- EXT. DEEP SPACE - LEAVING IT, SUNWARD - (DAYS LATER)
- (00:00 musichord - Venus/Bananarama)
- Just galactic stars out there … until …
- ONE STAR-SPECK NUDGES in parallax … becoming …
- (00:04 beat)
- THE SPACESHIP, tiny in the outer solar system distance …
- (00:08 musichord)
- Coming … Accelerating on its SILVERY GLOWING ION TAIL …
- (00:12 deep beat)
- Arriving, relatively-slowing TO HALFWAY PASS parallel …
- (00:20 words)
- ZOOM-IN: The lead Whipple … Rare tiny dust-explosions …
- SCAN: Front … to … rear … and a length of exhaust tail …
- ZOOM-BACK: On its immensity …
- PASSES ONWARD … far … toward a distant brilliant sun-star.
- (00:35 exult "got it")
- INT. COMMAND DECK - PASSING SATURN 0.5 AU - (DAYS LATER)
- A happy crew is going home. Saturn is telescoped far aside;
- (00:43 refrain)
- From the Elevator, Mi-Kee enters, not busy, surveying …
COMMUNICATOR
- (reports dutifully)
- First-Captain is on the Bridge ….
MI-KEE
- (a beat, at ease)
- Thank you, Comm … I'm off-duty … as an Observer ….
- She resumes surveying, at the Engineering station, smiles …
- (00:50 refrain 2nd)
HELMSMAN
- (leans-around 2 sec.)
- First-Captain … We're coming-up on our de-cel flip: Would you like to try the execution…?
- (00:58 words)
MI-KEE
- (considers; to Helm)
- Sure!
- She comes around the banister …
HELMSMAN
- (when she's near)
- Have you ever done this before?
MI-KEE
- (to Helmsman)
- Only in simu…
- (catches: grins)
- Hah … Hah … You almost got me!
HELMSMAN
- (grins)
- It's really easy …
- (gets up)
- Have a seat ….
MI-KEE
- (sits)
- Okay …
HELMSMAN
- Easier than turning a motorcycle …
- (01:11 "wow"+exult)
- Huddles-in to the HELM-AID LIVE-GRAPHIC of a flip-maneuver:
HELMSMAN
- (as it runs, fingers)
- You lean this to one aspect limit … Then, Swing back across … through … rotation … To the other limit … And bring it back to the centerline ….
- (01:21 refrain)
- Mi-Kee finger-cues the Graphic … Queues into Helm-control …
- Schedules it: Helm-clock-relative 2-hesits hence …
- HELM DISPLAYS: Mid-side Whipples come-up 3 sec.
- (01:28 refrain 2nd)
- "CONFIRMATION" BLINKS,-- Helmsman nods approval …
- Mi-Kee keys final Confirmation:-- "EXECUTION" BLINKS …
- NAV DISPLAYS: Spaceship rotates to 10-deg.-aspect 4 sec.
- EXT. SPACESHIP - SATURN REMOTE - ROTATION - (CURRENT)
- (01:36 slack string musichord)
- Mid-Whipples up. Spaceship leaning at 10-deg.-aspect …
- Swings fore, for the centerline … and through far 4 sec.
- Flipping … rear passing,-- Thrusting off centerline 4 sec.
- CUTAWAY TO:
- INT. SPACESHIP - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- THE ROOM ROLLS BACK, as the flip, flops-home, 5 sec.
- RESUME:
- EXT. SPACESHIP - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- Flip slows … and stops at the far-10-deg. aspect 4 sec.
- (01:53 "venus"+exult)
- And re-centerlines 4 sec.
- Continuing onward … ice-ion-thrust tail-forward …
- Toward the distant blazing bright star-sun at 10 AU …
- EXT. JUPITER-STAR SPACE - SPACESHIP PASSING - (DAYS LATER)
- (02:03 refrain)
- High over now-shadowless glowing, flaring, roiling Jupiter, brightly illumining its own rings and moons, It passes …
- (02:10 refrain 2nd)
- And beyond … sunward, homeward …
- INT. GYM DECK - (ANYTIME ANY DAY)
- Mi-Kee in NASA gymsuit and HALF-WATER-GOGGLES, tilting them for the half-underwater effect, -smiling,- while
- (02:18 words)
- Crewman velcro-straps harnesses on her ankles, hip, hands …
- And activates the Swim'Ulator-Exerciser Training machine:-- Resistance-lines draw taut,-- pulling her to level, midair.
- She clown-jokes an air-spout-up … They laugh together …
- (02:31 "wow"+exult)
- She practices swim-strokes, -glide crawl,- rhythm-breathing both sides … her helper oversees leg-to-toe-extension …
- Holds a hand just ahead for Mi-Kee to stretch-jab-dig …
- (02:41 refrain)
- INT. PRIVATE STEAM-WIPE SHOWER - STEAMY FOG (POST WORKOUT)
- Mi-Kee (CU) wet, wipes-clean with a spacer-cleanup-cloth …
- CUT TO:
- EXT. OVER ASTEROID BELT EDGE-ON - SPACESHIP - (DAYS LATER)
- (02:48 refrain 2nd)
- Turned 30 deg. west from sunward, to Whipple oncoming dust, Executing MAX-EVASIVE BOOSTER-FORWARD-BURST FLYING-DODGES …
- AN ONCOMING PLANETOID, LOOMING from astronomical distance …
- (02:56 slack string "venus")
- ITS 1000-MI.-EXTENDED DUST HALO CLOUD obscures starlight …
- AND BEGINS SCINTILLATING ON THE AFT-FORWARD WHIPPLES …
- INT. COMMAND DECK - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- WIDE: Sciencer quietly tutors Mi-Kee at Science station …
- (03:03 exult words)
- NAV DISPLAYS: The Planetoid coming …
- WEAPONS DISPLAYS: The Planetoid oncoming …
- SCIENCE DISPLAYS: The Planetoid CLOSING;- FAINT BACKGROUND CLOUDBURST OF MASSIVE WHIPPLING … All look-about; Sciencer to Science Display; Mi-Kee to--
- MAIN DISPLAY: The Planetoid oncoming-passing-ongoing;
WEAPONER
- (working his Display)
- Pallas, most probably;- not Ceres …
MI-KEE
- (quotes her StarTrails)
- "Close call, superman; And no phone booth!"
- The Cloudburst roars-on for the moment …
- (03:15)
- CUT TO:
- INT. GARDEN DECK - NUCLEAR-POWERED DAY-BRIGHT (AS ANY DAY)
- Mi-Kee strolls amid berry bushes, picking; enjoying a few …
MI-KEE
- (to a Crew near)
- Do fruits know seasons, in space?
CREW
- (nonchalant)
- People know their fruits, in space.
MI-KEE
- (a beat)
- I suppose it can't really matter to the fruits if they can grow in both northern and southern hemispheres….
CREW
- Do they really, Outside fruit zoos?
- (03:30)
- They giggle … (FINISHING VO)--
- EXT. SPACESHIP - PASSING MARS SPACE - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- But distant, as paying no particular attention this time …
- CUT TO:
- EXT. SPACESHIP - DISTANT MOON - EARTH, SUN, WEST (LAST DAY)
- IN-SYNC: SPACESHIP ONCOMING …
- SHIP AND STARS ROLL FLASH-PASS overhead (flipping -us-)--
- (03:38 fade)
- SHIP RECEDES, Hurling Moonward;-- Earth, sun, to the west …
- (03:47 end)
- FADE TO CUT IN:
- INT. COMMAND DECK - MOON BACKSIDE SPACE - (HOURS LATER)
- LOOMING CLOSE. Readying for course deceleration pass burn:
- (00:00 harpsichord rev. - Here I go Again/White Snake)
- All seatbelt; 2nd-Capt. as Observer at a spare station; ENG Display has alternate-pass-trajectory maneuver details …
ENGINEER
- (at last, re-prompts)
- Booster drive is, ready,- Captains.
- (00:08 deep piano chord)
2ND-CAPT
- (smiles at the thought)
- Either way, This voyage has been a pleasure cruise!--
- (00:11 vocal light refrain)
2ND-CAPT
- A laid-back privileged summer … You're all the greatest!
- (last at Mi-Kee)
- Mi-Kee returns the smile;
NAVIGATOR
- (smiles-with)
- Then W-maneuver means Nightlanding, if Mi-Kee wants to try instruments; Or, Orbit till morning, if nobody's in a hurry over an extra half day.…
- (00:22 piano chords)
COMMUNICATOR
- (as aside)
- Have we run out of 80-days?
SCIENCER
- (grins to Communicator)
- Not-to-worry, Mr. Finicky-foggy,-- We'll get you to Earth, by Sunday.
HELMSMAN
- (bemused to Navigator)
- Why is it, we always shoot for the moon, before going home?
NAVIGATOR
- (smiles, contained)
- I don't have an answer but remember our high-schooler … Keep it clean…!
- (00:37 voice light refrain)
ENGINEER
- (working his Display)
- Commanders …
- (invents a long beat)
- If, we take advantage of our excess reduction of propellant mass out in deep space, We can, run the booster at 3-gees -within safety margins- …
- (half a beat)
- We should hyper-test at the moon …
- (00:50 voice cycle)
ENGINEER
- (satisfied, to them)
- And, Flip forward and push for home along the even-faster route … We'll make NASA by early evening!
