mOuse tO Orbit [act 1] 'Establish the dilemma...'

FADE IN: BLACK (ROOM ECHO)

(silky European)
Back in the old days, when the cold war was … cold … A tiny country, no bigger than a thumbnail sketch of a postage stamp, played the prominent role, for world-wide… peace …

TRANSITION: DOFF BLACK GOGGLES (SOUND FIRST)

INT. SECURITIES EXCHANGE FLOOR - "09:59" - STARK FLOODS

Peruke-headed INVESTORS AND MAVERICKS are screaming at each other, at overhead display monitors, at flashing financial boards, at RCA'S DOG, bidding on space stations and nuclear reactors at pennies-on-the-dollar, lamenting losses by tens of billions, as the US Dollar market collapses AD LIB …

Narrator IN WHITE, midroom, inspects the Black Goggles;

A MOMENT OF SERENDIPITOUS HARMONIC CONVERGENCE … RACKS-OUT…

MARKET BELL RINGS "10:00" … They call it quits: STOW WALLS, open windows, bring out lounge furniture … and play senile card games while old movies [preachers] play the overhead monitors: It's Sunday morning teatime in--

COMPLETE:

INT. SAME FURNISHED: GRAN FENWIJK PALACE - SUNNY MIDMORNING

Stylish modernized-medieval; Q-Bowl trophies adorn a mantel; near-live portraits of Great-Gran Duchesses adorn the walls;

Windows and front door open, birds chirping, light breezes rustle the trees; An F-23 swings lazily across the field, trailing crop-dust, gradually turning-in to land; BACKYARD KITTY CATS MEOW (OS) happily orchestrated in play …

Outside the picture-window, lowering inch-by-inch dangling from his rope, is the Royal WINDOW WASHER: squeegee'ing…

Biggish oldish DUCHESS in bright lipstick entertains older PROFESSOR et al; a MATRON dustmops near-b.g.…

They speak-up as the F-23 aligns to final-glide-in,--

(eruditing to Duchess)
…to economic retro-scalation in a peri-recessional U.S. dollar re-inflationating era…

Aligned, F-23 LAUNCHES a SIDEWINDER MISSILE, and a SECOND…

And a THIRD and a FOURTH, ROARING-IN …

Passing beyond THE WINDOW, to the backyard woodshed (OS)--

DOUBLE BLASTS! FLAMING sawdust and flipping woodchops, but everybody blinks no more than thrice…

REPEAT BLASTS! FLAMING sawdust, flipping woodchops, and--

Kitty cats LIKE WAVERING SIRENS tumbleweed past the door.

And FATTEST CAT, -and BARKING DOG,- tumbleweed-by…

(erudite)
He's such a man, -my son:- the only F-23 pilot in the world:-- There are no others like him, you know!

SQUEEEEEE…! SQUEEEEEE…! The Window Washer is pendulating;

(nodding-leaning to hear)
Yes, ma'am.

F-23 swoops-in, finally to land …

Every day he practices in his F-23,: (compelling)
And every day -by flying his F-23,- Alone, He is singlehandedly drawing our little country, Forward,-- To technological heights, Unforeseen…!

Yes, ma'am.

F-23 pitched nose high touches rear-down: WHEELS SQUEAL…!

I have been trying desperately to remedy this, But I haven't found the just-right woman -yet;- But I won't give up: You, know, that!

Yes, ma'am.

A pity, your daughter eloped with that billionaire winemaker from Napa Valley: We have such a brain-drain problem in our little country, It's driving us zonkers!

F-23 still roaring, nearing, as its nose settles…

(grins, louder)
Yes, ma'am!- But she is, his legal sister.

(sighs)
Yes,-- nevertheless….

Nonchalantly simultaneously everyone takes a sip…

F-23 ENGINES WHINE DOWN as it rolls to the front walkway …

INT. AT THE FRONT DOOR - (MOMENT LATER)

Matron shakes out her WAGGLING DUSTMOP in the doorway, the breeze blowing away a CLOUD OF DUST; removing just before--

SON enters, the tall handsome oldish-but-unmarried one-jet-airforce pilot, in fanciful jet-pilot gear, doffing jalopy-eye-goggles, his face unrecognizably dusted-- 'Pff'ing his lips and wiping, as he approaches;--

(literary stoic to Son)
Captain… Sky-Hook,-- I presume…

(equivalently to Mother)
The Duchess, of… 'FF… Gran Fenwijk,-- I presume… PFF'…

POV: Professor: Duchess and Son smile-to-smile and lean puckered to kiss as BUTLER INTERPOSES a tray of cookies--

(BENDS TO POV)
Hors d'oeuvres, sire?

His rump decorously hides the KISS SMACKING...

