GALAXY QUEST BY David Howard Robert Gordon 5/04/99 (GOLDENROD) 5,7,12,13,16,17,19,27,27A,33B,38,53,55,58, 60-70C, 71-72,85,117 4/29/99 (GREEN) 4/28/99 (YELLOW) 4/26/99 (PINK) 4/20/99 (BLUE) 4/19/99 SHOOTING DRAFT THIS MATERIAL IS THE PROPERTY OF DREAMWORKS PICTURES AND IS INTENDED AND RESTRICTED SOLELY FOR DREAMWORKS PERSONNEL. DISTRIBUTION OR DISCLOSURE OF THIS MATERIAL TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS IS PROHIBITED. THE SALE, COPYING OR REPROUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY FORM IS ALSO PROHIBITED 1 EXT. OUTER SPACE The vastness of space. Suddenly a hole in the sky opens with a flash and a SPACESHIP rumbles into view. ON its hull the letters NSEA PROTECTOR. Magnificent, though on closer inspection it shudders ever so slightly, denoting pre-CGI model work on a budget. We're watching a TV show. LAREDO (V.0.) We're exiting the time knot now sir! 2. INT. NSEA PROTECTOR COMMAND DECK - SPACE 5 Members of the crew of the NSEA PROTECTOR sit in the large circa - 1979-"high-tech" cabin. All of them human except for DR. LAZARUS, a purple reptilian-looking alien. LAREDO is 9. The crewmates exchange relieved smiles. FRED We're alive. LAREDO We made it Commander, we made it! LAZARUS (THE ALIEN) By Grabthar's hammer, we live to tell the tale. COMPUTER (0.S.) Systems register functional. GWEN All systems are working, Commander. Commander? They all turn to look at THE COMMANDER, who turns to reveal himself dramatically. Good looking. His acting is classic Charlton Heston take-no-prisoners style. He looks around the command deck, worried, almost sniffing the air. COMMANDER I don't like it. It was too easy... Look for ambient energy fields. LAREDO All normal sir... The entire spectrum. COMMANDER Check again Laredo. LAREDO Yes sir, I- Wait. Oh no. His radar lights up with dots. First a few, then HUNDREDS. LAREDO They're everywhere. There are time knots opening everywhere. LAZARUS IMPACT NOW Commander Suddenly an EXPLOSION rocks the ship. GWEN A trap. LAZARUS. We're surrounded Commander. The entire 5k Ranking is out there. COMMANDER Our plasma armor? LAREDO Gone sir. Another BLAST rocks the room. COMPUTER (O.S.) Structural damage at 68 percent. GWEN We're getting major structural damage. FRED It's a core meltdown sir. It can't be stopped The Commander turns to his advisor, Lazarus. LAZARUS Commander, surrender may be our only option. COMMANDER No, never give up... NEVER surrender.' GWEN The reactor has eaten through four levels... Six levels... The ship is disintegrating LAREDO Your orders sir?... Sir, your orders? The Commander walks into close up; Steely determination. COMMANDER Activate the Omega 13. The crewmates exchange expectant and terrified glances. CLOSE UP of a crewman's hand as he operates a series controls which in turn opens five layers of mechanical locks revealing a serious looking lever. The Commander pulls that lever. A MACHINE Is revealed, rising from the floor in the middle of the room. It begins to GLOW. Cut to each actor in turn reacting dramatically. Then suddenly.. THE PICTURE GOES WHITE, LEADER LEADER NUMBERS APPEAR, with a STUDIO COPYRIGHT notice. CUT TO: 3 HUNDREDS OF FACES ENTHRALLED LEGIONS of mostly spotty faced male adolescent FANS staring into camera. For a moment all is silent. A few are sobbing. Then a BURST OF THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE... We're at a SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION. The enthusiastic crowd of FANS continue cheering as the master of ceremonies GUY takes the stage. GUY Well, there you are! You are the first people to see the lost GALAXY QUEST episode 52 two parter since it was originally aired in '82! As most of you know, no concluding episode was filmed when the series was cancelled, so one episode was never included in the syndication run. Let's hear it for Travis Latke, who actually rescued the footage from the studio garbage! Can you believe that? (Latke stands, fans cheer) Now for the moment you've all been waiting for... The intrepid crew of the NSEA PROTECTOR! But a STAGEHAND in the wings signals for Guy to "stretch." GUY But first... What is a "hero"? Let's take a look at a few more clips... 4 BACKSTAGE Here we meet the REAL LIFE ACTORS all dressed as their TV alter egos... GWEN DEMARCO, beautiful, in a sexy and improbable body suit. ALEXANDER DANE, (DR. LAZARUS) wearing green alien prosthetic makeup. FRED KWAN, calm, sitting on an apple box reading the paper. TOMMY "LAREDO" WEBBER, the youngest of the group. TOMMY Where the hell is he? An hour and a half late. An hour and a half! GWEN (looks through curtain) This is great! They're going to start eating each other out there. ALEXANDER (OFFSCREEN) He's a twit! TOMMY Oh, and did you hear he booked another fan appearance without us? GWEN You're kidding. When for? TOMMY Tomorrow morning, before the store opening. ALEXANDER (OFFSCREEN) He's a miserable twit! GWEN The guy is terminally selfish! FRED He ate my sandwich. GWEN AND TOMMY What? FRED A month ago, he ate my sandwich. TOMMY And he ate Fred's SANDWICH! Gwen turns to notice Alexander staring into a makeup mirror, eyes roaming over his alien green makeup and scaly rubber features with a mournful expression. GWEN Oh Alex, get away from that thing... ALEXANDER Dear God.... How did I come to this? 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) TOMMY Not again... ALEXANDER I played Richard III... FRED "Five curtain calls... ALEXANDER ...Five curtain calls! I was an ACTOR once, damn it. Now look at me... LOOK AT ME. TOMMY Settle down, Alex... ALEXANDER No. I can't go out there! I won't say that ridiculous catch phrase one more time. I won't. I can't! GWEN At least you had a PART. You had a character people loved! My TV Guide interview was six paragraphs about this body suit. About my legs. How did I perfect my trademark sidesaddle pose? Nobody ever bothered to ask what I DO on the ship... FRED You were the, uh... Wait I'll think of it... GWEN I repeated the computer. "It's getting hotter, Commander!" "The ship is disintegrating, Commander!" Nothing I did EVER affected the plot, not ONCE! Nothing I did was ever taken seriously! TOMMY Excuse me. I'm an African American playing a nine year old Malaysian named Laredo. HELLO! Suddenly the rear stage doors open and JASON NESMITH ("The Commander") strolls in, all exuberance and charm. JASON My friends, your Commander has arrived!... Am I too late for Alexander's panic attack?...(looks at Alex) Apparently so. (inspects a mole on Alex's neck) That's irregular, you should have it looked at. (looks at Fred's paper) Lakers are HOT. Speaking of which... Gwen, you look spectacular. (they all glare at him) Oh, what did I do now? 5 CONVENTION STAGE On the stage, Guy continues to stall... GUY ... Sure, the rocks looked hollow and the sets moved when anyone humped into them... But we didn't care... FILM CLIPS are projected behind him: On an alien planet THE Commander carries the LIMP BODY OF HIS ADVISOR, LAZARUS, ray guns erupting around him... On the command deck the crew fights a space battle with crack precision TEAMWORK... GUY (CONTINUED) ....For those four seasons from '79 to '82 we the viewers developed the same affection for the crew of the NSEA PROTECTOR that the crew had for each other... These weren't just adventurers exploring space, these were friends... 6 BACKSTAGE - The others surround JASON, fighting. TOMMY You said we do appearances together, or not at all.' JASON I didn't say that. I said "wouldn't it be great if we could always, work together." That's what I said. GWEN Unbelievable. TOMMY You are so full of shit JASON A few fans built a little set in their garage. . I come in for an hour at most. It's a nothing. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) GWEN How much of a nothing? Not enough to split five ways kind of a nothing? JASON What do you want me to say, Gwen?... They wanted the Commander. Suddenly bright light streams in. They all turn to see ALEXANDER skulking out the exit. A beat, then they all run to catch Alexander, TACKLING HIM. 7 ONSTAGE - Guy gets a thumbs up cue from a stagehand and begins to introduce the cast, to the delight of the applauding FANS. GUY Okay, here we go... Let's hear a warm welcome for crack gunner/navigator. Laredo, Tommy Webber! Tommy comes bounding out with a big smile, his hair mussed. Behind him is a film clip of young LAREDO in action. TOMMY (FILM CLIP) AS LAREDO "If it's got quantum rockets, I can fly it." GUY Ship's Tech Sergeant Chen... Fred Kwan! Fred strolls out with a casual wave. FRED AS CHEN "Give me a stick of gum and a hairpin and we re on our way!" 8 BACKSTAGE - Gwen and Jason are wrestling on the ground with Alexander. GWEN Alex you can't -just leave. ALEXANDER Oh can't I? Watch me! JASON Come on, old friend... ALEXANDER Friend. You stole all my best lines. You cut me out of episode two entirely!.. GUY (O.S. FROM THE STAGE) The beautiful shipmate Tawny Madison... GWEN DEMARCO! 9 ONSTAGE - Gwen takes the stage noticeably ruffled. In the film clip, Tawny Madison looks around the cabin fearfully. COMPUTER One hundred degrees and rising... GWEN AS TAWNY MADISON "It's... It's getting hotter, Commander.'" Many "appreciative" WHISTLES. Gwen forces a smile. GUY And now... The Commander's advisor and closest friend. His peaceful nature ever at odds with the savage warrior inside him, after witnessing the massacre of his entire species as a boy... We see a splitscreen shot of Alexander, one mild mannered, the other a savage beast of vengeance, tearing into a foe. 10 BACKSTAGE - Jason still in a wrestling match with Alexander. JASON You WILL go out there. ALEXANDER I won't and nothing you say- JASON "The show must go on." ALEXANDER ...Damn you! Damn you! GUY (cont'd) (O.S.) "Dr. Lazarus of Tev'meck"... Alexander Dane 11 ON STAGE - Alex bounds up on stage, bowing deep with grace and humility. The stage trained British actor. ALEX AS LAZARUS ONSCREEN "By Grabthar's hammer, you shall be avenged.'" Alex cringes, desperately unhappy GUY And finally, my fellow Questarians, the brave Commander of the NSEA PROTECTOR... Peter Quincy Taggart ... JASON NESMITH. Jason appears and a SPOTLIGHT follows him. TOMMY Unbelievable. He rented a SPOT? Jason raises his fist encouraging the FANS to cry out... JASON/JASON ON SCREEN/EVERYONE "NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER... DAMN THE RESONANCE CANNONS, FULL SPEED AHEAD.'" The fans go crazy. The actors exchange glances. GUY The Commander and his crew will be signing autographs on imperial decks "b" and "c" near the coke machines. 