The Running Man (2025)
Director: Edgar Wright
Screenplay: Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright
Based on: The Running Man by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman)
Stars: Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, William H. Macy, Emilia Jones, David Zayas, Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Sean Hayes, Thalía Dudek, Chi Lewis-Parry, Martin Herlihy, Matt Ramos, James Austin Johnson, Sandra Dickinson
Release dates: 5 November 2025 (Leicester Square); 12 November 2025 (United Kingdom); 14 November 2025 (United States)
Plot: In the near future, the United States is a dystopian authoritarian police state ruled by corporate media networks, where most people live in poverty with little access to healthcare. People are kept pacified by FreeVee, which bombards the population with trashy, violent reality and game shows.
Ben Richards is a blacklisted blue-collar worker living in the slums of Co-Op City with his wife Sheila, a hostess at a gentleman’s club, and their infant daughter Cathy. Unable to afford medicine for Cathy’s influenza, Ben attends tryouts for the network’s game shows, where his anger, misanthropy, and physical fitness see him selected for The Running Man, their most popular and dangerous show. Contestants of The Running Man – or “runners” – can win $1 billion if they survive for 30 days while the network’s Hunters, led by the mysterious Evan McCone, and ordinary civilians try to hunt and kill them. Executive producer Dan Killian offers Ben an advance for Cathy’s medication and a safe house for his family if he agrees to participate.
When the show begins, Ben and his fellow runners, Jenni Laughlin and Tim Jansky, are given $1,000 and a 12-hour head start. They are required to send in a tape of themselves every day to be screened on the show, and civilians can earn rewards for reporting a runner or killing one themselves. To Ben’s disgust, The Running Man host Bobby Thompson manipulates the audience by portraying the runners as hardened, psychopathic killers and demeaning both Sheila and Cathy. Ben acquires false IDs and disguises from his associate Molie to travel to New York, but begins to suffer from paranoid dreams, which periodically get worse. On the second day, Jansky is found and killed by the Hunters, forcing Ben to escape to Boston.
Network soldiers track Ben to a hostel, where a firefight sets off an explosion in the chemical-filled basement; Ben escapes into the sewers, while eight network soldiers are killed in the blast. Ben is found and sheltered by Bradley Throckmorton and his family. Bradley, an anti-network activist, anonymously posts videos exposing how The Running Man is rigged, and educates Ben on how the network covers up dystopian conditions using its control of news and government. Ben tries to relay this information in his next tape, but the network replaces him with a foul-mouthed deepfake, resulting in Ben getting kicked out by Bradley’s mother.
Bradley directs Ben to a fellow activist in Derry, Maine. During his journey, he learns that Laughlin has been killed, leaving him as the sole remaining runner, and that many poor, working-class people are supporting him, putting up posters and graffiti saying “Richards Lives”. After 14 days on the run, Ben arrives at the home of Elton Parrakis, an underground activist who believes that Ben’s continued survival can spark true resistance against the network. Elton gives Ben a map directing him to an underground bunker built by his father, which will allow him to survive the full 30 days. Elton’s mother spots Ben, who tries to stop her from informing the authorities. However, Elton, desiring a confrontation, pushes the button in order to use the booby traps he had laid out in the house. The pair try to escape in a bomb-filled all-terrain buggy, but McCone kills Elton. Ben escapes by leaping off a bridge, crashing the buggy headfirst into a car driven by one of the Hunters, killing him.
Traveling north, Ben arrives at the location, but finds that the bunker is gone and the area is undergoing real estate development. Ben is later caught on surveillance but escapes using the car of upperclassmen Amelia Williams, taking her hostage. Amelia initially believes the propaganda about the runners until she witnesses how the show’s content deviates from reality. They travel to an airfield guarded by McCone and network soldiers, where Ben, pretending to have a powerful explosive, convinces Killian to send a jet to take him and Amelia to Canada. He quickly deduces that the flight crew is McCone’s remaining Hunters. Killian calls Ben, telling him that he knows that he’s bluffing, and offers him a contract for his own network show and to become a Hunter. When Ben refuses, Killian shows footage of McCone and the Hunters murdering Sheila and Cathy as revenge for the death of their teammate, with the same footage being screened on The Running Man to reposition Ben as an audience hero.
Ben kills the Hunters and battles McCone, who is revealed to be a former runner who survived 29 days during the show’s first season, having taken Killian’s deal. After a violent fight, Ben kills McCone and gives the parachute to Amelia so she can escape. Killian again offers Ben his own show and a chance to speak on live TV, but when Ben tries to convince viewers to turn off their FreeVee, the network runs a deepfake of Ben saying he will crash the plane into the network’s headquarters. The plane is redirected to Co-Op City by remote control and shot down by a missile before it hits the building.
Some time later, Bradley posts a video disputing the network’s story that Ben was killed trying to crash the plane, revealing the plane’s capabilities to eject the pilots unharmed, and further reveals that the plane’s black box was recovered by Amelia, with an uncensored recording of Ben’s conversations with Killian, inciting a rebellion against the network. Sheila and Cathy are revealed to be alive and living under false identities. Ben, also revealed to be alive, covertly reunites with them.
As the next season of The Running Man begins, the studio audience is full of dissenting protestors. Recognizing the hostility, Bobby quits and leaves. Killian then tries to host the show himself, but the crowd began to start throwing Molotov cocktails and storm past security, causing a riot. Ben emerges from the crowd and counts Killian down from five before declaring “action” and shooting him.
* * *
The Running Man (2025) | Transcript
BEN: I’m not angry. I’m not asking you for special treatment, I’m just… Begging. You said I was one of your best guys.
Was.
BEN: Look, if you can’t hire me back, just ask them to take me off the blacklist.
Say that again, and I’ll kick you and your kid out on your ass. Bringing her here to guilt me.
BEN: Look, I need to work. She’s had a fever for the last week.
No, no, no, that ain’t on me. I’m not the jerk that spoke to a union rep about radiation exposure.
BEN: One time.
You got your daughter. Your nuts didn’t fly. Take the win. Bye-bye.
Same kid in my office.
BEN: You know, I didn’t bring her here to guilt you. I brought her to stop myself from bouncing your face off this desk.
And this is you, not angry? Next. Next.
Hey, you. Tough guy. Are you man enough to risk it all? Today is your last chance of the year to be on The Running Man. If you can duck the boys in black, the public, and McCone’s hunters for 30 days, you’ll run away with a billion new dollars. Go on. I’ll give you a head start.
Catch me if you can, motherfuckers.
Woo!
Come on!
We’ve got the cash. You’ve got the balls. Don’t miss the final run of the season. The Running Man. Tomorrow, 8 o’clock.
BEN: Don’t worry. Daddy’s not that crazy.
BEN: Shh, it’s okay.
Welcome back to Speed the Wheel, where a big-boned badass bets bravely to bag big bucks. Am I right, bud?
Yeah.
And away we’ll go.
Oh, no.
BEN: Mom is coming right back. Mom is coming.
Bud, for 100 new dollars, the capital of France is A. Marseille, B. Lyon, or C. Paris?
Paris. C.
Correct!
Cynthia, drop a hundo in the hammy.
BEN: Oh, look at the fuzzy hamster. Do you see the fuzzy hamster?
No.
Next question, for 1,000 new dollars, how many lavatories does a netair flying-V luxury jetliner have?
Is it A. 4, B. 5, or C. 6?
Tough one.
Say B, bud.
Is it A?
It’s C. 6.
BEN: Six toilets. The rich are even more full of shit than Daddy thought.
It’s time to spin the wheel!
Oh, God.
Bud, in my hand is the question that could change your life.
Who invented the macaroni?
Oh, no.
Bud, we hardly knew you.
I’m here.
BEN: Okay.
Mommy’s here.
How’s she doing?
Mommy.
BEN: She’s really burning up.
Hey.
Come on.
Come on, Mommy.
BEN: Thank God you’re here.
Can I feel?
BEN: She’s hurting bad.
That’s not good.
BEN: Two drops. All right. Wait, what is this?
Look, I know.
BEN: Molly said he would have real farms, damn it. Real flumets.
Yeah, well, our little black market buddy has all the stuff to kill people, but it’s so down to the things to save them.
BEN: All right.
Thank you.
BEN: This stuff doesn’t make her better, babe.
But it makes her feel better. Look, I just pulled another double at that hellhole club, and if it wasn’t dead in the morning, I’d still be there. So, that’s what we can afford today.
BEN: I talked to him.
What, you did? Who watched Kathy?
BEN: I took her with me. I didn’t, you know, kill trip him.
No, you took her so you wouldn’t beat the crap out of him. Smart.
BEN: I left my pride at the door. I was respectful. Maybe got a little heated at the end, but by then it was game over.
They don’t want us to win.
