The Great Space Race [act 3/5] 'Shoot the moon'

FADE IN:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - FACING EARTH AT 160K MI (80K TO MOON)

[NB. HALF-EARTH WESTSIDE SUNLIT: SAME SIDE AS MOON]

A VERNIER THRUST PUFF … His HDV-camera telescoped at Earth,

Payrol checks angular-rate on his shuttle alignment-trim.

O.S. Dacy rouses below deck AD LIB "Good morning bayou… Good morning bayou… Good morning dear-Dacy… Good morning bayou…"

Vernier-trim, is complete, Houston: We're down to three centigrads-per-hesit. That's optimal by the specs.

And quick-reviews cables…

(2 sec.)
Acknowledged, Shuttle-Payrol.

(reads panel)
The KU-antenna, is de-oscillated to point-1-4-Hertz-degrees-tracking-5.

(2 sec.)
We copy: You may begin the photometrics-A experiment.

Roger, Houston: Beginning photometrics-routine-A-One.

And remote-starts the camera…

(comes up-to, yawns)
Good morning, Daddy: What are you doing?

Good nooning, Dacy-dear: I'm taking pictures of oil flareoffs on Earth: It's for NASA and U.S.A. government business…. And you, slept-in late….

(kneels on her seat)
Astronauts' beginners' privilege …: (looks out at Earth)
Don't they have satellites that are closer and see better?

Oh … we all take pictures of Earth… And our, present, Line-Of-Sight, is perpendicular to the sun,- which is ideal for this event in the upper horizon while the Earth turns …

(realizes Earth: stares)
Daddy!- The Earth is ahead of us!?- Did I oversleep and miss the moon?!

(smiles a beat)
No, we are still moving toward, the moon;-- I just turned us around for the view of Earth;- and our course-deceleration, called, a trim-burn,- which comes early-noon tomorrow.

(boggled just looking)
Wow,-- I never thought a spaceship would fly backwards, to the moon! I have to tell my teachers at school, when I get back:-- This is amazing!: (leans to window)
Can we have breakfast up here, please?

Lunch; Sure: Right after I get this H-D-V-camera focused and centerline tracking….

EXT. COMMAND - RECEDING REARWARD MOONWARD - (AS CONTINUOUS)

CU-TO-FAR: Dacy watches from the window as they recede…

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS AIRLOCK - 80K MI TO MOON - SUNLIGHT GLANCES-IN

Flops, Marcia, embraced fully suited in the closed airlock, leaning on the AE-35 unit … Awakening…

(eyes squint open, pop)
Whah?! … Where are we, now?

Ups to the back-window …

(inspects AE-35)
Ungh? … Where, are, we--… We are …

(checks outside)
This is not, a room I particularly: (angles on window)
want to be in, Marcia.

(comfy; thinks aloud)
I think, I remember launching from California, -and having dinner last night top-deck; -that was pleasant, Bill;- And, I remember, helping you suit-up,-- for an E-V-A … Then you called me on the radio and said, a space-pod was chewing your foot and I should suit-up and come outside …

Flops crosses to the in-window,

TRANSITION ON "SNOW":

('dawns')
Oh, I remember, Bill: This is where we were hiding: till they find us-- embraced like lovers lost in a snow storm on a mountain peak--!

Ext. Flops shuttle - 140K MI TO MOON - (flashback)

Flops and Marcia suited, tethered, spacewalking debutants …

(surprised)
I must have been dreaming!- I mean, to suit-up and do and say all that.

Yes: I remember dreaming too: after you got up and asked Hal.

(more surprised)
I, talked, to Hal!?-- For advice?!

(puzzles)
About replacing this A-E-35 unit:-- We have to test it, until it fails.

(astonished)
Wwoww!- I must have been Sleep-E-V-A-ing… -Aing!- That could have been exhausting!-- What if I'd forgotten my helmet or oxygen tanks?! Oh-wow!

V.O. He SLAP-CHECKS HIS HELMET…

I don't think that's something you would have forgotten, Bill.

(a beat exasperated)
Consider the number of variables that could have gone south!

One …: (a beat)
Do you think it's auspicious,- an omen of something?

No: I don't: Birds don't fly at this altitude.

TRANSITION RETURN ON:

Hungh?

Int. airlock - (present)

Marcia looks puzzled, as he stoops to examine the AE-35:

And now, we are supposed to test, this,-- You're sure!?

Yes-- but we should ask Hal again:: (face-to-face)
I don't understand the part about, 'Until-it-fails….'

That's easy enough, Marcia:-- Standard equipment-testing-room procedures based on stochastic mathematical models find the primary failure-mode ninety-five percent of the time during the principal test phase interval; And unexpected secondary failure modes occur during any testing for the remaining five percent…. And, we learn from our failures,-- so, You fail it and write a report:- Easy!

Yes, but-- How do you know, When, it will fail, to quit testing it, before, it fails?!

I suppose you just call it, a test, until it does fail … then you don't call it that.

…Oh… That's so arcane…!

The key to building big-fast computers, is to keep-on running the straight and narrow line.

Business-pedantics, so early, Bill?: (checks watch)
Maybe we should have breakfast --or make that, lunch,-- first, And then start dreaming on these things.

They EXEUNT to the inner room, de-suiting…

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - ANGLE-PASSING PAYROL (80K MI TO MOON)

From a still large distance more eastward, it appears they have gained on the Payrol Shuttle facing Earth but they are totally-groggy or sleeping-off their all-night-all-day late party; Aide and Newswomen are even dressed for bed;

Alfaseti telescopes across, amazed--

(breathes sleepy)
Are there space aliens out there? … Out here?- … That's … Payrol!--: (looks sans scope)
How, does he get around, the moon,: (and scoping again)
so fast?!

TELESCOPE: sees Payrol Shuttle coming away from the moon.

(equally sleepy)
Oh: That can't really be true: It must be an optical illusion-- we still have one day to get there.

(sits up, other word)
Optical al-lusion, to what?-- Me losing?! He is passing us, going the other way!

(enunciates the word)
Illusion! You're seeing his virtual image in the telescope lens rotated 1-hundred-80 degrees: East becomes west, north becomes south, left is right, up is down, but clockwise is still clockwise … maybe-yes becomes maybe-no.

(checks in big end)
Rotated?- I never learned it that way at the university: It was just upside-down and backwards!

The same difference either way.

(steady scoping again)
But their Shuttle is rearing toward the moon, -facing Earth,- and their angle is visibly increasing! Are we gaining on them?- How can this be?!

(hand-rides figuring)
It's all in the angles: We are east more, closer to centerline, because we're behind and reach the moon ten minutes later, three hundred-fifty miles further east in its monthly period; They are slightly westward, arcking more parabolic, and slowing forward to reach their Lagrange-One point and enter lunar-orbit space for the swing around the moon….

