Gravity Page #2

RYAN:

Houston, I’m fine, it’s just...

(she swallows)

...Keeping your lunch down in zero G

is harder than it looks.

MISSION CONTROL:

Doctor Stone? Medical is asking if you

want to return to Explorer?

Ryan HUMS as she jiggles the CARD.

RYAN:

No, we’ve been here for a week

Houston, let's just finish this.

RYAN STONE is a medical engineer, specialized in hospital

scanning systems. She’s focused on her work as though she’s all

alone in the world. This is her first mission.

Ryan eyes the Card, then...

RYAN (CONT’D (CONT’D)

Card is up.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

That’s a negative. I’m afraid we’re

getting nothing on this end, doctor.

Ryan eyes the Card, then...

RYAN:

Try again.

MISSION CONTROL:

(a beat, then...)

Still nothing.

RYAN:

Houston, could you please turn that

music off?

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Kowalsky?

MATT:

Not a problem.

Matt toggles a switch and the music stops.

RYAN:

Thank you, Kowalsky.

Ryan moves the Card around.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Now, Houston?

MISSION CONTROL:

Negative.

RYAN:

Could Houston be misinterpreting the

data--?

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

We’re not receiving any data.

Engineering is recommending a vis-

check for component damage.

Again, as if to herself-

RYAN:

Mmmm. Let me see what's going on.

She starts to disengage one of the panels.

RYAN (CONT’D)

(mumbles)

What have you got here?

Ryan takes out a card from under the plate and begins to examine

it. Matt begins to approach her.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Visual examination doesn't reveal any

damaged components. The problem must

be originating in the comms panel.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

That seems to be the case. Engineering

admits that you warned us that this

could happen. That’s as close to an

apology as you’re going to get from

them. We should’ve listened to you

doc.

Without losing any time, Ryan puts the card back into the

telescope-

RYAN:

I’m on it.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Copy that. How long do you think it’ll

take you?

Matt begins a wide loop around the telescope.

RYAN:

An hour.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Outstanding. We appreciate your

patience, Doctor. Installing your

system in the Hubble is the main

purpose of this mission.

Ryan doesn’t respond, continuing to work. Matt closes in as he

circles the telescope.

MISSION CONTROL (CONT’D)

Houston trusts Mission Commander

Kowalsky realizes that this delay is

not of sufficient duration to enable

him to surpass Anatoly’s Solovyev’s

spacewalking record, as most recent

calculations indicate that he will be

left...

MATT:

Seventy-five minutes shy. Never

crossed my mind.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Matt, It’s been a privilege.

Matt hesitates ever-so-briefly, then...

MATT:

Right back atcha, Houston.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Enjoy your last walk...

MATT:

Am I a go to assist Dr. Stone in

removing the panel?

RYAN:

Assistance appreciated.

MISSION CONTROL:

(on radio)

Permission granted.

MATT:

Thank you, Houston.

(to Ryan)

Mind if I join the fun?

RYAN:

Certainly.

Ryan begins unbolting. Matt lands right next to Ryan and grabs

onto the telescope. She is frustrated, determined.

MATT:

How are you feeling?

RYAN:

Like a Chihuahua that’s being tumble

dried.

Matt takes out his pistol grip, and with fast precision puts its

head to a bolt and begins unscrewing. Matt removes the bolt

with confidence.

MATT:

It’s been a rough week. If it makes

you feel any better, I puked up

everything but my kidneys on my first

ride.

Ryan is not as precise with her pistol grip, and when a bolt

comes off-

She DROPS IT.

RYAN:

Whoa...! AWOL!

The bolt spins floating away. She tries to grab it but MISSES,

barely touching it but brushing it just enough to give it a push

that makes it change direction....

She turns and reaches out to grab it, but she is strapped to the

Robotic Arm.

The bolt spins out into the emptiness of space when-

A hand GRABS it before it has gone too far. It is Matt’s.

Ryan looks at him, embarrassed.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Thanks. Sorry. In my basement lab

things usually fall to the floor.

Matt puts the bolt away. He begins to unscrew another bolt.

MATT:

Hey -- you’re the genius up here. I

just drive this bus.

RYAN:

Call me a genius if I can get this

board initialized in the next hour.

MISSION CONTROL:

Explorer, this is Houston.

EXPLORER CAP:

Go ahead Houston.

MISSION CONTROL:

NORAD reports a satellite has incurred

a missile strike. The impact has

created a cloud of debris orbiting at

20,000 miles per hour. Current debris

orbit does not overlap with your

trajectory. We'll keep you posted on

any developments.

Ryan glances at Matt.

RYAN:

Should we be worried?

MATT:

Let the boys down there worry for us.

RYAN:

Explorer, engage arm and pivot to

cargo bay.

EXPLORER CAP:

(on radio)

Standby for arm maneuver.

The robotic arm moves very slowly, pulling Ryan along while Matt

begins to unharness from the telescope to shift his position.

MATT:

So doc, now that you work for NASA,

how do you like it?

SHARIFF:

Kinda like winning the lottery, isn’t

it?

She grins at the memory, glances at him. Confesses:

RYAN:

I was just happy that they didn’t cut

the funding to my research.

MATT:

How long was your training?

RYAN:

Six months.

SHARIFF:

Including holidays?

MATT:

So, what is this scanning system?

SHARIFF:

Nothing rad, it’s just a new set of

eyes to scan the universe.

RYAN:

Assuming it works, it’s just for

hospital use. This one is a prototype.

EXPLORER CAP:

Standby for marking.

MATT:

Listen, they don't bankroll

prototypes, even for your pretty blue

eyes.

She gives him a look.

RYAN:

My eyes are brown.

Matt stares at her, a faint smile on his face.

MATT:

Right now your eyes are blood shut.

She grins, looks away -- he got her. Then...

SHARIFF:

Kowalsky!

Matt turns. Shariff raises his arms again.

SHARIFF (CONT’D)

Is this great or what?!

Shariff JUMPS and FLOATS AWAY from the Shuttle, screaming and

flapping his arms. A long SAFETY TETHER attached to his waist

tenses and-

Brings Shariff to an ABRUPT STOP, snapping him back like a

bungee cord.

MATT:

(for Ryan’s benefit)

And to think he went to Harvard.

Ryan doesn’t react to this, too consumed as she is with the

panel. Matt looks out. A sad smile is on his face.

MATT (CONT’D)

You gotta admit one thing. You can’t

beat the view....

MATT ENJOYS THE VIEW

THE EARTH, with its ever-changing surface of blues and whites,

greens and browns, is massive and serene below him.

RYAN:

Mm-hm.

MATT:

“Mmm?” So what do you like about being

up here?

She hesitates -- trying sincerely to articulate her feelings as

we GAZE down at the silent planet below.

RYAN:

The silence.

(beat)

I could get used to it.

Matt laughs softly.

We arrive back on him as he turns back to look at Earth.

Something flickers briefly in Matt’s eyes-- something

complicated-

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