INNERSPACE

Chip Proser

A STRANGE LANDSCAPE.

Like the surface of some alien planet. CELESTIAL FORMS spin in

the distance. DROP DOWN over a topo

ALVIN 5 - THE POD

A titanium alloy sphere; the strongest form to withstand great

pressures. A streamlined mantle hou

WEIRD SUBMARINE FORMS

glow in artificial light. We float over undulating undersea

hills. Tendrils of beautiful growths w

AL (VO)

...one small schlep for mankind...

INT. - ALVIN 1

THE MAN INSIDE is Al Viola, 35, ex-Marine, ex-astronaut. He

holds a doctorate in Medieval Language

...but it means money in the bank to

me.

A VOICE cuts in - The Mission Control Officer - COLIN

COLIN - VO

Could you to stop counting

your profits long enough for a systems

check...

This is a small breakthrough.

I've a right to make a statement.

A LAB SOMEWHERE

Technicians cluster around VIDEO SCREENS showing feeds from

ALVIN'S MULTIPLE CAMERAS. One shot fro

COLIN

What a pain in the...Where did we

get this prima donna?...(into mike)

Then do try to keep it dignified.

Puns are a sign of oxygen deprivation

of the brain. Now give us bank three,

if you would.

Alright, alright! Air filtration,

88; battery load, 76;...

Reception is perfect. Al reports full success. He reads off

instrument readings rapidly. His voice

THE LAB TECHNICIANS are taut, organized and highly disciplined.

There is a sense of purpose, of ve

THE SUBMERSIBLE swoops through valleys lined with stranger

growths. The craft is perfectly balance

END TITLES

SILICON VALLEY - DAWN - A peaceful setting; flowers on low,

rolling hills, a high-tech building co

TWO MEN ON A HILL OVERLOOKING UST. They are fooling with

something. It goes off. A rocket flares o

ABOVE THE BUILDING, retro jets slow the craft. A small braking

chute blooms. It settles, braking j

THE ROCKETEER hits a button; blue flame shoots out the

underside of the vehicle. It burns a tiny p

INT. UNITED SYNERGISTIC TECHNOLOGIES - A HIGH-TECH LAB - THE

SAME ONE, SAME TIME - A TECH turns fr

CONTROL ROOM - Engineers note and dismiss a READING...

ENG 1

Air temp just went up.

ENG 2

We're drawing lots of power.

INT. UST FRONT OFFICE - Salesmen, job seekers crowd the busy

lobby. One applicant, Joe Doakes, 30,

JOE

Remember me?

She barely looks up...a 40 watt smile.

JOE

Joe Doakes? It's quarter to 10...

RECEPTIONIST.

I'm sorry. We're running behind.

So many applicants...so few jobs... If you'll just have a

seat.

JOE

I have a seat. I've had it since

nine.

RECEPTIONIST.

...Mr. Athol will be with you as soon

as possible. Will you be able to

wait?

JOE (he turns)

You're just lucky I

(more)

(Cont'd)

need this job.

RECEPTIONIST.

Is there anything else?

JOE

A drink...

RECEPTIONIST.

Water fountain's through that door,

down the hall.

JOE

Thanks.

THE ROOF - The landing craft withdraws its torch, deploys a

nozzle-arm. PSSSSCCCHHHT. A colorless

INT. LAB AND CONTROL ROOM. - Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the

hubbub and chatter die off. People

EXT. THE VALLEY - A CHOPPER glides through the pass and settles

on the UST landing pad. Five figur

THE INTRUDERS - walk to the access door. They are armed,

disciplined, well drilled. Movement is un

LEADER

Hello.

GUARD

Hello.

LEADER

We'd like to come in.

The guard is lethargic. The gas has sapped his will. One part

of his brain cannot accept what he i

GUARD (giggling)

You'd like...to come in...

LEADER

Open the door please.

GUARD (still giggling)

Open the door?... Certainly.

The door pops open. They enter and pass the bemused guard.

LEADER

Thank you.

GUARD

My pleasure.

INT. LAB AREA - Everyone is smiling...stoned. The LEADER

speaks to them like children, not to be f

LEADER

Hello.

TECH

Hello.

(more)

(Cont'd)

LEADER

We've come for the PEM114. Where is

it?

TECH 2

Right there.

LEADER

Thank you.

The INTRUDERS step up to the lab equipment. Another

tech...steps forward...He is struggling agains

TECH 3

Wait.

LEADER

Why?

TECH 3

You can't take that.

LEADER

Why not?

TECH 3

The experiment. The danger...

THE VOICE is soothing, calming, hypnotic, but the submachine

guns are always in position.

LEADER

It's alright.

TECH 3

It is?

LEADER

It will be fine. You have another.

TECH 3

Just one. The back up.

LEADER

Could I have it, please.

TECH 3

I can't get it out. It would take

hours.

LEADER

That's alright. Just tear it apart.

TECH 3

Tear it apart?

LEADER

Yes.

TECH 3

Ahhh...Okay?!!!

He tears into a complex web of electronic circuitry, ripping

wires and circuit boards apart. With

THE SHRIEK of an ALARM SIREN. Suddenly a door swings open.

The LEADER'S gun swings on the figure

LEADER

What do you want?

JOE (stoned innocent)

Drink of water...?

A beat, then the LEADER relaxes...He waves Joe away...

LEADER

Go get a drink.

This has the force of suggestion...Joe turns and walks through

and out of the room...looking for a

INTRUDER 2

The PEM114?

TECH 2

Yes, that's it.

LEADER

Give it to me.

He does. Another tech offers the Leader the spare. He holds

the tiny circuit board in his palm, re

LEADER

This the only spare?

TECH 2

Yes.

LEADER

The other working.

TECH 2

Perfectly.

The Leader has something in his hand, a CLICK, a WHOOSH. A

butane lighter melts the circuit board to microscopic slag.

The Tech looks at his scorched hand,

TECH 2

Ow?...

LEADER

It'l be alright.

TECH 2

It will.

LEADER

It doesn't hurt.

TECH 2

No?

The Leader pauses for a moment, amused by their sheep-like

acquiescence. His next suggestion is dr

LEADER

It tickles.

The tech looks at his smoking hand in dismay...then incredibly

finds something amusing in his seco

INTRUDER 5, steps into the room full of laughing idiots. He

moves to the LEADER. They speak quickl

INT. HIGH TECH EXPERIMENT AREA - The LEADER is surprised.

LEADER

What's this?

INT 5

They're further along

than we thought.

CU - an empty beaker on a pad surrounded by exotic equipment.

INT 5

...Looks almost ready to go.

A WALKIE-TALKIE SQUAWKS.

W/T (V.O.)

...response to door alarm...

LEADER

Time to go...(looks at the

beaker) It doesn't matter. We have the PEM.

They turn and exit the room. As they do, the LEADER notices

Joe aimlessly examining the wall of eq

The Leader decides. Abruptly, he kicks the equipment out of

his way. It smashes against the back w

MAIN ROOM - OTHER INTRUDERS finish taking apart the equipment.

The LEADER addresses the crowd, a J

LEADER

We must be off. Goodbye.

TECHS

Goodbye...Goodbye...

They all wish them goodbye...smiles and laughter all around.

The one who struggled steps forward.

TECH 3

Who....are...you?

INTRUDER 5 just laughs, but the LEADER turns back to TECH 3.

LEADER

I'm ...your mother.

CLOSE UP - TECH 3 - Stunned and confused...He shakes his head

and blinks rapidly. He rubs his eyes

TECH 3'S POV - Before his eyes, the IMAGE OF THE LEADER shrinks

down and transforms itself into th

TECH 3 - can't believe it.

TECH 3

Mom...what are you doing here?

LEADER

Leaving, now go to sleep. ...all of

you.

Some of them do. The INTRUDERS step back through the door.

The TECHS look at each other blankly. T

LEADER

Give me the surveillance camera

videotapes.

The video tech does.

INT LAB - HOURS LATER - FRANTIC - Crawling with security

people. - The scene of the crime. No clue

FINNEGAN

...Well who did it look like?

Tech 3 squirms in his seat...embarrassed...humiliated. He

doesn't answer..The interrogator stands

TECH 2

My mother.

INT. CONTROL ROOM. - COLIN walks up to the CHIEF DETECTIVE.

He shrugs. In B.G. , through a glass p

FINNEGAN

Who'd it look like to you?

TECH 1

My dog.

COLIN turns to the detective.

FINNEGAN

Mass hypnosis. Short term memory loss.

Some kind of hallucinogenic gas...

MYER

Kind of stuff the army's been working

on.

COLIN

Surveillance Cameras?

FINNEGAN

They took the tapes.

COLIN

You have nothing...

FINNEGAN

We don't even know where to start.

What about these people? What do we

do with them?

He indicates glass wall through which they can see the

bystanders, including Joe, being questioned Joe looks a little

queasy. He burps...an uneasy stomach.

COLIN

We'll have to let them go.

FINNEGAN

Surveilliance on them all.

COLIN looks uncomfortable at the thought. Tech 2 steps through

a door and catches his eye. He excu

INT. LAB. - TECH 2 is panicked. He speaks quietly, intensely.

TECH 2

The P.E.M. It's gone... They must

have it.

COLIN

How did they know? No one knew.

TECH 2

Whoever has it, can leapfrog

generations of technology. We gotta get it back.

TECH 3

Screw the PEM...What about Al...

TECH 2

Poor bastard.

AL - IN THE POD

fighting for his life. The pod is slammed and buffeted. Al

struggles with the controls as the POD

Come in, control...Do you read me?

Come in...damn!

He flips frantically through the controls.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - that of a semi-impoverished single man.

Pictures of Baseball players taped

JOE

Somebody's been here.

AL (VO)

Where are we now?

JOE

My place, can't you see?

AL (VO)

No.

JOE

You're in my head, you can

talk to me and hear what I say, but

you can't see anything.

AL (VO)

Right.

JOE

Kind of an oversight, wouldn't you say.

AL (VO)

I'm working on it. Soon as I find

the right nerve bundle.

JOE

Nerve bundle! What are you doing?

You just leave the nerve bundles right

where they are.

INSIDE - THE POD - AL - The POD moves slightly in the

intercranial fluid. Al senses movement.

What are you doing?

JOE'S APARTMENT - Joe roots through his goods which are strewn

all over the floor.

JOE

Wait a minute, they didn't take

anything...I'm not even worth

robbing...This...they just messed it

(HE THINKS)... Maybe I did it.

He turns, goes into the bedroom and roots around in the closet.

A secret hiding hole behind a boar

Who are you?

JOE

Who am I?

Yeah...Who?

JOE

Well...If you're in my head... to you, I'm...GOD!

Unloads clip, checks it.

Quit screwing around, this is important.

JOE

It's my head, I'll be the judge of that. Anyway, who are you?

10.

I told you, my name is Al.

JOE

What are you doing in my head, Al?

Slams clip in.

I'm a test pilot...

JOE (patronizing)

...Test pilot. Uh huh. What do you test?

You've heard of the PEM114...

JOE

That a new Datsun?

INSIDE - THE POD - AL - Worried frantic, jumps to conclusions.

Don't screw with me, Buster. I don't know how you got into

U.S.T. or where you got this crazy idea, but you get me back

to the lab right now.

Joe grabs his head in frustration.

JOE

Are you threatening me?

I'm trying to get you to

listen to reason.

Flips off safety.

JOE (condescending)

Reason...Ah hah...

AL (VO)

Look! I didn't ask to be in you.

Don't blame me for it. You did it.

JOE

Me? What'd I do?

AL (VO)

Yeah. What did you do? You explain it. ...why I'm not at the

lab right now,

in my tube, with my crew. Explain

that!

JOE

I don't know what you're talking about.

AL (VO)

The Nicholson Node. I suppose you haven't

heard of that either.

11.

JOE

No.

AL (VO)

You've heard of U.S.T.?

JOE

I just went there for a job.

AL (VO)

Then how'd I get here?

Joes thinks he's nuts but finally gets mad, yells at the VOICE.

JOE

I don't know. Now Fuck Off!

Strangely, that calms Al down...

AL (VO)

I know...it sounds insane.

JOE

You said it.

Joe chambers a round...Al HEARS, he senses something.

AL (VO)

What are you doing?

JOE

Loading a gun.

What for?

JOE

Kill myself.

Are you crazy?

JOE

Yep.

Don't do it. (thinks a second)

Don't aim at the head.

JOE

Used to be, things were bad. No job...no money...no girl. Now

I got all that and I'm crazy too.

You're not crazy.

JOE

Hear voices don't I.

Of course you do!

JOE

Then I'm crazy.

12.

He cocks the gun.

You're not crazy. Don't...wait

a minute, just let me explain.

JOE

You're gonna explain.

Yeah

JOE

Why there's a little man

in my head?

Yeah.

JOE

Why he's argumentative?

Yes...Yes...I'll explain it all.

Just put the gun down.

JOE (hesitates)

What's in it for me?

You'll be alive.

JOE

With a man in my head...

Yeah.

JOE (slowly considers)

Well...Okay, But this better be good!

INSIDE - THE POD - AL

Okay, Now, The Photon Echo Memory

Chip...You've heard of that?

OUTSIDE - INT. APARTMENT - JOE just sits there...gun in hand,

staring ahead in disbelief. He nod's

INSIDE - THE POD - Al lays it all on him: the EXPERIMENT.

The Photon Echo Memory chip - the PEM114.

It's the key. It's magical... It

focuses massive computing power on one

event: the creation of a

mathematically induced real-life

simulacrum encoded and synthesized on

the molecular level with properties of

the real model...

(more)

13.

(Cont'd)

and the transfer of a certain

imponderable which might be called

the life-force between the two in

direct symbiosis. The effect is that

man and machine are living on the

molecular level...Now that's where

we were when things went wrong. You

understand... (NO RESPONSE)... Are

you listening?

OUTSIDE- Joe, exhausted, mesmerized, has dozed off, gun in

hand.

INSIDE - THE POD - AL

I am real, Goddamn it. Hello?!!

No response. Frustrated, he hits the charge button...an

electric pulse from a POD arm shoots to a

JOE'S APARTMENT. - Joe's limbs shudder. His muscles

spasm...ENORMOUS ROAR - THE GUN GOES OFF. The

INSIDE - THE POD - AL - Is buffetted by the ROAR -

What was that?

JOE'S APARTMENT - JOE ON THE COUCH...GETS UP, CROSSES TO WINDOW.

JOE

Who was that?

Somebody out there?

HIS POV - OUT THE WINDOW. Movement in the bushes.

You weren't listening!

JOE

Sorry...all this...buzzing in my head.

(resigned...He just

wants it over)

Why don't I just take you back to UST?

AL (VO)

Why don't you?

JOE (rhetorically)

Because they'll think I'm nuts.

AL (VO)

No they won't.

14.

JOE

Why not?

AL (VO)

I'll talk to them.

JOE

Oh...Gooood!

AL (VO)

I'll tell you what to say.

JOE

If I get you back to the lab,

will you get out of my head?

AL (VO)

If I'm real, they'll get me out. If I'm not, they'll treat

you. Either way you'll be better off than you are now. You'll

get a reward.

Joe looks out the front. Movement in the bushes.

JOE

Let's get out of here.

EXT. APARTMENT. - Joe sneaks out the side window, through the

bushes, around to the front.

EXT. STREET - Sitting at the curb. A well-worn old Ford. He

cracks the door, sneaks in...puts the key in, releases the

brake. The car starts to roll down t

AL (VO)

Anyone there?

JOE

No one. Maybe I dreamed it all up.

EXT. DESERTED ROAD - U.S.T LAB COMPLEX - in the distance.

AL (VO)

Behind us?

JOE

Still clear. Just a motorcycle.

POV - A LONE MOTORCYCLE RIDER TRAILS THEM. Joe speeds up. The

cycle accellerates, overtaking them.

AL (VO)

What's that?

JOE

Nothing. Just the cyclist.

He's passed us.

15.

THE CYCLE - The rider reaches for something in his saddlebag.

JOE'S CAR - IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR - a lone van appears behind

them. It quickly catches up.

AL (VO)

What'd he look like?

JOE

He's not the problem.

It's the van in the back.

Just as he says that...

CYCLE - The cyclist has a cellophane bag. He tosses it behind

him in a sweeping motion.

THE BAG - breaks open as it hits the road spewing 4 point

spikes across the tarmac.

JOE - sees the spikes, hits the brakes.

JOE

I take that back.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Joe's car runs over the spikes.

All four tires blow. Joe fights the swerve

THE CYCLE - in front, is joined by another...an ambush.

AL (VO)

What's happening?

Joe fights the car down to 30. The van pulls off on the

shoulder, around the spikes and pulls up i

JOE

What do I do?

AL (VO)

Outrun them.

JOE

This is a Fiesta!

UP AHEAD - another VAN cuts them off.

JOE

Now what?

AL (VO)

Whatever you do, just...don't stop.

Shredding his tires, he heads for a small gap between the van

and the guard rail. He shoots throug

16.

THE VAN AND CYCLES follow them at high speed through the trees.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL is slammed around.

THE VAN - PULLS UP right behind...Slams into their bumper.

Joe cuts left, the van tries to follow. SPRANG! It catches,

wedged between two trees. A rider flie

JOE HITS SOMETHING. It rolls to a stop. Joe sits there,

dazed.

AL (VO)

Are we safe.

As the engine dies...HEAR motorcycles.

JOE

I wouldn't say that.

AL (VO)

Then what are you stopping for?

JOE IS OUT - running through the dark fields. Cycles,

headlights off...pursue. They circle him.

He sneaks along a ridge. A ROAR! - A cycle BLASTS out of the

trees, headlight impaling him.

Terrified, Joe jumps over the ridge.. The cycle leaps over him.

BLAAAT! It hits the ground, stops

JOE - runs through the woods. It grows quieter.

AL (VO)

Get your breathing down. You

sound like a cement mixer.

JOE

Can't see a Goddamn thi..

He turns...BLAM! Something knocks him down. A man. Joe rolls

away. The man comes at him again. Joe

JOE

Help!