(mentally computing)
Oh. Okay. Keep me advised …

He reclines for a nap … but bounces-- snoozing mid air …

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS SHUTTLE OFFICE - DAYLIKE FLUORESCENTS (NOON)

Flops is sprawled on the floor with the AE-35 Unit splayed;

Marcia peeks-in from above--

Bill. You've been testing that unit half-the-hour. Would you like lunch down here? Or on the Command Deck?

Here,- would be fine, Marcia. This A-E-35 Unit is just not yielding to technological expertise … Did I bring my logic-signature--trace-correlator--pocket-analyzer--scope?

I saw it in your shaving notions bag, last-evening.

She floats down with pocket-sandwiches and squeeze-drinks;

(strokes his cheeks)
I thought, that looked familiar: I didn't remember having a WAP on my shaver…. Please, bring it, too. My beard will hold a few days anyway.

Here are your pocket-sandwiches … Master … I'll get the pocket-logic-: (and EXITS to bedroom)
tracer, from the master,-bedroom….

(cool rant)
Master…?!-- Mister, would be fine…. Master, is for under-thirteen … and just because I'm sprawled on the floor, doing homework, doesn't mean I've reverted to age-twelve … this is zero-gee to begin-with … so, for all you know, I could be standing upright … floating above the wall… leaning on the floor…. Next you'll tell me to not-lean on the floor …

She returns with the pocket analyzer (cf box-shaver+WAP)--

(half a beat)
Don't pique on it, Bill…. Here's your pocket-analyzer.: (giggles; shakes No)
That name always sounds funny….

(sincere)
What's funny about Pocket Analyzer?: (a beat, chuckles)
Oh…. Marcia, I'm surprised at you:- That's not very professional-like … Do you want a raise, Or stockshare?

How-about you let me help?

(brightens)
Sure! Have a -lean- on the floor …: (lends schematics)
And start reading the logic.

She sprawls opposite. He pokes paired analyzer-probes in the AE-35 Unit;- READOUT of logic-trace fragments (SOUNDS LIKE HAL9000's printed-circuit-analyzer) matches sample-trace-marks she finds on the schematics …

(pauses, looks about)
You know-- it's really, bright, in here…?

(busy poking)
Those are the sun-day fluorescents.

(cognizes)
You mean, I can get my tan working indoors in your office?- I've never noticed before!

(smally)
I'll remember to install them in our Earth offices, too.

They work-on, poking and match-checking schematics marks …

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK LOWER DECK

Aide and the Newswomen, who had extra rest and fewer duties at launch, are wide awake busy at his Master-Control Box:

It won't hurt them,- will it?

(intently busy)
No, of course not-- We're not, that, sadistic.

(mocking to #1)
No of-course not:- Sade was French.

(a beat)
Mmm … This just reads-out a bunch of numbers and letters, and sets his calendar back one day -like in the movie, Around The World,- so he won't see when the readout ran….

(quieter to Aide)
What are the numbers and letters?

(grins)
Shhh!- It's so secret, not even the Sheik, knows!

/ Oooooooh!

… As numbers and letters stream-down, filling the screen …

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS SHUTTLE OFFICE

Sprawled on the floor, he has two probes in the AE-35 Unit, and she points nonchalantly at the same in the schematics.

I find nothing basically wrong.

We may, have to disconnect Hal.

That, could be a bad, disaster.

ANALYZER CHIRPS;-- she looks, puzzling 2 blinking matches…

Oh,- that means, there are two, matching digital signatures … which means it's running two programs … or two subroutines … which means …

A bug caught in the middle?

A double-thick component EXUDES… from the splay … UNCLAMS!--

Its endcap 'JACK-IN-THE-BOX'ES stiff out-- surprising them:

(two beats stunned)
What,- is, -that?!

(still stunned)
I, don't, know…!-- NASA doesn't do practical jokes,-- Do they?

It then wilts, pulling back slowly but CLUNK, can't reclam.

Maybe those hardware Techs at the launch site?

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - 70K MI TO MOON

Payrol reading his book … pauses, to notice--

A huge sack bulges-up from below deck … Bulging … BULGING …

… All the way in … floating a foot above the floor …

… followed by Dacy-- head pushing her sack of toys--

Daddy, You don't mind if I play with my toys up here, Do You?- It's not like the lower deck is scary, but I prefer to be up here where we have more windows.

(resumes reading)
Just keep the sound low, while I'm reading.

Okay;-- Sure.

She unsacks and arrays dozens of electronic toys, helmets …

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - 65K MI TO MOON

A CACOPHONY OF LIVE STOCK MARKET AND CASINO GAMING SOUNDS: 10-Sheiks busily buying, selling, gaming, on their Internet laptops; but Alfaseti sits back leisurely awake …

(3 beats agape)
I, can, afford them,-: (to Helm and Engineer)
If, the cat, likes them,-- But that's a wait-and-see.

Put the cat on the video-link.

(in disbelief)
It's not, smell-a-vision!

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - 60K MI TO MOON

Dacy operates her RC-helicopter … straight to the ceiling … Can't do anything by any Control … Tries another toy …

Cut to:

INT. FLOPS SHUTTLE OFFICE - (DAYLIKE)

WHOOSH!--THWACK!-- RUBBERBAND-TWANG-STRETCH-- A GOLFBALL ON ELASTIC TETHER-RETAINER ZIPS INTO VIEW: slowing to a limit… And back … O.C. SHORT KNOCKS-ABOUT a Practice-Meter-Post:

(silkily smooth)
Six under par.

(even-ired)
Don't, you, dare, -spam,- me: you overblown carburetor!

We are oversimulated and our stroke is improving: We must be using aim.

WHOOSH!--THWACK!-- RUBBERBAND-TWANG-STRETCH-- the golfball zips into view, farther … RUBBERBAND FRAYING…!-- And back.

We should switch to the nine-iron as we get closer to the hole.

We, are nowhere, near, a hole, in outer space!-- Will you, -please,- cut the kibbitzing?! I know, the difference, between a wood and an iron: This is my driving practice!

We do need to keep our head steady. Put a nickel on the floor, to keep our place.

WHOOSH!--THWACK!-- RUBBERBAND-TWANG-STRETCH… --SNAP!--

GOLFBALL ZINGS-BY, SHORTTAILED-'THPPP!' RUBBER-SPLATTER…

PING, PANG, PONG, ricochets off walls and objects about the room with perpetual random ease … PING … PING-PONG … POING…

Flops dodges each variously-redirected near-miss-'THPPP!', arms serif-T'ed, torso-twist-thrust, bowlegging, lifting a leg, lifting the other, ducking left, right … all midair …

CHASE: Ball-and-tail-careens-'THPP…P…' missing his dodges …

TILL ZOOMING SQUARELY: as his head turns to fore-- SMACK!--

CU: Flops, head socked back, arches away, slow-rotating…

INT. COMMAND - 50K MI TO MOON - (AS CONTINUOUS)

O.S. PING … PING … PING-PONG … POING … PING … (CONCURRENT); Marcia videolinked to her girlfriend [JOANNE],

(listening to both)
Doesn't he have, what it takes! And keeping that budget outflow in-line must toss his credit in arrears;-- Sure, I think you'll like him … He just needs more help than he needs a pussy cat curling-up on his lap …

IN-ROOM-'THPPP…' up --CEILING PONK!-- 'THPPP…' back down…

(harkens)
Joanne … Listen; Let me get back to you, in two minutes.

Sure, Marce-- Take five….

Marcia keys-- videolink suspends; Macy's Christmas remains.

INT. OFFICE - (AS CONTINUOUS)

Flops finishes a slow-360 like a double-scoring-high-jumper while the ball careens-'THPPP' … PING … PING … PING-POING …

AND RETURNING--SOCK! on the back of his head: upsetting his rotation midair but itself bounces-on … PING-PONG … PONG …

INT. COMMAND - HATCH DOWN TO THE OFFICE - (AS CONTINUOUS)

Marcia looks-in on his renewed wild dodge-dancing … PONG …

(a beat more)
I'm glad to see you are getting your daily exercise, Bill.

He abruptly stops, posed like a mid-green golfer, one foot tiptoed crossed-afore the other, hand-leaning on the end of the driver turned head-out, -albeit floating tilted,- while the golfball continues-about … PING … PING … PING … PING …

(cooly)
Hello, Marcia. I was just getting-in a little driving practice … but Hal here, got me a little teed-: (doubles over)
--OOF--!

Eases up-- the Ball corkscrews slowly out from his belly …

He catches its Rubberband--

Here it is:-- I didn't lose it.

It's good we don't have sandtraps and lakes, in a Space Shuttle:-- You'd lose your balls, for sure.

Nnngh.

CUT TO:

INT. 3-D MIL-SPACE SHUTTLE COMMAND (VIRTUAL REALITY SPORT)

POV: Dacy playing Shuttle-captain in her headgear toy: A pair of vague Ghost-crafts approach on rearview radar,--

(military angst)
Shuttle-Blue, You have unidentified radar-ghosts painting your be-hind!

(play-military)
Roger, Houston: I see two pingers;- Can't shake them … What do you make of their trajectory?- It must be translunar velocity!

Negative stealth identification, Shuttle-Blue. Use your OMS-thrusters and veer-away!

(keys OMS)
Roger,- Applying OMS-thrusters!

OMS-KICK-- her Shuttle peels left … Spacecrafts whiz-ahead: narrowly missing BUT-SCORCHED-VISIBLE in her thruster-burn.

Kee-haw! Faked-'em hard-out!

Copy, Shuttle-Blue,- But they are coming back … You'll have to unload the Zongblaster in the Payload Bay!

(keys Bay doors)
Roger,- Opening Bay doors, now!

The visible-Spacecrafts return afore-- beginning GHOSTING…

Bay-door-open-INDICATOR LIGHTS,-- TING!

I still have visual … Look sharp!

Zongblaster RETICULES TARGET,-- LOCKING on one Semi-ghost…

She keys-- Zongblaster DUST-GLINTING GREEN LASER blasts the first Semi-ghost into SPACECRAFT-REALITY --AND-- OUT…

The second, fully re-ghosting, veers away, but--

She keys-- OMS-KICK-- her Shuttle peels oppositely and…

The Ghost SEMI-REALIZES lit-up passing through her tail…

She keys-- VERNIER-- spins her about-face while she also--

Keys-- Zongblaster-LASER SWEEPING ACROSS … blasting the Semi-ghost just to FULL REALITY…

Shuttle-Blue, More space-ghosts are coming-in … And your speculation is correct:-- They are coming from the moon … You'll have to get out of there: You can't take-on them all!

Roger, Houston-- I still have one Live here: I'll attempt immediate reentry!

Keys-- VERNIER-- aligns her rear forward-deorbit…

Keys-- OMS KICK:-- The mostly-re-ghosted Craft lumbers-by, radiating its own deorbit-maneuver power to chase her down…

Her Shuttle dives quickly toward Earth; the Ghost chasing…

AEROGLOW BEGINS,- outlining the Ghost-craft too…

But then hers BLOOMS: obscuring all outside,--

Houston, Can you copy?

But it's only DIGITAL-STATIC-HISS half-sync'ing.

Houston, If can you read me:-- The Aliens are following me to Earth…!

Dacy-dear?

She keys --"GAME PAUSE"-- and removes the headgear--

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - 40K MI TO MOON - (AS CONTINUOUS)

Payrol is sitting at Command, turned to her in a back seat;

(removing full-helmet)
Yes, Daddy?

We are approaching Lagrange-Point-One: Would you like to watch the lunar-orbit insertion?

Sure!

She ups and sits in her Command seat, and looks out ahead.

What does it look like?

(points to speedometers)
Watch the velocity meters:-- They will stop slowing… and speed-up as we cross into lunar space and begin accelerating toward the moon….

(comparing four)
Which one?

All four: The fastest is our Earth-orbit speed in kilometers-per-hour; the next is in miles-per-hour … The slowest are our Moon-orbit, speeds.

The velocity readings 6035…Kmph 3750…K mph 4635…Kmph 2880…K mph all-decreasing… Stop-decreasing…

And begin-increasing…

Like a sloooow-- rollercoaster …: (quieter to Dacy)
We are now Lunarians:- Moon-men.

Dacy looks at him, pondering the fullness of his meaning…

(to the moon; quieter)
Does that mean we have to talk quieter?

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - 30K MI TO MOON

Flops wearing a red-ball-centered white diadem (REFL) and a fresh bedroom kimono, sits looking forward out Command…

Marcia comes up with dinner… Sets it on their dining table behind … And gives kimono-Flops-backside a second look--

I really like the idea of eating Japanese, tonight, Bill…: (a beat concerned)
You weren't hit too-hard, were you?

(smiles in the window)
No. I got this at the Tokyo Geekie-Gookie Nip-Con, but never wore it … Found it again, packing…. I'm okay.

(not so certain)
I was worried you might have gotten knocked for a loop … We are, going, to make it back to Earth…?

(turns with a smile)
Sure … What would have you doubt?

… Looking at her, Resembling a Kamikaze-pilot-something…

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE - SHUTTLES FAR, TINY - BEFORE A LOOMING MOON

Closing lean on the big turn around moon west hours away …

FADE OUT

FADE IN:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - ANGLE-PASSING PAYROL - 1100 MI TO MOON

From a nearing but still distant eastward, it appears they have closed the gap on the Payrol Shuttle facing Earth…

Alfaseti telescopes across, amazed--

(steady-viewing)
That's Payrol! Still facing Earth, rear toward the moon,- his visible angle -now equals- ours:- But you, said, they would be accelerating, toward the moon, once they passed Lagrange-One…!: (steering scope ahead)
… and Flops is just ahead of him!- How can this be--!?!

