scene 6: The Sacrifice
As the battle nears its climax, Maverick and Mace discover that the enemy plans to detonate a tactical nuke to block NATO forces. They rush to intercept the bomber carrying the weapon.
Mace (grimly):
โOne of us has to take that shot.โ
Maverick:
โNo way. Youโve got a long career ahead of you.โ
Mace:
โSorry, Maverick. This oneโs mine.โ
Mace makes the ultimate sacrifice, flying her jet into the bomber, neutralizing the threat.
Epilogue: Honor the Fallen
Exterior: Arlington National Cemetery โ day
Maverick stands before a memorial to Mace, her name etched in stone beneath the words: โCourage Above All.โ
Maverick (to himself):
โShe was better than all of us.โ
Cut to: A new generation of pilots, inspired by Mace and Maverick, taking to the skies.
Closing Scene:
The camera pans to the open skies, where the contrails of fighter jets form the shape of a maple leaf and a star.
Fade to black.
Would you like me to refine or expand on any part of this?
4o
You said:
ad a Russian Ace Pilot antagonist named Drago
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Updated Screenplay Draft
Title:
Top Gun: Apocalypse
Scene 3: The Plan (Updated)
Mace and Maverick examine a holographic map of Iran, displaying key Russian and Chinese strongholds.
Mace:
โTheyโve got drones, hypersonics, and a lot of nerve. But theyโve got one weaknessโcoordination. We hit their comm hubs here, here, and here, and theyโre flying blind.โ
Maverick:
โYouโre assuming we can even get close to those hubs without starting an international incident.โ
The hologram zooms in, revealing a lone jet emblem.
Mace:
โNot to mention, theyโve got Drago.โ
Maverick (sitting up):
โDrago? As in Nikolai โDragoโ Petrov? The Black Phoenix?โ
Mace (grim):
โThatโs the one. Russiaโs ace of aces. Three-time Red Star award winner, hundreds of kills in training and combat. If youโre in the sky, he owns you.โ
Maverick:
โWeโll see about that.โ
Scene 5: Drago Appears
Exterior: Iranian skies โ night
The aerial battle rages. Maverick and Mace dodge missiles, taking down enemy fighters with precision. Just as the tide turns in their favor, an ominous voice crackles through their radios in heavily accented English.
Drago (calm, menacing):
โSo, the legendary Maverick and his sidekick finally show themselves. Iโve been waiting for this.โ
A sleek black Su-57 Flanker-E swoops into view, its movements unnaturally precise, almost predatory. Dragoโs jet is adorned with a fearsome red phoenix painted across its fuselage.
Mace (alarmed):
โThatโs him! Maverick, this guy doesnโt miss.โ
Maverick (focused):
โNeither do I.โ
Drago engages both pilots simultaneously, executing breathtaking maneuvers that seem impossible. He takes out two NATO fighters with ruthless efficiency, leaving Maverick and Mace scrambling to keep up.
Scene 6: Duel with Drago
Exterior: Over the mountains of northern Iran โ dawn
Maverick:
โMace, break off! Iโll draw him out.โ
Mace:
โNo way, Maverick. Youโll get yourself killed.โ
Maverick:
โJust do it. Iโve got a score to settle.โ
Maverick and Drago engage in a one-on-one duel. The two pilots are evenly matched, pushing their jets to the limit. Dragoโs voice cuts through the radio, taunting.
Drago:
โYou Americans think you own the skies. But youโve never faced a real predator.โ
Maverick (gritting his teeth):
โFunny. I was about to say the same thing.โ
Drago executes a high-G maneuver, forcing Maverick into a steep dive. At the last moment, Maverick flips his jet, firing a burst that grazes Dragoโs wing.
Drago (laughing):
โNot bad. But youโll need more than tricks to beat me.โ
Scene 7: Maceโs Sacrifice (Updated)
As Maverick keeps Drago occupied, Mace intercepts the bomber carrying the tactical nuke. Just as sheโs about to make the ultimate sacrifice, Drago reappears, pursuing her.
Maverick (desperate):
โMace, heโs on your six! Break off!โ
Mace (resolute):
โNo time. Iโve got to take the shot.โ
Drago locks onto Mace, but at the last second, Maverick dives in, forcing Drago to break off.
Drago:
โYouโre good, Maverick. But not good enough.โ
Drago fires a missile, crippling Maceโs jet. She smiles grimly, steering her damaged plane directly into the bomber.
Mace:
โSee you on the other side, Maverick.โ
Her jet collides with the bomber, neutralizing the nuke in a massive explosion.
Final Confrontation: Maverick vs. Drago
With Mace gone, Maverick faces Drago in an intense dogfight over the burning desert. Both pilots are pushed to their limits.
Drago:
โYouโve lost your partner. Youโve lost the war.โ
Maverick (grim determination):
โNot today.โ
Maverick pulls off an impossible move, reversing into Dragoโs path and firing his final missile. Dragoโs jet spirals out of control, exploding in a fiery blaze.
Epilogue (Updated)
Exterior: NATO airbase โ day
Maverick stands with NATO commanders, watching a new generation of pilots, including several Canadian aces, prepare for takeoff.
A nearby memorial honors Mace, with her call sign engraved beneath the words: โCourage Above All.โ
Maverick (to himself):
โRest easy, Mace. You showed us how itโs done.โ
Cut to the open skies, where contrails form the shape of a maple leaf and a star.
Closing Scene:
Dragoโs signature phoenix emblem is seen smoldering in the wreckage of his jet as the screen fades to black.