TRIUMVIRATE SE Abandoned Scenes Part 3a
By The Host
[NOTE: Because the following is so long, I've been forced to upload it in two parts. It simply wouldn't load otherwise. Sorry.]
ROCKS ALONG THE WAY
Predecessors to Triumvirate Part III
What follows is the longest early version of Gemini's Redemption that I wrote. I wrote about five different versions over the course of six months. In each case I abandoned it and started over because it was running far too long. Although this is the longest, it actually moves through earlier scenes much more swiftly than some other versions. Nonetheless, as I sure you've noticed, this portion is still damned long -- about two-thirds the length of the whole of Triumvirate. Indeed, 110 pages here has been collapsed into about 40 pages in Triumvirate. Ruthless cutting!
This should be interesting to at least skim over. See some early ideas about plot and character.
December 1998 (completely unedited):
“GEMINI’S REDEMPTION”
Revision Four (5/5/98)
by
D M BOUDREAU
FADE IN:
STARFIELD
A million tiny points of light strewn across a velvet black
background. Infinitely still, deafeningly silent.
SUPER OPENING TITLES
Soon, the silence and solitude of the great void is broken
as a small craft, which looks alien in origin but vaguely
familiar. It zooms by from right to left, its unadorned,
slate-grey underside facing us.
PAN DOWN to reveal...
EXT. ATHENAI -- DAY
...a sprawling metropolis of immense proportions populated
by buildings of unguessable height.
MOVING SHOT as we follow the vessel, which is only one out
of hundreds of shuttles zooming from one section of the city
to another. The vehicles are sleek and uncomplicated,
constructed in a sort of neo-gothic style. The buildings of
the city are designed similarly; their peaks sticking like
great spikes into the sky, shimmering in the moonlight. All
is very neo-gothic, very stylized, very surreal. Everything
looks the same, all is similar, yet every detail and nuance
in every building (and there are a lot of them, both
buildings and nuances) are incrediblly interesting. The city
is beautiful, jaw-droppingly so; no other word or phrase
could describe it more fittingly. Between the buildings are
not streets, but glass-covered promenades which more flying
vehicles fleetly traverse.
-----------
The shuttle makes its way to a large, square building walled
with glass. It pulls up to a ‘gate’ -- a bridge jutting out
into the air and ending suddenly -- and lets out its
passenger.
HAROLD WILLIAMSON, dressed casually, steps out of the
shuttle, pays the driver, and shoulders his small bag of
luggage. He crosses the bridge, careful not to look down,
and enters the building.
Inside, it is bright and airy. One large room filled with
people, some rushing along for unknown reasons, others
resting their feet on benches. It has the feel of a huge
airport lobby, and that isn’t far off: Williamson has
stepped into the main lobby of the Calinopolis Shuttleport.
The young man looks around for a minute, and then heads for
a row of benches surrounding a great fountain near the
room’s center. As he nears, DAVID ROBBINS waves to him and
points to an empty seat next to him.
Williamson sits next to the older, larger man.
WILLIAMSON
Dave. How are you? Glad to be
heading back?
ROBBINS
Excited to be heading back.
Anxious about heading back.
But glad, no, Hal. We don’t
get damned near enough
vacation.
Williamson smiles.
WILLIAMSON
Our job could be worse.
National heroes and all. How
did you spend your vacation,
by the way?
ROBBINS
Oh, this and that. I kept
myself entertained. What about
you?
WILLIAMSON
(Rolling his eyes)
I spent a week with my family.
ROBBINS
That sounds nice.
WILLIAMSON
You’ve never met my family,
have you?
ROBBINS
Good point.
An announcement is made. Robbins pays close attention.
ANNOUNCER (VO)
Flight one-ninety-five to Al
T’Har is now boarding at gate
three-hundred-sixty-one.
ROBBINS
(Standing)
That’s us.
Williamson stands.
WILLIAMSON
Let’s go make history.
EXT. SPACE
SUPER: The Future
Space. A million tiny points of light strewn across a velvet
black background. Infinitely still; deafeningly silent.
Directly ahead of us, very far away, is the battle-scarred
hulk of a huge spaceship, paralyzed and unmoving, a standing
testament to the wonders -- and failures -- of man.
We slowly move in on the ship; it seems to grow larger as we
near. Then the stillness of space is suddenly sundered as a
massive starship passes by, the disabled vessel directly in
its flight path. The name on the side of the ship is clearly
distinguishable: USSS GEMINI.
----------------------- [FILL THIS IN] ---------------------
-
A huge explosion then rips across the screen, shattering the
silence.
PAN RIGHT to reveal empty space as two fighter ships swoop
into view from behind.
SUPER: Fifty-Four Years Later
We follow the fighters as they zoom through space side-by-
side. We hear the voice of COMMANDER ROBERT JOHNSON over
radio.
JOHNSON (VO)
I’d hate to be him.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Johnson’s wingman, LIEUTENANT JACK DAVIES, smiles as he
responds to his commander.
DAVIES
That was one hell of an
explosion.
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
Johnson fiddles with some switches as he speaks.
JOHNSON
Nothin’ but a spark, Davies.
I’ll let you know when you
make an explosion, rookie.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies smiles again.
DAVIES
Can’t wait for the day, o
captain my captain.
JOHNSON (VO)
Anyway, listen, let’s head
home.
DAVIES
Don’t want to fry a few more
space pirates?
JOHNSON (VO)
None left. Not with my skill.
DAVIES
You are full of it, aren’t
you, Commander Johnson?
EXT. SPACE
JOHNSON (VO)
Got that right. Catch me if
you can!
Johnson’s ship suddenly powers up; it stretches ahead very
quickly to an almost unrecognizable shape, and is gone
within a second. A moment later, Davies’ does the same.
EXT. SPACE
Johnson’s ship appears seemingly out of nowhere, streaking
towards us but rapidly slowing down. As it nears, PAN RIGHT
to reveal what’s ahead of it: a large field of debris.
Davies’ ship appears behind Johnson’s.
DAVIES (VO)
I hate it when you...
He trails off. Johnson’s starship moves cautiously forward.
DAVIES (VO)
(Stunned)
What happened?
JOHNSON (VO)
I don’t know...
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies looks around him in wonder at the debris floating
lazily by.
DAVIES
Well, uh, maybe you got the
coordinates wrong. You left
suddenly...
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
JOHNSON
(Interrupting)
I got the coordinates right.
The station should be here.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
DAVIES
But it isn’t...
There is no answer from his wingman.
EXT. SPACE
The two ships linger within the field.
DAVIES (VO)
(Quietly; to himself)
What happened...?
At that moment, a piece of wreckage passes in front of the
CAMERA with a strange symbol marked upon it.
DISSOLVE TO...
A CLOSE-UP of the very same symbol. A BRIEFING OFFICER’S
speaks.
BRIEFING OFFICER (VO)
This is the enemy.
INT. BRIEFING CHAMBER -- BRIGHT
A WIDER ANGLE reveals that the symbol is being displayed on
a large screen in a briefing room. Dozens of PILOTS wearing
United Star Systems uniforms are seated around the room,
including Davies and Johnson. The briefing officer stands
near the screen debriefing the others in the room.
BRIEFING OFFICER (CONT’D)
The Al T’Har. A small nation
which pales in comparison to
our great empire. Why they
would attack us is unknown;
however, after careful
analysis of the wreckage found
at the site of Starbase One-
Eleven’s destruction, it is
undeniable that they did
attack us. This unprovoked
action against us must be met
with a swift and decisive
counter-attack, and it will if
diplomatic talks currently in
progress go badly. I want all
of you men to be on alert. You
could be called into action at
any time.
The officer pauses here, perhaps to let the information
settle upon his troops, perhaps simply for dramatic value.
BRIEFING OFFICER
Now, if there are no
questions, that’ll be it.
The officer waits for a moment. Then, sufficiently convinced
that there are no questions, he speaks once more.
BRIEFING OFFICER
Dismissed. Have a nice day.
All of the troops stand and begin to file out of the room as
the briefing officer gathers up his things.
As they’re about to leave, the officer speaks to Davies and
Johnson.
BRIEFING OFFICER
Davies and Johnson, you two
stay behind for a second.
The two follow his orders. After everybody else has left the
room, the officer steps over to them.
BRIEFING OFFICER
The Admiral wants to see you
in his office. I don’t know
why, or what you boys have
gotten yourselves into, but
you’d better go right away.
Davies and Johnson exchange glances.
BRIEFING OFFICER (CONT’D)
His office is on deck fifty-
three, Section C. It’s a
pretty big station, but there
are navigational terminals
everywhere so you should be
able to find your way.
Davies and Johnson nod.
BRIEFING OFFICER
(Turning to leave)
Have fun.
JOHNSON
We’ll try our best.
The briefing officer leaves the room, shutting the door
behind him.
INT. HALLWAY -- BRIGHT
Davies and Johnson walk along a wide hallway filled with
people busily moving from one place to another. There is an
atmosphere of modern beauty; the designers of the station
have obviously gone to great lengths to make it a bright and
happy place to live and work in. Only in a few places can
you see the dark machinery -- the true heart of the station
-- peeping through.
DAVIES
What the hell did you do now,
anyway?
JOHNSON
I didn’t do nothing!
DAVIES
Three days on the station and
already we’re being called to
the admiral’s office.
JOHNSON
Hey! I didn’t do anything,
okay?
The two comrades round a corner, passing through double
glass-paned doors into a large, busy office. They cross the
room to a long counter designed in a flowing style. We see
them talking to a SECRETARY behind the counter. She points
to a nearby set of doors, Johnson says something, and she
nods her head. The two turn away and head for the doors.
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM
Davies and Johnson enter Admiral Copley’s office. It is a
jaw-droppingly expansive space, and sparsely-furnished,
adding to the feeling of overwhelming size. In contrast to
the brightness of the other parts of the complex, Copley’s
office is darker, more silent and empty. The entire back
wall is a huge window looking out across the stars.
The door closes behind the two as they enter; they stand
near it unsure of what to do next. After a brief moment,
ADMIRAL COPLEY’S voice breaks the silence, echoing
throughout the massive chamber.
COPLEY
I don’t bite, you know.
Davies and Johnson move cautiously forward to the Admiral’s
desk, which is almost completely engulfed in shadow. When
they arrive, he motions for them to sit down in two chairs
across from his.
Other than that, he doesn’t seem to notice or pay attention
to them. He keeps his eyes lowered to where he is fiddling
with a computer screen on the surface of his desk. After a
moment of this, Johnson finally opens his mouth to speak; at
that very instant, Copley looks up and addresses the pilots.
COPLEY
I’d like to thank you boys for
immediately reporting the
destruction of starbase One-
Ten -- your starbase. You did
the right thing.
(Beat)
It was a grievous loss.
There is a heavy silence. It is soon broken, once again, by
Admiral Copley.
COPLEY
A decision has been made
regarding your future.
Johnson and Davies look up expectantly, their interest
piqued.
COPLEY (CONT’D)
You were the only survivors of
the starbase’s destruction,
and only by chance. You have
been officially re-assigned to
this base. These are your new
wingmen.
Copley hands a DataPad to Johnson, who glances over it as
Copley continues.
COPLEY (CONT’D)
You have also been given
special orders.
DAVIES
Special orders?
COPLEY
Yes. Before I continue I would
like to remind you that
everything that is said in
this conversation is both off-
the-record and strictly
confidential.
Johnson and Davies nod their agreement to confidentiality.
COPLEY
Very well.
(Leaning in closer;
quietly)
A war with the Al T’Har seems
almost certain now. Because of
your knowledge of Al T’Har and
your skill as pilots, you two
have been chosen to lead the
first attack on Al T’Har.
DAVIES
(With disbelief)
We have?
COPLEY
Yes. You have. Our first
attack will arrive without
warning for both the Al T’Har
and us. It is orchestrated to
begin within minutes of talks
breaking down so that we’ll
arrive at Al T’Har at almost
the very moment war is
declared.
JOHNSON
Do you have any idea what kind
of an attack it will be?
Copley presses buttons on his
desk screen to create
holographic images and
readouts during the next
dialogue.
COPLEY
It will be a major strike
against a military weapons
facility on the home planet of
Al T’Har. It is of utmost
importance that this facility
be destroyed. The mission must
not be compromised.
(Handing Johnson another,
larger DataPad)
Your job will be not only to
lead the mission, but to brief
the troops.
(Johnson opens his mouth
to speak but is cut off)
All briefings will be done in-
flight, en route to target.
JOHNSON
(Surprised)
In-flight?
COPLEY
There is no time to be spared.
(Beat, standing)
Please look over these files
as soon as you possibly can.
Be prepared to be called into
action at any moment.
Davies and Johnson stand and shake hands with the Admiral.
COPLEY
Welcome to starbase three-
fourteen. I trust you boys
will have an enjoyable stay
here.
INT. CORRIDOR -- BRIGHT
Johnson and Davies walk together through the starbase’s
halls. Johnson is intently reading the information on one of
the DataPads, so much so that he doesn’t right away hear his
wingman speak.
DAVIES
So, commander....
He is ignored.
DAVIES
Robert?
Johnson only grunts in reply.
DAVIES
(Louder)
Bob!
Johnson looks up.
JOHNSON
Bob? When did you start
calling me ‘Bob’?
DAVIES
When I had to get your
attention and you weren’t
listening to me.
JOHNSON
I’m listening now.
DAVIES
Good. So... Who’ve we got?
JOHNSON
You mean on our team?
DAVIES
No, I mean on our... um,
starbase...
JOHNSON
Rule number one, Davies.
DAVIES
Yeah, yeah...
JOHNSON
(As if reciting from
memory)
If thou hast nothing witful to
sayeth, thou hast best keep
thine mouth shut and leave the
humor to me.
DAVIES
(To himself)
If you call that humor...
JOHNSON
See? You’re learning.
Delivery’s off, though: try it
with a little more volume and
conviction next time.
DAVIES
Yeah, well, anyway, you never
answered my question.
JOHNSON
You referring to the list of
team-mates?
DAVIES
Yeah--
(Catches himself)
Yeah.
JOHNSON
Okay then.
Though Johnson is looking down at the DataPad while he
speaks, he is still able to smoothly and skillfully weave
past other people walking down the corridor.
JOHNSON
Okay, we’ve got Dan Holden,
your all-American boy. Not a
big scorer in the brains
department, but he’s got a
heart of gold.
DAVIES
Yeah, move on.
JOHNSON
Malcolm ‘Jibs’ Gelford... Ron
Reardon... Ed Reardon... I
guess those two are brothers.
(Slow and exaggerated
pronunciation)
Yur-tek Com-balm...
(Beat)
Hmmm...
DAVIES
What?
JOHNSON
Just looking at the full files
on our crew-mates...
DAVIES
(Trying harder)
What?
JOHNSON
Well, it’s just that it seems
Ron Reardon isn’t Malcolm’s
brother...
DAVIES
Yes...
JOHNSON
(Smugly)
Ron -- Veronica -- Reardon is
Malcolm Reardon’s sister. Not
too bad, either, if you catch
my drift...
Davies just rolls his eyes.
INT. QUARTERS -- BRIGHT
Davies and Johnson enter their quarters. Davies falls onto
his neatly-made bed with exaggerated exhaustion; Johnson
walks over to examine some duty schedules in one corner of
the room, near a desk.
DAVIES
So... What now? Wait here?
JOHNSON
Nah. Let’s go out. Be social.
Make some new friends.
DAVIES
Now?
JOHNSON
Yeah.
DAVIES
Well, why don’t we just wait
here a while first?
JOHNSON
Come on. We’ll get an idea of
the layout of this level,
where everything is. Maybe we
can find some of our new
wingmen.
Johnson doesn’t wait for an answer; he walks out. After a
brief delay, Davies reluctantly rises from his bed and
follows, shutting off the lights as he leaves.
INT. GRAND HALL -- BRIGHT
Davies and Johnson sit at tables in a food court at one end
of the massive grand hall of the space station. The social
hub of the station, it is dotted by similar food courts,
theaters, and entertainment areas for the troops. The airy
space is dozens of floors high, and at either end are huge
windows revealing the void outside.
Davies is staring out one of these windows now.
JOHNSON
So, what do you think?
Davies barely moves his head.
DAVIES
About what?
JOHNSON
The station.
DAVIES
Oh.
(Brief pause as he
considers this)
Big.
Johnson smiles as he brings his cup to his lips.
JOHNSON
Good answer.
Davies turns around to his meal: a variety of multi-colored
pills and a small glass of clear liquid. He looks at his
partner’s cup.
DAVIES
What the hell is that stuff
anyway?
JOHNSON
Tea. Barbaric, huh?
DAVIES
I don’t know if barbaric is
the word. Outdated, maybe.
JOHNSON
Call me crazy, but I seem to
prefer something with taste--
(Indicating Davies’
pills)
--Unlike those.
DAVIES
I don’t mind ‘em. Besides --
who’s got time for taste now
anyway?
Suddenly a loud announcement is made over the communication
system.
VOICE (VO)
Now hear this: War is about to
be declared against the Al
T’Har. All active pilots are
to report to their respective
hangars immediately. Briefing
will be in flight, en route to
Al T’Har. All station crew
members on active duty assume
battlestations. This sector is
on red alert status as of now.
Suddenly the lights dim and are replaced by flashing red
strobe lights.
WIDER ANGLE form above reveals sudden organized chaos as
everybody gets up and begins to race for the room’s exits at
once.
Back at their table, Davies and Johnson stand.
JOHNSON
Damn!
DAVIES
Guess we’ll be leaving sooner
than we thought...
Johnson nods as he finishes his tea and takes one more
mouthful of whatever it was he was eating (a brownish
substance). Davies leaves his pills behind.
INT. HANGAR -- DIM
Davies and Johnson reach their hangar to find their team
already waiting for them. Johnson pulls out his DataPad for
roll-call.
JOHNSON
All right... Everybody here?
The others convey their agreement. Johnson double-checks his
list to make sure before beginning again.
JOHNSON
All right, soldiers, we’re
going to be leading this
attack.
Murmurs of surprise abound. DAN speaks up.
DAN
Why us? I mean, we’re all
rookies. ‘Cept for Yurtek, of
course.
They all look at YURTEK for a moment.
YURTEK
I’m... sure they have a good
reason.
JOHNSON
They do. You guys are the
brightest up-and-coming pilots
in the corps.
RON speaks with a mild British accent.
RON
You got that bloody right.
DAN
What kind of a mission is
this, anyway?
JOHNSON
Dan, right? Well, Dan, we’ll
all know in-flight. Not until
then.
Johnson surveys his troops.
JOHNSON (CONT’D)
All right, then. Let’s get to
it!
The others disperse to their fighters. As Davies and Johnson
head towards theirs, Johnson leans in closer to Davies.
JOHNSON
Five-hundred years of
refinement and they still
don’t have a cure for
indigestion.
Davies smiles as Johnson walks away towards his own fighter.
Davies arrives at his. It’s large and sleek, painted black.
Davies walks beneath the ship to a small black platform; as
soon as he steps onto it, it beeps and a red light blinks on
beside it. The platform begins to rise.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT -- BRIGHT
Davies rises right into his cockpit. Then he steps off of
the platform, and a small trap-door in the floor closes over
it. A chair emerges from the rear of the cockpit and
positions itself over this trapdoor, right below Davies.
He sits down and adjusts his body, trying to get used to the
feel of the plush seat beneath him. He looks over the
devices surrounding him. As he does so, a small screen
flickers to life above him. He can see Johnson’s image on
it, sitting in his own fighter.
JOHNSON
I like the seats.
DAVIES
Yeah. I could get used to
this.
JOHNSON
It’s better than our old
fighters. I’ve been itching to
try one out ever since I got
here.
DAVIES
Well, now you’re going to. The
hangar doors are opening.
The screen shuts off. Davies looks out of his forward
window, which is rather small. He looks for a button at his
left side, finds it, and pushes it. Immediately the entire
front section of the cockpit seems to dematerialize, leaving
a panoramic view of the huge hangar. Davies gasps.
DAVIES
Cool...
The CAMERA slowly and smoothly moves forward into the hangar
itself. The space is huge, like most things on the station.
There are many levels, each with hundreds of fighters.
Straight ahead, through a short and wide tunnel, the huge
hangar doors slowly part. Flashing red lights line the sides
of the tunnel and floor of the hangar, outlining various.
Finally, the doors open and lock. The lights along the
tunnel stop flashing and turn green; the lights on the
taxiway leading to Davies’ and Johnson’s division flash
amber.
Inside Davies’ cockpit, the screen switches on again. This
time it’s Admiral Copley.
COPLEY
All right, boys, take ‘em out.
Good luck.
The screen switches off and the lights along the taxiway
turn green.
A FEMALE VOICE fills Davies’ cockpit.
FEMALE VOICE (VO)
Prepare for exit.
Davies reaches down for his control stick, but before he
gets a chance, the ship jolts as it lifts up.
DAVIES
Woah.
INT. HANGAR -- BRIGHT
Davies ship smoothly lifts up a few feet and turns. It then
begins to move forward towards the hangar doors.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT -- BRIGHT
Johnson’s fighter pulls in front of Davies, and they make
their automated way through the hangar doors.
EXT. SPACE
MOVING SHOT as the fighters grandly make their way out of
the station. It is only now, as we follow the fighters away
from the station, that we fully realize the immensity of its
size: the huge hangar is but a tiny speck on the surface of
this giant monolith, which is itself but a tiny a beacon in
the deadness and darkness of space.
The ships power up and are away within seconds.
Slowly PAN DOWN. The sounds of a city become audible. Then a
shuttle passes by, obscuring our view for a brief second.
After it has passed, we find our selves suddenly transported
to...
----------------------- [FILL THIS IN] ---------------------
-
EXT. SPACE
The stillness of space is interrupted by the movement of
hundreds of fighters. Johnson is leading the USS forces
towards Al T’Har.
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
The small communications screen above Johnson’s head turns
on. Admiral Copley appears.
COPLEY
Johnson, I want you to halt
your advance immediately.
JOHNSON
(Caught off guard)
What?!
COPLEY
There have been some
complications. War will not be
officially declared for at
least another hour. Until
then, you have to sit tight.
JOHNSON
Does it really matter? I mean,
if it’s gonna be declared
anyway.
COPLEY
It’s all in the game of
politics. Apparently, it will
matter.
JOHNSON
So much for the element of
surprise.
COPLEY
I have given you a direct
order, commander. I expect
that you will act upon it.
Copley out.
The screen shuts off again. Johnson sighs.
EXT. SPACE -- LATER
Hundreds of fighters and bombers sit idle in space.
DAVIES (VO)
It’s been three hours.
JOHNSON (VO)
I noticed.
DAVIES (VO)
What are we waiting for,
anyway?
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
Moving towards a readout on one of his displays.
JOHNSON
I don’t know, but I think I’m
getting it now...
On a small monitor, a single line of text flashes red: ‘WAR
DECLARED. CUT OFF ALL COMMUNICATIONS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.’
JOHNSON
I’m gonna have to go, Jack.
Johnson reaches to switch off his monitor, but instead
changes the setting to open comm.
JOHNSON
Following this message, all
inter-ship communications are
to be immediately ceased.
(Beat)
All right, boys and girls,
lets go kick some enemy ass.
The ships power up and move into action. PAN LEFT as they
pass, heading directly for Al T’Har.
EXT. SPACE
Al T’Har is close. The huge armada slows and prepares for
engagement.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
A flashing line of text scrolls across Davies’ display, this
one from Johnson. It reads, ‘Lock target and fire on my
mark.’
DAVIES
You got it.
Davies presses a few buttons and his computer whirs into
action. Once again, the front portion of the cockpit
dissolves into an open view. The computer quickly scans the
planet, finds the target, and redefines a number of times,
getting more accurate coordinates each time. A window pops
up to the right as the targeting system zooms in.
After a moment, the target facility, now large in the zoom
window, changes green. The former pinging of the computer
becomes a buzz. ‘TARGET LOCKED’ flashes on the viewscreen.
A few tense seconds pass. Then another message appears on
Davies’ monitor: ‘MARK’.
Davies moves to press the ‘Launch Warheads’ button.
EXT. SPACE
At that very instant something goes terribly wrong. An
explosion rips through the fighter nearest to Davies.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies’ swings his head around; his fingers miss the
‘launch’ button. Suddenly his monitor switches on; Johnson,
who appears on the screen, looks tense.
JOHNSON
We’ve got a situation here.
Prepare to engage the enemy --
close combat.
The screen shuts off. Davies is stunned.
DAVIES
Close combat. A dogfight.
Jesus...
EXT. SPACE
Davies’ fighter swings around, in search of the hiding
enemies. He sees a small squadron of Al T’Har fighters very
nearby. How did they get there without being noticed?
Davies gives it little thought. His ship swoops towards one
of the enemies, meeting a few close calls with his wingmen’s
fighters scrambling to about-face.
MOVING SHOT as he comes up from below, guns blazing. His
lasers make only a few connections, however, before the
enemy fighter turns away.
Reaching the same horizontal plane as the fighter, Davies’
own ship levels and rolls, following close behind the bogie,
tearing up its tail. Suddenly, while Davies is a little too
close, the enemy fighter unexpectedly explodes. Debris rains
on Davies’ fighter. He loops to get away, but his fighter is
damaged.
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
Johnson opens communications with the others.
JOHNSON
(Strained)
Protect the bombers!
EXT. SPACE
FAVORING THE BOMBERS, larger, slower-moving vessels, as they
make their way towards Al T’Har, oblivious to the melee
around them.
INT. BOMBER COCKPIT
A BOMBER PILOT launches his warheads at Al T’Har.
EXT. SPACE
CLOSE-UP of missiles launching from bays beneath the
bombers.
NEW ANGLE from above, showing the missiles streaking across
space towards the planet.
Meanwhile, Davies is chasing the last enemy fighter. He
swoops up and down, weaving through dense traffic, tearing
up the enemy’s hull. The enemy suddenly darts up; Davies
follows, leaving the tangle of ships below him.
The enemy ship performs a hammerhead turn, suddenly heading
straight down again.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies smiles.
DAVIES
Oh, no you don’t.
EXT. SPACE
MOVING SHOT as Davies launches a warhead. It immediately
turns and subdues the enemy fighter, resulting in a
satisfying explosion.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Johnson appears on-screen again.
JOHNSON
Try not to use all of your
missiles, Jack.
DAVIES
I know what I’m doing.
Besides, that’s just about the
last of them.
JOHNSON
Don’t be so sure!
It’s at this moment that Davies notices the missile headed
right for his own ship.
DAVIES
Oh, no.
He grabs the stick, releasing computer control.
EXT. SPACE
Davies’ ship, as if awakened suddenly from a deep sleep,
quickly spins around and moves away at break-neck speed. The
missile misses -- barely -- but hits a nearby fighter. The
former ship (and its pilot) is reduced to space debris.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies doesn’t know whether to be relieved or afraid.
DAVIES
Oh, crap.
He reaches for his monitor and opens communications with
Johnson.
DAVIES
Where are they coming from?
JOHNSON
(Frustrated; trying
vainly to remain calm)
I don’t know! I’m going to try
to get in close to the planet.
Come with me!
DAVIES
Why?
JOHNSON
Just follow me.
The screen shuts off again. Davies mutters under his breath,
and then adjusts shield settings to full forward,
simultaneously grabbing the yoke and turning.
EXT. SPACE
Davies’ ship turns, heading after Johnson’s and away from
the battle.
INT. DAN’S COCKPIT
Dan notices this with dismay. He opens up comm with the
others on the team.
DAN
Where’re they going?
Ed answers.
ED
I dunno. Let’s follow.
EXT. SPACE
The five remaining ships in the division exit the battle
simultaneously, following Davies and Johnson.
EXT. AL T’HAR
Davies and Johnson approach the planet at high speeds.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Johnson opens up communications with his wingman.
JOHNSON
Prepare to enter atmosphere!
Davies nods and presses some buttons on his computer
monitor.
EXT. SPACE
VARIOUS ANGLES of heat-shield armor covering vulnerable
sections of the fighters.