They have done their deceleration O-M-S-burn for the backside pass; They will re-accelerate from the other side for the return to Earth.

Oh …: (an idea)
Do we need do that?

No but it is scheduled: As we round the moon we gain too much speed for a quick direct return, so we burn-off some before, and pick a little up after.

How much, speed, can we gain?

Depends on how close we round the moon.

(grin grows)
Shave it to the bones--!!

That may be too, close: We do not know that much about the farside topology-- pictures from the '70's.

(new enthusiasm)
Just steer around the mountains:- Let's go for it!

(inserts)
Verniers are not strong enough to steer at our speed: We will have to fire the Orbit Maneuvering System rockets to stay in orbit and steer: And that will pick up more, speed.

Alfaseti emotes nods from all, pleased despite objections …

It is not, a good idea:-- We would have to lose the extra speed on the way back to Earth, and with little fuel reserves;- We can't afford to bounce extra orbits to win a race.

This is a good, idea:-- We can take the lead again: This is my race, to win! And any time spent in the lead counts for extra valor, in a long-distance race!

Formula-One Rules?

I'll see how much I can shave: Helm, Let's try running your terrain radar, luna-ain….

Helm actuates the Earth-landing-radar, -PINGING;- Engineer runs course-computations for skimming the moon…

(eager again)
What else can we do to accelerate this race?!

(yawns)
Did anybody dump the excess waste-disposal water?

(busy but)
We'd have to shoot, that, not dump it,- to make much of a difference.

(scheming again)
Of course--! We will dump it when we fire the orbit-boosters--!

(ponders)
What good will that, do?-- If we dump it before, boosters, we can get a little more thrust!

(excited clever grin)
We are all set to retake this race, in the turn--!

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - MOON AT 100 MI, NEARING EARTH-ECLIPSE

Shuttle rotates to forward, left side "down" over moon;

Kimono'ed Flops, Marcia, seatbelted ready but up too early,

(yawn, finishes controls)
Houston: We are Go for semi-orbit.

(3 sec.)
Roger, Flops: Go for lunar backside pericynthion swing;-- See you again in-- 29-minutes….

(yawns)
Roger, Houston: Talk to you real soon.: (try-awakens, to Marcia)
Why does NASA always refer to my younger brother?

Were you always nice, to Roger?

(to the moon)
Yeeaah: In a big-brotherly-sort of way: yes.

Maybe they haven't had breakfast yet.

(nods)
Nnngh.: (a small BURP)
That shrimp with hot sauce was good last night. I can still taste it.

(to the moon)
Let's watch the moon,- shall we, Bill?

(rallies himself awake)
Good idea, Marcia! This is the only time we will ever see it together … From this vantage!- Wakeup! Wakeup!

(2 beats-- exudes)
Oh: I'm getting the urge!

(a puzzled stop)
For what?

To take a warm bath for fifteen minutes: Nobody's watching!

Yeah, but-- We've got to pilot this Shuttle around the moon.

You, have, to pilot the Shuttle, Bill.

Yeah, but-- I'd feel safer with you watching by my side.

Really, Billy?

Yeah.

(wiggles, smiles)
Well,-- It was just an urge…

O.S. HAL BUSTS-UP LAUGHING…! Sobering, They face about…

(loud-not-containing)
I have just figured-out what A-E-35 really, means! … It is the, Amateur Experiment Thirty-five: Designed to E-V-O and collect cosmic rays every hour for 72 hours, then shut itself: (and laughs-on)
Off -automatically- before we land!

(2 beats eyes mutual)
We really should unplug him.

(turns forward again)
Later: No time for that now.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHEIK COMMAND FRONT - ROUNDING MOON WESTSIDE AT 20 MI

Alfaseti, Engineer, pour over computer details; while Helm, Aide, wincing sideways, 10-Sheiks, wide-eyed, raising arms, hands-- shielding as though the shuttle were about to crash the wall aside the moon … Engineer looks … Alfaseti looks …

(anguished)
/ The sky looks so flat--!
/ The moon is getting so full--!
/ We are falling into a moon-warp!
/ We are becoming month-travelers!
/ At the end of the cosmic sphere!

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - (AS CONTINUOUS)

POSTER-FLAT-MOON-IN-SPACE appears as on a wall (NOT 3-D).

Computer displays nearer-orbits, booster points, options;

Alfaseti scans the forward course beyond the moon--

(smirks, emotes)
Everybody, Relax!-- Allah made the moon go round this way too … Shee!

MOON LOOKS NORMAL (3-D); he resumes; they gradually ease as the shuttle proceeds along the moon, toward the backside.

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - BACKWARD, ROUNDING BEHIND AT 100 MI

Payrol, Dacy, finish a quick lunch while nearing the moon;

…so he gave them cookies and milk, And after a suitable tenure,-share in his office, chair, for half the afternoon, he sent them home-- And that's, the real, story….

So Presidents are like real-people.

Yup,-- like you and me!

I like your stories, Daddy: They're better than horrid-war-stories.

(checks moonside window)
Who tells you war stories?

(looks too)
The younger boys at school: It gives them a macho complex.

(bemused)
I suppose it would…: (checks flight-controls)
…And, We are close enough to begin our lunar-backside-pass duties:-- Let's finish up and get to it: Make sure no space-aliens, skyjack, the Shuttles, and that sort of rot…!

(giggles)
That's only, a video game, Daddy.

(plays it up)
I'd suppose so … But if Earth-men can think of that, then don't you suppose space-aliens have thought of it too…?!

(giggly)
But space-aliens already have their interplanetary space-cruisers: They don't need a dinky orbiting Space Shuttle from Earth.

I suppose you're right … I'll ask your teachers at school-- when we get home.

She giggles roundly … and they finish their last bites…

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - MOON BACKSIDE PASSES LEFT 20 MI BELOW

Marcia takes a DV-Cam movie of it; Flops just watches …

(eye to camera)
Just like my friends' home movies.

(puzzles a beat)
What friends of yours have home movies of the backside of the moon?

(smiles)
I have some friends who work at the space museum.

(grins, slow nods Yes)
Ohhh-- NASA-- home movies.

I mean, the moon is something everyone takes pictures-of … You should take some pictures, too, Bill: Start a photo-menagerie you can look-back-on later: Get back to nature … Think of it as a screen-saver for your livingroom wall.

He nods Okay.

