"CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND" (1977)

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STATS132pages55scenes31,608wordsdialogue share227characters

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Scenes

location
  • INT 16
  • EXT 19
  • UNKNOWN 20
time
  • DAY 2
  • NIGHT 4
  • DUSK 2
  • UNKNOWN 47
1

INT. = BALLUAY = NIGHT

source 2

The bedroom is at the Far end of the hallway. Barry moves farward, curiezsly. He turns into the living area.

2

INT. « LIVING BOOM ~ WIGHT "_

source 3

This room is dark, save a sixty watt Biue nightlight. Something however is out of slace. all the windows are open and night is brg2taing through the laced curtains. Four year old Barry loous agann ..4.

THE FRONT Doon iS WIDE OPEl = THE FORCH Lich? 15 SPILLING If.

lie turns reaiy For fun. Leaves here and 1.4.

3

INT. «= THE ATTCHES = HIGHT

source 4

A SLOW BAL shows Barry the roon. Onee egain the windows are ose2n ang the room is breezy. The bkackdeor is adjar and rattline against

the safety chain. PAN DOWN to show the dog door. Et is completely

off its hinges and lying on the £leer.

CLOSE = BARRY

He looks up and reacts ... a weak Light opens acress the little bovs face,

The door is swinging open. There is foodstuffs in a messy pile around tia icebox door. ,

CLOSE - BARRY

‘Ee looks in another direetien and is suddenly startled. Fear is

just as suddenly replaced with a kind of shy playfulness. Barry giggles and lecks away ... he turns back and laughs, slans his ‘ side, turns away and looks back again ... bursts out laughing. A game is being played out. Little Barry roc’ s back and farth like a chimpanzee as if imitating what he is watching. He covers his eyes and peek-a-boos, Ke spins on his bare heels. He cocks his head to cne side anc rotates it in slow Sensuous movements, He ig having a wonderful tine.

4

INT. ~ MASTES BEDROOM - NIGHT

source 5

JILLIAl GUILER is the attractive mether of Barry and is asleep in She next room. What awakens her is the sound of her son's laughing. - She turns over in her bed and fixes a look at the luminous clock. It‘s 1:35 Alt. Jill turns on the becside lars and sits up. The laughing seams <o be eninating from she backyard, Jill jumps out er bed and gsoes to the vindow.

JILLIAG'S POINT OF VIZ

Barry is riding Ais tricycle in the backyard in the middle of the nag... He is hysterically happy.

CLOSs= ~ JILL

On her cisturbked expression and almast coing unneticed, ell the lights in tne house flica off.

5

INT. - GRISNNOTSS ROME = HITCUEN SREA = STOHT

source 6

A Rhos gathering of nedch:

betveer potato chips, cic corner comes a shrill dri away Erem the grouse. Ae

2B eenool girl facsimilie Wwahe.

hood woman argue around the kitehnenetcs egees and Dice- nite. From around tng ing moisc., Roanie Greansouse glides siréycone ashe has managed to helt onte . ier levi shirt, taLls out, flags in iar

a_i

ANGLE = NORAD GRLE.. ROUSE

Nerman Greenhouse is voun¢g, gocd looking, and drilling enormous holes in the wall, It is going to ba a sliding glass deor. Right now you cculd drive a trusk througn the open den wall. A haspy Cheistmas tre: blinks in the corner. It is December,

RONNTE

Man't you put a towel arqund-that noise, We're naving 2 meeting in there.

Womzn is ateut to respond when the next doer neighbor yells over che fence speaking to hin through the hole in the wall.

NEIGHEAOR
‘ Everytu.w. you run that thing there! sa blizzard on television.
RONNTE .
{to neighbor} It's under control. Thenk you Mr. Doran, Goodnight. {pack to Norman) . Honey, be @a @oll and make a soft drink run to Seven-Eleven. There's nething in the horse and this is going on forever.

Before Korman can answer, one of Ronnie's co-conspirators, Miléred, sticks her Aeac into the roon,.

MILOPEDS
We need your vote.
RONHIE
What's the resolution?
MILDRED
We get the Dean of Students out of bed and

over here not tomorrow afternoon ... right nowt

RONNIE
De you know what time it is?
HILORED
zk’s ten nours befere my children are arraigned at City Hall and atout time somebody else felt a little rasponsibilicy aboueE WAG is Selling whet to whom in the mignschoesl cafeteria.

Hildree is about t5 ery. Norman is about to sceak when 1.1...

ToiLy Croenhouse entars the fray in his patamas. le PeMaQs Eockhet cealeulator.

; TORY Look what Bead did his homework with.

RONNIE
Why aren't you asleen?

. TOBY fad said we could watch the “Ten Conmandments"™. RONNIE (nelding up calculater} ; Did you know he was using this? Did you know the “Ten Commandments" is foer hours leng on a ‘school night?

Tan year old Brad suns inte the reem, his arms laden down with school books and leeseleaf notes,

BRAD
I bate math - !

With that, he hurls his books all over the floor of the sawdust straw den.

CLOSE — DEN PHONE

It rimgs like the start of a new round.

CLOSE — HORMAN

Trying to contain his temper through chiosing enamel, he turns hig power drill on end makes some mere holes. By this time everybocy is yelling at once. The wenen from the kitchenette move inte the work area end the meeting consinues, Ronnie answers the phone, listens.

- RONNIE {into phene} - Talk toud, he's rebuilding the house.

She helds the chane up te Nerman who takes it and sandwiches it

between nis sheulder and ear. The voice en the other side can be heard shouting through the din.

SECRETARIES VOICE
Mr. Greennouse? If's the Power Company. District Operator Fleishman for you. ©

5.06.

Mz. Greenhouse. This sail is 2-11 7 fer 211

Line Foraman in tae Tolone District to report

to their Dispatcher's Office. We've got a

a drzin on the primary voltage. We've lost half

a bank cf transformers at the Gilmore sub-station. —.._:~SX« -wWRLis autage is working its wavy up the radial

feeders to the residentials, So put your pants

an while you've still goe light. Supervisor

Grimsby personally asked mea to phore you.

CLICK: The B.O. hangs up.

Norman is rather stunned. It's not just the phone call; it's the whole evening. He stands with the dial tsne butzing out

-of ene hand and the drill sereaming in the other hand. It is

at this precise moment that all the Lights go aut and the drill winds cown Leaving a stuntel room and a sett dialtone.

; NORMAN

The Department uf Water & Power of the City of Tolono, Indiana, wishes you ali pleasant - dreams and a good night.

6

INT. = APARTMENT BUILDING CORRIDOR - NIGHT

source 7

An elderly bespectacled man leaves his apartment in a great rush. Be carries in his left hand a Bbriefease and in his right a head protector stenciled DWP - SUPERVISOR GRIMSSY. We confronts a bank Of @levators and sresses the down button. The ¢levater arrives aimost immediately. The door opens and Supervisor Grimsby steps

im. The door clesses. A moment passas. The blackout Bits the corridors with the speed of lient. The mechanical WHIES of the automatic lift winds fown. A muiftled voice échos from the darkness.

GRIMSBY'S VOICS
QOH SHIT - ! '
7

BHTESRIOR = GREENECUSS COMPANY CAR = NICHT

source 8

CLOSE - GLOVE COMPARTHENT

A Rané reaches in t6 distever a regular junk food faetery. Groeahcure pulis sut some pretzels ant takes a Randful. He is so hapsy t6 be out ef the house that he begins to mussle aad hem VICKI LAWRENCE'S SONG

"THE NIGHT THE LIGUTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA". His civil service bane radio rig hums police calls ana signs of the growing emergency.

8

EXT. - DAEXENED CITY STREET = MIGET

source 9

Past taverns and Put-n" Takes the lowly patrons Line the side~ waiks, some with candles and flaenlignts, blinking in the night. Soma kids are yelling at Greenhouses' plainly marzed Dest. of Water and Power car. He has not turned on his own headlights.

~

Lights: Lights! Lights:

Greenhouse .shinks shey 3 are cheering his job. He waves back, gives an okay sign.

or

9

_ INTERIOR - MONITOR SYSTEMS CONTROL - NIGHT

source 10

This is the train center of the local DWP. A bank of phones are singing continuously with only on# noor assistant to answer them amd shout his findings ta a group of trouble technicians who keeo an update on a wali display Seard. A completely harried Lead Dispatcher called IKE spots Greenhouse entering thr ough the main

_ao0ers. -

+

_IKE Am I gla to see you.

GREENHOUSE
Have you jocated the fault?
IKE
Ao27 EW line failed at the Gilmore sub=staticon. The breakers opened and we began lesing feeders, We want to pick up the syscem before felks start shaving But the cockamanie network hasn't stopped falling.
ASSISTANT
Toleno is dark. Everything is coming down.
GREENHOUSE
(leeking at gauges 4 some computer readouts)
Jesus, you're down to thirty cycles here.

; THE I‘il dume the whole city if I have to.

: GREENHOUSE Where's the General Super?

IKE
Stuck en en elevater between floers at his fucking apartment heuse, He's srying to run things £2 those little trouble phones,

fa : ASSISTANT ( It's backing up on us. Crystal Lax2 is dark, We can't carry this much load.

IKE
Call Con-Ed Ohic. Teli ‘em we're ¢ysling down and need to guck on their Eottle for a while. {to Norman) “. Greenhouse: [| want thea section of the system that anitdally failed dismantled and inspectec. I wanna know what caused this thing 50 it never

happens again.

ASSISTANT
Lines Y4& through ¥95 are nearing 8590 megu watts and overiocac, Con Ed's asking to Le cut iree..

. TKE i Chickenshits.

ASSISTANT
There’ 8 a fresh impedance coming in. It's not an overload - it's a drain.

{ ' Greenhouse takes = shast of paper and starts writing. t .

i . GREENHOUSE , Shoot it off to ma.

ASSISTAR * Coorcinates Denver-75, Appleelz. Lines M-Hary

GREFNTHOUSS
Roll the red wagons an’ splicing craws. I‘1l nees a high wire act. And give me a network map IJ can rees

' INTZ2IO2 = GREENEOUSE'S CAR = NIGHT .

He h2s & network map seread out over tha steering wheel as he searencs for the sreblem coordinates. Police calls stare squactsiling tnreugh.

MULPTISCUAIIIEL BADIO
Unit sixveten,

foe

6-10 Six-ten go'ec dispatch.

DisraTed See the woman 211 Daily. Hysterical, _flead lignts on tne Eack porch, barking dees, ¢a figure it out.

+ ™ a

6-14 Thanks a4 heaps you guys. Yolons out.

a

Greenhouse has heard this. He picks up his car phone.

. GREZEHHOUSE The: Have you restcred power to Tolone over. IKE What: Are you kideing? Telons was the firs: to ge out. GREDNEOUSE

“The police are reporting lights ‘in Tolono. Send somebody down there to check it out.

IEE
Forgat it. Toleno is as blacr as the inside of that elevater shaft.

CLICK. Greenhouse squints cut the windshield. Ahead of Nim is 2 glow of white ané amzer Lights. as he gets closer a yellow

bWe cherry picker and other surpert vehicles idle in neutral

eff to one sice oF the highwey. A line of power poles stretch to a rural infinity.

Homan emerces fren ais car chewing on some licorice. Twelve linemen, several ‘grunt nevices' and 3 tall Black man called JACZS3. all stare at Greenaouse as tioegh waiting his reaction.

GRSEENOUSI
What ~

JARS: I found evitense of Vancelian behigen 2iNcs M=-15 to Mela.

Jackson iosks up. Greenhouses looks up.

GREENHOUSE *

§ ¥F.c.¥.

_

There art splash cf

ne lines H-10 to H-12, Just bare poles against a

stars.

JACKSON
Why would anybody steal three thousand feet of transmission cable?
GREENHOUSE
Tt"s the high cost of copper, Stuift's worth 2a fortune,

Greenhouse goes to his car. The radio flashes.

OLICn DISPATCH VOICE See the complainant at Tolono South. Christmas lights have started a minor brush fire.

GREENEQUSE
tke! It's Greenhouse.
IRE
Go aheas.
GREELHOUSE
I'm herve at Hary-ten. The transmission line nes been stolen richh oft the pole.

ITKg That mares sense. Have you soan what comper is worth on the open market?

- GREETHEOUSE It looks Like vandals made a very Slepoy splice at the terminals, then hacked in a cEreek ane pulled out all the grounds.

TEL
Hever mind that. We're going to try to pick up the sysgtem ane hour from now.

The linemen and grunts lack up. Finally

os,

GREEMHOUSE
One hour - how is that possible?
LKE
Neorman,- anything is possible when you've gat a General Supervisor stuck in en @levator who wants to get out. GREENHOUSE What about Tolone? Feople are saying there are Christmas lights now.
IKE
People say all kinds of things in the : dark. People want to be reassured. There

a5 nO Christnes during a blackout .., there's oniy Halloween. Get to work re- storing that cahle.

The inticing police calls replace Ixe's thick voice. Norman stares at his dashbeard making up his mind. He looks devilishiy in Jackson's divection,

GREEWIHOUSE
How! & you like to sign on this ogexation for about an hour.

Greenhouse is already closing the car doer and starting the engine.

vACHKSON. (beginning to panic} Me? Run this shew? I'm a junior Lineman. My last Civil Serviee exem wes in March.

GREENHOUSE
I think Tolens is energized but it's net showing up on the Data Bank at the receiving station. If this is true, some’ of cur guys could get hurt.

JACKSOW ; HWhe's gonna listen to me. I'm nok even seniority. I'm not even white.

[ie

. GEL ENHOUSE One liour. You got te erack ihe whip. Burn the mifnight oil. Do if like T.W.T. One hour.

Gré@ennsuse maxes a U-turn and waves towards Jackson reassuringly.

Jackson turns to face about seventeen veterans waiting to he told wnat to do. He screws an his courag# and points a lang finger at the naked power pole. .

JACSHSON
Fix it. ‘ f
10

EXT. = TNDIANA TURNPIKE = HIGHT

source 11

The DVR car speeds under a sign that lecates TOLONO 14 MILES.

11

IMTSAZOR - CAR -— NIGHT

source 12

Greenhouse turns up the volume cn his Multi-Channel receiver. Police in conversation erackle out.

OFFICER LONGLY {V.0.) U-five. Lanely over.

: HG. fradic) Go'ed,.

LONGLY
Responding so that 10-75 en Pugsywillew and Orange. I en observing Cistant lignts at five hundres feet. Looks like army Parashute flares.

Greenhouse pulls over an the narrow olfte-ramn and tars at some leecal road maps. Opening one over the dashbeard only to reject it for ansther. & Sricht group of hignhtbeans appears over Aig shouicer and cut the back window. Greenhouse abrentiy waves am grm anc the autccabile lichts pass him on the left.

LOGLY
We'll nead some asnistance finding thoevar's shooting than off, Couple of hundzed ocopie in their F.J.'s think it's Saturday night cut here.

aw

. GREENHOUSE (pouring over map) Pussywillow, Orange. D-five. H=34, His twe fingers meet and he takes off in dust.

12

EXT. = DARKINES MEISHBORECOD = HIGHT

source 13

Greennhocse's car crawls along leeking for street signs.

CLOSE ~ NULTI-EAND PALIO

H.@, . To any unit in the vicinity of the Grange foothills. Housewife reports sw... uhm ..... her Tiffany Lamp is flashing... in her kitchen windew .... an upsidedéown Tiffany Lamp. Uhm ... can't mexe it out, Very Cistraugnht ... see the woman.

13

EXT. = DARKENED WEIGHSORHOCD

source 14

Greenhouse signifies his’ interest by making an absupt U-turn.

CLOSE ~ RADIO

LONGLY'S VOICE .
I¢’s all lit up out here. This flare thing we're cn Es doesn't want te land. It's caught in an updraft or something ... it goes up... it qses down ... wait one ....
(beat, beat)
It also wants to go a little sideways.

H.@. Lengly, give us a location,

LONGLY'S VOICE

We're On the reservoir grid, headine Nertheest. Mole on. Heading Northwest on Cottontail.

EXTERIOR ~ DARREN CO TE IGHECR ooo

reenhouses signifies further interest by making another U-turn.

Part tel

INSTDI GROENHOUSE'S cas

He is blanketed by roadmaps.

f

; GREENHOUSE Solt, Commescs ... Connecticut . COTTONTAIL: ti

+4

EXTCRLOR - .STRELTS OF SUBURBIA - KIGET

Greenhouse's two-tone sedan is just a checkered blurr racing

through the night. A steady flow of police calls amasses adrenalin with confusion, .

14

BUSIKESS DISTRICT = NIGHT

source 15

People standing around with flashlights. Parked ears with their heaclavps shining. The rest is in the dark. A totel power ovtace.

FARM COUNTY &IGUvaA¥Y = GREENFOUSE

He turns into a rutted reac, shines his spotlight an the street Sign. He checks his map, It confuses him, Greenhouse Backs onte tha main highvay and stops, sulling the map closer, twisting ihe goosene=k intenser lame ciose enouch to burn a hele

A bank o£ lights from an approachins vehiele can be seen fron the reay window. They draw uo very closa and stop. Greenhouse is only slightly: annoyed by the kick from the raar and side view mirrors as he pours over the wrinkled map. E2 absently stieks out his iert hand an@ begins to signal, "go arounc".

For 2 moment , nething havcens, then, sovundlessiy, the super hign-

beams comply ,.. rising vertieally out of sight leaving carkness benind.

Greenhscuse hasn't seen this. Then there is this noise. It is Like the rattling of tin. Gréenhouse looks argund. Ke shines his spot= Light an the road.sign.

ANGLO = ROAD S1Gi

Tt is vibrating so fast that the Letters seem to multisly and fsuper- impose, Ha leeks again with an almost cemical "RHyuuyh?", On that nsis his spotlight, intensor light, and headlights glow a faink gmber

then bilzck,

vaio

Li

CLOSE ~ GREENHOUSS IN THE DARK

GREEVHOUSE © (deadpan) I'm not amused,

CLICK! The entire area far thirty yarés around his car is bathed

in the brightest light imaginable. Greenhouse tries to iloeok at

the top of his windshield, but it hurts, his eyes cannot adjust. - He goss for, his racio. It is deac. Greenhouse is too scared to budge. Just his eyes move, Nothing more. Falling opan at the . hinges, the glove comnartment rattles as everything metallic begins sticking together. A box of paperclips comes undone and dozens Fasten themselves to the roof cf the car. The ashtray empties it= self out as thouch sucxed weignatless by a current of air from out- side += and CLICK: The hotlight is gone. Faperclips rain down on hin From the rooftes. The sign is no longer shaking. A DISTANT rattling causes Greenhouse to swing around in his seat. His highbears, apotlicht, lamps, etc. come back to life. Down the road, there is a FOUR WAY STOP. The signs are dancing to and fro, vibrating so vio- lently that the metal around the edcses curls against the force. CLICK! The intersection a hundred yards down the road is awash in the same intense lignt. But only for 4 second. CLICK! And in the

‘dark, the signs are no longer moving. All is still. Not even a hint

of 2 Breeze.

15

FOUR: WAY STOP = NIGHT

source 16

The <adis is maxing noises that souns like overload -excitement.

RADIGC
T don't know, I'm asking you. Is there a full meon this merning?
DISPATCH
That! S a negative. New moon on the thirteenth . . . +.

RADIO

Get cut of here, me and my partner are seeing this thing over Signal ilill. This is the tnins everybody is serearing about. Tt's the magn ....

(static pause} Wait a sec. Onay. It's starting to move mow, tiast te East.

ie

UNIT 21611
This is Nawtnorne Police 1011. We are watching it, confirming it is definitely the moan. 8¢ advised it's net moving. The clouds behind it are moving, giving it the dliusion of movement over woes

RADIO “m Where'd you stucy astronomy, Hawkhorne.

When did you ever see clouds passing behind the moon. ;

.-

EXTERIOR = SITE ur TRE OVERHEAD REPAIR = WIGHT

A mini-generator is servicing the area with harsh working illunination, A mammoth coil of high tension wire is unspcoling toward the stees] towers, Jackson is completely in contrel. Everyone is working under him at full speed. A workman holiers his way and holds a phone toward him.

WORRLIAN
Receiving station wants the man in charge.

Jackson steadies hinseli. This better be good, Hea clears his voice with no nonsense.

JACKSON
What can I do for you? ITKE'S VOICE You can start by putting Greenhouse on the line. JACKSON He's indisposeé at the moment. IKE Who is this? JACKSOW

guste one of the guys.

. IKE We're locked in and ready to pick up How fan it take two hours to string a hundred yards of cable. Put Greenhouss on.

1?

JACKSON
Permit me to call him for you.
(Jackson puts the phene to his lips ane cuts loose} GREENHOUSE = { GREENHOUSE = !
16

EXT. - 24 HOUR MIGHTY JOE YOUNG TRUCK STO? ~ NIGHT

source 17

Three blue and white County patrol units idle side by side, the occupants smoking ana pacing outsice. Greennmouse paints a ribsen ef smoking rubber. Some of the cowboy truckers begin ta saunter down the turnebout to see witat is going down.

a

GREENZOUSE
{to the three) You the guys seen the moon move?
HAYES
tyoung and indefensabls} Dotting the 'i' up there.
(rélerring to the ‘i’ mn Highty)
Big harvest moon.
BEGAL
(the opponent in the fight)
Went behiné some clouds.
HAYES
(slowly, they have been threugh it dozens of tines)
No, Begal, no. The clouds went behind it.

Bega? takes out his wallet, opens it, removes his driver's jicense. He flashes it in front of Hayes nose.

BEGAL
We are just going to sit here old buecdy. And when the clouds thin out enc'if the moon is mot where we left it ... T'll eat this thing. then re-up for tasting.

Greenhouses is euphoric behind the "high" of the experience, He one; listens with nalf an ear, more interested in who amon¢e the gatherec cEruckters were witnesses.

tem,

ied

AHGLE - HAYES ALiC BEGAL

Sitcing on the hoods of their patrol cars watching the distant horizon. Some ¢l the truckers are tryin 1g to mzke side bets, First with Heyes shen amongst themselves.

& squaking static NOISE, alerts Gresshouse, He brushes past the moon bexters to the radie in his car,

+ -

LONGLY'S RADIO VOICE
1022 to General Dispatch. We're onts those tights again. Observing six orange globes . traveling south-west in a wing like formation.

* DISPATCHER What's your lecation?

LONGLY'S RADIO VOICE
Jast aff the Telemark Expressway, and east toward Harper Valley, just past the Raintree Summer Fiarground, :

Greennovse blinks twice. GREENHOUSE

{loud to the world) Oh wy God, I know where that is.

CLOSE - ROAD SIGN

Telemare Excressvar. 2000000CC0M. Thers goes Greenhouse at ninety pilus.

LONGLY'S RADIO VOICE
No ‘sir, stiil the same formation. Fiskin's getting some good pictures. You can take this for what it's werth. These things were not manufactured in Detroit.

Greenhsuse floors it. The CAMERA pans up enzough the windshiald. Tne oyla> green freeway sign talls us the EAST HARPER VALLEY EAiT

“is three miles and’ closing.

LONGLY'S RADIO VOICE
We've got the mobile reéar tracking then at forty-five miles an hour. You can take this for what it's worth. That happens to be the exact speed limit around here. |

oy

Lg

CLOSE - EXPRESSHAY SIGH

HARPER VALLEY EXTT = EAST

ZOCCOOOM! Greenhouse trades paint with the guard rail before yawing a hard to starboard turn.

PREWITT'’S RADIO VOICE The two flanking globes have changed color. Left green, riecht red. Thev seem to be follewing the dips ané S-turns in the hicgh- way. Kinda just like driving down the road.

ROADSIDE ANGLE

Greenhouse’s car bends to the left and into fertile Indiana cow

country. A road sign tells you that the Ohio State Line is not far ahead,

WIDE ANCLE = COUNTRYSIDE

Greenhouse climbs = slisht hill that promises a vista for wiles beyond. He gets <o the crest and stops, leaning forward to see ever the dashboard. . :

17

COUNTRYSIDE FROM GREENHOUSE'S VIEWPOINT - CRESCCIIDO SUMMIT =< NIGHT

source 18

The country highway is ruler straight and goes forever. And that is all theres is to see. A hollow face suctcenly anpears in his flectenine hichbeams., Greenhouse sucxs in a sersam and freezes. The apparition amiles toothlessly and EZleats toward nis rolled up window. Beyons nim is a family of six sitting in a flatbed truck. Two six year old twin girls recline on mattvesses right there on the shoulder of the highway. A fat teenages boy in bib-overalls stares through binocular: scanning the stardust overhead. The old farmar smiles soma more enc Greenhouse manages to catch his heart and roll down the wintow.