They enter the atmosphere, glowing red under the heat. As
soon as they pass through, the heat-shield retracts and
large wings unfold on both fighters. They swoop upwards, the
Bernouli principle coming into full effect.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies repeats the procedures to himself aloud.
DAVIES
Switch to atmospheric
engines...
As Davies is fiddling with the controls, a low droning sound
fills his cockpit. He looks at his monitor to see the
‘WARHEADS LOCKED’ warning flashing madly. His head darts up:
five enemy fighters are headed directly towards him.
DAVIES
We’ve got trouble.
Just as the enemies open fire, however, two of them explode
and the others are scattered. Davies looks to his right to
see his five wingmen approaching.
INT. DAN’S COCKPIT
Dan smiles.
DAN
Like some help?
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
DAVIES
Thanks.
EXT. AL T’HAR
The eight ships of Johnson’s division divide, chasing
fighters over the breath-takingly beautiful landscape of Al
T’Har. Suddenly a missile launches from the surface, taking
out one of the USS fighters.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies is shaken by one of his comrade’s sudden departure
from battle. As he looks back, he gets an urgent message
from Johnson.
JOHNSON
(Panicking)
Get him off my back!
Davies searches for his commander’s fighter and sees it
being closely chased by an Al T’Har fighter. It’s now far
removed from battle.
Johnson doesn’t cut off the communication but instead
continues panicking on Davies’ monitor. Davies ignores his
friend’s screams and turns to dispatch the pursuer.
EXT. AL T’HAR
As Davies’ nears, the rear portion of Johnson’s ship
explodes in flame.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies regards the explosion with anxiety. On his monitor,
Johnson screams.
EXT. AL T’HAR
Davies lines up directly behind the enemy and opens fire. He
launches a missile at point-blank range, quickly dispersing
the enemy.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies watches the enemy parachuting to safety below. On-
screen, Johnson tries vainly to regain his composure.
JOHNSON
All right, cadet. Let’s go
back to the battle.
His message is cut off.
DAVIES
Not even a thank you...
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
Copley appears on Johnson’s monitor.
COPLEY
This is the last time I’m
ordering you to pull out,
commander.
Johnson seems near the point of madness.
JOHNSON
No! I won’t fall back,
admiral! I can’t!
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM
Copley shuts off the transmission and looks at his AIDE,
standing beside and a little behind him.
COPLEY
I’m going to have to do
something about that boy.
AIDE
Think of a suitable punishment
later. Right now we’ve got to
pull our troops out of there.
It’s murder not to.
COPLEY
Yes.
(He switches on his comm
device)
This is your admiral--
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies looks at the old man’s face on his monitor.
COPLEY
--with orders to pull out.
This is a direct command from
the President. I am
relinquishing command from
Commander Johnson for the time
being.
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM
COPLEY
Pull out now!
He cuts communications again.
AIDE
They’re dispersing already.
Copley looks to his left at a GRIM-FACED MAN in a pin-stripe
suit. The man promptly turns and walks out of the room. As
he nears the door, three previously-hidden BODYGUARDS appear
from the shadows and assume positions around him.
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT
Davies notices Johnson is disobeying orders and heading for
the military facility kamikaze-style.
DAVIES
What the hell are you doing?
EXT. AL T’HAR
Davies maneuvers his ship to follow Johnson’s.
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT
Near determined insanity, Johnson opens fire on the
facility. Davies appears on his monitor.
DAVIES
What are you doing? Let’s get
out of here now!
Johnson just mutters, to himself as much as to Davies.
JOHNSON
I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. I
can’t.
EXT. AL T’HAR
Johnson’s chant continues as his ship explodes into a ball
of flame. He ejects and slowly falls to the earth, still
repeating the words.
JOHNSON
I can’t...
FADE OUT...
EXT. FOREST -- DAY
A serene and tranquil forest. Ancient trees stand tall,
their roots twisted along the rough ground. Spongy moss
covers the few bare spots of the ground; thick brush fills
in the spaces between the gnarled trees. It was an untouched
corner of the world -- whatever that world may be -- until
Commander Robert Johnson landed in it, at least.
Johnson lies in a heap, tangled with both his parachute and
the more natural elements of the forest. He is banged up,
covered with sweat, and, for the moment, unconscious.
The brush sways with the wind. But wait -- the swaying is
too rough and centralized to be from wind.
Suddenly a MAN steps through the bushes and comes to a stop
before Johnson. He sports dark hair and skin: an Al T’Haran
man, of Arabian ancestry.
NEW ANGLE from above as the man bends down to feel Johnson’s
pulse. Dozens of other MEN and WOMEN emerge from the forest
surrounding Johnson; his body suddenly becomes a bee-hive of
activity.
EXT. PATH -- DAY
Johnson, who is now wide awake, is escorted in chains along
a path. On one side is the inpenetratable forest from
whence he came; on the other is a steep embankment. Fifty
feet below is a large, sloping field. Behind them, poking
above the treetops a good five miles away, is the huge
facility they were attempting to destroy.
VARIOUS ANGLES as the large group, Johnson at its center,
slowly makes its way along the path.
As evening nears, the path reaches a fork. To the right is a
path that winds its way back in the forest, up the sloping
hills towards the spot where Johnson landed. To the left,
the path descends into the fields below and heads for the
main road, barely a mile away.
Here, the group halts. They begin calling and making signs
towards the path to the right; when Johnson looks, he sees
the torches of another similar group rounding a corner on
that path. The two groups meet, and Johnson sees that the
other group is prodding along none other than Lieutenant
Jack Davies.
EXT. CROSS-ROADS -- NIGHT
The groups have set up camp at the crossroads. Most of the
Al T’Har men are now asleep; there are no sounds save for
the watchmen occasionally calling to each other and the
gentle snoring of the others sound asleep.
Johnson and Davies lie in sleeping bags in the center of the
camp, near a small tent.
JOHNSON
What happened, anyway?
DAVIES
You went down--
JOHNSON
I noticed.
DAVIES
Let me finish. After you went
down, I was, well, stunned. At
that moment, I realized that
there was a missile headed for
me, and I didn’t have time to
react. It hit, I auto-ejected.
JOHNSON
Couldn’t tear yourself away
from your commander, hmmm?
DAVIES
Yeah. Anyway, what happened
with you? I mean, with that
kamikaze move?
Johnson stiffens.
JOHNSON
Yeah, well, don’t tell anybody
about that. I mean, it’s no
big deal. I just... froze up.
I panicked. That’s all.
DAVIES
It happens to the best of ‘em.
JOHNSON
(Ignoring Davies)
And no wonder! I could feel
death, you know? He was
sitting next to me, itching to
end it all, and it scared the
hell out of me. I lost it. And
then I had to make up for it.
DAVIES
(Trying to change the
subject)
So... What do you think of
these guys?
JOHNSON
You mean our gentle hosts? I
dunno. They’re kind of quiet.
DAVIES
Too quiet...
JOHNSON
How would you know? I mean,
have you ever been a POW
before?
DAVIES
No. But... I don’t know. It’s
spooky.
JOHNSON
I don’t think comforting our
fears is their greatest
concern at this point.
DAVIES
Anyway, let’s just get some
sleep.
JOHNSON
Yeah.
Davies rolls over in his sleeping bag. But he makes no
attempt to go to sleep, or even close his eyes.
