Ecospheres
by James R. Jaeger II
Registered WGAw
© 1996, 1997 by Matrixx Entertainment
(800) 576-2001
Fourth Draft: 28 December 1996
NOTE
Although a "normal" screenplay is between 90 and 120
pages, the writer and producers feel that a three-hour length
may be justified because of the scope of the story.
This script is confidential and not for publication or
reproduction by any means. Further, no one is authorized to
dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify Matrixx
Entertainment Corporation.
GENRE
Sci-Fi Action Adventure
PREMISE
Two brothers inherit a gemstone from their astronaut-father which has the ability to transmute lead into gold.
Their discovery upsets the powers-that-be in the nick of time.
FADE IN:
EXT. LOCAL SATURN SPACE - DAY & NIGHT
CAMERA pans from a star field to a surveyor's sextant on a huge
survey ship. Below, a small expeditionary shuttle is headed up
from Titan, the 6th "moon" of the beautiful planet Saturn.
INT. SURVEY SHIP - BRIDGE
COMMANDER JOHN B. GODARD IV, head of the exploration division of
the planetary science agency, known as E1S2, is a prominent
theoretical scientist and frequent visitor to the Solar System's
planets and satellites. Godard is taking final degree readings
on a nefarious looking object to triangulate-in on its exact
direction and distance from Earth.
INCERT - SPHERICAL OBJECT
On a telescope screen, we see a deep, reddish-purple object which
looks like red-hot ball of glowing iron. In fact, it's a burned
out neutron star, reduced, at the end of its carbon cycle, to a
glowing sphere of iron - 1,500 miles in diameter.
BRIDGE
The large cabin is busy with SPACE TECHNICIANS everywhere.
GODARD
That last light-minute we went
out was worth it because we now
can plot the cosecant of this
thing's exact orbit. Who would
have dreamt we were actually a
binary star system!
COMM TECHIE
Well, now I guess we're going to
have to tell everyone what's been
going on out here for millennia.
GODARD (touch of despair)
Yep. And decades.
(beat)
Please set up a commline with
Delacroix at E1S2.
COMM TECHIE
Yes Sir, Commander Godard.
INT. E1S2, INTERMEZZO STATION - DAYBREAK
E1S2, short for Earth Science Systems, is the massive control
center for all science and security systems of the Federated
Nations - the world governing body.
Judging from the looks of things, this is Earth, circa 2175 anno
Domini. 150,000 UNIFORMED MEN AND WOMEN whirl about their
assignments in a 309 story glass-structure headquartered in low
earth orbit, and known as InterMezzo Station.
E1S2's major divisions are Exploration, Vehicle Manufacturing,
Solar System Geology, Astronomy, FACtual DATa Research and
Security - all under the control of VICE MARSHALL DELACROIX.
INT. INTERMEZZO STATION, DELACROIX'S OUTER OFFICE
A MESSENGER sprints down a corridor towards an area saying "Comm
Validation." He holds a computer notebook, as he hurries past
CAMERA and SEVERAL SECURITY GUARDS and through a set of double
doors, which SLAM shut revealing another sign saying "Office of
Vice Marshall Delacroix."
EXT. E1S2 GROUND BASE - MORNING
Camera tilts down from E1S2 Headquarters at InterMezzo to a shot
of Earth and zooms into E1S2, Ground Base, a sprawling, five-
story, blue building with bullet-like rockets rising and
descending from it like the elevators at the Los Angeles
Boneventure Hotel. We can see partially into a large hangar-type
place where engineering and construction are taking place on a
massive, nanotech scale.
INT. E1S2 GROUND BASE, LECTURE ROOM - MORNING
GIL GODARD, Senior Astronomer of the Department of Solar System
Geography, is giving one of his popular lectures to the employees
of E1S2 - known as the "SPACE TECHIES." One of the most
respected and popular people in the academic and scientific
communities, Gil is totally into his work. In his early
thirties, he is an ex-activist, but still one at heart.
GIL
. . . Further we know it is
inevitable that someday the Earth
will once again be decimated by
a meteor or comet. Therefor, the
sooner we finish exploring and
surveying the Solar System, the
sooner we'll know which
terrestrial bodies may have
viable ecospheres for more
colonies.
(beat)
We should be proud that those who
came before us were wise enough
to persist in listening for radio
signals from extraterrestrial
civilizations in our Galaxy.
Though we have only recently
deciphered communication from our
first civilization in the Epsilon
Beladanti system, the knowledge
we are not alone, has changed
humanity, unified us as a Solar
Culture, made us more humble, and
as a result, we've been able to
leap centuries ahead in
colonization of our own Solar
System. Someday, though unlikely,
we may even get to meet our
Galactic neighbors. . . again.
While lecturing, a MESSENGER enters and delivers a note to Gil
who reads it, not missing a beat.
GIL
(continuing)
As you know, when it was
discovered that the velocity of
light is only the minimum
velocity energy can emulate
before rotting into matter - not
some speed limit as it used to be
thought - science frontiers broke
open. That'll be all for today.
Next time we'll be discussing the
sociopolitical impact
sophisticated knowledge has on
the layperson.
As Gil begins leaving, all the Space Techies APPLAUD him. He
smiles warmly in sincere appreciation and. . .
INT. E1S2, CORRIDOR
enters the corridor where two well dressed WEALTHY WOMEN stand
gabbing - apparently unaware of Gil or the applause. Gil,
noticing they both are wearing big fur coats, says to the closer
one:
GIL
My goodness, what a beautiful
fur! Does it feel good?
LADY
Why, yes it does.
GIL (flatly)
Well I bet it didn't to the mink!
The two ladies look at each other shocked. After Gil walks off,
perfectly satisfied he imparted a piece of truth:
LADY (abhorred)
It's not a mink, it's a
chinchilla!
INT. E1S2, VEHICLE MANUFACTURING - MORNING
Gil walks briskly down a series of corridors (with TWO E1S2 AIDES
who have joined him) out the Observatory, past an array of radio
telescopes and past a large sign that reads "Vehicle
Manufacturing." Through giant windows, we can see HUNDREDS of
Space Techies, many who wave to Gil as he passes. Space Vehicle
Manufacturing looks like a futuristic automobile factory.
Gil's party passes a sign which reads: "Restricted Area."
Security is now all over as THREE TOUGH SECURITY GUARDS stop Gil
and party to check ID and join them on their way.
They suddenly walk past another set of windows where we see a
large esoteric contraption, some 4 stories high.
INT. E1S2 GROUND BASE, KRIFF'S OFFICE - MORNING
Gil is still looking at the contraption as he enters the office
of CMD. GEOFF KRIFF, head of the Vehicle Manufacturing, a nice
guy and an old friend of Gil's Father, Cmd. John Godard.
KRIFF (anticipating the question)
It's the Graviton Generator
prototype. We're behind schedule
for start of replication because
some of the sealant programs are
generating muck.
GIL
Why you build those things down
here is beyond me.
KRIFF
So we can keep a quality control.
GIL (suppressing a smile)
(beat)
So, what's happening? It's not
my day to supervise, is it, boss?
KRIFF (warmly)
No, Gil. Come on in. Apparently
there's an emergency briefing at
InterMezzo. I think Delacroix
called it.
GIL (surprised)
You're kidding! What do you
think's up?
KRIFF
Don't know, but we have 15
minutes.
TRACKING CAMERA:
As the two head out, MANY OTHERS are walking in the same
direction, including people similar to the two ladies with fur
coats. Gil takes a look around, slightly wincing.
GIL
I'd like to get my hands on who
ever made Delacroix a Vice
Marshall and Heisenberg Chairman
of the FN?
KRIFF
350 million people did, the
entire population of the Sys -
all asleep at the switch for a
century.
GIL
(firing a dirty look)
Don't include me in that class,
Geoff, and don't include the
Space Techies either. I love
those Guys and Gals. You know
they're the only ones who keep
creating improved electronic
products yet the price keeps
going down?
KRIFF
You mean unlike vehicle
manufacturing!
GIL
Of course!