BEN: I’m sorry, I… I tried.
Hey, you’re just being punished for being a good man. You were just standing up for your guys.
BEN: It just didn’t seem right, you know. I got to be a dad and they didn’t.
Ben, none of this is your fault.
BEN: Doesn’t change our situation.
No. But we’re in this together, right?
BEN: Right.
We’ll think of something.
Hey. Shh. It’s okay. Wait, where’s your sock? Oh, Ben, those take forever to make.
BEN: No, no, it was on when we got home. Hold on. It’s here. It’s here.
Those are her comfies, babe.
BEN: Why did you kick that off? Shh. Don’t worry. Dada’s going to find it.
Get it together, girl.
BEN: Honey, are you going back to the Libertine?
I don’t want to.
BEN: I thought you said that place was dead in the morning.
It is, except for the most desperate, wasted losers. My friend told me how to get tips out of these guys. The other waitresses do it all the time.
BEN: No.
Look, if these jerks can splash 50 Indy per bottle, they can accidentally save a kid’s life.
BEN: Babe, I can’t let you do this.
Ben, she is burning up. Look, my friend makes 20 new every shift, usually from just one customer. Hey, now, you know I’d never do that. My friend doesn’t even let him grab her ass. She just charms him into tipping for something that’s not on sale, and right now is prime time for that kind of play.
BEN: Look, if the wrong exec thinks that you ripped him off, you could end up in the dump like that girl across the street. I’m sorry. These men are savages.
If we don’t get real farms from a real doc, she won’t survive another night. We don’t have a choice.
BEN: Yeah, we do.
Where are you going?
BEN: To get money. Enough for her to see a real doc before bedtime.
You lecture me about taking chances? People on that show never come back.
BEN: I’m not even trying out for The Running Man. Look, there’s a ton of other shows. Look, the lowest amount someone won today, 75 new dollars. I get on one of those, we get the meds.
No, no, people on these games get hurt, too, like really bad.
BEN: Look, it’s kids’ stuff next to the kind of jobs I work.
Hey. Promise me you won’t go on that show.
BEN: I promise. I’ll get you out of here.
Ben? We need you. Watch yourself.
Take your business.
BEN: Network building. Tryouts.
Proceed to your destination. Loitering will be prosecuted.
I know how it feels to get demoted.
When it comes time to get promoted.
Or you might be moving up too fast.
Yeah, yeah.
If you have love, somebody have a different set.
I bet the set didn’t want you to forget.
And it just don’t go like that.
Yeah, yeah.
I know how it feels for people to stop.
Turn around and stare.
Signify mythic.
And low-rate.
Low-rate me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Who am I?
I’m the underdog.
No, I can handle it.
I’m the underdog.
I’m the underdog.
Welcome to the greatest television station.
Welcome to the greatest television station.
The only television station.
Eyes closed.
Mouths closed.
Do not sit down.
Oh, shit.
I can still try out.
Hey, this guy’s in trouble.
Get up and get back in line.
This guy needs help.
No helping.
Step back.
Get him a fucking doctor and I will.
I said step back now.
Keep moving, people.
Nothing to see.
Back in line.
Now!
Eyes full.
Mouths closed.
Do not sit down.
Do not lay down.
Eyes full.
Mouths closed.
Do not sit down. Do not lay down.
Next.
Tap each page to confirm the information is correct.
BEN: What’s the triangle mean?
I’ll read a teal to be faster. Ben Richards, 35, married. Employment history, hired by CGen, fired for insubordination.
BEN: Why is there a red triangle on my file?
Hired by Net Utility, fired for–
BEN: Hey man, I asked you a question!
Insubordination. Hired by Defense Net, birth of daughter, fired for insubordination. Poor kid.
BEN: You mentioned my daughter again. They don’t make glass thick enough to stop me from choking you out.
Elevator 6.
Next.
Proceed directly to your designated elevator.
Proceed directly to your designated elevator.
Please stay in your allotted zones.
Hey. Coop 27, right?
BEN: Yeah.
29, neighbor. Laughlin.
BEN: Ben.
Alright, Ben.
Catch me if you can, motherfuckers!
Woo!
Come on!
We got cash if you got the balls.
I don’t.
Right.
Yeah.
I’m Tim. Tim. Jansky. Jansky’s my last name, and Tim is short for Timothy.
BEN: Got it.
Should we all go around and say our names in a fun fact? We can do it later.
Let’s do it.
Accessible this way.
Accessible this way.
BEN: I got you! I got you!
This is a rest period. Assessment resumes in 60 seconds.
Thanks. You didn’t have to do that back there.
BEN: No problem.
No helping will.
Obedience.
BEN: Never.
Heroism.
BEN: Useless.
Technology.
BEN: Abuse.
Freedom.
BEN: Nope.
Authority.
BEN: Burn.
Anarchy.
BEN: When.
Justice.
BEN: Hilarious.
Family.
BEN: Everything.
Next image. What do you see?
BEN: Cutest puppy ever.
What about this one?
BEN: Oh, it’s my favorite flower. Giving me a hug.
Final image. Tell me about it.
BEN: Infinite bunnies getting sucked into a knife tornado, spraying blood all over the galaxy.
And Mr. Richards, you are quantifiably the angriest man to ever audition for our shows.
BEN: Well, that really pisses me off.
Proceed directly to your next destination. Final assessment.
Ooh, our jumpsuits are in here.
You are required to change into your assigned jumpsuit.
You’re on bug out.
Yes, bang, bang.
Nice.
You must wear your designated jumpsuit to proceed.
Yo, you got a target on your back.
Yo, Richards.
Knew it would be us, man. I knew it would be us.
Come on, shit happens, right?
Jansky, Richards.
Ooh, that’s us.
They say you run to add life to your days, not days to your life. I’d say both are pretty fucking true.
Don’t miss the final run of the season.
I always thought this was fake, but I don’t know. I’m feeling pretty real now. All right, guys. I’m feeling realiosa.
And it’s feeling realer every second, y’all. Later.
Miss Laughlin?
Hey, uh, you’re the man, Richards. Never would have made it without you. You like spaghetti?
Just throw a little something for you. Hey, so far so good. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it down.
Nick.
Mr. Richards?
KILLIAN: Lead a non-ash curriculum. There’s not death that man should fear, but never beginning to live. Dan Killian. Go ahead. Relax. Sit. You know, critics say The Running Man represents a return to the barbarism of the Roman Colosseum. I disagree.
BEN: I’m not doing The Running Man.
KILLIAN: I’m aware of your family crisis, and I think the contents of this envelope will help. If we come to an agreement, it’s yours to keep. Call it a signing bonus.
BEN: I’ll do any other show.
KILLIAN: The most anyone’s ever won on another show is a thousand ND, and I know it sounds like a tremendous sum, but it’s not enough to get your family out of Sloanside for good. Whereas on The Running Man, merely surviving a single week would put the Richards in the top 1% of global wealth. See for yourself. Page 66.
BEN: I’m not trying to get myself killed.
KILLIAN: Mr. Richards, I’ll be honest with you. I’ve said this to every contestant, but this was the first time I’ve really meant it. You have what it takes to win this game. Our viewers have a burning desire to see a runner go the distance, and we’ve had men come close 29 days in season one. But it’s going to take somebody special to go the full 30. You tested off the charts, so I looked through your employment history and had my assistant shoot me your highlights. Now this is the most thrilling ten seconds of video I’ve seen all year.
BEN: Well, they fired me for destroying the harness.
KILLIAN: But you bounced back. Hired by DefenseNet, the best wages downtown.
BEN: No, best dog shit’s still dog shit.
KILLIAN: Then why beg to be rehired? Let’s be honest. You stuck your neck out one too many times for your coworkers and got your head chopped off. Pretty gutsy, considering half the country thinks unions should be illegal.
BEN: Well, I come from the other half, so they can kiss my ass twice.
KILLIAN: Right there is why you can win this game. You’re a fighter, Richards. Network blacklisted you from all the corps they own, except for this one. You’ve risked your life for other men and their families long enough, now do it for you and yours. Put your boots on. Make them pay. In cash. Sign the agreement and change your family’s life forever. What father wouldn’t want that?
[Ben signs the agreement]
KILLIAN: Name your thumbprint. Just press the box.
KILLIAN: Welcome to The Running Man. This is exciting.
KILLIAN: Ah, there you are. This is the fun bit.
BEN: I’m married.
KILLIAN: I assume you two had an understanding based on her line of work.
BEN: She’s a waitress at a club.
KILLIAN: I’ve hit a nerve. My apologies. To mutually profitable collaboration.
AGENT THUG: I’m Agent Thug, your Family Alliance liaison. Family Alliance is the network’s premium private security service. It’s included in your contract. No point winning all that jack just to get your people robbed and killed. We’ll relocate the fam. Put them under an assumed name. That’s the one thing you won’t have to worry about. You have one call. To the wife. Let her know we’ll be there in the morning.
BEN: I need to bring her this tonight. I promise I will be back before the show starts.
AGENT THUG: No one comes back. I gotta lock you in a really nice apartment.
BEN: Come on, man. I had a sick kid.
AGENT THUG: I’ll deliver it now and bring back a receipt.
BEN: Can you give her this too?
SHEILA: Hey, you okay? Where are you?
BEN: I’m at the network building, I’m fine. Look, a man named Doc, he’s gonna bring you 500 new in cash. Take her to Uptown Mercy, alright? It’s 247. Get her a real doc, whatever she needs.
SHEILA: Ben? What did you do?
BEN: I’m on The Running Man. Listen to me. I promise I’ll be back.
SHEILA: I gotta go get her ready.
BEN: I love you.
SHEILA: I love you too. Bye Ben.
AGENT THUG: We’re good.
Are those my jojobas?
I don’t know.
Are they?
I told you never, ever wear my shoes.
Ever.
Your feet smell like dead mice.
Now I have to burn them.
You’re an insane person.
What is going on here?
Mom, she stole my shoes.
Because Elizabeth put them in my shoe cubby.
Take off my shoes.
Are you serious?
“BOBBY T” THOMPSON: Hello, America. You know me. I’m Bobby T. And if you want to murder your thirst, reach for an ice-cold liquid death. The official beverage of the running man.
The starting gun fires tonight at 8.
AGENT THUG: Showtime. Let’s roll. Wrist. This is your running band. You’re gonna use it for timers, reminders, and rewards. Good luck down there.
You look great.
You look great.
One minute warning. Less looks.
One minute.
Watch your back, people.
Stand clear.
You got one job out there. Say what’s on your mind. You’re feeling angry, violent, aggrieved. Don’t think before you speak. That’s for pussies. Go off, curse, shake your dick at the crowd. It’s all good freebie. Bobby T.
Daniel, you son of a bitch. How many times do I have to tell you, do not put bluefin in my amuse boots. When I pull a mercury poisoning on a show night, your boots will not be amused, Dan. Oh, is this the one?
Mmhmm.
Is this our star?
Yep.
Oh. I know it’s weird to see me in real life, but you’re used to it. I’m flesh and blood just like you are. My robot puts my pants on one leg at a time.
Classic Bobby.
Do not shake your dick at the crowd. That’s a bad note. You look great.
Twenty seconds, people.
All right.
See you out there.
Are you ready for Bobby T?
There it is. The new Coliseum.
Bobby T. Bobby T. Bobby T.
America, the greatest country in the fucking universe. We work hard and after a long day of busting ass, we get to kick back and feel good. But some don’t want to work for that privilege. Thieves, fraudsters, freeloaders. And why should they when they can take it from you? Welcome to the game where we give three of these tough guys all the freedom they want. Biodata erased. No scanners, no trackers. For 30 days, all that stands between these, between these men and millions is you. Record, report, reward. With over 10 million new dollars in prizes won, the best audience in the world remains undefeated.
It’s The Running Man!
And now, your tall tenacious trustworthy trailblazer of the truth, Bobby T!
Let’s go!
Your fury at the injustice of the world has stopped you from reaching your full potential, but now, that anger is your superpower. Embrace it.
Our first runner hails from right here in Coop City, Ben Richards. A healthy 35-year-old man who thinks he’s too good to work for a living. Mr. Richards’ last job was a fulltime position at Defense Net. Until he spilled military secrets to a commie union, he’s not even in.
BEN: That’s bullshit! That’s bullshit!
Come on now, showbiz kid, chill out.
That’s right! He ain’t been in the hand that feeds him because that’s what dogs do. Remember that face. You win 3,000 new dollars for a verified report and 10,000 if released to a kill. We’ve doubled the prizes for the last run of the season, because when the stakes go up…
…the stakes go down!
And the stakes be high, because the thousands he wins goes to his wife, Sheila. A night witch who only takes the biggest kicks at the Liberty. If you comprendo my innuendo.
BEN: Fuck you!
Abandoned by Richards, it’s up to her now to raise the tragic kin of their sin. But what’s that? I think it’s time for…
Wow! Mr. Richards! Come on, can we hear it? Do you have any famous last words?
BEN: Yeah. Fuck you, Dan!
How long do you think you’ll last?
Long enough to burn this building down and everyone in it! How small does your dick have to be to stand out there? Fuck you!
Holy shit! Save it for the road! Holy shit!
My eye for talent remains unrivaled. You, Mr. Richards, are what they used to refer to as a game changer. Now listen, I shouldn’t say this, but when the run begins, lay low with your own kind. You’ll last longer. And also, in case you missed it in your contract, every goon you kill wins you a 10k bonus. And it’s a hundo per hunter.
BEN: I don’t know how yet, but I’m gonna fuck you up someday.
That’s the spirit.
Rules of the run!
Rule one!
Running money!
Runners get a 1,000 new dollar advance and a 12hour running start. The hunters don’t hunt until the recording report app goes live. Tomorrow morning!
Rule two!
The running cam!
You must take 10 minutes of on-cam ham per day. These envelopes cannot be tracked. Drop them in a network drone express mailbox before midnight, or you’ll be disqualified.
Thank you.
From further winnings, but still hunted for 30 days. Don’t die for free. Get your tape set!
Rule three!
Run far, get rich.
Make it to midnight tomorrow and win 5,000 new dollars. Awards increase by 1,000 per day, and double at the end of each week. The grand prize for surviving day 30 is now a billion new dollars! But before they can win that, who do they have to get past? Ladies and gentlemen, meet the hunters! Five men who fight for real freedom. Deep undercover where you least expect them. In fact, they may be amongst you right now! And our leader, the ghost haunting every runner’s dreams, Chief McCall!
Search and destroy, gentlemen.
Let him go!
Take a last look at these thugs. Observe the typical disguises their kind use to escape justice. In mere moments, they will walk among you, free to do whatever they want until we stop them together!
On your marks, get set, RIDE!
BEN: 13th and Obama.
Whoa! Hey, Running Man! Yeah! I was watching you out on the freebies!
BEN: 13th and Obama.
Okay.
Keep on running.
Keep on running.
Keep on hiding.
One fine day, I gotta be the one to make you understand.
Hey, take a pic with me.
BEN: It’s okay.
What do you mean, no, it’s okay? You gotta be nice, man, so people don’t report you, okay? Cause people will do that. Not me, though, man. I’m a nice guy.
BEN: No, you know what? You’re right. Hey, we should pull over and pick up one of these hookers. She can take the pic, huh?
Sickest night ever, man! Hey, where are you going, man? Yeah, you better run! I hope they burn your ass! You’re dead meat, pal! You’re all dead!
BEN: Yo, Molly, let me in. Hello? Molly? Yo, Molly.
What?
BEN: You don’t see me on the hatch?
I saw you two blocks away on the infrared. What do you want?
BEN: Look, I need two ID cards and a gun.
Forget it. I don’t do guns. Go see Mickey on 3rd.
BEN: What in the hell is your problem, man?
The running man? What are you thinking? I had you pegged for smart.
BEN: Look, I didn’t have a choice. Kathy was sick.
Do you know how much danger you put me in coming here? If you want to kill yourself, fine. But leave me out of it. Okay? You got it? … God damn it, Ben. IDs are 100. It’s 30 each for costumes and accessories. I’ve got a priest. I’ve got a combat veteran. I’ve got an exec. And the rush order makes it 200 new, all in.
BEN: Okay.
Go hide out in survival. It’s aisle 5. I’m going to lock the incinerator.
BEN: I already did.
You don’t mind if I check, do you?
All right, you hit her low.
Come and get it.
Listen to him. If he lets go, we’re all dead.
BEN: You sell a lot of these?
I can’t keep them in stock. Those TVs don’t want you back. Come on.
BEN: Is this going to work?
Absolutely. Stand over here. Okay, you ready? One, two, three. All right. Let’s test out those contacts. Okay. Can you read anything on that shelf?
BEN: BFE20. Holy shit. How do you black Irish?
That’s not for sale. Yeah, like I put that shit in my pocket.
BEN: Only took a couple grams to blow up Fat Burke’s in the sewers uptown.
BFE. Big fucking explosion.
So, what’s your plan?
BEN: I don’t know. Play low with my own kind?
Your own kind will sell you out in a heartbeat. I’d find the busiest place you can and disappear in the crowd. That’s my advice. Well, you can leave the same way you came.
BEN: Molly. I had to do it.
No, you didn’t. I was going to bring you on here, sort of as a partner. I should have told Sheila yesterday, but I wanted to tell you myself. Hey, too late for that now. Well, Godspeed. See you on big screen.
BEN: New York City, one way.
ID and cash in the tray, please, sir. … Safe travels, Mr. Springer.
BEN: Thank you.
Mister. Hey, mister, your face.
BEN: Did you ever saw it? You say anything, I will kill you so fast, your mom won’t even wake up.
But your mustache.
BEN: Oh, shit. So sorry about that. I want my sack back.
Now arriving at New York Penn Station, this is the final stop for this train.
Welcome to the Brandt Hotel, Mr. Springer. You shaved your mustache.
BEN: Fell off on the train.
I hate when that happens. Everything okay, Mr. Springer?
BEN: Yeah. Just have a good night, day. You know what? Have both.
BEN: Rules say I have to be on camera ten minutes a day. They didn’t say which part, so… Guess you can watch my ass take a nap.
Thank you.
Previously on The Americanos.
You should have thought about that before you spread your legs.
No, it’s true.
I want you.
Bye.
BEN: One down, 29 to go. Oh!
Don’t do it! Don’t do it! John Springer! John Springer!
You’re in luck.
Live update. Let’s go! Our hunters are hard at work near our coop city net mark, when Mr. Jansky is flirting with the clerk that just reported him. Let’s find out if he’s also flirting with death.
Did you watch The Running Man?
Uh, I guess.
I heard there’s this guy on there who kind of looks like me, and he’s really hot or something. I don’t know. I’m going to come back in a little bit, and I’m going to try to ask that again.
And that’s Jansky stepping out with his breakfast burrito. Will it be his final meal? The fuse has been lit. It’s just a matter of time.
Get out of there, buddy.
Better eat up, Tim. Enjoy those last bites before it’s last rites.
Move, move. You’re walking. It’s the fucking Running Man.
Here we go.
Oh, man…
Bang! And Jansky crosses the finish line. That’s one down and two to go. Watch tonight to see if Jenny Laughlin and Ben Richards are still on the run. How long do they have left? Tune in and find out.
BEN: Hi, I’d like to extend my stay for three days.
I’d be happy to arrange that for you, Mr. Springer.
BEN: In the same room, if possible.
Of course. Let me see what I can do.
BEN: Thank you.
You’re in luck. Looks like I can keep you in the same room, Mr. Springer.
BEN: Great.
Can I get you a car this morning?
BEN: Uh, you know what? I think I’ll walk.
Attention, passengers. This is our final stop, Boston. Please check your personal belongings before leaving. Thank you for traveling with Epos.
BEN: Hey, brother, I need to get off the street.
Oh, yeah?
BEN: I’m looking for a place to rack out for the month.
Mmhmm.
BEN: Offnet, if you know what I mean.
Oh, is that so?
BEN: I’ll give you a hundred new for your room and another hundred for your jacket.
A deuce hundo for this rat-ass jacket and that rat-ass room? Valor, you need to get a Jamaica plane, pick up your head meds.
BEN: Come on.
Put that shit away. What are you, trying to get us killed? Let me see your face. Where’d you deploy?
BEN: Alaska, […]
You ain’t seen combat, but I reckon it ain’t stolen, Valor, if you paid me for it.
BEN: Thanks.
Hey, listen to me. You stay out of my stash. I catch you in that basement again, I’m gonna stomp you.
And I’m gonna get big bro to take care of you. He’ll kick your cow-ass over the moon.
Beat it!
Ah. Yeah. Good luck with that. Idiot.
BEN: OK. Guess I gotta make another one of these tapes. You know, I’ve always been the guy who followed the rules. I showed up to work first, I left last. Nice. Hasn’t done much for me, obviously. I mean, I’m on the murder show. Now what are you gonna do? Take on the whole world? Sweet. So here I am, a grown-ass man playing hide-and-seek for money.
BEN: Thank you.
BEN: I think I’ll just lay low. Keep it cool. Try not to burn out.
Depraved. Demonic. Deceased. What havoc will the remaining runners wreak? Tune in and find out. Next stop, rich and bold, it’s those Americanos.
BEN: Hey, Jim. How do you like this energy wine? I’m a big fan. Love it. How about you, Bill? That’s pretty much my favorite thing, Jim. So, uh, guys. Mind if I ask you a personal question? Why do we all have the same voice? Relax, Ben. Mail later. Good to see you too, Frank.
I demand an apology! I demand an apology!
BEN: Give it a rest, Frank. At least you got someone to talk to. Damn, son.
BEN: Key. Duh.
You’re a weird guy, Frank.
We interrupt the Americanos for a live update from the Running Man.
Live update, let’s go!
Running Man. We catch up with an undisclosed runner at an undisclosed location in an undisclosed city. The tension is so big you can cut it with Macomb’s Knife of Destiny. The hunters are currently descending on the location. Orders have been given. They’re entering the premises now. Chief Macomb is directing them to fan out to the building.
Get in your fucking room. Now.
Rover cams have been deployed in a way to signal that the hunters have found their prey. There’s no way out for this runner, but never underestimate a cornered rat.
BEN: Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I need to get to the back. I need to get to the back.
I’m getting worse now. The hunters believe they’ve located the room this runner is hiding in. The suspense is thick, Running Man.
BEN: I saw him! I saw Ben Richards! He’s heading downstairs!
Will this runner even have a chance to run? The fuse has been lit. It’s just a matter of time.
Our hunters are triangulating the runner’s exact position. Confirming the location. I can reveal to you now if the runner is Ben Richards.
I knew it.
Mr. Richards, talk, talk. We’re about to find out if he can walk the walk.
I need a rover on three.
Chief Macomb has confirmed.
The hunters have found their man. Things are heating up. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. The runner is trapped inside of the building. But what’s this? Macomb’s given the signal. The rover cams have entered the building. Any moment now. This is why we play the game, Running Fans. The moment of truth. When these animals find out we live in a society with rules. A society where actions have consequences. And there they are. The hunters.
Posted up outside of Richards’ room.
We’re going in.
Here we go!
Hold fire!
Why?
He’s not going anywhere.
Bravo.
Hey, buddy.
You’re on freebie.
The hunters are racing to intercept their prey.
Better run, Mr. Richards.
This is why we watch Running Fans.
Go, go, go!
Go, go, go!
BEN: Stop filming me!
Going down.
Got it.
He’s headed for the lobby.
Reach the lobby.
Richards, you’re going down.
BEN: I’ve got a grenade!
Back at you.
BEN: Stop filming me! Stop filming me.
I want an NCV cap and a grenade above my head.
Go, go!
Give me two guards at the lobby over there.
Report to me if you see anything.
Roger.
He’s got a gun!
He’s got a gun!
BEN: Get out of here, this place is about to blow!
BEN: I’m still here, you shiteaters!
REPORTER: Tragedy strikes as an explosion at the YVA in Fenway takes the lives of eight network community guards. Belinda Bray, coming to the lives in the scene of a powerful blast that shook Boston to its core earlier tonight. No confirmation yet on whether this was caused by the explosion. As far as we know, the runners still at large. A thrilling live update of the Running Man from Denver.
Hey, come on out. I know you’re here.
BEN: Come here, you rat.
Get off me.
BEN: You’re the one who reported me.
It wasn’t me. I ain’t no rat.
BEN: Oh, yeah?
Let me go. I’m going to get Big Bro to take care of you.
BEN: You think your Big Bro can kick my ass after what I just went through?
He’s not going to kick your ass. He’s going to save it. You need help. Man, you’ve got to get off these streets, man. Goons and zooms all up in this bitch. Everyone’s looking for you. Hey. Hey, yo, stay here. I’ll be right back. I got you, Richards.
He’s in here.
Nooo…
Told you.
Ben Richards? No wonder Reva survived the lava update. How the hell you…
Remaining eight to one.
It’s hot, it’s hot, it’s hot.
BEN: I can pay you. You should get me off the street for the night.
Hell no.
Bye, Bendy.
What?
We need stream meds. My sister got cancer real bad.
BEN: Make it ten. You’re the good stuff.
Goddamn. Hell of a price on your head. How fast can you run, Richards?
BEN: Faster every day.
REPORTER: Just a shocking amount of destruction here. The NCG on tactical alert as units pour in from neighboring districts seeking justice for their fallen brethren. The NCG bomb squad is on scene combing through the rubble for evidence. Preliminary reports indicate Richards set off the explosion in the basement. His body is yet to be found. But as one specialist told me…
Baby, it is time.
BEN: I don’t get it. You could set your grandkids up for life with one recording report.
Do you think the network would rather pay us reward money or make up some bullshit and arrest us?
BEN: What if I gave you enough to get your sister real forms? Say 500 new.
I can get you out of Boston. But it won’t be for money.
Bro, this dude ain’t going nowhere. Goon’s got the hood surrounded. Reality.
Stop.