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL - Helpless.

OUTSIDE - JOE - his arms are pinned. Under his helmet, the

man's neck is bare. Joe bites him. The

Running full bore, he turns to look behind, stumbles, turns

back around, hits something.

JOE

Ooofff!

17.

SIRENS - LIGHTS - he's caught on a chain link fence. Figures

run up, hard to see in the GLARE. A b

SECURITY

Stand where you are.

Joe turns, looks behind. The pursuers melt back into the

trees.

JOE

I'm not going anywhere.

GOLF COURSE - NIGHT - The PURSUERS regroup.

INTRUDER 1 (indicates

UST)

He's in there.

LEADER (turns to 2)

Call it off. Sterilize this area...

INTRUDER 2

That's it? We pull out?

LEADER

Let him go. We've got the PEM.

INT. UST - COLIN, OTHER TECHS seen through a lab window, confer

intently. Joe bursts in, scared, w

JOE

I want out.

AL (VO)

Too late...They want you.

JOE

Why?

AL (VO)

You know too much.

JOE

I don't know anything. I just want to go home.

AL (VO)

You have no choice, you're involved.

Will you help?

JOE (yells)

No!

Security people move in quickly.

AL (VO)

Calm Down! Act rational.

18.

JOE

How do you act when someone

trys to kill you?

The guards think he means the TECHS tried to kill him.

FINNEGAN recognises Joe. He pulls him away.

FINNEGAN

Now, Joe, you know it was all a

mistake, don't you?

JOE

No, it wasn't, It was intentional.

FINNEGAN

Why would we want to hurt you?

JOE

Not you. Them.

FINNEGAN

Who?

JOE

I don't know Who.

FINNEGAN

(condescending)

Do you know why?

JOE

I don't know...To get Al.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

No. Don't tell the guards.

OUTSIDE - THE LAB

FINNEGAN

Al?

JOE

The little man in my...

(sees he's in trouble.)

...head...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

Oh shit.

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - The guards exchange looks: another nut

case!

AL (VO)

He doesn't know about the experiment.

He'll just think you're nuts.

19.

COLIN enters, glances at Joe, OTHER TECHS COME UP TO COLIN.

TECH 3

The Emergency committe...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

The Emergency Committee!

OUTSIDE - THE LAB

TECH 3

...will meet at Four.

AL (VO)

Four! Why not wait till Spring! I have to talk to them.

Joe tries to approach them, but the guard prevents him from

getting close. COLIN glances at Joe, p

JOE

I have to talk to them.

COLIN

What is it., Sergeant?

FINNEGAN

Must be delayed effects of the drug...

I'll get him out of here.

COLIN

He work for us?

FINNEGAN

Ah...no sir. He was here for a job

interview.

COLIN (thinks for a

moment)

Give him a job.

FINNEGAN

What Job?

COLIN

Doesn't matter. Then put him away.

FINNEGAN

Sir?

COLIN

Private clinic. Best of care. Total

privacy. We'll pay all costs.

FINNEGAN

Bit expensive, sir.

COLIN

It's the least we can do. After all,

it's our responsibility.

Finnegan sits Joe at a desk as he fills out forms.

20.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Did you hear that?

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - JOE

JOE

Yeah. (to them) Al wants

to talk to you!

THE TECHS, exhausted, look more worried...They speak furtively.

TECH 2

What'd he say, how's he know about Al?

TECH 3

What does he know?

TECH 2

Too much.

COLIN ignores it, continues his discussion.

COLIN

...You know the implications for the

lab.

TECH 2 (sarcastic)

You mean that we lost the PEM and

the POD and Al right out of the lab?

Try to get a security clearance after that. The next

government contract we

get will be for urinal handles.

TECH 3

Look, nobody knows we did it.

TECH 2

Whoever took it does.

COLIN

They're not gonna tell.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Hey, wait a minute. They don't

have a clue who led the attack. Or

who has the PEM. I don't like the

sound of this.

OUTSIDE - COLIN notices Joe evesdropping and moves the TECHS

into the next room. Joe can see them

JOE

I get the idea they're writing

you off.

INSIDE - THE POD - AL goes crazy...Flipping dials, cutting in

amplifiers and filters...no good. He

21.

What is it? What happened?

THE LAB - The guard watches Joe closely. He can't respond. He

sees the TECHS SPEAKING: Vital stuff

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL thinks frantically, mumbling to

himself. He cranks up the main thruster

I'll be out of touch for a bit.

INT. THE LAB - JOE shows surprise and confusion in as

restrained a manner as possible. The guard l

JOE

Going somewhere?

The guard just looks at him, curiously.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

I'll be right back. Don't go away.

INT. THE LAB - JOE - wants to respond, but can't.

INSIDE - EXT. - THE POD Moves through a GIANT, FLUID FILLED

CAVERN - THE INNER EAR. The SOUND is l

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL triggers the SONOBUOY RELEASE.

INSIDE - EXT. THE POD - A SONOBUOY releases from a hatch.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL programs...trying to pick up better

sound. He INCREASES THE GAIN and st

TECH 3

It'l take months.

TECH 2

So we better get started.

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - THE TECHS SPEAK SOFTLY, BUT NOW WE CAN HEAR.

TECH 3

What about Al...

COLIN

...If he was right here, what would we do? What would we tell

him?

TECH 3

You're glad to get rid of him!

COLIN (ignores that)

We tell him we don't have the PEM,

we can't get you back to size...?

22.

TECH 2

We can build another.

COLIN

Look at this mess. That would

take months.

JOE - He's amazed, Al's enhancement lets him HEAR it too.

AL (VO)

It can't take that long.

JOE

Why?

JOE'S POV TECH 3-

TECH3

We have to get the PEM and

reverse the process...before...

JOE

AL (VO)

...the POD looses power and can

no longer maintain life support.

JOE'S POV - COLIN -

COLIN

How soon?

TECH 2

WITHIN 92 HOURS...

JOE

Or what?

I don't know. I don't want to find out.

COLIN looks over in Joe's direction.

AL (VO)

They'll find a way.

COLIN (dismissive)

Forget it...Al's dead.

It's better...in a way.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (indignant scream)

BETTER! You son of a bitch!

23.

COLIN (coldly)

Beyond our control...an accident.

Nothing we can do. In a way, you

might say...Al was lost ...at Sea.

Joe HEARS a gasp of frustration from Al. He tries to make the

best of it, tries to put the best fa

JOE

They could put you back in the tube..

AL (VO)

I'd be helpless and useless.

They don't have the PEM.

Without that...there's no chance.

JOE

Well...they sure as hell aren't gonna get it for you.

AL (VO)

They're busy covering their asses. They're not the type of

people we need."

JOE

Yeah...Who is?

AL (VO)

I am. You are.

JOE

You are CRAZY!

Okay guys, what's going on?

Who turned out the lights?

He tries one system, then the other.

This wasn't in the plan.

Then it dawns on him: he may be in big trouble.

AL (resigned,

professional)

Damn...10:03...Something's gone wrong. Experiencing extreme

turbulence. Unable

to control the capsule.. Appear to be

tumbling. Exterior envirnment dark.

Lost radio contact. Cause...unknown.

Power failure?.. maybe...an

earthquake.

HE THROWS A SWITCH: SUCCESS! LIGHT FLICKERS ACROSS HIS FACE.

Wait a minute...Got power...Going

to external floods....Holy...Shit!!!

24.

THE POD - A different LAND...Turbulent, convulsive ...alive.

THE POD seems to drop through an enor

Where in the....YEAOOOW!!!

THE BOTTOM DROPS AWAY. An abyss opens up before him.

THE POD - plunges through the hole and FALLS...FALLS...FALLS

INTO a smoking churning cavern. It hi

INSIDE - AL has browned out from the impact. He now comes

around...dazed. He is once more in darkn

Infrared imaging displays THE ENVIRNMENT on his cockpit glass

in a HEADS-UP-DISPLAY.

CHRIS, if this is one of your jokes....

SAN FRANCISCO. EXT. STREET - A WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD -

A UNITED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY VAN pulls up.

INT. VAN - THE FINNEGAN DRIVES. JOE SITS CONFUSED in the

passenger seat.

FINNEGAN

Now remember, your short term memory may have been affected.

JOE

What?

FINNEGAN

Your memory.

JOE

What about it?

FINNEGAN

It may have been affected.

JOE

Oh.

FINNEGAN

You may not remember things.

JOE

What things?

FINNEGAN

I don't know...the last couple

of hours...last few days.

JOE

Oh...that's okay.

25.

FINNEGAN

When you do...

JOE

Do what?

FINNEGAN

When you remember...

JOE

Remember what?

FINNEGAN

Anything....You call us right away.

You got that?

JOE

Yeah. If I remember anything... I

call ...you

FINNEGAN

Right.

JOE

Who...are you?

FINNEGAN

Sergeant Finnegan. Name's right there

on the card. Are you sure you're

alright?

JOE

How do I look?

FINNEGAN

Fine. You look fine.

JOE

Thanks.

FINNEGAN

Well...

JOE

Well what?

FINNEGAN

We're here.

JOE

Here?

FINNEGAN

Home. Your home. The address on your

form.

JOE

Oh.

FINNEGAN

Don't you want to get out?

JOE

Oh....Sure.

26.

FINNEGAN

Why don't you lie down until you feel

better.

JOE

I feel fine.

FINNEGAN

You'll feel better

JOE

I will?

FINNEGAN

Look, we'll bring your car home. just take it easy until the

effects

wear off. You need anything, just

call this number.

He offers him a card.

Joe turns away.

FINNEGAN

Joe.

JOE

What?

FINNEGAN

Take the card.

JOE

Oh yeah, thanks...

The van pulls away. Joe turns, looks up at his apartment

house, seems to forget what he's doing...

INT. AL IN THE POD - INFRARED IMAGING - shows where he is...A

vast submarine cavern. He moves forw

MONITORS. - A diagram appears. A wire-frame representation of

Al's envirnment...

What the hell is this?

He programs the computer to manipulate the image. The computer

program turns it inside out; gives

AL - ALMOST - SHOCKED INTO SILENCE.

Alright guys, the joke's gone far enough.

MOLLOYS BAR - A NEIGHBORHOOD HANG-OUT. Dazed, Joe enters and

sits at the bar. He's greeted like a

27.

MOLLOY.

Joe. How's it going?

How'd it go with that job?

JOE

What job?

MOLLOY (A beat)

Hey...look...this one's on me.

He sets a beer in front of Joe, moves off down the bar. On the

TV at the end of the bar...a NEWS R

TV - A REPORTER does a STAND-UP in front of U.S.T. MAIN GATE.

REPORTER

All we know, is that something has

gone wrong here, but so far...no one

is talking about it. Ron Golloway,

with the ACTIONCAM...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL checks his envirnmental analysers.

Stomach acid! This stuff's caustic.

SUDDENLY, THE STOMACH CHURNS...A NEW WAVE OF FOAMY LIQUID ROARS DOWN THE ESOPHAGUS AND ENGULFS T

INSIDE - AL - ON THE ANALYSERS - A READOUT: ALCOHOL.

You guy's are...DRUNK! (FURIOUS) Okay, buster, I don't know

who you

are, but if I ever get out of you,

you're in big trouble.

INSIDE THE STOMACH - THE POD SPEEDS TOWARD THE STOMACH WALL...THE CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER FIRES OPE

INSIDE A CAPILLARY - THE POD BREAKS THROUGH THE WALL AND IS CARRIED AWAY IN THE BLOOD FLOW.

INT. POD - A WIRE-FRAME REPRESENTATION OF THE BODY 2

guides Al as he powers the POD ahead. The capillary branches

into larger and larger vessels...The

EXT. POD - He enters a main artery. The walls bulge with each

pump of the heart...then up ahead, t

WHOOSH. He is pulled into a VENTRICAL, spun....THE WORLD

BLURRS as he is expelled in a surge of bl Spinning wildly, he

fights for control, swings into a vein.

