Interstellar Page #13

COOPER (CONT'D)

I can't help you. I have

responsibilities. Things that, no

offense, are more important than a

scientific mission.

Case shakes his head.

CASE:

I'm not a scientist, Mr. Cooper.

And this is not a scientific mission.

It's a rescue mission.

He rises and shakes Cooper's hand.

CASE (CONT'D)

Brand can show you the way out. I

hope you'll reconsider.

38.

Case steps to the door. Cooper looks at Brand.

COOPER:

Rescue? Rescue who?

CUT TO:

INT. CLEAN ROOM, UNDERGROUND FACILITY -- NIGHT

The air HISSES as it's run through an exchanger and a filter.

Then the second set of doors open. Cooper squints -- the

light is blinding.

INT. GREENHOUSE, UNDERGROUND FACILITY -- NIGHT

They are standing in a sealed corridor in the middle of a

massive underground greenhouse. Through the glass, Cooper

can see an acre or so of corn plants.

Cooper looks at the plants. They're all badly wilting.

COOPER:

The blight.

BRAND:

In the last century strands were

limited to one or two species. But

this one targets everything.

Essentially it's more efficient at

consuming our food than we are.

Cooper looks at the dying corn.

COOPER:

But it doesn't affect the corn.

BRAND:

Not yet. But it will. We've grown

a dozen forms of it that can. It's

just a matter of time before the

same ones develop out there.

(BEAT)

The mission is to rescue us.

Humanity.

She turns back from the glass.

COOPER:

(REALIZING)

No. No. We're rebuilding. We'll

find something. Some new

technology... We always have.

39.

BRAND:

(shakes her head)

Who's going to find it? The

universities are a joke. People

like you are reduced to scavenging

just to get by.

(LOOKS AWAY)

The earth has had enough of us. We

have two, maybe three generations

left. Then our time here is over.

Cooper turns back from the glass, anger growing.

COOPER:

You've known this for how long? And

you didn't try to tell anyone?

BRAND:

What would be the point? So humanity

could spend the last fifty years of

its life fighting over the scraps?

It's better that they don't know.

Cooper begins to argue, then stops. He knows enough history

to know she's right. He looks at the withering crops.

COOPER:

(QUIET)

That's why you're looking for a planet

with oxygen. Water.

BRAND:

A new home for humanity. We'll set

up a colony, then return to bring

more people across.

COOPER:

But you'd still only be able to save

a few hundred. Maybe a thousand.

BRAND:

Would it be better if we all died?

She looks him directly in the eye.

BRAND (CONT'D)

Look -- I don't have a clue what

Case thinks you could add to the

mission. You can come with us or

you can stay here and wait to die.

I don't care.

(BEAT)

But make no mistake -- this mission

is our last chance.

40.

Cooper looks at the wilted corn.

EXT. FIELD, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND -- NIGHT

Cooper walks Murph back to the plane.

He looks back at Brand, who holds his eye for a beat, then

turns back into the light of the underground facility.

Cooper buckles Murph into his seat.

CUT TO:

EXT. AIRFIELD -- NIGHT

Cooper's airplane touches down heavily on the runway.

EXT. FARMHOUSE -- NIGHT

Cooper carries his sleeping son into the house.

INT. FARMHOUSE -- NIGHT

Donald is sitting at the kitchen table, lost in thought.

Cooper has told him everything.

DONALD:

You get older, sometimes you just

want to sit back and watch it all

play out. Your life. Your kids'

lives. The whole crazy story.

(LOOKS DOWN)

I didn't think I'd be around for the

end of it.

He looks at Cooper.

DONALD (CONT'D)

You have to go.

COOPER:

I can't go. I have to look after

the boys.

DONALD:

You've been preparing these boys to

be on their own since their mom died.

Besides, I'll be here to look after

them, same as I've always been.

COOPER:

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