Sphere Page #18

NORMAN:

So what?

BETH:

So who was Barnes talking to at the

last minute? Nobody.

NORMAN:

You're jumping to conclusions, Beth.

Don't get worked up --

BETH:

F*** you, Norman! It's right here...

She shows him the printout in her hand, putting a flashlight on the

words, reads...

BETH:

"Although advised of risks, all

personnel elect to remain down for

duration of storm to continue

investigation of alien sphere and

associated spacecraft. Signed,

Barnes, USN."

NORMAN:

Where did you get this?

BETH:

In Edmunds' things.

NORMAN:

You went through Edmunds' things?

BETH:

He's not just a Navy captain -- he

works for the f***ing Pentagon.

NORMAN:

Calm down, Beth. Alright?

BETH:

Don't tell me to calm down!

NORMAN:

It's done, alright? It's over! And

there's not a damn thing we can do

about it now, okay?

He turns to leave...

BETH:

You said something to him, didn't

you?

NORMAN:

What?

BETH:

You told him about me?

ON NORMAN - pausing, staring at her...

NORMAN:

Beth --

BETH:

You did, didn't you?

NORMAN:

Don't do this.

BETH:

You bastard.

NORMAN:

Beth, I didn't. Hold it together.

Alright?

She looks at him, piercing into his eyes...

BETH:

Yeah, okay. Sure, Norman.

NORMAN:

Beth --

BETH:

No, I should stay calm. Like you

say. Right, Norman? Stay calm.

Norman looks at her, concerned, knowing she doesn't believe him...

BETH:

Fletcher and Edmunds are dead,

Norman. And the only one we can

trust to run this place is a f***ing

liar.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTROL ROOM

ON THE OXYGEN REGULATOR - bobbing up and down -- keeping track of the

little that's left.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO FEED ROOM

Barnes, Norman, Beth, and Ted are gathered around the monitors. Barnes

addresses Norman...

BARNES:

I don't want you talking to Jerry.

NORMAN:

But sir, I think it's imperative. I

think the messages, the animals

we've seen, what killed Edmunds, the

reading you got earlier -- I think

they're all related.

TED:

Jerry isn't hostile, Norman. He said

earlier -- we were his friends --

NORMAN:

Of course he did. He's been isloated

for 400 years. He wants someone to

talk to. Look, you put a human being

in isolation for four days, they can

become neurotic, sometimes

psychotic. We're talking about 400

years here. An alien that shows

emotional responses. I think we need

to address him, before he reacts

further.

BARNES:

You think he killed Edmunds?

NORMAN:

Yes, I do. Whatever's out there, I

think is his response to us refusing

to talk to him earlier.

BARNES:

Bullshit. What's out there isn't

alien. It's an animal.

NORMAN:

Maybe so. But I think we need to ask

Jerry about it.

BARNES:

No. I think we should shut down the

communication lines inside the

habitat. He might be listening now.

BETH:

I think he already is.

They turn to the monitors:

ON THE MONITOR:
"DO NOT IGNORE ME"

BETH:

Nice work, Captain sir.

BARNES:

Shut up, Beth. I don't want to hear

it.

NORMAN:

Jerry, we don't want to ignore you.

"Don't underestimate my power"

NORMAN:

We don't.

"Yes you do"

NORMAN:

Jerry --

THE MONITOR blinks back -- WE SEE the sphere. It is closed. Still.

WE HEAR the SENSOR: PONG. PONG. PONG.

CUT TO:

INT. LABRATORY

Harry, alone, stares at THE FETUS on the table.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO FEED ROOM

ON THE SONAR IMPULSE MONITOR - lines jumping higher. PONG. PONG. PONG.

Barnes, Norman, Beth, and Ted watching it.

NORMAN:

Jerry?

No response.

NORMAN:

Jerry?

The MONITOR flashes: "I'm Not Listening" -- blinks back.

AN OUTSIDE CAMERA FEED - infra-red -- a large IMAGE streaks by.

BARNES:

Direction's east coming!

BETH:

What was that?

Barnes flips a switch...

BARNES:

Going active.

NORMAN:

Jerry?

No response.

BETH:

It looked like a tentacle. Of a

squid.

THE MONITORS - BEEPING now.

BARNES:

A squid? The size of a whale? I

don't think so.

(beat)

Target acquired. Sixty yards.

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