Real Genius

EXT. A CROWD-DAY

A blond haired, blue-eyed man with a small walkie-talkie is standing in the midst of a group of cheering Central American peasants and townsfolk. He is disguised as one of them.

ANGLE ON VILLA BALCONY

The uniformed President of this formerly sleepy, now strategically critical nation is waving to his people. He is flanked by military guards. He turns and walks into the villa.

EXT. B-1 BOMBER-DAY

The bomber approaches the top of it's arc.

ATHERTON:

The shuttle pilot climbs into his seat, straps in and checks his instruments.

SHUTTLE PILOT:

All systems check. Crossbow is armed.

BOMBER PILOT (V.O.)

Roger, Ignition sequence, start, separation in five...

EXT. TOP OF THE BOMBER

The explosive bolts blow on the shuttle mount.

INT. BOMBER FLIGHT DECK

The pilot pushes his yolk forward.

EXT. BOMBER

As the bomber falls way, the shuttle's booster ignites with a roar, thrusting it toward space.

EXT. SPACE-LOOKING BACK

We see a tiny glowing speck coming towards us. very quickly it gains in altitude and we see that it is the shuttle. Suddenly it is upon us and blasts over our heads.

ANGLE FROM BEHIND

We follow the shuttle. The engine stops. There is a small explosion, which pushes the booster rocket away. Small maneuvering rockets fire and the shuttle establishes itself in a nose down altitude.

SHUTTLE PILOT (V.O. FILTERED)

Crossbow is established.

BOMBER PILOT (V.O./FILTERED)

Roger, we have ground confirmation. Reference grid seven. Check pathfinder, on.

SHUTTLE PILOT (V.O. FILTERED)

Roger, I'm going on the scope. Moving Target Indicator, engage.

Behind and above the cockpit a large hatch opens and a large circular spinning mirror rises and locks into position.

INT. SHUTTLE

The pilot reaches above him and pulls down a viewfinder and begins looking through it.

EXT. THE SHUTTLE.

A target sighting lens moves from right to left, stops, and then moves back but this time with the mirror moving in unison.

INT. THE SHUTTLE

While still looking through the viewfinder, the pilot manipulates the targeting controls.

INSERT:

PILOT'S POV OF THE SCREEN

Crosshairs, a grid patter and digital, rangefinder readouts appear over various parts of the Earth's topography as the pilot searches for his target. Then it steadies on a polarized image of a group of people. One of the images seems to stand out brighter than the others.

EXT. VILLA PATIO-DAY

The president and his aide are chatting with a group of visiting dignitaries. There is a jovial atmosphere as they order drinks from a waiter. The president is proudly displaying one of his medals to his guests. it has a very unique jewel-like object in its middle.

INT. THE SHUTTLE

The pilot is watching through the viewfinder.

PILOT:

(into mike)

Scanner on. Target locked. Tracking locked.

EXT. THE SHUTTLE

The mirror and sighting lens adjust as they track the target.

EXT. VILLA PATIO

The President is served a cup of coffee. He asks the waiter for sugar. The waiter turns back to his cart.

INT. THE SHUTTLE

The pilot puts his hands on the joysticks and flips open the trigger covers.

PILOT:

Nice and easy does it.

EXT. THE SHUTTLE

Dead silence, then the mirror erupts in brilliant light and sends an incredibly bright beam toward the Earth. Behind the shuttle we see exhaust gases venting in giant plumes into space.

EXT. VILLA PATIO

The beam strikes the president like the finger of god. He vaporizes. The waiter turns back with the asked-for sugar to find a smoking hole where the President once stood.

EXT. SPACE

The shuttle finishes its work and the beam shuts down. The mirror folds away and the shuttle arcs across the screen preparing for re-entry, firing small retro rockets.

PILOT (V.O)

I'm coming home. Just like shooting ducks in a barrel.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

INT. A HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE ROOM-NO WINDOWS

A large screen at one end of the room continues to show the re-entry.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

The Crossbow Project. There's no defense like a good offense.

In the middle of the room is a giant donut of a round conference table. Another circle hangs above and casts light downward in such a way as to light the table-top but caser those sitting around it in shadow. We can see them but not well. There are SIX MEN in suits. The look is sinister as Hell; but the talk is for Rotary Club meeting.

A MAN, sitting at three o'clock, wearing an Air force major's uniform, points at a remote control device at the screen and stops the film. The lighting does not change. he turns to the man sitting at twelve o'clock.

CARMICHAEL:

Nice little weapon isn't it, Dave?

DECKER:

Well, I guess so, but gosh, Don, it's a movie. You want me to start buying weapons from George Lucas?

Polite laughter all around.

CARMICHAEL:

Now that would be somethin', wouldn't it?

DECKER:

Well, sometimes I think I might as well.

(to one of the others)

What do you think of what you saw, Roy?

ROY:

I think there weren't enough girls.

More polite laughter. Then Roy turns ice cold in a flash.

ROY (cont'd)

Is this thing for biological targets only?

CARMICHAEL:

No, Sir, this thing would take the skin right off, of Air Force One if you wanted. Not that I'm saying we'd ever want to kill our own President, but, you know, for example.

ROY:

Our studies indicate that this type of weapon is totally useless for warfare.

DECKER:

It's not intended for use in your kind of warfare, Roy. This is a perfect peace time weapon.

ROY:

What's the kill potential?

CARMICHAEL:

As soon as the size-to power ratio is licked we'll have about seven bangs for the buck.

ROY:

When that?

Carmichael shrugs the sign for "who knows?"

DECKER:

Seriously, Don, I have to report to the Secretary that everything's on schedule. We have plans for your little ray's gun this summer.

CARMICHAEL:

(Trying to cover)

As I understand it, guys, there's some major practical difficulties. I'm pushing as hard as I can.

DECKER:

Well, Don, you tell those geniuses you've got until the end of the next fiscal quarter to come up with a working model or I'm pulling the plug on the funding.

CARMICHAEL:

(very nervous)

I'm assured they're on the verge of a major breakthrough.

DECKER:

Good. Just as long as we get a working weapon out of it by June. Right, general?

ROY:

I wouldn't know, Dave. I haven't had a working weapon since Korea.

DECKER:

Right.

(to assistant)

Larry, let's see the film on blinding techniques, then we'll have some lunch, all right?

INT. EXHIBITION HALL -DAY

WE OPEN on a sign: "Effects of marijuana on Rodents." A cage is divided in half. One side is marked "NO Marijuana." A chinchilla is running furiously on a treadmill. The other side is marked "Marijuana." A chinchilla is lying in a little hammock.

DOLLY BACK TO WIDE SHOT. We see we are in a large hall. There are dozens of booths and exhibits. A banner strung across the hall lets us know that this is the "WESTERN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SCIENCE FAIR."

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