Mosiah's Moon (2)
BETH You’re an archeologist, David, not a diplomat. DAVID If you don't force them to stick to the schedule, how can you keep track of what's going on? BETH There's nothing going on. A few inmates are being exchanged. You simply lack finesse, babe. That's probably why you were . . . DAVID Fired from NASA? That's not why they let me go. Besides, . . . I managed to finesse you, didn’t I? BETH (leaning back) That didn't take any skill. I fell in love with you the moment our eyes met. So, . . . do you want to tell me now why they let you go? He stands and casually walks to the door. DAVID Well, I can see that my skills are not needed here, so, . . . BETH DAVID! He opens the door, then turns to face her. DAVID No more charity, Beth. I won't be a kept man. She stands. As he walks out the door, Sari steps in. BETH Kept? You’re never around! You’re the most un-kept man I ever met! SARI I got de Indian ambassador on de line. BETH The ambassador? Well that's just great! Beth sits down and tries to regain her composure. SARI In my country, cleanliness is next to godliness. BETH I said un-kept, not unkempt. SARI I'm sorry. BETH I know who you are! Everyone’s giving me attitude today. Put the ambassador through please. EXT. FREEWAY NIGHT David is driving his candy-red Mercedes pod in the express lane, when a black pod pulls alongside. He looks over and notices two tough-looking men in dark suits, staring straight ahead. Laughing, he steps on the energizer and his pod begins to race at top speed, leaving the toughs far behind. INT. CONTROL ROOM Two computer operators are at work; one controlling a satellite, another tracking David's pod. SALVADORE RAMIREZ is issuing orders into a console, as EDGAR ANDERSON observes. RAMIREZ Report. AGENT I Like you said, he's a rabbit. RAMIREZ Stay back and keep driving him. Ramirez places a hand on the back of one of the operators. RAMIREZ Has the satellite tracked in? OPERATOR Yes sir. Intercept in two minutes. RAMIREZ (into the console) When he's disabled, do not app- roach. Standby, until I've had a chance to sweet-talk him. EXT. OUTTER SPACE A satellite laser is heating up. Suddenly it directs a beam from space to the hood of David's pod. EXT. OFF RAMP David's pod instantly loses power and the doors lock. He pumps his brakes and struggles to maintain control. As he begins to slow down, he veers across the freeway to an off ramp. Finally, he glides to a stop on a deserted dark street. He tries to restart the pod, to no avail. He looks at the power gauge; it reads fully charged. Without warning, a small video screen in the dash turns on and he finds himself staring angrily at the serene face of Ramirez. SAL (voice of HAL) Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? DAVID Salvadore! You almost killed me! Instead . . .you killed my baby. He throws his shoulder against the door, shaking the pod and the image of Sal. The doors remain locked. SAL Dave, stop . . . I can feel it. Ramirez smiles at Edgar. Edgar nods his approval. David’s agitation is growing. DAVID You just don’t get it do you? Read my lips; this is 2010; that is from 2001. Now open the pod doors, Sal! SAL I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that. Ramirez and Edgar are enjoying the harassment immensely. David sits back in his seat and crosses his arms. Slowly, he breaks into a smile. DAVID Still effeminizing for Edgar, eh Sal? Or has he turned you out already? What is it that makes intelligence directors all act the same? Is it queer how they’re all called Edgar, or are all Edgars, just queer? Anderson steps up to Ramirez. Once Ramirez sees his dead expression, he quickly switches the console speakers off, hands Anderson a headset, then backs away. Anderson remains stone-faced as he puts it on. He listens to further insults. DAVID Contrary to what you may have heard, Sal, Hoover actually liked criminals. In fact, whenever his agents had one treed, he'd make 'em wait ‘til he got there . . . he liked to pinch those bad boys himself . . . ANDERSON Guitar, . . . I'd like a word. DAVID Okay, let's try. . . homosapien. Now, what part of that word best describes you,. . . Mr. Ed? Anderson rips the headphones off and throws them to Ramirez. He glares at him for a moment. Ramirez stares back wide-eyed, daring not to smile. Anderson quickly turns and walks from the room. Once he’s gone, Ramirez puts the headset on and listens to David feign concern. DAVID Oh, oh, I'm in trouble now. Sal, why didn't you tell me Edgar was in the closet? Sal begins to laugh. Suddenly the pod door locks click open. As David steps out onto the street, the pursuit pod pulls up alongside. David gets in the back and the pod speeds away. EXT. INTERNATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE David is sitting in a chair, frowning at Anderson. DAVID You had me fired didn't you? ANDERSON You're not fired; you're on loan. We need you more than NASA. DAVID Another person with a hearing problem. He speaks while using sign language. DAVID I will...never...work for you! ANDERSON Will you listen for a minute? DAVID No, I will not listen. You're a crazy man, Edgar. You can't even talk without abusing your power. ANDERSON You could be on loan for quite some time, Guitar. DAVID I rest my case. ANDERSON I'll make you a deal; you play ball just this once . . . and we're off your case. DAVID Call me Guitar once more and I break your face? ANDERSON I can live with that. DAVID So can I then. Anderson walks around his desk and offers a limp wrist. ANDERSON Do we have an understanding? David stares at him. Anderson pulls his hand back and sits on the corner of the desk. ANDERSON The Federation’s finally decided to colonize the moon. As you know, we’ve been aware of the artifacts there for years, but until now, there’s been no discrete way of recovering them. We need someone to tag and bag ‘em, before they’re destroyed by the mining operation. DAVID Why me? You've got a full crew working for you? ANDERSON You and I have had a falling out. In the event that leaks into the “community”, we can use that; it makes for excellent cover. Your expertise in archeology enhances . . . DAVID What's with all the cloak and dagger crap? What the hell did you find up there, Edgar? ANDERSON That’s what you’re going to tell us. Come on Guitar, it’s tailor- made for you. You don’t actually like working for your girlfriend, do you? DAVID What can I say? She’s a better woman than you. Embarrassed, Anderson walks back behind the desk. He pushes a button on his intercom and speaks briefly into it. ANDERSON We’re ready here. He stares at David for a moment, then calmly takes a seat. ANDERSON Same deal as before. Full back pay, bonuses, etc.? DAVID Credit my account, or I don’t move an inch. ANDERSON It's done. From here on, you’re on your own. Salvadore will be your only contact. This is not shareware. Until we find out exactly what's there, everything remains within the loop. I trust you have not violated clearance during your leave of absence? DAVID And we were getting along so well. ANDERSON Perhaps to your . . . woman? No airing of our grievance then? DAVID You're not the first fem to find me attractive, Ed. I'd just never been threatened like that before. The two stand and begin walking toward the door. Anderson attempts to pat David on the back, but David sidesteps him. DAVID Don't touch; don't ever touch. ANDERSON It was clearly a mistake. Some times, when I drink . . . You know my career would be ruined if word were to get out. DAVID (smiling) Sexual harassment has evolved, . . . hasn't it? ANDERSON Can we forget it ever happened? DAVID Relax. It's not something I'd ever write home about. ANDERSON Good. Salvadore will get you all dialed in. You should be back in a few weeks. The door automatically opens, revealing Sal and the two burly agents from the chase, standing at the ready. Anderson and David face off against one another. Anderson glances at his backup, then offers a limp wrist again. ANDERSON You've got just 24 hours to get your shit together. Good-luck, . . . Guitar. David stares at him, then at the agents. He reaches out and grips Anderson’s hand. Suddenly, he pulls him close and drops him with an elbow to the face. The two agents grab David instantly, as Sal rushes to help Anderson up. Once he stands, he snatches a handkerchief from Sal’s top pocket and tries to stem the blood, spewing from his nose. ANDERSON Let him go! Damn you Gutierrez! Get him the hell outta here, Sal! The agents glare at David and Sal as they walk away. Anderson continues to whine and wipe blood from his nose. AGENT I Sir, are you just going to let him get away with that? AGENT II Never should have let in Latinos. AGENT I Salvadore's Latino. AGENT II It’s pledge of allegiance time. We should get rid of them both. ANDERSON (nasally) No, . . . we need them. I don't want anymore trouble until this mission is over. Anderson continues to hold his nose and whimper as he heads back to his office. He yells to the agents. ANDERSON And for godsake, don't call him Guitar! He hates it when anyone calls him Guitar; GET ME A DOCTOR! The doors close with Anderson moaning in the background. The agents glare at the two as they step onto an elevator. Sal pushes a button, then faces David. SAL Santo mierda, Guitar; you gone loco? What'd you do that for? DAVID Why the fuck do you keep locking me in my car, Sal? I'm serious; the shits not funny anymore. As the doors start to close, Sal begins to laugh. SAL Homo. . .sapien? (Hal voice) Stop, Dave. . .won’t you stop? . . . I can feel it. DAVID (smiling) I'll bet he can. Sal, now please, stop livin’ in the past. No more name games! It’s so old; it’s not even the right one. SAL Dave wasn’t in the second one. DAVID Yes he was. SAL Just a cameo . . . EXT. GIZA, EGYPT AIRPORT RUNWAY NIGHT On a secluded airstrip, prison guards are loading hundreds of convicts on board Endeavor II. Marcus is among them. INT. DAVID’S APARTMENT MORNING Beth is standing in the middle of a disaster area with her arms folded. As David packs, she eyes the messy apartment. BETH I’m tired of playing your maid. If you really object to being kept, why do you continue to live like this? DAVID I guess I just love a woman in uniform? BETH You really are a pig, you know? DAVID Oh? I thought I was . . .nouveau? BETH They just gave you your job back? DAVID It seems my skills are required in Cairo. BETH This wouldn’t have anything to do with what happened at work yesterday, would it? He smiles, walks over and embraces her in the doorway. DAVID Would I compromise my principals for you? In a heart beat. BETH Did you? DAVID No. BETH You still feel like a kept man? DAVID My masculinity has taken a few shots lately, but I'm fine. Its the damn system. They treat you like a whore, . . . until they need you . . . David continues to pack as Beth begins picking up the room. BETH You were right you know? DAVID About what? BETH I spoke to the Ambassador last night. He said it's suddenly be- come impossible to track trans- fers at any given time. He says several countries seem to be operating on revised schedules. Whatever’s going on, the Fed is keeping a tight lid on it. DAVID So? BETH So I called around. No one person has that kind of authority; yet, all over the world, prisoners are being transferred out, days, in some cases weeks, ahead of schedule. DAVID Well someone’s got to be coord- inating the exchanges? BETH Arrivals have dropped across the board. Early reports show outgoing transfers, but then the data ends. It’s as though all incoming traffic just . . . disappeared. DAVID Your schedule’s screwed up. You see? That's what I was trying to tell you. By not holding their feet to the fire you’ve allowed them to create their own time tables; you've got a traffic jam. BETH Or someone wants it to look that way. The ambassador thinks there's more to it than that. He wants someone he can trust to look into it; I suggested you. DAVID (hugging her) Again with the charity? BETH No, really David. Something is very wrong. A monitor on the wall comes on with a beep. Sal is shown waiting outside in a pod. Once David closes his bag and heads for the front door, Beth follows. DAVID It’ll have to wait until I get back. I've got to go, babe. As he reaches for the door, he sees she is distressed. DAVE Look, if your really worried, have your bean counters track . . . BETH Bean counters? In light of our current prison population, that could be construed as a racist remark, . . . Mr. Finesse. DAVID Amnesty International, pull over. Have your statisticians chart all recent departures to target. It’ll give you a better idea of who’s really overdue. BETH They've been tracking for several hours now; ETA’s are nonexistent. DAVID No data at all? That is strange. Have you spoken to John yet? BETH He’s tied up on Federation