RISE OF THE KEK SCREENPLAY
by
John Joseph Burhop
SMASHWORDS EDITION
****
PUBLISHED BY:
John Joseph Burhop on Smashwords
Rise of The Kek
Copyright 2010 by John Joseph Burhop
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FADE IN:
INT. SCOUTSHIP - EARTH ORBIT
A small-framed humanoid sits in the spacecraft's tiny cockpit. He has four equidistant arms and four equidistant legs. An opposable thumb centers each of his nine-fingered hands. He is a CIDEBAN named PIREN.
A screen on the console displays STOCK FOOTAGE of human scientists splitting the first atom. A chronometer below it reads "1932"
A red light begins flashing, BEEPING. Piren activates a voice recorder.
PIREN
Cideban Scoutship Sol Three reporting.
Auto Return has activated. Earth year
1932. The humans have split their first
atom. First contact may be possible
sooner than we thought.
EXT. EARTH ORBIT
The scoutship rotates away from Earth, then darts off at incredible speed.
INT. SCOUTSHIP
The screen's image freezes in frame as the chronometer rapidly advances to "1975"
EXT. OUTER SPACE
PAN DOWN - CONTINUOUS
A speckled yellow moon rises into view. Communication and observation equipment protrude from its upper half.
Sport climbers are visible on its lower edge. Their clothing ranges from spacesuits to coveralls as we descend.
EXT. PLANET CIDEBA - DAY
We arrive at the moon's base, grounded on an ocean covered planet.
A storm cloud flickers in the distance.
ZOOM IN on storm cloud.
Four columns of fire BURST through its underside: Braking thrusters.
They illuminate a large spacecraft descending. Eight massive ribs surround its huge octagonal shell from bottom to top.
Lowering.
GROWING LOUDER.
Slowing.
The braking thrusters incinerate the landscape below.
The spacecraft touches down. It is a KEK SHIP.
Large spider-like aliens come swarming out of the ship in waves. They are eight feet in length with large, serrated mandibles and razor sharp claws. They are KEK.
ZOOM IN on a single Kek. It dips down with a slow, steady hunch.
It HISSES loudly before tackling and killing a fleeing Cideban.
The Kek flings the Cideban off to the side.
Two other Kek scurry over.
They perform a creepy dance above the body before devouring it violently.
The Kek ship begins MOANING, CREAKING.
Its ribs tear away from the top. They extend upward and outward in eight opposite directions. They arc over and come down hard into the scorched terrain.
The ribs become legs that hoist the central shell into the air.
The ship has transformed into a mobile mechanoid.
It lumbers clumsily toward a well protected facility.
A lame leg drags across the ground, carving a long scar through the facility's perimeter forest. The mechanoid advances unimpeded, snapping trees like twigs.
EXT. ABOVE PLANET CIDEBA
Piren's scoutship barrels into the system. It rapidly decelerates.
A barely visible beam pulls it down toward the planet's surface.
INT. HANGAR FIVE - PLANET CIDEBA - DAY
The beam is emanating from a small spacecraft docking port.
The scoutship is guided smoothly into it.
Piren looks around confusedly. He activates an intercom.
PIREN
Hello?
A SLIGHT TREMOR vibrates the docking port's support. Piren is startled by it. He grows visibly impatient.
A uniformed Cideban comes running into the hangar, waving all four arms above his head. He is GEDDEN.
GEDDEN
I'm coming, I'm coming.
Gedden rams a power cable into the side of the scoutship. He releases a pressure seal, then pushes up the canopy.
GEDDEN (CONT’D)
Welcome home, Commander Piren. I'm
Administrator Gedden.
PIREN
Protocol requires the presence of at
least two docking engineers for all
arriving scoutships.
(unbuckling from the seat)
What if the docking program-
GEDDEN
I'm sorry, sir. You were supposed to dock
in Hangar Six. Uh, we've got a slight
emergency on our hands.
PIREN
What kind of emergency?
Gedden waves Piren over to a computer terminal near the hangar's entrance.
Piren climbs out of the cockpit while Gedden codes in.
A contour map of the planet's surface displays. More than a hundred red pixels flash over its full range. INTRUDER ALERT displays prominently across the screen.
GEDDEN
The Kek captured one of our scoutships
and were able to reverse engineer its
NEUTRINO DRIVE.
PIREN
(referring to the red pixels)
Those are all Kek ships?
GEDDEN
I'm afraid so. We received an emergency
transmission from the pilot just before
he was captured. It revealed that the Kek
have been spinning out spacecraft at an
alarming rate.
PIREN
How did they breach the orbital defense
net?
GEDDEN
They caught us completely off guard.
Their ships' energy signatures matched
those of early model scoutships. We have
older ships coming in all the time.
A MORE POWERFUL TREMOR rattles the hangar.
PIREN
Is that the Kek?
GEDDEN
Must be.
Piren scowls at Gedden.
Gedden Pulls Piren out the door.
EXT. LAUNCH FACILITY - PLANET CIDEBA - DAY
The Kek mechanoid approaches from just outside the facility's perimeter.
Piren is struggling to match Gedden's stride as they run toward a nearby hangar.
PIREN
Where are we going?
GEDDEN
There's a Neutrino Drive in Hangar Six
that needs to be evacuated.
INT. HANGAR SIX - PLANET CIDEBA - DAY
They scramble into the hangar.
Gedden enters a code on a wall safe. He pops it open.
He retrieves a rectangular block of metal approximately one foot long. A small circular hole runs through its length. It is a Neutrino Drive Engine.
Gedden thrusts the engine into a carry bag.
Piren snatches the bag from him.
They scoot out the door.
EXT. LAUNCH FACILITY - DAY
They race back toward Hangar Five.
The mechanoid is now inside the facility's perimeter.
Its lame leg drags across the ground, launching huge chunks of rock and soil into the air with distant, slow motion arcs.
Fodder rains on several nearby hangars.
Another leg IMPACTS the ground.
Piren nearly falls.
INT. HANGAR FIVE - DAY
Gedden and Piren enter the hangar.
Piren climbs into his scoutship. He nestles the carry bag behind the pilot's seat.
PIREN
(buckling in)
What are you going to do?
GEDDEN
Don't worry about me. Just resume your
mission to Earth. That satisfies the
evacuation order. Warning beacons were
sent to all Class Three worlds. That
means Earth has already been warned.
Gedden yanks out the power cable. Pulls down the canopy. Seals it. Waves Piren out.
A Kek emerges from a dark corner of the hangar and engulfs Gedden.
Another Kek quickly cocoons itself to the scoutship without Piren's knowledge.
EXT. ABOVE LAUNCH FACILITY - DAY
Piren's ship ascends.
Three Kek mechanoids are visible in the surrounding terrain.
EXT. CIDEBA ORBIT
Laser pulses BURST from the defense satellites.
Piren's ship rises between them, then accelerates out into space.
INT. SCOUTSHIP
Images of Earth's technological advancements flood onto the screen as the EARTH chronometer rapidly advances to 2018.