(samples a cookie)
A revelatory thought…!--: (CRUNCHES, takes five)
Why didn't I think of this sooner?- This may exceed all expectations!

Yes, sire: They are made with the very best of ingredients.

He MOVES-ON CLEAR... The Duchess has dust-DARKENED LIPS:

(resolute)
I've, 'FF, been discussing with our Professor'F, how we might increas'P gross national revenues,- to help'F p'ay for your 'FFFF'military flight p'ractice shhedules … 'pff.

(wipes lipsticked cheeks)
Awww, Mahh,-- We'F get enough free fuel'P and Sidewinder missiles from P'America, for target pF'ractice on the wood shed out back…. F'It's the cost of the woodshed wood, that we can't a'FFF'ord, since the Russians cut-back on their foreign economics pF'olicy lumber'P support, 'ff.

(envisions-puzzles)
Sky-- hooky!

Those Russians are always, cutting back, 'ff; on everything… p'…

(ponders-bemused)
Sky-- hooker!

(snide)
They're even cutting back, 'ff, on cutting back!- 'PFF!

(snickery-guffaw)
Sky-- hookah…!

(defends)
Ma, You can't fault the P'Russians: They did offer to replace the wood shed with a new'F aluminum woodshed for free'P: as often as we need…!

This, must, be the answer…!

(compels)
My son: P'Think about what you are telling your dear mother: What, is, an, aluminum-wood, shed?!-- 'PPPF!

(pauses, humbly)
Well, -Ma,- I guess, I don't really know'F: It seemed… a good idea F'at the time…. Maybe something got lost in the translation: We don't speech good American FF'English very well: N'even with the Professor's all-touristic tutoring sessions;- And we've had fifty-tens of those! 'ff.

Duchess' DUCH-AIDE (shortish sturdy lass) approaches…

(pats his hand or arm)
Don't worry, Captain: We'll get more money from the Americans… 'FF, And we'll replace your real, wood, shed;- I'm sure the Professor can think of a good plan… 'ffp.

(concludes brilliant)
Sky-- hook: It's really brilliant! It will, work!

What will work?- 'F--?

(magic stars in eyes)
Poof!-- The sky-hook: We can beat the world into orbit with our own space-hotel!

(directly)
Madam: I must bring this to your attention at once!--

While Professor SKETCHES Earth-orbital-skyhooks for Son and OTHERS coming by at leisure AD LIB, Duch-Aide shows Duchess a scandalous magazine article, in plainful English:

(points in magazine)
It says here-- You and that charlie prince and princess of England were photographed together at the Limpic Games…. But, according to your itinerary log, --which we keep ten-years, on your three-gigabyte four-gigahertz Plentium Five,-- You were not, all together, in any, event!

Well… that's just the way the plain-English say it.

(bothered)
Say what…!?

(interdigitates)
They photo-graphed us together: The magazine's Photography Editor, did.

(emphasizes restrainedly)
This is typical of this sort of magazine we've allowed in this country!

(helplessly exasperates)
Well, it's not like I'm the Queen herself'ff'ff'ff'pff!

She dainty-wipes her lips.

(wanders away grousing)
I wonder why they don't just call it, the U-Q: United Queen-dom!

Son EXITS; Professor and others rejoin Duchess,--

(imposes)
Well, my Duchess: We've got viable plans in research and development, But, we'll need your F-23, for the Gran Fenwijk Space Station program.

(explains)
There's no more money from the U.S.A. for going to the moon: It's all orbital now.

(confides emotely)
It is all kind of moldy green, now.

U.S.A. money!?

No… The moon-- green cheese-- does not last forever.

(generating angst)
We must now build space stations if we are to compete for international U.S.A. financial support!-- This is the trend of the future!

Oh, dear me: What are we going to do in outerspace orbits these days?

Are we going to throw-up in space-bags, for scientific, analyses?

We did that when we cartwheeled the 7-37 at Cervantes' Christmas party.

It is for a good cause, madam.

Yes: I perceive that,-- but my Son may not approve: He loves that jet-plane almost as much as he should love a woman:- He even talks to it!

CUT TO:

EXT. F-23 - Florida Atlantic coast, FAST - CLOUDY MIDDAY

COLLAGE: Son flies Duchess in his F-23, to Florida for a NASA interview: She's more modern than Duchess Gran-Mother, outfitted in F-23 copilot headgear and parachute cords…

And barf-bags: She toys with the thought of exploding a barf-bag, Inflates it with a serious huff… And practice-swings to blow it -grinning-… then JUST TO BAG BURST--!

