SOLARIS Page #8

RHEYA:

(smiles, teasing)

You know, I've decided: I'm just

gonna believe what you believe

about this whole Solaris thing,

it'll make life so much easier; the

little wife agreeing with her big,

strong husband. You must get such

a headache thinking about those

Great Big Problems all day.

He just stares at her -- he really likes this. It's

familiar, this type of teasing, and it reminds him of when

things were good.

KELVIN (V.O.)

Like I said, it's not possible.

A beat.

RHEYA:

So, Chris, seriously, aren't you

afraid you're going to get fired?

They laugh.

CUT TO:

INT. KELVIN'S ROOM

Kelvin and Rheya, post-coital. Relaxed. On the verge of

sleep.

RHEYA:

You sure say "God" a lot when we're

doing it.

KELVIN:

I know. I'm putting that in my

next report.

She smiles.

RHEYA:

Right. The report. Report and

recommend.

They consider that.

RHEYA:

What does Snow think you should do?

KELVIN:

Snow thinks we shouldn't leave

until we figure out a way to

document it, to prove its existence

to the planet Earth. This is

hilarious:
He thinks it's God, but

he wants it to sit still for a

photograph so he can show the folks

back home.

They smile at this. Rheya's smile fades before Kelvin's.

RHEYA:

Sartorius wants to destroy it.

KELVIN:

Well. He doesn't think it's God,

but for different reasons than me.

He's thinking:
If I can figure out

how to make it stop, than I am

smarter than it is, and therefore

it cannot be God.

RHEYA:

He has a point.

KELVIN:

He does have a point. That's just

not the way I'd like to see it

proven.

RHEYA:

You feel sorry for Solaris, or for

me?

KELVIN:

It's a violent response to

something we haven't figured out.

Don't let the cowardly demeanor

fool you:
He is ruthless.

Unblinking in his prejudice.

RHEYA:

It was obvious from the way he

first looked at me.

A beat. He holds her.

RHEYA:

Do I really feel like... I am...?

KELVIN:

Yes. Yes.

RHEYA:

I'm glad.

A beat.

CUT TO:

EXT. SOLARIS

Turning, slowly.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Then years ago. Kelvin, naked, sitting in a chair, in the

dark. Rheya, also naked, is smoking a cigarette in bed.

KELVIN:

Everything you pursue, you end up

becoming disinterested in. The

fact that you're good at everything

you try makes it worse. You have a

degree in animal science, you could

be a terrific vet.

You drifted into writing and turned

out to be a perceptive journalist.

Then it was politics, which seemed

best of all, you had an actual gift

for understanding the best pattern

for a group of people to be

arranged for you to achieve your

goal. And they didn't even know

they were being arranged. But you

got bored with it, like you do with

everything.

She just smokes, not really looking at him. Maybe it's a

common observation and she's past being defensive about it.

KELVIN:

I don't know what it's really like,

to not know what you want to do.

To not have anything that you love

to do more than anything else.

A beat. He looks at her. She seems more interested in her

cigarette at the moment.

RHEYA:

(sarcastic)

Imagine my frustration.

CUT TO:

INT. KELVIN'S ROOM

On the Prometheus. Rheya is awake, Kelvin asleep.

She rises and goes to sit in a chair; she is anxious,

something we haven't seen before.

Kelvin wakes up, looks at her. Noting her expression:

KELVIN:

What's wrong.

RHEYA:

You don't love me.

KELVIN:

Stop.

A beat. She looks down.

RHEYA:

I have to talk to you... I... I

don't know where I came from.

(up at him)

Do you know?

He doesn't respond.

RHEYA:

If you know but can't tell me

now... will you ever be able to?

Calmly:

KELVIN:

What are you talking about?

RHEYA:

That I am not Rheya. That Rheya

died. Killed herself. I'm

different.

He's looking at her, and knows this is dangerous territory.

KELVIN:

Who have you been talking to?

RHEYA:

(no reason to lie)

Sartorius.

KELVIN:

When? When I'm asleep?

She nods. He can only imagine what form Sartorius' anecdotes

must have taken.

KELVIN:

I'm sure there are worse people to

talk to, but I don't know who they

are.

RHEYA:

I'm just trying to understand

what's going on.

A beat.

RHEYA:

How have you lived the last ten

years? Did you love anyone?

A long beat. Kelvin shakes his head.

RHEYA:

Did you think about me?

Another beat. He nods. Then:

RHEYA:

But we fought.

KELVIN:

Yes. Especially toward the end.

RHEYA:

Why did she do it?

KELVIN:

You... she said I didn't love her.

RHEYA:

Was she right?

KELVIN:

No. I love you.

RHEYA:

(reflexive, but genuine)

I love you, too.

If she seems satisfied for the moment, Kelvin knows the

feeling won't last.

KELVIN:

Can you sleep?

RHEYA:

I don't think do. It's not sleep;

it's something else. It's all

around me.

KELVIN:

Those are dreams.

She falls asleep.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

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