Away From Home Ep.1(Acts 1&2 of 3)

ACT I

OPENING CREDITS

FADE IN ON:

A LARGE SHIP SPEEDING FORWARD IN SPACE.

The ship speeds away from earth heading off in the distance.

YEAR 2030 comes on screen.

INT. THE SHIP-COCKPIT

THE SHIP’S pilot JOANNA is sitting on the pilot seat holding onto the joysticks tightly, keeping THE SHIP steady. JOANNA flicks a few switches next to her, plotting THE SHIP’S course. Behind JOANNA the medical officer ROGER is sitting on his own chair sipping his coffee.

ROGER
What’s our destination again?

JOANNA
Well doc. Our destination this time is the wonderfully dull space station orbiting Pluto.

ROGER (sarcastic)
Oh yeah that’ll be great.

ROGER takes another sip of his coffee, finishing it off then stands up.

ROGER
You want one of these?

JOANNA
Yeah I’ll need to keep myself awake if wee want to actually get there.

ROGER
I’ll be back in a minute.


JOANNA
Thanks.

ROGER leaves the COCKPIT, closing the door behind him. He walks through a long brightly lit hallway, making a few turns through similar hallways until coming up to a door that has the words DINING AREA in plain white capital letters on the door. ROGER presses the button next to the door and heads in.

INT THE SHIP-DINING AREA

The DINING AREA is a large open-spaced room, the table is set in the centre of the room with six chairs set around it. The food supply cupboards and the sink are at the far left corner, one of them is open. Two of the chairs are being occupied by CAPTAIN TONY MASON and NATHAN REYNOLDS. They are sitting next to each other, both of them having lunch. They both stop for a beat and look towards the door to see ROGER entering, and then they go back to their lunch.

ROGER
Hey guys.

TONY/NATHAN (in unison)
Hey doc.

ROGER walks past them to the sink he washes out the cup then re-fills it with coffee.

NATHAN
How’s our ‘passenger’?

ROGER
She‘s in healthy condition.

NATHAN (mocking)
Well isn’t that a shame

ROGER
Yeah well she’s fine, no signs of any illness or anything. And anyway she’ll be off the ship within a day or two.

NATHAN
Thank God, I hate having a prisoner on board.

ROGER
We all do.

TONY (interrupting)
Our course been plotted yet?

ROGER turns to face them.

ROGER
Yeah, Joanna just did it before I came here.

TONY
Good, don’t want to waste any time.

TONY gets on the Comm. System, a small device attached to just below his left shoulder, to SAMANTHA “SAM” COLLINS.

TONY
Hey Sam.
(beat)
Sam!

SAM
Hey Captain, what is it?

TONY
How the engine?

SAM
The engine’s fine, she’ll get us there good and well. When we get to the Pluto Space Station I’ll do some checks and stuff, make sure she can get us back.

TONY
Good thinking, tell me if there’re any problems.

SAM
Will do Captain.

TONY turns off the Comm. System and goes back to the lunch. ROGER, having got the cup re-filled, leaves the DINING AREA. ROGER walks back to the COCKPIT, moving slower and more careful. Suddenly THE SHIP heavily rattles for a second then stops, ROGER accidentally spills all the coffee over himself.

ROGER
Shit!

ROGER tries unsuccessfully to wipe the coffee stain dry. THE SHIP suddenly rattles a second time, this time making ROGER nearly fall to the ground and drop the cup, shattering it.

ROGER
What in Gods name is going on?!

SOUND: RAPID FOOTFALLS

ROGER turns to look behind him and sees TONY and NATHAN urgently running towards the COCKPIT. NATHAN sees the big coffee stain on ROGER.

NATHAN
What happened to you?

ROGER (agitated)
The coffee got spilled on me then I dropped the cup and it broke!
NATHAN
Well lets find out what happened.

NATHAN rushes to the COCKPIT and ROGER follows him.

INT THE SHIP-COCKPIT

JOANNA is sitting on her seat checking scans for the problem. TONY is leaning on the JOANNA’S seat.

TONY
Any clue what’s happening?

JOANNA
Not yet

TONY
Come on Joanna, you got to give me something.

JOANNA
Right now I can’t, we didn’t hit anything or anyone.

TONY
How can you tell?

JOANNA
Because according to these readings there’s nothing out there.

TONY
Are you sure?

THE SHIP rattles again, TONY holds onto JOANNA’S chair tighter.

JOANNA
Yes I’m sure! I’ve checked it so many times, the only thing about a hundred miles around is us!

