EXT. SPACE
STARSEEKER is in orbit of a planet. As she passes by, we see
crewmembers in spacesuits working on a damaged portion of her
hull.
INT. A MAINTAINENCE CRAWLWAY
BRANSON crawls through the small opening and drops down in
the interior of the superstructure. HILLER is there watching
as engineers weld and repair. Branson acts in surprise.
BRANSON
Captain? Wasn't expecting to see
you there.
HILLER
You told me it was a mess, I
thought I would come and see for
myself once the compartment was
pressurized.
Branson puts her hands on her hips and looks up. Crewmembers
are welding one of the support struts.
BRANSON
Seventeen-B. I had a bad feeling
that this one would be the first to
fail. Buckled and then punctured
the hull on the last jump.
Fortunately, my crew is getting
really good at patching these
things.
HILLER
How long can the ship operate like
this?
BRANSON
(Scowls)
That's... A very difficult question
to answer, captain.
HILLER
Be frank with me.
BRANSON
I am. This isn't sugar-coating,
sir, Starseeker is in a very
delicate state now.
We can keep putting bandages on her
wounds, but if one of these damaged
struts were to snap and smash into
a critical system - say, the jump
core or even the engine core - then
we're dead. It might happen on the
next jump... it might not happen at
all.
HILLER
It's a game of chance, is that what
you're saying?
BRANSON
Russian roulette. We can at least
improve our chances by doing the
best we can to make sure those
struts don't break by putting as
little strain on the ship as
possible. Also, if there are any
large scale repair stations in the
area that we can barter with for
repair services...
HILLER
Not this time. Tempus says that
we're 2.2 million years in the past
and this section of the galaxy is
highly primitive technology-wise.
BRANSON
Then I guess I'd better get back to
work.
WARD
(over com)
Captain, can you come up to the
Command Deck please?
HILLER
(to com)
On my way.
(to Branson)
As usual, if you need more
people...
BRANSON
I'll shanghai whomever I need.
With force.
Hiller smiles, nods, and heads out.
EXT. PLANET ORBIT
Starseeker is drifting above the planet.
INT. COMMAND DECK
Hiller enters. Ward, Tempus, and Vera Cruz are at the
science station. Starsie is standing where the navigation
globe is supposed to be. Cole and Unnamed are at their
station. Cordaine is piloting.
WARD
Captain.
HILLER
What's so urgent, Commander?
WARD
Not a matter of urgency, but
opportunity. I thought you would
like to see this.
(To Vera Cruz)
Lieutenant?
VERA CRUZ
I was scanning for heavy metals -
anything that Commander Branson
could use to fix the support struts
when I came across this -- a large
clump of iron.
HILLER
How large?
On the viewer, we see a tactical readout of the sector. The
readout zooms in on a clump of rock in space - an asteroid.
HILLER
Wow, that's pretty large.
STARSIE
4000 kilometers in diameter and,
best of all, the iron ore contained
in it is 99.9 percent pure and
ready to use.
HILLER
Use?
WARD
To patch our ailing struts.
HILLER
(surprised)
With iron?
VERA CRUZ
It would increase our mass several
hundred tons which would affect
engine efficiency and speed, but
the likelihood of breaking another
support would be far less if we
used it for repairs.
HILLER
Is it safe?
VERA CRUZ
Oh yeah, they used to use the stuff
all the time in the construction of
spacecraft.
WARD
Desperate times call for desperate
measures, so they say.
HILLER
So they do. We're in no shape to
move, much less attach to something
with that much gravity and mass.
WARD
There are the shuttles... but we
had to rip the power cores out of
every one of them.
Hiller sighs. He just can't catch a break.
HILLER
Where is the asteroid now?
VERA CRUZ
That's the interesting thing. It's
headed right towards us. As a
matter of fact--
He presses some buttons and the tactical chart on the viewer
changes to predict the asteroid's course. The line
representing the course intersects with the planet that
Starseeker is in orbit of.
VERA CRUZ
--it should be an impressive show
when it gets here.
TEMPUS
Something that big and heavy
hitting a planet like this at that
speed? We're talking extinction
event which would explain why the
species we've noted on the surface
of Pollaxia now aren't there in the
future.
HILLER
We'd better get started then.
Cordaine suddenly stands.
CORDAINE
About those species on the planet,
sir...
HILLER
What about them?
CORDAINE
Starseeker's tractor beam might be
powerful enough to divert the
asteroid before it--
TEMPUS
(shocked)
Divert it? Even if this krelling
ship wasn't falling apart at the
seems, diverting that asteriod
would result in a major temperal
divergence in this part of space.
We'd be changing all of history!
This happened before. It must
happen again.
VERA CRUZ
(suddenly)
Of course, but if this is an
unexplored ecosystem, we should at
least check it out and catalogue
it. Might be some interesting
discoveries down there.
HILLER
A team of five. You're in charge.
VERA CRUZ
I need at least twenty.
HILLER
Five is all I can spare. Work four
times as hard.
Cordaine seems bothered, but doesn't say anything.
HILLER
All right, what are we going to do
for a mining team?
WARD
(smiles)
Don't worry about that, sir. I
think I've got the perfect people.
FADE TO:
EXT. THE PLANET'S SURFACE
Vera Cruz, Cole, Cordaine, and three scientists appear in a
teleporter effect. Brin squints against the sun that filters
through the canopy of the redwood forest. Vera Cruz scans.
VERA CRUZ
(points)
That way.
They start to trudge through the forest.
COLE
What do we know about the animals
down here?
VERA CRUZ
We've only gleaned details from
orbital observation, but they
appear to be non-sentient
quadrupeds.
COLE
That's it?
CORDAINE
Senornet was damaged when the strut
cracked the hull, but don't worry
there's nothing on this rock I'm
not prepared for.
Suddenly, a very large head and neck juts out of the leaves
and towers over them. From behind them, a very large animal
that looks like a cross between a cow and a turtle rumbled
through the trees. It is at least twenty-five feet tall.
More animals appear -- the landing party is surrounded by the
creatures. One of them roars.
CORDAINE
You were saying?
MUSIC STING!
------
STARSEEKER
EPISODE 2.05
"Cattle of the Gods"
Written by Jason Donner
-------
INT. THE PILOT BAY
WARD enters. MADDIE CAAN a.k.a. Dragonfly leaps up.
CAAN
Officer on deck!
CONNER (a.k.a. "Meat"), HAWKING (a.k.a. "Ruffles"), WILLIAMS
(a.k.a. "Dizzy") and SIMONS (a.k.a. "Wookie") stand at
attention. Ward puts her hands behind her back and seems
impressed.
WARD
At ease. Thank you Senior Airman.
CAAN
What can I do for you, Commander?
WARD
I know things have been slow for
you all since we had to yank the
power cells out of your fighters to
power the air supply generators
after that incident in the air
garden.
CAAN
We understand the decision, ma'am.
We don't like it, but we understand
it.
WARD
I'm sure you're bored. I have a
job for you.
CAAN
Job, commander?
WARD
You've seen the tactical readouts
on the asteriod we've been
tracking?
CAAN
I have.
WARD
We're sending a mining team to the
surface of it. Civilians mostly,
since everyone else on the ship is
involved in putting her back
together. I want to send you and
your team - with you in commmand.
Caan looks at Ward with a cocked eyebrow. She laughs.
CAAN
Respectfully, ma'am, we're fighter
pilots. I don't know the first
thing about mining and... frankly,
I know more than the rest of my
squad.
WARD
Are you saying that you're not up
to the challenge airman?
Caan bristles.
CAAN
We're up to any challenge.
WARD
Just as I suspected.
She hands Caan a padd. Caan looks at it.
WARD
User manuals and mining techniques.
You will be gathering the iron in
EVA suits and putting them in a
cargo shuttle for the trip back.
(before Caan can ask)
We put a power core back into it.
The almost non-existent gravity
will make the job much easier. Our
chief engineer says we need at
least two hundred tons of the
stuff. You have eleven hours.
Caan sighs.
CAAN
I appreciate the vote of
confidence, commander.
Ward's expression softens at Caan's moroseness.
WARD
I'm sure that you saw the new
technical specs on the new unmanned
fighters Lt. Vera Cruz designed on
the hypernet before we got lost.
CAAN
(bitter)
I've seen them.
WARD
Then I don't have to tell you that
the age of the fighter pilot is
coming to a very swift end, airman.
You need to diversify your talents
if you are to survive. This is a
chance for you to do just that.
You have the makings of a good
officer in you. All of your crew
does. I don't want to see them
jobless when we get back.
Caan's expression is hard.
CAAN
Will that be all, Commander?
Ward nods.
WARD
That will be all. Be in the hangar
bay in fifteen minutes.
Ward exits.
INT. THE MEDICAL BAY
VALENTINE is looking right into the camera and shining a
medical pen light into it. She grimaces.
VALENTINE
Well, you're an ugly bastard,
that's for sure.
INT. THE MEDICAL BAY
Another angle. BRIN is sitting on the observation table in a
medical gown. Valentine is examining him.
BRIN
You're just saying that to mask
your obvious attraction for me.
VALENTINE
Please. You're like a gangly
rodent. I want to date one of
those, I have a nurse.
RICKIE
(through door)
I can hear you!
BRIN
So, what's the outlook?
VALENTINE
You're through the worst of the
withdrawals. The muscle pain and
tremors appear to be ebbing. Best
of all, your entire nervous system
has been repaired by the lotuses.
The bad news is that you're feeling
the aftereffects of addiction.
She turns her pen light off.
VALENTINE
How are you feeling?
BRIN
I hurt, that's for sure, and...
it's weird, it's like a have a
craving and I know what the craving
is for, but the fact that I can't
get it is... I don't know, helping
me deal with it.
VALENTINE
(Nods)
Well, since I don't have to worry
about you getting your hands on
those doggamn flowers since we
destroyed all of our samples and
we're separated from them by
billions of years, I'm going to
discharge you.
BRIN
For reals?
VALENTINE
Like I said, you're an ugly bastard
and the less I have to look at you,
the better.
BRIN
You're just afraid you can't keep
your hands off of me. I saw the
way you were looking at me during
my physical.
VALENTINE
It's called squinting.
(hands him a printout)
I'm rescinding your alcohol
privileges for a month. If you have
a penchant for any recreational
chemicals, you should stay away
from them for at least 30 days as
well. You're coming off an
addiction and prone to developing
new ones.
Hiller enters.
BRIN
I'll give my brother all my crack
pipes and jex sprays.
VALENTINE
Then, that's it. Get out of here.
HILLER
Did I hear that right? You're cut
loose?
BRIN
Like a bad boyfriend.
VALENTINE
You wish.
HILLER
(to Brin)
Are you doing anything this
evening?
BRIN
I was planning on sitting in my
cabin, watching old episodes of I
Love Lucy, scratching myself, and
being generally bored.
HILLER
I have a better idea...
(to Valentine)
and it involves minimal physical
activity.
VALENTINE
Hrumph.
She walks off.
BRIN
What do you want me to do?
HILLER
You're going to search the jet we
stole and glean any historical data
we can. It's a gold mine of
artifacts and I'd like it recorded
and catalogued before a strut rips
through the hangar and sends it out
into open space. Our luck, that
will happen sooner than later.
BRIN
(Suddenly interested)
Always the optimist. When do we
start?
EXT. THE PLANET'S SURFACE
One of the large alien creatures growls, leans forward, and
licks Cordaine in the face. The tongue pretty much envelopes
Cordaine's entire head and slicks his hair back. The other
members of the landing party are laughing.
CORDAINE
They appear to be friendly.
He spits as drool runs down his face. Cole is petting one of
the creatures as Vera Cruz runs scans.
COLE
Reminds me of a big cow or
something.
There was this petting zoo outside
of Oakland that my mom used to take
me to. None of the animals were
real, of course, but it was the
closest thing to a cow a city boy
like me could get.
VERA CRUZ
My mom and dad had a few hundred
head of cattle outside of Mantua.
COLE
For what?
VERA CRUZ
What do you think?
COLE
For meat? Dude, that's gross.
VERA CRUZ
Lots of people pay top dollar for
genuine beef.
COLE
We've got synthetic protein now,
and it's better for you and it
tastes no different than the real
thing.
VERA CRUZ
That's what they've been saying
about Diet Coke for eight centuries
and we all know that's a lie.
COLE
It's cruel and it's sick. No way
would I eat a dead animal.
CORDAINE
I'm rather surprised you feel that
way, Mr. Cole.
COLE
What, I'm not allowed to have a
humanitarian side?
VERA CRUZ
No, you're not.
Cole pets one of the animals.
COLE
Well, I do.
(to the animal)
Don't I?
The animal purrs.
CORDAINE
Then I can count on your support.
Cole stops petting. The animal bellows and continues on its
way -- followed by the others. They walk into the forest.
COLE
Of course. Wait, on what?
CORDAINE
I'm going to petition the captain
to divert or destroy the asteroid.
VERA CRUZ
Hauvie! Still?
CORDAINE
I am unconvinced that the
destruction of these creatures with
either help or hinder the timeline.
I intend to convince Hiller
otherwise.
VERA CRUZ
Come on, the man won't even listen
to his first officer. What makes
you think he'll listen to you?
CORDAINE
I'll appeal to his humanity.
EXT. THE HANGAR DECK
Standing outside of the jet, Hiller shakes his head.
Cordaine and Cole are there along with Vera Cruz who leans
against the jet holding his head in his hands and looking
like he's suffering a massive headache. Tempus is also there
looking at the jet as well. Brin is in the jet rooting
around.
HILLER
Absolutely not.
CORDAINE
Captain...
HILLER
We're not here to interfere.
CORDAINE
On the last jump, we contaminated
the DNA of an indigenous species.
BRIN
(from inside the jet)
He's got a point.
HILLER
That was different.
CORDAINE
I don't understand how. Sure, it's
our future and not our past, but it
was his past.
COLE
Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed.
CORDAINE
(He indicates Tempus)
How was it different?
Hiller looks at Tempus.
BRIN
(from inside the jet)
Well?
TEMPUS
We interfered with the DNA on the
planet that was less than two
decades from becoming a frozen ball
of ice. The impact to the universe
is negligible. Here, We're over a
million years in the past and one
slip-up on our part could alter the
future in ways we can't possibly
imagine.
HILLER
(Agrees)
I've seen my homeworld a dead dusty
rock and... I don't want to see
that again.
CORDAINE
May I speak freely?
BRIN
(from inside the jet)
Go for it!
CORDAINE
What would happen if we dropped
a... oh, darn... what were those
animals you were talking about?
The ones that you raise for beef
and go moo?
COLE
Cat.
Cat. What would happen if we
dropped a cat off on Richaud in the
Alpha Centauri system in the past?
HILLER
(A quick annoyed look at
Cole)
I don't...
CORDAINE
What would have happened to the
cat? These creatures... They're
just dumb animals. Their passing
won't do the universe any great
favors. It will just be senseless.
Cordaine looks at Vera Cruz.
VERA CRUZ
(Sighs)
I'm not with them. I just want you
to know that.
(Hiller crosses his arms
impatiently)
By our time, Pollaxia has some
animal and plant life, but the
animals we noted on the surface --
the cowasaurus -- doesn't exist.
CORDAINE
Cowasaur...
(to Cole)
Cow! You ass!
HILLER
(Ignoring Cordaine)
I'm assuming the asteroid took care
of them.
VERA CRUZ
Most definitely. Here's the thing,
Captain, Pollaxia is under Space
Force jurisdiction and has been
since it was first mapped over a
hundred years ago. No one has ever
landed on it, nothing has ever left
the surface because it's so
isolated. We didn't even fight the
Catians over it. In short, this
planet doesn't matter. The animals
don't matter.
CORDAINE
(Pleading)
We can save them, Captain. We can
save them and the universe won't
even blink.
TEMPUS
Cordaine, I want you to know that
what you're suggesting is noble.
Stupid, but noble. All right,
let's say we rescue these
cowasaurauses down there and, over
the next few million years, they
evolve into intelligent creatures
and become the dominant species on
the planet. They develop space
travel, they develop weapons, and
they happen to see Catia floating a
couple of hundred light years away
and decide, "I want that." We
return to the 27th century, and you
and everyone else on this ship are
members of an enslaved or extinct
race.
BRIN
(from inside the jet)
That's conjecture.
Tempus slams the jet door.
TEMPUS
Is it a chance you want to take? I
haven't even mentioned the fact
that we will be diverting an
asteroid that could end up hitting
a planet that we KNOW is destined
to give rise to a major race. Why,
its gravity well alone could divert
comets, other asteriods...
it could be the butterfly wings
that cause a hurricane.
Hiller nods.
HILLER
I'll... think about it.
Cordaine points to the starseeker logo on his uniform.
CORDAINE
You know, this symbol means
something to me. It means so much
to me, as a matter of fact, and I
believe so much in in that I walked
away from my duties and my family
to be a part of it.
HILLER
(getting angry)
And what does it mean to you?
CORDAINE
"We're here to help." We don't
care who you are, we're here to
help you.
A beat.
COLE
(pretty heartfelt)
Captain, Tempus said it himself:
Time is taking us on a joyride to
fix things. Maybe this is what
we're supposed to fix.
TEMPUS
I don't think so.
COLE
Then why are we here, smartass?
Brin's annoyed face appears in one of the jet windows. He
knocks on the window, gives Tempus the finger, and disappears
back inside. Tempus shakes his head in frustration and goes
back to the conversation.
TEMPUS
Could be that time decided to give
us a break and throw some refined
iron our way to fix this krelling
ship!
HILLER
Krelling?
TEMPUS
Sorry. Future colloquialism.
VERA CRUZ
Future swearing sounds so fooping
stupid.
CORDAINE
We don't *know* why we're here.
HILLER
No, we don't and if there is
anything that will keep my hand at
bay, it will be that. I'm sorry,
Cordaine, but history is history.
These creatures had a good run, but
their time is over like the
dinosaurs, the mammoths, and
gerbils. We have to think of the
future.
(to everyone)
Dismissed.
Everyone starts filtering out. Cordaine is about to depart,
but stops at the door and turns around.
CORDAINE
I would save a child.
HILLER
What?
CORDAINE
I would save a child without
thought of what it might be in the
future: a killer, a rapist, or a
criminal. I would be more
concerned with making a difference
in the here and now than in the
consequences of my good deed just
as we should be more concerned with
protecting those animals rather
than worrying about some
hypothetical creature that doesn't
exist.
Cordaine leaves.
INT. THE HAGAR DECK
Vera Cruz and Cole are walking along.
VERA CRUZ
...it's these weird migration
patterns we can't figure out. I
have a feeling that if we...
They almost walk into Cann (in an EVA suit). She looks
unhappy.
VERA CRUZ
(to Cole)
Excuse me.
COLE
Yeah.
Cole walks off.
VERA CRUZ
Maddie, how are you?
COLE
Do I have permission to speak
freely?
VERA CRUZ
It's me. You always have
permission to--
Caan slaps him. Everyone around them gasps in surprise.
CAAN
Congratulations on your design for
the Mark VII Spitfire.
She walks past him, bumping his shoulder as she does. Vera
Cruz stands in shock.
INT. THE JET
Brin is sitting in one of the leather seats as Hiller enters.
Brin is scratching one side of his head making it look like
he's giving Hiller the finger. Hiller flops down in the
chair across from him.
HILLER
Remember when there were no gray
areas?
BRIN
Not really, no.
HILLER
What have you found?
Brin holds up some magazines.
BRIN
Copies of some periodicals. Look,
they're even printed on paper.
HILLER
Quaint.
BRIN
(looking at them)
Us News and World Report. Time.
Something called Forbes.
(looks at a Playboy)
Naughtiness.
HILLER
You were obviously listening. What
do you think?
Brin, who is looking at the centerfold, looks at him.
BRIN
I'm sorry, what?
HILLER
What do you think? About the
planet?
BRIN
Oh, that. It's a tough one: By
saving a world, we could be
screwing up the future but, then
again, to not do anything would be
completely against the very purpose
this ship was created for.
HILLER
This ship was created as a weapon
of mass destruction.
BRIN
All right then, the reason it was
remodeled, smartass.
(a beat)
I hear what Cordaine said. It was
a low blow.
HILLER
Caught that, huh? The kid knows
how to push my buttons, that's for
sure.
BRIN
You should have kicked his ass.
Hiller looks up, a little amused.
HILLER
Not something I expect to hear from
someone from the Diplomatic Corps.
BRIN
Diplomacy is one thing, bringing
that us is something else. You
want me to kick his ass for you?
I'll whoop the scat out of him.
HILLER
I don't know... maybe he's right.
BRIN
I highly doubt that time or
whatever brought us here to teach
you a personal lesson.
HILLER
But how do we know that?
BRIN
We don't. No more than we know
whether we should save these
animals or leave them to die.
Hiller leans back.
HILLER
Well, what do I do?
BRIN
Damned if I know. I've been
doggamn useless this entire trip,
but I do know that before you
definitively decide to let them
live or die, you should at least
see those animals yourself.
Hiller considers this.
INT. THE HAGAR DECK
Outside of a giant cargo shuttle, CAAN arrives. The other
members of her fighter squadron are there as well as KERIN,
EDNA, a few custodians, and some people we recognize as food
court attendants. Caan closes her eyes for a second and then
continues.
CAAN
Quiet on deck! I--
A few of them don't stop talking. Caan's face darkens.
CAAN
I SAID SHUT THE FOOP UP AND GET ON
THIS SHUTTLE! wE HAVE WORK TO DO!
The civilians slowly stop talking. They look at her
wondering who the hell she thinks she is. Caan pushes past
them and boards as does the rest of the grumbling crowd.
Kerin hangs back with Conner.
KERIN
Who the feck does she think she is?
CONNER
She thinks she's in charge. She
is.
He locks eyes with Kerin and then goes on board. Kerin rolls
his eyes and follows.
EXT. SPACE
The shuttle takes off from the hangar deck, flies past the
camera, and toward a point of bright light in the distance.
INT. A CANYON IN A DESERT
VERA CRUZ is standing on the lip of a canyon watching a mass
migration of the cowasaurus below. Dust is being kicked into
the air as the herd moves. Two other scientists are nearby
doing a catalogue of the plants and other species. HILLER
walks up behind Vera Cruz.
HILLER
Careful, Michael, it's a long way
down.
Vera Cruz turns and looks at him. He points to his own belt.
VERA CRUZ
Anti-grav belt. Some of the guys
were leaping off into the canyon a
while ago for fun. I know it's
against regs, but... come on.
HILLER
I've done it myself, I ain't saying
nothing.
(a beat)
What happened to your face?
VERA CRUZ
(touches cheek)
Oh this? Nothing. Slapped myself
shaving.
Hiller laughs. He looks into the canyon at the animals
passing below.
HILLER
They're moving at quite the clip,
aren't they?
VERA CRUZ
We've been seeing mass migrations
all over the planet. Could be
seasonal, who knows.
HILLER
They do.
VERA CRUZ
Excuse me?
HILLER
They know. They know something is
about to happen and they're trying
to run away from it. Flight or
Fight only this time, there's
nothing to fight, so they're in
flight.
Vera Cruz puts down his scanner and looks.
VERA CRUZ
You think so?
HILLER
(Shrugs)
Who knows?
They watch the animals for a moment.
HILLER
Cordaine... had some strong words,
didn't he?
VERA CRUZ
He can be eloquent when he wants to
be. And who would have thought
Cole was such a bleeding heart? I
would have thought that, if you
gave him a grill and a beer, he'd
be down here eating these things.
Cordaine... he just...
(a beat)
He loves life.
HILLER
I'll be perfectly honest, Michael.
I don't like Cordaine. I still...
don't like any of them.
Vera Cruz considers this.
VERA CRUZ
He's my friend.
(a beat)
It didn't come easily. If I had
the power, I would have shown him
and all the other Catians on board
the airlock door, but... living
with him: he's a good person.
HILLER
I'm not going to live with him.
VERA CRUZ
It's a good thing too. I would
hate to see what would happen to
him if he tried to have sex with
you.
Hiller looks at Vera Cruz.
VERA CRUZ
Long story.
HILLER
How long could it be. Cordaine
tried to have sex with you.
VERA CRUZ
Long enough but he's still my
friend and he's a good man however
misguided.
HILLER
Is he really?
VERA CRUZ
My friend?
HILLER
Misguided.
VERA CRUZ
Of course he is. We're not here to
play God. We'll risk too much.
Hiller considers this.
HILLER
I suppose we would.
Hiller claps him on the shoulder and leaves. Vera Cruz goes
back to his work.
EXT. THE ASTERIOD
The rock is cold and gray as it floats through space. The
planet can be seen in the background as the shuttle sets down
on it.
EXT. THE ASTERIOD
CAAN, her squad, and the civilians are standing on the
surface in EVA suits. Their voices are filtered as they
speak through their radios.
CAAN
We have just over ten hours to get
as much of this rock on board. The
captain's asking for two hundred
tons -- I want to give him three.
Edna is looking skeptical.
EDNA
There's only ten of us and I'm a
120 years old. How are we supposed
to load three hundred tons of
anything?
Can reaches over, grabs a rock the size of a basketball, and
tosses it to her. Edna catches it with no problem.
CAAN
There's a thousandth of the gravity
on this rock than there is on the
ship. We can load three hundred
tons in just a couple of hours.
The problem is volume, not mass.
The shuttle will have to ferry what
we load back and forth. Once
they're within teleporter range,
the materials will be transported
aboard and we start the process
over again. Everyone understood?
KERIN
Yeah, fine. Let's get on with it.
CAAN
This...
(holds up a rifle-shaped
devise)
...is a plasma cutter. You will
cut into the asteriod at 45 degree
angle and then use the mini-tractor
beam to--
KERIN
(impatient)
Lady, how about we assume that
everyone in the group has an IQ of
over 45 and let's just skip the
lecture, all right?
CAAN
Of course. How stupid of me.
Caan holds up her plasma cutter. It goes off and the beam
screams by Kerin who becomes enraged.
KERIN
YOU PSYCHO BITCH, YOU ALMOST...
(he gasps)
YOU... almost...
(he holds his hands up to
his throat)
Can't... Can't breathe...
Caan walks over to him and bends over and looks at him.
CAAN
Look what happened.
(she points)
Plasma beam just cut through your
suit and all of your air is leaking
out into space. Now you're
probably going to die. The safety
lecture would have included what to
do if your suit is punctured.
Everyone is shocked by what's going on. Conner and the other
fighter pilots don't look that shocked. Caan opens up a
compartment on her arm, takes out what looks like puddy, and
patches the hole on Kerin's suit with it. She grabs him by
his collar and holds him up.
CAAN
Now, if you're done acting like a
complete asshole, maybe I can
continue commanding this mission.
She stands as Kerin breathes as hard as he can. Caan looks
at the other civilians.
CAAN
Anyone else want to skip the
instructions?
The rest of the ground emphatically agrees that they don't.
CAAN
Good. Let's continue....
FADE TO:
MONTAGE
Maddie, Conner, Kerin, and Edna (and some extras) are mining
the asteriod.
The shuttle flies towards Starseeker.
HAWKING is in the pilots seat. Behind him, the load of ore
disappears in a teleporter effect.
Branson is in the cargo bay as the ore arrives. She nods and
smiles.
EXT. THE PLANET'S SURFACE
In the background, there is a large herd of cowasauruses
milling by. CORDAINE is watching them as the wind tousles
his hair. Vera Cruz walks up and stands next to him.
VERA CRUZ
Penny for your thoughts.
CORDAINE
(blinks)
What?
VERA CRUZ
A penny for your thoughts.
CORDAINE
What the hell is a penny?
VERA CRUZ
I don't really know.
CORDAINE
Have I mentioned that you humans
are very strange?
VERA CRUZ
Says the man who will drell
anything on two legs.
CORDAINE
That's not true. I once had sex
with a Larpian. They're
quadrupeds.
VERA CRUZ
Can I just bail out of this
conversation and pretend it never
happened?
(shakes his head)
What sort of readings did you get
on the other side of the continent?
CORDAINE
Every herd to the West is heading
East.
VERA CRUZ
Every herd to the east is heading
west. They're converging in a
gigantic superherd.
CORDAINE
Perhaps it is mating season?
VERA CRUZ
I've considered this, but none of
te females are showing any sign of
going into heat.
Cole appears in a teleporter beam.
CORDAINE
I have no answers.
COLE
How are things in the wild kingdom?
CORDAINE
You know, you guys might as well
start communicating through grunts
and hitting each other over the
head. I never have the slightest
idea what you're talking about.
VERA CRUZ
Cole.
COLE
(hands him a padd)
Gift from the gods above. Freckles
went and mapped the point of impact
and when I saw it, I thought you
would want to take a look.
Vera Cruz looks. He shows Cordaine.
VERA CRUZ
Is this accurate?
COLE
To the inch.
CORDAINE
(confused)
They're all heading towards the
point of impact.
VERA CRUZ
Every single cowasaurus on the
planet... they're going to where
this doggamn asteriod is going to
hit.
COLE
They do look a little depressed.
CORDAINE
Why would they be doing this?
VERA CRUZ
It's a gigantic piece of iron in
space with a whopping magnetic
field. These animals migrate a lot
like Earth species by magnetic
north. The asteriod's magnetic
field is attracting them to this
area.
CORDAINE
They're all going to die.
VERA CRUZ
They're already died, Hauvie, let's
not forget that and let's not get
into this philosophical debate
again. We've done all we can.
CORDAINE
We've done nothing.
VERA CRUZ
We are doing our duty. That's
something else that uniform means,
or have you forgotten that?
(a beat)
I don't like this either.
Vera Cruz packs his gear.
VERA CRUZ
Gather your things. We're out of
here in thirty minutes.
Vera Cruz leaves.
COLE
Listen, Coradine...
CORDAINE
Please don't...
COLE
I just wanted to say that I'm
sorry. This sucks and I know that
you... wanted to make a difference
here.
Cordiane nods.
CORDAINE
Thanks Cole. But sorrow does us
about as much good as it does them.
Cordaine indicates the herd and walks away.
FADE TO:
EXT. THE ASTERIOD
CAAN, EDNA, CONNER, KERIN, SIMONS, and WILLIAMS are sitting
around on the surface of the asteriod. Stars shine
brilliantly above them as the planet gets larger and larger.
CAAN
(Grumbles)
What's taking so long for Ruffles
to get that shuttle back? This is
unacceptable.
EDNA
What's with all of the complaining?
We loaded three hundred and fifteen
tons. I've never felt so viral.
CAAN
We were also ordered to be off this
rock two hours before impact. It
is now T-minus 1:59.
EDNA
Well, maybe it's just the
undisciplined civilian in me, but
why don't you chill the hell out?
CAAN
You don't understand.
EDNA
The hell I don't. I'm retired
Spaceforce infantry, honey.
CAAN
I-I had no idea.
EDNA
I don't advertise it, but I do know
that not everything goes by the
book. The captain will understand
if we're a few minutes late.
CAAN
Maybe, I'm still going to whoop up
on Ruffles when he gets back.
KERIN
Okay, you've got to explain these
call signs to me. I mean, I can
understand "Dragonfly" because, you
know, it's elegant and a little
vicious...
CAAN
You forgot beautiful.
KERIN
(Smiles)
Beautiful. What's the story with
the rest of them?
CONNER
When I came aboard as a recruit,
the Senior Airman at the time,
Preston Gage, he called me "New
Meat" and it just stuck.
WILLIAMS
Hawking -- he's Ruffles -- has a
seat cover in his Spitfire that
looks like a giant Ruffles chip.
Me, they call me Dizzy because I
can't keep my balance after using a
simulator. In a real ship, I'm
fine, but simulators make me want
to puke.
EDNA
What about "Wookie?"
SIMONS
Oh, that's nothing.
KERIN
No, no, Wookies are big, mean, and
strong. Right?
CONNER
You're forgetting hairy. First
time we see this guy in the shower,
we thought he was wearing a
sweater.
Everyone laughs.
EDNA
Just like my second husband, God
rest his hairy soul.
Everyone laughs. The radio crackles.
HAWKING
(distorted)
...enior...man ca...
Caan activates her radio.
CAAN
Ruffles, we can hear you. What's
your ETA?
HAWKING
(static)
I'm on the edge of comm...ange.
ETA five mi...
CAAN
Five minutes. Standing by.
(she looks at her watch,
to the others)
Five minutes. We may make the
deadline after all.
Kerin, already on his feet, offers her a hand up. She looks
at it suspiciously.
KERIN
Sorry I was such a scathead.
Caan takes it and Kerin helps her to her feet.
CAAN
I work with them all the time.
SIMONS
Excuse me?
CAAN
(to Kerin)
You were Rod Hardcock, weren't you?
You know, I've seen a couple of
your movies.
KERIN
(surprised)
You're shitting me.
CAAN
The guys in the pilot bays watch a
lot of smut. I don't know, I kind
of got into it.
We downloaded your stuff off the
hypernet the first day you were
sentenced to house arrest on board.
KERIN
(needles)
Well, what did you think?
CAAN
Not bad. You make weird faces, but
that thing you do with your tail is-
There is an explosion in the distance behind them. They both
look.
CAAN
What the hell...?
There is a secondary explosion that knocks all of them down.
The team slowly gets to their feet as debris rains down on
them. Williams picks up a piece of the debris -- there is a
Starseeker logo on it.
WILLIAMS
The shuttle!
The radio crackles.
HAWKING
(over com)
Senior airman! Can you hear me?
CAAN
Ruffles? Where the hell are you?
What happened?
HAWKING
(over com)
I don't know. The shuttle's main
engines wouldn't disengage.
Doggamn thing just smashed into the
asteriod.
CAAN
I know! We saw it. Where the hell
are you?
HAWKING
(over com)
I ejected before we hit. I'm...
uh... I kind of flying through
space right now.
CAAN
Doggammit.
(into com)
Ruffles, activate your emergency
transponder and stay where you are.
HAWKING
(over com)
Like I have a choice?
Caan shuts her communicator off. She walks over to a rock
ledge and sits. Kerin walks over to her.
KERIN
Hey, no problem, we'll just call up
Starseeker and--
CAAN
We're out of range. Starseeker
blew out her long-range antenna.
KERIN
All right, so we're getting closer--
CAAN
At the speed we're going, we'll be
in short-range for about two
minutes before impact.
KERIN
Fine, we're overdue. They'll...
CAAN
We're not officially overdue for
another hour and even then, we had
the only functioning shuttle. It
will take them over two hours to
prep and repair another shuttle to
come get us assuming that they even
notice that we haven't come back
since everyone and their mother is
working on the ship.
(to Kerin)
Face it, Rod... we're dead.
She gets up and leaves. Kerin watches her go.
EXT. SPACE
The asteriod zooms past the camera and towards the planet.
EXT. SPACE
Starseeker glides by.
INT. HILLER'S OFFICE
Hiller is looking over reports about the repairs to the ship.
Starsie is standing there reporting to him.
STARSIE
...and Commander Branson believes
that we will be mobile in
approximately four hours.
HILLER
Plenty of time for the jump, thank
you Starsie.
Cordaine barges in. Ward is following.
CORDAINE
Captain...
WARD
I'm sorry, sir, I tried to stop
him.
HILLER
Lieutenant, what--
Cordaine slaps his insignia down on the desk. There are
tears flowing out of his eyes.
CORDAINE
I can't do this anymore!
HILLER
You can't do what?
CORDAINE
I can't be a member of this crew if
all we do is stand to the side and
let the force of history rush by
us. Captain, those animals down
there...
HILLER
Oh my God...
CORDAINE
Those animals deserve to live!
Look in their EYES and tell me they
don't deserve to live.
HILLER
The people of Pompeii probably
deserved to live too. So did those
people at Pearl Harbor and since I
can tell you have no idea what I'm
talking about, those poeple on
Alpha Centaui deserved to live as
well.
CORDAINE
You're telling me that if you were
there now at Alpha Centauri or
Pearl Harbor or Pompeii that you
would do nothing? Answer me
honestly! If you were at Alpha
Centauri and you knew that we were
coming to bomb them, would you
allow history to take its course?
A beat.
HILLER
No, I wouldn't.
CORDAINE
Because they are human? Because
they have souls? I am here, sir,
to appeal to your HUMANITY!
Hiller looks up at Cordaine. The fire and intensity of his
glare shuts Cordaine up in an instant.
HILLER
You stand there all high and mighty
and dare lecture me on the value of
life? Because of you and everyone
like you, half a billion people
died.
Cordaine darkens.
CORDAINE
That was the decision of one woman.
HILLER
And you all followed her orders.
CORDAINE
I fail to see how this relates
to...
HILLER
Starsie, run the simulations we
just spoke about.
A screen on Hiller's wall becomes active. It shows an
overhead view of Starseeker.
STARSIE
Option One: Starseeker will use
her tractor beam to divert the
asteriod. Torque stresses exceed
15 metric tons resulting in the
destruction of six of the port
struts.
The CGI Starseeker bends to the port side and breaks in half.
The simulation resets itself.
STARSIE
Option Two: Starseeker attaches to
the asteriod to divert it. On the
trip over, the engine compartment
produces enough stress to break its
support struts and smash into the
rest of the ship detonating the
power core.
The CGI Starseeker's rear portion smashes into the the rest
of the ship which explodes.
STARSIE
Option Three: Starseeker fires all
weapons at asteriod. Negligable
effect. Option Four--
HILLER
That's enough. Thank you, Starcie.
(to Cordaine)
Do I have to spell this out for
you? Saving them destroys the
ship.
(Hiller sits)
It's us or them, Lieutenant. Us or
them... I choose us.
CORDAINE
I... I didn't know.
HILLER
No you doggamn well didn't. You
armchair officers sit out there
questioning every fooping decision
I make without knowing full well
how I come to them. I may not make
the best decisions, but I try and
make the right ones so who the HELL
do you think you are.
Cordaine is ashamed.
CORDAINE
I...
Hiller walks around the desk and looms over Cordaine.
HILLER
Ever since you've come on board all
you have done is talk about how
enlightened your race is and how
backwards humans are. I'm sick of
it. If we are so backwards, why
were you the ones to resort to war
instead of talking? Backwards my
ass.
Cordaine composes himself.
CORDAINE
W-What would you like me to--
Hiller throws Cordaine's insignia at him.
HILLER
Put that fecking thing on, do your
doggamn job, and stop your
whineing! Life isn't fair and
there's nothing more unfair than
this job. Now get out!
Cordaine picks up his insignia and walks out. Ward looks at
Hiller and produces a thin smile.
WARD
I thought chewing the crew to a
pulp was my job.
HILLER
I let him get to me.
(angry)
Son of a bitch!
WARD
He just didn't understand.
HILLER
Then he needs his ass kicked for
taking a stand out of ignorance.
(a beat)
This is the kind of bullscat I
can't afford right now, Ward. I
need these people united, not
coming apart at the seams. We
don't have Space Force to back us
up here, it's just us!
WARD
The only thing that's keeping
insubordination down is the fact
that many of us are having visions
of the future where we are at home.
Keep the crew focused on that.
HILLER
Things are bad, but we're getting
home?
WARD
It's a certainty.
HILLER
If it's a certainty, why not divert
that damn asteriod anyway? Take
our chances.
STARSIE
Why not shoot yourself in the head?
WARD
That's not funny.
STARSIE
I haven't been programmed with a
sense of humor. I was merely
speculating: If you were to shoot
yourself in the head now, all
visions of you in the future would
be negated.
WARD
The future is not written in stone.
HILLER
So, we're still screwed.
WARD
I think you've been screwed since
you took this assignment.
HILLER
Seemed like a good idea at the
time.
UNNAMED
(over com)
Captain.
HILLER
Go ahead, Tactical.
INT. COMMAND DECK
Unnamed is at his console.
UNNAMED
Captain, the mining crew is
officially overdue.
HILLER
(on com)
By how long?
UNNAMED
An hour thirty.
Hiller and Ward explode out of the office. Starsie
materializes on the navigation globe platform.
HILLER
(surprised)
An hour thirty!? That asteriod is
supposed to hit the surface in a
half hour! Why am I just now
hearing about this now?
UNNAMED
Apologies, captain, but without
long range communication and all
officers on deck helping with the
repairs, this side-mission got lost
in the shuffle.
Hiller sits in the command chair.
HILLER
(disgusted)
We don't just loose ten people in a
shuffle, doggamnit!
(into com)
Branson! I need a shuttle and I
need it now.
BRANSON
(over com)
Yes sir, I've heard but we can't
rip a power core out of the
environmental systems or our
atmosphere will go bad in a manner
of minutes. Even if we did, we
can't cold start a shuttle; it'll
take at least two hours.
HILLER
Right, whatever -- Get the ship
ready to move.
BRANSON
(over com)
Captain, we can't! We've
completely removed the damaged
strut and it'll take more than an
hour to put it back in! We're
immobile like a leg with no bones!
HILLER
If we engage the thrusters...
STARSIE
Then the engines crash through the
rest of the ship. You saw the
simulation.
HILLER
(introspective)
It's us or them.
Cordaine turns and looks at him, but it's a sympathetic look.
The irony of the situation isn't lost on him.
EXT. THE ASTERIOD
Caan is sitting by herself looking up into the sky. The
planet is getting closer and closer. Kerin sits down next to
her. She notices him.
CAAN
Believe it or not, this actually
solves my problem.
KERIN
The problem of not being blown up?
CAAN
What to do with the rest of my
life.
KERIN
Oh, well... I'm happy for you. I
had laundry I had to do, so I guess
my problem is solved too.
CAAN
I'm really trying to have a special
moment here.
KERIN
Sorry. Go right ahead. You...
didn't know what you were going to
do with the rest of your life. I
assumed it would be flying around
and not getting shot.
CAAN
Not any more. The new fighters are
unmanned. Computerized. We're not
needed anymore.
A beat.
KERIN
Good.
CAAN
Good?
KERIN
Yeah, I mean... how dogamn selfish
are you?
CAAN
I can see this is a waste of my
time.
She gets up, Kerin pulls her back down.
KERIN
How many pilots have died in your
squads?
CAAN
I...
KERIN
How many?
CAAN
Since I got to Starseeker? Five.
KERIN
What would you do to get those five
pilots back?
CAAN
(a beat)
Anything.
KERIN
So, you're moping around because
something's coming along that will
keep any more of your pilots from
dying. They can grow old, they can
have kids, and get fat. What are
you complaining about?
CAAN
I don't know what else to do with
myself. Being a fighter is all I
know.
KERIN
(looks around)
Looks like you are pretty good at
mining.
CAAN
Yeah, but...
KERIN
Yeah but what? Listen, I've been a
smuggler, I've been a cook, I've
been a bellhop, I've been a
masseuse, and I've been an actor.
CAAN
An actor? Is that what they're
calling it?
KERIN
My point is, I could reinvent
myself a dozen times over and I'm
not a smart man. You can do the
same thing.
CAAN
I *could*.
KERIN
You can... and I can hope.
CAAN
But you're not a smart man.
KERIN
(smiles)
I am a hopeful one, though.
The asteriod shakes. They both look up. The planet is
looming over them. They both stand.
CAAN
Well, look on the bright side --
this will be one hell of a show.
Kerin puts his hand on her shoulder as the asteriod shakes
again. There is the sound of wind rushing as the asteriod
enters the atmosphere.
KERIN
Can I... do anything?
CAAN
Just... hold me, would you?
Kerin holds her. She hugs him back.
EXT. SPACE
The asteriod screams over the planet's surface.
INT. COMMAND DECK
Hiller stands.
HILLER
Get a teleporter lock!
COLE
The atmosphere is ionizing around
the rock. I can't get a lock!
Brin runs in from the lift. He looks at the viewer as the
asteriod begins to burn.
BRIN
(whispers)
Kerin.
The camera moves to find Vera Cruz. He looks away, not
wanting to watch.
WARD
Captain... Look!
Everyone looks. The asteriod is slowing until it stops.
HILLER
Did the... Did it just...?
WARD
(nods)
It did!
HILLER
What the hell is causing that!?
The asteriod begins to slowly reverse.
HILLER
Cordaine, did you...?
CORDAINE
I... I did nothing! I don't know
what's going...
COLE
Captain, check this out. Switching
to aerial view.
The navigation globe disappears and is replaced with a
projection of millions of Cowasauruses on a plain. All of
them are gathered facing a single spot. All of their have
their eyes closed, their heads are emitting a faint white
light.
WARD
It's those things? Tactical, are
you....?
UNNAMED
I read nothing, but... I don't
understand. They are pushing it
away with their minds.
EXT. THE ASTERIOD
Kerin and Caan stand as the planet shrinks away from them.
They look at each other. Kerin smiles.
KERIN
Whoa...
CAAN
Is that the hope you were talking
about?
KERIN
Maybe. Now I hope I didn't just
shit my pants.
Caan laughs.
FADE TO:
EXT. PLANET ORBIT
Starseeker is flying alongside the asteriod which is now
parked in a stable orbit.
EXT. A PLAIN
Hiller is petting one of the animals on its nose as UNNAMED
walks up behind him with Vera Cruz and Cordaine.
UNNAMED
I don't understand, Captain, I am
detecting no heightened telepathic
signals from any of them.
VERA CRUZ
Maybe they're just telekinetic?
HILLER
Or maybe you're not detecting them
the way a paramecium wouldn't
detect an elephant. No offense.
UNNAMED
Since I don't know what a
paramecium or an elephant is: none
taken.
VERA CRUZ
You mean you think that these are
higher lifeforms than we are? Why
no technology?
HILLER
It's just a theory. Maybe we're
just not meant to understand.
(a beat)
In any case... life goes on.
CORDAINE
But... what happens to them. I
mean, they're not a part of the
ecosystem in the 27th century.
Where did they go?
UNNAMED
An excellent question.
HILLER
Who knows? The most important
thing is that they'll be here
tomorrow.
(to Cordaine)
We may be here to help, but in this
case our help wasn't needed.
CORDAINE
So why did time send us here?
HILLER
Maybe to remind us that sometimes,
things are bigger than we are.
(a beat)
Maybe just so we could get our
hands on some iron.
WARD
(over com)
Captain, Branson reports that all
repairs are complete and that we've
managed to load another four
hundred tons of iron from the
asteriod.
HILLER
Certainly was a lot easier once it
was in orbit with us. How is the
mining crew?
WARD
(over com)
All safe and accounted for. We
pulled in the one that jettisoned
about 20 minutes ago.
HILLER
How long until we jump?
WARD
(over com)
About three hours.
HILLER
We'll be up soon. Thank you,
commander.
(to the other crew)
Why don't you boys go say goodbye
to our hosts?
CORDAINE
They won't understand us.
HILLER
Somehow I think they will.
EXT. THE PILOT BAY
CAAN is standing in the middle of the bay. It is dark and
she is alone. Kerin walks in.
KERIN
Oh, hey... I'm not interrupting, am
I?
CAAN
Just... considering.
KERIN
Well, consider this: we're holding
a pre-jump oh my god we're still
alive party in the officer's club.
Everyone's there but you. Come on.
CAAN
Thanks by the way.
KERIN
For what?
CAAN
Listening. Replying. Listening to
be whine about the future.
KERIN
You're going to be a hell of an
officer. You just wait.
CAAN
Thanks for being there.
KERIN
Taking up space is what I do.
CAAN
You're good at other things. I've
seen your movies, remember?
She walks past him and smiles.
CAAN
Play your cards right, I may help
you film a sequel.
She exits. Kerin thinks about what she said and then turns
and walks out after her.
EXT. SPACE
Starseeker and the asteriod fly by together.
END