The scoutship arrives in Earth orbit.
Piren taps into a satellite signal. He conducts a query.
An image of a book appears. It reads: "THE E.T. SIGNAL OF 2018 BY ALEC STRICKLAND."
The COMPUTER begins reading it aloud:
COMPUTER
Little is known about the transmission
received from 58 Eridani...
EXT. ALEC'S HOUSE - DAY
CAPTION: Southern Wisconsin, April 14, 2018
Springtime.
The house is small, rustic. It sits on a long, dirt road. Vast fields of young corn surround it.
An AIRCAR hovers clumsily into the end of its long, gravel driveway. Its four
turbofans WHINE unnervingly.
Rocks pelt the front of the house.
INT. LIVING ROOM - ALEC'S HOUSE - DAY
ALEC STRICKLAND, 21, handsome, healthy, spots the aircar through the living room window.
ALEC
STEVE's here.
Alec spies Steve, 20, stocky, beer belly, through a slit in blinds.
KRISTIN, 19, athletic, brunette, enters the living room.
She places a snack tray and an ashtray on the glass top coffee table.
Alec flings the front door open just as Steve is preparing to knock.
ALEC (CONT’D)
Can I help you?
STEVE
There are rumors of a wild party at this
locale, sir. I'll need to inspect the
premises for beautiful women.
Steve pushes politely past Alec into the house.
He pulls a bottle of JACK DANIELS from a paper sack in his hand, and then drops down on the couch. He takes a long drink from the bottle.
ALEC
I still can't believe you bought that
thing. Didn't anyone you that aircars
were banned from public roads in 2016?
STEVE
Let's see. They're loud, dangerous, and
illegal. Sounds perfect to me.
KRISTIN
I've got to hand it to you Steve, at
least you're consistent.
Steve lights a cigarette.
He slumps forward and begins sampling from the snack tray.
Alec moves into the kitchen.
ALEC
Hey Steve. Think fast.
Alec tosses a bottle of beer to Steve. It sails over the coffee table.
Kristin watches in horror.
Steve catches it smoothly before guzzling half of it down in one long gulp. He then belches loudly.
ALEC (CONT’D)
Another?
Kristin shoots Alec a glance.
Steve finishes the beer, then nods to Alec.
STEVE
Hit me.
Alec retrieves two more beers and a pours a glass of wine for Kristin.
He rejoins them in the living room.
STEVE (CONT’D)
So, ten million copies, huh? I still
can't believe it.
ALEC
Either can I. There's nothing like
turning an old research paper into a best
selling book in three days. Thank god for
eBooks. It definitely pays to be first.
KRISTIN
The alien signal totally dominated the
news. Talk about free publicity.
ALEC
Most of my book is about the history and
evolution of radio astronomy. Very little
of it actually covers the signal itself.
The government hasn't told us anything
about its content.
KRISTIN
Yeah. Tell the world that we've received
an intelligent, extraterrestrial signal
and then try to bury it.
ALEC
They claim to still be
(quoting with four fingers)
deciphering it.
STEVE
Our government at work. Hiding the truth
as usual.
ALEC
It's pretty weird that the signal was
transmitted on a secure government
frequency. I mean, how would they know?
STEVE
How would who know? Where did it come
from?
ALEC
58 Eridani. It's a star about forty three
light years away.
STEVE
(raising his beer)
To The E.T. Signal of 2018 by Alec
Strickland.
They clink clumsily. Race to the bottoms of their drinks.
Kristin wins. She rises victoriously. Moves into the kitchen.
KRISTIN
(with an exaggerated slur)
Another round, boys?
STEVE
Sure.
Kristin reenters the living room. Hands them each a beer, then drops into a recliner.
Steve grabs his beer and stands up.
STEVE (CONT’D)
Come on. I want to show you two the
aircar.
KRISTIN
You guys go ahead. I'm pretty comfy at
the moment.
Alec and Steve head outside.
EXT. DRIVEWAY - ALEC'S HOUSE - DAY
A 1975 CADILLAC pulls in behind the sloppily parked aircar lying at the top of the driveway.
The Cadillac's driver side window lowers. The driver is a scrawny, red headed, pale, freckled faced girl. She is TARA.
TARA
(to Steve)
You bought an aircar?
STEVE
Look whose talking, Miss gas guzzler.
TARA
Where's your little brother?
STEVE
JEREMY will be by later.
ALEC
I didn't expect to see you here tonight?
TARA
Kristin invited me.
ALEC
You're driving a Cadillac? I thought you
were an environmentalist?
TARA
I think I've earned a little leeway.
They all enter the house.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The party is in full swing. Fifteen guests are present.
Jeremy, 18, small build, is conversing with Tara.
Alec scowls as he eyes Tara from across the room.
Steve is standing next to Alec.
TARA
The International Reforestation Coalition
has done more to improve the planet than
all the governments combined.
JEREMY
How do you figure?
TARA
In the last five years, we've planted
nearly a billion trees. Those trees
convert several million tons of carbon
dioxide into oxygen every year.
Tara notices Alec's displeasure. She smiles insincerely.
ALEC
I can't believe your brother is
interested in Tara. All she ever talks
about is the INRC.
STEVE
She's easy and he's eighteen. It ain't
rocket science, Alec.
JEREMY
How much carbon dioxide is released into
the atmosphere by a single tree?
TARA
Trees filter carbon dioxide out of the
atmosphere, not into it. Other plants
help, but trees do the most.
JEREMY
I thought that plankton and oceanic
absorption filtered out most of the
carbon dioxide.
TARA
Well, the ocean does act as a sink for
carbon dioxide...
JEREMY
I'm just messing with you, Tara.
Tara's eyes shift. Something triggers in her brain. She looks at Jeremy with a sudden flare of contempt.
TARA
You're mocking me!
JEREMY
Come on Tara, I was just having a little
fun. Without you guys, there would be a
billion less trees in the world.
TARA
Don't patronize me. Do you realize that
carbon dioxide now constitutes nearly two
percent of our present atmosphere? It's
supposed to be less than one.
JEREMY
Listen Tara, the INRC's great, we all
know that, but everyone in the world is
sick of hearing about them. I realize
you're a first year member and all, but
give it a rest, already.
Tara looks over at Alec who is still scowling at her.
TARA
You're right, Jeremy. Thank you for being
so honest.
Tara leans in and kisses Jeremy.
Jeremy glances over at Alec.
Alec glances back, obviously impressed.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN to darkened living room. The party's over.
Alec is standing in his open bathrobe.
Kristin is cleaning up.
She notices a cigarette burn on the leaf of a potted spider plant. She grimaces at the burn before tearing the leaf from the plant.
She shuffles over to Alec. Kisses him softly on the lips. Runs her finger down his chest.
She slips the leaf inside the front of his briefs, then stumbles into the bedroom.
ALEC
I'll be there in a minute. I need to
check my email real quick.
KRISTIN
Okay. But if I'm asleep when you get in
bed, tough luck.
ALEC
Understood.
EXT. BACK PORCH - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Alec sits down at the computer.
