THE SCRIPT FOR THE UFO EPISODE "SUB-SMASH" Transcription by Rob Hemmings. Introduction by Marc Martin. This is a transcription of a photocopy of a script for the UFO episode "SUB-SMASH". The original script was complete and 100% legible, so there is nothing missing in the transcription. The basic layout is maintained here, although the right margin has been relaxed so the text now extends to 72 characters in many places where it originally wrapped to the next line. Spelling errors and typos in the original were generally left uncorrected. Page breaks are marked with a unique character string, so if you would like to print out a copy of this file and maintain the original page breaks, simply use a word processor which allows you to replace these strings with page breaks. Some UFO scripts differ a lot from what appeared in the final episodes. The SUB-SMASH script has a few differences -- notably, the beginning is completely different. However, on the whole this script is very similar to the finished episode. Enjoy! ------------------------------ CUT HERE -------------------------------- -i- "U. F. O." TV SERIES "SUBSMASH" by Alan Fennell (c) Century 21 Pictures Stirling Road Slough Bucks ***PAGE*** -ii- "SUBSMASH " SET LIST INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL (STUDIO) INT. SHADO CONTROL (STUDIO) EXT. CONNING TOWER (STUDIO) INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN (STUDIO) INT. SKY 1 (STUDIO) INT. FLIGHT DECK (SEA PLANE) (STUDIO) INT. SEA PLANE (CABIN) (STUDIO) INT. FLOOD TUBE (STUDIO) INT. ESCAPE HATCH (STUDIO) INT. STRAKER'S OFFICE (STUDIO) SPECIAL EFFECTS EXT. SKYDIVER EXT. OCEAN EXT. FREIGHTER EXT. SEA PLANE EXT. UNDERWATER ***PAGE*** -iii- "SUBSMASH" CAST STRAKER NINA FREEMAN WATERMAN RADIO (VO) FOSTER LEWIS CHIN FORD TURNER HOLDEN ROSS ***PAGE*** -1- FADE IN: 1 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) START CLOSE ON CHIN SEEN THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR INTO THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN. HE LOOKS VERY DEAD. THE INTERIOR OF THE SUBMARINE IS AT A CRAZY ANGLE. PULL BACK TO SHOW A SCENE OF DISORDER. CONTROL PANELS HAVE BEEN RIPPED FROM THE WALLS, CHARTS AND PAPERS LIE AROUND THE FLOOR. WE NOW SEE NINA. A SHOULDER AND UPPER PART OF ONE BREAST ARE BARED THROUGH THE TUNIC, GREASE SMEARS THE SMOOTH SKIN. HER HANDS AND FINGER NAILS ARE BROKEN - A HAND THAT HAS WORKED DESPERATELY TO STAY ALIVE. SHE FIGHTS FOR BREATH. ANOTHER ANGLE STRAKER COMES IN THROUGH THE DOORWAY TO THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN. HE IS CLOSE TO DEATH, HIS FACE SHOWING THE TREMENDOUS STRAIN OF THE LONG HOURS OF WAITING. THE END IS NEAR - THE BREATHABLE AIR IS PRACTICALLY NIL. HE CARRIES THE SHIP'S LOG. TWO SHOT STRAKER LOOKS ACROSS AT NINA. STRAKER How do you feel ? NINA Fine. HE KNOWS SHE IS LYING. STRAKER How long have we known each other Nina ? NINA Twelve years. ON STRAKER STRAKER Twelve years... HE REMEMBERS THE YEARS AND ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED. ***PAGE*** -2- 1 (continued) ON NINA NINA It was good to have people around. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER NODS, UNDERSTANDING HER LAST REMARK. STRAKER You know, I always thought of you as a loner. A LONG PAUSE. NINA Maybe it takes one to know one... A LONG PAUSE. STRAKER Well... loneliness is a state of mind. Sometimes it can even be a virtue. ON NINA IT IS AN EFFORT TO SPEAK. THE WORDS COME VERY SLOWLY. NINA You mean you learn about yourself. ON STRAKER HE NODS. HE'S NOT SURE IF SHE REALLY UNDERSTANDS BUT THE FAILING AIR, THE SITUATION, IT'S ALL A LITTLE UNREAL. STRAKER Nina... HE HESITATES AND LOOKS OVER TO NINA. ON NINA HER EYES ARE CLOSED; SHE HAS LAPSED INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS. ON STRAKER HE LOOKS AT THE LOG. THE LAST ENTRY. AS HE FIGHTS HIS EXHAUSTION HIS THOUGHT VOICE READS FROM THE PAGE. ***PAGE*** -3- 1 (continued) STRAKER Captain's log - 15.30 hours. Oxygen count down to 15.1. Emergency Power failing. Command actions of Captain, crew and rescue team. No one could have done more. Note for Doctor Shroeder... subject myself... Pulse rate.. reading 105. Apart from general feeling of nausea, condition satisfactory. Claustrophobia now negative... Straker 15.36. 2 EXT. UNDERWATER (V.E.) IT HAS CRASHED TO THE ROCKY SEA BED AND IS WEDGED AT AN ANGLE OF 45 DEGREES, STUCK ON ITS RIGHT SIDE ON AN OUTCROP OF ROCK. U. F. O. TITLES OVER FADE OUT: FADE IN: 3 EXT. OCEAN SURFACE. NIGHT. (V.E.) THE SEA IS RELATIVELY CALM. A LARGE FREIGHTER WITH LIGHTS REFLECTING ON THE WATER FROM ILLUMINATED CABINS, MOVES AT CRUISING SPEED THROUGH THE WAVES. MAIN TITLES DURING MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE WE SEE OTHER ANGLES OF THE FREIGHTER. THEN, TOWARDS THE END OF TITLES WE CUT TO: 4 UNDERWATER SHOT - ALIEN CRAFT. (V.E.) THROUGH THE GLOOM IT IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THE SHAPE AND PURPOSE OF THE CRAFT. IT TRAVELS SLOWLY AS IF WAITING, SEARCHING AND ONLY THE MUSIC TELLS US OF DANGER. CUT TO: 5 EXT. OCEAN. NIGHT. (V.E.). THE TITLES END AND WE HOLD ON THE VESSEL FOR A SECOND. THEN, AS IF PUNCTUATING THE END OF MAIN TITLES THE VESSEL BLOWS UP. THE TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION COMPLETELY DESTROYS MOST OF THE SHIP, SENDING DEBRIS SKY HIGH. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -4- 6 HIGH ANGLE - PROW OF WRECKED FREIGHTER. NIGHT. (V.E.) 6 SECS SWIFTLY THE REMAINS OF THE VESSEL SINKS BENEATH THE SEA. CUT TO: 7 EXT OPEN SEA. NIGHT (V.E.) FOR BRIEF MOMENTS THE SEA BOILS WITH THE VESSEL'S SINKING AND THEN AS WATER CALMS A LIFE BELT FLOATS INTO SHOT. IT BOBS AND DANCES ON THE WAVES AND WE TRACK IN ON THE SHIP'S NAME PAINTED CLEARLY IN BLACK. THE VESSEL WAS "ATLANTICA 4". CUT TO: 8 EXT. HARLINGTON-STRAKER STUDIO. DAY. (STOCK) TO ESTABLISH. CUT TO: 9 INT. STRAKER'S SHADO OFFICE. (STUDIO) START CLOSE ON STRAKER'S DESK. A REPORT FILE IS PLACED ON THE DESK AND WE READ THE CLEAR TITLE ON THE COVER: REPORT : "ATLANTICA 4" PULL BACK TO SHOW STRAKER SITTING AT DESK. HE TURNS PAGES OF REPORT READING. WE CONTINUE BACK AS HE SPEAKS TO INCLUDE ALEC FREEMAN. STRAKER No survivors ? FREEMAN SHAKES HIS HEAD. STRAKER STUDIES THE REPORT. STRAKER Conclusions ? ON FREEMAN FREEMAN Well for my money it hinges on the last radio message "under attack".. that could mean practically anything. TWO SHOT STRAKER Let's assume it means "under attack from the aliens." FREEMAN Possible. ***PAGE*** -5- 9 (continued) STRAKER An underwater craft. FREEMAN They're obviously capable of building it. STRAKER Undetected ? FREEMAN The ocean's a big place. Quite a few radar blind spots. Some UFO's get through. STRAKER Maybe one or two big enough to carry component sections. FREEMAN It could have been assembled under- water. They've perfected life maintenance in a liquid environment. ON STRAKER STRAKER CONSIDERS A MOMENT. STRAKER I buy it Alec. ON FREEMAN FREEMAN Right. What do we do about it ? STRAKER A systematic search of the area. I'll go myself. NEW ANGLE STRAKER IS READY TO OPERATE A CONTROL ON HIS MONITOR SCREEN. FREEMAN In Skydiver ? STRAKER What else ? FREEMAN Are you sure you wouldn't like me to take over. ***PAGE*** -6- 9 (continued) STRAKER LOOKS AT FREEMAN WHO KNOWS ABOUT HIS CLAUSTROPHOBIA. STRAKER Oh that... well the dictionary says it's a morbid dread of confined spaces.... Skydiver isn't that small. FREEMAN And you're not always morbid... THEY SMILE STRAKER TURNS TO MONITOR STRAKER Where's Skydiver right now ? FREEMAN Southern Atlantic... STRAKER OPERATES THE SCREEN AND A CHART OF THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC APPEARS. FREEMAN INDICATES AN AREA CLOSE TO A GROUP OF TROPICAL ISLANDS IN MID-OCEAN. FREEMAN Around four hundred miles from St. Helena. STRAKER STUDIES THE MAP, ENLARGING IT. STRAKER Is there a rendezvous point where we can exchange crews ? ON FREEMAN HE IS READY WITH THE ANSWER... AHEAD OF STRAKER'S PLAN. FREEMAN There are dozens of small atols in the area. Mostly uninhabited. ON STRAKER HE STANDS AND MOVES AS IF TO LEAVE HIS DESK. STRAKER Good. I want to be aboard with the best available sub crew as soon as possible. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -7- 10 EXT. SEA. DAY (V.E.) SKYDIVER CRUISES ALONG THE SURFACE AS A REGULAR SUBMARINE. CUT TO: 11 EXT. SKYDIVER CONNING TOWER. DAY. (STUDIO) AGAINST A.T.M. BACKGROUND STRAKER, FOSTER AND WATERMAN. WATERMAN LEANS TO A MIKE. WATERMAN Switch to Seaskim. Full ahead both. LEWIS (V.O.) Switching to seaskim. Full power. CUT TO: 12 EXT. SEA. DAY. (V.E.) SKYDIVER'S ENGINES WIND UP AND IT MOVES ALONG NOW IN ITS HOVERCRAFT ATTITUDE. CUT TO: 13 EXT. SKYDIVER CONNING TOWER. DAY. (STUDIO) WATERMAN TURNS TO STRAKER. WATERMAN I'm needed below sir. STRAKER Right. Carry on Captain. WATERMAN MOVES OUT OF SHOT TO GO BELOW. TWO SHOT STRAKER AND FOSTER FOSTER Do you think we will find anything ? STRAKER Hard to say, but the more I think about it the more the theory stands up. ON STRAKER STRAKER We know they've taken people from houses in broad daylight. ***PAGE*** -8- 13 (continued) TWO SHOT FOSTER You mean it'd be a lot easier mid ocean. STRAKER Right. ON FOSTER HE LOOKS AROUND FOSTER Yeah, it's a big place to play cat and mouse. STRAKER Well, we 'd better make sure our claws are sharpened. FOSTER What do you mean ? STRAKER We're trying to find them. Let's hope the aliens don't think we're the mouse. CUT TO: 14 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO) WE PAN AROUND THE NEW CREW MEMBERS. NINA BARRY SHE WEARS SKYDIVER UNIFORM AND WILL OPERATE THE RADIO AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. LEWIS THE NAVIGATOR, A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN AGED FORTY FOUR... DUE TO RETIRE SOON. TONY CHIN LARGE, POWERFUL... THE HELMSMAN OF THE VESSEL. WE FINISH ON WATERMAN WATERMAN Maintain sea skim until we reach search area. LEWIS Yes, sir. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -9- 15 EXT. OPEN SEA. DAY. (V.E.) SKYDIVER MOVES THROUGH SHOT, SKIMMING OVER SEA. CUT TO: 16 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO) TONY CHIN IS AT CONTROLS, STEERING BY MONITOR, HE HALF TURNS TO CALL DOWN TO LOWER DECK. CHIN Approaching B17. ANOTHER ANGLE WATERMAN CHECKS SCREEN AND DIALS WHILE BEYOND HIM LEWIS STANDS BY CHART DESK, MEASURING OFF WITH HIS NAVIGATOR'S INSTRUMENTS. BEHIND LEWIS IS NINA BARRY, KEEPING CHECK ON RADAR SCREENS. WATERMAN Plot a search pattern... LEWIS Yes, sir... WATERMAN TURNS TO NINA WATERMAN Lieutenant... NINA Yes, sir.... WATERMAN I want a constant radar sweep and sonar sounding. NINA Right... ON NINA SHE WATCHES HER RADAR SCREEN AND OPERATES CONTROLS TO BEGIN SONAR SOUNDING ECHO. AUDIO EFFECTS COME OVER. CUT TO: 17 EXT. CONNING TOWER. DAY. (STUDIO) FOSTER AND STRAKER ***PAGE*** -10- 17 (continued) STRAKER TAKES THE GLASSES FROM FOSTER AND CONTINUES TO SEARCH THE HORIZON. WATERMAN COMES UP FROM BELOW. WATERMAN We'll make the first sweep on the surface, sir. STRAKER Right, we'll keep our eyes open. WATERMAN Then we'll go under for a submerged circuit. (a beat) Make the most of the fresh air, Commander. FOSTER SMILES. STRAKER ALSO MANAGES TO CREASE HIS FACE, BUT IT IS A LITTLE TIGHT. WATERMAN GOES BACK DOWN BELOW. ON STRAKER STRAKER IS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SUBMERGING, HIS CLAUSTROPHOBIA NAGGING A LITTLE. BUT FOSTER DOES NOT SENSE THE COMMANDER'S PROBLEM. CUT TO: 18 EXT. SKYDIVER. DAY. (V.E.) IT CONTINUES ON OVER SURFACE WITH THE SOUND OF THE SONAR ECHO ADDING TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF EXPECTED TENSION AND DRAMA. CUT TO: 19 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL CENTRE. DAY. (STUDIO) WATERMAN GLANCES TOWARDS LEWIS. LEWIS Search area entered, sir... WATERMAN Course ? LEWIS 019... veering to 023, decreasing sweep on fourteen degrees port. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -11- 20 EXT. SKYDIVER CONNING TOWER. DAY. (STUDIO) STRAKER PUTS DOWN THE GLASSES AND MOVES TOWARDS ELEVATOR PLATFORM. STRAKER Maintain the watch, Colonel. I'm going below. ON STRAKER HE OPERATES THE LIFT PLATFORM WHICH DESCENDS TO LOWER LEVEL. CUT TO: 21 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO) THE LIFT REACHES THE GANTRY LEVEL AND STRAKER MOVES OFF PLATFORM HEADING FOR THE PILOT'S AREA. HE STOPS FOR A MOMENT, TAKING IN HIS SURROUNDINGS. HE FIGHTS A CLAUSTROPHOBIC FEELING, TENDING TO STOOP AS HE STANDS THERE. HE GLANCES UPWARDS AT CEILING OF CONSOLE AREA, REGISTERS THAT IT IS NORMAL HEIGHT, AND STANDS ERECT... TOO ERECT, OVER COMPENSATING FOR THE FEELING OF BEING SHUT IN. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER MOVES TOWARDS LT. CHIN'S POSITION. CHIN GLANCES BACK FROM HIS CONTROLS AS STRAKER COMES UP BEHIND HIM - SEES WHO IT IS AND RETURNS TO HIS JOB OF STEERING THE SHIP. STRAKER LOOKS AROUND THIS PART OF THE VESSEL AND THEN APPROACHES THE ESCAPE HATCH MARKED BY NUMERAL THREE (THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ESCAPE HATCH OPPOSITE WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN SET). CHIN WEARS EARPHONES. STRAKER Ever used this ? CHIN DOES NOT ANSWER... THE EARPHONES HAVE PREVENTED HIM FROM HEARING. STRAKER MOVES ROUND THE LIEUTENANT TO ATTRACT HIS ATTENTION. STRAKER I asked If you'd ever used the escape hatch, Lieutenant. ***PAGE*** -12- 21 (continued) CHIN RAISES HIS EARPHONES AND CATCHES THE LAST PART OF THE QUESTION. CHIN Yes, sir... in training. STRAKER GLANCES AT THE DOOR AGAIN REMINDED OF HIS CONDITION. CHIN Our navigator... he's the one you should talk to about escape hatches. STRAKER CONSIDERS THE REMARK AND DECIDES TO DROP THE SUBJECT. STRAKER Forget it. Just familiarising myself with the ship. NEW ANGLE STRAKER STUDIES THE OTHER SYSTEMS AND RETURNS TO THE LIFT. ANOTHER ANGLE THE LIFT RETURNS TO THE LOWER DECK AND STRAKER MOVES TOWARDS RADAR SCANNER SECTION WHERE NINA WATCHES ACTIVITY ON ONE OF THE SCREENS. STRAKER What is it ? NINA Large shoal of fish. Sonar is our best bet. DURING HIS NEXT DIALOGUE, STRAKER TAKES SPECIAL VISUAL INTEREST IN LEWIS. THE NAVIGATOR IS INTENT ON HIS WORK, NOT REALISING HE IS BEING OBSERVED. STRAKER You're the expert... NINA SMILES STRAKER GIVES LEWIS A NOD AS THE NAVIGATOR MEETS HIS GAZE. THEN HE MOVES CLEAR OF THE AREA, TOWARDS WATERMAN, WHO IS BY PERISCOPE. STRAKER It's a trim ship, Captain. ***PAGE*** -13- 21 (continued) WATERMAN Thank you, sir. My cabin is at your disposal. STRAKER GIVES WATERMAN A GRATEFUL NOD AND TAKES A GENERAL LOOK AT THE CONTROL CENTRE. THEN HIS EYES GO UP TO THE ROOF, REACTING SLIGHTLY. HE THEN TURNS AND MOVES TO CAPTAIN'S CABIN. HE ENTERS AND CLOSES BULKHEAD DOOR BEHIND HIM. CUT TO: 22 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER CLOSES THE INNER BULKHEAD DOOR AND MOVES TO A LOCKER, TAKING OUT THE PLANS OF THE SUB. HE UNROLLS THEM, PLACING THEM ON THE WRITING DESK. THERE IS A CIRCULAR MIRROR ON THE DESK... THE TYPE USED FOR SHAVING. STRAKER NOTICES HIS IMAGE IN MIRROR AND REACTS SLIGHTLY, SHOCKED AND THE BEADS OF SWEAT ON HIS FOREHEAD. THEN HE LOOKS SLOWLY AROUND HIM, THE CLOSED-IN FEELING MORE PRONOUNCED NOW THAT HE IS ON HIS OWN. HE SHAKES OFF THE FEELING ONCE MORE AND RETURNS TO THE PLANS. CUT TO: 23 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) NINA IS AT FAR END AS SHE CHECKS HER RADAR AND SONAR INSTRUMENTS, WE TRACK TOWARDS HER, THE RHYTHMIC PING OF THE SONAR ECHO BECOMING MORE AUDIBLE. THEN NINA REACTS AS ECHO NOTE ALTERS AND BECOMES MORE RAPID. SHE TALKS INTO COMMUNICATION'S PHONE. NINA Sonar echo... increasing. ANOTHER ANGLE WATERMAN MOVES QUICKLY TO HER SIDE. WATERMAN What do you make of it, Lieutenant ? ***PAGE*** -14- 23 (continued) NINA INTENT ON THE ECHO WAITS A BEAT OR TWO, THEN: NINA (VO) Metallic object... and moving quite fast. (pause) 60 knots. WATERMAN How far ? NINA (VO) 2,000 yards... Increasing. WATERMAN WALKS QUICKLY TO A MIKE LINK WITH THE CONNING TOWER. WATERMAN Get below, Colonel. I'm taking her down. CUT TO: 24 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. SKYDIVER (STUDIO) AS THE FOLLOWING DIALOGUE COMES OVER THE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM INTO THE CABIN, STRAKER REACTS SHARPLY. WATERMAN (VO) Dive - dive - dive ! A KLAXON HORN SCREAMS OVER DRAMATICALLY, PUNCTUATING THE WORDS. CUT TO: 25 EXT. SKYDIVER. DAY. (V. E.) IT CRASH DIVES DRAMATICALLY BENEATH THE WAVES. CUT TO: 26 EXT. UNDERWATER. DAY. (V. E.). SKYDIVER PLUNGES DEEPER WITH EACH MOMENT. CUT TO: 27 INT SKYDIVER CONTROL CENTRE. DAY. (STUDIO) STRAKER MOVES SWIFTLY FROM CAPTAIN'S CABIN AS FOSTER COMES DOWN TO LOWER DECK ON LIFT. ***PAGE*** -15- 27 (continued) STRAKER What is it ? WATERMAN An underwater craft, sir... moving ahead of us. NINA Altering course... veering to starboard... 