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - SKIMMING 4 MI MOON MOUNTAINS - (SUN)

MOUNTAIN TOPS ZIP-BELOW (1.5 mi./sec. = 260 ft. blurred);

Alfaseti is resolute as radar altitude decreases 100 m/sec;

Helm agitated, winces, cringes, covers face, peeks one eye, leans; emotes, worries, at each nearing-missing mountain …

7-thousand meters!

(intent like Capt. Kirk)
Look sharp!

6-point-7.: (petty-pleads)
Please, can we start the boosters?! 6-point-4.

Alfaseti watches higher as tall mountains near their level;

(a beat)
Use your telescope to see them!-- 6-point-2 kilometers!

Radar INDICATOR-TONE, WARNING (like Speak-&-Spell)--

OBSTACLE AHEAD: E-T-A: TEN SECONDS.

(open-eyes-mouth squeals)
Aaahh-llllaaaahhh…!

A GLINT of Flops Shuttle 9KM ABOVE A 7KM-TALL peak ahead;--

(points elated)
There, it is!-- Engage boosters! Helm!

Helm keys and sticks hard left … swinging Alfaseti right as OMS-THRUST KICKS-IN, acceleration SEATS THEM HARD, BANKING-YAW VEERING left … skirting 1Km below the too-tall peak:--

(shrieking)
That was almost Disney Land--!

Helm mad-steers LEFT-RIGHT ROLLING-YAWING-VEERING amid the tallest mountain peaks;-- All lean-to, grab-hold, swaying …

(a beat)
Engineer: Dump the waste water!

(nose-hold, pulls handle)
Dub-pig waste water…!

O.S. LONG-FLUSH: Lower deck rear toilet-collection-tank …

REARVIEW VIDEO: Water streams down … to the moon below …

ZOOM-BACK CUT OUT TO:

EXT. TAILING SHUTTLE - SPURTING-VEERING THROUGH CRATER RIMS

Water-stream churns on the moon, BILLOWING A GRAY STORM …

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - NOSE LOW, 10 MI ABOVE BACKSIDE

Dacy kneeling, rests on the console, face at the window … a dust storm billows far ahead, scouring-- whitening a path …

(points to storm ahead)
Dad-dy: Is that a cosmic no-no?!

(follows her pointer)
Yup! That's what that looks like:

We can't drop-off our laundry here: It'd get dirtier!

Agreed: We'll just cancel that mission-objective.

(new to this)
NASA will let you do that!?

Astronauts' prerogative: We log the details:: (begins digital-record)
Captain's log: Moon-date: 5-27-1-point-23;- Payrol commanding: While orbiting the backside of the moon of planet Earth in the Solar system we are experiencing a temporary navigational obfuscation by lunar-surface dust storm bearing similar direction and velocity … No signs yet of intelligence or life forms.: (keys-off recorder)
Good, work, Dacy-dear: We'll keep close eyes on these guys.

(props-up 3 beats)
Why is the moon so shiny?

(follows her looking)
Well, that's an anomaly, Dacy-dear: It should be as gray as the dust.

Is it metal?- glass?- water?- ice?…

Some kind of very cold temporary snow or ice, I should think, Dacy-dear: It'll evaporate eventually.

Is that what they call, moonshine?

I don't really know, Dacy-dear: It's probably not any worse.

Okay: I'll ask my teachers at school, when we get home.

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - 9 MI ABOVE NEARING LUNAR TERMINATOR

The moon (left) is shadow-streaked nearing the terminator;

Sheik Shuttle weaves below among the mountains, trailing a billowing dust storm, and gradually passing into the lead;

(watching back left)
Will you look at that, Marcia?! I always knew there would be aliens on the backside of the moon!

(reaims camera)
How can you tell there are aliens, Bill?

(leans out of her LOS)
Look at how they fly!

(looks)
Oh-- They're way down there-- Like: (and camera again)
rampaging gerbils!

(bemused)
And, where, have you seen rampaging gerbils?- The science museum again?

Just a little imaginary, redaction, Bill-- like calling your P-C-rovot, a mouse, even though its tail comes out its snout-- like an ardvaark--!

(tacitly agrees)
I use to figure I was fingering the button-end … my laser-mouse must be a manx-mouse!

(smiles)
Just another one of those little things that make hardware-people choke-up with laughter … You remember them!?

Ahh, yes: The Shuttle-launch technicians seemed inclined to that sort of humor.

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - APPROACHING SUNLIT DUST STORM 9 MI UP

(smiling ahead "down")
This must be the first time the moon has ever had a bath-- in a billion years! I wonder if Santa Claus will come up, this year.

I don't know that Santa's reindeer ever make it up this high: This is higher than their usual roof-top.

RUNWAY STRIPLIGHTS rightish behind the storm's clearing …

(points rightish)
Daddy, look: Now, there are lights down there: Like an airport runway!: (tells-daddy)
Just like in my StarTrails Science: (leans to better view)
reader!

(looks and finds)
Well-- So there are!

Can we lean over for a better view?!

Shuttle rolls slowly right… to nose-low side-"down":

(controls roll)
Well, okay-- but not too far, Dacy-dear: I don't want you falling out.

(silly)
Dad-dy! I'm not going to fall out: We're in a ballistic trajectory:- We're weightless!

(sitting tall, finishes)
Okay: Just don't lean too far over the edge.

She giggles, shakes No…

There: Can you see better, now?

(already dreamy)
Ungh-hungh… Do you suppose the dust has been covering spaceship runways for millions-or-billions of years?!

I suppose that's possible, Dacy-dear: There are runway-lines on mountain tops in Peru.

I read about those … But that's on Earth: This is the moon, backside.: (2 beats-- perkier)
Did you know, Daddy-- According to my schooltime Internet researches, People used to believe-- the moon came from the Earth's mantle when Venus passed close-by … Before it went into its own orbit … They say that's why the moon is very much like the upper crust of the Earth.

(smiles)
I suppose it is, the upper crust.

Now of course, these days, people believe anything.

(chuckles)
I suppose they do, Dacy-dear.

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - CROSSING THE LUNAR DAYSIDE TERMINATOR

Marcia reads. Flops returns arms full, and sets transparent PC panels in his front and side windows … She pauses:

I almost forgot, I wanted to demo Meglosoft's new X-X-Sport before we cross the lunar dayside terminator.

Dos Equis…?

(grins, busy)
Yeah, clever,- isn't it?! I haven't decided whether to call it, Mehican Spaceoff, or Backseat-Driver-Rage … Imagine-- installing PC's in every, automobile, to play roadtrip games!

Sits and tweaks PC-panel alignments, tapping various keys-- Graphics-images overlay live the moon and Sheik's shuttle …

He settles, approves his alignment;- And grasps the sticks,

And begins:-- Aiming and firing missiles at Sheik Shuttle, EACH LAUNCH ROARING PASSED the lower deck… Unsettling her--

(puzzled … bemused)
Billy, Why are we hearing the sound of the rockets?- I thought that was impossible in outer space. Did your programmer forget a game-parameter?