A distant light catches the corner of his eye. It is far out in the cornfield.
The light descends into the field and disappears from sight.
Alec pulls on a pair of shoes and heads toward it.
EXT. CORNFIELD - NIGHT
Alec arrives at Piren's scoutship.
Something RUSTLES nearby.
A open cocoon is visible on the ship's hull.
A small doorway suddenly opens.
Alec peers inside before stepping through.
INT. SCOUTSHIP - NIGHT
The outer door suddenly closes behind Alec.
An interior door whisks open.
Piren is sitting behind a small table. He waves Alec in.
Alec enters bravely.
A virtual screen hovers behind Piren. An image of Alec's book is displayed on it.
ALEC
Hello.
Piren forces a smile.
He directs his eyes toward Alec's end of the table.
Alec looks down.
A Neutrino Drive engine is sitting there. A small data crystal accompanies it.
ALEC (CONT’D)
What is it?
Piren points to the screen behind him. He struggles to speak.
PIREN
Is that you?
ALEC
Yes.
PIREN
I am Piren. That is a gift for your
future.
ALEC
I don't understand.
PIREN
I will show you.
The screen fades to darkness.
The inner door closes behind Alec.
The ship lurches.
Alec crouches to maintain his balance.
The screen now displays a receding Earth.
The Earth disappears into a sea of stars.
The sun moves blazingly into view, then recedes.
It quickly takes its place as a dim background star.
Familiar constellations creep inward.
Orion contorts itself in a slight, awkward rotation.
All at once, the stars grind to a halt.
The stars then begin a reverse migration.
Orion slips back into precise definition.
The distant sun grows brighter, then moves off to the side.
Earth approaches until it fills the screen.
Alec tightens. Holds his breath.
Another lurch. The air comes bellowing out of his lungs.
Both the inner and outer doors open.
Piren points to the Neutrino Drive.
He motions for Alec to leave the ship.
Alec picks up the drive, pockets the crystal, and then steps from the ship.
EXT. CORNFIELD - NIGHT
The corn is fully matured.
A blast of air hits Alec from above.
He looks up just in time to see the scoutship disappear into the sky.
He begins jogging toward the house.
EXT. BACKYARD - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Alec enters the yard.
He looks around suspiciously, and then steps carefully onto the back porch.
He spots Kristin through a window. She is peeking through the curtains at him. She looks older, sadder.
She slowly opens the back door.
KRISTIN
Alec?
ALEC
I thought you were in bed?
She looks carefully at his face, his bathrobe.
KRISTIN
You're alive.
ALEC
Of course I'm alive. Are you all right?
KRISTIN
That's what you were wearing the night
you disappeared.
ALEC
I've been gone a half hour.
KRISTIN
You're scaring me, Alec.
Alec looks around the yard more closely.
He studies the house, then her face.
ALEC
What happened to you? Why is everything
so different?
KRISTIN
Why are you acting like nothing's wrong?
Where have you been all this time?
ALEC
I was out in the field.
KRISTIN
You disappear for three and a half years,
then show up in the middle of the night
to tell me you've been out in the field?
ALEC
Three and a half years? What's the date?
KRISTIN
It's September 12.
ALEC
September 12? What year is it?
KRISTIN
Come on Alec, It's 2021.
ALEC
What happened on April 14, 2018?
KRISTIN
That was the night you disappeared. This
isn't funny. Everyone thinks you're dead.
ALEC
Why would anyone think that?
KRISTIN
Be honest with me. Is there someone else?
ALEC
Someone else? No! In fact, you won't
believe what just happened to me.
KRISTIN
Don't change the subject. How could you
leave me without even saying goodbye? I
thought we were happy.
ALEC
Kristin, love of my life, I'm right here.
You know I would never leave you. You had
a bad dream or something. I'm freezing.
Can I come inside please?
KRISTIN
(after a pause)
Yes, of course.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
They enter the living room and sit down on the couch.
ALEC
Check this out.
He offers her the Neutrino Drive.
She receives it cautiously. She looks it over, unimpressed, then sets it on the coffee table.
KRISTIN
What's this?
ALEC
I have no idea.
Kristin lowers her head, and then stands up.
KRISTIN
Please Alec, don't do this to me.
ALEC
Just hear me out.
Kristin sits back down.
ALEC (CONT’D)
After the party, I saw something out in
the field so I went to go check it out.
The next thing you know, I'm standing
face to face with an alien aboard his
spaceship.
KRISTIN
Alien, as in extraterrestrial?
ALEC
Yes. He took me into space for what
seemed like less than five minutes. After
that, he gave me this box and said it was
a gift for the future. I came back to the
house and that's when I saw you looking
at me through the window.
KRISTIN
I must admit, that's quite a story, even
for you. You honestly believe that you've
only been gone a half hour?
ALEC
I'm telling you this just happened. I
must have experienced time dilation. It's
the only explanation. Look at me. Do I
look three and a half years older to you?
KRISTIN
No, actually. In fact it was the first
thing I noticed when I saw you.
ALEC
I'm just as baffled as you, baby.
Whatever this thing is, it must be pretty
important.
Kristin picks up the Neutrino Drive. Examines it more closely.
She looks at Alec through the hole in its center.
KRISTIN
It's nothing but a block of metal with a
hole in it.
ALEC
He also gave me a data crystal. It'll
probably explain what it is.
Kristin starts to cry.
ALEC (CONT’D)
The last few years must have been hell
for you. I'm so sorry you had to go
through that.
KRISTIN
I had to file a missing persons report.
And then OLD MAN HUTCHINS' cattle started
disappearing. No one knew what to think.
They searched for your body for weeks.
ALEC
I've got to put this away.
Alec grabs the Neutrino Drive and moves into the bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Alec puts the Neutrino Drive in the closet.
Kristin is standing in the doorway.
ALEC
I can understand why you thought I left
you when they didn't find my body.
Kristin moves off. Then quickly returns.
She reaches inside Alec's robe, and then draws the elastic band of his briefs outward.
KRISTIN
It looks like I'm the one who found your
body.
ALEC
That's really creepy, Kristin.
She gently tucks the spider plant leaf into his briefs while flashing him a forgiving look.
Her eyes grow wide as she pulls two leaves out.
She immediately notices the cigarette burn on the second leaf.
KRISTIN
What's this?
ALEC
It's from the night of the party.
Remember?
KRISTIN
I can't even think right now. Please
Alec, don't ever leave me again.
ALEC
I never left you baby.
They kiss passionately and then drop onto the bed.
INT. GARAGE - ALEC'S HOUSE - DAY
Alec and Jeremy are studying a series of images on a computer.
The images are laid out like the panels in a comic book.
They show the Neutrino Drive being attached to a small vessel.
Several equations accompany the images.
JEREMY
Propulsion seems to be its only function.
It's an engine.
ALEC
That's what I thought. What are those
dots in the corner?
JEREMY
I'm pretty sure that's the constellation
Eridanus, and the highlighted star is 58
Eridani. It looks like this thing is pre-
programmed to go there once it's
activated.