- Mi-Kee is scrutinizing a Helm Display of the moon …
2ND-CAPT
- (3 beats tentative)
- Is there something …, Captain?
MI-KEE
- (grins)
- There are no missiles to greet us…!
- (01:00 word strong)
2ND-CAPT
- (tentative grin)
- Indeed: We have no Safeguards on the lunar backside!
NAVIGATOR
- (announces)
- Captains:-- Decision time is, now.
- (01:06 vocal build)
2ND-CAPT
- Okay by me!
MI-KEE
- (a beat, smiles)
- Engineer: Bring-up Booster drive to maximum warp: for hyper-W-maneuver!
ENGINEER
- (big grin, keys)
- Aye:-- Booster drives-- Coming up …
- BOOSTER ROARS-UP … TO FULL, but on less mass feels harder …
- (01:14 percussions)
- THE ROOM SHIVERING …
- HELM DISPLAYS: MOON-EAST-TO-PASS draws rapidly nearer …
- ECLIPSES EARTH IN 2 sec;--
COMMUNICATOR
- Earth-radio-silence in 3-hesits…!- To return in 50-….
- Mi-Kee watches all her Crew and Displays 10 sec.
- And, Last-checks with her Engineer,--
- (01:32 rhythm deep)
- Who gives her a thumb-up …
- She nods Yes, in return.
- HELM DISPLAYS: MOON CRATERS, fill up nearing view angles …
- EXT. SPACESHIP GLIDE - LOW, MOONSIDE EAST - (MINUTES LATER)
- (01:43 hollow chime lull)
- Booster exhaust full forward. Lower … lower … Daringly fast … closer … to barely skim over craters, 10 miles-up 12 sec.
- INT. COMMAND DECK - PASSING MOON CRATERS - NEAREST APPROACH
- BOOSTER SHAKING MAXIMUM: They strain extra-heavy at work …
- (01:57 deep guitar)
ENGINEER
- (monitoring)
- 2-point-6-gee …
- (2 sec.)
- 2-point-7-gee …
- (2 sec.)
- 2-point-8-gee …
- (2 sec.)
- 2-point-9-gee …
- (2 sec.)
- (02:09 refrain loud)
- SEATS LIFT-RECLINE under triple-gee deceleration 4 sec.…
ENGINEER
- (seat leans back, loud)
- 3-point-0h-gees …!
- Mi-Kee leaning-left nudges a nickel on her chair left arm …
ENGINEER
- (split attention)
- 3-point-0h-4-gees …
- NICKEL OFF-- ZAPS TO THE FLOOR;-- She wide-eyes credulous …
ENGINEER
- (grinning big at her)
- Max-burn, 3-point-0-6, max-gees.
COMMUNICATOR
- (advises)
- T-DRS reacquisition in 15,-hesits.…
- EXT. GLIDE - 20 MI. OVER MOON CRATERS - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- (02:25 deep rhythm)
- EXHAUST FORWARD-UPPING, WHIPPLE LEAN; still galactic fast: Hugging low, Racing for the horizon below only stars …
- (02:35 strum beat; shrills)
- Increases altitude barely gradually for hyperbolic escape …
- Climbs, above the horizon …
- (02:51 shrill voice)
- Faster from the now-falling moon, for open space …
- EXHAUST CUTS-LOW … SHIP STRAIGHTENS REAR-HEADING forward …
- (02:57 resume guitar twang, harpsichord)
- AND EARTH CREEPS-UP, over the horizon 10 sec.
- INTO FULL REAR(HEAD)-ON VIEW …
- CUT IN TO:
- INT. COMMAND - GLIDING AWAY FROM MOONSIDE
- They're busy.
- (03:11 deep rhythm; vocal)
- NAV, HELM, DISPLAYS: Trajectory diagrams, add Earth …
COMMUNICATOR
- (monitoring)
- T-DRS-4 Reacquired …!-- Waiting for Lanthus Traffic Constellation …
NAVIGATOR
- (announces)
- Captain:-- We're sub-galactic:-- We have Earth-capture…!
- All smile, and applaud while busy …
- CUT TO:
- EXT. FAR FROM THE MOON - RECEDING - SPACESHIP ONCOMING
- (03:23 refrain loud)
- Distant ion tail, Rear Whipples, forward leaving the moon …
ENGINEER (VO)
- Engineering confirms: Hyper ready…!
MI-KEE (VO)
- Go Hyper…!
NAVIGATOR (VO)
- Going Hyper…!
- Slow flip, -Side Whipples up,- to Forward Whipples forward…
- (03:39 deep rhythm)
- SPACESHIP NEARS … AND PASSES … BEYOND … PUSHING FOR EARTH …
- (03:50 refrain -slow fade to out-)
- FADE TO:
- INT. COMMAND DECK - REACHING EARTH - (NEXT AFTERNOON)
- Crew busy in spacesuits for reentry; helmets, gear, aside.
- MAIN DISPLAY: [Administrator] Oglethorp welcomes them:
[ADMINISTRATOR]
- Good Afternoon, Captain Mi-Kee:-- Welcome-back, to Earth-space; And,- Congratulations,- on a successful, mission … We have reviewed your Vid Transcripts, and mission-telemetry, and have decided it went altogether smoothly. And we feel you will need only a brief, debriefing:-- We have decided to give your debriefing in-flight: This'll be a NASA-first, of course, As we're famous for firsts! It'll take a hecta-hesit while your Crew approaches Earth. Have you the time, now, for your debriefing,- Commander?
MI-KEE
- (looks about)
- Yes, sir.
[ADMINISTRATOR]
- Very well then, We'll begin:-- Engineer:
- (to off-screen)
- Begin the debriefing link, please.
- VIDLINK SWITCHES: Exuberant music-video-anchorman [DVDJ] Hyper-Dot Tom hysterically flip-emotes: [KDVJ/KVDJ]
[DVDJ]
- (grandiose)
- Welcome,- to Earth,- spaceling:-- You are my first L-O-L caller this afternoon! Live-On-Line with D-V-D-J Hyper-Dot Tom:- That's me: I'm my own top-level-domain!- And this, is my first-ever outer-space message:- Woo-ee! Zing! Zing! Poing!
- (admits)
- That's my best translation to space-geek for:
- (pomps)
- Wel-come! Aaannd…
- (admits)
- still translating…
- (pomps)
- You may have won a… But!--
- (sponsor-breaks)
- We'll get to that in just a moment!
- (prosecutes)
- You, are, Michelle-Keela Thomaine!- Is that not the cosmic-truth…?!
MI-KEE
- (smiles)
- Yes: My parents call me, Mi-Kee.
[DVDJ]
- (pomps)
- Aaand, you are the mostest-ever-est famous-est space-dudess!
- (puzzles quieter)
- Or is that, space-dude-est?
- (prosecutes)
- Is that not also the cosmic-truth?!
MI-KEE
- I don't know about the fame-part:- My Sunday School Teacher says…
[DVDJ]
- (clips pomps)
- Close,-enough, for government, digital, video, regulations, work…!
- (trite)
- And … You, like-virtually, fly, a grand nuclear space-cruiser, by the seat of your laptop…!?
- (prosecutes)
- Is that not also the most, cosmic, truth…?!
MI-KEE
- Yes, sir.
[DVDJ]
- (games)
- Now: Captain, Cosmo-Peep:- You may have won a… But!--
- (sponsor-breaks)
- We'll get to that in just a moment!
- (personalizes)
- Tell me something, Mi-Kee: Is outer space, really, like … you know …
- (lap-wiggle-go-go-dances)
- No-wheres-ville…?!
MI-KEE
- (admits)
- It has its quiet moments and days, traveling between planets.
[DVDJ]
- (squeally personal)
- And just what does a young lady,--
- (deep guffaw)
- Well, Not as ancient as, Jehovah,--
- (squeally personal)
- Do onboard all day long? How do you keep yourself, Entertained?- Do you listen to my…y, broadcasts…?!--
- (boisterous)
- Hey-hey-heyyy…!!
MI-KEE
- I sit on the Observation deck and answer my e-mail; And watch D-V-D-movies … I also workout on the Gym deck:- We have an exercise-machine, called, a Swim'Ulator,-- I swim on the school team at home, so I have to keep toned-up.… Sometimes I sit alone and think on the garden deck, in nuclear-powered daylight, though it's not easy to say when, because we don't have days and nights in outerspace: everybody has their own schedule.… I also spend time on the Command computer, because there is so much to learn in space sciences.
[DVDJ]
- (resumes deep-pomp)
- Well… Mi-Kee…-- We're going to fix all that for you: Maybe! Just maybe we can re-turn, you, into a normal, scoriaceous, dross-philiatic Earth-modal, slaaag-off-ling, again!
- (bouncy pompom-cheer)
- Are, you, ready, for, this…?!
MI-KEE
- (bemused giggle)
- Yes.
[DVDJ]
- Then!--
- (nose-glasses proctors)
- Here is your final de-briefing question: This is a big one: You must listen to the explanation:- Then you must answer a specific Yes-or-no question: You will have, 5-hesits, to answer correctly:--
- (00:00 build-up - Beach Baby/First Class)
[DVDJ]
- Heeere's… the johnnies…
- (00:02 full, voice, music)
- OVERLAY-MERGE-COLLAGE:
- EXT. BLACK SPACE - DESCENT - LATE AFTERNOON EARTH (CURRENT)
- Upright on booster: BLAZING THE IONOSPHERE, to Texas 6 sec.
- Through the gray-bluing stratosphere, toward Houston 6 sec.
- Through blue troposphere, cloud layers, toward NASA 6 sec.…
- Buildings, long shadows … The open silo 3-mi. below …
NAVIGATOR
- (reports)
- Altitude: 5-thousand meters; Velocity: 1-hundred-50 meters-per. E-T-A terra, NASA, in, 80-hesits.…
- (00:30 -diminish to background-)
- END OVERLAY-COLLAGE
- INT. (CURRENT)
- [DVDJ] resumes from swaying-listening on his bigheadphones:
[DVDJ]
- (resumes pomp)
- All right, Commander: You will have five, hesits, in, which, to answer, completely and correctly … Think it over, carefully … And, Give it your best, guess … And make one, second, guess, if you need it …
- (proctors)
- Heeere's… the question:--
- Unseals and pulls a card from an envelope …
- (00:00 - Syncopated Clock - 00:10)
[DVDJ]
- (as reading)
- Is this, what you, did, this summer…?!
MI-KEE
- No.
[DVDJ]
- That was quick!-- Are you sure …?
MI-KEE
- Yes.
[DVDJ]
- Is that a, Yes…?- Or a, No…!?
MI-KEE
- It's a, No.
- (00:10 -fade out-)
[DVDJ]
- (equals)
- No.
- (exaggerates)
- Nnooo-oh-oh-oh…?!
- (2 beats, recovering)
- Well … I, didn't … think so!
- (shuffles papers, perky)
- So,- You win something:- A big … Prize:-- Let's see …
- (to self)
- Something around here:- Was it, On the floor…?
- (whole-body stomp-stomps)
- Ahh!-- Got it!
- (examines squishings)
- Oo-ee…!--
- (fanatical apology)
- Well, Well!- We were, going to send you to… the Garden of Eden… But, It was booked, solid…
- (laughs it up)
- Har-Har-Har … You know how that is, Mi-Kee: So … We're going to make it up to you:- We're going to send you to, The Beach!-- I hope the sharks don't like extra-terrestrial meat:- Because … We're sending you off, to the Riviera …!- How's the Riviera, sound to you, Mi-Kee…?!
- VO: Background "Oooh…!"
[DVDJ]
- Furthermore … We're sending you in, a Riviera!- Yup … The car too … But there's a catch … You're under-age, spaceling: So, We're giving the car to your par-ents, -And,- We're sending them, With you…!
- VO: Background "Awww…!"
[DVDJ]
- But,- If they don't wreck it on the freeway,- You can drive it when you get your license in high school…!
- VO: Background "Ahhh…!"
- [CAR DEMO: SPINS, DRIVES …]
[DVDJ (REVERB)]
- (prizes)
- The Riviera, 2-thousand-10, Golden Space Odyssey, comes complete with G-S-P-C-S, Graphic Digital Control center … One leather-wrapped power steering wheel … 5.5-liter Triphase sequential-port fuel-injected posi-turbine … Power carbon-disc brakes with point-83-gee anti-skid … And, Steer-ahead head-beams … And … Headrest-mounted, stereophonic, surround-sound …
- (reverts to pomp)
- With…!- Power D-V-Disks full of my special, bin-au-ral, de-brief-ing, instructions, --set to music:--
- (sing-song sit-dance)
- "You put your right foot in … You take your right foot out … You do the hokey-pokey, And you turn yourself about …"
- (sobers, straightens)
- Ahem … You're a little young to appreciate, that's what it's all, about, Mi-Kee …
- (picks-away a DVD)
- So … We'll just put that li'l D-V-D on reserve … And you can pick it up when you reach 17. Meanwhile, We'll be sending you, your: Environmental Impact Statement,- to be filed,- in triplicate,-- for swimming in the Riviera …
- (guffaws)
- Just kidding, Mi-Kee:- Have a great vacation…!--
- (sad)
- Away, from …
- (sniffs; nasals)
- Homb…!
- (sponsor-announces)
- We now return you to your standard, transmission ….
- (cutie-waves)
- Bye, Mi-Kee!
- MAIN DISPLAY: Resumes technicals:
- (02:30 -resume from background-)
- Crew continues spaceship descent to the NASA Launch pad …
- At last amid plumes of dust outside … nudging down into--
- (03:00 -diminish to finish-)
- INT. SAME - INSIDE SILO: LANDING - (CONTINUOUS)
- BOOSTER AT HALF, NUDGING DESCENT. All busy; Mi-Kee in her command chair; 2nd-Capt., Psychologist, standing adjacent …
- (00:00 pick high strings - Carrie/Europe)
- EXTERIOR DESCENT CREEPS DOWN THE SILO'S VORACIOUS UPDRAFT …
- T-05 YELLOW 2 sec.
- T-04 YELLOW 2 sec.…
NAVIGATOR
- Landing in 4-hesits …
- T-03 YELLOW-ORANGE 2 sec.…
NAVIGATOR
- 3-hesits …
- T-02 YELLOW-ORANGE 2 sec.…
NAVIGATOR
- 2-hesits …
- DESCENT TWEAKS TO STOP …
- T-01 RED 2 sec.
- HOVERS AT THE BOTTOM …
- T-00 RED.
- CLUNK OF LAUNCH-CLAMPS-CAPTURE OUTSIDE on the Landing Pad.
ENGINEER
- (keys, affirms)
- Dock-clamps …!- External platform secured … Engines on runout…!
- (00:15 lower strings)
- BOOSTER DIMINISHES 30 sec.…
- CREW SEQUENCE-DOWN STATIONS and exeunt to the Elevator; Mi-Kee, 2nd-Capt., nodding Bye:
- (00:25 words)
- SCIENCE DISPLAYS: "SCI" LOGO.
SCIENCER
- (keys, affirms)
- Science station secured!
- (exits with gear, smiles)
- Good-bye, commanders.
- Elevator opens: Waits inside …
- NAV DISPLAYS: "NAV" LOGO.
NAVIGATOR
- (keys, affirms)
- Navigation secured!
- (exits with gear, smiles)
- Bye, guys.
- Joins Sciencer inside-- Elevator closes … descends …
- HELM DISPLAYS: "NUC" LOGO.
HELMSMAN
- (keys, affirms)
- Helm secured!-- Remote activated!-- Access locked!
- (exits with gear, smiles)
- Bye, Captains.
- (00:46 "God knows")
- Elevator opens: Waits inside …
MI-KEE
- (watching)
- There's not much for Captains to do when you're powering-down…!
2ND-CAPT
- Not much … Make sure it all gets done … And, log it.
- (00:53 exult)
- WEAPONS DISPLAYS: "ACCESS".
WEAPONER
- Weapons station disarmed!-- Safety inserted!-- Power locked!
- COMM DISPLAYS: "COM" LOGO.
COMMUNICATOR
- Communications cleared!
- (keys, affirms)
- Access secured!
- WEAPONS DISPLAYS: "DEF" LOGO.
WEAPONER
- (keys, affirms)
- Weapons access secured!
- (exits with gear, smiles)
- Bye,- kiddos.
- (01:07 refrain "carrie")
- Joins Helmsman inside-- Elevator closes … descends …
- COMM DISPLAYS: "REMOTE".
COMMUNICATOR
- External remote activated!
- (exits with gear, smiles)
- Bye: Catch y'all later.…
- Other Elevator opens: Waits inside …
ENGINEER
- (keys, affirms)
- Engines dry!-- Systems stand-by!
- ENG DISPLAYS: "KEY" LOGO.
- (01:21 refrain 2nd)
ENGINEER
- Command center secured!
- (grabs gear; comes down)
- Well, lass:
- (smiles, to Mi-Kee)
- Good-bye …,
- (shakes hands)
- Was real nice to have had you aboard.
MI-KEE
- Thank you.
- (01:32 relax)
- Engineer joins Communicator … Elevator closes … descends …
MI-KEE
- (keys-log, deliberate)
- Captain's log,-- Final log:--
- (a beat)
- We're home, -sweet-home:- on Earth.
- (2 beats)
- End of log.…
- (keys-off, sits up)
- FINAL "NASA DSSTF" LOGO.
- ROOM LIGHTS DIM to stand-by …
- (01:44 words)
- 2nd-Capt. offers a hand … Mi-Kee taking, hops down … grabs her gear, and together with Psychologist and gear, exeunt …
MI-KEE
- Would they really simulate all that?
2ND-CAPT
- I don't know, Mi-Kee … It might really be there … I don't know, whether, they know.…
- Elevator opens;
MI-KEE
- (ONE LAST-LOOK)
- Was this mission a real success for NASA?
2ND-CAPT
- (confides)
- Yes:-- It certainly was, a mission success … And,- There are two more things, which are certain ….
- They enter …
- INT. ELEVATOR - COMMAND DECK - (CONTINUOUS)
- Select the main level …
MI-KEE
- What else is certain?
- DOOR CLOSES; Side-by-side They consider the future …
2ND-CAPT
- (confides)
- That, Certain, young ladies, need a lot more science, in school….
- ELEVATOR DESCENDS …
MI-KEE
- That'll mean two classes of science instead of one a day.