. OLD FARMER You den't have to tell me noching son, I know why you're here.

GREENLOQUSE
Engine trouble?
OLO FARMER
Oh, we spend two, three nights a week watching ‘em pass over.

: LITTLE BARRY GUILLER Dector -Zeuss - !

Greenhouse views this sweet ‘Bradbury' setting through spinning eyes, Barry, the little boy from earlier, is content with builé- ing dirt mounds at the readside. His young mother, Jillian, steres at Greenhouse. Suddenly « breeze comes Up and everybody's hair is

-gvept behind then. All eyes go downwind toward the magnificent

valley vista.

CLOSE = GREENHOUSES

Turning also to look downwind and .....

FOUR CONE-SHAPED ORANGE LIGHTS, EACH APPROXIMATELY 13 FEET IW

OLAMETEN, MERELY TWO FEET ASOVE THe HIGHWAY ... SPEEDING SOOND-= LESSLY. THEY BEGIN TO SEPERATE AS THEY NEAR GCREENHOUSE'S UNIT TEAT BLOCKS THE ROAD. THEY PASS (TN A SILENT BLURR AND SOMEWHAT AWSWARDLY REJOIN AGAIW RECEDING INTO THE DISTANCE. .

BARRY GUILER .
(jubilant)
ice cream cones!

Casually ard full of pride, the oid farmer nods his head and click is tounge.

BOLO FARMER
They can fly rings arcund the moon, but we're years ahead of ‘em on ine highways.

‘ZOoo¢M =~ ! Zoom = !

Two Indians Police units that Greanhsuse has been monites ing break wind at one hundred plus.

GREENHOUSE
This is muts:

A thisd Indiana cruiser trys te close the cap. Greenhouse puts his car in gear and J-turns after them. The old farmer shouts to be neasd.

-

OLS FARMER
Keep it te. yourself. They'll cancel your Medi-Cal,

ab

18

ANTERIGR - GREEMHOUSE'S CAR = NIGHT

source 19

He reaches for tne radio, shinking better of it, and accelerates instead. Greenhouse can see the chase in progress two miles up the road. Jus€ pin points of color: orange and red and white

police stroses. He listens to the radio feedback between the three “nits ahead. .

LONGLY'S RADIO VOICE
{taiking to Bay Station) We'll be in Ohie in anerher two minutes. Contact Rechester Police. See if they have mcar on S51. Tf that's a negative, we'd serta _ like tea stiek it out te the next filling station.
BAY STATION VOICE
(after two beats)
The Captain says nothin doin'. He wants te see you back at Ray Statian swimming in coffee.

A real farm boy voice overrides the Bay Station Dispatcher. It is the officer in the trailing car.

£WiTT . Tne so-n' so's just keep on followin’ the . read. They keep on followin’ the read. Look out,

-PREWITT'S VOICE We got the state line coming up. Slow down Dewitt. Dewitt. Slow down. Stata line, Dewitt, Dewitt. -

19

EXT. - OHIO TOLL STATION = NIGHT

source 20

Elaven cozy toll Eeoths bathed in ultra-modern fluorescent. An elderly watchman sits comfortably in the lane three kiosk buried in a Peadcer's Digest. The second hand on the wall clock ticks threugh $:35 Ali and stons en a fraction. What eccurs néxt sends the watehman to nib toes, his head spinning.

LEVEN BOD VIOLATION LIGETS ACCOMPANIED BY A CLAUGSTON ALAR IS RAT EAPPEES WRE: aA VERICLE TRIES TO SHEAR THROUGH WITHOUT PUTTING TEE QUARTOn Ii TL NIRC SASK0T.

oir,

Gogg le-eyed, the watchman spins around looking for numerous fate Crashers, There is neobeéy around for miles - saving

ee

WIDE ANGLE

Prewitt “and hong. y ‘s police Cruisers seize up their radials and stop short of Ohio. Dewitt's green police unit never even slows. it blurrs Prewitt's vision and Slicas | through Toll Gate #3.

LONGLY'S P.G.¥.

Vp ahead in rural Onio, the road takes a hairpin right. Sut this time the tangerine lights ignore the turn and continue straight @Nead. Locked in on this, Dewitt similarly ignores the turn and flies through the guarc rail and inte Chis air space. An 6.5. $5000 crash is HEARD,

FINAL ANGLE

WHOOSH! = Greenhouse is going twice as fast. He slows only enough to maneuver into the #7 lane and pluak one quarter into the wire catcher. The red light changes to green and he is just a souple of taillights insite the State of, Ohio.

INTERIOR = AIR TRATFIC COUTROL TGUER = Cox MGNICIPAL ATRrOR’ + NICHT

4 bank ¢f radar scanners casting a grean glow over the faces ¢f six Kir Trafiiec Contrellers. A steacy stream of garbled “hack talk" from the open speakers cicse by. From the susy floor of blinking ligt<s and static, CANENA selects a young man of thirty-one, tired end worn thin bv the grocve of his profession. He is werking on the high altituce radar sector on the inidmignt shift. Call him Harry;.

ACrOSsS 212 room another men waves un arm.

OTHER MAN
Marry, take over che Red Cve on VEF 122.54. I'm on hand line and can't budge.

HARRY - CLOSE

BOOAS ante his

ore, triggers the twoevay relay. Ue hear the sieesy BAAR VOICL of ana Ts

aay pLliot.

Ti OLY a |

Twa Cox Municipal, @o you nave any traffic Fer our Vii, 12?

Harry peers into his scope. His keen eyes show us tro blips, ane weeker than the other, Bue appearing close together.

. EARRY TWA 32, I have no knewn traffic in your vicinity, But I eam painting a raw target eff to your ten s'elask position. Not painting a transponder, however, If must be at the low altitude sector. Go you

Roger? ‘ THA We'd like to advise that ¢he target could ’ mot be at lew altitude, It is above me,

descending through my 33,000 now.

BARRY .
anes are only two aircraft under my guidance. . 32 and American 517 Fifteen miles behind

you. TWh 32, cive me a description of the target.

TWA
We are observing a lighted object, very bright, and moving to our nine o'elock position. The target is brilliant. Bright eSlors ... alternating white to rec.

Some of the controllers in the tower look up From their work. The Floor Marshall casually steps over, casking his néead toward Earry's sadarscose es he siss the lest bittes erounds from his paper cotice cup. A s@cone voice interrupts on tha two-way feeder.

AMERICA
TWA 32. American S17 monitoring on the VEF. Da you have your landing lights on?
THA
Say again. S2y acain.
AMERICAN
Advise us if your landing lights are on.

liARRY Cex ihuniclpal traffic to American $17. You are fifteen miles apart and yoing in the same cirectien! Oe you eancur with this sighting?

Thera is static cacsé. Ne response.

ee

-4

: PARRY {to Ameriten 517}

Do you see anything frem your ten o'clock position?

AMERICAN
Yes. We have it new and have been Watching it. “e

Suddenly, the coffee hoy Kicks open the door with his only free

appendage. An amazing balancing act with ecffee and danish.

EARRY -~ - (flatly) What does the object aspear to be doing? | AMERICAN

sight lized) Exactiy what TWA said.

BARRY .
(equally flat} Bo you want te resort a UFO?

The coffee Loy is just as suddenly relieved of his burden and

hustled aut cf the soon. Another studiec pause and

TWA
BSegative. tie don't want to repest

; ; HARAY THA 32. IL am painting this target

coming at you from eight miles, ten o'clock position.

- Twa TWA contZirmed,

BARRY
Proceeding northeast, bound from its earlier altitude.

4 TWA A descencing configuration at about twenty degrees cit my horizon. BARRY Cox Municioel confirmed.

the Directors of Ground Operations enters with his pass key. Suddenly, @veryvhocy is painting the tascets on their respective devices.

TWA
“"™ My £Light hostess informs me we've got passengers taking a lot of pictures tnrougn the port windows.

CLOSE - DIRECTOR OF GROUND OPERATIONS

He fnaps up a meacdset and pencil mike.

n.G.0. Are you reporting a UFO, TWA 42?

Wo answer. -

c.G.0, This is the Director of Ground Operations. I've been informed that’ the report they ake you-file has been significantly reduced in nage count.

TWA
That's great news, Day-Go, but = got a date in Santa Fe and orders from Miami.

The reom bursts ozt LAUGEIKG.

D.G.c, {in good humor) My orcarzs come from Weignt-ratterson. We're holding you in pattern at 2806, Cox Municipal Trafgie to American $17.

AMERICAN
What's the bad news, Cox ilunicipal?

D.G.0, Give me a fuel chece.

The sontroiless LAUGIL again. TARRY

how long arc you going to usp them up tnere?

ao

——

D.G.0,

Just @s long as it taxes to pass the buck.

cour To

20

EXT. - THR44AC = NIGHT

source 21

A sair of blincing lending lights seem to hever just before touching down. -

ANGLE - FEEDER ROAD a

A tight squadron of four-wheeled vehicles wait in the dark with theizr engines rumbling. +

“* «

ANGLE = TAPMAC

Tne TWA 32, a 727, touches down, engines reverse, and it roars to

trundle znd veers onto a narrow connection where 2 mini brute
airport vehicle with flashing yellow beacon guides the jet plane

to what appears to be a daacé end of Blue runway lights. The engines wine down. Everysniag is still.

FEEDER ROAD

All vehicles hit their highbeams and take off, racing through the night towaré tne erydocked airship. Two of the cars, ‘75 La Salles, have Federal License plates. One of the vehicles has a piggy-back bearaing sanz.

?

21

INT. - TWA 32 - NIGHT

source 22

The wilted passengers watch bleary-eyed as the ramp extends to become matal stairs. The stewardess opens the forward door anc six berly =sn rise into the galley area. Two of the men, officicusly Gressec, cisanpeas inte the pilot's cabin while the other four remain zt "parade rest", They are all dressed as business executives, but sczsthing makes you wish you coulc see their shoulcer holsters.

EXTERTCR = TWA 727 = NICHT 5

Angle toward Mr. Lacombe. Cnce you see the frenchman, you'l2 not easily forget him, He is chic, he is severe, he is very comfortable with himself. He speaks to his Assistant in’ Preach, English se5 titles follow,

-

—— wei te: — = . —_

oo

LACOMIE
Faiying 25 a 20th Century convenience, why should the modern design of airports be any @itferent than train stations oz- bis densts.
AMERICAN AIDE
(in French with a . NY accent} ; Orley in Paris is the worst. It looks like Staz Trek.

. LACOMBE Wheat is Star Trek?

PILOT'S CABIN DOOR - TYA 32°

The pilot, co-pilst, radie man and flight engineer are leaving the cockpit under escort, hurrying down the ramp to the waiting Sars. The four besiness executives hurry to replace the crew and caose the seckpit coor behind them.

HR. PUBLIC RELATIONS if wearing air Forte trousers, shirt and tie with a casual sport uniform jackes. He looks like the only reassn- able man in the lot, His ayes tell all the passengers that every- hing is okay even before he raises the Public Address michrophone to his ligs. an oifictiovs number tee men stands next to nin,

. Keaches inside his coat socket, rulling out a compact stack of dBM carcs ang a Eound clump of black test pencils.

‘PUBLIC RELATIONS Man Folks, I apologize on behalt of the Aiz Force Research and Developmen: Cenmand for the delay in your flight schedule. On your

| slow descent thrcuch 30,000 feat, you flew through a restricted corridor where classi- fied government testing was being conducted, I'm going ta 23x all passengers with cameras, exposed film canisters or even bexes of un-

_ @xposed film, t9 turn them over to me at this time, in return for which you may fill out a small card with vour neme and address. Your slides and prints will be developed ead re- turned to vou within the next two weeks at our GxPEnNSE.

Tne Public Relations Man nods and the feur businessmen go fe work,

The passengers explode, protesting. "What's tris all abqct?” “What cight dees - i"... "Can I speak to: you?" .."Hey, siz”.

a,

27 — A

22

EXT. = COR FIELD - PRE-~DAYWN

source 23

Be is looking heavenward, His eyes welling over. His nose éripping freely. He is unexplicadly starting to cry.

MEDIUM = ' GREENZOQUSE

Be is sitting on the reof of his car, his legs dangling over the window wipers, His eyes darting from one part of the sky te another.

ad

WIPER — GREEWHOUSE

‘a

The car is sitting in a dirt furrow surrounded by acres of corr husks ané irrigation. He is still leoking, and reacting because . . «. « « «

VISTA = GREENSCUSE, TEE EARTH & THE SRY

The vision is remarkable - and scary. Lavender dawn is breaking on the eastern horizon, Overhead, drops of puffy white clouds, hundreds of them, are drifting with the prevailing easterly winds, Some of these cléuds start to giow ultra-violet from within, detailing their strata and volume. And this is happening from cloud to cloud as six pinpoints of dight play geophysical hice and seek ail over the dawn- ing Fennsylvania sky.

The SOUND of distant JET AIRCRAFT and three jetstreams paint the say from out of the north. It apeils the coment. The nocturnal lights tick off, One stays on & is dismaying im its speed, trajectory & kine-

‘ matic as it violates all physical laws, showing its stuff by streakin

from mic<-heavens to far horizon in 24 seconds flat. The jets, three conventional Venom Interceptors, splay off in three directions. The sky has crown too olue to support stam life and our impression is that we have just sat througn the most awesome Flanetarium spectacle in broad masory.

HiGH SECT = GRELWHOUSS

Sitting in nis car, far below us.

' are of

INTERIOR = INDIANA Bar STATION POLICE DEPARTMENT = BRAINY HORTING

This is tha orecessing room. A blizzar2 of mid-morning 2 complinentes by secretaries and uniformed policemen checking out,

ctivity qnecking in, writing reports. And leaning into theirs night reperts ficers Leongly @ Prewitt, the team that first pursued the necturn phenomenen .tq the Ohio border. This is probably the first time these

men have ever enjeyed this kind of paper work. Daybright- lightning & thunder rattles the windows.

ANGLE « GREENHOUSE .

Without the aid of a typewriter, Greenhouse is penciling in his story. He still pumes fra. sxcitement. Touching his head, Nerman Pauses and pressec tack @ knawing neadache,

GREENEOUSE , ° Get any aspirin?

PREWITT
ii Longly hadn't been with me q would have gone psychiatric. . LONGLY _ I don't want to file this report. I want to publish it.

Just about now, 2a door bursts open acress the processing room. Dewitt emexges from the Castain's office, his arm in a sling and a bansais on his fovehead. Ths Captain hes a POX en his morning.

* CAPTAIN ‘Tt's enovgh to outrage common sense, {to the room) Ordinary people look ta the police department not to make bizarre reports of this nature.

DEWITT
{in his ewn defense) My knowledge is Ged's truth.

The Flustered commander turns his leeks on Prewitt & Longly Sehind their typerriters.

CAPTAAH
{loud te his secretary) When Flas Gorcon & Buck Rogers are dene, get tneizc behinds in here.

Dewitt is vanquished. Si-king his head he makes for the door. The two officers snag a piece of him and Dewitt stops to look down, Geazed.

. . LOWGLY What'd you do to the old man? 4

DEWITT
Got him te give me about thirty days on tne galf course and the country ¢lub.

EXiT REWITT. Prawitt & Longly t..is nervous looks. And if fingers eeuld tip-teoe, that’s what happens mext. So much for God's truth! Out from their typewriters go the I.P. 102 fila reports - in go fresh ones. Prewitt & Langly peund the keyboard like Ferrante ana Taicher, ;

TTLESE = GREERNOUSE

‘eeling betraved. Ee looks down at his own pile of pencil marixings And sketches. Look's at the Captain's closéé deor, And sterms cut of the Bay Station PD. sO

23

INT. - HECEIVING STATION TROUELS ROOM = MOANING

source 24

ike is starine thrausn a crack in a Gocr marked EMERGENCY EXIT.

- IKE Supervisor's coming up the stairwell,

' Everyone stops work te catch a glimpse. Ike steps back, Greenhouce Stancs in the backorounc. He is still carrying his notes and SkAagcenas, The SHARP REPORT of neels aon metal stairs grows LOUDCA. Ike Fulls on a cup of coftee nervously. The stairwell doar sails oven and SUPERVISCA GRIMNSEY stands winded and circled in ruacled fatigue.

IKE
(smiling auay)
Peoole are clean shaven and having bacon for breakfast.
SUPERVISOR GRINEGY
Greenhouse - [ tlay I gee you in my office.

The Supervisor sludges off. Greenhouse, wearing his Sleepless nicht, enters Grimsby's conservative arena anc starts ts clasa the docr. sehins hin. The Supervisor nearly faints.

. SUPERVISOR GRIMSSY Fer Gads sake, don't ¢lese the door:

24

EXT. = MIDDLE CLASS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

source 25

A green Chevy station wagon turns inte @ open carport and stops next to a VW Bus. Ronnie Greenhouse emerges with the groceries. She bounces up the garden wlak and smack inte the arms of Jacksen.

a

RONNIE
Hey, there's eggs in ome of those:

Cackson is speecing on a natural rush,

JACKSON
Have vou talked to Norman since last night?

RONNIE

Norman I haven't seen Since last evening. Knowing that he's awake and lishting tne suburbs deés not make me sleep any better,

JACKSON
I've been calling through the windows and he’s not answering.

Ronnie tmiocks the front éser and Jacksen pushes through it and turns down the hall.

ROWNTE
When he's on the night shirt, ne‘ . sleep till Mike Douglas.

She follows him to the bedroom deer. Jackson puts the packages down anc knocks gently.

oy

JACESONW
It's Jackson.
RONNIE
{noticing how cis- traught he is} - He's such a light sleeper, he'd hear you if he were home. Something happened didn't it?
JACKSON
The General Super busted mim for leaving the lins, It's only temporery, he's get too much seniority, but Norman wants ho make it permanent.

Ronnie can't take it all in right away.

RONNIE * Nerman said that?

Jackson turns the knob. The bedroom door is locked. Ronnie's eyes stare, trying to comprehend, '

RONNIE .
ye {quick to Jackson) me The only time we ever lock the door ... {a new concern, a - questioning moment that brings a €or of anger to each corner ; of hez moush) On this is ridiculous. Norman! Norman:
(to Jackson, inogenuously} Go aheac, you better open it.

| JACKSON But it's locked,

ROWHIE
I know it's locked.

Jackson steps back, takes a breath, ané Auris himself at the pine- wooe. It cracks. He steps back again. Ronnie is biting her finger- nails wondering what she will find.

JACKSON
This'1ll cest you.

CRAS#: Thea leck surrenders and tho slab flies inte the room pushing ahead a tush of air that curls the pages of ty years worth of Playboy ilagazines that litter the unslest in deuble bed. Nor Nernan. Ronnie shakes her head at the magazines and meves in a ¢irele, un- Lalancaé. Ronnie presses her ear te the bethroem door. Her hané tries the knob, Locked! Her breath quickens as she turns hopelessly towarc. Jackson. Her eyes well up and she is really seared now.

ROWWIE
Oh God Re's not like this.
JACESON
This'll cost you tee.

Charging at his own reflection in the full length mirror eon the ( Goss the room seems to explode and ....

Tonnde squeezes through the sparkling snords of glass and sucks in a Scream.

ANGLE - GREEURCUSE

~

; »fotionless in a scalding bathtub, asleep. The steam makes for poor ‘ ‘yisibility but it becomes apparent that Nerman igs fully dressed in

the tub. Jackson pulls him upright and begins slapping his cnseks. Fannie is speechless and rivited.,

+

1 JACKSON * ° Run some cold water. (slapping Herman's cheeks) Wide awake now. Eyes wide. {to Ronnie} | - See if he’s taken something.

. ‘ RONNIE . {returning with cole tap

~ water)

Sominex and Alka Seltzer. That’s . all we ever Keep. '

fos ™..

~ Jackson siphens the cold water on Norman's eyes and hair and moves . him into 2 pool of bathwater on the tile floor. Ke begins to ceme ; around.

Rennie notices Plavbov Magazine. A Playmate of the Month with moutzingus breasts looks up at her frem ths puddles,

Norman cones Fully awake.

ROWN IE
ferying, confused, insistent}

AL: the doors were locked,

JACKSON .
Man, you can drown yourself falling asleep like that.

He smiles at them beth - hapmy and content beyond belief. Than leoks

at the salms af His hands. They mysteriously Rest satend cegres burns that have alsoady Elistered from the seaking. Norman smiles ayain and holds them out for fennie to spe. . a (| GREEIMOUSE \ Souvenir.

CLOSE = DRESSING HIBPOR -Day

Ronnie is maxing herself up, Her ritual includes inspecting the ase an her face. Sn2 still looks twenty-one.

CLOSE = NORAN

He is measuring her, fighting himself inside te teli her aboct

his experience. Ke ig almost doubled over’ in thought. Waiting for the right moment. :

La +

ROMMIE .
My mother's face is the game as mine. I collected all of her photographs « from when she was twenty until her fifty<filth birthday.

Ronnie fans out thirty photes of various sizes on the dressing. table. Norman senses his opening and pushes closer to Rennie who begins pressing ner cheeks back as if trying to smooth out invis- azble lines. °

GREENHOUSE .
Do you want to hear the craziest thing thet happened to me last night?
RONNIE
My cheeks will be tne first ta drop. Mother's did at thirty. Give me your hands.

Herman conplies and Romnie positions than so they are pinching bach her ears and sulling tight her cheeks.

RONHIE
Now look at Hem at thirty-one and I compare this ta Mom at twenty. Look how the lips start turning in.
GREENHOUSE
Listen to me for a second, okay? ROUNIE

Okay. - . ‘,

Korman smiles at her wide-eyed innocence, having given him her ur-’

Giviced attention. He slears his voice, aveids her look, smiles, and proceeds £3 have nothing to say.

’ RONNIE Norman ... I'm smiling my way into early midele age.

GAREENEGUSE | Something nappened last niqkt ....

RONNIE
Everyday I can feel myselt settling.

GREENHOUSE

ZI don't expect you ta believe this right AWAY esas

RONWZE
Press back harder ,.,. that's what a ‘Face=-Lift can do...

Nerman bursts. He yells at Rennie and takes his hands away.

GREENROUSE
Something haseened to me - : Bo you give a shit - ? -

+

Sex face fells. She seems ready te shatter at the next louc neise.

RONNIE .
Is it going to be bad news?

- GREANHOUSE Last might things haprened. I den's great 4... inner “calm. You know the -feeling sitting in a scaldicg bathtub ‘ when it's snowing out.

ROUWIE
{smiling witheut _ knowing why) eee inner what?
GREENHOUSE
There were lights. Haw can I describe this ... okey ..+ Have you @ver seen the sun shining through a clowd after its reined, {bursting again) Ak shit.

J5

iponie is looking 2t him through the micror afraid to speak. jownan shifts in mid-sentence. Fe begins improvising against the Satts. He gently touches her face and draws her skin tight toward the temples again.

—- GREENHOUSE (starting slowly this time} Get a sitter. . ,

. RONNTE

What for? *

GREENEOUSE * After tan years of marriage,can't I

4 take you to someplece lonely « mysterious

and park under the stars?

RONNIE " You are out af your mind! " oe

25

EXT. - THE CRESCENDO SUMMIT = NIGHT

source 26

Nerman'’s Chevy station wagon is parked where the farmer's pickup was the nicht before. A sprinkling of distant city lights ad a soft touch of romance to this desolate setting. Rannie Greenhouse SUpplies the rest.

INGERIOR = CREVY STATION Wacon

She is devouring her husband like young levers doing it for the first time. There will be nothing lezt of nim to take Rome ih a doggy bac.. .

CAMERA CLOSES IN as Ronnie presses back his denim shirt exposing eool Elesnh. Nasman just deeasn't have his heart in it. When she is met kissing him, he is stealing careful leeks through the windows at the stardust and distant roliing hills. When she is kissing him, his eyes just refuse to close.