ALEC
Seriously?
JEREMY
The instructions are pretty
straightforward. Attach this thing to an
airtight vessel, line it up on the
highlighted star, activate it, and bam,
you're off.
ALEC
Off to another star. Sure, no problem. I
was thinking about taking an interstellar
road trip anyway.
JEREMY
If I understand this correctly, you'll
accelerate to over ninety nine percent
the speed of light almost instantly.
ALEC
Wouldn't that kind of acceleration crush
me instantly?
JEREMY
The engine emits some kind of energy
field that cancels out the g-forces.
ALEC
What would I use for a ship?
JEREMY
I think a one man submersible would work.
You know, a SOLO SUBMARINE.
ALEC
Are you sure you understand all this
correctly?
JEREMY
Pretty sure, yeah.
ALEC
I wonder how much a solo submarine costs?
Alec opens a web browser, and then searches for solo submarine.
MONTAGE:
Alec and Jeremy compare various subs on the computer.
A sleek, ten foot long sub is delivered into Alec's garage.
Alec stocks it with food, water, and a change of clothes.
Jeremy and Kristin paint galaxies and planets on its hull.
Steve attaches a bracket to the side of the sub.
Alec secures the Neutrino Drive onto the bracket.
Jeremy covertly switches the alien data crystal with a crystal from his pocket.
INT. GARAGE - NIGHT
Alec, Kristin, Steve, and Jeremy are present.
STEVE
Do you really think this thing will fly?
ALEC
I think the engine will fly. Whether it
tears out of the bracket and sends my sub
hurtling into field is another matter.
STEVE
I doubled the torque requirement. It'll
hold.
JEREMY
Let's get this thing into the yard. We've
got clear skies and 58 Eridani is above
the horizon.
EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT
Alec, Steve, and Jeremy drag the sub into the yard.
They rest it upright on a wooden ramp.
Kristin looks at it with amusement.
Alec retrieves the data crystal from the garage.
He tosses the crystal into the sub, and then lines up the Neutrino Drive's hole on 58 Eridani.
Steve pops off a small plate from a corner of the Drive with a squeeze of his thumb and index finger. A pull tab is revealed beneath it.
ALEC
Don't pull the activation tab until I
knock on the side three times.
STEVE
Don't worry, Alec. I'm just as nervous
about pulling the freakin' thing.
ALEC
Are you sure you don't want to come
along, Kristin?
KRISTIN
No thanks.
Alec kisses her passionately, then climbs into the sub.
He seals the hatch.
Kristin is giggling.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Steve yanks out the tab.
The sub shoots into the sky.
Kristin is horrified.
INT. AIRCAR - DAWN
Steve struggles with the joystick.
Jeremy is in the passenger seat.
They're flying just a few feet above a cornfield.
The speedometer reads 80 mph.
Jeremy covertly produces a pill from his pocket and swallows it.
JEREMY
Kristin was pretty freaked out when the
sub disappeared. We talked until four in
the morning before she finally fell
asleep. I hope she's okay.
Steve is oblivious to Jeremy's concern for Kristin.
He retrieves a notebook from between the seats.
STEVE
Alec gave me permission to publish the
journal he kept since the encounter. I
can probably make some money with it.
Steve begins pulling the vehicle into long sweeps, clipping corn and accelerating to 100 mph.
A trail of mangled stalks sweep beneath them.
INT. LIVING ROOM - STEVE AND JEREMY'S HOUSE - DAY
Steve and Jeremy are sitting on a couch.
STEVE
(to a large wall screen)
Screen activate. Television on.
The screen activates.
Local news fills the space behind four other channels stacked square on top of one another in the right vertical quarter of the screen.
JUDITH BLAKELY is reporting beside a large, intricate web in a wooded area.
DR. LAURA SORENSON stands beside her.
Old man Hutchins is in the background.
JUDITH
...Thank you, Jim. As you can see, we're
standing beside this very large web that
was discovered by Mr. Clive Hutchins who
owns a nearby farm. Several cattle have
disappeared without a trace from Mr.
Hutchins property over the past few
years. Welcome.
OLD MAN HUTCHINS
Thank you.
JUDITH
This morning, Mr. Hutchins decided to
take a look in this small patch of woods
for any evidence of his missing cattle.
She begins rounding the web.
JUDITH (CONT’D)
That's when he discovered this large web.
What can you tell us about it, Doctor
Sorenson?
DR. SORENSON
To be honest, Judy, I've never seen
anything like it. The detail is
magnificent. I don't know of any arachnid
or insect species that produces such a
large dwelling.
(bending down)
Just look at how wide this opening is.
JUDITH
Could this explain the missing-
A Kek flares out from the opening.
It engulfs Dr. Sorenson. Pulls her inside.
Panic quickly follows.
The camera hits the ground. Scrambling feet fill the screen.
CAMERAMAN (O.C.)
Jesus Christ! Did you see that?
JUDITH (O.C.)
Someone help her!
STEVE
Holy crap!
JEREMY
What the hell was that?
STEVE
It looked like some kind of giant spider.
Those woods are like five miles from
here. I want this house sealed tight.
JEREMY
No argument here.
Steve and Jeremy secure the house.
Jeremy reels a little from the pill he took earlier.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
I need to check my email.
INT. JEREMY'S BEDROOM - DAY
Jeremy closes the door behind him.
He inserts the alien data crystal into his computer.
He opens a program named "ANOMALY SCAN." Scans the crystal.
The results indicate "1,950 DATA FRAGMENTS FOUND"
Jeremy copies all the fragments into a single file.
The data appears to be engineering schematics.
Steve knocks before poking his head in.
STEVE
You busy?
JEREMY
Just checking some email.
Jeremy quickly minimizes the display.
Steve sits on the bed.
STEVE
How would you like to take a trip to the
Kennedy Space Center?
JEREMY
I don't know. There's a lot of stuff I
need to get done.
STEVE
Dude, you need a vacation.
JEREMY
No I don't.
STEVE
When you're not following me around like
a lost puppy, you're locked away in here
on your computer. I'll make all the
arrangements and pay for everything.
Steve picks up a model spacecraft from Jeremy's night stand. He pretends to study it.
JEREMY
I'll admit, I always wanted to check out
Kennedy. I'll let you know by tomorrow.
Steve smiles and leaves the room.
INT. MILWAUKEE RAILCAR STATION - DAY
Dozens of monorails crisscross the station.
Long trains of RAILCARS are arriving, departing, and waiting.
Jeremy climbs into a railcar bound for Florida.
INT. RAILCAR - DAY
Jeremy takes a window seat.
PENNY, early thirties, professionally dressed, takes the seat beside him.
The train departs.
PENNY
Are you going to Florida for a visit or
is it home?
JEREMY
Visiting the Kennedy Space Center.
PENNY
Did you plan on touring MICROCORE, too?
JEREMY
Microcore offers tours?
PENNY
I've seen lots of tours come through. My
name is Penny. I work in the ASTEROID
CRUSHER shop at Microcore.
She dangles her hand in front of him.
Jeremy shakes it.
JEREMY
I'm Jeremy. I don't mean to be rude, but
I was hoping to catch a nap before we
cross into Florida.
PENNY
I understand. You get some sleep. I'll
wake you when we get close.
JEREMY
Thanks, Penny.
Jeremy retrieves a small pillbox from his pocket.
He nearly drops it into the tiny trash receptacle beside his seat but then reconsiders.
He shakes out the last three pills, and then drops the pillbox into the trash.
He takes the pills, then curls up in the seat and closes his eyes.
A small TV at the front of the railcar shows A SATELLITE TV NEWSCASTER reporting beside the excavated web in Wisconsin.
SATELLITE TV NEWSCASTER
The skeletons of at least three cattle
were found alongside the remains of Dr.
Laura Sorenson who was abducted by an
unknown animal earlier this week.
Forensic experts have identified several
distinct bite patterns on the bones,
indicating that more than one...
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LIVING ROOM - SKYLAR'S HOUSE - DAY
Pitch black.
SKYLAR (O.C.)
Jeremy, you awake?
JEREMY'S POV: SKYLAR's mottled figure emerges from blackness.
It grows more defined through a sliver of vision.
Skylar is 26, muscular, with bright blond hair.
Penny is beside him.
JEREMY
Skylar, right?
SKYLAR
Yeah. You got totally wasted at my party
the other night. You've been sleeping on
my couch for the last two days.
JEREMY
Two days? I remember falling in a pool.
SKYLAR
You fell in the pool several times, and
then broke one of my lamps. Actually, I
was pretty impressed by the way you stood
up to me.
JEREMY
I feel like I got hit by a truck. Is my
present condition the result of you
beating the crap out of me?
SKYLAR
I didn't touch you. You beat yourself up
without anyone's help.
Skylar moves off, then returns with a large glass of water.
Jeremy accepts it. Guzzles it down.
JEREMY
Thanks.
SKYLAR
I'm on my way out. No offense, but I
expect you to be gone when I get back.
Penny can show you where the railcar
station is.
JEREMY
Thanks for letting me crash here. Sorry
for the inconvenience.
Skylar pulls his baseball cap down over his eyes, then exits with no response.
PENNY
Remember me?
JEREMY
Of course. Penny from Microcore.
PENNY
You were acting kind of weird after I
woke you on the train so I got off at
your stop to keep an eye on you; to keep
you out of trouble.
JEREMY
Didn't do a very good job, did you? Where
are we?
PENNY
Fort Lauderdale. You said your hotel was
here.
JEREMY
My hotel is on Satellite Beach.
PENNY
That makes a little more sense. I
remember that you came down to visit the
Kennedy Space Center. Anyway, you managed
to find a Skylar's party somehow.
JEREMY
All I remember is falling in the pool. Do
you mind if I grab a quick shower?
PENNY
That would probably be a good idea.
Jeremy enters the bathroom. The sound of the shower can be heard.
Penny turns on the news. A FLORIDA NEWSCASTER is reporting on the search for the creature that captured Dr. Sorenson.
Jeremy returns with wet hair.
PENNY (CONT’D)
Do you want to go get a drink somewhere?
JEREMY
Hair of the dog?
PENNY
Exactly.
JEREMY
You're quite the partier for someone who
works at Microcore.
PENNY
Actually, I'm pretty dull and boring most
of the time. This is just a rare
opportunity for me to let my hair down.
JEREMY
In that case, I'd love to go out for a
drink. Apparently I haven't had one in
two days.
INT. NEIGHBORHOOD BAR - DAY
Penny and Jeremy enter. Penny spots Skylar on her first sweep of the room.
Skylar waves them over to his table. He is sitting with a friend, 23, overweight and slovenly dressed. He is KOONTZ.
SKYLAR
I didn't expect to see you two here.
JEREMY
Likewise. We made sure to lock your
apartment, by the way.
Skylar orders a round of beers.
KOONTZ
Hey Skylar, remember the guy that kept
falling in the pool at your party?
SKYLAR
No, I don't remember that.
Jeremy quickly finishes off his beer.
JEREMY
Actually, I really need to get going. I
haven't even checked into my hotel yet.
SKYLAR
Maybe our next encounter will be a little
less uncomfortable.
JEREMY
I'll admit, you didn't exactly catch me
on my best day. Thanks again, everyone. I
can find the rail station myself.
Jeremy slips out.
INT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - DAY
Jeremy is wandering around, bored.
He stumbles upon an aging Apollo flight simulator.
INT. APOLLO FLIGHT SIMULATOR - DAY
The simulator's display offers a mystery prize for each month's high score. It prompts the user to enter their social security number.
Jeremy enters his number.
He quickly gets a feel for the controls.
He circles the moon numerous times, then learns to rendezvous and dock with the lunar lander before finally touching down on the moon's surface.
His final score displays as the second highest.
EXT. BEACH - MORNING
Huge ships pass far offshore.
Diamond shaped aircraft ferry back and forth across the Atlantic.
Jeremy is sitting in the sand reading.
Tara comes up behind him.
TARA
What are you reading?
JEREMY
(arching backward)
Excuse me?
TARA
I was wondering what you were reading.
JEREMY
It's a book on carbon dioxide filtration.
TARA
You mean like in trees?
The response catches Jeremy by surprise.
He twists around so that her head blocks the sun from his eyes.
JEREMY
Spacecraft, actually. But yes, like in
trees.
By now, he has the optimum angle. Her head is bathed in an aura of bright sunlight.
He studies her face.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
Do I know you?
TARA
It's Tara. We met at Alec's party.
JEREMY
Alec Strickland's party? The last party
at Alec's house was almost four years
ago.
TARA
That was it.
JEREMY
What a coincidence. How have you been?
TARA
Pretty good. It's weird that Alec
disappeared that night, and now Kristin
is gone. Even her phone is disconnected.
JEREMY
She'll turn up.
TARA
I hope so. I heard rumors that Alec came
back a few weeks ago. Maybe they ran off
together.
JEREMY
It's possible.
TARA
Actually, it's not such a coincidence
that I'm here. Your brother paid for my
trip down. We've kept in touch over the
past few years.
JEREMY
My brother paid for your trip to Florida?
TARA
Yeah. He told me that you moved here. I
hope you don't mind that he told me how
to find you.
JEREMY
Not at all. It's good to see you. Have a
seat.
She plops down in the sand next to him.
TARA
Steve told me that he got some article
published in a national magazine.
JEREMY
Good for him.
TARA
When I couldn't get hold of Kristin, I
gave him a call. He mentioned that you
were in Florida and thought you might
like to see a familiar face. One thing
led to another and here I am.
JEREMY
How long are you in town?
TARA
I'm flying out tomorrow.
JEREMY
My apartment's right across the street.
Do you want to come up for some lunch?
TARA
Sounds great.
INT. JEREMY'S APARTMENT - DAY
Empty plates sit on the kitchen table.
