riverside maples along the
shores of the gently curving, deep-water Santee River.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
SOUTH CAROLINA
April, 1776
The post rider rides along a raised swamp road. On either
side of the road, gorgeous shafts of sunlight pierce the
canopy falling onto soft, swaying ferns that cover the
high grounds. Hundreds of BIRDS SING. The water is
clear, with fields of floating lily pads, each with
view: A planet rushes up at us.
Thats why they have gravity.
FRY
Jesus God....
EXT. SHIP - PLANETS ATMOSPHERE - DAY
The SHIP PLOWS through the upper atmosphere, antennae pylons
already disintegrating.
INT. PASSAGE TO FLIGHT DECK
Heart battering her ribs, Fry runs forward, using hand-holds to
steady herself. Over a headset:
OWENS (V.O.)
They trained you for this, right? Fry?
FRY?
She doesnt answer
River. The BELL is
LOUDER. The two constables arrive, searching. No one around.
Constable One hefts his pistol, scared.
CONSTABLE ONE
Where are you?!
MANS VOICE (o.s.)
Here! Over here!
They hurry to the rivers edge. Down a hill, the MAN,
another constable, stands with his back to us. Hes waist
deep in water, tossing away his ALARM BELL.
MAN
I need your help with this.
Constable Two crosses on the
view
behind her. A RUSTLING sound draws her attention, and she
turns, toward where the thick jungle foliage gives way to the
sand.
A large bush, maybe twelve feet tall, is moving, its branches
swaying and shaking. Curious, Cathy walks up to the bush,
which abruptly stops moving.
A small, lizard-like animal, dark green with brown stripes
along its back, steps out from the bush. Only about a foot
t
view, a young man pushes back the
curtain of the yellow palanquin and peers down at it.
The man is dressed in royal robes. He is young, twenty four
years old. His name is RETING RINPOCHE. He is the Regent
of Tibet.
The color of the lake changes - from brilliant turquoise, to
a deep, murky, unfathomable darkness.
WOMAN (VO)
You were a beautiful baby.
So calm.
BOY (VO)
No cried?
The woman laughs.
W
view of the
Newcomer ship upon its dramatic
arrival. As with the assassination
of John Kennedy, who among us does
not remember exactly where he was
that October nineteenth morning,
when news first broke: that people
have landed... from another star.
We PULL BACK from a large television set to reveal...
??
INT. A CROWDED BAR - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
The Hollowpoint Lounge -- a cop bar.
The off-duty u
view screen, where NUTE GUNRAY, a
Neimoidian trade viceroy, waits for a reply.
CAPTAIN
With all due respect for the Trade
Federation, the Ambassadors for the
Supreme Chancellor wish to board
immediately.
NUTE
Yes, yes, of coarse...ahhh...as you
know, our blockade is perfectly legal,
and wed be happy to recieve the
Ambassador...Happy to.
The screen goes black. Out the cockpit window, the si
view on your idiot box.
CLOSE ON
Monogrammed cuff sleeve - the initials P.D.
2.
DELACROIX (V.O.) (CONTD)
The problem is not enough of you
have been watching.
CLOSE ON
Monogrammed shirt pocket - the initials P.D.
DELACROIX (V.O.) (CONTD)
With the onslaught of the internet,
video and interactive games, nine
hundred channels to choose from and
whatnot, our valued audience has
dramatically eroded.
CL
view of a human brain featuring
color-coded neurological activity. In a specific section of
the image, cells flash from yellow to red...
PULL BACK TO REVEAL HENRY WEST surrounded by computers,
monitors, electronics, and keyboards. DR. MIRIAM KENT stands
before a peculiar diagnostic machine scrutinizing data and
images. Both wear garb favored by surgeons or microchip
assemblers. The impressive, we
river and stream welcoming home
the king and sockeye....
--the coho and dog, pink or humpback...
...which is smashed into cans...
...and quick-cooked to give the
colourful local folks something to do...
...other than play cards
and scratch their nuts all day.
A land where that nice old lady
from Fort Lauderdale...
...who had the stroke
three cabins down...
...was probably parked next to the
thawe