FREEZE BURST TO:

EXT. F-23 PASSES - (SNAP CONTINUOUS)

SONIC BOOM! And ROARS onward into the far distance …

CUT TO:

INT. NASA ROCKETRY HANGAR, FLORIDA - WALK-THOUGH MEETING

CHIEF, Duchess outfitted in F-23 jumpsuit, headgear undone, Son in a sharp Russian business-suit, stroll, and re-haggle over the Gran Fenwijk space-satellite launch deal:--

(to Chief)
But we can't afford a geostationary orbit, so we're paying for a Middle Earth Orbit:- Your astronomers call that, MEO… It is more lower, and more to our liking…: (irks)
… though it sounds like a kitty cat on a hot Russian aluminum woodshed.

(nods)
But below GEO you won't have your satellite overhead allday: MEO gets you two hours per pass and requires expensive tracking antennae.

Our Professor Emeritus says it must orbit exactly, every two hours, and avoid the big Brazilian Anomaly…: (concurrent samba jig)
We need it for communications-ing with foreign nations overboard the horizon, too.

(a beat unsure)
The, South Atlantic, Anomaly…?

(amid jig)
Yes, I suppose you Americans should call it that. Besides, The Russians sent your retired engineer to dine on the International Space Station: You shouldn't refuse our Professor Emeritus's space-satellite launch!

(reassures, measured)
We just want you to get the best for your money, Ma'am.

(jigs into exasperation)
Well, it is only American money,- We don't use it in our country: It inflates and deflates too fast for our Senior Sunday Investors Board Games:- Why, Do you realize that last Sunday morning, they nearly foreclosed on America, altogether?!

(smirks)
Oh: That would appear dire.

They continue-on AD LIB strolling in the b.g.…

PULL BACK TO:

INT. SATELLITE PREP AREA - (ADJACENT F.G.)

HARRY, JIM, in white jumpsuits, inspect 3 brassy satellite modules 18 m x 4.5 m dia., 2 semiterete like soda-bottles tapered to a linear motor hanging a bottlecap-like docking Aeroglider by black 1cm braid 1Km long, and dangling UHF antenna halo-atoms, for Gran Fenwijk…

(TAP-TAPS A CANISTER)
Harry: I don't understand what they think they're doing: This is not, gold plating:- This is brass….

(calm)
That agrees with the documentation?

(rechecks invoices)
… the color-spec., yes: But that doesn't mean the documentation is right: These are shipping doc's,- not design-specs.

(drolly calm)
Close enough, for government work.

(handles suspicious)
Well, consider this, too: The three packages, thirty tons each, consist of brassilated aluminum, -scrap I'd estimate:- two semiterete canisters of borazine-carbide nanofiber, each over a thousand miles of centimeter braid with a bottle-cap tied to the end; one nuclear-powered zirconium-thermopile; and various electronics packages around the canister ends:- This is supposed to be a computoric radio communications satellite: But I don't find, E-H-F, S-H-F, X, nor, K-U, band horns,- nor even a U-H-F bow-tie unless it's these Christmas trimmings…. Then: We're suppose to bolt these three together in space, and push it to MEO:--: (palms, summarizes)
It's just a chunk of metal and two very long strings;- something a big kitty-cat would play-with…: (cursory, inspects)
What kind of country puts-up a 45-Hertz A-M radio V-L-F dipole whip-antenna, that belongs on a push-me-pull-you submarine…?!: (head inside, HOLLOW)
I think I've found a germanium tube-diode, Harry!

(dryly)
Nothing suspicious about that: The first U.S.A. MILSTAR went up with a ton of aluminum ballast;-- And the Space Shuttle frequently runs long-line electro-magnetic experiments:- Sounds very government high-tech…!

(disbelief)
Okay,-- Harry:: (head-out direct)
I'll sign: If you, sign.

(shakes ballpen, samples)
Sure, Jim: What type blood are you using? A? B? A-B? Oh?

(ear to a canister)
I think, it may be a global nuclear aardvark: a pregnant double-header!

FADE TO:

INT. F-23, LEVEL EASTWARD - OPEN SKY 10 MI. HIGH - MIDDAY

Space-launch high-technology 1200 mph: Pilot Son and younger brother COPILOT in thick white-gold spacesuits, auto-seeking the elevator bottom connection. (Timed to the music of, Castles In The Sky, with Marsha):

(jovial wagging)
… Or so she insists,- which is all-right-enough by me: if she'll agree to it…

(military abruptly)
I have hole-echo:-- Range: five kilometers; Bearing: one-o'clock; passing now; E-T-A 15-hesits.

(back to business)
O-kaaay…

Flips button:-- HUD COMES UP. Tenders stick.

(a beat)
HUD is up.

(00:00 clash, alternating)

Hole velocity: 1-point-3-K; V-rel-95; Decel: 14-per-per; Ballast: 12-per: You can dump half a tad,- but you're Right On…. E-T-A 7-hesits.

HUD RETICULE finds Target high, coming down right…

I have hole-acquisition:: (switches Tracker On)
Locking target-tracker.

AUTO-TRACKING: HUD reticule gradually centers;

(and checks back-above)
Auto-dock extending …

(00:14 whistle droop)

TOP OF F-23: DOCKING MECHANISM extends… 3 sec.

(00:17)

(resumes foreview)
Tracking is green: Auto-celeration… I have visual.

ELEVATOR-AEROGLIDER approaches ahead, settling centered…

E-T-A 3-hesits…: (1 sec. beat)
2-hesits…

(00:23 whistle rise)

Docking MATING-TAG overhead… 3 sec.

(watches above again)
… Mine … Mine … Mine …

CLANKY catch… a pair of CLAMPS CLUNK… BOLTS MOTOR 1 sec.

(00:28 lull, ahh, words)

(checks each item)
Hole-capture… is confirmed! Clamps are… Green, and… Green!

He UNLOCKS a 'TEST' TOGGLE and pushes its big red button--

THOONK!--THOONK! A ROOMSHAKER of a breakaway test.

(continues)
Breakaway tests at 3-point-5 gees; Telemetry is Lock-On: Download is good: Go f'rit, guy!

Going to burners.: (triggers Afterburner)

AFTERBURNERS ROAR! F-23 JUMPS 6-IN. FORWARD SHIVERING…

(00:41 plunky)

HUD: MACH-SPEEDOMETER ramps up… 9 sec.

REDLINES "2.5" 1650 mph.

(00:50 louder)

Redlining, mach 2-point-5.

(00:52 clanky)

Sky-hooker is high-tail: 8-hesits, to Ro-Torbit.

(00:55 twangy, horny, snare roll)

EXT. HIGH OPEN SKY, LOOKING WEST - F-23 COMES

Streaks-in silent before its exhaust plume… 1.4 mi./3 sec.

(00:58 key step down)

FLASHES BY-- SONIC BOOM, and ROARS a streak into the distance, AFTERBURNERS TRAILING SOOT… 1.8 mi./4 sec.

(01:02 snare loud)

INT. F-23 - OPEN SKY EASTWARD

Elevator cable is taut-back-20-deg. to the sky;

3-hesits to Ro-Torbit.

Son scouts sky ahead, and up…

(01:05 descender)

2-hesits…

Son braces settledly…

(01:07 clashes)

(1 sec. pace)
One hesit…
Point-five…: (CONCUR.)
Ro-Torbit!

(gently pulls stick)
Ro-Torbit.

(01:09 clear exhilaration)

F-23 gradually swings up… 15 deg./15 sec.

(monitors)
Altitude: 16-kilometers; Rotation pulling two gees at five degrees: Cable, half a gee…: (1 sec. beat)
Cable at one gee…: (1 sec. beat)
Cable at two gees…: (1 sec. beat)
2-point-5 gees…: (1 sec. beat)
2-point-8 gees; 17-kilometers…

CUT TO:

EXT. F-23 COMING UP 30 DEG. 15 MI. FROM EARTH DAYSIDE

The exhaust plume billows large in the thin air; the deep blue sky darkens to black as they ride the space elevator cable up and slightly more forward faster… 4 sec.

CLOSE ON: CANOPY WINDSHIELD, STARK SUN GLARE

(1.5 sec. pace)
22…
23…
24…
25-kilometers…

Helmet FACEPLATES DARKEN to astronaut-chic black-gold.

(01:36 lull)

Exhaust PLUME DISSIPATES… 3 sec.

(01:39 snare roll)

SILENCE but a faint slowly rising cable-harmonic chord…

Engines, off: Flame-out.

Cable steady at 3-point-3 gees…: (relaxes)
Sit back… and, enjoy, the hoist!

(01:43 alternating)

INT. F-23

(3 beats)
'Mmm' this smells de-licious: Roast rack of lamb with quince-mint jelly and buttered yam soufflettes….

(hooks up table-bib)
Serve it up, already.

(01:56 whistle down)

Copilot forwards a spacey-royal GOLDEN serving capsule; and they take-in the gourmet-half of space launch …

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. F-23 HEAD-DOWN - 1000 MI. MEO ORBIT - (2 HOURS LATER)

(02:10 plunky)

The cable taut forward-down; Son finishes a creamsicle.

INT. F-23 EASTWARD - INVERTED EARTH OVERHEAD

Son wipes-up … and stows his table-bib and capsule…

(finishing a slurpy)
Range 2-kilometers… 3-grads… 4-o'clock… E-T-A 20-hesits… Reeling ballast 2-20-per… slowing…

Cable up 45 deg; Son searches the stars directly ahead …

(02:30 progression)

A never-before-seen space-hotel building site is out here:

(02:35)

I see it!- It's beautiful!

