EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY
THREE GRAD STUDENTS ride in an SUV on a rural road in western
Pennsylvania.
INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
The driver, WILL MCCLAIN, (20’s) tall and fit, wears a
Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap backwards over his neatly
cropped hair.
Will’s girlfriend, KATE MARSH (20’s) sits next to him. Her
long hair flows over the front of her “Save the Pandas”
sweatshirt. She wears a chain with a cross around her neck.
Will’s best friend and Applied Physics colleague, NICK
HIGGINS (20’s,) black, is half asleep on the back seat.
Nick’s five-day beard, and worn jeans are not a trendy
fashion statement. He wears old sneakers with no socks.
Backpacks, duffle bags, and a cooler are stacked in the cargo
area next to a crate of auto supplies. A sticker on the
windshield reads “Campus Parking”.
Suddenly, a lightning strike and a brilliant flash of light
in the sky which is followed by a loud thunder clap.
A flaming object streaks across the sky towards the car,
smashing into the field next to them.
The ground shakes. Dirt and rocks fly as debris ping the car.
Will skids it to a stop. Smoke fills the air.
The speeding object skids for a hundred yards through the
field before coming to rest.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
The Crash Site Discovery
EXT. RURAL ROAD - CONTINUOUS
Will throws open the driver’s door and hops out.
WILL
Woooooooo! What the hell just
happened!
Kate slowly loosens her grip on the dashboard, opens her
door, and steps into the mud in her hiking boots. She places
her hand over her mouth in disbelief.
Nick throws open the back door and joins his friends in
surveying the area. Nick looks to the sky as if to trace the
object’s path.
The three friends stare in disbelief in the direction of a
spot where smoke rises at the end of a newly formed ditch.
NICK
Timing! Life is all about timing!
WILL
Nick, you don’t know what day it
is.
Will glances at the dirt covering his car.
WILL (CONT'D)
Scratched the crap out of my car.
NICK
Could have been a lot worse.
Nick looks to the sky again.
NICK (CONT'D)
A few feet, a couple of seconds,
and we might have been obliterated.
KATE
What was it ...a meteor!?!
Will brushes some dirt off the hood of the car with his hand.
WILL
I don’t know what it was but that
sucker was screaming!
Nick steps onto the car’s back bumper to get a better view.
NICK
Will, drive in there! Let’s check
it out!
WILL
What!?! That’s somebody’s property!
NICK
There’s nobody within miles of
here. You worry too much. What’s
the worst that could happen?
Will mimics Nick as he and his friends get back into the car.
WILL
What’s the worst that could happen?
That’s what you said when you blew
up my Dad’s garage.
NICK
That wasn’t my fault. You screwed
up the measurements. Grams, not
ounces, Einstein.
KATE
Stop it, guys!
Nick drives slowly into the field and stops near a hole
several feet in diameter.
The three friends peer into the ground where smoke rises and
a sizzling sound can be heard.
WILL
That baby’s hot!
Kate glances at her phone.
KATE
Meteors can hit the atmosphere at
over a hundred thousand miles an
hour.
NICK
If it were moving that fast, we
would have been blown into the next
county. Whatever it is, I think it
was hit by that lightning bolt.
Will lowers the tailgate and grabs a collapsible camping
shovel.
NICK (CONT'D)
Whoa, it’s way too hot to handle!
KATE
We got a cooler full of ice.
Will lifts the cooler out of the back of the car and sets it
on the ground.
Will and Nick pull cans of Iron City Beer out of the cooler
and set them on the tailgate. As Nick takes the last can out
of the cooler, he opens it and offers it to Kate.
KATE (CONT'D)
It’s not even ten yet.
Nick shrugs his shoulders and hands the can to Will before
opening a can for himself. They take a few quick sips.
Nick picks up the cooler and pours the ice into the hole.
A cloud of steam shoots up from the hole as it produces a
loud hiss.
NICK
Hey, if this is a meteor, it could
bring us some cash. Kate, what are
these things worth?
Kate looks at her phone.
KATE
Looks like eight, ten bucks a gram.
Maybe a hundred a pound.
Will grabs the shovel, kneels over the hole, and shovels out
some dirt and mud. After a few minutes, he hands the shovel
to Nick.
Kate takes a napkin from her pocket, dabs some mud off of
Will’s face, and gives him a kiss.
Nick hits something hard with the shovel. He scrapes some
dirt off the top of the object.
NICK
I’m guessing it’s the size of a
basketball.
Nick tries to pry the object loose with the shovel but can’t
budge it.
NICK (CONT'D)
Damn, this thing’s a beast.
Nick glances at Kate.
NICK (CONT'D)
Ka Ching!
Will retrieves a rope from the crate and hands it to Nick.
Nick works the rope around the chunk of rock. Once secured,
Nick and Will drag it out of the hole.
Nick scrapes mud off the object with the shovel.
NICK (CONT'D)
What the hell?
Nick drops the shovel and scrapes away mud with his fingers.
NICK (CONT'D)
Hand me my beer.
Will hands the can to Nick. He takes a sip then pours some
beer over the area of the object.
NICK (CONT'D)
This isn’t a meteor.
WILL
What?
NICK
It’s got a smooth surface. I’m not
sure what it is.
WILL
Satellite?
KATE
Let’s hope its not radioactive.
WILL
Nice.
Nick gulps the last of his beer and tosses the can into the
cooler.
NICK
Well, it might be worth something
to somebody.
WILL
We should call the police.
Nick grabs two cans of beer off the tailgate, opens them, and
hands one to Will.
NICK
We’re not calling the cops. Let’s
take it along.
Rain begins to fall and Kate retreats inside the car.
Covered in mud, Will and Nick sip beer as they stare at their
strange discovery.
NICK (CONT'D)
Whatta ya think?
WILL
I’m already regretting this but
let’s load it up.
The guys lift the object into the back of the car. They pour
the remaining beer in their cans over their hands and use
rags from the crate to dry them.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Unexpected Levitation
INT. CAR - LATER
Will pulls the car onto the interstate.
As the car passes under high tension electrical lines, the
object they carry levitates, tiny lights flash through the
mud. Will sees it in the rear view mirror.
WILL
Crap!
Kate turns her head to get a glimpse.
Nick, dozing as usual, opens his eyes to see the hovering
muddy ball next to him. The three watch as the object
disappears for a moment and then reappears. The lights go off
and the object gently returns to the floor of the car.
KATE
Oh my God! Stop the car!
NICK
Must have been a response to the
high tension wires.
WILL
I’m not sure about this. I gotta
find a place to pull over.
NICK
We’ll be at the bakery in a minute.
It’s off for now ... I think.
EXT. BAKERY PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Will pulls into the parking lot of the bakery, a small shop
on a rural road. A security camera on the bakery points
towards the parking lot.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Cautious Approach
INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
Nick reaches for a folded plastic tarp in the cargo area,
partially unfolds it, and drapes it over the object.
NICK
It’s good.
The three exit the car and walk to the bakery.
WILL
You have no idea about this thing.
It might power up and smash us to
pieces.
The three walk to the entrance where a dog is tied to the
railing waiting for its master. Kate glances at her mud-
covered friends.
KATE
Maybe you two should wait outside
with the dog.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Pepperoni Rolls and Cloaked Concerns
EXT. BAKERY PARKING LOT - DAY
The three friends return to the car with bags of goodies in
hand. Nick has a pepperoni roll stuffed in his mouth.
KATE
How many rolls did you get?
Nick chews and takes a gulp of chocolate milk.
NICK
A dozen.
KATE
Wow.
WILL
They won’t last long.
Will puts the key in the ignition and then looks in the rear
view mirror. He removes the key.
WILL (CONT'D)
I don’t think it’s safe to have
that thing in the car.
NICK
It’ll be fine.
Will takes a bite of a cookie and drinks from his soda can as
he looks into the rear view mirror at the object.
NICK (CONT'D)
You want to check this thing out as
bad as I do. Its got some sort of
advanced metamaterial cloaking.
This is incredible stuff.
WILL
It’s not stable.
NICK
You’re not stable, Wilner. Let’s
go.
Will clenches the steering wheel. Kate, sensing that Will is
about to lose it, rolls her eyes.
KATE
Look, you guys, either dump it or
take it back to school like you
agreed. Okay?
WILL
Yeah, thanks for the support.
Nick stuffs another pepperoni roll into his mouth.
NICK
I’ll keep my eye on it.
WILL
You’ll be asleep in two minutes.
EXT. GAS STATION - DAY
Will pulls the car next to a pump and gets out. A sign above
the gas station door reads, “This Property Under Video
Surveillance”.
Will looks through the back window and notices Nick asleep
with a half-eaten roll in his hand.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Crossroads of Responsibility
INT. CAR - DAY
Will drives into campus. Kate sits next to him as Nick dozes
in the back seat.
WILL
I guess we’ll go to the lab and
check this thing out. Want to join
us?
KATE
No, you better drop me off. I’ve
got to prepare for my interview for
that Library tech position. I have
to nail down a job soon.
WILL
Don’t rush it. Go after something
you really want.
KATE
I’ve got loans to pay off. My
parents can’t help me on my
father’s pastor salary. How are you
going to survive when your loan
money runs out?
WILL
I’ll get something.
KATE
Have you applied anywhere?
WILL
I’m working on it.
Kate rolls her eyes.
KATE
You need to get serious about your
future ... our future.
WILL
Yeah, I know.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
The Hidden Discovery
EXT. LAB PARKING LOT - DAY
Will stands behind the car near the delivery entrance of a
building, hosing dirt off their object. A sign on the
building reads, “University Lab.”
Nick walks out of the building pushing a cart with a battery
powered lift.
Once Will has hosed off the last of the dirt, he and Nick
roll the round metallic object onto the cart. Nick uses the
lift to elevate the object, covers it with a tarp, and pushes
it to the door.
WILL
Are you sure Turner is out of town?
NICK
Yeah, his calendar has him out for
the weekend. I can’t wait to check
this thing out. I hope there’s a
reward for turning it in.
WILL
What would you do with reward
money?
NICK
Pay off my loans, help my mom,
maybe a couple of weeks in Cabo.
WILL
You probably wouldn’t have time for
all of that before we die from
radiation poisoning?
NICK
And there’s that.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
The Discovery of Elmo
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
Nick scans his BUILDING ACCESS BADGE on a screen next to the
door. They roll the cart down a corridor, stopping at a door
with a sign which reads, “Applied Physics Lab.”
They push the cart into the Room which is lined with tables
full of equipment.
NICK
Let’s start over here.
Will presses a button on the cart and raises the object to
the same height as the tables containing electronic
diagnostic equipment.
The equipment includes an ammeter, voltmeter, oscilloscope,
logic analyzer, frequency counter, electrometer, signal
generator, and a hand held electrosensor magnetic field
detector.
Will sets up his laptop. Nick tests the object with an
electrometer, then leaves the lab and soon returns with a
geiger counter.
WILL
It’s a little late for that.
Nick turns on the Geiger Counter and it produces two brief
clicking sounds.
Nick and Will are standing next to their object when the lab
door opens and PROFESSOR TURNER walks in.
PROFESSOR JOHN TURNER (70s) tall, slim, long grey hair. He
wears a tweed sports coat, a nicely pressed collared shirt,
and a pair of jeans. He always wears a smile.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Gentlemen! I didn’t expect to find
the two of you here on a beautiful
autumn afternoon.
Will and Nick quickly step in front of their object to block
it from the Professor’s view. Will nudges Nick.
WILL
(mumbling)
I thought he was out of town.
Nick takes a step towards the professor hoping to head him
off.
NICK
Just testing an old appliance.
We’re actually finished, about to
head out.
PROFESSOR TURNER
(laughs)
Good try. Not buying it.
Nick and Will step aside as the professor looks over the
object.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Hmmmm. What do we have here?
The professor turns on a bench light and positions its’
flexible arm over the object. He removes his glasses from his
coat pocket and carefully inspects the metal sphere.
Professor Turner opens a drawer beneath the bench and removes
a can of WD-40. He sprays a little oil onto the center of the
object. Using a paper towel, he rubs the oil spot, revealing
a few faint symbols.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Where did you get this?
WILL
It came shooting out of the sky
this morning; hit by lightning. It
just missed us. We dug it out of a
field and loaded it up.
NICK
When we passed under some power
lines, it lit up, levitated, and
disappeared for a moment.
The professor glances over his glasses at his students, then
returns his eyes to the object.
NICK (CONT'D)
Can you tell by the letters who
owns it?
Professor Turner moves the light closer to the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER
They’re not letters, they’re
symbols. And it’s not one of ours.
The professor runs his hand across the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Did you notice anything strange
about this covering?
Will and Nick do not respond as the professor continues to
run his hand over the object.
NICK
It has no seams ... no welds or
rivets.
WILL
How do you think this was put
together?
The professor looks up over his glasses at his students for a
moment then glances at the Geiger counter.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Any radiation?
NICK
Nope.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Gentlemen, what’s your plan for
this orb?
NICK
Do you think we could get a
finder’s fee for turning it in?
PROFESSOR TURNER
I doubt the owners will be thanking
anyone for checking out their orb
in a lab.
NICK
Well, it’s got to be worth
something to somebody.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Let me offer some friendly advice.
The owners will want it back and
are most likely looking for it.
The professor steps back from the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Hell, they may already know its
location. You are placing
yourselves at great risk.
NICK
We haven’t broken any laws. What’s
the worst that could happen?
Professor Turner smiles as his eyes return to the orb.
PROFESSOR TURNER
You don’t know who you’re dealing
with. Laws don’t mean anything to
them and they will likely do
anything to retrieve their
property. If it preformed as you
said, then you can understand
what’s at stake here.
WILL
Who owns it?
PROFESSOR TURNER
If you get questioned by the
authorities, the less you know
about its origins, the better.
NICK
I sure don’t want to turn it over
to the government.
PROFESSOR TURNER
You’ll be at some risk whatever you
do. If you drop it off some place,
it may get traced back to you. If
you activate it, there’s a very
good chance you’ll be identified.
Concern registers on the professor’s face.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
I’m afraid your fascinating
discovery is the proverbial can of
worms.
WILL
Any suggestions?
PROFESSOR TURNER
If you’re comfortable turning it
over to me, I’ll try to return it
to its owners and keep the two of
you out of it?
NICK
Nothing personal professor, but I
think we’ll hold onto it. If
someone wants it bad enough,
they’ll write us a check.
Will nudges Nick.
WILL
I don’t know, Nick.
NICK
Do you want to hand this baby over
to the FBI or NSA?
Professor Turner checks his coat pocket to make sure he has
his glasses, then walks to the door.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Let me know if you change your
minds.
The professor opens the door and turns to the students.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Once you finish in the lab today,
it’s best you keep it off campus.
NICK
Professor, we could sure use your
help in checking it out.
The professor pauses, closes the door, locks it, and turns
towards his students.
PROFESSOR TURNER
This runs entirely against my
better judgement but I guess I
could hang around for a few
minutes.
Nick glances at Will with a raised eyebrow as the professor
returns to the students and their orb.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Have you run any tests?
WILL
Just a few. We think it’s
electromagnetic but not sure of its
power source.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Electromagnetism is right up your
alley, Nick.
Nick nods as the three study the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Have you tried applying a charge?
NICK
Nope.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Roll the cart over to the
generator. Satellites usually
communicate through a transponder.
If we can power it up, we might be
able to identify the frequency.
That is, if you’re willing to risk
the consequences.
Nick and Will carefully maneuver the cart to another area of
the room.
Professor Turner uses duct tape to connect generator cables
to the ends of the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Duct tape might be the best
invention since the wheel.
Before flipping the generator switch, the professor stops.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
You know, there’s a chance this
thing could explode and blow us all
to kingdom come.
NICK
Juice ‘er up!
The professor turns on the generator and the object flashes
briefly.
Nick, in his best Scotty the Engineer from Star Trek voice,
offers.
NICK (CONT'D)
More power, Captain?
Professor Turner turns the dial on the generator to increase
power and the orb begins to levitate.
The professor removes the cables and turns off the generator.
The three are mesmerized as the object hovers silently.
Will’s laptop beeps. He retrieves it from the table.
WILL
A file is downloading. It bypassed
my virus protection. Hey, I’m not
online. Is this coming from the ...
ON LAPTOP
The laptop screen flashes with lines of symbols running
across the screen.
PROFESSOR TURNER (O.S.)
Extraordinary! No way of knowing
what any of this means.
NICK (O.S.)
Wait, I got it! It says ... help
me, Obi-Wan; you're my only hope.
The laptop screen goes blank and a diagram appears.
BACK IN THE LAB
Professor Turner opens a drawer and removes a hand held
infrared frequency detector. He turns on the switch and a
series of lights flash on the device. He holds the device
near the object.
PROFESSOR TURNER
It must have an assigned frequency.
And it looks as if you got the
schematic on the laptop. We just
need something to wed the two.
The professor leaves the lab for a moment and returns with a
video game controller.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
An infrared game controller. I
borrowed it from Hopkins. That’s
what he gets for playing games in
his office.
Will works on the laptop. The object flashes and levitates a
few feet above the table. The professor pokes the object with
his finger and it moves several inches.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Incredible! When it’s in standby
mode, it’s weightless.
Nick picks up the Electro Magnetic Field Detector from a
table and gets a reading.
NICK
It has a high intensity transmitter
and an incredibly powerful electro-
magnetic field. The readings are
off the meter. It’s an electro
magnetic orb. E-L-M-O. That’s it!
We’ll call it Elmo!
PROFESSOR TURNER
(mumbling)
Satellite, High, Intensity,
Transmitter, is a much catchier
acronym.
Nick nods with a grin.
The controller’s LED light flashes.
WILL
Hey, it picked up the controller!
ON LAPTOP
Will explores the diagram by pressing the pointer on an area
and a box appears with a live visual of the three.
PROFESSOR TURNER (O.S.)
Cool!
As the three look at themselves on the video, the professor
moves closer to the laptop. A cabinet behind them appears to
be pulsating red.
PROFESSOR TURNER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Why is that cabinet pulsating? Can
you enlarge that area?
Will clicks on the area with the red, pulsating cabinet. The
enlargement shows three areas of the cabinet with orange and
red pulsating lights.
BACK TO THE LAB
Professor Turner steps back from the laptop to look across
the lab in the direction of a row of cabinets lining the
wall.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Remarkable!
NICK
What do you got over there?
PROFESSOR TURNER
There’s a lead-lined vault in there
containing radioactive samples;
minuscule amounts of thorium and
uranium compounds in lead-lined
containers. I suspect the red light
corresponds to those elements.
WILL
The yellow light?
PROFESSOR TURNER
A small mixture of sulfur,
charcoal, and potassium nitrate.
NICK
Gunpowder?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Exactly. It’s for an undergrad
class.
Professor Turner glances at Elmo.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
I can’t imagine that its collecting
vapor or particulates. There
wouldn’t be any trace amounts
seeping out from all of that lead.
Its detection sensors are beyond my
knowledge.
NICK
Do you think its being used to
detect nukes or dirty bombs?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Your guess is as good as mine.
ON LAPTOP
Will hits another area of the diagram and a revolving earth
appears with longitude and latitude lines.
PROFESSOR TURNER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Some type of GPS system but not the
typical geospatial configuration.
Will places the cursor on another area of the diagram.
BACK IN THE LAB
An intense cone of light beams out of Elmo’s bottom.
NICK
What the?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Energy!
The three watch as the light grows in intensity.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Could be a protective shield, some
type of tractor beam or who knows.
Will uses the controller to click on another part of the
diagram and the object becomes invisible.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Wow.
WILL
So this controls the cloaking
feature.
Will clicks the controller button again and Elmo reappears.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Will, shut it down. Quickly, shut
it down.
Will looks at the professor for an explanation.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Close out the app!
Will closes down his laptop and Elmo comes to rest on the
table.
NICK
What’s the deal?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Gentlemen, I know that we are all
brilliant but has it occurred to
you that whoever put this
incredible contraption together
made it extremely easy to get it
operational. Hell, it even
transmitted the schematic to the
laptop without a prompt.
NICK
Yeah, I guess it was pretty easy.
PROFESSOR TURNER
And why do you think they made it
so easy to get it operational?
NICK
So they could find it?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Precisely. And if they find it,
they find us.
The professor takes a handkerchief from his coat pocket,
removes his glasses, and dabs the sweat from his brow.
WILL
Professor, you worked at NASA, how
do you think it was being used?
PROFESSOR TURNER
This is very advanced. We don’t
have this technology. And we
probably only scratched the surface
of its capabilities. Its’
receptacles aren’t visible so we
don’t know the extent of it’s
functions.
Professor walks to a nearby cabinet and removes a hand-held x-
ray device. He turns on the device and scans the orb.
He looks at the X-ray device’s screen.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
As I suspected, the covering
doesn’t allow X-ray penetration.
NICK
I can’t wait to see what we can do
with it.
WILL
I doubt that it will operate beyond
this room with a game controller.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Given it’s power capacity, it may
stay locked onto your signal at
quite a distance. But you should
modify the controller. Give it a
unique signature. Otherwise, any
kid with a game controller could
commandeer it. Now that you have
synced your laptop with the
controller, you can probably
activate it without the cables.
Will hands the professor the controller.
WILL
I’ve got one of these.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Understand that the lightening
strike may have caused a lot of
damage. A few hundred million volts
could make this very unstable. But
if you are intent on continuing
this adventure, might I suggest
that you conduct your work in a
safer environment.
NICK
Any suggestions?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Ideally, you would want a lead-
sealed room. Lead-lined dry wall
like they use in X-ray rooms. If
you had the space you could
probably secure a small room for a
couple grand.
NICK
If we can manage to change the
frequency, can we evade the owners?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Changing the frequency might help
but you are still at risk.
WILL
We don’t have space to secure a
room.
NICK
Or the two grand.
PROFESSOR TURNER
No, I suppose not. Even if you had
such a space, I would still urge
you to drop this thing like a hot
potato. There may be dire
consequences for having the orb in
your possession.
WILL
We understand. We don’t want to get
you in any trouble.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I’m not worried about me. Hell, I’m
bored to death with this job. The
two of you have careers to think
about ... and your safety. People
have been killed for technology a
lot less significant than this.
Just think of the harm your friend,
Elmo could do.
The professor checks his coat pocket for his glasses and
again walks towards the door.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Higgins, don’t let Elmo distract
you from your thesis. You’re one of
my brightest students but you need
to better channel your energy.
NICK
Yeah, I’m hung up on summation and
recommendations. Electromagnetism
is a hard nut to crack.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Friends, this is your rodeo but
whenever you get into hot water,
and you will, let me know and I’ll
try to help. In the meantime, I
suggest you take your new friend
away from campus.
Professor Turner takes a pen from his coat and scribbles
something on a piece of paper. When he’s finished, he hands
the paper to Nick.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Directions to my cabin. It’s about
an hour north of here, very remote.
Nick reviews the directions.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Very rustic. Sporadic cell service.
No electricity and a spring for
water. And, there’s an outhouse.
NICK
Okay, we’ll check it out.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Good luck and try to avoid burning
the place down.
Professor Turner stands.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
You’ll find the key to the cabin in
an empty coffee can in the
outhouse. And look into the can
before you put your hand in there.
I’ve been surprised by mice and
snakes.
Nick places the directions in his pocket and leaves the
office.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Thriller","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Tension in the Parking Lot
EXT. APARTMENT PARKING LOT - DAY
Will pulls his car into the parking lot. Nick opens the back
door of the car, picks up Elmo wrapped in a towel, puts him
under his arm and closes the door.
NICK
Isn’t it amazing that Elmo is
weightless when activated?
WILL
It’s more amazing that we are
screwing around with something that
could kill us.
The two friends walk towards the apartment building.
NICK
Do you have a VPN on your laptop?
WILL
Nope.
NICK
Okay if I install one? You know,
extra security?
WILL
Yeah, I guess.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
A black Chevy Suburban is parked in the field where Will and
Nick retrieved the object. FBI agents Lucas and Cruze stand
next to the hole in the ground. They wear F.B.I jackets.
Lucas operates a Geiger counter as Cruze pours a thick liquid
from a bucket into a partial tire track left by Will’s car.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Digital Secrets
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Books fill shelves on the wall. On a table sits a balance
pendulum and a poster of Albert Einstein riding a bicycle
hangs on the wall.
On the counter separating the living room from the kitchen
sits a large lab beaker half-filled with coffee. A used
coffee filter is lodged in its neck.
Nick is alone in the apartment filming a video of Elmo with
Will’s laptop. As he films, he presses a key on the laptop
and Elmo disappears, then reappears. When he finishes the
recording, he works on the laptop at a table.
ON LAPTOP
The TOR Software Website appears on the screen. Nick types,
“Advanced Drone for Sale” as he searches for potential buyers
on the dark web.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Nostalgia and Uncertainty
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Will and Kate enter a hole-in-the wall restaurant tucked away
in a strip mall. A waitress leads them to a table.
KATE
This was our table the first time
we came here.
WILL
The infamous first date.
KATE
You were so cute. Nervous but cute.
Remember when you drove down Elm
Street the wrong way? You had to
back up with cars coming at us.
WILL
How could I forget?
KATE
Then you stopped too close to the
train crossing arm and it came down
on the car?
WILL
Yeah, that was a night to remember
... and forget. Freshman year, what
can I say?
KATE
I remember it like yesterday.
Kate opens up her bag, removes a small purse and takes out a
tiny slip of paper and reads it.
KATE (CONT'D)
This was my fortune. The one you
seek may already share your shadow.
WILL
Another a reminder of when we were
young and stupid.
Kate puts the paper back in her purse.
KATE
Well, I guess now we’re a little
older but not any smarter. We
graduate soon and we don’t have a
plan.
WILL
We have plenty of time
KATE
If I get that Library position,
it’s a two year commitment. And you
have no idea where you’ll be.
WILL
I’ll figure it out.
Genres:
["Romance","Comedy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
The Weight of the Past
EXT. GAS STATION - DAY
The Black Chevy Suburban carrying FBI agents Lucas and Cruze
pulls into the gas station where Will had stopped for gas. As
they walk inside, Agent Cruze turns over the “OPEN” sign on
the inside of the door so it reads “CLOSED”.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Nick and Will watch TV.
NICK
Why don’t we try to sell it? Its
got to be worth millions.
WILL
How? Run a newspaper ad?
NICK
I’ve been digging around on the
dark web. I think it’s possible to
sell this thing, get paid in
crypto, and be done with it.
WILL
Just like that?
NICK
I’ve opened a crypto account just
in case.
WILL
Advertising Elmo to the underworld?
Are you nuts?
NICK
I’ve got plenty of security; it’s
all anonymous.
WILL
We should give this thing to Turner
before we’re in jail, or worse.
There is a quiet knock on their apartment door and Kate walks
in.
Kate sets a bag on the kitchen table, takes off her jacket,
and drapes it over a chair. Nick and Will walk in and help
themselves.
KATE
Sooooo? What did you find out?
WILL
We powered it up and got it to
respond to a video game controller.
KATE
Sounds like real science.
NICK
It’s freaking amazing!
Kate bows her head and mumbles a quick prayer.
KATE
What are you going to do with it?
WILL
We haven’t decided. Nick’s given it
a name, Elmo. Electromagnetic Orb.
KATE
Cute.
