"CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND" (1977)

W.\..a.t..SCTTl-:F.CANYON - SOUTHERN IUM -BRIGE,'!' Ol\Y

A te:ri!ic explosion sends earth, boul~~=s and gr~cite slabs hunc=ecs of feet in all di:ectior.s as •••

'Fl..!J!. TO BI.ACK CR.EDITS ON BLACK VER"! FAST - THEN THE St.AC~

A cluster of p~e tt::· homes, two cc1r c;arages, medallio!'l living. The. i::-a te UOIS~ of what mcst :)e eve:y dog in the neigh.bor.hood .br:.ric;s c~t a sleepy coupla.;., =~~ clods ~ut of his hou~e with a tw~lve~ gauge trap shotgun, his wife en his heels. lie aims the gun skyw~:d.

W:U-i: Don't hit anything.

The do;s s-:cp barking. E·1~!';{thing is still • Across the st:eet ~::o:..:t a.do:e~ neigh!:lo:s ~urzt into happy a??lause. The man smiles ane takes a:bi~ l:ow. The dogs sta:t barking al! over again.

WI='E I'c calling the cops.

C!.CSE - PUMPKIN I!l wn;oo~·

I CLOSC - 'B~R-~Y GUILE:~ - NIGHT It!TEP.!OR ( Four y~a: ole ~~==Y is h~ving a ~estless night. h gentle brecz~ :lares his bangs. A h1iIR?.Il...G smmo interrupts this. Little Ba=ry's eyes eo~e open as a soft red glow plays on his face.

On the nightstand next to his bed, one of Barry's battery toys has co~e on. !tis a Frankenstein monster "ho raises his hands as if to strike when its pants fall down and its fac~ blushes ~ri;-ht red~

E~rry sits cp in bed and looks aro~nd him.

All of his battery toys are working in eiffe:ent places arocncl the room. Tank, rocket ship, police car, 747, drunk chugging brew.

'PEONOG?.AP:! - CLOSE

Playing a scra~ehy "Sesame Street" .record . . .. softly.

Bar:y c;et.s out cf bed an~ looks out the window. In the distance the SOUUO of barking doc;s~ The backyard is dark and utterly still.

The bedroo~ is at the far end of the hallway. Barry ~eves forward, curiously. He t~=ns into the livin; area.

This ==-'O!':l is c.i::-~, save a si):ty watt blue nic;htlight. Sor:letr.jng howe~a= is out of place. All the windows are open and iight is bra~~~in; thrc~;h ~~e laced curtains. Four year old Barry looks a;ai:i ....

TUE :~o::T OQQjt IS WIDE OPEl; - TUE FORCH LIGiiT IS SP!LLINC 1:;.

A SLO\, PAZ:· sho· ...·s Dar=y the roon. Onee again the windows are O?en and t~e roon is bree:i·· The baekdcor is adjar and rattling· against t~e safetv chain. PA11 DO~-;-:;to show the cog door. It is cor:tpletel}' off its hinges ancl lying on the floor.

~,GLE - REFRIGERATOR

The door is swinging O?en. There is foodstuffs in a messy pile around t~H: icebox door.

· He looks in another direetion and is suddenly startled. Fear is just.as suddenly replaced with a kind of shy playfulness. Barry giggles and locks away ••• he turns .back and.laughs, sla?S his · side, turns away and looks back again ••• bursts out laughing. A game is· being played ou~. Little Barry roe's back and forth like a chimpanzee as if imitating what he is watching. He covers his eyes and peek-a-boos. He.spins on his bare heels. He cocks his head to one side a.Dd rotates it in slow sensuous movements. He is havins a wanderful " tL~e.

JIL!,I.;?J CUILER is the attractive mother of Barry and is asleep in th~ riex~ roon. What awakens her i~ the soune o! her son's laughing.· She tur~s ove= in her ced and fixes a look at the luminous cloc~. It's l:35 ~1. Jill tu:ns on the be~side la~p and sits up. The laugh~~; seems to be e~inating frorn the backyard. Jill jumps out of bed and goes to the window.

Ba=ry is ridin; his tricycle in the backyard in the middle of the n!ght. Ee is hysterically happy.

On he: eist~=becl ~x?ression and almost going unnoticed, all the lights in tho house flic~ off.

~crman Greenhouse iz young, gocd looking, and drilling enor~ous hole~ in the wall. It is going to baa sliding glass door. Right now you cculc. drive a tru=k. through the open den wall. A happy Ch.rist::as t::e, blinks in the corner. It is December.

No:TJan is about to res·poncl whe:1 the ne>:t door neighbor yells over t.he ::e:1ce S?eakir.g to hio through the hole in the wall.

bli::ard on televiiion.

(.. Befo:-c ?!o::..i.an can answer, one of Ronnie's co-conspirators, ?-tilcired, l sticks her head into tte room.

z.tILOP~O We need your vote.

RO!mit Do you know w!\at tirne it is?

{ Hildrec is about to c=y. Norma~ is ~bout to speak when . . .. . ( Cight year old T=Ly Cr~enhouse enters the fray in his pajamas. 1:e is holcin; ~ Tex~s ~c=~et c~tculator .

JtONNIE Why a=e.n't you asleep?

Ten year old B:ad '.":Uns into the room, his arms laden down with school books and looseleaf notes.

With that, he hu=ls his book~ all over the floor of the sawdust st:ewn den.

Trying to contain his tsmper through chipping enamel, he .~urns his power drill on and makes some mc=e holes. By this tim~ everybody is ~·elling at once. The w0t:1er: from the ki 4::henette move i:ito the work area and the meeting continues. Ronnie answers the phone, listens.

She: holds the fho~e up to Morman who takes it and sandwiches it between his shoulder and ear. The voice en t~e othe= side c~n be tea=d sho~tir.g through the din.

Dist=ict O?erato= Fleisr..r.:ar. fo: you. ·

o.o. -'.:. Green.house. This call is 2-ll _ for all Line Foreman in ~he Tolono Dis~rict ~o report to thei= Dispatcher's Office. We've got a a dral~ on the pr L'na::-y voltage. we 've lost half a bank of transfo:-:ners at the Gilmore sub-station • • This outage is working its way up thP. radial feeder~ to the residen'l .ials, So put ~our pants on while you've still got light. Supervisor Grimsby perso~all7 asked.me to phor.e you.

CLIC~! The,p.o. hangs up.

~~::-:::ian is rathe= stunned. It's ··not JQSt the phone call; it's the whole eve~ing. He stand~ with tile dial tone bu:zing out of en~ hand and the drill screa:ninq in the other hand. It is at this precise r.\Oment 1:.hat all the lights go out and the r!rill winds eown leaving a stu..~nei room and a soft dialtone. ·

NOR!-'..AN The Department of Water & Power of the City of Tolo:10, Indiana, wishes ~-ou all ·pleasa..'1t dreams and a good night • .

INT~R!OR - .APA..~TM.E~T BUILDING COP..RIDOR - HIGH~

A..~ elderly bespec~acled nan leaves his apart:r.ient in a great rush. Ee carries in his left hand a briefcase and in his right a head protector stenciled Dw"'?- SUPERVISO?..G:tI?-'.SBY. lle confronts a bc1r.k of elevators and p=esses the down button. The elevator arrives al:t.ost L~.:ediately. T~e door opens a~d Supervisor GrL~sby ~teps i.~. The coor closes. A rncrnent passes. The blackout hits the corridor with t.."le speed of light. ".:'he mechanical h'"HIRRt:'lf the autoI:\atic lift wi.~ds dow-n. A mu:fled voice echos f:om the darkness.

A hanc reaches in to discover a regular junk food factory. GrcEnhcu~~ puils out so~e pretzels a::'1~ takes a handful. He is so haP?Y to be ou~ of the house that he beg :..ns to rnu.'":'.ble a::'lc: ht.!."TlV!CK! !.rlWRE::~C!::'s so:;.:; "TI!E N!CHT Ti!Z LIG!:TS WE~:T OU':' IN GEORGI;.". liis civil ser· ..·ice ban:; raaio rig h~~s police culls ~no signs of the growing e~erger.cy.

Past -:ave=:-1s and Put-n' Takes the lowly patto~"ls line the siee- wa!ks, some with candles and flashlights, blinkinq in the night. Soce kids a.re yelling a~ Greenhouses' plainly rnarl-:ed Dept. of Water a.n~ Power car. He has not turned on his own headlights •

Green~o~se.:hinks they are cheering his job. lie waves back, gives a.-i okay sign.

IN"!'ZRIOR - MONITORSYSTEMSCONTROL NIGHT

~his is the crain center of the local DWP. A bank of phones are :L9lging continuously with only one ?OOr assistant to answer them al:ld sho~t his finc!ings to a group of trouble technicians who keep an update on a wall display ~oar~. A completely harried Load Dispatc~er called IKE spots Greenhouse .entering through the main

Am I glad to see you.

IlCE A 27 r.1 line failed at the Gilmore sub-station. The breakers opened and w~ beqan losing feeders. We want to pick up the sys':e.rn before folks start shaving but the cockar.ia.-:ie network hasn't s'toppec falling.

ASSIS1'A!1T Tciono is da:k. Eve:ything is coming aow:i.

Il~ I'll dump the whole city if I have to.

GP.ZENHOUS~ Where's the General Su?er?

Stuck on an elevator betwesn floers a~ his fucking apa:tme~t house. He's ~ryin; to run t.~in~s £: ~hose lit~le trouble phones. •

We can't ca::y this ~uch load.

and ove:loac. Con Ed's asking to be cut free •.

ASS!STANT The=e's a fresh impedance coming in. It's not an overload - it's a drain.

Greenhouse takes a s~e~~ o: paper and starts writin~~

GREEtuiOUSE Shoot it off to me.

ASSIST~!T Coordi~ates Denver-is, A??le-12. Lines M-Mary -10 th:-ough H-!-lary-12.

GRE:E:~U!Ot.1SE Roll the red w;::gons aw.1 splicing crews. I' 11 neec; a high wire act. i\.'ld 9 ive me a ne~work. rnap I can rea~.

He h&s a n~two=k ~ap s~read out over th~ $teering wheel ash~ sea=:hc!:. fo= ~~e:·::;:-cbl~::t _coorciinatcs. Polic:e calls sta:t sqcab~ling th=o~gh.

6-10 Six-ten go'ec dispatch.

G:eer.house has heard this. He pic~-:s U? his car phone •

GR:EElaIOUSZ Ike! Have you rest.cred power to Tolono over.

GRE!:?lHOUS~ The police a:-e reporti~g lights 'in Tolono. Send sot:lebody down there to check. it out.

-IKE Forget it. Tolono .is as blac~ as the inside of that elevator shaft.

CLICK. Greer.hcuse squi:its cut the win::.shield. Ahead of him is a ;low 0£ whit~ anci am=er lights. ;;,s he gets closer a :i•cllow Dtu cher=y picka:- and other su~pc:t vehicles icle in neutral off to one site of the highway. n 1in~ of power poles stretch to a =~~al infinity.

No=-:.:.:1 emerges f:-c~ :"lis car chewing on some licorice. Twelve

li~~~.e:t, -se·.·e:al 'c;=u:it novices and a ta.l! blaci: man c:allei: J;:.c::s,);: all sta:e at Greennouse as t:1ough waiting his reac:~ion.

1( Jackson looks U?. Th~ linemen and grun~s look up. Finally Gre~nho~se looks U?·

JACKSOl~ Why would ar.yboey steal three thousa.nd feet .of transmission cable?

.. GREENEOiJSE It's the high cost of copper. Stu!f's wo~·th a fortu.'"le.

Greenhouse goes to his car. The radio flashes.

POLICE OlSPATCH VOICE See the com~lair.ant at Tolono South. Christli'.as lights have started a minor brush fire.

GREENF.O~S:C Ike! It's Greenhouse.

Gr..EEta!OU!-iE I'm here at Harv-t.en. Th~ t.=ansrniss:ion line has been s~olen ri~~~ off the pole.

· CP..E:i:NHOUSE: It look~ ·like vanda!s made a vary slopp~· splice at the terminals, then · bac~ed inn truck a~d p~lled out ~11 the grour,ds.

GREE:UHOUSE One hour - how is that possible?

The inticing police calls replace Ike's thicJ; voice. No:rnan stares a~ his dashboard making up his mind. He looks devilishly in Jackson's direction.

GREEUIIOtJSE How'd you like to sign on this o;,s.ration fo~ about an hour.

Greenhouse is already closing the car door and star~ing the engine.

JACl~Sot: . (bcgi~ning to panic) Me? F.un th .is show? I'm a ju."1ior lineman. My las~ Civil Service exam was in March.

JACKSOl-l Who's go~na li~ten to me. I'~ not even seniority. I'~ not even white.

GREE:IrnOUSE One hour. You got to crack :.:.?1c\·.'hip. Burn the ~ic~ish~ oil. co it like T.~.T. One hour.

Greenho~se makes a U-turn a~d wav~s towu~ds Jackson reass~:ingly •

Jackson t~rns to face a~out seventeen veterans waitin; ~o be told \.:hat ~o do. He scre\,"S on his cou:ac;e a!ld points a long fin1er at·· the naked power pole ..

The ~H'P ca: speec.s uncer a sign that locates TO!.OUOl~ MILES.

Greer.house turns up the volU!i.e on his Hul ti-Channel receiver. Police in co~versation crackle out.

( ..

OFFICER LONGL~ (V.O.) U-fiva. Longly ove:.

Grec:-.:!o·.1se -.:iulls over on the r.arro~-: o: f-rarn?'l and tea:-s a": soma l~ca: road ;a?t. O~ening one over the dashb~ard only to :eject it for a:-:.::ther. ;.. bright g:oup of !'lignt.ea."':'\s appt!ars o\·a: :lis s:·1onleer and c~t the back windo~. G:cenho~se a~~ent:y waves an arm and t~e autc~~bile lights p~ss hin on the lc!t.

LOL1G!..Y We'll ne~d ~o~e as~is=anc0 finding ~~o~'lar's • • t: , • ' • s~o~t1ng =~~n of!. Cc~;lc o_ ~un~rcc pcop~e in their ~.J. 's :hin% it's s~t~rdnr ni~ht cu~ hc~e.

( (

cri:::t:~mouSE (pouring over m~p) russy·.-,illow. Ora:1g=. D-five. H-34.

His two finge:s ~ee~ and he takes off in dust.

EXTERIO?. - DARK::t?:E:ONE!GHBORHOOO - ?-!!G.!IT

Greenho~se s ea= crawls along looking for street signs.

CLOSE - P...~DIO

LO?:GLYIs VOICE \Je 're on the reservoir grid, heading No:-th~ast. HCJld on. Heading Northwest on Cottontail.

EXTI:t'.ICP. - ~l-.!~r:t::-:i:o ~?:.IGHEC~i:~oo

Gree .. house signi~ics furth~r interest by ~u}~i~g "nether U-t~rri.

~ ·· INSID! CREt~HO~SE'S CAR

He is blarLketed by ro.admaps.

GRE.E:tmOUSE Coft, Ccmrne=c:e ••• Connecticut. . . . COTTO:iTAIL ! ! !

EXTZR!OR - ,ST?..EETSor SUBURBIA- NIGHT

Graenhouse's two-tone s~dan is just a checkered blurr racing tl:lrou;h the night. A steady flow of police calls a.'!\asses adrenalin wi t."l confusion.

BUSINESS DISTRlCT - NIGHT

Peo-ole stanc.ina aro~md \1i th f lashl ighti:;. Parked cars with their heac!la.~ps shining. The rest is in the dark. A total power O\!tage.

FARM cotmTY EIGir.·:;\y - G~EtNP.OUSE

He tu:ns into a rutted road, shines his spotlight on the street sign. He checks his map. It confuses hi~. Greenhouse backs on~o the main highway and stops, pulling the map closer, twisting ~ha gooseneck intensor la.r.tp close enough to :>urn a hole.

A bank~= lights from an approaching vehicle can be seen fron the rear ~i~dow. Ttey tlr~w up very close and sto?. Gre~nhcuse is ocl1

as he po~rs ove= th~ w=inklec map. F.~ absently sticks out his left hane a~d begins to signal, "go arou~~".

Fe: a ~ornent, nothing ha?pens, then, soundlessly, the super hign- bearns ;omply •.• risi~g ver~ically out of sight leaving earkness behin·.!.

Gree~~~~se hasn't seen this. Then there is this noise. It is like the rattling of tin. Greenhouse looks around. He shines his spot- light on the road.sign.

ANGLt - ROAD SIG~

tis vibrating s~ f~st that th~ l~ttcrs see~ to ~ultiply and ~~per- impos~. H~ looks a;~in ~ith an al~o~t cc~ic~l "huuuh?'". On th~~ note { his spotlig~:, intcnzor light, and hc~dlights glow a faint a:be: \ then lJlacl~.

•

CLOS!

GREENHOUSE: (deadpan) I'm not ~-nused.

·-

CLIC!:! The entire area for thirty yards· around his car is bathed in the brightest light imaginable. Greenhouse tries to look at the top o: his windshield, but it hurts, his eyes cannot .acjust •. He goes for, ,his rac.io. It is dead. Greenhouse is too scared to budge: Just his eyes move. Nothing more. Falling open at the . hinges, the glove coo?artrnent rattles as everything metallic begins s~icking together. k :ox of paperclips cornes undone and dozens fasten themselves to the roof of the car. The ashtray empties it- self out as though -sucked weightless by a current of air from out- siee - and CLICK! T!le hotlight is gone. Faperclips rain down on hir: fro:n the rooftop. The sign is no longer shaking. A DISTA?tT ra :.tling causes Gree~house to swing arou~d in his seat. His highbeams, spotli;ht, lamp, etc. come cack to life. Down the road, the=e is a rcuR WAY STOP. The si;ns are dancing to and fro, vibrating so vio- lently that the metal a=ound the edges cu=ls against the force. CLICI~! The intersection a hund:e~ yards ciown the road is awash in the same· intense ·light. But only for a second; CLICK! And in the · aark, the sign~ a:e ~o longer -moving. All is still. Not even a h;nt f.,,_, ......of a breeze.

FOUR· \·iAY STOP - NIGHT

The raeio is making no~ses that sount like overload -excitement.

( \_

•

EXTCR!OR - SITE er TP.E OVERHEADREPAIR - NIGHT 4 • A ~ini-generator is servicing the area with harsh working illu.-:-.ination ·. A maJ'!\.'nothcoil of high tension wire is unspcoling to~ard the steel towers. Jackson is completely in control. Everyone is wor~in; under him at full speed. A workman hollers his way and holds a phone toward him.

WORI~MAN Receiving station wants the man in charge.

Jackson steadies ~i=.self. This better be good. He clears his voice t with no nonsense . ..-·

JACKSO?~ Just one of the guys.

I \·~ere locked in and ready to pick up. How can it take two hours to st:ing a hundred yards o! c~ble. Put Greenhouse on.

Ji\CKSON Per~it me to call him for you. (Jackson pu~s the phone to his lips anc cuts loose) GREENHOUSE - ! GRtEKHOUSE - I.

·..

EXTERIOR - 24 HOUR MIGETY JOE YOUNG TRUCK STOP - NIGHT

Three blue and white County patrol units idle side by side, the occupan~s $raokic; and pacing outsiee. Greenhouse paints a ri~bc~ of smoking rubber. Some of the cowboy truckers be;in to saunter down the tu=na.bout to sea what· ~is going down. ~

GRE.ENi!OUSE ( to the three) You the guys seen the moon move?

( Big harvest moon. -.....

BE:GAL (the op~onent in the fiqht) Went behind so~e clouds.

Beaal takes out his wallet, opens it, re~oves his driver's license. Ee-flashes it in front of Hayes nose.

Greenhouse is eupho=i= behind the "high" of th~ experience. ~0 c~l~ listens with half an ea=, more interested in \e:ho a.~ong the ga£:;e:-~d / truckers were witnesses. (

---

Sit~ing on the hoods of their pat:ol cars watching the distant horizon. Some c! the truckers a:e tryi~g to make side bets, first with Hayes ~hen D..~ongs~ the.~selves. ·

A squaking static NOISE, alerts Gree~house. He brushes past the moon betters · to the radio in his car.

·-

D!SPATCKD. What's your location?

LONGLY'S RADIO VOIC~ Just of! the Tele.~ark .Expressway, and east toward Harper Valley, just past the Raintree Smi:t:ler Playground.

Greenho~se blin.~s twice.

G!'J::ENBOUSE (lo~~ to the world) Oh ffY God, I know where that is.

'-.

CLOSE - ?.OAO S!GN

Telema:~ ~x~:essway. ZOOOOOOOOOM. The:e goes Greenhouse at nine~y plus.

Greenhouse floors. it. The C~.MER.~pans up through the windshield. The mylar green freeway sign tells us the EAST lIARPERVALLE~ zx:T 'is three miles ancl"closing.

L0~1GLY' S RAD!O VOICE We've got the ~obile racar :r~cking them at forty-five miles an hour. You can take this for what i t· 1 s worth. That ha?pens to be. the e;<act speed limit around here.

t

CLOSE - E::PR~SS~ ·:A.1· SIG~i

l~RPER V~LL!Y EXIT - EAST

ZOCOOOO~! Greenhouse trades paint with the guard rail before yawin; a hard to starboard turn.

..

ROADSIDE ANG!.E

Greenhouse's car bends to the left and into fertile Indiana cow country. A road sign tells you tha~ the Ohio State Line is not far a.i.e ad •

Greenhouse clir.~s a sli;h~ hill that promises a vista for miles beyo~d. He gets to the crest and stops, leaning forward to see over the das~oare.

COtntT?.YS!DE FRO~! G?.EEN'HOUSE:Is V!E:HPO!~i'T - CRESCt:!lDO ·suHMIT - UI-Gr!T

The country highway is ruler straight and goes forever. And that is all there is to see. A hollow face s~~:enly appears in his flattenins h1ghbe~~s. Greenhouse s~cks in a screa~ and freezes. The app~riticn smiles toothlessly and float~ toward his rolled up window. Beyond him is a family of six sitting in a flatbed truck. Two si~ year old twin girls recli~e on ~at~resses right there on the shoulder of the highway. A fat teenage~ boy in bib-overalls stares through binocula:! scann::.:ic the starcust o•:erhead. The old farl':l.e= sr.-.iles some rnore anc. Green~~use manages to catch his heart and roll down the win;ow.

You dcnrt hav~ to tell rne nothing son, I know why you're here.-

GRC1:1:uous:e: Engine trouble?

OLD F l\Rl·lI:R Oh, we sper.d two, three nigh ts a we_ek watching 'em pass over.

•

Greer.~ouse views this sweet 'Bradbury' setting through spinnin~ eyes. Barry, the little boy from earlier, is content with build- ing dirt mounds at the roadside. His young mother, Jillian, stares at Greenho~se. Suddenly a breeze comes U? and everybody's hair is ·s--ept behind t.~eci. All eyes go downwi~d towa%J the magnificent val.le j," vis ta •

Ttl:'ning also to look downwind an·d . . . . .

FOCR com:-s~EO OP..~~GE LIGHTS, EACH ArPROXI!·!ATE~Y 15 FEET IN ~I}.l-m'!'!.?.., M.:::RELYTWO FEET ABOVE THE HIG"ffi~Y ••• SPEEDING SOUNO- USSLY. THE~ BEGIU TO St?.S:RA.TE AS THEY NEA.~ Ci.RECNHOUSE'S UNIT Tr.AT BLOC~S TF..E ROAD. TEE:! PASS 1'.N A SI!....."C'NTBLUP..R Al?D SOMEr-r:!A'l'AWKWARDLY REJOIN AGAI~~ R!:CED::NG L'-:TO TH!: DISTAJ.'JCE.

BAP,.RYGUIU:R {ju.bila."lt) :Ice crea.-n cones!

Casually ar.d full of pride, the old f a._-..xer nods his head and cl:.cks tis tou."lge.

OLD FA?.MER They ca~ fly rings around the moon, but we're yea=s ahead of 'ern on the highways.

ZOOM - ! ZOOM - !

Two L~c.iana Police units 4;..~at Greenhouse has been monitoring break wine at one hu.~d=ed plus.

This is nuts!

A thi:e :neiana c=uiser trys tc close the qap. Greenhouse puts his car in gear and u-tu:ns afte: them. The old farmer shouts to be · lea::::!.

l CLO FA?.!U:R ~ . Keep it to. yoursel!. They'll cancel

your Medi-Cal.

'

NTI:RIOR - GR.!I::;!iO,USE' S C.l.R - NIGHT (( ~e reaches fer t~e radio, thinking better of it, and ac=elerates instead. Gree~house cans~• the chase in prog=ess two miles up the road. Just pin points of colo=: orange and red and white police stro=.es. He listens to the radio feedbacl: between the three 'l!nits ahead.

...

LOt:GLY' S RADIO VOICE (talking to Bay Station) We'll be in Ohio in another two minutes. Contact Rochester Police. See if they have ~ car on 51. If that's a negative, we'd sorta like to stick it out to the next filling station. \ BAY STATIOH VOICE (after two beats) The Captain says nothin doin'. He wants to see you back at Baj' Station swimming in coffee.

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

·oEWITT

The so-n so's just keep on followin' the. :oad. They keep_ on follow in' the road. Look out.

PREt•;ITT Is VOICE We got the state line comi~g up. Slow down Dewitt. Dewit~. Slow down. State line, Dewitt~ Dewitt.

Eleven cozy toll booths =at~ec in ultra-modern fluo~escent. An ald~rly watchman sits co~!ortably in the lane three kiosk buried in a Reader's Digest. The second hand on th~ . wall clock ticks through 5:35 ~1 and stops on a fraction. Hhat occurs next sends the watchman to hi'!; toes, his head spinning.

:LEVI:~: P.!:D \'!0Ln':'I0:t LIGHTS ;\cco:-:?,'\!lI~O B'l i\ CLi•J!GS':-0!: ;\r..:..P.:I IS t·mJ\T H,,PPEI!S ~-:Ht:: ;.. VEHICLE: TRIES '!'O s:::AK THP.Oi:GH \'!I'!'[,Ot.iT PU~-:I:-:G

t

Goggle-eyed, the: wa tch.~an spins around looking for n~"':\e:-ous gate crashers. There is nobccy around for miles - saving ••••••

WIDE:ANGLE

Prewitt-and Longly's police cruisers sei~e up their radials and stop short of Ohio. Dewitt's green police uniL never even slows: It blurrs Prewitt's vision and slices through Toll Gate t3.

FINAL Al·?G!.E

-

l·"P.COSH! - · Greenhouse is going twice as fast. He slows only enough to maneuver into t~e ;7 lane and plunk one guarte!~ into the wire .. catcher. The red light changes to green and he is just . a couple cf taillights inside the ltate o~ Ohio. (,

n;TERIOR - J'..IR TF.?2F r: CC?:TRO!. 'I'OHER - cox HCt-:ICIPAL AIF.r-OR'i' - HICi-17

A bank of . ra~ar scanners casting a gr~en glow over the faces cf ~ix ~ir Traffic Cont=~:ler~. A steady st=ea~ of garbled "b~ck talk~ fro~ the open spaakers clc$e by. From the =~sy fl~or of blin~ir.g li~t;s and sti! tic, Ci\.:·i.E:::"'..:..select!:. a young :a~ of thirt}r-one, tired ~r·? worn thin bv t!~e groc,;·.·e o: his prore~sion. He is wcrking on the lu.gn alti:u~e radar se::tor on t!ie 1nidnight shi:t. Call him Harr~·.

Across -:.:i~ roo:n .in.other c,an waves ,m ~rm.

OT11ER ?W-1 Harry, tai·.e over -:he !\ed I:ye on Vf!F 122.54. I'~ on hand line and ian't budge.

..oo~s• into· 1~u.s • ::cc?c, t·r 1~gers· ..... , :c ..._\ ·:o-·,:ay ...._.,..l .... y • t·...... h,-.,.,-- .._ ...he s~-.,==-~·.:,.___ ?"\O;,n, \'OICI: c: ;ho ~·;;,\ pilot.

(

T~·:A

(

Cox Municipal, do ~o~ h~ve tr~ffic fer c11..!:- ':'i·:;~ 32? ·,

•

~arry peers into his scope. His keen eyes show us two blips, one weaker th~n t~e otha:, c~t appearing close together.

TWA 32, I have no kno..,.n traffic in your vicinity, but I a.'Tl painting a raw tar.get off to your ten o'clock position. Not painting a trans?onder, however. !t must be at the low altitude 3ecto=. Do you Roger,

Ti·;A We'd like to acivis~ 1;hat the target could r.ot be at low altitude. It is above oe, descending throu;h my 33,000 now.

liARRY There are onl~l two aircraft under my guidance. TW~. 32 and American Sl 7 fifteen miles behind you. TWA 32, sive me a descriptiCJn of the target.

( position. The target is brilliant. Bright

colort ••• alternating white to red.

Some of the cont:oller!: in the tower look up from their wo:-k. T:,e loo= Na:shall casually steps over, c::kir.g his head toward Harry's cup. A seconc voice inter=up~~ on tha two-way feeder ••.

AHERICi\?-l THA 32. American 5.l7 monitoring on the VEF. Oo yo~ have your lan~ing .lights on?

Tt-11'. Say again. Say again.

A!·:ERIC6\N Advis~ us if you= landing lights are on.

liJ'.P.!tY Co::.::-1un.ici?~l tr~ffic to ~:.!ricar. 517. You ~re fi!tc~n milos ap~rt and going in t~e s~~e ~i=~cticn! ~o you concur with this sighting'?

( Th1::ra is s:atic pat;:;e. t:o raspon:se.

P-:\RRY {to A.~erican 517) Do you see anyching from your ten o'clock position?

Suddenly, the coffee boy kicks;open the door with his only free appenc:.age. An amazing .balancing act wi~"'l coffee anc. danish.

A:.'iEiU~I {tight lipped) Exactly what TWA said.

HAimY (equally flat) Oo you want to report a OFO?

The coffee boy is just as suddenly relieved of his burden anc hustled out of the =oo~. Another studiec pause and •••••

TW~ ~egative. We do_n't want to :eport.

a~~Y ~ 32. I am pai.~ting this ta=get coming at you f:om eight miles, ten o~clock position.

TWA confirmed.

• E.~Y Proceeeing northeast, bound from its earlier altitude.

TWi\ A descending configuration at about twenty degrees c:f my horizon.

Cox Municipal confir:r.ac.

\

t

The Dir~cto= of Gc~u~d Operations enters with his pass key. suedenly, everybodl· is painting the t~rgsts on their rcspcctiv~ r devices.

CLOSE - O!R.tC':OR Or G~Ot!HD OPERATIO?iS

He snaps up a headset and pencil mike.

?~o answer.

D.G.O. · This is the Director of Ground Operations. I've bee~ informed t~at· the report they make you ·file has been significantly reduced in page count.

( .. .. TWA · · ,-~- I That's great news, Day-Go, but I got a

date in Santa Fe and ortlars from .t-1iaini.

lU'\F.nY How long arc you going to k~~? them up the~e?

( '

•

CUl' TO

I:XTE:l!OR - T;.R:-L?\C - NIGHT I

A pair of blinding landing lights.seem.to hover just before tou:hing do.-rn. •

AN'G:U:- FtEDE:R ROAD

A tignt squadron of four-wheeled vehicles wait in th~ dark wit.~ thei: engines rwr~ling.

...

The TWA 32, a 727, touches down, engines reverse, and it roars to a trundle and vee:s onto a narrow connection where a mini brute airpo:--t vehicle with flashing yello..; beacon guides the jet plar..e to what appears to be a dead end of blue runway iights. The en;ines wine do;.;n. Every~~ing is still.

FZEDER RO~~ t ___ ~ ·---- All vehicles hit t~ei= high!:lear.is and take off, racing through t.11.e night toward the d=ydocked airship. Two of the cars, '75 La Salles, f have Fede:-al License plates. One of the vehicles has a piggy-back boarding ra."':p. I

INTERIOR - TWA 32 - N!GRT

The wil~ee passengers watch bleary-eyed as the r~~p extends to become cetal st.airs. The stewardess o~ens the ..forward door and six burly :e~ rise into the salley area. Two of the men, offi~iously dressec, cisa?pear into the pilot's cabin while the other four re.'tlain. e.t. "parade rest". T~ey a:-e all dressed as business executives, but sc:at~ing makes you wish you could see their shoulder holsters.

:XTE~!C?. - TWA 727 - NIGHT

Angle t=ward Mr. Lacombe. Once you see the frenehman, you'l! not easily forget him. H~ i~ chic! he is severe, he is very comfort~~le with hi:r!.self. He speaks to his Assistant in.French. En~lish sub title~ follow.

( _., (

__,.:.-:., ':' ~---··- - ------- ..····-·.' ---·---.

L.~CotGE Flying is a 20th Century converiience, why should ~he modern desig~ of ~irpo=ts

r- ~e any ciffere~~ than t=ain stations o:·

bus depots.

...

?:I.OT • S CABIN DOOR - T~rA 3 2

The pilot, co-pilot 7 radio man and flight engineer are leaving the cockpit under escort, hurrying down the rarnp to the waiting cars. The four b~si~ess executives hurry to replace the crew and close the cockpit door behind them.

MR. PUBLIC RELA~!ONS is wearing Air Force trousers, shirt ar.d tie ~it.ha casual sport un~form jacket. He looks like the only reason- able can in the lot. His eyes tell all the passengers that every- t.1-iing is okay even before he :aises the Public Address michrophon~ to his lios. i\n offi=io~s number t~o man stands next to him, reaches inside nis coat pocket, pulling out a co~pact stack of (: .. --....·IEM car~~ and a to~nd clu.~p of black test pencils.

·POBLIC R!:LAT!O:iS MAN Folks, I apologize on beha!: o: the Air Force Resea=ch and Oevelopme~~ Cor.imand for the delay in your flight schac~le. On your slow descent th:cugh 30,000 :e~t, you flew t.'rough a restricted corrido~ where classi- fied governmen; testing was being conducted. I'm going to ask all passengers with cameras, exposed film ca~isters or eve~ boxes of un- exposed fi~'il, to turn them ove: to me at. this ~ime, in retur~ for which you may fill out a small -card with vour n~~e and address. Your slides and prints will be developed and re- turned to you within the next two weeks at our expense.

!'he :Pu:>lic Relations !·!an nods and the £our busi:1essmen go to wor}:.

~he passengers explode, protesting. "Hh~t·s this all abo~t?« ••

"What right does - ! ••• "Can I speak to - you?" •• "Hey, sir". ( (

'

27 - A .

EXTERIOR - CO?..:~ F!£L:J - PRE-OA'i'f""N'

Be is looking .heavenward.· His eyes welling over. His nose d.ripi).L-,g f=eely;· He ~s unexplic:a::,ly starting to.cry •

..

~IUM -·GP.EENROUSE

Be is sitti~~ on the roof of his ear, his legs dangling over the window·wipers. Eis eyP.s da~ting from one pa.=t of the sky to another •

W'ID~R - GP.EENHOUS~

~he car is sitting in a dirt fu...~ow surrounded by acres of corr. husks and irrigation. He is still looking, and reacting becausa ••••••

•;ISTA - GP..E.OlHOUSE, TZ!:: EARTH & TUE SKY

The vis~on is re~arkable - and scary. Lavender da~m is bre~king .on the eastern hori:on~ Overhead, crops of.puffy white clouds, hundreds of them, are drifting with the p:-evailing easterly winds. So.t:.e of these clo~ds start to glow ultra-violet from within, detaili~g their strata a~d volwr.e. A..,d this is happeni!'lg from claud to clou~ as six pinpoints of light play geophysical hide and seek all Qver the dawn- i:lg Per..nsylvania sky.

The SOu"liO of distant JET AIRCRAFT and -:.~ee jetstreams paint the S~j· from out of the north. It spoils ths c.o::ient. The nocturnal lights t1ck off. One stays on & is disr.iaying _in its speed, t:ajectoi-y & ki:ie-

from mid-heav~ns to far horizon in 2~ sec:onds flat.·The jets; thrnc ·· conven~ional Venom Interceptors, splay off in three directions. The sky has q~own too blue to support star life and our impression is that ~e have jus~ sat throu;h t.~e most awesome Planetariwn spectacle in broad ~e..~o:y.· · I

:IIGP. S~OT - GRE~·1HCUS~

Sittir.; in his car, far below us.

( \

·, \ , •

.....

INTERIOR - I_NDIJ\.NA BAY STATION POLICZ OE:P,'\RTME?.lT ~ R.~.I}ii ~-t0?.11:ttiG

t This is the p=ocessing roo~. A blizza=~ of mid-rnornjng activity c:o::tpliraent.ec by se:c:etaries and uniformed policemen checking in, checking out, writing reports. And lea~ir.g into their night :eports are officers Longly & Prewitt, the tea.~ that first pursued the noctu:: phenome~on.to·tne Ohio border. This is probably the first tir.ie these men ha·.re eve:- enjcj,ed this kind of parer work. Oaybright - lightnins & thunder rattles the windows. •.

GREENP.OUS!:

Withou: the aid of a tY?ewrite::-, Greenhouse is penciling in his story. He still pu..lps froi.~ ~xcitei;,ent. Touching his head, Norma_n pa11ses and presse:z 1::-ack a knawing headache.

-. GRl:ENBOUSE Got any aspirin?

PREw-ZTT If Longly hadn't been with me I would have s~ne psychi~tric. ..

Just about ~ow, a eoor bursts open across t.~e processing room. Dewitt er.terges from the Ca9tain 1 s office, his a::-m in a sling and a bandai; on his forehead. Tr.e CaptaL~ has a pox on his ~orning.

~~e fl~staree COffir.\a~der tu::-ns his looks on Prewitt & Longly behind their typewriters.

CAPTA!ll (loud to his s~creta:y)

( When Flash Coreen & Buck '-ogers are

do~e, get their behinds in here. t

Dewitt is vanq~i!:)l1et.l. s:· -.-.ki:-.g his h~acl he ma~cs for t.he dc,~r. The two officers snag a piec~ o! him and Dewitt stops to look do~ni c:azed.

EXIT DEWITT. Prewitt:; Longly f~::.=~ nervous looks. And if fingers cc~ld tip-tee, that's wh~t happens next. So much for God~s truth! Out from their t7pe~riters go the I.F. 102 file reports - in go fresh or.es. "Prewitt & Longly pound the keyboard like Ferrante and Teicher.

· 1!..CSE - GR.EElrnous:::

0£ the Bay Static~ ~.D •

.._. :NT!:P.IO~ - REC!:IV!H'G STATION TROUl:!!.EROOM- MORNING

ke is staring th=ou;h a crack in a doer marked EM1:RGEt~C'i EXIT.

Eve:-:r·=~estops ":ork to catch a glimpse. Ike steps bilck. Graenho\t!.:e stands in the backgrounc. He is still carrying his notes and ske~:~as. The Sf~~RP F..EPORTof heels on metal stairs gro~s LCUOtR. I};e p~:ls on a CU? of cof:ee nervously. The stair~ell door ~ails open a:::c! SU?tRVISCa GP.!!!SE.Y stands winded and circled in r~"":\pled fa ti~-~~.

SUPl:RVIZOP. GRI!lS~Y

( Greenho~se flay I see you in my office. \

The Supe:viso= sludges off. Greenhouse, wearing hi~ sleepless night, e~te:.-s G:i::-tsby's conservative arena and starts to ·close the door- behinc hir... The · Supervisor nea:.-ly faints.

SOPERVISOR GRI?1SBY For Gods sake, don't close the door!

...

I:XTEP.IOR - MIDD!.E CLASS RESIOENTI.r..!. "NEIGI!:SORH0.00 - DAY

A green Chevy station wagon turns into a open carport and stops next to a Vri'"bus. Ron!'lie Green~ouse emerges with t.he groceries. She bounces U? the garden wlak ~:,.d smack i.nto the arms of Jackson.

~ackson is speeding on a natural rush.

aon.~ie u..~locks the front door and Jackson pushes through it and tm:ns c.c·...-:i the hall.

tO?mIE When he's on the night shi:t, he'll sleep till Mike Douglas.

She follows him to the bedroorn doer. Jackson puts the packages down a~d ~..necks gently.

ROtl11IE {noticing how dis- traught he is) He's such a lig~t sleeper, he'd hear

I

·- you if h!! were home. Something

\

happened didn't it?

'

JACKSO~ The General Super busted hL" for leaving the line. It's only te~pc:ary, he's got too much seniority, bu't Uorman wants to rr.ake it permanent.

Ronnie can't take it all in right away •

... ·RONNIE Norman said that?

Jackson turns the knob. The bedroom door is loc};ed. Ronnie I s eyes sta:e, trying to comprehend.•

RONNIE -

The only time we ever lock the door ••• {a new concern, a q-Jestionins moment that brings a cot of anger to each corner of her mouth) Oh this is ridiculous. No~an! 'Norman! (to Jackson, ingenuously) Go ahead, you bette~ open it.

' JACKSON (. .But it's locked • ...; '-··

Jackson steps back, takes a brenth, ane hurls himself at the pine- wooc. It cracY.s. He steps back again. Ronnie is biting her finger- nails woncering what she will find.

CR.h.S!:! T!-.e lock su:-renclers and the slab flies into the room pushing ahead a :ush of air that curls the pages of two years wor ·th o': Playboy ;-taga.zines that litter the unslept in double bed. Nor Nerrnan. Ronnie shakes her head at the ~agazines and moves in a circle, un- balaneec. Ronnie ~resses her ear to the bethroorn door. Her hand tries the kno~. Locked!-He~ breath quickens as she turns hopelessly towa~e. Jackson. Her eyes well up and she is really scared now.

JACl:SO?l This'll . cost you too.

( 1: '

t

Cha=ging at his own reflection in the full length mirror on the dcj= the room see~s to explode and ••••

Ronnie squeezes through the sparkling ~hords of glass nnd sucks

-\~GLE - GRE!UHCUSt --- ...

,isibility but it becomes apparent that Norman is fully dressed in the tub. Jackson pulls him upright and begins slapping his cheeks. ~~nnie is sp~~chless and rivited.

JACKSON" Run some cold water. (slapping Norman's cheeks) Wide awake now. Eyes wide. (to Ronnie) See if he's taken something.

·:,

· ROt:NIE . (returning with colc tap water) Sominex and Alka Seltzer. That's all w~ eve= k2ep.

Jackson sipher.s the cold water on Norr.;.an's eves and hair and moves hi.r.i into a pool of bathwatl?r on the tile floor. l-1e begins to ccrnc:: around.

Ror.nie notices Playtoy Hagazine. A Pla~"::late of the Month with ~outainous ~reasts looks up at her frc~ the puddles.

l~orman co:ies :ully awake.

aONNIE {crying, confused, · insistent) Al: the doors ~ere locked.

lie smiles at them beth - happy and content beyond beli~f. T~cn l~oks at the ~al~s of his h~ncls. Thev mvstcriousl~ host s2co~d ~ccr~c ~~r~~ t.i1c1t ht!.~e alrcadr bli~tarccl from the soaki:19. l!o:-r.\.an sniles ..ag~i~ and holds them out fo:- Rcnnia to see. /

(

GREttlIIOUS,

( Souveni:.

t

CLO.SE - DR.Essn:c ~-lIP..?.O~ -DAY '·

Ronnie is ~aking he=self up. Her ritual .includes inspecting the age in her face. She still look~ twenty-one.

CL~S! - NOR:·L.ll.N

·...

He is measuring her, fightinq hirns~lf inside to tell her about his e>:perience. He is almost doubled ove=· in thought. Wai ting · for the right m~ment.

RO!mIE _

My mother's face is the same as mine. .. I collected all of her photographs ' i from when she was twenty until her I fifty~fi:th birthday.

I I Ronnie fans o~t thirty photos of various sizes on the dressing table. :-:o::::inansenses his opening and pushes closer to Ronnie who begins pressing her cheeks back as if trying to soooth out invis- able lines. I I

l' . 1 th~t happened to me last night?

j I ROUUIE My cheeks will be the first to d=op •

hands.

Horman co:"lplies and Ronnie positions tr.a= so they are pinching back her ears an~ pulling ti;ht he: cheeks.

GREENHOUSE

Liston to me for a second, okay?

j ROI·mIE Okar. '

1:orrn.:ln s::i.ileti at h•.a: wicle-eyed innoce?nce, hc1ving given him her ur.- cE vi'<led attention. lie clcclrs his voice, avoids her look, sr.-:ilcs, .in:l p~oceeds t~ have nothin; to say.

•

ROMNIE

I

Norma..."1• • . I'm smiling my way into ea:l~· mi:lc.le age.

<r

G:R~~nous::: So~ething ha?pened to me - ! Do you give a shit - ?

Ee= ·:ace falls. She se~~s ready to sh~tte~ at the next lo~e noise. I

~ RO~'NIE

Is i~ going to be bad news?

GRttNBOUSE La.st night thinqs happened.! don't k.~ow where to start. I felt a •••• great ••• inner calm. You k..~ow the ·feeling sitting in a scaldi=.g bathtub when it's snowing out.

( \_

:io::::Dan shifts in mid-sentence. He beg ins i~provising against the acts. l!e ge~~ly touches her face and draws her skin tight toward t..,e temples again.

-- GREENHOuSE

(~tarting slowly this -time) Get a sitter. ·

w~at for?

GP..EENEOUSE •. After ten years of m~rriage,can't r

.. take you to someplace lonely & mysterious

and park under the stars?

EXTERIOR - Th'"E C~SCENDO SUM.MIT - UIGHT

Nor::ian's Chevy station wagon is parked where the farmer's pickup was t.~e night before. A sprinkling of distant city light~ ad a soft touch of roma~ce to this desolate setting. nonnie Greenhouse supplies the rest.

?;:~RICR - C~ STATICU WAGON

She is devouring her husband like vou.~; lovers doing it for the first ti.:ne. There will be not.~irig ieft of him to taKe home in a doggy baq •.

CAMERA CLOSES IN as Ito~"lie presses beck his deni:n shirt exposing cool flesh. No.:man ju~t doesn't have his heart in it. When she is net kissing hi~, he is stealing careful looks through the windows at the sta=d~st and distant rolling hills. When she is kissing him, hL~ eyes just refuse to close.

Ou"'XSIDE -rt-:.-ECAR

h brisk current of air bends the grass at the side of the road. No::'!.lan's he~d appears at the side window, his face ge~~ing r.~shed against the slass as Ronnie takes him up on it .••

\, '

TI:t::: Cf.!T: ,CLOSE o::. RO);Nu:·

She is sound aslcc? i':"I rear of the wagon. CAME!'.!\W!THO!"'.At·:s to

is as wo:n thin as ~hat he's got on. He is ~tood up and feeling betrayed. Walking back to the car, swea~ing throu1h his breath, Uorr.-~an weilds a le; and kicks the side .~oor. ·

C~OSE - RO~~!E·

Sl)e wakes up· ·S:R.:::A.:·1ING.

RONUIE • Oh rny God. t-rnat time is it?

CLOS!: - GREENHOUSE

r~ll c: finality and =esolve.

ROfillIE (looking at the dash clock) And it's a new babysitter. She's probably called all the hospitals. We told het midnight and she has school in four hours.

I • CLOS:C::- G?.ZE~~HOUS?:

He looks up one last time and mouths :aornat_hing obscene at t.he sky.

J... title tell..; us: .:.~.'l'O::irtvSSO' BRAZIL.

t.:e:-the ~:.•a.2oras rive:-, one thousand mile:. from Sao?a..ilo, co::Ie th:-ea 'tlilqo1.:~3' piloted a:id pac:!l.lled by bush natives. As the ri11e:-:1oacs draw nearer, ~hr~e white ~en can be seen. One in each boat.

MR. 1.1..co:-iEE emerge:. so.:l.'.~ai:;in his own jungle: sweat. I!a is i"'-·:11~ciat~ly recogniz~ble as the affabla gent who confiscated exposed fil~ f:orn -che civiliar1.p.:1ssengi::rs n::ioard the T~·:A flight at Cox l·~u:,icipal ( Airport. =xcitodl¥, three of eha nat~ve guides ?Cint toward the d~cse \ _:;u:iglc :-cgio~s. Lc,.cor..:;,i;?s::eaks to thcrn in their n tive tc-ungcs. 'r:-1'!'

n~ t; ve!'; coo;:,ly a~cl prc-=.uc~ ..,aclH: tes. ·

,

36-A

,\1-JGU:- OEUSE JU:IGL!: IN'!ERIOR

h1IACr~ Cf~OP - S?~J\S~ - The contingent of hikers blaze a rn~:shy trail w~ere no man has gone before.

C!.OSE - - L:•.COM~E

Exuding con!idence and ent~usiasm as he plows through the ha:ked =ush. He .moves faster and faste~. The point man with the machete is er.courage· to speed up operations as- Lacoffl!:>epresses against his bare . heels and

..

A ilUG!: JmiGU: C!.EARING

Cne at ·a tirne, the men emerge, Lacombe pushi~g out ah~ad of ~veryone else to be the first to see ••••••

OVI.:R L.;.CQM!:E'S BACK TO

This used to be :o~est jungle as dense as the undergrowth ju~t en- countered. It (s ~ow a perfectly flat clearing, one hundred yards in circumference.· The area has been a_lmost surgically peeled back r~~ealing in the ve=y cen~er of the circle and standing wingtip ,to wingtip •••.•

Fr\12 'NAT:! GRUl-Wi 'ri-i? - 3 1\VENGER TORPEDO BOMBEHS RIGH'l OUT OF \10?.LO WA.R"!I. They look factory fresh and p::-oud to be propelle= drive:,. Next to the landloc::ec formation is a TWIN ENGI!1ED }IART!U M~.Rn:EP. FLY INC BOAT P.Z'I.TRO:.?L.•Ul':. IT IS CO~!PU:':'::::LY COv"tRED WITH ANGEL HA!R. '!'he se::onc: and third Arn.eri::an.s move closer to Lacombe. '!he g=ay haired official lcoks truly flabergas~ec.

GRAY HAIRED }lAN It's Flight #19, isn't it?

j.ACOMBF. Long way from Fort Lauderdale.

ne wall~s forward a few steos and touches the angel hair c!'ii??in; f=om th: w~ngs of the:: t-l.i\RT!t! :-1.ARI?lER FL'iii,G PJ'~7?..0LI'!.i\t:E. l!f? turr:.:i smili~; with~ bc1ijh enth~ciasm.

u~co:mc Thi!a one C~!:;e: gift wrapped.

( \

t

36 - B

Y·

NTE~!OR - G~r:!-IHOLIS:E D.EDROC:·! - OAl:':l

CLO.SE - THE CE:I!.U!G

Two points of light con·.,erge and li}:e ciot= painted on opposite ends o! a phonograph record, they t=ave~se t~e indoor sky and -•••

..

· Norm1'ln and Ronnie are tucked away in their bed, star in; at. the ceiling. Norman points two six-cell flashlights. Ronnie is awe- struck with innocent wonder as Norman finally rec:i:eatos the phe-· nomeno~ of the nig~t before.

t

G?.Ef.::-:liOUSE

~ It . tu:~ed off its lights ~hen othe: cars I

passeJ, just !i}:e a rh~osta4: on the ;:Hning room fixture, l~aving only a dark hole in the s~y. I k~pt thinking of the Slue hngel~ except this woul.d strip t!~ wings of! any- thing ~he military could buil(.

iie · e.e:.nonst.rates by propelling the · light beam. rapidly across the ceiling. Without slo~ing down, he performs an impossible ltO des=ee tur:i. · Sucking· ab~ontly on her fi:i;ers, Ronnie breaths a slow "W~w". tlorrnar. £licks off the flashlights and for a full ten seconds nothing is said. · · ·

GREE!~HOUSE {just as quietly) What.

r..otm!E

t

Don't tell this to a lot of people.

(; A lot of people would have to be

marriad to you before they'd believe it.

)

GRJ:E?:HOt!SE

' I I'm not asking you to ac:ept it right · off~

nONNIE (wanti11g t.o hell') That's c~ay. l have.

G?.!:!:?a!OOSE (looks at her for a long mor.1ent) Well shit, Ronnie, you're not very excited.

RONllIE: I clicln' t. see t:.heo. 1..n•[,·1:J.y, t!le=c 's proLably a vety nntaral cxplannti~n •.••

t Gi'.r.r.1met:~.E

(he's up in :,cc!)

( l!old it! Ho!.d it! You eon't boli~ve

one ~ord I've said.

~-

.. \ •: t

-~:- 38

No:.:ian sur;:,resses his ang:y energy and slaps his .cheek against the pillcw so.th~t he is facing Ronnie·.who now sits up in bed. A new a..~d curious mood colors over him. He has leveled his vision on Ror..nie's healthy breasts. But, strangely, not in a.ny way sexiJ.al.

Ronnie hu.~kers do~~ between the sheets so th~t h~r breasts silhouette agai:1s~ a shaft of moonlight on the beige d:::esser. GRZEKHOUSE WATCSES TE::: Sl!...liOt..~':TE A?;o IS :-tYST.E:RIOUSLY T~-.:S&'!XED cY IT.

GREEltBOUS!: . (off handed) I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it.

,Ronnie takes herself tc., hir.\ and CAM.ERAsecs her figure filling the scru::n:. She digs close to him and smiles.

