QUANTUM LEAP: THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA
Quantum Leap: The Alpha and the Omega By L M G (NOTE: MIRROR IMAGE Dialogue & ALT. ENDING are owned by Universal Studios and Belisarius Productions) 1. FADE IN: ZIGGY MONOLOGUE: (Scenes from MIRROR IMAGE play as monologue is said over clips) Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, (CUE outside of Project QL) Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap Accelerator and vanished... (CUE Sam first leaping) On August 8, 1953, Dr. Beckett found himself in a local bar in the small town of Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, (CUE Sam first leaping to bar) appearing for the first time in several years as his true self (CUE Sam startled at seeing his reflection in bar’s mirror for the first time). Here, learning of some of the mystical intricacies behind Project Quantum Leap, (CUE Sam hugging Frank lookalike, Stawpah leaping, and Bar Gooshie’s mirror image) he was given a choice to either continue leaping or to return home (CUE Sam talking to Bartender Al). Realizing that he had not put everything right in history as he could have (CUE Sam sadly reminiscing of Al and Beth dancing with scenes from MIA), he decided to continue leaping, putting the welfare of his best friend before his own, and leaping back to April 3, 1969 to prevent Al’s first marriage from ever ending. He then vanished, (CUE Sam leaping from bar) never to be seen or heard from again until now . . . (CUE Sam leaping to Beth’s house) INT. BETH’S HOUSE –- LIVING ROOM –- NIGHT SAM BECKETT and BETH CALAVICCI sit down on the room’s couch as “Georgia On My Mind,” by Ray Charles, plays on the turntable. SAM I’m going to tell you a story, Beth, a story with a happy ending, but only if you believe me. BETH And if I don’t? SAM You will. I swear you will. But instead of starting with “Once upon a time...,” let’s start with the happy ending. Al’s alive, and he’s coming home. Both of them break down with tears of joy. We slowly look from Beth’s overjoyed face to a silver picture frame behind her on an end table holding a picture of a young AL CALAVICCI. The picture then radiates with a blue electrical light as the picture leaps to another photo taken years later of Al, Beth, and their children together. As our view is slowly pulled back, it is revealed that we are in... INT. AL’S DEN –- NIGHT At his home at Project Quantum Leap in the year 2000, Al’s den is a classic den with leather and wood and a warm, comfortable look. Our usual older Al sits in an overstuffed chair, smoking a cigar and staring at a silver framed photo in his hand. Beth sits half on the chair and half on him. She’s older and her hair is streaked with gray, but she’s still beautiful... especially when she smiles. AL Wherever he’s leaped, Sam’s still himself. BETH Because no one's in the Waiting Room? AL There's no other explanation. (beat) Ziggy’s starting a nanosecond search in the morning but I got a feeling Sam’s leaped beyond his lifetime. BETH Into the past or future? AL (firmly) The future. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. (beat) He's in the future, way in the future... far beyond his lifetime. BETH How’d he get there? AL The bartender sent him. BETH The bartender? AL Why not? Anyone who has the power to leap Sam through time can be anyone he wants to be ... a bartender, a train conductor ... a steam-bath attendant. Beth takes a second to absorb that, then looks down at Al. BETH He’d know where Sam was in the future. AL How do I ask him? As a hologram, he couldn't hear me. BETH If he's God, I think he'll hear you. AL Good. But without Sam in that bar, I can't get there. BETH You could if you leaped. The Observer looks slowly up to Beth, realizing she's hit on the solution. AL I might not come back. BETH You'll come back. Anyone who came back from Vietnam can come back from anywhere. AL Thirty five years and you still amaze me. He pulls her into his arms and passionately kisses her. Then, he's out of the chair and gone. We focus on Beth as she watches him leave. BETH (to herself) So do you. Over her face, we hear the.... ANNOUNCER’S VOICE Here's the windup and the pitch. INT. AL’S PLACE - NIGHT - CLOSE ON RADIO The dial glows yellow from this old Philco model set in the backroom of the bar. We hear the crack of a bat and the roar of a crowd as the announcer Rosey Rosewell supplies the color. We pull back from the radio. ANNOUNCER'S VOICE It's a long fly ball to left field. (excited) Open the window Aunt Minnie, here she comes! Our pull back reveals Ghee standing next to the Philco. The miners at the bar stop their raucous celebration and turn to the radio to hear the crash of broken glass that's Rosey's sound effect for a Pirate home run. The miners cheer as the Rosey continues. GHEE Do you believe this! (beat) They trade Kiner and now half the team’s hitting home runs. Bartender Al smiles and slides a draft to Miner Ziggy and then picks up Mutta’s glass to refill it. MINER ZIGGY Nobody on the Pirates will ever break as many window canes as Ralph Kiner did. MUTTA Panes not canes. Window Panes. MINER ZIGGY I said panes. MUTTA You said canes. A blue light materializes next to Miner Ziggy, coalesces with electric, arcing into Al and dissipates. Mutta and Ziggy seem oblivious to Al’s sudden appearance and speak to him as if held been there all along. MUTTA (to AL) Didn't Ziggy-say canes? Window canes? AL (swiss cheesed) I don't remember what she said? MUTTA She? AL Ziggy. MINER ZIGGY You must be a friend of Sam’s. (explaining to Mutta) Sam knows a Ziggy who's a woman, an ugly woman. Ghee joins them. GHEE He must have seen you in your dress at the Beer Barrel Reunion. AL You cross-dress? MINER ZIGGY Cross-dress? AL Dress like the opposite sex. GHEE My Aunt Anna does that. AL Dresses like a man? GHEE No, like a woman. Ghee slaps the bar and, laughing at having put one over on Al, moves off with Mutta and Miner Ziggy. Bartender Al wipes the counter in front of Al who is now slightly isolated from the miners. BARTENDER AL What'll it be? AL Information. Al shoves the punchboard to him. BARTENDER AL Twenty-five cents a punch. Hit the jackpot and I'll answer your question. AL I got to gamble to get info from God? BARTENDER AL Who said I was God? AL Sam did. He said you were God or Time or Fate. BARTENDER AL (laughs) Why not an alien while you're at it. AL (stunned) Oh, my God.... BARTENDER AL What? AL We didn't think of that! (realizing) It makes sense. You could be a higher intelligence from the outer reaches of the universe! BARTENDER AL I'm afraid the only alien here is you, Al. AL Why me? BARTENDER AL Because you're the only one who doesn't belong here. AL What about Sam? BARTENDER AL He's not here anymore ... he's on the job. AL In the future, right? BARTENDER AL Right. AL (pissed) Without me! BARTENDER AL I didn't think you were needed. AL (incredulous) You didn't think I was needed! (beat) Who flew the X-2? Me! Who taught him Elvis' moves? Me! Who showed him how to box, shoot pool, draw a six-gun ... kiss the girl! BARTENDER AL (amused) You. AL You're damn right, me! (quickly adds) If you're God, excuse the language. BARTENDER AL If I'm God, you're excused. AL Sam wouldn't have righted a single wrong if it wasn't for me. BARTENDER AL Well.... AL Okay. Maybe one or two, but he needs me. And more important... I need him. Al thinks this over for a moment before speaking. BARTENDER AL The past has been mere prologue. Where Sam has gone, there is great danger. AL Cut the Star Wars dialogue! Are you going to send me with him or not? BARTENDER AL You'd no longer enjoy the safety of a hologram. AL I was kinda hoping that would continue. BARTENDER AL You'd be a Leaper, like Sam, with all the inherent risks. AL I still want to join him. BARTENDER AL That's all it takes. AL What do you mean? BARTENDER AL You just have to want to do it. Bartender Al steps aside and Al looks into the mirror. AL’S POV –- REFLECTION IN MIRROR Everything suddenly changes. The bar, the miners, all have leaped far into the future and are space warriors enjoying a night at a space station bar. But the biggest shock of all is the observer ... he's a future version of a blonde bombshell. INT. REC BAR –- NIGHT Al spins around on the stool to find himself in the space station bar. Ghee, wearing the uniform of space pilot, leans in next to him with a lecherous grin on his face. GHEE’S VOICE I've been in a hundred rec bars from here to the Magellic Clouds and believe me, you've got the greatest set of cassabas I've ever targeted. AL Oh, boy. Uh... you’d be surprised. Al tries to move away. GHEE Hey, why don’t you and I take a little trip and then you can surprise me all you want. AL I don’t think so. Trust me. If you knew what I did, you definitely wouldn’t want to be. GHEE Oh, come on. I like surprises... especially big ones. He looks at Al from the chest down. AL (angry and sarcastically with his hand in a fist) Yeah, well I’ll give you a big one! GHEE Ooh, I like feisty women! Al gets ready to give Ghee a good, hard punch in the face. Before he does, a woman sitting at the bar speaks up. COMMANDER LAURA MATTHEWS, an older, but beautiful, woman in her middle to late 60’s, is sitting on Ghee’s other side in a dark, navy-blue, space pilot jumpsuit. Old age obviously hasn’t really set in with the vibrant, youthful-looking woman, however, which is apparent in her facial features and her pulled-back brown, curly hair, though it does show the occasional streak of gray. LAURA Hey, the little lady said no. GHEE (turns to other woman) Hey, darlin’, you’ll get your turn. He looks at Laura from head to toe. GHEE (CONT’D) Matter of fact, you can get the next shift as soon as I’m through here. LAURA What, are you deaf and dumb? The lady said no, so why don’t you just lay off or else. GHEE (laughs at comment) Oh, what’s the big, bad lady gonna do about it, huh? Hurt me? Oh, come on, let’s see the tough lady in action. Come on, I’ll even let you throw the first punch. He laughs as he turns back toward Al. LAURA Well, uh, if you insist... Laura kicks Ghee’s bar stool from under him. She then proceeds to pick him up, punch him in the face, kick him in the crotch, and pin him down to the bar counter by the throat. LAURA (CONT’D) (stern and serious tone) Now, apologize to the lady. Ghee gasps for breath and is reluctant to reply. LAURA (CONT’D) (to his ear) Unless you don’t ever want to have the ability to conceive children again, I suggest you do what’s being asked of you. Ghee still refuses. Laura kicks him in the crotch once more. LAURA (CONT’D) NOW! GHEE (in low, gasping- for- breath voice) I’m sorry. LAURA So that she can hear you... GHEE I’M SORRY! Al nods. LAURA Now let me tell you a little something: I don’t forgive, nor forget, that easily, so if I ever catch you in here again trying to pull something like that, I can guarantee you’ll lose more than just your pride. And believe me, I keep my word. Get it? GHEE Got it. LAURA Good. Laura lets go of Ghee’s throat. Ghee stands up, rubbing his neck, coughing. LAURA (CONT’D) Now get out of here, before I get the chance to do some permanent damage. Ghee persists to stand in front of her. LAURA (CONT’D) NOW! Ghee runs out of the bar. Silence fills the room as other customers stare at Laura. She notices everyone’s reaction. LAURA (CONT’D) Anyone else got a problem?! Everyone returns to their previous positions, finishing their drinks and acting like nothing ever happened. LAURA (CONT’D) I didn’t think so. (turns to Al) Are you all right? AL Uh, yeah, I’m fine, thanks. Who was that butt-head anyway? LAURA (looks at the door Ghee exits through) Someone who won’t be coming back here for awhile. AL Wait a minute—- where is he? LAURA Where’s who? AL The bartender. LAURA He’s over there. AL No, not him, the other one. LAURA There is no other bartender. Old Jack’s been the only one here since forever. Al looks over at the bar trying to find Bartender Al. LAURA Are you sure you’re all right? AL Yeah... couldn’t be better. (looks at her) Hey, thanks. I owe you one. LAURA No problem. It’s the least I could do. In my line of work, it’s expected. (looks at bar) Well, since we’re here, can I buy you a drink? AL Oh, no thanks. After all this, I should be the one buying you the drink. LAURA No, I insist, and besides, I could use the company. AL Well, since you put it that way… Both proceed toward the bar and sit down. LAURA Since we’re sitting here, I guess formal introductions are in order. The name’s Matthews… Commander Matthews. AL Commander, nice to meet you. Both shake hands. LAURA Laura, please. After what just happened, we might as well be on a first name basis. AL Ok, Laura. The name’s Al...Al... LAURA Are you sure you’re okay? AL Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m just a little dazed that’s all. LAURA Al huh? What’s that short for, Alberta or something? AL Uh, no, it’s actually… He looks at his reflection again in mirror across from the bar. AL (CONT’D) Al. Just plain Al. LAURA Oh. A nickname of some kind? AL Well, it’s what my friends call me, or used to anyway. LAURA Well, Al, what’s a little lady like you doing in a place like this, and alone no less? It’s obvious you’re not from here. AL It shows, huh? LAURA Let’s just say that usually a girl from these parts with uh… your figure wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity to have some fun with that guy. AL Well, that’s because I’m not from here. I’m looking for a friend. A very good friend. The best friend a guy… I mean girl could ever ask for. LAURA That’s gotta be some friend. AL Yeah, he’s a damn good friend. LAURA Well, I bet he’s lucky to have someone like you looking for him. AL (sadly) Yeah… LAURA So kid, where are you from anyway? AL What? LAURA Yeah, what planet? Earth? Venus? Magellic Clouds? Stardust Ravine? What? AL Oh, Earth. You? LAURA Same. What part? AL I... don’t remember... LAURA Don’t worry. It’ll come back to you. I can’t blame you with all the excitement. She notices Al sullenly staring down at the bar counter. LAURA (CONT’D) Boy, that friend must be something special, especially having a young woman like you out here alone looking for him. AL You’d be surprised. The REC BARTENDER, an older man in his late 60’s, walks over to the two. REC BARTENDER Hey ladies, what’ll it be? LAURA (turns to Al) Hey, do you like beer? AL Uh, yeah. I’ll have whatever you got. REC BARTENDER (merrily) Well, you have to be a little more specific than that. Nowadays we got about 100 kinds of stoklers from Pluto, 50 yeast-sets from Bander’s Pass, and who knows what else. Things aren’t as simple today in our good year 2020 as they were back in the good ol’ days. Right Laura? Al looks in shock at what he just heard. LAURA You like to try to torture me, don’t you, Jack? You know some of us would still like to retain some of our youth. REC BARTENDER Hey, you know me- I would stay 25 forever if I could! LAURA Yeah, so you keep telling me... (looks at Al worried) Uh, Jack, why don’t you bring over two Preverian shakers. REC BARTENDER (seeing Al) Yeah, you got it. He goes over to get drinks. LAURA Hey, what’s the matter? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. AL Did he just say what I think he said? LAURA Say what? AL What’s today’s date? What’s the year? LAURA Uh, let’s see here… it’s, uh, April 5, 2020. AL 2020? LAURA Man, you really are lost, aren’t you? AL You have no idea. LAURA I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do- after this, you can stick with me and I’ll help you find your friend. AL You’d really do that? But you hardly even know me... LAURA Yeah, well, let’s just say that I have a soft spot for these sort of things. Besides that, I’d never be able to forgive myself for leaving an innocent, foreign, young woman out here alone... and with my government contacts and rank, I could be useful. AL Thanks. I really don’t know how I can ever repay you for this… LAURA Don’t worry about it. And hey, if the government’s not here to do something useful, what’s it for? Both laugh, causing Al’s frown to grow into a grin. REC BARTENDER Here you go ladies-- two Preverian shakers. LAURA Thanks Jack. How much do I owe you? REC BARTENDER It’s on the house. I’ll reward anyone that gets Mr. G-string out of my face. (referring to Ghee) Laura proceeds to laugh as she takes a drink. REC BARTENDER (CONT’D) (to Al) You know, little lady, you’re lucky to have this gal on your side. You’re gonna find that she’s the best thing that’ll happen to you this side of the galaxy, especially with these space warriors around. AL Space warriors? LAURA Yeah. It’s just a nice term that we use to call every smuggler, thief, bandit, and low-life you come across in joints like this. (to Jack) No offense. REC BARTENDER None taken. AL Nice crowd. REC BARTENDER Yeah, well you should see it at happy hour… LAURA Hey! Not in front of the kid, huh? REC BARTENDER Oh, sorry. I occasionally have to be kept on my toes. You know, commander’s orders. LAURA Well somebody’s got to keep things in line around here. We can’t all go losing our dignity. REC BARTENDER Yes sir! LAURA At ease, soldier. AL No, really, it’s all right. I’ve had my share of worse places than this back when. REC BARTENDER Well, the jack-asses that show up haven’t changed, but, boy, the bars sure have. They never used to be this way. Yeah, I remember I used to own a nice little cantina down in Texas near the air force base. You remember, Laura? LAURA Yeah. REC BARTENDER It was called Mimosa Sunrise. AL Mimosa Sunrise? REC BARTENDER Yeah, Tequila Sunrise was already taken by the other bar down the road. Yeah, I loved that place. Matter of fact that’s where I first met Laura. I’m telling you, you’ve got yourself a true blue patriot on your hands. LAURA Jack... REC BARTENDER Why I remember this one time when-- LAURA Jack, you’re gonna bore the poor girl to tears. AL No he won’t. Besides, I’m interested now. REC BARTENDER Well, one time there was this drunken air force cadet who was really being an ass. He was going around getting into people’s faces, harassing the other cadets’ girlfriends, I mean really making a complete idiot out of himself. Anyway, Miss True Blue over here is having her usual chilled whiskey. AL Whiskey? LAURA Yeah. It was a nice break from those long, grueling nights on the base. REC BARTENDER Anyhow, this guy decides to start making trouble with this one young girl. Well, Laura here gets up to give the guy a piece of her mind. By now, she’s on her third whiskey. All right, well she tells him to cut the crap and get away from the girl. Of course being drunk, he says no. She then says to him “Have a drink,” chucks the whiskey bottle on his head, and knocks him out cold! Al and Jack laugh hysterically, whereas Laura is somewhat amused having heard the tale before. AL You actually did that? LAURA What can I say? I was a wild one back then. REC BARTENDER (continually laughing) The best part was it turns out that the bum was actually the son of some prestigious general from the base! LAURA No, no, the best part didn’t happen until the next morning. Ok, when I first get into the base, the general calls me into his office and tells me to sit down. Figuring that I’m going to be court-marshaled at this point, the whole room is in complete silence, death. Well, the general looks at me and says “Matthews, I’ve only got one thing to say to you... and that is you’ve done me the biggest damn favor of my life”! And then he asks me, “Would you care for a drink? I’ve heard you’re pretty partial to whiskey”! All continue laughing emphatically. That day they raised my rank from captain to commander! REC BARTENDER From then on, whenever anyone saw her, they’d say “I’ll have a whiskey on the wound”! LAURA I earned that title. REC BARTENDER Hell, you didn’t earn that title, you deserved it! AL It sounds like I’ve got myself quite a bodyguard here. REC BARTENDER Yeah, all she’ll have to do is even look at a guy and they’ll start running. LAURA Ha, Ha, very funny. She looks at her watch. LAURA (CONT’D) Well kid, it’s getting late, and I have to be at the base early tomorrow morning. And take it from me, if there’s one thing you don’t want to do in the morning, it’s make your government angry. Come on, I’ll help you find your friend. See you later, Jack. Both get up from the bar. AL Yeah, it was nice meeting you. REC BARTENDER You too. Hope you find your friend. AL Thanks. I have a feeling I’m gonna need all the help I can get. INT. REC BAR STATION –- CORRIDOR -- NIGHT We see Al and Laura exit the space station bar and enter a corridor. They proceed to walk down the corridor to their destination, passing other futuristic characters. LAURA In order to find your friend, we need to get to the closest Omega terminal there is. AL Omega terminal? What the hell is an Omega Terminal? LAURA You’ll see. AL (sarcastically) Oh great, I can’t wait to see what other exciting things I have to look forward to. INT. REC BAR STATION –- CORRIDOR –- OMEGA TERMINAL -- NIGHT We see the two reach a big, futuristic terminal with a screen, futuristic keyboard, and flashing lights. LAURA This is the Omega 3000. They call it that because they believe it’s the best and the last computer that man will ever have to create. That’s what they think. AL Don’t you have to pay a fee or something? LAURA No, it’s free for the public to use. The only setback is that it only searches for people on the closest planet to you. AL That’s odd. LAURA Well, they do that for safety precautions. That way, if there’s an ex-con on the loose and he wants to find out where you live, he’d have to go to the nearest terminal... AL Giving the cops an ample amount of time to locate and arrest them. LAURA Exactly. AL Huh... pretty clever for the future. LAURA What planet is your friend from? AL Uh, Earth. LAURA Well, this little baby only does it for Mars, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. What did you say your friend’s name was? AL Beckett. Sam Beckett. She begins typing on the futuristic keyboard. LAURA Sam Beckett-- any relation to the playwright? AL No, not that I know of. LAURA Huh. Go figure. She types in the information. Instantly, the results come in on the computer screen. LAURA (CONT’D) Let’s see here. There’s a Katherine Bonnick, maiden name Beckett, but that’s looks to be about it. AL It was worth a shot anyway… LAURA Well, just wait a second. We still have to see if your friend’s on Earth or not. AL What are you talking about? I thought you just said that these things only do searches on the closest planet. LAURA They do -- for the regular public, that is. She begins to go to a different screen. AL What are you doing? LAURA You can access the files of other planets from the same terminal if you have government clearance. Saves our boys in blue the trouble of having to go across the galaxy just to find one person. She types in her security access code, 6509-2108-GC89, under, in big, bold type, “USIF: ACCESS DENIED WITHOUT CLEARANCE.” She then presses another key to enter the information into the computer. Another screen then comes up reading “SECURITY CLEARANCE GRANTED.” LAURA (CONT’D) I told you sticking with me would have its perks. Al lets out a chuckle and a grin. LAURA (CONT’D) Now let’s take a look here… Sam Beckett… She once again types on the terminal’s keyboard, entering in the information as both of them watch the screen. LAURA (CONT’D) Ok, there’s a Thomas Beckett, but that seems to be about it here, too. Are you sure there aren’t any other places that he may be? Any other planets that he’s visited? AL No. No, not that I know of. LAURA I’m sorry kid. AL It’s okay. Thanks anyway. I really appreciate all that you’ve done. LAURA Don’t mention it. I’m just sorry we couldn’t find your friend tonight. AL I’m sure he’s out there... somewhere. A silent moment is exchanged between the two, as Laura looks heartbroken at Al, his head hanging down in disappointment. LAURA Is there any place I can take you? Any place that you have to spend for the night? AL No, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ll make do on my own. LAURA (contemplating the situation) Tell you what I’m gonna do: you come and stay with me at my place for the night, and tomorrow, as soon as I’m done with everything at the base, I’ll help you search for your friend some more. AL You’d do that? LAURA Yeah, I guess I would. You think I’m going to leave a young, good-looking girl out here alone? AL (laughs) I guess not. LAURA Come on. Let’s get out of here. INT. REC BAR STATION -- HANGAR BAY -- NIGHT The two leave the terminal and enter a hangar bay where space cruisers of all kinds are parked. Al follows Laura to her cruiser -- a black- colored model that could resemble the making of a corvette. Laura takes a card out of her pocket, very similar to that of a credit card, and slips it into a slot on the outside of the passenger’s side. Acting as a key, it unlocks the door. She then opens the door all the way, opening vertically instead of horizontally. LAURA There you go. She then walks over to the driver’s side, repeating the same motion as before. Both get into the space cruiser. She begins to turn switches on the dashboard and start the cruiser. INT. REC BAR STATION -- HANGAR BAY -- INSIDE CRUISER -- NIGHT Al looks around the inside of the space cruiser in awe. AL Wow, this is incredible! LAURA Yeah, well I guess being in the USIF has its incentives. AL USIF? LAURA Yeah, the United States Intergalactic Federation. AL Oh, right. It must have slipped my mind. This is amazing! LAURA (chuckles) Buckle up kid. We’re going for a ride. Al finds his seatbelt and puts it on. The space cruiser lifts off the ground and proceeds to another corridor labeled HANGAR EXIT. It then passes through an electric shield, creating a disturbance in the barrier, and flies down the corridor. AL What was that we just passed through? LAURA A security shield-- it prevents air from leaving the hangar bay and us suffocating to death. It also lets the hangar people know we just left. AL Wow. Hey, does this thing go any faster? She pulls his seatbelt tighter. LAURA Tighten your safety belt! She hits on the gas and sends the cruiser in a fast acceleration of speed through the corridor. They then exit the corridor and enter space. LAURA (CONT’D) YEEHAW! AL Now that’s a kick in the butt! The cruiser slowly decreases its speed and heads on a course for Earth. EXT. OUTER SPACE -- INSIDE CRUISER -- NIGHT Al looks out the window and is amazed by their current surroundings. LAURA Hey, are you all right? You act as though you’ve never been in space before. AL Oh, I have. It just seems that every time I come up here… it’s just so beautiful. LAURA Yeah, I know what you mean. It still amazes me too. You were probably too young to remember, but about 20 years ago, none of this even existed. No, all we had then was the old-fashioned car and jetliner. It probably wasn’t until about 18 years ago that the space cruiser came about, and even then it wasn’t that popular- not until the colonization of Mars and the accident. AL Accident? LAURA Yeah, the accident. Al still doesn’t understand. LAURA (CONT’D) Man, you really don’t remember much, do you? AL You don’t know the half of it. What happened? LAURA Well… it had to do with some top secret government base in New Mexico, out some place in the desert somewhere called Stallion’s Gate. AL (shocked) Stallion’s Gate? LAURA Yeah. Some think it had to do with the experimenting of new forms of technical warfare, including a new and even more lethal form of the atomic bomb. Others think it was the relocation of Area 51 and had to do with some type of alien conspiracy. But one of the craziest was the thought that it was actually the headquarters of a top-secret time travel experiment that the government was conducting. AL (even more stunned) You don’t say? LAURA Yeah, crazy huh? No one knows what really went on there though. Hell, I’ve worked with the US government for 38 years now, and I don’t even know. All that anyone really knows is that it dealt with radioactive materials. Anyway, about 20 years ago, some idiot decided to mess with whatever was going on there- caused the whole entire base to explode. Anything within a 100 mile radius was exposed to radiation. Only a handful of people survived, but… AL But what? LAURA With the amount of radiation they were exposed to, they didn’t last very long. If they did, it was for a few days, a week tops. It was pretty bad, not to mention how it affected the few people who did survive the blast. One of the survivors, when a squad we sent in found him, he started doing nothing but ranting his head off- not to mention his infamous bad breath, but they just figured it was do to personal hygiene. Anyhow, when they found him, all he could do was yell “He had to do it! He had to find him and bring him home! He had to find Sam!” Al suddenly realizes what has happened and why Gooshie hasn’t come to tell him anything about his leap. He begins to worry. LAURA (CONT’D) After that, they had to put a protective shielding around the whole site to prevent the spread of radiation. Once they did that, no one felt safe anymore. People began moving from their homes to up north, anywhere away from the state of New Mexico. And when the colonization of Mars had been discovered by the American public, everyone and their grandmother bought the first space cruiser they could get their hands on and left Earth for good. Now Earth is like a barren piece of rock. AL Why didn’t you leave? LAURA Well I not only have an obligation to my country, but my job. Not many people live there anymore, but anyone who has anything to do with the US government does. Nowadays, it’s just used for cadet training and government testing, but some of us like to call it home. AL You’re a very dedicated woman. LAURA You have no idea, kid. The cruiser approaches Earth. As it does, a vast visible force field is seen around the lower part of North America representing the protective shielding from the blast. Al looks at it in astonishment and fear. The cruiser plunges down toward the planet and lands in front of an old-fashioned 1990’s ranch-style home. EXT. LAURA’S HOUSE – FRONT DOOR – NIGHT The two passengers exit the vehicle and walk toward the front door. AL I can’t tell you enough how in debt I am to you. LAURA Don’t worry about it kid. You’re safety is all I need. Besides, we like to have company. AL We? LAURA Yeah, Apollo and I. She unlocks and opens the door. AL Who’s Apollo? LAURA Apollo, I’m home! INT. LAURA’S HOUSE –- LIVING ROOM –- NIGHT As they enter the house, a golden retriever, APOLLO, runs up to Laura and licks her face and hands in appreciation of her arrival. LAURA (CONT’D) Good boy. This is Apollo. Apollo, I’d like you to meet Al. Apollo goes over to Al in the same friendly manner. LAURA (CONT’D) That means he likes you. AL (smiling) Well he’s not that bad himself… LAURA Come on in… Both walk into the dark house. Laura flips a light switch next to the door entrance, illuminating the room. AL What, no voice-activated lights? LAURA Yeah, but I prefer the conventional way. Make yourself at home. Laura walks into a kitchen area of the house, Apollo following, while Al looks around the home’s living room area. It looks very similar to that found in the 1990’s, but it has a computer terminal on one of the walls, which adds a futuristic touch to it. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE – KITCHEN -- NIGHT Laura rips open a pressurized bag of dog food and empties it into a bowl, causing Apollo to become excited. LAURA Hey boy, are you hungry? Yeah, I know it. All right, here you go. She puts the bowl on the floor. She then proceeds to fill another bowl with water. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE –- LIVING ROOM –- NIGHT Al looks around the living room. A cluttered desk catches his attention. He walks over to it and begins to look at the different objects propped up on it. Numerous things are piled on the desk, from photographs to plaques and medals. He picks up a wooden picture frame. Inside is a photo of a younger Laura, about late 20’s, with two other women of the same age smiling. Al’s attention is then drawn to an area of the desk where we see another photo of Laura, about middle 50’s, with a man of the same age standing in front of a futuristic form of an air force jet. Next to it is a plaque holding her in high regard for the “Conundrum Project” and another photo of a group of trainees in the USIF. Laura, finished with feeding Apollo, walks back into the living room. LAURA Well I can see that you’ve been able to keep yourself occupied. AL Oh, yeah, well I was just admiring some pictures. He looks at the picture still in his hands. Laura walks over next to Al and looks at picture. LAURA Kind of hard to imagine that I was ever that young, huh? AL No-- I mean you’re a very beautiful woman. LAURA Well thanks, legs. Coming from you, that’s quite a compliment. AL (smiles) Well, I’m only stating fact. Who are the two other women? He hands the photo to Laura. LAURA (points to each woman next to her in photo) That’s my sister, Amy, and this is Danielle, one of my best friends. I haven’t seen this photo in a long time. (pause) Well, like I said, I’ve got to get to work early tomorrow, so let’s talk sleeping arrangements. She puts the frame back on desk. LAURA (CONT’D) Unfortunately, this is a one-bed home, but if you feel comfortable with it, you can use the sofa-sleeper in here. AL Sounds good. I could use the rest myself. LAURA All right. I’ll help you set it up. A few minutes have already passed by as we see Al getting the sofa bed in order. He sits down on the edge of the bed and begins to undress himself for the night, relieved to finally get out of the woman’s clothing he was wearing. Apollo sits in front of him watching. AL I don’t know how Sam did this. At least they don’t wear heels in the future. Apollo skeptically looks at him. AL (CONT’D) I bet you’ve never seen a man who had to act like a woman, have you? Well thank God you’re the only one who can really see me. He still looks at Al puzzled. AL (CONT’D) What am I going to do, Apollo? Everyone I know is either dead or lost, and I’m alone in the future as a blonde. I don’t know what to do. I’ve at least got you to talk to, right? With that, Apollo jumps up on the bed and lays down right next to Al. AL (CONT’D) If you can’t trust man’s best friend, who can you trust? INT. LAURA’S HOUSE –- BATHROOM –- NIGHT Laura finishes washing her face in front of the bathroom’s sink, dressed for bed in a pair of pajamas. She looks at herself in the mirror, in a sad, troubled state. She then turns off the light and exits the bathroom into the adjoining bedroom. LAURA Apollo. Realizing that he is not in the bedroom, she begins walking down the hallway toward the living room calling his name. She seizes her calling as she sees Al asleep on the sofa bed with Apollo lying next to him asleep, as well. Feeling safe about Apollo, she turns off the living room light from a light switch next to the hallway’s entrance. LAURA (CONT’D) Night kid. EXT. USIF BASE -- TRAINING CANYON -- DAY It is now the next morning. At the USIF Base, a space jet flies in a barren desert canyon. In the cockpit, a young male Hispanic cadet named ROSA maneuvers the aircraft, adjusting the controls on his console. RADIO FROM BASE This is Big Nest to Roadrunner. Come in Roadrunner, over. ROSA Read you loud and clear, Big Nest, over. In a control tower near the canyon, CAPTAIN PETERSON, a USIF captain, briefs Rosa on a futuristic radio com-system. RADIO- PETERSON All right, Rosa, you know the drill. This test is serious business, which means I don’t want to see any fancy flying maneuvers out there. ROSA Oh come on, sir, don’t you think you can trust me by now? PETERSON With you, Rosa, I never know. This project’s chucking out everything the USIF’s got, so do what you’re told and make it good. Got it? ROSA Affirmative, sir. Coming up on Mach 2. The gauge gradually increases to the 2 mark on the console. PETERSON All right, prepare Thruster 1 on Mach 3. ROSA Preparing Thruster 1, over. The gauge increases to the 3 mark. ROSA (CONT’D) Engage! He flips the switch marked Thruster 1. With that, the jet increases in speed with a sudden surge of force. ROSA (CONT’D) Whew! That’ll wake you up in the morning! PETERSON Cut the chatter, Roadrunner. Prepare Thruster 2 for Mach 6 on space lift. ROSA Preparing Thruster 2 on space lift, over. Initiating space lift. He pulls the control handles toward him as the jet flies up higher in the sky toward the outer reaches of space. ROSA (CONT’D) Coming up on Mach 6. The gauge creeps up the counter to the 6 mark. ROSA (CONT’D) Engage! He flips the Thruster 2 switch. Another surge of force causes the jet to increase in its speed even more and make it into deep space. PETERSON Okay, Rosa, let’s see if that pleading of yours really paid off. (hesitant) Prepare Thruster 3 on Mach 9. ROSA Preparing Thruster 3, over. Wings don’t fail me now. The gauge slowly comes upon the 9 mark. ROSA (CONT’D) Engage! He flips the Thruster 3 switch, and with that, another force surge. Rosa hopefully eyes the gauge. ROSA (CONT’D) Come on, baby, make it to 11. As the gauge steeps up and passes the 10 mark, a red light on the console labeled as WARNING: FLUX BREACH begins to blink and a buzzer begins to sound. PETERSON Roadrunner, eject now. ROSA Just a little farther… The gauge is at the 10.5 mark. PETERSON Rosa, get out of there now! That’s an order! ROSA Almost there… The gauge hits the 10.8 mark. PETERSON Rosa! Before the jet reaches Mach 11, it explodes into a fiery rose, debris flying everywhere. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- DAY Laura’s cruiser flies off toward the USIF Base as we immediately cut to a view of the hangar bay at the base with various futuristic jets parked inside. Numerous people are working in the hangar bay, doing maintenance on jets, and talking to each other. Laura walks through the hangar bay in her jump-suit attire and sunglasses carrying a black duffel bag as a group of three or four mechanic men talk to each other. As they see Laura walking toward them, they become very quiet and sullen. LAURA Morning boys. She walks toward an office in the bay. As she passes the group, they split up and go back to their work. She reaches the door to the office and takes off her sunglasses. Before she opens the door, she turns around and notices that the group has broken up. She shrugs it off and opens the door. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY OFFICE- DAY Two men around Laura’s age are in the office talking to each other, Peterson being one of them. When they see Laura, they stop and look at her with saddened expressions. LAURA Hey Hank! Hey Peterson! You should check the atmosphere out there. It’s as exciting as a wake. She tosses the glasses on the office’s desk and puts her bag down. PETERSON (awkwardly) Well, I better get going. I’ve got some papers to fill out. Talk to you later, Hank. See you, Laura. LAURA (disturbed) See you, Peterson. He leaves the office, closing the door behind him. Laura turns to Hank. LAURA (CONT’D) What’s up with him? HANK (sullenly) Bad morning. Laura, there’s something I have to tell you... LAURA (looking through mail on her desk) No, there’s something I have to tell you. You won’t believe the night I had. I was at Jack’s and ended up helping some girl get away from this loser-- HANK It’s about Rosa. LAURA (pauses) What about Rosa? HANK He’s dead. Laura becomes shocked by the news. HANK (CONT’D) I’m sorry, Laura. It happened this morning when we did the XS-18 test. LAURA When did it happen? HANK Just before he hit light speed. LAURA Did you do the FPS? HANK Right before we let him take off. LAURA Damn! HANK Laura, we did every test possible... LAURA Don’t give me that crap, Hank! That’s the second man we’ve lost out there! (cools down) All right… all right, it’s got to be the trans-flux coupling. After all the examining is done on the wreckage, I’ll take a look at the report and see what necessary modifications need to be made. Hank, I need you to get the XS-18 file for me. HANK I can’t do that. LAURA What do you mean you can’t? We’ve been on this project from the start, and now you start telling me you can’t get files? HANK Laura, I can’t give you the file. LAURA What’s going on here, Hank? An OFFICER opens the office door. OFFICER Commander Matthews, Admiral Jenkins would like to see you. HANK I think he can answer that for you. USIF BASE- ADMIRAL ABRAHAM JENKINS OFFICE- DAY Laura follows the officer to the Admiral’s office. Once they reach their destination, the officer opens the door of the office and allows Laura to proceed inward. ADMIRAL JENKINS, an older, African-American man, is sitting at his desk with a liquor bottle sitting on top, shot glass in hand, gazing out of an office window. JENKINS Thank you, Private. That will be all. You’re dismissed. The officer salutes his superior and leaves, closing the door behind him. JENKINS (CONT’D) Commander. LAURA (stern) Admiral. JENKINS Have a seat. Laura doesn’t comply. JENKINS (CONT’D) Laura, please, I’m not getting any younger. She sits down in a chair set in front of the desk. He proceeds to refill his shot glass. LAURA Isn’t it a little early to be drinking? JENKINS Today’s an exception. Have a drink? LAURA No thanks. I make it a rule not to drink after 2 AM. JENKINS (grins) I was thinking that you might need this more than I do. LAURA And why is that? JENKINS (seriously) Laura, I know what happened this morning, and judging from your disposition, I know you do, too. I was thinking that you might want to talk about it. LAURA There’s nothing to talk about. What’s done is done. I can’t change that. JENKINS No, but I know you. Hidden behind that rough exterior is a woman who’s taking this to heart. And you know what happens when you take things to heart. You know you don’t always have to be so tough. LAURA Abe, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s over. JENKINS Well, if there’s anything you ever need to talk about, I’m here for you. LAURA Well, since you brought it up, I’m going to cut the crap and get to the chase. Why did you void my clearance to the XS-18 files? JENKINS I was wondering when that’d come up. Who told you? LAURA Hank. JENKINS (sarcastically) Good old Hank- always there when you need him. LAURA He said that you had the answers I needed. So what’s going on here, Abe? JENKINS Laura, it’s nothing against you. With the latest turn of events, it just seemed like the right time. LAURA Right time for what? JENKINS Laura, you’re one of this project’s most valuable people, and ever since Jackson’s death not too long ago, all I’ve seen you do is nothing but working around the clock. And now… I think it’s time you took a break. You’ve more than earned it. LAURA Abe... JENKINS You’re not being kicked off the project, just a leave of absence until further notice. Look, take a few days off, relax, collect yourself, go on a vacation-- just get away from work for a couple days. LAURA Abe, I can’t do that. You know me. One day off of duty and I’ll go crazy. JENKINS Look Matthews, I just think that you could use the rest, if not for anything else, at least to grieve. LAURA The reason why the XS-18 ruptured-- it’s gotta be the trans-flux coupling. JENKINS Laura... LAURA (leans on front of desk) I get in there with an engineering crew, see what the problem is, and I can get it fixed and give you a full report in about half a week, a week tops. JENKINS Laura... LAURA Abe, there is something in that jet that that FPS isn’t picking up. Now we’ve already lost two men to that thing, and I’m not about to lose any more! JENKINS I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ll get a crew on it as soon as I can, but you’re still off the project for the time being. LAURA Come on, Abe. I’ve been on this project from the start. No one knows more about the trans-flux coupling than I do. Just give me a little more time… JENKINS Look, Matthews, I’m sorry, but you’re dismissed until further notice, and that’s final. Now I’m sure that you can keep yourself busy with something else for a couple of days. LAURA That’s just it. What am I supposed to do? I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I’ll go mad. JENKINS Isn’t there someplace you can go to take a load off? Any vacation destinations you’ve ever wanted to visit? LAURA I haven’t been on a vacation since I was a child. JENKINS Well, maybe now’s the time you try again. LAURA No thanks. JENKINS You could always pick up a hobby; you seem to like puzzles. LAURA Hey, now there’s a thought. I’ll just stay in my house and see how many puzzles I can put together without going cross-eyed. Give me a break. JENKINS (chuckles) You never were one to sit down for useless entertainment... you know, there is something you can do here at the base I think you might like. LAURA (perks up) Anything than going crazy. USIF BASE- CADET QUARTERS- LOCKER ROOM- DAY In the locker room, numerous cadets are at their assigned lockers, talking with each other and changing their clothes. On a close-up of a specific opened locker door, written on the front, we read the name Sam Beckett just before the door closes. Sam adjusts his clothes and holds a leather aviator jacket, as he has just changed into a cadet uniform. Standing next to him is another cadet, GARY BAKER, who is at his locker doing the same, talking to Sam. BAKER So what did you think of our little “program” this morning? SAM I’d say, “Don’t wake me up ‘til noon.” BAKER (snickers) It seems grueling now, but after awhile you’ll get used to it. SAM Hey, I’ve been doing stuff like this longer than you think, and I still haven’t gotten used to it. BAKER Well you better if you plan on making it to graduation. Speaking of, don’t forget we’ve got that class in about half an hour. SAM (puts jacket on) As long as it doesn’t involve brutal activity. BAKER Amen to that! Both laugh as another cadet, JAMES, walks up to them in a doleful manner. JAMES Hey guys. Keep it down, will ya? We’re trying to have our hour of silence. SAM Hour of silence? BAKER What happened? JAMES Didn’t you guys hear? SAM Hear what? JAMES Rosa’s dead. BAKER What? JAMES He died this morning right after he left Cutthroat’s Canyon. BAKER Oh my God... SAM Do they know how it happened? JAMES No, they’re still filing the report on it. If we’re lucky, they’ll tell us by the end of the day. I’ve got to get to class. I’ll see you guys later. SAM See you. James walks away. Sam looks at a shocked and mournful Baker. SAM (CONT’D) Come on, I’ll walk you to class. USIF BASE- CADET QUARTERS- CORRIDOR- DAY Sam and Baker talk to each other as they walk down the corridor toward their assigned classroom. BAKER I don’t believe this. Rosa was one of the best guys we had at this base. How could this have happened? SAM I know what you mean. I didn’t know him for that long, but part of me is mourning too. BAKER No, it’s not just that. Ever since they started testing whatever it is they’re doing here, every man who’s been sent up hasn’t come back- first Jackson, and now Rosa. And the thing is they know it. They’re sending us up there like test dummies, and they don’t give a damn whether we live or die. SAM It’s possible that it could have just been an accident. BAKER Accident my ass! If it was, they would tell us what happened. SAM But he just said… BAKER No, not when Beckett, but how. We’ll talk about this later. Right now, I want to pay my respects. SAM The hour of silence. Baker nods his head toward the right, and both turn the corridor toward their class. USIF BASE- CADET TRAINING FACILITY- CORRIDOR- DAY Laura and Peterson walk down another silent, but busy corridor. LAURA The hour of silence. PETERSON Yeah, the cadets just found out about it a little while ago. God, I can’t believe he’s gone myself. LAURA Same here. He was one of the brightest, most eager cadets I ever worked with. It’s hard for me to accept the fact that that light that shone from his face is gone forever. PETERSON I shouldn’t have let him go. He came to me begging to have a shot at the XS-18. He said he had what it took to make it work, and I let him go. It’s all my fault. LAURA No. No, if anyone’s to blame