- (02:12 exult build)
- 2nd-Capt. nods Yes …
MI-KEE
- (curious: takes cue)
- What is the third certainty…?
2ND-CAPT
- (to the door, resolved)
- The third certainty is, that: There will be no more deep-space manned missions--
- (a beat sobering)
- Without children onboard…!
MI-KEE
- (a beat, tentative)
- Then we've reached Jehovah's space?
- (02:26 refrain)
- DOOR OPENS … To the Lounge Quarter …
2ND-CAPT
- (long beat, nods Yes)
- Yes:-- We have indeed, reached, Jehovah's, space!
- They exeunt via--
- INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE QUARTER - SILO LIGHTED (CONTINUOUS)
- Mi-Kee adds Psychologist's hand …
- PASSING-THROUGH, she takes--
- ONE-MORE LAST-LOOK AROUND, at her livingroom of 2 months …
- And, They file out--
- (02:40 refrain 2nd)
- INT. SILO GANTRY - MAIN DECK PORTAL - LIGHTED (CONTINUOUS)
- WALL EXPANSE SWEATS, STEAMY. 2 Technicians in whites close the portal hatch behind, as They quickly traverse …
- Taking MORE ONE-LAST-LOOKS ABOUT …
- Mi-Kee particularly-notices DARK-STREAKS ON THE FORESHIELD.
- AND EXEUNT THE SILO …
- As the Technicians finish; and begin gantry-retraction …
- (02:52 slack instruments)
- THROUGH THE CORRIDOR … TO--
- THE MAIN PLATFORM ELEVATOR … Meeting-up with the Crew …
- With congratulatory handshakes and "Well-Done" ad libs …
- The Technicians catch-up quick-walking … And activate the--
- ELEVATOR:-- LIFTS … RISING UP THE SHAFT …
- TO DAYLIGHT OUTSIDE, early evening …
- REACHES THE WIDE-OPEN TOP, and …
- ABOVE GROUND LEVEL …
- EXT. DESERT PAD - PLATFORM ELEVATOR - EVENING (CONTINUOUS)
- SLOWS TO STOP GROUND-FLUSH.
- They gather their gear, and board the NASA Transport …
- (03:17 exult resumes)
- Mi-Kee LOOKS BACK, BEYOND the elevator:--
- A RING 100 M. DIA, the ground clear across the Silo, its launch-cover rim not yet recovered in windblown sand …
- And reluctantly, She finally boards … through to the rear …
- INT. TRANSPORT LEAVING - THE PAD - (AS CONTINUOUS)
- Mi-Kee knee-sits on the rear bench …
- LOOKING-BACK-OUT AT THE SILO, receding …
- (03:33 -fade out- refrain)
- CUT TO:
- INT. NASA HALLWAY - ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - PRE-SUNSET
- OS: Mi-Kee, Mom, finish with the Administrator:--
ADMINISTRATOR
- (affirms)
- Good Bye…!- And, Best wishes, Commander Mi-Kee: We'll be in touch…!
MI-KEE (OS)
- Thank you.
MOM (OS)
- Thank you, Mr. Oglethorp.
- And, Mom, Mi-Kee, come-out … the long hallway;--
- (00:00 - Beyond the Century/Karl Jenkins)
- Mom pulls out her cellphone and SMS-sends, "We're out" …
- And begins a family-life debriefing:
MOM
- (interested)
- You've become very alert to people, Mi-Kee.
MI-KEE
- (bemused)
- Adults are people, too.
MOM
- Yes,- I gathered that.
MI-KEE
- (bemused)
- Okay: What's your point…?!
MOM
- (2 beats, imposes)
- You didn't have to demand a raise in rank.
MI-KEE
- (smiles)
- It's usual, in space-work, to get a raise after any significant mission or every 40-days or 16-hundred kilohesits of mission time logged-- And, As I lead major discoveries, This is undeniable: It'd be foolish to avoid such inevitables.
MOM
- (curious)
- Usual, in space-work … Where?- What space?!
MI-KEE
- Startrails:-- We follow industry norms while leading the way technologically.
MOM
- (catches)
- Oh!
MI-KEE
- I think he understood the regularity of my request … Besides, This may be the only way I get chosen again for a NASA 'Disstaf' mission, before I'm 30 ….
- (plaintive)
- Mom: I can't wait that long:-- you know how that is.…
MOM
- Yes,- I suppose I do…. But, life isn't all flying around:- There is lots of science and mathematics groundwork to support your understanding … Homework for space-cadets: if you will.…
MI-KEE
- (concerned)
- Okay: What's your point?
MOM
- No sharp point: Just a reminder: You are, home.
MI-KEE
- Oh … A family-life, debriefing … I never thought of that.
MOM
- Yes:- NASA never did neither;-- but it's a necessity.