OUTSIOL TEE CAR

ko Brisk current of air bends the grass at the side of the road. Norman's hess appears at the side window, his face getting mashed against the glass as Rennie takes him wp an it ...

ee ee

TIM CUT: CLOSE Oc! RONNIE:

She is sound aslee> in rear of the wagon. CAMEVA WITHORANS to inelede Norman pacing us and down the barren highway. His patience 15 as worn thin as what he's got on. Ee is ‘stood up and feeling betrayed. Walking back to the car, sweaping throwgh his breath, Norman weilds a leg and kicks the side door.

CLOSE + RONNIE

She wakes up SCREAMING.

RONHIE *. e Oh my God. What time is it?

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE

Full cf finality and reselve.

GRIENHOUSE
Listen to me Ronnie s.cos
RONNIE
(locking at the dash clack} And it's 2 new babysitter. She's probably called all the hesnaitels. mo We told her midnight and sks has ; scheal in four yours.

CLOSE = GREENHOUSE

He looks up one lest time and mouths something obscene at the sky.

EnTehlon = JUGGLE DELTA ARES = DAWN A title tells us: iATCOGROSSS, BRAZIL.

Ur the amatoras river, one thousand miles from Sacpaulo, come three ‘dugguzs' piloted and pacdled by bush natives. As the rliveraoars draw nearer, three white men ¢an be seen. One in each boat.

Ma. LACOMEE emerges seaked in his own jungle sweat. He is inmeciately recogwnizable as tne alfable gent wane esntiscated exposed film fren the civilian passengers abg¢ard the Ty& Flight at Cox Muaicipal Hirport. Oxeitedl;, three of the native guides point toward rhe dense Sungie regions. Laconmae srears to them in their native tounces. TAt natives comaly anc protuce machsatbes, 7

36-A .

ANGI - DEVUSE JUUGLE INTERIOR

RHACK - CHOP = SPLASA - The contingent of hikers blaze a marshy trail where no man has gone before,

LOSE = LACOMPE

Exusing contidance and enthusiasm as he plows threugh the hacked Eush. He moves faster and faster. The point man with the machete is encourace to speec up operations as. Lacombe pressas against his bare heels and

a ay

h gUGE JUNGLE CLEARING a

One at a time, the men emerge, Lacombe pushing out ahead of everyone else to ba the firs: to see ......

OVLR LACOMCE'S BACK TO ...

+

Talis used to Se Zerest jungle as dense as the undergrowth just en- counterec. It is now 2a perfectly flat clearing, one hundred yards

in ¢ireumferencs, The area has been almost surgically peeled back

revezling in the vasy sentear of the cirele and standing wingtip

to Wingtip .....

FIVE NAVY GRUMAN Tie = 3 AVENGER TORPEDO EOMBERS RIGHT OUT OF WORLD

WAR IIT. They look factory fresh and proud to be propeller driven. Next te tha landlocked formation is a TWIN ENGINED MARTIW MARINES FLYING BOAT PATROL SLANZ. IT IS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH ANGEL HATA. The secone and thirs Americans move cicser to Lacombe. The gray haired officzrai looaks truly flabergastec.

GRAY HATRED MAN
Te’s Flight #19, isn’t it?

1 ACOMEF. Long way from Fort Lauderdale.

nea walks forward a few steos and touches tne angel haae Gripping from fn2 wings of the HARTIt MARINER FLYING PATRGL PLANE. Ee turns smiling with & boyish entnousiasn.

LICONBE
This one cane giit wrappec.

vat ilens,,

46 = oD

INTERIOR = GREnANUOUSE BEORSGH = DAW

CLOSE = THE CEILING

Two points of light converge and like dets painted oa opposite ends of a phonecrapn record, they traverse the indoor sky and ...

- Norman and Ronnie are tucked away in their bed, sterine at the

ceiling. Norman points two six-cell flashlights. Ronnie is awe- truck with innocent wonder as KNesman finally recreates tne phe~ nomenon af the night before. ;

— ee

——— A ee

a7

GREENHOUSE
It turned off its lights when ether cars passed, just like a rheostat on the dining room fixture, leaving only a dark hole in the sky. I kept thinking of the Slue Angels excep: this would strip the wings off any- thing the military could build.

He Cemonstrates by propelling the Light beam rapidly across the eellinc. Without slowing down, he performs an impossible if0 decree turn. Sucking-absentiy on her fingers, Ronnie breaths a slew “Wow".

Norman flicks off the flasnlights and for a full ten seconés nothing is said. - _

al

rs

+

RONNIE
(hardly audible} Norman.
GREENHOUSE
{just as quietly) What. ; .

: ROWITE Den't tell this to a lot of people. h lot of people would have to be Married to you before they'd believe

it. GREEMHOUSE I'm not asking you to acsept it right off. ROUNZE

{wanting to hel) That's chay. 1 have.

GREZSVEOUSE
{leeks at her for a long moment) Well shit, Ronnie, you're net very excited. ‘
RONTTE
Iodidn‘: see them. Anyway, there's proLably a very natural explanation ...4.
GEEENIUCLSE
fhe's up in dad) tela it! Kola is! You don't beliave cne word i've saic,
RONNIE
Wo Norman. I believe you saw what you Saié you sew. I don't believe what you think they are - they is.

Normzn surpresses his angry energy and slaps his cheek against

the pillow so-that he is facing Ronnie’-who now sits up in bed.

A new and curicus mood colors over him. He has leveled his vision on Rormnie's healthy breasts. But, strangely, not in eny way sexual.

ROWNTIE
{watctes him watching them} " ° ' Don't be mad tonight. Net tenight.

Ronnie hunkers down between the sheets so that her Breasts silhouette

against a snaft of moonlight on the beige dresser. GREEKHCUSE WATCHES THE SILHOUETTE AND IS MYSTERIOUSLY TRANSFIXED BY IT,

GREDMBOUSE . .
(off handed} . I'm not gonna lose any sieep over it.

-Ronnie takes herself to him and CAMERA sees her figure filling the SCREEN. She digs close to him and smiles.

ROWNIE
Why den't you lese soma slees over it.
26

EXTERIOP =- THE KEIGREORHOOD = EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

source 27

Ronnis and Nerman wearing sweat suits, jog their morning mile. & Reigiber washing his car waves hello with his spray-jet. Norman neds Back and Ronnie catches up behind. Snea keaps pace with his footfalls, getting so close to his heels that in a fun-loving way She sniffles out of step and squashes his tennis shoee right orf the svast socks. Exploding with laughter, Ronnie passes him, running backwards and making faces. Horman is not amused. She shrugs at his silly gray mood, sticks sué her tongue, turns and waves at some friends digging at the shrubs for the morning papas. A car has Been following them. It edces forward now and makes its move ... and Greenhouse is suddeniy ina face off with a léma Auricon camara. A man i8 geskuring Wildly and pointing directly et Jorman. He is more than reminiscent of loveable George Fishbeck. Seorge holds us a card. It is upsidedow but Wormer can read EYEWITNESS HEWS =- KROP CHANNEL 4.

( Nerman shakes his heac. He's not interasted., Not at all. He begins jogging faster.

Here comes George leacing the charge!

GEORGE
If you could take the time - ten minutes - I would be a here at the office. Your written report was breathtaking and ve'd ‘jke to share . with yeu the equal time you deserve.

ad

GREENEOUSE
How did you get my report?

—— Fe '-

. GEORGE .

Your Gensral Supervisor suggested that

. we contact you. The police cesartment ; . i has been open minded about this thing.

‘| _ "Greenhouse realizes the eamera is turning and a michzophone is f finding its way under his chin.

| .

' GEORGE

We'd yike to make the six o'ctlock supper edition. We lese aux voung ~ nudiance at eleven.

; Nerman reverses himself and jogs the other way, leaving old George behind.

Norman is in feat over this. Ronnie, nat use te seeing her husbend ippoa bline rage, clams up and falls further back.

¥

GREENSOUSE

He did it°= ! That - = = Grimsty published my report = | When I'm ready for my sens to Rear about what happened it‘il se from their father - not the anchor man on the goddamn evening news:

Ronnie is frail when it comes to loud noises, scenes, tempers. She Geesn’t know Norman Like this and it shews all over her.

ee

v

TEE GOOFY GOLF GREEW &

it is a lazy Saturday at the brunch heur and an inter family

gatnering progresses with an obvious lack of enthusiasm. The sun <otal of twenty-two folks, the dividend of six families, the men segregated away from the women, dealing out the same old gossip.

Ronnie waits her turn to T-off. A miniature windmill invites skill and timing by putting the bell through an cpen door between swipes ef the rotating blaces. -As the women pow-wow, Ronnie looks beyond

them to the next game hurdle where Norman birdies his third shoc..

CLOSE - GRIENACUSE

He itn't paying attention to the joculer ad-libs frem his beering buddies. We watch as he stares at his children in an adjacent fairway.

GIEINHOUSE'S F.O.V.

He has streng sons. Brac is the popular leader and is showing one

_@f the smaller ¢hileren how to putt.

CLOSE - GREENEOUSE

te smiles secretly and and allows his line of vision to drift up.- lie looks at the skv. And looks. And loons. ;

CLOSE - RONNIE

She is wakehing this. Peeks where he is staring, crowing increes-

‘ingly disturbed ty-such behavior.

CLCSE = CRIEEWVECUSL

As he accidently lcoks inte the sun and sneezes.

EARRY
Rey Horman - : You're up.

rsh again, Norman twirls the ciub lie Jack Nicholas anc the ball. He lashks up to check out the obstacle course

THE ORSTATLE

A miniature mountain with a crowning veak similiar to Gbscur ing the tiny cave is a waterfall that sustifias war five.

4\

CLOse = GREEVESUSE

Norman gets ready to putt when something pulls his attention

hack toward the mountain and waterfall, It is a pleasant setting and the falling water is like musi¢e. No sooner does he set himselt does his attention drift back and ....

Vorman is sweating. His concentration shattered. He cannot hit the Dall at the mountain no matter how hard he cries ... so he strikes out wildly and the crive careoms off a ledge and rells back te his feat. He swings again, caally driving it. It misses ‘the hole and rebeunds off a craggy ledge. Inexplicably, he swats again ... and again aaa " . ‘

CLOSE - RONNIE

Holding herself and ahsolutely motionless. Everyone is motionless as ee oes ' .

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE :

Re is killing th2 ball. ’ -

CLOSE = TOBY & BRAD

Watching their father. This is no game anymore ... and the boys do net smite.

CLOSE = GREENHOUSE

Winded, he fists the golf ball and pitches it straight at the par five opening. It goés in, rattles about, and spins onte the green, rolling ... rolling ... right into tha hele. Greenhouse is the least surprised at his supershot.

Dave, tne jock who has been Keeping score, sidles up to Norman and tries to pierce tne silence by intonming officiously:

- DAVE Babe, i'd give you that. ace in the hole but the kiddies are watching and it'd be an unfair examole to set for them. {smiling to the others) Okay - who's next - ?

27

IWTERIOR « ALDITORIGN - NIGHT

source 28

Fitiy conservatively dressed men are filing in. All of them display photo-identification on Lueir Llack ianels. Taey are eael handed wiat isons lika fancy programs in silver leaf. Tre mesd is less {ormai than the dress Corments and johes are circulates. Apparcengiy iat is about te Ean reo rould have been managed in much less

oo

ANGLO = SMALL STAGES

The gentlemen take their seats. Among them is Mr. Tacembe and his Brooklyn translatorz-assistant. They are accorded the hushed courtesy o£ ranking officials amone enlistsd men, The entire row stands until they are comfortably seated.

A Lyndon Johanson type tries adding a flash of Oxford to his con-

trelled Dellas dialect as he takes the stage and positions a microonone.

H.2.
{too close to the. . microphone } * Are we all here?
SOMEONE IN AUDIENCE
Some of us wera wondering that about you, sis.

Generel laugnter including the Texas Master of Ceremonies.

M,C. i made you come in your Sunday suits cause I'm Camned tired ef sweat stained Shirt-sleeves from tHontgomery Ward.

More laughter.

W.C, {(continusd! Wa'll starz on page one ard s2ac in unison ts #he end. So without Eurther

ights Gecline only slightly. Tha curtains on the stage is a complicates Yamata -loog Synthesizer and ten Coneors acxec stace left anc right. A nesvous musician-technicien

a 4h a Te m ib “4 7h

Cailed SIAS-CLACDE, and who resembles William Shakespeare, makes his

entrance. Polite whiztiing and funny apslause accompanias him. He takes a2 g#2% Behind the kheyboare and opens his sheet music.

ek

AngoeL = AVDIENCE

thaw obun their programs to reveal the sama sheet mesic.

were a Tere a AIChE - JEAN -CLAUGE

Hie Legins by playing Mare, this time aceic perieggm. Their eyes a

Mur Trainer cissonant chores. its plays four mibly moledi¢c. The audience nover watches nin Loecrnec on tna music in front c& them.

is

- Pia} aa -

oad _

CLOSE - NR. LACO'USE

lie sight-reads, maving his lios slightly as if speaking with the mosic. CAUERA MOVES TO HIM. A man walks dewn Lhe isle and shuffies through scrunched anges and shined shees to hand Lacombe a sealed Talex. Lacombe leeks up From his sheet music, opens it and reads it privately. He raises an eyebrow, I: is stunning news of sone sort, Lacombe rises to leave as four moze tonic chords are struck ~se. Barely melodic but terribly simple, and slightly catchy. .

cut TO

28

IRTOCRIOCR = GREENHOUSE LIVING ROO. = HIGHT

source 29

Greenhouse is alone at the piano. He can't play 2a note but idly plucks one key at a time as he thinks things over. He closes ons eye anc looks at the sheet music. He tries the other eye. They appear to ke bothering hin. The mindless single tone music is suddeniy, perhaps ironically, the same four tonic chards just heare, He plays the pattern asain ... still preoccupied with

his vision. Brad tumbles into the room excited and out of Ereath.

BRAD
Dad, you're on TV, Hurry - !

Greenhouse pretends to be busy but his attention is almest as keen as #rad and Téesy stupified by the oresence of Mom znd Dad

on TV. The news commentator fiashas on. There is an absurd ¢omic- beon rendering of a Zlying saucer on the rear projection screen behind hin. .

TV COMMENTATCS
It is one tring when anonymess citizens obsexve something in the evening sky that should not he tnare, But in a different light it is all the more remarkable when a local Trouble Foreman from a local cower comnany Stakes a simites tiain. Herman Greenhouse declined to comment to our crack field re- porter but his oan written testimony to police files yestersay stated that this tnisty-ons year ale power engincer chased a ligntec object at high speeds that he des- eribes as, “an unsidedewn ice cream cone=- shased ebject with a glewing orange sherSere dose".
RUSTE
Ch you didn't .4..
TV COMMENTATOA
He further stated that for fFiftteen miles he tracked tne objects, finally crossing the state line ints Ohic where they dis- 2ppeared into the clouds from a standing —... Stazt in four seconds flat,

Tre TY imaga switches ovar to crack field reporter, GEORGE. He is standing at that four-wey stop reading from a tearsheat.

GEORGE
From his oun weitten statement and Tf . ctote, "Some kind of Bright light lit up

the six mile road where it intersects with Cottontail. The stop signs vibrated Violently . There was the senseztion of weightlessness and the soles of my feet began te burn".

Back to the studio ane ....

TV COMMENTATOR
It was shortly after this nocturnal encounter that Morman Greenhouse was . deactified from the Indiana Cesartment of Water & Power, by Supervisor Darrly Grimsey no made gure £6 enphesize that his actions had no connection with the contents of Gresahouse's peli¢e report.

The news drones on. Ronnie leafs thre=ch TV Guide, then tosses it on the coffee table. "

RONNIE
There's nothing better on any of the other channels. ;
(trying to Lichten the thick silance)
Hanna move ~- 2

he teleshenes commence ringing.

GRECNUOUSE
Don't answer the phones tenight
BAAD
Fre they for real?
TOLY
E'm seared,

nie

ROWNTE
Don't be searet, they're not ‘fer real. It's oniy television.
GREENHOUSE
You mean it's only me - }

RONNIE

' You don't understand it yourselS. How

da you expect anyone alse to.-.

BRAD
But Mom ... I Believe in then, - ‘RONNIE No you don't. BRAD Dac savs so. RONNIE

Ee doasn't. {desperately} Hiormean - }

TOBY
Do they Live om the moon?
BRAD
{trying te scare his brother} They got bases on the moan, so at might ther can come through your window and pull the covers of,
RONNIE
sop it Brad.

GREENEOUSE

Sey you guys. Get your jackets and e'mon.

- RONNIE They're not leaving the house.

— TP a

—_ =,

—_——_ a =

GPEENEOUSE
They're old enough to know whak's going on out there.
RONNTE
You' re not old enough to know ‘that.
GREENHOUSE
- I'm not going to treak our kids like

our parents dic us, You can't plant then in a vase and hope they'll become trees. .

- RONNIE Hom brougat me on just the right way. I like me. I don't want to be anybody else.

GREENHSAUSE
Well, dammit ... I de!

Norman hurries out of the room and into the kitchen and out of the side door. Renania watches dewn the hall. She hears the engine start mnd the car s¢reesn in reverse and off inte the night.

29

INT. = CHEVY STATION WAGGH = NIGHT

source 30

Beyond the tintec windshield is a breathtaking display of starlife en this clear and nuimid evening. Norman ¢crives with purpasée and directicn as ne nesaszs his special descination and

Fre F

30

EXT. ~ CRESCENDO SUMMIT = NIGHT

source 31

Reachics the ezest of the highway, the Ohio farmers red pickup truck is & Zamiliar Sight. But he is not alone tonight. Others

heave coneragated. A Dedga Motorhome, and I-E Tracter, and several Yolkswascns are parked alongside the road, beset with a rag-tag agsortmaent of star gazexs comfortably ensconced in aluminun patio chairs and occasionally peering at the Berizea through field glasses “az if waiting for some phantem parade to pags. Two ;

vwoungsters have errectea @ nomemadt reflecting telescovs an3a the farmer's aides son adjusts nis 35 mn ikromat from the voor of the cas. The spiritual ol¢ farmer steps onto the acphalt and peers apprenensively at the dark station Wagan that has parked across the road.

Greenhouse opens the door and feels unwantea as he Steps away frou his vehicle.

ee OLO FARRER Nothing is wrong here. Wobody is hurt. Den't need any heip. Goodbye, Thank yor. ’ Goodbye. ‘

Recognising the Frosty dairy farmér, Horman extencs a friendly vet cviriy enthusiastic hand that the old boy kind of looxs at Sidevalss.

GREDENHOCSE
Don't you remember me?

'Qhe farmer doesn't. iie looks at him suspiciously.

OLD FARHER
{spoken as if it . were a curse) You Aix Ferce?
GREENHOUSE
Why Go you say that?

OLD rARMER Your hair. Cut too short fer your age.

bh SOUND mazas everyone lock towerd the northern skies. Jet aircrais can he heard pessing in-the rarified distance.

FARMER'S Sot Ne'll be wo here al) night if that K@GpS up.

Gri Hous. NAG are tnoese pocnia?

“s —

OLG FARIER
why, this is the S.P.I.U.G.0.A.E.
SRIENHGUSE
What's that? OLO FARIER Tiuat'?s the Society Fer The People Interested In Sthat's Goin “g On

Around Here. You gotta sign the , guest list if vou wanna stick

: around. ‘

. GREENBOUSE

EFow come?

OLO FARMER
It's the rules. There's also a $3.50 cover charge goin’

A wallet is produced and tne $3.50 is in the o14 farmer's hand before he can Say ....

QLD FARKER
You won't Le disapnointed,

Re wanders over to six senior citizens saated around a card table on the greasy shouldar. Four of them are siaying canasta. Eighty, - if she's a year, GRACEY smiles un at Borman.

GPELNHOUSE
530 = ! when Coes tie show start?

ELOEELY Haut (without glancing up from his cards} Soon as you leave srobably,

GRACEY
{to the rude gent) That is umesind. Agslegize. CLOERLY MAL {shrugs & sighs) I'm sorry.

fy us

Thinking he's found a friend, Merman kneels by the elderiy lady whe is the Queen cl Needlesoint.

GREENHOUSE
. (confidentially) Are they coming over tonight? -~

Her whole face lights up as though he's teld her the meaning af lize.

aa

‘GRACEY °- {a tear in both eyes) On, I hope so. Don't you = ?

GREENHOUSE
{in all seriousness) Yes,
GRACEY
( te her rude elderly husband)
Can I show him the album?

Ye janores her. So Gracey hefts & volume-sized leatherette photos

album and opens it to the first page.

GRACEY
I took these all by myself.

Normian eases close to see batween the paces. Pressed beneatn the protective plastic are six rolareid eslor snapshots. Each shows nothing mote than a splash of overexposed yellow - or a slit of white =~ or an area of sut~-of-focus blue. Simple photegraphic errers.

Norman leaves Gracey with a pat on the sheulder and jegs to hig car. Ke returns with a small instamatie camera and finds a fence post to. squat against, Exeitedly, he leeks overhead and waits with tre others.

JILLIAL
They mever come that way. Stars looking out towards the Wess. -

jorman is not sidetracked by this uncommenly attractive tyventy-six yaar old.

SG

JILLIAN
You Know what to losk for ... of are you juss looking = 7.
GRIENHOUSE
' T'yve Been here before.
JILLIAN
Yean - quite a place. You never know what's coming down the roac., Last week it was a cotpla yellow bagel-shapes and yesterday a kinda flourescent pickle thing. Wnat you saw = what'd it Look like? ‘s
GREENHOUSE
Dessert.
JILLIAN
My friends have been accusing me of seeing things all week, sa if you're not that power company guy I sav on TV tonight .... .
GREENHOUSE
That's me.

whey awkwarcly shake hands. Norman is nervous around attractive women

he's mo* married #9.

GREENHOUSE
{he looks down at his feer} Ei there!

ANGLE ~ EARRY GUILER

Ne is on his rear end in the tesseil with a pint-sized sand bucket,

‘making Lictie mountain‘s on Norman's foot.

. JILLIAN My dirty kid.

GROCTBOUSE
Anybecy know what’s happening out nere?
JILLIAG
Whatever's going on started arogusd Halioween. Hut ever sine2 that ilatianal Enquirer pesen started flering cash money F@C eur Patras, t, ry hat doubted,
GREENIOUSE
What is this guy all about?
JILLIAL
You'll meet him when he gets here. Be masn't missed a night so far. Ha'll tase your name and aééress and offer one nundred Bueks a roll. Ona fitcy for movie film.
GREEWHOUSE
{refering to old farmer) . I think I aceiwently signed up already: .
JILLIAN
He should have been here an hour aco. He's always c¢embing the hills for new witnesses.
GREENHOUSE
wWhet's your name?
SILLTAN
Jilkian Guiler.
GREENPSOUSE
Warman Greenhouse.

They sheke nands again.

| herman is

JILLIAN
I know. Tae TY saally cut the serews on you. Sone nexs guy smiles ia the wreng place - raises an eyebrow here atid there - that's all it tekes. That's whay after my first enceunter I wouleén't talk to anybody,
GSREDMASUSE
(finding 2 soul mate)
What was it Like?
ILLIA
Very aright. Very pleasant.

Ftacy to Serst open ans teil Ser everything.

JILLIAt I've bean waving troutle sleeping.

GRERNHOUSE
_ So have I. You know ... when I do- ¢ Goze of F, it doesn't feel like

Sleeping. All of a sudden it's morning acain. ;

JILLIAN
' My dreams are bright yellow. I. walk around in then and can't open my eyes wider than a squint.

| GREENHOUSE © | I've.been jumpy alot of the time.

JILLIAN °. Me. too. But, I don't know what from.

GREENHOUSE neon nee I want to keep active ... but I'm bored with my job.

JILLIAN
I guit mine. I've been painting in watercolors a lot. Do your eyes water | sometimes?

7. GREENHOUSE

(- : {exploding happily)

You ought to feel the irritatien in -the right eye on a sunny day.

JILLIAN
Supermarket lighting does it to me. ffice lighting is worse. Woulcn't it be wonderful if after all “his we found out the covernment was experi- menting with a new fangled secret gadget.
GREENROUSE
{after a pause) No it wouldn't. It'd pe a rotten let gown.

» JILLIAN AS least we'd have somecne to sue if glassac. I want to understand this thing. Don' vou?

The farmer's son straightens and shouts to be heard.

oo,

a

ee

FARHEZOY
Here they come ~- : Gut of the north west - }

A hush @arkens the gathering. The two boys man their telescopes like anti-alresait battery. The farmboy deuble checks his shutter speed. Gracey holds her camera up and stands behind her chair.

ARGLE - OLD DAIRY FARNIE ot “

He lifts uo a hand painted carchoard sign that recs: STOP AND LE FRICVOLY.

¥

JILLIAN
Thera = }

PITRORAW TO REVOAL

In the far distance where the black hills gather and the road malts away, to delicate piagaints of light converge and grew relentiess ly brighter as they maxe their low altiftudce approach.

JILLIAN
J heard somewhere ... ‘The Universe is mot only stranger than we imecine, it is stranger then we can imagine’

A fnill rons through Nerman and he is suidenly avare of seing aut- oi-dosrs and under 56 stars, The night seems darker now. It always is cfter ghost stories. Than

GREENHOUSE
Te's Jike a dream, isn't it,
JILLIAN
Sometimes I get sa geared I pretend that's all it isi! {she curls herself around Worman & Holds tight) Can 2 Learrow vour arm?
GRLECHGUSL
Will they stop when they see us?
JILLIAIH
if tineay do, you fatter Le wearing your trac“ shoes.

—=.

aNGLE - GRACEY

Téars are running down her cheeks. She genufiects, mutters a prayer, and steadies her camera like a pro.

BEYOND ALL THIS THE WHITE LIG&TS ELONGATE ANO FLARE LIKE A WELIz35 TORCH,

"

JILLIAN
(stoned on the experience} i'll bet the American Indians felt like this when tie first sails cane over the horizon.

a

CLOSE - GRECIHOUSE

His entire body is trembling out of control. He aims his camera bet it refuses to steady. This is as close te a religious experience 4s Norman has ever encountered.

Tar ASSEMBLED . .

The people stir as an unusual quality of SOUND permeates the air, It is a rhythmical noiseslowing against the wind = isuder now. Fastes, and mere frenzied than anyone exsected, and fear shocts through all as they interpret the internal combustive pounding enc... the two blinding lights swallew everything up.

Air is displaced - the sky whites out - and the lights become two SIR FORCE HELICOPTERS that descend usen the gathering, Beating hot air on them, sucking dirt and featherweight debris up inte the swirling convections as the screaming machines manuever around each other until the ultimate man made cvelone sends aluminum chairs, card tables, blankets and picnic leavings. in a violent upheavel.

FIGE ANGLE ; .

The nicht people run for cover. The dairy farmer's “Be Friendiv" sicn

beats wp against his face until he is forced to hide in the cab af

his picxus,

CLOSE = GREEWAGUS.

Backing toward his car he spots the speed limit Sign. Tt is Vabrating beneath the severe rotor wash and reminds Norman o£ his First enesunter The similarity is too remarkable te discount:

ANGLE + JILLIAN

srepped insige her V4 and tryine to stert the engine.

i

— — =

a eee

a2

AWOLE - GRATES

Alene now and stranded beneath the peunding votar wash, Gracey feebilvy attemsts to gather her biown photo piece collection, She chases the snapshots back and forth, attempting to snaten them rignt out of tne sky, and missing and erying vet unmind- fully determined. ; :

WIDE VIE

Car engines start and everyone peels out. Greenhouse taking tois all in, bewildered and fighting mad, he jopservas the two assault HUEYS rise vertically ane hover ove erhe. . their quartz~iedide Searchlamps stab boing. at the reraining sedinent, Then, both MacAines turn a i160 anc beat back the way they came,

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE

Viewing this with @ mixture of sorrew and hatred. cur To

31

EXT. «+ GREENHOUSE HOME + HMORMING

source 32

Greenhewss starts his A.H. jog, He watches his own breath and oaces himself with each suff. Behind hin, Ronnie starts from the hous: dressed for her tile. Their BREATHING is uneven this morning. It Overrides any further morning sounds.

" RIGLE - SIDEWALK RED SICE BY §IOt wosss

Ronnie catches up and falls inte stes. They de net sseak. Ronnie looks from sice to side.

ROWNIIE'S MOVING F.O.V.

The neighborhood ars ears unusually quiet this morning.

CLOSE + SREEVHCUSE

Ke is sexing motice of this occasion ‘Soo.

ROLLIE
fo had a talk with De. Boyvnelds after vou stormed cut of the Rouse. He has this Crazy notion about what you saw. Tt is called Isansver phenomenon. ie says the brain rebeing infernastion fran infancy long Letore your momery 13 able to racall it. Tae large circular thing you saw getting

as,

. ROWNIE (con't) Closer and closer prooe>ly represents your mother's Ereast with its promise of fooe. When satisfied, you, the infant, lose interest in the Sreast, which gets smaller and smaller and finally vanishes away. Since a Greast is a @ise shap e it conld mean ....es

GREENOUSE
(turning around &

. ‘| jogging Baskvards so

he can let her have it) st could mean I'm not my ifother's child. It epuld mean every nicht there are a couple of hundred of us watching Mom's tits coming in low ever the Tolezs County foothills.

He turns facing forward and pours on the speed out-distancing Pennie in saconds.

ROWNIF
You're such an ass.

THROUGH A KITCHEN WINDOW - A WONDESCRIPC HONE ALONS THE RoNene? -TE

The aaifoedil yellow carte La at the two gunners. HEAR CG.

TCoAY SEOs.

S$ aré parted by unseen hands to glimpse S$. gink water and BARBAPA WALTERS on tne

THROUGH AN ENCLOSED CARAG

The elect

zis whirr of the opening garage door shows Rennie and Horman jeciin

ag by. Beth look over Gut nobody appéars.

CLCSe - ROIIE

Self censsious aAow, cisturbed. Looking from house to Rouse hopefsily.

WIDE ANGLE = TID PETS&is ances

ce Kee toe Ped Dube

Heaning @lone. Empty lawns, dack windows, an errie scape.

LCeTURTOR -« FLASE AIR Pooper ens

det ee

Grognhoust Maars first cnecnmoins on Pease's outer extremities. Ha pulls um te tha guard box in nis Chevy wacom, anc leans cut che Window simere aA Stoi.cai s.in headed Corseral areets him mechanicall;.

a7

CORPORAL
' ¥Yes sir.
GRIEEUHOUSE
The Civilian Information Center, please.

a

CORPORAL
New Air Fores recruiting?.

; GREENAZOUSE Hot today thanks,

CORPORAL —

{pointing his thumb) Recruiting station and information Gentrel are-in thet tall structure. Parking is in the lower levels.

The Corporal crams @ green civilian visitor care under the wind- shield wiper.

CORPORAL
Please lock your car. The base does not assume responsircilicy for items lest or stolen duszing your visit, Go'ed,

NEW ANGLE

The Chevy wagon motors past 2 conse of sussy willew trees to 2

super tiodern building, twenty stories of cubicle window space and smoked glass.

CLe3= = BVILOIEG CIPECTORY

Greenhouse studies the directory, starting with the "J" Listings and going up and corn the Files until he is hopelessly confused.

-

32

INT. - ELEVATOR

source 33

Gréeshouse is alene in tha

Litt. He susnes for the 24th floor. The elevator cgocys closes and Green

“Suse wetones tna Floor indieaters

CLOSE = INOICATCR LIGiitTs

20 = 22 = 22 = 23 + 24. The elevator stoms and Greennouse moves sc the coulle csors. But they co mgt anen, [I¢ waits a moment lsnger. The eoors Skiii do mec* ‘@ open. He gives it tvo more sfeconss

as er

+

ae,

GREENHOUSE
Oh Jesus ....

He pounds on the door with his fists, GREENEOUSE Hey out there. I'm stuck in heze. Hey, help:: Then he finds tne emergency telephone and picks up the receiver hut

2 hand appears owt of nowhere and touches him on his shoulder. He Spins anc almést snrieks.

REVERSE F.O.V. - .

About fifteen people are waiting to come through the open reversible

doors to the elevator. They are as embarrassed as Greenhouse must be.

MAN WiQ TAPPED It's okay - a lot of people make the Same misteke.

Greenhouse hurries pest evervone, staring at his feet and disappears throuch a coor marked: INFOPHATICN CENTER.

+

33

INTE?>IOR - INFORMATICN CENTER = DAY

source 34

Here is a combinatian waiting room an= information dask. A gcodly number of people are fingering throven air Force recruitment magazines and other smmed Services parepaernalia. Greenhouse eases into this austere setting which is by tre way Library quiet. He approaches the information adjutant, a loud nasal lady pinched against che wall by a slab of mardle cesk, designed for information efficers 7ralf her size,

INTOPMATION
(looks up quickly and decides what he wants)
Air Force Recruiting is third level D-three.
GREENLOUSE
(laughs politely, patiently)
I'm not here fer that. No, I'm here SO Se Somsbady about ... I was look- ing a2 nat Gireetory in the islshy, and I coulcn'*S Find an areca in the Air Foree wiert you handle all cf ghes2 ....

(gestures wildly, mot finding ? tre a5 but finding: a great

ei

he

cmbarransmant at saying

GREENHOUSE {con't} out loud) ... you know ... vou Know. When a jet flies overhead ...- low enougnm overhead you know right away what it is ... oh, that's a . Continental 727 .. oh, shat's a jumbo Twa with Ambassador service. But when something buzzes over you and .., and it doesn't have any wings 2...

The nasal lacy takes en axhausted breath and shows how Loud she Can really be."

‘ NF ORMATION Do you want to report an UFO?

HIGLE = REACTIONS

The rocm lights us, People lower their magezines, cigarettes are snipped in mid-dras.

GREFPHHOUSE
(turns toe the room - juss. as cemonstrative)

Qo, I Do$u'T WANT TO REPORT A UFO. {turns back to Information With the most plaintive, beseeching expression and whispers).

Shh. Yes I do .... shhh. I do. Yas.

INS ORMATION
{she's not being mean, she juss has this extraecreéinary sonorous voice) Go to fifteen. Aerospace Defense Command, Room thirty-six eleven,

Greenhous? <oesn‘t know whether to say thank you or just shit. He leaves Icz the elevator in a hurry.

Tne voomtul of awakenine interests buzzes in his wake ... a few paople actualiy approach ‘information’ with growing concern.

TRPORMA TIO. ! fit down until vou're called. Please People. Trere is nothing going on here. Teonle please don't de tenis!

34

INT. =~ AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMCIAND

source 35

Starting CLOSE cn Greenhcuse. He is obviously in @ sitting position. It ‘SEENS 45 though a thousane critical eyes are bathing over hin.

In fact as the ANGLE WIDENS, only four other pecple (three men anc ma woman) are waiting like Greenhouse and each keeps his eves ta himself, afraid to look anywhere beyond The clock on the wall.

On collective inspection these people are stereo typically the types ai UFO repgorters that one would imagine exists in the world t#toda+.

Tha flourescent lighting is giving Norman a bad headache. He reaches in @ pocket for some Ex¢ecrin and dry swallows five tablets. The para- noid leoking woman sitting next to him sticks out her hand and iormnan is .oblicec to tap two tablets inte it. She works up some spit and sWvallows witnext a simple thank you. Suddenly the corrider door bursts open ané a silver haired air Force Colonel emerges in his full regalia. He smiles at the receptionist.

COLONEL
Goodnight Merian.

- RECEPTIONIST Goodnight Colonel Bax.

The Colonel turns and extends a hand teward the paranoid laosing woman Sitting mAext to Greenhouse. She rises tiredly anc takes his hand, turns to the receptionist. °

WOMAN
Goodnight Marian.
RECEPTIONIST
Goodnight Mrs. Dax. {sné@ turns hér site to Norman} Mr. Greenhouse. You can go in now. Room 3635,

TEE SCREEN GOES BLACK

Click, et

ith .... a subliminal flash cuts throven the darkness anc makes @5 im

‘DIeSssion on the viewer ... was ait a bird or a plane.

MAJOR BENCHLEY'S VOICE
Ga.
GREENHOUSE
A bird, flying. Geese mayte.

Flash! Was it bhe moon or a styeetlanp.

MAJOR BEMCHLEY'S VOICE
Go. '

——-

—— eee

eee ee

6]

GALEtHOUSE Uhhhh .... street light,

Flash: Was it the sun or a Floriéa orange.

MAJOR BENCHLEY'S -YOICE
Ge.
GREENHOUSE
Grange. The fruit, net the coler,

Flash: Was it a flying saucer ... or a flying saucer,

‘ GREENHOUSE Uhhh .... UFO?

That last picture flashes bask and stays on the wall screen.

MAJOR BENCHLEY

No, Mr. Greenhouse. That's a flying saucer. Made of pueter, made in Japan and thrown across the room by one of my children. .

Sure enough. It's a saucer and it's flying through a kitchen.

MAJOR BENCHLEY
I like to tass that in once in a while to show folks we're not all polished brass about these things.
GREDTNHOUSE
(he's not laughing)
That's pretty good. How'e I maxe out?
MAJOR EENCHLEY
(simply)
You missed every one.
GREENHOUSE
Eoaw's that possible?
MAJOR BELICHULEY
This is really interesting iir. Greenhouse. You happened to select the simple metapher for each convontionai object i shewed you.
GREZWHOLEL
(feeling concerns)

What i experienced on the Siz Mila liiehway stayed in sight longer than hal— a secend.

MAJOR BENCHLEY
You're taking this teo literally.
GREENHOUSE
I've lost my job. My wife is being polite to me. My néichbors are looking the ether way. Shit yeah literally! This thing is happening te me and I want to Find out what it is - 3 os ’
MAJOR BENCALEY
Se would we. The Air. Force wants answers, not mysteries,
GRIENHOUSE
Are you afraid te say anything because your peopls feel the human race is not prepared to live with this culture shock?
MAJOR EENCHLEY
If technelosgical contact was ever achiaved, I‘m sure we csuld live with it. We live in the shadew~ of atomic anihilation in nine minutes. However, “zr. Greenhouse, in all my twenty vears with ATI ADC and JANAP-1464, there has been ne indisputasle proot of the physical axistence of these things.
GREENAQUSE
Whet the nell happened to me:
MAJOR SENCHLEY
You saw what vou wanted to ses.
GREENHOCSE
Mr. Benchley = believe ma = 1 didn't ‘Want to see this.
MATOR BENCELEY
The only way to convince the scientific community is to present specific evidence Concisely. If the evidence is good, the Case will stand up and the existence of extraore inary phenemenon will have to be taken seriously.

This iz too much for Norman to bear as he leaps to Bis feet gesturing wilél;.

GREENHOUSE
Z AM THE EVIDENCE. ABD I WANT TO HE TARSW SERIOUSLY.
MATOR BENCHLEY
I. wish I'd sean ik, For twenty years I've wanted to see one of those things witnout having to account far it. But if I'm going to be open minded enough te consider the possibility that these witnesses are seeing the fantastic, then one must be prepared ta examine a plethora of evidence connected with the stories of Fairies, ghosts, angels and demons. The evidence is clearly similar.
GREENPOOUSE
Look. Just tell me if this base is conducting classified tests in the Tolono Foothill area.

Offended by Greenhouse's rude change of sunject. Benchley is curt for the remainder of the scene.

. . MAJOR BENCELEY

It would be easy for me to lie and say yes

to that. You'd walk out of here with a down to earth answer in your pocket. This idan't

the case and I will not mislead you.-

“The room fails gilest. Mejor ‘Benchley sips some water and watches

Greanhouse waiting for a reaction.

GREENHOUSE
(defeated, tired)
What about my report?

Major Bencnley begins to wind this meeting up. HAJTOR BENCELZY |

There is no astroncmical explanation for it.

GREENHOUSE
What about = field investigation?
MAJOR BENCHLEY
There is nothing that warrants it.
GRETHBROUSE
How Will vou classify my repert?
MAJOR BENCHLEY
Unidentified.

am

Gs

GREENUOUSE
The unidentified flying objects have been identified = as unidentified.

Greenhouse rises to leave. He is beginning to doubt verisimilitude. When he is at the door, the Najor chimes in.

CT

MAJOR BENCHELEY
What happened to vou is happening to a ict of peosole who think it's @ religion. it isn't vou know. “Unidentifieds" do mot exist as a direct physical threat to our national security. We don't be

lieve in them here. We encourage you not “to.

35

EXT. = CORRIDOR -DAY

source 36

Creenhouse is waiting for the express ealevator. He is alone with his shreaces thougnts, He knots a fist and bors the ‘déown' bution asain. °

SUOTERPATEAN LEV

Ie]

Lo = ELEVATOR

The elevator doors open anc Norman charges out, firzline mac. ie stops at the Soft Grink machine locking for a way to cool off. Pausing te refresh ne efatches sight sf an opening in the wail. It is the masters control circuit panal., ct is used by the main- tenance derartment 2S an easy accass te sifice Lignting.

Greenhouse waits fer 2a couple of janiters to depart with their Hoover Fissr waxer. Sispinc on his Orznes Crush, he leans near the ciscuit breaxers and is instantly familiar with the office @iagramn on the adjatant panal. Norman is smiling now. Ne flips ao switch ... reads the cieeram and fliss ansther. As his smile overilows anc his fingers cance along the hundreds of switches,

36

“TIMTERICR <- THE CLASS ADMINISTRATION EUILDTNG - NIGHT

source 37

| al

cr mw ty

ef the flourescent subterranean garace, Norman fiaanes grinoand flasiies Gue tne ¢ivilian entrance. Paonle-

te cengrecata. The sein heaced Corperal wantars

mting through the dusk, Okners gawk and shuflie 4s our

ifts to enae they arc looking at.

trey fawn

-

ream

ogo rho rrra

BRI
BeeT A

hOB D in

a

ANGLE = 20 STORY GLASS TOWER

Specific windows have been turned on ... others darkened. What

remains soells UFO across the entire face of the Pease Air Force Acministration racility.

h BLAST OF SUNLIGHT .

White sand dunas oscillate to the vanishing point. A title appears in the lowar portion of the picture.

"GOBI DEsEert.- HONGOLIA"

The sky sucks hea. wives from the white sand, It must be 135 desrees in the shade .... if vou can find any.

A UNITED NATIONS SAND ROVER with its yather stupified crew waits for

an unmarke?l helicesier that is just now setting down kehine it. Every- thing goes white 25 the chopper descends and «saane

ANGLE - UNMARKED CHOPPER

Lacombe emerges wearing s2iari fatigues and carrying a camera wrapped in provective cellophane, He gasps at the furnace keat and quickly cavers Ais eyes with @ pair of Rommel coggles. Emerging from Sehind him are at least twenty Americen plain e¢lethed soldiers, officials and Army engineers. They are all looking in the same direction. They ail carry the sams expressions - UTTER CAOTIC SURPRISE = : -

Laconbs leads the way squinting with awe through his double-tints.

One man actually genuflects his disbealic? and

ase

Everyone Walts forward finally ... tasing the AHGLE TO INCLUEE ..

In the worst reaches of the desert wasteland is an impossible sight.

There is a 425 Fost freighter lying on its starcoard side against she iiatter, = dunes. It is the 4.5. MASILIE SULPHUR QUELH.

One siunned individual begins to read some print out nard copy to the rest ¢f che gathering. ;

STUMIEO itAN &s far as we Know, the 15,000 leng tons of molten Sulphur are perfecely intace.

CHIEF CMGINtes Gentleman, it can't be moved.

SECOND TNTORMATION OFFICER
It has been widely accested that Cuban sympathizers confiscared it en rayte fren ' Deaument, Tesas, &a Norfolk, Virginia.

. . CHIEF ENGINEER So call a Cuban. It can't Ee Gene.

LACOMSE
We certainly can’t leave it here.

CHIEF £ZNCGINEER

This leeks like a job for Superman ... not the Corps of Army Engineers.

37

EXT. - THE CRESCONDO SUMMIT - NIGHT

source 38

Pad

Greenhouse is on hic way to a major Crunk. Innaling Budweiser, he stencs on the center line of the divided highway, his 8mm ‘movie Gamera ready for action. His car is pulled off to one side end the headlamps are blazing. The night is clear and millions of stars

Gust the sky. Norman walks in e circle looking straight up and trying te stay on his feet at the same time,

GREENFOUSE
ANYRBCRY BCHE - ?
(no answer)
C'MON YOU GUYS - BE NICE.

Be looks tp anc down the road. Suddenly everything just seems to Stop. Tne air ¢rows static. Norman reinforces himself with another swallow, clears his throat, and starts to sing in his best baritcne voice:

GREENHOUSE

38

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

source 39

YOU WILL MEET A STRANGES

YOU WILL MEET A STRANGER mo ACROSS A CROWDED BCOM

AND NIGHT AFTER NIGHT ....

GTA

‘Beyond Norman's right shoulda- something is happening in the sky.

Four @xtremaly dim orange clobes are rising from a dense thi icket. MORMAN SEES THIS VERY SLOWLY. HIS SONG 0: ‘Es TO A BREATILESS HALT. Te is horvd to judge distance at might but it is enough to set his reat in motion ~ RUNNING TOWARD THE RISING GLOWS.

Tnree additonal lights rise airily to join the others. They have a” Gim flickering quality never before encduntered.

CLOSE - HORAAN

Running with a desize so s-rong that it almost brings tears to his eves. Another ‘globe rises above the thicket and Worman plunges into the brambles and the dirt, getting losi immediately but not giving a damn, Cverhead, the dim glows are drifting toward the Tolano Foothills but te Greenhouse chis doé@sn’t count. This thicket is

where they are coming from. Greenhouse steps te gather his senses and the world of sound stops elso. ‘

Te is so cuiet ~- then - something else is in this thicket with hin.

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE

Khe spins and a splash of silver catches the fringes of his night vision. Horsman tries to hold his breath sa he can hear beyond his wild breathing. Another crackle of movement, this time very rear. li¢ exhales to catsh another breath and sucdenly, off guard, some- thing metalic and Low to the ground expledes inte Aim and off inte the night.

GREENHOUSE SCREAMS. A second whisk of color sparkles nast him. Ther

@ (hire. He turns t3 rua che other waywhen something blocks his

path, It is silver and spindly shapec ans recessed in much darkness. It turns frightenec and runs the other way. Crazied by now, Greennouse starts io run after it.

GRESNHOUSE
Please don't go.

HOSS fatcee 7 SHICHI

Threadins Way DAS t hazards and obstacles, Norman chases the shase and 1s acu ¥ gaining om it when the shage changes course and collanses reGreenhouse's falling dees. tlarman grats a handiul

ang of Silver and brings it face to face.

Lom t- mu 1h nor

GF | i

fhysterical with discover: } Where do you come from = !} Who are you - !

SHAPE -
I'm Terxsy Cramer. I'm Feom 3443 Worth Glive Avenue,

rora

second Norman is blinded by his own obsessed beliefs as he

\ shakes the littie boy at Eetn snouleecs. ( GREENFOUSE Whee de you want =~ } i TERRY h Iowant toe go heme, I'm a human. being.

Slowly, Nerman is coming azound to this cold fact. Be fingers tha silvery stuff,around the boys head and body.

} GREENHOUSE

What the hell's this? ' TERRY | . It's Reyneld's Wran and Alcoa Aluminun. ‘ Don't hurt me ... we were just messing

I around,

Nermar loosesn his grip and the little boy is gone. He gets to his feet shaking his head.

| (. _ GREENHOUSE

{beneath his breath} Snit, EAnhn-it. ShhRHAM-it. BHOSLE - THE sRY }

Taree of the flickering clobes are descanding. As the first one almost

Fills the view Norman's hand reaches oss and snatches it out from the ait.

ANGLE = ROADSIDE BY EIS CAR

He stands in the Gizzy ani h eendles forcing an orange flickering hot air baloon. Sadisticaily he Squsezes T58 air out of the bag until the flame touches the plastic and

the wholes contraption melts in blue fire. He Looks at the street sign thet was viivating the. nicht the neiicoster heuvercd close. Ane Suddesly, Jerman is sunken with cowbt.

midéle of the road, in the middie of the night, drunk,

FOUR BLINDING LIGHTS EXPLODE TOWARD [Til FROM THE SOUTH,

CLOSE = GREEVHOUSE

He jumps for his iife and callapses face first into the cirt shoilder as .....