(02:38 exhilaration)

SUNGLINTS a mile ahead: The Construction Site …

F-23 passes a slowly tumbling card-PLAQUE: "M.E.O. POP. 0",

And a Gran Fenwijk SPACE-FLAG stiffly unfurled,

And a SIGN:

"CONSTRUCTION SITE / FUTURE HOTEL GRAN MEO / WELCOME"

VERNIERS: To align the final approach … slowing …

Crawling past the marker buoy:

"HOTEL / GROUND / ZERO"

FULL STOP at the second marker buoy:

"FREIGHT / TERMINAL / UNLOAD"

(03:02 no voice)

Full stop: confirmed. 15-minutes: cable unreeling.

Let's do this in five: Opening bay.

EXT. HOTEL CONSTRUCTION SITE - F-23 AT FREIGHT BUOY

F-23 missile bays open … and release freight and equipments as VERNIERS SPURT: Backing slowly away …

(03:29 fade … 03:33 end)

CUT TO:

INT. DUCHESS OFFICE - BRIGHT DAY (OPEN WINDOW)

F-23 lands in the b.g. Duchess businessly types at her Internet desk PC:

(typing musically bouncy)
Lee-dah-dee-- lee-dah-dee … Boom-- boom-- boom-- boom!

Professor peeks-in at the door--

My dear Duchess:

She quick-waves him in, momentarily typing one-handedly.

(smiles, enters)
I am pleased to report Gran Fenwijk's second, first, in outer space: Successful docking procedure has been completed with the F-23 at the Hotel MEO Construction Site, and we are ready for phase three, uup-loading one-thousand tonnes of hotel construction supplies and equipment, and training and uup-sending the construction crews: We are, on-shhedule.

My dear professor, this is indeed wonderful news-- and I, too, have good news: I have a new plan, for rectifying our infamous female paucity here in Gran Fenwijk: We, are advertising for a waitress, on the Internet worldwide-web: I have completed and posted a job-description for the perfect waitress at monster-jobs-online!

(nodding)
Yes-- yes, madam: I will inform your son, we are go for go-- and prepare my lecture for the construction crews: We must begin final instructions at once.

FADE TO: (SOUND FIRST)

INT. QUAINT ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - LIT, EVENING MOONSET

GAVEL ON WOOD-- KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

The roomful of fifty, quiets down to begin their lesson…

(liked that sound-button)
Good evening: Tonight's class will learn all you need to know, about building a hotel, in outer space:

Professor explains studio-quality large-screen, time-scaled 3-D CARTOONS at his PC: How to build an outerspace Hotel at MEO: a spinning roulette-wheel…. (His CLICK-STICK actuates, freezes, expands, enters, grabs-- each item, for its views-and-actions-preconfigured manipulated by tap, hold, click):

TAP-holds HOTEL: Hotel-centric view expands and slows spin;

The hotel is a wheel, one-hundred meters in diameter, twenty meters wide, with a hollow hub for docking the F-23 and ferry-tugs bringing visitors from Russian and American Space Shuttles…. Sides are whipple-plated but because it rolls on its orbit, spinning twice per minute…

CLICK-drags its RIM: Tilts-turns,

…it needs whipple-armor only on its tire tread…: (exuberates)
This is so, inexpensive, by modern space-station-building standards, I've really surprised myself: They will have to award me, the Nobel Peace Prize, in spaci'oteliery…!

TAPS GONDOLA Elevator: Actuates its car-up-down-cycle;

(grand)
We have four scenic guest-elevators each side, north and south; running goggle-eye gondolas from the hub to the perimeter, -That's up and down in artificial gravity;- Also there are dumbwaiters, for crews inside.

Loops over Hotel face,

Guest rooms are north face and south side, on every floor.

Holds-CLICKS a WINDOW: Expands to CU… Enters a Bedroom;

Every room has double space-bubble view-windows; efficient panelescent lighting; fine air-furniture; and, wall-closet space… And a door…

Tap-CLICKS inner DOOR: Opens, Enters a Corridor;

A corridor runs each circumference.

(inserts)
Will we charge more for rooms with northern exposure, than southside?

I suppose that is a good idea: Yes, It makes visitors feel important….

When do we eat?

(to wristwatch)
About, an hour.

(revises)
I mean: Uup there.

Points to a group of SIGNS,

(nods)
We are giving that top-priority:-

CLICKS Kitchen SIGN: Jumps to a Kitchen;

Two kitchens will be built over the two main public diningrooms on the perimeter. A staff kitchenette will be built first in the offices along

CLICKS Office SIGN: Jumps to the main Office;

… the central axle; The Duchess has ordered a headwaitress on her royal Internet debitcard…. And meanwhile, the royal Pilot will take you up by two's, with extra rations:

TAPS OUTER SPACE: Steadies the cosmic frame;

You will remain uup-space, building Gran Fenwijk's Hotel Gran MEO, for three months, in shingled shifts….: (addressing them)
The Hotel will fly, or more exactly levitate, in orbit, one-thousand miles above the Earth, or sixteen-hundred-and-nine kilometers…

(hand up! smiles)
I know that!

(smiles broadly)
You pass! And for extra credit: Did you know that the orbiting station is not, really, free-falling…?: (looks about)
Anybody…?

All didn't know.

(hand-libration)
The reason is: Falling, requires a decrease in altitude-- but there is none: The station in orbit rises just as fast as it falls: It is, in proper English, librating: slowly vacillating through inequalities in the local gravity below.

(undertoned to any)
I thought that was when you use petroleum jelly.

(hand up)
Can we call it, free-peaking?

Rapid clipped, hands rising and falling--

Free-topping!

Free-throwing!

Free-loading!

Free-weighing!

Free-wheeling!

Free-swinging!

Free-cresting!

All, clamorous claps "Here, Here!"

I suppose we can, at that,-- yes.

TAPS ORBIT: Rescales orbit-speed to teach-time;

(brightens)
Orbit velocity is fifteen-thousand-seven-hundred-and-thirty-four miles per hour: Which means at the bottom

TAPS Earth ATMOSPHERE: Slowspeed Earth rotation;

of the elevator cable the F-23 will pull 4-point-1 gees vertical…

TAP-holds F-23: Expands on the F-23;

…acceleration: Three-point-one gees of crack-the-whip, plus Earth's own one gee, less the elasticity of the

Tap-CLICKS F-23 TOP: Actuates its ascent-rotation-to-space;

cable … You reduce gees by flying super-scram rotation just before those big gees hit … And once you pendulate to the altitude of the space-hotel fifteen-minutes later, the deceleration due to gravity will have diminished your ascent vertical velocity to zero … The elevator cable then guides you to the hotel within one orbit. It's a nice scenic two-hour ride.

(hand up)
Does, Gee, mean, gravity?

Only if it refers to Earth's ground level or why the lake doesn't tilt: Gravity itself is not constant with elevation, or other planets.

Does, Gee, mean, ground?

Gee, means, geo,- another name for Earth; as in geology and geography.

Geeee… that's like G-cubed….

(hand up)
How do we avoid getting belted by the Christofilos Radiation?

You mean the Vanillin Belt?

(corrects both)
Actually, Van Allen, un,-discovered the Van Allen Radiation Belt around our planet, when his Geiger-Mueller counter shorted and ceased counting radiation…. Your question is a good one and highly technical: I'll give you the thirty-second explanation:-

Keys-up CARTOON: Mu-glass section repels charge-particles;

Exterior surfaces are made of high-tesla mu-glass: its strong internal atomic magnetic field deflects most charged particles; it is a biweekly maintenance item. And Christophilos Radiation has minimalized since the U.S.A. and Russia ceased detonating: (looks about)
atomic bombs in orbit, decades ago.

(quiet)
That was short, for a thirty second explanation.

(quiet back)
He's a Professor: He practices the same explanation, thirty-two times.

Quick has a look a Sure Befuddlement.

(hand up already)
When the elevator lifts a load of freight to orbit, Does the space-base fly lower?

Not for long,- And it has plenty of margin:-- It recovers most of its altitude when the F-23 comes down: Its regenerator program pulls, the F-23, back, which comes down faster than it went up,- and reentry will be westward, downhill. Meanwhile…

Tap-holds SPACE-BASE: Actuates its elevator-course-cycle, condensing to show it relative to its base orbiting Earth;

When the elevator has free time, it cycles an empty car … back down:--

TAPS AEROGLIDER: Gives an Aeroglider-centric view;

Celestial mechanics, runs it ahead to its taut limit, where it liens, and swings down, pulling the space-base forward: sending it up higher! As the car nears bottom but before it enters the atmosphere …

TAPS SPACE-BASE again: Avoids the F-23 and draws up empty;

the space-base turns-on its nuclear power, and the elevator hoists the car back up: The energy-used, pumps its orbit: just like a school-child pumping a swing…

(open)
Why doesn't America do it this way?

Maybe they copied the Russians: You can't have a race, without copying, somebody, and throwing money at it!

I am glad we have only to build a hotel in space: That is something we know how, to copy!

(hand up)
Shall I remove the Sidewinders when transporting civilian passengers?

(mentors)
Best not:- The world is wide, young man: the dangers many; the remedies few.

Do we need to buy space-work-suits?

TAP-holds SUIT ICON: Enlarges view with diagram marks;

You will be provided the latest in spacesuit design, However, We could not get the seamstresses…: (embarrassed)
to sew-in… the… built-in…: (beat, flat)
You will need plastic diapers…!

DISSOLVE TO DAWN:

EXT. TAXIWAY - F-23 IDLING READY - DAWN WITH MORNING STARS

Son, Copilot, 2 WORKERS bulky in bunny suit ears and tails, all wearing thick white-gold spacesuits, flight gear, stand before Professor final-hand-checking their suits …

(checks his space-watch)
We have time for two uploads today.

(grins)
Just like Halloween.

(dour)
Different bags: different goblins….

What's up, Doc?!- This is our first time outside the Garden of Fenwijk: We have to be prepared for whatever may be up there: Black holes, Alien space eggs, Andromeda strains, Dust bunnies, Radioactive E-CO-LI…

(mutual slow)
Hot Shiiii…

(interrupts)
Don't say it.

(snap to attention)
Yes. Sir.

(smiles to Pilots)
Third time's the charm.

(to Professor)
Thirtieth ton of freight this week.

Yes: You boys are super-efficient.: (finishes)
All ready!-- But, let's not get routine with the routine.

(at-ease)
Yes, sir.

They climb aboard … Workers sit cramped behind Copilot.

A FLAGGER, lantern in hand, guide-light-cone in the other, waits, watching … Backs away: clearing them for flight…

F-23 ENGINES START. They wave to Professor waving back.

REV UP … Turn, and taxi out to the runway, canopy closing…

INT. F-23 - ROLLING TOWARD THE RUNWAY - (AS CONTINUOUS)

Son, Copilot, busy with radio audio base acquisition…

Everybody sitting tight?!

(flash a mutual smile)
Very.

(reads checklist)
The Captain has ordered No Smoking: At this time you are asked to, Please, Extinguish all fumes…

Let's get on, with it.

Easy does it: First-spacers' Rules:: (resumes)
You have space-bags should you need them: Do not attempt to explode the space-bags by hand: We will dispose of them properly in outer space….

EXT. RUNWAY EXIT END - DAWN'S RAYS TOUCH CASTLE TOWERS

In the distance, F-23 turns, aligns, REVS HARD and comes …

Passes the lake … And launches military-abruptly skyward…

CUT TO:

INT. F-23 LEVEL EASTWARD - OPEN SKY 10 MI. HIGH - INTO SUN

1200 MPH: Son, Copilot, are busy auto-seeking the elevator car; Workers, barf-bags-ready, expectant; HUD is up…

Hole-echo range: one kilometer, Bearing 12-o'clock, V-rel-90, Decel 15-per-per; Ballast 9-per; E-T-A 8-hesits.

HUD RETICULE finds Target high, coming down center…

I have hole-acquisition:: (switches Tracker On)
Locking target-tracker.

AUTO-TRACKING: HUD reticule gradually centers;

Auto-dock extending.: (checks back-above)

TOP OF F-23: DOCKING MECHANISM extends… 3 sec.

(resumes foreview)
Tracking is green: Auto-celeration…

TCAS BLARES ALARM! FLASHING RED! He checks--

TCAS Radar shows a reflection entering their agility-cone.

Redlight on T-CAS:-- Aborting to Fenwijk.

Adjusting his stick-- DROPS ALTITUDE ABRUPTLY banked left…

A moment of stunned disappointment for the Workers …

Got it, on Navigation: Was 15-miles ahead,- directly in our path.

Safety first, men: That was T-CAS, Collision-Avoidance: Something up-ahead wasn't ours: probably a stray commercial flight. We'll take you up next-aperture, in eight hours.

(snide to #2)
Spaceflight holdovers are getting to be habitual with this spaceline.

(equally)
They should give us free lunch, and limousine service to a siesta.

CUT TO:

INT. INDIA AIR 747 PILOT CABIN, FLIGHT 910 - AIRSPACE-AHEAD

CAPTAIN dips a French Dip; SECOND-Captain monitors ahead …

TCAS-4 ALARM! BOGEY: 9 mi. behind approaching hyper fast:--

(fingers Radar Bogey)
Wow: This is twelve-hundred knots!?

Teeth locked, Dip dangles, Lips barely talk off the crust:

(full endbite, glances)
Military, hot pursuit!--: (touches overhead panels)
Recheck Friendly and I-nertial: Do we have more than one trace…?!

(busy, reviews again)
I see one bogey coming up our left; Second was behind, But gone now.

(chews, reading panels)
Friendly's up. Flight path is firm:: (peers out left)
Sure hope Friendly is transmitting our Zippity-doo-dah-bluebird song.

(keys radio)
Control-7-4-7: This is Flight-9-10…

(doublet note of Castles)

FRAME IMAGE-CAPTURE: THE EMPTY AEROGLIDER flashes forward over the left wing… and onward yanks up for outer space.

(saw it)
Holy… What was… That--?!

(still watching it)
No jet, I've ever seen!

Come-again, Flight-9-10. This is Control-7-4-7: Please, repeat.

(keys, uneasy gigglish)
This is Flight-9-10, Control-7-4-7: We have a bogey, -repeat- -bogey:- probably unknown military…. Over.

Roger Flight-9-10: You have an unknown military bogey…: (a beat)
You mean, a U-F-O…!?

(mind-wiped smile)
Roger that, Control-7-4-7: U-F-O.

(awed to aside)
They've, Got, an Airforce, Bogey!

Too bad. Tell the Captain to wave, smile, and raise their handicap.

CUT TO:

INT. GRAN FENWIJK PALACE - CAFETERIA - EARLY NOON

Professor, over lunch at his laptop, computes space-base-elevator parameters; Son, Copilot, eat over his shoulders…

Same Workers return barf-bags half-full to the next table … Sit, Triple huff into the bags, And pop them,-- Lunch items fall-out onto the table,-- They grin mutually, and eat…

CLICKS SPACE-BASE: Actuates its elevator-course-cycle, condensing to show it relative to its base orbiting Earth, while CELESTIAL PARAMETER NUMBERS explain it all …

It's either a calculation anomaly in theory or an error in the Swing shift programming:-- nasty stuff: I ponder whether cosmic radiation…: (points to cycle bottom)
It came down too low, -here:- all the way into the atmosphere: like it was going to connect…. It's not supposed to do that on Swing-By.

I'd already called the Aeroglider, before T-CAS spotted something ...

(relaxes)
Oh: That's choice;- Alas, it's the one drawback in a system like this: A program must commit to each task, else it wastes energy….: (programs new tack)
I think, I can adjust it to pull-up a little sooner, in an abort like that… always nice to have a system in perfect tweak: Murphy's Law, you know: 'Any adjustable setting is always out-of-adjustment'.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. HIGH OPEN SKY, WEST - F-23 COMES - LATE AFTERNOON

(00:55 -begin- twangy, horny, snare roll)

Rushes-in silent before its exhaust plume… 1.4 mi./3 sec.

(00:58 key step down)

EXT. F-23 - CANOPY (CLOSE)

ONE-SHOT: Son, Copilot, routinely busy; the same Workers, barf-bags-ready for Ro-Torbit, yawning blearily.

FLASHES BY-- SONIC BOOM, and ROARS ahead far, AFTERBURNERS PLUMING, its sky-cable taut-up… 3 sec./1.4 mi.

(01:02 snare loud)

CUT DOWN TO:

EXT. GROUND (POV) - SKY VIEW, TREE TOPS - F-23 AT 50K FT.

A tiny jet high overhead swiftly leads its sky-long EXHAUST TRAIL, its PLUME-HEAD BLOOMING like a comet… 15 deg./5 sec.

(01:07 clashes -fade out-)

PINCH CUT TO:

Petry System Family Wision USA

presents

(a spec'script)

MOUSE ON THE HORIZON
(Comeback Mouse in Uproar Bit)

a romantic engineered comedy, PG

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

The Mouse That Roared, roars back to orbit,
hitching its waggin' to its brightest star.

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

This is by design a Hollywood pro forma story expanding one science theory: the efficiency of a nuclear powered skyhook to MEO (middle Earth orbit) on 1/20th the length of a GEO (geosynchronous) elevator cable-- the expansion is what a little motive and effort might thereby accomplish.

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

Act 1

'Establish the dilemma...'

[act 2]

digital music [var] © [tbd]

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)

MOUSE ON THE HORIZON (Comeback Mouse in Uproar Bit)

a romantic engineered comedy, PG

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

The Mouse That Roared, roars back to orbit, hitching its waggin' to its brightest star.

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

This is by design a Hollywood pro forma story expanding one science theory: the efficiency of a nuclear powered skyhook to MEO (middle Earth orbit) on 1/20th the length of a GEO (geosynchronous) elevator cable-- the expansion is what a little motive and effort might thereby accomplish.

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

Act 1

'Establish the dilemma...'

[act 2]

digital music [var] © [tbd]

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

MOUSE ON THE HORIZON
(Comeback Mouse in Uproar Bit)

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

The Mouse That Roared, roars back to orbit,
hitching its waggin' to its brightest star.