Pale Blue Dot Page #14

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Mark shrugs.

MARK:

Flight suit’ll be a real b*tch with

a sunburn.

Laura takes the suncreen but holds back. There’s a condition.

LAURA:

Only if you come swimming.

MARK:

Not happening.

LAURA:

You’re a butt.

Laura squirts some sunscreen on her hand and starts rubbing

it on Mark’s back.

LAURA (CONT’D)

I don’t get it. You’re going to

outer space in a few days. You know

that, right? What’s so scary about

the ocean?

83.

MARK:

Everything. Up there, you’re all

there is. It’s just you and the

ship and your crew. That’s it. I

know exactly what to expect. I’m in

charge.

(motioning to the ocean)

Who knows what’s out there? I’m not

giving up that much control.

Laura smiles, enjoying this.

LAURA:

Well, if you ask me, maybe you

could stand to give up a little

control every once in a while.

INT. HOTEL BATHROOM - EVENING

Laura sits in the bathroom, on her cell phone. She’s dressed

up, in the same tight little dress from her reunion. She’s

talking quietly, to Ruth back at home.

LAURA:

Sweetheart, I know. But, your dad

can handle this. He knows what to

do. I told him what to get for you

and I’ll be back tomorrow.

Laura listens for a moment.

LAURA (CONT’D)

Ruth, you’re a woman now. I know

this is scary and confusing but

it’s all completely natural. You

have to realize it’s nothing to be

upset about. You’re getting older

and more mature and I couldn’t be

more proud of you, okay?

She listens again, while looking herself over in the mirror.

LAURA (CONT’D)

Okay. I miss you and I love you

very much.

With that, Laura hangs up the phone. She gives herself a

final once over before heading out into the room...

...where Mark sits in his socks and boxers drinking a beer.

LAURA (CONT’D)

You’re not ready.

84.

MARK:

I’m ready. I was planning on going

like this. What do you think?

Mark stands, models his outfit. Laura smiles and shakes her

head.

LAURA:

I like it. Not sure what everyone

else will say but I like it.

MARK:

They’ll say you’re the luckiest

girl in town.

He pulls her in close, wrapping his arms around her, and

starts unzipping her dress.

Laura slaps his hand away.

LAURA:

I am. But we still need to get

going. We’ll miss our reservations.

But Mark doesn’t give up. He grabs her again, with a

mischievous grin.

MARK:

Reservations? I’ve got news for

you, space girl. People like you

and me, we don’t need reservations.

Mark kisses Laura passionately, falling back on the bed.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - ORLANDO - LATER

Their reservations long past, Laura and Mark fall back on a

tangle of sheets. They’re naked and sweaty.

Laura turns to Mark, watches him as he dozes. It’s possible

he’s fallen asleep right there. She holds her breath,

building up the courage to say something.

When she blurts it out, it’s hardly even a whisper...

LAURA:

I love you.

...there’s no way Mark heard it. But then-

MARK:

Yeah, yeah. I love you, too.

85.

-- he answers, without even opening his eyes. He wraps his

arm around her and pulls her closer.

INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - ORLANDO - NIGHT

Laura and Mark, now fully dressed, enter a crowded

restaurant. The place is packed. There’s no way they’re

getting a table.

But, Mark, as always, is unflappable. He walks straight to

the HOSTESS.

MARK:

Hey, there. Now, I know my lovely

date and I have missed our

reservation-- missed it by a long

shot-- but, something came up--

official NASA business-- and I was

wondering if you could, maybe, find

a spot for us.

HOSTESS:

NASA business?

MARK:

Yep. NASA business. I’m Mark

Goodwin, and I’m piloting the Space

Shuttle Endeavour next week.

HOSTESS:

Really?

MARK:

Scout’s honor.

The Hostess look around, obviously charmed. She leans in to

Mark and whispers:

HOSTESS:

Let me see what I can do.

MARK:

Thank you. It’d mean a lot.

The Hostess picks up the phone. Mark gives her his biggest

smile before turning and walking back to Laura.

MARK (CONT’D)

Watch this.

LAURA:

There’s no way.

86.

MARK:

Just watch.

And then, as if on cue, the MANAGER approaches, carrying two

menus.

MANAGER:

Mr. And Mrs. Goodwin?

MARK:

Yes.

Laura smiles at this, thrilled that Mark hasn’t corrected the

manager. If only for the night, they’re a married couple. She

could not be happier.

MANAGER:

If you’ll just follow me, your

table is ready.

INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - ORLANDO - LATER

Laura and Mark don’t just have a table. They have the best

table in the entire restaurant, with a giant window,

overlooking the city.

They’re picking at dessert-- small, fancy, decadent things. A

long way from the Chili’s brownie ice cream sundae.

LAURA:

This has been really nice. All of

this.

MARK:

I did all right, didn’t I?

LAURA:

More than all right.

Laura drops her fork. She’s about to burst into tears.

MARK:

What’s wrong?

LAURA:

It’s just...I don’t know what I’m

going to do when you’re gone.

MARK:

Oh, space girl. You’ll do what you

always do. You’ll fight. That’s

what I like about you. You’re a

fighter.

87.

LAURA:

I know. I know. And it’s only

twelve days. We can email each

other and...

(noticing a look on Mark’s

face)

What?

Now Mark sets his own fork down. He’s not sure how to say

this...

MARK:

Actually, I’ve been meaning to

bring that up. I don’t think I can

put you on the contact list.

LAURA:

Why not? You can put anyone on

there. No one will read it-

MARK:

-- It’s too risky. No one can know

about this. You know that. We could

be court marshalled. Paxton would

toss us both out on our asses. Is

that what you want?

LAURA:

No.

MARK:

It’s just twelve days. And, when I

get back, we’ll figure something

out. We won’t be a secret for long.

This is what Laura needed to hear. She regains her composure.

LAURA:

Promise?

MARK:

Promise.

CUT TO:

EXT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - BANANA RIVER VIEWING SITE - DAWN

Laura, Drew, the kids, and Wally are gathered near the large

countdown clock at the Banana River Viewing Site on Cape

Kennedy.

It’s the closest any civilian is ever allowed to a launch.

88.

As the friends and family look on, we hear the sounds of

mission control:

MISSION CONTROL (V.O.)

T-minus 4 minutes, stand by for

readiness check.

MISSION FLIGHT DIRECTOR (V.O.)

Roger.

Laura watches the kids as they chase each other around.

MISSION CONTROL (V.O.)

Cooling systems:
Go/no go?

MISSION FLIGHT DIRECTOR (V.O.)

Go.

CHHHHHHH!!

Wally, cracking open an early morning can of beer.

Laura turns to him, surprised.

LAURA:

Dad, where’d you get that?

Wally opens his jacket to show what’s left of a six pack

dangling from his jacket pocket.

DREW:

A little early for that, isn’t it?

Wally waves Drew off.

MISSION CONTROL (V.O.)

Fuel cells:
go/no go?

MISSION FLIGHT DIRECTOR (V.O.)

Go.

Laura reaches out to her father. But, instead of taking the

beer from him. She grabs one for herself.

CHHHHHH!

DREW:

Real great example you’re setting.

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