here, it’s me. I should have been here to stop him. PETERSON How? You didn’t know what was going to happen; none of us did. What happened was not your fault. LAURA Maybe, but there’s a difference between knowing how to do something and actually having the mature mind to know your limitations and how to apply yourself, something Rosa hadn’t accomplished yet. He may have known how to fly that thing, but he was still far from being ready, and I knew it. PETERSON I really am sorry, Laura. I know how close you two were. LAURA Thanks Peterson. So, what is this job that Abe thinks I’m perfect for? PETERSON Well, graduation for these cadets will be around the corner before you know it. Most of them have passed the requirements and are ready, but others have what it takes with the exception of a few things they need to work on. LAURA So where do I fit in this? PETERSON Well, we’re having classes right now for those others who need the extra training, and we’re kind of running low on instructors. LAURA You want me to be a cadet trainer? PETERSON Face it Matthews, you have the qualifications, and you’ve trained some of the best groups we’ve ever had here. LAURA Peterson, I stopped training cadets a long time ago. PETERSON I realize that, but still, the base could use your help. You’ve got the time, and Matthews, you’d be helping me out. LAURA I don’t know... PETERSON Nothing much has changed. It’s pretty cut and dry. LAURA You’re not gonna give up until I say yes, are you? All right, count me in. PETERSON Thanks, I owe you one. LAURA I’m holding you to that. PETERSON (chuckles) I’ll get you up to speed. Both continue to walk down the corridor toward the classroom. USIF BASE- CADET TRAINING FACILITY- TRAINING LAB- DAY In a large classroom, filled with cadets bustling into the room and hurrying into their seats, and various forms of futuristic equipment, we see Sam and Baker sitting in two desks together among others in the room. Suddenly a bell rings, signifying that class has begun. BAKER Now we get to find out when those push-ups from this morning come in. SAM (laughs quietly) Captain Peterson and Commander Matthews enter the room. Peterson approaches the front of the class, while Laura stands behind him against a futuristic projection screen, wearing her sunglasses. The class focuses its attention on Peterson. PETERSON Class, as you well know, graduation is coming up fairly quickly, and because of that, there’s a lot more extra work that needs to be done. So, for the duration of this class, I will no longer be your instructor. The whole class lets out a sarcastic sigh of disappointment. PETERSON (CONT’D) Now, I know that’s going to be hard for some of you, but you’ll manage. Replacing me will be Commander Matthews. From here on in, you report to her. Understood? The class replies in a not-so-caring response. PETERSON (CONT’D) I said understood? CLASS Yes sir! PETERSON All right. (to Laura) The class is yours. Peterson walks away and stands next to the door. Laura takes off her glasses, and takes his place at the front of the class. LAURA Thank you, Captain. As Captain Peterson just said, my name is Commander Matthews, and for the next few months, I will be your instructor. The reason why you are here is that it is believed that you have what it takes to be in the USIF, but still need a little more training. Here, we will concentrate on those areas that need more work, and hopefully help you master them. This class won’t concentrate on specifics, however, since all of you vary. And if there’s one thing I don’t want to do, it’s waste time on reviewing things we already know, cause remember if I didn’t know this stuff, I wouldn’t be sitting up here today. So we will be focusing on each and every one of you individually. That doesn’t mean I’m going to have you stand up here and use you as a guinea pig for the whole class. I wouldn’t let anyone do that. All it means is that we’re going to help you personally. All right? All right. She looks back at Peterson, who is waiting at the door. She nods her head, and in turn, he nods his and leaves the room. She then focuses her attention back to the class. LAURA (CONT’D) Well, on that note, let me tell you a little about the way things work here. As I have heard once said from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer when I was younger, when Comet was head of the reindeer games and talked to his buck students, “I’m not just your coach, but I want to be your pal.” That’s something I firmly believe in. When I teach a class, I not only like to be on a professional level with my students, but also on a personal one. So if you have any questions or problems, feel free to come up to me, and we’ll see if we can work something out. As you can see, I’m not exactly your typical serious instructor. I mean, who would be when they quote Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The class laughs. LAURA (CONT’D) But that doesn’t mean that I’m any less strict. Hopefully before the end of this class, I will know each of your names, and we can become good friends. So, with that out of the way, I guess we should get down to business. She finds a clipboard on the desk with a pen. LAURA (CONT’D) All right, when I call out your names, please respond. And when you do respond, I don’t want to hear any funny or sarcastic comments, just a simple “here” will do. Okay, let’s see here... She begins to call off the cadets’ names one by one. Each cadet responds with a “here” response. She says each name: Allan, Anchor, Baker, and Baxter. She finally comes across the name Beckett. LAURA Beckett? SAM (raises his hand) Here. LAURA And your first name is Sam? SAM Yes sir-- ma’am. LAURA Any relation to the playwright? SAM Uh, no, ma’am. LAURA Hmm. She pauses for a moment, realizing that this could be the same Sam Beckett that Al is looking for. She then looks back at the clipboard and continues to call out the other names. LAURA (CONT’D) Okay, where was I? Uh, Cameron... LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- DAY Back at the house, Al wakes up from his long night’s rest. Sitting up in the sofa-sleeper in the middle of the living room and rubbing his face, he sleepily looks at a digital clock on the desk that reads 12:25 PM. AL Ah, 12:25? I don’t think I’ve ever slept that late, unless I was in bed with an attractive blonde the night before. Laura? Oh, that’s right, she said she had to get to work early this morning. Suddenly he sees a folded dark blue jumpsuit on the bed, with a note lying on top of it. He grabs the pile, and begins to read the note. Realizing that Al’s awake, Apollo jumps up on the bed and lies down next to him. AL (CONT’D) “Had to get to work early… jumpsuit for change of clothes… There’s plenty food in the kitchen when you get hungry. Don’t worry about Apollo, he’s already taken care of. In case you can’t find anything to do, the computer terminal has a lot of options, so you’ll probably be able to keep yourself occupied ‘til I get back. I won’t be home until probably around 6. See you then! -Laura” (to Apollo) Well, looks like it’s just you and me, Apollo. You hungry? Apollo barks. AL (CONT’D) Let’s go see what we can dig up. Al walks into the kitchen, Apollo following. He proceeds toward a futuristic-styled refrigerator and opens its door, while Apollo goes straight to his food bowl and begins eating. Spotting a bottle of what appears to be orange juice, Al takes a mouthful of it and swallows it with a disgusted expression. AL (CONT’D) Oh God, what is this stuff? You can’t even get a good orange juice anymore? (looks at label) Thumbs Up: Strained, Purified, And Enhanced Protein Drink- “A great way to start your day!” I don’t know what nozzle gave this junk two thumbs up, but I can tell you how to lose your day and your cookies. What else do we have in here? Oh, forget it. He closes the door and goes to open a kitchen cabinet. AL (CONT’D) Dog chow- this must be for you, unless they’ve once again degraded the taste of food to cardboard. Ah, here’s something. (picks up box) Nutrient Supplement Bars. He takes out a bar, opens its packaging, and smells it. AL (CONT’D) How much worse could it get? He takes a bite, then spits it out with distaste. AL (CONT’D) It gets worse. Well, I guess my chances of getting a decent cup of coffee are shot. (to Apollo) How good’s that dog chow? Apollo keeps eating. AL (CONT’D) That good, huh? There has to be something to eat that’s actually food. An ad located near a cordless cell-phone on the kitchen counter suddenly catches his eye. It reads “Mario’s Grocery Service- open 24 hours, home delivery or pick-up. Call (910) 888-2691 to place your order today.” AL (CONT’D) (looks up to God) Thanks. He picks up phone and begins to dial. AL (CONT’D) Now let’s see if real food exists in the future. Someone picks up the call. AL (CONT’D) Hi, I’d like to place an order for... He sees the house’s address on the phone. AL (CONT’D) 2151 Amber Drive. The name’s Al Calavicci. VOICE FROM PHONE RECEIVER What would you like today, sir? AL Well it depends. What do you got? USIF CADET TRAINING FACILITY- TRAINING LAB- DAY Back in the classroom, Sam and the other cadets are reading booklets that each of them has received, while Laura is at the front desk, looking at the class’s student files. The clock reads 3:13 PM, two minutes away from the time that class ends. Laura looks at the clock and gets up to talk to the cadets. LAURA All right, we got two minutes left ‘til launch, so listen up. Your assignment for tonight—- The class moans. LAURA (CONT’D) I know it’s really fun, but the sooner you do this, the sooner you graduate. Now I want you to read the rest of this instruction booklet for tomorrow so you know what you’re up against. I don’t want anyone dying from loss of blood, although I highly doubt that anyone will. They’re just a few safety precautions to ensure that you don’t get a finger broken, or a black eye, or anything else that you could possibly do to your external human anatomy. The class laughs. The bell rings, and the cadets race out the door. All right, see you tomorrow. Beckett, could I see you for a moment? BAKER (to Sam) Whoops, looks like the playwright’s in trouble. I’ll meet up with you later. As the last of the cadets exit the room, Sam walks up toward the front desk that Laura is sitting on. SAM Sir, you wanted to see me? LAURA Yeah, have a seat. Sam sits down in one of the front desks across from her desk. I was looking through your student file, and I have to say that you’re one of the best-qualified cadets I’ve ever seen. The question is-- why are you here? SAM Well I’m not as qualified as you think. LAURA How so? SAM I don’t exactly know how to fly. LAURA You mean you’ve gotten this far and you don’t even know how to fly? SAM I’ve never exactly had to do it alone before. And… LAURA And what? SAM I have a phobia of flying in space. She bends her head down with both shock and distress. Lifting her head, she releases a great sigh. LAURA (CONT’D) Well, I hate to break it to you, Beckett, but this isn’t an ivy league school where you can just get a degree, a doctrine, or anything else, and then go off and do whatever it is you want with the rest of your life. Here, you train to be a member of the USIF, which means that after you graduate, you’re obligated to do whatever it is the USIF asks of you. And unfortunately for you, flying is one of them. SAM That’s why I’m in this class. Didn’t you say that we were here to concentrate on the areas that we needed more work on and to help us master them? LAURA (smiles) I guess I did, didn’t I? SAM Please sir, teach me how to fly. LAURA (pauses) Okay, Beckett, here’s the deal. I’m going to make you my special project. SAM You are? LAURA Uh huh. Now to learn how to fly by the end of this class, it’s going to take a lot of extra effort on your part. SAM I’m ready to do whatever it takes. LAURA As part of doing this, you not only have to master it on your own, but you also have to overcome and face your fear. Do you think you can handle that? SAM Do I have a choice? LAURA Not if you want to graduate. SAM Then I think I can. LAURA All right. She gets pad of paper and pen and begins writing down her address, phone number, and time. Your training starts tonight at 2000 hours at my house. Cadets usually aren’t allowed to leave the base towards the beginning of the week, so I’ll make sure that you have clearance. SAM Okay. Back-tracking a bit, what exactly did you mean when you said that I would be your special project? LAURA (looks up from pad) Because everyone else knows how to fly. She pulls piece of paper from pad and hands it to Sam. There’s my address and phone number. She puts the pad and pen back on the desk. It’s not far away, so you shouldn’t have any problems finding the place. If anything happens, give me a call. I have a guest staying at my place for the time being, but I don’t think that’ll cause any trouble. Matter of fact, I think she’ll like you. SAM What makes you say that? LAURA I have a sixth sense about these things. Let’s just say that she likes your type. And save some room for dinner when you come, if you get hungry. SAM You always this hospitable with your students? LAURA (sarcastically) Only with my special ones. SAM (walks toward door) Okay, 8 o’clock then. Do you want me to bring anything? LAURA Just yourself and a pen and notebook will suffice. SAM Okay. He proceeds to exit room, forgetting his instruction booklet. LAURA Beckett! He turns around to face her. You, uh, might need this. She hands him the booklet. He takes the booklet in an embarrassed sort of manner. SAM Right, thanks. See you later. LAURA (laughing) See ya. He leaves the room. Laura continues to chuckle and shake her head, gazing at the doorway. She then gets up and proceeds to neatly arrange the desktop. INT. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- OFFICE- DAY After finishing up in the classroom, Laura, with a bundle of papers and files in hand, walks to her office in the hangar bay. As she opens the door, she notices Hank and Admiral Jenkins, along with a private, standing next to another highly decorated masculine official, LIEUTENANT LAILEB, having a conversation. The men pause in their discussion noticing Laura’s arrival. LAURA I’m sorry. I hope I’m not intruding on anything. JENKINS Not at all. Commander Matthews, I’d like you to meet Lieutenant Laileb. He’ll be filling in for you until training is over. LAILEB Commander. LAURA Lieutenant. Both shake hands. A strange feeling overcomes Laura as she holds his hand for a brief instant, but she brushes it aside as just a freak occurrence. LAILEB Admiral Jenkins was just telling me about your work, Commander. It’s very impressive. LAURA Well don’t believe everything you hear. JENKINS You’ll find that Commander Matthews is very modest among many of her other qualities. LAILEB All of which are probably superb from what the admiral’s been telling me. LAURA Really? Just what has he been telling you? JENKINS Nothing that you should worry about. LAILEB I’ll tell you that from what I have heard, it appears as though I have my work cut out for me. LAURA Well I’m sure that the admiral has taken every precaution to pick the best candidate for the job. LAILEB I only hope he has. JENKINS (chuckles) Come on Laileb, I’ll show you the rest of the base. LAILEB It was nice meeting you. LAURA As you, lieutenant. Jenkins shows Laileb out the door. JENKINS As you were. LAURA Yes sir. Have fun. Jenkins, Laileb, and the private exit the room, leaving Laura and Hank in the office. Laura walks to behind her desk to get her duffel bag and puts it on top of the desk. She begins to fill the bag with the folders and other papers that were in her arms before. Hank looks out the door at Laileb and Jenkins in the outer hangar bay. HANK What do you make of that guy? LAURA Who, Laileb? He seems like a clean-nosed kid. HANK I don’t know. There’s something I don’t like about him. LAURA Yeah? Like what? HANK I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right. Like when I shook the guy’s hand, it just didn’t seem right to me at all. LAURA So you’re going to base your judgment on the guy just because of a weird feeling you got when you shook his hand? HANK (looks to Laura) No... didn’t you feel it? LAURA Feel what? HANK Oh, don’t tell me that that strange look on your face was from indigestion? LAURA Well I did kind of have a strange burrito for lunch. Hank glares at her. LAURA (CONT’D) All right, so maybe I did feel something, but the kid seems nice, and Abe obviously thinks that he’s qualified. HANK So what? You’re saying that you think that was just a freak occurrence? LAURA I’m saying I trust Abe’s judgment. Anything that he does in his own business is just that. Unless it interferes with our job, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. (zips up bag) HANK I guess you’ve got a point. I just don’t like it. LAURA What did you feel anyway, when you touched him? HANK I’m not quite sure. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. All I know is it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and my stomach feel queasy. It was almost as if I had touched death. What about you? LAURA I can’t really explain it. It just felt odd. Oh well, it’s nothing to fret over. (swings duffel bag over shoulder) HANK Hey, you never did tell me how your first day of refilling your shoes as a cadet trainer went, or what happened at Jack’s last night. LAURA Well it’s been a busy day. Come on, I’ll tell you about it on my way to the cruiser. HANK You won’t have much time if we take the skimmer. LAURA We can walk. Come on. Hank closes the office door as both exit the room. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- KITCHEN- DAY Back at the house, we once again view the kitchen, where we find cabinet doors open and empty boxes scattered around the room. We see Al, dressed in his dark blue jumpsuit, put the last box of food in his hand on a higher cabinet shelf. Apollo is lying on the floor in an inactive state. AL There, that ought to do it finally. (looks at the mess of cardboard) Now all I have to worry about is putting the cardboard away. He walks into the living room. Apollo notices and begins to follow. Al notices the unmade bed and ball of clothing. AL (CONT’D) Make that make the bed and clean up the cardboard. He looks around the room with its desk cluttered with papers and dusty areas. AL (CONT’D) You know it wouldn’t hurt to clean this place up. Apollo walks up beside him. AL (CONT’D) I think I owe it to Laura with all that she’s done. What about you? Apollo looks up at him. AL (CONT’D) I can see you’re speechless. Well, if I’m gonna clean up this place, I might as well get started. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT Laura walks through the front door carrying her duffel bag. LAURA Honey, I’m home! Boy, something smells good. She notices the clean room. She puts her bag down near the desk, wipes her fingers on the desktop, and looks at her hand in surprise. LAURA (CONT’D) It’s clean! Al walks in from kitchen. Apollo runs to greet her. AL You seem surprised. LAURA (as she pets Apollo) Hey boy, how have you been? (to Al) Well, looks like you’ve kept yourself busy, huh? AL You have no idea. LAURA I can imagine. What’s that smell? AL Oh, my sauce. He walks back into kitchen with Laura and Apollo following. He goes over to stove and lifts open a pot of spaghetti sauce as he begins to stir it. Apollo lies down on the kitchen floor. LAURA Ah, you’re a cook, too? Man! And to think that I was planning on having take-out. AL I have a flare for cooking on occasion. LAURA Well whatever it is, it sure smells good. What are you making? AL Uh, linguine and ravioli in marinara sauce. LAURA Oh, now I can’t wait to taste it. I haven’t had something like this since my mom used to make it when I was a kid. AL You’re Italian? LAURA Yeah, half of my family is or was at one time. AL Yeah, tell me about it. LAURA Oh you’re half Italian, too? AL That sounds about right. Yeah, my dad was Italian, and my mother was... Russian? Yeah, she was Russian. I remember. LAURA Well tell me, chef, do you remember where you got all the ingredients to make this stuff? AL Uh, I went shopping. LAURA What kind of shopping? AL Actual food shopping. No offense, but I woke up this morning and found every nutrient supplement there is except food, and I got kind of hungry. LAURA (laughs) I don’t blame you. I usually don’t eat at home, and I guess I kind of forgot what I had. Tell me, when you did this, uh, shopping, did a bill ever come up? AL Oh, the bill’s on the counter over there. Laura picks up the bill next to the phone on the counter and looks at it. LAURA It certainly looks like you stocked up. AL Listen, I’d be glad to pay you for that. LAURA Oh, don’t worry about it. Hey, gotta eat some time. As she looks at the bill in her hand, Al stirs his sauce and inspects the other filled pots on the lit stove. As he does this, he begins to sing “Volare.” AL V-o-l-a-r-e, ooh, Cantare, ooh... LAURA Are you singing “Volare”? AL Yeah, I like singing it when I’m around Italian food-- and women. LAURA What? AL And men. LAURA Huh. I figured usually people your age would be listening to heavy metal groups like “Bangheads” or “Lightning Rods” or something like that. AL I listened to records as a kid. LAURA I prefer Frank Sinatra myself. AL You like Frank Sinatra? LAURA Old blue eyes? You better believe it. I love listening to him and the Rat Pack. When I’m cooking, though, I usually sing anything that comes to mind. AL Well what tune comes to your mind right now? LAURA “Volare.” AL Other than that. LAURA Other than “Volare”? Ooh, that’s a toughie. AL Well if you can’t come up with anything... LAURA I didn’t say impossible. She exits the kitchen and walks toward the computer console in the living room. AL What are you doing? LAURA You’ll find out soon enough. She presses a few buttons on the console. She turns on a music program that plays “All Night Long,” performed by Lionel Richie. She walks back into the kitchen. LAURA (CONT’D) How’s that? AL It’s no “Volare.” I thought you said you were a Frank Sinatra fan? LAURA I did, but if there’s one thing that you learn about me it’s that I love all kinds of music. AL Not heavy metal? LAURA No, gives me a headache. She begins lip-syncing the words to the song and swaying with the music as she walks over next to Al. LAURA (CONT’D) Say, how many servings can you get out of this? AL Uh, probably enough for four. Why? LAURA Well kid, I’m having a guest come over tonight and I invited him for dinner, but I didn’t know that you’d be doing all this. Laura gets plates from a cabinet overhead, silverware from a nearby drawer, and napkins from a holder on the counter. She then walks into the living room/dining room area and sets the table near the kitchen entrance. AL Ah, don’t worry about it. I’m sure there’ll be enough. Who is this guest anyway? LAURA Well he’s a cadet from one of the classes I’m teaching over at the base. I invited him over so that we could go over a few things from class, you know, help him out. AL That’s good. Say, do you think we could do another search tonight for my friend? LAURA (sadly) Gee kid, I don’t know. With this cadet coming and the work that we’re gonna do, I don’t know if I’ll have the time. AL (disappointed) Oh. Well that’s all right. Maybe tomorrow. LAURA Yeah. Hey kid, I don’t think these searches are going to work anymore. I think we’re going to have to take another route. AL Like what? LAURA I don’t know. Maybe it’ll come walking through the front door, huh? AL Yeah. If only it were that easy. EXT. LAURA’S HOUSE- FRONT DOOR- NIGHT Time passes. Night has already fallen to reveal a star lit sky as Sam walks up the path to a lit front door in his leather aviator jacket, notebook in hand. SAM This is it- 2151 Amber Drive. He takes a big breath as he presses the doorbell button. He looks around the outside of the house as he waits for someone to answer. His attention is averted to the door as Laura opens it. LAURA Hi! SAM Hi. LAURA Good to see you made it, and on time no less. SAM I try my best. LAURA Come on in. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT Sam enters the house as Laura closes the door behind him. LAURA I see you came prepared. (refers to notebook) SAM Oh, yeah, well, since we’re going to do work, I wanted to keep on top of things, and besides, Commander’s orders. LAURA Well that’s good. Shows how devoted you are. Apollo, who’s standing next to her, barks once and goes over to Sam who bends over to pet him. LAURA (CONT’D) Looks like he’s found his new buddy for the night. SAM He’s a pretty dog. What’s his name? LAURA Apollo. SAM Apollo. Well it’s nice to meet you, Apollo. LAURA Likewise I’m sure- right Apollo? Apollo barks spurring Laura to laugh. SAM I’ll take that as a compliment. (gets up) LAURA Don’t cozy up to him too much. I’ve got someone else who’s dying to meet you. SAM Who is it, another dog? LAURA No, but I think you’ll enjoy her. Al! (walks toward kitchen) SAM Her? Great, now I’m playing the dating game. LAURA Al, come in here. I want you to meet that cadet from the base! AL All right, I’m coming! Just keep your shirt on... Al wipes off his hands in the kitchen and proceeds to walk toward where Laura and Sam are. As he sees Sam, he becomes shocked and overjoyed. AL (CONT’D) Sam?! Sam doesn’t recognize him, seeing Al as a woman. SAM Yes? AL Pal, is that really you?! SAM Uh... yeah, I... I think so. AL Ah, buddy, it’s been way too long! He runs over and gives him a big hug. SAM (confused) Uh... excuse me, but I don’t think I-- He breaks away from their embrace still holding Al’s arms. Suddenly a blue electrical light streams throughout Al’s body, first revealing Al as the blonde bombshell, and then revealing him as his true self to Sam. SAM (stunned) Al?! I-- I don’t believe it! AL Neither do I! SAM But how... oh Al! Both hug once again. SAM (CONT’D) I’ve missed you, Al. AL I’ve missed you, too, Sam. They both let go of one another and look at Laura who is happily gazing them with a smile. AL (CONT;D) You knew about this the whole entire time, didn’t you? LAURA Surprise! SAM Why didn’t you tell us? LAURA I thought you two would want to find each other first. From what I’ve heard, I thought you would appreciate that. AL Well yeah! SAM Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for this... LAURA Ah, don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do. AL Laura, how much do I owe you now? LAURA (kidding) The bill’s in the mail. Well go on. Why don’t you two have a seat. (to Sam) I’ll take your coat and that notebook off your hands for you. SAM Oh, that’s okay. I can take care of it. LAURA No, no, it’s all right. I’ll handle it. He gives them to her. SAM Thanks. LAURA I’ll be right back. She exits into the bedroom. AL She’s a good woman. Sam is distracted by Laura as he watches her leave the room. SAM Yeah... He quickly turns his attention back to Al. SAM (CONT’D) Al, what’s going on? What are you doing here? AL What do you mean what am I doing here? I came here to find you, which I might add was not easy. You know you haven’t been very easy to locate these days. It’s not as simple as opening a phone book. SAM (astonished) Oh my God! You leaped! He slowly sits down on the couch behind him. AL Yeah, of course I leaped. Listen Sam, after you leaped out of wherever it was you were last, we completely lost you. The only way to find you was to leap. SAM The bar. AL Yeah, the bar with that bartender you thought was God or Time or Fate or whatever. SAM Al. AL What? SAM No, Al was the bartender. AL Oh, right. Well like I said, me leaping was the only possible chance we had of finding you, otherwise I’d be here as a hologram. Al, unfortunately, didn’t feel the same way. SAM (perks up) You met Al- the bartender? AL Yes, Sam, I met the bartender. Matter of fact, he’s the one who brought me here. SAM What did he say? AL You mean other than all the philosophical crap? He told me that if I wanted to be with you, I’d have to join you. So here I am. SAM You did all that for me? AL Well, we’ve been through a lot, Sam. I wasn’t about to let that end. Besides, who’s going to be there with all the know-how when you need it? SAM (laughs) You. AL You’re my best friend, Sam. We’re not going to take this lying down. SAM Thanks Al. Al nods his head as he gives Sam a grin. AL You know I seriously don’t know how you’ve been able to handle doing this so well. I first leaped here and I was not only confused and disoriented, but I found out I was a blonde, got hit on, and discovered what it feels like to wear a bra. SAM (laughs) You never enjoy it, but after a while, you get used to it. I think you above all people would appreciate the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a member of the opposite sex, considering how deeply you love them so. AL Ha, ha. I’ll remember that next time you leap into a woman. SAM As I recall, you were the one who couldn’t keep his eyes off of me the first time I leaped into one. AL That was different. SAM How? AL The wet look was you. Hey I remember! Huh. I guess I still can remember a few things through this swiss-cheesed mind of mine. SAM Some things are better left forgotten. How much do you remember anyway? AL Well I didn’t remember much at first-- just my name and that I had to find you, and the fact that I was from Earth. But since then, I’ve remembered more bits and pieces here and there, and more since you’re here. SAM It seems as though you remember more now than you did the last time you leaped. AL How do you figure that? SAM Don’t you remember when you first leaped and switched places with me? You couldn’t even remember your full name. AL Yeah, we were struck by lightning that time. SAM Maybe since you’ve leaped before, it acted as kind of an immunity to your memory, so that you remember more now than you did then. AL Maybe. It seems possible enough. SAM (laughs) AL What’s so funny? SAM (laughing) It’s nothing, Al Beckett. AL You can’t blame me for that. We switched places because we were struck by lightning. I was lucky to remember any last name at all; how was I supposed to know that it was yours? SAM It wasn’t that as much as the fact that you wouldn’t admit your mind was swiss-cheesed. AL I wasn’t convinced. Nobody wants to say that their mind is swiss-cheesed. Besides, it’s not my fault that Beckett’s an easier name to remember than Calavicci. (Both laugh.) SAM Hey Al, what about the project? Have you come up with anything? Who’s in the Imaging Chamber-- Gooshie? AL (serious and sullen) Uh, Sam, about the project, there’s something I have to tell you... Laura re-enters the room, averting both men’s attention. LAURA Hey, how are you guys coming along? SAM Great. AL (hiding his sullen state) Yeah, couldn’t be better. LAURA That’s great. Hey, is anyone hungry? SAM Now that you mention it, I could go for something. LAURA Good because I am starving! AL Well dinner’s ready whenever you guys are. SAM I’m ready. What about you, Commander? LAURA Oh I am definitely ready. AL I’ll go get it. LAURA I’ll help you out. Al, Sam, and Laura walk to the kitchen. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- KITCHEN- NIGHT SAM Sure smells good. Is there anything I can do to help? AL Uh, yeah, Sam, could you take one of those bowls over there? SAM Yeah, sure. Each picks up a bowl or dish, containing their pasta meal, and proceeds to place it on the dining room table. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- DINING ROOM- NIGHT SAM Looks good. LAURA It should. She made it. SAM Al? Laura and Al sit down at the table. AL Try it. It won’t kill you. Sam still doesn’t believe it. AL (CONT’D) Trust me, Sam. Sam sits down. LAURA All right, let’s dig in. INT. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- OFFICE- NIGHT The hangar bay is practically deserted. All the lights are dim, with the exception of one bright light shining from the office area. Hank is sitting in the office in front of a futuristic, flat computer screen while smoking a cigar, looking up information on the USIF database. He types in the name “Laileb” in numerous search engines, coming up with “No Matches Found” every time. He finally exits the USIF database and goes to a more universal one called Track-Explorer. He again searches for the name “Laileb,” but comes up with nothing. As Hank goes to yet another search engine to search again, Lieutenant Laileb secretively stands outside behind a jet, giving a cold stare to the other commander. As Hank looks at the computer screen, he feels like he is being watched. He looks up from the screen and pans the area around him, looking out the windows for anything strange. All he sees is a hangar bay crew worker walking past the office pushing a cart, for Laileb has suddenly disappeared. Still disturbed, Hank looks back at his computer and continues his searching. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- DINING ROOM- NIGHT Time lapses as we see everyone’s dirtied plates, showing that they have finished eating. They continue sitting at the table talking with a fun atmosphere. SAM So as she takes role call, she calls my name and asked if I was related to the playwright. This, mind you, was after she had just quoted Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer. LAURA Hey, I’ve got to get a class’s attention somehow. SAM You certainly got attention all right. Every cadet I talked to after that couldn’t stop thinking about it. I think I even heard a few guys sing old “Rudolph.” LAURA Just be lucky I didn’t quote Star Wars. There’s not much you can tell a class with “Use the Force, Luke,” and “I’d just as soon kiss a Wookie.” AL (laughing) So what happened after that? SAM We sat and read instruction manuals for about an hour until class was over. That’s when she called to talk to me and invited me over. LAURA I had to be sure it was you. You know it’s not very often that I come across someone who I can’t even find in the Omega database. SAM I move around a lot. LAURA Apparently. SAM (pauses for a moment) So, how did you guys meet? AL She beat up a guy for me. SAM You’re kidding? LAURA The guy was touching her, and she wanted to get away. What else was I supposed to do—ask him kindly to back away so I could stop and use conflict resolution? AL The guy was a real nozzle, Sam. I was going to do the same thing, but she beat me to it; although I have to say she handled it better than I would have. She actually asked before she punched. SAM What did he do after that? LAURA He said I could have the next shift after her, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again. And I highly doubt that he’ll be seeing anyone for a few days. AL After that, we got to talking, and she offered to help find you and put a roof over my head for the night; and here we are. LAURA I have to say that the way you guy’s talk, you make me appear to be some weird, psycho savior. I’m just someone who showed up at the right place at the right time. She gets up with her plate in hand. SAM It could be more than that. LAURA You mean like divine intervention? I gave up on that a long time ago. She walks into the kitchen and puts the plate in sink. SAM Well, there are sometimes things that are bigger than we are, things that happen for a reason, maybe by coincidence, but maybe because something or someone wanted it to. Laura stands next to kitchen entrance, wiping her hands on a towel from the countertop. LAURA And you believe that? AL Well I know I never really used to believe it either until the last couple years, but… maybe there is. LAURA (pause) Maybe. Say, why don’t I take care of these dishes? That way it will give you guys more of a chance to talk. Before they get a chance to disagree, Laura cuts in. Listen, you’re the cook and you’re the guest. That means the owner of the house does the dishes. That’s the way it was when I was growing up, and that’s the way it’s going to be now. Comprende? Buenos. So you two go relax and talk. SAM You’re a hard woman to bargain with, Commander. He and Al get out of their chairs. LAURA (sarcastically) I know; it’s part of my charm. AL Are you sure you can handle it? LAURA I’ve washed dishes before—at least I think so. Oh well, if all else fails, I’ll do what they do in those Disney movies and I’ll have Apollo lick them clean. Come on boy. Apollo runs out of the kitchen and plops down on the couch. LAURA (CONT’D) Then again, maybe not. (to Apollo) I’ll remember this next time you get a bath. She goes back into the kitchen and starts preparing to wash the dishes. AL (to Sam) Have a seat? SAM After you. Both go to sit in the living room. Sam sits on the arm of the couch, while Apollo remains motionless. AL (to Apollo) You’re going to let her do that alone? SAM Al, he doesn’t understand what you’re saying. AL Of course he does. Apollo, get in there, unless you want a bath. Apollo runs off the couch and back into the kitchen with Laura. LAURA Oh, so now you decide to show up, huh? (laughs) Sam gazes at her as she stands at the sink singing to herself. LAURA (CONT’D) It’s just what I need on a night like this, A long walk in the dark, someone I can’t resist, A little rendezvous, a little mystery, And when I look at you I think that’s just what I need… [“On A Night Like This” performed by Trick Pony] AL Sam? Sam! SAM (comes to) What were you saying? AL Oh no. SAM What? AL Don’t tell me. SAM What? AL You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you? SAM Al… AL Sam, don’t give me that. You think I haven’t known you long enough to recognize that look in your eye? SAM Al, she’s twenty years older than me. AL So? That hasn’t stopped you before. SAM Come on, Al, it’s 2020, which means… AL Which means that twenty years ago, she would’ve been your age. SAM Al…I don’t know. Maybe I’m just going crazy. AL Yeah, crazy in love. SAM Now will you stop that! There’s nothing going on between the Commander and me. AL (sarcastically) Whatever you say, Sam. SAM Besides, even if there was, I’d leap before anything could happen. AL (serious) Uh, Sam, about leaping back home— SAM (serious) Al, I can’t go back. AL What are you talking about? You don’t even know what I was going to tell you. SAM Al, when I was in that bar, right after you left the Imaging Chamber, I realized that maybe I was meant to continue leaping. AL Sam… SAM Now I know what you are going to say, but as I talked to Al, he helped me understand that maybe me leaping around through my own lifetime was a test to prepare me for what was to come later on- to leap into the future and put right what hasn’t gone wrong yet. Al, maybe this whole time I was meant to leap into the future, and I just needed practice before I did. AL No. Sam, that’s not possible. Even if you were meant to help people in the future, you don’t know what’s going to happen ahead of time; you don’t know what to change. SAM Maybe that’s the idea. AL So what are you saying? That I was in the Imaging Chamber the whole time just for kicks? SAM No, what I mean is that it was supposed to help me learn what to do so that I could let go of the rail and take a leap of faith. AL (sighs) So you think that you’ve been made God’s clean-up crew for the future? SAM Something like that. AL Well, it makes sense to “let go of the rail” the way things are going. SAM What do you mean? What’s going on? AL Sam there’s no easy way for me to say this, so I’m just going to tell you flat out. There is no home to go back to. SAM (shocked) What? AL When I leaped, I don’t know what happened. I knew something was up when Gooshie didn’t show. Have you ever heard about the accident that happened in the southwest? SAM Yeah, not much, just something about a major radioactive explosion occurring—Al, that wasn’t— AL The way I figure it, it happened right after I leaped. Sam gets up in disbelief. SAM How—how could this have happened?! AL I don’t know! I found out about it when I first got here! SAM How did you find out? AL Laura told me. SAM (even more shocked) Al, you didn’t? AL Don’t worry; I didn’t tell her anything. As far as she’s concerned, the idea of the whole thing being about some secret time-travel experiment gone haywire is comical! Sam sits back down on the arm of the couch. SAM What else did she tell you? AL Everything was destroyed. Sam hangs his head down in sorrow and shock. AL (CONT’D) The radiation from the explosion spread so that mostly everything in its path was contaminated. SAM (choked for words) What about Gooshie and the others? AL They’re gone Sam. Sam’s still stunned. AL (CONT’D) I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t— SAM It’s all right Al. It wasn’t your fault. Both sit in silence for a very brief moment. AL Well don’t just sit there! Yell at me! Call me scum if you want to! SAM (lifts his head) Why? Because you came after me? Because you wanted to find me and bring me home? AL No, because I destroyed the project! SAM I don’t care about the project anymore Al. AL Well I do! I don’t know about you, but I don’t intend on doing this for the rest of my life; besides, I don’t know if I can. That innocent girl I see in the mirror. I killed her Sam. I killed everyone. SAM Al, what happened was not your fault. If anyone should be blamed, it’s me. The whole project was my idea, and I was the one who led them all out there. AL But you weren’t there. You didn’t know. I didn’t know. (pause) SAM So, what are we supposed to do now? AL I don’t know. I don’t know. Laura enters the room after finishing the dishes; Apollo runs off into the hallway. LAURA Hey! (looks at the two) Gee, I keep getting in the middle of all the excitement today, don’t I? AL I’m sorry, we were just… SAM Reminiscing. LAURA (to Al) Well I don’t mean to put a damper on the party, but your friend did come over here for more than just a friendly reunion. SAM (sullen) Oh, right, I forgot. I should get that notebook. LAURA It’s on the bed last door down the hallway. SAM Thanks, I’ll go get it. He walks down the hallway. LAURA What happened? Did somebody die? AL Something like that. LAURA (serious) Yeah, I know the feeling. AL What work do you have to go over with him? LAURA Something he has to know if he plans on completing his training. AL What’s that? LAURA Learn how to fly. AL Learn how to fly? The closest thing he’s ever done is fly an X-2. LAURA You mean to tell me that he’s flown an X-2? AL Well, it was still on the ground. LAURA Oh, ‘cause those things haven’t been around for a long time. Sam reenters the room with notebook. AL Tell me about it. LAURA (to Sam) You ready? SAM Ready as ever. Where do we start? We cut to a view of Laura dropping her duffel bag next to Sam as he sits on the couch. She unzips it and looks for what she needs. SAM You carry this around every day? LAURA Only when I have to work. She takes out a pair of futuristic black goggles, very similar to the ones used for video games, and a pair of black gloves wired to it. AL What’s that? LAURA This is a visual holographic simulation projector, or a VHSP. They’re used a lot to help pilots practice battle tactics and things of that sort, but they can also be used to help teach people how to fly. SAM And I’m going to be using that? LAURA Uh huh. AL (chuckling) This ought to be good. LAURA Now, I want you to put these on. She hands VHSP to him; he puts it on. She puts the duffel bag on the floor. AL How does that holographic simulation thing work? LAURA Well, it’s almost like an old-fashioned video game. What it does is that it stays in tune with your brain frequencies, so that when you turn it on, you’re the only one who will be able to see or hear anything. But when I do turn this on, to him it’ll be like he’s not even here. SAM Not here? Then what do I do if anything goes wrong or I don’t know what to do? LAURA I don’t know, what will you do? Relax, Beckett, it’s only a hologram. Besides, it’s not as if you’ll be completely cut off from reality as you know it. You’ll still be able to hear what’s going on out here. Now I want you to sit still for a moment. She leans over and presses a few buttons on the VHSP to activate it. SAM What are you doing? LAURA I’m entering in a simulation scenario. Will you loosen up? God, just listening to you would make anyone nervous. AL Yeah, Sam, think of it as an “imaging chamber.” LAURA Yeah, I guess you could think of it that way if you wanted to. SAM (sarcastically) Thanks Al. AL Hey, I’m only trying to be supportive, Sam. LAURA (finishes typing in code) Okay, now I want you to follow the instructions that it gives. SAM What instructions? LAURA It’ll come up in a minute. Just give it a second. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- INSIDE VHSP- NIGHT Inside the VHSP, Sam’s view of the living room suddenly turns into the cockpit of a space jet on a landing strip. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT SAM Wow, this is incredible. It’s so… AL Graphic? SAM (in awe) No, realistic! LAURA (chuckles) Well that’s the idea, Beckett. SAM Wait a minute… INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- INSIDE VHSP- NIGHT SAM It’s telling me to initiate take-off. LAURA All right, when it does that, the button that it’ll want you to press, or the lever that it’ll want you to pull will turn a bright red. SAM Okay. He sees a button on the control panel blinking a bright red. He presses the button, starting the jet’s engines and causing him to smile. LAURA All right, after you do that, I want you to bring her around until you come to a lighted take-off ramp. SAM I found it. He slowly moves the jet to the beginning of the ramp area. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT LAURA Now bring her up to speed until it tells you to “take flight.” Then pull back on the controls and bring her up nice and easy. AL How do you know what’s happening in that right now? Can it visually project an image outside of the headset? LAURA It can, but I’ve done this so many times with cadets that I know it like the back of my hand. SAM I sure hope you know what to do next like the back of your hand. LAURA You just forget about what’s going on out here and concentrate on that. Where are you? INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- INSIDE VHSP- NIGHT The words “Take Flight” blink as he nears the edge of the ramp. SAM Bringing her up. He pulls the controls toward him, as the jet rises into the air. He presses a lighted up button, which signals the landing gear to be pulled up into the jet. LAURA Engage Thruster 1 on Mach 3. As the speed gauge gradually comes to Mach 3, he flips a switch igniting Thruster 1, increasing the jet’s speed. The gauge gradually increases to Mach 4. LAURA (CONT’D) Initiate space lift. A lever on the right side of the pilot’s seat lights up red. He slowly pushes the lever forward. The jet climbs through the sky, slowly increasing its speed. The lever finally reaches its limit. LAURA (CONT’D) Engage Thruster 2 on Mach 6. The jet reaches the outer reaches of space and the gravitational barrier. The gauge inches its way until it arrives at Mach 6. He flips another switch igniting Thruster 2, causing another surge of force. The jet breaks the gravity barrier and reaches outer space. SAM (in awe) Wow! It’s beautiful! LAURA I can only imagine how you were the first time you were flown to the base. SAM Now what do I do? LAURA Enjoy the ride. Check out the view. Face your fear. Has this been what you’ve been afraid of all this time? As Sam looks out into space, at such things as Earth, the moon, and the stars, clips of past flying experiences that Sam’s had (ref. GENESIS- minutes before he had to evacuate the X-2; ref. GHOST SHIP- when he didn’t know how to fly the plane, causing it to descend nose downward and almost crash into the ocean, etc.) He begins to feel fearful at these thoughts and his surroundings. SAM (scared) I can’t! I can’t be here! INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT SAM I can’t! Get me out of here! LAURA What the…? AL Sam?! SAM I can’t do it! I can’t do it! AL (quickly goes over to him) Sam! LAURA Beckett, calm down! AL (to Laura) What’s happening in there? LAURA Nothing, just a routine run through space. SAM Somebody help me! LAURA (to Al) Take his gloves off! Al takes his gloves off. Laura runs over, presses a button on the VHSP, and snatches it off of his head. Sam bends over, his hands in his face. AL Sam? Buddy, are you okay? LAURA (crouches in front of Sam) Beckett? Sam, look at me. He slowly looks up at her. LAURA (CONT’D) (softly) Hey, it’s all right. What happened? SAM I guess I got scared. AL Scared? It sounded like you were more fearful for your life. SAM It was very realistic. LAURA I’ll go get you some water. AL No, I’ll get it. Laura nods. SAM Thanks Al. Al goes into the kitchen. SAM (CONT’D) (to Laura) Commander, may I ask you a question? LAURA Sure. And please, call me Laura outside of class. I feel like I’m giving your friend more leeway than I am with you. SAM Laura… what do you do when you’re up there and something goes wrong? LAURA Well, it depends on what it is. There are thousands of things that could go wrong up there. That’s why you always have to be prepared. God knows it’s happened to me more than once. SAM You mean it’s happened to you before? LAURA Oh yeah, it happens to everyone at one time or another. Whenever it does, though, I always say to act, don’t react. Go with what your gut tells you. SAM What if your gut tells you to run? LAURA Then there’s only one option you should remember: the eject button. Al comes back with a glass of water for Sam. AL Here you go, kid. SAM Thanks. (takes glass) The phone suddenly rings. LAURA I’ll get it. She walks into the kitchen and picks up the phone. LAURA (CONT’D) Hello? HANK (ON PHONE) Hey Laura! It’s me, Hank. LAURA Hey Hank, what’s up? HANK Laura, we’ve got to talk. It’s about Laileb. LAURA Hank… INT. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- OFFICE- NIGHT Hank stands at his desk talking on the phone to Laura. HANK Look, Laura, I know you’re ready to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I’m not as willing. That’s why I decided to do a little background search on this guy through the USIF files. LAURA You what? INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- KITCHEN- NIGHT LAURA Hank, I think you’re making this bigger than it really is. You’re taking this far too seriously. HANK He doesn’t exist. LAURA What? INT. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- OFFICE- NIGHT HANK (sits down in desk’s chair) There is no lieutenant, or man of any other rank for that matter, that goes by the name Laileb in the USIF. And to top things off, there is no man that goes by the name Laileb in the whole entire galaxy. LAURA There could be a reasonable explanation for that. HANK What kind of explanation can you give for something that drastic? INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- KITCHEN- NIGHT LAURA I don’t know. All I know is that I couldn’t find someone yesterday, and all of a sudden I find him sitting in the middle of my class today. (looks over at Sam drinking his water) Something’s screwed up here, Hank. I’ll be damned if I know what, though. HANK I guess there is the possibility that the search engines are partially down for maintenance, but I still think that something funny is going on with that Laileb guy, especially since this afternoon. That’s why I thought I’d do a few more searches while I’m still here. LAURA Hank, where are you? HANK At the office. LAURA The office? Hank, it’s… (looks at clock on wall) quarter after 10 at night. Give it a rest already. HANK Listen, I know it’s late, but I really wanted you to come over here and look over this stuff. LAURA I can’t do that right now. I have a few guests over, and I’m kind of in the middle of something here. HANK Oh, you have guests over at 10 at night, and I’m the one who’s crazy? LAURA They’ve been here since 8. HANK Well so have I—even longer. LAURA Look, I just can’t make it tonight. (sighs) All right, how about I come in there early tomorrow morning, and you can show me all the stuff you want. Okay? HANK Sounds good to me. LAURA All right. Now go home, and get some sleep for God’s sake. HANK I’ll try. Hey, did you ever get that report on Rosa? LAURA What report? HANK His death report. LAURA (seriously) No. HANK Huh. I figured Abe sent it to you. LAURA (slightly ticked) Must have slipped his mind. HANK Well, I’ll scan it in and send it over there to you right away. LAURA Thanks Hank. INT. USIF BASE- HANGAR BAY- OFFICE- NIGHT HANK (leans over on desk) Hey, how are you holding up? You gonna be okay? LAURA Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll make do. Hey, I always do, don’t I? Thanks again Hank. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- KITCHEN- NIGHT HANK Don’t worry about it. Hey, we’ve all got our problems. Might as well share them, eh? LAURA (chuckles) Bye Hank. HANK See you later, Matthews. Both hang up, first Hank, then Laura. Laura walks back into the living room with Sam and Al. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- NIGHT AL Who was that? LAURA Oh, just a friend of mine from the base. (to Sam) How are you doing kid? Any better? SAM Yeah, much better, thanks. She nods at him. A low humming noise comes from the computer terminal as a piece of paper prints out of its side and falls into a paper bin attached to the terminal’s side. Laura walks over and picks it up. She walks back over to Sam and Al, looking at the paper. LAURA (looks at paper) (seriously) Yeah, it figures. AL (to Laura) Now what are you looking at? LAURA It’s a death report of a cadet that died in a jet accident earlier this morning. SAM Rosa? LAURA Yeah, you knew him? SAM I knew him for a brief time. What does it say? LAURA See for yourself. She hands it to him. She then walks over and stands behind the couch and stares out into space, contemplating on her own thoughts. Sam reads the paper to himself. AL (to Sam) Well? What does it say? SAM Oh, it says that, uh—that the cause of death was due to a computer malfunction during his descent back to Earth. Al nods. SAM (CONT’D) (to Laura) Did you know him? LAURA (continues staring into space) We met on more than one occasion. (turns around and faces other two) You guys, uh, visit for as long as you like. I’m gonna go hit the sack. (forces a smile) I’ll see you guys tomorrow. She begins to walk toward the bedroom. AL Sleep well. SAM Laura… He gets up and stops her, and she turns around and faces him. As he stands in front of her, he can’t help but look into her dark brown eyes. As a result, she finds herself looking into his eyes, but catches herself before it occurs for too long. LAURA What is it? SAM I just wanted to know if you were all right. LAURA Yeah, thanks for asking. I’ll see you later. SAM Okay. She nods to him and exits the room. Al walks over and stands next to Sam as he watches Laura walk into her bedroom. SAM (CONT’D) Do you think she’s the reason why I’m here, Al? AL I don’t know, Sam. But whatever we’re here for, I sure hope it doesn’t involve her. SAM So do I. He looks at Al, and then he looks back toward where Laura was. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- BEDROOM- NIGHT Laura sits at the foot of her bed with her head bent down. A pair of black boots and her navy jumpsuit clutters the floor around her, as she sits decked out in a white tank top, flannel pants, and white socks. She throws back her head and smoothes her hair, for it is down in an abundance of brown curls grayed with age. She sits there distressed and mournful, but refuses to cry. Apollo comes up on the bed and lies down next to her. She puts her arm around him and gently pets him. LAURA What am I going to do, Apollo? Why does this always happen? Just when I think I have everything under control, life comes back and gives me a hard punch in the stomach. It’s almost as if something or someone enjoys tormenting me. I just wish it would all end. Just then the door knocks. Al opens the door and comes into the room. AL Hey, I thought I’d come in and see if you needed anything. LAURA Not right now, thanks. Where’s Sam? AL Oh, he decided to go back to the base, get some rest. Laura, I know it’s probably none of my business, but as strange as it may seem, I’m worried about you. And I just thought that you might want to talk about it. LAURA Great. Everyone else thinks I have a problem. Why not you? AL I don’t think you have a problem as much as I think something’s troubling you. I just thought you could use someone to talk to, that’s all. I need to find some form of pay back. Laura shows a brief, but still saddened, grin. Al sits down next to her. AL (CONT’D) So what’s the problem, kid? LAURA Huh, some kid. AL Come on, what is it? Is it about Rosa? LAURA It’s not just that. No, this started a long time before Rosa. AL Then when did it start? LAURA Try March 18, 1973. You weren’t even born yet. It was the days of the ‘70s with its hippies, disco, protests, bad polyester suits,… and deaths. I was going to college in Alabama at the time trying to get my archaeology doctorate. Back then, there were so many things I wanted to know, so many things I wanted to learn that I tried to get my hands on every degree I could. That was then anyway. My friend, Danielle, went to MIT to study to become an astronaut. Her father owned a bar around the area to help pay her way through college. It was my spring break. Her father died and had left her the bar. She needed help getting things in order, so the first chance I got I took the next plane out to Boston. We had big plans for that place. We were going to turn it into one of those big band nightclubs like from the 1940’s. She always joked that she wouldn’t need to worry about entertainment as long as I was in town. She already had her Sinatra. Then it started. We were working out the details, and started to hire people. And she had to fall for one of the first guys that walked in. His name was Jake. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but I don’t know, there was something about him that I just didn’t trust. Before I knew it, they started dating. Then one night she left with him and never came back. They found her body in her car at the bottom of a cliff. They never found Jake. It was almost as if he had never existed. They figured it was suicide, but I knew better. The only problem is how can you accuse a man of a crime when he doesn’t even exist. After that, I was heart-broken. My parents, against their opinions of Massachusetts, decided to come up for the funeral. As they drove up… they got caught in a head-on collision and were killed. Now I not only had the death of my best friend to cope with, but I had the death of my parents to deal with, as well. It was almost as if someone wanted my life to be a living hell. From then on, nothing was ever the same. I wanted to distance myself from anything and everything that reminded me of my life before that time. So I dropped out of college, moved in with my sister Amy in Florida, and got a job anywhere I could. Amy was an aspiring author, but my parents’ death hit her hard. For more than a decade she was in a state of depression. It got so bad that she wouldn’t do anything except sit in a dark room all day and stare out the window. I suddenly found myself supporting both of us. The jobs I was taking during the day were good enough, but weren’t sufficient enough to pay all the bills. I started singing at nightclubs on top of working during the day. It was fun at first, a way to escape the pain. I invited Amy, thinking she would have fun and it would get her out of the house. Pretty soon I found myself driving her to clubs and both of us getting drunk not just in sorrow. Then she got pregnant. When it came time for her to have the baby, both she and the baby died in childbirth. Everyone I had known, everyone I had ever loved was gone. And I was alone. That’s when I decided to join the Air Force. There I thought I could forget everything and put my life to some good use. And here I am today, a commander in the USIF. AL (compassionately) I’m sorry. LAURA Ah, it’s in the past now. It just seems as though everyone I befriend, anyone I know, ends up dead. It’s like I’m the hand of death or something, and now Rosa… AL Laura, what happened was not your fault. None of those things were. You can’t go blaming yourself for things that you had no control over. LAURA (upset) But I could have been there. I could have stopped it from happening. AL But you weren’t. You didn’t know those things were going to happen. God, you remind me so much of Sam. LAURA I bet he doesn’t have the hand of death. AL Will you stop talking like that? I refuse to believe that this is the same woman I met yesterday. The same woman who went out of her way to protect and help a perfect stranger and opened her home to her. Then she helped that stranger once more and reunited her with her best friend. I think she owes herself a lot more than she’s willing to accept… don’t you? LAURA I did all that, huh? AL You’re a good woman, Laura. Frankly, you’re one of the best women I’ve ever known, and take it from me, that’s a lot. Throughout my life, I’ve had some pretty bad twists and turns myself. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never give up and never give in. Sometimes it takes a good friend to show you that. LAURA A good friend? AL Yeah. So what do you say? LAURA I’d like that. You know you’re the first person I’ve ever told all that to. AL Hey, what are friends for? Both hug. Laura starts to cry. LAURA I miss them, Al. AL I know. I know. You go on and let it all out, honey. Al holds Laura as she cries in his arms. As we watch them, we begin to hear Sam’s voice. SAM As I’ve leaped around through time, my main goal always seemed to be to take that final leap home. Now I’m not so sure anymore. INT. USIF BASE- CADET QUARTERS- SAM’S QUARTERS- NIGHT A shooting star crosses the night sky as Sam gazes out of an open window in his room. He lays down in the bottom portion of a bunk bed facing the window in his cadet living quarters. SAM’S VOICE From what Al said, there was no home to go back to, but from what the other Al said, I could go home anytime I wanted to. And to make things more confusing, I still had no reason as to why I was here in the first place. At first I thought it might have something to do with Rosa, but nothing hit me as hard as what happened tonight. Laura seemed to be a strong, capable woman, but there was something that sparked in her eyes as soon as she saw that piece of paper. Something that made me want to do everything I could to make it go away and see that smile on her face again. On a leap in the past it was hard for me not to gain some feelings toward a person, especially if that person couldn’t contain their feelings toward me. But this time I wasn’t hiding behind another persona. This time I was completely me, mirror image and all. So why did I feel like I still needed a mask every time I was around her? Al had seen it in my face right away before I even realized that I was starting to develop feelings toward Laura. There were so many things about her that I had never seen in another woman before. So many things that I found myself drawn to. INT. USIF BASE- CADET QUARTERS- SAM’S QUARTERS- DAY The voice-over continues as night suddenly turns to morning. Sam is sleeping in the bottom half of two bunk beds underneath the covers. SAM (CONT’D) For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had actually met someone who I had known my whole life and couldn’t live without. It was as though it was meant to be—that she in fact was my destiny. The worst part of it all was the thought of losing her if I leaped. That was the one thing that kept me awake. He wakes up from his restless night’s sleep and sits his head upright. Noticing that no one else is in the room, he looks at the digital alarm clock on an end table next to the head of his bed. It reads 9:50 AM. Realizing that he’s late for the day’s routine, he jumps out of bed. INT. USIF CADET TRAINING FACILITY- TRAINING LAB- DAY Sam sits in his desk, pencil in hand, in front of a booklet that he’s in the process of filling out. He can’t help but look up at Laura who is talking with another group of cadets, helping them out and laughing in the process. He proceeds to watch her with a fascination in his eyes. He is so