EXT. ROAD -- DAY
The combined groups make their way along a road towards the
peak of a high hill. Johnson struggles to walk; a nearby AL
T’HARAN MAN notices.
AL T’HARAN MAN
What’s the matter?
JOHNSON
We walked four hours
yesterday. Three today. I
can’t go much further.
AL T’HARAN MAN
Englishman grows soft? Is the
United Star Systems not
teaching their troops how to
walk?
(Beat)
Don’t worry, we haven’t far to
go.
Johnson moves in closer to Davies.
JOHNSON
Not much farther to go. Can
you believe that?
Davies ignores him.
JOHNSON
Jack? Jack!
Johnson hits Davies, who just pushes his friend’s arm away,
stepping and staring forward.
DAVIES
Look...
Johnson looks. He sees ahead of them, only half a mile away,
a great city of stone and gold. It is built in an ancient,
fantastical style, and is dominated by a great golden tower
at its center. Surrounding the city on three sides are great
snow-capped mountains; on the fourth side is the low rise
the group is now on.
The Al T’Haran man speaks again to Johnson.
AL T’HARAN MAN
Al ‘Qizhad. The golden city of
the golden valley. We will
escort you to the Sultan’s
chambers in the great tower.
JOHNSON
Sultan? Did he say Sultan?
INT. GREAT TOWER -- DAY
The group is walking through the halls of the Great Tower.
The walls are golden, the floors marble. Beautiful silk
carpets hang from the walls, each decorated with intricate
patterns. Johnson and Davies have never seen such beauty.
The climb a few steps and enter the central room. A large,
sparsely-furnished room with checkerboard floor, the ceiling
rooms ceiling is hundreds of feet above Johnson’s head, at
the top of the tower. There are three men waiting for them
in the room: the CHANCELLOR and TWO GUARDS.
CHANCELLOR
(To group)
Thank you for your services,
but you are no longer needed.
The group disperses, leaving Davies and Johnson alone with
the three distinguished-looking men. The chancellor motions
for the guards to remove the prisoners bondage.
CHANCELLOR
Welcome.
JOHNSON
What the hell is this all
about?
DAVIES
(Whispering to Johnson)
Could you be any more
courteous?
CHANCELLOR
You have been selected to know
the truth.
JOHNSON
(Indignant)
Selected?
DAVIES
(Curious)
The truth?
Offered two questions, the chancellor chooses to answer
Davies’.
CHANCELLOR
Yes. The truth. The truth
about your beloved USS. The
truth about this war.
JOHNSON
(Puzzled and frustrated)
What are you talking about?
CHANCELLOR
The United Star Systems is not
as innocent as you believe.
DAVIES
Prove it.
CHANCELLOR
I plan to.
(Beat)
I’ve arranged a trip for us to
the ‘military facility’ you
were attacking.
JOHNSON
Does it involve walking?
EXT. MILITARY FACILITY -- DAY
A flying vehicle lands carefully next to the military
facility. An AL T’HARAN MAN in a white lab coat approaches
as Davies, Johnson, and the Chancellor, still escorted by
two guards, disembark. The Chancellor and man in the lab
coat exchange greetings, and then the Chancellor turns to
the two pilots.
CHANCELLOR
This is doctor Ibn-Husad, the
operator of this ‘military
facility’.
IBN-HUSAD
This way, please.
Ibn-Husad leads the small group to the facility’s entrance.
INT. LOBBY -- DAY
They enter an airy lobby. The doctor leads them to an air-
lift. They enter and are transported down twelve floors. The
doctor places his hand against the ID panel and the doors
open.
INT. HOSPITAL -- DAY
They emerge into a huge hospital ward-room, filled with
patients inflicted with the same disease seen earlier on the
Gemini. Doctors, nurses and technicians travel from bed to
bed, making the sick more comfortable.
IBN-HUSAD
The Gemini strain has
inflicted our people for fifty-
four years. Our population is
a third of what it had been.
We were unable to find a cure
-- until now.
DAVIES
I don’t understand...
CHANCELLOR
This is the ‘military
facility’ you were attacking.
It is in actuality a civilian
hospital and laboratory where
they have been developing a
cure to the Gemini disease.
Here they very recently
discovered something which
looks like it might be a cure.
IBN-HUSAD
A chance to end the half-
century of suffering. Within
days, the United Star Systems
declared war upon us for
reasons unknown.
JOHNSON
(Angrily)
Reasons unknown? You destroyed
a station, for God’s sake!
Killed seven-hundred people
for no reason!
CHANCELLOR
We didn’t. You did.
JOHNSON
Me?
CHANCELLOR
The United Star Systems.
DAVIES
But why would the United Star
Systems destroy one of their
own bases?
CHANCELLOR
We don’t know. To implicate
us, perhaps.
JOHNSON
Oh, so they did all of this to
destroy you.
CHANCELLOR
I-- We don’t know. We do know
that the USS also gave us this
disease.
EXT. FOREST -- DAY
A small shuttlecraft, singed and damaged from its fall from
the sky, rests in the middle of a dense forest. On its hull
is the name of its mothership: USSS GEMINI I.
PULL BACK to reveal...
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM -- BRIGHT
...that it is only an image on a large screen. The screen
stands in a large conference room; Davies, Johnson, and the
others are watching as on-screen a number of AL T’HARAN MEN
and WOMEN approach it, holding various detection and
scanning devices.
IBN-HUSAD
This is the doomsday vessel
that carried our destruction.
Our peoples are highly
superstitious; they believed
that this was punishment from
Allah. We knew otherwise --
the markings on the vessel are
clearly USS.
JOHNSON
I still don’t see what you’re
getting at.
IBN-HUSAD
All that was in the twisted
wreckage was a body, a single
corpse.
On screen, the team discovers this body.
IBN-HUSAD (CONT’D)
It was disfigured and
diseased. It carried the virus
which was given the name of
Gemini, based upon the
markings on the shuttle.
JOHNSON
So? Some USS guy died at the
wheel and the vessel went its
own way.
The chancellor clicks a button, bringing up computer
readouts on-screen as he speaks.
CHANCELLOR
Yes, but the shuttle was
expressly sent on a collision
course with our planet. After
the pilot was unconscious,
according to autopsy.
(Beat)
The pilot was not dead. But he
was barely alive. The team,
which had been sent out only
to investigate what had fallen
from the heavens the night
before, did not have the
equipment or resources to help
him. They left the shuttle and
body and returned to a nearby
city. By the time they
arrived, they were already
experiencing the full effects
of the disease. The rest is
history.
JOHNSON
What I don’t understand is how
the coordinates could be set
after he was out.
IBN-HUSAD
We don’t know either. We’ve
been too busy looking for a
cure. One we’ve finally
discovered.
DAVIES
Suppose what you say about the
USS is true. What then? What
can we do?
CHANCELLOR
You two now have the most
potent weapon against the USS
at your disposal: the truth.
Or at least part of it. The
truth is what they most fear,
and their only weakness. You
are advised to use it, but do
so with discretion: they will
protect their lies at all
costs.
JOHNSON
They’d even destroy their own
starbase, right?
The chancellor nods.
JOHNSON
You guys are cracked. Why the
hell would the USS pick on you
guys? You’re nothing!
CHANCELLOR
We don’t know. You just have
to trust us.
Suddenly, alarms sound in the building.
IBN-HUSAD
Another attack!
CHANCELLOR
Come on!
INT. HOSPITAL WARD -- DIM
The chancellor runs with Johnson and Davies out of the
conference room, into the ward. Lights flash and the alarms
drone on. The chancellor speaks into his communicator.
CHANCELLOR
We’ve got to get out of here
now! Yes, send the damn
vehicles!
Suddenly, an explosion rocks the building. The chancellor
ducks, then redirects Johnson and Davies towards a side
exit. They look back in time to see the opposite end of the
hospital ward erupt in flames.
INT. STAIRWELL -- DIM
The chancellor runs with Davies, Johnson, and the guards up
the stairs. They have gone just a few steps before another
explosion rips through the hospital.
CHANCELLOR
Faster! Faster!
They reach the top of the first flight of stairs and head up
another. There is yet another explosion; this time, the
flight of stairs the group was just on collapses and falls
down the stairwell. A girder just above their heads breaks
loose and swings free.
The five duck under it and continue up. They reach the next
level just as a fireball reaches up, engulfing the stairwell
in flame.
INT. EXIT -- DIM
They escape and the airlock door closes behind them just in
time. The guards don’t make it, however.
The three surviving men find themselves in a big, empty
room. At one end is a stairway, then a catwalk leading to
the exit. They cross the room in a split second and bound up
the stairs. When they reach the door, the chancellor steps
ahead first and the security lock automatically opens.
EXT. SIDE EXIT -- BRIGHT
They step out into a trap. No less than two dozen USS TROOPS
are waiting outside the door. Twenty feet beyond is a troop
transport ship. The guns are trained on the chancellor. The
UNIT LEADER speaks.
UNIT LEADER
Johnson, Davies, it’s okay.
You can come with us now.
Johnson and Davies hesitate, unsure of what to do. After a
brief pause, they step forward.
CHANCELLOR
No!
His protest is cut short: the unit leader himself shoots the
Al T’Haran chancellor in the chest; he falls to the ground
in a pool of blood.
UNIT LEADER
Shut up, old man.
The unit leader motions to two of his troops, who grab
Davies and Johnson and lead them to the transport.
INT. TRANSPORT -- BRIGHT
The transport takes off as soon as the troops pile in.
Immediately it is joined by a fighter escort. A ROOKIE
SOLDIER sitting across from the two former prisoners of war
speaks.
ROOKIE
You guys must be pretty
important. To go to all this
trouble just to rescue you.
You should be thankful, you
know.
Johnson nods slowly. Davies ignores the soldier completely,
his eyes locked on the ‘military facility’ below them as it
blows up.
DAVIES
(Almost a whisper)
That was a hospital, you
know...
ROOKIE
Hmmm?
Davies tears his gaze away from the burning complex.
DAVIES
Nothing.
FADE OUT...
EXT. STATION
The fighters and transports return victoriously from battle.
The doors to the main hangar on station three-fourteen part
and the ship carrying Davies and Johnson enters the station.
INT. HANGAR -- BRIGHT
The transport lands in the center of the hangar. A large
crowd is waiting nearby as Johnson and Davies emerge from
the transport. Immediately, the waiting crowd bursts into
applause. Johnson waves with a big smile on his face; Davies
looks bewildered.
DAVIES
What is this?
JOHNSON
(Through teeth clenched in a huge smile)
I don’t know. Just smile and wave.
Davies does so.
DAVIES
Are you even sure they’re
clapping for us?
JOHNSON
I wouldn’t be making an ass of
myself if I wasn’t sure they
were clapping for us.
DAVIES
You take any opportunity to
make an ass of yourself.
JOHNSON
Tout.
They step make it to the bottom of the stairway that had
been rolled to the transport. The crowd parts and they walk
down the center. At the end of the aisle formed for the two
pilots stands Admiral Copley and some AIDES. The applause
dies down as Davies and Johnson approach the station
commander.
COPLEY
For actions performed beyond
the line of duty and heroic
feats that have ensured the
safety of our nation for
decades to come, you,
Commander Robert Earl Johnson,
and you, Lieutenant Jonathan
Lawton Davies, are being
presented with the Medal of
Honor.
Copley places the medals around the necks of first Johnson,
who smiles graciously, and Davies, who still looks puzzled.
After this is done, the admiral whispers to the two
recipients.
COPLEY
(Whispering)
Turn around, boys. That’s it.
Now smile, and wave.
They obey his commands. The crowd begins clapping again. A
brass band begins playing a victorious fanfare.
COPLEY
(Whispering)
Now turn and follow us.
Once again, they listen to their superior’s orders. They
follow Copley and the aides, and the band and finally crowd
follows behind them.
INT. BALLROOM -- BRIGHT
An ORCHESTRA plays a waltz in the background. PARTY-GOERS
dance, mingle, and pick at hours d’ourves being handed out
by costumed WAITERS. Davies and Johnson are now dressed in
formal clothing, a futuristic equivalent of a tuxedo. They
stand near a table covered with delicately arranged food at
the back of the room.
DAVIES
What is this all about?
JOHNSON
I don’t know. But I don’t like
to ask questions, you know. If
people think we’re national
heroes, so be it. It would be
rude to tell them that all of
this trouble they went through
would be for nothing.
DAVIES
You liar! You love the
spotlight!
JOHNSON
Well, yeah.
At that moment, DAN walks up to the two, extending his hand.
DAN
Congratulations, though I’m
not sure why.
Johnson takes Dan’s hand and shakes it.
JOHNSON
Neither are we.
DAN
You’re too humble. Anyway,
nobody is really sure what
your secret mission was, but
it looks like whatever you did
was pretty damn important.
(Looking at the
festivities surrounding him)
They don’t go to this trouble
for everyone, you know.
DAVIES
Frankly, we aren’t really sure
what we did...
JOHNSON
(Stepping in)
...To deserve all of this. I
mean, it really was nothing
big.
DAN
Boy, I’d love to know what it
was.
(Quickly correcting
himself)
Not that I’d ask you to tell
me. I mean, I realize it was
probably highly confidential.
I mean, real confidential.
(Laughing)
They probably didn’t even tell
you what it was.
Davies shakes his head at the irony of Dan’s joke.
DAN (CONT’D)
But people are talking, you
know? I’m just saying I’d like
to know which rumors are true.
JOHNSON
Well, you’re right when you
say it was confidential. Oh,
yeah, we’re talking top
secret. Only the highest
authority has clearance to the
mission details.
DAN
(Slightly intimidated)
Wow... That’s ... cool.
Johnson nods. At that moment, the crowd applauses again as
Admiral Copley steps up to the podium on a makeshift stage.
The band stops playing as he begins to speak.
COPLEY
Thank you.
(The applause ends)
We are here tonight with one
purpose: to honor two great
individuals. Earlier today,
immediately upon their arrival
at this starbase, Commander
Robert Johnson and his
wingman, Lieutenant Jack
Davies, were each presented
with a medal of honor. Why,
many of you may be asking, did
they receive such an award?
Though the exact details of
their mission cannot,
understandably, be discussed,
I can say this: During a
recent mission to Al T’Har,
they silently left the melee
and embarked on alone on an
intelligence-gathering
mission. The information they
gathered, which is now being
analyzed by experts in the
area of...
Davies whispers to his commander.
DAVIES
(Whispering)
What the hell is he talking
about?
JOHNSON
I don’t know...
COPLEY
...You can see why these boys
deserve our highest honors.
And now, if he wouldn’t mind,
I’d like to ask Commander
Robert Johnson to come up and
say a few words. Commander?
JOHNSON
(To himself)
You betcha.
Johnson leaves his spot at the
table and moves towards the
stage.
DISSOLVE TO...
----------------------- [FILL THIS IN] ---------------------
-
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM
...A CLOSE-UP of Admiral Copley’s smiling face.
A WIDER ANGLE reveals that he is seated in his expansive
office. Davies and Johnson are standing at the other end of
the room.
Copley motions for the two to come to his desk. He oozes
charm.
COPLEY
Come on, sit down! I’m glad
you could make it here so
quickly.
They sit down in front of Copley, expectant looks on their
faces. After a second, Copley and Davies simultaneously
begin to speak. Their words remain unfinished.
COPLEY
You first.
DAVIES
Okay. I was just going to ask
what exactly is going on here?
Copley considers this.
COPLEY
A worthy question deserving of
a worthy answer...
(Beat)
Well, I just thought that you
two were deserving of honors
for your actions. I was
startled when I heard that you
had been captured by our
enemies. I was even more
startled when I recieved
orders from a very highly-
placed official to immediately
arrange for your safe return.
Looks like the USS brass has
its eye on you boys.
DAVIES
What does that have to do with
these honors? You know as well
as we do that we weren’t on a
top secret intelligence
mission.
COPLEY
True. However, intelligence
mission or no, we believe that
you may have heard something
on Al T’Har. I’m not sure what
you may have heard, but it
seems to be making the
government very nervous. None
of it is true, I’ve been
instructed to tell you, but it
could still cause some
problems if it got out. I’m
sure that some left-wingers,
who may not be as intelligent
as you two, may interpert it
as truth and blow it
completely out of proportion.
But, as I stated, I’m sure you
two young men would be
intelligent enough to
differentiate truth from
proposterous lies. I’ve also
been instructed to inform you
that there may be promotions
in store for both of you, as
long as you don’t do anything
stupid.
There is a long silence as this new twist in the plot
settles on the two pilots. Finally, Admiral Copley stands.
COLEY
Well, thank you for coming. I
must once again apoligize for
the rushed nature of the
awards cemerony, but we are in
a war and have little time to
spend on such things. I hope
the message is still clear and
your honors will not be taken
for granted.
Johnson and Davies stand.
JOHNSON
I’m sure they won’t.
Copley smiles and dismisses the two younger men. After
they’re gone, he sits again, and the grim-faced man in the
pin-striped suit emerges from the shadows. Copley, currently
pouring himself a whiskey, notices the man approaching his
desk.
COPLEY
I assume you will be leaving
now?
GRIM-FACED MAN
Soon. I must meet with the
president and discuss the
current situation.
COPLEY
Be sure to send him my best
wishes.
Copley smiles and brings the glass to his lips.
INT. AIR-LIFT -- BRIGHT
Davies and Johnson are taking an air-lift back to their
level of the station.
DAVIES
I don’t know about you, but to
me that sounded like a bribe.
JOHNSON
Obviously. He didn’t try to
hide the fact, either.
DAVIES
I guess by his age it’s just
day-to-day business.
The lift stops and a small group of SOLDIERS gets on.
Johnson and Davies recede to a rear corner and lower their
voices.
JOHNSON
Here’s the real question: are
you going to accept it?
DAVIES
I don’t know. I don’t think
so. I mean, if it is a lie,
why is everybody so afraid of
it getting out? Isn’t this
what the chancellor said would
happen? They’d be afraid of
the truth?
JOHNSON
It probably was a lie. We were
prisoners, for God’s sake.
Give ‘em another hour and they
would have brought out the
brain-washing machine.
DAVIES
I don’t know. It just doesn’t
seem right, you know?
JOHNSON
Well, I think--
The lift stops again at their floor, and they shoulder their
way out of the crowded lift.
INT. CORRIDOR -- BRIGHT
Their corridor is deserted. After the lift doors close, they
continue talking.
JOHNSON
I think it’s a good deal. Like
I said, it’s probably a lie
anyway. And if they’re going
to treat us like kings to not
tell a lie, then I have no
objections.
DAVIES
But what if it is the truth?
JOHNSON
Then we don’t have the power
to do anything about it
anyway.
INT. QUARTERS -- BRIGHT
Johnson and Davies enter their quarters to see it decorated,
food laid out on the small counter. Their surviving wingmen
jump up from their hiding sopts.
ALL
Surprise!
Johnson smiles widely.
JOHNSON
We seem to be getting a lot of
these surprises.
Davies just looks quietly at his wingmen. Two died in the
battle; Dan, Ed, Ron and Yurtek are the only survivors.
YURTEK
You deserve them. Geez, we
lose you for thirty seconds
and suddenly you’re getting
awards and honors!
ED
(Mock sadness)
It just isn’t fair.
YURTEK
Anyway, it isn’t much, but it
should be cozier than the last
one you had.
JOHNSON
It’s the thought that counts.
EXT. CORRIDOR -- DIM
The lights of the corridor have dimmed, signaling that duty
hours were over in this section of the station. Still, the
party in Johnson’s quarters rages on, the sound loud enough
to be heard through the sound-proof walls.
Davies paces the corridor alone. He has a distant expression
on his face as Ron approaches.
RON
Lieutenant?
Davies turns around.
DAVIES
Yeah?
RON
What are you doing out here
all by yourself?
DAVIES
Oh. Just thinking. I’ve got a
lot on my mind right now.
RON
Well, why don’t you come back
to the party?
(Seductively)
Unless you want to have your
own party out here.
Davies is equally stunned and uncomfortable.
DAVIES
(Ackwardly)
Um, I don’t think so. Thank
you anyway.
RON
Suit yourself, lieutenant. The
offer still stands.
DAVIES
Duly noted.
Davies turns around again. Ron shakes her head and re-enters
the quarters.
INT. QUARTERS -- DARK
A slow song is playing as Ron returns.
JOHNSON
Where were you?
RON
Nowhere.
JOHNSON
Nowhere. You mean, ‘It doesn’t
really matter,’ nowhere, or,
‘I’m not about to tell you,’
nowhere?
RON
(Smiling)
‘It doesn’t really matter,’
nowhere.
Johnson smiles his most charming smile and puts his arm on
Ron’s shoulder.
JOHNSON
May I have this dance, Ms.
Reardon?
RON
It would be my pleasure.
They dance cheek-to-cheek for a second. Then, unasked, Ron
kisses Johnson tenderly upon the lips.
JOHNSON
Still got it.
Ron laughs and they move off towards Johnson’s room.
(cont'd)
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4/12/2003 4:03:11 PM
(Updated: 4/12/2003 6:14:49 PM)
(Updated: 4/12/2003 6:15:31 PM)
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