(busy)
Nooope… That's one of those pseudo-science foibles: Radiant-exhaust is almost, as-loud, and in-fact faster because-- there is no atmosphere to slow it … There are no sonic booms, But you can hear the exhaust-- when its burnt-fuel-blast hits the hull!

(abruptly worried)
Bill--!! Did NASA, Authorize this?!

(grins, eases up)
This is just virtual, Marcia,- Like playing Submarine on paper but with kilowatt audio and Live overlays on the other players as targets…

The missiles EXPLODE near their target … He fires more.

(explains points)
Pick any points you want to target, Its camera-routine identifies,-and-tracks their motion … And makes the targets seem Live….

Ext. space - near Sheik Shuttle

Small cometary space rocks tumble toward the Sheik Shuttle…

V.O. Delayed BOOMS AS EACH explosion bumps the lower deck;

(cooled)
Something DARPA would like to have?

Yeah, Exactly-- Or already has….

(a beat)
Is that a third, player, Bill?

Int. Flops shuttle - (resume)

A UFO enters the display and fires missiles at the Sheik;--

(surprised pause)
I don't know: There are, variables.

(half a beat)
Makes a wicked, dayside terminator.

(smiles)
Mmmm. Yeah. I'll have to note that.

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - HEADLIGHTS VEERING AMONG MOUNTAIN TOPS

Helm is steering mightily to avoid the mountains dark under the headlights; Alfaseti is elated; Others more tentative;

(go-go-sit-dances)
Go-- go-- go-- ooh-- ahh-- more-- more-- more--!

Fuel INDICATOR-TONE Warning (VO)--

CARGO BAY: TANK FUEL: LOW

(commandeers: PULLS UP)
We pull up now.

Shuttle PITCHES up-- Lifts to the mountain tops….

Fuel INDICATOR-TONE Warning (VO)--

CARGO BAY: TANK FUEL: EMPTY

Helm cuts OMS-Thrust, just as--

Fuel INDICATOR-TONE Warning (VO)--

OMS-POD: RESERVE: ACTUATED
OMS-POD: RESERVE: DEACTUATED

THRUST OFF: chair-cushions expand; Shuttle LEVELS; silent.

(whistles awed)
That was one, fat, belly dancer!: (a beat)
Cured me of martyrdom, seven years!

(science-struck)
Did you see how many belly buttons and yah-yahs, the moon-rear has…?!

(jumps exiting agitated)
No way!- You're not sending me out: (and EXITS to lower deck)
there again,-- Behind the moon…!?

(puzzled smile)
Not a problem: We're clearing the mountains-- and we've retaken the lead! There's not much in the main cargo bay tank: Remember that, next time.

A mountainous plateau streaks under the headlights, while tiny COMETS PELT-about, spurting-up GLOWING FOUNTS PASSING…

A BIG FOUNT WHOOSHES-OVER a wing: FLAT-SPINNING-UP the ship…

EXT. SPINNING SHEIK SHUTTLE - RISING - BACKLIT DUSTSTORM

Headlights beaconing afore the barely-sunglowing dust wall.

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - DIM DARK DUST STORM RISES FORWARD

Marcia is focused reading the Bible and Science And Health;

(watching Sheik storm)
Goodness! I hope they survive that.: (3 beats-- glances to)
Reading the Bible?

Studying: The Sunday Lesson-Sermon.

It's not, Sunday, you know:-- It's not any, day, at the moon … just a month … Does it make a difference, which day it is, up here?

(smiles)
No difference: And this is the second time, today: specially because we're beyond the moon.

What's special beyond the moon?

(feels)
To remember that God is out here too-- and not just in Washington D.C.

He smirks.

The Apollo astronauts used to read from the Bible: The moon is a place to read and ponder: A thinking-rock set on a hill, that cannot be hid-- among the stars.

(ventures)
How do you know God is in Washington D-C?

I went to the National Cathedral, there.

(concerned)
How does that imply that God is in Washington D-C?

Well: There's no, National Synagog; Nor National Mosque; Nor a National Peace-pipe for the other guys….

He frowns a beat.

You don't think our government would break the Constitutional provision for not-establishing, any particular religion: if they hadn't discovered God in Washington D-C…?

No, I suppose not;-- I'd always thought they built it to appease God-- for when She, passes-over.

She's reading.

(reads across 3 beats)
Do you have a favorite passage?

I like the one from Psalm 1-39:: (looks ahead; as reading)
"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

That's pretty.

It's special because we're in a place like that: far from home;-- and space is like an ocean.

(accepts)
Mmmm!

And then I read in Science And Health, to get a more spiritual view of the passage.

What's more spiritual? The passage makes good sense as you exposed it.

Yes, but the Bible is not a literal reading book-- not any more: The morning doesn't have wings.

I'd figured it meant figuratively: the rising of the sun across the morning sky and heading west over the ocean in the late afternoon.

Figurative isn't good enough for deep thinking.

He nods Acceptable-okay.

(hand thrust emphasizes)
There's got to be something that can be actually taken-- some wings, to actually fly.

Now, that, sounds literal!

I mean for the psalmist's thought, to fly,-- Not, just birds at dawn.

And you found … Ezekiel's solar-nuclear-fusion-powered aircraft?

The small puffy clouds in the morning, high over the sea, look like giant birds flying: pink and white and gray.

And he's going to fly a pink cloud?

(a beat)
A cloud is a non-animal object that floats, balancing: neither-raising-nor-lowering … In another, passage, God, asks Job, whether he knows the balancings of the clouds-- what was always there but scatters the light differently … Clouds blow with the wind,-- with the compulsion of the Spirit of God, upheld by continual reproofs under His Law of Soul.

(smiles)
That's more en-visionary.

Yes,-- in a realistic way: seeing things as existing, before they are manifest as such.: (beat)
But modern Sunday-T-V-translators don't do it much justice.

Too-spiritual?

More like, spiritual-eyes-ed…: (wow-eyed preaching)
Though I live life in the fast lane and take-up leisure-residence on a helicopter-bordelo in the boondocks of Nevada, Even there, shalt thine 10-41 Manual steer me o'er the tax-auditors shadowing my trusts.

Real entrepreneurial spirit!

Yeah.

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - HEADLIGHTS INTO DUST STORM

Dacy leans face-to-window to see more than the gray dust--

(pouts)
Daddy: We're missing all the good parts.

Don't pout, Dacy-dear: Such is life on the moon.

Can't we go around this storm, or over it?

(thumbing his Manual)
I'll see whether we can, Dacy-dear: It should let-up soon enough.