TONY
Well then what the hell is going on!

JOANNA
I haven’t got a clue right now so just let me figure it out.

JOANNA begins checking all systems one by one. NATHAN and ROGER come into the COCKPIT, holding tightly onto the walls.

NATHAN
What’s happening!

TONY
We have no idea.

JOANNA
So far all systems are fine.

ROGER
Did we hit something?

JOANNA
There’s nothing out there!

THE SHIP rattles again, getting worse. JOANNA checks navigation systems and sees what is wrong.

JOANNA
What the…?

TONY
What? You found something?

JOANNA looks up to TONY.

JOANNA
We’re changing course!

NATHAN
What?!

ROGER
How can we be changing course?

JOANNA
I have no idea but we are, something is dragging us away.

TONY
Well move us away.

JOANNA
I’ll give it my best Captain.

JOANNA turns on THE SHIP’S reverse thrusters, slowing it down but not stopping it. THE SHIP rattles heavily now without stopping. THE SHIP was still moving away from course.

JOANNA
Its no use Captain, we’re still being dragged away!


TONY
Then shut off the reverse thrusters.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Captain what the fuck is happening!

TONY
Working on it!

SAM (over Comm. System)
What do you mean ’working on it’!

TONY
Something is pulling us towards it!

SAM (over Comm. System)
Well whatever is happening its doing hell to the engines!

TONY
How long ‘till they’re dead?

SAM (over Comm. System)
If this keeps going they’ll be dead in five minutes.

TONY
Keep them going as long as possible.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Will do.

JOANNA tries turning THE SHIP with the double-joystick steering, THE SHIP still doesn’t budge.

NATHAN
Are we heading to a planet?

JOANNA checks to where they are being pulled to. THE SHIP rattles again, ROGER nearly looses his footing

JOANNA
No. if this damn thing’s right then we’re heading…
(beat)
Nowhere.

TONY (confused)
Nowhere?

JOANNA
In the direction we’re heading there is nothing out there.
NATHAN
So this ship may never stop?

JOANNA
Exactly.

ROGER
Oh that’s just fantastic!

Outside in space just ahead of THE SHIP there is a small dark-red light, slowly getting brighter.

ROGER
What is that?

NATHAN
What?

ROGER points to the dark-red light, they all look to where he is pointing.

ROGER
That

NATHAN (looking in awe)
Never seen anything like it.
(beat)
Have any of you?

TONY
No

JOANNA
Well whatever it is that’s what we’re heading to.

TONY
Any way to get away from it?

JOANNA
If there is I’d know it but I don’t. It looks like we have a collision soon so strap yourselves in and hold tight!

TONY goes on the Comm. System to SAM

TONY
Hey Sam.
(no answer)
Sam!

SAM (over Comm. System)
I’m ‘ere Captain!

SOUND: STEAM IN ENGINE ROOM

TONY
How we doing?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Um… about another minute and we’re drifting. I’ll try to keep it going as long as I can but I can’t promise it’ll be any good.

TONY
No, no, no forget that. Find a chair and strap yourself in fast, we might have a crash coming soon.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Fine.

ROGER
I think we’d better do that as well.

NATHAN
Good plan.

NATHAN and ROGER leave the COCKPIT as fast as they could.

TONY
You gonna be ok?

JOANNA straps herself into the pilot’s seat the re-grasps the double-joysticks tightly.

JOANNA
I’ll be ok, just make sure the rest will be.

TONY
You got it.

TONY leaves the COCKPIT. THE SHIP is getting pulled closer to the red light, which is getting closer to being pink.

INT THE SHIP-DINING AREA


TONY runs into the DINING AREA towards the bolted-down chairs. ROGER, NATHAN and SAM are already strapped down, holding the chair’s arms tightly. TONY takes a seat between ROGER and SAM and straps himself in.

SAM
What about our prisoner?

NATHAN
What about her?

SAM
Well she might get badly hurt.

NATHAN
The cell is small she won’t be hurt too badly.

THE SHIP starts rattling again, this time without stopping. Everyone grips the arms of their chairs tighter. SAM closes her eyes, turning her face to the side.

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
EVERYBODY HOLD ON!