BUGLE - ROAD

The hishbeams from 2 speeding semi tanker truck sucks wiad at seventy miles an hour. Norman realizes he's been duped and hollars teward the diminishing tail lights.

GREEWHOUSES
I HOPE YOU SEE TEEK Too YOU Son OF A BITCR - - .

Greenhouse turns away. He has never appeared so defeated as right mew, Only now é€oes he notice the tucket sited mound of tepseil

aud clay that littie Garry Guiler was erecting around his feet the night before. Greennouse explores the vertical dirt mound ... and feels inexplicably uncomfortable as he studies its affluted sides aad carvec top. Just es suddenly, Greenhouse feels an etherial sore ef fascination. Something is drawing hin te gaze deeper at this.

Re blinks. He tasess the perspiration , struggling to understand what is haspening «9 hin.

39

INT. - GREENHOUSE LIVING ROOM - NIGET

source 40

Moon Lignt spiiis threugh the picture windew. Running water can Le

The water sounegs can-.se traced to the end of +he hell.

— tt ee

Ce

Ce)

CLOSE - BATHROOM DOO

The water is at its loudgest point. But another more disturbing sound comes from within. A man is crying.

RONNIE appears, listening at the door. She knocks twice ... Vary softiy. "

RONNIE
Sweetheart.
(no answer} Norman, please open the door.

a

BRAD & TOBY in their pajamas stand in the hall next to their beerocm. -

BRAD
Is Pad alright?
RONHIE
(her 3:00 AM confusion Makes her fnap at them)
Get in your room and clese the door.

Bath youncsters hep back inside, leaving the door open just a crack. Ronnie shoots by than and inte the kitchen. She rattles around in a darkened drawer, returning with a buttes knife. Inserting tne blunt end into the knob, she springs the lock anc the door swings epen.

CLOSE = SEQUER

Falling £ull tilt into the tub.

CLOSE - EINE

‘ep water overflowing.

CLOZL - GREbTLHOVST

Frozen in 2a darkened corner, cxying lihe a baby.

GROESHGUSE
(Srvirg to smile througs ¢honed ecars)
It's like the hiccugs. T starte?, I fon‘k step. ; >

ae

. RONNIE

{she whiffs the beer &

her sympathy turns to coal) seas YOU'Te bombed out of your skull.

Norman sticks his head under theshower. When he pulls out, Ronnie hands him a towel but is tac scared to go over and hug

the tears away. Anotner spasm of silent crying vibrates through him as he foreces aspirin inte his mouth.

a GREENKOUSE What's happening to me ~ :

“ RONNIE All this nonsense is tuzning this house unpsidedown.

GREENSOUSE
I think, maybe - it's all a joke. Except look how I'm not laughing.

RONNIE ; You know that telephone has not stopped ringing. None of our friends cali here anymore ... only people who want you to autegraph their space

comics. GPEENFOUSE Den't. My Read is coming in Ralf, ; Rennie ..-. it's not the beer. t'm not a @rinxer. BROWHIE

You've become a lot of thines you weren't a weex ago.

Sudfenly, she bathroom deer is torown open the rest of the way ond littie Srad sereams hysterically, defending himself against

-the imase of his broken dewn father.

BRAD
You ery baby = | Cry baby: Cry Raby:

Hurling himself towards his room, he slams tne coor five timc: wanting to crack it loose. Toby runs after his brother, hysterical, tramatisac,

(

ZIHTERIGR - THE BEBROg

The crving has stocsec but his trembling intensifies as he collapses onto the ned. Ronnie has no idea how te deal with this. She beats on the mattress with her tiny fists.

RONWIE ™ There is nothing wrong with you! C'mon ... walk it off. I'll make the coffee while you walk it offs.

1s

Norman grabs her rie¢nt hand and won't let go.

GREENHOUSE
I need you now.
RONNTE
(her bravado is weakening

».. She attacks through tears) I Mate vou Like this,’

Norman reaches out and pulls her into bed,

GREENHOUSE
I need vou now.

He folds her inte his arms and his tremsling seems to pulsate rignt threegh her and Zonnis is really ixmcapable of bearing up to this.

Z
On don't. Let me c31i someone. Oh nit

His fingers rip at ber nignssown, opening out the back.

ROLGIE
I don't want to seream.

Nant, He Trips the material around her shoulder and pulls. The takvered remnants sin her arms to her sides and Norman slites down her te her breasts and, ocdly encugh, his anniety Flows sit of him... and...

Pourie starts to tréemule new ... her teeth chattering, Siient S008 wracking ner body. Sne is hjginiess and lhorriricd... like a child being ranec.

CLOSI = BEDROOM WIKSOS - HIOUT

A pinpoint of intense light burns through the Branches of the grapefruit trea. With increasing brilliance, leaf and branch shadows are srojected onto the ceiling and walls. Birds stare

to sing, and Ronnie blinks awake in the direct flood of sun Light. Ske turns over on ter pillow. She is alone in bed.

THE DOOR TO THe FAHILY ROOM

Rennie, now in terricloth robe, stanés listening to Captain Kancares frem the TY insides. She opens the door. Brad and Toby are crossleggec on the throw rug. All has been forgetten fram the evening before.

TOEY
Dad's fixing the train set. He's ganna add on niné feet of track.He’s yonna huild a tunnel and hills and it's gonna be cone before school's out.

GREENHOUSE - CLCSsE . y

_ At home in his handiwork, he smiles peacefully and nods to himself. - Ronnie doesn't know this man.

ROUNIE
Go to scheel you guys. IT want te telk to vour father.

Braap It's not time yes,

RONNIE
’ Wateh TY in the ather reom,

Ronnie histles the complaining bovs inte the hall and closes the door behind her. She is utterly resolved.

PONNIE
I want you to see a docter today.

Norman is in @ guarced mood anc hasn't the endrgy te leck horns with anveody.

GRERNEOQUSE
(inaudible whisser)
Seme night huh?
RORMIE
{just as cuietly) You're wrecking our house.

—_— — ~-

GREENHOUSE

Well ... that's news. . RONNIE You don*t care that you'ra not with the ‘

Power Company anymore. You don't care how _scared you're making me. Everytime you lock in the sky I want to run’and hide. * . GREENHOUSE — . ‘ What de yeu want me te do? ;

. RONNIE I want you to see a psychiatrist. Diane Holmes has a friend ... end he is a doctor at the V.A. Hospital ..%,

‘ GREENHOUSE You're Kidding .. . 1. 2 se 4

RONNIE
You wouldn't think so if z took the boys and stayed with Mem and Dad at the Cans until you felt like being a femily again. . so AREENHOUSE We are @ fenily. Nothing has changed.
RONNIE
I deve yeu Norman. But somebody's going to tell ws what is wrong with vou. IZ you can't sez it in vourself there aze Pro- tessionzl peasle whe can.

Sné leaves the room. Greenhouse tan feel her slipping away forever, He's on nis feet and follewing her cown the hall. Ghe disappears into their sedroom and clases the door. Norman gently touches the khneb te cpen it when he nears the distines CLICK of the lock. Fear pumps rese inte beth fists and he beats twice on the seftweod door, yelling oAce at the tep of his lungs .... | GREENHOUSE ° DOH'T LEAVE ME.

The outburst leaves Morman winded. [le beats his forchead between his hanes anc hears the sliding glass deor in the bedroom epen then sheet, fle runs dewn the hall just in time to see Ronnie through the kitenen.

window making a headlong dash for the Chevy wagon. She pushes fPrad and Toby inte the car ahead of her and starts the engine. Hormnan herls open the front decor but is too late. Ronnie is hacking up

out of the driveway and in her panic backs th2 full distance cf the Street ond bkownces over the curb and onto the opposite sidewalk, up-

sebiing a row of trashcans, before straightening the wheel and accelerating away. *.

cy

CLISE = GREENHOUSE

Hatching her depart. He turns and notices his next door neighsor Watering: the sarubs with an embarrassing smile on his face, The,

guuiy neighbor Waves his scuirting hose and just seems to blurt out eo . alot.

~

NEIGHBOR
Whad'’ya say spaceéman. a GREENHOUSE mo ‘ Blow is out your after burner.

a

The neighbor redéenes and turns away concentrating on trimmings the hedayes. Greenhouse loots at his garden ef aztaelas, geraniums ane hydrenas. A maddening inspiration seizes him. Using beth hands to twist, yank and shake loose, Greenhouse usrosks che geranium wniso- ing the soiled slant around his head te loosen the ¢lodésd teonsoil. The FAMILY ROOM wintaw is parely onen Sut Norman inserts & hané and raises it all the way. He hurls the unrected bush. Immediately attacking another sksus, the innocent maisnhbor looks on “rem a safer vantage point while his wife seieks her head out an upstairs window, haiz wrapsoed in a terel.

INTERIOR « FeMILyY ROO - RACLE TONSARD OSEi VINOD

Greennouss Teapoears at the window, this time with an enormous rose bush and Scarts to jam it snrough the opening.

-AUSLE = NEXT DOOR NIOIGHBORS

Yhe wite is blowtag her naic dry with a jac ef hot air standing me:ct tg ner husband in the- front yard. A long extension core traiiing after hes. The maiiman rises from his red, white & Blue minal truck and eyé@halls the situation.

Greenhousa is a soiled sight, shovel in hand, seogeping tha large ghenks cf grass and earth and denositing the muss through the open window as fast as he can.

— —<———

—— =

ti

CLOSD - GREENKOUSC . .

Has worked up a Lather ... now turns wild+cyed with a new thought.

GUELCYHCUSE .
Chickenwire ...4. ! .

He is looking at his next door neighbors.

GREENUCUSE
{leuder} " . Chickenwire ... | ; He starts ver to then. Mes. iarris, the neighbor Grving her hsir, breancishes the hairhlower at Norman like a gun.
KRS. RARRIS
Mot another: stap ... if Mrs. Greenhouse was home to see what you're doing.

GREENHOUSE

You've beer using it te fence the ducks

in. I'll pay you for it.

; Mes. HARRIS

Whatever youtre doing is against the daw. HR. HARRIS 7

fanvthing to sate this madman} You can caxe whatever's leftaver ..+. ian the Beck.

Horman skips off, passing 2 cement pons, encirecied by chickenvire and sporting a doten pet ducks and tizit noisy chicks. Korman plunges inte the garage. Rummaging SOTIIDS spill and. echo until Worman enercdes with a lenstnh of leftover wire fencing. But he is- not satisfied. He pausas at the duck send and measures the sit- Wétion. a grunts his approval and rips the ¢nickenwire from its Stakes an saples, rollin: it into an underarm slab and pointing a hard finger at the escape prone birds.

. GREENHOUSE Stay! stay!

Ar ets off running back nome, The bireés setatier an Foot. The liarris'after then.

fo

INTERIOR = HALLWAY TRAT CONNECTS Wnt FAMILY RCOM

Filec incongrususly one ates tha other, all of the Famiiv toon furnituce clogs the Nall- Greenhouse emerces with two desk lamps and jays them on top of the In¢iana rocxer which sways back and - forth etep the pan table folded us and resting over thea studic couch. SOUITOS of a wid-merning soao continue throughout.

EXTEaIOR - GREENZOUSE FRONT YARo = ANGLE TOWARD FAMILY ROOM WINDOW

Greenhouse climbing out, nis face and clothes grimey with dirt. Ua- spooling the-garden hose, he deposits the nozzle end into the family room and runs arsund the gide of the heuse and twists on a generous flew of water. oe :

Or his return through the window he looks behind him +...

GREENHOUSE'S P.O.V.

Tt could pass for 2 block party. Several dozen onlookers line the sidewalks and street pumping each other furiously for clues. A

Toloag County Police Car neses shraugh the buzzing throng and two familiar faces alight. Is igs Prewitt & Longly. The two buddy officers who altered their sighting report early on.

Lenagiv and Prewitt exchenge a worried lock and trot towarc Greenhouse.

PREWITT
Wey Mr. Greenhouse, wait, up. : Greenhouse s¢rambles into the house anZ slams the window, twisting sue lateh. Lengly & Prewitt talk to Him turough the glass.
LOUGLY
Take our advice - give up landscaping.

Greenmhous2 stares back at them implacably.

PRIVITT
(refering to gabbing onlookers} ~ You wanna let us in so we can discuss this complsint outta tne wind.

if

Prewitt cups his hands and presses his nose against the glass tirying to see in. Greenhouse jerks the curtains together and gazes at the | policemen through tne embroicery. The twa helmeted shadows converse -privately and walk quacely out of view. Greenhouse jumps. Pouring.it on, he Sprints for the trent door just es Prewitt & Longly arrive ang reach out ta come in, Eut Norman is moments quicker end locks the door knob, sets the chain, ‘ ‘

a

LOMmGLy For christ's sake Norm,cut the crap ... we're on your side.,,

Frewitt whispers a scheme tu-Lengly. The two officers glance at Nerman whe rivits them back. Nebody moves, All is still. Prewitt and Lengly speed breax in two directions. Greenhouse snaps and runs. Longly heading for the side deor and Prewitt the back. Horman is inches behind the first officer in the thirty yaré dash te the side door. worman wins and oresses the lock button, slipping on the waxed tite floor and losing precious seconds on & crash course to _the rear of the house.

Prewitt arrives before Bim anc starts the sliding-.deer back.

Froilil? You're neichbors phoned in a complaint. tte didn't ask to come.

GREENHOUSE : (calming himself} Suve Prewitt. Let's talk out Aere,

He puts & Eriendly hand ON Préawitt’s back and escorts him back outside.

GREEMMOUSE
vou'li ‘want to see it my way because ...-

Hea pivots gracefully and giant steps back inside clesing and locking the sliéias giass door. ;

GREEWVHCUSE
(yeliing through th

e ol IT If MONL OF YOUR Busriclss :

ass)

i}

—— —_

. 4 —— La

. LONGLY Whae the fuck is a SEh you Greenhouse?

GREENHOUSE
Whatever you penciled in on the night ; repors isn't gonne meke.me forges that vou saw them first. oo '

ey

Prewitt & Longly shut up. And in the ensuing loss for words, Greenhevse closes tne curteins leaevine the brother officers

‘stering a: their own reflections.

ra

“FRONT OF THE HOUSE

Jeckdon is getting out of his car. Prewitt and Longly are trying

to ayiet the vabbid ints. Harris and disburse the thrillseekers all at the seme time. -

Just nen, Ronni 2 wheels in hes azrivevay SOUNDING the horn. People barely make way for Lez. Sensine an accident or worse, Ronnie leaves

‘the engine running ané runs ts the heuse, Jacksen following behind.

BANGLE = FRONT POOR 1

Fannie tries the door. I+ is locked.

JACKSON
Use your kev.

Tonnie fumkles wi

th her set of keys, iinzs the right ene and unlocks the foor. CLINK. The =

chain ig get from cne inside.

RONHIE
You open it.

We've saan this arrangement before. Jackson steps back Look ting Dor

‘leg rocn, pOSitions his foot and kicks at the door. The chain gives

way and scanie runs past nim into tha house.

+

ASIGLE - SRDLEWAYT

She gasps cutloud at the pile of room furnishings in the hall ... not knowing wWnae to expect nexk Ronare finds herself: staring with appre hensive disbelicf at the cla: fantly room door and the SOUNDS af HASHINGING, RUNSNIEG WATER, AED Eh ev TStOn SAME SiiOWk ins ide. Jackson appears at her side anc sets hamslel fer a breakin. Ronnic's hand goes cuickly to the doorknob row andl she turns it gently. The deer is un- Leched. She slowly pushes it apen.

‘tight fingers and another .. then another.

REVERSO AWGLE = ROUTE AND JACESON

Ave revealed as the door svings wide. Their reactions ar@ violent. ionnie covers her mouth in horror but a seream Filters through the

wHaT FOGNNIE SEES ~ CLOSE NoptaAY

He is a shambles: Face and hody congealed in mid-pack, Greenhouse

Sits ¢ross legged at the foot of his creation. A spiraling mountain

rises out of tne family room rug. Mads from chickenwire and garden

Stakes and lacaverec over with paper mache and sculpted from garaen rth and sediment, this towering model fills the 18 X 15 foot

“Living area and reacnes the full nine feet to the beam ceiling. It

is at once terrizying and inspired. The detaz.ing is impeccable. A stand cf firr trees twisted ané planted from his own garden-.shrubsery, @& valley side of gentiy solline grass, four affluted vertical wails forming a plateau @t the top, and on the down side. of the mountain . a box ¢anyon enclosing a peaceful Shargri-la valley. Eeyond this, Morman himself, sagging breathlessly beneath this grotesque citadel ané lesking the part of the mischievous kid caught in the act. The

TV set spurs ous its mindiess weekecay babble as ...-

: , cur TO

CLOSE ~ ROURIE

Demolished, speechless.

FULL SnO% + BLORSON

Tne closet cn Ronnie's site of the room is open. Empty hangers dancle ., in space. :

ANGLE = COEET OF SORAVESS '

The firs: three dravers ara ranging open, emptied out.

ANGLE - 2570 &€ TOBY'S BEDROON . . .

It leeks like somecae has Broken in and ransacked the place. Crooked @rawors emptied, anc boorsheives dissheveled. The closet has becn cleaned ouk,

LY

ANGLE = BATEROOM

The agen medicine cabinet has also been unloaded. Gnly some Excedrin and A bottle «ef mouthwash and cough medicine remain. «A hand reaches over and ¢ieses the mirrored chest and Nerman seuares off with nis

reFiection, Glearyeeved, unshaves, and flecked with dirt.

B&D

iE ANGLE + GREENMOUSE'S CITADLL

“Tie imsosing summit smudges the ceiling. It could pass fer the

roal thing if it weryen‘t for an o¢casianal newspaper headline that filters Through the coating of mache and mud.

Once again, Norman squats at the gently sloping base, watcning his mountain again, sipping beer and glancing at the TV set.

CLOSE = TV_SCREIN ; ,

K mid-day soas‘opera. Life is tough everywhere.

a)

CLOSE - TV SCREEN

The TV set acts like the face of a ¢lock ticking the hours. MIXE. DOUGLAS and quest celebrities waten the AMAZIPG KRESKIN pertoerm feats of magic and extrasensory pexception.

SeQOSE = NORMAN

Listleass ane full of sursender. He lets the TV carry him through the day. :

CLOSE - T? SCREEN oe +

Alan Ladd is stalling fer time while he shares @ cigarette and gune ha patiotism with fan Young, an Emperial Japanese ctficer in the movie "Cuina". There is an esarthshakiac fusst of THT and the surrounc- ing cliffwails bury the Japanese columm #nc Alan Ladd in smoking rubble.

ANGLE -~ HOFMAN

Eyes drifting to sleep, he half listens to ....

Tr

CLOSE = T¥ SCROEN . ; .

Gomer Pole vuining hig Sargeants “cinderella liberty", or whatever.

CiOSE - GhSINIOUSE

jiis evos are almost closed. Tims passes in micro-seconds,.

FULL Sf&REEN = TELEVISION

Comlensing hours into seconds, the images tick on ... Gartoons, Star Trex syndicated episodes, The Rifleman, Graham Kerr £he Galloping

Gourmet, iocal news ... disaster trivia ... people, places, commer= cials ... it all melts into a tasteless puree of terrestrial pablun.

CLOSE - GROINHOUSE - .

Gleary-eyed and in a state of greve depression, he looks at his mountain. 0.5. WALTER CRONKITE is beginning his 7:09 Pe network hawscast. ae

. WALTER CRONKITE'S VOICE ©" ie Another chemical gas derailment has ferced.. . tate the widest area evecuation in the history ~ a

of these controversial Army rail shipments.

‘Wamsutter Wyomine was the victim of this latest railroad mishap. Charles MacDonnell is om the scene for a live report.

CLOSE - NORMAN

He looks at the TV picture, a passing glance, but reacts as if hit by a jackhammer. Aw first, Nerman refuses to believe what he is sceinc. But there .«t is again. Norman rises to get a better look and tips over she coifss table on which rests what locks to be enough spent beer to fuel a Super Bowl crowd. Ne slides in frant af the TV picture anal waits. ‘ °

HacDONNEL ; . Thousands of refugee civilians are flooding she outlying districts spurres on by rumors on <hat the seven tankercars that overturned si the Walkasnhi Needles junction were Filled 42 Ccapacity with esteping G-H merve gas.

Minutes before we ware forced to evacuate. wnat is being tarmed as the hot cone. Sur sinocular eameras took these pictures of the

Aisaster seehe.

a

wper telephoto news camera captures the demolished stiring sf

nd ¢ust heyond this sizeabte disaszer, anchored in a blue mist ard rising qentlv cut of the lewiands, we view a uniquely familiar sight. IT IS A ROOTED Ik LIFE DUPLICATION Cr TUL KOUITAIN TilAT

SREENNHOUSZ HAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE T¥ ROOM ... TRUE “IN EVERY DETAIL HUT MOST TELLILSG By ITS TREE TRUK APPEARANCE AWD OTHER TOPOGRAPIIICAL TWISTS AD TUS. :

CLOSE - GRIES FOUSE

This nindkoegling revelation just about transforms him. He leoks again at his own scale model recreation. ifore energised than dated, Horman begins te -laugh. He cannot stop himself. Grabing and shaxing a can of warm beer, Norman pops the pulitop and teasts his mountain, the foaming spray bathing the caked on mud and causes a minor

‘avalanche.

PACK TO THE TY SCREEW

‘One ‘ast CLOSE UF feaok te confirm thet the mountain is called

WANSUTIER and is as far awey as Wyoming. MATCH Cut A BLACK 6 WHITE TV SET - FULL SCREEN

A carry on beg is beine x-raved at the Cox Municipal Airpart. The

luggage just scannel feeds out an osening on te a conveyer belt. A hend reaches around the strap and it is Morman. Turning to go, ne

almost knocks a fenale security agent to the ground as he hurries

past her and doubie times it down the sterile corridsr <6 the THA

boarding gates. Lo, 7

40

INT. - GREENHOUSE DIN - MACHE MOCHTAIN - DAY .

source 41

The TELEPHONE is blesting out at the empty voom. The miniature Wamsuttéer ilouatain stands aione in all si its makesnmift majesty.

41

INT. = IXLLIAN GUILER'S HOUSE = BAY

source 42

She is poreziring, out of breath, bedazzled@ by something as she Waits for Usmoman to answer his phone. It keeps ringing and ringing. Slaming ane piione into its eradle, Jillian bends down and picks us a plaid tr2-el bag ang bounces out of the room and past her old farmer aruniiather whe is holding little Barry Guiler an his las. She kisses the old man and leaves the horse. Thea CAMERA adjusts

to includ: cilliaa's watercolors that line the walls. Every pointing is about WNUISUTTER MOUNTAIN,

~ he

(

LUTIRION = TWA ROAUDIVG GATE CHECK IN COUNTER = NIGIT

Greenhouse as Seen at some Cistance. A stranger might think thak he

‘ais carrying a heavy flight insurance policy and a bomb. If aver there

was 4 candidate for flunsing the Air Narsihal's psychological profile wees GtBenKHOuUSe 1s about to qualify. CAMCRA TFULLS BACK to raveal 2 plain clothes security agent watching the eheck in procedures. He reaches into his pocket and prasses a palm sized electronic device.

‘ -

ANGLE = CEECK Ii COUNTER

nshaven,eyes bleodsnet, clothing rumpled, Greenheuse juggles with his ticket and Fandbag, drepoing the bag, then the ticket, then - streightening up too tast and stepping on the feet of the lady waiting Behind hin. a

The ticket checker catefully serutinizes this man just as a red light appears under his computer console, He types something into the cemputer. It is Norman's full name as written on the ticket ts CHETANNE , , WYCHING.

WIDE SHOT - THE ROARNING AREA

Greenhouse is pacing, waiting to beard.

P.A. SYSTEM
Mr. Greenhouse. Mr. Worman Greennguse. White courtesy telesnene.

Greenhouse asp TORCHES tne teleshone when a tall businessman Slecks~ his way.

a

BUSIRESSMAN
Mr. Greenhouse?
GREENHOUSE
(wary} That's right.

BUSTLES Sian AdTogort security would like to steal evo minutes of your time.