bus- iness. I’ll try him again later. After she opens the door, he gives her a deep kiss. DAVID Relax babe, you'll find them. If there’s one true constant it’s that criminals will never disappear from the face of the earth. It's probably just a computer glitch. He looks at the mess, smiles, then holds out his keys. DAVID We should get married. You know you're gonna miss me. Beth snatches the keys from his hand. BETH I miss your skills already. DAVE You are such a chauvinist. She holds up a T-shirt stained with grape juice. BETH But I’m not a pig. She watches from the doorway until he leaves, then turns and stares at the mess. Disgusted, she throws the T-shirt on the floor and locks up. As she walks down the outside steps, David’s candy-red Mercedes comes into view. She shakes the keys and smiles. BETH Hello, baby. EXT. INDIAN EMBASSY DAY Ambassador Nehru is video conferencing with Beth. NEHRU As you can see, over the last week we’ve had several depart- ures, but no arrivals. BETH So where did they go? NEHRU You’ve asked the question. I can tell you that inmate relatives are becoming quite concerned. BETH They just leave, without going through customs? How can that be? NEHRU Customs has absolutely no record of their departure. BETH Are we looking at an escape or a hijacking? NEHRU If it was an escape, neither prison is acknowledging it as such. At this point, no one is even looking for them. BETH Suppose someone were looking, where would they start? NEHRU Departure zones. Let’s begin with the group that just left. Nehru stands and places a pointer on a wall map. NEHRU Fifty Chinese Buddhists were slated for exchange with fifty Indian Buddhists next week. Yet, when we checked with both prisons, each claimed their inmates left on schedule, from these two sites. BETH What schedule? Nothing was slated for that time slot. NEHRU Both wardens keeping singing the same tunes. They each claim to have high priority orders, but they refuse to show them to me. The Feds say absolutely no such orders exist. BETH Well this absolutely sucks. NEHRU India and China are used to waving their sabers at one another. So far, nothing has ever happened, thank god. But, . . . I must tell you, whenever something like this occurs, it absolutely scares the shit right from me. BETH Out of me. NEHRU Pardon? BETH You said it scares the shit from me; it’s out of me. NEHRU (abashed) It’s out of you? Well, good, . . . I guess. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. When Beth begins to laugh, Nehru becomes perplexed. NEHRU You know, if someone executed them, it will absolutely start a nuclear war. BETH It’s already been passed on to Senator McCurry; I’m awaiting a response now. (beat) So, you want me to fly over? NEHRU Absolutely. INT. UNITED FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS Council members representing eight different countries are listening intently as Senator John McCurry addresses the Federation. McCURRY . . . and after two years, I am sorry to report that there is still no definitive answer as to where the money went. In- asmuch as I would like to con- tinue, a crisis is currently developing; one that requires my immediate attention. Prelim- inary reports from Amnesty In- ternational indicate that across the globe, international inmates have begun disappearing from the Fed’s Prisoner Exchange Program, and at an alarming rate. COUNCILMAN I Does the Independent Council seek to make a connection between the Space Station cost overruns and the Prisoner Exchange Program? McCURRY The Office of Independent Council is chartered to investigate any and all Federation improprieties, sir. At this early stage, we only seek to inform. COUNCILMAN II Well, I think this farce has gone on long enough. If after two years and millions of dollars, your only evidence of malfeasance is a few missing prisoners, isn’t it about time to close up shop? COUNCILMAN III I agree. I move the Office of Independent Council be dissolved. Sensing the bum’s rush, McCurry takes aim at each individual comment, and responds in rapid fire. McCURRY I’m an elected official, council- man; you lack the authority. Sir, 250 is hardly a few. COUNCILMAN I What? How many did he say? McCURRY Two hundred and fifty prisoners.
Copyright © 1999 David Duane Fortner |