--his SPACE DUMMIES FOR BILLIONAIRES, Manual …

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK LOWER DECK

Aide, Newswomen, flop and tumble at one end of the room;

/ Oh dear! / Are we going to be all right?!

(faking)
The Sheik has everything under control: This is called, artificial gravity.

(giggle)
/ Weee! / And every bit as much fun as natural, gravity!

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - DUST STORM REACHES ALTITUDE, DARKENING

Window wiper spray runs muddy rivulets freezing dust on the front and side windows … He clears away his PC-game panels;

(taps on side-window)
It's freezing instantly on the side windows.

(stares unminding)
We'll get a complete wash-and-wipe back on Earth.

At least we're not missing any Prima-shave ads, this time.

(brow-slap, ups, exits)
Oh: A brainstorm just hit: Take the helm, Marcia: I'll be back in five minutes!

(watching him go)
Bill: I can't fly this thing alone with these controls!

Then take my-seat … Be Right Back--: (EXITS to below deck)
Brib, Brab, Burb, Barub-- whatever.

(resituates, louder)
That's B-R-B, Bill…. But I still don't think I can fly this thing, alone.: (looks out again)
I can't even see where we're going.

(loud below)
Turn-On your fog-lights!

Yes. Bill.: (sotto voce)
Lounge-deck captain!

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - DUST-OBSCURED (HEADLIGHTS)

Dacy searches for even a hint of view--

This is as bad as driving in the fog in central California.

Wait till you're old enough to have-to, drive!

How can you see where we are going? And where everyone else is?!

(to instruments)
Well-- I can't really: It obscures the radar too. But we can't slow down.

(rises to go)
I have just the thing--!

She EXITS to below deck…

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - 10 MI UP - STARS-ALTERNATING-STORM

Alfaseti, Helm, Engineer, watch amazed; 10-Sheiks woosy in their barf-bags--

(emotes into bag)
Time to feed the laughing-hyenas…!

And barf-laughs-in…

(to Helm)
Can't you slow the spin?!

(grimaces)
I'm trying,-- But vernier thrusters are not designed for changing major rotational velocities; And the yaw-reactors don't actuate till reentry in the Earth-atmosphere to deorbit!

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - DUST-OBSCURED DARK (NO HEADLIGHTS)

Flops returns from below deck … to his seat; the dust storm faintly flashes of rythmically turning headlights ahead;

(pouts at the window)
We can't see anything:- Not a star!

(leans-with; cheers)
We're both stars, Marcia.

She low-brow smirks … and resituates;

(sits; searches panel)
Didn't find the headlights?

(sits)
There's something out there, Bill-- straight ahead,-- flashing!

Sheik Shuttle headlights faintly beacon ahead in the storm;

(leans to window)
A flasher … behind, the moon!?: (2 beats watching)
A pulsar!-- That's a star, too.

Could be an astronomical discovery!

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - STILL HAZY (HEADLIGHTS)

Dacy returns to sit, with a squeeze-bulb horn toy--

(offers it)
Here, Daddy: Use this!

Dacy-dear: Nobody can hear a sound in the vacuum of outer space….

Turn-On your inter-ship intercom.

All right….

CUT TO:

EXT. SPINNING SHEIK SHUTTLE - DARK EAST BACKSIDE AT 20 MI

Headlights still on, now flashing shine on the black moon.

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - 20 MI UP - HAZY DARK EXITING STORM

They watch for flashes …

AWOOGAH-AWOOGAH!-- Horn over the Intercom…

(ignorant habit)
Hold your horses!

(looks about side)
Who's trying to pass us out here behind the moon?!

(looks about side)
I'm not really sure, Marcia: I can't see much out there, yet: And they probably can't see us: They're probably just as lost in this dust storm as we are.

Flash your headlights for them….

Yes. Marcia.: (sotto voce)
Right-front admiral!

He FLASHES THE HEADLIGHTS several times … and leaves off…

How many people are out here behind the moon at this time of month?!

None but us….: (searches 2 beats)
Nothing; no response….

It must be one of them:-- Give them your horn, back!

(looks about controls)
We, don't have, a horn: NASA didn't install a horn:-- this is so banal.

Then use a blade of grass between your thumbs-- or a tear of paper.

(brightens)
Paper!-- That always used to work:: (searches for paper)
Do we have, Paper in outer space? NASA, NASA: What did you do, with the pa-per? I can't blow a laptop between my thumbs.

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - CLIMBING FROM THE DUST (HEADLIGHTS)

The windshield is once-wipered, with little adhering dust.

INTERCOM SQUEAL-BUZZ! A tear of PAPER LIKE A SOPRANO COW…

Dacy, a Puzzled-Really look… And redoubles to Payrol…

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - (AS CONTINUOUS)

An edge of lens-wipe paper between his thumbknuckles,--

(delighted like kid)
That still works, Marcia…!

(looks about side)
I don't see them yet, Bill:-- Try again!

Flops blows his paper edge: LIKE A SOPRANO COW…

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - (AS CONTINUOUS)

INTERCOM SQUEAL-BUZZ! Like a soprano cow again…

(giggles smiles)
I don't think they quite got the idea: The moon is not so rural!

It's Flops' sense of humor: Give him an inch-- and he'll take the whole worm.

(full giggles)
Very funny, Daddy.

RADAR TINGS-- locate two Shuttles ahead… Dacy reads it:

(points to radar)
It says those are the two Shuttles,: (points ahead)
climbing out of the dust storm.

Good--! Then the race is back on!

Well, yes: It never really stopped.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOON EASTSIDE AT 100 MI - SHUTTLES HEADLIGHTS COMING

Rising from the backside, Sheik Shuttle pinwheeling bottom-forward … a brief lead … Flops … a brief lead … Payrol …

CUT TO:

INT. SHEIK COMMAND - STARS-ALTERNATING-MOON EAST

10-Sheiks, grunting spin-wilted noises; Engineer, Alfaseti, Helm, rest, lying on opposite walls; O.S. below deck, Aide, Newswomen, squeal and laugh-rolling-about;

Helm almost doses;

(irked-out)
You're supposed to be thinking of a remedy!

(still put-out)
This is the first rest I've had in two days;-- I can't stay awake five years straight like space captains I've seen on American television….

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - EARTH RISING OVER MOON EAST EDGE

(exults hands)
Earth, again! Our home planet!--: (to Marcia)
It didn't disappear on us!

(cute-smiles)
Yes, Bill.

(keys Comm)
Houston, Come in!- We see planet Earth;-- we're heading home!: (to Marcia)
This is where all the NASA-guys cheer for us;-- Listen….

(1 more sec.)
Copy, Flops: This is Houston: We have you on deep-space radar-net: Welcome back to the real world, space-racer-naut.

[10 Houston Personnel CHEER]

(and grins unto Marcia)
Thank yuh, thank yuh, Hooston.