E:crI:RIO?. - THE ?:E!GEBORHOOO - EAALY S.ri.'Z'tJRDAYMORMING

Ron..~ie a:ld Nor.:ian wearing sweat suits, jog their morning mile, A neigh.:ior washing his car _.aves hello with his spray-jet. lier.nan nods ba.c~ a~d ~onr.ie ca:ches up behind. She keeps pace with his ·footfalls, getting so close to his heels tha-t·in a fun-loving way sr.e sh~ffles out of step and squashes his tennis shoee righ~ off the s~.,eat socks. Explodir.g with laughter, Ronnie passes hi1n., runnir.;- backwa:ds and making faces, Horman is not amused. Sha ·shru;s at his silly gray mood, sticks out ~er ton;uG,· turns ane wa.,,es a'= some friends digging at the sh=u.bs for the morning papa=. A car has been followi~a them. It edces for~ard now and makes it3 I.:ove ••• and Creenhouse - is s 1.1ddenly ina :nee off with a lem.-:\

:ior.na:i. Jle is more -:ha.n reminiscent of loveable George Fishbeck.. George hole::. '.l? a card. It is upsidedown bu-c Norman can read ZYZ~-i!'I'NESS t·ZI::hS - z~KOP CiiANNE:L 4.

Nor.nan shakes his head. Jie's not interested. ~!ot at all. He begins jc,gging fast.er.

Here comes Geo=ge leaeing the c~arge!

...

·G:eenhouse realizes ~~e ca.~era is turning and a mich:ophone is £indin; its way under his ·chin.

Ncr::ia.n :-everses hir:self and jogs the other way, leaving old George be!l.ind.

Ncr:an is in heat ove: this. Ronnie, not use to seeing her husband ip a bl.:.r.d rage, clams up and falls further back.

( Ronni~ is f:ail when it comes to loud noises, scenes, tem?er~. She ~ eoesn't know Norman like this and it shows all over her. '

t

TE£ GOOFY GOLF G~EE:tl f- ' . l It is a lazy Satareai at the brunch hour and an inter family gu.tne~ing progresses with an obvious lack of enthusiasm. T~e S'.l.."n I total of twenty-two folks, the dividend of six families, the men I ~egrega·ted away f:c:':'l t!'l~ women, dealing o-ut the same old c;ossip. I

i~on:iie wai~s her turn to T-off. A miniature windmill invites skill° and timing by putting the J:,all throug:~ an· open door between swipas cf the rotating blaces. -As the women pow-wow, Ronnie looks beyond them to the next game hu=cile where I~o=r:ian l::irc.ias his third shot •.

'i C~CSE - GR:::ENEOUSE

:He i"'!::r.'t ?aying atte:ition to the jocular ad-libs frcm· his !::)eering buddies. We watch as he stares at his children in an adjacent fa.i:way.

Gf;.E:;:?U-IOtJSE' S P. 0. V.

He has strong sons. Brae is the popular leader and is showing one of the sc~ller child=en how to putt.

CLOSE - G:U:ENF.OUSE

He s=iles secretly and and allows his line of vision to drift ~p.· Ue lookf at the sky. A.."ldlooks. And looks.

CLOSE - ROW.J!E

She is watchir.g t~is. Peeks.where he is s~aring, ~rowing increas- "ingly disturbed cy·such behavior.

C~CSE - GR!EN3CUS~

A£ he acci~ently .looks into the sun a~d sneezes.

-Sack to aa=th C:.<Jain, t:crnnn twirls the club lil:a ,Tack Nicholas ant! ac!,.l:esses t:,o ball. He loo!~s up to chP.ck out the obstacle CC\!rsg

A miniature ~cuntnin with a cro~ning peak similic:.r to thg ~a~c~rhorn. ( 0~scurin; tha tin1 c~ve is a waterfall th~t justifies this hurdl~~ ~ ' ~~·.:ir f i ;_,e•

•

CLOSE - GREE~HOUSE

Nor.:-.an c;ets ready to putt when something pulls his attention hack toward the mountain and waterfall. It is a pleasa:it setting '1nd the falling water is like music. No sooner does he set himsel~ does his attention drift back and ••••

· ?Jor~an is sweating. ~is concentration shattered. He cannot hit the ball at the ~ountain no matter how hard he tries ••• so he strikes out wilcly and the d:ive earooms off a ledge and rolls back to his feet. Ee·swin~~ again, really driving it. It mi~~e~·the hole and rebcu.~ds off a craggy ledge. Inexplicaoly, he swats again ••• and again •••

CLCiE - RO?tt-:IE

HoZcing herself and absolutely motionless. Everyone is motionless as ..... .

CLCSE - G!U:ENHOVSE

Ee is killing th: ball.

C!.OS't - TOBY & BRJ~D

Watching their father. This is no ganie anymore and the beys do not smile.

CLOSE - GRE~NHOUSE

Winded, he fists t~e golf ball and pit:~es it strai~ht at the par five opening. ·1t goes in, . rattles abou-:, and spins onto the g:-een, rolling ••• rolling ••• right into the hole. Greenhouse is the least st.:.=prised at his su?ershot.

Dave, t~e jock who has bee~ keepin; score, sidles up to Norman and t=i~s to pie:ce the silence by i~toning officiously:

Fif~y cons~rv~tively d=esscd rn~n are filing i~. All of the~ dis?lay photo-idc::nt.if ic.:i.~ion on L:1cir Llac}: · l"-~els. They arc each hanc!ec w:1at loo;~s lH~c fancy p::-ogrc:ims in silvc:- leaf. The mood is less r frmal th.in ~he drcs~ Co::-.::.er.t~~nd jo};~s are circul~tee. /\?.;>ara:1:ly ..i·iat is about to ti't,: · :..~r, r:ould have bt:cn ?':l<1nuged .i.n rnuch le.;s '

A~~CLS - S:·t~~L STAG:S

o::'1e:gent:.e;.ien take their seats. A.r:tongthe:-:t is Mr. I,::icc~be and hi~ Brooklyn translato:-assistant. They are accorded the hushed courtesy of r.?.nj(,ing officials a.-nong enlistee. men. The entire row stands until they are comfortably seated.

A Lyndon Johnson type tries adding a flash of Oxford to his con- trclled Dallas dialect as he takes the stage and posi~ions a microphone.

M.C. (too close to tJie. microphone)

Are we all here?

Ger.eral laughter i:r.cluding the Texa!l Master of Ceremonies.

M.C.

l made you come in you: Sunday suits cause I'm ca~ned tired of swea: stained shirt-sleeves f:om i·!ontgomery Ward.

laughter.

M.C. (continue~)

W-e'll sta:t on page one ar.d =eac. in unison to the end. So withou~· ~urther

ado ••• lights - !

T~e ho~s~ lights decline only slightly. The curtains on the stage pa=t. T~-e=e is a COr.\?lica tee "iamana !toog Synthesizer ·and ten Concc:-::. speakers stac~ed stags lef~ and right. A ne=vous musi~ian-technician

e~:ran~e. ?olite whistling and funny applause accompani~s hirn. li~ tak~s a seat behind t~e keyboare an~ opens his sheet music.

He l.:e;i:1~ l.;y pl.:i:ti~c; !our =~t~~:- ~~s:;onant c:-.ortls. i!'.: pla:,·s four ~ore, this ti~e acci~antly nclo~ic. The a~dicnce never watch~s hi~ ;.;er:cr::-l. Th~i= ~1:1cs c:i:a loci:c~: ':>n the music in !ront cf them.

•

CLOSE: - r:R. LACO!lEE

i~ sigh:-rcads, r.:oving his lips slightly as j_f sp~akinc; with the r.-.usic. c;..:-:;:r,..\;-:CVES TO Hl:-1. A ~an wal}:s dow,, the isle and shuffles through scru:,ehed imees ane: shined shoes to ha.nd Laco:nbe a sealed ~elex. Laeo:n!:>e looks U? fro~ his sheet ~usic, opens it and reads it privately. He raises an eyebrow. It is stunning news of sorne sort. Lacombe rises to leave as four rno:e tonjc cho=ds are struck ..... barely meloc.ic but terribly simple, ..and slightly catchy.

CUT TO

I?:TER!OR - GR!l::iniOUSE Livn;G R00:-1 - NIGHT

Green~ouse is alo~e at the piano. He can't play a note but idly plucks one key at a time as he th1nks thin;s over. He closes one eye and looks at the sheet music. He tries the other eye. They appear to be bothering hi~. The mindless single tone music is suddenly, perh~?S ironically, the same four tonic chords just hea:e. He ?lays the pattern again ••• still preoccupied with his vision. Brad t~-:-.bles into the room exci~~d and out of creath.

Greenhouse pretends ~o be busy but his attention is almost ~s keen as ~rad ar.d Tcby stupified b:,1 the p=cscnce of Ho:n and Dad on TV. The news cor.~entator flash~s on. There is an absurd c:o~ic- bco% rencering of a ilyin; .sau:er on the rear projection screen behind hi.~.

TV C0~1!-1EliTA.TC?. It is one thin; ~hen anonyr.·,:~s citizens obse:ve so:nethi::; in the eve::i::.q sky that should not be t..:.:are. ·sut in a different light it is all the c:=e remarkable ~hen a local Trouble Fore~a~ :=o:n a loca! power co,·:~:>any stakes a simila= :lair:. !;or::ti:ln· Greenhouse declined to cc~=-~r.t to our crack field re- portc= :,ut his ~-,::1 w=ittan testi.~ony to police !ilcs ycst~rday st~ted that thi~ thi=ty-o~e year olt power engineer chased a lighted object at hi;h ~?ee~s t~~t he dcs- crilad as, ~~n u=sidc~cwn ice cream cone- shn_;:.ec!obj cc':- ·..-i th a g lo•.1i:ig orange sherbert do::'iou.

Oh you dic!!'l't

.. •., •

TV COi-:?-!E:NT;\:Ort He furthe~ stated that for ~ifte~n ~iles he tracked t~~ objects, finally cros~ing the state line into Ohio where they dis- appeared into the clouds fro~ a standing

_____ start in four seconds flat.

·..

Tr.e TV i.oa.g~ £wi tc~es over to crack f iele reporter, GEORGE:. He. is sta!'lding at that ::_ou:-way_ st ·op reading fror:i a tear sheet.

GtORGE From his o~-;n written stater.tent and I ~uo~e, "Some kind of btight light 1it up t.he six r:iile road where it intersects with Cottontail. The stop signs vibr~~ed violently. There was the sensation of weightlessness and the soles of my feet beg~n to bu=n".

Back to the studio. and \ .

TV C0!-!!·1E:NTATO?. It was shortly after this nocturnal encounte:- that Norman Greenhouse was deactifiec !:o~ the Indiana ~apartment

-··

of Wate= ~ Power, by Supervisor Oarrly Gri.osby ~ho made sure to_e~?hasize that his actic~s had no connecti~~ with the contents of Greenhouse's ?Clice report.

The news d:ones on. Ronnie leafs thrc~;h TV Guide, then tosses it on the co=:ee table.

G!'-F!:!H!Oli 5 r. Don't ans•.-:-3r th~ phones teniq!,t.

13:\J'\O Are they !or real?

{_

'l'OI:!Y

i

I'm sca:-t?c!. t

GREEN~OUSE You mean it's only ce - !

..

I ( GI'.EENEOUSE

They're old enoug~ to r..now what's going on out there.

I . I RONNIE

You're not old enough to know t.hat.

Nor::ian hurries out of the room and into the kitchen and out of the side door. Ronnie watches down the hall. She hears the ·engine s~art I ~d the ear scree=~ in ==ve:se and o!! into the night. (. '-J I!lT!:RIOR - CErvY 5':'ATION WAGOH - NIGHT

Beyond t~e tintec windshield is a breathtaking display of starlife on this clear antl h1.1..'"i.idevening. Norma~ drives with purpose and directicr. as he nears his special des~ination and •••••

EXTER!O?. - CRESCE!·iDO su~.;~!T - UIGHT

Reachir.; the crest of ~he highway, the Ohio farmers red ~ickup truck :.s a familiar sigh-:. But he is not alone tonight. Others lave co:1g:ega ted. A Oodi;a ~!otorhome, and I-E Tractor, and several Volks~ai:ns a=e parked alo~gside the road, beset with a rag-tag a!so:-t~h?~t of star c;azers comfo:-tahly ensconced in alu.-ninurn patio c~airs an= oceasion~lly ?eering at the horizon through field glasses ·a~ if ~ai~ing fo: some phantom parade to pass. Two

t ( \: I

,

~- ' yo~~gsters have er=ecte~ a ho~ernade reflacting telescope nnd tbl';:! :armer's olc!est ~on adjusts his 35 r..:n l..ikromat from the root of the cab. 'r-h~ sr,iritual olc farmer !:lteps onto the a~phalt and pee:s a?~=ehensively ~t the aark station ~agon _tha~ has parked ~cross the road.

..

G=eenhouae open~ the door and feels unwanted as he steps away f:ou his vehicle.

OLD FAPJ,~E:R

nothing is wrong h~re. Hobody is hu:'i:.. Don It need an~· hel?. GoodlJye. Thank }'OU. Good.b:,•e.

Reco,;~i:ing -:.he fros"ty dai=y fa:"itlcr, Horman extenc.s a friendly- ye~ ~~!:ly enthusiastic hand that the old boy kind 0£ looks at side":.a1s.

G'?.E:ENiiOt,;SZ:

Don't you remeober me?

· Tha farme:- -doesn't. iie ~ooks at him suspiciously. ·····

OLD FAR!-!ER (spoken as i: it

• were a curse) You ;..ir Force'?

GRE!.NiiOUSE

OLD FAP.l~R

Y~u= hair. Cut too short for your a;e.

A SO~NO ma~~s ~veryone look toward th~ north~rn skies. Jet airc:aft :an he hea=~ passi~g in-the rarificd distance.

FARMER Is !!:Oii

We'll be up ~ere ~11 nigh~ if that keeps 11•

'-t"'.

Gm ;:!QUSi:

( Kho arc th~so pee~:~?

'

• (

OLD F 1~k:·i~R

Why~ this is the S.P.I.~.G.O.A.E.

GRZENHCUS!:

\..;ha~s that?

OLD FA~·l::R I

Ti,a.t s the Society :'or The People Interested In What's Going On

,

Aro~n~ nere. You gotta sign the guest list i! you wanna ~tick ~round. t

GiU:E:NEO:JSE:

How come?

,

A wallet is proeuced and the $3.50 is in the old far~er s.hnne be!ore be can say ..••

OLD :'ARHER

Ycu won't ze disappointed.

He wanee:5 ov~r to six senior citize~s saat~d around a card ~able on tl~e greasy shoulc1.e:-. Four o! them ar~ ;laying canasta • .Eighty, I if sr:e s a i·ear, GRhC.EY smiles up at l·:o=::nr..

G?.Et~;HotiSE

:io - ! \.;hen c!oes the show start?

E:!..O:::?.LYHAN (without gla~cing up ro~ .....,.1.s ca.:-as- ) f

Soon as you leave probaSly. '

GrtJi:EY (to the ru~e g~nt)

~hat is u~kind. ~p~lo;ize. l

I::LD!:~l,~~ !·!i\l:

t

(!ahrugs £ ~ighz)

' l n s":lrry. (

I. ,

~hir.king he's found a friend, Norman kneels by the elderly lady who is the Queen of Needlepoint.

Her whole face lights up as though he's told her the meaning cf life. ·

I • • GRACEY ··· (a 'tear in both eyes) Oh, I hope so. Don't you - ?

\j ~~- He igno=es her. So G=acey hefts a volcr.:e-sized leatherette photo albu.~ and opens it to the first page.

I took these all by myself.

,~orma.n eases c:lose to see between the ?ages. Pressed beneath the protective plastic a.re six ?Olaroid color snapshots. Each shows nothi~g :ore than a S?lash ct overex?osed yellow - or a slit of white - or a~ area of out-of-foc:us blue. Simple photographic erro=s.

Norr.:a~ leaves Gracey with a pat on the shoulder and jogs to his car. He retu=~s with a s~all instarnatic camera and finds a fence post to s~uat a;ainst. E~citedly, he loo}:s overhead and waits with t~e others.

JILLI1~:r They :'lever co;-:;~ t:-,a t \:ay. Start lool;ing out to·.·:.ar<ls the \·:est. ·

I·:cr:?:an is not sic!et:-ac1:ed b}' this unco~~only attracti\'c twenty-six y~,;1::- ol:!.

,,·, t

You know what to look for ••• or are you jus~ looking - ? .

GRE:ENHOUSE

·· I've been here bc~ore.

·.. JILLIAU Yeah - quite a place. You never know

what's coming down the roac.. Last week

it was a co~pla yellow bagel-shapes and yesi~rday a kinda floureseent pickle thing. W~at you saw - what'd it look like? · ..

GREEmiOOS?; Dessert.

; ...~ .... ('

':'hey aw}~warc.ly shake ha11c.s. Norman is nervous around attractive woman he's not married to.

G?.1:E:?lnOTJSE (he looks down at his feet) Hi there!

ANGLE - E;J>.RYGUIL~R

He is en :~s rear end in tte topsoil with a pint-sized sand bucket, ·rnakir.g li~tle mountain's on Norman's foot.

l-1y dirty kitl.

GRC!:?l!iOvS! Ar,yboc!y know what':; happening out here? ..

( JILLI/u;

Whatever's going on st~rted around Uallo• ..,e,a:n. nut evE!r sine'! that national E:nquirer pe:~on sta=t(::d ~::ering cc1sh :noney E&~ ~ur phcr~~. t, ry hn~ ~ouhlc~.

GREEmrous::: ~7hat is this guy c1ll about?

JILLI;:..:J You'll ceet hi~ when he gets here. Ee hasn't missed a nigh~ &o far. He'll take your name and addre~s and off.!r one n-w"'ldred l::>uc:ksa roll. One fifty !o= movie film.

GREEtll!OUSE (refering to old faroer) . I think I acci1ently signed up already!

GREElUiOGSE What's your name?

Jillian Guiler.

They sha~e hands a;ain.

JIL!.IAN I know • . T~e TV ==ally put the sc:ews on you. Some ne~s guy s~iles in the wrong place - :aises an eye~:ow here and there - tha~'s all it takes. That's whay after rny !i:st encounter I wouldn't talk to anybody.

G?..EtitHOCSE (finding a sou: mate) Wha-: was ~-t like?

JILLil~J

[ ~or~an is r~a~y to tu:st open ~ncl tell ~er ~verything .

JILL!l,:i

f I've bE:~n having t=oul:.le slcc?i:1;. ·,

-~. .,-_:·.:;(;..r._,·-~~!t~·:. G!'.J:E1?HOUS!:

So have I . · Yo_u know • • . when · I do · . f doze off, it eoesn't feel like

sleeping. All of a suddan · it's morning again.

-~ GREENHOUSE .

I've.been jumpy alot ~= the ti~e.

JILLIAl~ :·.

Me. too, · But, I do:-4' t know what from.

C·,:.: ~

watercolors a lot. Do your eyes water sometii.\es? ·. •,, •- ··1~~-·...:.{."_i.~

··..k-·.....__ .. G~:::!•iHOUS~ ..~~ '~ 1::1~~ (axploeir.g happily)

·- -· You ought to feel the irritation in the right eye on a sunny day. • . ' ;-:-.41,L

JILL!AH .....··~ -~ - .............

Su?ern ,arket lighti~g does it~~ rne. Office lighting is worse. Wou!i~'t

it be ~onderful if after all this we found out t.he qover:--.."':\ent was eY.peri- ,,..

~enting with a new fangled sec=at gadget.

G~.EHP.OOSE (after a pa•.ne) ~o it ~ouldn't. It ' ~ be a r6tten let cown. --··- -. ·,

Th~ !armer's sun straig~~anz and s~outs to be heard.

(

•

--·-·--------- -------- - --- - -------..-~--...-r·-

FA..~.HSOY

Here they come - ! Out of the north west -

A hush ca.=kens the gathering. The two boys man tr.eir telesco:,~·s ' ' like anti-aircraft battery. The fa!"m.boy double checks his shutter speed. Gracey holes her cawa:::a up and stands behind her chair.

...

J'I•.N~l,!: - OLD OAIP.Y f ~.!·!~?.

He lifts up a hand painted cardboard sign that rea~s: STOP ANO BE FRII:HDLY. -

In the !ar distance where the black hills gather •nd the road melts away, t~10 c.elicate ?i:-i;oints·· of light conve!"ge and grow relentle$sly brighter as they ~ake their low altitude approach.

JILLIA!-1

I heard· sc~ewtere ••• 'The Universe is not onl:t stranger than we i~agine,

it is strar.ger t~an we:!!:. L~;ine •

A chill ru~~ through ~o=~an and he is s~~dcnly aware of bein; out- of-coo:s a~c ender tte ~tars. The nig~~ see~s darY-er now. It always is ~fter gnost stories. Then ••••

GREE:UHOUS:E t's like a dream, is~'t it.

' ,

r JILLIAN

Sometimes I get so scared I pretend that's all it is!! {she curls herself aroi.;.nd l2or~an Cl !'loles tight) Can! ~orro~ 7our ar~?

l

t

Will they stop ~~~n.they see u~?

JIL!..U·.iZ If tho:,, c!c, :;c;.i :c:.:cr !..C!Heurir.c;

• your true~ shoes . , ' '

GP.2'i.C:E:Y

Te.ars are ru:minc:r do•..in h::r cheeks. She gen..iflects, mutters a praym:-, ar.d steadies h~r·c~aera like a pro.

BE'YO~'D .AL!. THIS 'IEE: WHITE LIGRTS ELONGATE &'10 FLA..=..ELIKE A h"EI.i:::=.~S TO:R.CS.

JJ:LLIAisi (stoned on the ex~erience} I'll bet the American Indians felt like this when the first sails ca."ile over the horizon •

.. CLOSE: - GP.!:~rnous.=:

His entire body is t.rembling o~~ of control. He aims his camera b~t it refuses to steady. This is as ~lose to a religious experience as Non.an has ever enco\!Iltered.

T:!l': ASS:E:HB!..ED

The people stir as an u.'1·;.1sual quality of somro permeates the air. (: It is a rhythmical .noise .~lowing against the ,dnd - louder now.

t.'l:cugh all as they interpret the internal combustive pounding and ••• t.~e two .blinding lights.swallow everything up.

Air is displaced - the sky whites ou~ - and the lights becom~ two AIR FOaCE EEL!CO~TZ?~ that descend upcn the gathering, beating hot air on them, sucking di:t anc feather"t.,eight debris up into the . swirlina convections as t.~e screamina ~achines oanuever around each other u.;til the ultimate ~an made cyclone sends al\uni~~~ chairs, card ta:>les, blankets and picnic lenvings.in a violent uphe~vel.

The ni;-'.:.4: people run for cover. The dairy fa::'ffler's·"3e Frienc.ly" si;n · .beats U? against his face unti~ he ·is forced to hide in the cab of r.is picjcu?.

CLOSE - GREENHOUS!

Bucking towa:d his car ha spots the speed limit sign. !tis ~ibr~~ing beneath the severe rotor ~-,c1shand reminds Normar. of his first enc:0 1.lnter The similarity is too remarkable to discotLLt! (

T.apped ins ic::e her vw a :-,d try inc; to star-: the engine.

A!cne now and stranead beneath the pounding rotar wash, Gracey fcebily attem?tS to g~thar her.blo~n photo piece collection. She c~ases t.~e s1~apshots back and forth, atterr.pting to snatch them rig~i.t out of the sky, and cissin; and cryin; yet t:nmi;id- tuily determined.

·..

WIDE V'I.tt·~

Car engines s.tart and everyone peels out. Greenhouse ta}:inc; this all in,·bewildered and fighting ·~ad, he observes the two assault HU~YS rise vertically and hover overh~~~- their quartz-iodide searchl~"i\ps stabbing at the re:-,•aining sediment. Then, both ma:nines turn a lSO and beat back the way they came.

CLOSE - G~~ZNHOUSE

Viewing this with a mixture of sorrow and hatred.

Ct1T TO

I EXTE~IOR GREENHOUSE HC:1:E - M0~7I!iG

t. .., ...; .__.Grcenhcuse starts his A.I-1. jog. He watches his own breath and paces hi~self ~ith each puff. Behind hi~, Ro~nie starts from the ho~s~ dressed :or her :nile. Their LREA':'Him::; is uneven this morning. It. overri'4es any furt.he= morning sounc:s.

1-.!~GLE - SIO!:i·:AU~ _;.:-;!)SI::: BY SID!: ao:-:zs

R~nnie catches up and falls into step. They do r.ot ·speak. Ronnie looks fr:~ sile to side.

nomu::.:' s ::'JV ING ? • o .v .

The nei~~!)o=:10od appears i.;nusually quiet this morning.

CLOSE - ~~ttNHCUSt

He is ~&%i~g notice pf this occasion too.

I h~d a tal~ ~it~ Dr. ~~ynole~ after you stor~ec! OiJ.t o! t!:c ho-.::o. 1:0: has thi:; c:az:,• ~otic~ about ~:hc1t you sa•...-. It is cal lae I sa::o~-.-~r =>h.::,1c::-.~r.on. ii~ sa ·1s the brain rct~ins i~~c~~~~ion fro~ i~~an:y lont1 bo:o:-·J· VO\.!!.- r.:c:-;o: .., is a:;l": to recall it.-Th~ lnr;; circui~:-thi:tg you sa~ g~tting

'

Rom:u: (con' t)

closer and closer pro~a~ly r€?=esents your mother's trcast ~ich its·promise of food. \:hen satisf~ec, ::r·ou, the infant, , lose interest in the ~reast, which gets smaller and smaller ane finally vanishes away. Since a bre.ist is a disc s.hape it could rnean •••••• ~

G~.EEm:ousE (turning around & ·· jogging .ba:kwards so he can let her have it)

t c_ould mean I' rr. not my ;!other's child. · It could mean every night there are a couple of hundred of us watching Hom's tits co~ing in low over ·tbe Tolono County foothills.

He tu:r.s facing :or~ard and pours on the s~eed out-distancing Ronnie in seconds.

ROHNIE:

You're such an ass.

TllROt:Gli A KITCH!::N h'!~i~0~-7 - A llQi'.;DI:SC!UP'.:' ~mu: ALO~;::; THt RC!:-r.ct:TE

'

The ~af~odil yellow c~rtains are parted by unseen hands to glimpse at the t:-:o ru~~ers. I~rAR C. S. sink ~.-ate: a:1c. SAP..S.~?_;WALTERS on t:"le TCD~~ SHOW.

TliRCUGll J..t: ~:;CLOSED GA?,.:i.c;!:

~he elec~=~c whirr of the opening garage door shows Ronnie and Nor~an jo;;ing by. Beth look over but nobody appears.

Self ccns:~ous :1ow, eisturbed. Looking from house io house hopef~lly.

~r- .r-,rr - \,J. ·---

( Gr·.::~r.::c".isc.: 1-:.ea:-s t::c f i:'ljt c:lcc::p -:,i~~ 0:1 !'C'1!i':? '~ out.er e:-:trc~,itic~. l!c r-~l!s !.:i= tc th~ g~t:!:-t! :.:o:-: in hi!: Cht:~,.:.---·.-,4lgr:'lr-.,ur.c! leZtns C·i.it the win1cw Mhere a stoical s~in ~~a~ed Corporal g:-ce~s hi~ mcch~nically.

'

CORPO?..:'\L

Yes sir.

GRE!:?lHOUSE

The Civilian Infor.na:.ion Center, please. .

... CORPOR.~

New Air Fo=ce re~=uiting?-

, • GRZENHOUSE

Not today thanks.

Recrui~ing station and information central are·in that tall structure. Parking is in the lower levels.

The c6=poral cr~~s a g=een civilian visitor care under the wind~ shield wiper.

C~?.?ORAL

Please lock your car. The base does not assu.~e res?onsibility for items lost or stolen during your visit. Go'ed.

NEW ANGLE

The Chevy ~-:agon moto:::s past a copse of pt:ssy willow trees to a sup-ar :moderr: building, twe!':.ty stories of cubicle window space and smoked qla.ss.

CLC§!.: - St;:!.:>I!:G DI?J:CTO~'f

Greenho~se st~eies the directory, starting with the "O" listings a~d ~oin; U? an~ eo~n the files until he is hopelessly confused.

G:ae:l!louse is alor.e ir. t~~ lift. Ee pus:ies for the 24th floor. The elevator doer closes and Green~ous~ ~at=~es the floor indicators.

( CLO!'.i!: - !! ·;O ! c;..To~ !. :!:Gi::-s

20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - ·2.;. Th~ elevate!:" stC?S and Grc2:ihouse i.\Oves tc • tl·,e C:ou:l~ coo=s. 0\.!t th,...._.co not o~en. l!a •.-:nits a moment lo:igc=. The ~oors ::;ti-11 ao ~e'" ·"? o;,e:i. He giv':!s it t·,:o more secor.c~ t: ·.t:!'!i •••••

( cru:r:m:ious:E

Oh Jesus ..•.

Ha pounds on the eoor with his fists.

Then ~e finds the e~ergency telephone and picks up the receiver but a hand appears out of nowhere and tou~hes him on his shoulder. F.e spins and alci6st ~hrieks.

- ..

RZV~RSE P.O.V.

About fiftee~ peo?le are waiting to come through the ope~ reversible doors to the ele·:a tor. They are as er:iba:-rassed as Greenhouse must be.

l-1J\N m•rnTAPPED It's okay - a lot of people make the same mistake.

G:eenhouse hur=ies past everyone, staring at hjs feet a~d disappears ..._.·through a eoor rr,a:ked: !NFOP.HATIONCENTER•

IH'!'!?.!O?. - INFOi'.:-:A'!'!C!·l CE?,TER - DAY

Here is a. c:ombinati~n waiting room an::: !.nfornation desk. A goodly nu.-n=-er of ?eople are fingering throug:i ;..ir Force recruitment magazines and othe:- ;..r.:ied Services pa=a:;:hernalia. Greenhouse eases into this austere setting which is by t~e way library quiet. He approach:s the i:-i:ornation adjutant, a loud nasal lady pinched against -::i.e wall br a slab of marble eesk, designed for inforr.,a tion o!ficers talf her size.

CREE!~ilOUSE (l~ughs poli:cly, patiently) I'm not here for that. ::o, I'r. here

I to see so~~body about .•• I was look-

ing at t~~t ai:~ctory in the lcbby ~nd I coul~~·t find ~n ~re~ i~ the ~ir Force where :.,•ou hanc!lc all cf t;.hasc ••.• (gestures wildly, not flnding • the··· ~~ but finc!i=-,g.c:i grc.Jt ...." 1

,( GREENHOUSE {con't)

out loud) •.•

You know •.• you know. When a jet flies overhead··- low enough overhead you know right. away what it is ••• oh, that's a Continental 727 •• oh, that's a jwnbo THA with ~-i'.bassador service. But ~,hen something buz:es over you and.:. and it doesn't have any wings ••••

The nasal lacy takes an exhausted breath and shows how loud she can really be.··

.. I?rrOP.HATION Do y~u want to report an UFO?

}.NG!..E - P~ACTIONS

The room lights up. People lower their magazines, cigarettes are snipped in mid-c:ag.

GP.l:El~HOUSE (turns to the room - just .

'.(;.. a$ demonstrative} UO, I DO~J'T WANTTO REPORT A UFO. '-·

(turn ·s back to Information with the most plaintive, beseeching eY.pression and whis?ers)- Shh. Yes I do •••• shhh. I do. Yes.

IN:'ORNATION (she's not being mean, she just has this extraordi~ary sonorous voice) Go to fifteen. Ae:ospace Defense Command. :Room thir-:y-six eleven.

~reenhous~ ,oesn't know ~hether. to say thank you or j~st shit. He leaves :o= the elevator in a hurry.

Th9 room~~l of awakening interests buzzes in his wake •.• a few ~CC?le ac:u~lly a??=oac~ 'information' with growing concern.

IHf'OR:-1.ATIO:r

, ~it down until you'ra called. Please ,.

peoolc. Th~re is nothino goino on here.

\

reoplo please tlon't de this! -

INTERIOR - AERO~?AtE DEFENSEco~~~ND (

Starti~g CLOSE o~ G=eenhcuse. ne is obviously in a sitting positi.,n. It seems c-.s though a . thousand critical eyes are bathing over hir.t.

In fact as the A.~GLE WIDENS, only four other people (three men antl a woman) are waitir.g like Greenhouse anp each keeps his eyes to himself, afraid to look any~here beyond The clock on the wall.

On collective inspection the~e people are stereo typically the ty~es of UFO rc?orte=s that orye would imagine exists in the world today. The flourescent lighting is giving Norman a bac h~adache. He reaches in a pocket for so~e Exceerin and dry swallows five tablets. The ·para- noid looking woman sitting next to him sticks out her he.nd and u.,r.nan is~obliged to tap two tablets into·it. She works up some spit and s,-,allows without a sir.tple thank you. ~uc:1.denly the corridor door bursts open ane a silver haired Air Force Colonel erner~es in his full regali~. He smiles at the =eceptionist.

Goodnight Colonel Dax.

The Colo~el turns and exte~ds a hand toward the paranoid loo~ing woman sitting ne~t to Greenhouse. She rises tiredly ar.d takes his hanc!, turns to .the receptionist.

WOM.~?-1 Goodnight Marian.·

Clic~, c~i:k .... a sublininal flash cuts throuch the darkr.e~s ~nd makes a: i~?ression on the viewer ••• was it a bird er a pla~e.

-lAJORBE:?lCi!Lt:Y'SVOICE Go.

G!tr: E't!J I ('HJ s £ A bird, flying. Gc~sa rn~ybe.

Flash! Was it th~ moo~ or a st~cetlacp. (

MAJOR Bt:t:CULCY 'S VOICE Go.

I (

GRE:E!H1.OUSE

Uhhhh ••.• streetlight.

Fla~h! Was it the sun or a Florida orange.

MAJOR BtUCHLEY'S ·YOICE

Go.

Flash! Was it a flying sauce: ••• or a flying saucer.

GRE;NHOUSE

I I llhhh •• ·• • UFO?

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

MAJOR !ENCHU:Y

I I No, Mr. Greenh01.:.se. That's a flying saucer. M.ade of pueter, made in Ja?an and thro\·m across the room by one of ~Y children •.

Sure eno~gh. It's a saucer and it's flying through a kitchen •

I like to toss that in once in a while i I to show folks we're not all polished brass about ~hese things. , I

GRE::~HHOUSE (he's not laughing)

That's pretty g.ood. How' c I r::.a;te out? ; t

~ou missed every one. I f

GREENHOUSE

t Eow's that possible? l t

MAJOR BEUC:ILEY

This is really interesting Mr. Greenhouse. You happcr.cd to select the si~ple metaphor for each conventional object I showed you.

G!U::=llHOUS:t (!~eling concerned)

What i c:-:per i~nce<l on the Si:-: ::ilc I!ighw~y ) star-tl in sig~t lo~gcr than half a second. ~ l I ) t

t MAJOR BENCHLE:Y

You're taking this too literally.

f

GREENHOUSE

to me. My neighbors are looking the other way. · Shit yeah literally! This thing is happeninq to me and I want to find out wr.at it is - ! ·..

GR!:ENHOOSE ,.re you afraid to say ·anything because you: people feel the hu.~an race is not

M.~OR EENCB!.FY If technological contact was ever achieved, I'm sure we could live with it. We live in the shaao~ of atomic anihilation in nine minutes. However, ,~..r.Gree~!'lcuse, in all . ::iy twenty years with :\'t'I ADC and JA!iAP-145, · . there has been no intlisputable proof of the physical existence of these things.

GREENHOUSE: Mr. !3enchley - believe r.,e - I didn't want to see this.

MAJOR BE?JC~~t The onlv \•·av to convince the scientific co~unity i; · to present s~ecific evidence concisely. !f the evidence is good, the case will stanc: up anu the exis"te~ce of ~xtraordi.nary phenomenon will have to be taken seriou~ly.

This i~ too much for Norman ~o bear as he leaps to his feet ;es:uring - wilcl:,·.

GP..E:ENUOUSE J\l·1 Tii:E !::VI DENCE. t.Jm I H,\NT TO BE TA.ia:N SERIOUSLY.

'

MAJOR B:ENCHL:EY

I

I. wish ·I'd seen it. For twenty years I've

((

wanted to see one of those thi~gs witnout having to account for it. But if I'm going to be oper. minded enough to consider the possibility that these witnesses are seeing t.~e fantastic, then one must be prepared to exar.iine a plethora of evidence connected with the stories of fairies, ghosts, angels and demons. The evidence is clearly similar.

Cf!enced bv Greenhouse's rude change of subject. Benchley is curt or the remainder of the scene.

"..AJ'OR BENCELEY 'It would be easy ·for me to lie and say yes to that. You'd walk out of he=e wit.~ a down to earth answer in your pocket. This isn't the case and I will not mislead you.·

.. The room falls s·ile!lt. Major Benchley sips some water and watches Greenhouse waiting fer a reaction • ...........

(cefeated, tired) What a.bout my report?

Major Benchley be;i~s to wind this ceetL~g up.

MAJOR BE:NCEL.:.-Y There is no ast:onomical explanation for it.

Gl'.EENHOlJSE 'h'hat about a field investigation?

MAJOR BENCF.LE:Y The:e is nothing that warrants it.

How will you classify my report?

MAJOR BE:!?CHLEY Oniden~ified.

(

The u:"tidentified flyin; object~ have Leen iden~i:ied - -as unidentified.

Graenhcuse rises to leave. He is beginning to doubt verisiQilitude. I I When he is at the door, the Majo= chimes in.

·..

MAJOR BENC?.L~Y

What happened to you . is happening to a

lot ~f people who think it s a religion. It isn't you know. "Unidentifieds" do not exist as a direct .physical threat to our national security" •. We don't be- lieve in them here. We encourage you not ·to.

EXT~i!OR - CORRIDOR -DAY

Cre~nhouse is waiting for the express elevator. He is alone with his shreadec thoughts. He knots a fist and bops the 'down' button c:,.;ain.

':'he ele·.Jator doors open and Norman charc;~s out, fi::zli_ng mac. ne stops at ~he soft d=ink oachine looking !or a way to cool off. l 1ausing to refresh he catches sight of an openi:"tg in the wall. It is the·caster c~~trol circuit panal. :~ is used by the main- tenance c!epart:!\e:it a.s an easy access to o:!ice lighting.

Greenhouse waits fo= a couple of janit:=s to depart with their Hcover fl~or waxer. Sip?in; on his Ora~ie Crush, he leans near the ci:c~it brea~e:s and -is ~nstantly =~~iliar with the office diagra~ o~ the adjacent par.al. Norman is smiling now. Ile flips il swi tc~ • . • reads the dia~=a:n and flies another. As his smile ova:flo~~ a~e his fin;ers dance along ~he hundreds of switches.

- ,,........~:~ CLASS AO:·!!?:!ST!'J:..":'!0~-J IW!LO!!!G - NIGHT

noa~ing ~~c of the flouresccnt s~bterran~an garage, Norman f:ash~s t:1a!; r.a:.;;-· ,tr grin and flashes out ti,e civilinn entr~r.cc. !)e:op1.e· a:-::: l::cc:ir:ning to ccncrc.::cl~a. The si.in hcilt.1.?d Corpo?:al wanc.~rs ~i=~ily, squinti:'lg tt~ro~gh the.: tlus}:. O:hcrs gav:k und 1:;hi;ffle us o~=

(

•

\IV

( S?ecifi~ windows have ~een turned on ..• ·other~ d~rkened. ~hat r~mains spells UFO across the entire face of t~e Pease Air Force A~ministration Facility.

A B~ST OF SU~LIGP.T ..

White sand dur.as oscillate to the vanishing point. 1, title appea:s in the lowar portion of . the pictuJ:'e.

"GOBI D~SI:R'!',. - HOtZGO!.IA"

The sky sucks hea~ ~~ves from ·the white sand. It must be 135 degrees in.the shade •••. if you can find any.

A Ul::ITtO NATIOHS S1'.ND ROVER with its :ather stupified crew waits !:or an u:unarkei helico;:te= that is just now setting down behinc. it. t·.;erj,•- thin; goes white as the chopper descends and ••••••

Al'!Gr.E - U?Jl·i.AR:~EDCEO?PER

Lacombe er:lerges \.:earing safari fatigues and carrying a· ca?:tera wrapped in protective c::ellcphane. He gasps at the furnace r.aat and gu~ckly cover:3 :iis eyes with a pair of Ror:-~=1 goggles. Emerging from behind him are at least twenty ;..merican pl'2-in clothed soldiers, officials and Army engineers. They are all looki~g in the~ same direction.· They all carry the. same expressions - UTTER c;~oTIC SURPRIEE - !

Laco~e leacis the way squinting with e:.-:-athrough his double-tints.

One ~an actually ;e~u!lects his disbel~e: and . . . .

Ever~ro:1e wal};s for-.:ard finally ••• ta.::in;· the .AHGLE.'!'O INCLtJD!: •••

n the ~orst reaches of the ·desert wasteland is an ir:lpessible sight.

There is a 425 ~o~t freighter lying on it~ starboard side against t~e flat~e::-.a:. c:.unes. It is the ~1.s. t-11.Rit:E SUL?HURQUE:E:U. I One stc=~~d individual be;ins to read sor:\e print out l1ard copy to tte rest c: ~te.gathering.

STUm~E:O HJ\N As far as we knew, t~c 15,000 long to~s of ~olten ~ulph~= arc perfectly i~tac~.

CHIEF tz:cim:ER Gentle~en, it can~t be ~oved.

I ( SF.'CO:-H:>!!:70!>~'..t\':'IO:: OF'FIC!::R

It hns i.>cc.:n~:idclj• accar>t;ad th_e."t Cuban sycpnthiza=s confiscated it en route !:cm t Deaurnont, 7r:::~s, to ::o::.foU:, Vi:ginia.

L.?...CON.SE: We ce:tainly can't leave it here.

CHIEF ~NG!?U:ER This looks like a job for Superman ... not the Corps of Army Engineers.

EXTERIOR - TEE C?.:::SC:ENDO SUH!1IT - NIGHT

Greer..house is on hi~ way to a ·major drunk. Inhaling Bucweiser, he sta~c.s on the cente: line of the divided highway, his Smm·movie ca:ne=a ready for action. His car is pulled off to one side a.~d the headl~~ps a:e blazing. The night is clear and millior.s of stars dust the sky. Norman walks in a circle looking strai;ht up and t:ying to stay on his feet at the same time.

A.~EODY HOH!: - ? (no answer) C'MON YOU GUYS - BE NICE.

· (;

:Se looks \!? and do~rn the road. Suddenly everything just seems to stop. T.he air g=o\,S static. Norman re:.nforces himself with anot.-:e= swallow, clears his throat, anc sta:ts to sing in his best baritcne voice:

(

t

G7-A

·Beyond Nor.:ian's right shoulde ... something is happening in the sky. v Four extre~-aly dim o::-ar.ge globes a:-e rising from a dense thicket.. I, !·IQR:,L~i; St::s 'l'H! S \':Ri' SLm·lLY. HIS SONG CO;·iES TO A B?.EATl!LES!j Hs\LT. T.t is h~::-d to judge distance at night but it is enough to set his f Get in rno~ion - P-U~iNING TOHnP.D THE RISii~G -GLOWS.

Three additonal lights rise,airily to j9in the others. They have a· cim ,flickering quality neve.:- before encduntered.

CLOSE - NOR!-Lh.l-1

R~nning with a desire so s-rong that it almost brings tears to his eyes. Anothei"globe rises above ·the thicket and Norman plunges into the bra.'nbles and the dirt, getting lost ::.mmediately but not giving a darn.~. Overhead, the dim glo~5 are drifting toward the Tolono foothills but to Greenhouse this doesn't count. This thicket is where th~y are coming frorn. Greenhouse stops to gather his senses ar.d the world of sou:-,d stops also.

tis so quiet then - something else is in this thicket with him.

c:.OS! - G?.ZENHOU$E

~e spins and a splas~ of silver catches the frinaes of his night vision•. • .• '·1·o=man ~.. ries. .._-::, ..~ O--1 ~ h is. b rea .,... '- 1 so h e can.. . h ear b eyon d h is. wila b=ea~hing. A~othe: crackle of move~ent, this time very ~ear. He exhales to cat:h another breath and suddenly, off guard, some- thing rnetalic and low to the g=ound explodes into hirn and off into the night.

GRE:::N?.OtiS! SC?.ElJ·tS . .:'\ s.acond whis}: of color sparJ-:les oast him. Then t thi=c. H~ turns to =u:"\ t:ie other t-•a::-...·::::1 something blocks his path. It is silver a~d S?i:1dly shaped a:~ recessed in much darkness. It turns frightcnec and runs the othe= ~ay. Crazied by now, Greenhouse starts to run after i~.

GRE!NHOUSE

Please do:i't go.

T~=eadi~; ~is way pn~~ hazards·and obst~cles, Nor~an chas~s th~ sha?~ and is ~=-=·.=ally gui ning on it when the sha~c chanc;es co·..irse anc collaps~s .?::~er Grea:.hOl!!:iC' s falling legs. norm'1n g=abs a hancl:ul o= ~ilv~= nnd brings it face to !~ce.

GR!:!.?rnaus r; (hysterical with discovery) Hhcrc c!o you co~c from - ! Who arc you - !

(

S!IA?E •• • I'm T~rry C:~~cr. I'm f-o~ 3~~3 North Olive hvenue.

For~ second Ko~~an is blinded by his own obsessed beliefs as he shakes th~ littl~ boy at both shoulde~s.

Gr>.EEm~ous:::

What do j'OU want - !

·. -

Slowly, !'lor~an is co:ning ·a:ound ~o this cold fact. He fingers the silve:y stuff.~rou~cl the boys head and body. I

TZAAY" .

It's Reynold's Wrap and Alcoa Aluminum. Don't hurt me •.• we were just messing around.

Nor::1an loosasn his c;ri? and the little boy is gone. He g~ts to his feet shaking his head.

Shit. Shhhh-it. Shhhhhh-it.

;.i-lGL!- Tf!! S~Y

T:1ree of the flicker:.:1g globes are des:e::::.ing. As the :irst one almost

uir.

He sta~ds !~ the ~iddle of ~he road, 1n the middle of the night~ drunk, di :zy a~: ::~ltling polyet?ij•le~e plas~ic bag, crossed ·straws and :>irthday candles :::::ing an orange flickering hot air baloon. Sadistically he ~queezes ~~= air out of t~e bag until the fla~e touches the plastic and the ...:hcle :-::,~t=apticn xr.elts in blue fire. He looks. at the street sign that was ~~~rating tha night the helicopter houvered close. ~nd sudca::ily, ::or~a~ is su::.ken with c:.01.1.!J~,

{

'

FOUR B.!:.INDING !.IG:!TS EXPLODE TOW.:\?.O H!:t FilOM THE SOU'l'H. (

CLOSE - GR!:'.::!rnOUSE

He ju.":l?S for his life and collapses fac.e first into the dirt sho~lcer as ••..• -

,\NG!.:E - ROAD

::;ev~nty mi!es an hour. 1-Io::-rnanrealizes he's bee:1 duped and hollars toward the dL~inishing tail ligh~s.

Graenhouse turns :away. He has never appeared so defeated as right ~ow. Only now does he notice the tucket sized mound of topsoil and clay that li~tle Barry Guiler was erecting around his feet the night before. Greenhouse explores the v~rtical dirt rnound ••.• and £eels inexplicably uncorntortable as he stueies its affluted sides and carved top. Just as s~ddenly, Gree~~ouse feels an etherial so=t of fascination. So~gthing is drawing hi~ to g~ze deeper at this. He blinks. He tastes the perspiration, struggling to understand ~hat is ha~~enino.- - ...to hi~ .

INTERIOR - GRE!~HCUSE LIV:NG ROOM - N!~~T

~ , .... .. oon -i;~ ..spills th=ough :he picture window~ a~nnin; water can be r.earc:.

'I'he: wate:- sounds can- ~c t::-aced to the end of the hall.

t

t C!.r.,sr:: - 13.1\T:moo:•! DOOR

The water is at its loudest point. But another more disturbing sound cc~es from within. A man is crying.

RONNIE appears, listening at the door. She knocks twice ••• very softl~t. ..

Swee~_heart.

(no answer)

Norman, please open the door •

BRA.D& TOBY in their pajamas stand in the hall next to their bedrocm.

BRAD

I I ROi-mIE I (her 3:00 AN confusion

makes h~r snap at them)

B~th ycu~~sters hop back ir.side, leavin; the door open just a crack. l f;.cnnie shoots by t!"le::-.a..,d into the kit::l:en. She r~ ttles a=ound in a darken·ed dr ·a,,"e:-, =eturning \.tith a hut~~= knife. Inserting the ,I blur.t e::-,d i~to the ;~::.o:,, she sprmt;s t::s lock and the door sw~nc;s open. t

CLOSE - SEo::t:R

I Falling full tilt into the tub. I I t CLOSE - ..==~·--:"--·..

~ap wats~ overflowing.

GRC:.!!i!OUS.r:

\ ( try i1~g to SLlil,e .th:-oug:-, I cho;:~:.l ten rs)

It's lH:e the hiccu~s. I sta~~C?,. ! c~n' t so;op. '

/U

RONNIE: (she whiffs the be•r &

( her syt\pa t:ii' turns to coal)

Norman sticks his head under theshow~r. When he pulls out, P.Qnnie hands him a towel but is too _scar.ed to go over and hug the tears away. Another spasm of silent crying vibrates through hirn as he forces aspirin into his mou~h.

GR.E:ENHOUSE

What s·happer.i~g to me - !

.. . RONNIE

All this nonsense is turning this house upsidedown.

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

SudFenl:r, t.he bat!lroo!':'I. doo:- is thrown open the rest of the way ~nd li~t~e Srad screams hysterically, defending himself against -the i~a;e o! his broken do~n father.

BR}'i.O You c~y baby - ! Cry baby! Cry bciby!

h.1r!i~g hirn::;elf to·.·:«rds his roor.t, h-z slans the c.01.:>rfive timcE ~a~ting to crack it loos~. Toby runs after his brother, hysterical, t!.'n::'latised.

NT.CRIOR - TH! BEOROO:-t (( The crying has stop?ed but his trecbling intensifie~ as he collapses onto the bed. Ronnie has no idea how tc deal with , this. She beats on the nattress with her tiny fists.

..

?~o:rnan gra:)s her right hand ane.won't let go.

I hate you li}~e this • '

Nor:!'.a~ =eaches out a~d pulls her into bed.

GRE:ENHOUSE

I need you now.

He !olds h~= into his arl":'ls and his trem:,ling seem!, to pulsate right th=ou;h her and Ronni~ is really ~~capable of bearing up to this.

RC:~iIE

Ch don't. Let ms ~~ll someone. Oh Norman, please ec:•t.

His fin;e=s rip at h~r ni;~~;own, openiri; out the back.

·ROt:!cIE I don't wan_; to scream.

:,ex,:, he -;= ir-s the mat~:-ial arounc her shoulda: :inc ?Ulls. The ta t'tered ro:-:1:i,1n~s ::in he:r a:.-::is to her siuc~ nnd 1:0::m.in sli:!es C:o~:r:.her to h~r br~as ts and, occ.i ly E:nCJugh, his an:d.e ty flows cut or hi~ .•. and ...

Rcnr.ie starts to -:r~rr.l.ilt:: r.c,·: •.• her taeth cha t~erir,;, silent ( i;,;obs ~,rac:}:ir1q- ;~i:?rbocl:,,. She: is :lclpless M,d llo::-rif iud •.. lH;i:? a ctild being ra?ed.

(( CLOSl: - DEC~OO!·l t·:n:oc,~-;,- l!ICHT '· A pinpoint of in~e~se light burns through the branches of the g=apefr~it tree. With in:re~sing brilliance, leaf and branch shadows are projected onto the ceili~g and walls. Birds sta:t to sing, and Ronnie blinks awake in the direct flood of sun light. She turns over en her pillow. She is alo,tie in bed.

TH'E:"DOORTO THE Fi\H!LY Roon

Rennie, ~ow i~ terricloth :obe, ~tands listening to Captain · ::Kanga:oo frot:l the · TV inside. She opens the door. Brad and To:>y a:e crosslegged on the throw rug •. All has been forgotten from the ~vening before.

GR!:EN~OUSE- CLOSE

At ho~e in his handiwork, he smiles peacefully and nods to himself. Ronnie doesn't know this man. \.

B?~D It's not time yet.

RO?mIE

· \'iatch TV in the "ther room.

Ro~nie h~stles the complai~ing boys into the hall an~ closes the do~r behi~d he=. She is utterly resolved.

Norman is .:.n a guaree~ meed and hasn't the ene·r;y to lock horns \-ri th any:::oc!y.

Gru:r.m?OUS:E (inaudible whisoer) Scme night huh? ·

normn:

(

(just ns quietly) You'r~ wrecking our house.

t

GREEUHOUSE

I

Weli ... tha~'s news.

r

·· -in the . sky I want to run·an~ hide.

I want.you to see a psychiatrist. Diane Holmes has a friend~·· and he is a doctor at the V.A. Hospital •• :.

I I GREENHOt:SE

You're kidding . . . . . . .

I I ,GREENHOUSE .

We are a f a.."!lily. Nothing has cha~ged.

·(

She leaves the. roo~. Greenhouse ean fael her slipping away forever. He's on his feet and followi:'\a her dow-:'l the hall. She disappears into .thei= bed::-oorn and closes~ the doc=~ ?-iorman gently touches tha knob to ~?en it when he ~ears the distinct CLICK of the lock. Fear pumps ra;e into-both fists and he beats twice on the softwooa door, yelling once at the top of his lungs ••••

·-

Th~ ou4:burst l~aves Norr:lan winded. Ila beats his forehead between his hands and hears the slidi~g glass door in the bedroom open then shut. le runs town the hall just in time to see Ronnie through the ki tchcn.

i \ I

'

window making a hcadlong·dnsh for the Chev~ wngon. She pu~hes ~rad ( .:ind ~obv into the car ~hc.:ncl of her nnd start!: the enCfir.e. Ho=!':'.nn ht.:.:-1s op·en -::ie front clcor l.>Ltt is too late. Ronnie· is-bc1cl:ing up out of tha driveway _and in her panic ba~ks th~ full distance cf the street ~nd bounces over the curb and onto the opposite sidewalk, up- sat~ing a row of trashcans, before straightening the wheel ~nd Rccelerating away. ·

..

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE

H~tching her depart. He turns and ~otices his n~x~ door neighbor wa t~= inc;· -:.he s:irubs with an embarrassing smile 0;1 his face. '!'ha. g.,ju:y n~ighbor waves his sc;:uirting hose and just seems to blurt out •.••

GREENHOCSI:

Blow it O .. ~your after burner!

--

'l'h~ neighbor redc:enes and turns awa~, concentratir.g on tr'i.Inr:tir.g the hedges. Greenhouse loo!:s at his gareen of a=aelas, geranicas and hydrenas. A nadde~in; inspiration seizes him. Using both banes to twist, yank and sha~:e loose, Greenhouse uproots the ·gerani~ ·,•hi?p- ing the soiled plant around his head to loosen the clodded tcpioil. T!'le FIJ·!ILY ROOMwine.ow is barely O?en bu~ :iormcin in~arts a hanc and raises it all the \·:a·.,. Ha hurls the u-or:>c':ed :,,Jsh. !:nmediatel·J attacking a~Ot~er s~=~b, the innocent-~a~;hbor l~OY.S on :rem a sa!er vantage point while his wife stic~s her head out an up~tairs window, hair wrapped in a towel.

Green~o~sa reappears at the windo~, this tihle with ah enormous rose b~s~ an~ ~~arts to jam it through the openin; •

'l'he wife is blowin~ h~r hai.r c1ry with a· jct of hot air st~nding ne:-::: to ner ~·..:.z:ane ir, the· front yurd. A long c:.:t~:11;ion core t.::-clil:.r.-::; a.:tc:: h~=. 'l'hc r.~allrr:,:tn r i;;cs fro~ hi~ red, w~i t~ s. blue! mini truck

c:recnhou;c i~ n £>oiled sight, ~;ho\'l.11 in h,rnc.1, scooping tt~c l~r<;~ chunl.n cf g::L'is;; .,_ncl ca: th nnd dC?Ol::ii t;ir.g the mt?ss t~u·ough the Cj?Cr~ window as fast QS he can. (

ClO~= - GREE~SOUSC

H~s worl:cd ·U? n la the:: • • • now ti.:.~ns wild-cyec. with a new thought.

GlU~I:~U!CUS.E Chicl-;enwire . . .. .'

He is looking at. his next door n~ighbors- ..

GREt:~:uoust (louder} · Chickenwire .•• !

I . He sta=ts ~ve::: to ther:i. !-1.rs. i!arr is, the · I"!cighoor drying her hs.ir, brandishes the hairblower at Noman like a gun.

MRS• fj"'.P.RIS Not another step . • . if ?-A.rs. Greenhouse was home to see what you're doins.

GR!:E~HOUSF.: You've beer. using it tc fence the ducks in. I'll pay you for it.

?-IR. HAR?.IS (anything to sate this ~ad~an) ~ou can take ~hatcve:'s leftover •••• i::1 the ba=l:.

Norman skips off, ?3.::i3in; a cement i>c::.:., · e:nc:ircled i.Jy chickem-:ire anc1 .sporting a l.lo:en pet chtcks and ti".Z:~--:-noisy chicJ:s. t,or:nar. pli.!:lges i~ ~o the garnge. ~:.!r:~ag ing sc:-::~s spill a::d - echo until Nor:nan e::ie:gi:!s with •l length of lefto•:e= wir~ f ,~n·=ing. Du t he is - not sa~is:i~d. He o~uses a~ thi:: duck ~ond and meas1Jre!' the sit- i uation.~~ qrunts hiL a~v~ov~l and ri~s t~c chickcnwire from its stc1Jq~5 .:'.::d. s-:a~les, rolli~9 it into an underarm slab and 1>oir~tin9 I· a hard fi~;er at th~ esca?e prone birds. ~

GR~r.NHOUSI: Stciy! Stay!

;,:-.r.l !"le'~ ~"I!r runnin-J 1J.:1c:k home. The l.>ii·d!i sea ti:cr on foot. T:-ie H.ir.:-is'aftcr thc:-n.

( '

•

( File::. incongruously one atop the.other, all of the Family aoo:n furr.iture clo;s the hall. Greenhouse ereerges ~ith two desk lamps and l~ys them on top of the Ineiana rocker which s~ays back and forth atop the pan table folded~? and resting ovP.r the studio couc!'l. SOU!TDS of a ,~id-morning soap continue tr.roughout •

...

EX'!'Zr..IOR - GREE~~30CSE FRONT YAR!:l - ANGLE Tm·TA.R!::>FAMILY ROOM WI!TDOW

Greenhouse cliri~ing out, his face and clothes grimey with dirt. U:1- Si)oolil'.\g t.he·•qarden hose, he deposits the nozzle end into the fa.'Uily room and :uns around the side of the house and twists on a generous flow o:: water. .·.. .. 0~ his .:e~urn through the window he looks behind hi?:1 ••••

GR.!:ENEOUSE'SP.O.V.

It could pass fo= a block party. Several dozen onlookers line the sidewalks a:.d st:-eet pu.~ping each other furiously !or clues. A Tolono County Police Ca: noses through the buzzing th:-ong and two fa:r.iliar faces ali;~t. · It is Prewitt & Longly. The two buady officers vho alte:ed t..'.eir sighting re?ort early on.

Lon~lv ane Prewitt exchar.ge a worried look and trot toward Greenhous~ .

Pl'L~TT Hey Mr. G=eenhouse, wait . up.

Greenhouse scra..-,:Oles into the house a~: slams the wi.~dow, twistinq t!le latch. Longly & ?rewitt talk tc !:i::. through the glass.

LC!-lGLY Take our advice·- give up la.~dsc~?ing.

Green~o~se stares back at the~ i.~placably.

PP.EW!TT (reee:ing to gabbing onlookers) You w~nr.a let us in so we ca~ aiscuss this co~pl~int outta the wind.

(

II

P:ewitt cups his hQnds a~d presses his nose against the giass trying to see in. Greenhou::;.a jerks the curtains together and gazes at the. (( policemen through the c~broi~e:y. The two helm~ted shadows convers~ · privately and wal}; quickly out of viaw. Greenhouse jumps. Pourin,q ..it on, h~ sprints for the front door just as Prewitt & Longly arrive and reach out to com1: in. But Norman is mo.r.tents quicker and locks the door- knob, sets the chain. •

,LO?lGLY

we' ::e on your side •.

Frewi~t whispers a sche~e tc-~ongly. The two officers glance at Nc-rmsin.who rivits thl.rn back. ?:obody moves. All is still. Prewitt ar.d Longlr speed b:-e?~-: in two directions. Greenhouse snaps and rl.!ns. · Longly heading for the side door and Prewitt the back. I-!orrnan is i~ches behind the first officer in the thirty yard dash to the side door. Horman wins and presses the lock button, slipping on the wa:-:ed tile floor and losing precious seconds on a crash course to the rear of the house.

Prewitt a:rives before !'li.m and starts the sliding.door back.

??.Zi·T!TT

You're neighbors phoned in a com?laint. He didn't as}: to come.

GRJ;!NHOUSE (cal~ing hi~self)

Su=e P:cwitt. Let's talk out here. . ..

.... .

He! puts a friendl,Y hand .orr Prewitt' s l:ac:.: and escorts h.L-:tback o"..ltsice.

G~:::1-mousi:

~ou 'll wn:i.:. to see it my ,,.:ay because . . . .

He piv~t~ i=acefull~· and giant steps back inside closing and locr.ing th;: sl.:.c:.:.r.; glass door.

GiU:E:NHOtJSE (y6llin~ th~ough the glnss)

rr I!: Nom: OF YOUR 1.w:;1i1css • • •

t .

I.O?~GLY What tha fuck is ·..,._th you Greenhouse?

GREE!ntOUSt: Whateve.::- you per.ciled in on the night repor: isn't gonria make.me forget that vou saw thc:n first. -

Prewitt & Longly shut up. hn'1 in the ensuing loss for words, Greenhouse closes the cu=tains leavinc the brother officers · sta=ing at their own =eflections.

FRONT OF THE HOOSE

Jackson is getting out of his car. Prewitt and Longly are trying to quiet the rabbid M~s. Harris and disburse the thrillseekers all at the same time. -

Just then, Ronnie wheels in her e=ive~ay SOU~DING the horn. People barely ~ak~ ~ai for lar. S~nsinc an accid~nt or worse, Ronnie leaves ·the engine running a.le runs tot-he house, Jackson following behind.

ANGLE - FRONT COOR

Ronnie tries the door. !tis locked.

~onnie f•.1:-.:.~es with ~er set of keys, =~~=s t:.he right o:ie and unlocks the ~oor. C~INK! Th~ chai~ is set f=o=-~~e inside.

RONHI:: You open it.

I , t:~·ve sa:~ thi~ ~=~a~geraent ~e:ore. Jackson steps back looking for ·leg roe~, ?OSitions his foo~ and kicks at the door. The chain gives ~ay and ~=~nie r~ns p~st hi~ into the house. I

i\:·!G!..C - ;:..:-.r.!.t-.'i\'i ) , She gar.ps outlouc\ ilt the pile of room fl.!rnishi.ng:; in tho h'1ll .•• not }~:iO\·:ing ,..,.hi:l.t to c:,q;:,P.ct nc~:t; Ronnie fines !'lcrsolf staring ·1,:itr. npr.i=~- Ji,·:m~ivo clislJelicf ut the· clo~ctl fm:ii .lv room i:1nor llnd the smrnos of t l:,\: ·i:•ll:Rif·JG, RUt-:z-:u:c\·7:".TCn, A!-:OTE!.r.:V!S10:! C";i\:-iC 5HOl·:s i~:::iclc. Ji\C~:S~I\ ( u.ppe~:-g ill: her side ilnc. sets hirn!:lc! for. a brc.:tkin. Ronnie's h.:ir,c! goes quickly to tha c.ioor~:nob r~O'.-.' und ~ha t:urns it gently. The door i!; Ut\- Lccked. She slowly pus~as it open.

t

Are revealed ~s the ~oor swines wid~. Their re~ctions are violent. ( Ronnie cov~rs her mouth iri ho~ror but~ scream filters through the 'tight fingers and another then another.

WP.i~T P.om.;IE SF.ES - CLOSE NORM.AN

..

He is a shambles! Face and bocly congealed in mud-pack, Greenhouse sits cross legged at the foot of his creation. A spiraling oountain ri£~s out of the family room rug. Mad~ from chickenwire and garden s~akes and lacquered over wit~ paper mache and sculpted from garden earth an~·sedimen~, this towering model fills the 16 X 15 foot li·1ing area and reaches the full nin'! feet t\'l the beam ceiling. It is at once t~rrifying and inspired. The deta:.. ....:~·,g is im?ec:cable. ~. stand. of firr trees twisted and plar.tt:d from his own garden -shrubbery,. a valley sicie of genti_y rolling grass, four affluted vertical walls for~ing a plateau at the top, and on the down·side. of the mountain a box canyon enclosing a peaceful Shargri-la valley. ~eyond this, · Norman himself, sagging breathlessly benea~h this grotesque ci:~del and lcoking the part of the rnischievous kid caught in the act. The ·TV. set sp.i:s out its mindless weekc:ay babble as ••••

CUT To· I

:)emolished, speechless.

FULL S!:O'r - 3:onoo:-1

The close~ c:: Ronnie's si~e of the roe.::. is open. E.-r.pty hangers dangle .. in S?ace.

The first ~~:ee drawers are hanging open, emptied out.

It looi;s li~c somsc~e has bro~en in and ransackad the place. CrobY.ec era~~r~ e~;ticd, ~nd b~okshclvcs disshevelcd. The closot h~s b~c~ , ... cleaned 0 --·

T!10 opan r:cd icinc c:ubina~ l1a !: c:11!:io>Jcen i:nloaded. Onl!l some E:-:ccc1r~:1 • ~nd r.. Lottlc c,f r.1outhw~sh ~nc.l cough r.\cdic:inc rcr:t.:\in. ,'\ h:rnci rcc:i.chcs ( -:.i·:~1· n:~:l :lo:.c:c the mir:-orcc! chest and tJorrnon s1.;1;ures off with his reflection, bleary-eyed, ~nshuven, ~nd flecked with dire.

'

UP i\NGLE - Gnt:ENTIOUS.E' S C!Ti\OEL

'.r_. \' · Tlv.? impos.ing sum.i\i t smudges the ceiling. It cocld pass for the real.thing if it weren't for an occasional newspaper headline th.:1t filters Through the coating of mache and mud.

6nce again, Norman squats at the gentl~ slopin~ base, watching llis mountain aga~n, sipping beer antl glaqcing at the TV set.

CLOSE - TV SCRE~N

A mid-day soap·ope=a. Life is tough everywhere.

CLOSE - TV SCP.EEN

The TV set acts like the face of a clock tick1ng the hours. MI!<E . DOUGU.S and guest celebrities watch the AM.AZI?jG KRES1'!N per!o~ feats of _magic and extrasensory percepti~n.

c:.osE - NO?..!·Ll\.N

Listless and full of s~r=encer. Ee lets the TV carry hL~· thro~gh th~ cay.

l-._ ',/ -.......- CLOSE - '!" I SCR.E~N

Ala!'l Ladd · is stalli:-ig :o:- tirle while he shares a eigare tte and gun; h~ patiotis~ with Se~ Young, an E~?e=i~l Japanese cf:icer in the · movie · "Ci1ir.a". There is ar. earthshakini;- !::~:-st of TNT anc! the S'..lrro1.::1:::.- ing cliffwall~ bur:.r the Ja?anese colu.--:-.:i.a:-:.:: Alan Ladd in smoking rubble.

Eyes d:~=-==-~; to sleep, he half listens to . . . .

CLOS==

Goce: Pyla =uining hi~ Sar;eants "cindcrella· liberty", or whateve~.

er.CSE - G~!:!;:NIIOU~I::

llis eyes arc almost clos~d. Time passes in mic=o-s~cond~.

{ ,·

t

FULL SCREEN - TELEVISION

Co:-dens ing hou=s in to seconds, the images tick nn •.• cartoon:;, Star Trci~ ~y:1dicu ted ei=)isod<?s, The Rifleman, .Graham l~crr the Galloping Gourmet, local news ... disaster trivi~ ••• people, places, cor.,_rner- ci~ls •.. it all melts into a tasteless puree of terrestrial paulum.

I CLCSE - GREENHOUSE

~ Bleary-eyed. and ·in a state of grave -depression, he looks at his. mou:ita~:'1. o.s. WALTERCRONKITE is beginning his 7:00 PH network nawscast.

• t• I WALTER CRONKITE'S VOICE . ~.

the widest area evacuation in the history ~ of these controversial A..'t-ffly rail shipments.

·wamsutter Wyoming ~as thi victim of this ' I latest railroad rnisha~. Charles nacoonnel I • is on the scene for a·live report.

' I CLOSE - NOru-tr,,N

.. lie looks ·at ~he T'V pic~ure, a passing glance, but reacts as if hit ' . (.1 by a jackham..ier . .A·: fi=st, Norman refuses to beli-eve what. he is seeing. But there ~tis again. Norman ris~s to get a better look and tips ove: ~he co~f~e table on which :ests what looks to be enough spent beer to fuel a Super Bowl c=owd~ He slides in front o! t:ie TV pictu=e ar.:! waits.

MacDONNEL .

T~ousands of refugee civilia~s are flooding ~r.e outlying distric~s spurre~ on by rumors ~~at the seven tanke:cars that ~verturned at the Walkashi Needles junction wer~ filled ~~ capacity with escaping G-M nerve gas.

~i~utes b~fore we were forced to evacuate. ~hat is being termed as the hot zone. Our ~inocular c~weras took these pictures of the cisaster scene.

1~ !i~l""er telephoto news c:nmorn C:ilpt!ures the dc-molishcd stiring of tank cars ~nd ~1u~d:eds of yard£ of twisted cross timber antl rails. :.~~ ju£t bcyon<l ~his si:c.:ible disastar, .inchorcd iri a blue mist. ~~d rising 9cn:ly cut of the lowlands, we view~ ~niquely f~~iliar ·'Iii... .sigh~. IT IS ,\ · ROOTED lH :.n·t:. OUI'LICtlTION Cc TU!,; r-:OU!!Tti..IN THAT f 1·

ZR:C.E:NHOUSE:Hl\S CO!;ST!'U.iCTEO IH 'l'UE TV ROOM ••• TRUE ·IN EVERY OE:'!',\IL Ht;T ?-:OST 7!::!..L.Ii:G EY I'rS TREE 'l'RUi!K A?PEAR/\NCE !~ND OTHER TOPOCP..~PU!C,U, Tt·:ISTS ;,:rn TUi'.11S. (

C!,OSE - GR::ENHO!JSE

This mindboigling =evelation just about transforms him. He looks again at his own scale model rccreation.·.uore energised than dazed, Norman begins to ·laugh. He cannot stop L~i'hself. Grabing and shaking a ca~ of warm beer, Norman pops the pulltop and toasts his rnouncain, the foaming spray bathing the caked on mud and causes a minor -avalanche.

Ef..Ci~ TO TI!E TV SCREEN

One last CLOSE OP look to confirm that the oountain is called WAMSUTTER and is as far away as Wyo~ing.

A :SI.AC::: £i HH!T~ TV SET - FULL SCREEN

A carry on bag is bei~g x-rayed at the Co~ ~unicipal· Air?ort. The luggage just scanned faee~ out a~ opening on to a conveye= belt. A hand reaches around the stra? and it is Nor~an. Turning to go, he almost knocks a fe~ale security agent to th~ ground as he hurries I; . past her and double times it down the sterile corri~or to t.'i.e Tt·iA t '-.. boarding gates.

IUTERIOR GRE~NHOUS:. D1:li - ?·L'.CliE !·10t;N':';,.r:-: - DAY

The TEU:?Ho~:E is blasting out at tha er.:~-:...,roo.:i. The miniature 1ii:lmsutter r-!o~:,tain stands alone in all ==its makeshift majcst:r--

INTERIOR - .:!LLIA.U GU!LZ:R'S :!OUSE - o;.,y

She is p~=??iring, out of breath, bedazzled by something as she waits f9: ::::~an to ar.swer his phone. It keeps rir,ging and ringing. Slaming ~~= ?!lone i~to its e:-adle, Jillian bends cown and picks up a plaid t=?~al bag ~nd bounces out of the room and past her old fa=~e:- qr.a~~father who is holding little .Barry Guiler on his la?. She kiss~s :~e old man and leaves the house. The CAMER.~ al!justs to inclu:::=? .;illian's wntcrcolorn th~t line the wall:>. Every p~.i.ntin::i is uhou t :-::-..::SUTT.ER MOU1:T;'..!!?.

IliTER!O:R - TUA DO,\Rl1I1·!~ GA7E CHECr~ IH cou::T:Ert - U!GliT

Gre~nho~se .l.S seen at some distance.;,.. st.:-unger might think that he is c~r.:-ying ~ heavy flight insurance policy and a bomb. If ever there was a .cand~c.1.:ite for flun~ing th~ 1\ir Har ·!jhal 's psychological p,:-ofila • . . • G-reenhoilsc is about to qualify. Ci\.t!!:nJ\ !•U!..L~ DACI~ to r~veal i1 plain clothes security ~gent watching the check in procedures. Ue reaches into his pocket and presses a pal~ sized cl~ctronic device.

·... •

CHECK IN COUNTER

Onshaven, eye's blooesho t:, clothing rumplec'l, Greenhouse juggles with his ticket and ~andbag, ~ropping the bag, then the ticket, then straight~~ing up too fast and stepping on the feet of the lady waiting behind him • .. The ticket checke= carefully scrutinizes this man just as a red light ~ppears unde.r his compute= cons~le. He types something into the corr:rn:ter. It is Norman's full name as written on the ticket to CHE~ANNE, WYOl-!IUG.

WIDE SHOT - THE BOAROI~G AR~A

Green~ouse is pacing, waiting to board.

P .} . • SYSTEM

\.,__ .- Mr. Green house. ::r. 1-lorrnan Greenh.:luse. White court~sy telephcn,.

....

G:-eer,house a??!."Oach~s_ne telephone when a tall bu~ines~rnc1n blccks · t.is ~n.:.y. ·

EtJ ~ r::r:sS?-!A..~

~::. Greenhouse?

G~ 'C"':"~,mousc (wary)

That's right.

BOSI!:ESSi'.AN

~.!.rport security would like .to ste·al t-.~·o nlinutes 0£ your 4:ime.

NTEI"GOR - '!W\ sr:ct.mr~·y liOLDn:::; r..co:!

r.:::acnhousa is :;i tti:-:c; on ~ ·:inyl couch, su1:rc,u1~dcd by cl~ven plain clot.hct.! Security n.:i.::sl"l~ls and a · couple of T:m Stewnrclosscs.

SECURITY· ~ 1

/\.rc·you being rntat in Cheyer.ne nr. Greeenhouse?

GtU:ENHOUSE . O:eeps looking ~t the door)

Sure. Hy siste:- is meeting we.

GPJ::ENHOUS!:

Of course I'rn aware of that. It's my

SE:CURIT~43

Does your wife know you're here?

GREEUHOUSE:

Look, fellas -! I' rn clean. No bomb, no contrab~~d, no flight insurance. I don't want you:- gocda~"'l. airplane ••• I want ~he:e it's going!

SECURITY ?.4

We're sor:::-y M:. 'Greenhouse, !:.ut flight number 694 .!.Cl:': C=::-: !luni:ipal A:.r?ort on schedule. <~ '·· (checking hisrwatch) Six minutes ago.

N~:man sinks ~ack int~ his seat, puts ~:.z hands ~ehind his head, and sho~e=s the roo~ with a thousand wa:~ s~ile th~t seems to say, • 'Well, fuck you'.

Cl~anGhava~, hair· coo=ed back, coll~= tu:nc= out. Greenhouse ~merge~ a ne~ :a~ a~~ walks to~a=es :he Unitee check-in counter like Alec Gui~ass.

~he tni~a~ F:icntlship thunders down -the run~3Y and ~l~sts into the In.:!ian~ nigh:.

:\ <.:bi?vy ·.-1agon ... ju~t like the hor:-,c r:,ocicl .•. rocl:cts c.owr. the rc:i~t? I \ \-~ith I-lor::-.an ,it the whc:-:1 n:~c bln.:;ts out or the c!.:\r}~ gar.:iqc and into I ~ splendid Wyoming oornin;.

'

l'!T!::RIOR - THE l-11\GOt: - CAY

Norrean is driving on· the i:it.erst.:itC:! at sixty. At.the sarr.t: tir.te he (( is pouring over a Shell map ~hat cover~. the steering wheel c:.m! par:. of ~he c!ash. 1\ flexible strc•.,· punctllrcs the map through which Norrnan ~lurps his strawberry mill~shakc breakfast and with his one f.r-ee hand outlines travel routes in. green pen tel. Uhistling LEAVIt:c CliE:t.AHNE, tio::-man pushes tl'le speedometer .ov-:r the 70 M.P.H. ma:k •

... -...

J\NOTH:::RANGLE - LATER

Greenhouse witnesses the first wave of escaping refuc;eeG. A lineu:=, of truck~, jeeps, station wagons and recreational vehicles loaded to the caryop with lugga~ anc incidental belongings pass No:::'I:!.anin the oncoming lanes. Greenhouse fiddles with his car radio and finds sorn.s..local news. ··

DISSOLVE

EXTERIOR - o:~E HORSE: 'Z'C'i•m - DAY

Gree~~ous: is gassing u~ at ~n ARCO S7~~!0~- An e~dlcss =ibton of autc::uooilas is stalled at the cattle c:ossing \laiting :or ••••

Thousanes o: beef cattle are being herd~d th:ouqh to~n by panicky trail boss~~ and ranch h~n~s. One major stockholdet is directing cperatic~s out the =ear window of his chauffer driven Continental Li?nbui:ine.

·T~e gas jccky attending to Greenhouse an~ eight other~, marvel at a differe~t spectacla:

G1\S .:roct:r-:Y

You don't see that evcryd~y.

I \_

'

Approaching the rcf~gee cattle and actunlly ~crging with the~ are (( h-..1r.c!rec.~sof spr ini s~ee?p. They salt the cattle herd rn~~;ing the saddle b.:lcY..c!rivers.crc:izy nnd t-.irnir:.g tile chauffered stock!io!der beet reu.

STOCKHOLCtR

· -Get your wooly faggots away fr.or:, my

prime cuts. ..

.. B::.t Greenh:>use has fr1:;tened on another oc:dity. On the cu~b next to the divide~ hi;hway is .a hawker and hi~ stringbean family sellin~ parakeets and canaries to a brisk '~orth-south' trade.

HAW:<ER (a crandiose spiel) Deadly X c:M ne!:'ve i~s is colorles~ and odorless. When you= e~ss dialate and you= ·nose b·ec;ins tc '.:'.U~, you' re gonna regret not own.ir.g one cf these earl~· war-ning syste:s. t;he~ you got bloody discharge

(; .___..

fro:.\ the nose a~:5. mm·.th. When vour muscles Seize Up S0 I SS yOU.'l!m.taraSS ;'OUrSelf in you= pants, you'll req:e~ ~ct havin' a canary ;~a=anteed to :all o:: ~is perch ho~rs ~e~o:e you do.

An hour later, G::-eenho-.:.sa is again or. ~i.:.s.way. Traffic still pass inc; in tr.e o~cc~ing la~e. His raclio is on to an all-~ews station. Ke turns to study so~et~ing in the seat next to ~irn. A pair of stupie can~ries in a cheap wi:e cage star~ singing ~he pastoral symphony. Nor~an ~:!!fs the air ane tcuches his ~ost=il to see if it's ~unning.

CL':JSE - :.:~DS

Lo:kcd i~ a du~t.

,\ m.ijor mili ~a.1.·:r ro.:\cl1:lock. Uni:crr.\e~ soldi~r~ of the Air N~tional r.~ard foi·rr. a hU.'7iil?"l cordon acres~ :our l:1nc::. of interstate high~1lly. o~:ic!" officious uniformed :)~l~scnnal of: th~ Arr:ty ~-tatcri.al Comr.'la:1C:: g~ from c~r to car, quc~tion to quc~tion.

Gr~e~house p&rks b~hind a piggy bac~ carnp~r and gets out to stretch

hi.z legs. The young uniformed of:ic~r j.:st ahe~c! of him can t shake loose from ~hree int~nse wcmen in t~e. v~hicle up ahead.

WOMA?JPRO'T.ESTER

l~t! want total de~oxif ica ti-on of these gases.

YOUNG OF:'ICE:R

The man to talk to is Lt. Colonel O'Neil of the Chemical Corps.

HO!·W; PROTE:STE?. .

Is it true t~at ~hey test these t~ings on prison i~~~tcs and conscie~ticus objectors?

YOUNG OFFICE~

If th~t doesn't wor~ trr Wyomin;s Second Ois~rict Co~gressrnan.

Ch::,p-c:lop-:ho?-ChC')p. ;..n Air· Force Carc;o =~cpi=)er heads in the di=~ction o~ the da~;~= zone. Greenhouse shades his eyes ~nd follo~s its nothe=ly app:-oa:~ •.·:hen a shadow :-ises o,•e:r hi=n anc:! cuts of.E the vie\.·, A lu.":'..berjZtck cf a soldier is faci:: him dow:1.

SOL?:>I:::P.

You have next of kio ir. th~ red zone buddy?

' I GRE:~::HOU SE

(inti~idated by his size)

sure. ~Y ••. sister.

~1e soldie= produce~ _a clipboard a~d a list of n~m~s alpha~atically.

W~nt's her nnrn=?

GRtr.~:uousc

'r.t sure s:-:.a's out.t« ' there by now.

•

SOI.DIER·

Wa got everybocy out before noon yesterd~y. What's the nn~e and I'll· t~ll you where she's relocat~~-

I'll find her.

·.. SOLDIER " (intuitively suspicio~s)

Not likely. ':here's r.1ore'n twenty evacuation·stations across the

I

Greeiihcuse ducks iii ~~1~ car and starts the motor.

GRE:EUHOUSE

Smith.

Ji.s GRee:i.ho'.lse peels away another soldier sidles up to his lwnber jac~ buddy. I

'(·1

SO!.DIEF. f 2-

Another scavenger?

-

The stree-=s a.:e swa:ming with the hon,eless and the displacec. r:varv- where cac?e:s, trailers, are parked in the alleys and along the curb.

£vorywhere ~aybright signs tell him - NO VACANCY.And strangest of all, rnAny ct t~o peopl~ are carrying bird cnges with parakoe~$, canaries, l~'lcbirds, cockitills, wild pig~on~, to tell them if the. ~u~ is S?reading.

O.,J

Graenhouse is lo~dcd for bear. At the cas~ register ha pays !or one slea?ing bag, one frame and k~a?sack, a flast1light and a c~nt~en.

/

G:iU:ENHOUSE

Jesus

A small crowd has gathered to hear this.

Pi10PRI:E:TOR

Whole tanker load of anthrax and c~fever upset itself alon~ with all the rest. How that's ju.st a ru.";!.or but it pa~,s to :e safe.

The proprietor re?.ches behind the c~unte= and hefts a box of gas r.as~s, Army issue.

GrcC"nhci'.!5!! ~ot:,rs slowly along the empty asr')halt, looking for an :ivem.tc i~la:-.d. He pus!:.c~ ~ eirt stage :oad but blocking it is an 1\.:-my jc~p an6 a :o~plc o~ tirccl GI's. Observin~ t!iem out of the rcarview r.:i::rcr, :-:o=~~:"lkeep:; lM.oi:i:-:c; ~head until th~ jeep is out cf sig:!t. He pull~ ~:ff -:1·.e :-oatl ~m1 stops nc:-:t to th~ bc1rbcci \dra fencinCJ. ~pani~; the tnilc;a~e, ::c:-1::i~n pi·oduces a wirP.cutt~r. Ee !ooi:s 1Jp zind do·,!:1 :he: h.i.c_J:n··ny li :Steninq f.or l:r.n.f ! ic. Tht:rc is non~. '!cry nervous, t•!or~:l.!i , ~r?roachc!l the td.t"c fc:-icing nn: extcmds the cutters. ~N:P! BOHC! Th~ I fence starts to tli~int~g~~te. \_

'· --~-'-.,;

°"· ' ...,~"

EXT~R!OR - H!DC OPEN ~PAC~~ - DhY _(( Nc,r~ian bet ttle~ th~ s '.:~i?:-.i.119 wh£cl .. The tire~ pu:np o·,1er pc.,rtholc:. a• ,.•. \,_;·1 arr,...tr.")-'•1• ,,., .. 1··1e1 t.···"¥1-..,, c.;c;.1M r: ~ r' _._.,'"' - ·,,• u·1_._. ' 1 lt:.- ..._V"J".: ~ · t'",l' c r ••; 11 ~~ ._... o J.1-·1--.:or of •·f...a.l 1'c c,-:1ge, !ig!'lliug to stay upri9ht on tt.~ir pa.cc:4. CRU!!CII! t!o::-m.1n's head sma:;hcs against the !u.rutop. T,itit·li:! his che~t bumps against the wheel. Just aheae is the st3ge ro~~ - Gorman turns onto it nnd :;tops, looking over his ehoulc.le.r bae?< th-e way h~ came. The jeep and Army sen trys must be mile:; away. Ile chc~ck.s the :anarie::; for signs of weakening.

D~zed and blinking from the hairy cro~s country detour. One of the bird~ starts to c!lirp but 11.:.s 't)artner ?ecl:.s him on the beak tc keep him quiet.

A moei=rn roadsign ?U':~ WAHSU'!TI:::RMou:;-r;..n.;tWP.!'lty 1:1iles further on. The· Chevy wagon shovels eust as it gathers speetl fort~~ oi; plunge ahead.

CLC~E - !~S~?.T

The needl+! is almost :iciir:g on empty. -

EXl'~l:t!O~ - ?.OADS!D .::: :·JOO ;..:-reGl=\S

?,orman is !=e.rvic,;in; his ca::-. The area :.s ':otaliy uesertcd. Eerie country.~3stern m~si~ se~ps out of the :eu~try Etcr~ and~ de$ertc~ Union ~aci:ic uininc ca: :;lleu ilE~sz~·s. Lockin: off the aasoli~c pu~p, No=~£n move~ ~uicklr to ~he ~ini~; c~r. Al~ng the co~nter is a pie ca:-:-:::1.!sel and !:>eycn.:. ~he scrvir.~ JIJ::?e., nn old Jl.n,ana refril1C?r~-tcr ril~tle:s t.:-.=ougr. its ai.!to-·.:.~:rost. cycle. :r:.~tan~ly hungry, he c!lttack~ t,\e pie ::o·.:.~ter. nis. :>ent. :or junk foot =at~trn!>. He pocket~ ,;ill scrts of ca:-a:-::-:ls, Hars Dars, 5:..-::?okes, .: ..~~·ts from the cash r~;ister cour:ter. And ir. t::o ki tchr--n h1:... f inc s .ii1 }:inc;:-size,; Ile::brew Ha tional sa!.a1ni hangin; .:='=lil the <;e.iling.

ANGLE - r~sn REGISTCR

Ht? ou:::s.:::; it, hi!i moutl, full c.,': s.:t lmn.i u?\J c:hc:.:.:sc. i\. casu.:illv a~~- 1-~J-,·,·1..... , _,n.....ui·_c.,,J- ... "',·"'.l._ 7.,<'.•'~ 1~.1··,r..• (!_,_.. tJ,,• "'l'·• · , •• , ,, t 1·~.... ,~ J.,1·.·,... •.• 1 ,.,·t ...c.; _rs • t • -1 · ~-l 11.::n 9-··--:........,., ~·cr.ch.2s uu t to op,:n Li~c.: CcLSh l;o:-~. No:-m.:\11 ?~•:u~c.:!> the !·?() S,\L~ :.:u:..to;1. r~l.ldl:\i~i c.o OitF ALL o·,n.:n ·;111:: 01m.:n. !::.:!.Lt.it?:~ th.:1t, th~ c.l!:h box i!: c ... ~;ty. r;crm.:in :un:,; outs.ice ~i=oppi11,; f oo<.h~tu f ! [rc.ii;i hi!: pcckc.: t!:, i.Jendln'-J ~o ( r<?truivc w!l.1t h:? c.:in when lie S.:!t:!S .t.t. ·

·, '

CLOSE

FreC':!zing the marrow in his bones.

11:rsr.o.v.

1. tinv me.ad.ow lu=k is •i:.witching spasmotically by the side of tho road. It !lies.ir.to the clir a few feet, th9n plops back to earth, its wings working backward~.

Worman sp.Lts out a hunk of sct.larni ana clears his mouth. 1:e suddenly 1·eme:nbers about the canaries. He r-Jsties i.:.o the car. and pulls cpen th~· doo= ~-

...

CLOSE - Ci\iU~:t!ES

Frighi:cn,ad by his sud:ian app'!arance, they f lutt.er all c,,.·er the cage and it's h~rd to t~ll if they are ju~t scarod or actually dying. And as if all this were too ~uch to ~andle, a third distraction ma~es Horman sta:-id away f=om hi~ car and lo·:>k d.:>wn the· highway.

SOUND - Chop-chop-ch~?-chop-chop ••••

A squadrcn of transport h~licopt9rs, flying h~zardouily low to the (L grcu~e grow £rein mosquito . pin?oi:it:::. to roa.::-lng dragon~ lies ane zocm overhead.

flying scrnewhat higher t:~~an tl1e rest are two fle.t~l-:in<; chO?:?'==s that carry ~lus~ers of portable ch~mical toilet~ frora their undercarr~~~ s..1ppo=ts.

Hc-rrr.an watches es one of th-.! !,elicopt:ers, c:in l·dr Fore~ n:.icy, h::aa~s for:::a i;ion ar.d r~·~urn:s, IiE,\:>!~~G STR.A:::GI:T FOR ~:oru-1.?\.:~.!!or:r,an lc:oks ~? tl~cug~ the swirl and shzi.kes l·.is e:;e!:.

The' tw.:> flier~, a~ seer. 'thro:ig~, the s~n tinted b.:bble, .:tre wearing oxygen ~asks and sealad goggles. One of ~he operators picks up a c~ra~ra and s:na?:3 pic~ure.:; of ?Jo:rnan belo:,;. No:-r:a.~ co<:$ net know "-ha-; to do. So he waves at: the~. TlH~j' •.:nve back. r-:orr:ian reaehes into his ?o:!~~t ~r.d ta?:cs 011 ':. u:.tt?n doll.:ir uill. 1:E:?!:hows it tc t.he hovering rn1china and pointi:: to the gc:!.~ pump. One of t!lt'! f~d.ars gives hin c1 'thu::-.!.>s up• sign. Tluan th~ helicopter spit~s c•.,. its axis .inc ruc:es nwal', to clos<l -the gal) with th-: rc:.t of .the squ.:idron.

\·:he=1 t: ·1e d~~t !'iattles Nor;;mn re;:t=ncts the gazolinc nosll from hi~ t."!1:~ encl raplnc~:.; i::.. He puts t~~~ tc-n doll.:ir~ on top oE the 'low lc.:1d' pU!nJ:Jnnd on to~ o: t!l=i t " srn.'.lll rock. He lool:~ b.:i:k nl: tho \ ro~dci~c where the m~"dow l.irk wnz. It i~ gone. rcrh.'.lp& blc~n n~ay by ~h~ he~vy rotor wnsh.

Th~y seem tq hav~ r~covcrod but their ncrv~~ ar~ ~hot. Their little (( b:~csts. flutter unchecked.

He slips on tha ga~ ca~~, adjusts the strap~ in t~e bac~. Ilis breath- ing soun~s hollow and ~~tnlic. lie turns to check the ~ird~.

CLOSE - CA~ARI£S

They tak~ one l~ok at his sloping face a~d freak.

:XTER!O?.. - COU!:T?.Y ?.OAD - LATE DJ\.Y

Greenhouse rips the roa: at ni~ety miles an hour. He er.eeks~~= re- ch~cks the canaries because all ~l~n; the hi;hw:y is livestcck deat~. -Cow~ and crows. Sheeps and sparrows. ~n occasional ecad rabbit.

cr..-:is::: G?..!:E:NHOUSE

Ee s_ees zc.ioething U? ahaac;'. that pins hiz earsbac}: "-lid iL'Tlost rr.al:-'!s

h"im whispe: ah.-ie:. .

......· GF~!:NHOtS!: 'S P. 0. V.

The rag-geC: tree trunk appearance of ~--iar.-:sutter pc_ak bala:'\eed on a downslope o! Shasta fir and a~ the scd~red ~a~e, th~ c~~~in; rc~~~ntz· cf scmca rllilva1.rc cisaster. ~u:: Grl?enl'iour.c "is sti:.l tco :ar a•.:.av to ::-.~::e; cut rr~chi~sry, le~ alone railroad track. h smile ir. h~s eyes fills t~a sas~ask havi~; ~ad~ it this f~= - and ...••

So~~thi!'lg alse is C:Or:'ling hi!. wa~·. ,..._inpenet=2.tible '.-!nll of four wl1eele~ r.i.ichinerey .charge:; up. ~he roac to meet him h.~ad en a.r,d •••••

l\.NGL!: - ~-:!DZ

T.:1,~y are en hi:r, ce:for~ he c~n do anrthi~g. Si>: c:~b -·eeor.oline vnm. -:.,.i.t:1 milita=v ~erial numbers al'ld soecial blue crrill lic:ht3 cut hirr. off. A d~zen·man in ~~if-cont~ined·comfort ~uifs, wi~h·!1elm~ts and oxyge~ packs, a11·of thi~ hcr~~tic~lly s~~lad in a tind of !~il, - cc~e pouring out of cve:y~h~rc Qnd ..•.

( A golclen !:Cldic::- with Rec Crebsi~s:-..;!li~Jwlds up cl

I G=c'?nhouse roll5 do,·.m his window .:>.nd steps · out:. of his car: ("

c:t-:.EI:m-rousr: If c.inaries co\.!ltl tal:~ they 'tl ::.ay t!i,;: only ~a~ in the air i~ from you guy~

I. farting ~=o~nd nll day.

Another rne~ic h~s open€d the pas~enger door and removed the bird • I -:age. Ee walks around the front of_ the c.ir with •••

ANGLE - CAHAR!!:S

The birds are dead en the bottom of the ~age.

All at once he is not feelini uell. ~ided by the tinfoil soldie:s, the.rear doors of the van cpen,·th~n clo~e on t:o~-mau. ~nqir.ecri~g a · stylish U-t.urn, ths vehicle ~otor:. tcward the site of m~.!-!StJT'1'!:R NOU~~TAI!;•

,...7'. ...,-:, T.... "'T'•.•.,_ J,;. !)

EXTE:?.'.i:OP.- -·-..

The sun fl~res, then dips beh!nd the m6untains e=est ~~sting a pur?le p::.11 over the r:tab: z:1ift bivouac arcc:1 con::is;;inc:- cf !1s:-Meti::al!·.1 sealed, wi~Gc~les~ trailors a:d a fleet of draS 9:~e~, u~~~rlea econoline vans. O:"le o: the vnn:l pulls to a s~op· ilnethe r~;:,.r c:1:,crs swing wide. Greenhouse is dr~ss~d in a life su~pcrt sui: and is \.-is:.,~tl awaf r::-ytl·,c two golden medics .. A halic9fJ ter si:o-:i:,s low and G:c~nhous~ ha~ onl~ sccon~s to ot~~r~~ ~~~tit i~ transportin; ~oz~ns Qf lo~ slung crates la~~lcd COCA-COLA, tefora h~ is seal~~ off in~i~~ ~ cof !in sized :-oo!"", in an atljacer.t eighty foot t.:ailer .iffecticn.:it::!l:· stamped !,OLIDAY :nm.

~ go!.ci-~n rnec.ic ei t:; acro~n fr.::,rn ,~o~ar.. Somehow we get the distinct f~eling that the rne:ic is core of a turnkey.

G~e~nhouse feels ridiculcu~ just sitting and h~ving nothing tc ~ny. He ~miles at the ~edic- through his fac~rnRsk. The me~ic looks aw~y wittout ~miling t~ck.

r.rmr:NHOUs= (chu:-k!ing to !1imsel:) C£tn \le S:'!~okc in !lcre 7

t

:o rc::ponse. (~

C.fil:EN!!OtiSE \·:hat do you clo if you gcttz:. g,: tir.!:lc.

m, response.

·LOUD CLICK! The door tc the tr~iler springs open an~ another . figure in golden ?rotective attire st~ps in. The young medic is· up and ou~ t:.e door i:i a silve:::y flas;1. !-1R•. LhC•)~D!: replace:: him in 'the seat ac=oss :rom lj:-e~r.h~us~. (This is the g:?ntleman · who you will recall. conviscatecl f iln and ca.".lera~· !rec the civiliar~s · aboard the TW}. flight at Cox .Mur.icipa.l early in. the sche:na ":.a) •

LACOt-!B!: He hav~ precious lit~le times~ ~e'll· ~ide- track ~he fo:T.lalitias. I'm ~obert ~aco~.be. I neee answers frcm you that ·are ex?ressly honest, ~i=e~t, ~nd tot.he ?Oin~. ~.r~n't you aware cf the dangers to you: life by exposing yourself tC"l the toxi!:i.s in th~ e.ir?

.... I chance::! it .

Ll\CCl'ISE ~o what end.

{lying) • was !coking :or ~on~one . . .

L.~cor-m:: May I «sk whom?

GR.~EJTROCS!: r.iy sister.

cnr:r::NHOUSE, She wasn't there.

Ll\.COi\!DI:: Ga e:,..

t

GP..E.l!N!!OUSE The Nitional Guard guy ncve= heard of her.

IJ\COH:CF: Go on.

GREEN:tOuSE That's all ther~ i~.

LAC0t1BE You personally "'·ent to each C~?. . . each reloc~~ion . :ncility.

T~ere are thi.::-teen. ?-!a.-n3 f oc.r of them.

Long pause ~s Greenhouse looks down at t.he"flooi::.

GRE::::,rnouSE: Well • . • okay • • • the tow.~ o: Reliance.

Go o:'l.

GRl:!:HHOt:S::: nnve I b~s~ee any l~ws c~min; here?

Ll'.COMBE Onl~t if ye-?..!are !:ible p::one, r-~=.Gre:e~house. Att.em?tec. suicide is considered c:a.=din·a1 sir-. by SO!ne.

GP.EEN!!OL'SZ I'm alive. We're talking.

LACOaDc if th~ prevailing winds Yere blcwing south instead of north, this conversation wouldn't _be worth ha.vine;. .

GlttENHOtJSZ There's :1ething tr-ong with· the air. .. . .

Ll\COH!:E (sha=ply inte=~sted) Hhat mc1.k,~s fO~ sa~, that?

( I

t

G.m:I::l·n!OUSI:: Oh ... just somet.hing I h.:ippen to knew.

L.:lcombe gla.::-es at t·Iorman. Uc reaches out ancl opens the trailer doo:-.

L.l'\.COH!lE Nhy con't you remove you: mask·a:\d make a liar out of me.

i:o~man lool~s out the open door. ?taybe the a·ir does seem rarified · ••• or· is it ·the ·aus% hour. lie screw·s up his =ourag~ but somethir.g ;=,egins to change. Fcz,r t:ie first time r;orrnan shows doubt. In seconds he sifts thro-.!gh everything that has happened to him ••• and samples defea~ at all the sorrowful al~ernatives. . ..

La:o~.be closes and locks the doer. He next di?S into a manilla envelope and proeuces a dozen color polaroids ••• each shows a face through the face~ask of a life support suit.

Laco:.ibe ca:efully sc=utinizes t-!orman who rer.tains the stoic th=oughout. ( . ..: ""'-·There is a knock at the door. Lacombe rushes through his rc~-:.ine. H:? removes a heavy sheet of poster puper and unravels it. Tu:ning it toward ~or~an, ca=eful to note his reaction •.••••

CLOSE - !'~.!NTI:-lG

is a skillee lifelike randering, the only incongruity existing in the sky overhead where three yellow suns have been included.

CLOSE - GR.I:ENIIOUSE·

The instinctual inplanted reaction. Norman is drawn into the wat~r- color.

C!..OSE - L.i\CO~t0E

J it possible •.. this man is smiling.

L.i\COMDE

I

Good boy, Norm~n.

(

'

The knocking at-t~e door persi~ts. A KZY is heard in the lock.

'

t Li\COMCE

J'ust wait.·

L.lcombe half unfolds a second painting but the door swings wide and two golden chemical engineers step inside and help Norman to his feet.

CHEMICAL Et-lGINEER ;l Com-Sec B-Y-0 says take them to Evac aeiiance ind a bus ride home.

L~CO~-IEE. (sorely disappointed) R~ght this minute?

CHEMICAL ENGIN:CZP.il Even sooner •

The dual rotors of the assault Huey slice through the air, purring at·idle. Greenhouse is l~d to the sliding fuselaga loading door.

\: .._. ,., LACOMBC

(to the two engineers) Don't let him leave until I see Wild Bill.

CH!:MICAL I:NGni=ER t 2 That's okay by me. All we gotta do is stick him on board. ·

Lacoi:\be goes to the cockpit ar,d waves his artr.s, shouting through his suit.

The pilot knows Laco!"be and shrugs his helplessness pointing ~o his he3dEet3, indic~ting that is where his orders are coming from.

1ncom~e per~ists in a fiv~-fing~r c~erci~e until the pilot nods des- pi~e hircself nnd Lacom~e ilO?S tow.1rd ~ sl'r.ali quanset hut whe=e a CDGillac Liiou~ine is parked. ·

t

...

CLOSE - HEL!CO~TER DOOR I / n glo~ad hana ~liees it open - nine faces l6ok out at us. The sn~pshot \( . f~ces. Norrn~n steps inside and joins the. party. I

!·iTCRIOR - QUl\HSET JIUT IIEJ\OQUJ\RTERS - IJUSI~

A batte=y of twelve inch color rno~itors ~how the u..,-,,ion Pacific cie- , I rc1ilrnent and the emergency activity surrounding it. WI!.O BILL HALSH

L.~COMBE. The fielc spotters found another ga~e crasher.

LACOt•IBE You have to send them back. I won't argue with you. I'm going with thern.

v"i:".ld Bill lines hi.-:i '-=? in his sights.

~; ··--

W!LO SILL Horseshit - !

LJ\COH3E An hour ~go I was sura it was a suicide club. But I've tnlked . with these people now and none of thea know each othec. That' ·s a hard fact.

LACOMBE: 'l'hree exhibits.

L.:,.cornbe re:noves t~·:o wa tc=color s i!.nd ~. pal~ si:eci two dimensio~~l so~p carving of HAMSUT':'I::n Z·lOUNTAIH. He pl~c~s .:irticles en Wile! Hll 1 s desk.

·.. \

I LACOMBE .

Each re nee: i~g has one t::: .".·=in com."!lon.

f It was cra!tec bv ~eo~le ~~o never saw I .. - -

o= hea:e of t·ia.itsutter ?·toul"'.tilin befo:e last night. Th.is is r .emark.l.l::>le! ;\board that helicopte: =ic;ht now are ten strangers who have had a thouc;ht, a vision implan~ed in their rnemo:::=,.·- for some of them it chnnged thei= lives. i\ll thilt was le -ft was :he though: of this ?lace - this - mo\.lntain and a c:iving sense of belong~ng Now ~ake the odds - for every person a.board that helicopter - ho~ many othe:::s in your cou.,t=y have also been touched in some way, t~t for cou~tless reasons could not be here tonic;ht. How many implantees missed the 7:00 news and never made the p~ychic cor.nection. ·

Wild Bill cor.sicers this. He shakes his head ane starts ou~ of the hut.

E:XTEP.IOR - HUT

•.rwo transport helicopters f!y -verhead. They are carrying a Gooehew Ambula~ce in each of thei: heavy du=y slings. Reaching towa=d .the mo':.l.~tain, they soon descend to the other side revealing for the first time a rat~er ~~usual :or:natien of pu:fy whi~e cloues, drif~i~g with the prevailing winds.

( yard seminar ~hen it's over. (

.. ' · •

INTERIOR - HUEY i:FLICO!:'TER - DUS,~

(( No one t.:ll}~s. So 1-lor:-:i.:i~ does the r.1ost c_our~geous net of his lif~. u~ start:; to unsr.u.p the scaling faster.er~ ,-,hich connect his bra:a th- ing halmet to his body suit. With each I'OPPit!G SOUtiO others Wiltch until every ey~ i~ glued on Norman's activity. Nort:1an pulls hard and his ·nelrnet slitl~s over his cars. Ue pusl~es hi::; hnir back nnd takes a breath. 'l'he others are hot:rificd. Ile breaths again. As sudd~nly, fingers: nre nt work ilnd JILLIAN GUILER shnkes out her tur.ble down hair and waits for the worst.

c:.osz - cor.L IN o •co:mo?.

Hat in hand, a bull Irish character who at first holds his·breath,' then sa~ples the air with tiny snorts until he breaths easie=.

:LOSE - BESSIE & IR~ FOGELSON

Husband a:id \·1ife. Really old. Hay be · la ta seven ties. Ira is te.rm.:..nall: ill with cancer .

CLOSE - TEE ~!NAL FOUR

Two men .and two women follow suit. They a.re the last to eonc:ecle and like m~st everyone else, are late middle age and desperate ir. -appearance. So:ne are perhaps terminally ill, others display a shell- shock appearance at having been soci~lly disloc~ted for p~rhaps ·ye~rs. They never make eye contact, and are on the down side o! physical E:l:,hausticn. Only Jill, Collin the Irit:h.-nan, and ?!orii,an seem to h~ve ~ny spit left.

EXTE!UO!'t - HUEY nr-:!.ICO?TER

1-Iild D.ill H.:tcL«ughlin . ::ignals :or the helicopter pilot: to i:-:.c:-c,i~c ( hi~ rote.:- pitch .ind 'J~t o~,t of here.

t

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L.~COMBE

You will never reach Nirvana standinc;- on your head.

CLOSE - ROTOR BL~2'ES

They approach high R.P.M.'s

CLOSE - G?.!:ENEOUS~

lie wheels on the ga~ :he:ing and shouts above the noise.

Ga:EENEOOS:E: Who's for staying - !

Jill raises he= ha~d. Collin raises his. And Bessie & Ira wave theirs

GRJ::ENr.OOSE You will have to keep up with me and :U!l ve:y fast.

·1

· Suddenly the door slides closed behind hir.l. Greenhouse desperat:ly (; ~~--- usas his arm as a door jam and the soc.moo:: SPL!NT:C::\!NG Bom: o·.,er- rides . the engine whirr. Norman screams in pain and the medic opens the door to fi~c everyone without protective helmets. His eyes widen and he looks over at Wild Bill and Lacombe.

~he medic ~s fi;~ting with Gree~house eve: which direc:ion the door shoul~ travel.

CiR:::ENHOOSE (to the gathering) NOW - ! RON FOR TEZ MOtntTAZN-- !

Greenhouse st=ikes out ~nd smashes the me:ie i~ the necY. w~~h his foot. Lacor.tl'::leanc tviic Bill turn just in tim~ to see this an; ••••

Greenhouse, Jillian a~d Collin vault ove= the fallen soldie= sp:ir.~- ..:.n; ·towa:d the heavy ti:n:ier brush 300 yards uphill at the base cf Wa."!lsutter Mount.l:!.in. !r.l anc: Bessie hobble after them with no c:i::,.~:a of escape. Wild Bill r~ns to the helicopter and sees th~ five re- <. rnaininq travele=s, e~c:i wit.ho1.:t thei: helmets. Ile sla.-:ts the me~.:?.l doc= a~d spi~s on Laco::'.!>e.

((

l\t!CLE - O!>ENF!!:!.O - STECP GR!\DE

No::man falls to the ground holding his broken shoulder giving Collin and Jillian tL~e to catch up.

COLLIM

Collin.

G~EI-?HOUSE (out of shape) We can't stay here. Go on to the tree line and wait for me there •. (to Jillian) Are you following Qe?

The~· obey without a :nomerits hesitation. 1;orman, catching his l.lreat!'i looks back ove= his shoulder to the Chemical Salvage Op_e=ations below.

Lc~king at the tree line through binoculars. In the back~rounc three helicopters rise verticallj', each testing its powe:ful Quartz-Iodide sea=chlights. About a dozen special forces units load their ordana~c~s with 7.62 Uato round ball ~rnmunition. They c.irry Gas operatec semi- automatic M-l4's with M-2 infrared sniper sites.

L.l\COMDE No sir, there wasn't enouc;h time.

r

by midnight. ~ha~'s riot a lot of

I time either, but you've bought it. (

t

Two way speake: ?hone is placed next to Lacombe and Wild Bill ane a voice crac .kles out a:. them. {( I

VOICE -Major MacLau;hlin.

WILD BIL!. (he stiff ins) Yes sir. Speaking sir~

VOICE. In situations that at first glance see.'tl hopeless, we cust extract the 'signal' · from the 'noise'.

VOICE Do a pho~ogrcUT'.met=ic analysis of the nort~ern face. Use in£rared.

Wile 3ill makes a face as if to say, give me~ credit.

--.

VOICE Is t.11.at Lac om,j:e '.?

VOICE (a pause, then ••• ) Wait one. I have an incoming. . {speaking on another phone)· Yes sir.

{_

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' : . . '."'

\lile Dill 'nc<ls knowlingly ar.c.l crinkles wi~h sntisfaction.. ·rverybociy ·has a bo~s a=oun~ here.

The helicop"te=3 huve taken off and· th<:: _:;;:,ecial forces tea!!\ is alreac run~ing fully eg~i?ped into the fiel<l.

VOICE Okay Wild i3i-ll~ Uerc' s the sco·re at the half. He want a verifiable explanation for the leak in security. Ue are. assuming that the principals ir. question here are out of adjustment and won't lis~en to reason. If

- dust the er.tire northern fa~e with G-E two eleven. It's fast acting,. extre~aly · local, and should detoxify in several hours. ove=see operation yourself anc keep us informed.

(( - not mine.

UP .l\?!G!.!: - Wll.!-!SU~TER - HIGh'"T

Through the fir trees the top of Wam~utter's pe3k stanes out aqainst the fi.!ll mocn. From this perspective it appears insu:.not:ntable.

Selow it, three we~ry travele:s trudg~ up 38 degrees of loose topsoil and pine needles. Th~y can see t~oir way clear.until a cloud covers ~he moon.

THE VISU,\L QtJ.U.ITY OF tUGET SE:COHES TOO Oil.RI< TO ~GIST~R.

Jillian walks into a tree and slides down to its roots, losinq p=ecict ~·ards .before cat:hin; a hold of some unc.e:-growth. Collin also !itu.-:tbl!!~ and falls. l-Jorm2'.nUEARIHGthis sto:::,s dead in his tracks and watcr.~c ihe sky: •

F. 0. V. - w;...,1sUTT!:I'! PE:A.K

I T!!.I: HOON SLIPS OUT OF TI!!: C!.OUO ;\NO TIil! idtE:1\ If. ;\GAI,.; 0 I sc:rmAD L~.

(

~tl~denly, th~ -t=~~o: helicop:.crs light up tha uppe:-rno:;t region cf the ~o~ntnin to? and be~in to rn~nuev9: in an~ out of-ha:d to see areas.

CO!.L!H They've given us~ lot of credit. · That's a good t\·to hoi.;=s on foot.·

GnI::ENHOUSE (pointing) Do you ~P.e that notch in the mountain?

s~re enough - off to one side is another passage to the other side.

COL!.I!-1 Not i:i the c.ark. Net wi-=.h so many clouds cove=ing the moor.,

GRE!:HP.OUSE We'll res~ i~ the ea=k - and ~ake double ti::':'le i:: th-a. moo:\lig~t. · ~-re'11 pace our- selves. Let tha clouds cecide how.long it'll take.

J!LLI.~N (pointi~g at the peak} There go f~u= more.

A fo:T.atio~ c: rec. anc. g:-ee!l helicopter lights and ~he accor.ipan:,,i:ig SOUNDS hove:- above ihe platea~ anc. d~sc~~e to the other side of t~e ~ountain. ~

J'ILL!A!l There's ano~her ravine that leads up hill, ..•. anc it's an easier climb . . !. rem~ober from my painting .•. it starts on the north- east face and ••••

CO!.L!N \,hat do you think is on the o:.hc::- sida?

(

Th&re Is a bo:._ canyon. ! t Is rir-1.'!\ed with trees and hiking truils.

((

J!LLI.'\!l I never imagined th~t. I'd just color the one sic.e.

COLL!!! Same here.

Jillian sm:i.les warr.ily just as the :noon appears to show G::-eenhouse how.really lovely she is.

GR.E:ENHOUSE (has to tear ~i!':\sel! away)· Double tL~e. C'rnon.

EY.'1'ZRIOR - E!VO'f:'AC A?..E.?\ .~.1.:0 r.E!..OPAD - HIGHT

A clutch cf A=my e~ginea~~ relay ten gallon s~ainless steel cani~t~~: of nerve gas to the wait.in; helii:opter. Th~ men wo:k gingerly and in silence. "Jilc Bill s':ands ne:i.r:n ~-.-atchini; the 6r.iera~i,:,n. i!e ::-iec:<~ his watch and looks up at t::.e ~ou:1tain. •

··- CLOSE-~A SNIPERSCOPE

A young soleiei of t~e special fcrces airns his H-14, s~uinting thrc~s his infrared scope. He ?aints th~ forest region wit~ graceful s~eeps of his o~dina~ce.

H!i>.T THE !'NFP.A?.EO s;;r;s ·

Hulti?le swi=ls of color. Organic ~ea::-c~v•na mat~t?r re;istc.:-s a bright orange and red. A t~ousan~ birds·;l;ep in the brar.ches of hundretls of fir trees. The faint l~~ir.os~ty ~akes the solarized ~:ees look liJ~e Chris t.-nas •

TIM~E~ LINZ - SOLO!~~S

The do:en special forces have fanned out and rnove steadily U? the mountain.

The mo6n is oasked by a thick ~loud.

ANGLE - ST£Cjl 'I'.CR?..A!N

All at once, ~rcenhouse, Colli~ and ~illi~n f~ll to the 9rounrl, c~- h ..:\uste-c, br.cn thl~ss.

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COLLIN r hope it's a big cloud.

(( i ·. J!oth J'illian anc z:o:rnan a:-e silouctt.os ac;ninst tho fain·t gu~litr of a moonl~~s night. •.

Her fa:e glows again from the moonlight.

' ..

t·:!D!: ANGLE

Casting faint shadows, the group picks up whe:-e th-ey left of!• • • • running wildly fer the r.otch at the s~"Tu-:tit.

':'r.RO::.iGH !l>u?-.Ti.?.ZD SCO?E

Th:-e-: retl f ·ig'..!res ='..!nnin; U?hill a;ainst a royal bl'ue ba.ckg:ounc.. I= is only a deer. · ' I I {~ '!?.E . SOLD!E::t ' . ·,_ E~ picks up his walkie talkie and speaks in a low voice.

I 1 I

SPECI.;L :'ORC~S Pyramid ~o ~ah~~a.

I. WI!..ODIL:!:.'S VOICE

· Bahama go'ed.

SFEC!~.L r'O?.C!:S llothinc; to report from mid-station. I'ci need th:-ee ciines the gro~,d force -to cover this whole mountain in one hour.

WILD BILL'S vo:c~ (~ftcr a p~use, he continues gr itr.ly) Be advise~ you will return to base-li~e at once. 'l'h<lt oeans !1a;;.ling-1. th~ oti.1e= way.

I C!,CS! - HILD ~ I!.L ( t

l·IIT.D HI!.!. Gat eve:ybody off the north~rn fnce. Call t:1(.: da:.-l~ sid1~ of the moon and ta 11 'cm we're proce:eiling with extrc::rne prc:ju:iice.

((

Wile Bill lights ,L hi!vana, th~n watches the w::,c:1":!n r.,a~ch burn slowly toward his fin;ers. Ju~t as it i~ abou~ to singe, the SOUNbS of pro- pelle:- bla.cies r.lut out thr:? f larne. Ro~or-wash slicks back his ha,i= and he looks towards •.•••

CLOSE · - LAC0:·13!

:ie is- sitting with five other nond~s:::,:-ipt Proctor and Ga::tble types i~ ·t!'le blacl: Cu~illac lioousi:ie. He reaches a hand out the win'1ow and gives Wile:. Eill th~ thu~bs ·UP sign.

CLosr: - HILO S!L!,

•

Suddenl~·, t:,e car he sits in sta:::ts to rit;e. vertically ••• goin; highe: and higher until the sling is visible and the'helico?ter ( tr'ans-oortir.c it. Lacnm::-a t'Ol ls u::, the '!.•1indo•.., e.s tne Cac illac rna.!-~es (( ; a ~i~:air sfarboa:d turn and hea~s towa.rcl the other side of the r:iour1 tain.

J.lCVI~~G ~.:.,CLE - T::E TR!C

S ....... , . ,1__._.,,.,._, i·...•• g I s0-._,_._ 0 .. 1.·-.:,s·, ; ,,_ ----a\-•l;-• ".-• ng I t·.-,ey_ to ...-- ....,.._ !"e t'l'l'"·,._,_._ .... -.::el\re ..- i·n -;,,n .1.·ntu1.·ti'•.•-. ~ace agai~st ti~a.

lie points to an Army eng inee= w!.o in turn gives the cll.!al thur.1bs t:? tc I I

I tically ~nd pivots towar~ its mission. The six death canaster~ S?arkling in the moonli;ht.

Hclding hi!. inju.:-ad a::-r:1., he dig:. i.nto c:hc mount~in, his GX!,:):essi:>n indicating that their goal is in sight. I

(

She looks- u,..i an..1 ~~es the .t.urrirnit notch, turns to Colli:"i.

CLOSE - COL!..It:

..

Collin is in such poor physic:il cohdi tion t!,c'.lt he trails the.:\ b:,· fifty :r"~rd~. Uc stop~ to cntch his br_ea~!1, but ·changes his min~ and races after tham.

l\NGL~ - TEE: Tn~~:cn Lii1E l\T THE rURT:iEST E:t-;o OF '!RE ~:cnTH .FACIHG HOUNTA.!N

A p~r!ecfly terrible explosion of noise and the assault chopper trims the tree ~ops, its po~e:ful ~elly-li;ht shining t.~e way.

ANG!.:C:

Alreacy they can hear the dis:ant rotor-blades when the mou~tain is

look back fer C~llin.

• Gm:EN::0U5~ It's just up awa1•s. C'mo1~.

<.

COLLit, Is VOIC::: (panting hard) No wait ••• the deal was ••• the cloues eecide.

The chopper so~~c grows louder ~Y th~ seco~d.

· GRE~NHOO.:E You're in the clea=ing •. ~ he'll S?Ot you.

COLLIN'S VOIC= ·Fuck 'em ... so what's he gonna ~o •• land on me?

I . CLOSE - TREE ~OPS

The helicopter flies low over a tree ton •• : moment~ later Meadcw larks begin c=op?ing :rom the ~r~nches iike flies z~p?ed by Black Flag.

I {

ANGLE - '!'EE SKY I The moon i~ t~J;ing it~ time, ta~sing the tip cf the rne,ndering cloud (( anc? ... .•.. , I CLOSZ - GRE~HHOUSE .:. J'·ILL!l\!!

Slowly •... moor.light tegin~ to play on ·their faces. They turn and , I break into a firial headlong crawl for th~ top. I

;1.?:GLE - CO!.LI:-1

Slowly.stand~ up and brushes himself off. Even no~the light of the helicopte= is closing in over Colli~'s shoulder.

GREE~~F.Ct!~~' S ~. 0. V. - T!!E St:?-1t1IT

It is only fifty i~=ds uphill. n carpet of loosi bedrock welco~~s the~. ~o=~a~ tnka~ two stcos and =~lls ••. he slides cast0 Jillia~ ~nd back ~he way he came u~ .•• gathering sp~ed untli ~is h3~d c~tches a loop of U::Lcil!=brus~ and break:; his fall. ..... Jillian eo~sn't know what to d~ ... she hear~ the ~pproeching helico?te: and look~ up at their goal. She decides to walk ~ow~ t~e ~ountain ~nd h~lp ~orman.

CREEi-H!Ou.5Z NO - ! ST;.~ THERE - ! ST;~y 'l'.HZ:U:

Greenhouse ha.:; recovered and is le«?ing \.Tith ~ll he has in r12s~r·1e U? the r.:.oun:ain side. l'low the helicopt<ar can be seen oviilr :,.;orrna:i's right shoulder.

Jillian extends her han~ ••• nnd ~aits.

No.rr.:an pourir.g it on ••• he reaches out with his.

CLCS~ - COLI.Ill

lie coulc!:1' t ca:e l-:!ss. lie is waU:in~. The h-alicc;,ter is so close it totally outlines him in a co:ona of light. Collin se~cs to b~ g~sturing ••• 'j~st go urc~nd rne'.

(

• .:

GREI:t~iiOUSE E. JILL!1\N I Their luintls uni tc toc;c! ::her ~nd l:.h1]y fight the loose bedrock toward (r the notc11 :;ur,,.rnit - tlie p~a=chli~.fi:f;. ju.st now outlining t.:ieir strc;,~:.:-ig I sh~p·.a-s, · and .•.•.•

CLO~E - CCLLil;

'!'he assault chopper zooms over hi::t ancl i:n a hl"st· of after-wash that musses h-is hair arld clothing. Ile.continu-es to ,...·alk ar.id p::obal:>ly· tloesn' t even· notice that his head is invol~,.tarily twi-:.ching to or,e s~de.

•.

SLI~Im;

while heading towares a snarl of timberline veg~tatio~. They stop a~d I rise ~lowly to their feet on ground de~ply cushic1~tl by many seaso~'s w~rth o~ fall3n h3mlock needles. • (.'

i,nd tr.::ou,;h n dense blind, r.taybe fi::ty ya.r.ds over flat grount!, cc:':les a ha:~ of lig:it. It is ce-::-tninly ne·,., a~d perhc:?S a f ir~al c;oal that encoc.rages Norman and J'illia:'l a.nc. prevents the~ from. resting.

r~ending the way, Nor~a:, icr:i.ores the . pain f=om _ his in~rt left ar.n as h~ I tears a passage ti1=0ugh the thi:kl!t while Jillia!'l. dodges .a.n-:lhops over branches that whip ~~~k at her face and body. t

P.O.V ..

And the ligh~ grows stendily brighter ••• the deep growth b~;inning ~o thin oct. Always that glow just a few yards further and ••••

Ri~ping his way ~long, groaning ~nd ~hee~ing and ehall~ngi~g tha pain .

•

......

'l'P..t'\Vi:!,J.r?G 1~. 0. V'.

(( ":i heac.Uong advanc~ aCJainst a lutticawork of ·.:ct~ds until they have cleared any furthe:- o::st~c!.e.3 nnci can cotmt the shafts of .l.ight stabbir1g at the mist. from .:i source ju~t "below the tip of this 0_1.1tcrcr- pla tea'u and .•...••

CLOSE - GREENHOUSE & JILr.IA?T ,

Cheeks almost touching they pee~< ovC?r the edge and look c1own upo:,...

FLOOP. OF TI-='.EBOX Ci\,·iY•JN

The area of exact si:c and artificiallv flattened to three-hund=ee yards eas-:-west, '::wo hundt"ec. north-south. Powerful ,\·crking li;ht:; fro~ stadium sized steel poles ill\.lrninate t~e er~tire box canyon region, proJec~ing rnultipl~ ~hadows from the over thrce-hund:ed ~=ound personnel who bl.lsy thenselves in a var:..~:y of -:ech:1olc-1 .~.cal funct:.:ms. !t rese:':'.bles a sa::1dlot football field. T!,ere are dc::en:s of ve=tical lines, li::e a -carefullyprog.=arr.r:.ed mathematical qric. Nobod:,• seems to dara walk ir. this ar~a. A cordon of t.111!:ulances and severc:.l mcb:.le home trailers C'lUtlin~ the east facing ?erinuaters. Alcns the west facing sideline is Tent City. Scattered.within bot~ end zones a:e ~any tons worth of stainless :sta~l scientlfi: hardware. It rcssmbJ.es a stockpile of seconc5. wave rein:or:::emcnts fro ... a. joi~t Army-Ai: Force ~ssault O?~ration. · · ·-·

No less ~han a tho~sanc came:-as form a line fifti• yards ~-.ric~. '!'-!n· rnen ~ande= ~~ck an~ fo=th caking U?datcd judggments. A:1 industri~l hi;h-speed 35~~ mc:ticn picture cevice is =~a.dice ju!:.t a few yarc':.s further down the line. It has the ca?abi!ity cf spinninq off 3000. frames pe= second. ·

CLOSE?. ;\HCL!: /

T\o;o sp·ectcm~t.ers anc. a photoelectrical camera rese~:>ling big bazooka:. encasee in cement ~nd piloted by a co~ple of men srncking cisarcttc~ in white shirts with their sleeves roll~d up. ttost of the perso~nel i re~em:>le whita collar ~or~e:s flnd o: c!os~r inspection it do~sn't look lil:e t~,ere is a military man n:noric;st them.

l!c c.in' t dige: t this as his ayes chug-:-,"l-1 ug the-: j ;gs:i..1 l.i.rout fift:i· yards below. I

(

'<.. "',. . -~ J ~ ~ \ ;

BO~: CANYO~! OP1:P...Yl'IO~? .\:

"'\.'.·;

Six wo:kers h~re carry thr~e Ya~aha moag synthes~zer~ thirty ya~- ' onto Lhc re~trict~<l pl~ying field,· wi~~s ~nd ~xtensicn ccrdz t~~iling hehind tha?.l. J\.. :::impla ccor.olin~ van ntarts \lp ,,.nd follows tt':.cr.t ~u.t. Its raar doorz ar,-; op~.iH::e<laml ten Concord cutdooc sp~akers arc remcve,'i.

l\. balding white collar wod~er flips '1 s,.;ritch and plays :;everal :iotes. Ile is encour~gcd by light applause and bre~ks into a corny renditio~ of uoo:-:RIVER. A voice shouts at him critici::int"T his abilities and ~cattered laughter is heard. The ~usic stops •. - ·

A gentle chime is signal to= everyone to st~p w~~t they are do!r.g ane lock into t:ie c:-:y. Irr.mediately, the !:lank of overhead lights is· co\:.se -~ leaving only tiny ::-eci.·,,n~kir.g. lights to color the field below .

C!.OSE: - J!!..I.!Ali 1'-.~:oG?.ZE~J:-iCt!SE

They·t~rn a:ou..~d and look at the sky also.

'!HE :::::GHT SKY

Planets, sta=s anc const~llation~. It is still and ~acni€ice~t. Particularly visible a~ this hcur of night i~. the cQn;t9llation ORIO~, '!'.HE HiJ!iTt:R, mad:: Ui? of twelve sta:-~ of varj•ir.g d·:!CJJ;ees of ir.agnitl.lde.

tis one of the mcst PO?Ular st~r g~cupings in our univer$e.

So it will ~ome as a broad shock wten thesP. stars be;io t.o rcnrra.:-:ge

I

themsP.lvcs before cur very eyes. O=ion s belt, sword, shoulder~ ~:nc. leg~ converging to a ve=y bright point before splaying ofl in twelv~ directicns and :orming t.he most popular pf .::ll ccnstellati~n:., TE~ DIG Oil'P'F!R.

;.,rpr.;~usE is :!r:,;:-.i,f rorr, the a!. sembly in the :o::-: cn.nyon area anc1 •••.• I. t THE N!GHT SKY ' The EIG :>IPP:ER fo::na~iori tips ove=, hancll? forward until an au=o:a nf col~r see~s to S?ill o~t of it like cel~sti~l milk.

I

J\!\.HS i\NO OOHS c~n be 1-n:A..-w1:rc::'l the bo~ canyon a:-ea. It s just like a half time show.

CLOS'£ - CrtI::ENHOUSC

U:'lccrt.;lin whethe::- !ic is nwc:ike or. nrcn:ni:,g. 1'-. lc,nP.ty el.oud i~ C!;c:,:-~cc t? an area of ~ky directly ov~rho~d. Two f~~t coving points of lig~t brgin to.revolve ar~u:,d it until the cloud is ~et swirling. Cthe~ I ( p~int~ of colnr joint~~ 5wirlinq vn?or~ n~d begin to b~cklight i~. Th~ cloud ~oon re~:mblc~ the C~therine whQ~l oE tha 'ncnr' upirnl' \ .. :1~uul..:lc t!l.:'lt .:u:~:::-C')nCi~!:!i.!.; •.!ill r,~cogr.i::e frc;~ !!cssicr !;l (;ISlj i. r, !.~a

,

•.

conitcll~ti;n c~n~s Venatici. A single point of light takes up · a pi:is i tion within · thu outer !ipiral ~'tr:t nn,1 corn:n:::n:;es bliral:inl:i on ;jnd off p~::.-!1af.1Sinclic.J. ting 'hc,,,,E::!'• {( I

I J ill.ian ba;in~ to visibly l:rerable. Greenhouse is struc}. down \-tit.h wt:.onc.er. Visible in the clisean'cc bt.?tt,een ·1:h~rn ar~ a formatioii ol thr~e i bl.nzing ort\nga lights. 'j;'hey ,1:-~ f lyi1,g ~m1;erC>"..1::.ly law· ~nci will pass

' i overhead iii st!conc.ls. Gi·een~ouse & .Jillian turn t:c se~ ther:t -and duck low ir, the g1:ass as th~ir imagoes oi·e:re·>:pcse c1nd r.1ela fror.1. ti1e 's!::a.:c:-1- li.ght' intar.sit~· of the descendir.g globel:i until \ve feel that a collision js_eMine~t. Dut that i~ ~ot the c~sc her~. Instead, ~he t= io of lu.-ninescan t r..~chil'H!S rle·sct:?nds toward tho box canyor. valley and hove~ tw~~ty feet nv~rhgad.

The two ~ement encased specto;nete:-s begin p=oducinq CC"l~puteriz-:!d ~~i~t outs as i= link~d in con~unicatio~. T~e objects run thro~sh the color S?ectrurn f=o:-:l :J.l"':ra-violet to infra-rad. We hea: enginee:-s VOICE !ro::1 t!i-e a:::-e:a arcun5 the. ~pec-:o~ete:s. ;;e i~ s.ho~tin,; towi:lrd the rm...sician-engin~e= who has 'i:.ak~n cl seat l.Je:1fnd the Ya.~aha syn- t!1esize=. .. .•

How a~ou~ a slow alt~rnating ;atte~1 toward the cool range please, with hcs!tstin~ on chroma :::-aJ 14, chrc~a yello~ 12 an~ the ilur:1.inar, t point.

J!:J\!1 C!.AU!:>E r~ !H ri!S THIR'.:I::s, r~=? ·JC'H A!m R!:S~-tB:.;:!! :,I!.!.!.'\:! S}i~.I~!i?t:~?.E •. IT IS I!!S JOB 'l,O Il~TE:3..?.!l~!' ':!IZ r-:z:~r.,!si;LAL·:GUAC~ INTO l·lUSICl~l. ·sT;~-:·Z!·U:?!':'S.

I

,.:m:~ucr..~c::,z

"Four-sixte~nths plural on fiv~. four-eighths on ~-6-J-5. Th=ee rais~ 3-i-1-5. Lower th:eu.

The sweaty ?:1usicic1.r. engi!'\ecr poises his fingers ~nd pl.::.ys a nu.~~e= of ~tonal scunds. The music blures out of .tne Conco=d ::pe.al:ers.

;'.!.-L N: 01:cz ·:m:: CLOE:i::'.; co~:r>r..~ t',i·:o SH!!'': TI!!::!~ COLOR ~F!-CT~1t:i! Il,\C!: T!ll: OTI!E!t \·~.f\~, !'AUSI~!C 01: n~:,, ~ELLO\"! i,l'Il? Oi\\"LI~I?':' ~i:i!TI:, Llt-1'l"IL'l'!:E ~!-:T:Z:.!:: ~COTn;..LL F !ZL~ I!j E"\'C:!.;Tur.LI.i." ~;\TH~0 I!T U!.'!!ti'\-VIOI.l:T. 1\.!!!."Cm:: t-;::;;,.P.:~{:; ;. wu:Tr: S!l!~':' !S CLo~n::c .!t; Tm: 'n!:.,·.c::L!GI!T' •

( \

•

\_ ,, \

Sornethin~ P.lse iii .coming down from the sky. They are the tiiZe arid sh, of ics cub~s but r~dl~te such in~~nse light that cveryon~ i~ the ficl must put on he~vy pol~roia gl~~ses. About three-hundred of these brilli~~t ~ube~ descend inn feather 1ight ruoh ~nd perform simply ~1ma:i:-ig three c.1im~n$iOn feat.s. 'l'hey branst:orr:i the g~therin;. Thizy s-:-!a together in a f l,~rn:.ng pyra.":1.id of light, croat-:! a swirling vortex out which pours luminescent dust; smaller pinpoint: sized cubes that settl ove:: cve,·ything like fireflies on a hot Si.-4.nr.\e:e,,ening. The lighted dust se~tles on everyones heacl and shoulder~ and comme~ses twink!ing while the larger cubes outline the valley arena in a configuraticn that rct!'lincs us of lci.nding lights at major ai=ports. BLINJ~- DLim:- BLitH:. 'l'!~e cubes qo from hot red-to ultra violet to or~nge. It:.'s li!~a a- !ii;-na:. TINK-Tim~-Trm-:. The lighted danc::.ruf~ in pecple • s r.air and on thei: clothing changes hue from ~hite to blue to bright orange and st~rts a slow fade.

Arca scient~sts are running frantically trying to perserve samples before the elements dissolve into thin air. They help pick them off each other with tweezers and conventional soup spoons. Microscope came~as have been set up and sume of these specl;s are being ph:::>t:>- gra?hed on the dirt play field.

CLOSE - GP.EENHOliSZ & J!LLI~i ·

Like everyone else down below, there is lighted dust on their finge=s a:'le in their hair. Greenhouse is deli:::ious with dis-covery. He cups f.i~ ' I hands as, one by one, the pinpoints dissolve into nothing. (~;

I

MJ\CRO INSERT - G?..E:SHi-iOUSE S HANDS

\-_

One fi~al micro-cube re~ains. It is so bright that his c~pped hancs reflect light o!f his face. The ~ic:o cube doe~ som~thing e~trao:dinaf It fines its way underneath the skin in ·Uorman' s opan ?alrn withcut i causing· the slightest tinge of pain . . ue watches it travel arount! the, inside of his hand, up a finger, down to the wrist, into a vein. The vei~ glows bright·blue ns the speck of light :uns its course arou~d the hand and fi1,ally, sadly, fades out leaving everything dark and silent an.d mystical.

