INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM - NIGHT
A crowded cocktail party is in progress. Open bar and huge buffet table. A well-dressed, predominantly male crowd in attendance. Uniforms from all branches of the military are in evidence everywhere.
CAMERA PROWLS THROUGH the room picking up random bits of conversation. A TELEVISION NEWS CREW, reporting live from the scene, comes INTO FRAME.
CAMERA MOVES OFF, eventually finds:
2 LYDIA MAXWELL
A knockout brunette in her early thirties. She is engaged in earnest conversation with a man whose eyes are seen to wander over her anatomy as they talk. (We'll call him ROVING EYES.)
3 TUCK PENDELTON
Emerging drunkenly into the banquet room from a door marked "No Admittance" and crashing head-on into a busboy with a loaded tray of dirty dishes.
The busboy is knocked for a loop and the DISHES SMASH to the floor.
Tuck reacts with inebriated indignation. He points to the "No Admittance" sign.
INNERSPACE - Rev. 12/3/85 2. *
The busboy looks baffled, and Tuck moves off with his dignity intact. Noticing that his glass is empty, he shoulders his way to the bar.
As he waits for his drink, we see that Tuck's rugged good looks are fading slightly and his once square jaw is in need of a closer shave. His Navy captain's uniform -- stretched tightly across his chest -- suggests that several pounds have been added since the last fitting.
As Tuck receives his drink from the bartender, a DISTURB- ANCE is heard to break out somewhere across the room:
Roving Eyes indicates a small Sony protruding from Lydia's clutch purse.
He swipes the recorder from her purse.
Other partygoers turn and look. So does Tuck. His eyes blaze. He storms over.
INNERSPACE - Rev. 12/3/85 3. *
Roving Eyes looks startled by Tuck's abusive tone.
Suddenly, the room falls silent, and Tuck realizes that all eyes are upon him.
Tuck looks embarrassed. He looks down at his drink, then looks up again with a big, foolish grin on his face.
She puts her hand on his arm.
Tuck pulls away from her.
It's obvious who Tuck is talking about. They stand there in their crisp uniforms, with short hair, erect postures and disapproving expressions.
INNERSPACE - Rev. 12/3/85 4. *
Tuck is standing before a DISPLAY OF LARGE ROCKET MODELS charting the history of the space program.
Tuck sees RUSTY, one of the ex-astronauts in the crowd, turn away in disgust.
Rusty looks enraged. He advances toward Tuck. But Tuck stands his ground -- smiles -- and drops Rusty with a hooking right fist. Uproar!
TWO young MARINES rush up to Tuck.
Tuck raises his fists. The Marines exchange a look. They know that they have no alternative.
Pow! Tuck takes it on the chin. He goes tumbling back- wards into the rocket display. The MODELS BANG into each other like falling dominos. Onlookers gasp and scream.
The TV News Crew hurries over. They turn on their lights and roll tape.
INNERSPACE - Rev. 12/3/85 4A. *
The News Correspondent looks disappointed.
Tuck props himself up on one elbow and works his jaw. Lydia rushes to his side.
Tuck gives her a dazed expression. No one else offers assistance. They look upon Tuck as a complete disgrace.
Then, one man comes forward. Dressed in a business suit. Tuck's own age. Clean cut. Athletic-looking. His name is PETE BLANCHARD. He offers Tuck his hand.
Tuck looks up at Blanchard and smiles sadly.
Blanchard pulls Tuck to his feet.
Lydia begins to lead Tuck away. But she leaves his side for a brief moment to snatch back her tape recorder from Roving Eyes' unsuspecting hands.
Lydia marches off, reclaims Tuck who waits for her on tottering legs, and heads for the door.
Roving Eyes watches them go. Pete Blanchard comes up beside him.
INNERSPACE - Rev. 12/3/85 4B.
ROVING EYES * (to Blanchard) * I am my congressman. *