Interstellar Page #5

INT. TRUCK -- DAY

Cooper is still trying to hack into the drone's control

circuitry as they leave the development behind and begin to

climb into the foothills of the Sierras.

EXT. RIDGELINE, HILLS -- DAY

Tom guides the truck along the spine of the hills. The drone

soars overhead, making for the white tips of the Sierras.

INT. TRUCK -- DAY

Cooper is oblivious to the picturesque surroundings as he

concentrates on the laptop.

TOM:

(UNSURE)

Dad?

COOPER:

Almost got it. Don't slow down.

In front of them, Tom and his brother watch as the drone

plummets from view.

TOM:

DAD.

Cooper looks up. Ahead, the trail disappears as the edge of

the hills falls away -- it's a three hundred-foot drop.

Tom locks up the brakes.

EXT. RIDGELINE, HILLS -- DAY

The truck skids to a halt inches from a precipitous drop.

Cooper climbs out, holding the laptop. Murph climbs out

next to him, still pointing the Pringles can.

TOM:

We lost it.

COOPER:

(SMILING)

No we didn't.

14.

Suddenly, the drone SOARS back over them. Cooper types a

couple keys and then moves his fingers across the trackpad.

The huge drone banks and turns in response.

As the boys watch, Cooper sends the drone soaring high over

them, banking and soaring along the tree-lined sides of the

valley, light glinting from the black panels on its back.

It's a beautiful sight.

Cooper crouches next to Murph.

COOPER (CONT'D)

You want to give it a whirl?

Murph looks at his dad, wide-eyed. He takes the laptop and

moves his fingers gingerly across the pad.

In response, the massive plane banks into a tight turn in

the valley below.

For a moment, Murph is in pure heaven, sending the drone

dancing through the valley below.

COOPER (CONT'D)

Set her down in the valley -- there,

next to the river.

Murph leads the plane in a figure eight and then begins

guiding it into a gentle landing in the valley floor below.

EXT. ABANDONED GOLF COURSE, VALLEY FLOOR -- DAY

The truck limps along the overgrown fairway of a long-defunct

golf course towards the massive hulk of the Russian drone,

Cooper and the boys climb down. The valley is silent save

for the truck's engine WHEEZING and SPUTTERING as it cools.

Cooper runs a hand over the smooth carbon flank of the drone.

TOM:

How long do you think it's been up

there, Dad?

COOPER:

Chinese mission control went down

same as us, twenty years ago. It's

been up there ever since.

TOM:

What was it doing flying so low?

Cooper reads the information pouring into his laptop.

15.

COOPER:

It was looking for something.

Intercepted some kind of signal.

(SHRUGS)

It's been at eighty thousand feet.

Sun probably cooked its brain.

Cooper runs his hand along the flank till he finds an access

patch. He pulls out a crowbar and pries open the hatch.

Inside, surrounded by a nest of liquid cooling tubes, is a

small black module -- the drone's auto-pilot.

Cooper looks down at Murph, who is standing at his elbow.

MURPH:

What are you going to do with it?

COOPER:

Reprogram it. Give it something

socially responsible to do like drive

a combine or a tractor.

MURPH:

(QUIET)

Couldn't we just let it go? It's

not hurting anyone.

Cooper looks down at his son. Good kid.

COOPER:

We need all the help we can get,

Murph. This thing has to adapt,

just like the rest of us.

Cooper gently pries the control module out.

EXT. COUNTY SCHOOL -- DAY

It's a small school, so all the kids and parents waiting in

front know exactly who's driving the pickup truck with half

of a Russian spy plane hanging out of the bed as it pulls up.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, COUNTY SCHOOL -- DAY

Cooper is ushered into the office. The PRINCIPAL, 40s, an

efficient-looking man, shakes his hand.

PRINCIPAL:

Good to see you, Mr. Cooper. This

is Ms. Kelly, Murph's teacher.

Cooper smiles at Ms. KELLY, 30s, attractive.

16.

PRINCIPAL (CONT'D)

So we've gotten Tom's score back.

Congratulations. He's going to make

an excellent farmer.

The principal slides a carbon copy across the desk to Cooper,

who looks taken aback.

COOPER:

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