Mosiah's Moon (6) ANDERSON My men will be driving through the night to get there. I don’t want them out during the eclipse, so make sure the elevator’s there in plenty of time. You’ll need to keep both parties apart until the time is right. What’s your plan? ROGERS I’ve got them administering sick call until eight o’clock. It may take a few minutes to get all the inmates cleared out and settled down, but once the movie begins, your men can move in. ANDERSON What’s the movie? ROGERS 2010: Odyssey Two. I thought it apropos. ANDERSON It certainly is. That’s when we make contact. ROGERS Excuse me? ANDERSON 2010, . . . tomorrow night. ROGERS Oh, right. 8:10. Say, Ed, I was just wondering, since your going to do away with them anyway . . . ANDERSON Sorry, Ed. We need all their parts intact. ROGERS Oh. Right. Well. I’ll make sure they’re together and alone; the rest is up to you and your men. A knock comes on the door and Rogers jumps in his chair, jarring the top desk drawer open. ANDERSON Relax, Ed. I’ll handle him. When Rogers opens the door, David is on the other side. ROGERS David, we were just talking about you. Please, come in. I’ll leave you to it, Ed. As Rogers exits, David is still feeling the effects of the alcohol. He sways a bit, before taking a seat in front of the desk. He is feeling good, until Anderson speaks. ANDERSON What the hell did you think you were doing? “Just find out how it works”, that’s what I said. Radiation levels went through the roof. Nothing was mentioned about turning the damn thing on. DAVID Hey, bite me, Mr. Ed. Turning it on was the only way to find out how it worked. Why am I talking to you again? Where the hell is Sal? He supposed to be my contact. ANDERSON He’s on another assignment. I . . . Glancing at the wall mirror, David is pleased with his features. His attention is drawn to a blue light, blinking in the open desk drawer. ANDERSON Guitar, I’m talking to you! DAVID (facing front) I hear you, Ed. Where’s Wilbur? ANDERSON Look, departure is at 2100 hours tomorrow. Your complete analysis is to be in the data base by 1930. DAVID Why? Aren’t you sending escorts? ANDERSON Additional precautionary measure. DAVID Is someone, I mean other than you, after my ass? You wouldn’t be tryin’ to . . . assinate me, would you? ANDERSON What’s wrong with you? Of course not. It’s in case you’re impacted on route. There’s no atmosphere up there to slow anything down . . . DAVID Spare me the science lesson, Ed. I know you’d like to impact my route. You just remember what I said, . . . “Don’t ever touch”. ANDERSON Are you feeling alright? DAVID Hey, I'm on the dark side of the moon here? So I made it shine a little; no big deal. (laughing) I mean, I made a little shine. Hey, that works both ways. Have you ever heard of synon . . . synona-mouse. . . it's like double-speak, only better. . . ANDERSON I’ll open up a secure line for you tomorrow. So, you’ll transfer the data by 1930, right? DAVID Right. ANDERSON You better clean up your act. Anderson out. DAVID Don’t you tell me . . . Did he just call me a pig? Once the screen is clear, David walks to the open drawer and stares down at the phone. From the office window, he can see Rogers, heading his way. Closing the drawer, he quickly moves to the office door. The moment he opens it, Rogers steps in. ROGERS Are we all finished? DAVID I truly hope so, . . . Ed. Rogers eyes him suspiciously, as David totters away. EXT. LUNAR COMMUNICATION CENTER NIGHT McCurry is in the dining hall having dinner with Phillip, while they go over requisition orders. PHILLIP Well, Senator, I’m very sorry we couldn’t be more helpful, but as you can see, well, there’s really nothing left to see. McCURRY I guess we better head back then. PHILLIP We’ll be leaving tomorrow, after the eclipse. It will take a few hours to cool down. Surface temp- eratures will exceed 600 degrees. If you’d like to watch it, I’ve reserved a front row seat for you, on the observation deck. McCURRY That would be fine. Oh, Phillip, your two doctors have come up missing; no one seems to be able to find them. PHILLIPS Oh, . . .they’re about. Probably just finishing up their rounds. McCURRY No, I had them check. They’re not anywhere on the station, Captain. After the eclipse, I’d like to see if we might locate them. PHILLIP (surprised) If they’re not hear, Senator, I wouldn’t know where to look? McCurry stands and walks to the window. He waits for Phillip to arrive, then points to a single set of rover tracks, trailing toward the far side of the moon. McCURRY I should think we just follow those tracks. Phillip begins to look sick. McCURRY No need to call anyone, Captain, I’ve already checked with staff. They agree with you; and they know of no reason a rover would head in that direction. I was concerned, so I had my people call your people. In the spirit of cooperation, they’ve agreed to make another rover available to us, after the eclipse of course. (beat) Front row seat you say? Captain, . . .are you ill? INT. PRISON LOWER FLOOR NIGHT Still feeling the effects of the booze, David is teetering back to his room when he hears the voice of HAL. HAL Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave? He stops in his tracks and smiles. He turns slowly around. DAVID Sal? I’ll be damned! How the hell did you find me? When he realizes there’s no one there, he follows the voice to the cafeteria entrance. HAL Dave, I can see you’re really upset about this. A group of inmates are watching “2001: A Space Odyssey”, on the prison monitor. Several guards are also in attendance. Marcus is leaning against the side of a wall. Once he notices David, he walks over. When David sees him, he chuckles. MARCUS What’s so funny? DAVID Oh, I was just thinking about changing my name. MARCUS I couldn’t see from down here. What did they say? DAVID Oh, they’re going to assinate us. MARCUS They’re going to what? DAVID Assassinate us. They’ll be here tomorrow night. MARCUS Do you know when? DAVID Sometime after 1930. Anderson wants me to have all the data transferred by then. I found my terraphone in Rogers office. MARCUS So? DAVID So, it’s blinking. I’m supposed to be undercover, remember? Sal would never try to contact me unless I was in some deep shit. MARCUS These people that are coming, your . . . assinators, can you ID them? DAVID Well, it is a black bag operation; perhaps I can check their luggage? MARCUS That's it then. We go, first thing in the morning. DAVID Go where? MARCUS We’re taking over the prison. As they stare at one another, David smirks. DAVID When? MARCUS Tomorrow morning. DAVID Oh really? MARCUS Yes, . . . really. INT. PYRAMID TOMB NIGHT With a flashlight for a nightlight and a backpack for a pillow, Beth lays shivering in a corner. EXT. LUNAR SURFACE NIGHT The elevator rises above ground and it’s doors open. Miles away, the lunar rover advances toward the prison. INT. CAFETERIA MORNING Rogers and Walker are having breakfast when several fights break out simultaneously. Once Rogers gives the okay, Walker claps his hands and the guards move swiftly toward the combatants. The moment the inmates are surrounded, Walker steps into the center and pulls out his electric stick. When Marcus stands, Walker glares at him. WALKER Not this time, Messiah. Alright, give it to ‘em, boys! ROGERS MR. WALKER! Walker flashes a scowl at one of his men. Noticing the terror in the guard’s eyes, he glances around the area and discovers that not only do the remaining inmates have his guards surrounded, they hold hypos to each of their throats. Seeking guidance, Walker eyes Rogers, and the needle David is holding to his throat. DAVID Mr. Rogers, I’m afraid your days as an administrator are over. I mean, the lab is seriously over- stocked and now I’ve got a report to write! There’s way too much formaldehyde and way, way too many syringes. Wait! What say you hold them pig stickers for a moment, boys, maybe there’s a way to cover this? I hear you’re really into taxidermy, Ed? Rogers remains frozen to his seat as David continues. DAVID Well, perhaps you can tell us, Mr. Rogers, what happens if we decide to . . . shoot up your neighborhood? ROGERS The men and I will suffer slow . . .excruciatingly painful. . . deaths. DAVID I thought you could. MARCUS Once again, Mr. Walker; this time, give it new meaning. Walker thinks about it for a moment, then gives the order. WALKER Give it to ‘em, boys. As the guards slowly raise their electric sticks into the air, the inmates disarm them. MARCUS Synonymous speech, Mr. Walker; a mark of higher intelligence. Bam Bam moves quickly to where Rogers is sitting and snatches him off the ground. As he begins to strangle him, Marcus and David rush over. MARCUS Bam, please, put him down. It’s not our way. Bam stops throttling him, but continues to hold Rogers off the ground by his neck. BAM You know what he did to me. MARCUS Yes, I know what he did. We need to talk about that, and we will . . . DAVID Marcus, it’s real good that you can get him to talk about it, but . . . Rogers is turning red. MARCUS Our self-worth is in our minds, brother, not in our bodies. DAVID I think we got blue; well, he’s also pale, so, cerulean. We got cerulean. BAM BAM But he . . . MARCUS Bam, we’re about to start some real shit here now so, DROP IT! Bam drops Rogers to the floor. David pulls him to his feet. As Rogers tries to regain his breath, David smiles at Marcus. DAVID Drop it? You're really into this synonymous speech shit aren't you? Move your ass, Ed. I gotta make a phone call and you gotta open up your office. BAM BAM I’ll make sure he does. As the three leave the room, Marcus steps onto a table and addresses the inmates. MARCUS Gentlemen, we’re about to engage in a fight for our very lives. Yesterday’s work crew, secure the guards. The rest of you, put the suits on. You need to see what you’ll be fighting for. INT. WARDENS OFFICE While David watches, Bam forces Rogers to open up his desk drawer. Once done, David pulls out his phone. He smiles when he sees that the BLUE CONTACT LIGHT is still blinking. He carefully pushes RECEIVE, picks up the headset, and waits. DAVID Come on, Sal, pick up the phone. INT. PYRAMID CATACOMB As Beth lays sleeping in a dark corner of the room, a single ray of light shines from a crack in the roof, onto her backpack. Inside, the portable phone’s RED RECEIVE LIGHT is blinking. She stretches, then eyes her surroundings. Noticing the sunlight, she slowly follows it to her bag, then reaches for it. When she sees the RED LIGHT, she instantly grabs the phone headset and sits up. (split screen) INT. CATACOMBS BETH Hello? Is anyone there? David? Is that you? Oh, David. I love you. (crying) Earlier, when I thought you were lost, I tried to help find you; but I know now that INT. ROGERS OFFICE DAVID Beth? Is that you? It's me babe. I love you too, sweetheart. Oh honey, don't be so hard on yourself; I feel lost without you too. But you know, in these last few days, I think I’m the one that’s really lost, . . . because of you. I’M LOST ASSHOLE, BECAUSE OF YOU! You were going to Giza! Sal said you were lost, so we organized a search of Khufu. We fell through the floor and now I’m lost in the catacombs! I’m sorry David, but Sal’s dead. When we both fell, I landed on top of him. He wasn’t much of a friend, David; he brought me here. David, please, where are you? Right, you’re on . . .Did you just say you were on the moon? WELL HOW THE HELL DO YOU PLAN TO GET ME OUT OF HERE? Okay, but you’ll have to teach me how to operate this phone. Holy shit! I just remembered, I’ve still got four hundred inmates to find! I've really found myself. So, . . . where are you? Okay, calm down. I’ll get you out. Where’s Sal? Sal . . .dead? Beth, . . .Sal, . . .was my best friend. Sal was always trying to be accepted by the wrong people. You probably won’t believe this . . .but I’m on the moon. Relax. I’m going to give you some numbers to call. These are the good guys. They will come and rescue you, okay? No problem. We’ll have you out of there in no time. No you don’t. They’re up here with me. They built a prison inside the moon see and, well, lets get you out of there first . . . INT. MOON CAVE Marcus has gathered the inmates in front of the wall. He and Jesse begin to turn the two dials toward the sun icon. EXT. LUNAR SURFACE DAY The sun is shining brightly where the lunar rover has stopped. An agent gets out. As the vehicle begins to back up, the agent guides it under a ridge. Once the rover has been secured in the shade, the two agents begin to make their way up the hill, toward the open elevator. INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE Rogers is sitting in a chair as David teaches Beth how to operate her phone. To Rogers dismay, Bam Bam begins rummaging through his possessions. DAVID You see those two dials on the side? One is longitude and the other is latitude. Turn each of them to the set of the numbers I just gave you. Bam Bam continues to pick things up and smash them on the floor. The noise is beginning to irritate David. DAVID Hold on a minute, Babe. Bam, what the hell are you looking for? BAM Something that belongs to me. Bam glares angrily at Rogers, then continues searching. David scratches his head and glances at Rogers. When Rogers leers back, David grimaces. DAVID Oh my God! BAM’S BALLS?! You are one sick fuck, you know that, Ed! Rogers seems nervous when Bam begins to push buttons on his desk console. Suddenly a side closet door opens and “Black Magic Woman” starts to play over the intercom system. Bam and David stare in amazement into the closet filled with women’s nightgowns. Several pictures depicting Rogers wearing the negligees, hang on the inside door. As Bam sits back to eye an attractive BLACK NIGHTIE, Rogers raises up in his chair. ROGERS NO! DON’T DO THAT! David, noticing Rogers anxiety, focuses on the console where Bam is sitting. DAVID What’s goin’ on, Ed? Rogers relaxes in his chair. As Bam raises from the desktop, David moves over to the console. Looking down, he sees the elevator control is switched to open. He notices a surface monitor switch. DAVID What’s the elevator doing on the surface? Expecting someone? When David turns the switch, a camera in the elevator reveals two men approaching; both are carrying black bags. DAVID Anderson’s assinators? Shit!? They really carry black bags? When David moves back to the switch, Rogers goes berserk. When he lunges toward David, Bam catches him in a bear hug. ROGERS THE ECLIPSE, IT’LL BE HERE WITHIN MOMENTS! YOU’VE GOT TO GET THOSE MEN INSIDE . . . OR THEY’LL DIE! David glares at Rogers, then at BAM. DAVID Well, what do ya think, Bam? BAM BAM I say, FRY ‘EM! DAVID Sorry, Ed; looks like they didn’t make it. David closes the switch, then continues speaking with Beth. DAVID Beth, are you still there? EXT. LUNAR SURFACE As the two agents get within a few yards of the elevator, the doors suddenly close and the elevator begins lowering. They run to it. When it becomes evident they are too late, they decide to wait a moment for it’s return. INT. MOON CAVE Once they have brought the small triangles together as one, the giant triangle starts to radiate, illuminating the entire region. The inmates crowd around the edge of the chasm, and stare in awe, at the valley paradise below. INT. CATACOMBS BETH YES I’M STILL HERE! Now, what’s this about Bam Bam’s balls? Oh, oh, wait a minute, . . . some- thing’s happening here. Beth suddenly finds herself standing in paradise again. INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE DAVID Beth, what’s wrong? Hey look, I’ll make the call. You just take it easy. Beth? WHAT'S WRONG? BETH? ARE YOU THERE? INT. CATACOMBS BETH Oh, I’m having visions again. It’s nothing I can’t handle. OH MY GOD! DAVID! HELP ME! Suddenly the line goes dead. By now, Rogers has a headache. Tired of David's panic, he yells from his chair. ROGERS You can't transmit during the eclipse, . . . idiot! Bam moves swiftly behind the chair and wraps his hands around Roger's throat. DAVID Oh, I'm the idiot? I didn't steal family jewels from a giant, Jack! As Bam begins to tighten his grip around Rogers' throat, Rogers pleads for mercy with his eyes. While he chokes Rogers, Bam looks to David for guidance. Once David shakes his head no, Bam reluctantly releases his grip. EXT. LUNAR SURFACE By now, the eclipse has begun and the sun is getting hotter and brighter. The agents attempt to make a run for the rover, but within a few seconds, their suits begin to melt. Within minutes, the two combust and burn to death. INT. MOON CAVE The giant triangle gives off a blinding light, forcing the inmates to cover their eyes. EXT. MOON A tremendous beam of light emits from the center of the moon, shooting directly toward earth. EXT. GIZA, EGYPT DAY A tremendous beam of light shoots down from the sky, striking the top of the Pyramid of Khufu. Within seconds, the desert is changed into a GARDEN OF EDEN. The beam continues on for several moments until the desert is permanently transformed. Beth suddenly finds herself standing outside the pyramid, in the center of a beautiful garden, holding on tight to the satellite phone. As she begins to walk around, she sees a waterfall. She runs to the receiving pool, bends down and quenches her thirst. EXT. SOUTH AMERICA, PACIFIC OCEAN In a darkened sky, a golden triangle glows from the center of the moon. EXT. GIZA DAY As the eclipse begins to end, Beth is busy sampling fruit from the trees. Once the eclipse has ended, she hears David's voice once again on the terraphone. (split screen) INT. ROGERS OFFICE DAVID Beth? Are you there? Is something wrong? Hey, whatever you do, don’t eat the fruit. Relax; we’ve got one too. EXT. GARDEN PARADISE BETH All there? No. But I'm here. Wrong? Nothings wrong. I’m standing in the Garden of Eden. What could be wrong? Too late. Really, David, this is a serious place. Suddenly, Beth sees someone, walking in the sunlight. BETH DAVID David, someone’s coming! OH MY GOD! Can you see who it is? God? Really? Be polite. As the being nears, his identity becomes apparent. BETH David, it’s Sal! He’s alive! DAVID Sal’s alive? Are you sure? Within a few moments, Sal is standing before Beth, in a daze. BETH Oh, it’s Sal alright. Hold on. SAL Beth, where are we? We fell; I remember that. You landed on top of me, then, . . . what happened? Did I die? Is this heaven? Beth holds out the phone to Sal and frowns. SAL Who is it? BETH Your long lost friend. Sal tentatively answers the phone. DAVID Salvadore?! YOU’RE A DEAD MAN! How dare you take Beth on a wild goose chase like that? As far as I’m concerned, Sal, you go directly to hell! SAL David?! You’re here too? I am? So, this is heaven! I do? Wait a minute. Who put you in charge? We’ve got a conflict of interest. I want to speak to someone else! INT. MOON CANYON The inmates are enjoying the garden as BLACK MAGIC WOMAN continues to play over the intercom. Marcus and David talk as they watch Jesse and Bam soak in a hot spring. MARCUS Great music never dies. So how’s Beth? DAVID She’s having a hard time dealing with reality, but she’ll be fine. MARCUS And Sal? DAVID The radiation must have healing powers; before the eclipse, Sal was definitely dead. MARCUS Is he going to help us? DAVID Yeah. You bring a guy back to
Copyright © 1999 David Duane Fortner |