Signs Page #8

Officer Paski turns to them.

Graham, Merrill and Morgan stare at the screen.

OFFICER PASKI:

Now I don't want you all to worry

about this no more. You're making

more of this than it is.

(beat)

You guys have had a tough couple of

days with the vandalism to the crops

and the death of your shepherd.

(beat)

Maybe you guys should do something

fun? Let me worry about this person.

Let me find out who it is and then --

What the hell are you people looking

at?

Edgar comes around to see the screen.

WE ARE ON A TV SCREEN. THE CROPS SWAY IN THE BREEZE. A HANDFUL

OF PEOPLE ARE WAVING FROM THE DIAMONDS ON THE FIELD.

OFFICER PASKI:

I'll be damned.

GRAHAM:

Turn up the volume Bo.

Bo gets up.

BO:

I can't find the remote.

She presses the up arrows on the TV controls.

TV ANCHOR:

-- images were shot yesterday

afternoon by a thirty-four year old

local camera man in Kerala, a southern

city of India. It is the eighteenth

reported crop circle found in that

country in the last seventy-two hours.

The television report cuts to Columbia University PROFESSOR.

PROFESSOR (TV)

Crop circles first emerged in the

late seventies with the renewed

interest in extraterrestrial life.

They died out by the early eighties;

dismissed as hoaxes. This new

resurgence is wholly different.

Elements of it are unexplainable.

The speed and the quantity in which

it has appeared implies the

coordination of hundreds of

individuals over many countries...

(beat)

There is only a limited amount of

explanations. Either this is one of

the most elaborate hoaxes ever

created, or basically...

(beat)

It's for real.

Morgan takes the asthma inhaler from his pocket and breathes

in deeply.

MORGAN:

(wonder)

Extraterrestrials.

OFFICER PASKI:

What in God's name is going on?

Beat.

THE ROOM GOES SILENT as everyone watches the images on the

television screen.

CUT TO:

EXT. HESS DRIVEWAY - DAY

The two men walk down the driveway to Edgar's patrol car.

OFFICER PASKI:

Don't ask me what I think. Cause I

can't think straight right now. I'm

going back to the station. Have a

cup of Marcia's coffee and try to

think clear. After that I might make

some calls.

(beat)

Hoaxes... People got way too much

time on their hands.

Edgar turns back to Graham.

OFFICER PASKI:

But I'll tell you something, what I

said in their, still goes. You and

your family have been through a lot

in the last two days... Not to mention

what happened to you all seven months

ago.

GRAHAM:

Six months.

Edgar stares at Graham.

GRAHAM:

And three weeks.

OFFICER PASKI:

It's left its mark still. The last

thing these children need to do, is

worry about some crazy things

happening in the world. Take them

into town. Get their minds -- your

mind, on everyday things. It's good

medicine.

GRAHAM:

It's good advice...

(beat)

Say hi to Marcia for me.

OFFICER PASKI:

You take care of yourself...

(beat)

Graham.

CUT TO:

EXT. STATION WAGON - AFTERNOON

WE MOVE THROUGH BACK ROADS OF BUCKS COUNTY. RURAL PENNSYLVANIA

IN ITS MOST BEAUTIFUL. TREE LINED STREETS. WHITE PICKET

FENCES. APPLE ORCHARDS.

The Hess family rides in their station wagon. Graham drives.

Merrill is shotgun. The children are in the back.

Morgan leans forward and TURNS ON THE RADIO.

RADIO VOICE:

...signs intended to be seen from

the sky --

CLICK. Graham TURNS IT OFF.

GRAHAM:

No radio either... Just for a while.

Morgan nods and then plops back into the backseat.

CUT TO:

EXT. MAIN STREET - AFTERNOON

Downtown Bucks County. A group of small stores along a quiet

street.

The Hess station wagon pulls in front of a free parking meter.

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