Sphere Page #5

FLETCHER:

Captain, the divers have the airlock

mounted at the door. The robot is

now in position to enter the

spacecraft.

TED:

Robot? What robot?

INT. VIDEO FEED ROOM

CLOSE ON A MONITOR - showing the robot in front of the curved gray

metal of the spacecraft.

BARNES:

Edmunds, bring up the robot's camera

feed.

JANE EDMUNDS, 32, the unit archivist, works the control panel. Another

MONITOR clicks on -- showing the robot's POV of the door.

TED:

Captain, you know, I really

appreciate you hauling us a thousand

feet below sea level so we can watch

this historical event on television.

BARNES:

Nobody goes inside, until we know

what's inside.

ON THE MONITOR - THE ROBOT CAMERA scans the spacecraft hull, stops on

a rectangular panel mounted to the left of the door.

BARNES:

Can you open that panel?

EDMUNDS:

Working on it now, sir.

ON THE MONITOR - a robotic CLAW extends out to the panel. Trying to

pry the panel open.

TED:

I'd like it noted in the report that

I think we should be doing this

ourselves. Making a manned entry...

The claw is clumsy, and keeps banging into the metal.

TED:

I'd also like it noted --

BARNES:

Duly noted, Ted. Edmunds, try using

suction.

ON THE MONITOR - another robotic arm extends out, with a rubber

sucker. It pushes against the panel, but doesn't suck.

EDMUNDS:

It's not sucking, sir.

BARNES:

Thank you, I can see that. Try

something else.

EDMUNDS:

We don't have anything else to try,

Sir.

BARNES:

Well, sh*t -- find something, do

something...make something up --

TED:

What about a crowbar?

Barnes straightens up, looks at Ted...

BARNES:

What about a crowbar?

TED:

What if we go out there, you know --

wedge a crowbar in the door and pry

the thing open.

HARRY:

Pry the thing open? What are we --

neanderthals?

BETH:

All that banging and pounding. I

don't know. We should think about

making a good first impression.

HARRY:

For who? The fish?

BETH:

For whoever's in that thing.

BARNES:

Or whatever's in that thing.

ON THE MONITOR - the spacecraft, sitting there silently, staring back

at them.

BARNES:

Norman, what do you think?

Norman, quiet in the corner, perks up...

NORMAN:

Me? Well -- I don't really... I

mean, you could...you know, you

could make a real solid case...a

crowbar?

All eyes on Norman.

NORMAN:

I don't know.

A beat as they all stare at him.

TED:

I'm secure enough with that.

INT. CHANGING ROOM

ANGLE ON A LOCKER door opening. Inside is an elaborate JUMPSUIT and

HELMET with the name: "JOHNSON", stenciled above the faceplate.

NORMAN:

Are we all -- I mean, is it

necessary for all of us to go...out

there?

The other team members take their suits out of their lockers.

BARNES:

Nothing to be nervous about. These

suits are wired and electrically

heated. Each equipped with an alarm

that triggers automatically if life-

support sustems go below optimum.

Norman holds his jumpsuit out and away from him, like it's something

nuclear.

TED:

It's just like swimming, Norman...

You know how to swim, don't you?

HARRY:

You're not afraid of the water, are

you, Norman?

They all look over at him.

BETH:

(half smiling)

Isn't there a psychological term for

that, Dr. Johnson?

NORMAN:

(under his breath)

Yeah. Drowning.

INT. AIRLOCK ROOM - (A CYLINDER)

Dressed in jumpsuits and helmets -- Barnes jumps into a POOL of ocean

water, cut out from the floor, leading to the ocean. It looks like a

tiny swimming pool. Ted jumps in next. Beth, Harry, and Norman are

left...

BETH:

You're next, Norman.

NORMAN:

(nervous as hell)

No. Go ahead. Really. Ladies first.

BETH:

Such a gentlemen when you're scared

shitless.

She hops in. Norman watches, looks up at Harry, next to him.

HARRY:

Go ahead. Ladies first.

NORMAN:

No, why don't --

Harry nudges him forward.

HARRY:

C'mon.

NORMAN:

Wait a second, I --

Harry pushes him again. Norman catches himself.

NORMAN:

Geez, c'mon, alright. Gimme a

minute. Let me get my bearings --

Harry pushes him again.

HARRY:

C'mon, Norman.

NORMAN:

Look, would you --

And Harry just pushes him in. Norman slips and falls awkwardly...into

the ocean depths.

CUT TO:

BLACK.

Quiet. Only THE SOUND OF NORMAN -- BREATHING.

For a couple beats.

Now...NORMAN'S POV - from inside his helmet -- a light SHINES from

behind him -- casting his SHADOW onto the murky ocean floor.

Norman's head turns, and he's BLINDED by a light -- it's Harry, the

light SHINING from the top of Harry's helmet.

WE HEAR Harry's voice, static, through Norman's helmet.

HARRY (O.S.)

The switch is on your waist.

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