FADE IN:
INT. SPACE STATION; FAMILYROOM
Carla sits in front of a videophone talking to her father, a Japanese scientist. Her little legs swing back and forth so hard that the chair squeaks. Outside the window, the stars rotate on a horizontal axis as the space station rotates.
Scientist
(laughing)
“We all had fun at Angela’s birthday party. Yours is coming soon, isn’t it?”
Carla
(nods)
“Yep, it’s in two weeks.”
(beat)
“You will be able to be here… won’t you?”
The scientist sits back to think. Carla’s legs have stopped moving and the low mummer of a television can now be heard in the background. The scientist leans forward.
Scientist
(thoughtfully)
“I should, Angela is supposed to go to sleep in a few days. The other…. Oh I should be done in time.”
Carla
(swinging her legs)
“You got a new assignment? What is it? Tell me? Tell me!”
Scientist
“Okay. Okay, I got a new assignment yesterday. Two men with no identification came aboard the ship.”
Carla
“What happened? Did they get shot and die? Do you have to figure out who they are?”
Scientist
“No, not really. I do have to figure out who they are, but they are not dead. I did find something strange about their DNA. It seems….”
The signal begins to flicker and the scientist is cut off. Carla jumps up and bangs on the screen shouting for her father. She is able to hear clamor and alarms among the static. The last thing she hears is that the prisoners have escaped and then the signal is lost.
Woman (O.S)
(softly)
“Carla come here…. I have to tell you something.”
Carla stops hitting the screen and turns to face the Caucasian woman. Carla wipes away tears of frustration and walks slowly to the woman. The woman falls to her knees and pulls Carla close. Carla brings her arms up to return the embrace.
Carla
“What’s wrong mama? Did you want to talk to daddy?”
Carla looks up, over her mother’s shoulder, to see the television in the other room. The screen shows a space station exploding and a picture of Carla’s father is shown as one of the casualties.
Reporter
“…No one is sure what caused the explosion, but officials are saying that it happened during an escape of two prisoners on board….”
INT. BAR
Kevin, a man who looks to be in his early twenties, sits at the bar and looks at a wanted poster. No picture just words saying, “McSon brothers; for bounty see officials.” A television in the corner of the bar is tuned to the news. A special report is on about the McSon brothers.
Reporter
“Twenty years ago today the notorious McSon brothers destroyed the science station Olympus….”
Kevin looks to the bar door in response to noise outside. He finishes his drink and slowly puts his hat on. Two men pass behind him.
Man 1
“Can’t print a bounty on those two. It’s always rising.”
Man 2
“From what I hear the last bounty posted was for three hundred million credits each.”
Man 1
“Three hundred million each? That would buy a spaceport. You’re lying.”
Man 2
“No I’m not, it’s true. I swear.”
EXT. BAR
Five well-armed men stand outside the bar looking at the door. The biggest is an alien with a long face and shaved head. He holds a large gun ready as people run away. His smile shows rotten teeth.
Hunter 1
“Boss you sure he’s in there? We don’t need a repeat of the Mars colony Risesun.”
Boss
(looking down at him)
“I don’t need reminding. I’m sure he’s in there. According to the police they are here.”
(pointing at the bar)
“A man matching the description went in there.”
He nods to another man to go in first. The man shakes his head with a terrified look on his face.
Hunter 2
(pointing to the bar)
“I ain’t going in there. He’ll kill me the second I walk through the door.”
Boss
(snarling)
“I’ll kill you where you stand if you don’t go in now. Got it?”
Hunter 2
(meekly)
“Got it.”
INT. BAR
Kevin still sits at the bar he is tapping his finger. A nerdy looking man steps inside. The man looks down at a small scanning device in his hand.
Hunter 3
(into com device)
“He’s got on some sort of light shield Boss. A number four should handle it.”
Boss enters the bar and throws down the gun he has and pulls another from his back. Kevin glances down at his, as Boss pulls the trigger. The blast stops midair when it hits the shield, but begins to penetrate it. Kevin quickly pulls his gun out of his long dark blue coat’s pocket. He manages to jump and shoot the blast to escape. The force of the explosion throws him and shatters nearby glasses and chairs. People run screaming. Kevin manages to roll when he hits the floor and ends up on his feet crouching. People start running for the door in a panic. He stands up and dusts himself off. He looks over at the hunters.
Kevin
“What the hell! Are you crazy, you could have killed someone!”
Boss points his gun at Kevin. Kevin stands erect and motionless. Boss scowls.
Boss
“I’m going to be known as the greatest and richest hunter ever, McSon.”
Kevin
“McSon? Well… that does explain it.”
(sheepish)
“Well you got the wrong guy.”
Kevin goes to lean putting his hand out expecting something to be there, but there is just air. He falls to the floor.
Hunter 1
“This can’t be him. This guy’s an idiot. Maybe he’s just looking for attention.”
Boss
“Maybe, but I’m taking him down just to be sure.”
Boss stands ready to open fire. His lips curl into a wicked smile.
Kevin
“Oh, shit.”
Boss opens Fire and Kevin jumps out of the way. Boss follows Kevin with blast after blast. In mid jump Kevin manages to shoot the gun out of Bosses hand. With a grunt Boss pulls out another gun. Kevin lands near a window that has been blown out. As Boss takes aim Kevin jumps out to the street.
Boss
“What the hell are you doing? Get out there and get him now.”
The hunters gather their things and run out the door in pursuit.
EXT. ROAD
People have gathered on the opposite side of the street. They all watch as Kevin runs by, and scatter as Boss and the hunters exit the bar. Kevin runs down the street and cuts between buildings looking over his shoulder he sees there is no one behind him. He turns down another street and reaches up to a small device on his collar.
Kevin
“Malcolm, you there?”
The signal is week, but Malcolm can be heard clearly.
Malcolm
“Yah, I’m here. What’s up?”
Kevin turns another corner and looks over his shoulder again; there is still no sign of pursuit.
Kevin
“We have a problem. It seems hunters know we are here.”
Malcolm
“What do you want to do?”
Kevin
“Meet me at port. We’ll figure something out there. Don’t go to the ship.”
Malcolm
“Right. See you there.”
Kevin brings his hand down from the communicator and looks behind him again. When he looks back ahead he runs into Fred, a man who looks older. The collision sends them both flying back to the ground. Kevin grunts and begins to rise. Tali, a female alien runs up and pulls a sword on Kevin. Before he can react Tali hits him in the face with the butt of the handle. Fred grunts and sits up as Malcolm runs up. Malcolm pulls out some small throwing daggers.
Kevin
“Malcolm don’t. Put those away,
We don’t have time for this.”
Fred
(overlapping)
“Tali, it was an accident, stop over reacting.”
Tali
“We have to leave now. Last I heard they’re heading for the ship.”
Kevin and Fred stand and they all begin to run in the same direction. Kevin and Fred look at each other for a moment. Kevin looks over his shoulder and sees Bakla soldiers coming out of the street that Fred just did. Kevin looks back to Fred.
Kevin
“Being followed?”
Fred looks back to see the soldiers.
Fred
“Shit. Tali what happened?”
Tali
“They found us. They took out Trev and Mark.”
Malcolm
“Cops!”
Malcolm grabs Kevin and makes for an alleyway, Fred and Tali follow. Panting Malcolm looks at Kevin when Fred and Tali join them in the dark space. Kevin nods and Malcolm pulls out a small device from his longer lighter blue coat. He sets it in the palm of his hand as Kevin ushers Fred and Tali behind him. Malcolm pushed buttons and flinches right before a holographic image of trash appears in front of them.
Malcolm
“It’s okay. Now what are we going to do? Cops are swarming the port.”
Fred
“The Bakla have my ship surrounded.”
Kevin looks to Fred, and then looks away. He thinks for a few minutes and Malcolm shakes Kevin’s arm. Kevin looks over to see the scared and desperate look on Malcolm’s face. Kevin looks at Fred, who looks back at Kevin.
Kevin
“If we get rid of the Bakla, will you get us off the planet?”
Malcolm
“Kevin, no.”
Fred
(overlapping)
“Yah, I’ll get you off the planet. What do you have in mind?”
Kevin looks to Malcolm, who is shaking his head with a look of disbelief. Kevin reaches up and puts his hand on Malcolm’s shoulder.
Kevin
(nodding)
“Yes this will work, it’s our only way.”
Malcolm
(head shaking)
“What are you thinking?”
Kevin
“A distraction.”
EXT. PORT
Reluctantly Malcolm pulls out another small device from his coat. He looks to Kevin to see if he would change his mind. Kevin nods to the device in Malcolm’s hand then looks down at an old ship surrounded by police. He then looks over to a small ship surrounded by Bakla soldiers.
Kevin
“Alright, when the people start to run we make a run for your ship.”
Fred
“What are you doing?”
Fred is answered by a man shouting and people running for the exits. Alarms sound and a countdown begins for the closing of the blast doors. Fred looks over to see the old ship smoking and grabs Kevin’s arm.
Fred
“What are you doing? Are you trying to get people killed?”
Kevin pulls his arm from Fred and starts to run for the small ship. Fred grabs Tali’s arm and does the same. They manage to get in as the blast doors begin to fall. One of the Bakla soldiers points to the four standing inside port. The leader, Vosh, looks over in time to see Kevin and Fred before the doors shut. The small ship takes off as Vosh steps forward towards the port doors.
INT. PORT
The old ship smokes and rattles fiercely. The old ship looks as if it is trying to take off, but is being held down. The engines scream with effort as more smoke bellows from all over it. Like an old car it just breaks down, a few loud bangs from inside the engine and the landing legs give out. The whole ship falls into a pile of junk.
INT. DARK CONFRENCE ROOM – NIGHTFALL
The small room is filled with a large oak table and ten men, four of which are alien. The man at the head of the table looks over reports in front of him. He sighs heavily and lays the papers down. He rests his head on his fist in frustration. He looks up at the other nine men.
Man
“This is sad. They were right under our noses and they got away.”
He looks back down at the report and continues reading. The others stand in silence.
Man
“It’s a good thing that old ship was incapable of exploding. A lot of innocent people could have died.”
He looks back up after completing the report.
Man
“They even took hostages this time. They must be stopped. Increase the bounty by five hundred million credits each.”
INT. FRED’S SHIP: CONTROL ROOM
Fred and Tali take their positions and begin to go about their tasks. Kevin and Malcolm take off their hats and get comfortable. Malcolm sits in a chair and begins to absentmindedly toy with a pendent around his neck. Kevin leans against a wall near Malcolm and runs his fingers through his long black hair. Fred looks up at Kevin as is for the first time.
Fred
“Damn you’re white. Too much time in space will do that to you.”
Kevin
“I don’t like the sun much.”
Fred stands up and walks towards Kevin. Malcolm glares at Fred for a moment then goes back to playing with his pendent. Kevin stops leaning and takes a few steps forward. Fred extends his hand toward Kevin.
Fred
“My name’s Fred and that’s Tali. Thank you.”
Kevin
(taking Fred’s hand)
“Kevin, my brother’s Malcolm.”
Fred
“So why were the police after you?”
Tali looks over at Malcolm, who quickly tucks his pendent back in his shirt. He sits up and moves to stand. Kevin puts his hand on Malcolm’s shoulder and pushes him down. Kevin grins up at Fred then glares at Malcolm.
Kevin
“My brother’s over dramatic, he likes to blow things out of proportion. What makes you think the cops are after us?”
Fred
(folding his arms)
“They were surrounding your ship.”
Looking up at Fred, Malcolm struggles under Kevin’s hand. Kevin gives Malcolm a final warning glare then lets him go. Malcolm sits back in the chair. Kevin walks forward looking around the control room. He stops next to Fred’s chair and looks back at Fred.
Kevin
“Okay, for starters that wasn’t my ship. The reason I was running was because some guy wanted to defend the honor of his little sister.”
Kevin starts to laugh, and Malcolm smiles. Fred stands watching Kevin as if he was looking at a fool. Fred walks over to Kevin and looks him in the eye, and Kevin stops.
Fred
“Then how were you able to make the thing self-destruct?”
Kevin
“I didn’t, it was dumb luck. The damn thing did it on its own.”
Fred
(pointing to Malcolm)
“Then what was he doing?”
Kevin looks over to Malcolm, who shrugs. Kevin visibly searches for the answer. Malcolm stands up and pulls a device form a pocket. He holds it up so they all can see.
Malcolm
“This thing was only to make the system think a ship was going to explode. Create a kind of malfunction in the system.”
Kevin
(grinning)
“See, not our ship. Now what about the Bakla and you?”
Fred sits in his seat and rests his chin on his folded fists. He stares off into nothing as he speaks.
Fred
“They’re after my ship.”
Malcolm
(looking around)
“This little thing? Let them have it.”
Fred
“No not this one, another. The ship is a key to a vast treasure of some sort. Somehow the Bakla know I have it.”
Kevin looks over to Malcolm, they both smile as they come to a silent agreement.
INT. BAKLA SHIP
In a cold gray room Vosh is alone pacing. He stops when the door opens. Creaz a larger, older Bakla enters the room. Vosh stands in attention facing Creaz. Creaz walks forward and stops right in front of Vosh.
Creaz
(slowly)
“Where is Fred?”
Vosh stands speechless. Vosh’s eyes are looking off to the side of Creaz and straight-ahead. Creaz moves into Vosh’s line of sight with a slight shift to the right. Vosh looks down to avoid Creaz’s eyes.
Creaz
“Well?”
Vosh
“It seems that they had help escaping.”
Not removing his gaze form Vosh, Creaz walks behind him. Standing behind Vosh, Creaz places his hands on Vosh’s shoulders.
Creaz
“You disappoint me. You would not have been standing here with excuses fifty years ago.”
Vosh’s muscles visibly tighten and his jaw clenches. He searches for a response, as his breathing quickens. He steps forward and turns around to face Creaz’s eyes.
Vosh
“You told us not to make a scene.”
Creaz
“Very good… turn the blame on me.”
Vosh is visibly angered and looks away. Creaz staying calm walks to the door. As it opens he looks back.
Creaz
“You have failed me too many times in the last few decades. You are running out of chances.”
Vosh
“We are all running out of Chances.”
Creaz leaves the room. Vosh stands in the center of the room breathing heavy. He walks over to a wall and rests his forehead on the wall. He fights back tears of frustration. Yelling he hits the wall.
INT. FRED’S SHIP; CONTROL ROOM
Kevin is sitting in a chair close to Fred. His feet are propped up on a control panel. Fred looks over at Kevin and gives a sigh of frustration.
Fred
“Look I know I said you can have the ship, but… do you mind?”
Kevin looks at his feet and moves them over to the side out of Fred’s way. Kevin’s foot hits a button and a file comes up. Kevin sits up and reads the screen. He looks over at Fred
Kevin
“Why do you have a file on the McSon brothers?”
Malcolm stands up and walks over to the screen and reads. He looks down at Fred
Malcolm
“These are things that only a hunter would know.”
Fred
“That’s because I was a hunter.”
Kevin and Malcolm look at each other then back at Fred. Malcolm begins to nervously walk away from the screen. Kevin stands and walks over to Malcolm to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Kevin
“Was, as in, past tense?”
Fred
“That’s right, as in, no longer. Why?”
Kevin sits Malcolm down and walks casually over to the screen and turns it off.
Kevin
“No reason. It’s just that we know how psychotic hunters can get.”
Fred
“Hunters aren’t psychotic.”
Malcolm stands up and walks over to Fred.
Malcolm
“Hunters are given too much leeway. It affects their minds.”
Fred looks over at Kevin with a puzzled look.
Fred
“What’s with him?”
Kevin looks to Malcolm and gestures for him to sit back down. Kevin gives a heavy sigh.
Kevin
“Hunters killed our parents.”
Fred
“Sorry.”
Kevin
“Don’t be, it wasn’t you.”
Fred turns to the control panel in front of him. He continues to go about his business while Kevin sits back in his chair. Malcolm watches Fred and toys with one of his throwing daggers. Fred looks at Kevin.
Fred
“You know, I’m two men short.”
Tali stops what she is doing and slams her hands on the control panel. She turns and looks towards Fred, her face a look of surprise.
Tali
“You're not implying what I think you are. Are you?”
Fred looks back at Tali.
Fred
“Why not?”
Tali
“We don’t know them.”
Kevin looks to see Malcolm shaking his head.
Kevin
“I thank you for the offer, but we’ll pass.”
Fred
“You sure?”
Kevin
“Yes.”
(TBC)