(inserts)
Hey, Billy-bard: Canaveral here: Get this-- Your mooning days are behind you, now!

[50 Canaveral Personnel raucus LAUGH]

(sheepish-dour grin)
Real great, Cap-Com.: (smirks to Marcia)
You know what the book says: Women are from Venus; Men are from Mars.

(runs up a rant)
That's silly, Billy: The phrase was obviously coined on male chavenism: The more obvious fact is that while women are from Venus, men, are from the Asteroid Belt:-- notably loose, lazy, wandering, free-spinning, bit players; coldly amusing minimalists and warped individualists; modular, water-bearing drifters, marching in mostly similar races; a few dashing eccentrics, incohesively diverse; a handful of overly-pumped shepherds, fractious priests, crashing kings,- rarely getting their acts together; never settling,- never amounting to meaningfully much while hanging-out together; except, there sure are, a lot of them, around, all-year-long!

(a beat stunned at her)
I never thought of it that way.

(breathes a beat, irks)
Some of my best friends are real,-asteroids!

He nods.

CUT TO:

INT. PAYROL COMMAND - EARTH RISEN (MOON AT 200 MI)

Payrol checklists panel switches for the reboost homeward;

(eyes closed solemn)
There's no place like home … Click … Click … Click … there's no place like home … Click … Click … Click.: (eyes pop to Earth ahead)
It's still so puny.

Give yourself a little more than three clicks, while I set up the return boost.

Okay: Three and a half-- Cli…: (a beat to her feet)
Must be the ruby slippers, I don't, have: Even billionaires have to do it their own way.: (to Earth again)
I'll have to become a trillionaire: and command a faster Space Shuttle.

CUT TO:

EXT. PINWHEELING SHEIK SHUTTLE PASSES (BOTTOM FORWARD)

Still well-ahead in the lead but farther out from direct …

And glides into bright SUNLIGHT … (8 sec. to full)

CUT TO:

INT. FLOPS COMMAND - LEAVING MOON ORBIT, EARTH AHEAD

VERNIERING pitch-roll-yaw to put the Earth directly ahead,

(eyeballs Earth-aim)
Prepare for reboost acceleration, homeward.

Shouldn't we dump the excess waste water first-- for thrust-to-weight-ratio efficiency?

(correcting aim by radar)
Yes, of course: Good idea, Marcia!

(EXITS to below)
O-kay: I'll be just a moment.

Several moments, Flops idles … re-eyeballs his Earth aim;

(loud for Marcia)
Don't take too long, Marcia: This is still a winnable race…!

O.S. LONG-FLUSH: Deep-muffled toilet-collection-tank …

(below deck)
All done!

O-kay! Get back up here quickly: Time to go-go-go!

Coming!: (enters, sighs, cheers)
Well! That eliminates that, little: (and sits, focuses ahead)
scaly-wag!

Bright SUNLIGHT BREAKS from the lunar horizon far aside;

(aback)
It's certainly not, ours!

Of course not, Bill.

(concerned)
Is there something else I should know about, Marcia?

Nope-- I feel just, fine-- just, something to rid from my mind-set.

(half-worries)
Wasn't anyone in the company….

Nobody, Bill: Just, some sports can't pursue a little fun without churning a big wake of trouble.

Did you discuss this with your Church Minister, or report it to the Police Counselor,-- on Earth?

Not this time: They can only log it and leave you with a bash-me label: not really encouraging. This is the real world, Bill; not the ancient Holy Lands: I still have to deal with it, my-own-self … and it's not the biggest bang in my world.

Yeah, but-- dumping it in outer space, behind the moon …

What would you have me do with it? Grind it up and recycle it as Soylent Green!?

No-- I guess not.

(laughs)
I guess not!

OMS-THRUST ROARS-UP for the reboost burn …

CUT OUTSIDE TO:

EXT. TOILET-STREAM CROSSES PAYROL SHUTTLE BURN 50 MI BEHIND

Its sparkly frozen-MIST SUNDOG-RAINBOWS his headlights …

Tumbling dark lumps, A SHORT FAT FISH, obscuring the view …

And stream and mist drift onward …

Presently the SHUTTLE BLAZES WHITE in sunlight as well …

Followed by a tenuous dust storm, huge, chasing for Earth…

TIME LAPSE TO:

EXT. PAYROL SHUTTLE - 230K MI TO EARTH; MOON 7K - SUNLIT

Evening Earth hangs like a 1 in. blue marble at arm-length,

A 100 miles ahead a pinwheeling shuttle glints in sunlight.

And behind, the moon hangs large but perceptibly shrinking, and banded about the middle by a narrow, gray ring of dust.

FADE OUT

Petry System Family Wision USA

presents

(a spec'script)

The Great Space Race
-of the twenty-first century-

a space science fiction romantic adventure comedy, PG-13 feature

Mr. Raymond Kenneth Petry, Strategic-Director
a Wision--SesQuaTercet USA production

Three eccentric billionaires launch three space shuttles
in a great space-race to the moon backside and back

"And they're off ... way-way-way-way off!"

[index][script][music][sets&settings][budget][prospectus][roles]

[Music specified in this screenplay is the Strategic-Director's selection]

Act 3

'Shoot the moon'

[act 4]

digital music [var] © [tbd; extant works, Screenwriter's selections and annotations; not otherwise representative of project Sesquatercet]

The theory of measurement propounded in this work is not to be cited (as) considering contraband or corpses; Nor are the intellectual appurtenances hereïn to be used for or in the commission of crimes against persons, peoples, properties, or powers (States).

© 2001-2010 Mr. Raymond Kenneth Petry

Petry System Family Wision USA

presents

(a spec'script)

The Great Space Race -of the twenty-first century-

a space science fiction romantic adventure comedy, PG-13 feature

Mr. Raymond Kenneth Petry, Strategic-Director a Wision--SesQuaTercet USA production

Three eccentric billionaires launch three space shuttles in a great space-race to the moon backside and back

"And they're off ... way-way-way-way off!"

[index][script][music][sets&settings][budget][prospectus][roles]

[Music specified in this screenplay is the Strategic-Director's selection]

Act 3

'Shoot the moon'

[act 4]

digital music [var] © [tbd; extant works, Screenwriter's selections and annotations; not otherwise representative of project Sesquatercet]

The theory of measurement propounded in this work is not to be cited (as) considering contraband or corpses; Nor are the intellectual appurtenances hereïn to be used for or in the commission of crimes against persons, peoples, properties, or powers (States).

© 2001-2010 Mr. Raymond Kenneth Petry

The Great Space Race
-of the twenty-first century-

Mr. Raymond Kenneth Petry, Strategic-Director
a Wision--SesQuaTercet USA production

Three eccentric billionaires launch three space shuttles
in a great space-race to the moon backside and back