12 CONVENTION HALLWAY It's quiet. We're on FOUR PAIRS OF BOOTS walking down the hallway. We PAN UP to reveal FIVE SERIOUS LOOKING YOUNG PEOPLE, 4 men and a woman, clean cut as Disneyland employees and impeccably outfitted in GALAXY QUEST style uniforms. Something odd about them you can't quite put your finger on.. For now we'll refer to them as THE PECULIAR FANS. 13 CONVENTION HALL We move with the PECULIAR FANS as they enter the bustling convention floor, making their way past the numerous FANS dressed as their favorite GALAXY QUEST characters... through the various booths selling GALAXY QUEST and other Si-fi memorabilia, catching snippets of conversation along the way: They pass two ELABORATELY COSTUMED ALIEN FANS talking. ALIEN ...Yeah, I used to De Gark'nor of Ang but I got a rash from the chest pads so now I'm Sacnod from episode 5, which is fine except the transducer pinches when I sit down... ... They pass a group of particularly EARNEST FANS at a vendor's booth, also costumed as the five GALAXY QUEST leads. Their leader, BRANDON WHEEGER, inspects a seller's model of the DEFENDER, contemptuously. BRANDON The tail fin is concave, not convex. The proton reactor is where the influx thermistors should be and.. my god... is this Testor's blue green number six on the hull? (drops the model roughly) I... I... This is a complete abortion. With curious glances to this similarly uniformed group, the PECULIAR FANS move past, then come to a halt as they spot JASON, up on a raised platform at the front of the hall signing autographs for a long line of fans. The peculiar fans stare at Jason as to they were in the presence of God. They exchange astonished smiles, then start toward him... THE CAST TABLE Tommy, Alexander and Fred sign autographs at a row of tables near Jason, but significantly lower than his perch. TOMMY Is it me or does his table get higher every convention? One of many fans dressed as "Dr. Lazarus" steps up to Alexander and salutes him with crossed fists. FAN "By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Warvan, I shall avenge you!" Alexander ignores this, grabs the photo from his hand, signs it, thrusts it back. The next fan steps up. FAN "By Grabthar's hammer, by the-" He signs and thrusts it back before he can even finish. ALEXANDER Next! Guy (the MC) approaches the actors at their tables. GUY Hi everybody. TOMMY Hey. Thanks for one nice intro... uh. GUY Guy... You probably don't remember me do you? (They stare blankly) I was on the show in '82. Episode 31? Got killed by the lava monster before the first commercial? "Crewman #6?" The actors pretend that they remember him. "oh, right! Guy!" GUY Listen, I was wondering, would you guys mind if I sit in today? See if anybody's interested in an autograph? Never know. GWEN Sure, Guy, If you can stand the excitement. Two more FANS dressed as Alexander's character approach him, proudly CHATTERING at him in the Mak'tar language. ALEXANDER Don't make me get a restraining order. ACROSS THE ROOM THE PECULIAR FANS are making their way through the crowd toward Jason. We suddenly notice something very strange; THE LEFT HAND of the tallest one is flickering between a normal hand and A HAND WITH SEVEN LONG BLUE TENTACLES FOR FINGERS. The LEADER notices and motions to the afflicted man who raps sharply against a metal blinking box on his belt. The hand becomes normal again. He looks up, nods at the leader. From now on we'll refer to these 5 as THE ALIENS. AT THE CAST TABLE - Guy now sits with the others, forlorn. No fans are in line for his autograph. He watches as Fred fields questions from the group or fans led by BRANDON. BRANDON Mr. Kwan? In episode nineteen, when the reactor fused, you used an element from Leopold Six to fix the quantum rockets. What was that called? FRED Bivrakium. BRANDON The blue sheath it was encased in-? FRED A bi-thermal krevlite housing. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) Brandon makes a note, thanks him and exits with his group. GUY How do you remember this stuff? FRED Oh I make it up. Use lots of "k"s and "v"s. A male FAN moves up to Gwen, hands her a picture to sign. FAN I'm a big fan Ms. Demarco. Gwen looks at the photo, nonplussed. GWEN You really expect me to sign a naked picture of myself? This isn't even my body! FAN Yeah, normally with fakes it's like, recycle bin. But.. This one's really good. (Gwen sighs, starts to sign) Could you not write over the... Thanks. A fan finally approaches Guy who looks up eagerly. The fan looks at him quizzically, trying to place him. GUY Episode 12. (gets no reaction) Killed by the lava monster?.. FAN (turns to Tommy) Laredo, could I get an autograph? Guy shrugs, disappointed. Gwen gives him a comforting look, then looks across at JASON ON HIS PERCH Talking dramatically to a group of fans. A YOUNG BOY watches WIDE EYED. JASON ... on one hand, if I had moved an inch, the beast would have killed me. On the other hand, my crew was in danger... YOUNG BOY How did you know what to do? 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) JASON Without a crew, I'm not a Commander. He pulls down on the kid's cap. JASON And we all know what happened to that beast on Enok 7... The fans make happy nerdy "we sure do" noises. CASTMEMBERS TABLE Gwen shakes her head appreciatively. GWEN You gotta admit, they do love him. TOMMY Almost as much as he loves himself. They watch as Jason fields another question from a fan. JASON I'm glad you asked... To me the most important qualities of a Galaxy Explorer are loyalty... ALEXANDER ... to camera center no matter whose shot you're blocking... JASON Leadership.... TOMMY ... to make sure craft service keeps those little butter cookies, and plenty of them- JASON And determination. GWEN ... to playing scenes shirtless because the ladies do love Commander furry. Gwen, Alex and the others try to contain their laughter. CLOSER ANGLE - JASON'S TABLE Bored with the constant queries of his fans, Jason glances over to see Gwen smiling at him. She quickly looks away, self- 4/28/99 (YELLOW) conscious. Jason doesn't even take his eyes off Gwen as BRANDON steps forward, his brow knit with serious matters. BRANDON Commander, please settle a dispute that my crew and I are having. In "The Quasar Dilemma", the Sentient had taken control of the ship's guidance systems, however- JASON Excuse me guys. Jason exits. Brandon turns to his friends, frustrated. BRANDON I hadn't even gotten to the relevant conundrum... THE CAST TABLE - Gwen answers a question from a shy GIRL. GIRL Miss Demarco?... In episode 15, "Mist of Delos 5?" I got the feeling you and the Commander kind of had a thing in the swamp when you were stranded together. Did you? GWEN The Commander and I NEVER had a thing. JASON (O.S.) That's her story. Gwen looks up to see Jason. The girl giggles and exits. Jason smiles at Gwen. GWEN What? JASON You smiled at me. Rolling her eves Gwen rises and walks off. Undaunted, Jason follows, but runs into the five ALIENS. Their leader MATHESAR bows respectfully, then follows along as Jason pursues Gwen. MATHESAR Commander, I must speak to you. It is a matter of supreme importance... We are Thermians from the Klatu Nebula, and we require your help. I beseech you to come with us, back to our ship. A great many lives hang in the balance... 4/26/99 (PINK) JASON Right, If this is about the thing tomorrow you can hammer out the details with my agent, but make sure I have a limo from my house, they jammed me into a Toyota the last time I did one of these MATHESAR I... certainly, but- JASON Catch me later, okay? Jason catches up to Gwen. He spins her around dramatically. JASON "Crewman Madison, I.. I'm sorry. Whatever I do next I have no control over. It's the mist on this strange planet, It's filling my head with such thoughts.... He leans in for a tortured kiss... Some fans gather, delighted by the impromptu show. But Gwen steps aside. GWEN It was cute when I didn't know you. She exits. Jason tries to pretend that doesn't hurt. CONVENTION FLOOR Jason moves forward, introspective, amidst the enthusiastic fans. They all shout out questions and comments to him... But Jason pushes past without response and takes refuge in the- 14 MEN'S ROOM Jason enters to witness the incongruous sight of four MANK'NAR beasts at the urinals taking a MANK'NAR piss. Jason enters a stall and sits on the lid, trying to get a moment to think. But two CYNICALIC 20-SOMETHINGS enter, laughing their assess off. He can hear their voices echo from the other side. CYNICAL GUY 1 You're right. What a FREAK SHOW. This is fricking HILARIOUS. CYNICAL GUY 2 Yeah, what a bunch of losers. And those poor actors. They've done, like, WHAT for twenty years? I think Fred Kwan did a dog food commercial... Sad. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) CYNICAL GUY 1 Did you hear Nesmith up there? That's the saddest. I think he actually gets off on these nerds thinking he's space Commander. It's pathetic. And his friends... CYNICAL GUY 2 ... they HATE him. I know, did you hear them ragging on him?!! "Commander furry!..." CYNICAL GUY 1 He has no idea that he's a laughingstock... Even to his buddies. They exit, their laughter ringing in Jason's ears. 15 CONVENTION FLOOR - JASON'S TABLE Jason is back at his table signing autographs in a foul mood. He scribbles his name irritably, avoiding contact with the fans as BRANDON and his group of aficionados approach him. BRANDON Commander, as I was saying... In "The Quasar Dilemma", you used the auxiliary of deck b for Gamma override. But online blueprints indicate deck b is independent of the guidance matrix, so we were wondering where the error lies? JASON It's a television show. Okay? That's all. It's just a bunch of fake sets, and wooden props, do you understand? BRANDON Yes but, we were wondering- JASON There IS no quantum flux and there Is no auxiliary... There's no goddamn ship Do you get it? Jason notices that all eyes are turned on him. The hall has become deathly quiet. Jason rises abruptly and exits through the hall. Brandon and the fans do their best not to take this personally. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) 15A INT. GWEN'S HOUSE Gwen is cooking something intricate and delicious as she talks to Alex on the phone. Her house is tasteful and bright on a budget. GWEN I don't know, Alex, he's never gone quite this far before... 15B INT. ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Alexander sits at his kitchen table, applying spirit gum remover to the edges of his alien head appliance. ALEXANDER I've said for years he's mentally unstable. He stands and moves to the refrigerator. Nothing but a hunk of very rank cheese which he sniffs disdainfully. ALEXANDER Oh good, there's nothing to eat. GWEN Why didn't you stop at the market? ALEXANDER (re his alien cap) I still haven't got this bloody thing off. GWEN You could order something in. ALEXANDER A boy comes to the door. GWEN (a beat, back to Jason...) I don't know... It just wasn't like him. ALEXANDER Yes, poor Jason. As we speak he's probably out somewhere talking rubbish to a roomful of hangers-on. While here I sit eating Christmas cheese in Spring. 16 INT. JASON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Jason sits on the edge of the bed staring at the TV, sipping scotch, flipping channels. He stops at the conclusion of an 4/26/99 (PINK) episode of GALAXY QUEST. As Commander Taggart makes a heroic speech. Jason mouths the words along with his alterego. COMMANDER TAGGART (ON TV) As long as there is injustice, whenever a Targathian baby cries out, wherever a distress signal sounds among the stars... We'll be there. This fine ship, and this fine crew... Never give up! Never surrender! We pan back to the bed... Jason has passed out, body twisted face down in a pillow. 17 INT. JASON'S BEDROOM - NEXT MORNING Jason sleeps, hungover, dead to the world. His DOORBELL RINGS. He barely moves. Every Indication is that he's dead. More ringing. He stirs enough to groan, and drags a pillow over his head. The ringing continues.... 18 EXT. JASON'S HOUSE Jason opens the door in his robe, drooping bloodshot eyes, squint of a headache... There before him are THE ALIENS dressed in their perfect GALAXY QUEST attire. Jason stares at them, bleary eyed. With earnest respectful faces, the five salute him in the classic "GALAXY QUEST" style. Jason shuts the door in their face. DING DONG: The door opens again. JASON WHAT. DO. YOU. WANT?! The leader, Mathesar, steps forward. Speaks quickly. MATHESAR Sir, I understand this is a terrible breach of protocol, but please, I beg you to hear our plea. We are Thermians from the Klatu Nebula. Our people are being systematically hunted and slaughtered by Roth'h'ar Sarris of Fatu-Krey. Sarris wants the Omega 13. We are to meet in negotiation. However our past efforts in this regard have been nothing short of disastrous. The flames, the death... (he quickly gathers himself) Please Captain, you are our last hope. (a beat) We have secured a limousine. JASON Oh, right! The thing with the thing. Come on in, I'll get some pants on. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) 19 INT. JASON'S HOUSE The four aliens stand on one side of the room. Jason, mostly dressed, hunts under his couch for something. MATHESAR Commander, standing here in your presence is the greatest honor we could ever have hoped to achieve in our lifetimes. Mostly all they can see of Jason at the moment is his butt. JASON Thanks, appreciate it... Anybody seen my other shoe? 20 INT. LINCOLN LIMO Jason sits in back with Mathesar and the others, half-awake. NERU Sir, I am Neru, senior requisition officer. Before we travel to the ship, please let me know if you have any requirements. Weapons, documents, personnel... JASON I could use a Coke. One of the aliens nods to the other who makes a note. TEB Sir, I am Teb. I would like to explain the history between our people and the Sarris Dominion in greater detail. In the 5 million years following the great nebula burst our people were one... JASON What about him? Doesn't he talk? TEB His translator is broken. The fourth alien says something, but it comes out a weird mix of sounds. Like a screaming baby inside a bagpipe. JASON Okey doke... So, listen, I had a late night with a Kreemorian Fangor Beast, so (MORE) 4/26/99 (PINK) JASON (cont'd) I'm going to shut my eyes for a bit. But go on, I'm listening to every word... Jason is asleep before Teb gets the next sentence out. 21 INT. RECEIVING QUARTERS - PROTECTOR II Jason is shaken softly by the shoulders. He opens his eyes to see a young female CREWMAN, LALIARI. We hear a low RUMBLE. LALIARI I am sorry to wake you sir, but your presence is requested on the command deck. Jason tries to reorient himself as she leads him forward. 22 INT. HALLWAY - THE PROTECTOR II Laliari escorts Jason down the high tech hallway. Jason looks around, still holding his can of Coke. LALIARI Sir, Sarris has moved the deadline. We are approaching his ship at the Ni-delta now. He wants an answer to his proposal. I understand you have been briefed. JASON Yeah, I got most of it in the car. He's the bad guy, right? LALIARI Yes sir he is a very bad man indeed. He has tortured our scientists, put us to work in the gallium arsenide mines, captured our females for his own demented purposes... JASON Okay I've got the picture. You have pages or do you want me to just go for it? LALIARI I m not sure I... JASON (cont'd) Script pages. Never mind, let's see what old Sarris has to say for himself. Mathesar approaches with other CREWMEMBERS. 4/26/99 (PINK) MATHESAR Commander... Welcome to the Protector II. Would you like to don your uniform? JASON Mind If we skip that? I have to get back pretty quick for this thing in Van Nuys. MATHESAR As you wish. Another ALIEN comes running up out of breath. EXCITED ALIEN Sir... It's Sarris. He's here. 23 INT. COMMAND DECK A door slides OPEN and Jason and the others enter the COMMAND DECK.... It's straight out of the TV show. Blinking lights, consoles, the cool old tech displays... But a bit dark. Jason looks around, genuinely impressed, still wearing his glasses. JASON Not bad. Usually it's painted cardboard boxes in a garage. They lead him to the Commander's chair. He sits. TEB Sir, we apologize for operating in low power mode, but we are experiencing a reflective flux field this close to the galactic axis. JASON No problem. This thing have a cup holder? EXCITED ALIEN (hands Jason a clipboard) The situational analysis, Commander. JASON What's your name? EXCITED ALIEN (perplexed) ...Glath sir. Jason signs his autograph and hands it back. "There you go." NAVIGATOR We're approaching in five ticks, sir. Command to slow? Jason looks toward the front window/view screen. Stars move past in a familiar display. JASON Sure, set the screen saver on two. (the NAVIGATOR looks confused) Sorry. Sorry. Didn't mean to break he mood. Slow to Mark 2, lieutenant. A SHIP appears on the screen, growing closer. It is a MENACING craft, sharp and jagged, with a gargoyle shaped figurehead. Then the VIEWSCREEN fuzzes to life with an image of... SARRIS - He's ugly and green hued. Black sharp teeth. A metal hand... He hisses... There is a beat as the aliens take in the sight, trying to well their courage. SARRIS I see fear. That is expected. (his voice RESONATES) Ah, they bring a new Commander... Such a cowardly species. Not even your own kind... No matter. Here are my demands, and I would suggest, Commander, that you think well before speaking a word, because these negotiations are... tender.. and if I do not like what I hear there will be blood and pain as you cannot imagine... Jason takes a sip of coke and checks his watch. SARRIS First, I require the Omega 13... Second- JASON (blas? like a laundry list) Okey dokey, let's fire blue particle cannons full. Fire red particle cannons full. Fire gannet magnets left and right. Fire pulse catapults from all chutes. And throw this thing at him too, killer. He hands the GUNNER the empty coke can, then before even waiting for the weapons to reach their target... ...he exits! 24 HALLWAY Jason emerges and looks both ways trying to get his bearings. Several of the aliens chase after him as he enters the 4/26/99 (PINK) corridor, exchanging stunned dances, trying to absorb the magnitude of what just happened. MATHESAR Commander?... Where are you... going? JASON Home. MATHESAR You... You mean Earth? JASON Yeah. "Earth." Time to get back to "Earth," kids. He turns a corner. Jason is oblivious to the muffled sounds of explosions, traces of the demolition going on outside. MATHESAR But Commander... The negotiation... You... You... You fired on him. JASON Right. Long live... What's your planet? MATHESAR Theramin. JASON Long live Theramini. Take a left here? MATHESAR But what if Sarris survives? JASON Oh, I don't think so. I gave him both barrels. MATHESAR He has a very powerful ship. Perhaps you would like to wait to see the results of- JASON I would but I am REALLY running late and the 134's a parking lot after 2:00. But listen, the guy gives you any more trouble, just give a call... Mathesar produces a walkie talkie device for Jason. MATHESAR An interstellar vox. 4/26/99 (PINK) JASON Thanks Mathesar looks him in the eye. A TEAR starts down his cheek. He HUGS Jason, then shakes his hand sincerely. MATHESAR How can we thank you, Commander. You- You have saved our people. JASON It was a lot of fun. You kids are great. The others shake his hand, thanking him as they enter the... 25 INTERSTELLAR POD ROOM A room with a very high circular ceiling. The aliens continue thanking Jason as they lead him to the center of the room. Jason realizes he's left all alone in this strange room with no visible doors. Jason is suddenly aware that he is standing on a GLOWING RED DISK. JASON Wait. Where's the car? Suddenly a CLEAR CYLINDER rises from the disk and conforms around him, ENCASING~ HIM IN A CLEAR BULLET SHAPED CONTAINER. There is only an instant to register surprise as the ceiling divides and an AWE INDUCING ROTATING STARFIELD is revealed... The WALLS pull back around him. And Jason finds himself surrounded by THE INFINITE VASTNESS OF SPACE. And his face is a MASK OF HORROR In the split instant as Jason in his pod is ROCKETED FORWARD INTO SPACE. 26 BLACK - JASON'S YARD We pull back slowly from the iris of Jason's eye. He is now standing on the red disk in the middle of his own back yard. He stands there in shock, TEETH CHATTERING, SHIVERING IN WAVES AND WAVES from the incomprehension of what he's just experienced, unable to move from the snot. 27 NT. BRANDON'S GARAGE - TARZANA - DUSK Crickets chirp. Inside the open garage of a suburban house sits BRANDON and his friends in their uniforms, surrounded by a homemade space ship interior constructed of painted cardboard boxes and Christmas lights. Brandon and his friends look very disappointed... The Commander never showed. 28 EXT. COMPUTER STORE PARKING LIT - MORNING Gwen, Alexander, Tommy, Fred and Guy perform for the store's grand opening. A small crowd is gathered, including Brandon and his gang, inspecting a mock up of the PROTECTOR. GWEN Take it from us... We've been all over the universe. FRED But we've never seen the space age values we've seen here ..... TOMMY TechCo electronics superstore Alexander pauses, deeply ashamed. Gwen nudges him. ALEXANDER By Grabthar's hammer, what a savings. A few balloons are released into the air. 28A COMPUTER STORE - LATER The actors hand out pamphlets and sign the occasional autograph. Fred pats Alexander's back, who stares ahead, morose. Around the corner, JASON appears, looking around with a disoriented yet exhilarated twinkle in his eye.. He spots his friends and starts quickly toward the cast table but runs smack into the group of FANS led by Brandon. Brandon and Jason go down, along with an armful of GALAXY QUEST collectables. BRANDON Commander!... My apologies. Brandon is nudged by his friend KYLE. BRANDON Commander... Evidently we had miscommunication regarding yesterday's scheduled voyage, and- But Jason, still in a haze, simply gathers his things and walks off. The other nerds look at Brandon. KYLE He dissed us AGAIN, Brandon! BRANDON (hiding his disappointment) He probably... Has some very important business to attend to... HOLLISTER (just letting off steam) Maybe we should just start a Star Trek club! The others turn, silent, incredulous. Brandon looks at Hollister with hard, cold eyes. Pacino's scene with Fredo. BRANDON Don't EVER say that to me again. He walks away. The others stare at Hollister. 28B ACTORS' TABLE The actors look up to see JASON approaching. ALEXANDER Do you know what time it is? Why did you even bother to show up? Jason has so much to say he can't get out a word. Gwen notices his wrinkled slept-in clothing, and wild eyes. GWEN Jason... Are you all right? Jason POINTS to the sky, grasping for words. JASON I was there. (a beat) Up. There... (intense) They came to the convention. I thought they were fans, but they're not. They took me up to their ship. They're called Thermians or Thatians, I don't know. I was a little hungover... (actors exchange glances) What they built... It's incredible I fought this man, this... THING... called Sarris. I kicked his ASS... They have these... pods. One took me THROUGH a black hole. (crazy smile. The others stare) I know. I know what you're thinking. But I can prove it. Look! They gave me this! 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) He searches his pockets frantically and produces the interstellar vox. The thing blinks its little red light. He motions victoriously. The others exchange glances, then produce their own blinking voxes and set them on the table. JASON Yes, but can you talk to people in SPACE on yours? (into Vox:) Protector this is the Commander. Come in protector... The others exchange glances. Alexander turns to Gwen. ALEXANDER God, what an ass. JASON COME IN PROTECTOR... PROTECTOR... Tommy rolls up his sleeve ready for a fight. TOMMY That's it, It's go time. GWEN Don't do it, Tommy. He's not worth it. Jason notices a label on his vox that reads "Property of Brandon Wheeger." He looks around for Brandon. JASON This isn't mine. Wait, where is that kid?... GWEN You know it's one thing to treat us this way, but how can you do this to your fans?... Jason looks up and sees the young woman we recognize as Thermian LALIARI. She's flanked by two young crewmen. LALIARI Begging your pardon, Commander, we come with news. Sarris lives. He was able upon your departure to make an escape. However he has contacted us, and wishes to surrender. We humbly implore you to return with us, to negotiate the terms. Jason looks at Laliari, then turns back to the others, his experience twinkling in his eyes. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) JASON They want me back... I... I want you all to come. You have to come with me. It'll be the most amazing experience of your lives. We1re going to negotiate an alien general's SURRENDER in SPACE. You have to- Guys? GUYS?... They have begun to walk away, one by one, in disgust. Only Gwen remains. She looks at Jason. JASON Gwen, you know me. I'm a lot of things but I'm not crazy. But Gwen shakes her head and walks off. 28C INT. ELECTRONICS STORE SHIPPING WAREHOUSE NEAR DOCK Jason inspects himself In a mirror. He meticulously smoothes his Commander's Insignia, fastens a stray buckle, carefully picks a piece of lint off his shirt. Then he looks Into his own eyes for a long moment, finally turning to Laliari, a smile, eyes GLISTENING. Nearby a POD DISK on the floor GLOWS. JASON I'm ready. 28D INT. DRESSING ROOM The actors enter their dressing room. TOMMY You should have let me hit him. GWEN I don't know guys... I mean, he almost looked... sincere. I know, it's bizarre! FRED I think we should have taken the gig... I mean, who knows the next time he'll ask us. They all turn slowly to Fred. "Of course.. He was talking about a GIG." 28E ELECTRONICS STORE The actors hurry through the aisles to the back of the store. Gwen shouts to an EMPLOYEE stocking shelves. GWEN Commander come through here? The Employee points to the back, taken with Gwen's beauty. 29 INT ~LECTRONICS STORE WAREHOUSE NEAR DOCK Gwen, Alex and the others enter, and look around. Laliari is still in the room, alone. She lights up as they enter. GWEN We're coming too. LALIARI Wonderful! The Commander had me continue transmitting in the hopes you would change your mind. (to Vox) Protector, requesting six Interstellar pods for immediate departure. Tommy rolls his eyes at Gwen. "These fans..." But Gwen suddenly notices the POD DISKS glowing beneath their feet. GWEN Guys... Guys? Alex tries to step off the disk but It MOVES TO FOLLOW HIM. ALEXANDER What in the world...? LALIARI I look forward to meeting you all in person when we arrive at the ship. End transmission. And with that, Laliari blinks and VANISHES. She was simply a HOLOGRAM TRANSMISSION. Full realization hits Gwen... GWEN Oh my God. OH MY GOD. 30 INT. NSEA PROTECTOR DOCKING STATION POD BAY- DEEP SPACE The room LIGHTS BRILLIANTLY with a series of flashes. In rapid succession the PODS arrive with a flash through a hatch In the ceiling. They unfold to reveal Gwen, Alexander, Tommy and Guy who stand paralyzed and teeth chattering. They look like a bunch of horrified bowling pins all facing toward... A METAL HATCH - Beyond It they register the SOUND of WET FOOTSTEPS growing closer... Their eyes widen as they see the hatch open revealing a group of 5 HORRIBLE TENTACLED DROOLING SCREG~ING ALIEN MONSTERS who surround our visitors, probing them with jagged devices. Then one of the monsters looks down at a mechanism on his belt. MONSTER #1 Oops. Crewmen, your skins! Activate your E-skins! 4/29/99 (GREEN) The monsters all flip switches on their belts their forms become HUMAN, uniformed as ship's TECHNICIANS. TECHNICIAN #1 Our most sincere apologies! We forgot about our appearance generators. Then JASON appears in the doorway, wearing a big warm smile. JASON Guys! You CAME!... They stand there, still paralyzed and terrified. JASON Okay, who wants the grand tour? Guy is now relaxed enough to let out the loudest most genuine SCREAM you've ever heard in your life. A beat. JASON Okay, Guy... Anybody else? Then another streak of light, and Fred appears along side the others. He steps off of the disk, unaffected. FRED Now that was a hell of a thing. (to Jason, motioning to others) What's wrong with them? Jason smiles. Nothing gets to Fred. 31 INT. PROTECTOR DOCKING STRUCTURE - HALLWAY Jason leads Gwen, Alexander, Tommy, Guy and Fred down the hall. They shuffle forward like recent hospital releases, looking around silent and dumbfounded at their surroundings, occasional involuntary JERKS of their limbs evidence of their horrifying journey. JASON That's right... Just keep shaking it out... Here, have some gum, It helps. TOMMY Wh... Where are we? 4/29/99 (GREEN) JASON Twenty third quadrant of gamma sector. I can show you on a map. Then Mathesar appears coming down the hall with a small group of ALIENS. He has a warm smile on his face. MATHESAR Welcome my friends I am Mathesar. On behalf of my people I wish to thank you from the deepest place in our hearts. He reaches out to shake their hands respectfully. MATHESAR Dr. Lazarus... Lt. Madison. Young Laredo, how you've grown. Tech Sgt. Chen... And.... He looks at Guy quizzically, not sure who he is. GUY "Crewman #6"... Call me Guy. GWEN You... know us? MATHESAR (soft laugh) I don't believe there is a man, woman or child on my planet who does not. In the years since we first received your ship's historical documents, we have studied every facet of your missions, technologies and strategies. ALEXANDER Historical documents? MATHESAR Yes. Eighteen years ago we received transmission of the first. It continued for four years, and then stopped, as mysteriously as it came... TOMMY You've been watching the sho... (he's nudged by Jason) the historical records... out HERE? MATHESAR Yes, in the last hundred years our society had fallen into disarray. Our goals, our values had become scattered. But since the transmission we have modeled many aspects of our society from your example, and it has saved us. Your courage, teamwork, friendship through the adversity... They all exchange glances. MATHESAR (cont'd) In fact, all you see around you comes from the lessons garnered from the historical documents. GWEN THAT'S why you built this ship? GUY It's ... incredible. JASON Oh this? No, this isn't the ship. This is only the star port for the ship. (a twinkle In his eye) You want to see the ship? He pushes a button and a door opens leading to a DOCKING POD. 32 INT. DOCKING POD They enter. He pushes another button and the doors close, and the transport starts moving. As it clears a wall, we see out the window A MAGNIFICENT AND BREATHTAKING VIEW OF THE ENORMOUS NSEA PROTECTOR DOCKED IN FRONT OF TH~... They all gawk at the amazing sight, their eyes wide like children. ALEXANDER Oh my god, It's real. GWEN All this from watching the.. historical records? MATHESAR Yes, and from your supplementary technical documents, of course... He motions to another alien who withdraws a number of brightly colored BOOKS and BOXES from a backpack. The actors look through the various FAN BOOKS and ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE bearing such titles as "THE OFFICIAL GALAXY QUEST BLUEPRINTS: NSEA PROTECTOR" and "VIRTUAL GAAAXY QUEST: THE CDROM EXPERIENCE." The actors exchange glances and then... Tommy begins to giggle. Alex looks at him, at the fan stuff, then out at the ENORMOUS SHIP, and he begins to laugh too... The others join in laughing like maniacs, hysterical, disbelieving laughter, as they head toward the GIANT SHIP. 33 INT. PROTECTOR - CORRIDOR The group walks down the corridor, peeking into various rooms, more awestruck every second. As they pass each room, the CREW MEMBERS inside salute. FEMALE crew members pass occasionally, saluting and offering "Hello Commander's to Jason. This does not escape Gwen's notice. (Guy always seems to be just outside the group, a little late, always trying to see between their heads...) MATHESAR The medical quarters are to the left... The actor's WHISPER to Jason, all at once... TOMMY What the hell is going on?!!? ALEXANDER Jason, what have you gotten us into? GWEN I don't believe this, it's insane. FRED Wow, the floors are REALLY clean. JASON Calm down everybody. We're just here to negotiate General Sarris' surrender. ALEXANDER "Just!?" MATHESAR Weapons storage... JASON It's perfectly safe. I promise. MATHESAR ... Maintenance facility... GWEN Jason, this is crazy! We should get out of here... MATHESAR Situations room... Dining hall... 4/29/99 (GREEN) JASON You want to go home? Fine. Say the word, and we'll all go home and feed the fish and pay the bills and fall asleep with the t.v. on and miss out on THIS. Is that really what you want? Anybody? A beat. Clearly nobody wants to leave. A beat. MATHESAR (cont'd) The main barracks... TWO HUNDRED crewmen rise to attention. Jason salutes back. JASON At ease men. ALEXANDER (awed) Like throwing gasoline on a fire... Alex turns to Guy, who is smiling ear to ear. ALEXANDER (cont'd) What? GUY I'm just jazzed to be on the show, man.' 33A OMIT 34 GENERATOR ROOM The group enters. The centerpiece of the room is a large pulsating ORB. When the orb dims, we see its surface has a rocky texture, like a large boulder. Many TECHS scurry about tending to the surrounding measurement devices. MATHESAR The generator room... Our Beryllium Sphere, of course... I hope, Tech Sergeant Chen, that this meets with your approval. Fred runs his finger along a gleaming copper tube with authority. FRED Fine... Real clean. Three YOUNGER CREWMEN approach and whisper to Mathesar. They argue a bit, then Mathesar reticently approaches Fred. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) MATHESAR Tech Sgt. Chen, I am sorry to ask this of you so shortly after your arrival. But members of our reactor staff have a question they find most pressing. FRED Uh huh? LAHNK Sir, we have had unexplained proton surges in our delta unit. They cannot be verified on the sub frequency spectrum, but appear on the valence detector when scanning the Beryllium Sphere. We are unable to resolve this problem and were hoping you would be able to advise us. Everyone turns to Fred. Silence. FRED Uh huh... I see... Well, that's a puzzler isn't it?... The others exchange glances, wondering what he'll say. Then Fred turns to one of the Techs. FRED U.... What do you think? NERVOUS TECH That possibly... The valence bonds have shifted bi-laterally? FRED ... What does that mean? NERVOUS TECH What does that mean?!!! Yes, I see! Yes... It means that perhaps... the... bonding molecules have become covalent?!... FRED Covalent... Right. So... NERVOUS TECH So our solution is to introduce a bonding substrate! - A two molecule compound sharing a free electron - and bombard the ions with their reflective isotopes! 4/29/99 (GREEN) FRED OK! The other TECHS grin, astonished. LANK Of course! It's so obvious! TECH #2 Sergeant Chen, you're... a genius! Fred waves off the praise modestly. Mathesar shoots a look to Lahnk as if to say "we're in good hands here." MATHESAR Now I suggest that you rest before we take the ship out of dock. These crewmen will escort you to your quarters. 4/29/99 (GREEN) PAGES 34-35 OMITTED 4/29/99 (GREEN) 34A OMIT 34B INT. MEDIA ROOM Tommy's escort NERU hands over various weapons to a grinning Tommy. NERU Here is your valence shield. Your vox. Your magneto-pistol... We know you prefer a sensitive trigger. If there is anything else you require? TOMMY Uh, no, I'm good. Thanks. (Neru starts to exit) Oh wait. Here you go. Tommy stuffs a couple of bucks into Neru's hand. Neru looks at the tip, perplexed, and exits. 35 INT. HALLWAY Alex's young escort, QUELLEK, leads him down the hall. QUELLEK Dr. Lazarus... I hope that I'm not breaching protocol but.. I am so very humbled to stand in your presence... I have studied your missions extensively... Though I am Thermian, I have lived my life by your philosophy, by the code of the Mak'tar. ALEXANDER Well good, that's very... nice. QUELLEK (emotional) By Grabthar's Hammer, Dr. Lazarus, I- ALEXANDER Don't do that. I'm not kidding. QUELLEK I'm sorry, sir, I was only- ALEXANDER Just don't. QUELLEK ...Yes sir. (they come to a stop) Your quarters sir. 36 INT. ALEX'S QUARTERS Quellek opens the door and they enter. The room is a grey square completely barren. ALEXANDER This is it? QUELLEK Yes sir. Marvelous, isn't it? Completely distractionless. ALEXANDER Where's my bed? 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) Quellek pushes a button and SIX LARGE SPIKES rise from the floor. QUELLEK Just as on your home planet, sir. If I may say, it took me three years to master the spikes, but now I sleep with a peace I never thought possible... ALEXANDER Is that the bathroom? QUELLEK Yes sir... The use of your waste facilities were strangely absent from the historical records, so we had to extrapolate purely on the basis of your anatomy. 37 INT. ALEX'S BATHROOM They enter. Alex looks down at a thing that looks more like a torture device than a toilet, with elaborate 'tubes and stirrups and plugs going everywhere. QUELLEK You're quite complicated, sir. Alex stares at the thing, despairingly. 38 OMIT 39 INT. GWEN'S CABIN An exotic and beautiful room. Gwen is changing into her GALAXY QUEST uniform. There's a knock on the door. JASON (O.S.) It's Jason... GWEN One minute I'm - (he enters) Hey, I'm dressing.' JASON Oh come on, it's not like I haven't- She finishes and turns. 4/20/99 (BLUE) They just look at each other for a moment. Gwen breaks out into a smile, trying to find the words. JASON (cont'd) Yeah, I know. GWEN I just can't believe it. Any of it! Look at this room!.. They designed it based on the Tuaran Pleasure ship from "historical document" thirty seven. (looks at a mirror) Oh and wait, wait, listen to this! (looks up) Computer? COMPUTER Yes? GWEN What's the weather like outside? COMPUTER There is no weather in space. GWEN I never get tired of that joke. JASON Let me try. Computer? (no response) Computer?... GWEN Only answers to me. JASON But I'm the Commander! GWEN On the show I talk to the computer and repeat what it says. So that's what they built. JASON C'mon, we're wanted up on the command deck. But Gwen holds her ground. GWEN Wait. When are you going to tell them? 4/20/99 (BLUE) JASON Tell them? About... GWEN Who we are. Don't you think they're going to be PISSED? JASON Are you kidding? I'm not going to tell them. 4/20/99 (BLUE) GWEN Well you have to tell them. What if something happens? We're actors, not astronauts... We can't do this stuff! JASON It's not the STUFF. I mean, anybody can learn the STUFF... The important thing is COMMITMNT. 99% of anything is just committing to it. GWEN Ninty-nine percent of ACTING is commitment. ACTING. Stella Adler never manned a resonance cannon, she taught ACTING... Gwen moves toward the door. JASON Hey... Hey where are you going? GWEN We have no right to do this. They deserve to know. JASON Gwen... Gwen, c'mon, wait, no! Just then the door opens. Laliari enters. LALIARI Lt. Madison. The females of the ship have requested your imprint for archival purposes at the proposed Tawny Madison Institute for Computer Research. Gwen looks at Laliari, her eyes softening as she imprints her hand in a glowing PAD. GWEN The Tawny Madison Institute... Jason smiles. He knows he's got her. GWEN (cont'd) Well... maybe we could stay a LITTLE longer... She brushes past Jason, and they exit. 4/6/99 (PINK) 40 INT. HALUWAY Jason and Gwen turn a corner and join up with Tommy, Alexander and Guy. They keep walking toward the command deck. TOMMY What's going on? JASON I think we're going to exit the space port. GUY That should be something to see... 41 INT. COMMAND DECK They enter and gawk at the familiar hub, waiting for the show to start... not realizing they ARE the show. MATHESAR If you would all take your positions... THE ACTORS Oh, right... US! Yes, of course... US! They take their positions, marveling at the familiar control panels in front of them. Tommy turns to Guy. TOMMY Look.. This thingy... I remember I had it all worked out. This was forward, back... MATHESAR Commander, some of the crew has requested to be present at this historic event. Mathesar motions and a few CREWMEN enter, followed by a dozen more... followed by FIFTY more. They stand around the periphery of 'the room, watching eagerly. Tommy turns to Guy. TOMMY No pressure, huh? Glad I'm not the Commander. COMMANDER Okay, Lareo, take her out. Everyone in the room turns their attention to Tommy. His sarcastic smile drops. He looks mortified. TOMMY Excuse me? JASON They designed the ship from watching you. So... Take her out, Lieutenant... Tommy stares down at his control panel. It's pretty self explanatory, a throttle and a circular dial for direction. But daunting nonetheless. TOMMY Right. Okay, yeah, sure. Everyone's eyes are glued to him as he moves the throttle forward slightly. The ENGINES COME TO LIFE, a massive exhilarating sound. Tommy giggles nervously. His hand trembles as he pushes the throttle further. The ship start to move. The actors exchange worried glances. TOMMY Oh god. Oh my god.... 42 EXT. SHIP You can feel the WEIGHT of 'the giant craft as it eases forward, sliiding through the sides of the dock. 43 COMMAND DECK Everyone watches the forward monitor. Tommy turns the NAVIGATION DIAL slowly. Guy whispers to him... GUY More to the left... Stay parallel... TOMMY Hey, YOU want to drive? 44 EXT. STAR DOCK Indeed, the ship is slightly off course... It's like trying to get out of a tight parking space with concrete walls to either side. And the ship is veering ever so slightly into one of the walls. 4/29/99 (GREEN) 45 INT. COMMAND DECK Tommy turns the dial to correct... But it looks like the momentum might carry the ship into the wall anyway... Tommy PEGS the dial to the left... The others hold their breath as the bow of the ship moves closer and closer to the wall... Then... It TOUCHES. The sound of a soft but high pitched SCRAAAAAAAPE. TOMMY Oh shit. 46 EXT. STAR DOCK The ship is stopped, just grazing the wall EVER SO SLIGHTLY. 47 INT. COMMAND DECK All eyes are on Tommy. He doesn't know what to do... Should he continue forward, or back up, and scrape again for sure? The classic parking lot dilemma, magnified by ten thousand. Tommy grasps the throttle and moves it slightly forward... SCRAAAAAAPE. He keeps going, in too deep to back out now... And the ship continues to SCRAAAAAPE for a couple of horrible seconds as it completes the curve... And then it is free. The beautiful craft glides slowly out to open space... Jason and the others let out a sigh of relief. JASON Very good Lieutenant. Forward Mark two... Tommy smiles, relieved. He pushes throttle to the "2". TOMMY Mark two, Commander. 48 EXT. SHIP The ship glides out to space, only a relatively minor scrape of the paint job to show for the incident. 49 INT. DINING HALL The crew and various aliens sit around the large table, eating an extravagant meal. Mathesar makes a toast. MATHESAR To our brave guests. Few in this universe have the opportunity to meet their heroes. We are blessed to count ourselves among them. 4/29/99 (GREEN) JASON Wherever a distress signal sounds among the stars, we'll be there, this fine ship, this fine crew. Never give up, never surrender! Everyone clinks glasses. Quellek tips his glass to Alexander as Teb turns to Tommy. TEB We are sorry about the instrumentation, Lt. Laredo. There must have been a malfunction in the steerage mechanism. TOMMY (stern) Just see that it doesn't happen again. TEB Yes sir. (to Gwen) How are you enjoying your food, Lt. Madison? GWEN Oh it's fantastic. French is my favorite. TEB Yes, we programed the food synthesizer for each of you based on the regional menu of your birthplace. (turns to Alexander) Are you enjoying your Kep-mok bloodticks Dr. Lazarus? Alexander, miserable, toys with a bowl of living insects swimming in a disgustingly vomit-textured broth. ALEXANDER Just like mother used to make. He pushes the bowl away, nauseated. DISSOLVE TO: DINING HALL - LATER The actors are wilted, half asleep as Jason goes on... JASON The beast ROARED as I PLUNGED the knife again and again... I held on for dear life as it thrashed about! And that was (MORE) 4/29/99 (GREEN) JASON (cont'd) the day : learned that a Kilve Serpent bleeds red. (beat) What price man? What price man? ALEXANDER Tell me, Mathesar, this Sarris bloke we're flying to meet... What is it he wants exactly? MATHESAR For years, Sarris has plundered the resources of our planet. Our people, our technologies. We built this ship in order to find a new planet to settle. One far away from Sarris. We are not a people accustomed to confrontation. We are scientists. This ship was our salvation. A tick jumps off of Alexander's spoon back into the soup. MATHESAR But Sarris found out about our plans just as we had completed construction of the (MORE) 4/26/99 (PINK) MATHESAR (cont'd) Protector II. He heard about the device... The Omega 13. GUY The Omega 13... Why does that sound so familiar?... GWEN The lost footage. At the convention. The mysterious device in our last episo--historical document. TOMMY What is it? What does it do? MATHESAR We don't know. GWEN But... You built one, right? TEB We built... something... from the blueprints and what references we could find on your internet... Our computer neural nets made educated guesses in areas we were uncertain. So there is actually much about the device we don't even understand. We were hoping you could enlighten us. JASON Well, it's... This was a device we... (looks around for help) discovered on an alien planet. We don't know what it does either. TOMMY Why don't you just turn it on and see? TEB It has at its heart a reactor capable of generating unthinkable energy. If we were mistaken in our construction by even the slightest calculation, the device would act as a molecular explosive, causing a chain reaction that would obliterate all matter in the universe. ALEXANDER Let me at the switch. 4/26/99 (PINK) JASON Mathesar?. .. Has Sarris seen the.. historical records? MATHESAR NO, Thank God he has not. JASON Then how did he find out about the device? MATHESAR Our former Commander was not... Strong. JASON Former Commander? MATHESAR I'm sorry. You deserve to be shown. He nods to a Crewman who pushes a button. A wall panel moves aside to reveal a large VIEWSCREEN. An image appears with a lot of static, and the sound cuts in and out... MATHESAR The tape was partially demagnetized as it was smuggled off of Sarris' ship. But through the static we can make out an image: The former Commander, in ALIEN form, Is strapped to a metal board. Each of his wrists and ankles is secured with mechanical devices and twisted in different directions. MATHESAR Originally, one of our own tried to lead... ONSCREEN Sarris stands over the alien with a control panel. SARRIS (ON MONITOR) Is that all? You have no more to confess to me? No? After three days of this you still require incentive? Sarris moves switches on the panel. The device pulls at the alien's limbs, twisting them horribly. Bones crackle. ALIEN COMMANDER (ON MONITOR) I say again... I have told you all I know. To my shame, I have told you everything. If you have any mercy within you, please, let me die. 4/28/99 (YELLOW) SARRIS Oh I shall, I shall... When I grow weary of the noises you make, my little plaything, be assured, you shall die... Sarris toys with his control panel. Mercifully the screen fuzzes up with static and we can only HEAR the bone chilling SCREAMS... We PAN around the table, past GWEN, ALEXANDER, TOMMY, GUY...Their mouths open in horror as they watch the screen. Camera stops on JASON. He stares, the blood draining from his face. 50 INT. HALLWAY The actors walk down the hallway behind Jason, panicked. GWEN We're leaving, Jason. We're leaving NOW. JASON Let me think. I need time to think. ALEXANDER He wants to THINK!? TOMMY No, Jason, that's a wrap! There's nothing to think about! GUY Listen, I'm not even supposed to BE here. I'm just Crewman #6. I'm expendable. I'm the guy in the episode who dies to prove that the situation is serious! I'm leaving NOW. Mathesar comes running up, looking distressed. MATHESAR Commander... JASON Mathesar, I need you to prepare pods for my crew. GWEN Your crew? What about you? Jason looks torn. He starts to say something, but- 4/28/99 (YELLOW) MATHESAR Begging your Commander's pardon, sir, but we cannot launch pods at the moment. Sarris will surely detonate any objects leaving the ship. (beat) Yes sir, he's (MORE) 4/26/99 (PINK) MATHESAR (cont'd) here now. Your presence is required on the command deck. Everyone reacts, alarmed, and we 51 INT. COMMAND DECK The actors enter the empty deck followed by Mathesar. GWEN There's nobody here. Jason... JASON Mathesar, maybe we should get some of your crew up here. MATHESAR I thank you for your consideration to our pride, but while my people are talented scientists our attempts to operate our own technologies under tactical simulation have been disastrous. He leans over to Gwen's computer station as she sits, and pushes a button. MATHESAR I have raised Sarris on zeta frequency. GWEN Uh... Great. Thanks. JASON Still, Mathesar, your crew may nonetheless be helpful in certain- But he is interrupted by the sight of SARRIS appearing on the large VIEWSCREEN. Sarris now wears a metal eyepatch, and has a long scar across his cheek. SARRIS We meet again Commander. The crew stares at Sarris. A frightening visage. JASON Yes... Hi Sarris... How are you doing? SARRIS Better than my Lieutenant. He failed to activate ship's neutron armor as quickly as I'd hoped on our last encounter. He brings into view a stake with the impaled head of his former Lieutenant. JASON Right. Well... Listen, I'm (laughs) I'm sorry about that whole... thing.. before. It was kind of a misunderstanding. I'm sure we can work this out like reasonable people... How's the uh... (motions to his eyepatch) ... that going to heal up? God, I hope so, I feel just awful about that. SARRIS Deliver the device now or I will destroy your ship. JASON Listen, I'd like to, but frankly.. I'm not even sure where it is, or even... SARRIS You have ten seconds. JASON All right. You got it. You win. I'll deliver it now. Just give me a moment to set it up. Jason motions to Gwen to cut the transmission. Gwen nods. JASON All right, now nobody panic, I've dealt with this guy before and believe me, he's as stupid as he is ugly. GWEN Jason.. JASON We're going to fire everything we've got at him, all right? GWEN JASON... JASON You just keep pushing those buttons, those there, send everything at him, okay? Guy looks at the buttons labeled with icons of armaments. GUY ...Okay JASON All right. Put me back on with him. GWEN I'm trying to tell you. You ARE on with him. SARRIS Perhaps I am not as stupid as I am ugly, Commander. Jason turns to Gwen horrified. JASON I made the CUT THE LINE gesture. You nodded okay.' GWEN I thought It was the "We're dead" gesture! I was agreeing! Like I know where the hold button is??? JASON (nervous jovial) Listen, Sarris, you can't blame me for trying... SARRIS Of course not... GUY Guys... Red thingy moving toward the green thingy. Red thingy moving toward the green thingy! JASON What? Guy motions to the radar screen. The red blip is about to impact. GUY I think we're the green thingy. SARRIS A present for you, Commander. COMMANDER Shit. Turn. Gun it' Get out of- The shit is POUNDED BY A TORPEDO BLAST. Now, unlike the "run back and forth" shake-the-camera explosions of the TV show, the result here is jarringly BRUTAL, like side-slamming a Hummer at 70mph. The entire crew goes FLYING from their positions and into the walls. The lights FLICKER. They exchange glances, for the first time, bona fide FEAR In their eyes. This is REAL. Then ANOTHER blast sends them crumpled against walls and objects like rag dolls. The pain is palpable as they try to get back to their stations. JASON We've gotta get out of here! Tommy looks at the sparkling map of lights on his dash. TOMMY Where? JASON Just GO! GO! DAMMIT PUNCH GO! Tommy punches the red button. They all hold on for dear life as the ship roars forward, across the path of Sarris' ship. GWEN They're turning. They're COMING. An explosion rocks the ship. Then another, and ANOTHER... COMPUTER The ship is sustaining structural damage. GWEN Guys, we're sustaining structural damage!... JASON Faster Tommy. Get us out of here! TOMMY It's as far as it goes! GUY They're still behind us... JASON We should have a turbo. I'm always saying "activate turbo boosters", right?... TOMMY Could be this. JASON Push It. Hold it down. He pushes the turbo. The ship begins to VIBRATE. COMPUTER The enemy is matching velocity. GWEN The enemy is matching velocity. ALEXANDER We heard it the first time! GWEN Shit! I'm doing it! I'm repeating the damn computer! Suddenly an image of Fred down in the generator room appears on the side viewscreen. He's taking it all in stride. FRED Hi guys. Listen, they're telling me that the generators won't take it, the ship's breaking apart and all that. Just FYI. The viewscreen goes black. The ship ROARS forward. ALEXANDER We've got to stop! JASON We stop we die. Keep holding the thruster down Tommy! ALEXANDER You don't hold a thruster down! It's for quick boosts JASON Like YOU know? The ship GROANS and CREAKS. Then a loud KLAXON sounds. GWEN I remember that sound! That's a bad sound! Jason looks forward. In the distance is an amorphous MASS... JASON Maybe we can lose them in that cloud. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) GWEN I don't think that's a cloud... As they approach, the "cloud" reveals itself to actually be thousands upon thousands of SLOWLY ROTATING OCTAHEDRONS. JASON Mathesar? What is that? MATHESAR It's the Tothian mine field left standing from the Great War of 12185. Their jaws drop as they see the vast array of MINES. ALEXANDER May I get the check? GWEN The ships are gaining... JASON Do your best, Tommy... TOMMY Oh god... THE FIRST MINE HITS, ROCKING THE SHIP... BOOM! Tommy SWERVES to avoid it, running into another mine. Then another. Tommy couldn't do worse if he were aiming for them. ALEXANDER Could you possibly try (BOOM!) not to hit (BOOM!) every (BOOM!) single (BOOM!) one! TOMMY They're drifting toward me... I think they're magnetic!... 52 EXT. PROTECTOR The ship HURTLES FORWARD through the mine field, taking considerable damage as the mines impact. PIECES of the ship fall off behind it... 52A INT. SARRIS' SHIP Calm, Sarris watches the PROTECTOR fly into the almost certain death of the mine field. His LIEUTENANT flies ahead eagerly. LATHE Continue forward, sir? SARRIS Patience, Lt. . Patience. 53 INT. COMMAND DECK JASON We're almost through... Come on... Hold... The ship is now VIBRATING HORRIBLY. It GROANS and CREAKS hen.. RIVETS start to POP sending DEADLY PROJECTILES flying. ALEXANDER WE'VE HAVE TO STOP! GWEN FRONT ARMOR IS GONE! JUST SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE! JASON NO! WE'RE ALMOST THROUGH! ALEXANDER DON'T BE INSANE, STOP! FULL STOP! JASON KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING! TOMMY WHAT DO IT DO? WHAT DO IT DO? And then suddenly a LOUD GRINDING noise. Then SILENCE. The vibrating stops. Gwen looks up from her radar screen. ALEXANDER What's happened? TOMMY The engines are dead. We're drifting. JASON Are they behind us? GWEN No, I don't think so... Wait. They're not but... Something is. (beat) Oh my god. They look out the rear view screen to see... TWO DOZEN MAGNETIC MINES BEARING DOWN ON THEM IN A CLUSTER. JASON DOWN! They barely have time to brace themselves as the ship is ROCKED by WAVES of explosions. They hit the floor and try to ride it out. It's brutal... 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) EXT. SHIP The last of the mines explodes and the ship is sent tumbling lifelessly end over end through space. The exterior lights are dark. The once shiny hull now blackened and ragged. 55 INT. COMMAND DECK The deck looks dead and empty. Smoke is in the air. The lights are dim. The sirens have stopped. It's completely silent. The crew slowly emerges from behind panels and equipment, bruised and bloodied. Jason moves to Gwen. JASON Are you all right? (she nods, rising) Tommy. Where's Tommy? They hear a GROAN. Tommy is crumpled against the wall, his arm twisted impossibly. He's in agony. TOMMY It's broke... Oh God... Oh God... MATHESAR I'll take him to medical quarters. They exit, limping. Alexander rises, moves past Jason. Blood trickles down his forehead. In a mocking tone... ALEXANDER "Go into the cloud! ... GWEN Alex? Where are you going? ALEXANDER To see if there's a pub. He exits. The others turn to Jason, their faces sooty, their clothing torn and bloody. 56 INT. SHIP STRATEGY ROOM The crew sits around the room, licking their wounds. Alexander nurses a blue beverage. Tommy examines a high tech metallic cast on his arm. COMPUTER ...Forward thruster shaft, 87% damage... Left vector guards, 96% damage... Level 5 structural breaches in quadrants 32, 34, 40, 43, 58... 4/20/99 (BLUE) JASON And the engines? GWEN Computer, what about our engines? Why don't we have power? COMPUTER The Beryllium Sphere has fractured under stress. GWEN It's fractured... JASON Can it be repaired? GWEN Computer, can it be repaired? COMPUTER Negative. The Beryllium sphere will have to be replaced. GWEN We need another one. GUY Shit, the Beryllium sphere. That's bad... ALEXANDER (to Jason) You broke the ship. You broke the bloody SHIP! I told you you don't hold down a turbo. You push it once, maybe twice for a boost but you don't HOLD it. JASON Do we have a replacement Beryllium sphere onboard? GWEN Computer, do we have a replacement Beryllium sphere onboard? COMPUTER Negative, no reserve Beryllium sphere exists onboard. GWEN No, we don't have an extra Beryllium sphere. 4/26/99 (PINK) TOMMY You know, that's really getting annoying. GWEN (deadly) I have ONE job on this lousy ship. It's stupid, but I'm going to DO it. GOT IT? TOMMY (intimidated) Sure, no problem. Suddenly the door opens and seven Aliens enter, led by Mathesar. They look VERY SERIOUS. Guy exchanges an "uh oh" glance with Tommy... But the aliens fall to one knee, lowering their heads. MATHESAR A thousand apologies. We have failed you. JASON You what?.. What are you talking about? MATHESAR (wracked with sadness) We have seen you victorious in many more desperate situations. The fault must lie with us, with the ship... Gwen shoots Jason a glance... TELL THEM. JASON No... Listen, Mathesar. it's not your fault. We're... We're... ..... He can't bring himself to finish. GWEN We're not the people you think we are. MATHESAR I don't understand. ALEXANDER Mathesar, don't you have television on your planet? Theater? Films? MATHESAR The historical documents of your culture... Yes, in fact we have begun to (MORE) 4/28/99 (YELLOW) MATHESAR (cont'd) document our own history, from your example... GWEN No not historical documents... They're not all historical documents... I mean... surely you don't think Gilligan's Island is a... Mathesar and the others exchange sad glances... MATHESAR Those poor people... TOMMY Hoo boy... Mathesar and the others exchange quizzical looks. GWEN Does no one on your planet behave in a way that is contrary to reality? MATHESAR Ah. You speak of... Unable to bring the words to mind, he confers with his fellows. MATHESAR "Deception..." "Lies." JASON Well... Sort of... MATHESAR We have become aware of these concepts only recently. In our dealings with Sarris. Often Sarris will say one thing, and do another. Promise us mercy and deliver destruction... It is a concept we are beginning to learn at some great cost. (a worried beat) But if you are saying that any of you could have traits in common with Sarris. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) He starts to laugh, and the other aliens join in. MATHESAR You are our protectors... Our heroes. You will save us. Suddenly a VIEWSCREEN lights and we see Fred on the monitor from down in the generator room. FRED (ON SCREEN) Hey Commander. Listen, we found some Beryllium on a nearby planet. We might be able to get there if we re-configure the solar matrix in parallel for endothermic propulsion. What do you think? JASON I...Well, uh... Yes, absolutely. Fred turns to two young TECHS next to him, then licks and sticks two sticky GOLD STARS onto their wrists. They beam. FRED Correct! Gold star for you and a gold star for you... 57 EXT. SHIP The ship lumbers slowly forward. In the distance we see the swirling globe of a colorful and mysterious PLANET. 58 INT. SURFACE POD BAY - LATER Jason, Gwen, Tommy, Fred and Guy enter the small surface pod. Quellek, Alexander's protege, steps forward, hands Alex a device. QUELLEK Dr. Lazarus, here is your surface mapper. I have programed it to the coordinates of a Beryllium Sphere of sufficient density. ALEXANDER Thanks. QUELLEK (emotional) Good luck on your mission, Sir. By Grabthar's Hammer, by the Suns of Warvan I wish you- ALEXANDER (holds up a warning finger) Uh uh! What did we talk about? QUELLEK Right... Sorry, sir. 59 INT. SURFACE POD Tommy pilots the craft as the pod approaches the beautiful and mysterious planet. Guy looks out the window nervously. GUY I changed my mind. I want to go back. ALEXANDER After the big fuss you made about not getting left behind on the ship? GUY Yeah, but that's when I thought maybe was the crewman that stays on the shin and something is up there and it kills me, but now I'm thinking I'm the guy who gets killed by some monster five minutes after we land on the planet... JASON Guy, you're not going to get killed on the planet, okay? GUY Oh, I'm not? I'm not? Then what's my last name? JASON Your last name. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD GUY Yeah, what is it? JASON It's... I don't know. GUY No. Nobody does. Do you know WHY? Because my character Isn't IMPORTANT enough for a last name. Because I'm going to DIE five minutes in, why bother to come up with a last name for me? GWEN Guy, you HAVE a last name. We just don't KNOW it. GUY Do I? DO I? For all you know I'm just "CREWMAN #6"! (hysterical) Okay, it's FLEEGMAN! Guy FLEEGMAN! There! Now I'm a whole person! I can't die! FLEEGMAN! THEY CAN'T KILL ME NOW, CAN THEY? CAN THEY? Jason slaps him. GUY See? I'm the hysterical guy who needs to be slapped, and then I die! ALEXANDER (sighs) Are we there yet? 60 EXT. SURFACE POD The pod makes its way toward the surface. 61 INT. POD The ship shakes as it lands. Everyone exchanges anxious glances. As they set down everyone applauds, complimenting Tommy on the landing. Tommy looks away, shamed. TOMMY Autopilot. Everyone looks away, disappointed. Suddenly the HATCH opens with a loud PHHHHT of air decompression. Fred has opened it. GUY What are you doing! You don't just open the door! It's an alien planet! Is there air!? You don't know, do you! 3/4/99 (GOLDENROD) Fred sniffs the air. FRED Seems okay. Guy sighs. 62 EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY The six exit the craft tentatively. Guy looks around, apprehensive. JASON Which way, Alex? Alexander looks down at his mapper. ALEXANDER This way... Wait, no, that way... They turn in the opposite direction. TOMMY You were holding it upside down weren't you? ALEXANDER Shut up. TOMMY You know, with the makeup and everything1 I actually thought he was smart for a second. ALEXANDER You think you could do better "Laredo?" TOMMY Hey, watch that "Laredo" shit. GUY We're screwed... We're so screwed... JASON All right, let's all settle down. If we're going to get through this we're going to have to exercise self control. GWEN Self control? That's funny coming from the guy that slept with every Moon Princess and Terrakian slave girl on the show!... 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) JASON Did it ever occur to you that if you had been a little more supportive you could have held on to me? GWEN I could have held on to YOU! ... ALEXANDER We re really going to do this HERE? 63 OMIT 64 ROCKY INCLINE - "SPOOKYVILLE" It's darker here, more menacing. Jagged cliff overhangs form spooky shapes. Guy looks around nervously. JASON How much further? Alexander measures the distance on the device between his fingers and holds them up. ALEXANDER About this much. JASON What's the scale? Is that ten miles? A hundred miles? ALEXANDER THIS much. Guy glances back to see the rocky trench they just passed through. The ROCK SHAPES jutting from the walls look vaguely like arms and hands... Suddenly Guy YELLS as he drops out of frame. The others turn to see him on the ground, struggling, his foot lodged in a crevice in the landscape. GUY It's got me it's got me! See? FIVE MINUTES! I told you! Jason runs back and starts to help extricate Guy. He pulls his foot free and looks around. GUY Something grabbed me! IT DID. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) The others shake their heads and continue forward. Guy rises, trying to put his shoe back on as he runs to catch up. JASON Easy son. It's just your imagination. Hang tough. He clasps Guy's shoulder in a commanderly way. GWEN You're playing your good side. JASON Don't be ridiculous. ALEXANDER And note the sucked in gut. TOMMY ...Sleeves rolled halfway up the biceps... FRED It's the rugged pose. The all nod in agreement. Jason is about to object, when suddenly everyone is stopped in their tracks by SPOOKY ALIEN WHISPERING and the sound of CRITTERS climbing around the surrounding cliffs. GUY That's it, that's what's going to kill me. JASON Let's just pick up the pace a little, shall we? 65 CREST OF HILL They climb to the crest, out of breath. Guy arrives last. They clear the ridge and Look down onto 66 VALLEY BELOW - MINING OUTPOST Below there is a small ABANDONED MINING FACILITY. Wind WHISTLES through various structures and power stations. In the center of the outpost sits a large shimmering boulder. JASON There it is. The Beryllium sphere. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) ALEXANDER Must be some sort of mining facility. GWEN Where are the miners? GUY Something BAD happened here. TOMMY Will you relax? Suddenly they become aware of a SMALL BLUE CREATURE emerging from one of the structures. It's blue and looks somewhat like a human child. It moves to a small pool of water and begins drinking. Its movements are very quiet and tentative. Then a few more BLUE CHILDREN emerge and join the first. GWEN (smiling, amazed) Look at that... Will you LOOK at that... They look like little children... ALEXANDER Could they be the miners? FRED Sure. They're like, three years old. ALEXANDER MINERS, not MINORS. He pronounces the two words exactly the same. Fred looks at Alex like he's crazy. FRED You Okay, Alex? GUY I don't like this... I don't like this at all... GWEN Oh, they're so cute. GUY Of course they're cute NOW. But in a second they're going to turn MEAN and UGLY somehow and then there are going to be a million MORE of them!... 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) Then another blue creature emerges. This one limps, its leg is hurt. It moves forward, DRAGGING its bad foot along the ground, making NOISE. EVERYONE Awwww..... It's hurt... Gwen rises up a little, tentatively waving at Limpy... GWEN Hi!... Hi there little guy... Guy PUSHES her down behind the rock before the creatures notice. GUY Jesus, didn't ANY of you watch the show!? The BLUE CHILDREN turn toward Limpy, and begin whispering in an alien tongue... ALIEN CHILDREN Gorignak... Gorignak.... Nak nak! GWEN Aw, look. They're helping the hurt one... Indeed the others move to the hurt creature, cocking their heads to the side empathetically... Then suddenly we see the aliens SMILE with SHARP RAZOR TEETH, their mouths SPREADING OUT IMPOSSIBLY ON THEIR FACES. They DESCEND on LIMPY, ripping him apart. We only see a GEYSER OF BLOOD from the center of the blue circle.... Our group is silent, horrified. GUY I am SO SICK of being right. GWEN (stunned horror) Let's get out of here before one of those things kills guy. JASON We gotta get that sphere, or we aren't going anywhere. Reluctantly, they all nod in agreement. 5/4/99 (GOLDENROD) JASON All right... here's the plan: First, Fred, we need a diversion to clear those things out of the compound, then Gwen, Alex, Fred and I go down to get the sphere. Any of those things come back, give a signal. Guy, you set up a perimeter. GWEN Why does this sound so familiar? TOMMY "Assault on Voltareck III." Episode... 31 I think. GUY We're doing episode 31? TOMMY Whatever, the one with the hologram. The wall of fire. GWEN How the hell is Fred supposed to project a hologram? GUY We're doing episode 31, Jason? JASON It doesn't have to be a hologram... Just a diversion. GUY Jason, are we doing Episode 31 or not? JASON It's a rough plan, Guy! What does it matter if we're doing episode 31 or not?! GUY BECAUSE I DIED IN EPISODE 31! ALEXANDER (interrupting) This is ludicrous. Why are you listening to this man? Must I remind you that he is wearing a costume, not a uniform?... He's no more equipped to lead us than THIS fellow. (motions to Guy) No offense.