Hey Bill! How's "Buddy the Dog" coming along? We need pages!
CUT TO:
INT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - DAY
An ASTRONAUT
works at a translucent, heads-up display.
ASTRONAUT #1
No more Ford.
A colleague
bounds weightlessly toward him.
ASTRONAUT #2
(singsong)
Not possible.
SOUND: A thready
POPPING sound.
A third FEMALE
ASTRONAUT looks over her shoulder from a screen that displays Earth terrain in
infrared.
FEMALE ASTRONAUT
What's that noise?
ASTRONAUT #2
Dunno. This is a mess. Get the Italians over
here.
FEMALE ASTRONAUT
I'm fine here. I don't get it.
ASTRONAUT #2
It's looking systemic...like somebody planned
it.
ASTRONAUT #1
Ready for this?
ASTRONAUT #2
Shoot.
ASTRONAUT #1
No Ford. No Nothin'.
ASTRONAUT #2
What?
SOUND: Alarm
CHIME.
CUT TO:
INT. U-2 AIRCRAFT
- DAY
U-2 PILOT
Jungle, jungle, jungle. With an updraft as
defrosters.
The U-2 silently
banks to the right with mountainous terrain below.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL
OPERATING ROOM - DAY
SOUND: BEEPS at
an increased rate.
SURGEON #2
Stabilizing. I almost don't believe it.
SURGEON #1
Wanna get spooked?
Couldn't kill him. Here's your next president.
NURSE
Shut up!
CUT TO:
INT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ITALIAN POD - LATER
Smoke billows
from an electronic rack with pulled components scattered about.
ITALIAN ASTRONAUT
Perché won't esce?
SUBTITLE:
"Why won't it go out?"
SOUND: Muffled
THUMP.
ITALIAN ASTRONAUT #2
(in English)
Fuck! What's that?
CUT TO:
INT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/U.S. POD - LATER
SOUND: A loud
Alarm Horn is BUZZING.
ASTRONAUT #2
What up?
ASTRONAUT #1
Batteries leaking.
Widespread EM-related failures. Fire in Pod Three.
FEMALE ASTRONAUT
I'm okay, and Italy's on fire? This is nuts.
ASTRONAUT #2
I'm staying put. Get the Russians over there.
CUT TO:
INT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS
Two RUSSIAN ASTRONAUTS
with firefighting gear open a bulkhead door.
RUSSIAN ASTRONAUT #1
(in English)
Hurry up!
RUSSIAN ASTRONAUT #2
(in Russian)
This looks bad.
As they bound
through the air toward the Italians, a FIREBALL knocks the two Italian
astronauts down.
One of the
Russians looks over his shoulder and screams.
RUSSIAN ASTRONAUT #2
Fire in the hole!
Another FIREBALL
ignites and envelopes them.
CUT TO:
INT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/U.S. POD - CONTINUOUS
ASTRONAUT #2
What did he say?
FEMALE ASTRONAUT
He said...
CUT TO:
EXT.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - CONTINUOUS
SOUND: A powerful
THUD.
An EXPLOSION rips
through the two pods almost simultaneously, the space station breaks into
pieces. It begins uncontrolled end over end and spinning sideways rolls as
small thrusters squirt wildly. Antennae and shattered solar panel pieces drift
by, as do the bodies of some crew members.
CUT TO:
INT. KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER – CONTINUOUS
NOTE: Both Ms. Clinton and Kennedy should take note of
the fact there is much on the California map named “Hughes.” And my name is?
And my behavior most resembles who? CHARLES EVANS HUGHES. Get it?
WCH