Jeremy and Tara are having sex on the living room floor.
In B.G., news on TV.
FLORIDA NEWSCASTER
A group of local hunters have killed the
so-called Super Spider in Southern
Wisconsin. We take you live to the scene.
The TV displays five hunters posing above a dead Kek.
A military helicopter is fast approaching from behind them.
A vehicle can be heard slamming on its brakes.
A hand covers the lens.
The video feed ends abruptly.
FLORIDA NEWSCASTER (CONT’D)
Apparently, we've lost the transmission.
Pretty scary stuff. More large webs, such
as the one the creature inhabited, have
been reported as far south as Illinois.
Neither Jeremy nor Tara notice the report.
After sex, they get dressed as if nothing happened.
TARA
I was thinking about applying for the
Ozone Repair Project. I have a lot of
experience in environmental assessment
and I think it would be fun.
JEREMY
You should go for it.
TARA
Interviews are tomorrow afternoon but my
flight leaves in the morning.
JEREMY
You can stay here for a few days.
TARA
That's very generous, Jeremy. But even if
I apply tomorrow, it could be weeks
before they get back to me.
JEREMY
I'm willing to take that chance. Tell you
what, go there and apply tomorrow
afternoon. We'll give it a week, see what
happens.
TARA
I really do hate my job at the health
food store.
JEREMY
There you go. You're due for a change.
She kisses him. It leads to more sex.
INT. JEREMY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Jeremy is watching TV.
Tara enters with a bag of groceries.
TARA
Thanks again for letting me move in.
JEREMY
You're paying half the bills. Works for
me. How's the job going?
TARA
I love it. We're using controlled
explosions to generate ozone over
Antarctica and I get to monitor it. How
are things at the library?
JEREMY
Smooth. I enjoy the exactness of the
Dewey Decimal System. I actually spend
most of my time studying spacecraft
environmental systems.
TARA
Sounds like a perfect fit.
Tara finishes putting away the groceries, then moves into her bedroom and closes the door.
CUT TO:
Jeremy is sitting at a computer in the living room.
The clock reads 4:57 a.m.
A FIERCE THUNDERSTORM can be heard approaching.
A list of fifteen space agencies appears on the screen.
He clicks on NASA.
A lengthy registration form appears.
He fills out three quarters of the form before growing visibly frustrated.
He returns to the list. Then clicks on Microcore.
He selects "Propulsive Research and Design" from a list on the Microcore website.
He opens the file containing the engineering schematics from his previous scan of the crystal.
He Copies one of the equations into a search field on the Microcore website.
The search results indicate an error. He tries again with the same result before closing the website.
INSIDE JEREMY'S APARTMENT - DUSK
Tara is cleaning up after dinner.
Several RAPID KNOCKS on the front door.
Jeremy opens it.
A formally dressed WOMAN stands in the hallway.
TWO MEN are on either side of her.
She holds up a government ID. It boldly displays the words "NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY."
WOMAN
Jeremy Ash?
JEREMY
Yes.
Tara is standing stiffly in the kitchen archway, holding a half finished plate of lasagna.
WOMAN
The federal government of the United
States of America hereby requests your
presence at a briefing to be held in
Conference Room G, South Wing, at the
U.S. Pentagon, Washington, D.C., on
Sunday, 28 August, 2022. Round trip
airfare will be provided. Hotel
accommodations will not be necessary
since you will be returning that evening.
She hands Jeremy two airline tickets and a business card with a raised NSA seal, then walks away.
The two men follow.
Jeremy moves out to the balcony.
EXT. BALCONY - JEREMY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
HIGH ANGLE on limousine parked below.
The three NSA agents climb into the car.
When the car pulls out of the space, a large handicapped symbol is revealed on the pavement.
The car moves slowly onto the street and through a red light.
Tara comes out on the balcony.
Jeremy looks at the card in his hand.
JEREMY
The federal government of the United
States of America hereby requests,
etcetera, etcetera, on Sunday, 28 August,
2022.
(looking at one of the tickets)
My flight leaves at six in the morning.
They know about the crystal.
TARA
Who is Crystal?
Jeremy goes back into the house.
Tara follows.
TARA (CONT’D)
Who is Crystal?
INT. U.S. PENTAGON - DAY
A U.S. MARINE escorts Jeremy to a door marked Conference Room G.
He knocks, then cracks it open.
Jeremy enters cautiously.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM G - U.S PENTAGON - DAY
Photos of space and spacecraft hang on the walls.
A long oak table, littered with laptops and file folders, centers the room.
Nine people are seated around it. The NSA woman is among them.
A Four-Star General is seated at the far end. A ridiculous number of ribbons and medals adorn his uniform. He is GENERAL HAYES.
HAYES
Jeremy Jonathan Ash?
JEREMY
Yes.
HAYES
I'm General Hayes. Please, have a seat.
Jeremy takes the unoccupied chair at the near end of the table.
The lights dim.
An image of the moon appears on the back wall.
The NSA woman approaches the image.
The others at the table carefully assess Jeremy.
WOMAN
Let's get right down to business. The
large crater in the foreground is
Aristarchus.
The crater magnifies in short bursts until a small section of it is boxed off and digitally enhanced to fill the screen.
Machinery is clearly visible.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
What do you see, Mr. Ash?
JEREMY
Looks like a NASA mining operation.
WOMAN
Not NASA. Microcore. They refer to it as
SITE M-X. Although they tell us that it's
a mining operation, we believe the site
is much more than that. It appears
they're building a permanent base of
operations.
JEREMY
My name is Jeremy Ash but I think you've
got me mixed up with someone else.
Hayes flips open a file.
The woman returns to her seat.
HAYES
Are you the Jeremy Ash who logged nearly
eight hours in an Apollo simulator
located at the Kennedy Space Center?
JEREMY
Yeah. So what?
HAYES
The Jeremy Ash who was present when one
Alec Strickland disappeared without a
trace, then returned more than three
years later in possession of a device
capable of interstellar travel?
JEREMY
Alec is my brother's best friend. I don't
keep track of where he goes or what he
does.
HAYES
Speaking of your brother, I have an
article here that he published just last
week. It places you at the scene when Mr.
Strickland utilized the device to launch
himself toward the star 58 Eridani.
That's where the signal of 2018
originated.
JEREMY
It was a joke.
HAYES
Satellites tracked an object heading for
Eridani, at or near light speed, on the
exact date specified in your brother's
article.
JEREMY
What does any of this have to do with me?
HAYES
(reading from another file)
The Jeremy Ash who submitted a query to
Microcore's Propulsive Research and
Design Division, which contained an
equation that alludes to neutrino
convergence vectored along a stable
plane?
JEREMY
I had a theory. Big deal. Why would you
be spying on me and my computer anyway?
What's this all about?
HAYES
We're all very concerned, Mr. Ash. The
ability to capture a neutrino is beyond
any known science, let alone the ability
to redirect its path. We believe that you
are in possession of technical data that
could threaten the national security of
this country.
JEREMY
That's ridiculous.
