Martian Child Page #8

And, well, who better

to talk about it...

than David Gordon, whose

sci-fi best-seller Dracoban...

has brought this exciting search

into the public eye.

David.

Thank you.

Um, let's see.

Uh, thank you.

I was fascinated

with seeing Draconis...

because it was a system...

that could closely mirror

our solar system...

and might produce

a planet like Earth.

No planet has been...

the subject of more romantic

speculation than Mars.

At one point,

it was commonly believed...

that Mars was inhabited

by an ancient civilization...

that had dug an intricate

system of irrigation channels...

and the annual darkening

of the planet...

was interpreted as the growing

season of plant life.

But the flyby missions

of Mariner IV, VI, and Vll...

showed that

the irrigation system...

was nothing but an enormous

network of canyons...

and the famous darkening

due to annual dust storms.

Soil samples taken

by the Viking landers...

showed a complete absence

of organic material...

from the planet's surface.

In other words,

there is no life on Mars.

No planet

has been the subject...

of more romantic

speculation than Mars.

At one point,

it was commonly believed...

that Mars was inhabited

by an ancient civilization...

that had dug an intricate system

of irrigation channels...

and the annual darkening

of the planet...

was interpreted as the growing

season of plant life.

But the flyby missions...

This is not how I remember it.

...showed that the irrigation system...

- This isn't it.

Was nothing but an enormous

network of canyons...

and the famous darkening

due to annual dust storms.

Soil samples taken by...

I think

I'm from a different Mars.

Are you angry with me?

No, I'm not angry with you,

I just thought we agreed...

that you weren't...

gonna be from Mars.

I can't even say

that word anymore.

I thought I was pretending

so we could stay together.

No. Come on, pal.

You don't believe

I am from Mars...

- do you?

- Oh, come on, Dennis...

I think that sometimes

you think you are, okay?

Stop!

No, no. You stop, Dennis.

- I mean, it's...

- The car!

I'm so sorry, officer.

I was having a conversation

with my son...

and I didn't...

I turned the corner.

I'm really sorry.

Driver's license, please.

I usually have it right here.

Um...

Dennis, did you take

my driver's license?

Freena wobbly meetya.

Dennis, I'm asking you

a question.

I need you to answer me.

Did you take

my driver's license?

This is serious, okay?

Freena wobbly meetya.

Dennis! Answer the question!

Freena wobbly meetya.

Dennis, you took my license!

No, I didn't!

Dennis!

I didn't steal it!

What did you do

with her pictures?

I didn't steal 'em.

I need them.

Oh, come on, man!

That's not fair!

We talked about all this!

Stop. Those are mine.

It's not your stuff, Dennis!

It's my stuff!

Stop.

Dennis, adults

get their feelings hurt...

just like little boys.

This is my stuff.

Stop.

No!

Stop!

Go ahead.

Why don't you?

Trans fobo medio.

- Dennis, Dennis.

- Trans fobo medio.

- Dennis, Dennis, stop.

- Trans fobo medio.

You're not a Martian.

You're just a little boy.

And maybe I can't help you.

Maybe I'm not cut out for this.

Stay here and just...

Just cool out for a minute.

Look, it's just

gonna be like, you know...

I'm gonna show my face

for twenty minutes...

- Yeah.

- Hey, no.

- Then get back on the road.

- No, take your time.

Take your time.

Do what you gotta do,

you know?

Don't worry about us.

Okay.

It'll be great.

Thanks for watching him.

Oh. It's...

You're my brother.

He's my nephew.

Dennis?

Hey, wow. That is cool.

Listen, I'm gonna finish

cleaning up the kitchen...

and call Nicholas and Jonas

and check in on them...

and I thought

then I can come back...

and hang out, okay?

All right, big guy?

I'll be back.

Congratulations.

Who is this handsome fellow?

I look like Chairman Mao.

That's right. You brought

your Little Red Book.

- Oh, that's hideous.

- Louie. Louis?

Louie, right here, snappy snap.

Welcome to the big time,

Mr. Gordon.

Tina. So excited.

- I was wondering about you.

- So lovely to see you.

Ah, you wouldn't be the first.

Everybody,

this is David Gordon...

and he is brilliant.

And I see he's brought

me a little present.

This is the first draft

of his new book.

And let me tell you,

it did not come cheap.

- Ah, David.

- Yeah?

I'd like to introduce you

to Leonard.

He's the head of our marketing.

Nice to meet you.

He's absolutely brilliant.

- Yeah?

- Welcome to the club.

Tina likes to surround herself

with brilliant people.

I can see that.

Well, shall we just give

this manuscript...

to my assistant

for safekeeping?

Linus.

Tina, actually,

could I speak with you...

in private for a moment?

There's just... I have something

I need to talk to you about.

Uh, listen, this might be

a little awkward.

That's my least favorite word.

I'm sure.

Uh, well, could you

take a look at this?

I just want to talk to you

'cause it's a little...

different situation here

than I imagined.

- Martian Child?

- Mm-Hmm.

What's this?

Is that the alternate, uh...

alternate title idea, buddy?

I thought we agreed

on The Revenge of Dracoban.

Yes. Yes, we did.

Um...

but I must say it's more

than just a title change.

So this is the, um,

quantum alternate universe?

Shut up.

An idea that...

I tried to write Dracoban.

I really, really, really did.

Well, what's the problem?

I adopted a boy.

Adopted this very fantastic,

difficult young man...

and he is very much alive...

and those characters were dead,

and I had to do this.

- No, we have a contract.

- Uh-huh.

We paid you

a substantial amount.

I know, I know,

I know, I know.

And I'II, um, ahem...

I'll write the other one,

or I'll just pay you back.

It's unacceptable.

I'll refinance my house

if that's what it takes.

I don't care.

I don't want the money.

I want

a Harry bloody Potter in space.

That's what I paid for.

Leonard created

an extremely expensive...

marketing campaign

around this book...

and Dracoban is the cornerstone

of that campaign.

I can't do anything

without that.

Do you comprehend

what I am telling you?

You get that, don't you, buddy?

Do you understand that?

Why can't you just be

what we want you to be?

Mmm...

I got it.

Beware. Beware. Beware.

What time is it?

I'm so sorry.

I'm gonna write the other thing.

I'm gonna make

this up to you, I promise.

You're gonna get a whole series,

rivers of blood...

but just read that

because it's good.

It's really good.

And I have to go,

but this was great...

and I'm sorry.

Hey, Dennis!

What do you say, um...

to some hot chocolate

or... or somethin'?

Does that sound kinda good?

Or... Tang?

Do you know what Tang is?

It's... It's something

that the astronauts drink.

Might like that.

Liz!

Liz!

- We just...

- What happened?

We just can't find him.

You can't find him?

He was fine.

Everything was fine.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes