Ares Page #5

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21.

The Tribe exclaim excitedly as he emerges from the well.

EVAN:

(looking at the ThreeWomen)

Why didn’t you give me up?

The Oldest Woman holds out a FLYER to Evan. He looks at it.

It reads “REWARD FOR STOLEN MINING EQUIPMENT AND MINERALS.”

There’s images of the EQUIPMENT that was built into ARES 1,

but no sign that they were in a space capsule.

The other page has a PHOTO OF EVAN: handsome and polished in asuit. 20 lbs heavier. It says “REWARD” in English and Amharic.

“EVAN LANGE. WANTED FOR MURDER AND THEFT. Last seen in Siberia

in February. Believed to be near Dallol, Ethiopia.”

FLASH TO:
KEIJU, one of the other astronauts, floating in thespace shuttle as Evan slits his throat. BLOOD explodes from

Keiju’s neck. In zero-gravity, the blood beads and rises intothe air in globules -- like red confetti.

All around Evan -- giant FOOTPRINTS litter the red sand, leftby the mercenaries’ combat boots. Tribal children, giggling,

put their tiny feet inside the footprints.

MATCH TO:

DANNY (7) steps inside giant footprints in red dirt. Walkingwithin the footprints, he traces his father into

THEIR BARN. We’re at EVAN’S MODEST RANCH HOUSE. OUTSIDE

HOUSTON.

Evan looks up from repairing the engine of his 2-SEAT PROPPLANE and listening to an audio recording on his iPhone.

EVAN:

Danny, c’mere. Listen to this...

He backs up the audio as Danny crawls under the plane and liesdown next to his father.

EVAN:

This might be my favorite thing inthe entire world. It’s from 50 years

ago. The real recording from insideApollo 10...

He hits play. Mid-Atlantic accents cut through the static -

22.

CERNAN (ON RECORDING)

Once you get out of lunar orbit, youcan... Oh -- who did it?

YOUNG (ON RECORDING)

Who did what?

Evan is already giggling.

STAFFORD (ON RECORDING)

Give me a napkin quick. There’s a

turd floating through the air.

YOUNG (ON RECORDING)

I didn’t do it. It ain’t one of mine.

Now Danny erupts in laughter. They both love it.

STAFFORD (ON RECORDING)

Mine was a little more sticky thanthat. Throw that away.

YOUNG (ON RECORDING)

God almighty.

Evan laughs so hard there are tears in his eyes.

EVAN:

And you know what? All those turdsthey’re talking about are in freezers

in the building where Daddy works. Wekept them all in little bags.

DANNY:

Will they keep your number twos fromwhen you go to space?

EVAN:

Yup. They’ll be scientific artifacts.

Danny’s very impressed. Evan goes back to repairing the radio.

DANNY:

How soon do you have to go awayagain?

EVAN:

Sunday.

DANNY:

How long this time?

EVAN:

Six weeks.

23.

Danny’s heart sinks. Evan doesn’t see it.

DANNY:

Will you call me?

EVAN:

(shakes his head)

I won’t be allowed to. NASA needs to

know that I can be away from you guysand still be just fine.

Danny’s hurt by this, but Evan doesn’t notice.

Danny nuzzles his dad. Doesn’t want the moment to end.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE TRIBE’S CAMP - MORNING

Evan startles awake as he hears SHOUTING. A DUST CLOUD --

kicked up by a vehicle in the distance -- moves toward them.

Evan, nervous, slides behind a tent in the back of the camp.

Meantime, the tribe hide their cell phones, TV, T-shirts, andsneakers so they’re naked, except for their guns and paint.

They now resemble something from the “sad Africa” photo booksthat litter coffee tables the world over.

A BUS, emblazoned with the name “HEART OF DARKNESS TOURS”,

bumps over the desert into the tribe’s camp.

A TOUR GUIDE with a megaphone descends first, followed by 30WHITE UMBRELLAS in the hands of TOURISTS, shading themselves.

They’re a smorgasbord of Chinese, Saudis, and whites. They

carry cameras in their free hands. Snap, snap, snap-

Their TOUR GUIDE is a burned-out and sun-burned Australian.

TOUR GUIDE:

(into megaphone)

So the Saba tribe have been ‘ere for

40,000 years. Can you believe that?

That’s since Jesus times 20. This is

a snapshot of your ancestors, ladiesand gentlemen. You’re now standing in

the past.

The tribe stares warily at their visitors. The tourists gapeback, mostly through the lenses of their cameras.

Evan -- using this moment of distraction -- ducks

INSIDE THE NEAREST TENT

24.

He digs through bundles. Outside, the Guide drones loudly:

TOUR GUIDE (O.S.)

But the government wants to minecopper ‘ere. So they’re trying to

push the Saba off their land.

Apparently just because you’ve had

something for 40,000 years doesn’t

make it yours.

Finally Evan finds a stash of knives and handguns. He’s

tucking a pistol into his waistband when -

BAULU, the boy with the staff, comes in. Sees him stealing the

gun. He yells at Evan, who quickly puts the gun back-

EVAN:

Sorry, sorry -

He darts out.

The Guide is marching the tourists through the camp. Evan eyesthem from a distance. Not sure he can trust them.

TOUR GUIDE:

So the Saba are warring with thepolice. Hence, you might notice theyhave some weapons.

The tourists laugh nervously, eyeing the Saba’s guns.

TOUR GUIDE:

These women in cheetah-print...

He motions to the three HEAD WOMEN.

TOUR GUIDE:

...Are the wives of the chief, who’s

in prison for killing several policeofficers.

Knowing the Saba can’t understand, the Guide adds flippantly:

TOUR GUIDE:

Eventually the police will just forcethe Saba to re-locate to the city orlose patience and kill them all.

Aaaaanyway, you have ten minuteshere. Get some photos. But remember:

they’re not zoo animals. So they

expect you to pay for them.

The tourists use selfie sticks to pose for photos with thetribe. They cradle the Saba’s Kalashnikovs and grin widely.

25.

Evan crosses the camp toward the Tour Guide. The touristsstare. Wondering what a white man in filthy rags could bedoing here. Even the Guide looks scared of him.

TOUR GUIDE:

F***in’ A. What happened to you?

EVAN:

I was sightseeing up north. My Jeepbroke down. I was trying to walk backto Addis when these people found me.

TOUR GUIDE:

Bloody ‘ell. Didn’t anyone at your

hotel tell you it’s only safe to come

out ‘ere on a guided safari?

EVAN:

I need to get back to Addis. Can Ihitch a ride with you guys?

TOUR GUIDE:

It’s two thousand Birr per person.

EVAN:

I lost my wallet in the desert. I’ll

pay you when we get to Addis. My wifeis there...

TOUR GUIDE:

Sorry. Can’t let people on the safari

carriage who haven’t paid. But I’ll

call the police and I’m sure someone

can come and --

EVAN:

(quickly)

But I’ve already been out here three

days. My wife must be worried sickabout me.

(the Tour Guide shakes his

head “no” --)

She’ll pay you extra for helping me.

Please. A thousand dollars. Maybe

more.

That gets the Guide’s attention. He relents.

TOUR GUIDE:

I’m really not supposed to do this...

(taking out his roster)

What’s your name?

26.

EVAN:

Chris. Chris Padrick.

The Tour Guide scribbles it on his roster.

TOUR GUIDE:

We’ll leave as soon as the women have

finished their craft activity.

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