As they eat dinner, they watch a TV news story about a fire
in an office building which is engulfed in flames.
ON TV
Flames shoot through the windows of a building which is
surrounded by fire trucks.
BACK IN THE APARTMENT.
Nick walks to the kitchen, sets his food container on the
table and leaves the apartment.
KATE (CONT'D)
What’s wrong with Nick?
WILL
His dad died in a building fire.
Trapped on the roof.
KATE
Oh my god, how horrible.
WILL
Nick and his mom had a tough time.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
The Dilemma of Discovery
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Will and Kate are seated when Nick enters the apartment and
looks around the kitchen for his food. Live coverage of the
building fire continues on TV.
KATE
I put it in the fridge!
NICK
Thanks!
Nick places his container in the microwave and zaps it. He
grabs an Iron City beer from the fridge and walks to the
living room with his dinner.
NICK (CONT'D)
So, I had this idea.
WILL
Ah-oh.
Nick tosses a pillow at Will as he takes a seat.
NICK
If we could figure out the light
beam; you know, control its energy,
maybe we could move objects without
frying them.
KATE
Wait, a what, light beam?
WILL
Elmo has some type of energy beam.
We haven’t figured it out yet.
KATE
Wow, that’s amazing. But guys, you
are really messing with something
serious here. The government is
going to want it back.
WILL
Turner says it’s not American.
KATE
You got Professor Turner into this?
WILL
He walked in on us.
NICK
If we can get it operational, maybe
we could do some good with it ...
and hopefully make some money.
WILL
I’m for giving it to Turner.
NICK
We could use crypto and stay
anonymous.
WILL
Do you know how long we would last
if word got out we had this
technology?
KATE
You guys better get rid of it.
ON TV
The apartment building fire continues to burn as firefighters
pump water onto it.
BACK IN THE APARTMENT
NICK
If your family was trapped in
there, would you try to use Elmo to
save them?
WILL
Maybe. But what happens if we get
caught and Elmo ends up in the
hands of some psycho government
agents?
NICK
Some psycho agents probably own it.
Nick nods in the direction of the Einstein poster.
NICK (CONT'D)
There’s always a risk that
something intended for good could
be used for evil.
WILL
I would consider using it if we
were operating in secret.
NICK
I could go incognito ... for
awhile.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Journey to the Cabin
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
Will, Kate and Nick are in the car on a bumpy, one-lane dirt
road. A dust cloud trails them.
Nick looks at the directions, then glances ahead on the road.
NICK
We should see yellow paint soon.
A large rock with a spot of yellow paint comes into view.
Will drives slowly as Nick scans the woods for a road.
NICK (CONT'D)
Stop, I think this is it.
They look at a narrow opening in the woods which is overgrown
with weeds and has two, barely visible, tracks worn by tires.
WILL
That’s not even a path.
Will turns the car onto the path and they slowly move along
until they come across a fallen tree blocking their way.
NICK
If this is the place, doesn’t look
like Turner’s been here for awhile.
Will stops and retrieves a rope from the rear compartment.
The two drag the tree off the path and return to the SUV.
Will pulls into a clearing where a rustic cabin sits. A
circle of rocks form a campfire pit and two logs provide the
seating. An outhouse sits nearby.
Nick folds the directions and shoves it into his jean vest
pocket.
The three exit the SUV and Nick does a slow turn-around of
their surroundings.
NICK (CONT'D)
What in the hell does he do out
here?
WILL
I guess this is where he gets away
from it all.
NICK
You got that right. We’re at least
ten miles from a real road.
Will walks towards the outhouse.
NICK (CONT'D)
Get the key out of the can while
you’re at it.
WILL
Yeah.
NICK
Watch out for snakes!
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
The Rattling Discovery
INT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
The one room cabin has a stove with a bucket of coal and a
shovel sitting next to it. A metal cabinet stands against a
wall.
A small table and two chairs sit in the middle of the cabin
and a twin size bed frame and mattress sit in the corner.
As Nick enters the cabin he notices a shoe box on the floor
with the words “Baby Rattlers” written on the lid. The lid
has small holes punched all over it.
NICK
What the hell! Check this out!
Will and Kate stand in the doorway of the cabin leaving Elmo
levitating behind them.
WILL
You want to move it outside so we
can check it out?
NICK
I’m not touching it!
Kate steps backwards onto the porch as Will grabs the shovel
next to the stove and gently slides it under the box. He
lifts it carefully. Rattle sounds.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
The Prank Unveiled
EXT. CABIN PORCH - CONTINUOUS
WILL
Crap! They’re alive.
Will carefully carries the box to the porch and sets it down.
Using the shovel, Will loosens the top of the box.
WILL (CONT'D)
Better stand back.
Nick takes two large steps back.
Will uses the shovel to slide the top off the box revealing
several toy rattles used by babies.
Nick and Kate howl.
Will rests the shovel against the cabin wall.
WILL (CONT'D)
There’s something wrong with
Turner.
NICK
Yeah, he ain’t right.
KATE
He got us with that one.
The three share a laugh.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Uncovering Secrets in the Cabin
INT. CABIN - LATER
Nick is looking at a couple of photos hanging on the wall,
including a photo of Professor Turner wearing fly fishing
gear and holding a stringer of trout.
The other photo is of the professor and a colleague wearing
lab coats standing in front of an aircraft hanger. The
professor’s colleague is wearing sunglasses. The words,
“Skunks 412 TW” are scribbled on the photo.
Next to that photo is a small frame containing a blue and
gold patch with the wording “Air Force Materiel Command”.
NICK
Check this out.
Will inspects the photo.
NICK (CONT'D)
This says Skunks, four hundred
twelve T.W.
Nick glances at the framed patch hanging next to the photo.
NICK (CONT'D)
It looks as if they’re standing in
front of a hangar and the badge
says Air Force. So ... maybe
Skunkworks?
WILL
Huh? Yeah, maybe. He worked for
NASA later so that would make
sense.
NICK
Isn’t the story on Skunkworks that
they were reverse engineering UFO
wreckage?
WILL
Yeah, I think that’s the legend.
He’s never mentioned Skunkworks.
NICK
Probably doesn’t want anyone to
know. That’s why the photo is
hangin in this shack.
Kate wipes her fingers across the table top and looks at the
dirt on her fingers. She opens the top drawer to the metal
cabinet which holds candles, matches, a can opener and some
kitchen items.
The next two drawers hold paper towels, napkins, and plastic
bags. She opens the bottom drawer which holds an old metal
box.
KATE
No cleaning supplies, just paper
towels. That will have to do.
Will spies the metal box, removes it, and sets it on the
table.
He opens the box and empties it on the table. It contains an
assortment of long expired fishing licenses, some artificial
flies for trout fishing, and an old envelope.
Will opens the envelope and takes out some newspaper
clippings, yellowed with age.
WILL
Look at this.
Will sets a newspaper clipping on the table. The headline
reads, “Unidentified Flying Object Falls Near Kecksburg.”
Below the headline is wording, “Army Ropes Off Area.”
NICK
Yeah, back in the sixties.
Kecksburg is south of Pittsburgh.
Will shakes the envelope and a photo drops out. It’s a photo
of professor Turner standing next to a ten-foot high, acorn-
shaped object with some symbols on it.
WILL
What the hell is that? And look at
those hieroglyphics.
Nick holds the photo close to his eyes.
NICK
Those are symbols; just like the
ones on Elmo.
WILL
Crap, this isn’t good.
NICK
No wonder Turner is freaked out.
Nick sets the photo down as he glances at Elmo.
NICK (CONT'D)
Wait a minute. Turner knew we would
probably find this when he sent us
here.
KATE
I thought you said UFO’s and aliens
were a hoax.
NICK
Hey, even the Pope has an open mind
on E.T.s.
KATE
I don’t believe in
extraterrestrials.
NICK
There are probably ten billion
habitable planets in our Milky Way.
Just based on the numbers, it’s
probable that there is intelligent
life on a few of those. Although, I
sometimes wonder if there’s
intelligent life on this planet.
KATE
If there is life elsewhere, it’s
too far to travel from one
planetary system to another.
NICK
What if there is intelligent life
in the Milky Way that is thousands,
millions, or possibly billions of
years ahead of us.
(MORE)
NICK (CONT'D)
Nearly all of our tech advancements
have occurred in the past hundred
years. Can you imagine where we’ll
be in a thousand years?
WILL
Earth will never last that long.
KATE
I would have to see aliens to
believe in them.
WILL
If there are aliens, I doubt they
would be wasting their time with
earth. My guess is that Elmo
belongs to one of our spy agencies.
We never learn about their
prototypes until decades later.
NICK
Can you imagine the havoc Elmo
could wreak on the world? Spying,
stealing secrets. And with some
modifications, he could spread
toxins or viruses anywhere.
Assassinate world leaders,
destabilize governments ... and no
one would know who was responsible.
Just think of the carnage.
WILL
How do we know there aren’t Elmos
doing those things now?
KATE
Stop it you guys, you’re scaring
me.
Will and Nick laugh.
KATE (CONT'D)
I think you have identified why
Elmo’s going to get you into
trouble. Not to mention that we
could all get bounced out of
school.
Nick opens the laptop, presses a button and Elmo disappears.
Nick hits another key and Elmo reappears.
NICK
(softly)
There you go buddy.
Elmo’s lights flash.
NICK (CONT'D)
He’s happy now.
Elmo’s lights flash again.
WILL
You’ve been talking to him a lot.
I hope he’s not talking back to
you.
NICK
We’re on the same wave length. I
think he’s got a level of
consciousness.
Will shakes his head.
WILL
Man, you’re losin’ it.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Mystery","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Elmo's Unexpected Adventure
EXT. CABIN - LATER
Nick and Will sip a beer next to the car while Kate sits on
the tailgate. Elmo is shut down on the ground.
Unexpectedly, Elmo’s lights flash and he begins to quickly
rise into the trees above them.
NICK
Shut him down! Shut him down!
WILL
I never turned him on!
Will uses the game controller to shut down Elmo. Elmo’s
lights go out and he slowly descends, coming to rest on the
ground.
NICK
Either someone tried to take
control or a program was activated.
WILL
Well, it wasn’t some kid with an
XBOX. We’re out of that frequency.
KATE
Maybe the owners have found their
toy. You should turn it over to the
professor.
WILL
Lighten up, Kate.
Nick inspects Elmo.
NICK
Let’s change the transponder’s
frequency again.
Will watches his laptop screen while Nick works the game
controller. Elmo flashes and levitates.
Nick presses controller buttons and runs through Elmo’s
functions.
NICK (CONT'D)
Looks like we got it. Let’s get to
work. Ready?
WILL
Start with the energy beam.
Nick presses a button on the controller and a bright beam of
light several feet in diameter shines below Elmo.
WILL (CONT'D)
Can you change the beam width?
Nick narrows the beam so its only a few inches wide. He hits
another button on the controller and the beam becomes
intermittent, then reverses as if it was a waterfall running
uphill.
Nick positions Elmo over Will’s coffee thermos sitting on the
ground and activates the reverse beam. The beam locks onto
the thermos and raises it. Nick moves Elmo around with the
thermos attached to the beam.
Using his laptop, Will clicks a spot on the spherical
diagram.
ON LAPTOP
The spherical diagram fades away and a video box appears
which shows the thermos in motion from the vantage point of
Elmo.
WILL (CONT'D)
We got a video feed.
Nick moves Elmo over the hood of the car and turns off the
light beam. The beam fades out as the thermos gently comes to
rest on the hood. Proud of his feat, Nick boasts a big grin.
WILL (CONT'D)
Was that a lucky drop or do you
know what you’re doing?
NICK
It’s all in the technique.
Will smirks.
Nick notices a chipmunk at the edge of the clearing and
maneuvers Elmo above it.
ON LAPTOP
The screen shows the image of the chipmunk pulsating with a
red glow.
Nick engages the light beam, moves the chipmunk to the other
side of the clearing, gently lowers him to the ground, and
turns off the beam. The chipmunk scampers away.
NICK (CONT'D)
Powerful yet harmless. Incredible
technology.
Nick moves Elmo over Will’s car and makes Elmo invisible. He
turns on Elmo’s light beam and attempts to move the SUV. The
SUV moves briefly and then Elmo becomes intermittently
visible. Nick turns off the light beam.
NICK (CONT'D)
Lifting the car requires too much
power.
Nick turns the light beam back on and makes it wide enough to
cover the area around the cooler which sits on the ground.
Nick puts Elmo into invisibility mode, hiding both Elmo and
the light beam.
NICK (CONT'D)
Kate, toss that water bottle at the
cooler.
Kate picks up a water bottle and tosses it in the direction
of the cooler. When the bottle reaches the invisible light
beam, it bounces backwards and falls to the ground.
WILL
Stealth tractor beam and protector
shield. Amazing!
Elmo is levitating as Will presses a button on his laptop.
Dust kicks up off the ground. Will maneuvers Elmo over a
nearby area of tall grass and weeds.
WILL (CONT'D)
I think I discovered another energy
feature.
Will types some keys on the laptop and the grass and weeds
beneath Elmo flatten.
NICK
If you did that on a larger scale,
maybe with a geometrical
configuration, you could get crop
circles?
WILL
Huh, yeah I guess ...
Will hits a key on his laptop and Elmo and the light beam
reappear. Will hits another key and the light beam turns off
and Elmo gently comes to the rest on the ground,
NICK
Hey, let’s send him some place.
WILL
Where?
NICK
Any where.
WILL
Kate, any ideas?
Kate glances at her watch. My sister has a high school soccer
game back home. Can you send Elmo there?
WILL (CONT'D)
All we need are the coordinates.
Nick uses his phone for a moment, shows Will the coordinates,
and he types them into the laptop.