HPIERLOR = TWA STCURTLY HOLSEnS Reg

Gragnhougse ds citkine on & vinyl coueh, surrounded Ly cleven plain clethed Security Marshals and a couple of TWA Stewardessas.

SrcuRITY $1

Are: you being met in Cheyenne ir. Greenhouse?

GRIENHOUSE | tiieeps looking at the door} Sure. ty sister is meeting me.

SECURITY 2

Your driver’s license expires in two Lo . weeks. Weré you aware of that? . GREENROUSS

Cf esurse I'm aware of that. It's my goddamn’ bistheay.

SECURITY #3 Bees your wilte Anow you're here?

GREENHOUSE
Look, fellas! I'm clean. No bomb, no -Gentraband, no flight insurance. I don't want your cecdamn aisplane -.. : [I want where it's going: . SECURITY #4 . ‘+ We're sorry Mc. “Greenhouse, but flicht ; fumber 694 Lat Cex thinisisal Airport on schedule.
(checking his watch)
Six minutes ago.

Reoman sinks back ine} Al § Seat, puts ki

end showers the rocm with a thousand wat

3 Bands behind his head, ‘Well, fuck you'

Smile that seems to say,

42

EXT. - MENS ROGM AT UNITED TORNIMNAL

source 43

Clesnshavas, heix ¢ambed back, collar turnc2 out. Graenhouse mer anew tan asc walks toverds the Uniteaé@ cheskh-in counter like Alec Guiness. .

43

EXT.

source 44

2AM

The Unit ae ane thunders ad

ate) own the runway and blasts ints the ingiang a

‘HXNVERLOR = WERTZ RENT A CAR SARAGED - Nor PEG

aha

1. Chevy wagen ... just like the home model ... reckeces cown fhe ran with Norman at the whecl and blasts out of Ehe dark garage and inte

a Sulandid Wyoming morning.

o

44

ANOTHER ANGLE - LATER

source 45
45

INTERICR =- THE WAGOU - DAY

source 46

Norman is driving on the interstate at sixty. At.-the same time he is pouring over a Shell map chat covers, the stcering wheel end part of the dash. A flexible straw punctures the mao through which Norman slurps his strawberry “milkshake breakfast and with his one fr2e hand outlines travel routes in green pentel. Whistling LEAVI'SG CHEYANNE, Norman pushes the speedometer over the 70 M.P.H, mark.

Greenhouse witnesses the first tuave of escaping refugees. A Lineup of trucks, jeeps, station wagons and recreational vehicles loaded to the caryop with luagae ané incidental belongings pass Worman in

the oncomi ing lanes. Greenhouse fiddles with his car radio and finds

RADIO ’ «+. and thousands of others are homeless,

’ The 0,5. Army Naterial Command has issued these new area restrictions: Al] roacways morth of Crowheart on Interskats 25. All

. Toads leading into the Grend Tetons west of Meetetse. All melti-lane undivided full traffic interchange, gravel, local and ‘

-Risteri¢e stage reads south of Cody and as Zar east as Burlinston, as far west as - Yellowstone Lake,

DISSOLVE

ATERIOR = ONE HORSE Tow ~ DAY *

Greenhouse is gassing up at an ARCO TATION. An endless ribben of autcmodiles is stalled at the cattle crossing waiting for ....

Thousands oF beef cattle are being herced through town by panicky trail boss#s and ranch hangs. One major stockholder is directing

cperations out the rear window of his chauffer Griven Continental Limbusine.

The gas ics¢ky attendine to Greenhcuse and eight others, marvel at

a different spectacle.

+ ”~

GAS JOCKEY
You don't see that everyday.

ae

ite

et

saddle back drivers.crazy and turning tie chauffered stockholder

WHET Hn SEES

Approaching tha refugee cattle and actually merging with them are hundrecs of soring sheep. Thay salt the cattle herd making tine

beet red. , STOCKHOLDER = . "“"Get your wooly Facgots avay from my prime cues. ow - : ;

. SHEEP OWNER ; (in a pickup truck} °* You spook 2 single sheep and there will be Beet bysrocucts from here to Jackson hole.

But Greenhouse has fastened on another oddity. On the curk next to the divided aighway is a hawker and hls stringbean family selling parakeets anc canaries to 2 brisk 'north-south' trade.

. HAWKER a

. (a grandiose spiel) . , ° Deadly * G-i#! nerve gas is colorless and ederless. When your eves dialate and your ; . .7 mose begins to wun, you're gonna regret - . not owning one cf these early warning systems. Wher you cot bloecy discharge from the nose anc maven. When your muscles s@ize up so'ss youcembarass vourself in your pants, vou'll regret acs havin' a canary gueranteed te Fall off his percn hours before you cs.

NTERIOP-~ NOSMAN'S CEEVY HAGON

an hour tater, Greenhouse is again on als way. Trat Fic skill passing in the oncoming lane. fis raéin is on to an ali-news station. Ke turns t¢ study something in the seat next to him. A pair af sturic canaries in @ chaep wire cage start singing the pasteral symonhony. Norman sxizi€s the air and teuches his nostril to see if it's running.

CSTERIOR ~ THE Clin OF THE ROAD = SAY

ho mayer military roactblock. Uniczermed soldisrs of thea Air Wational Guard form a human cordon across four Janes of intarssate Kighvey. O@saer offaeciaus unifermed personnel of the Army Material Commanc qo from car to car, question toa question.

B87?

Greenhouse parks benind a piggy hack camper and gets out to stretch his legs. Tre young uniformes officer just ahead of him can't shake lease from thrée intense wemen in the vehicle uo ahead.

WOMAN PROTESTER

Re want total deloxificas ion of these gases. - . .

+ CT

. YOUNG OFFICER . The tian to talk to is Lt. Colonel o'Neil . @& the Chemical (Corps.

a6

WOMAM PROTESTER
- hy in this nuclear.age does the U.S. alsa ; need chemical and biological weapons? How mich is enough? YOUNG OFFICER Tf thet dcesn' t work try the office of Azmms ‘Centrol and Sisarmmement State Department, . Washingten D.c.

Wott ! PROTESTER Is it true thet shay test these things on prison inmates and conscienticus objectors?

YOUNG OFFICER
If shat ceesn't werk try Nyamings Second District Cengressman.

Chop-chap-thas-chos. An Air Force Cargo chopper na@ads in tre disaction of the canter zene. Sreenhous? shades his ayes and follows its notherly éeperoash when a shadew rises Over him and cuts off the view. A lumberjack cf a soldier is facing him gown.

SOLDIEP. .
You have next of kin in the red zone buddy GREENHOUSE *

(intimidated by his 5328) Sure. fy a. Saster.

The sclidie> produces a “elippeard and a list of names alshataticaliv.

SOLDIER
What's her nanos?
GREFMUOUSE
I’m sure she's outta there by mow.

SOLDIER | We got everybody out Wefore noon ¢ westarday. What's the name ana I'11- tell you where she’s relocated.

GREENHOUSE
{starting hack to the.car}

I'll find her.

SOLDIIR . .
(intuitively suspicious) . Not likely. There's more'n twenty evecuation stations across the -State! What's your nama? ’

Greenhouse ducks a4. aig car and starts the motor.

" GREENHOUSE Smith.

SOLDIER .
We've got orders to shoot anybedy leoting around here Smith. Pass it On.

As GHeenhouse peels eway another soldier sidles up to his lumber jack buddy.

ae ~ SOLDIER #2 4 a Another scavenger?

SOLDIER
‘Sweetheart, I can smell ‘em in 2 hurricane.
46

EXT. = CITY OF RELTAMSE = DAY -

source 47

The streets are swarming with the homeless and the dissliacecd. Fvery- where Campers, trailers, are parked in the alleys and aleng the curb.

HOTEL BOW IBECHTOUSeo

Everywhere savoright signs tell him ~ NO VACANCY. And strangest of mill, many cf tac people are carrying bird cages witn parakeess,

canaries, tovebirdés, cockititis, wild pigeons, to tell them if the. {HS is Spreading.

os

47

THTDRIOR- FARDYARE STOPT - DAY

source 48

or|ae slee

i

fi ex we

house ds leaded tinr bear. At the cash register ha

ing Dag, one frame and knapsack, a flashlight and

FROPPIETOR © You den't wanna be campin’ ont in this weather. Mot this week you don's&.

GREENKOUSE
Just hew far ere we from the train wreck? : PROPRIETOR

Not far anaugh. si; vife heard and Army guy say this gas can be lethol as fer as fifty miles from the distributien point. A putt

of wind and ‘arneother five miles; people could be twitchin" all over the streets by morning.

: ; GREENHOUSE FOESUS waas

% small crowd hes gathered to hear this.

WAENS;

ty +3

PROPRIETOR
Hhole tanker load of anthrax and Orfever upset itself alanc with all the rest. How shat's just a rumor but it nays to be safe.

Army issue.

aA Leos,

FROPARLETOR
I wot a limited surely of th Jas masks. exes you awful ugly But vout sreath a littel easter.’ Now, the Army wents mé to cherce you retail rates, That's sixty-five sechs oach. But I'm a Navy man nyse = and got my heart in tne cight place .....

qa I Ih

- DIVIDED HIGUVAY = TAY

Greonka mavens jeep ain mirror, mulis

fouple of tired GI's. Observing them out of sQrman Kkeens loonise ahead until the $esp in ou

ofe tre road ang frons next to ERS barbod wire fe

thea tailg@ate, Merman produces 2 wirecuttsr. He loaks up highvoy listening for traffic. There is none. Very narveus, Korman

approaches tha wite feacing and extends Ehe cutters.

fence starts to cisintagrate.

nays for one a canteen.

he proprietor reaches behind the counter and hefts a box of ges

eB motors slowly along the empty asphalt, laoking for an land. He passes a dirk staqe read but blocking it if an Azmy &

the rearviey Ss ef sight, néing. Woanin ana down the

SEIP! BOHG: Tha

i]

ra “a

48

EXPZRIOR - HIDD OPEN DPACKA = DAY

source 49

Marman backlas the steerinus wheel, The tires pup aver portheies and arroayon. The two céntries hudele together in a corner of the cage, fighting to stay upright on their perc. CRUNCHY Eorman's head smashes against the hardtop. THUME. his chest Biunps against the wheel, Just ahead is the stage road. orman turns onto it and stops, looking over his shovluer back the way he came. The jeep and Army sentrys must be miles away. He checks the sanuries for

sicns of weakening.

CLOSE ~ CaAuARICS

Dazed and blinking from the hairy eros country detour. One of the birds starts 66 chirp but tis partner pechs Aim on tne beak te keep him cuiet.

EXTEATOR - OLD STAGE ROAD INTERSECT Loi

i MoGern readsign puts WAHSUTTIR HOUNTSIN twenty miles Further "on. The Chevy wagen shovels dust as it gathers speed for the big plunce ahead,

CLOSE = INSERT - GAETLINE SAUCE .

The neectile is almost riding on empty. ‘

Ln |

©)

3wWO AND GAS

49

EXT. + ROACSTOS

source 50

Norman ia servicing his cart. The arez is sotalily deserted. Eerie country.w3 5 mn Musics seuss out ec the countesy stere and ¢ ceservel Union Pacizie din ing car called WEESTE'S. Loeckinas off the gasaoiine Pump, Norman moves quickly ta the dinins car. Along tha counter is

ple carrsusel and beyond the serving 2az2e, an old Amana retrigeracer
rattles sArough its auto-teZrcost cycle. snatantly hungry, he attacks tné pie counters. His Dent Ios junk food returns. He pockets ail scres or Garanels, Mars Gears, Slesekes , Certs from tie cash register counter and im tra kitchen he fines » King-sizec Ikebrew } tational” salawmi hanging <cscm the celling.

ALGLE - CASI REGISTIR

He passes it, his moti fuli of salami and cheese. A casually die linguant usyge seises hin. lla balks mt tha isea ac first. Then gently seachas gut to open Liu cash box. Norinan proses thea NO SALE ovtion. ALABMG GO OFF ALL OVLR THE DINER. Sesidies that

herman runs outsice wireyping feadetufl fron hi retreive what ht can wien le sees 4c.

the cash oex in omoty.

a f peckets, pending so

mm:

al 1

CLOSE - SUDEWHOUSE

Freezing the marrow iu hi3 bones,

Uuts P.G.¥. -

Ao tiny meacow jark is twitching spasmotically ly the side of the road. —h

it flies into the air a few feet, then plops back to earth, its wings working Bbachwares. ;

Worman spits out a hunk of sulami and clears his mouth. he suddenly remembers about the canaries. He reshes to the cax and pulls cpen the door. “s ;

CLOSE ~ CANARIES :

Frightened oy his suddan aspearance, they flutter all over tne cage and it's hard to tell jf -Ehey are just scared or actually dying. And as if all this were too much to nandie, a third distraction maxes Herman stand away from his car énc losk down the nighwey. .

SOUND = Chos-chop-chon-chop-chop ,...

A squadron of transport helicopters, flying hazardously low ta the greund grow fvam mosquito pinpoints ta roaring dragonflies and tocm cvarsead. .

Flying scmewhat higher than the reset are tea flanking thospers thet carry clusters of portanle chemical tallets frem their undercarrage supports, ,

. F '

Herman watches es one of the helicosters, an hir Force ltuey, breaks formation end returns, HEADLEG STRATGIT FOR iO aMAN. tlorman looks up threnugh ths swirl and shakes his eyez. ,

nUAT TE SloS

Thel two fliers, a5 sa@en throvgh the sun tinted bubble, are wearing exyoen Resks and sealed gnmogles. One of tne operators Picks up a camara and snapy pictures of Vorman balow. Noxman does not know whet to do. So he waves at tham. They wave back. Herman raashes into his pocket and takes out a. ten dollar bill. He chows it te the hovering Paching ané points to the gas pump, One af the fkiers gives him a ‘thumbs up' sign, Then the helicenter spins oa Lis axis and races away, to close the gap with Ehe rest oF Eh squadron.

Bhen the dust settles Morman retracts the gasoline nosil from his tans and replaces if. He puts the ten dollars on ten of tha "lew lead’ pwap and on tep of that a small reck. IIe loeks bask a: the roidudsice whare Ene meadow lark wan. Ik is gone. Perhaps tlewn stay by the heavy retor wash.

CLOSE - CAHARY CAGE

They seem to have recovered But their nerves ara shot. Their little breasts. flutter unchecked. ;

CLOSE = SRITEEOUSE

He slics on the gas mask, adjusts the straps in tné nacn,. liis breatnh- ing sounds hollow and metalic. lie turns to check the birdés.

CLOSE - CANARIES

They take one look at his Sloping face and freak. |

50

EXTSRIOR = COUNTRY ROAD - LATE DAY

source 51

Greenhcuse rips the real at ninety miles an hour. He checks e232 re- checks the canaries because ali along the highway is livesteck Gest.

-Cows anc crows. Sheeps and sparrows. an occasional deze rabbit.

CLIS= = GREENHOUSE

ie sees something up ancag that pins his @ars pack ane almost manes iim whispes ahne.

GRELNHOCSE'S P.o.V. .

The raggec tree trunk appearance of Wamsutter peak balanced on a downslope of Snasta fir anc at the secured sass, cha saaxing ramnants cf scme railvard disaster. Mut Greentiouse “is Seint teo Far aveayv to make cut machinery, let alone railroad track. A smile in his ayes fills

She gasmask having made it this far - and weaves

Sométhing else is coming his way, A ingen seretivle atl of four wiesles macnhinerey charges up she road to meet him head on and cere

ANGLE = WIBE

Thay are en him ketere he can do anyening. Six ecseh- econoline vans wits military serial nuubers aad special blue grill Lights cut hin off. A dazen man in self-contained comfort suits, with helmets and oxygen packs, all af this hermecically sealed in a hind ef fui, come pouring aut of everywhere and ....

eae ~ MEDIC

A golden seldier with Red Cress insignia holds up @ gmnll blachbeard on whieh in written: HOW DO YOU PREL.

sage. Fe walks aroune the frount of the car with ..

F

Graenhouse rolis dawn his window and steps ouk of his car:

LRELUTOUSE
If canaries could talk they'd say the only qas in the air is frem you ¢uys . farting around all day.

Another medic 25 oeaned the passencer door and removed the bird

ANSLE = CAHARIES

The birds ara dead en the bottom of the cage.

AHoLE = GREZWEOOSE

all at once he is not feeline well. Aided by the tinfoil soalciers, the. rear deors of the van cpen, then close ai Norman. Engineering a

‘stylish U-turn, the vehicle moters teward the site of WAMSUTTER

NOUDTATG .

51

MTESNOR = FAST TIN? «| HANSUTIAE SITER = LATE DAY

source 52

The sun flores, then dips behind the mountains erest casting a curple

Peil over the makeshift bivauac area consiszing of harmetically

Sealed, wiluuewlass trailers and a fleat of drab graen, unmerked

econoline vans, One of the vans pulls to 4 storm andthe reer dacrs rpert

sviing wide. Greenhouse is drassad in a Life surpert suis and is wisked away ov the two golden medics. A halicester svsons lew ana Graanhowsn tas only gacands to observe thak it is transperting cosans 2& low slung crates labeled COf&A-COLA, tefore he is sealed off insice a coffin sized room in an adjacent eighty foot trailers affectisnatsly Stamped NOLIDAY INN.

ANOTHER ANGLE - THE ROOK

A golden medic sits across from Worman. Somehow wa get the distinc: fesling that the medics is more of a turnkey.

Greenhouse feels ridisuleus just sitting and having nothing to sar. Hs smiles at the medis.through his facemas!. The macic looks away withaut smiling Dacn.

GREENHOUSE
tehuckling to himsel®} Can wa emoke in heret

Me rassonase.

CREENUGUSE » Vhat do wou ds if you g¢kka gc tinkic.

ii9 response.

‘LOUD CLICK! The Goor te the trailer torings open and another figure in goléen orobtestive attire steps in. The yexng medic

is up and suk fae dees in a silvery flash. MR. LACOMBD replaces him in“the seat across from Greanhouse. (This is tha gantieman who you will vecall conviscated film and cameras fxem the eivilianrs absard the TWA flight at Cax Municipal early in the schemata). :

LACOCMSL
We Have proecisus little time sa ~e'll: side- - track the formalities. I'm Rorert Lecemhe. I nee answers frem you that are expressly : honest, disset, and toa the point. aran‘t ' YOU avere Gf the dangers te vour iife Ey exposing yourself to the texins in the air?

(. CRILMHOUSE . ae I chanced it. ‘

LACOMSE '
To what end,

GNaowacUuse (living) i was tcoking far somone ...

LACOMDE
May I ask wham?
GREENEOUSE
eave TY SLSTET,

° LACOMBE ; Die vou check the relocation centers first? +

GREEMEOUSE, Sn@ wasn't chere,

LACOMBE
Go on.

am,

——_ =

— A

GREEMOUSE
Tne National Guard guy never heard of her.
LACOUEF.
Go on.
GREENMOUSE
Thae's all there is.
LACOMNEE .
You personally want to each camp . each relocation. facility.
GREENECUSE
Everyone © could fine..

LaCcoHile There are thisteen. Mame four of ther.

Long pause 28 Greenhouse looks down at the floor.

GREENACUSE
Well ... okay ... the town of Reliance.

LacCoMar Go on.

GRILUHOUSE
Eave T bustec any laws coming here? LACOMBE ; Only i yes aze Bible arone, “Mr. Greenhouse. kvemptec suicide is considarcd cardinal sin

Sy some, ;

GFEENMNOUSE
I'm alive, te're talking.

LACOMBE

IZ tha prevailing winds were blewing seuti instead of nortn, £his conversation vayldn't Se worth having. .

GREENHOUSE
There's acthing wrong with the air.
LACOHEE
(sharply interested}

What makes you sav that?

GRECNEOUSE
On ... just something I hovoen te knew,

Lacombe glares at Norman. Ile reaches oct and orens the trailer doar.

LACOHUE
Why don't you remove your mask: and make & liar out of me. °

Moerman looks out the open dsor. Naybe the air ddéas seem rarified ...

or'is it-the dusx hour. Ha serews up his courage but semething begins to changes. Fer the first time Nersman shows deubt. In saconds he siftts

through everything that has happened to him ... and samples defeas at all the sorrowfel alternatives. _. .

Lazombe closes anc locks the docr. He nax. dips into a manille envelope and produces a doten color polersids .., each shows a face through the facemask of a life support suit.

LACOMEE
{carefully disslaving the pics] Prienés of yours?

Lacombe carefully scsutinizes Morman who remains the stoic througnrert. There is a knock at the door. Lacombe rushes threugh his routine. H3

removes a heavy sneer of poster paser and unaravels it. Turning it toward Horman, caveéful to note His reaction....4+

‘CLOSE - PAINTING

A watercolor of WAHSUTTIR MOUNTAIN. Exactly as it really exiscs. This is a shilled lifelike rendering, the only in¢ongzruity existing in the sky overnead where three yellow suns have been included.

CLOSE = GREENIOUSE-:

The instinctual inplanted reaction . Norman is drawn into the water- color. ;

crost + LACQMBE

23 it possible ... this man is smiling.

; ACOAGE Good bay, Norman,

The knocwing at tne door persists. A Ki¥ is heard in the lock.

. 4 4 ; . “LACOMELE . . Just wait.:

Lacombe half unfolds a second painting hut the door swings wide and

two golden chemical engineers step inside and help Norman to his feet.

CHEMICAL ENGINEER #1 - Com-Sec H-¥=-0 says take them to Evac ; . Reliance and a bus yide home.

; LaAcCOHES ' . (soraly disappointed} Right this minute?

GCHEMICHE ENGINEER Fl \ . Even sooner, ;

52

EXT. ~ HOLIOAY INN TRAILER = DUSK

source 53

' Tre duel eators of the

assault Huey slice throauch the air, purring at:idle. Greenhouse is

Led to the sliding Fuselaca isading door.

LACOMBEL
{fro thea Ewo engineers}

Dan't let him leave until I gee . Wild Bill.

—_ i

That's okay Sy me. ALL we gotta do is stick him on hoard, '

CHEMICAL ENGINEER ¥2

\ Lacombe gces to the cockpit and waves his arms, shouting throuvuoh his suit.

I \ ; LACOMSE ; Five minutes = |

The pilot knows Lacomoe and shrugs his helplessness pointing to nis headsets, indicating that is where his orders are coming from.

Lacomhse persists in a five-finger exercise until the pilot nods ces=

pite himself and Lacombe hops toward a small quanset hut where @ Cadillac Limousine is parked.

ime 1

a

CLOSE = HELICOPTOR DOOR

A gloved hand slides it open - nine faces look out at us. The snapshot faces. Norman steps inside and joins the party.

53

INT. - OUANSET JIUT HRADOUARTERS - DUSK

source 54

A bettery of twelve inch célor monitors show the Union Pacific de- cailment and the emergency activity surrounding it. WILD BILL WALSH is speaking at the 'box' phone when Lacombe barges in. He has a siightiy monotonous drawl that reminds us of those ground control voices at the Houston Spece Center.

LACOMBE
The £1el¢ spotters found another sete crasher.
WILD SILL
{he is not pleased) That makes what, ten?

LACOMEE oe " You have to send chem back. I wen'’t argue With you. I'm going with them.

wile Bill lines him up in his sights.

. WILD BILL HMorsesnit - !

LACOUAE
An heer ago I was surc it was 4 suicide Club. But I've talked with these people now and mene of them know each other. That's a hard fact. '

WILD BILL } You're not 2 orain surgeon. You're a

hell of a PLR. man and that doesn't

Stand for Psycholegical Reckoning.

LACOMBSE
Three exhibits.

Lacamibe removes two watercolors and 2 palm siztec two Gimensioral S0cp Carving of WAMSUTTER sQUNTAIN. lie places articles on Wild Hill's Gesk.

on

es

LACOMBE

It wes crartec by seeple «hoe never saw ‘ Oo heare of Wansutter Mountain before last night. This is remarkable: Aboard that helicopter right new are ten strangers

who have had a thougnt, a vision implanted in their memory - for some of them it changed theizs lives. All that was left

was the thought of this slace = this - Mountein and a criving sense of belonging Now take the edds - for every person aboaré that helicester - hew many others in your countsy have alse been teuched in some way, but for countless reasons could not be here tonicht. How many implantees missed the 7:00 news and never made the psychic cennectica.