Just a little pinch and if it’ll be okay.
Does Richards live? Find out tomorrow night on The Running Man if…
You know, you seem like a smart cat. What made you sign up to be a cog in their propaganda machine?
BEN: I’m just trying to take care of my family. Just like you and your sister.
Jim.
BEN: My kid was sick. I sent my wife enough to get her well. Now I’m trying to win enough to get them out. She’s only two. So if I do my job, she’ll never even remember Sloan’s side.
Okay, Richards. I can get you past that blockade. But I’m gonna need a couple days to set it up. So hide out here in the meantime. You know, you could go to full 30 if you play smart.
BEN: And what makes you such an expert?
Tune in and find out.
Welcome to the pulpit.
I don’t want a lot.
I want just enough.
So why is it got to be so damn tough?
What goes on behind the scenes of the biggest freebie show of all time? Welcome to The Apostle. Episode 30, The Real Rules of the Running Man. If you dig, doop, and distribute. The network has three types for every run.
Oh, my God.
Type one, hopeless dude. Hopeless dude is cursed with a fatal misunderstanding of human nature.
Tim?
Yeah?
He usually lasts less than 48 hours.
Come and get me. Dinner is served, pal.
Oh, that’s a takeout.
Oh, he is cooked.
Type two, negative dude.
Negative dude knows he ain’t got a chance in hell. He just wants to go out with a bang or two.
Make life greater.
Leave a fucking crater.
Bro gets smoked by the end of week one because he buys too much ass and not enough food with his running start. A slave to his appetites, he often serves himself up on a plate.
Surf dicks in hell!
Kaboom! Runner down.
Type three.
Woo! Yeah!
Final dude. Final dude has a fierce will to survive. Yet he never wins. The network cheats. They can find anyone, anytime. But if a runner’s getting good ratings, they let him run…
…13 days. And just like Papa always said, you can try, but you can’t catch a ghost.
So, by the end of week two, ratings usually peak.
Oh, shit.
The crowd wants blood, and final dude becomes a victim of his own success. They might hide from destiny, but they never outrun fate.
That’s me, Mr. Cone! I’m the running man!
Double kill! Rest in pieces.
That’s game.
BEN: Is that supposed to inspire me?
Oh, come on, man! Don’t you get it? After that escape tonight, live, primetime, you are final dude. And they’re gonna squeeze every last drop of ratings out of your ass so you got at least until negative dude flames out to get somewhere safe. Which gives us enough time to set you up for the biggest underdog win in game show history.
BEN: So where the hell’s safe?
I’m working on it.
Hey, Pen Pal. It’s been a while.
You sure you know what you’re doing?
BEN: Guess we’ll find out.
Got a package headed your way. Yeah, special delivery, as seen on preview.
Okay. I see you.
And pick up location B. Got it.
Mama’s coming, baby. Okay, okay.
BEN: So how does a five-year-old get lung cancer?
Radioactive dust. From the Rhode Island explosion.
BEN: Never heard about that.
Yeah, you never heard of it because the network owns the news. Just like they own that munitions factory. Just like they own the government. So why bother complying with safety regs, right? That’s how June got sick.
BEN: For all you watching, not the execs, not the technicos. If you live in a tower uptown, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to the people in the coops, the ones who can’t get a job, the squatter tribes, the kids getting shot for looking at a goon the wrong way. There’s something you all need to know. The network is giving our kids cancer, and they are covering it up.
Previously on The Running Man.
BEN: I’m still here, you shit-eaters.
Ladies and gentlemen, last night, seven men and one woman gave their lives to protect ours. Their love for their country only matched by the love for their children.
Uh-oh.
Someone chose to end the lives of these eight heroes, and that someone was Ben Richards. His new take just arrived. Let’s hear what he has to say about it.
BEN: For all you watching, not the execs, not the technicos. If you live in a tower uptown, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to the people in the coops, the squatter tribes, the ones who can’t get a job. The kids getting shot for looking at a goon the wrong way. There’s something you all need to know. I laughed my ass off smoking those goons. And I wasn’t just laughing at the screams, I was laughing at their kids. Now you know how it felt when Daddy did it to someone else.
Damn, guys.
BEN: I didn’t say that, okay? I made a video about the network giving kids cancer. It’s all fake.
Son, you gotta get him out of here. Tonight, right now, I want him gone!
BEN: Bring him home!
What kind of world are we living in?
Running fans, I’ve just heard from producer Dan Killian, who has personally doubled the reward for Ben Richards. Now, $20,000 for any confirmed record reports that lead to a cat!
Come on, come on.
It’s getting crazy out here.
Yeah, the games are on tonight.
Yeah, we gotta roll.
You ready? Here we go.
Okay, keep your eyes open. There’s biker boys around the valley hunting for the reward.
Got it. Yo, they’re following us!
I know, I know, stay cool.
They’re on us, they’re on us!
Look, when you hit the ivy, yell which way to turn next. Don’t stop until we’re out.
Everyone with you?
Yo, let’s go!
Oh!
They’re still on us!
I know.
Go right, go right. Left!
Sorry, sorry.
There’s two, there’s two of them.
I see them, I see them.
They got guns!
Stay cool!
Go, go, go!
Look out!
Richards, left!
Come on, over!
I don’t speak English!
Come on!
Hold on!
You good?
You good?
Come on, we’re delivering!
Come on, come on, come on!
Yeah!
Go for it!
Y’all messed with the wrong brothers!
Yeah, that’s what’s up!
Hey, Richards! We’re through!
Go, go, go!
My pen pal needs a day to prep transport to a shelter. You can trust them with your life. Just don’t mention hot dogs around them, man.
BEN: You say hot dogs?
Yep. Go catch that slow train to Maine. Less people in the sticks, but keep your head down and don’t trust anyone but this guy. Name’s Elton. Hardcore. Down for the cause.
BEN: You really think this’ll work?
Look, we know they track the envelopes. You pre-shoot the rest of your self-tapes. My man, Head South, drops them on the way while you’re safe underground. They won’t know what hit them. Oh, I messed with that. Just in case.
BEN: Why are you helping me?
You see the power they have? If we don’t guide each other’s back, this game’s over before it even begins.
Hey! Done.
BEN: What’s up, America? I was about to tell you the network fakes these self-tapes, but if I did, they’d just fake this one, too. So, I’m just gonna read you something instead. Dear Diary, I woke up with a blast today. My regular gig of killing heroic goons was feeling too routine. Time for a me day. So I ate my favorite breakfast in bed, defenseless puppies. I could have eaten 20. Then I did yoga. I blew up a courthouse. I know. Creature of habit. But tonight, I’m gonna make love to an illegal immigrant sheep. You know how a sheep tells he’s horny? Bah!
Mr. Richards thinks he’s funny, but we’ll see who has the last laugh when McComb catches him laughing. Now, let’s see if Miss Laughlin has burned through the last of her running money.
We’re still here, you shit-eaters! Damn, Richards, that’s a tough act to follow, but… Challenge accepted! Yeah! Oh!
BEN: Go off, neighbor.
Oh, my God! Look at it!
Who dies next?
BEN: Definitely her.
Laughlin, get real. Sheep boy’s going down.
No way! I got 10 clams says Ben Richards dies next.
Oh, come on!
He’s pissed the network off all the way.
That’s why he’s gonna win.
The guy’s got moxie.
Yeah, he’s one of us.
Taking on the boys in black.
Giving the world the finger.
He’s your final runner.
That’s a bet.
Damn straight.
What do you think, Reverend? You seen this Richards guy?
No. But he sounds like quite the character.
What’s wrong with you?
He’s blind, you fucking idiot.
BEN: Me again? Look, here’s the real deal. I’m not out here trying to fight the power. I’m not out here to have fun. I’m here to win and get back to my family. So you won’t see me throwing Molotov cocktails. You won’t see me throwing parties. In fact, you won’t see me at all.
Just in time, Father. Best takeout in Maine.
BEN: Bless you, my son.
Hey, Father. Can I ask you something?
Of course, my son.
Sorry about this, girlfriend. Okay. Am I going to hell for using rubbers?
BEN: You may well go for not using them. I have ten brothers and sisters. My father said he was in hell every single day.
Thanks, Father. Have a good night. Careful out there.
BEN: You think you’re the guy who stops me from seeing my daughter again?
Move, move!
I got him! Fuck you, Richards! Die! Die!
BEN: This is a message for my fellow citizens. And let me make this clear for the cheap seats. If I die on this show, I died for the two things I believe in. My wife and my kid. Everything else and everyone else can fuck off.
Ten more, Friday night. Here we go! We all know what that sound is. We’re giving Miss Laughlin a run for her money. She rolled the dice on a very public appearance at the Holy Grail Casino. But didn’t gamble that our hunters would be there.
Move, you asshole!
What are you…
Oh, here I am!
Move!
You’re on the run!
Looks like she went bust. Or did she?
Go, fucking bitch ass!
Suck it, McCall!
Can’t break me!
Not so fast, Miss Laughlin! No blaze of glory for you. Just a human candle fizzling out on a lonely Nevada road. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Bobby T, you didn’t get to kill.” No, we didn’t… But they did! Meet Jeff and Cheeto. Freddy’s defenders of their community. Roll the tape!
Sorry, hunters. All you managed to kill was my vibe. Remember, kids. Don’t drink and drive. Unless you’re good at it.
That’s the pop footage, kids. Beyond their cash reward, Jeff and Cheeto will receive a lifetime supply of fun-tween cereal. And then… There was wine. That’s right. Ben Richards is your final runner.
Richards, yeah!
If he survives till midnight, he’ll be our most successful contestant since season one.
Come on, hurry. Hunters will be out for blood. They hate civilian kills. Things are gonna start ramping up. Come on. Wouldn’t be surprised if they fire up the DNA sniffers tonight.
BEN: I don’t want anything else. I don’t need anyone else.
What a tough guy.
BEN: I’m not looking for you friends. Don’t ask for an autograph.
Alfie! What if he’s in Derry?
He’s not in Derry, Mom.
Don’t worry, it’s fine. She thinks you’re an actual demon, but she’s fairly deaf. We can use our normal voices.
Kill him. Bastard. Hunt him down!
She used to be a kind, clever woman.
This is where it all happens. Amateur lab for making handcrafted soap, far as you know. Normal, non-revolutionary literature. Wink, wink. Copier for my harmless community newsletter. You follow my drift?
BEN: Uh-huh. So what’s a DNA sniffer?
Black ops scanners that ID highly fragmented strands of DNA. These things are hidden in every street lamp across the country, which is why you’ve got to get underground ASAP. Man, if you want to ask, just ask.
BEN: What is up with the hot dog cart?
My dad was a cop. A good cop. Quit in protest when the network privatized local police. He believed officers should be accountable to the towns that pay them, not the government. I’m sure as hell not some mega-corp. So he bought the cart. Busted his ass. We never missed a meal. Better an honorable hot dog vendor than a crooked goon. But his friends who signed on with the NCG didn’t appreciate his choices, and they let him know every chance they got. He made damn sure we were safe in this house. And every time he took that cart out, well, you see what it did to my mom. And this is what they did to my dad. His buddies on the force never solved the case, because they’re the ones who killed him. But you can’t kill an idea. Dad was their worst nightmare. A free man with a conscience. And everything they destroyed in him lives on in me. Like a nuclear blast that never burns out. … Monster?
BEN: I’m good.
Hey, runners. You can’t outrun fate. And you cannot hide from destiny.
That’s actually not true. Before he was killed, Dad reaffirmed this cold war shelter he found in a nearby forest. I have a detailed map for how to get there. You can survive down there for three years, but you’ll only need it for two weeks. Pre-shoot the rest of your tapes tomorrow. What do you think?
BEN: Um…
Or…
BEN: Maybe just… white.
Hardcore. Check this out. You can be arrested just for having the truth in your house. So these won’t be distributed until right after you win.
BEN: What the hell?
It’s a special issue on the network’s most heinous crimes.
BEN: What does that have to do with me?
A bomb’s chemicals hold great power. But without an initiator to make it go boom, it’s harmless. You know why they cheered for you down there? They think you just might win. And if you can survive against those goons, so can they. The people have had it. This country’s ready to blow. And you’re the initiator.
BEN: I’m not the initiator. I’m a guy trying to get back to his family.
It’s you against the world either way, brother. Why not be both?
My mom thinks the bathroom across the hall is haunted, so that’s all you. If the light in the hallway is off, she’s asleep.
BEN: Hey. I appreciate what you’re doing. But if they find out you helped me, those same goons that got your dad, they’ll come for you.
One can hope.
BEN: This message is for Kathy. In case you see this someday. I wanted to impart a little dad advice. Rule one. Take care of your mom. She’s your best friend. Rule two. Bullies are cowards. Hit back. Rule three. You can be kind and strong at the same time. Rule four. Don’t trust the network. Ever. And rule five. You remember, your dad loves you a whole lot. I’ll be looking out for you. No matter what.
Ha! I knew it was you, devil murderer! You stay away from my elf.
BEN: Ma’am. Ma’am.
You savage!
Wait! Mom!
You’ll never eat puppies again!
Mom, no! Mom! Mom, it’s okay. He’s a friend.
Kelsey, no!
BEN: Ma’am. Ma’am. If you press that button, the NCG will come in firing. Okay? They will not care who gets caught in the crossfire. It will be a bloodbath.
BEN: We don’t need every goon in this state coming through that door, right? Don’t.
Network community guard. What crime would you like to report?
Ben Richards just broke into my home!
Okay, stay where you are.
BEN: Why?
Ma saw you. We gotta get going. I just need five minutes of fun with these guys before we do.
BEN: Fun?
Grab your stuff. I’ll get the zines.
He’s coming to get you!
You’re not listening. It’s dangerous!
No!
Mom! Get in the safe room!
No, L.D.! I want to see him die! You hear that, Will? You’re gonna die!
BEN: They’re here.
Mom?
He’s here! Richards is in the hall! Kill him!
No!
Let me go! No! I don’t want a message! I want to see!
Let’s move. This way. Come on. Yo, dipshits! You shot up the wrong hall! We’re over here!
Here we go.
BEN: Are you crazy? We don’t have time to play games.
Oh, yes, we do. Fastest the hunters ever arrived What we’d done soon was four minutes, thirty seconds. We’ll be long gone by then.
Yoohoo! Hey, big boys!
I like my bacon extra crispy!
BEN: We gotta go man!
Follow me!
BEN: Shit!
Come on!
BEN: Why are we upstairs?
Yes! Yes!
BEN: Helton, why are we upstairs?
For this?
BEN: You brought us up here so you could slide down a pole?
No, I brought us up here so we could slide down a pole! See? Four minutes flat! Told you we’d be long gone.
BEN: Long gone? We are still in the goddamn house!
Not for long!
Tactical flashlight. Pretty powerful.
BEN: Yeah.
Come on!
I’m gonna sever your Achilles and drag you outside. Chief wants to end your run in person. On camera.
Whoa!
Don’t let him answer that!
Still there?
Yeah.
Put him on.
That’s for you.
Ah, there he is! Incredible work, Mr. Richards. You are killing it.
BEN: Killing it? People are dying, you fucking psychopath! If you could fake everything, why don’t you just fake the whole show?
Believe me, we have tried. But humans bring that special, unpredictable spark. The audience lives for these happy accidents. A little advice?
BEN: I’ll pass. Make sure my family gets the money.
Richards, don’t go. You can still win this game, but you have to play it smart. I just sent a rover into that tunnel. Now finish off that hunter. Wait for my cue to exit. You want me to off one of your own guys?
It’s all good, Freebie. Okay, on you. In five, four, three, two, one. And action.
Get in. Floor it.
What about the doors?
BEN: Hold on! Where are we going ?
Dammit. Turn around!
Go! Turbo!
The trail!
BEN: Son of a bitch!
Cross the bridge and drop me off.
I can slow them down. Take back roads to the shelter. Survival is the win. This way. Take this map. Dad’s bumper is in the middle of the forest. Remember, Richards. You’re the initiator.
It’s the end of your run, Richards.
BEN: Fuck it. I am the initiator.
The thrill of the hunt. Your heart beats faster. Bright red blood pumps adrenaline through your veins. This game is no game. Life and death are on the line. Can you feel it, Mr. Richards? Congratulations. You took out a hunter. Now it’s down to four of them. Plus every citizen of this great nation.
BEN: One of five pieces west of Big Rock. Bunker’s dug into the hill. Well, shit.
Can you smell it? The acrid stink of fear. As the prey animal realizes he’s surrounded by predators. Reality sinks in as he scurries to hide. Desperately hoping to survive. But deep down, he already knows it’s too late. Because this is America, goddammit! And we don’t put up with no bullshit! What lust is our birthright? Set her free. Richards chose this path. And it’s up to you to show him where it ends. Keep your eyes open so you can see the terror in his. And hunt him down!
Hunt him down! Hunt him down! Hunt him down! Hunt him down! Hunt him down! Hunt him down!
I see.
Yeah.
I see.
Wow.
What is that?
BEN: I told you to get you out of there.
People on this show never come back.
BEN: This is a message for Killian. Hey, Dan. I’m starting to get how this game works. It’s not about me winning or losing. It’s about your ratings. About how much chaos I can cause. I’m taking this thing all the way to the end. And I’m done playing defense, I promise you that. So here’s the deal. I will see my family again. And as long as they keep getting paid, you can put whoever you want in front of me. I will run through all of them. I know you fight dirty. Well, guess what, you son of a bitch. I’m from slum side. Let’s throw the rule book out. Here’s to mutually profitable annihilation. You want a show? I’ll give you a show.
Woohoo!
Americano, uh, Americano.
Americanos, yeah, Americanos.
Let’s do this!
We interrupt the Americanos for a live update from the Running Man.
Who even likes this show?
The Blores, duh.
They’re the only ones dense enough to think it’s real.
I know, it’s so fake.
Stay tuned.
What’s happening?
The window is damaged.
What’s happening to me?
The window is damaged.
BEN: Go, go! Take it up autopilot! Drive! Take the next back road north.
I can’t. My power’s on empty.
Your battery is 93% charged. Nice.
BEN: Those goons are going to frag us if you don’t back this car up. Right now!
Your car is damaged. Your car is damaged.
BEN: Go, go! Keep it moving!
BEN: Jesus! Now I see why you people need self-driving cars.
Recalculating.
BEN: Keep it pointed north. All the way to the border. Go ahead. Say what you gotta say.
Why? So you can go crazy and kill me? No.
BEN: You have one minute to speak freely.
How do you live with yourself? You dare sit there and criticize my driving? Tell me how to operate my own car? I am a member of society! You disgust me. You abandoned that starving baby. That horrible wife of yours. So you can what? Kill people for money? And you only kill the best people! The people who protect us from wealth like you! And that’s not a word I use!
BEN: That is my family. Our number finally came up for the park. I watched Kathy try ice cream for the first time. That was the best day of my life. So yeah, you’re right. The show is so fake. Not the bullets. Not the death. Just the part that makes people like you think you’re better than people like us. Let me ask you something. How much was that scarf? More than the meds my daughter needed when she was dying of the flu? The flu! That is a human life. Hanging around your neck. You seem to be doing fine. Who can blame you? It’s a nice scarf.
I’m not of that person.
BEN: No, do not start crying. I will shoot us both if you start crying. Cry when it’s over.
When will that be?
BEN: Shit!
Yielding for an emergency vehicle. Nice!
BEN: Disable it! Disable it! Do not pull!
Yielding in 100 feet. 50 feet.
Pull over!
In 20 feet. You have successfully yielded. Nice!
Oh, hey, Richards. You’ve been pulled over by the rustic rock ninja boy. We’re here securing our homestead in the name of the network.
Don’t worry, lady. We’re the good guys. Just step out of the car. You’ll be safe with us. It’s him we want.
BEN: Just go.
What’s happening?
BEN: Producers just killed Network Musha. Instead of me.
They wouldn’t do that. None of those men were just trying to protect me from you.
BEN: What is it gonna take for you to get? I’m not the bad guy!
Take the car. Just drive away. I don’t want to hurt you.
BEN: You think they’re gonna let you walk after seeing that? You’re on the show now.
No, I’m not!
Richards lives. And this time, he’s got a hostage. Amelia Williams, a 27-year-old realtor from Baylor, Maine.
Help me! He’s got a gun!
BEN: Welcome to The Running Man.
Help me, please!
The crisis continues as Ms. Williams’ grey Alpine heads north on Rustic Rock Siding Road. The hostage situation has triggered the NCG to go into full tactical alert.
Help me! He’s got a gun!
Turn it off!
Richards lives!
Unbelievable.
Don’t you dare!
Watch yourself!
BEN: Yeah, it’s a circus, all right.
So they’re just gonna keep filming us?
BEN: If a runner gets good ratings, they let him run.
Oh, God. Is that a blockade?
BEN: Oh, shit. All right. If we play our parts, they’ll let us pass.
Oh, Jesus.
BEN: Okay, just keep driving. They’re not gonna shoot.
How do you know that?
BEN: Because they’re gonna wait for the show to start. Live.
To what live?
BEN: Kill me.
The waiting is through.
Why are they turning for you when I’m the hostage? Unbelievable.
BEN: Amelia? Can you give me the gun?
Why not? You’re obviously the hero.
BEN: Trust me. I don’t think we’re gonna need this anymore.
BEN: Report in, report. State your claim.
Oh, my God. I just saw Ben Richards.
BEN: I’m sorry. Wait. I am Ben Richards. And if you don’t want to be the reason Amelia dies, get this message to Killian.
Do what he says, please.
BEN: Before you murder us, make up some bullshit why it had to be done. Who are these people who know the truth? Are you willing to kill all of them? Because I am. I’m holding on to this bullhorn with my right hand. My left hand is in my front pouch wrapped around 12 pounds of black Irish. When I used to work at Network Public Utility, you get these two-ton fatbergs. Take less than a gram and I’ll vaporize everything in a half-mile radius.
Bull-shit. BFV20 is the most highly regulated industrial explosive and you haven’t even set foot in a state that sells it.
BEN: Guess Molly didn’t tell you everything. I got my finger stuck in the detonator ring and it’s on half-cock. So, I want one of those big, fancy flying V airplanes. I want the parachutes handed to Amelia at the bottom of the ramp. If the chutes are sabotaged, if you make any sudden moves, if you don’t back those trucks up and let me on that tarmac right fucking now, you won’t even hear it go boom. I’ll just see you in hell and laugh in your face. You got one minute.
Shouldn’t take long. He’s got a direct line to the boss. Last chance to run.
No. You made me feel like I’m the bad guy. Now I have to prove I’m not.
BEN: Why do you give a shit what I think?
You’re not the one I’m trying to prove it to. So, what’s our plan?
Let him through.
BEN: I’m gonna convince them your handbag is a bomb and long enough to bail out over Canada. They’ll never let me win, so I’m gonna slip out the back door and wait out the clock. We just have to keep the audience entertained until that jet crosses the border.
What if they call your bluff?
BEN: You make sure they know it’s real. Get scared, freak out, curse, scream, call me the worst name as possible. Just remember, everything bad, it’s all good freebie. Act terrified when Lacone hands you the chutes.
I won’t have to act.
BEN: If he grabs his gun, you’ll know it’s time to go off.
BEN: So, you think you’re the guy who stops me from seeing my daughter again?
Show starts at eight. Get on the plane.
BEN: Only if you take your mask off. Audience will love it.
Keep dreaming.
Do what he says. Do what he says. Take it off.
BEN: Come on. Show starts at eight.
Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards, to the Metair Flying V Luxury Jetliner, the ultimate in private travel. With state-of-the-art safety features, this is first-class comfort taken sky high. So, sit back and enjoy the most relaxing flight of your life.
Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards. I’m Captain Holloway. You’ll excuse me if I don’t shake your hand. That’s First Officer Dunninger and Navigation Officer Donahue to your left.
BEN: Looks like you’re missing one. Hey, Captain. How many lavatories are on this rust bucket?
Four.
BEN: Six. Why don’t you check them all for stowaways? Anyone sneaks up on me, it’s gonna be a real short ride.
So, where are we headed tonight?
BEN: Plot a route over the richest homes from here to Canada. Fly as low as you can. Let me know we’re ten minutes from the border.
As you wish.
The seatbelt sign is now off. Feel free to move about the cabin.
Hey, Richards. Six minutes to showtime. You should get that last meal before they clear me to blow your head off in front of a couple billion people.
BEN: Oh, yeah? You know, you should really put some makeup on before the show starts.
Fuck the show! Let’s go.
BEN: Oh, you wanna go? We can all go right now!
Just stop!
BEN: Do it! Do it, tough guy!
Why are you doing this?
BEN: See if I twitch.
Show him the bomb! Show it to him before he shoots him and kills us all!
No, just show it! Because I don’t want to feel like this anymore! Do you fucking hear me? I’m done! I’m fucking done!
BEN: You can’t offer me shit!
Too true, Mr. Richards.
He can’t, but I can.
BEN: How about I offer you a deal? You tell your hunters in the cockpit to do what I tell them, otherwise I blow up this jet and everyone on it!
Ben, I admire your commitment to the bet, but we’re short on time, so I’ll be blunt. We know you’re bluffing. The flying V-Mark II has scanners built into the doors. It’s been wildly entertaining, but you can give Amelia her lovely handbag back now.
Evan? Evan, don’t!
That’s game.
Safety to that weapon, sir.
Evan, are you insane? The show hasn’t even started. Hand over your gun and go to the back of the jet.
Thank you.
You can remain there until I say otherwise. We need a moment to have a word with Mr. Richards to discuss a sensitive matter. Let’s keep this between us. You know, it wasn’t too long ago that someone with my job thought it was more important to force some… hypocritical moral message down society’s throat than to simply entertain them. They forgot about the power of illusion, the power of the star, which is what you are, Richards. And this is why we want to offer you your own show. You picture it, a former runner, redeemed through righteous vengeance, turns his life around to become a lethal force for good. They call him The Hunter. The board has authorized me to pay you five million new dollars per season. There’s only one condition. Sit back, watch the intro, and when Bobby cues you, kill every hunter on that jet. Conditions met, I’ll remote pilot you back to the studio jet port where the President of the United States, will give you the Hunter No. 6, another title ID I’m playing with. The data says the revenge plot…
BEN: Revenge? Revenge for what? Who is gonna root for a guy who kills your national heroes? I call bullshit, Dan.
Let me worry about the creative.
BEN: No deal.
The truth, then. Revenge for your wife and child.
BEN: Why would I ever believe you?
Because if they were still alive, I’d do whatever I want and torture them right in front of you. I didn’t want to show you this, but I’m out of time to save your life. The hunter you killed was part of a tight crew. McCon and the men in that cockpit flew to Coop City to Sheila and Kathy’s secret uptown location. They badged their way past the Family Alliance agents and… I’m sorry, Ben. Not all accidents are happy.
The audience is already on your side. Once I show them footage of McCon and his men killing your family, they will follow you into hell. Think of what this does for your narrative. 30 seconds to showtime, Ben. You’ll find a gun by the coffee station in the galley, but if you don’t sign before the theme music ends, I’ll order the bastards that killed your family to kill you, too.
What’s happening?
BEN: Tune in and find out.
We start today’s episode with a heavy heart. We here at The Running Man believe in following the rules. So it pains me to tell you that one of our most important rules has been broken by the very men we entrust to enforce them, Chief McCon and his hunters. And that rule is we protect the runner’s family from harm. No one would play if we didn’t. We thought it only fair to let Richards administer the penalty for this grave infraction. As we go live to Richards, we ask what it takes.
Hey, Richards. You making coffee?
BEN: Yeah. How do you take it?
Remote pilot engaged.
Disengaged.
Disengaged.
Remote pilot engaged.
And then there was one.
Three hunters down. But the deadliest among them is still somewhere on this jet.
He took the other parachute. I couldn’t stop him.
BEN: Strap that on. Keep your head down.
The prey has become the predator. McCone is trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Mr. Richards is checking all of the flying bees in executive toilets.
BEN: It’s four.
The fuse has been lit. It’s just a matter of time. Okay, here we go. The moment of truth.
BEN: Six, bitch.
Uh-oh. That’s gotta be disappointing. The tension is higher than ever running fans. It all comes down to this.
Ben!
Whoa!
No!
You wanna know who’s stopping you from seeing your kid again?
Me.
You!
No!
Oh, no.
Richardson’s taken a savage blow, but he’s still with us.
Shut the fuck up, Bobby!
This is how they fire me. What do you think they’ll do to you?
Jump?
You think you’re the only runner ever got offered a deal? You think surviving two weeks in change makes you big shit?
Try 29 days. What’s more likely?
A, I killed your family.
B, Killian sold you just the right lie to get a bloodbath season finale.
Or C, you’re too fucking stupid to figure it out.
Take a dickhead from someone who took the deal to be a hunter instead of the hunted. The only time you’ll ever see your family again is when they torture them in front of you. Fuck with your head enough to make you wanna kill it all away.
BEN: You’re full of shit. You’re all full of shit.
Truth is, I’m doing you a favor.
Static pressure compromised. Emergency doors defined.
Hey, Killian! You think I need a gun to waste this loser? You outran fate.
BEN: Fuck!
You can’t hide from destiny!
BEN: This is my show now!
Do it, tough guy! See if I can twitch.
BEN: That’s game!
BEN: Can I borrow your scarf?
BEN: Let’s get you back on the ground.
Locked and unlocked.
BEN: The chute should open on its own. But if it doesn’t, just let it rip. When you get on the ground, just run like hell. Don’t look back. And I tell you, you’re gonna pull that down all the way.
I’m sorry they did this to you!
BEN: I did it to myself.
It’s a sign! I’m not supposed to…
Assholes!
Keep going, kid! You’ve got this! Ben Richards, you are the man. We have command of the jet. Our best trauma surgeons are already on the tarmac, ready to patch you up as good as new. But wait! Making his freebie debut with a special message. The creator of Running Man, super producer, Dan Killian!
Mr. Richards, we here at the network believe you embody the raw strength and salt of the earth moral backbone this country stands for. And we want, no, we need to see more.
This summer, Ben Richards and Hunter Six!
Congratulations, Ben, and welcome to the network family.
BEN: I already got a family. Did you kill him or not, Dan?
Give it up for Dan Killian!
Come on, Ben. We’re live. How many times do you get to tell two billion people how you really feel? How does it feel to be a hero, Ben?
BEN: Nothing I’ve done on the show makes me a hero. I tried to be a hero once, and they blacklisted my ass. My daughter got sick. This is the only job I could get. Seems like the whole point of freebie is to make us hate each other. So they can keep stealing from us while we fight in the mud. You want the truth. Turn it off. We are all being fucked by the network. Find out who really runs it. Record, report them. Get their names. You just met one of them. Dan Killian. You remember that face. Don’t watch freebie. Watch who pays for it. Turn it off.
Great speech. Too bad I’m the only one who saw it. We’ve been on an ad break since you said nothing you did on the show made you a hero. You think it was worth it? You think your little rant makes you a martyr? We’re going live again in 30. This time you’ll play your part because if not, we’re going to run this instead.
BEN: I told you I was going to burn this building down and everyone in it.
BEN: That was fast.
Work with me, Richards. Don’t throw your life away. Don’t make me fly that jet into the network building. They’ll blow you out of the sky.
BEN: Are they dead or alive, Dan?
Who?
BEN: My family.
Who cares? If I told you they were alive, would you even believe me? We are live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Okay, have it your way.
BEN: I told you I was going to burn this building down and everyone in it. I will see you in hell and laugh at your face.
Ben, are you insane? There’s 5,000 innocent people in this building.
Remote pilot engaged.
Look at what you’ve done. You happy?
BEN: I told you I was going to fuck you up.
Yeah.
Warning. Collision alert.
Remain calm, everyone. The MCT will blow them out of the sky.
Missiles inbound. Missiles inbound.
Okay, true believers. Let’s wind that back. Ben Richards, legend. The network wants you to think that on day 18 of his run, after taking out all five hunters, the longest surviving contestant since season one committed suicide by surface-to-air missile. The Apostle calls bullshit. First of all, they cut to ads six minutes earlier than usual and ran them for twice as long. They must have needed the time to write this fake-ass shit.
I will see you in hell and laugh at your face.
And then they swapped the crowd. Where’d Purple Shirt Guy come from? Season five, episode 13 to be exact. That’s how dumb the network thinks we are. Their vile distortions meant none of us knew the truth about what happened on that jet until a revolutionary riot girl found the jet’s black box on the roof of her coop. Her uncle had the audio, duped, distributed, and put it on blast.
Turn it off.
And God damn it, did we ever. The network wasn’t about to give us the gospel, so we learned how to give it to each other. Bette lit the fuse, and the truth exploded like a nuclear blast before the network even knew it existed.
Don’t watch freely. Watch who pays for it.
But questions remain about that fateful night. Keep going, kid! Did the Hunters really assassinate Ben’s family? Did Killian sell him just the right lie for a bloodbath season finale? And the big one, on everyone’s mind, did Ben survive?
The Apostles’ research reveals that one of the Flying V Mark II state-of-the-art safety features was a crew escape pod. Just about the size of this so-called debris. Did Ben cheat death one last time?
BEN: Stop filming me!
The network won’t say. But one thing’s for sure. He’s still here, you shit-eaters.
Anybody? Oh. Yeah. What else do we need?
Oh, my God. These are adorable.
Oh, no, sorry, those aren’t mine.
That guy outside bought them for you, Mrs. Richards? Groceries, too?
That’s… not my name.
Richards lives! Richards lives!
Damn Richards! You’re indeed a top actor to follow.
30 seconds.
Where do you think you’re going?
You don’t hear that? I’d say that’s some valuable audience feedback, Dan.
No, no, no, no, no. You get back out there and you do your job.
How about you do my job?
Hey, you’ve been crushing the regs for 20 years. I own that audience. You don’t think I can turn this around?
You’re the one who wanted to make him a star, Dan. Mission accomplished. It’s his show now.
You think he can just walk?
Sweeties, please. Take another look at him. Look at my contract. Page 42, paragraph 6. There’s a special clause in the smallest of print that reads, fuck you.Ten seconds. Ten seconds, Dan. Cocoa, come on, let’s go.
You know what? Fuck that. This is my house. I set the rules. Max the theme. Drown them out.
Sir, are you sure this is the right thing?
BEN: In five, four, three, two, one. And action!