WILL (CONT'D)
This should get us close. Elmo’s
grid doesn’t quite match up with
GPS but it’s close.
Will hits a key to make Elmo invisible. He hits another key.
WILL (CONT'D)
He’s off!
KATE
Will this work? It’s over a
hundred miles from here.
WILL
I guess we’ll find out.
NICK
Can you see him on your screen?
Will studies his laptop for a moment.
WILL
We must have screwed up. This has
him there ... which is impossible.
ON LAPTOP
A red spot blinks on the map and is replaced with a live
video of the city far below.
WILL (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Holy crap! He’s there!
NICK (O.S.)
Warp speed!
WILL (O.S.)
He’s at thirty thousand feet. Must
be the default altitude. Drop him
down so Kate can guide us.
KATE (O.S.)
Amazing! Okay, I know where we
are. Head west, southwest, about a
mile.
EXT. VIEW FROM ELMO - CONTINUOUS
Elmo moves over the city.
KATE (O.S.)
Slow, slow, there, just to the
west, that’s the field.
Nick lowers Elmo to the center of the field where girls are
playing soccer.
KATE (O.S.) (CONT'D)
There’s my sister, number fourteen!
The three watch as an invisible Elmo hovers just above the
field providing video and audio of the soccer game.
EXT. SOCCER FIELD - CONTINUOUS
Kate’s sister runs down the field as the ball is kicked in
front of her. She makes a sliding kick and the ball squeezes
past the goalie into the net.
Kate shouts her sister’s nickname as number fourteen is
congratulated by her teammates.
KATE (V.O.)
Way to go, Hopper!
Kate’s sister quickly looks to the sideline, searching for
the voice that called her.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Adventure","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Surveillance Shenanigans
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
KATE
Oh my god, she heard me! She heard
me!
A surprised Nick glances at Will who has his hand on his
forehead in angst.
NICK
I guess we missed the microphone.
WILL
Yeah, we should check that out.
Kate rolls her eyes.
KATE
Ya think?
Will hits a button on his laptop to retrieve Elmo.
NICK
Just think what we can do.
KATE
And the trouble you’ll get into.
NICK
You worry too much.
KATE
Guys, be smart with Elmo. Use him
wisely or don’t use him at all.
Will looks at his laptop screen.
WILL
Elmo should be back here any
second.
Will hits a button on his laptop and Elmo becomes visible as
he enters the clearing next to the cabin.
NICK
Let’s see what’s happening in the
burgh.
Will types a few keys. Elmo becomes invisible.
WILL
He’s off.
ON LAPTOP
A map of the United States appears and a small red dot blinks
as it moves across western Pennsylvania. The area enlarges to
reveal a map of Pittsburgh.
The map fades into live video of Pittsburgh at an elevation
of several thousand feet.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Rescue and Revelation
EXT. VIEW FROM ELMO HIGH ABOVE PITTSBURGH - CONTINUOUS
Elmo descends into the area of Point State Park where
Pittsburgh’s rivers converge. One of the city’s sightseeing
boats moves up the river with the Duquesne Incline operating
in the background.
Elmo passes people on the river walkway, including a group of
boys who appear to be fighting. NIck backs up Elmo to take a
closer look.
Five boys surround a boy with a backpack. One of the bullies
punches the boy in the head, knocking him to the ground. The
victim holds onto his backpack as the bullies surround him.
KATE (V.O.)
Nick! Do something!
As the bullies surround the fallen boy, one of the bullies
picks up a rock and throws it at the victim. “Bonk!” The rock
bounces off the invisible barrier that Nick used to protect
the boy.
The bullies are surprised that their victim isn’t withering
in pain. Another bully picks up a rock but before he can
throw it, Nick activates Elmo’s microphone and uses his
deepest, most sinister voice.
NICK (V.O.)
Throw that rock and I’ll drag you
to the depths of hell!
The bullies freeze as terror grips their faces. One bully
musters the courage to run and the rest follow.
The groggy victim sits up looking for his protector.
NICK (V.O.)
You okay, kid?
Rubbing his head with his hand, the boy looks around.
BOY
Yeah, I guess. Who are you?
NICK (V.O.)
Rescue One! Gotta run kid!
A bicycle riding police officer approaches the boy as he gets
to his feet. The boy surveys the area looking for his
rescuer.
WILL (V.O.)
Rescue One?
NICK (V.O.)
I had to tell him something.
WILL (V.O.)
Yeah, I guess.
NICK (V.O.)
Kids love that kind of stuff.
KATE (V.O.)
No one will believe him.
NICK (V.O.)
How about those punks? Were they
freaked out?
The three laugh.
NICK (V.O.)
Let’s swing Elmo by PNC Park and
see if the Bucs are there.
Elmo moves up the river until he reaches PNC Park, the
baseball stadium of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are
having batting practice.
Nick lowers Elmo to provide a better view of the field.
WILL (V.O.)
Maybe we could drop the cable
sports package and have Elmo
provide coverage.
Will maneuvers Elmo next to the Pirates dugout.
WILL (V.O.)
Wow! This is awesome!
KATE (V.O.)
You better bring Elmo back. This
isn’t how you were planning to use
him.
WILL (V.O.)
Come on Kate, you’re taking the fun
out of this.
Will slowly elevates Elmo until he is above the stadium. The
Allegheny River and the stadium parking lots come into view.
NICK (V.O.)
Stop him for a second. See that
yellow pulsating light in the
parking lot? Is that a stadium
light or something else.
Will moves Elmo in the direction of the parking lot where a
white van emits a pulsing yellow glow.
NICK (V.O.)
Get him closer.
As Elmo gets closer, several yellow areas are pulsating in
the rear of the van.
Will moves the invisible Elmo around the van which has no
side windows. The rear window is covered by a curtain.
Positioning Elmo in front of the van, several cardboard boxes
with wires sticking out of them can be seen in the rear
compartment.
Nick positions Elmo just above the van.
WILL (V.O.)
Gunpowder?
NICK (V.O.)
Could be ammunition but might be
dynamite or some other type of
explosive.
WILL (V.O.)
Doesn’t look like anyone is in
there. Maybe they’re in the
stadium.
NICK (V.O.)
If it’s a bomb and they have a
remote, they could detonate from
anywhere.
WILL (V.O.)
We should call the police.
KATE (V.O.)
Let’s look around. Bombers and
arsonists usually hang out to see
the damage.
WILL (V.O.)
You’ll never be able to find the
guy.
NICK (V.O.)
If that were my van, I would wait
for an hour until a line starts
forming at the gate and then let
er’ rip.
WILL (V.O.)
You scare me sometimes.
Will elevates Elmo and begins scanning the parking lot.
KATE (V.O.)
What are we looking for?
NICK (V.O.)
A guy with glowing yellow hands.
Whoever owns the van had to handle
those explosives. There might be
enough residue on his hands to be
picked up by Elmo’s sensors.
WILL (V.O.)
If the guy is hanging around to
watch an explosion, he’s probably
elevated to get a view.
Will elevates Elmo to the roof of a nearby office building.
WILL (V.O.)
Not likely he’s in there.
Will moves Elmo towards a nearby parking garage.
WILL (V.O.)
He could be anywhere in there.
Lots of levels.
As Elmo nears the roof of the parking garage, a MAN with a
beard wearing a hooded sweatshirt comes into view. He is
standing in the corner facing the stadium. His hands are
inside the sweatshirt pocket.
KATE (V.O.)
Oh yeah, definitely check him out.
Will positions Elmo a few feet above the guy.
NICK (V.O.)
He’ll have to take his hands out
sometime.
WILL (V.O.)
If he’s the guy, he may have a
remote in his pocket.
A car horn sounds. The guy on the roof turns to see someone
walking away from a parked car on the roof. He takes his
hands out of his pockets.
In a moment, the guy’s hands take on a yellow glow.
NICK (V.O.)
Bingo!
The three friends hoot.
WILL (V.O.)
Now we call the cops.
NICK (V.O.)
Let’s call the stadium. Cops will
take too long and this guy will run
when he hears the sirens. I want to
nail him.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Urgent Response
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
Nick takes his cell phone out of his pocket, presses the
screen a few times and dials a number.
A phone rings, then an answer.
NICK
Connect me with stadium security,
it’s an emergency.
STADIUM OPERATOR (V.O.)
What type of emergency please?
NICK
I want to report a bomb.
STADIUM OPERATOR (V.O.)
One moment please.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - PNC PARK SECURITY OFFICE -
APARTMENT
BILLY KOWALSKI
Security, Billy Kowalski.
BILLY KOWALSKI (20’s) thin and fairly fit. He’s got a bowl of
steaming hot pierogis on his desk.
NICK
There is a van parked outside the
stadium that might have explosives
inside.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Hold on, I need ta call, PBP.
NICK
Billy, wait! There’s no time for
that! Let me explain!
BILLY KOWALSKI
Okay, shoot.
NICK
There’s a white van in the parking
lot behind home plate. Third row,
not far from the sidewalk. Got it?
Billy writes on a yellow pad.
BILLY KOWALSKI
White van, gold lot, third row.
NICK
Okay, very important. You can’t
send anyone to the van. Not yet.
BILLY KOWALSKI
What?
NICK
There is a guy standing on top of
the parking garage on the other
side of the expressway. He may have
a detonator. So if anyone starts
checking out the van, he might blow
them up.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Geezzz! How da yinz know all this?
Who are yinz?
NICK
We’re working remotely using an
airborne detection drone.
Billy’s got his hand on his forehead, takes a deep breath.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Da chief is out right now. It’s
just me here. I gotta call PBP.
NICK
Don’t worry Billy, we’ll get
through this. Do you know if the
parking garage has any security?
BILLY KOWALSKI
No, that’s where I park. They only
got guys in da booth, and they’re
all jagoffs.
NICK
You need to get someone on the
garage roof. Somebody fast so the
suspect doesn’t have time to
detonate. We can disorient the
suspect long enough for someone to
grab him. We got a drone targeting
this guy.
BILLY KOWALSKI
I can do it! I’ll get up air and
yinz can work your magic. I’ll hit
him like T.J. Watt.
NICK
Great Billy! We’ll blind the guy
with a light beam for a few
seconds.
BILLY KOWALSKI
I’ll wait by the door until I see
the light.
NICK
Billy, how long will it take you to
get over there?
BILLY KOWALSKI
Five minutes if I run.
NICK
Walking is better. The guy might
take off if he sees you running.
Billy starts unbuttoning his stadium security shirt.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Ten minutes.
Billy opens a desk drawer, takes out a pair of handcuffs and
puts them in his pants pocket.
BILLY KOWALSKI (CONT'D)
Who yinz with?
NICK
Rescue One, private intelligence.
You got this Billy. We’ll look for
you in the doorway.
Billy picks up his bowl of pierogies, gulps a couple of
spoonfuls.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Alright, talk ta yinz later.
Billy hurries out the door.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
The Capture at the Stadium
EXT. ABOVE THE PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS
Billy comes into view walking across the stadium parking lot
towards the garage. He wears a Pittsburgh Pirates tee-shirt.
Billy disappears from view as he enters the garage building.
In a moment, Billy peers through the slightly opened door on
the roof.
The suspect takes his hands out of his sweatshirt and puts
them on the wall in front of him.
An intense light beam shoots down from Elmo. The suspect
freezes.
Immediately, the roof door swings open. Billy charges, leaves
his feet as he flies into the suspect, knocking him into the
wall.
The stunned suspect falls to the floor with Billy on top of
him. In a moment, Billy has the suspect’s hands cuffed behind
his back.
NICK (O.S.)
Billy! careful! Detonator!
A shocked Billy looks around.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Where yinz at?
Billy rolls the groggy suspect onto his back.
NICK (O.S.)
Just above you, invisible!
BILLY KOWALSKI
Damn! How’d yinz like that hit?
NICK (O.S.)
Awesome, Billy!
Will and Kate hoot their approval.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Book ‘em Danno!
NICK
Carefully take the detonator out of
his pocket and don’t touch any
buttons.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Got it.
Billy takes his cell phone out of his pocket, presses a
button as he searches the area above him.
BILLY KOWALSKI (CONT'D)
PBP ain’t going to believe this!
NICK (O.S.)
Got to go Billy.
BILLY KOWALSKI
Talk ta yinz later.
Nick moves Elmo to a higher elevation.
In a moment, sirens. Emergency vehicles enter the parking
lot.
Billy exits the garage, nudging his cuffed suspect ahead of
him with one hand while carefully holding the detonator in
the other.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Suspense"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Invisibility Mode
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
Nick hits a key on the laptop and the TV screen goes blank.
NICK
Just think if we got paid for this.
We’d be driving Ferraris.
WILL
We should leave Elmo here and head
back. I don’t want to be finding my
way out of here in the dark.
NICK
I don’t want to leave Elmo here.
Let’s lock him up in the storage
cage. No one will find him there.
WILL
Turner said to leave him here,
right?
NICK
It’ll be fine. No one can see him
in invisibility mode.
Genres:
["Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Communication Breakdown
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
Will reads and Nick lies on the sofa with ear buds in place.
The TV is on with the sound muted. Elmo levitates in the
corner of the room with several of his tiny lights blinking.
A REPORTER on TV with a microphone stands next to Billy
Kowalski in the Stadium parking lot.
WILL
Nick! Turn on the sound!
Nick hits the remote.
ON TV
REPORTER
I’m here with our hero, Billy
Kowalski. Billy, can you tell us
how this all went down?
BILLY KOWALSKI
Yeah, it was wild. These guys with
Rescue One used an invisible drone
to blind the suspect. Then I laid
into ‘em. That’s about it.
REPORTER
Invisible drone? That’s a little
hard to believe?
BILLY KOWALSKI
Yeah, crazy, but that’s the deal.
REPORTER
Well, there you have it. The second
report today of Rescue One and
their invisible drone stopping a
crime in progress.