EXT. E1S2, SPACE ELEVATOR - MORNING
Gil, Geoff and the OTHER E1S2 ADMINISTRATORS walk past an array
of radio telescope dishes in the background where one huge dish
is pointed at the ground.
They walk onto the Space Elevator, a bullet shaped thing with
seating on several levels, which begins its 3 minute rise from
E1S2's Ground Base to the Executive Offices at InterMezzo
Station, 185 miles directly above in geosynchronous orbit.
INT. SPACE ELEVATOR, IN FLIGHT - MORNING
Gil and Kriff are relaxed in their seats as they make their way
up the "shaft" to InterMezzo. The two have an intellectually
competitive relationship and, even though Geoff is a little less
polished and older than Gil, they have great mutual admiration
and bring out the best and the worst in each other.
On their way up, they pass SKY EYE - a ridiculously gutsy looking
satellite-camera with a zoom lens.
GIL (re SKY EYE)
Did you know, a SKY EYE satellite-
camera like that has a zoom ratio
of 800,000 to 1? Boy, would I
love to play with her!
KRIFF
Yeah, keep dreaming.
(beat)
Why can't this administrative
basket-case have an office near
us normal minions?
GIL (in jest)
You know Geoff, that's one of the
many things I like about you, we
both feel the same way about our
bosses.
KRIFF
As hard as I try, it is almost
impossible to confront the fact
that you're from the same gene-
pool as the man who derived the
Equation.
GIL
Well, you can't pick your father.
(changing the subject)
So, how often do you get out to
Lagrangian 4?
KRIFF (yawning)
Often enough. I'm not really
into being a Space Colonist -
except days like this.
Since Kriff seems disinterested, Gil changes the subject.
GIL
Is it true about the nuclear
missiles?
KRIFF (perking up)
Yep, stored on the dark side of
the Moon - all of them, and I
hope they someday blow those
nerds out of office at Capital
City - especially Heisenberg.
GIL
Well just remember who he is:
Chairman for one percent of the
population, the filthy rich who
control the banking system, the
sciences and the military. The
1-Percenters.
KRIFF
And don't forget to include News
Control.
GIL
Yeah, I never thought I'd see the
day when the wealthiest people
are the ones with the ability to
accumulate the most debt - other
peoples'.
KRIFF
Well why do you think Ibuka is
called Comptroller of the Credit
now?
GIL
There's no real wealth any
more - just people exchanging
debt, as if debt were a monetary
unit.
KRIFF
Well things aren't so bad.
Remember 400 years ago when the
population was 4 Billion people?
GIL
No. Do you?
KRIFF (interjecting)
Wise ass, I don't know who's
worse, you or your little
brother.
(beat)
KRIFF (interjecting)
(continuing)
4 Billion. Can you imagine that?
Before the Birth Laws were put
into effect on Earth.
GIL
But, just think, they encourage
(coughs)
reproduction at the Lagrangian Colony.
KRIFF
Alright, alright, let's be
silent, I'm getting a headache.
. . every time I have to go
before Delacroix, I get one.
EXT. E1S2, INTERMEZZO STATION
As they arrive at InterMezzo's jurisdiction, 185 miles above
Earth, CAMERA pulls back from a huge Space Hangar where an
ORBITER, one of the fleet which shuttles passengers to and from
Capital City on the Moon, is parked. The "E1S2" logo and the
number "42" are emblazoned in blue and red on the white broad
side of the Vehicle. Through glass domes, like the top deck of a
giant cruise ship, we see thousands of stunningly WEALTHY PEOPLE
socializing and tanning themselves by swimming pools in the
starry, sunlit sky.
An inspection ship pulls up to the Space Elevator and makes a
laser scan of a barcode on the hull.
INT. SPACE ELEVATOR, IN FLIGHT - MORNING
The two having been looking out the window as docking proceeds.
Gil looks over at Kriff.
GIL (in jest)
Okay. We over develop the third
planet from the sun and now you
old boys start screwing up the
rest of the Sys with all your
hardware, like that Orbiter down
there - definitely painted the
wrong color.
KRIFF (annoyed)
Stop ragging. Just be glad you
got to grow up in a nice little
3rd planet neighborhood with
liquid water.