The red light has turned white and suddenly explodes in a white ball, it quickly gets bigger and bigger until it reaches THE SHIP. THE SHIP rears back as the white ball hits it, items in the DINING AREA fall from the shelves and scatter as they hit the floor. The crew’s faces are all in a grimace. Sparks start flying around in the ENGINE ROOM. Fires start burning around the inside of THE SHIP, some bigger than others. The white ball grew past THE SHIP, then suddenly stopped growing and started shrinking. JOANNA lets the double-joysticks go and holds herself tightly, until her hands are white. The whit ball shrinks until it is gone, THE SHIP stops rattling. SAM opens her eyes and looks around frantically, seeing that everyone is ok she lets out a sigh in relief.

TONY
Everybody good?

They all nods their heads and one after the other begin to un-strap themselves from the chairs.

TONY
Hey Joanna, you good?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
That’s a yes Captain, how ‘bout everyone else.

TONY
We’re all good here.

They all begin to stand up, ready in case THE SHIP rattles again. ROGER, who is the last to stand, begins walking towards the door.

TONY
Where are going in such a hurry?

ROGER
To check on the prisoner

SAM
Yeah she might be hurt.

NATHAN
Hey today’s looking up already.

The three of them give NATHAN a stern look, NATHAN turns from them and picks up several of the food cans and puts them back in to the cupboards. TONY turns back to ROGER.

TONY
Fine but when you’ve done that come right back here and help clean up.

ROGER
I’ll be back soon as I can.

ROGER rushes out the DINING AREA, TONY and SAM help NATHAN with cleaning up .

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
Captain we have a case of fire on board.

TONY
How bad?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
Some are close to the engine room.

TONY, NATHAN and SAM look at each other in in shock and fear. SAM drops the food cans she has in her hands and runs for the door.

TONY (calling after SAM)
BE CAREFUL!

SAM (calling back)
I WILL BE!

TONY and NATHAN return to cleaning.

INT THE SHIP-PRISON CELL

ROGER walks quickly to the cell, a fire extinguisher held with both hands. He puts the fire extinguisher to the floor to punch in the key-code when SAM rushes past him to the ladder at the end of the hall.

ROGER (worried)
Where’re you going in such a hurry?

SAM (out of breath)
There’s a fire in the engine room, gotta hurry!

ROGER picks up the fire extinguisher.

ROGER
Sam!

SAM
What!

ROGER
Take this

ROGER tosses the fire extinguisher to SAM, she catches it easily. She runs for the ladder again, carrying the fire extinguisher in one hand.

SAM
Cheers doc.

ROGER goes back to the door and punches in the key-code and slowly opens the door. The prison cell is small, the bed is low to the ground and just next to the door, going from there to the wall at the far side of the room and has both ends touching the wall. The walls, floor and ceiling are all a dull grey colour. There is a small toilet at the wall next to the head of the bed. The prisoner AMY is lying on the bed, her hands are cuffed. Her cuffed hands are holding in the bars at the head of the bed.

AMY (not caring)
What’s been going on? We under attack or something?

ROGER
There was something out there pulling us in but we think its over now

AMY
You think? So you don’t actually know?

ROGER
Well the thing’s gone so its probably over.

A small silence between them.
AMY
So what’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be helping the others?

ROGER
They aren’t injured.

AMY
Well neither am I so you can just scurry back to wherever it is you were before.

ROGER nods his head, turns and walks out, locking the door. AMY sighs in annoyance.

INT THE SHIP-ENGINE ROOM

SAM climbs down the ladder then rushes into the ENGINE ROOM holding the fire extinguisher, a small fire is in the far left corner. SAM goes to the corner and puts the fire out, once it is out SAM sighs in relief. SAM goes onto the Comm. System.

SAM
The engine room’s clear Captain

TONY (over Comm. System)
Is there any damage?

SAM checks the ENGINE ROOM for damage, there is only a few burn marks.

SAM
Uh… a few burn marks nothing too serious.

TONY (over Comm. System)
Thank God, but there are still some other fires-

SAM
On it.

SAM runs out the ENGINE ROOM to the ladder then goes back up it. She gets out of the first exit to a long hall with the crew’s living quarters along both sides of the hall. There is a fire larger than the one in the ENGINE ROOM next to the door entitled ROGER’S, SAM moves up close it and starts putting it out. After some time the fire finally went out. The damage is slightly worse than in the ENGINE ROOM but still not too bad.

SAM (to herself)
That’s another one.

TONY (over Comm. System)
Sam the rest of the fires are out now.
SAM (confused)
How’s that?

TONY (over Comm. System)
The rest of them were in the area with sprinkler systems.

SAM
We’ve got to get more of them.

TONY (over Comm. System)
We will when we get paid.

SAM
If we get paid.