IN THE APARTMENT
Nick and Will hoot their approval.
NICK
We’re big time! Next time we charge
a fee.
WILL
Relax Nick. We should cool it for
awhile.
NICK
You worry too much. Too bad Kate
wasn’t here, she would have loved
this.
WILL
Yeah, I guess she had something
better to do.
NICK
You and Kate need to communicate
better.
WILL
Yeah, right.
Will walks out of the apartment.
Nick turns to Elmo.
NICK
Well buddy, I’m glad we don’t have
any communication problems. We get
along great and we’re doing amazing
things together.
Nick walks over to Elmo and gives him a slight spin.
NICK (CONT'D)
There’s no limit to what we can do.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Urgent Inquiry
EXT. TREE-LINED SUBURBAN STREET - DAY
FBI Agents Lucas and Cruze walk onto the porch of a house.
They wear dark suits and sunglasses. Agent Lucas knocks on
the door.
Will’s mother, JUNE McCLAIN, answers the door. June (50’s)
thin and fit for her age. She wears a Steelers tee-shirt and
sweat pants.
AGENT LUCAS
Mrs. McClain?
JUNE
Yes.
Agent Lucas displays identification.
AGENT LUCAS
Ma'am, we’re with the government.
We need to ask you a few questions.
JUNE
Is something wrong?
June backs into her living room as the two men enter. Agent
Lucas takes a photo out of an envelope and shows it to June.
AGENT LUCAS
Do you own this SUV?
JUNE
Oh God! Has there been an
accident?
AGENT LUCAS
Where’s the vehicle?
JUNE
My son has it at school. What’s
this about?
AGENT LUCAS
It’s critical that we see your son
right away. Where can we find him?
June picks up a small booklet off the credenza, opens it to a
page, and hands it to Agent Lucas.
Agent Lucas uses his phone to take a photo of the entry in
June’s directory, then returns it.
AGENT LUCAS (CONT'D)
Your son is in danger. If you
contact him, you will put him at
greater risk.
The Agents leave. Somewhat dazed over the conversation, June
takes a seat at the dining room table.
Genres:
["Thriller","Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
Mission to the Mountain
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Will and Kate enter the apartment with a bag of juice bottles
and sandwiches. Nick is watching T.V.
Will tosses Nick a sandwich wrapped in paper.
ON TV
A news report about several hikers caught in a snow storm,
stranded on a mountain in Washington state.
BACK IN THE APARTMENT
KATE
How horrible. They were out for a
hike and now they’re doomed.
NICK
Sounds like a job for Elmo.
WILL
That’s more than two thousand miles
from here; way beyond Elmo’s range.
NICK
How do you know?
WILL
What if we lose him?
NICK
He won’t let us down.
WILL
I thought we were going to cool it
for awhile?
NICK
You said that, not me. No one
knows who we are or where we are.
Nick uses his phone to take a photo of the TV screen.
ON TV
A map of the mountain with arrows pointing to the area where
the hikers are stranded.
BACK IN THE APARTMENT
WILL
Exactly how would we use Elmo to
help these people?
NICK
Let’s see if we can get Elmo to
them and then figure it out.
Will rolls his eyes and takes a bite of his sandwich.
WILL
Yeah, that’s a plan.
KATE
You guys may be their only hope.
Nick retrieves Elmo from the corner of the room.
NICK
Let’s go buddy, we’ve got work to
do.
Will works on his laptop. Kate opens the window as Nick gives
Elmo a slight push in her direction.
Will hands Nick the laptop and Nick uses his phone with the
photo of the TV screen to determine the coordinates.
Will’s cell phone rings to Star Wars Imperial March (Darth
Vader's Theme). He looks at the screen and it reads “Mom.”
He puts the phone to his ear.
WILL
Hi Mom.
Will listens, looks worried.
WILL (CONT'D)
Must be some sort of mix up. I’ll
take care of it. No, no, there’s
nothing to worry about. I’ll call
you later. Bye, Mom.
Will drops his phone in his shirt pocket.
WILL (CONT'D)
My mom was visited by government
agents. They showed her photos of
my car.
NICK
What kind of government agents?
WILL
She didn’t know. She was crying.
Dark suits, black suburban with
dark windows. They said my life was
in danger.
NICK
Sounds like we got the Men in Black
after us.
KATE
They’ll be here soon.
WILL
We should chill for awhile.
Nick presses a key on the laptop and Elmo becomes invisible.
NICK
Let’s save the hikers and worry
about the M.I.B. later. Come on,
what’s the worst that could happen.
WILL
Well, felonies come to mind.
Nick hits a key on the laptop.
ON TV
A map of North America appears with a small flashing red
light leaving Pennsylvania, entering Ohio, and moving in the
direction of Washington state.
BACK IN THE APARTMENT
NICK
Wow, look at him go.
WILL
Nick, as soon as this is over,
we’re done.
The three watch the flashing dot move across the country to
its target.
NICK
When Elmo gets there, I’ll switch
on his high frequency sensor to
scan through the clouds.
WILL
Yeah, and we’ll probably need that
thermal imaging feature to locate
the hikers?
NICK
What thermal imaging?
WILL
When you picked up the chipmunk,
Elmo read its heat signature before
you picked him up.
NICK
(laughs)
Of course, he has thermal imaging.
ON TV
The flashing dot on the laptop slows down as Elmo enters
Washington state and arrives at the target mountain.
NICK (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Switching to video.
EXT. VIEW FROM ELMO - CONTINUOUS
Thick clouds can be seen a few thousand feet below Elmo.
NICK (V.O.)
Sending him down.
Elmo descends slowly into the clouds and the view from Elmo
goes white.
WILL (V.O.)
We’re in a white out. Trying some
filtering.
The clouds and snow are filtered out and the outline of the
mountain comes into view.
INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Nick glances at the photo he had taken earlier of the TV
screen.
NICK
I think I know where we are. We’ll
follow this ridge south a few
miles. The hikers must be somewhere
along this ridge.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Rescue in the Storm
EXT. VIEW FROM ELMO - CONTINUOUS
Elmo moves south along the ridge at an elevation of about
three thousand feet.
NICK (V.O.)
I think we’re close. Turning on the
thermal but we may be too high to
pick up anything. Keep an eye out
for any small bleep of color.
Elmo lowers closer to the ridge
KATE (V.O.)
There! Stop! Back up! I thought I
saw something.
Nick moves Elmo north slowly along the ridge. In a moment, a
small, blurry, pink spot appears.
NICK (V.O.)
Damn, you’re good, Kate.
Nick maneuvers Elmo a few feet above the object.
NICK (V.O.)
If someone’s there, they can’t see
Elmo because of the storm.
WILL (V.O.)
Light beam shield like we used to
protect that kid in the park?
NICK (V.O.)
I’ll try it.
A bright flash of light on the TV screen.
The sound from the storm stops and Elmo’s camera provides a
clear video inside the cone of light.
On the ground, a few feet below Elmo, the infrared shows a
pulsating pink spot in the snow.
KATE (V.O.)
Could that be them?
WILL (V.O.)
Try the mike.
NICK (V.O.)
This is Rescue One. Can ... you
... hear ... me?
Anyone there!?!
Can ... you ... hear ... me?
Nick, Will, and Kate watch for signs of movement.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Desperate Plea for Rescue
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - CONTINUOUS
Some snow moves, then is pushed aside. A boy’s head emerges
from a snow cave below.
BOY
Help! Where are you? Help!
NICK (V.O.)
There is a drone just above you.
BOY
Is the storm over?
NICK (V.O.)
The storm is still here.
Another head appears next to the boy.
WOMAN
What is happening?
The boy points to Elmo hovering above them.
NICK (V.O.)
You are being shielded by a drone
Ma’am. You are only protected
inside this cone of light.
WOMAN
Can you get us out of here? My
husband is unconscious. We’re
freezing to death.
INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
NICK
I’ll use the tractor beam like we
did with the chipmunk and the trash
can.
WILL
These are people.
KATE
You’re their only option.
WOMAN (V.O.)
Hello? Are you still here?
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Desperate Hope on the Mountain
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - CONTINUOUS
NICK (V.O.)
Ma’am, this is a very experimental
drone. There’s a chance that we
can lift the three of you to safety
on a beam of light. But we never
tried it before.
WOMAN
Please try! We can’t hold on much
longer!
NICK (V.O.)
Can you get your husband out? The
three of you need to be sitting,
together.
The woman lifts her husband’s head and shoulders through the
opening in the snow. Her son helps pull his father through
the opening.
In a moment, the woman and her son are sitting upright with
the man slumped over between them.
WOMAN
How’s this?
NICK (V.O.)
Looks good.
The boy is crying. Tears stream down his mom’s face.
BOY
Mom, I’m scared.
WOMAN
We’ll be o.k.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Rescue Initiated
INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
The three friends are huddled around the TV watching the
desperate hikers.
NICK
Ready to give this a shot?
WILL
Ready! Where do we take them?
Nick glances at the photo on his phone.
NICK
There’s got to be something at the
base of this ridge.
Nick presses a key on his laptop to activate the microphone.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - CONTINUOUS
NICK (V.O.)
Ready to get out of there?
WOMAN
Yes! Please!
NICK (V.O.)
Try to relax and keep still. Don’t
get outside the cone.
WOMAN
Let’s go!
The outside edges of the light beams reverse direction and
move upward.
NICK (V.O.)
We’re going to move you slowly down
the mountain. You may not see
anything or know you are moving.
We will keep talking so you know
what’s happening.
WOMAN
Thank you! Who are you?
NICK (V.O.)
Rescue One, Ma’am.
WOMAN
Who?
NICK (V.O.)
Just some guys.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
A Glimmer of Hope
INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Nick switches to the map on the TV Screen.
ON TV
A flashing dot is moving slowly down the mountain.
BACK TO THE APARTMENT
Tears run down Kate’s face. She has an arm on Nick’s shoulder
and the other on Will.
Nick switches the screen back to live video of the three half-
frozen hikers huddled together.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - CONTINUOUS
NICK (V.O.)
Ma’am, everything looks good.
You’re moving down the mountain.
Are you okay?
WOMAN
We don’t feel anything. We’re
weightless. It’s really weird but
we’re okay. We’re okay.
NICK (V.O.)
Great. Hang in there. We’ll check
back in a minute.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Crisis Management
INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Nick cuts off the microphone and switches the image on the TV
screen to Elmo’s diagram.
NICK
We got problems! See the red light
flashing on the diagram? I think
hElmo’s overheating.
WILL
Move them a little quicker. They
seem to be doing alright.
NICK
Elmo lost his cloaking. Power
problem. Same thing happened when
I tried to lift your car.
KATE
Just get them to safety.
ON TV
Nick switches the screen to video. Tree tops and blowing snow
appear underneath Elmo’s cone of light.
A clearing comes into view, then some parked vehicles and TV
cameras. A group of people stare at Elmo.
NICK
Those people must be freaking out.
A ball of light just came out of
the storm.
WILL
Set them down and bring Elmo back.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Rescue at the Mountain Base
EXT. BASE OF MOUNTAIN PARING AREA - CONTINUOUS
NICK (V.O.)
Ma’am?
WOMAN
Yes!
NICK (V.O.)
We have you at a parking lot.
Plenty of people here to take care
of you.
WOMAN
Thank you! Thank you!
Nick gently sets down the hikers, turns off the tractor beam,
and raises Elmo into the air.
As the ball of light climbs into the sky, the light morphs
into a metal sphere before traveling out of view.
The hikers are quickly surrounded by rescuers and TV cameras.
An ambulance pulls next to the hikers and the unconscious man
is placed on a stretcher.
Genres:
["Action","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Rescue Success Celebration
EXT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
NICK
I’m bringing him back.
WILL
He’s got no cloaking.
NICK
I’m not leaving him. Besides, it’s
almost dark here and he moves so
fast, no one can see him.
WILL
Just make sure the light beam is
off or we’ll freak out half the
country.
Nick hits a button on the laptop.
Will changes the TV screen to regular programming.
ON TV
The woman hiker and her son are being helped into the
ambulance when a reporter sticks a microphone in front of the
woman.
REPORTER
Who rescued you? Were they aliens?
WOMAN
They said they were Rescue One. A
drone or something. We would have
died without them.
BACK TO THE APARTMENT
The three friends hoot their approval.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Urgent Retrieval Order
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Russian intelligence agent, DIMITRI, sits at a desk reading a
newspaper. Dimitri (50’s) a bit frumpy with thick eyebrows
and a scowl on his face. He wears a wrinkled suit, a
terribly outdated tie, and scuffed up wingtips. His phone
rings, he answers.
DIMITRI
Dimitri here. Yes, we’ve seen the
footage. No, we have not
intercepted any communications.
Dimitri listens for a moment, writes some notes on a pad, and
ends his call. He walks out of his office and enters an
office of another Russian agent, IVAN. Ivan (40’s) is all
brawn, no brain.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
One of our satellites picked up the
the object and tracked it from
Washington State to a university in
Pennsylvania. Since it’s last known
location is not a government
facility, we’re not sure who has
custody. But we’ve got a good idea
who might have it. We are to
retrieve it.
Ivan takes his coat off the door hook and retrieves a pistol
from his desk drawer.
Genres:
["Thriller","Espionage"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Under Pressure
EXT. UNIVERSITY LAB - DAY
Professor Turner leaves the lab building when he notices a
tree ahead of him with a limb moving.
PROFESSOR TURNER
(mumbling)
That’s odd. No wind, no birds, ...
ahhhh!
Near the top of the tree, a translucent object moves in the
direction of the lab before disappearing.
EXT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S HOUSE - NIGHT
As Professor Turner enters his front door, the two Russian
agents force their way in behind him.
INT. PROFESSOR TURNER'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
PROFESSOR TURNER
Who in the hell are you?
Russian Agent, Ivan, positions himself with his back against
the front door. The other agent, Dimitri, turns off the
lights except for a table lamp next to the sofa. He motions
with his hand in the direction of the sofa.
DIMITRI
Please have a seat, Professor.
The professor takes a seat.
PROFESSOR TURNER
What’s the reason for this
intrusion?
DIMITRI
My superiors have sent me to
recover our drone which we believe
has been intercepted by someone in
this area.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Why ask me about your missing
drone?
DIMITRI
Surely you understand that someone
with your background would be of
interest to us, particularly since
we tracked the drone to this
location. And you are the only NASA
trained physicist in this area.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Who are you?
DIMITRI
Let’s just say that my employer
will do whatever is required to
retrieve their property.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Well, if I hear of anyone operating
an unusual drone, I’ll let you
know. What exactly does it look
like? Does it have any markings
that indicate ownership? In case I
happen to see it.
Dimitri forces a smile.
DIMITRI
Professor, we don’t have much time.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Sorry, I can’t help you. What are
you going to do, shoot me?
DIMITRI
Please, Professor, we are not
barbarians.
Dimitri nods to Ivan. Ivan removes a large syringe from his
coat pocket and holds it out so it can be seen by the
professor.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
We have more productive means to
neutralize and obtain information.
Dimitri nods again to Ivan and Ivan places the syringe back
in his pocket.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
It seems that someone in this
vicinity is trying to sell our Nee-
Vee-Jimmy-Shod and we believe you
have it or know who does.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I have no idea what you’re talking
about but I can check around.
DIMITRI
Please do check around, Professor.
Dimitri hands the professor a slip of paper, then walks to
the door as Ivan opens it.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
If I don’t hear from you soon, our
next visit will not be as pleasant.
Genres:
["Thriller","Espionage","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
The Urgent Warning
EXT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S HOUSE - DAY
The professor leaves his house and makes a phone call when he
reaches the sidewalk.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Nick, I need to see you
immediately, my office!
INT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S OFFICE - LATER
It’s a small office with a few certificates hanging on the
wall, several file cabinets, and a messy desk.
On top of a file cabinet sits a model of the Boeing YF-118G
Bird Of Prey experimental aircraft.
The professor is seated at his desk with the back of his
chair facing the door.
INT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S OFFICE - LATER
A knock on the door. The professor turns his chair around.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Come in.
Nick walks in and takes a seat. Professor Turner walks to the
door, checks the hallway, then closes and locks the door
before returning to his chair.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
I had two Russians show up at my
house and it wasn’t a very pleasant
visit. It seems they came to
retrieve their Nee-Vee-Jimmy-Shod.
The Professor leans forward in his chair.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
That’s Russian for invisible orb.
NICK
I knew it was the Russians.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Like the rest of the world, they
saw the mountain rescue. They also
said someone in this area has been
trying to sell an incredibly
advanced drone.
Nick fidgets in his chair.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Were you using Elmo on campus this
morning?
NICK
Nope.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Then there’s another problem. I saw
a partially visible orb outside the
building. If it wasn’t yours, then
I surmise that the owners of your
orb have learned of it’s location
and have sent another to locate it.
NICK
Partially visible?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Cloaking isn’t perfect. There are
some distortions due to motion. I
happened to be looking at a
favorable angle when it passed by.
(MORE)
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
It must have been monitoring the
lab for signs of your orb.
NICK
The Russians must have another one.
PROFESSOR TURNER
The orb’s propulsion and
capabilities are beyond anything
the Russians can produce. Whoever
they are, the owners have a proxy
searching for their missing orb.
It’s only a matter of time before
they attempt to retrieve their
property and I don’t want you or
Will hurt in the process. Those who
want Elmo don’t follow any rules.
The professor removes his glasses and sets them on his desk.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Because of my background, I’m
caught up in this escapade. I’m
under surveillance and we should
assume that you and Will are also
being watched and your
conversations monitored.
NICK
I’m not turning Elmo over to
anyone. It sounds as if the owners
have plenty of them.
PROFESSOR TURNER
We’re in a tough spot. The Russians
made it clear that anyone who
stands in their way is expendable.
And, if you turn it over to them,
someone else may come looking for
it. Believe me, these security guys
are ruthless.
Nick drops his head.
NICK
Yeah, you’re right. Will’s mom says
the feds are on our way here. I’m
sorry we got you involved professor
but I’m not turning Elmo over to an
oppressive regime that will use it
against innocent people.
PROFFESSOR TURNER
What oppressive regime?
NICK
Exactly! We don’t know who owns it
or how they’re using it. Besides,
what’s the worst that could happen?
Professor Turner nods and offers a slight smile.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Nick, these people won’t just
wonder off if they don’t get what
they want.
Nick stares at the floor as he contemplates the situation.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
I might have a solution but I’m
going to need some time.
NICK
What kind of a solution?
PROFESSOR TURNER
You need to trust me on this.
NICK
What do you want us to do?
The professor leans over his desk and whispers to Nick.
EXT. LAB - DAY
As Nick exits the building, he takes out his cell phone and
hits a button.
NICK
Will, where are you? Good, I’ll
meet you there in five minutes.
Don’t go back to the apartment.
Nick walks in the direction of his apartment building and
passes Dimitri who sits on a bench reading a newspaper.
Dimitri folds the newspaper, places it under his arm, and
follows Nick at a distance.
Genres:
["Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
The Urgent Escape
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING STORAGE UNIT - DAY
Nick retrieves the invisible Elmo who is covered with a
towel. He stuffs Elmo into a large backpack and straps the
pack on his back.
EXT. CAMPUS STREET - DAY
Nick drives his motorcycle with the backpack on his back. He
pulls next to Will’s parked car, and cuts off his engine.
Will leans his head out the window.
WILL
What’s up?
NICK
We’re in some deep shit.
WILL
Feds find you?
NICK
Some Russians are looking for Elmo.
They threatened Turner. Haven’t
seen the Feds yet but they’re
probably here too. Turner wants us
to go the cabin and wait for him
there. He’s got a plan.
WILL
What kind of plan? Why not just
give it to the Feds?
NICK
It’s too late for that. Someone
will be pissed off if they don’t
get it and we got no leverage.
WILL
Alright, I’ll pick up Kate and meet
you at the cabin. Hey, take my
laptop with you. The Feds know my
car.
Will grabs his laptop and the game controller from the back
seat and hands them to Nick. Nick slides them into his
backpack, starts his engine, gives will a nod and takes off.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Kate exits her townhouse. When she reaches the sidewalk,
Dimitri and Ivan appear on either side of her and grab her
arms. Before Kate can react, she is lifted into a waiting van
with its side door open.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Confrontation and Secrets
EXT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S OFFICE - DAY
Agents Lucas and Cruze walk into the Professor’s office and
close the door. Seated at his desk, Professor Turner looks up
over his glasses.
AGENT LUCAS
Professor Turner?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Yes.
Agent Lucas reaches inside his coat pocket.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
I know who you’re with?
Agent Lucas takes a seat across from the Professor while
Agent Cruze stands near the door.
AGENT LUCAS
I suppose you know why we’re here?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Probably for the same reason the
Russians were here. I don’t know
anything about a missing satellite.
AGENT LUCAS
Russians? When were they here?
PROFESSOR TURNER
A few minutes ago.
AGENT LUCAS
Do they have names?
PROFESSOR TURNER
No names, just threats.
AGENT LUCAS
We know the satellite has been in
this area. Everything points to
your involvement. Either you
cooperate or you will have to
accompany us to a location where we
will have a more productive
conversation.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Gentlemen, I’m too old to be
frightened by threats.
(MORE)
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
And if I knew anything about the
satellite, why would I share it
with you. The Russians say it
belongs to them.
AGENT LUCAS
Is Will McClain one of your
students?
PROFESSOR TURNER
That name sounds familiar. He may
have been in one of my classes.
AGENT LUCAS
We have reason to believe that he
has the satellite.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I suggest you check with him.
AGENT LUCAS
He isn’t in his apartment and it’s
a big campus. We thought you may
know where we could find him.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Sorry, I don’t keep tabs on
students. But if I happen to see
him, I’ll let him know that he’s
behind on his taxes.
AGENT LUCAS
Surely you realize that this is an
urgent matter of national security.
If the satellite got into the wrong
hands, it could destabilize the
world’s power structure.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Well, we couldn’t have that.
AGENT LUCAS
We are authorized ...
PROFESSOR TURNER
(interrupting)
Yes, I know, you are authorized to
use any means necessary.
AGENT LUCAS
Don’t go anywhere Professor. Call
me if you hear from McClain or the
Russians.
(MORE)
AGENT LUCAS (CONT'D)
You don’t want to interfere with a
national security matter.
When the agents leave, the Professor walks next door to
Professor Hopkins’ office, closes the door, and takes a seat
at Professor Hopkins’ desk. He takes his wallet out of his
pocket and searches through a collection of business cards
and scraps of paper.
The professor selects a small slip of paper, picks up the
receiver, and dials a number.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Aeronautics? I’m trying to reach
Chief Knudsen. This is John Turner.
Thank you.
The professor sets down the receiver, walks to the door and
opens it to see if anyone is in the hallway. He closes the
door and locks it before returning to the desk.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Hello, Arne. I need to reach the
Admiral. Can you help? Yeah I know
he’s off limits but hell, I worked
with him. He trusts me. The agency
should trust me for crying out
loud. You’re not going to lose your
job. It’s a matter of life and
death ... yeah, it’s that bad. Just
ask the Admiral to get in touch.
That’s all I ask. Okay? Thanks,
Arne.
Genres:
["Thriller","Espionage"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Kidnapped and Cornered
INT. VAN - DAY
The rear of the van is stacked with electronic equipment
twinkling from an array of small flashing green and yellow
lights.
Dimitri sits next to Kate as Ivan closes the side door, then
drives the van slowly down the street.
DIMITRI
Miss Marsh, no harm will come to
you ... if you cooperate.
Kate attempts to reach for the door but she is quickly put
back in her seat by Dimitri.
KATE
Who are you? What do you want?
DIMITRI
Your boyfriend has something that
belongs to us and we want it
returned.
KATE
I don’t know where he is.
DIMITRI
Perhaps you could call.
Dimitri takes Kate’s bag off her shoulder, removes her phone,
and hands it to her.
Kate holds her phone in her hand but doesn’t make a call.
Dimitri lights a cigar.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
Do not make this difficult. I’m
afraid you have no choice in the
matter.
Kate dials.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
Use the speaker please.
The phone rings, Will picks up.
WILL (V.O.)
Hey.
KATE
(crying)
Will, help!
Dimitri takes the phone from Kate’s hand.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - VAN/WILL’S CAR
DIMITRI
Mr. McClain, you have something of
ours. You return it, we will
release your beautiful young
friend.
WILL
Let her go! She doesn’t have
anything to do with this.
DIMITRI
Where shall we meet?
WILL
I don’t have it.
DIMITRI
That’s most unfortunate for Miss
Marsh.
WILL
I can get it. I need some time;
thirty minutes.
A moment of silence except for Kate’s sobs.
DIMITRI
Very well, you have exactly thirty
minutes to produce our item. Your
friend’s life depends on it.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Will pulls to the curb, calls Nick. As Will leaves a message,
a Black Suburban pulls next to his SUV, blocking him from
moving. Will looks into the rearview mirror as the two
Government Agents exit the Suburban.
EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY
Nick comes out of the store and sticks some items in his
backpack. When he gets to his bike, he checks his voice
message.
WILL (V.O.)
Someone grabbed Kate. We need to
give them Elmo. Oh crap, I got
trouble.
EXT. STREET NEXT TO KATE'S TOWNHOUSE - DAY
Nick drives slowly down the street looking for Will’s SUV
among the parked cars.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
A Night of Secrets
INT. PROFESSOR TURNER’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Professor Turner peeks through a blind at the Black Chevy
Suburban parked in front of his house.
A brief flash of light in the sky. The professor adjusts the
blind to take a look.
A single knock on the professor’s back door.
IN KITCHEN
The professor peeks through the blind, opens the door to the
back porch.
ADMIRAL ERIC THOMPSON (40’s), tall, thin, and quite pale. He
wears a sweatshirt, sweat pants, and tennis shoes. Even
though it’s evening and the weather is mild, the Admiral
wears sunglasses.
He looks the same as he did in the skunkworks photo hanging
on the cabin wall.
PROFESSOR TURNER
(whispering)
Am I glad to see you.
The professor closes the door, locks it, and peeks through
the blind to make sure no one followed the Admiral.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
I thought it was best to use your
back door.
The professor and his guest take seats in the living room.
PROFESSOR TURNER
It’s been a long time. How was the
trip?
The Admiral smiles and nods.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
To borrow a phrase from you old
friend, it was a hop, skip, and a
jump.
The Admiral leans close to the professor.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
Now, what is this urgent matter?
PROFESSOR TURNER
I’ve got a situation here.
Genres:
["Thriller","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Coercion in the Suburban
INT. BLACK SUBURBAN - CONTINUOUS
Will is sitting in the back seat of the Black Suburban parked
in front of the professor’s house. Agent Lucas sits next to
him, holding a taser in his hand.
Will grabs the door handle but the door doesn’t open.
AGENT LUCAS
Really?
WILL
Someone’s got my girlfriend. Is it
you guys?
AGENT LUCAS
The girlfriend is your problem. We
want the satellite.
WILL
No one’s getting anything until
Kate is released.
AGENT LUCAS
Punks like you disappear all the
time.
WILL
Who are you guys? You can’t get
away with this!
AGENT LUCAS
Where’s the satellite?
Will takes a swing at Agent Lucas and catches him just below
the eye. Agent Lucas is knocked off his seat.