GIL
Hey, give me Mars - cold and
sunny, up and coming, one little
romantic moon, lots of good-
lookin' women. Guess that's why
Dad is always out there exploring
parts unknown.
KRIFF
I believe her name was Alexis.
And I might add, we both became
very familiar with all her parts
at that previously proper time.
GIL (laughing)
Dad could always out-navigate you
in natural phenomenon. That's
why he got to marry her and
that's why THE Equation is named
after him. But, even though I
hate to acknowledge it, without
your engineering genius, nothing
could have happened.
KRIFF
Ah screw the quantum gravity
field. All it's brought us is
space travel and headaches. If
we have to explore one more of
those crappy little satellites,
I'm gonna puke. Why'd they make
so many of the damn things!?
GIL
Hey in the Outer Solar System,
there's only 16 little moons
around Jupiter, 9 around Saturn,
5 around Uranus, 7 around Neptune
and 1 around Pluto - 38 worlds in
all.
KRIFF
And thank God, we only have 11
more to explore and survey.
GIL
I hear Saturn's 6th moon, Titan,
is in an ecosphere that's warmed
by the planet's electromagnetic
fields. Is that possible?
KRIFF
Well ask your Dad, he's been
there three times. They don't
tell us anything - unless it's
three decades old or can be used
to appropriate more funds.
GIL
I bet if you seeded our DNA on
any planet in the Universe in a
star's warm ecosphere, a
civilization would grow within a
billion years. And I bet that
civilization would follow almost
the exact patterns as us: right
down to the way we walk on two
legs, use fire, perceive light,
build our cities and treat our
women.
KRIFF
Well, isn't that obvious?
There's only one way to peel a
potato!
GIL
And that is?
KRIFF
I can see you need another
million years.
Gil laughs and then after a moment, almost as an after thought.
GIL
By the way, is one of the radio
telescopes broken? I'd say the
northern dish is slightly off-
azimuth.
KRIFF
Don't ask me, Gil, I just build
the shit. Delacroix and your
father operate it.
INT. E1S2, INTERMEZZO STATION - DAY
This place is a busy spaceport. Thousands of well-dressed people
flow down corridors on and off Orbiters, which are regularly
coming, going and docked along huge windows. Gil and Kriff make
their way down a corridor to a set of elevators where they enter
a passcode for a floor labeled "Executive Briefing Level."
INT. E1S2, GENERAL BRIEFING AUDITORIUM - DAY
Arriving at the penthouse level, Gil, Geoff and their Security
Aides move into a domed auditorium. Up front, on a huge video
screen, we SEE a picture of the Star Ship. A title says: "This
is what your tax money pays for." A PR AIDE takes the podium.
PR AIDE
Please be seated
(several beats)
Thank you for coming to this
Special Briefing. Since you
represent the backbone of the
scientific community, it is
fitting that you hear this most
vital briefing, first. We are
pleased to have, Vice Marshall
Delacroix with us to personally
deliver the report so there will
be no question as to its validity.
A hushed whisper comes over the auditorium as the name
"Delacroix" sinks in. After a moment:
PR AIDE
(continuing)
And now, Vice Marshall Delacroix.
As Delacroix walks out, a portion of the congregation rises and
claps in sharp contrast to the Space Techies who do not rise and
only half-heatedly clap.
CUT AWAY to computer-generated images on large screens of what he
is talking about throughout.
DELACROIX
Officers, Administrators,
Scientists, Explorers, Space
Technicians and the honorable
FACDAT . . .
(referring to the video
display of the Star Ship)
. . . isn't she beautiful, a
ship that will make a 5-year
voyage to our closest main
sequence, stellar neighbor,
Epsilon Beladanti, only 10.8
light years away - thanks to the
new Graviton Engine you all are
building.
(all applaud)
But the reason we are assembled
here is to share some new
revelations about the nature of
our beloved Solar System. As you
know, some have suspected for
many years that our sun has a
small orbiting companion. Today,
I stand before you to confirm
this hypothesis - we indeed are
a binary star system. . .
(all applaud more loudly)
. . . and you can thank Commander
Godard for this information. As
you all know, Godard is on his
third trip to the outer Solar
Sys. He and his survey team have
bee able to provide the vital
data we needed to triangulate in
on the exact orbit and size of
our stellar companion -
Doctractin MoJo. We now have that
data, thanks to Commander Godard.
The Star Ship is replaced by a computer animation depicting what
Delacroix is talking about.
DELACROIX
(continuing)
Doctractin MoJo formed at about
the same time as the Solar
System, 3.5 billion years ago.
However its mass was over 4 times
that of our Sun, hence it burned
so intensely that it consumed all
its hydrogen and helium, passed
through its giant stage, and
settled down to a black dwarf
star - we think. A black dwarf
is a type of star, which is very
dense and very small - only a
fraction the size of Earth -
1,500 miles in diameter. This may
have been the reason it was so
hard to detect. Plus, due to the
eccentricity of its orbit, we
didn't see it the last time it
came around - because we weren't
even a space-faring civilization
yet. But don't worry, there is
absolutely no chance it will hit
the Solar System. Our planet and
our colonies are totally safe.
Any rumors to the contrary should
be reported directly to my News
Control Aide here.
Points to the PR aide who started the Briefing. A cloud of
relief takes the entire assembly as an applause breaks out.
DELACROIX
(continuing)
However, as you all are aware,
every stride forward sometimes
has its cost, and with this
cheery news, I must bring you
some bad news too. The bad news
is, Commander John B. Godard IV
flew his last flight to give us
this remarkable data. We lost
him and his entire crew in the
Outer Solar System, just off
Titan. We consider this his 3rd
successful expedition to
Saturnine space, be that any
consolation.
Agony and disbelief envelop the entire assembly.
CLOSE UP ON GIL
Gil is devastated to hear this bitter-sweet news along with
everyone else. Geoff Kriff is visibly upset by the cruelty. All
the Space Techies in the room are shocked beyond belief. Nothing
like this has happened in 175 years at E1S2. Space flight has
become routine and safe thanks to nanoengineering. Gil walks out.
Geoff follows close by.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GODARD ESTATE - TWILIGHT
Some time has passed, it's late summer, the leaves are just
turning. CAMERA pans with a MOVING VAN through a rich
neighborhood to settle on a large entrance where a sign displays
the family crest of the Godard family. The gates have just
opened to let a MODEST VEHICLE in as SEVERAL CAMERAMEN spring to
action from a VAN sporting the words "News Control."
In this year, the Godard family were most certainly well provided
for. We continue to PAN the vehicle down a long curved driveway
across the grounds of a beautiful 18-bedroom mansion, home of the
Godards', where they have lived going on four generations. The
Godard's are 1-Percenters as well but they deserve to be because
of their self-less service to Humanity.
The vehicle pulls up to the front porch as a VALET opens the door
for Geoff Kriff.
INT. GODARD MANSION - TWILIGHT
A BUTLER escorts Kriff down a hall towards a gorgeous living
room.
SERVANTS are all over, a lot of nice possessions, all very rich,
all expensive, all purchased after years of search and travel -
family heirlooms from generations. Irreplaceable stuff. Stuff
only the super rich feel comfortable around.
INT. GODARD MANSION, LIVING ROOM - TWILIGHT
Geoff walks over and brotherly-hugs ALEXIS GODARD, the late John
Godard's wife. She is an intelligent, fine looking woman of 58,
well dressed in black with an expensive alexandrite necklace
topping off the package. This visit is simply a mission of
respect and to reacquaint himself with Alexis and Gary, Gil's
younger brother.
ALEXIS (looking up)
Oh, Geoff. It's so good to see
you. Gary and I were just
talking about the media pressure,
the weird unanswered questions
surrounding Gilbert's death and
most of all, how cruel it was for
Delacroix to make that
announcement in front of Gil.
GARY
(Smart ass-like)
Fun conversation, wanna join us.
Then to change the subject as Geoff kisses her on the cheek.
ALEXIS
My great, great grandmother had
that crown molding put up
herself. But I don't think I can
confront living here without
Gilbert. Just look at all this
furniture we'd have to move Gary.
GARY
Believe me, this is the only
reason the family has lived here
4 generations.
(to Alexis)
I have band practice in ten
minutes. Do I eat or do I
socialize. . . then starve and
shrivel?
ALEXIS
Gary, so dramatic! Geoff, why
don't you two help yourselves to
anything you want in the kitchen.
We can can talk while Gary's at
practice.
INT. GODARD MANSION, KITCHEN
Gary and Kriff are in a super futuristic kitchen: all sorts of
electronic, food synthesizing and health monitoring equipment.
Gary, a somewhat rambunctious, 24-year old musician who is a
virtuoso in electronics (all musicians of the era have to be), is
flipping around this high-tech kitchen like a Super Techie. He
hands Kriff a small diamonoid cup.
GARY
Spit in it please.
(he does)
The food synthesizer has not
prepared anything for you in. . .
(puts cup in machine, reads
display)
. . . 960 days. Your metabolism
has changed a little. No sweat,
I'll adjust for the 960. I'm
having ice cream with artificial
turkey?
KRIFF
Straight turkey would be fine for
me.
(pause)
So how you been Gary?
GARY
Please enter texture, taste
parameters and color factor on
the remote. Fine. And you?
KRIFF
Good. Got a band?
GARY
Yep. Enter shape you'd prefer,
or the default's hemispherical.
I start college soon, thanks to
Mom.
(puts a finger down his
throat)
Liberal Arts. But I minor in
music. I won that battle.
KRIFF
Good. I think!
(Pause)
After all, Artists are the most
highly respected people on the
planet - finally.
GARY
Yeah, some people are just old-
fashioned. I'm afraid the Great
Aesthetic War was necessary.
KRIFF
Say, did you ever think about
coming to work at E1S2 when you
graduate?
GARY
What is the reciprocal of yes?
Of the many material items belonging to the family, souvenirs and
mementos included, Gary wears a gemstone-like article in a
pendant. After a moment of slightly embarrassing silence:
KRIFF
(intrigued)
Say, what's that around your neck?
GARY
Something Dad gave me a while
back.
KRIFF
It's nice. What's it made of?
GARY
Hell if I know.
(changing the subject as if
to withhold a secret)
Wanna come watch us practice?
You can bring your snack.
The synthesizer delivers a hemispherical and trapezoidal lunch as
the two prepare to leave the kitchen. MADCHEN, Gary's dog, stirs
from her sleep under the counter and follows.
GARY
(continuing)
Madchen, meet Geoff. Geoff,
Madchen.
(to Geoff)
Don't worry she doesn't
understand Human.
(to Madchen)
Don't worry, he doesn't
understand Dog...
(a mind on many subjects)
Geoff, wanna play some squash
sometime?
INT. GODARD MANSION, MUSIC ROOM
Gary is introducing Geoff to the band as they enter.
GARY
. . . This is TOMMY HO, lead
vocalist, RICHARD RYDER on rhythm
guitar, PAUL EAGLETON keyboards,
and this cute lady here is BOBBIE
HO, on bass. I play what else,
drums.
He climbs on the drums. The Band starts the next song as Gary
chops out a beat on the snare and high hat. Measure by measure,
the Pendant sways from his neck, as CAMERA moves in on it.
INT. E1S2 GROUND BASE, LECTURE ROOM - MORNING
Gil is lecturing to a classroom of Space Techies.
GIL
You all know, it was rumored for
generations that the Sun may have
a large companion. What is the
sociological impact of such
knowledge on the layperson? What
is good for people to not know,
if anything? Those are the
questions we should be looking at
constantly! Many of you . . .
(pauses and smiles)
Space Techies, posited years ago
we were a binary system. But
were you listened to? No. You
were called pseudo scientists,
frauds, charlatans, dreamers,
science fiction writers. Even
cultists. And now we are faced
with knowledge that we should
have acknowledged a long time ago.
STUDENT
So why were the theories of
Doctractin considered radical for
so long if it was widely known
that 50% of the known universe
consists of binary systems?
GIL
Because people like Heisenberg
use corrupt scientists like
Delacroix to suppress cutting-
edge knowledge. They then make
sure media editors screen-out any
information or stories that do
not conform to the agreed upon
appearance of existence, in other
words - what we laughingly call
reality.
Using some doctrine like "freedom
of speech," the media justifies
itself in vomiting out an endless
barrage of negative events it
refers to as "news stories."
This constant assault keeps the
population forever churned up to
a point where vital or
constructive information is
buried, ignored or easily
suppressed. News Control
continues demoralizing the public
with negative news while drowning
the really important discoveries
so one percent of the population
can jockey for economic position
on the sweat and ignorance of
everyone else. Then they pay-out
the really important scientific
discoveries via their "freedom of
speech" propaganda machine as
slowly as possible to placate the
more brilliant people in the
civilization that are harder to
fool. Look how the scientific
community pooh-poohed faster-than-
light-travel by discovering
(holds fingers up as quote
marks)
"evidence" to support that
ridiculous equation E = mc
squared, which is, if you analyze
it, only a repackaged version of
F = ma. It was obvious to many
of you for years that the
Heisenberg Principal of
Uncertainty is what caused the
mass to increase as sub-atomic
particles were accelerated
towards the speed of light. But
were you listened to? Look how
long it took for the assembler
breakthrough to be acknowledged
or for solar energy to replace
fossil fuels. Look how long it
took before the infinite reserves
of electricity in the core of the
planet were tapped. How many
centuries passed while bankers
played country off country,
fromenting endless wars selling
bonds to justify the sick
mentalities that believed Mankind
had nothing more important to do
than fight his fellows.
And now, later rather than
sooner, in typical fashion, we
get the announcement we are a
binary system, when we should
have been told a long time ago!
Who knows what repercussion this
could have on our Solar Sys. If
you ask me, there is always
something fishy going on with the
MegaPigs of Existence - people
who work for economic gain purely
as an end in itself.
A cautious applause builds around the audience of Space Techies
as they realize the truth in what Gil is saying.
EXT. ARCMORE STREETS - DAY
From a MEDIUM SHOT of Gary's pendant, we PULL BACK to Gary
walking through a college campus, alive with color. A portable
Newsman in his palm, he enters a tavern.
INT. MALLOY'S TAVERN - DAY
Gary grabs a table and punches on the Newsman.
INSERT - NEWSMAN
A map of the entire world, sectioned in quadrants, appears. The
land mass looks familiar but unrecognizable. Down the side bar
are various items:
* WHERE * WHAT * WHEN * WHERE * WHY * HOW
Gary taps on a quadrant and enters * WHERE. The area in the
selected quadrant is enlarged and a new grid appears. He selects
a new quadrant and the process repeats until Gary has blown up an
area he is concerned with.
A menu comes up: * WHAT
Gary enters the following: HOUSE WITH GARAGE ENTER
MONTH TO MONTH, NOW, CHEAP, ENTER
A small list of addresses pops on the screen. Just as Gary has
hit SAVE, a girl he knew, and in fact had been successful in
taking a big step towards manhood during their short but eventful
relationship, TRINA MEDWICK, comes walking in. Developed beyond
her 20 years back then, Trina has become even more attractive
than Gary had remembered.
GARY
Trina?
TRINA
Gary!
(walking over)
How ya doing Mr. Energy?
Both laugh, knowing what they mean by that comment. Gary blushes
a few degrees Kelvin and leans over to give her a polite, but
"meaningful," kiss. They sit for a few beats, not knowing what
to say exactly.
GARY
So. You haven't forgotten
either... me either!
(laughs)
TRINA
Don't think so Gary. This is not
your lucky day.
(both laugh)
GARY
Well, what are you taking this
semester?
TRINA
I don't know yet but I do know
what I have to take - subatomic
nanotech theory. And the thought
makes me miserable.
GARY
You do!? Me too. And it's a
required subject for me too.
TRINA
Let's sign up for the same class.
We can be miserable together.
GARY (offering a brew)
Good plan
(as she grabs Gary's Newsman
and begins to tap)
Care for a Centauri Lite or an
Absolute Zero?
TRINA
No thanks.
(in a hurry and handing the
Newsman back)
Here's my dorm. Don't titrate
out of existence on me.
Gary laughs, sorta understanding what she means but thinking to
himself, 'Trina is definitely on my list of things TO DO.'
EXT. CENTRAL RESERVE BANK - DAY
A big lofty marble building - obviously federal - with a
prominent sign outside that reads "Central Reserve Bank."
INT. CENTRAL RESERVE BANK, AKIO IBUKA'S OFFICE
AKIO IBUKA, Comptroller of the Credit, Central Reserve Bank of
the Federated Nations, sits behind a large executive desk in a
ridiculously plush "office" talking into a squawk box-type thing.
GLENDA, Ibuka's secretary, sits to the side of the desk looking
a little disheveled, and waiting to resume dictation.
IBUKA
I do not care how much he has
caught up on payments, we have
our policy. Suspend the account.
(pauses to think)
No wait, second thought, we
shouldn't let policy run our
lives - terminate the account!
(Slams the phone off)
Okay let's continue.
GLENDA
Yes, Mr. Ibuka.
IBUKA
We need draft text for some new
policy to liberalize the
conditions under which we are
justified in charging higher
interest and points for
borrowers. One way we can
achieve this is by looping
applicants through a more
exhausting catch-22: they need
more history to get credit but
they need more credit to get a
history. After we slap them
around with this beauty for a
while, they'll be begging to pay
the higher fees if we waive their
lack of history.
Throws his head back wildly in contemplation of the shrewd
brilliance of it all.
GLENDA
Yes, Mr. Ibuka.
IBUKA
In fact, I have another brilliant
idea.
Let's make the utility companies
report any delinquent payments on
our credit reports along with
other creditors.
GLENDA
But Mr. Ibuka, utility payments
are not credit, people have to
pay their electric bills each
month or the utility company will
turn it off and they'll freeze or
something.
IBUKA
I know. That's the point.
Sooner or later they'll screw up
and miss a payment. Then we have
them for a black spot on their
report. And thus we can justify
charging them higher interest
rates and points.
GLENDA
Yes, Mr. Ibuka.
Ibuka throws his head back again and laughs wildly. Then he
leans over to the squawk box and POUNDS it back on.
IBUKA
Get the Assistant Comptroller in
here.
(to Glenda)
You sit over there.
(points to a couch by the
waterfalls)
GLENDA
Yes, Mr. Ibuka.
MR. TOLL, Assistant Comptroller, enters the office.
IBUKA
I want all checks processed in
order of largest to smallest.
That way we'll increase our
chances of bouncing more of our
customer's checks. And, make
damn sure the direct charge for
insufficient funds is imposed
immediately so we can drive their
balance down and throw their
checking account into a tail spin.
TOLL
But why do you want to do that?
IBUKA
So we can bounce more checks and
charge the bastards more fees.
TOLL (pause to think)
Oh, you're brilliant, Mr. Ibuka.
IBUKA
I know. Okay, Toll exit, and
draft me a new policy that
reflects what we discussed.
(looks over)
Glenda. Get your sweet ass back
over here.
GLENDA
Yes, Mr. Ibuka.
The art of banking at its finest.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RENTAL HOUSE - DAY
Gary is climbing a set of stone steps to the rental house as he
stumbles and falls. His Pendant smacks against the steps and the
setting cracks. A little pissed, Gary picks himself up and
climbs the stairs to reach for the bell but before getting to
push the button, a heavy-set, casually dressed man, named MR.
CONDO, greets him - apparently having seen him trip.
CONDO
Are you okay?
Gary, looking at his Pendant.
GARY
Yeah, but I think I screwed up my
piece.
CLOSE UP OF PENDANT
We see that the setting has been cracked and the stone wiggles.
CONDO
Gosh, I'm sorry.
INT. RENTAL HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
The two are now into an inspection of the house.
CONDO
. . .Yes it's available now. We
rent on a month-to-month basis.
The garage is part of the
package. . .
GARY
(beat)
This place is pe