TONY (over Comm. System)
The people that want the prisoner are respectable people, they don’t back down from deals. They are gonna pay us when we arrive.

SAM
Captain you’ve said that about the last ten people at yet they somehow only give us half of what they owe us and force us to leave.

TONY (over Comm. System)
Ok you got me there but I’m right this time.

SAM
I’m not gonna complain.

TONY (over Comm. System)
Good.

SAM walks back to the ladder, leaving the fire extinguisher where it is, and climbs to the top.

INT THE SHIP-DINING AREA

NATHAN, ROGER and TONY are almost finished with cleaning the DINING AREA. Most of the food cans and pots and pans are back in their original places. SAM walks in through the door, she looks around at what is left of the mess then to TONY.

SAM
Well it seems you boys don’t need so I’m go check if the engine can be fixed.

TONY
Good thinking.

SAM turns to look at ROGER.
SAM
How is she?

ROGER
Annoying as ever but physically fine.

NATHAN
Damn shame

SAM
Shut it Nathan!

NATHAN smiles, amused by SAM’S outburst. SAM glares at NATHAN for a while then leaves. ROGER turns to NATHAN

ROGER
Why do you hate her?

NATHAN
Who?

ROGER
Amy, our prisoner.

NATHAN
Oh come on doc. If she got the chance she’d kill all of us and sleep soundly that night. Am I the only one who realises that?

ROGER looks to the floor embarrassed, NATHAN notices this.

NATHAN
Thought so.

TONY stares back and forth between NATHAN and ROGER, they don’t stare back.

TONY
Will you two shut up, Amy isn’t our main problem right now. If we can’t fix this ship we aren’t going anywhere for a long time. So you two sort out whatever problems you have when we get to the Pluto Space Station, got it?

ROGER and NATHAN stare at each other for a little while longer, then both nod their heads.

TONY
Good now lets just finish up in here.

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
Captain.

TONY
What is it?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
We have another problem.

TONY rolls his eyes and NATHAN slumps down in annoyance.

TONY
What is it this time?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
Well umm… the thing is that…

TONY (worried)
Joanna what is it?

NATHAN
Yeah is this ship able to move?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
I don’t know yet

TONY
So what’s the problem?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
We uh… we aren’t in the same place we were before.

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT 1


ACT 2

INT THE SHIP-DINING AREA

TONY and NATHAN are staring at each other in confusion.

NATHAN
What do you mean we’re not in the same place as before?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
I mean that we are in a different position than before that big ball hit us.

TONY
How different?

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
Very. I don’t think we are still in out Solar System any more.

NATHAN
Oh this is just brilliant. Thank you very much.

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
This is not my fault Nathan so don’t go blaming me!

TONY
Alright, alright just calm down the two of you. Joanna try and find out how far we are from the Solar System.

JOANNA (over Comm. System)
(sigh)
I’ll try but no promises.

TONY
Give it your best.

TONY turns the Comm. System off.

NATHAN
What do we tell the others?

TONY thinks for a moment.

TONY
Nothing yet

NATHAN
They’re gonna find out anyway.

ROGER
i hate to say it but he's right

TONY
Not if we can get us back soon, then they’ll never know

NATHAN
How do we do that?

TONY shrugs.

TONY
I don’t know but we need to figure something out.

ROGER
Like what, wait for that thing to come back?
TONY
Of course we’re not doing that.

NATHAN
Well what then?

TONY
I don’t know it depends if this ship can actually move. Sam!

SAM (over Comm. System)
What?

TONY
Can we move?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Not right now I’m afraid.

TONY
What’s wrong?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Well to put it simply we’re dead in the water. We aren’t going anywhere for at least a few hours.

TONY
So you’re saying that it can be fixed right? Please tell me it can be fixed.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Yeah but not for a long time, and I may need a little help.

TONY
How much help?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Well luckily none right now but when I do I’ll holler.

NATHAN
I’ll do it.

SAM (over Comm. System)
That’ll be fine cheers Nathan.

TONY
Great.

SAM (over Comm. System)
And Captain.

TONY
Yeah?

SAM (over Comm. System)
I heard what Joanna said… ’bout us not being where we were.

TONY (worried)
You did huh?

SAM (over Comm. System)
So I guess we won’t be getting paid huh.

TONY laughs.

TONY
Well not yet. But we will.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Oh goody. I’ll probably celebrate when that happens.

TONY
We all will Sam don't you worry.

SAM (over Comm. System)
(sigh)
Thanks.

ROGER
She seems to be taking it rather well.

NATHAN
Yeah a bit too well.

TONY
Yeah well we can deal with that later right now we just need to get this baby moving. Nathan, go to the engine room to help Sam.

NATHAN opens his mouth to say something but TONY cuts him off.

TONY
I know she said she didn’t need help yet but just go there anyway so when she does need help you won’t be far away.

NATHAN
Done.

NATHAN leaves the DINING AREA.

ROGER
What about me?

TONY
Doc. You and me are gonna check the rest of the ship for damage see what does and doesn’t work and how bad the damaged things are.

ROGER
You got it.

INT THE SHIP-ENGINE ROOM

SAM is on her knees next to the engine with a wrench in her hands, she is trying to tighten one of the pipes so it would stop leaking fluid. Her hands are dirty and sticky. Steam was blowing out other pipes along the walls.

NATHAN
Need some help?

SAM jumps in shock and looks behind her and sees NATHAN leaning at the ENGINE ROOM’S entrance. He chuckles lightly when SAM jumps.

SAM
You scared me.

NATHAN raises his hands defensively.

NATHAN
Sorry.

SAM
Oh its ok, its just all of what’s been happening has made me a little jumpy.

MATHAN (smiling)
Huh a little?

SAM goes back to the pipe and continues her attempts at tightening it.

SAM
Ok, ok a lot, but…
(beat)
Oh come on like you’re not worried or even just a little jumpy.

NATHAN (shrugging)
I’m not.


SAM
Mm yeah sure.

NATHAN
I’m serious

SAM (laughing)
No you’re not, you’re just trying to act all cool and stuff so the rest of us will think you’re braver than us. And we both know you are the second-least brave person on this ship.

NATHAN
Whose first?

SAM
I am.

NATHAN
No way is that anywhere near true.

SAM
Yes it is

NATHAN
Oh come on, you are in here up close to that thing
(he points to the engine)
every day knowing that it could blow at any second. That’s better than the rest of us.

SAM looks at NATHAN and smiles.

SAM
Thanks.

NATHAN
Any time. Now to steer you back to what I said before ‘need some help’?

SAM
Umm sure could you try and stop the steam coming from those pipes.

SAM points to the pipes on the wall next to her then continues tightening.

NATHAN
Well I can give it a shot.

SOUND: PIPES CREAKING, THEN A SMALL METAL-ON-METAL BANG

SAM
That’s done it.

NATHAN
Fix it did ye.

SAM
Yeah it was leaking fuel.

NATHAN
How much we got left?

SAM gets to her feet and walks to the other end of the ENGINE ROOM. NATHAN watches her go.

SAM
We have… just over half fuel.

NATHAN
Well it isn’t that bad.

SAM
Actually it is.

NATHAN
How’s that?

SAM turns back to face NATHAN.

SAM
Well even if we do get this ship up and running again it won’t do much good unless there is a known station within a twenty thousand square-mile radius.

NATHAN
Oh……

SAM
Fuck?

NATHAN
Yeah that about sums it.

NATHAN grabs a spare wrench from SAM’S tool box and fixes the pipes on the wall, the steam coming from the pipes comes slower and slower until finally stops.

SAM
So… whose gonna tell him?

NATHAN (reluctantly)
I’ll do it-

SAM
Oh thank God.

NATHAN
But not yet.

SAM
As long as I don’t have to tell him I’m fine.

NATHAN and SAM hug each other.

NATHAN
Whatever’s happened I’m sure we’ll get through it in one piece.

SAM
Sure?

NATHAN
Sure.

INT THE SHIP-COCKPIT

JOANNA is standing in front of her chair. Sorting through wires inside the main controls, trying to get through them to a set of switches.

JOANNA
Come on you son of a…

JOANNA finally gets her left hand through the wires to the set of switches .

TONY (over Comm. System)
Hey Joanna, how’s it going.

JOANNA
I’m just checking the switches, to see if the sensors’ll come back on.

TONY (over Comm. System)
Keep me informed.

JOANNA
I will.

JOANNA flicks a switch and several of the lights go out, she flicks it again and the lights turn back on.

JOANNA
Ok so the proximity alert works. No for the rest.

JOANNA flicks another switch, this time nothing. She flicks it repeatedly back and forth and still nothing happens. JOANNA gets agitated.

JOANNA
Dammit, so the… internal sensors don’t work.

JOANNA moves to the third switch and flicks it, the door’s locking mechanism shuts down. She flicks it again and they turn back on. JOANNA sighs in relief. TONY walks in through the door behind JOANNA.