As Agent Lucas gets off the floor, he pulls the trigger on
his taser, sinking its jagged darts into Will’s stomach.
Will screams as he hits the floor, withering in pain.
Agent Lucas lets Will lay for a moment then pulls him back
into his seat.
AGENT LUCAS (CONT'D)
Now, let’s try this again. Where’s
the satellite?
Agent Lucas prepares to fire the taser once again.
WILL
My roommate’s got it.
AGENT LUCAS
Call him.
Agent Lucas hands Will his phone.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
High-Stakes Negotiation
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - INSIDE SUBURBAN/STREET
NEXT TO THE MOTORCYCLE
Nick’s phone rings, he answers.
NICK
Will? Are you o.k.?
AGENT LUCAS
Higgins? Where are you?
NICK
Put Will on the phone?
Agent Lucas turns on the phone’s speaker and holds it in
front of Will who has his hands tied behind his back.
WILL
Nick, we need to give up, Elmo.
Help, Kate!
AGENT LUCAS
Give us the satellite and we’ll
release your friend. If you don’t
cooperate, you’ll both be spending
the rest of your lives in prison.
NICK
Prison? What in the hell are you
talking about?
AGENT LUCAS
The satellite is of no use to you
now.
NICK
I don’t have it. I need a couple of
hours.
AGENT LUCAS
Don’t lie to me Higgins.
NICK
I stashed it in the mountains to
keep it from the Russians. Ever
hear of them? They terrorize
innocent people and operate in
secrecy ... just like you guys.
AGENT LUCAS
You got two hours and then we fry
your friend.
Nick ends the call.
NICK
Damn it!
Genres:
["Thriller","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
A Shocking Discovery
EXT. STREET - LATER
Nick wears his backpack as he drives the motorcycle through
campus. In the distance, red flashing lights.
When Nick is a block from the lights, he parks the bike and
walks towards the area where an ambulance is parked. He
notices a Black Suburban parked in front of Professor
Turner’s house.
Nick joins an older women standing on her lawn across the
street from the activity.
NICK
What happened?
OLD WOMAN
It’s Professor Turner.
The woman gasps.
The EMTs wheel a stretcher out of the house and down the
sidewalk. The stretcher holds a body covered with a sheet.
Agent Lucas hops out of the Suburban and steps in front of
the EMTs. He flashes his badge.
Nick walks closer to get a better look.
The EMTs wait as Agent Lucas uncovers the professor’s face
and turns on a small flashlight. He pulls back the
professor’s eyelid with his finger, then feels the
professor’s throat, trying to detect a pulse.
An EMT pulls the sheet back over the professor’s face as
Agent Lucas returns to the Suburban.
Nick’s legs wobble as he reacts to the sight of the body
being loaded into the ambulance. The ambulance pulls away
quietly.
Agent Lucas enters Professor Turner’s house.
There is a brief flash of light in the sky as Nick walks back
to his bike.
Nick unlocks his helmet from his motorcycle, puts it on. He
starts his engine and drives off, fast.
Genres:
["Thriller","Mystery","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Negotiation Under Duress
INT. VAN - LATER
The Van is parked near the airport on the side of a road. At
a nearby construction site, the beeping of a truck can be
heard as a crew makes road repairs.
Dimitri hands Kate her phone. She presses a button and a
phone rings.
EXT. DIRT ROAD - CONTINUOUS
Nick is driving on the road to the cabin when he feels his
phone vibrate in his vest pocket. He takes out his phone, the
screen reads “Kate.”
Nicks stops his bike, turns off the engine, presses the
speaker button.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - INSIDE VAN/INTERSTATE
NICK
Where are you? Are you o.k.?
KATE
Help me, Nick.
Dimitri takes the phone from Kate.
DIMITRI
Where is the satellite, Mr.
Higgins?
NICK
I can get it but federal agents
want it.
DIMITRI
You forget, Mr. Higgins, we have
Miss Marsh.
NICK
Release her, then I’ll give you the
satellite.
DIMITRI
You are hardly in a position to
bargain, Mr. Higgins.
A jet engine can be heard overhead as an airliner takes off
from the nearby airport.
NICK
I’ll have your satellite in a
couple of hours. Where do you want
to meet?
The beeping of a construction truck can be heard. Dimitri
covers the phone with his hand and motions for the driver to
close his window.
DIMITRI
Call Ms. Marsh when you have the
satellite and we will direct you.
Goodbye, Mr. Higgins.
Nick ends the call.
NICK
Damn it!
Genres:
["Thriller","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Pranks and Pursuits
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Nick sits at the table in candlelight with Elmo hovering next
to him.
NICK
Buddy, we got to help our friends.
Nick presses a key on the laptop and Elmo becomes invisible.
Nick opens the cabin door, presses a button on the laptop and
sends Elmo on his way.
ON LAPTOP
Nick watches the laptop screen as Elmo hovers high above the
airport. He moves Elmo away from terminal area to study the
roads near the airport.
EXT. NEAR THE AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS
Yellow flashing lights near some warehouses come into view.
Elmo moves in closer.
A road crew is at work and the beeping of a dump truck
backing up can be heard.
Elmo climbs in elevation near the construction site. Elmo’s
camera focuses on a van parked on the side of the road.
Elmo’s night vision and infrared features are activated and
he picks up a heat signature on the van.
Elmo moves next to the van and peers into the window. Kate
sits next to a man in the backseat.
Elmo elevates and focuses on Agent Ivan standing near the van
smoking a cigar. Ivan steps off the road and takes a leak as
he puffs on his cigar.
Nick can’t resist the opportunity to mess with the Russians.
He positions the invisible Elmo above Ivan, taps a key on the
laptop to activate the transporter, and picks up Ivan in mid-
stream.
Nick moves Ivan a few yards down the road and drops him
gently into a large puddle.
Cigar still in his mouth, Ivan steps out of the puddle and
runs to the van.
Dimitri opens the van door.
DIMITRI
Everything secure?
IVAN
I will kill that, Mudak!
(mudak, Russian word for asshole)
An invisible Elmo elevates above the airport and quickly
moves towards the campus, stopping above professor Turner’s
house.
Elmo lowers to street level and moves to the front door of
the professor’s house to peep through the window.
The living room floor is strewn with papers, folders, and
overturned furniture. Agent Lucas rummages through desk
drawers.
Elmo moves to the Black Suburban parked in front of the
professor’s house and peers inside.
Will is slumped over in a back seat. Agent Cruze sits next to
him with a taser in his hand.
Elmo moves down the street where some metal trash cans sit.
Elmo locks onto one of the cans and transports it high above
the Suburban.
Elmo drops the can, BOOM! The can bounces off the hood of
the Suburban which is now badly dented. Trash flies
everywhere.
The Suburban’s alarm sounds.
Agent Lucas runs out of the professor’s house with a Glock in
his hand. He runs to the Suburban where Agent Cruze stands
holding his Glock. Several neighbors open their front doors
and step onto their porches.
Agent Lucas inspects the damage and trash. Agent Cruze shrugs
his shoulders.
AGENT LUCAS
Damn that punk!
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Suspense"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
A Plan in the Dark
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
A flash in the sky outside the cabin gets Nick’s attention.
He glances out the window before turning his attention to the
laptop.
He presses a key on the laptop and watches the red dot travel
across the map on the screen in the direction of the cabin.
As Nick opens the cabin door to retrieve Elmo, he steps back
in shock as he sees Professor Turner standing on the porch.
The professor holds the weightless Elmo on the palm of his
hand.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Good evening Nick. I thought I
might find you here.
NICK
(mumbles)
Holy shit.
Nick takes a step back.
NICK (CONT'D)
You’re dead! I saw your body get
wheeled out of your house.
The professor chuckles.
PROFESSOR TURNER
A mere illusion. A slight of hand,
so to speak. I needed a diversion
to slip by the MIBs. Those guys
have been at my heels for years.
NICK
But ... I saw you on the stretcher.
The professor walks into the cabin, removes his hand from
Elmo, and with a finger, moves him near the floor in the
corner of the room.
PROFESSOR TURNER
A few drops of ketamine and
midazolam is quite effective. No
corneal reflex, no detectable
breath or heartbeat. Those EMTs are
former students of mine.
Nick looks around outside before closing the door.
NICK
How did you get here?
The Professor takes a seat at the table.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I was dropped off. I wanted to make
sure that it was you in here. Now,
what’s the situation?
Nick takes a seat, lowers his head, and mumbles.
NICK
I’m screwed. Russians have Kate
near the airport.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Probably the same guys who showed
up at my house.
NICK
The feds have Will. They’re
torturing him.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Torturing him?
Nick hands the professor his cell phone with a video playing.
VIDEO ON CELL PHONE
Will is being tasered inside a vehicle. Will screams as he
withers in pain on the floor.
BACK TO CABIN
NICK
(voice cracking)
Those bastards are tasing him.
A tear runs down Nick’s face.
NICK (CONT'D)
I don’t know what in the hell to
do. If there was some way I could
weaponize Elmo, I could ...
PROFESSOR TURNER
I’ve got a better idea. Get them
here. The Russians and the MIBs.
NICK
What! Why would I do that?
PROFESSOR TURNER
So we can control the environment.
NICK
I’m not getting it.
PROFESSOR TURNER
You need to get Will and Kate and
their captors in one place. That’s
the only chance you have at freeing
both of them.
NICK
There is only one Elmo. I can’t
give it to everybody.
PROFESSOR TURNER
You’re not giving it to either one
of them.
NICK
You’re not making sense.
PROFESSOR TURNER
You got to trust me on this.
Nick takes a deep breath.
NICK
I guess I’ll have to. I got nothin.
I’ll make the calls.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Have them arrive at midnight.
NICK
That’s a little dramatic isn’t it?
PROFESSOR TURNER
That’s the window we’re working
with.
Nick shrugs his shoulders and steps outside the door with his
cell phone in hand.
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
NICK
I’ve never seen it so dark.
PROFESSOR TURNER
It will work to our advantage.
Genres:
["Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Midnight Negotiations
INT. VAN - NIGHT
Dimitri puffs on a cigar while Kate sits across from him with
her head in her hands.
Kate’s phone rings, Nick’s name appears on the screen.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - OUTSIDE CABIN/VAN
DIMITRI
You are becoming quite a problem,
Mr. Higgins. Do you want to turn
over our satellite before any harm
comes to your friend?
NICK
Let me talk to Kate.
Dimitri holds the phone in front of Kate.
KATE
Nick?
NICK
You okay?
KATE
I’m o.k. Where’s Will? Is he
alright?
Dimitri moves the phone away from Kate.
DIMITRI
Where is our satellite?
NICK
Here’s the thing. I’ve got your
satellite at a mountain cabin but I
can’t carry it on my motorcycle and
I’m not sending it to you while
you’re holding Kate.
DIMITRI
This is highly irregular
Mister Higgins. We had an
agreement.
NICK
We still have a deal, you just need
to bring Kate and pick it up.
DIMITRI
Your friend will die if you lie to
us.
NICK
Look, I can’t carry the satellite
on my bike. I’m not that far away.
Be here at midnight and we’ll make
the exchange.
Nick takes the paper out of his pocket with the cabin
directions.
NICK (CONT'D)
Do you want the directions so we
can get this over with?
DIMITRI
We will come to you, Mr. Higgins.
Please understand, if you resist
us, this will not end well for you
or your friend.
There is a flash of light in the sky. The professor walks
into the darkness while Nick makes another call.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
High-Stakes Negotiation
INT. BLACK SUBURBAN - CONTINUOUS
Will is slumped over and his phone sits on the seat next to
him. It buzzes and Nick’s name appears on the screen. Agent
Lucas holds the phone in front of Will.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION - OUTSIDE CABIN/SUBURBAN
WILL
Where are you?
NICK
I’ve got the satellite. Do the
thugs want to make a trade?
AGENT LUCAS
Give us the satellite and we’ll
release your friend.
NICK
I’m at a cabin about an hour from
you.
AGENT LUCAS
What the hell are your doing
Higgins? Do you think we’re stupid?
NICK
Look Rambo, I’m on a motorcycle and
can’t carry it. Drop off Will and
pick up the satellite.
AGENT LUCAS
You screw this up Higgins, we’ll
lock up you and your friend and
throw away the key.
Nick rolls his eyes and doesn’t respond.
AGENT LUCAS (CONT'D)
Where is this cabin?
Agent Lucas takes a pad and pen out of his suit coat pocket.
INT. BLACK SUBURBAN - NIGHT
Agent Lucas nods to the other agent.
AGENT LUCAS
Call the chopper. Have them stand
by.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Midnight Threat and Mysterious Allies
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Nick sits at the table. The door opens and Professor Turner
enters with Admiral Thompson. The Admiral wears sunglasses.
PROFESSOR TURNER
How’d it go, Nick?
Startled, Nick quickly stands, then slowly sits back down.
NICK
(softly)
They’ll be here at Midnight.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Oh, Nick, this is an old friend of
mine, Admiral Eric Thompson. He’s
going to help us.
Nick nods as he stands by the door.
NICK
How did you get here?
PROFESSOR TURNER
The Admiral was dropped off.
NICK
Yeah, right, Uber?
Nick walks to the wall with the photos and looks at the
skunkworks photo.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
Yes, that’s us.
Nick retrieves the laptop from the table.
NICK
Look, I’m not sure what’s up with
the two of you, but in an hour,
guys with guns will be here and
they’re holding my friends.
PROFESSOR TURNER
We have the situation well in hand.
NICK
What’s the plan?
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
The plan is quite simple. But
first, let me provide you with a
little background.
The Admiral lifts the weightless, levitating Elmo with a
finger and leaves him hovering in the center of the room.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
This is a monitor. There are quite
a few of these data collectors in
operation.