WILD BiLh

‘This den’t respectable science. = it's

horseshit psychology.

LACOMET
It's a sociological event - ?
WILD BILL .
(gesturing around the room)
What @a you call all this?

.

LACOMEE
Whatever it is ... I think they were invited. I think they Ealong. I think witnesses heyend our classified ranks are being recuested tonight.

Wild Bill considers this, He shakes his head ane starts our of the

hut.

EATERIOR ~

HOT

Two transvert helicopters fly «verheed. They are carrying a Gocchew Ambulance in each of their heavy dury slings. Reaching toward the mountein, they soon descend to the other side revealing for the first time a rather unusual formation of puffy white clouds, drifting with she prevailing winds.

WIELD BILL ; Zt’'s starting to cloud up. There is very little time left, Tare down their names and addresses and have yourself a back—- yard seminar when it’s over.

on ot tet

54

INT. - HUEY HELICOPTER - DUSK

source 55

No one talks. So Norman dees the mést courageous act of his Lifs.

Hea starts to unsnap the sealing fasteners which connect his breath- ing helmet to his hedy suit. With each POPPING SOUUID others watch until cvery ey2 is glued on Norman's activity. Norman pulls hard and his ‘helmet slides over his cars. He pushes his nair back and takes 2 breath. The others are horrifiod. lie breaths again. As suddenly, fingess are at work and JILLIAN GUILER shakes out her tumble down

- hair and waits for the werst.

JILLIAN
(still astonished from seeing Norman)
Remember me? "

GREENHOUSE

{amazed} Whats the hell are you doing here?

CLOSE - RUSSEL COOK .

His headgear comes off revealing a man in his early sixties.

CLOSE = COLLIN O' coMmiaR - .

Vat in han@, a Bull Irish character whe at first holds his' breath,’ then samples the air with tiny snorts until he breaths easiar.

SLOSE - BESSTE &£ TRA rOGELSoOn

Husband and wife. Really eld. Naybe late seventies. Ira is terminal! ill with ¢ancer.

CLOSE -~ THE FINAL FOUR

Two men and two women follow suit. They are the last to conceda and izke most everyone else, are late middle sqe@ and desperate ir ‘Appearance. Some are perhaps terminally ill, others display a shail- sheeck appearance at having been secially dislecated for perhaps ‘years. They never make aye contact, and are on the down side of onvsical exhaustion. Oniy Jill, Cellin the Irishman, and Norman scem to hav@ any spit left. ,

EATERION = NULY lIWLICGFTER

n

Wild Dill tHacLaygnhiin siqnals fer the helieceproar pilot to increas hia reter gpiteli and est out of here. —

—= Ss =

— =< ——"

a ae — ke

LACOMBE
(yelling at Wild Bill)
You will never reach Nirvena standing on your heac.

CLOSE - ROTOR BLADES °

They appreach high R.P.M.'s

CLOSE = GREENEOOSE

He wheels on the gathering and shouts above the noise.

GREENEOUSS
Who's for staying - !

Jill raises her hand. Collin raises his. And Bessie & Ira wave theirs

GREENSOUSE
You will have to keep up with me and

run very Tast.

‘Suadenly the door slides closec behind him. Greenhouse desperetely

"uses his amm as a Ceor jam and the SOUMD OF SPLINTERING EQNE ovare-

Tides the engine wnhisr. Norman screams in pain and the medic opens

the doar to finc evervoane without protective helmets. His eyes widen and he looks cver at Wild Bill and Lacombe.

HEDIC
SInR = }

whe mecic is fighting with Greenhouse over which ¢irection the door shouls travel. ,

OREENACUSE
{te the gathering) Now ~ | RON FOR THE MOMITAIN .- !

Greanhouse strikes ont and smashes the medic in the neck with his fcot. Lacembe anc Wild Bill turn gust in time to see this and -...

oat he

ing toward the heavy timbers bousa 306 yards uphill at the base cf lamsutter Mountain. Ira ane Bessie nobele after them with no chants of esceos. Wild Gill runs to the nelicopter and sees the five re-

Maining travelers, each without theirs neimets. We slams the mectil G@ocr anc sping on Lacote.

Greenhcuse, Jillian and Collin vault over the Fallen soldie> sori

‘¢

ea So

nh 2

helicopters rise vertically, each testing its power

WILD DILL
Ch horseshit, heve we got problems = [

AUIGLE = OPLN FIOCLO = STECr GRADE

Korman falls bo the ground holding his broken sheulder giving Collin and Jillian time to cater up.

GREENHOUSE,

{ehrough gritted teeth} Hi ya. Name's Norman.

COLLIN
Collin. '
GREENHOUSE
(out of shape)
| We can’t stay here. Go on to the tree line and wait for me there. . fto Fillian) Are you foliowing ne?
JILLIAN
I got here befors you did, remember?

They obey without amoments hesitation. Norman, catching his breath

looks back over his shoulder to the Chemical Salvage Operations below .

CLOSE =- Wilt BILL

Losking at the tree line through binoculars. In the backerounc three

i ful Quartz~TIodide searchlights. About a dozen special forces units load their oerdanances with 7.62 Nato round ball ammunition. They carry Gas ooeratec semi-+ automatic H-1l4's with H-2 infrared sniper sites,

WILD BILL
{to Lacombe)

Wer@é you able to get a composite ereci pality index?

LACOMBE
No sir, there wasn't enough time.
WILD SILL
Iwant these throes off the mountain , Sy midnient. Thas's not a lot of . time elther, but you've boughs it.

Two wavy speaker ahene

oom , :

voice crackles out ab then.

Wilde Bil

j=

VOICE

“Major MacLavughlin.

WILD ETL.
(he stiftins)
Yes sir. Speaking sir.

VOICE. In situations that at first glance seem hooeless, we must extract the "signai': from the 'noise’.

WILD BILL
We are coing just that,

VOICE , De a photegramnetric analysis of the mortnern face. se infrared.

makes a face es if to szy, give me some credit.

VOICES
Iowant to know how they circumvented our security blanket.
LACOMBSE
I can answer that siz.

VOICE Is that Lacomce?

LAcOoMBE Do you recall tne Leaekenheath and Texas- Oklahoma cases? Sixteen individuals from @ifferent walks of life, from sixteen Seperate areas or residence, 2ai1 sharing the same implanted memory, showed up at eur sky watch operations in 1964. The same thing is happening in the Wamsutter site,

YOICE
(@ pause, then ... } Wait one. I have an incoming. ; (apeaking on another phone} Yes sir.

is placed next to Lacombe and Wild Bill ene 2

(

—_—_ 7 =

-_ ro wa. .

Wild Pill‘neds Knowlingly and erinkles with satisfaction, Everybody ‘has a boss around here.

The helicesters have taken off and’ the

special forces team is aelreac running Eully @¢zipped into the field.

VOICE . Okay waid Bill. liera's the score at the half. We want a verifiable explanation for the leak in security. tle ere assuming that the principals ir question nere are out of adjustment and won't Listen to reason, If hey are not off the mountain py CEGO hours - dust the entire northern fase with G-B -two eleven. It's fast acting, extremely — iseal, and should detoxify in sever2l1 hours.

Oversee operation yourself and keep us informed.

LACOUBE . .
(sickened)

Don't do this. They Delong here more than we do.

WILD BILE

exoeriment. You siphoned air inte a serfecs strategic vaceun. It's your dirty Aaunery > ~ not mine.

LP ANGLO - WAMSUTIOR ~- WIGAT ' Through the Fir trees the top of Wamauts 5

s peak stands out agaanst the full mocn. From this perspective at appears insumountable.

Below it, three weary travelers trudg and pine negcles. the moon.

2 up 38 cegrees of loose topsoil Trey can s@e tueizr way clear until a ¢louc covars

THE VISUAL QUALITY OF NIGHT BECOMES TCO DARK TO REGISTER.

Jillian walks into a tree and slides down to its roots, losing precisc:

yards before catshine a hold cf some undergrowth. Collin also stumble:

and falls. Norman WEARING this stens dead in his tracks ané watehes the sky.

F.O.V. =" WAMSUTIOCN PEAK

THD MCON SLIPS OUT OF THE CLOUD AND TZ AREA IS HGALK DISc= RUABLE,

Lm TO Manvwever in ant out of -hared to see areas,

COLLIN . .

They’ye given usa lot of credit, ; Ob.

That's a good two houzs on fo

GREENHOUSE .
(rointing)

D> you sfe that notch in the mountain?

Sure enouch ~- off to one sice is another passage to the other side,

j a -

| a GREENHOUSE We can prcbably make that in an hour and 2 hal€. .

COLLIn . . \ : Not in ‘the dark. Net with so many clouds : sevesing the moan. .

GREEWEOUSE

Wa'il rest in che dark - and make double time ir the moonlight. We'll pace our- . a selves. Let tha clouds éecide how. long . it'll cake. ~

(; ~ JILLIAN . (pointing at the pear) There go four more.

®% Zermmakion ¢f ree anc green helicopter lig nts and the accompanying SOUNDS hover above the plateau and éesce 2° to the other tide of the mountain. -

’ JILLIALE There’s anocher ravine that leads un hiil. 222. Gnd 227s an @easier climb. I. remember Erom my painting ... it starts on the north- @ast Cace and .... ;

ws GREENHOUSE That's no good. It falls off at the top three hundrées feet etraignt down. We'd Rave to be avperienced climbers. This way, it's a gradual roll to tke other side,

CcOLrLtin What do you think is ¢n the other sida?

oe

A Gluten ef Army engine2axs reley ten gallon

GRE SUROUSE

There's a box canyon, tt's rimmed with trees ‘and hiking trails, °

JILLIAN
K never imagines that. T'd just color the one sice. : COLLIN . . . Same here. . GREENHOUSE

Hext time, tey sculptures.

Jillian smiles warmly just as the moon apesars to shew Greenhouse how really loveiy she is. —

GREENHOWSE
(has to tear himself away} -

- Deuble time, C'mon.

+

55

EXT. = EIVOWAC AREA AND HEL ‘OPAD - NICHT

source 56

stainless steel canister: of nerve gas to the weiting helicopter. The mean work gingerly end

in silences. Wile Bill stands nearby watening the onreration. He treck: his waten and leoks tp at the mountain.

~LOSE =A SHIPERSCOPE

A young soldier of the special forces aims his Held, squinting throes Nis infyarec scone. He saints the forest region with graceful seers of his ordinance.

WHAT TRE INFPAPEOS S505 -

Hultisle swirls of color. Craanic heat-civing matter registers a bright orange and red. & thousand birds slees in the brancnes of

hundrecs of fir trees. The faint luminosity makes the solarized trees desk like Christmas.

TinBon LITE - SOLDTER

oe ak

The dosten sovecial fcrces have fanned oyt and move steadily up the mountain.

ANGLE = THE PLATIAU SUIT

The moon is masked by a thick cloud.

ANGLE - STEDOD TERRAIA

All at once, Greanhouse, Collin ane hausted, breathless. .

a COLLIN x hope it's a big cloud. -

’ . \ Bath Jillian and Norman are silouettes against the faint auality ro of a moonless night.

+

GREENHOUSE
fihat mace you come here?

- SILLIAM " . Uheuh. You're asking me to reach back a iong way. I've come too far for that. | Mer face glows again from the moonlight.

‘ WIDE ANGLE

Casting faint snacows, the group picks up where they left aff ....- ‘y . running wiidiy for the motcn at the summit. ' TRROUGHE Snr AaReb SCOPE

Thres rea figures ruomning uphiil against 2 royal ilue packground. Itais only # ceex.

1¢ THE “SOLDIER .

4 Es picks uo Ris walkie talkie and speaks in @ iow voice.

SPECIAL FORCES
Pyramic to Lahama,

WILD BILL'S VeIce ‘Batiama .... go'ad,

t [ SPECIAL FORCES Hothing to report From mid-station. I'd | need three times the ground force -to cover this whole mountain in one hour. \ I

. WILD BELL'S VOICE. ; (after a pause, he continues grimly)

Be advised you will return te base-line at once. That means hauling--A. the otuer Way .

' CLOSE - WiLt HILL

a,

fic pedis te an aid who saaps te.

Gives Lacomca the finger.

+

; WILD AIDE

Get everybody off the nerthern face, Call the cari side of the moon and tell ‘em we're proceecing witn extreme prejudice.

Wile Bill lights a hevana, then watches the woolen match burn slowly toward nis fangers. dust as it is about to singe, tne SOUNDS of pro- peller olaces suc out the flame. Rotor-wash slicks back his haiz and

he looks towards ..... . .

LOSE = LACOMSS

de is sitting with five other nondeseript Proctor and Gamble tyres in tha Bleck Cadillac limousine. He reasnhes a hand sut the window and gives Wile Bill the thumbs up signa.

cLOosSe = WELD SILL

CLAS

rh |

« LACSMac

+

Suddenly, tae car he sits in starts to rise verticaliy ... going migher and higher until the sling is visible and tha helicoster transporting at. Lacombe rolls up the winkow as tne Cadillse makes a mide-aix starboard turn and hesds taward the other side of the mounkain,.

MOVING ANGLE « THE TRIO

Stumbling, sometimes crawling, they torture themselves in an intuitir:

‘wece against tins.

ANGLE - WILD BILS

lie points to am Army engineer whe in turn gives che dual thumbs tp te

. - * * 7 * - * *

WHIP PAX takes the angle to the Huey assault ehoepper. Ie lifts var- tically and pivots toward its mission. The six ceath ¢anastars sparkling in the mseonlighk.

RUGRIIG AXOLE = GREDMSOUSE

mielding his injures arm, he digs inte cim@ mountain, hi indicating that their goal is in sight.

I- in a Me

‘a Th ci) Wi Li) e+ i a |

ww fee

CLSso = JTTLLIAY

fie hooks. up and sees bhe summit notch, turns to Collin.

CLOSE = COLLT?

Collin is in such peer physical condition that he trails then by Fifty yards. He steps to catch his breath, but changes his mind _ am) races after them.

ANGLE - THE TINDER LINE AT THE

ME fe FURTIZST END OF THE NCPTH FACING MOUNTALH

A perfectly terrible explosion of noise and the assault chepoer trims the tree tops, its powerful Selly-lignt shining the way.

ANGLE - GREEBROQUSE & SILLIAY

Alrveacy they can hear the distant rater-blades when the mountain is

. plunged into carkness as the moon hides from them, They stop and ieoxk back for Collin.

GRIENEQUSE Tr’s just up aways. C'mon.

COLLIN'S VOICE
{panting hard) Ho wait ... the deal was

aete the clouds @ecide.

The chopoer SOUND grows louder oy the second.

SREEHAQUEE

You're in the e¢leazing ... he’ li spot you.

COLLIN & ¥VOTo

“Puck ‘em... $0 what's he gonna do se lanc on me?

CLOSS - TREE Tors

The helicopter Flies lew over a tree ton ... moments later Meadew larks begin dropping from the branches like flies zapped by Black

Flag.

nmiGLe = COLLIN | °

+ . ct

v 1" a

ANGLE - ‘SHE SRY |

The moon is taking its time, teasing the tip ef the meandering cloud an@ . laa . .

CLOSE = GREDSWAGQUSE 2 JTLLITAL

Slowly .... moonlight begins to play on their faces. They turn and break into a final headlong crawl for the top.

Slowly stands up and brushes himself off. Even now. the light of the helicopter is closing in over Collin's shoulder.

, COLLIN (groaning to Bimsal¥®) : Wheat am I doing here? GREOMEGUSE'S P.O.V. = THE SCHMITT ,

Iz is only Iitty wards uphill. A carpet of loose bedrock walcoenes then. Nerman takag two stess and falls ... he slides pas=t Jillian and back the way he cam@ up ... gashering Speed untii Ais hand ceteches a losp of ungéerpruss and breaks his fall. —

Jillian doesn't know what to do ... she hears the arproachineg helicopter and looks uc at their goal. She decices to walk fcown ths © mountain end nels vorman,

GREEWHOUSS
NO = 2 STAY THERE = | STAY TELRE - [

Greennouse has recevered anc is leaping with 211 he has in reserve us the mountain side. Mow the helicopter can be seen ovar Norman's right shoulder.

Qildijan extends her nane .,. and waits.

Norman pouring it on ... he reaches out with his.

CLest - CoLLtu

lig coulda't care lcss. lie is walking. The healiccater is so close it

totally outlines him in a corona of light. Collin seems ta be gasturing eee ‘FUSE Go areund me’, * °

\ 4 ~

CLOSE ~- GRELLHOLSE & JILLIAN °

Their hanes unite together and they fight the lnose bedrock toward the noten summit - the pearchligikt just now outlining their etrching

ShHEpas, ANG waaeae

+

CLOSE - CCLLIE

whe assault chopper zooms over him and in a blast’of after-wash that musses his hair and clothing. He continuss te walk and probably coesn't even notice that his head is involuntarily twitehing to one side,

. A oF . +

AHGL. - THE SUMMIT ‘

“~

Norman and Jillaan make it to the top. The knoll on the other sida of the mountain 13 Fresh with dew, and very steep. Jillian end Nesman dose their Footing and start to coast down on the seat of their pants.

a

ANGLE - SLIDING .

z+ is a wild side, They spin, bump, revolve eround each other ali the whils neasing fowareés a snarl of timberline vecstation. They tiap anc rise slowly to their feet on grouse deeply cushioned by many season's worth of fallen hemlock needles.

And through a Gense blind, maybe fitty yera 3 OVer flat ground, comes a haze oF light. It is certainly new and rerhass a@ Final ¢go2l that enceouraces Norman ang Jiliian ane prevents chem from resting.

HEAVY ARRMELED ARCA

Reading the way, Norman igneres the pain from his inert left arm 2s he cears #2 passage through tne thicket while Jillisn dedges anid hops over branches that whip besh at her face end body.

F.0.¥.

An@ the light grows steadily trighter ... the deep growth baginning to thin out. Alwavs that glow just a few yards further and wa,

+

CLOSn- GRELNACUSE

i tin.

G

rr

Ripping his way alene, groaning and wheezing and challenging

*y me

(C

frames pez second,

is ae

* headlong aévance against 2 2 Latticawork of weeds until they have cleared any further obstacles and can count the shafts of Light

astebbing at the misk from 4 s0urce just ‘below the tip of this outers; plateai and ....4.+

CLOSE - GREENECUSS & JILLIAN “ .

|

Cheeks almost touching they pees over the edge and ldok down upon

FLOGR OF TEE BOX CAHYON oS

+

‘The area of amact size and artificially flattened to three-hundred

yerds €ast-west, tvo hundred north-south, Powerful working Light from stadium sited steel poles illuminate the entire box canyon region, proj#eting multiple shadows from the over three-hundted

round personnel whe busy thensalves in a variety of technological functions. It resembles a sandlot football field, There are dozens of Wartisal lines, Liha a carefullyprogrammed mathematical gric. Nobody seems to dare walk in this érea. A cordon of 4mulances and several mobile home trailers outline the east Facing perimacers. Aleng the wase facing siceline is Tent City. Scat séred within Born énd tones aré tany ‘tons worth of stainless stadl scientific hardware. It resemsles a Stockpile of sécond wave reéinfor cements eran 4 joint Army-Aizr Porte a$s5ault aseration. :

GLOFON AAGLE

Mo less than a thousand cameras form a line fifty yards wide. Tan. men wander back and forth making updeted judgements. An industrial high-speed 35am motion picture davica is readied just a faw yards furtnas dewn the line. It has the capabinity o£ spinning eff 3066 |

CLOSER ANGLE ’ . :

Two spectemeters and a shoteslectrical camera resembling big baztooxes encasec in cemant and piloted by a couple of man smeking ci¢arettes in whita shirts with their sleeves rolled up. tiost of the cersonnel resemble white collar workers and en clesar inspection it doesn't dook like there is a military man amongst: them.

CLOEE = CRIDMLOYLO . , . "

He can't digest this as his eyes chug-asleug the jigsaw layaus Fifty yaras below.

_-— ts

_ . 4 a) ; ¥. 1 7 x te

BON CANYON ao ;

Six workers hore catry tiree Yamaha moag synthesizers thirty yas. ‘ ante the restrictad playing field, wirts and extension cords trailing behind them. A simple etonelina ven starts tp and foliews therm out. its rear doors are opened and ten Concord cutdooo speakers are remeved. .

A balding white collar worker flins a switch ana plays several notes. ile 48 encoursged Ev light applause and breals into a corny rendition. ef MOON RIVER. A voice shouts at him criticising his abilities end

scattered laughter is heard. The music stops.

A gentle chime is signal for everyone to step what they are Going ane lock inte the chy. Immediately, the Sank of overhead lights is couse deavang only ts ny red working. light & to color tne field below.

CLOSE - JILLIAi AND GRELMACUSE

They turn areunc and look at the sky also.

+ THE NICHT SHY

Mtenete’ Suars enc canstellations., It is still ana magnificent. Particularly vigitle at this heur ef nieht is the constellation GRICH, TEE HUNTER, mac? uP of twelve stars of varying deqrees of magnitude.

it is cne of the mest popular star gtcupings in our universe.

So it will come 2s a brozeé shock when these stars vegan Eo roacrange themselves before cur very ayes. Orion's balt, sword, Showider’ an Legs converging t9 a very Sright point before splaying off in tweak: directicns and forming the most popular of cll constellations, “TEE BiG OLPPAR. :

a+ tw

APPLAUSE is HEARD irom the assembly in the bos canyon area and .....

THE NIGHT GRY

The BIG DIPPER formation tips over, handie forward until an aurora of color seams to spill out of it like celestial milk.

AAHS AND OOHS can be HEARD from the box canyon area. It's just iike a hal’ time show.

CLOSE - SnEESHOUSE

Uncertain whether he if awake or drcaming. A lonely ¢loeud is estarceac £> an area Of shy directly ovarhcad. Twn fant moving roinss mf lighs Eeqin te revolve around it until the cloud is set swirling. Crher points af ¢olor join the swirling vapors and begin to backlight it.

The cloud soon rescmbles the Catherine wiioel of thea “near! sisal mabulad that astronomers will reeagnite frem Nessier 51 UISii in the

ee tel

——_ —

a,

* ~~

constellation Cunes Venatici. A single poink of light bakes up‘a pozritian within the onter spirel atm and commenses blinking on and of: peshaps indicating 'noewe!'. _

CLOSE =- GREENEOQUSL & SILLTAR

Jillian bsgint té visibly tremble. Greenhouse is struck down with wonder. Visible in the distance between chem are a formation oF three blazing oranga2 lights. They are flying dangerously low and will pass yerhe@ad in secends. Greenhouse & Jillian turn te see then and duck

-jow in the grass as thtir images qverexpose and meld from the ‘sseren-

aight’ intensity; of the dessendine globes watil we feel that a collision iS.@minent. But rhat is nat the case here. Insteacé, she

trio of lumineseant machines d@seends toward the box canyon vailey and hover. twanty feet overheac. . The two mement encased spectometass begin producina commeterized print euts as if linked in communication. Tre objects yun through tha eslor spectrum from ultra-violet to infra-rved. Wa hear engineers VOICE fren tna arta arcund the spectometers. te is shocting toward the musician-encinser who has takan 4 saat benind the Yamaha syn- tiesizer. ot se

ERGINIER -

How about a slow alternating rattern tcward thea cool renee please, with Resitstion on enroma rea 14, ¢hrema yells lf and the Lluminant point.

JEAN CLAUDE TG IK Fis THIRTI“OS, Pains AO RESTABLES wIhLIAx HARZSPLARE. IT IS wlsS JG TO ISTLAzanir Tim Bian tsi LARGUACE ISTO HUSICAL STACLHLETS . °

WEA COACIS
{te musician bahind organ) “Four-sixteanths plural on five. Four-eighths On GeG<3-5, Threat raise 371-5. Lower three.

The gweaty mugician engineer poises his fingers and plays & mumber of

atonal scunds. The music blares gut of the Cencord speakers.

, #

ALL AT ONCE TNE GLOBES COMPLY AND SHITT TILEIR COLON SPECTACH BACK The OTHER GAY, PAUSIMNG Of RLD, YELLOW Aili? DAYLIGHT WHITE, UNTIL ThE GuPans

FOOTBALL FIELD IS EVENTUALLY CATHED IN ULTRA-VIOLET. ANYCNE WEARING

a oe | ae a ee a WHITE SUIRT IS SLOWiNG Tin THE ‘Battin LIGkt'.

——

ail - * * .

Something mlse is coming down from the sky. They are the size and shiz of ice cubes but radélate such intense Light that everyones in the fic) mu t put on heavy polaroid glasses. About threoe huadred of these villian t cubes descend ina fsather light rush and perform simply amazing barca tlimension feats. they Lbransterm the gathering. They sve together in a flaming pyramid of light, ereate a swirling vertex out which pours luminescent dust; smaller pinpoint sized eubes that settl over everytiing Like Fireflies on a hok sommes evening. Tie lighted

dust settles on everyones head and shoulders and commenses twinkling white the larger cubes outline the valley arena in a configuratica

that reminds us of landing lights at major airports. BLINN=} BLINK-

oh BLINF. The cubes qo from het red-to ultra viclekr ta orange. TE's like a signal. TEINK-TINR-Tinei. The lighted Ganérufl in pecole's hair and

on their clothing changes hue from white to blue te Bright orange anc starts 4 slow fade.

F

Arce Scientists are running frantically tzying to parserve samples before the elements dissolve into thin air. They help pick them eff each other with tweeters and conventional soup spoons. Hieroscore cameras have been set up and sume of these specks are being photo- graszhec on the dirs play field.

CLOSE - GREENHOUSD « JILLIAN:

Like everyone @iss down below, there is Lighted dust on their fingers anc in their hair. Greenhouse is delirious with @discevery. Ne cuss hi: hands as, one by one, the pinpoints dissclve into nothing.

HACRO INSERT = GREDNWROUSE'S HANDS

One final misre-cube remains. It is so bright that his cunszed nants \ reflect light off his face. The micro cube does something extracréina: It fines its way uncdernéath the skin in Wexrman's open salm witheut causing the slightest tinge of pain. Ue watches it travel around the | inside of his hand, uo a finger, down to the wrist, into a vein. Tne vein glows bright “blue as the speck of light runs its course around

the hand and finaliy, sadiy, fades out leaving everything dark and silent and mystical.

THREE HUSICAL SOUNDS ELARE DOWN FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE SKY.

?

The musical engineer’ imitates the sky tones. A computer van benind his intreduces a young floor manager who runs sheet music back anc forth. Ke gives the musienl encinaer feur bars of something else to plev. Heavy decisions ard ¢riginating from inside that cempuser van. The musical engineer reads Lhe notes and plays them outright on the kay board. The Concord speakers broadcast the earthiy sounds. Immediately, a diamond formation of egg shaped self Lumineseent obiects start tH @escend, ewirling and changing color aleng the wav.

ANGLE - GREENTIOUSE AWD TILLIAW

Greéeonhousa must at closer. jiu starts to fiimb down Ene lin of t:

plateau ridge but Jillian stops him,

JILLIAN -
They'll see you. GREENIOUSE Watch me. Step where I step. C'mon. . JILL TAI

it! 3 good from here.

GREEWHOUSE
It isn't ensuen,

GREENHOUSE STARTS TO LOWES HIMSELF. It’s a ten foot drap to another gressy cutcropoing. He chances it and lets oq. Greenhouse falis awk~ wardiy, flopping cown on his back and biting off a seream from His alreasy injurec right arm. . .

VERY CLOSE SHOT

Lacembe steos from the computer van. He puts on a sun sereen pair of ghasses and looks into the sky. The tloor manager comes over with sheets music, paper and pencil at the reacy. The two of them ars

- 4oined by Jean Claude.

JEAN CLAUDE _ Start again on the Solieggio. Play the tonic 1-3-5-1. 1-3 plus &. One minus three minus.

+

Tne floor manager scribbles as ‘fast as Jean Claude can spe2k and hurries the scale to tha musical engineer. He sight reads it with the

_igudspeaker key on the off position to make certain no mistikes ars

heard. Then he Elicks the speakers to on and plays the configuretion.

EXACTLY ON CUZ THE DIAMOND FORMATION OF OSJECTS STAND OW END AND “TLUTTER" TOWARD THE GROUND LINE FALLING LEAVvEes,

.Lacembe leoks azeund him. The cameras are tracking and sheotins.

Lacombe smiles. He is exhausted. Ne smiles acain - about fifteen vear

worth. CAMERA PANS to an upright ice bucket and a magnum ef Mems Chamgagqne,

ANGLE = BATTERY OF CAMERAS CLICKING AWAY

’ An operator looks down at his arms. AllL-of tis hazr is stanains on

end. Static electricity crackles through the mild humidity.

AUCGLO - LINE UP OF TICHUHICLIAUS

Watching through sun qocgles they ¢an feel their skin crawling. The iiilk ON TOF OF THEIR VEADS STANDS ERECT ‘ARO DENDS IN THE PRECISE Dr RECTION OF THE EGG SHAPED OLJECTS AS TiiLy CIRCLE OVERHEAD.

ANGLE - CAMERA TECIWICIAN -

je is in charge ci three hundreé sensitive aute driven industrial ‘semeras but still has time to steal a persenal photo, with his store

, Sought Hoedeak Instamatic.

abGLE - GREENHOUSE

‘ Climbing cown the box canyon. Slipsing. Back peddling. Edging aleng

@ marrow split in the mountein.

FOVR O&NIGHTTUL CHIMES ARE HEARD FROM THE OVERHEAD SKIES.

CLOSES = WILD BILL

Pe stens from the comauter wan and hends a piece of pager to Jear Claude. -

JEAN CLAUDE
treading out lovd) Sixteenth rest. Three-sixteenth plural on 5-1-7. Eigth on three.

“ANGLE = MUSICAL ENGINEER

Ne nods and replays the notes onse te himself, then with the speakers turned full on fer evervene to hear. HE STRIKES THE Keys.

THE CUBOCIDS that ara ecting zs landing co-erdinants once again chance ¢cler to a white magaesiun intensity.

ESVERYDODY TENSES UP &ND LOOKS SKiWARO.

CLOSE = GREENHOUSE

almost to the valley flats he pauses in the harsh glow and looks

scwords the @2st rim of the bex canyon cliffs.

4 Sui IS RIGING OVER THE LIT OF WAMSUTTER CANYON. A FIRE-ORALGE CLIIGT aT LEAST FIFTY YAROS LONG CREEPS HIGHER STILL ...2.eeae

CLOSE - GREEWICUGE

Ha gasps at its site and brillianec. : .

ANGLE =- MANY FACES

The orange Jight spiiling over onto everyone waiting below. And a hush thickens over many ofth® assembled.

WAMSUTTER CANYOR RIM

f

"+

Tne crange crescent continues to rise until we are finelly aware thet there is more here that meets the eve.

THE FIRE ORANGE OBJECT IS ONLY A DOME PROTRUTION RESTING ON TOP OF 3 SUPER STRUCTURE THAT HUST BE TWO HUNDRED YAROS Itt DIAMETER. IT Is

AN CBO BALL TYPE OF MACHINE THAT RESEMBLES NOTHING EVER REPORTID

TO THE PRESS CR SCI-FI BUFFS. DOCTOR ZEUSS COULD HAVE BESIGNIOD .IT FOR ALL OF ITS COLORFUL ECCEMTRICITIES.LIGIT BEAMS STAS DOZENS OF YAROS IN EVERY DIRECTION FROM A TIIQUSAHD PORT LIKE OPEMINGS. PASTY LIGETS REVOLVE ARQUUD ITS DUTCH PERINETERS. DPOLENS OF STROSE CEVICEs STING THE eves. IT I8 SUCH A TASTELESS, BIZZARE AMD IMPOSSIBLE SEVICE THAT IT DOESN'T SEEH LIKE IT SHOULD BE REAL. LET ALCWE CAPABLE OF FLYING, .

WILD BILL
I'e@ qivre up half my commission ta know the witraphysics of that sucker. -
LACOMBE .
{breathless with words} - I believe they are breaking the seeond daw of thermodynamics right before our Very eyes.

ANGLE - FPIELD WORKERS

They watch with a rare assortment of ineredulous expressions. One man seems to be crying. Others step backwards as this flying carnival

cartwheels over the box canyon and gets ready to set Rtself down in th middla of the concourse.

THE CUBOIDS that ast as landing ¢o-erdinants again change celer. This tine a hazy blue. THE NOTHER SHIP acknowledges by imitating tne erisa- eross Blua light pattern oll along her underbelly. Gres again, ths suboids re-set. © different valuy and configuration all together. *The MOTHER SHIP follows suit and SOUNDLESSLY begins a parfeet clear air approach.

_ ——-

_The musician nods ane just hearse in @ minor key. Repeats it again.

a ad at .

iil?

CLOSE = GREENTCUSL

laving arrived at the hottam of the canyon. He is "watching all of this only firty feet behind the fisse row of scientific personnel.

Even aS MOTHER SHIP is touching down her external P.A.

" system sings onc a short melodic arrangement.

Jean Claude is breathless and harcly able to speak but smiles

through rf adrenilan rush at Wild Bill and Lacombe.

«

va JEAN CLAUDE ‘

It's a beautiful heilo like Mozart. WILD BILL

Hello them back like Merle Haggard.

vEAN CLAUDE {to musician engineer) |

Four-six-one-four. Repeat the tone row twice.

with trembling hands repeats the greeting we

«a

BNGLE = GREESHOUSE

lie is careful not to be seen but wants éesperatel y to gat a closer

le starts forward nonchalantly. A hundred frozen human heads still. block his view,

isol. .

DUST is rising in a 15 feet cirele and a technician stepss into the ares to investigate. He takes a short bounce on the balls of his feet anc if on a trampoline, sails seven feet in the air.

nm me

TECHNICIAN
Got a negative gravity zone ... about 30%.

instruments and gauges are sushed to the spot te probe, measure and aocument.

ALL AT ONCE THe CUSOLIOS ARE ON TITE MOVE.

They form a straight line and enter the MOTIER SillP through an cnseen epaning. All is still. Nobtedy ever Gates move a muscie. The quict grows tinnerving. BLASTING PROM TIE MOTHER SUIP CONE FIVE MUSTCAL TONES.

ee

al ' .

And everybody just about jumps out of their clothes.

CLOSE - INSIDE THE COMPUTER VA of °

the computer digests these tones and prints out the messace. A joung technician speaks anto @ pencil mike.

YOUNG COMPUTER TECINICIAN
Greetings. Greetings. Hello. Hella,

WILD BILD | (out of the corner of his mouth) I thought we went through ali that.

Lacombe shrugs. He locks to Jean Claude. Jean Claude shrugs and locks to the musician engineer.

JEAN CLAUDE
Repeat the tone row. Four-six-one-feur.

The Yamaha beats back the simole greeting.

ELASTIENG OUT OF THE FLASHING MOTHER SHIP COMES ANOTHER STRIES OF NOTES THIS TINE GK INTERVALS AND RHYTHM. -

YOUNG COMPUTER TECHNICIAN
(he leoks at the read out)
Greetings. Greetings. Hello. Helle. Nello. Greetings. Hello. Graetings.

, ‘ LACOMBE - {hearing this} I doen't get it.

WILD BILL
Give it back to them. Note for note.

The musician at the Yamaha doesn't understand any of this either. He eoes what he's told. THIS TINE TNOCRE ARE TUE SAME NOTES BUT TIL BUY AND TEE INTERVALS SOUND MORE ENTHUSIASTIC.

|. ANSLE = THE MOTIER SIIP

ALL is still. BLASTING FROM THE MOTHER SHIP AGAIN COMES THE SAME WOTES

LACOMSE
. {to Yamaha musician) Again. Turn up your volume. The Yamahe returns the volley of music. THE MOTHER SHIP REPEATS MNERSELF EVEN BEFORE YANAHA IS FINISHED. |
LACOMPE
Go on and jam.

Yamehe repeats the gzeeting stepping on MOTHER SHIP‘'s last notes.

MOTHER SHIP overlaos the last two notes at the end of the Yamaha and repeats herself. Yamaha cuts orf MOTRER SHIP's last threes notes

@ad, my God, they are actually jaming.

Fverything stops - ' You ¢ould hear someone swallew. The Yamaha

musician looks over his shoulder for instructions. We is shining with sweat. .

-IT IS ONLY NOW THAT PART Of THE HOTHER SHIP. BEGINS [TO OPEN.

The condition of light inside the MOTHER SHIP is enly slightly better than iooking point blank into a sodium vapor searchlight.

Everyone adiusts his pelareids as the rising light crawls up their lez to theix faces ané whites out all expression.

THERE IS A FIGURE ‘STANDING IM A FLOOD OF BACKLIGET £0 HARSH THAT IT CAUSES IMAGE DISTORTION, MAKING THE FIGURE APPEAR LIKE PIPE CLEANERS IN THE SHAPES OF ARIS AKD LEGS.

Tie TIGURE BEGINS TO MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THE MOTHER SHIP, GAINING FOSTURE AND GIRTH AND ....

IT LOOKS HUMAN. ARMS AND LEGS AND WEARING AN OUTSATES UNITED STATES RAVY FLAK JACKET. ' CLOSE =- GREENHCUSE

He has found an opening in the sideline crowd and sees ....4..

Lacombe turns *¢ & man seated next to him,

LACOMBE
Can you tall whe it is yet?

thea man seated next to him quickly looks at the figure through a sat

of triped bineculars. In Frent of him is a posterboeard with TWO MENDES SUAPSUOTS OF PEOPLE'S FACES. He speed scans the phoves.

PEED SCAHBEE
charles taylor, U.S... Hijacked December Sth, 1945, south of Chicken Shoals, Bermuda.

WIE ANGLO - THE HESTING

tiild Bill steps forward to greet the man.

TAYLOR
‘feaxtending his handshake}

Flight Leader Charles Taylor, United States Navy.

WILD EILL ; Captain 7.8. Walsh, United States

. Tactical Intelligence. Welcome home son.

Taylor has a @uphoric ease in the manner in which he speaks. He is surprised by none of this. EIGHT OTHER FIGURES APPEAR TH THE OPSNINS OF TEE MOTHER SHIP. All of them are young Navel Airmen and are Gressesc in post WHIT flying outfits.

Wilé Bill begins shaxing their Hands. All of them are mildly at aase about being back home. . A DOTEN OTHERS APPEAR AT THE SHIP'S MEPEVING. A FEW WOMEN WOW, Bet MOSTLY FEw, AWD LEroRe TOO LONG A VERITABLE EXOuUS OF HUMANS CoM FOURING OUT OF THE MOTHER SHUTPF BND THTO THE WYOHING CVENTAC.

TUE MOTHER SHIP REPEATS HER TONE POEM. THE YAMABA BEFZATS ETS ANO THE MUSIC GIVES POMP AND CEREMONY TO THE RETURNING EFRISONERS OF THe

Every scientist and technician whs can leave their posts does sc to shake# hanes with the heroes. It is a wéleome home celebration enly slightiy subdued in the enarmous presence of the HOTHER SHIP.

LACOMBE
(te Wild Bill while shaking hands)
They haven't even aced. Einstein was right!

4. WILD DILL (during handshakes)

Einstein was probably one of then. (beck te the B.0.7.'5) Greetings. Enjoy the Erip? Some fun,

huh? Cengratulatious:

a “ . ‘ *

Three MEDICAL PERSONS are waving the evacuees toward the

waiting eurgo helicopters parted on Lhe grassy outskirts.

MEDICAL OFFICERS
Gentlenen. Debriefing is this way ..- right this way. Debriefing over here.

_

| BPECD ScCAcWER ; Net all the absuctees are accounted for. . We have no way of knowing whether some ; gaze still being detained or have ‘died | - from netural causes.

| - LOSE - GREENHOUSE

He is just one of the crowd now. He appears 2 little touched, but | finally and quiatly at home. he stops as five Waval Airmen arrive . next to a Geodhew Ambulance. One young flyer stops by the license

_. plate.

. . YOLWG FLYER t This is a joke rignt?

‘¢ : CLOSt - LACOHBE Ste

| He turns, watching this and beroming very interested. -

YOUNG FLYER: _ . It says '76'. ; , -

HECICAL CFFicer Debriefing over here gentlemen ..-. fight this way. YOUNG FLYER (suddenly lost & frightened) But it can't me '76". My wife's waiting for . mé in Palm Baach. I have enhildren in Florida.

HEDICAL OFFICER
You'll know more at the debriefing.

ANGLE - FIVE AMJULAIICES - LoW SKOT

ALi of the license plates sav ‘76’. Just as suddenly nalf 2 dozen nance enter the shot and presa adhesive tape over the year.

Poteet

LACOMNSE £ WILE’ BILD

VILB HILL
You can take dawn your nudic calenders. Recorded nistory Starts right here.

; ‘But Lacombe is watching something beyond Wild Bill.

j . CLOSE = CRELNHSUSL

Nerman wanders by a large tent and peexs in,

. INTERICR: - TENT = GREESNHOUSE'S P.o.¥.

A Catholic Priest is administering last rites to & group a nina younc

men wearing hospital type angel rebes. Twenty moré similarly ciad boys are sitting cn wooden benches with their heads bewed in theught, prayers om meditation.

THE SOUND OF REVING HELICOPTERS ROTORS OVERRIDES THE CEANTING OF Las:

RITES.
| . + AWGLE - GREERHOUSE ~ G _ He dvcks out of thé tent ane bunps into Lacombe who has been standing

right behind hin.

LACONSE
{(paternaliv) What is iS you want Norman?

Greenhouse is not startled by him. He gives no indicatien of leekiag

\ a, -for a way to escape. He simply smiles up at Lacombe and says in the co _ingenusus manner:

_GREENIIOUSE I want to knew that it‘s really hepsening.

FIVE TONIC Cieres Guast OUT FROM THE MOTHER SHIP. Lacombe and Groennouse turn.

‘HIGH ANGLE = ALL

Something elsa is coming out of the carnival craft.

TIty HWOtANCIO INAGMS COLLECT IN TI BLINDING THRESNOLO OF THE MOTHEN SHIP. THEY CAST LOH NIGHTMARE TSH SIADOUS OVER THE ULNA SATUERINS AGS TULIE SUMDERS INSRLACE TO PTERUAPS A HONDRED.

one

}

a 1 7 .

ne Yamaha musician is nanded seme complicated sheet music and at First is too awestruck to perform. A harsh command from somewhere within the stunned cathr:ring lossens nis fingers and he starrs to play the some—

“times inrgledic comaunicus.

The blinding threshold is jamed with the tiny cecupants.

The Americans wait thirty yards outside.

It lecks like « standoff until the Yamaha music eases and the MOTHER SiIT responds with three simple BLASTS. It as like the startera

_whistle at the Olymoic Games,

HE AUNDRED RUMAROTID COCUPANTS LBAVE THE MOTHER SHIP AND FAN OUT’ in ALL DIRECTIONS. THLY SEREHW TO SE FLOATING TOWARD TEE APPREEENSIVE HUSDLO

OF AMERICAN OFFICiALe .

THERE I5 NO ORDER OF SYMMETRY IN THEIR SSHAVIOR. THEY ARE LIKE CWILOREN LET LOCSE Ih A TOY FACTORY. THEY SWARM LIKE ANTS ALL OVER THE FAHCY TERRESTRIAL AAPDIARE ANP TRE FROZEN ‘Ur TIGET' SCIENTIFIC PERSOPNEL. TREY REACH GUt ANE TCUCH WITH SPINDLY ARMS THICZ THE LENGTE OF THEIR TAPERED PEYSIQUES. A FEW OF THE AMERICAN TEAM EREAR 220 RUN IN FEAR. THES ARE PURSUED e¥ TRE CORIOUS OCCUPANTS WEO CAN MOVE WITH FLUID LIGHTINING SPEED. NOLOGY EVER GETS A GOCD LOOK AT TRE UFOHMAUTS =< THz MOTHER SHIP 15 TOO ERIGHT AND THEY ARE IN SILMOCOTTE Fil MOST PANT. ‘CREATURE HANDS’ REACH OUT AND FONDLE LOVINGLY. ts

SEVERAL OCCUPANTS ARE [EMPLOPING THE GROIN AREAS OF THREE STATELY OFFICIALS TOG FRIGHTENED [O EVEN REETST THE FOPCPLAY. . THIS SHOULD BE DOTH EELUTIFOL AND DISTURBING TO WATCH. A Fit! PEOPLE CORNZCTEDS WITH THE BEEAVIORIAL SCTENCES ARE TOUCHING BACK AND WHEN THLE EAPPENS, THE OCCUPLITS SEEM TO PERK ASS Shoo.

CRASES OF COCA-COLA ARE OPENED GY MEMBERS OF THE WARY GROUND CREV ANG AS THOUGH THE DINWER KELL WERE RUNG, DOZENS OF OOCUPANTS GATHER AROUND, ONS BRAVE CREW WORKER POPS THE PULLTSOP AND HANDS A CAN TO A

THREE FOOT TALL OCCUPANT Wilo IMMEDIATIOLY DRAINS THE CCHTENTS Tito HLS

SAO AND BOUNCES ALL GVER THE PLACE IN THE MOST TURNED Gi MANNER IMASIMADLE.. LAUGHIUG, THE GROUND CREW WORKER FOPS HORE TOPS AND FASSEL THeit OUT LIRE THEY WERE GOING OUT OF STYLE. .

ANGLE = TENT

These twenty young men in their angel robes and carryine duffle haces parada bravely out of the tent neadine toward the HOTTER SHIP.

Thay pags a frightened Priest whe is on his knees qenuflecting hig saivation. TUREE Tiny OCCUPAITE CAN DE SEEN JUST BEYOND HI IMITATING His EVERY PIOUS GESTURE TH PERPECT UNISON, ‘ *

’ -

1 | ‘

ANIGLE = LATOMBE

feing much more recective then most anvone else, Lacombe is the most popular recipient of eraature Dehavior, ‘ie is smothered by two dozon pairs of 'fcelers'’ anc is returning tik: gestures as fast as he can.- He looks up and smiles towards something. ile waves.

CLOSE ~ GLE EENHGUS

lie is smiling bask. CAMERA PULLS AWAY revealing that Greenhouse is wearing an angel roke and merching toward TIE HOTHER SHIP with tis twenty young volunteers. We TTAVE REVER SEEM EIN SO NLISSFULLY SESCLVE.

af ONCE, THE TIibyY CCCUPANTS FO 3 CORDON AND STOP THE THENTY

ASTROUVHAUTS "FROM CNTLAING TRE MOTHER SHIP. A GHGGLE OF WHEW OCCIPANTS SURROUND GREENHOUSD AND ESC oT HIN TOWARD THE ASTHECELIN BRIGHT OPEti- ING TO EE THE FIRST GH BOARD. " *

SCUND TRACK =~ MUSE

We hear the original i0's recor ‘Zing Of JIMMINY CRICKET singing "WHEN YOU Wise oe 7 Sian’

4 *

JIMMIKY CRICKET
When you wish upon a star... Makes no differences woo you ere aes Anything your Aeart cesires wili come te yeu,

ANGLE + MOTHER SEI

The inside light burns Brighter and brigater as one after anotner the twenty volunteers disacpear inte the brilliant cpeninc.

GREENEGUSE TURNS GACK ONE LAST TINE AG LOCKS UP TOWARD TEE MOUNTAIN RIOGE,

JIKMINY CRICKET
If your heart is in your Greams ..+. Ko request is too extreme .... When you wish upon a star as dreamers do.

HIGH ANGLE = THE SITE

Greenhouse disapreers inte the MOTHER SHIP as the occupants touch and brush and caress each other and everybody.

Lz

CLORUS
( - Angels high - she brings to those who -love

- the sweet fulfillment of their secret

3 ; longings.

HIGH RTOP WAMSUTTER RIDGE

* JILLIAN STANOS HOW. She looks cewn at the playful, loving, frightened chaos and feels some of the fullfillment .... She raises a minox camera and takes the most important photograph in the history of the world?

JIMMINY CRICKET
Like a beat out of the blue ... Fate steps in and sees you through ... When you wish woen a star your dreams ... come ... true. . . : “

i

ROLL EMD CREDITS ... AND REPRISE OF SCHG OVER FIFTESHN HIG WesSGLUTIC’® COLOR PAOTOGRAPES GF JinLIA: 'S “INDISFUTABLE PROOF".

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