TONY
How we doing so far?

JOANNA
Well right now the pluses are beating the minuses.

TONY (nervous)
What’s not working?

JOANNA
So far I only know that the internal sensors aren’t working.

TONY (relieved)
We can do without them for a while. What about air and gravity?

JOANNA
Errr…

JOANNA moves to the far end to check readings from two separate pannels and then turns back to TONY.

JOANNA
So far the’re holding up alright.

SOUND: FAINT RUMBLING FROM THE ENGINE

Suddenly more lights turn on. TONY and JOANNA look around, a smile crosses TONY’S face. JOANNA quickly walks to her seat.

JOANNA
We’re back on.

TONY
God bless you Sam.

JOANNA
Hey Sam congrats on getting the engine back on.

SAM (over Comm. System)
Thanks Joanna.

TONY
How’s our fuel?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Not as good as you’d want.

TONY
How bad?

SAM (over Comm. System)
Its close to being red.

JOANNA
How long would we last?

SAM (over Comm. System)
At minimul speed we’ll last three hours at least.

TONY
This is a really bad day!

JOANNA
Don’t go ‘bad day’ until we see what’s out there.

TONY
Or what’s not.

JOANNA starts the long range scanners and the two of them wait for a short time.

SOUND: BEEPING

The scanning is complete and JOANNA checks the results. She looks happy.

SAM/TONY (in unison)
Are we gonna be ok?

JOANNA
Yes.

SAM (over Comm. System)
WOOHOO!

TONY laughs as he looks relieved and leans forward, resting his hands on his knees.

TONY
What’ve ye found?

JOANNA
A small red planet, it has signs of life on it.

SAM (over Comm. System)
How long will it take to get there?

JOANNA
It’ll take us half an hour.

TONY
Well lets not waste any time then. Get us there safely Joanna.

JOANNA moves THE SHIP forward, slowly at first and then going faster and faster.

INT RED PLANET-DOCKING AREA

JOANNA lands THE SHIP in an empty space, there are many different ships around it. A small ramp lowers to the ground from the back of THE SHIP and they all walk down it. All except AMY. The surrounding area is very crowded by tall thin dark-coloured buildings. The blue sky is barely visible. The surrounding area is almost like a giant market-place. The are dozens of aliens all around the ‘market-place’ area of many different colours and appearance. Most of the aliens don’t notice them but some do and for a long while stare at them.

NATHAN
Where the hell are we?

ROGER
Good question.

NATHAN
Yeah well unfortunately we don’t have any answers.

TONY
Not yet.

They all stare at TONY in surprise.

SAM
You can not be serious.

JOANNA
You really expect us to go out there?

TONY
Yes.

ROGER
No, no, no. you can go out there but I’m gonna stay right here and wait.

TONY
We are all going.


They all look reluctant and look away but do not agrue with TONY. With the silence as an answer TONY nods his head.

TONY
Ok then. Roger, you and the girls go to the left while me and Nathan’ll go right. We’ll meet back here in two hours. Keep the Comm. Channel open at all times.

JOANNA
What are expecting to find?

TONY
Anything that could be of use, our top priority is fuel and directions.

NATHAN
Oh great, lets just shout the fact that we are basically tourists to this place.

SAM
Well we kinda are Nathan.

JOANNA
Lets just go.

They start to separate, going in their groups. NATHAN and TONY has to squeeze through the crowds while it isn’t as crowded where JOANNA, ROGER and SAM are. SAM looks at some of the stalls and what they are selling as she, JOANNA and ROGER pass by them and is disgusted by some of the items.

SAM
What the hell is this stuff.

JOANNA
I can’t even begin to tell you why I don’t want to know.

ROGER
I don’t even know why I’m looking at them.

They turn away from the stalls and walk deeper into the MARKET-PLACE AREA. NATHAN and TONY move through the heavy crowd trying not to stare too hard at the passing aliens. Less and less sunlight is able to get through to them. Aliens continually stared at them but only for a moment.

NATHAN
I don’t like it here, wherever here is.

TONY
I don’t either but this was the only planet we could find.
(beat)
As soon as we get what we came for we are out of here.

NATHAN
If we get what we came for.

TONY stops and turns to NATHAN.

TONY
Quit complaining and help me look.

NATHAN
Alright, alright.

TONY turns back around and is about to continue moving when a group a three aliens, one female and two male, come up them and stop in front of them. Each of the three aliens are completely different from each other. The female alien in front began speaking but neither NATHAN nor TONY could understand her.

TONY (slowly)
Umm… we can’t understand you.

While speaking he tries to gesture with his arms. The three aliens look between each other in confusion and then start talking to each other, each of them is speaking in a bizarre language and both TONY and NATHAN couldn‘t understand any of it. NATHAN leans towards TONY.

NATHAN
This don’t look good.

TONY nods his head in agreement. The MALE ALIEN to the left of the female reaches into his pocket and takes out two small rough brown balls. He cracks one open and inside is a tiny red worm-like creature, he picks it up and reaches out to TONY. TONY looks confused, his eyes going back and forth between the male alien and the worm-like creature.

NATHAN
I think they want you to eat it.

TONY (look of disgust)
Don’t joke around.

NATHAN
I’m not.

The MALE ALIEN holding out the worm-like creature to TONY urges him to take it. The FEMALE ALIEN and the other MALE ALIEN nod their heads. TONY shakes his head and looks away. The first MALE ALIEN moves his outstretched hand to NATHAN who then raises his hands and backs away.

NATHAN
Whoa, whoa I am not touchin’ that thing.

There is a long silence between all of them, TONY takes several deep breaths.

TONY
Alright just gimme it.

TONY takes the worm-like creature from the male alien’s hand and is about to put it in his mouth when the other male alien stops him and gestures with his hands for TONY to put it in his ear.

TONY
Oh God you gotta be kiddin me!

NATHAN
Our ear?!

The three aliens nod their heads in unison. TONY hesitantly reaches for the worm-like creature and grasps it lightly and then places it near his ear, he closes his eyes to prepare for it then moves his hand closer to his ear. The worm-like creature suddenly shoots into TONY’S ear, who yelps in pain at the sudden intrusion he backs away a few steps before reopening his eyes, he is disorientated and nearly falls but NATHAN grabs him. The dizziness fades and he is back to normal in a few seconds.

NATHAN
You alright man?

TONY
Yeah, yeah I’m ok. What the hell was that?

FEMALE ALIEN
That is a Translator Worm, it lets us understand each other.

NATHAN
What did she just say?

TONY
She said that the little worm thing helps understand what they’re saying.

The MALE ALIEN cracks the other ball and takes out another red worm-like creature and hands it to NATHAN.

NATHAN
This is gonna hurt.

NATHAN takes the worm-like creature up to his ear and it shoots into his ear.

NATHAN
Arrg God!

NATHAN holds his ear in pain, which slowly goes away.

MALE ALIEN #1
Now that we can understand each other, we ask for your asistance.

TONY (cautious)
In what?

FEMALE ALIEN
Before we do that allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Inyri Savakan.

INYRI gestures to the MALE ALIEN to her right.

INYRI
This is Kargen and this…
(gesturing to the other MALE ALIEN)
… this is Furlin.

KARGEN and FURLIN both lightly bow to TONY and NATHAN, who wave back.

TONY
Well hi, I’m Tony and this is Nathan.

NATHAN
Hi.

INYRI
The word ‘hi’ what is its meaning?

NATHAN
Hi, means hello.

INYRI (nodding)
I see.

TONY
Earlier on you said you needed our assistance… what assistance do you need?

FURLIN
We need your help in getting off this planet to a safer place. This planet isn’t the most civilized place in the near galaxy.

NATHAN
Now you tell us.

TONY gets on the Comm. System to the others.

TONY
Hey Sam… Joanna you guys hear me.

ROGER (over Comm. System)
We’re here, what’s wrong?

TONY and NATHAN sigh in relief.

TONY
You guys alright?

SAM (over Comm. System)
We’re good, I’m starting to like it here.

NATHAN
What’s going on over there?

ROGER (over Comm. System)
I’m not sure, there seems to be sort of… dance or ritual or something with a huge crowd around. They all seem to like what’s going on.

TONY looks over to INYRI for answers.

INYRI
They must be at the New Year Ritual. We know where your companions are.

TONY
Take us there.

KARGEN
Follow us and stay close.

They all walk quickly through the crowds.

INT RED PLANET-NEW YEAR RITUAL ARENA

SAM, ROGER and JOANNA are sitting in with the crowd in a huge circle. Within the circle is a large fire with a group of aliens dressed in strangely coloured dresses dancing in unison around it. ROGER and JOANNA are both looking at the display confused while SAM is enjoying it.

SAM
Is anyone else enjoying this?

ROGER and JOANNA look at her in complete surprise. SAM doesn’t look away from the ritual.

JOANNA
Are you mad?

SAM looks over to JOANNA.

SAM
What?

JOANNA
How can you be enjoying this?

SAM
Its interesting, its new. Its also kinda cool.

JOANNA
Freaky you mean, please tell me you meant freaky.

SAM
What’s wrong with it?

JOANNA
Its all so weird.

SAM
Not its not.

ROGER
We don’t know what it is.

JOANNA
Exactly.

SAM
Oh come on guys haven’t you ever wanted to see something new?

JOANNA
Yeah, comfy chairs and vegitarian pizzas,
(she gestures to the ritual)
not weird alien dances.

SAM becomes angry at JOANNA so she turns back to the ritaul. TONY, NATHAN and the three aliens walk up next to them watching the ritual with interest.

TONY
Anyone know what they’re doing?

SAM, JOANNA and ROGER all jump when they hear TONY’S voice.

SAM
Don’t scare us like that.

TONY laughs. ROGER sees the three aliens and backs up eyes wide.

ROGER
Err… wh-who are they?

SAM and JOANNA look to where ROGER is looking and stand next to ROGER.

NATHAN
Umm lets see if pronounce this right, this is Inyri. Him over there that’s Kargen and he’s Furlin.

SAM gives a nervous wave while ROGER and JOANNA just stand there staring.

INYRI
Greetings to you all.

ROGER
What she just say?

TONY
She says hi.

ROGER
Uh huh.

JOANNA
You understood that!

TONY
Yeah, didn’t you?

JOANNA looks at TONY in disbelief.

NATHAN
Those worm things.

TONY
What, oh yeah.
(turns to KARGEN)
Do you have any more of those worm thingys.

KARGEN
Yes I have several more.

TONY
Good ‘cause my friends here need them.

SAM
Urr what’re you guys talkin’ about?

NATHAN
Trust us you’ll need this.

SAM
That doesn’t make me feel any better.

NATHAN
Well I can’t help that.

KARGEN reaches into his pocket and takes out three moe balls, then cracks them open and takes out three Translator Worms and hands them over to JOANNA, ROGER and SAM, who take them after a few hesitant seconds.
ROGER
What’re we suppose to do with these things?

TONY
You’re suppose to put them in your ear.

SAM/ROGER (in unison)
You gotta be kiddin’ me.

JOANNA
No way in hell is that going anywhere near my ear.

TONY
Come on this’ll help you guys understand them.

TONY points to the three aliens.

JOANNA
Alright, fine. But it better not hurt.

SAM and ROGER watch intently as JOANNA closes her eyes and moves the Translator Worm up to her left ear. The Translator Worm shoots into her ear, she groans loudly in pain.

SAM
You ok Jo?

JOANNA
I’m fine, I’m alright. Now its your turn.

SAM
Arr man.

SAM repeats what JOANNA had done and then gasps in pain when it shoots in her ear.

SAM
Ow, ow, ow that hurts.

ROGER
I guess its my turn now.

ROGER does the same as SAM and groans in pain, holding his ear when the Translator Worm shoots in to his ear.

ROGER
Oh God that hurts, son of a…

FURLIN
We apologize for whatever pain the Translator Worm has caused but they should have been inserted on the day of your birth.

JOANNA
Birth?.. You’re serious?

FURLIN
Well yes, that is the way for all species. Why weren’t any of you injected with them?

TONY
Well we ain’t from around here.

INYRI
Where are you from?

NATHAN
We’re from a planet called Earth.

KARGEN
Earth? I know of no such Planet.

JOANNA
Oh that really helps.

TONY (warningly)
Joanna.

SAM
Well it kinda does, if these aliens haven’t heard of us then we are very far from home.

NATHAN
She’s got a point there.

INYRI
You are lost?

TONY
Yeah we’re lost.

FURLIN
How’d that happen?

TONY
Some sort of.. Spacial anomaly brought us here.

INYRI
Well maybe we can help each other.

JOANNA
How’s that?

INYRI
Well you take us off this planet and we might be able you get back to your home.

JOANNA
Ok, I’ll repeat the question

INYRI
There are some species that travel to the galxies far reaches, it is possible that someone saw your planet.

TONY
Well then what’re we waiting for?

SAM
Wait what about fuel and supplies?

NATHAN
Oh yeah

FURLIN
We have some supplies, and fuel for your ship should not be hard to find.

TONY
Well then lets go get it.

They all leave the crowd and the New Year Ritual, which is nearing its end.

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT 2