The Admiral gives Elmo a spin with his finger.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
I’m familiar with the owners. They
are not friendly. Quite hostile
actually.
NICK
Well, they should be more careful
with their new toys before they
send them on a spy mission.
Admiral Thompson smiles as he watches the rotating orb.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
The monitor isn’t new. In fact,
it’s quite old and nearly
indestructible. It took a powerful
lightning bolt to alter its course
and relinquish control to you.
NICK
How long has it been operating?
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
How long? What is time, my young
friend?
The Admiral presses his finger against the rotating orb to
bring it to a stop.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
It’s been at work for millennia.
Nick’s jaw drops.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
Let me fill you in.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
Night Operations
EXT. DIRT ROAD - NIGHT
A Black Suburban comes to a stop at the rock with yellow
paint. The driver turns off the headlights.
INT. BLACK SUBURBAN - CONTINOUS
Will sits with his hands tied behind his back. Agent Lucas
sits next to him.
Agent Lucas picks up a long narrow case from the floor, opens
it, and assembles a rifle with a night vision scope.
He takes a Glock out of the holster under his suit coat. He
releases the magazine, checks to make sure its loaded, then
returns it to its holster. He removes night vision goggles
from a bag, straps them on, then flips them above his eyes.
AGENT LUCAS
You better hope your roommate isn’t
lying to us.
WILL
Put the weapons away. Why in the
hell would he lie?
Agent Lucas opens the door, steps outside, puts the rifle
strap over his shoulder and closes the door softly. He steps
next to the driver’s door. Agent Cruze lowers the window.
AGENT LUCAS
Give the chopper our location and
give me about ten minutes before
you bring our friend.
WILL (O.S.)
Leave the weapons!
AGENT LUCAS
Gag him. If he gives you any
trouble, shoot him.
Agent Lucas walks up the path into the darkness with his
goggles in place. Agent Cruze pulls the Suburban up the road
into the bushes.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Tension on the Dirt Road
EXT. DIRT ROAD - NIGHT
The van with the Russians and Kate pulls onto the dirt road
leading to the cabin.
INT. VAN - CONTINUOUS
Dimitri smokes a cigar as Kate tries to wave the smoke away
with her hand.
DIMITRI
If Mr. Higgins is reliable, you
will soon have your freedom. If he
betrays you, the cigar smoke will
be the least of your worries.
EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS
The van slows as it approaches the yellow painted rock. It
turns onto the path and slowly moves in the direction of the
cabin.
The headlight from Nick’s motorcycle shines from the clearing
next to the cabin. Nick stands next to his bike holding the
game controller.
Genres:
["Thriller","Action","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Standoff in the Clearing
INT. VAN - CONTINUOUS
Dimitri puts out his cigar in the ashtray as he leans forward
to speak to Ivan.
DIMITRI
I’ll get out here.
Dimitri gets out of the van and Ivan turns off the headlights
and picks up a rifle from the passenger seat. He adjusts the
rearview mirror so he can see Kate seated behind him.
Dimitri walks towards the headlight of Nick’s bike. As he
enters the clearing, he hears the sound of a bolt action
rifle.
A flashlight shines in Dimitri’s face.
AGENT LUCAS
That’s far enough. Who are you?
DIMITRI
Get that light out of my face!
Dimitri turns towards Nick.
DIMITRI (CONT'D)
Mr. Higgins, we had a deal. You can
say goodbye to your friend.
NICK
I don’t know who you’re talking to
but we still have a deal.
Dimitri turns to Agent Lucas who continues to hold the light
in his face.
DIMITRI
Who are you?
Agent Lucas lowers the flashlight, walks to Dimitri, displays
his identification.
AGENT LUCAS
National security. Your I.D. Now!
Dimitri reaches into his coat pocket, displays his
identification.
DIMITRI
Russian Intelligence. Mr. Higgins
has a satellite that belongs to us.
Agent Lucas takes the identification, holds it under his
light, returns it. He directs the flashlight beam back to
Dimitri’s face.
AGENT LUCAS
You’ve got no jurisdiction here.
And we both know it’s not your
satellite.
DIMITRI
I’m not alone. You are in the
sights of a sharp shooter. Now get
that light out of my face.
Agent Lucas waves the flashlight behind him.
AGENT TWO
I’m not alone either.
In a moment, the sound of a helicopter. The sound gets louder
and soon a searchlight from the helicopter moves in their
direction until it hovers over the clearing.
Nick and the two agents are in the helicopter’s searchlight
as it hovers overhead.
Agent Lucas puts his rifle strap over his shoulder. He and
Dimitri walk to Nick.
AGENT LUCAS
Where is it?
NICK
I’ll have it when Will and Kate are
here. Get them!
Agent Lucas takes his Glock out of his coat.
AGENT LUCAS
You have no idea what you’re doing.
Agent Lucas places his weapon near Nick’s head. Nick places
his finger above the controller button.
NICK
You shoot me, you won’t get it. Get
Kate!
Nick raises the controller he holds in his hands and looks at
Agent Lucas.
NICK (CONT'D)
I press a button and the orb goes
half way around the world. Bring
Will here. Now!
AGENT LUCAS
You’re playing a dangerous game
that you can’t win.
NICK
Do it!
Agent Lucas and Dimitri walk out of the clearing into the
darkness. The helicopter hovers overhead, flooding the
clearing in light.
In a moment, Dimitri enters the clearing with Kate handcuffed
to his wrist. Trailing them is Ivan carrying a rifle.
Dimitri stops a few yards short of Nick.
DIMITRI
The satellite please.
NICK
You haven’t released her.
DIMITRI
You haven’t produced the satellite.
Nick presses a button on the controller and Elmo appears a
few feet over his head and hovers silently as his tiny lights
flash.
Agent Lucas enters the clearing with Will. Will’s mouth is
gagged and his hands are tied behind his back. Agent Lucas
waves his Glock.
AGENT LUCAS
Shut it down!
Agent Lucas and Will walk within a couple of yards of Nick
and stop.
AGENT LUCAS (CONT'D)
Give me the satellite! I’ve got a
sharp shooter in the chopper who
can take you all out!
Nick turns to see Ivan with the rifle at the edge of the
clearing. Ivan raises his rifle in the direction of the
helicopter.
When Agent Lucas turns to see what has Will’s attention, he
instinctively moves his Glock in Dimitri’s direction.
Nick presses a button on the controller.
Immediately, a brilliant light from above the helicopter
engulfs the entire area. The helicopter flies off, out of
sight.
The brilliant light gets more intense as a large, silent,
sphere appears above the clearing and lowers towards the
ground.
Nick taps the controller and Elmo moves toward the cabin.
Nick grabs his motorcycle by the handle bars and pushes it
towards the cabin.
Everyone but Nick has their eyes focused on the bright light
above them.
NICK
You better move unless you want to
get flattened!
Agent Lucas gives Will a push in the direction of the cabin.
Dimitri gives a slight jerk of the handcuffs and leads Kate
towards the cabin.
Ivan lowers his rifle as he hurries toward the cabin.
The group stands next to the cabin, using their hands to
shield the intense light, as the silent sphere lowers.
The light dims as the sphere comes to rest on the ground.
An opening appears on the sphere and a ramp lowers.
Ivan raises his rifle in the direction of the ramp. Agent
Lucas removes the rifle from his shoulder and points it at
the ramp.
A quick flash of light emits from the sphere and both of the
agents immediately drop their weapons.
They yelp and shake their hands in response to the electrical
shock they received.
The handcuffs that bound Kate to Dimitri are opened by the
pulse and fall to the ground.
Agents take phones out of their pockets to take photos but
the phone won’t operate.
Kate runs to Will, pulls off his gag, and unties his hands.
All eyes are focused on the sphere and the ramp.
Professor Turner and the Admiral walk half-way down the ramp
and stop. Light from inside the sphere illuminates the two
old friends.
Elmo hovers near the sphere with his lights blinking. The
Admiral motions with his hand for everyone to move closer.
All comply.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON
Friends, I’m here to collect the
monitor for its owners.
Elmo floats up the ramp and disappears inside the sphere.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
Neither government has it, so
neither has the advantage.
The Admiral motions with his hand.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
You young people, step away from
your captors.
Nick, Will, and Kate move closer to the sphere.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
My friends are no longer of concern
to your governments. The matter is
closed. Am I understood?
In shock from what they are witnessing, the MIBs and Russian
agents are slow to respond. Then, all nod in the affirmative.
ADMIRAL THOMPSON (CONT'D)
It’s good that we are in agreement.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Agent Lucas joins Agent Cruze in walking down the path. Agent
Lucas calls to Nick.
AGENT LUCAS
You owe the government for damage
to the vehicle!
NICK
Send me a bill.
Dimitri approaches Will and Kate.
DIMITRI
I trust there are no hard feelings
Ms. Marsh?
Kate ignores Dimitri and hugs Will.
Dimitri shrugs his shoulders then he and Ivan follow the MIBs
up the path.
Surveying the scene from the ramp with the Admiral, Professor
Turner places a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Well done Admiral, well done. Give
me a moment please.
Professor Turner walks down the ramp to greet his friends.
Nick and Will rush to shake hands with the professor. With
tears streaming down her eyes, Kate gives the professor a
hug.
NICK
Professor, you were right about
turning Elmo over to you. I’m an
idiot.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Higgins.
WILL
Nick’s right. He is an idiot.
They laugh for a moment. Will gives Nick a hug.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I’m going with the Admiral for a
couple of weeks. I’ll see you when
I return.
NICK
Where are you going?
PROFESSOR TURNER
Oh, it’s a just hop, skip, and a
jump from here. Nick, do us both a
favor and get that thesis out of
the way. I need an assistant
director. I’ve got ideas for some
cutting edge projects and I’ll need
help.
NICK
Yes sir. I’ll get it done. I’ve got
the ending I needed for my
summation.
The professor turns to Will and Kate.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Are you two okay?
Will and Kate quickly reply in the affirmative as Will puts
his arm around Kate.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
If you survived this ordeal, you
can get through anything together.
Admiral Thompson blows a bosun’s whistle.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
The F-16s must be on their way.
Got to go.
Professor Turner walks up the ramp to join the Admiral and
they walk into the sphere.
The ramp closes and Nick, Will, and Kate take a few steps
back. In an instant, the sphere shoots straight up, out of
view.
The three friends stand next to the fire pit in the silent
darkness, gazing into the night sky as the Milky Way shimmers
above them.
KATE
Wow!
WILL
Wow!
NICK
What? You’ve never seen a UFO?.
Will walks into the cabin and comes out with a lit candle.
NICK (CONT'D)
Only two can fit on my bike. I can
be back here with the car in a
couple of hours.
Will kisses Kate.
WILL
We’ll be o.k.
Kate returns the kiss.
KATE
Tomorrow is fine.
Nick walks into the cabin and picks up his backpack. He
removes a bottle of wine, hoagie, apple, and gob and sets
them on the table before exiting the cabin.
Will has a fire going in the pit.
NICK
Where’s your car?
WILL
The Target parking lot?
NICK
Target?
WILL
Yeah, the MIBs didn’t want to be
caught in the dark without a big
flashlight so they dropped it there
when they went shopping.
The friends laugh.
WILL (CONT'D)
They have the keys. Use the spare.
Magnet on the rear wheel.
NICK
Got it. I’ll see you in the
morning.
KATE
Not too early.
Nick gets on the bike, turns on the light.
NICK
I love you guys.
Nick turns on the engine and drives a few feet up the path.
He stops, looks back to see the silhouette of Will and Kate
next to the fire. Will is kneeling on one knee and holds
Kate’s hand.
As Nick turns onto the dirt road, a shooting star blazes
across the sky in front of him. He beeps his bike horn.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
A Joyful Revelation
INT. LAB - DAY
Professor Turner walks down a hallway and knocks on a door
with a sign above it which reads, “Assistant Director
Higgins.”
Nick sits at a desk cluttered with files and paper. Behind
him on a credenza is a basketball-shaped object covered with
an anti-static blanket from the lab.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Nick, You know that crypto account
you opened?
NICK
How do you know about that?
PROFESSOR TURNER
(laughs)
I think everyone knows about it.
NICK
Well, it’s empty.
PROFESSOR TURNER
The Admiral suggests that you check
your balance.
Nick hits some keys on his laptop.
NICK
Holy crap! I got a load of crypto
in my account. I mean a lot of
currency. I don’t understand.
Nick looks at his laptop again.
NICK (CONT'D)
The sender is E.T.
PROFESSOR TURNER
That’s the Admiral, Eric Thompson.
E.T. is his nickname.
NICK
Well, that’s appropriate but I
still don’t understand.
PROFESSOR TURNER
I assume the Admiral got you a
finder’s fee.
Will and Kate stand in the doorway.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Hello, friends! I understand that
congratulations are in order.
Kate raises her hand to display her engagement ring.
PROFESSOR TURNER (CONT'D)
Beautiful!
Professor Turner hugs Kate and shakes Will’s hand.
WILL
Thanks for the recommendation,
professor. I got the job!
PROFESSOR TURNER
Fantastic! The two of you have a
lot to celebrate.
NICK
The professor and I have a wedding
present for you. It just arrived.
Nick motions for Will to come look at his laptop.
WILL
What!?!
NICK
A gift from the Admiral. We’ll
split fifty-fifty.
Everyone hoots. Will’s eyes focus on the covered object
behind Nick’s desk.
WILL
Nick, what’s that?
Will, Kate, and the professor quiet as they focus on the
covered object. Nick turns around in his chair.
NICK
Oh, I’ve come up with a prototype
project for the doctoral students.
The professor looks over his glasses with a slight grimace on
his face.
Nick pulls off the blanket revealing a model with a plaque
reading “Death Star”.
They all laugh.
PROFESSOR TURNER
Go for it, Higgins. What’s the
worst that could happen?
THE END