enthralled that he doesn’t notice Baker sitting down in the desk next to him. BAKER Hey, Shakespeare, what’s up? SAM (noticing Baker) What? Oh, nothing. I’m fine. BAKER Well, I’d hope so with the way you slept. It’s not every day one of the most punctual cadets doesn’t show up for early practice. SAM That obvious, huh? BAKER Yeah. Sam looks worried. BAKER (CONT’D) Don’t worry. I covered for you. Man, you must have been pretty beat. SAM No, just had a lot on my mind, that’s all. He goes back to his booklet. BAKER I bet. (looks at Laura) What happened with you two last night, anyway? SAM (looks up) Nothing. BAKER (looks back at Sam) Oh, come on. SAM Really, nothing happened last night. If you must know, she found an old friend of mine and invited me over to see him and to help me out with some work for the class. I was practically talking with my friend the whole time. BAKER All right. If that’s all that really happened… SAM Yes, it is. BAKER (chuckles) Hey, there’s no need to get defensive on me. I’m only playing around with you. Listen, a couple of the guys and I are going out to one of the local rec bars tonight. Wanna come along? SAM Uh, no thanks. I’ve got work to do. BAKER On a Friday night? Listen, Sam, you’ve got to get your head out of the books and start living life. Seize the opportunity. Be spontaneous. Check out the local dating customs. SAM You’re starting to sound more like my friend. BAKER Come on, Sam. I guarantee you’ll get more out of a night of freedom than you will out of that book. SAM I can’t. I’ve made other plans. BAKER With who? (looks at Laura) With her? SAM Look, Gary, I’m sorry, but I already said I would go. BAKER Yeah, well, just try not to stay up too late this time, huh? SAM I’ll try. Cadets ALLAN and James come over to the two. JAMES Hey, what are you guys doing over here? BAKER Oh, I was just talking to Sam about tonight. ALLAN (to Sam) Yeah, so are you coming or what? Baker cuts in before Sam can answer. BAKER He can’t, Allan. He’s busy with other work. ALLAN What? On a Friday night? Are you crazy? JAMES Beckett, that is one of the lamest excuses I’ve ever heard. (with a smile) If you don’t want to be seen with us, just say so. SAM (sarcastically) Thanks Baker. BAKER (with a sly grin) Glad to help. SAM Really, I just have a lot to do. BAKER Which means he has another meeting with the commander. ALLAN Again? SAM I have more than enough to get done before I can pass the course and graduate. She’s just helping me out. JAMES (slyly to Baker) Sounds more like a date if you ask me. SAM (overhearing) It’s not a date! ALLAN It’s all right, Sam. We believe you. Right guys? Both respond together, holding back their smiles. JAMES Yeah, sure. BAKER Right, absolutely. SAM Right. JAMES Oh, come on, Sam. We believe you. Don’t we Baker? BAKER Yeah, of course we do. JAMES See? SAM (chuckles) All right. ALLAN Hey, did you hear about the report they filed on Rosa? JAMES Yeah, word is that it wasn’t any ordinary accident. BAKER (to James) What do you mean? JAMES (to Baker) Well, they say that it had to do with some type of project that they’re working on here, and Rosa was the test pilot. BAKER I knew it! SAM I’m sure all that’s just a rumor. JAMES How do you know? SAM I saw the death report. ALLAN You saw the death report? SAM Yeah, why? BAKER Those things are confidential. How did you get a hold of it? SAM I saw it last night when I was with Commander Matthews. JAMES Why would she have Rosa’s death report? She had nothing to do with it. BAKER Unless she knew what was really going on. SAM Now will you stop that? She had nothing to do with what happened to Rosa. BAKER How do you know? Did she tell you? SAM No. I just know. ALLAN Besides, haven’t you guys ever heard about Rosa and the commander? She used to train him when he first came here. After Rosa’s mother died, he came to her for emotional support. It got so that they weren’t just looked at as trainer and cadet, but more like mother and son. They got so close that they really did become family. All of them look at Laura with the other group of cadets. Our attention is drawn to Baker as he turns his head back toward the others for a moment, then turns back to look at Laura. Time passes. Laura stands in front of the classroom and talks to the class. LAURA All right, let’s talk fuel intake. Now as all of you well know, we don’t fly on any ordinary gasoline anymore. Our jets run on high voltage battery power. But just because we’re flying what could be considered a large replica of a wind-up toy doesn’t mean our jets don’t use some sort of engine. They’re more advanced now, but they’re still there. And where there’s an engine, there’s bound to be the need for lubrication. They don’t need much, but they do at certain intervals or else when you’re up there, you’re gonna end up like a flat cake when you come down. And for that purpose, we have one of these little babies. (holds up a metallic canister) Now these not only lubricate your engine when the time is right, but also help thrust your propulsion system and give your jet that extra force. Sam sits with the other cadets seen earlier and a few others, including LINHART. LINHART (covertly to cadets around him) Use the force, Luke. Make me a martini splitzer before the Death Star explodes. The other cadets try to suppress their laughter, including Sam. LAURA (to Linhart) Excuse me, do you have something you’d like to share with the class? JAMES (to other cadets) Here it comes. LINHART Uh, yeah, I was wondering, does that also do windows and upholstery? The cadets laugh, and Laura also gives grins. LAURA That’s a good one. Yeah, do you remember what I said at the beginning of this class about using cadets as examples? LINHART Yeah. LAURA Well guess what? You just became one. Would you come up here please? The cadets make humorous cracks, such as the death march, as he goes up to the front of the room towards Laura. LAURA (CONT’D) Stand right there. She adjusts his position so that he faces the class. During this time, the rest of the class finds it all humorous. LAURA (CONT’D) This is what we call a typical USIF cadet, fully capable of many tasks and inheriting all the usual characteristics. Notice the sloppy uniform, the tousled hair, the way the body slouches as a reaction to habit, and the way it can so easily be corrected. Laura clears her throat. Linhart looks at her as she gives him a glare, expecting him to correct his posture. He immediately does so. LAURA (CONT’D) Also notice the facial features of this specimen: the dark circles, the beady eyes, the look of someone who is full of embarrassment and yet shame. Let’s not forget the physical build, the internal structure, the intestines and how they are probably full of beer, peanuts, and jelly-filled doughnuts. We must also learn that this cadet not only must be familiar with the oil lubrication system of a typical USIF jet, but must also know its components in order to pass this class. (to Linhart) So try to show a little more respect? LINHART Yes, ma’am. LAURA Have a seat. He goes to sit himself down at his desk. SAM (to Baker) So what do you think of her now? BAKER How about letting her write jackass across my butt? Both smile. LAURA That also goes for the rest of you, especially those who were never fully acquainted with a jet’s full interior structure until now. The bell rings. The cadets get up and begin to file out of the room. Because of the bustle, Laura has to yell. LAURA (CONT’D) All right, for your assignment, since it’s the weekend, you are to have fun, and stay out of trouble. As the last of the class exits, Sam goes up to Laura as she organizes the papers on her desk in order. SAM Hey! LAURA Hey! How are you feeling, kid? SAM Much better. A good night’s sleep really helps you out when you need it the most. LAURA Ain’t that the truth? SAM Yeah. That was quite a demonstration you did with Linhart. LAURA Yeah, well, you got to keep cadets in check somehow. SAM I guess so. Listen, I was just wondering if we were still on for tonight. LAURA Absolutely. Say, I was thinking, why don’t we whip up something for dinner tonight? That way we can let Al rest for one night in her life. SAM (laughs) Sounds like a pretty good idea. What did you have in mind? LAURA I don’t know. Fish sounded pretty good to me for some reason. What do you think about that? SAM Sounds great. LAURA All right. I know this great seafood market close by… Just then, Hank comes running into the room. HANK Laura! LAURA Hank, what’s going on? You look like you’ve been running from a coronary. HANK (out of breath) I came here as fast as I could… It’s Laileb… He’s running the XS-18… without an FPS. LAURA (shocked) Let’s go! Sam, I’ll catch up with you later! Come on! Hank and Laura run out of the room. EXT. USIF BASE- TRAINING CANYON TAKE-OFF STRIP- CONTROL TOWER- DAY Laileb stands next to a radio operator who is sitting in front of a control board holding a radio microphone. Out on the landing strip, a pilot stands holding his helmet next to an XS-18—an exact replica of the one Rosa flew. LAILEB (to radio operator) Tell him to board. When he’s ready, have him start at the beginning of the strip. RADIO OPERATOR Yes sir. (on microphone) Barns, have him board and start at strip’s entry. BARNS- ON RADIO Roger that, Control. Hank and Laura ride up in a skimmer, a futuristic form of what looks like a golf-cart. They quickly exit the vehicle and proceed to run up the tower’s staircase. As they reach the top, they run toward the tower’s door. Laura furiously pulls the door open and runs in, Hank very close behind. LAURA (to Laileb) What the hell do you think you’re doing?! LAILEB Commander Matthews, what an unexpected surprise… LAURA Cut the formalities. What do you think you’re doing sending one of our men up there in that?! LAILEB It’s a space jet, Commander. It’s meant to do what its name implies—to fly a man in space. LAURA This is an XS-18, Lieutenant, not a regular space jet. This is a specially designed spacecraft and a very lethal one I might add. You can’t just go sending a man flying in it whenever you feel like it! LAILEB Commander, I am perfectly knowledgeable of what I’m doing. LAURA I don’t think you are. LAILEB Believe me, everything is under control here. This is not your concern. LAURA You’re damn right it’s my concern! I have been on this project from the start. You haven’t been here for more than a day. There has been no FPS done to test this jet, and I highly doubt that the wreckage from the most recent accident has been completely checked and analyzed! LAILEB Commander, I assure you that is not a problem of your concern. As I recall, you are on a leave of absence and are no longer in charge of this project until otherwise notified. LAURA That doesn’t mean it’s none of my business. You can’t just go using men as guinea pigs and not know what you’re putting them up against! LAILEB Commander Matthews, you are excused from this matter until further notice. LAURA I’m not letting you go through with this. Too many men have already died. I won’t add another name to that list. LAILEB Commander, I outrank you, which means you follow my orders. LAURA That’s funny because I don’t take orders from bastards. LAILEB Are you a glutton for punishment? LAURA Let me put it this way—you’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell if you think I’m going to stand here and not stop you. LAILEB (gets directly in front of her) I don’t think you grasp who you’re dealing with. LAURA And I don’t think you grasp how hard a busted face can be. Admiral Jenkins enters through the door. He walks over to the faced-off pair. Hank stands behind Laura. JENKINS Hey, what is going on? Laura, what are you doing here? LAURA (still looking at Laileb) Settling a little problem. JENKINS What problem? (pause) Would somebody please tell me what is going on here? Hank? HANK I’m sorry, Abe. This is all my fault. Lieutenant Laileb was planning on taking another run with the XS-18 without the necessary precautions. I didn’t know what else to do, so I went and got Laura. JENKINS Is this true, Laileb? LAILEB I didn’t believe it would pose a threat. I thought it would be beneficial to our study. JENKINS Laileb, always before you run a version of this model, you do an FPS on it first. We don’t want anything to happen to any of our men up there. LAILEB I’m sorry, Admiral. It won’t happen again. JENKINS I should hope not. For now, why don’t we wait until the wreckage analysis is completed? Then we can do an FPS on this particular jet and try it out. LAILEB Yes, sir. RADIO OPERATOR (to Laileb) Sir, they’re waiting on the landing strip. LAILEB Tell them to abort take-off and return to their normal duties. RADIO OPERATOR Yes, sir. He relays the message on the microphone. JENKINS Well, looks like all is well here, right Laura? LAURA (to Abe) Yes, it appears that way. JENKINS I’ll see you later then. I’ll come by later today to see how you’re doing, Laileb. LAILEB Yes, sir. JENKINS Well then, as you were. See you later, Hank. HANK Later, Abe. JENKINS Oh, and Laura—enjoy your vacation. Laura gives him a nod. Jenkins exits. LAILEB I’ll be seeing you then, Commander. Laileb begins to head toward control board, but Laura stops him. LAURA Not so fast. Abe might be compliant, but I don’t give in that easily, so let me put it to you this way: you ever do something like that again, and I won’t wait for them to discharge you. I’ll kill you myself. Both Laura and Hank exit. Laileb watches them as they leave with a devilish smirk on his face. INT. LAURA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- DAY Al opens the front door, letting Sam in. AL Hey, talk about fast service. SAM Hey, I got your message. I came over as soon as I could. AL Well it wasn’t that urgent that I couldn’t have told you later. SAM Where’s Laura? AL Oh, she’s out in the back. Do you know what happened at the base before she left? SAM No. (worried) Why? Is she hurt? AL Oh, no, no, she’s fine, or she seems fine. It’s just when she came home, she seemed agitated. SAM Last time I saw her, she ran out of the classroom, something to do with an FPS. AL Wonder what that’s all about? SAM Don’t know. Whatever it is, it’s got me guessing. AL Well whatever it is, I sure hope it doesn’t include a revisit to last night. SAM What happened? Didn’t you check up on her after I left? AL Oh, I checked up on her. I practically spent the whole night with her. SAM Al…? AL Not like that, Sam, are you kidding? No, I spent the night holding her as she cried in my arms. I’m telling you that death report triggered a lot more than grief over that cadet. It brought on memories of years of suffering; things I doubt anyone else has ever known. EXT. LAURA’S HOUSE- BACK DOOR- DAY Laura sits on the step of the back door in a serious mood, drinking out of a beer bottle and looking at the beautiful sunset. Apollo sits next to her. Sam opens the back door and stands behind her. SAM I love sunsets. They always remind me of nights when I was a kid back on the farm. LAURA (turns around) What are you doing here so early? I wasn’t expecting you for a while yet. SAM Well, I thought I’d come by early, see how things were going, talk to Al. Is this seat taken? (referring to spot on stoop) LAURA Knock yourself out. He sits down next to her as she takes another drink of beer. SAM It’s a beautiful sky. LAURA Yeah. Nothing can top a sunset on the beach, though, with the sunrays dancing across the ocean, especially at Gulf Shores. You’ve never seen a sunset until you’ve seen that. SAM Back on the farm, I used to love to see the sun set through the cornfields and then fade into the night. LAURA Yeah, I grew up on that. Of course, when you live in Indiana, there’s nothing much to see but cornfields. SAM You lived in Indiana? LAURA Yeah, I moved there when I was eleven and lived there for about 7 years. SAM (happy by the coincidence) I was born in Indiana. LAURA No kidding? SAM Yeah, I grew up and lived there until I went to college. I’m from Elkridge. You? LAURA Oh, I lived south of Indianapolis in Greenwood. SAM That is so close. LAURA And yet so far