HAYES
What do you know of the so-called Super
Spider?
JEREMY
Nothing. Am I under arrest or something?
Because if not, I'd like to go home now.
Hayes looks at the woman, who in turn, looks around at the others in the room.
Nods of approval all around.
WOMAN
No, you're not under arrest, Mr. Ash.
Quite the contrary, actually. How would
you like to join the Apollo Eighteen crew
for a lunar fly-by?
JEREMY
Excuse me?
WOMAN
We need to get a firsthand look at
Microcore's Aristarchus operation and we
want a civilian on the flight- an average
American, if you will. Based on your
simulator performance, you're the perfect
candidate for the mission.
JEREMY
Apollo Eighteen...to the moon. You've got
to be kidding me. Apollo Seventeen was
like fifty years ago.
WOMAN
I'm quite serious.
JEREMY
I'm confused. Weren't you just accusing
me of something?
WOMAN
We were just trying to find where your
loyalties lie. Your duties aboard the
spacecraft will be limited. Basically,
just sit back and enjoy the ride. You
will be required to complete a six week
training course.
JEREMY
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
HAYES
Believe it, Mr. Ash. This is a one time
offer. We need to know right now if
you'll accept your country's call to
service.
JEREMY
Since you put it that way, how can I
refuse?
HAYES
Then it's settled.
Everyone in the room begins gathering files and shutting down their laptops.
HAYES (CONT’D)
We'll be in touch. Good day, Mr. Ash.
Everyone but Jeremy leaves the room.
The Marine enters. He escorts Jeremy out.
INT. JEREMY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Jeremy and Tara are sitting on the living room couch.
TARA
I can't believe the government offered
you a trip to the moon because of a few
hours in an old simulator. There's
something you're not telling me.
JEREMY
I told you they want a civilian on the
flight. This is the opportunity of a
lifetime.
TARA
What you've told me is that these people
are spying on your computer. They
obviously can't be trusted.
JEREMY
It's the U.S. Government. Of course they
can't be trusted. But how could I refuse
the offer?
Jeremy moves into the kitchen.
He returns with a bottle of champagne and two wine glasses.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
Will you join me in a toast?
TARA
It's nearly midnight.
JEREMY
Just one glass.
TARA
Are you really proposing that we have one
glass of champagne and save the rest for
another time?
JEREMY
(filling the glasses)
We'll see what happens.
(raising his glass)
To the moon.
They tap their glasses together and promptly empty them.
Tara fills another round.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
Think about it. I'll be a national hero.
TARA
Why is the government so interested in
you all of a sudden? What's the big deal
about Microcore mining the moon, anyway?
They've been mining asteroids for years.
What's the difference?
JEREMY
Maybe there really is something else
going on.
TARA
Anything's possible.
Tara finishes her drink and then passes out in Jeremy's lap.
He carries her into her bedroom.
LATER
The living room is dark, empty.
The wall screen is BEEPING.
Jeremy comes out of his bedroom.
JEREMY
I'm coming. Screen activate. Answer call.
CECIL MILLIKAN, early forties, appears on the screen.
His face exudes power and confidence.
He's wearing a Microcore logo baseball cap.
A fat cigar pokes out of his shirt pocket.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
Can I help you?
CECIL
Mr. Jeremy Ash?
JEREMY
Yes.
CECIL
Please accept my apologies for the timing
of this call, but I was just informed of
your trip to Washington.
JEREMY
Whoever you are, please just tell me what
you want so I can go back to bed. I do
work for a living.
CECIL
You can quit your job, Mr. Ash. My name
is Cecil Millikan, President of
Microcore.
Jeremy's eyes light up as he recognizes the richest man in the world.
JEREMY
How can I help you, sir?
CECIL
I want you to come work for me and I
won't take no for an answer. I have a lot
more to offer you than the government.
JEREMY
What do you know about my trip to
Washington?
CECIL
I know many things. I'll upload the
details of my offer for you to view at
your convenience. Please contact me
directly after you've examined my
proposal. Good night, Mr. Ash.
Cecil nods before disconnecting.
Jeremy removes a printout from below the screen.
He sits down on the couch and starts to read it.
INT. JEREMY'S APARTMENT - DAWN
Jeremy is sitting on the living room couch, staring at the printout.
Tara comes up behind him.
TARA
Have you been up all night?
She grips the back of the couch. Leans down. Starts to read aloud from the printout.
TARA (CONT’D)
From the desk of C. Edward Millikan,
President, Microcore Space Systems
Management Corp. Subject: ARCUS LUNAR
LANDING SHELL. Having a little fantasy
are we?
JEREMY
Keep reading.
She sighs loudly before joining Jeremy on the couch.
She takes the printout, reads it completely, then hands it back to Jeremy.
She gets up and grabs her purse.
TARA
This is getting weird. I don't know what
you're involved in, I'm just glad it's
not the police or the FBI who are showing
such an interest in you.
JEREMY
Believe me, it's scarier than that.
Jeremy turns on the news.
FLORIDA NEWSCASTER
The search continues for fifteen year old
Billy Faylan who went missing yesterday
during a family camping trip in Northern
Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Faylan, along with
their ten year old daughter, claim to
have encountered a Super Spider that
stalked them before attacking, and then
dragging off the boy. Illinois State
Police are not convinced...
TARA
I'm off to work. Have a good day at the
library. I'll see you around six.
Tara exits. Jeremy moves into the bedroom.
The sound of a shower can be heard.
INT. MELBOURNE RAILCAR STATION - DAY
The station buzzes with activity.
Jeremy boards a single occupant railcar: a SINGLECAR.
INT. SINGLECAR - DAY
He programs a northbound route to the library.
The singlecar debarks the station.
The small display screen indicates that it has merged onto a southbound track.
Jeremy tries, unsuccessfully, to override the computer.
He cannot make contact with the rail station.
The car speeds down the coast.
INT. MICROCORE NORTH ENTRANCE - DAY
The car enters, then stops at a checkpoint.
A FEMALE SECURITY GUARD enters its serial number into a palm unit.
The car then continues into the high security complex.
INT. MICROCORE MAIN HANGAR - DAY
The car glides into the hangar. Slowly rides its periphery.
Dozens of technicians are present. They fill the tiers that wrap up and around a Blaster Nine Rocket.
The rocket's nose cone is opened up. A circle of seats are visible within.
The car exits the building.
EXT. MICROCORE MAIN TARMAC - DAY
The car rides high above a sea of cement.
Ground vehicles move freely beneath the track.
The car heads toward a Blaster Nine Rocket readied on the launchpad.
It arcs in a wide loop around the rocket.
The car descends toward a small stretch of beach.
It merges onto another track and stops. Engages in reverse.
It moves backward along a quarter mile long stretch of track leading out into the ocean.
It reaches the end.
INT. SINGLECAR - DAY
The rocket is directly ahead.
Showers of sparks cross beneath its engines.
The engines ignite.
Thick steam mushrooms out from two sides.
The docking tower disengages and falls away.
The track shakes violently.
Jeremy grips the dashboard nervously.
The rocket clears the launchpad.
Jeremy arches backward, watching it until it disappears into a high cloud.
The steam cloud washes over the car.
THUNDER echoes off into the distance.
EXT. MICROCORE MAIN TARMAC - DAY
The car moves forward, past the soaking wet launchpad and into the base of a high observation tower.
The tower is topped by an ovoid shell surrounded by tinted windows.
INT. BASE OF CECIL'S OFFICE TOWER - DAY
The car enters, then stops.
A MALE SECURITY OFFICER approaches. Pops open the car's door.
MALE SECURITY OFFICER
Ambassador Ash, I presume?
JEREMY
Ambassador? If you say so.
SECURITY OFFICER
Mr. Millikan is waiting for you in his
office. Please follow me.
They enter an elevator.
INT. CECIL'S OFFICE - DAY
The office is oval shaped with a high arched ceiling.
A large glass top table centers the room. The glass is supported by a very realistic slice of planet Earth.
An elevator door opens.
Jeremy steps out into the office.
The elevator door closes with the security guard still inside.
Cecil Millikan is sitting in a leather chair behind a Mahogany desk.
He looks up at Jeremy and lights a cigar.
CECIL
My employees wait months to view a launch
from the track. I hope you enjoyed it.
JEREMY
Are you kidding? That was probably the
coolest thing I've ever seen.
CECIL
I'm glad to hear that. Please sit. I hope
my tactics are not too overbearing.
JEREMY
(sitting down)
Your tactics both refresh and inspire me,
sir.
A woman enters from an adjacent room. She is in her late forties. Streaks of gray highlight her hair. She is GWEN.
She sits down beside Cecil and squeezes his hand.
GWEN
Hi. I'm Cecil's wife, Gwen.
JEREMY
It's nice to meet you. I'm Jeremy, but
you probably already know that.
GWEN
Indeed I do.
JEREMY
I don't mean to sound ungrateful, sir,
but I'm supposed to be at work right now.
I would have gladly accepted your
invitation had you extended one.
CECIL
I wanted it to be surprise. I've already
informed the library that you won't be
coming in today.
JEREMY
Really.
CECIL
They didn't seem to mind because I made a
$10,000 donation on the very same call.
Have you had a chance to look over my
proposal?
JEREMY
I have. Are you aware that I've already
accepted the government's proposal?
CECIL
Have you signed anything?
JEREMY
Now that you mention it, no. And I must
admit, you've certainly succeeded in
demonstrating your superior style over
those stiffs at the Pentagon.
CECIL
I like you, Jeremy.
JEREMY
Thank you, Mr. Millikan.
CECIL
Please, call me Cecil.
JEREMY
Okay Cecil.
CECIL
There will be A HALF DOZEN PROMINENT
SCIENTISTS aboard THE ARCUS in addition
to FOUR OF MY BEST SPACERS. Did you get a
look at the LANDING SHELL when you rode
through the main hangar?
JEREMY
That was The Arcus landing shell? I never
even made the connection.
CECIL
I need you on that ship, Jeremy. I want
to show up NASA with my own average
American.
JEREMY
You obviously know the details of my
meeting at the Pentagon. I take it you
also received the equation I sent.
CECIL
I did indeed. Can you tell me where it
came from?
JEREMY
Very far away.
CECIL
(looking at Gwen)
Didn't I tell you?
Jeremy fidgets uncomfortably.
GWEN
We read your brother's article. It's a
very creative, almost prophetic
accounting of the events surrounding your
friend's encounter. It's already gone
viral on the internet.
JEREMY
I didn't know that. How is it that an
article published by a no name machinist
from Wisconsin has stirred the attention
of both you and the Pentagon? Not to
mention the internet community.
CECIL
Actually, it was pretty hard to miss when
that no name guy from Wisconsin had the
same last name and address as the man who
can apparently train neutrinos.
JEREMY
It was just a simple equation. I can't
believe everyone's making such a big deal
about it.
CECIL
Just a simple equation? This formula of
yours assumes a number of subatomic
constants that have yet to be determined.
JEREMY
Lucky guess.
CECIL
A lucky guess from very far away?
JEREMY
I was just kidding about the very far
away part.
CECIL
Too late.
Cecil smiles broadly as if he knows everything.
CECIL (CONT’D)
Tell him about the LEM, honey.
GWEN
(smiling proudly)
We made a cardboard mock-up of an old
Apollo Lunar Module. We plan to unfold it
at the landing site for the Apollogize
crew to photograph as they pass overhead.
She covers her mouth. Laughter slips through.
CECIL
We've timed the mission to coincide with
the Apollo Eighteen fly-by. We should be
able to see it as it passes overhead.
GWEN
They're going to be Apollo-gizing to the
Senate Appropriations Committee when it
appears that we've stolen one of their
Lunar Modules.
Gwen laughs loudly.
Jeremy starts laughing too.
Cecil stands up. Pops a silly, left handed salute.
CECIL
It looks as if they're planning to
reverse engineer the Lunar Module
technology, sir.
Gwen bursts into hysterics, nearly choking as she fights for air.
Cecil gets her a bottle of water.
She drinks, collects herself. Then enters an adjacent room.
O.S. - Sound of opening and closing drawers.
CECIL (CONT’D)
What do you say, Jeremy? It's going to be
a lot of fun. Are you in?
JEREMY
What about the Pentagon? I already told
some Four-Star General that I would go on
the NASA flight.
CECIL
You haven't signed anything and I've got
some of the best lawyers money can buy.
Gwen returns.
She hands Jeremy a stack of twenty dollar bills. A paper band around the bills reads "$1,000."
GWEN
This is for dragging you away from your
job today. It's all I could find. We have
little need for cash these days. I hope
it's enough.
JEREMY
This really isn't necessary.
CECIL
Just take it. Consider it hazard pay for
being out on the track during the launch.
JEREMY
Since you're admitting that the track was
hazardous, I accept. Thank you.
CECIL
How about we go get some barbeque down in
one of the hangars?
JEREMY
Sounds great.
GWEN
I've got some things to take care of.
Gwen moves back into the adjacent room.
INT. TWO OCCUPANT DOUBLECAR - DAY
Cecil is driving the DOUBLECAR.
They travel across an area littered with hangars.
CECIL
Are you in possession of any more data
besides the one equation?
JEREMY
I've got about eighty pages of what
appears to be engineering schematics.
Everything's on a data crystal.
CECIL
Schematics? Is this information for sale?
JEREMY
You know the old saying, everything's for
sale at the right price.
CECIL
How much is a trip to the moon worth?
JEREMY
Quite a bit, actually.
CECIL
Did I tell you that I'll be commanding
The Arcus mission? It'll be my first trip
into space.
JEREMY
I didn't know that. Now that I do, I
definitely want in.
CECIL
I prefer that my spacers remain at the
complex during training to minimize the
possibility of injury or illness. I don't
like the idea of replacing members of my
crew at the last minute.
JEREMY
I can live with that.
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(Pages 1-79 show above.)