THIU:!: HUSICAL SOUNDS BLARE DOHN FROM so:-U::mratmIN THE Si<Y. I The musical engineer· imitates the sky tones. A computer Viln behind hirr int=oduces a young floor manager who runs shee~ music back ~nd fo=th. He gives~,~ musicn~_engineer four bars of something else t~ pl~v. Heavy decisions arci orig!n~ting from in~ide thnt c~~?u:cr v~n. T~e musiclll anginee: reads the notes ~nd plays the~ outri;!,t on the k~y boa=c.. The Concord Rpeclkers t-i:-o.Jdc~st the earthly sound~. Ir..:r.e:.;.nt~l::", a diamontl formation of eg9 shaped self lu~in~sccnt o~jects st~rt to desca~d, twirling ~ne changing color ~lon; t~c way ..

• J\NGI.E - ~R'C!:NTiOUSi: ,\i·ff'I ,7!LLI.!\N (

Gr.conhou::.e r.lU~t -~ct closer. ii-:! sta:-t!:: to cl.i?i::., ciow:i the li? of t::~

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-~

plateau ridge b.ut Jillian sto.1:-'~ him. I (( JILLil\.H •.

T!'l.ey'll sae you.

GR!::ENIIOUSC Watch me. Ztep whera I step •. C'mon.

CRE:i::~iHOUSE STZ\.RTS'!'O LOWER HIHSE!.F. It s a ten foot d.:op to another grassy outcropping. He chances i~ and lets ao. Greenhouse falls awk- wardly, flopping cow:1 on his back and biting off a scream f:orn his already injured right arm.

VEP.Y c:.osE SHO'!'

Laco~~e steps from the compu~er van. He p~ts on a sun screen pair of gla3ses and looks into the sky. The floor manager comes over with sheet. :nus ic, pape:: clnd pencil at the reac.y. The two of them .ire I · joined by Jean Claude~

<c

JEAN CLi'WDE

I Start clgain on the Solfeggio. Play "the tonic

l-J-5-1. 1-3 plus 5. One minus three minus.

The floor manager sc:iboles as ·fest a~ ~ean Claude can spea~ and hurries·~he scale to the ~usic~l engi~eer. He sight reads it with the

heard~ Then he flicks the speakers to on and plays the configuration •

EXACTLY ON CUE THE DIAMOND FOR!1.l\.TION 0: O!:>JECTS STAND OLi ENO ~?IO "F!.U'!'Tl!?." TOWARD THE GRom;D LI:i::Z:: r'ALLING LEAVES •

Lacombe smiles. He is exhausted. Ue smiles ac:ain - about fiftee!'l year worth. Cl\.MEI'.A?ANS. to an upright ice bucket and a magnum of !-!l.:m~ Champagne.

i\NG!.E - .B.i\'!''!'EnY OF' CN·lERi\S CL!CI~!NG A\·:,Y{

i\n opercitor looks eowr. cit his arms. i\ll ·of the lu1ir is stan:Hn; er-. end. Static elect:- ici t.y crcickle:a t·h:-ouQh the mild h1.::nidi ty. {

t

W~tching through sun goggles they c~n feel their ~kin cr~wling. T~e i:,\lR ON TOP OF Tm:rn IiEJ\.1)S S'l'Ai-iOS EP.l:C'L' ·,'\r,D UEi-HJ5 IN THE: PRECISE DIRECTION 0~ THE t:GG SIIAP!:D OCJ!::CTS 1\S TI!EY cr.ncLE OVERHEAD.

CF\l-tER.1!,.TECIINICIAN

Ile is in cha:ge of three hundred sensitive auto driven industrial ·cameras but still has tiwe to steai a personal I?hoto. with his sto=e >ought .Kodak Instamatic. ·

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ANGLE - GnEENHOUSE

Clim.binc; down the box canyon. Slip;,ing. Back peed.ling. Edging alor.q a narro~ S?lit in the mountain.

~OUR O:E:LIGHT~l.iL CF.IMES ~.RI:: F.E..n.RO FROM THE OVERHEADSKIES.

C~OS! - WILD BILL

r.e steps 'from the computer van and hands a piece of paper to Jea~ Claude.

· ANGLE - ?·:t!SICJ\.L t:t-lGINEER

le ~ods and replays the notes o~ce to himself, then ~ith the speakers tur!'led full on fo:- everyone to hear. HE STRIKES TUC KEYS.

THE CUBOIOS that are acting as landing co~ordinants once Dgain change color to a white magnesiu.~ intensity.

:Vt:!.YDODY·TENSES UP }UiO LOOKS S:Ki"W~RO.

CI.03E - G:JJ:::NHOUSE

Almost to the vnllay flat~ he pnuses in the harsh glow and looks tcw~rds the east rim of the box canyon cliffs • .

;~ Sta; IS RISING OVER TII:! LI!> O!: \·:AMSUTT!::11CANYO:-J.l'~ FIR.E-OP.J\t:G~ OC,TtC': ;-..T :i:.~1\ST i:'IFTY YAR.OS LONC CREEFS l!IGIIEn STI!.r. ••••••••

{

,

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C~OSE - G~ECWiCU~!

(( Hu g~~ps at its ~ize and ·brilli~ncc.

The o=ange light spilling over onto everyone waiting below. And n hush thickens over many of~h~ assembled.

l-iAMSUTTE!t CA?TYON R!t-1

..

~he c=anqe crescent continu~s to rise until we are finally aware that there is tnore here thu.t meets.th~ eye. ·

THE F!RE OR.~,JIGE OBJECT IZ ONLY A oortE I>P.OTRtJTION RESTI!?G ON TOP OF 1-. SUPER STRUCTURE TH..;T HUST BE THO HUHORED YJ\RDS I?? DIAMETER. IT IS J~H ODD BALL TYPE OF M;..C!IINE Tl~.T KE:SE:·!BL!:S NOTHING EVE?. F.£PORT!:O 1'0 Tl!E PRESS OR SCI-FI BUFFS. DOCTO~ zr::us.sCOULD HAVE DESIGNCO -!T I FO?. A.r..I. OF ITS COLO?..E'ULECCENTRICITIES .LIGHT BEA:-1S STAB DOZENS OF YAP.DS I~ EVI:RY Dim:cTIO~J FROM A TIIOUSi\l!D PORT LIKE OPE~!INGS. Pi\R'!'Y L:GHTS REVO!,V!:: A.not.mo·ITS DUTCI! rERI!lE~!:nS. OOZt:?rS OF STROBE CE~i!C.!:S ST!!tG TH~ !:".:.'ES. IT IS SUCH I', TASTE!.ESS' llIZZl~R~ i\NO InPoss:BLE OEV:CE TI!.Z\.T .IT DOE:St~'T SZEH LIKE IT SiIOliLD DE REAL.. LET A!.,ONE CAPABLZ 0.: FLYI~lG.

--·· HILD BILL

I'd give up half my commission to kno~ the ultr~physics of that sucker.

LACO~SE . (breathless wit~ wdrds) I believe they are brenking the second law of thercodynamics right before our very eyes.

, ANGLE - FI.ELD 't·;QR!<E!tS

..

They watch with a r'1re as!:iortment of incredulous e~pressions. One man s43ems- to be crj•ing. Other!:i step backwards a!i this f lyirig carni\~al ca.:twheels over the box cilnyon and gets ready to set itself cown in the middle of the concourse.

T9~ CUBOIOS th~t ac~ as lnnding co-o=din~nts ~;nin change color. This ti:\le a hazy blue. l'I!E t-1o·rm~nSUI!) l\ckno\.rlcclges by ioi t'1 ting the er iss- c=oss blue light p~t~e=n ~11 along her underbelly. Or.ca again, the :cboitls re-set.~ different value and configu~~tion ~ll tog~tncr.·The r-~OTIIEn. SHIP follows suit '1nc.l SOUNOLCSSL'."l:Jcgins u. p-::!rfeet clE:ar a.ii: approach. I

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J.J.~

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CL')SE - G.:U:.ct-mousr:

l!cJ.ving arri ,,ed .::.t the bot~om of the canyon. tte is ·watching all or thi~ only fifty feet behind the3 first row of scic:ntific personnel.

'I Even as MOTHER SlIIr is touching down her external P.A. system sings o~t a short melodic arrangement .

Jeun Claude is breathless and harcly able to speak but smiles through h adreniia:i. rush at Wild Bill and I.acorn~~-

JEA!1 CLAUDE It's a beautiful hello like Mozart •

WILD ijlLL Hello them back.like Merle Haggard.

JEAN CI.J\UDE (to musician engineer} .

twice.

The musician nods and with.trembling hands repeats the greeting we just hearc i~ amino= key. Repeats it again.

I

~~ ANGLE - GRZENHUUSE ··- ' He is careful not· to be seen but wants d~sperately to ~et a·closer look. J~ starts forward nonchalantly. A hundred frozin human hea~s st!ll. block his view.

DCST_ is rising i~ a 15 foot circle and a technician steps into the area t= i:nvestigate. He tak.es a short ·bounce on the balls of his faet and a~ if on a trampoline, sails seven feet in the air.

I I TECHNICil\N 'I

Got a negative gravity zone ••• about 30%.

' l11st:urnents and gauges are ~ushed to the spot to probe, measure and , I document.

't'hey forr.t a straight line nnd enti:!r the i·tOTncn SiII!' th:ouqh t!n er.see:-. cpening . .i\ll i:. still. Nol.:-ody even d~:-es move a mt.u~cic. The quiet. I grows l\nn,.arving. D!J.'\STI'NC rROH 'l'IIE MOTli!:::':?.Slt!P COME FIVE MUSIC:\!. ·:c:;Es.

C

Antl everybotly just about jumps out of their clothes. I (( CLOSZ - It-!SIOJ: ·rHE co~,iPUT.CR Vl\N

The computar di;est~ the~~ tones nnd prints out the me~sage. A ycang ' i t~chnician speaks into~ pencil mike.

YOUNG C0!1PUTER TE:Cl!NICIAN Greetings. Greetings. Uello. Hello.

l·7ILD DILL ·· (out of the corner of his mouth) I thought we went through all that. ,,

, I Lacor.t.:>e shr~gs. He locks to Jean Claude. Jean Claude sh..-ugs nnd locks to the musician engineer. •

The Yamana beats back the simp~e greeting.

I ELASTim; OUT O:' THE F!.ASH!NG MOTHER SHIP CO~lES ANOTHE?. S'ZRIES OF UO:'ES THIS TIME IN INTERVALS il.N!:>RH'!THM. (( ..., "'---

LACOMBE: (hearing this) I don't get it.

t l' WILO BILL

Give it back to them. Note for note.

- ;,m:;L:E: - TI!! MOTIIER sn:a,

/,ll if. still. I.lLJ\STING FP.OM THE MOT!!En SIII? J\Gi 1,IN CONES THE: st...:,,zt-JO'rEs

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..' \ LACO!-t!3:':

I

(to Yamaha musician)

(( Ag~in. Turn up your volume.

The Yamaha returns the volley of music.

·rHE MOTI-iE:n Sll!P Rr:PEATS HERSELF £VEN BEFORE YA!-IAHA IS FINISHED •.

Yarna~a repeats th~ g.:-eeting stepping on MOTHERSHIP's last notes. ?·lOTHER ·SHI? ove:laps the last two notas at the end of the Yamaha

and repeats herself. ~amaha cuts off MOTP.ERSHI? s last th.:ee not~s _and,· my God, they are actually jaming.

Everythin; stops - ! You could hear someone swallow. The Yamaha ~usician looks over his shoulder for instructions. He is shining with sweat .

The coneition of light inside the MOTHER SHIP is only slightly better than looking point ~lank into a sodium vapor sear~hlight.

I Everyone adj~sts his polaroids as the rising light ~rawls up their leg to thei= faces ar.d whites out all expr~ssion. :(; ':'HE?.E IS A FIGURE: "ST~NDING IN A FLOOD 0: BACK!..IG!-rT SO HARSH Tfl:'\T !T CAtiS.ES I!·L:..GE DISTORTION, MAl~I!-!G THE: FIGURE AP?:E:AR LI:,~ PIPE CLE1\l -iZ?.S N T:iE SHAP::: Or ).R:·1S Al~D LEGS.

':'HE .FIGURE 3EG!!!S TO HOVE FORN.;?..OOUT OF THE l-!OTHERS!'!IP, Gri.IN!NG l~OSTURZ AND GIRTH ;..HD ••••

IT LOOKS HU:-Lll.N. AR!·lS AND LEGS ANO WEARING AN OUTOATE~ UNITED STATES I I NAVY FL.;K JACKET.

C!..OSE - GR!:ENHOUSE ' I

1-te has found an opening in the sideline c=owd and sees ••••••

Lacombe tu:ns to a · rnan seated next to him.

L1,COMBE C~n you tell who i~ is yet?

I . '!'he man seated ne~:t to him quickly lool-:s nt the figure t.hrou;h u. ~~':. of tripod binoculars. In f :ont of him is a po~;t:erboarcl with 'l'WO m::-;:·F'.: ( SNAPSHOTS OF PEO!'LE'S FAC~S. He speed sca:'\s th~ photos. \

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SPEED ~C1\NN~R Charles ·1·nylor ,. tJ. s. !-: • l!ijZ1.ck~cl December S.th, 194~, so~th of C:hic};cn Shoals, Dermuda.

WIDi: 1\NGLE - THE !-lf.!::T!NG

Wild Bill steps forward to greet the man.

Taylor has a eupho=ic ease iri the manner in which he speaks. H~ is surprised by none of this. EIGHT OTI!!:R FIGURES APP~;..R !N THE OPENING OF ·TH:: !-!OTHER SHIP. l\ll of them a:e young Naval Ai:-rnen and are dressed in post WWII flying outfits.

Wile - Bill begins shaking their hands. All of them are ·mil~ly at ~ase about being back home •

.........

•7\ DOZEN OTI!E:RS APPEAR AT '!'HE SH!?' S OPEN!i.JG. ;~ FEH \·;Qi-lEU i.JOi·l,.=.1.1J. MOSTLY H!:i-c. AND .EE:r'CR.E TOO Lom; A Vf;RIT,\DI..E EXODUS OF HUi·l.At-15COi·!E POURING OU'!' OF THE NO~nEK SH!P ;..ND I:iTO '+'HE t-~OHI!;G EVJ::~!t-iG.

THE HOTSER SHIP REl'EA'l'S H.!::R'l'ONE POEH. THE Ylu -1''\r..A ?.£~·EATS f!!S ;.~:vTH~ HUS IC GIVES ?0:-1:!? i\!H:> CEPJ::HONY TO THE " IU.:TURNitiG. HUSONtRS OF Tii·lE.

Every scientist and technician who can leave their ~osts doe~ sc to shake hands with th~ heroes. It is a ·welcome h~rne c~lebratio~ only slightly sub~ued in _ the enormous presen~e of the MOTHERSHI?.

(ciur ina hand2:1hc:ikes) Einstein was probably one of the1~i. (back tu the P.O.T.'s) Graetings. Enjoy the trip? So:ne fun, huh? Conc;r.n~ulations!

,

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Three i•iED!CAL l'E~SONS are waving the evacue:~s toward th~ waitin-; c""rgo helicoptor!i pa=l:ecl on tht: g=D.~_zy _outski:;:ts. l

r ' N!::D!CALOFE'ICr:ns \

Ger. tle:nen. Debriefing is tili~ way ••• right· this wa':J·. · Oel.iriefing over here.

I

CLOSE - ~P.EENHOUS£

1:e is j~st one of the crowd now. He appears a little touched, but final~y and quietly at; home. lie stops as five 1-iaval Airmen arrive next to a Goodhew A.~~ulance. One young flyer steps by the iicen~e plate.

~0!.iNG FLYER This is a joke right?

CLOS:::- LACOKSE -··· He turns, \.,"atchirig this and becoming ve=y inte;-ested. ·

YOu~G FL~ER · It says '76'.

MEDICAL CrFICI::R Debriefing over here gentlemen ... right this way.

YOUNG·FLYER (suddenly lost & frightened) But it can't be '76'. My wife's waiting for me in Palrn Beach. I have child=en in Florida.

l-IEDICi\LOFFICER You'll know·more at the debriefing.

1\!~GU: - FIVC li!·!!lULAm:::s - :..ow S~OT

All of thG license pl~tes say '7G'. Just as suddenly hclf a dozen hand~ e.iter the shot and pres:; adhesive tape over the yea=. ( I._

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L"'l.C0t·i3:S r.. W!LD· BILL

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WILD llILi. You can ~~~e dawn your riudic calenders. Recordetl history starts right here • ..

'But· Lacombe is watching something beyond Wild Bill •

CLOSE - CREEt1HOUSE

Ncrman wan~ers by a l~rge tent and peeks in.

I INTERIOR· - TENT - cm:.ENHOUSE ··s. I> .o. V.

A Catholic Priest is adr.\inistering l~st rites to a s-roup a nine youn; men wea:ing hospital type angel robes. Twenty I~ore s~ilcrly clad boys.are sitting 6n wooden benches with their heads bowed in thc~;ht, praye: o: meditation.

TEE; SOUND O:' R.E;V!!~G li.::.:t.:::coPTERS P.O'I'ORS OVERRIDES THE C!L'\?lTING OE' Lr.S': nI=zs.

i\NGLZ: - GrmEHHOUSE

Ile d~cks out of the tent anc b~~ps into Lacoml:.e who·has been stan~i;.~ right behind hi~.

LACO~!BE (paternally) lfaa t is it you want N':)rman?

Graenhouse is not st~rtled by hi~. He gives no inclicaticn of looking -for a way to eccape. He simply smiles up at Lacombe and Sil~·s in the Ii _ingenuous manner:

GREENIIOtJSE I want to know.that it's really hap?ening.

FIV!: ~ON!C C110?..CSl3~ST OUT F!tO~ 'l't!E l-10'.!'IIER SI!I!'. Laeombe a·nd Greenhouse turn.

·uIGU ANCL~ - ALL

Somethins else is coming out of the carnival cra!t. I Tn:y IIti:1.1\NOID I!t."'\C!::!; CCLLCC'l' IN Tm: nLn:t.INC 'j'fiR!::!:liOL'O 0: ':!'1:E t:OT:!Er. Sll!P. T!l:i:Y C.:\ST Lat.:,:; r;IGZ:l':~td':.F!~![ !;IlADO: ·:s 0'/!:~ '!'I!C !!t,;M.1'\.!:c:,~:·1!t:~!~!~ AS T!II:IR NU:-~~!:!{S !N..:.'.~l::,\~:r: TO PEl'.!!i\i'S ;\ m.::~oru~b. '

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The Y~~~ha music~~n is hn~dad ~ome complic~ted ~heet music and at !irst is too ~west:-uck to p~rforr.\. l\ harsh corn.rnand from so:r.ewhero within the :-;tunnecl gath,~·~ing losser~s hi::; fingers nnd ·he starts to play the soi:ie-

Tlie blinding thrc~hold is j~med with th~. tiny occup~nt~.

The .Americans wait thi:tj,· yards outside •. ·I It looks li;:e a stat~doff until the Yo.m3.ha.mu:.;ic ea _ses and the MOTHER SHIJ: res;,onds .with th:ee simple .B:.ASTS. It is like the starters

m1E HUUOIU:O HtJ:-W!OID OCCU:?ANTS LE.J\.VE THE MOTHER SF.IP ANO FAH OUT" I~T i\L~ OIR!:CTIOI:S. T!!£i SEEH TO SE FLOATING TOWJ'.RO THE APPREI-:ENSIVE HUDDL!:: OF AME'.aICAfl OFF IC!AL~· . . ..

THBRE IS NO ORDER OR SYill-1:ETP.Y I?t THEIR :CEHJl..VIOR. THEY .'\RE LI!~E CIULOr..!::N LET LOOSE IN A TOY FACTORY. Tr!EY SWA.'IU-1LIKE AUTS ALL O'.':C:R T:iE FA:•iC¥ T·ER.~S':'~!AL a;P.r>t·1AP.E ANO THE FP.OZEU 'ti? TIG?.T' SCIEt:TIFIC PE~Otmi:L. TH!:Y REACH OU'l' Af'!D TOUCH WI'!'H SPI?!DLY i1.R.~S T~·lIC~ TUE !.E:~iGTE OF THI:!~ Tl\PE?.EO PHYSIQtn:s. A FE:W OF TH!: AMERICAN TEP-"1 B~E1\K" ,.::-:onu~r IH FE.11.!'•• Tl!ZY A?.E !)tiRSU!:O E!" TF.E Cu"''!UOUS OCCU?ANTS t-n·:O. Cl..!·? MOVE ,;ITH :'LOIO .,!1.:;nTz:irniG SPEE:O. t70~00Y !:."VER Gi::TS A GOOD LOOK 1-:: THE Ur'ONAUTS . - THE MOTHE::'. SHI~ IS TOO B?.!GHT ~•.NO THEY ,ARE IN SII.IlOC1::TTE IU MOSZ PART. 'CPZATt!RI HAl-iuS ' REACH OU'I A?10. FONDLE !..O'IIHGLY. . . • ··

SEV!R ..~L OCCO?A?-;,:s AP.E E:O:PLO?.!:-TGT!I!: G~OI!l A!U:1-.S OF THP.£~ STATl:LY Oi:FIC!AI-S TOO FR!GiiTE:NEO TO :C:VI:t~RE~!ST 1'?.:C FOP.ZPLAY.

· THIS SHOULD BE 130TH BE!~UTIFtiL A~IO OISTURSit-?G ':O WATCH. A FEt·1 ?EOl'l.E CCNN:;:CT~::) t-lITI! THE: DEF..r\VIORI.i\L SC!ENC!:S Ar.E 'l'OlJCHING BAC:< ANO trrr.E~ THIS !~.?PZ?·iS, THE OCCUP.i\:lTS SEE:H ';'0 PEP.I\ A~~!J SWOON.

CP-,Y:'ES 0: COCA-CO!..A ARI: OPEN::o DY" M!:HBEP.S OF Tl!E WA~Y G:aomiO cnEi·l ANO AS THOtJGHTHE OINN.tR DELL WE:ru=;mrnG, OOZE?-'!SOt:' OCCli?Al~'l·;;~ GATllE?. i:.r~OUNO. o~;~ BP~.VE C?.!:~·?\·:O:C-:ER POPS TI-IE· j'IULLTCP ;..~10 HJ\N'OS A C~1 TO A

1;/\!Z~ t.Mo acu:rc~s l\LL OVER THE PLACE: IN THE HOST TUPJ-T£0 Oi:1 MANNC~ Ul.a.~U!1\!3LI:: •. LAUGHit!C, TIIE: GROUND Cl'..!;;H'WOP.KER POPS t·lOf'J:: ~'Oi?S ANO PASSES '!'HEH OUT LI~ · T!iZ"l tiE~ GOING OUT OF STYLE •

Those twent:y ~·oun; men in 'their angel robes and carry:.nc: cuffle ~-~-:rs pa.race bravely 01.tt of the tent headir.c; towarc:1 the HO'IHE:R.SHIP.

Th~y p~ss i frightened Pri~st who is ~n his kn~es ganuflecting l1i~ vz::lva tion. TtIR~l:: T!H\' OCClT!'i\HTS CAN DE SE:l!H JUST fir.YONO Hii-1 :?·!IT1'.'!!?1u HIS EV!:RY !IIOr;JS GF.STU!tEru 'I'I::rtFtc±U?;!SON.

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1~?iGLE - LACO~lBE

neing r:iu::h rr.ore rl?ce?tive th.!n most anyone el_!.~, Lacombe is th~ r:\Ost populc1.r rccipien t: of crea turo b(:havior. !ie i3 Grnothercd by two ciozon pairs of • feelc.=s' and is 1:cturning th,: gestur~s as · fast as he can.· He looks \.ip and !ji':~ilcs to.1ards s.o:net:.hing. ile waves.

CLOSE GP.E!::lHIOUSE

He is s1:'lilir,g back. C.A:·itnA PULLS AUAi" re~ealing that Greenhouse is wearing a~ angel robe and rnarehin; toward TIIE 1-lOTIIEP.SHIP witr. the twenty young volunt~ers. WE IlAV:Cl!EVr:R SE:E:I·! 1:IH so nLISSFliLl.Y .?.£S01.VE~

J.s·rnotmAUTS 'FROn. I:t-:Tz:~:r.i.;G ~!-!E !·lOTH!::~ SHIP. l\. G;~GGL~ OF HEW OCCCPl~·!TS SCl?.!1.CCNDGRZ~NHOUSE ~.NO ESC<.:~-r HIH TOWARD 'l'HE ASTHECEL!H BRIGHT OP!:?i- HG TO BE 'l'HE ::'IF.ST O?·l :SOAP.0.

SCIJ:!D T~\CJ< - MUS!C

We hear ~he oric-ir.al \0 's rec::orc!inc; 6~ JI~lMil:Y CRICY..ET sinqi:ig "~·!"':iENYOU \·:ISH UPO!i ;._ S°:i:'h?.".

JI1,.,~1Itff CRICKET When you wish ~~on.- a. sta= ..• Hakes no difference w~o you are ••• J.nythin;~·our :heart desires will· come to you.

F.NGLE - t-!OT:!!:R Sr.IF

The i~side light burns briq~ter and b:i;h~c: as one after another the twenty volunteers disap?~ar into the brilliant cpeni~;.

GF.t!:N~cos:; TU?.:~s ~!,Ct~ ONE !-?\.ST TI:1z 1\H~ LOCKS UP TOWAP..O~EE HOUl-iTA~N RIDGE.

JIH ...!INY CRICl:.ET If ~-o,.1r ?:eart is in your d:ea.rns •••• No request is too extreme •••• · l·lhen you wis!'\ u~on a star as. dreamers do.

I!IGH 7&.NCLE:- !l'UE SI':CE

Greenhouse t!isappea:s into the MOTHERSiaP as the oec~p.!.nts touch ~nd brush and ~aross each other and everybody.

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cHonus Angels high - .she brings to those who·lova ~ the sweet f~lfillment"of .their secret longings.

HIGH JI.TOP WN1SUTTZR RIDGE

J!LLIA!-T STJ\UDS ?:OW. She looks ricwn at tht? plnyful, loving, frightened chaos and feels some of the fu1.lfillment • • • • She rc:1.ises a · mino:i-~ camera and tnkes the most impoj;"tnnt photograph· in the history of the world!

nrJLL E:!!O CREDITS . . . 1'.?10 REPRISE O:' SC?iG OVER FIF:'EI:!·l !!IGS ltESOLU: !C~-: COLOR ?i-iOTOGR.AJ?i-rS OF J !l,L!l~~-i 'S "I~~DIS~U'!'ld3L~ PROOF".

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