Lost in Space Page #4

WEST:

Holographic navigational interface.

Don points to a row of man-sized glass cylinders on the back wall.

WEST:

Cryosleep array. Fully monitored.

He approaches the blast doors that lead off the back of the bridge.

WEST:

Sick bay, remote Ops, engineering and

living quarters are below decks.

Hyperengine should be in here.

Don hits a wall panel which opens to reveal an immense ENGINE ROOM.

JOHN:

If you have to baby sit, it's not

such a bad nursery, wouldn't you

agree, Major?

Just then the ELEVATOR rises from the lower decks. On its circular

platform stands a DOCTOR in a lab coat. She walks to the General.

DOCTOR:

The cryosleep systems are running at

ninety five percent.

GENERAL:

Doctor Smith approved the specs-

DOCTOR:

Doctor Smith is base physician. I am

responsible once this ship is in

flight. These tubes have to keep the

crew in suspended animation for ten

years. They will be perfect or this

ship will not launch. Is that clear?

GENERAL:

Absolutely, Doctor.

JOHN:

Judy, I'd like you to meet Major

West. He's taking Mike's place.

DOCTOR:

He's heavier than Mike. We'll have to

re-calibrate.

WEST:

I'd be more than happy to discuss my

dimensions perhaps over dinner?

DOCTOR:

West - I've read about you. Something

of a war hero, aren't you?

WEST:

(preening )

Well, yes, actually.

DOCTOR:

Those who can't think, fight.

(a freezing smile)

Well, nice to have met you.

She heads toward the readouts. West turns to John.

WEST:

That's one cold fish I'd love to

thaw.

JUDY:

(turning)

I'm not going to make it home for

dinner, Dad.

West turns to John. Dad?

WEST:

It's going to be a long flight.

EXT.-ROBINSON HOME-NIGHT

Lights burn in the windows.

INT.-ROBINSON HOME-DINING ROOM-NIGHT

John ENTERS to find the remains of an elegant dinner on the table,

candles never lit, food never eaten.

John crosses to a small scale model sitting on the table. Around it

hangs another gold plated 1st prize star. He smiles.

MAUREEN (OVER)

He won first prize again. He

practically brought down his entire

school. But he won first prize.

Maureen descends the steps in a bathrobe. Joins John.

JOHN:

A non-working prototype for his time

machine. Sharp stuff for a midget.

Maureen is silent.

JOHN:

I'm sorry about dinner. I had to work

late. The new pilot-.

MAUREEN:

What you had to do was prioritize

your family over the mission

JOHN:

Maureen. This mission is about our

family. So we can stay together

MAUREEN:

The perfect nuclear family. The most

stable social unit, ideally suited

for the isolation of a long journey

into space. It's all just PR, John.

You're never home. Judy is

becoming a ghost just like you. Penny

can't see past her own navel and Will

has to black out-his school, just to

get his father's attention. The

perfect nuclear family in ruin.

John stares at his wife. Then he reaches forward, touches her hair.

JOHN:

I know, Maureen. I'm scared too.

A beat. Then she moves to him. And he holds her close.

INT.-ROBINSON HOME-WILL'S ROOM-NIGHT

John stands in the yellow wedge of hall light. He touches something

hanging around his own neck. A pair of metal dog tags.

WIDER:

Will lies in his bed, eyes closed. Asleep. A beat. John turns, heading

out into the hall.

EXT.-ROBINSON HOME-NIGHT

The bedroom lights go out, a normal home against the backdrop of the

launch dome towering in the distance.

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-LAUNCH DOME-NIGHT

The Jupiter one stands amidst loading gantries, final supplies rolling

into the

ship on automated conveyer belts and lifts.

CHAPTER 7:
Primary Directives

-----------------------------

PAN DOWN:

TWO TECHNICIANS stand checking off supplies on a lightpad.

LOADING TECHNICIAN

Anything else?

LOADING TECHNICIAN #2

I'm showing a late shipment from

Mission Medical. Smith's

authorization. Here it is now.

HOLD on a canister that reads: BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS: Do Not Open, as it

passes on the loading belt. FOLLOW THE DRUM as it winds along the

conveyer, up a gantry towards the Jupiter One. PUSH IN...

INT. -CARGO DRUM

Smith sits crouched inside, cleaning his nails.

INT.-JUPITER ONE-LOWER DECKS

A giant robot stands attached to its service bay. Still. Silent.

A SERVICE DRAWER slides open and a shadowy infiltrator emerges, his

face visible in the dim service light. Smith.

Smith approaches the docked Robot, places a small keypad device on the

Robot's dormant CPU panel. Smith activates the device.

SMITH:

You'll forgive me if I forgo the

kiss, my sleeping behemoth.

Smith hits a switch on the panel and the Robot's system indicators

light into life. Smith types several keys on the keypad.

SMITH:

But the time has come to awake.

ROBOT:

Robot is on-line. Reviewing primary

directives. One, preserve the

Robinson Family. Two, Maintain ship

systems. Three

SMITH:

Spare me the chatter.

Smith taps the keypad. The Robot is silenced. Smith types again.

SMITH:

What noble charges my steely

centurion. Sadly I fear you have far

more dire deeds in store for you.

Smith completes his re-programming. Hits a switch.

ROBOT:

Robot is on-line. Reviewing primary

directives. Two hours into mission

destroy Robinson family. Destroy all

systems.

Smith smiles. Removes the re-programming module.

SMITH:

Now that's more like it. Farewell my

tin-plated pal. Give my regards to

oblivion.

Smith climbs into a chute marked WASTE DISPOSAL.

INT.-WASTE DISPOSAL CHUTE

Smith begins crawling down the chute. His tiny reprogramming module

BEEPS. Smith activates a tiny, built in com-link.

From the mic, the familiar visage of the Businessman is projected into

the crawlspace over Smith's face.

SMITH:

I told you never to call me here.

BUSINESSMAN:

I see you have completed your mission

on schedule Good work, Doctor. And

goodbye.

The Businessman smiles. SMITH-CLOSE. Puzzled.

Suddenly the tiny module in his hand OVERLOADS, the flesh on his palm

smoking as Smith is engulfed in an electrical charge. He goes out, his

body perfectly still.

CHAPTER 8:
Launch!

------------------

EXT.-SPACE COMMAND-MORNING

The giant dome shines in the early sun.

INT-JUPITER ONE John and Maureen face will and Penny who stand now in

their freezing tubes. All wear silver flight suits. Maureen moves

Penny's hair from in front of her face.

PENNY:

Don't, mom. Vogue says this will be

the style in ten years.

WILL:

Will she wake up less annoying?

PENNY:

Does he have to wake up at all?

MAUREEN:

Alright you two, enough.

Maureen kisses her children. John moves to will who reaches to shake at

the same moment John tries to hug him. A beat. Then John tries to a

shake as Will goes for the hug. A total miss. Will backs into his tube.

MAUREEN:

You get a C in paternal expression,

Professor. But an A for effort.

John kisses his wife, already in her tube.

MAUREEN:

You always get an A in that.

JUDY:

Don't let me shatter this unbridled

display of affection, but we are

running behind.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes