Morning Star Page #10

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Webber understands better than he dares let on. She stops tolook at a depiction of human refugees fleeing Den Hague.

MIA (CONT’D)

The truth is I don’t have anyone tospeak English with and I miss it.

That’s why I talk to you at thecafe.

Mia puts her smile back on but he sees through it, feelswhat’s underneath it. For a moment, it’s very much likesomething were going to happen. He sabotages the mood,

walking on, quickly switching to an impersonal topic-

WEBBER:

Blake gets credit for holding backthe Xeno “armada” but the truth is

that first Xenon wave, their onlyweapons were hastily retrofittedmining equipment...

In his haste, Webber trips a little on a step. He catcheshimself on Mia. She laughs. He’s embarrassed. She gives him aonce over, straightens his lapel. Again, the danger ofintimacy. This time Mia senses his reticence.

48.

MIA:

It’s almost five. We can say wespent the night together.

WEBBER:

(smiling)

That can be said.

INT. MIA’S APARTMENT -- NIGHT

An old western’s on TV. Mia’s fallen asleep beside Webber -

who reacts uncomfortably as her leg stretches across his lap.

Her robe, hitched up, exposes an hourglass tattoo on herthigh. Compelled somehow, he touches the inked patch of skinlike it was some rare and fascinating specimen. Then he makeshimself look away and carefully removes the leg, getting upquietly as he can.

Keeping one eye on Mia, Webber withdraws a handkerchief fromthe jacket he’s slung over a chair and goes into herbathroom.

Opening the handkerchief, he carefully removes a RAZORspeckled with his stubble. He places the razor inside hermedicine chest... his phone VIBRATES.

He answers quickly- a text message: Downstairs. Now.

INT. GAST’ CAR -- NIGHT

Webber rides with Gast, struggling to not show his anxiety.

WEBBER:

Where are we picking-up our

Northern friend?

GAST:

No pick-up. We’re meeting him

halfway. In the DMZ.

Webber is really displeased by this news.

EXT. STREET NEAR DMZ -- NIGHT

From the top of a wall, the outline of ruined structures likethe Arc de Triomphe are intermittently lit up by passing

searchlights. UN SENTRIES guard an idle cable car. We seethat the cable car line runs upward to a platform atop theAlien Wall on the opposite side of the DMZ. Below, Webber

and Gast shake hands with two FRENCH AGENTS, one (MARCEL) isa bit grizzled, wearing a Ramones T-shirt.

49.

FRENCH AGENT:

This is Marcel. He’s our best

stalker. He’ll guide you through.

MARCEL:

Just follow my every utterance likethe voice of God and you’ll be ok.

Gast smiles. Webber tries to too. They all walk to the edgeof a yellow line painted on the ground, wait there.

MARCEL (CONT’D)

The Sentry in that tower hasstanding orders to incinerateanything that tries to come out ofthe zone. He’s stepping out for apiss but he can’t stretch it pastan hour. We’re not out by then, webecome permanent residents.

With audible THUNKS, the klieg lights illuminating the areaof zone in front of them go out, one by one.

Gast and Marcel cross the yellow line. Webber lingers, eyesfocus on that mist-shrouded ball of light on the alien sideof the DMZ. The Mother Zone. So close and so far.

GAST:

Are we keeping you from something?

Webber nods and follows.

DMZ:

They cross the blasted landscape, past the ruins of theEiffel tower. Marcel motions for them to stop. He points to aFLOATING ORB approaching.

MARCEL:

Watch it. Don’t get within a footof one of those. There’s leftover

ordinance everywhere here, ours andtheirs. Just about anything youtouch in this place can kill you.

The orb slowly passes. They move on.

They soon enter a wide, barren field, bordered by crumbledstone walls. Marcel walks point with a hand-held device.

MARCEL (CONT’D)

That used to be my school overhere. I like it better this way...

50.

Marcel raises his hand for Webber and Gast to hold- a RED DOT

has popped up on his device. He directs them with gestures toavoid a spot of ground. A few steps on, more ominous REDDOTS. Webber and Gast trade anxious looks but they press on,

following the guide.

At the other end of the minefield, they find themselves atthe stone steps of a ruined chapel. An ethereal blue lightshines within. Webber and Gast draw their weapons, enter.

INT. RUINED CHAPEL -- NIGHT

A blue glowing ball hovers, providing temporary illumination.

The ALIEN waits for them in a cathedral chair, wearing acarapace-like exoskeleton. His inhuman face blurry behind atranslucent mask, he resembles a Francis Bacon pope.

GAST:

Hodinth snal takreth...

The Alien raises a hand. Speaks English in a filtered voice-

ALIEN:

Do not strain yourself.

Gast nods gratefully. Webber and Gast put away their guns -

though Webber keeps his hand close, even as he takes a seat.

ALIEN (CONT’D)

I thank you for coming...

GAST:

You claim to possess a completelist of your infiltrators operatingon our side of the zone?

The alien’s mask turns toward Webber. A coincidence?

ALIEN:

I know our time is short. I know

what interests you is Morningstar.

The Alien’s face is inscrutable behind his mask. Every musclein Webber’s body tenses but his face remains placid.

GAST:

You can identify him?

ALIEN:

No. There is no image of him in ourcollective memory. We are allthreads of a single tapestry. Buthe is an aberration. A monster.

51.

Webber registers pain in the merest twitch of his left eye.

ALIEN (CONT’D)

He is one of us but not of the

body. Murder is not in our nature.

This is what we’ve come to- usinginstruments such as him.

GAST:

Enough moralizing. What can youtell us about this Morningstar?

ALIEN:

I don’t have to tell you anything.

I can give him to you.

Webber’s hand moves to his gun as the Alien reaches into hisexoskeleton and produces what appears to be A DATA DISK.

Webber looks at the other two men. Wondering if he shouldn’tjust make a break for it right now.

ALIEN (CONT’D)

This disk contains the complete mapof Morningstar’s DNA. The genetictemplate used to create theimposter. My gift to you.

The Alien holds the disk out in Webber’s direction. He

reaches for it but the Alien won’t relinquish it so easily.

ALIEN (CONT’D)

But there is something moreimportant than this you must know:

I do what I do for my home and for

peace...

Webber agonizes, wanting to grab the disk...

ALIEN (CONT’D)

There are elements on my side,

fanatics, who want war. Theybelieve in the fantasy of TotalVictory...

Marcel sees a SHAPE moving amid the rubble outside.

MARCEL:

We’re not alone.

ALIEN:

(growing urgent)

They are planning another attack.

(MORE)

52.

ALIEN (CONT'D)

One that will scuttle the peaceprocess forever. Salzburg wasnothing.

Webber reacts with genuine shock to that news... Moremovement outside. Shadows. Marcel draws his weapon.

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