THE TUNNEL gets smaller. He checks his navigation aids...It

branches..Al cuts into the --- artery

28.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL pulls up in an eddy and aims the

laser at the membrane...It slices a ne

OTHER SIDE OF THE MEMBRANE - Al swings the pod around...He is

in another...region...where the wate

INSIDE - EXT. THE POD - Al has just slipped through the

BLOOD/BRAIN barrier and has taken up resid

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL stations himself near a nerve

bundle.

You'll wish you never thought of this.

He sets a contact arm of the POD for high-voltage electrical

charge...picks a nerve at random...an

OUTSIDE - INT. THE BAR - JOE flies off the barstool and hits

the floor with a thud. He looks aroun

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - Al's envirnment has been agitated a

little, but not much. He takes up posi

OUTSIDE - INT. THE BAR - JOE shakes his head...He is seeing the

weirdest shit on television...then All of a sudden it's

amusing...very funny. Very very funny. He falls off the stool

again in convul

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL - Is getting shaken all over the

place. He cuts the circuit.

OUTSIDE - INT. THE BAR - JOE, on the floor again, stops

laughing as suddenly as he began. He crawl

JOE

Well, think I'll go home.

MOLLOY

Are you okay?

JOE

Fine...fine. No problem. Just

tired, that's all...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL hits another nerve bundle with the

probe. Now he gets DISTORTED SOUNDS.

TV REPORTER (VO)

...accident site at UNITED SYSTEMS LABS...

Oh, shit.

A STRANGE LANDSCAPE - THE SAME AS SCENE ONE. THE SAME SCENE;

THE SAME SHOTS. Suddenly time RUSHES

29.

LEADER (VO)

Run past this stuff.

THE VISUALS SPEED EVEN FASTER. SOMEBODY is running the tapes

of the EXPERIMENT right before the at

INTRUDER

You won't believe this.

INT. LAB - The INTRUDERS SLOW the tape and watch with

interest. CU.- THE BEAKER on the pedestal surrounded by EXOTIC

EQUIPMENT.

LEADER

What's the hell is this?

INTRUDER (AMAZED)

They've gone ahead. They did it.

SURVEILLANCE CAMERA POV - THE ATTACK. The INTRUDERS - TAPE

WINDS FAST FORWARD - Someone in authori

BURR

The craft, that man....

INTRUDER

When we got there, it was gone...

CONTROL ROOM - ANGLE ON COLIN and TECHS. They look ...drugged.

LEADER

What happened?

INT. LAB - PEDESTAL - Just then, a door in the B.G. opens.

Joe, dizzily enters, looks around, grab

MONITOR - THE IMAGE of Al in the POD breaks up, goes off.

LEADER (VO)

That Idiot!

BURR (VO)

Who is that?

LEADER (VO)

Nobody..just wanted a drink.

BURR (VO)

Someone is the idiot...

TECH 2 (VO) What about the pilot?

BURR (VO)

How long could his power last?

TECH 2 (VO) In that envirnment, I

don't think it matters.

INT 3 (VO)

What a way to go!

(more)

30.

(Cont'd)

BURR (VO)

Dead or alive, there's a lot

that machine could tell us.

INT 3 (VO)

We better get to him fast.

INT 2 (VO)

Yeah, one pepperoni pizza,

it might be too late.

EXT. STREET. JOE STOPS AT A BUS STOP - WAITS. 3

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL hears the STREETSOUNDS - Is

reprogramming the computer...To transmit.

Hello, Hello. Can you hear me?

He throws a few more switches...

Hello...Hello. Come in... Whoever you are...Hello!

EXT. STREET - A BUS pulls up, JOE gets on it.

INT. BUS - EMPTY EXCEPT FOR A WOMAN IN THE BACK. Joe sits a

few seats from her, holding his head.

A VOICE OVER

Can you hear me?

Joe looks around...No one in the bus but him and the woman. He

turns to her.

JOE

Of course, I can.

Her eyes flick to him, nervously...Then her face becomes a

mask. She stares straight ahead, grippi

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL celebrates.

Yahooo! It works!!!...

Excitedly, he hits the transmit button again.

OUTSIDE - ON THE BUS - JOE stares at his hands...blinking...

AL (VO)

You can hear me!

Joe looks up at the woman.

31.

JOE

You don't have to yell.

She moves a seat away. Joe is confused and insulted. He turns

back to the window, mumbling.

AL (VO)

Then, answer me...

Joe turns to the woman, exasperated...She looks up, worried.

JOE

I did. I said I can hear you just fine. What do you want?

She turns to him and confronts the problem directly.

WOMAN

Who, me?

Joe looks around...yep, there's no one else there.

JOE

Yes...What is it?

WOMAN

What's what?

JOE

What do you want?

WOMAN

Nothing.

JOE

What did you say?

WOMAN

Nothing.

JOE

What?

WOMAN

I said...I didn't say..anything!

JOE

Then who did?

WOMAN

You did.

JOE

No I didn't. You said something first.

AL (VO)

I said something.

JOE

I know you did

Joe is confused now, because, although she responded to him,

her mouth didn't seem to move. And no

32.

AL (VO)

No, not her. Me.

JOE (SHOUTING.

FRUSTRATED)

Who's you?

The woman's now terrified. She locks eyes with Joe as she

slowing rises and backs away. He shouts

AL (VO)

My name is AL.

JOE

Al ???!!!

He looks wildly around the bus...under the seats. The woman

scurries to the front of the bus. She

JOE - A stupid grin on his face. He knows someone is fucking

with him. Maybe this whole thing is a

JOE

Where are you,...Al?

AL (VO)

You're not gonna believe this...

JOE

Try me.

AL (VO)

I'm...inside you.

A LONG PAUSE WHILE JOE THINKS ABOUT THIS.

FRONT OF THE BUS - The DRIVER and WOMAN stare at this lunatic.

JOE - SUDDENLY, HE JUMPS UP. SCREAMING AND POINTING AT THEM.

JOE

Okay...which one of you guy's

the ventriloquist???!!!

The driver's mouth drops open...He glances back at traffic.

He's about to rear-end a car. He SLAM

JOE - swings from a pole as the bus SWERVES... HORNS BLAST as

the driver SWINGS back into his lane

JOE

You trying to kill us?

Cut the shit and concentrate on your

driving!

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL is getting bounced all over.

Calm down! Don't worry!

33.

OUTSIDE - Joe talks at the driver...who thinks he's got a

madman on his hands.

JOE

Either drive or talk. Don't do both.

Then I won't worry.

The driver pulls the bus over to the curb. Sets the brake.

The woman painfully pulls herself up.

AL (VO)

It's not him.

Joe turns to the woman.

JOE

Oh...and who is it!?

WOMAN

I didn't say anything.

JOE (answering Al)

Why not?

DRIVER

Are you alright?

AL (VO)

You'll find this hard to accept.

JOE

Try me.

The driver thinks this is a challenge.

DRIVER

Alright, get off the bus.

JOE (indignant)

It's not my stop.

DRIVER

You'll have to leave.

JOE

What for?

DRIVER

...creating a disturbance.

JOE

Me?...! You created it. I'm

the one that's being disturbed.

WOMAN

You can say that again.

Joe looks at her, innocent and hurt. He turns back to the

driver. He's gotten up from his seat. He

EXT. BUS - JOE flys out the door, lands hard on his knees and

skids into a bush.

34.

JOE

Hey!!!

He jumps up, shakes his fist at the bus as it pulls away.

JOE

I'm reporting you to the

.....transit authority!!!

INSIDE - INT. THE POD -

What's going on?

OUTSIDE - EXT. STREET - Joe, points at the retreating bus...

JOE (furious)

That fucker...he's...he's...

He stops in mid-sentence as he realizes...THE VOICE...He

glances around furtively...at the voice.

JOE

...reporting....him... ventriloquism...On a bus

AL (VO)

Don't do that.

JOE

Why not.

He stops in his tracks, spins around...Nobody near him. He

groans, puts his head in his hands.

JOE

Arrrgh!

AL (VO)

It wasn't him.

JOE

Who was it?

AL (VO)

Me.

JOE

Who?

AL (VO)

Al.

JOE (looks around

him.)

Where are you, Al?

35.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL struggles to find the right words.

OUTSIDE - JOE goes rustling through the bushes...Passers-by

look at him queerly. He passes a mailb

JOE

Al.

AL (VO)

Yes?

JOE

This candid camera?

He peers into the mailbox. Pedestrians look at him strangely.

One man comes up to mail a letter...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL hesitates, not quite sure how to

tell him. Finally, he just blurts it o

AL (VO)

I'm in your head.

Joe's reply is flat, toneless.

JOE

You're in my head...

AL (VO)

Yes.

JOE

Your name is Al...

AL (VO)

Yes.

JOE

I see...

Joe turns to see the letter-mailer staring a him.

JOE

No...no...it's nothing..

Rehearsing a play...

(STALKS OFF)

What light through yonder window

breaks...It is Al... and he's in my

head.

AL (VO)

What is your name?

JOE

You're in my head? You don't

know my name?

36.

AL (VO)

I just got here.

JOE

What??? You lose your lease

on a condo?

AL (VO)

Where are we?

JOE

Where are we? We're on the street.

We're walking down the street. We're

talking to ourselves. People are

staring at us.

AL (VO)

What street?

JOE

What street?! We're walking down

QUEER STREET. We coming to Dopey

Drive.

We're about to be put somewhere quiet where they won't mind

that we talk to ourselves.

AL (VO)

Why don't we go home?

JOE

Go home. Good idea. Get some rest.

AL (VO)

...I need to make a phone call.

JOE

Do me a favor, Al.

AL (VO)

Yeah?

JOE

Shut up!

AL (VO)

Call this number in Washington.

He reaches a phone. Dials the number.

JOE

Who is it?

AL (VO)

Not who. A data bank. Just keep your ear to the phone and

don't make a sound.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL plays the computers. Rapidly punching

in, he connects to a Data Bank and

37.

OUTSIDE - Joe notices a man waiting for the phone.

JOE

Al..

INSIDE INT. THE POD - the program aborts. He quickly reboots

it.

Don't talk, I told you. You just screwed it up.

JOE (VO)

What am I supposed to do?

Nothing. You just do nothing.

OUTSIDE - The man grows impatient. He looks at his watch,

pointedly. Joe points at the phone, help

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL downloads:

INSERT - SCREENS - A BOTANNICAL INDEX ; A GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

OUTSIDE - Joe cups his hand over the phone. Whispers

conspiratorially to the impatient man.

JOE

Sorry. She's out of her mind!

MAN (hesitates...then)

It's okay. I've got one like that.

Joe smiles at him. Hand over the phonespeaker, he mumbles...

JOE

Yes dear..yes dear...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL takes a spectrum analysis. This

composition data, he feeds into a data

JOE

What is it?

AL (VO)

Composition of the sand,

...trace elements..unique...

INSERT - THE SCREEN - A STARTLING ANSWER - THE GOTO

OUTSIDE -

JOE (surprised)

Go to, What the Hell does

that mean?!!

38.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

GO-TOE. It's some islands.

OUTSIDE -

JOE

What does some island have

to do with this? It's a mistake?

AL (VO)

It's all we've got.

JOE

What do we do?

AL (VO)

Send a man there. A secret agent.

JOE

Who?... (He balks) Wait a minute!

I'm no agent, secret or otherwise.

And..I'm alone.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

You are not alone. But you are incon-

picuous...and, with our abilities...

OUTSIDE -

JOE

What abilities...?

AL (VO)

Face it, we're the men for the job. Besides, if someone is

really chasing

you, the best way to avoid them is to

keep moving ...and FIND THE GODDAMN

PEM.

JOE (VO)

You mean...just leave.

AL (VO)

We get on a plane.

JOE

We get on which plane?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL finds the answer in the GEO-DATA BANK:

GOTO are beautiful islands at the

The one for...JAPAN

OUTSIDE - JOE spots a sign: NORTH/NORTHWEST ORIENT - NONSTOP

39.

JOE

What about money?

AL (VO)

What about it?

JOE

I don't have any.

AL (VO)

Use my credit cards.

JOE

I can't do that.

AL (VO)

Why not?

JOE

It's illegal.

AL (VO)

Who cares?

JOE

I'll get in trouble.

AL (VO)

You are in trouble. Now do it.

INT. PLANE - FIRST CLASS LOUNGE. JOE watches the inflight

movie. Someone chases Cary Grant across

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL munches trailmix while he rags Joe.

Thus Joe Doakes, chronic under-

achiever, becomes Secret Agent 001..

with a desperate assignment...

OUTSIDE - Joe is not in the best of moods.

JOE

...and a license to kill...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

Well, if not to kill,

then to bother and annoy.

OUTSIDE - Suddenly a thought occurs to Joe. He sits up and

speaks loudly.

JOE

Hey...You forgot something.

40.

The lady in the seat next to him has forgotten nothing, is

startled by Joe, looks at him uneasily.

JOE

They'll know who I am.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

We'll change your appearance.

INT. PLANE LAVORATORY - MIRROR - Joe combs his hair

differently.

JOE

It's just not enough.

AL (VO)

It's attitude...how you carry

yourself.

JOE

What's wrong with how I carry myself.

AL (VO)

Nothing, but it's yours. Change it.

Change your whole persona.

JOE

Oh yeah, to what?

AL (VO)

You'll be me.

JOE

I don't want to be you. I don't even

like you, why would I want to be you?

Because you got my ID. Now brace yourself. I'm gonna try

something with your glands.

JOE

You leave my glands alone!

A KNOCK ON THE DOOR - Joe yelps in alarm.

STEWARDESS (VO)

Are you alright in there?

JOE

Fine...fine.

As he says that, he looks in the mirror: his face starts to

change form...the tissues in his cheek -- a subtle but

startling change...not enough to fool a close friend but enough

enough to fool a c

GOTO - KUJUKUSHIMA - an incredibly beautiful tropical island on

Japan's South Pacific coast. Joe c

41.

JOE

Now what?

AL (VO)

The beach.

JOE

The beach?

AL (VO)

How else do you get seaweed

under your nails?

JOE

Eating sushi?

AL (VO)

Just get there.

EXT. DAY - Joe emerges from the jungle onto a pristine, lovely

beach. Other small, pine covered is

JOE

Holy shit!

AL (VO)

What is it?

JOE

...Just beautiful.

He runs down to the shoreline, excited.

AL (VO)

Do you notice anything.

JOE

The sky, the sun, the sea... There's no one here.

It's deserted. What now?

AL (VO)

Swim.

JOE

Good Idea!

He tears off his clothes, charges into the surf. He pulls out

into the lagoon.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL monitors Joe's exertion.

AL (VO)

Take it easy, now. Don't want

you in over your head.

JOE

Little late for that.

He takes a breath and dives.

42.

UNDERWATER - JOE swims through submarine grottos grabbing

bunches of seaweed. He surfaces, pulls f

JOE

Here...all the seaweed you want. Now, what?

AL (VO)

You eat it.

JOE

You eat it. You know what this stuff tastes like?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

I'm living on freeze dried

limas and ham. Just eat it.

OUTSIDE - Chastised, Joe considers the seaweed, then stuffs

some of it in his mouth.

JOE

Now what?

AL (VO)

The sand.

JOE

Eat it?

AL (VO)

Eat it.

JOE (VO)

I don't want to eat it.

AL (VO)

Why not?

JOE

It's sand.

AL (VO)

For chrissakes, it's only sand. You

should see some of the stuff that's

floating around in here. That sand's

the cleanest thing in you, including

me. Now EAT it!

OUTSIDE - Joe puts some on his tongue, makes a face.

AL (VO)

Now lie down somewhere quiet and

rest, I'll be back in a while.

JOE

Where are you going? Wait!

43.

But Al is gone.

INSIDE EXT. THE POD - AL powers through the throat region to

his palate...He ZOOMS through what lo

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL compares the seaweed and silicon

structures.

It matches.

OUTSIDE - Joe looks around the deserted beach.

JOE

Good. Now what?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL, for once, doesn't know what to say.

THE BEACH - SUNSET - Joe wakes, finds himself alone. In the

distance a figure runs down the beach

JOE

Al, are you doing anything in there?

AL (VO)

What? What do you mean?

JOE

Are you screwing with any nerves?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL - busy working at DATABASES, glances

nervously at his elapsed time digita

AL (VO) (brusque)

What are you talking about?

OUTSIDE - Joe shades his eyes. He sees her clearly. She is

the most beautiful girl he's ever seen

JOE

My god...She's real!

She flashes a shy smile as she lopes by. He sits up.

AL (VO) (exited)

Your heartrate went up.

What is it?

JOE

Beautiful!

AL (VO)

What was?

JOE

A girl.

44.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

Never mind that. Get back to business.

OUTSIDE - Joe is just stunned by the receding image of beauty.

JOE

This must be business,

there's nothing else here.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

Follow it.

OUTSIDE - he takes off after her, down the beach.

JOE

Good idea!

THE GIRL - She runs fast and easy. Perfect body in perfect

shape. She runs up, over the rocks on t

JOE - He starts off fast and quickly slows.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL monitors Joe's body.

AL (VO)

What is it?

OUTSIDE - JOE - straining. Far ahead, she glances back.

JOE

She's...pretty fast.

AL (VO)

You're out of shape.

Joe is half dead. He may not catch her at all.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL stimulates his brain, releasing an

organic speedlike chemical...His fatig

Catch up to her.

Joe

That's what I'm trying..

...Hey, what's going on?

JOE - GOING SO FAST he seems ready to explode. He burns right

up to her like she's standing still.

AL (VO)

What is it?

45.

JOE

She's beautiful...!

What do I do?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL ponders...

Tell her.

OUTSIDE - Joe is starting to pant...He looks a little crazed.

She's starting to wonder about this guy. She keeps running.

JOE

You're beautiful..

AL (VO)

What's happening?

JOE

She doesn't seem to understand.

AL (VO)

Try another language.

JOE

Which language?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

How should I know?

OUTSIDE - She watches Joe curiously.

JOE

Vous etes tres beau.

RENE (she laughs)

Thanks, you're handsome too.

JOE

Now what?

She looks at him strangely... Is he some weirdo?

JOE

Help me out, will you?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL