Signs Page #14

Merrill is the first to notice him. He moves from where the

baseball bat is hung, into the kitchen. As he passes the

children at the sink, he turns off the faucet.

The children stop playing and look up to Merrill. They follow

his stare to the kitchen table.

Beat. Graham looks up at them.

GRAHAM:

(soft)

Okay.

(beat)

Let's turn on the TV.

CUT TO:

INT. FAMILY ROOM - EVENING

THE TV GOES ON WITH A CLICK. THE SCREEN BLOWS WHITE AND THEN

IMMEDIATELY DARKNESS. OUTLINES AND SHAPES EMERGE.

THE SOUND POPS ON.

TV REPORTER:

-- first appeared fifty two minutes

ago.

THE SCREEN FILLS WITH CRISP BLACKS. WE ARE WATCHING VIDEO OF

A NIGHT SKY OVER A DENSE CITY. THE THOUSAND LIGHTS OF THE

CITY FILL THE BOTTOM OF THE SHAKING IMAGE.

ANOTHER SET OF LIGHTS DOT THE SKY ABOVE THE CITY. THEY ARE

ARRANGED IN TWO "V'S" SIDE BY SIDE.

Bo puts her finger to the screen and counts the hovering

lights.

BO:

Fourteen.

Morgan, Merrill and Graham stand silently before the

television set.

TV ANCHOR:

Mexico City officials as well as

U.S. officials have confirmed that

these are not air crafts from either

government's airforce. The first

sighting was made by an Air Mexico

747 en route from Mazatlan to New

York as the unidentified crafts

entered Mexico City air space. They

were not detected by radar by either

country.

Beat.

MERRILL:

The crazies were right.

Beat. Everyone just watches the fourteen lights hovering on

the screen.

MORGAN:

We have to tape this...

Morgan reaches into the pile of video tapes under the

television stand. He grabs one.

Bo snatches the video as Morgan tries to put it into the

VCR.

BO:

My ballet recital.

Morgan stares at his sister.

MORGAN:

(gravely serious)

Listen Bo. This is very important.

Everything people have written about

in science books is going to change.

The history of the world's future is

on the TV right now. We need to record

this so you can show your children

this tape and say you were there...

(beat)

For your children Bo.

BO:

My ballet recital.

MORGAN:

Dad!

Graham doesn't take his eyes off the screen.

GRAHAM:

(preoccupied)

Find another tape.

Graham and Merrill sit down at the same time on the sofa.

They both have the same dazed, slow movements.

Morgan rummages through the pile of videos frantically. He

finds one and reaches for the VCR.

MORGAN:

Uncle Merrill, I'm using your tape.

Morgan slams the tape marked "Bay Watch" into the VCR and

presses record. He's breathing heavy now. Wheezing actually.

Morgan moves to the sofa and takes a seat in between his

father and his uncle. Bo walks over and squeezes in also.

The four of them stare at the television.

TV ANCHOR:

...You're seeing a live feed from

our NBC affiliate down in Mexico

City. The time there is 7:17pm. This

image has not been adjusted or

enhanced in any way. What you're

seeing is real.

(beat)

Everything they wrote in science

books is about to change.

Beat.

MORGAN:

(soft)

Told you.

Morgan brings his asthma spray to his mouth and inhales.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. FAMILY ROOM - MIDNIGHT

The family room lights are off now. The TV is still on. The

SOUND IS MUTED. There are a couple glasses of Bo's water on

the television now.

The fourteen lights are still hovering on the screen. Morgan

is asleep on Graham's lap. Bo is asleep on Merrill's shoulder.

MERRILL:

(whispers)

Some people are probably thinking

this is the end of the world.

Graham turns his sleepy eyes away from the screen to Merrill.

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

That's true.

Merrill looks his brother in the eyes. Beat.

MERRILL:

(whispers)

Do you think it's a possibility?

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

Yes.

MERRILL:

(whispers)

How can you say that?

GRAHAM:

(whispers)

That wasn't the answer you wanted?

MERRILL:

(whispers)

Can you at least pretend to be like

you used to be? Give me some comfort?

Rate this script:3.3 / 4 votes