FADE IN:
INT. ENCOM TOWER – NIGHT
A futuristic city made of glass and light.
Blue energy streams flow along the skyscrapers.
The ENCOM logo shines at the top — symbol of a digital empire.
A voice echoes, distant — Kevin Flynn's voice, recorded long ago.
> Flynn (V.O.)
The Grid… a digital frontier.
I tried to picture information as it moved — cities of data, highways of light, programs with souls.
A low electronic hum builds.
> Flynn (V.O.)
I kept wondering: what if I could cross that line?
What if I could enter that world… and find the Creator?
When I got there, I found something even greater.
---
INT. SAM'S BEDROOM – NIGHT (1989)
A young boy, Sam Flynn, lies in bed.
Electronic toys and circuit-shaped nightlights surround him.
Sitting on the bed's edge, Kevin Flynn, mid-30s, looks at him fondly.
> Flynn
You know, kiddo, the sun rises every day. Always the same miracle.
(smiling)
That's kind of what the Grid is — a world I built with my own hands.
And tonight… I think I found the key to perfection.
Sam's eyes widen.
> Sam
Will I get to see it one day?
Flynn
One day, yeah. And you'll ride a Light Cycle with me. Promise.
Flynn ruffles his hair, stands, and heads for the door.
> Flynn (softly)
See you tomorrow, champ.
He gives one last smile, then disappears down the hall.
---
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – NIGHT
A motorcycle slices through the silence, its blue trails glowing in the dark.
Flynn rides into the distance, swallowed by the night.
The city gleams far away.
Then — FADE TO BLACK.
---
EXT. FLYNN HOUSE – DAWN
Morning light.
Knocking at the door.
Alan Bradley, Flynn's friend and business partner, stands on the porch, looking grave.
Sam's grandmother opens the door, holding little Sam's hand.
> Alan (quietly)
He didn't come home last night.
Sam looks up at him, worried. Alan kneels.
> Alan
We'll find him, Sam. I promise.
Sam nods, but his eyes are already distant.
---
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – ONE WEEK LATER
Sam lies unconscious on a hospital bed.
Beside him, his grandmother and Alan, both tense and heartbroken.
> Grandmother
It's been two days now. He's been like this since he came to stay with me.
Complaining of headaches… no matter what I gave him, he wouldn't wake up.
I brought him to the hospital, and as soon as we walked in, he collapsed.
Tears stream down the old woman's face. Alan puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.
> Alan
He'll be okay, ma'am. Let's trust the doctors.
You should rest — you haven't slept in two days.
He says it, but his expression betrays his doubt.
The grandmother stops crying and leaves the room.
> Alan (softly)
I promised your dad I'd look after you, kid.
Please, don't do this to me. Wake up.
Suddenly, Sam starts convulsing, and the lights flicker violently.
> Alan
KID!
Alan rushes to his side, holding him down.
The spasms grow stronger, the lights flashing faster.
After a few seconds — the power cuts out.
Everything goes silent. The spasms stop.
> Alan
Kid, come on, talk to me!
He shakes him — and finally, Sam opens his eyes.
> Alan
Oh, thank God…
Alan pulls him into a hug. After a moment, Sam hesitates… then hugs him back.
---
EXT. ENCOM TOWER – NIGHT (PRESENT DAY)
Twenty years later.
A black motorcycle speeds through city traffic — no glowing trails this time.
At the wheel: Sam Flynn, now grown.
---
INT. ENCOM SERVER ROOM – NIGHT
Guards patrol the aisles.
An alarm flashes: INTRUSION DETECTED.
Perched on a metal beam, Sam, equipped with a compact terminal, hacks the network.
> Sam (muttering)
Let's see if Dad left you as unbreakable as before.
The system yields.
Data cascades down the screens.
The servers reboot — and ENCOM's entire internal database goes public.
---
EXT. ENCOM TOWER ROOFTOP – NIGHT
Sirens blare.
Sam runs — pursued by security guards.
> Guard
Stop right there! Hands in the air!
Sam grins, sprints to the edge — and jumps.
A remote parachute bursts open, pulling him skyward.
> Sam (smirking)
Compliments of the house, guys.
He glides above the glowing skyline, vanishing into the mist.
---
EXT. DOCKS – NIGHT
His parachute lands on a ship — police already waiting.
They cuff him roughly.
---
INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT
An officer slams Sam's helmet onto the table.
> Officer
You like putting on a show, Flynn?
Sam
Just shaking up the shareholders a bit.
He smiles — pure defiance.
---
EXT. CITY STREETS – NIGHT
After being released, Sam rides home — to a garage turned apartment overlooking the bay.
---
INT. SAM'S GARAGE – NIGHT
Organized chaos: tools, engines, screens, retro posters.
A news broadcast plays, talking about ENCOM's scandals.
A knock at the door.
Alan Bradley steps in — older, still warm.
> Alan
You look exactly like your dad when you're about to do something stupid.
Sam (grinning)
Then I guess I'm on the right track.
Alan laughs.
> Alan
I could tell you that won't be enough to change the company…
but we've had that talk before.
And that's not why I'm here.
He takes out a small metallic pager.
> Alan
The signal came from your dad's old office.
The arcade downtown.
Sam frowns.
> Sam
The arcade? That place has been shut down for years.
Alan
I know. But it's his number. The same one he gave me… the night he vanished.
A heavy silence.
> Sam (quietly)
It's been twenty years, Alan.
Alan
I know.
Sam
And you expect me to believe that?
Alan
I'm not asking you to believe — I'm saying maybe… it could be him.
Sam
Do you realize what you're saying?
Twenty years. Either he's dead — or I wish he was.
Because if he's not, that means he abandoned me.
Alan
I know how you feel, Sam, but—
Before he can finish, Alan collapses, blood trickling from his nose.
> Sam (panicking)
Old man! Old man!
He frantically tries to wake him.
Failing, he looks toward his phone — and his eyes flash electric blue.
Across the room, the phone lights up instantly.
---
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NEXT DAY
The steady beeping of medical monitors.
This time, Alan lies in the hospital bed.
Sam sits beside him.
Alan finally opens his eyes — smiling faintly when he sees Sam.
> Alan
Last time, it was you in that bed, and me in this chair.
Sam
Old man…
Tears stream down Sam's face as he moves closer.
> Sam (serious)
Why didn't you tell me?
Alan sighs.
> Alan
I didn't want to have this talk.
The doctor's probably told you — I don't have long. Two weeks, at best.
Sam
No. There has to be a way.
Alan
It's a brain tumor, Sam. There's nothing left to do.
Sam
I'll find a solution. I promise.
Alan's gaze softens. He puts a hand on Sam's head.
> Alan
Sam… I'm at peace with it.
All I ask… is that you answer that page.
He holds Sam's stare — until Sam finally nods.
---
EXT. FLYNN'S ARCADE – NIGHT
Sam walks through the mist and parks his bike before the old building.
The faded FLYNN'S sign hangs crooked above the door.
He breaks the padlock and steps inside.
---
INT. FLYNN'S ARCADE – NIGHT
Silence.
Rows of dusty arcade machines.
Sam flips the main breaker — the room glows with nostalgic light.
He brushes his hand over a familiar cabinet: TRON.
It flickers to life.
But he notices something strange — an empty space behind it.
He pulls the cabinet aside — revealing a hidden door leading to a dark staircase.
---
INT. UNDERGROUND LAB – NIGHT
An abandoned workspace: computers, holographic blueprints, tools.
Sam sits at an old terminal, curious.
> Sam
What is this old junk?
He types a few commands.
The system boots up — and displays:
"WELCOME, USER."
Behind him, a mechanical sound.
The digitization laser powers up, humming ominously.
> Sam (turning)
Huh? Wait, what the—
A blinding burst of light.
His body disintegrates into particles.
He's pulled into the beam.
---
CUT TO:
INT. THE GRID – DIGITAL DIMENSION
Sam crashes onto a black platform lined with glowing edges.
Around him — an infinite, radiant data world.
A sharp headache strikes — he collapses, unconscious.
Lightcycles approach — soldier programs mounted on them.
> Guard Program (mechanical voice)
Unknown program. Identification required.
The guards surround him and seize him.