MI-KEE
- Yes,- I suppose so.
MOM
- Family makes-up for a lot business passes:-- as surely as business supports family life.
MI-KEE
- Yes,- I gathered that.
MOM
- (grins)
- Okay: What's your point?!
MI-KEE
- No dramatic point: I thought this would have been bedtime discussion.
MOM
- (bemused)
- I thought to test the waters with you, first.
MI-KEE
- (grins)
- Okay: Waters are more buoyant than Earth; and the breezes stir them.
MOM
- And the sunlight powers the breezes that stir the waters.
MI-KEE
- And gravitational attraction founds them all in order of their purpose.
MOM
- And Mind under-stands, them, altogether.
MI-KEE
- Yes:- So we know the reverse of error is truly harmless.
MOM
- (smiles)
- And ever applicable.
- A WALL-TV-VIDEO-MONITOR is replaying the Black-hole Encounter ("liminal acuity" scene) …
- Mi-Kee pauses to watch … Mom stops slightly ahead …
MI-KEE
- (watching intently)
- Is that me?
- (tacitly nods on cues)
MOM
- (watches, recalls)
- You remember signing all those permission papers, for half-day-delay broadcasting --and ultimate syndication rights,-- before you left home?- The T-V syndicates paid a lot for your trip to boost their ratings,- to show the world an 8th-grade heroine matching wits with NASA's finest astronauts and technology!
MI-KEE
- (almost breaking a smile)
- Yes: But is that me?- That looks like… someone else,- Like…
MOM
- It's television, Mi-Kee:- Don't be taken-in by what you look like to someone else: You must be and live yourself.
MI-KEE
- Yes: But is that, me…?!
MOM
- (walks-on)
- Come along, Miss Michelle-Keela,-- Commander ….
MI-KEE
- (breaks, follows)
- That's me …!
- They continue through the hallway to the building front …
MI-KEE
- (to Mom)
- Aren't you home early from summer camp?!
MOM
- We left third term: a week early: We enjoyed our first 2-weeks, But, without you around there was less for us to do:- we'd already caught our quota of rainbow trout:- Kids chummed the fish with extra bait:- Was easy.… And we had enough hikes to add-up to a mountain …. And for talent-skits, we kept thinking you were missing it all, and all those silly renditions of, "Oh-loo-kwah, Tah-goo…, Siam." But we had daily radio broadcast reminders of your progress.
MI-KEE
- (cognizes)
- I forgot about radio: We had video everywhere.
MOM
- Oh, yes:- There are places in this world where radio still dominates the news and information spectrum.
MI-KEE
- (forgives)
- I suppose that's like using your cellphone to read and send e-mail without photographs.
MOM
- Something like that, I guess.
- Exeunt the main glass doors to--
- EXT. FRONT PORCH - CURB - SUNSET (CONTINUOUS)
- Planet Venus is high and bright; Dad has the new car '2010 Golden Space Odyssey' Riviera running ready;
MI-KEE
- (notices Venus)
- That star sure is bright: What star is that?
- They reach the curb and car;
MOM
- Probably one of the planets: Venus, not Jupiter: There have been no reports of local supernovas.
- (opens RF door)
MI-KEE
- (opens RB door)
- Oh.
MOM
- (mothers)
- Mi-Kee: You've got to remember where you were going, to know where you've been.
- (gets in)
MI-KEE
- (gets in)
- Yes,- sure, Mom.
- INT. CAR - (CONTINUOUS)
MI-KEE
- (closes door)
- Hi, Dad: I'll talk to you later:
- (kneel-sits looking back)
- I have to think-about something.
DAD
- (seriocomic, drives)
- Okay! Off we ride, Into the sunset!
- (2 beats)
- Of course, If we were to drive fast enough, we could turn it into a sun rise …
- (a beat)
- Is that anything like turning time backwards?
- (slowly grins)
- All smile and giggle.
- THEY RIDE AWAY, WEST INTO THE DARKENING SUNSET …
- Venus bright above; Mi-Kee looking out back …
- SUPERIMPOSE: CREDITS ROLL …
[NEWSANCHOR] (VO)
- And NASA today, is again discussing retarding your clocks by occasional leap-hesits, sooner, instead of the traditional, June 30th, or December 31st …. But if you're not launching rockets to Mars, and the clock on your kitchen wall is not set to the Boulder Colorado atomic-clock web-site, well, then, this may not seem so important to you: But government time-keepers are always concerned…!
- Voice trails-off …
- Live-Hold till credits off …
- FADE TO INFRARED AND OUT
- THE END.
- POSTLUDE:
- (music - Zarabanda/Karl Jenkins - 4:36)
- (music - Fly High Michelle/Enuff Z'Nuff - 4:17)
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Petry System Family Wision USA