8 degrees. STRAKER Stay with it, Captain. WATERMAN 8 degrees starboard. STRAKER Try the cameras. WATERMAN OPERATES A CONTROL BY A TV MONITOR SCREEN. WATERMAN Visibility poor, sir... ON SCREEN WE SEE THE GLOOMY UNDERWATER SCENE AHEAD OF SHIP. ON GROUP WAITING TENSELY. ON NINA SHE LISTENS AS SONAR ECHO BECOMES CONFUSED, A DOUBLE ECHO COMING BACK. NINA Sonar now registering rock formations... ON SCREEN JUST THE MURKY UNDERWATER SCENE. ON NINA NINA We've lost it ! ON STRAKER HE REACTS AS HE HEARS THE VERDICT. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -16- 28 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER (V.E.) THROUGH GLOOM WE SEE THE VESSEL MOVING UNDERWATER. WE PAN AHEAD OF SKYDIVER AND TAKE IN LARGE ROCK OUTCROPS. CUT TO: 29 EXT. UNDERWATER - ROCKS. (V.E.) AT FIRST WE DO NOT SEE THE CRAFT FOR IT MERGES INTO ITS SURROUNDINGS. BUT AS WE TRACK IN WE SEE THE ALIEN UNDERWATER CRAFT HIDDEN IN ONE OF THE ROCK CAVERNS... WAITING. CRAFT IS SAME AS SHOWN AT BEGINNING OF SCRIPT. IT IS UNLIKE A UFO AND IS NOT LARGE BUT IT HAS FLYING CAPABILITIES WHICH WILL BE DEMONSTRATED LATER. MUSIC BUILDS. CUT TO: 30 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) THE SONAR PING REGISTERS MANY ECHOES FROM THE CAVERNOUS ROCKS AHEAD. STRAKER WATCHES MONITOR SCREEN, GROWING IMPATIENT. STRAKER Anything ? NINA These rocks don't help... CUT TO: 31 EXT. SKYDIVER. UNDERWATER. (V.E.) WE SHOOT AS IF FROM ROCKS AND SEE SKYDIVER MOVING SILENTLY TOWARDS US. CUT TO: 32 REVERSE ANGLE - UNDERWATER - ALIEN CRAFT. (VE) IT WAITS IN CAVERN ENTRANCE. CUT TO: 33 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) ON NINA SHE TRIES TO UNSCRAMBLE THE MANY ECHOES. ***PAGE*** -17- 33 (continued) ON STRAKER HE HOLDS HIS BREATH, STUDYING SCREEN. ON TV MONITOR. IT SHOWS THE APPROACHING CAVERN. HE HOLDS HIS BREATH, STUDYING SCREEN. ON TV MONITOR. IT SHOWS THE APPROACHING CAVERN. CUT TO: 34 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER (V.E.) THE SHIP MOVES LEVEL WITH CAVERN AND THEN SUDDENLY THE ALIEN SHIP DISCHARGES A BRIGHT RAY. CUT TO: 35 EXT. SKYDIVER. UNDERWATER. (V. E.) IT IS HIT. CUT TO: 36 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) SUDDENLY, THE WHOLE SHIP ROCKS VIOLENTLY AS IT IS HIT BY EXTERNAL EXPLOSIVES. STRAKER CRASHES DOWN AND SLIDES ALONG THE DECK. ON FOSTER HE JUST MANAGES TO GRAB A HANDHOLD BEFORE GOING DOWN FROM THE VIOLENT PITCHING OF THE SHIP. ON CHIN THE NOSE OF THE CRAFT DIPS AND HE SMASHES FORWARD, SLAMMING HIS HEAD ON THE CONTROLS. THEN THE VESSEL SHUDDERS THE OTHER WAY IN A SEE-SAW MOVEMENT, FORCING CHIN TO BE THROWN BACK OUT OF HIS SEAT. THE BLOOD STREAMS FROM A CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD, BUT THE MAIN DAMAGE IS CAUSED AS HE SLAMS THE BACK OF HIS HEAD ON THE IRON GANTRY. HE MOANS AND LIES STILL. ***PAGE*** -18- 36 (continued) BEYOND CHIN'S HEAD, ADDING A WEIRD FULL STOP TO THE VIOLENT ROCKING WHICH SUDDENLY CEASES, WE SEE THE ELEVATOR PLATFORM STARTING TO RISE, AN ELECTRICAL FAULT CAUSING IT TO FUNCTION. THEN, AS THE SHIP SETTLES, THE ELECTRICAL WHIRR OF THE ELEVATOR MOTOR CUTS OUT AND HYPNOTICALLY THE SHAFT STOPS, STUCK HALF WAY BETWEEN THE TWO FLOORS. AT THE SAME MOMENT, THE SHIP'S LIGHTS DIM. THEY FLASH ON AND OFF, NOT SURE WHETHER TO CUT OUT COMPLETELY OR NOT. THEN THEY RETURN TO NORMAL AND FOR A FEW MOMENTS THERE IS DEAD SILENCE. CUT TO: 37 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER. (VE) DAMAGED AFT, THE SUBMARINE IS SINKING SLOWLY DOWN THROUGH THE WATER, ITS NOSE AT A LOWER ANGLE THAN THE STERN. THE ALIEN UNDERWATER CRAFT MOVES UP AND PAST SKYDIVER AND EXITS AT TOP OF FRAME. FADE OUT: END OF ACT ONE ***PAGE*** -19- FADE IN: ACT TWO 38 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER. (V.E.) THE CRAFT HANGS IN WATER, 20 FEET FROM THE BOTTOM. THE ALIEN CRAFT HAS GONE FROM THE CAVERN. SKYDIVER'S REAR SECTION IS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE PORT MOTOR. CUT TO: 39 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) ALL IS A SHAMBLES WITH CONTROL PANELS HAVING BEEN TORN FROM WALL EXPOSING WIRING.... ALL LOOSE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN FLYING ABOUT SHOWING INTERNAL SIGNS OF DAMAGE. STRAKER RISES TO HIS FEET, RECOVERING FROM THE ATTACK. WATERMAN STARTS TO CHECK THE CONTROLS AND SYSTEMS. LEWIS IS NEAR HIM AND HELPS. LEWIS Main systems still operating. WATERMAN Right - surface ! ON FOSTER HE GLANCES UP TOWARDS PILOT'S CONSOLE. FOSTER Hey !.. Chin ! ON CHIN HE LIES ON GANTRY, SENSELESS, HIS HEAD BLEEDING. FOSTER LAUNCHES HIMSELF UP TO UPPER LEVEL, REACHING THE GANTRY BY TWO STEPS... THE FIRST ON THE JAMMED ELEVATOR... WHICH GIVES HIM ENOUGH HEIGHT TO REACH THE UPPER LEVEL WITH THE SECOND STEP. LEWIS (VO) Blow two... NINA (VO) Blowing one and two. ***PAGE*** -20- 39 (continued) ON STRAKER HE HAS GAINED HIS COMPOSURE AND LOOKS TOWARDS FARNHAM BEFORE MOVING TOWARDS THE ELEVATOR. TWO SHOT FOSTER TAKES A QUICK GLANCE AT CHIN. HE REMAINS BLEEDING ON GANTRY DECK. AS STRAKER ENTERS AREA FROM THE BROKEN LIFT, WE HEAR THE SOUND OF THE BALLAST TANKS BLOWING. FOSTER He looks pretty bad... CUT TO: 40 EXT. SKYDIVER. UNDERWATER. (V.E.) THE CRAFT STARTS TO RISE, FLOATING UP ON HORIZONTAL ATTITUDE. THEN IT STOPS, HANGING IN THE WATER. CUT TO: 41 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER AND FOSTER BEND OVER CHIN. STRAKER LOOKS ROUND AS - STRAKER Let's get him down below. NINA (VO) Malfunction on one. ANOTHER ANGLE WATERMAN GLANCES UP AS LEWIS READS OFF FROM DEPTH GAUGES. LEWIS Depth increasing... 300... WATERMAN Keep trying those tanks. ON NINA SHE OPERATES A CONTROL. NINA Full pressure. CUT TO: CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -21- 42 UNDERWATER SHOT - SKYDIVER. (V.E.) WE HEAR THE TANKS BLOWING AND SKYDIVER STARTS TO RISE AGAIN, BUT THEN BEGINS TO KEEL OVER AT AN ANGLE. CUT TO: 43 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) WATERMAN PUTS OUT A HAND TO STEADY HIMSELF AS THE SHIP MOVES TO A VERY SLIGHT ANGLE. HE YELLS UP TO NINA. WATERMAN Hold it... shut down ballast. We 'll keel over. ON NINA NINA HASTILY SHUTS DOWN ALL THE SYSTEMS AND AS THE SHIP GOES TO EVEN KEEL AGAIN WE SEE, IN FOREGROUND, STRAKER AND FOSTER MOVING CHIN TO THE ELEVATOR SHAFT. ANOTHER ANGLE STRAKER AND FOSTER MOVE WITH DIFFICULTY DOWN TO LOWER DECK, STILL CARRYING CHIN. SUDDENLY THERE IS A VIOLENT SHUDDERING OF THE SHIP AMID MUFFLED EXTERNAL EXPLOSIONS. STRAKER IS FLUNG OFF HIS FEET AND CRASHES DOWN BENEATH CHIN'S WEIGHT. ON LEWIS HE THRUSTS OUT A HAND TO SUPPORT HIMSELF AS THE VIOLENT ROCKING SUBSIDES. LEWIS That was the starboard turbine... ON NINA SHE STUDIES HER SONAR SCREENS AS RAPID SIGNAL IS HEARD SHOWING ACTIVITY FROM UFO. NINA Commander - I'm getting a new signal... it must be the UFO! ON STRAKER HE IS BACK ON HIS FEET, USING WALL TO SUPPORT HIM. ***PAGE*** -22- 43 (continued) STRAKER (to himself) Coming back to finish the job. ON NINA SHE LISTENS TO SONAR ECHO NINA It's heading away... towards the surface. THEN SHE NOTICES RADAR TRACE ON SCREEN. NINA Airborne ! ON STRAKER HE YELLS AT CAMERA STRAKER Can we Launch Sky 1 ?... ON WATERMAN WATERMAN We can try. HE REACTS AND RUNS TOWARDS FRONT OF VESSEL. ANOTHER ANGLE. WATERMAN PULLS HIMSELF UP INTO OPENING OF SKY 1 CHUTE AND SLIDES FEET FIRST INTO TUBE. CUT TO: 44 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER. (VE) THE SHIP'S NOSE IS STARTING TO LOWER TO A TEN DEGREE ANGLE. CUT TO: 45 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) FOSTER MOVES QUICKLY BACK UP TO THE STEERAGE CONTROLS. STRAKER MOVES TOWARDS GANTRY AND LOOKS UP. STRAKER Pull her up, Paul. FOSTER WRENCHES AT THE CONTROLS. ***PAGE*** -23- 45 (continued) FOSTER lt's no good. STRAKER What's the attitude ? FOSTER CHECKS AN INSTRUMENT. FOSTER Ten degrees. ON STRAKER HE THINKS FOR A BRIEF SECOND STRAKER It's enough ! Launch Sky 1 ! CUT TO: 46 INT. SKY 1. (STUDIO) WATERMAN IS AT CONTROLS. FOSTER (VO) Lift off ! HE PULLS A LEVER WATERMAN Roger. CUT TO: 47 UNDERWATER SHOT - SKYDIVER. (VE) SKY 1 PARTS FROM THE DAMAGED SHIP, BUT IS FORCED TO MOVE SWIFTLY UP, COMPENSATING FOR SUB'S DIVE POSITION. CUT TO: 48 UNDERWATER SKY 1 (V.E.) THE AIRCRAFT STARTS TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WATER. CUT TO: 49 EXT. OPEN SEA. DAY. (V.E. ) SKY 1 BURSTS FROM THE SURFACE AND CLIMBS STEEPLY. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -24- 50 INT. CONTROL. CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) NINA STUDIES THE RADAR SCREEN WITH RELIEF. NINA Sky 1 airborne ! CUT TO: 51 EXT. SKY 1. DAY. (V.E.) THE ALIEN CRAFT FLIES TOWARDS CLOUD COVER AT SPEED. WE HOLD FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SKY 1 COMES INTO SHOT IN PURSUIT. CUT TO: 52 INT. SKY 1 COCKPIT. DAY. (STUDIO) WATERMAN STUDIES HIS SCREENS AND THEN ACTIVATES MISSILE CONTROLS. CUT TO: 53 AIR TO AIR SHOT. SKY 1. DAY. (V.E.) THE MISSILES ARE FIRED. CUT TO: 54 AIR TO AIR SHOT. CLOUD LAYER. (V.E.) ALIEN CRAFT BREAKS FROM CLOUD COVER, GAINING HEIGHT. THEN MISSILES EXPLODE AROUND CRAFT AND CRAFT DISINTEGRATES. CUT TO: 55 INT. SKY 1. DAY. (STUDIO) WATERMAN TALKS INTO HELMET MICROPHONE. WATERMAN Sky 1 to control. Target destroyed. HE WAITS FOR A SECOND, LISTENING FOR A REPLY. NONE COMES. HE FROWNS. WATERMAN Sky 1 to control... come in Skydiver... CUT TO: 56 AIR TO AIR SHOT. SKY 1. DAY. (VE) IT BANKS TO TURN AWAY FROM AREA AND DIVES BACK IN TO CLOUD. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -25- 57 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER STUDIES BANKS OF CONTROLS. NINA CHECKS RADIO SYSTEMS. NINA Contact lost, sir. STRAKER REACTS, TURNING TO LOOK UP AT FOSTER. FOSTER WHIRLS IN HIS SEAT TO SHOUT DOWN TO STRAKER. FOSTER We're going down... turbines non functional. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER TURNS TO LEWIS WHO MOVES ACROSS FROM NAVIGATION TABLE TO REACTOR "DANGER" PANEL. STRAKER Shut down the reactor. Prepare to switch to emergency power. LEWIS Yes, sir. LEWIS PULLS A LARGE QUADRANT HANDLE ATTACHED TO SIDE OF 'DANGER" PANEL, TO SHUT OFF THE ATOMIC REACTOR. THE LIGHTS DIM AND GO OUT. THEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN AND LEWIS REMOVES HAND FROM OTHER CONTROLS AND TURNS TO STRAKER. LEWIS Emergency power operating. FOSTER Still going down. ON STRAKER HE REACTS AND GRASPS THE NEAREST HAND HOLD TO WITHSTAND THE FORTHCOMING SHOCK. STRAKER Crash positions ! CUT TO: 58 EXT. UNDERWATER (V.E.) WE FEATURE AN OUTCROP OF ROCK RISING SOME 20 FEET FROM THE SEA BED. A LEDGE IS CLEARLY SEEN AND AS WE HOLD, SKYDIVER COMES DOWN INTO SHOT. IT IS SINKING AT NEAR LEVEL ANGLE, NOSE SLIGHTLY DOWN. ***PAGE*** -26- 58 (continued) WITH WATER DISTURBANCE, IT CONTINUES DOWN TO ROCK LEDGE. IT STRIKES LEDGE, ROLLS TO AN ANGLE AND THEN SHIFTS FORWARD, WEDGING ITSELF ON LEDGE ON RIGHT SIDE AT AN ANGLE OF 45 DEGREES. SEDIMENT AND SILT CLOUD THE MURKY WATERS. ALL IS SILENT. A PIECE OF WRECKAGE, BUOYANT ENOUGH TO FLOAT, MOVES UP TOWARDS SURFACE TOGETHER WITH A STREAK OF BUBBLES AND OIL. CUT TO: 59 EXT. SEA SURFACE. DAY. (V. E. ) LINKING WITH PREVIOUS SHOT, THE BUOYANT WRECKAGE BREAKS SURFACE AND BUBBLES AND OIL SURROUND IT. WE HEAR THE SOUND OF SKY 1 APPROACHING. CUT TO: 60 INT. SKY l COCKPIT. DAY. (STUDIO) WATERMAN LOOKS OUT OF COCKPIT, STUDYING SEA. HE LOOKS SOLEMN. WATERMAN Sky 1 to Shado control. Overflying LNP... there's an oil slick... must assume we have an Emergency Operation Subsmash. FORD (VO) Roger, Sky l. Return to nearest Shado airbase. CUT TO: 61 EXT. SEA SURFACE. DAY. (VE) SKY 1 SWEEPS LOW OVER OIL PATCH. IT CONTINUES ON OUT OF SHOT AND WE TRACK IN ON OMINOUS WRECKAGE SIGNS AND OIL. CUT TO: 62 EXT. UNDERWATER. (VE) 12 SECS WE MOVE DOWN THROUGH GLOOM TOWARDS SEA BED AND SEE SKYDIVER WEDGED ON ROCK. CAMERA TRACKS ROUND TO REAR OF SKYDIVER AND WE APPRECIATE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE AFT SECTION. THE MOTORS AND SCREWS ARE ***PAGE*** -27- 62 (continued) OUT OF COMMISSION, THE HULL CRUMPLED AND DENTED. A BALLAST TANK IS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE ESCAPE HATCH ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE BELOW CONNING TOWER SHOWS SIGNS OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE. CUT TO: 63 INT. SKYDIVER - CONTROL CENTRE. (STUDIO) START ON SMALL TRICKLE OF WATER WHICH SEEPS IN FROM TINY FRACTURE HIGH ON INNER LINING OF VESSEL. WE PULL BACK AND REALISE SUB IS AT ANGLE TO MATCH EFFECTS SHOT. WE CONTINUE BACK UNTIL WE INCLUDE STRAKER. HE LEANS ON WALL TO SUPPORT HIMSELF AND LOOKS TOWARDS CAPTAIN'S CABIN, KEEPING HIS FACE AWAY FROM THE OTHERS. HE KNOWS A MOMENT OF PANIC AND HIS EYES CLOSE IN A GESTURE OF ATTEMPTED CONTROL. WIDER ANGLE ALL IS A MESS AND THE POSITIONS OF CREW ARE FAR FROM COMFORTABLE AS THEY LEAN AGAINST WALLS OF THE VESSEL, TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LIST. FOSTER, LEWIS AND NINA, WHO IS DRESSING CHIN'S WOUND, LISTEN TO THE SILENCE THAT SURROUNDS THEM... ON STRAKER HE OPENS HIS EYES AND TURNS SLOWLY TOWARDS THE OTHERS, DEADLY SERIOUS. HIS VOICE CRACKS. STRAKER I'm assuming... HE CLEARS HIS THROAT AND CONTINUES.... STRAKER (quickly) I'm assuming command of this vessel. Any order I give will be carried out instantly. Is that understood ? WIDER ANGLE FOSTER, LEWIS, CHIN AND NINA WAIT FOR HIM TO CONTINUE, THE SILENCE MAKING THEM UNEASY. ***PAGE*** -28- 63 (continued) WE TRACK IN ON LEWIS - HE IS AFFECTED WORST BY THE SITUATION, FOR HE HAS LIVED THROUGH THESE MOMENTS BEFORE. HIS DARTING EYES AND SWEATING BROW SHOW IT... BUT HE REMAINS IN CONTROL. ON STRAKER HE SEEMS TO RISE IN STATURE, STEELING HIMSELF AGAINST HIS INNER FEARS. STRAKER Discipline and control are the only tickets to the surface, so let's play it that way. TWO SHOT NINA AND STRAKER. STRAKER Have the marker buoys and dye been released ? NINA Yes, sir... ON STRAKER HE PAUSES AND GLANCES AROUND HIM AS IF TAKING IN FOR THE TWENTIETH TIME, THE REALITY OF THE EVENT. STRAKER Right... you know the standing orders concerning a subsmash. Let's get to it. NEW ANGLE STRAKER MOVES DOWN INTO THE PART OF THE SHIP WHERE THE OTHERS ARE STANDING. NINA REMAINS WITH CHIN. STRAKER Colonel Foster - the air systems and electric. Lewis... check the ballast tanks and the condition of the hull. TWO SHOT STRAKER AND FOSTER ***PAGE*** -29- 63 (continued) FOSTER What about the power ? STRAKER Well... we've had no warning alarm from the reactor. The radiation shields must be okay. ON FOSTER HE SMILES, A THOUGHT OCCURRING TO HIM. FOSTER At least that's something ! We know we're not going to die from radiation exposure. STRAKER That only leaves drowning and suffocation. STRAKER GIVES FOSTER A QUICK GRIN AND THEN MOVES TO JOIN NINA AND CHIN. NINA What are our chances, sir... STRAKER We'll have to wait until all the systems have been checked. NINA ACKNOWLEDGES HIS POSITION AND MOVES BACK TOWARDS THE RADAR. NINA I'll see what shape the communications are in. STRAKER NODS AND TURNS TO CHIN WHO APPEARS TO HAVE FAIRLY WELL RECOVERED, IF A LITTLE UNSTEADY. STRAKER And how's the first casualty ? CHIN I'll be all right, sir. STRAKER You'd better be... we're going to need you. CHIN Let's see about those turbines. STRAKER Are you sure you're O.K.? ***PAGE*** -30- 63 (continued) CHIN Yes, sir... STRAKER CLAPS AN ENCOURAGING HAND ON HIS SHOULDER. STRAKER Fine. Maybe we can get this tub off the deck before the rescue team arrives. CUT TO: 64 AIR TO AIR SHOT - SHADO SEAPLANE (V.E.) LINKING WITH PREVIOUS DIALOGUE WE START CLOSE ON THE SEA RESCUE INSIGNIA OF A SHADO SEA PLANE AND PULL BACK TO TAKE IN THE AIRCRAFT. CUT TO: 65 INT. FLIGHT DECK - SHADO SEA PLANE. DAY. (STUDIO) ALEC FREEMAN SITS IN CO-PILOT'S SEAT BESIDE THE PILOT. THE FLIGHT DECK IS SIZE OF NORMAL CIVIL AIRCRAFT, THE CABIN BEHIND BEING TAKEN UP WITH SEA RESCUE EQUIPMENT. A DOOR SEPARATES FLIGHT DECK FROM CABIN. PILOT, TURNER, IS THIRTYISH, AN EXPERIENCED SEA RESCUE FLYER. FREEMAN WATCHES A CONTROL LIGHT WHICH FLASHES AS HE TALKS INTO RADIO MICROPHONE. FREEMAN Albatross two-five to Shado Control. We have positive area location on Skydiver beacon. Homing on signal now. FORD (VO) Roger, Albatross. FREEMAN TURNS TO TURNER THE PILOT. FREEMAN Another fifty minutes... what do you think ? TURNER No way of telling, sir. Sub smashes are always difficult. FREEMAN STARES INTO TURNER'S NON COMMITTAL EYES AND THEN LEAVES SEAT, MOVING BACK TO CABIN DOOR. FREEMAN I'll check things out in the cabin. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -31- 66 INT. SEAPLANE CABIN. DAY. (STUDIO). UTILITY IN APPEARANCE, THE CABIN OCCUPIES THE ENTIRE REAR AREA BEHIND THE FLIGHT DECK. IT HAS FEW SEATS, MOST OF THE AREA BEING USED FOR SEA RESCUE EQUIPMENT. A SMALL COMPUTER IS SEEN. TWO DEEP SEA DIVERS, ROSS AND HOLDEN, ARE CHECKING THE LARGE AIR PUMP THAT WILL SUPPLY THEM WITH LIFE BENEATH THE SEA. DIVER'S SUITS ARE CLEARLY SEEN IN NEAT ORDER. FREEMAN ENTERS CABIN THROUGH FLIGHT DECK DOOR. FREEMAN Less than fifty minutes... FREEMAN FEELS ILL AT EASE. HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE WORLD BENEATH THE SEA. FREEMAN How does it look to you ? HOLDEN Hard to say, sir... could be the ship's righted itself. By the time we get there we'll maybe find it sitting on the surface waiting for us. FREEMAN That's not likely, is it ? The wreckage, the oil... ROSS Until we get there, it's anyone's guess. ON FREEMAN HIS FEARS HAVE BEEN NEITHER REDUCED NOR INCREASED. HE HAS A FIDGETTING, FRUSTRATED MANNER AS HE TURNS TO A CABIN WINDOW TO GAZE OUT AND DOWN. CUT TO: 67 EXT. SEA. DAY. (LIBRARY) FREEMAN'S EYELINE THE SEA IS GREY AND UNINVITING AS WE TRAVEL OVER THE SURFACE AS IF FROM LOW ALTITUDE. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -32- 68 EXT. SEA SURFACE. DAY. (V.E.) SKYDIVER'S MARKER BUOY FLOATS ON SEA AMID A VIVID RED DYE. A BEACON LIGHT ON TOP OF BUOY FLASHES. CUT TO: 69 EXT. UNDERWATER (V.E.) WE TRACK THROUGH GLOOMY DEPTHS FOLLOWING THE CABLE THAT LINKS THE MARKER BUOY TO SKYDIVER. CUT TO: 70 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL CENTRE. (STUDIO) WE FEATURE BULKHEAD NO. 2 LEADING TO CAPTAIN'S CABIN. THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AND STRAKER AND CHIN, BOTH SMEARED WITH GREASE AND DIRT AFTER THEIR INSPECTION OF ENGINES, ENTER CONTROL CENTRE FROM THE SMALL CORRIDOR SECTION BETWEEN CONTROL CENTRE AND CAPTAIN'S CABIN. THEY MOVE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AGAINST THE LISTING VESSEL'S ATTITUDE. THE DOOR REMAINS OPEN AND WE PULL BACK TO SEE FOSTER FINISHING THE WORK OF CHECKING THE DEPTH AND AIR GAUGES. LEWIS IS ON THE UPPER LEVEL CHECKING THE ESCAPE HATCH. NINA IS AT RADAR. FOSTER SEES STRAKER AND MAKES A FINAL MARK ON THE CLIPBOARD HE HOLDS. FOSTER Nearly through here, sir. How'd you make out astern ? STRAKER Not good. One turbine is completely blown and there's some damage to the reactor cooling plant. FOSTER Well, that means we can forget the main power supply. ON STRAKER HE WIPES SOME SWEAT FROM HIS FACE WITH A RAG. STRAKER How long will the emergency storage batteries last ? ***PAGE*** -33- 70 (continued) ON CHIN HE SEEMS BRIGHT AND ALERT, DESPITE HIS WOUND. CHIN The meters register eight hours.. and we can't recharge without the reactor. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER AND CHIN TAKE UP AS COMFORTABLE POSITIONS AS POSSIBLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, READY FOR THE RUN DOWN. STRAKER What about the air systems ? FOSTER CONSULTS HIS CLIPBOARD LIST. FOSTER It's impossible to be accurate, but I estimate there's enough air for eight hours - about the same as the batteries. STRAKER NODS, DOING A QUICK MENTAL CALCULATION. HE DOES NOT BETRAY THE ANSWER TO THE OTHERS. FOSTER Number one hatch is flooded, so that's one escape route we can't take. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER MOVES TOWARDS NINA'S AREA STRAKER And the communications, lieutenant ? SHE PICKS UP THE HYDROPHONE RECEIVER (TELEPHONE) AND HOLDS IT OUT SO THAT STRAKER CAN HEAR STATIC ON THE INSTRUMENT. NINA Main radio knocked out... sonar and radar working... but they won't help us. The hydrophone on the marker buoy is active...but the power is weak. NEW ANGLE STRAKER TURNS BACK TOWARDS FOSTER AND CHIN. THEN LOOKS UP TOWARDS LEWIS. ***PAGE*** -34- 70 (continued) STRAKER Well I guess that puts you right on the spot, Lieutenant. FOSTER LOOKS UP TOWARDS GANTRY. ANOTHER ANGLE WE FEATURE THE JAMMED ELEVATOR PLATFORM. LEWIS MOVES BY TWO STEPS TO LOWER DECK. STRAKER MOVES INTO SHOT TO CONFRONT HIM. STRAKER How are the escape systems ? ON LEWIS HE TAKES A DEEP DRAUGHT OF PRECIOUS AIR, PREPARING FOR THE VITAL DELIVERY. LEWIS Only one is operational... Number four hatch - and it's got trouble. It's working, but there is heavy damage to the outside door. In addition there's something wrong with the pumps. I reckon it'll take upwards of 90 minutes to empty. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER'S EYES GLANCE UP TOWARDS THE MISSILE TUBE AREA ON THE GANTRY LEVEL. STRAKER What about the missile tubes ? LEWIS No go, commander. The ship's angle rules them out. The rock ledge is blocking the exits. STRAKER THINKS FOR A MOMENT AND TURNS TO FOSTER. STRAKER Correct me it I'm wrong, Paul... the escape hatches work on equal pressure basis. FOSTER That's right. We have to take water into the hatch to balance the pressure of water outside the ship. ***PAGE*** -35- 70 (continued) STRAKER And after the hatch has been used the water has to be pumped out to allow the next man in. ON LEWIS HE HAS CHANGED HIS POSITION TO GET MORE COMFORT. LEWIS And that's the problem. One escape hatch still in commission and we can only use it every 90 minutes. ON STRAKER HE CONSIDERS THE PROBLEM FOR A MOMENT, THEN: STRAKER See what you can do to repair those pumps...... and check that outer hatch door on 4. I'll be in the captain's cabin. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER MOVES TOWARDS THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN AND SHUTS THE DOOR AFTER HIM. CUT TO: 71 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER STANDS WITH HIS BACK TO DOOR, NOW ALONE, ABLE TO SHOW THE STRAIN THAT IS AFFECTING HIM. WITH DIFFICULTY, USING THE BUNKS FOR SUPPORT, HE MOVES SLOWLY TOWARDS THE TABLE ON WHICH ARE SHOWN THE PLANS OF THE SUB. HE PUNCHES ONE HAND INTO THE OTHER, LOOKING AT THE NARROW WALLS WITH A HAUNTED, WARY EXPRESSION. CUT TO: 72 AIR TO AIR SHOT. SHADO SEAPLANE. DAY. (VE) TO ESTABLISH. CUT TO: 73 INT FLIGHT DECK. SEAPLANE. DAY. (STUDIO). FREEMAN HAS RETURNED TO SIT NEXT TO PILOT. BEACON FLASHES. A BRIGHT PIN-POINT OF LIGHT SET AMID OTHER AIRCRAFT CONTROL DIALS. ***PAGE*** -36- 73 (continued) FREEMAN Can you get any more speed out of this thing ? TURNER Not without blowing our engines to pieces. WE PAN DOWN TO THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PLAN, A WAD OF PAPERS ON A CLIPBOARD. CUT TO: 74 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) START ON SUB'S PLANS AS THEY SLIDE OFF TABLE, GOING WITH THE ANGLE OF THE SHIP. STRAKER'S HAND HURRIES DOWN ON THEM TO SAVE THEM SLIPPING TO THE FLOOR. WE PULL BACK TO SEE HIM LEAN ON THE TABLE SWEATING QUITE NOTICEABLY. THEN THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM AS THE POWER SUPPLY DIMINISHES. STRAKER LOOKS UP AT THEM AND THEN TURNS TO DOOR AS A KNOCK IS HEARD. STRAKER Come in... THE DOOR OPENS AND FOSTER ENTERS AND CLOSES DOOR BEHIND HIM. FOSTER All checks complete, sir... It er looks pretty bad. STRAKER Then I guess well have to start getting to the surface. FOSTER Abandon ship ? STRAKER THINKS HARD FOR A MOMENT, HE ALONE HAS WORKED OUT WHAT THAT MEANS. HE AGREES. STRAKER Yes... I'm afraid so. STRAKER RETURNS TO THE VESSEL'S PLANS. FOSTER FOLLOWS HIM. STRAKER We've got to phase this pretty carefully. We're playing with very little air and no time at all. ***PAGE*** -37- 74 (continued) FOSTER I'm worried about the outer door on 4. All the warning lights indicate severe damage. STRAKER And the pumps ? FOSTER No improvement. With the reactor off the power is very low. STRAKER TAKES IT IN SLOWLY. FOSTER What do we tell the crew, sir ? STRAKER Don't worry. They've worked it out for themselves already. CUT TO: 75 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) ON NINA SHE IS AT COMMUNICATIONS DESK, THINKING DEEPLY. AT LAST SHE MOVES AND WE HOLD ON HER UNTIL SHE REACHES LEWIS. HE STANDS BY DEPTH AND AIR GAUGES, STUDYING THEM, HYPNOTISED. NINA Jim ? LEWIS Hi. HE INDICATES THE DIALS. LEWIS It's not good. Worse than last time. NINA Want to talk about it ? HE LOOKS TROUBLED AS HE REMEMBERS A PREVIOUS INCIDENT MANY YEARS BEFORE. LEWIS You mean last time. It was a big fish. Full crew... ***PAGE*** -38- 74 (continued) SUDDENLY STRAKER'S VOICE COMES OVER BEHIND THEM. STRAKER Sixty nine men trapped on the bottom with little hope of rescue. ON NINA STRAKER (VO) But they _did_ escape, didn't they, Lewis. WIDER ANGLE LEWIS EYES DROP AS HE REMEMBERS.... STRAKER (VO) And they all got out alive because they kept their heads and obeyed orders ! LEWIS Yes, sir... that's the way it was. STRAKER PAUSES TO GLANCE HARD AT EACH CREW MEMBER. ON STRAKER STRAKER Alright. Let's go over the situation. Only one regular escape hatch is operational... the pumps are damaged and so is the outer door. ON STRAKER HIS EYES MOVE TO EACH CREWMAN IN TURN. STRAKER There is another emergency escape route... the crashdive flood tube. WIDER ANGLE THE OTHERS WATCH STRAKER STRAKER But, once the outer cover is blown the tube cannot be drained until Skydiver surfaces. CHIN REACTS AND ALL SHOW FURTHER SIGNS OF STRAIN STRAKER So it's a one chance route... ***PAGE*** -39- 74 (continued) CHIN That tube is over 40 feet long, and only just big enough to get your shoulders in. That's some crawl. ON LEWIS HE'S BEEN DOING SOME MATHEMATICS. LEWIS The way I see it, two of us can get out now. One through the escape hatch... the other along the crashdive trunking. STRAKER (VO) Right. LEWIS That will leave three still trapped down here. HE PAUSES, WAITING FOR AN ARGUMENT. NONE COMES. LEWIS If it takes 90 minutes to pump the hatch clear each time... it'll be four and a half hours before the last man can get out. ON NINA SHE REACTS STRONGLY, REALISING THE DANGERS. ON STRAKER HE RELAXES A LITTLE, SHIFTING HIS UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. STRAKER Right again, Lieutenant. LEWIS (VO) But at best the air will only last - STRAKER You're forgetting one thing. The less people there are the longer the air will last. A LONG PAUSE. ON CHIN HE FINALLY SPEAKS CHIN Have you decided on an order of escape, sir ? ***PAGE*** -40- 74 (continued) WIDER ANGLE STRAKER STUDIES EACH PERSON IN TURN, A LONG PAUSE BEFORE SPEAKING. STRAKER I have... Lieutenant Barry, you will use the crashdive tube... NINA REACTS, HER EYES BETRAYING HER FEAR. STRAKER Lewis, you'll take first crack at hatch four. ANOTHER LONG PAUSE AS THE DECISION SINKS IN. LEWIS GOES TO PROTEST. STRAKER That's an order. LEWIS Yes sir... but you can't send Nina out that way ! ON STRAKER IMPATIENCE SHOWING. STRAKER You think I'm giving it to you easy ? That outer door is registering so many red alarm lights the control panel looks like a Christmas tree ! TWO SHOT STRAKER HAS CLOSED IN ON FARNHAM WHO SWALLOWS HARD. STRAKER There is a ninety-nine percent chance that hatch is jammed. If it is you'll drown in a flooded metal box no bigger than a coffin ! WIDER ANGLE STRAKER TURNS TO THE OTHERS, DEFYING MORE ARGUMENT. STRAKER Now does anyone else think Nina's getting the raw part of the deal ? ***PAGE*** -41- 74 (continued) THERE IS SILENCE AND STRAKER CALMS DOWN. STRAKER Okay... Chin will be second into the escape hatch. CHIN IS SWEATING NOTICEABLY. ON FOSTER HE HAS A SLIGHT SMILE ON HIS LIPS. HE KNOWS STRAKER IS CONNING THE OTHERS. STRAKER (VO) Then you, Colonel... Alright, let's get started. WIDER ANGLE THERE IS A MOMENT'S SILENCE AS THE ORDER SINKS IN. THEN THEY BEGIN TO MOVE. STRAKER MOVES TO NINA'S SIDE AND GENTLY GRIPS HER ELBOW, GUIDING HER TO A CONTROL PANEL. FOSTER FOLLOWS. STRAKER Now Nina... that tube offers the surest way out. But it won't be easy. NINA I know, sir... I used it once during training. STRAKER Then you'll know what happens when I pull that control. STRAKER POINTS TO A CONTROL ON THE PANEL. THE LEVER IS MARKED 'CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE' AND HAS TWO POSITIONS - ON AND OFF. STRAKER The external cover will be blown clear. NINA I remember... the water hits you like a sledgehammer. STRAKER Right... but it only lasts a second. Just hang on; you'll be okay. NINA I'll manage. ON STRAKER HE GLANCES INSTINCTIVELY AT HIS WATCH. THEN ADDRESSES THE CREW. ***PAGE*** -42- 75 (continued) STRAKER Alright, get into your escape gear... the sooner you get out of here the better... More air for the rest of us. ON NINA SHE SMILES AT STRAKER AND MOVES OUT OF SHOT. WE ZOOM IN ON HATCH LEVER. CUT TO: 76 INT. CABIN - SHADO SEAPLANE. DAY. (STUDIO) START CLOSE ON HANDLE OF AIR PUMP TO LINK WITH PREVIOUS SHOT. WE PULL BACK TO SHOW HOLDEN INSIDE HIS DIVER'S SUIT, HEAVY BOOTS ON, BUT HELMET NOT SCREWED IN PLACE YET. ROSS IS ALSO UP READY AND FREEMAN LOOKS AT THE AIR LINES LEADING FROM THE PUMPS. FREEMAN The second we reach the marker I want you boys down there. HOLDEN There's no chance of our surface vessel getting to the area ahead of time ? FREEMAN Forget it... she's five hours away. We're on our own. ROSS Then we'd better pray they can still use the escape hatches. ON FREEMAN HIS EYES DROP AS THE FULL IMPACT OF THE SITUATION COMES HOME TO HIM AND HE REALISES HOW HOPELESS HIS POSITION IS TO HELP. FADE OUT: END OF ACT TWO ***PAGE*** -43- FADE IN: ACT THREE 77 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER. (V.E.) WE FEATURE THE OUTSIDE OF NO.4 HATCH. THE ESCAPE ROUTE TO BE USED BY LEWIS. THE DOOR IS BADLY DAMAGED, THE HEAVY METAL BUCKLED AND BENT. IT REMAINS SEALED WATER TIGHT BUT DAMAGE IS CONVINCING ENOUGH TO PRESENT THE REQUIRED RISK OF FAILURE TO OPEN. WE PAN TO THE REAR SECTION OF SHIP'S HULL WHERE CRASH FLOOD TUBE IS LOCATED AND SEE THE SMALL HATCH ABOUT THREE FEET IN DIAMETER. CUT TO: 78 INT. CORRIDOR. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) THIS IS BETWEEN CAPTAIN'S CABIN DOOR AND INNER DOOR INTO THE CABIN ITSELF. A NEARBY WALL HATCH IS OPEN AND FOSTER IS CHECKING THAT NINA IS READY. STRAKER WATCHES, LOOKING AT HIS WATCH. SHE WEARS INFLATABLE SUIT AND CLIMBS INTO OPENING JUST LARGE ENOUGH FOR HER TO STAND BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. HER SUIT IS NOT INFLATED YET. FOSTER All set ? NINA NODS. STRAKER Synchronise watches... 15.50. THE OTHERS ADJUST THEIR WATCHES. FOSTER Check. NINA Check. STRAKER I'll blow the hatch in five minutes, Lieutenant. Good luck.. NINA Thank you, sir... see you top side. NINA MOVES OFF INTO TUBE, CRAWLING FROM THE LARGER AREA OF HATCH ENTRANCE INTO NARROW TRUNKING. FOSTER CLOSES WATER TIGHT DOOR AND TURNS ***PAGE*** -44- 78 (continued) CENTRAL LOCK. HE MAKES ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IT IS LOCKED BY GIVING HANDLE AN EXTRA PULL. CUT TO: 79 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) NINA IS FULL LENGTH IN TUBE, MOVING ALONG THE CONFINED METAL SIDED ESCAPE ROUTE INCH BY INCH. SHE IS ALREADY SWEATING FROM THE EXTERTION. CUT TO: 80 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) FOSTER AND STRAKER ENTER FROM CAPTAIN'S CABIN DOOR AND JOIN CHIN. STRAKER GLANCES UP TOWARDS UPPER GANTRY WHERE LEWIS, SUITED UP, IS ABOUT TO ENTER ESCAPE HATCH. STRAKER Right, Lewis... disembark. LEWIS Yes, sir. I hope you make it. STRAKER We will, Lieutenant... LEWIS ENTERS HATCH, AND THE SOUND OF ESCAPE HATCH DOOR TELLS US HE IS SEALED IN. STRAKER Keep a check on that escape hatch... TWO SHOT FOSTER CHECKS THE CONTROLS, THEN TURNS TO STRAKER SO NO ONE CAN HEAR. FOSTER You told Lewis the air would last. STRAKER It won't if you start getting excited. FOSTER Listen, sir. I know the air isn't going to hold out. I might just make it, but unless they get this tub off the bottom... you won't. STRAKER KNOWS WHAT HE IS GOING TO SAY. ***PAGE*** -45- 80 (continued) STRAKER Get one thing clear. I go last. FOSTER WATCHES STRAKER, FASCINATED BY HIS STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. STRAKER All this talk uses up air. Now let's all stay calm... and move around as little as possible. ON CHIN HE SNAPS OUT OF HIS TRANCE, HIS HAND GOING TO HIS HEAD AS THE PAIN THROBS. HIS VOICE IS QUIET. CHIN We're all going to get out okay, aren't we, sir ? STRAKER MOVES TO HIS SIDE FOLLOWED BY FOSTER. STRAKER Sure we are, Chin. Take it easy... how's the head ? CHIN I'll be fine when I get up to the surface. STRAKER Sure... TWO SHOT STRAKER TURNS TO FOSTER AND TALKS QUIETLY. STRAKER What do you think ? FOSTER He won't last ten minutes in the water without help. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER PUTS A HAND ON CHIN'S SHOULDER. STRAKER Stay with it, Chin... the rescue team will be here soon... CUT TO: 81 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO). PANTING FOR AIR, NINA STRUGGLES ALONG THE TUBE, ***PAGE*** -46- 81 (continued) PAUSING NOW AND THEN TO REGAIN HER STRENGTH. CUT TO: 82 INT. CENTRAL CONTROL - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER GLANCES AT HIS WATCH AS HE AND FOSTER REMAIN AT CONTROLS. STRAKER Two minutes... is the escape hatch flooded ? FOSTER Another thirty seconds... let's hope that outer door decides to open. CUT TO: 83 INT. ESCAPE HATCH. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) IN HIS TEMPORARY BREATHING EQUIPMENT, LEWIS STANDS IN THE NARROW, STEEL WALLED ESCAPE HATCH. THE WATER LEVEL IS UP TO HIS CHIN AND INSTINCTIVELY HE STRETCHES UP, AVOIDING THE RISING LEVEL AS THE HATCH FLOODS. ON OUTER HATCH RELEASE HANDLE THIS IS A HEAVY DOUBLE HANDLED LOCKING SCREW AND WE SEE LEWIS' HANDS UNDER THE WATER GRIPPING THE HANDLES, READY TO TURN THEM. CUT TO: 84 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) A GAUGE SHOWING HATCH WATER LEVEL MOVES ROUND TO MAXIMUM AND WE PULL BACK TO SEE STRAKER AND FOSTER WATCHING CONTROLS. BEYOND THEM, CHIN HAS RETURNED TO HIS TRANCE AND STARES AT THE WALL. FOSTER Hatch flooded... STRAKER CHECKS HIS WATCH. STRAKER Check. CUT TO: 85 INT. ESCAPE HATCH - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO). LINKING WITH PREVIOUS SHOT WE START ON LEWIS' UNDERWATER WATCH AND PULL BACK TO SEE HIS HANDS ***PAGE*** -47- 85 (continued) ON HANDLES OF OUTER DOOR, STRAINING TO OPEN IT. ON LEWIS HIS EYES SHOW THE FEAR HE FEELS, THROUGH HIS GOGGLES, AS HE REALISES THAT THE HATCH WON'T OPEN. HE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE, BUBBLES CASCADING FROM HIS AIR EQUIPMENT. CUT TO: 86 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO). WITH WORRIED EXPRESSION, FOSTER STARES CLOSELY AT THE DIALS AND GAUGES AND THEN AT STRAKER. FOSTER Negative. STRAKER'S FACE SHOWS THE STRAIN. CUT TO: 87 INT. ESCAPE HATCH - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) LEWIS STRUGGLES WITH THE HATCH. IT WILL NOT BUDGE. CUT TO: 88 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) FOSTER AND STRAKER AS BEFORE. FOSTER He should have been out by now. It's jammed. THERE IS NOTHING EITHER OF THEM CAN DO CUT TO: 89 INT. ESCAPE HATCH - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) LEWIS IS STRUGGLING WITH THE HANDLE AND IS CLOSE TO PANIC AS HIS BODY SHOWS THE NERVOUS REACTION IN THE FLOODED HATCH. THEN THE HANDLE TURNS WITH HIS EFFORT... AND HE MOVES IT IN A COMPLETE TURN. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -48- 90 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) FOSTER SEES THE HATCH INDICATOR LIGHT FLASH AND TURNS TO STRAKER. FOSTER It opened... He's made it. STRAKER BREATHES A SMILE OF RELIEF THEN CHECKS HIS WATCH AGAIN. NINA MUST BE NEARING THE END OF HER LONG CRAWL ALONG THE CRASH DIVE TUBE. CUT TO: 91 INT CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) NINA CONTINUES ON SWEATING PROFUSELY NOW. SHE REACHES THE END OF THE TUBE AND WE SEE THE BLANK INNER SIDE OF THE HATCH COVER. SHE PAUSES, SEEING THE TWO HANDLES ON EACH SIDE OF THE TUBE. SHE REACHES OUT HER HANDS TO THEM AND WITH SOME EFFORT GRIPS THEM. SHE MOVES TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION AND THEN GLANCES AT HER LARGE UNDERWATER WATCH. WE SEE THAT THE TIME IS 3.54 (15.54) CUT TO: 92 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER CHECKS HIS WATCH. STRAKER Nina should be in position... detonate in twenty seconds. FOSTER TURNS TO THE CONTROL THAT WILL BLOW THE OUTER COVER TO THE OPEN SEA. CUT TO: 93 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE (STUDIO) NINA BRACED READY FOR THE IMPACT OF THE WATER. CUT TO: 94 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) FOSTER'S HAND UPON THE CONTROL. STRAKER Ten seconds.. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -49- 95 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) NINA REMAINS BRACED, READY FOR THE DELUGE OF WATER WHICH AT ANY MOMENT COULD SMASH INTO HER. HER WATCH IS PROMINENT AND WE SEE THE SECOND HAND SWEEPING UP TO ZERO HOUR. CUT TO: 96 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER TAKES A LAST LOOK AT HIS WATCH AND DROPS HIS HAND. STRAKER Right. FOSTER PULLS DOWN THE CONTROL TO THE 'ON' POSITION. CUT TO: 97 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) NINA SHUTS HER EYES TIGHTLY, WAITING FOR THE COVER TO BLOW. THERE IS A DEAD SILENCE. SHE OPENS HER EYES AND WE SEE THEM TO HOLD FEAR. SHE LOOKS AT THE HATCH COVER. IT IS SECURELY CLOSED. NINA CHECKS HER WATCH AGAIN AND GLANCES UP AHEAD. THEN IT DAWNS ON HER THAT THE THING HAS GONE WRONG. CUT TO: 98 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL (STUDIO) FOSTER AND STRAKER LOOK AT EACH OTHER. THE TENSION FOR THE MOMENT IS OVER. FOSTER SMILES. FOSTER They should be on the surface. CUT TO: 99 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) ON NINA SHE TRIES TO MOVE BACKWARDS, AND REALISES SHE IS JAMMED IN THE TUBE, UNABLE TO MOVE BECAUSE OF HER SUIT. SHE PAUSES FOR A MOMENT AS THE SERIOUSNESS OF HER PREDICAMENT SINKS IN. SHE TRIES AGAIN... BUT THE INFLATABLE SUIT IS NOT HELPING. IT RIPS LOUDLY. SHE IS FIRMLY JAMMED. ***PAGE*** -50- 99 (continued) SHE LIES STILL FOR SECONDS, NOT MOVING. THEN HER MOUTH OPENS AND SHE BEGINS TO MURMUR QUIETLY AT FIRST, STARTLED BY THE HOLLOW SOUND OF HER OWN VOICE. HER VOICE RISES IN CRESCENDO UNTIL SHE IS SCREAMING. NINA It didn't work... I can't move ! Help me! Someone... Commander Straker! Get me out of here. Help me! CUT TO: 100 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL (STUDIO) STRAKER, FOSTER AND CHIN A LONG SILENCE. THEY MAKE THEMSELVES AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE AND SETTLE DOWN FOR THE LONG WAIT. ON CHIN SILENCE. TRYING HARD TO HIDE THE PAIN. SITTING A LITTLE AWKWARDLY. ON STRAKER HE NOTICES CHIN'S CONDITION AND MOVES TO HIM. GROUP SHOT STRAKER MAKES CHIN AS COMFORTABLE AS HE CAN. STRAKER Try and rest, CHIN NODS SLOWLY. FOSTER In an hour or so you'll be out of here. FOSTER LOOKS AT STRAKER, BOTH REALISE CHIN IS CLOSE TO CRACKING. ON CHIN CHIN (slowly) My head... it feels like it's splitting open. GROUP SHOT CHIN LOOKS UP AT STRAKER. ***PAGE*** -51- 100 (continued) CHIN I'm not sure I'll be able to... STRAKER INTERRUPTS. STRAKER (hard) You will... CHIN LOWERS HIS EYES AND NODS. THE GROUP LAPSE INTO SILENCE. CUT TO: 101 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE (STUDIO) NINA IS SHOUTING HYSTERICALLY AS SHE STRUGGLES TO MOVE WITHOUT SUCCESS. HER VOICE IS DEAFENING. CUT TO: 102 INT. CONTROL CENTRE - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) THE THREE MEN ARE SILENT, EACH WITH HIS OWN THOUGHTS. WE HEAR NO SOUND FROM NINA AND THE CONTRAST FROM HER SCREAM TO THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING. THEN SUDDENLY, A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE COMES OVER. STRAKER AND FOSTER JUMP, STARTLED BY THE NOISE. CHIN HAS APPARENTLY NOT HEARD IT. HE STARES AHEAD. STRAKER AND FOSTER FLASH QUESTIONING GLANCES AT EACH OTHER AND THEN STRAKER MOVES SWIFTLY TO THE COMMUNICATIONS AREA. ON HYDROPHONE (TELEPHONE) WHISTLE CONTINUES AND ONLY CEASES WHEN STRAKER'S HAND SNATCHES UP THE RECEIVER. ON STRAKER SWEATING, PANTING A LITTLE, HE HOLDS THE RECEIVER TO HIS EAR. STRAKER Straker. MUCH STATIC COMES OVER BUT WE HEAR FREEMAN'S FAINT VOICE. ***PAGE*** -52- 102 (continued) FREEMAN (VO) Ed !... it's me. ON STRAKER STRAKER Alec... thank God. FREEMAN (VO) We've picked up Lewis. STRAKER What did you say ? FREEMAN (VO) I said we've got Lewis. CUT TO: 103 EXT. SEA. MARKER BUOY. DAY. (V.E.) WE SEE THAT A HYDROPHONE CABLE HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO THE MARKER BUOY AND THE LEAD GOES OFF OUT OF SHOT. CUT TO: 104 EXT. SEAPLANE. DAY. (V.E.) THE SHADO PLANE HAS LANDED ON THE WATER CLOSE TO MARKER BUOY. CUT TO: 105 INT. SEAPLANE CABIN. DAY. (STUDIO) THE HATCH DOOR IN SIDE OF FUSELAGE IS OPEN AND WE SEE ALEC FREEMAN HOLDING A FIELD RECEIVER. CABLE GOES OFF THROUGH HATCH DOOR TO MARKER BUOY. THE CABIN ROCKS WITH THE SEA'S MOVEMENTS. FREEMAN He's safe... Listen, Ed, he's told us the situation. Just hang on. STRAKER'S VOICE IS FAINT WITH THE STATIC THIS END. STRAKER (VO) Alec... have you got Nina ? FREEMAN Nina ? No. STRAKER (VO) She came up right after Lewis. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -53- 106 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER AND FOSTER EXCHANGE A LOOK. STRAKER She should have reached the surface by now. FREEMAN (VO) Don't worry. We'll find her. CUT TO: 107 INT. SEAPLANE CABIN. DAY. (STUDIO) FREEMAN Ed, listen to me. You've got to conserve your air supply. Just rest and stay as quiet as you can. HOLDEN, HELMET ON, MOVES PAST FREEMAN, FOLLOWED BY ROSS. FREEMAN GLANCES UP AT THEM AND GIVES THE THUMBS UP SIGN. FREEMAN The divers are on their way down now. We'll get you up... MORE STATIC CRACKLES OUT FORCING FREEMAN TO GRIMACE AT THE NOISE IN HIS EAR. HE SHAKES HIS HEAD... A HOPELESS GESTURE. HE KNOWS HOW BAD IT LOOKS. CUT TO: 108 INT. CONTROL CENTRE. (STUDIO) SWEATING MORE FREELY, STRAKER PUTS DOWN THE PHONE ON THE DESK... NOT REPLACING IT ON RECEIVER. HE LOOKS UP AT FOSTER WHO HAS MOVED CLOSE. STRAKER The power's failing... FOSTER GLANCES AT THE LIGHTS WHICH DIP OMINOUSLY. FOSTER I'll check the escape pumps... FOSTER CHECKS THE INSTRUMENTATION. FOSTER They're slowing down. STRAKER LOOKS HARD AT FOSTER, HIS EYES CLOSE FOR A MOMENT, THE HEAT NOW GETTING AT HIM. STRAKER lt's getting hot... ***PAGE*** -54- 108 (continued) FOSTER SETTLES DOWN AGAIN. ALL THEY CAN DO IS WAIT. CUT TO: 109 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) NINA SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN UP HER STRUGGLE. SHE LIES EYES CLOSED, SOBBING GENTLY. CUT TO: 110 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER LOOKS BEYOND FOSTER TO CHIN. STRAKER (to Foster) Let's take a look at Chin. NEW ANGLE CHIN IS STARING INTO SPACE, HIS FACE DRIPPING WITH SWEAT. STRAKER AND FOSTER MOVE SLOWLY WITH EFFORT TO HIS SIDE. STRAKER TAKES CHIN'S HAND, FEELING HIS PULSE. STRAKER He's burning up... ON CHIN HIS EYES HAVE A GLAZED, BLANK LOOK ABOUT THEM. THEN, SLOWLY, HIS MOUTH OPENS IN A SOUNDLESS SHOUT. HIS LIPS SCREW UP IN PAIN AND HE SUDDENLY STIFFENS. FOSTER Relax, Lieutenant. CHIN BEGINS TO THRASH ABOUT. STRAKER AND FOSTER TRY TO HOLD HIM DOWN. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER AND FOSTER ARE HURLED ASIDE AS CHIN GETS TO HIS FEET. STRAKER TAKING A PUNCH ON THE MOUTH AS CHIN CHARGES TOWARDS THE ELEVATOR PLATFORM. CHIN LEAPS THE STEPS TO THE UPPER GANTRY LEVEL. STRAKER Chin ! ***PAGE*** -55- 110 (continued) ANOTHER ANGLE CHIN STORMS DOWN GANTRY CATWALK AS FOSTER LEAPS UP AFTER HIM... TOO FAR AWAY. ON CHIN CHIN SLAMS ROUGHLY INTO THE PILOT'S SEAT AND SNATCHES AT THE MOTOR CONTROLS AND OTHER LEVERS. THEY DO NOT OPERATE BECAUSE THE POWER IS OFF. ON STRAKER HE HAS GAINED THE GANTRY CATWALK AND HEADS TOWARDS CHIN. WIDER ANGLE FOSTER REACHES CHIN AND GRABS HIM FROM BEHIND, FORCING HIM TO RISE FROM THE CONTROL SEAT. STRAKER CLOSES AND THE TWO MEN TRY TO OVERPOWER CHIN. THEN CHIN SWINGS ROUND AND USES ALL HIS MADDENED, CRAZE-ASSISTED POWER TO HAUL FOSTER ASIDE. STRAKER STANDS IN CHIN'S PATH AND THE BIG MAN CHARGES FORWARD LIKE A BULL. STRAKER IS BRUSHED ASIDE. ANOTHER ANGLE WE SHOOT TOWARDS UPPER GANTRY RAIL AND SUDDENLY CHIN, CONTINUING HIS MAD RUSH, CRASHES OVER THE RAILS OF THE GANTRY, SCREAMING TO THE LOWER DECK IN A HEADLONG FALL. WE HEAR THE CRUNCH OF HIS BODY ON THE DECK. TWO SHOT STRAKER AND FOSTER STUNNED. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST. IN THE SILENCE THEY SLOWLY CLIMB DOWN TO THE CRUMPLED BODY OF CHIN. ON STRAKER HE STANDS LOOKING DOWN AT THE BODY. ***PAGE*** -56- 110 (continued) ON CHIN HIS EYES ARE STARING, UNSEEING, BLOOD SEEPING FROM ANOTHER HEAD WOUND. HIS TORMENT IS OVER. WE HOLD FOR A MOMENT AND THEN HEAR THE SOUND OF CRYING.. A WOMAN SOBBING. CUT TO: 111 INT. CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE. (STUDIO) NINA IS CRYING, HELPLESSLY... A QUIET HYSTERICAL SOBBING AND WE REALISE THAT IT WAS HER VOICE WE HEARD IN PREVIOUS SHOT... BUT IT WAS A CHEAT TO PUNCTUATE CHIN'S DEATH AND TO LINK BACK TO HER. WE GO IN CLOSE AND SEE THAT SHE REMAINS AS BEFORE, JAMMED IN THE TUBE. WE GO IN ON HER TEAR STAINED EYES... WIDE WITH FEAR. CUT TO: 112 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) START CLOSE ON CHIN'S STARING EYES LINKING WITH PREVIOUS SHOT. WE PULL BACK TO SHOW STRAKER AND FOSTER ABOUT TO EXIT FROM CABIN. STRAKER GLANCES BACK ONCE AND THEN LEAVES - THE DOOR SHUTTING BEHIND HIM. CUT TO: 113 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL CENTRE. (STUDIO) FOSTER AND STRAKER RETURN TO THE MAIN CONTROL AREA AND STAND IN SHOCK FOR MOMENTS. BOTH ARE STRAINING NOW TO GET AIR INTO THEIR LUNGS, GIVING THE OCCASIONAL COUGH. THE SLOW DRIP OF A LEAK, AS WATER SEEPS IN. FOSTER Poor guy. STRAKER SAYS NOTHING, BREATHING DEEPLY. FOSTER You know death never worried me before... ON FOSTER HE SMILES SOFTLY, MORE TO HIMSELF THAN TO HIS COMPANION. ***PAGE*** -57- 115 (continued) FOSTER ... but right now I'm scared ! ON STRAKER HE DOES NOT LOOK UP, HIS HEAD RESTING ON HIS ARM WHICH IN TURN RESTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANELS LINING THE HULL. STRAKER You're older. FOSTER (VO) How's that ? STRAKER The older you get the more precious life becomes. You become aware of what life is... it's all you haven't achieved.... the words you haven't said.. the people you haven't met... the places you haven't seen. HE STANDS UP, THE SWEAT RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE, HIS WORDS BROKEN. STRAKER That's what life is, Paul... all the things you haven't done. WE PAN ROUND FROM STRAKER TO THE CLOCK ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TIME SHOWS IT TO BE 4.15. CUT TO: 114 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL CENTRE. (STUDIO) ON STRAKER'S WATCH. IT IS CLEARLY SEEN AS HE TAKES HIS OWN PULSE. WE SEE THE TIME TO BE 6.30, AND REALISE AS WE PULL BACK THAT TWO HOURS HAVE PASSED. STRAKER HAS THE FIRST SIGNS OF STUBBLE ON HIS CHIN. HE IS DRIPPING WITH SWEAT AS HE SITS ON THE FLOOR, HIS BACK AGAINST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. BY HIS HEAD, CLEARLY SEEN, IS THE AIR GAUGE. IT REGISTERS NIL. HE SMILES TO HIMSELF AS HE BREATHES DEEPLY, TRYING TO DRAW THE LAST DROPS OF OXYGEN. STRAKER 100 exactly. Not bad... thought it would be way up. ***PAGE*** -58- 114 (continued) ON FOSTER HE IS STANDING NEAR STRAKER'S FEET, LOOKING DOWN AT THE COMMANDER. HE WEARS AN INFLATABLE SUIT. FOSTER It 's time, sir... WIDER ANGLE STRAKER LOOKS UP AND THEN GETS TO HIS FEET. HE LOOKS CLOSELY INTO FOSTER'S EYES. STRAKER Well... Paul. ON FOSTER HE WAITS FOR A SECOND AND AMID GASPS FOR AIR HE SPEAKS - FOSTER Commander... WIDER ANGLE STRAKER GENTLY PUSHES HIM FORWARD. STRAKER Get moving. FOSTER TURNS AND CLIMBS UP TO THE GANTRY. ANOTHER ANGLE FOSTER MOVES TOWARDS HATCH ENTRANCE. AS HE OPENS IT, STRAKER GAINS THE GANTRY AND FOLLOWS HIM. FOSTER TURNS SLOWLY TO LOOK INTO STRAKER'S EYES AGAIN, HESITATING AT THE OPEN HATCH DOOR. STRAKER In you go... ON FOSTER FOSTER Listen... ON STRAKER HE SPEAKS QUIETLY, BUT HIS VOICE IS STILL CONTROLLED. ***PAGE*** -59- 114 (continued) STRAKER Foster... get off this ship - you're breathing my oxygen! ON FOSTER HE SUDDENLY REALISES THE TRUTH OF STRAKER'S WORDS. HIS EYES DROP AND THEN COME UP AGAIN, A NERVOUS SMILE JUST TOUCHING HIS LIPS. TWO SHOT THEY EXCHANGE A LOOK. FOSTER ENTERS THE HATCH AND PULLS DOOR CLOSED BEHIND HIM. WE SEE THE LOCKING HANDLE TURN TO SECURE DOOR. ON STRAKER HE STARES AT DOOR, BREATHING DEEPLY, FILLED WITH EMOTION - THE SOUND OF THE WATER PUMPS START UP. HE CLIMBS DOWN GANTRY, REACHING LOWER DECK. HE MOVES TO A BULKHEAD AND SLOWLY SLIDES DOWN THE WALL, ALLOWING HIS BODY TO RELAX AND MOVE WITH THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EFFORT. HE STARES AHEAD... AND ALL IS SILENT. FADE OUT: END OF ACT THREE ***PAGE*** -60- FADE IN: ACT FOUR 115 EXT. SEA. SHADO SEAPLANE. EVENING. (VE) TO ESTABLISH. CUT TO: 116 INT. SHADO SEAPLANE HATCH. (CABIN) (STUDIO) WITHIN HATCH WE SEE ALEC FREEMAN AND PAUL FOSTER, WHO IS OUT OF HIS INFLATED SUIT AND SHOWS SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN IN THE WATER. IN FOREGROUND, HOLDEN HAS RETURNED FROM THE SEABED AND LEWIS, NOW DRIED OFF, HOLDS THE DIVER'S HELMET. FREEMAN How does it look ? THE DIVER SHAKES HIS HEAD. HOLDEN She's jammed fast, sir. The only certain way of moving her is by heavy lifting gear, but we need the salvage ship for that. FOSTER Is there any way of getting an air supply through ? HOLDEN Negative. I was hoping we could use the escape hatch, but it's still flooded. FOSTER The pumps must have packed up completely. TWO SHOT FOSTER AND FREEMAN FOSTER It's hopeless. ON FREEMAN FREEMAN (to Holden) Get down there again... and get me a suit... I'm coming with you. ***PAGE*** -61- 116 (continued) TWO SHOT FOSTER What are you going to do ? FREEMAN I don't know. Anything. Break him out with a toothpick if I have to ! CUT TO: 117 EXT. UNDERWATER - SKYDIVER. (VE) MUSIC IS POIGNANT AND HEAVY WITH MELANCHOLY AS WE TRACK SLOWLY IN ON THE DOOMED SHIP. CUT TO: 118 INT. SKYDIVER - CONTROL (STUDIO) START ON EXTREME LONG SHOT OF STRAKER. HE HAS HIS EYES CLOSED, NEAR TO DEATH, SURRENDERED TO THE INEVITABLE. HE SITS AS BEFORE, BACK AGAINST WALL OF SUB., SWEAT ON HIS FACE AND UNIFORM. WE TRACK IN ON HIS FACE AND WATCH HIM STRUGGLING FOR AIR. AS HE SITS HIS LIFE FLAHSES THROUGH HIS MIND LIKE SOMETIMES HAPPENS TO A DROWNING MAN. CUT TO: 119 FIRST FLASHBACK IN THE FLASHBACKS THERE ARE NO SOUND EFFECTS, JUST THE DIALOGUE. WE SEE HENDERSON AS HE TELLS STRAKER HE IS TO BE C IN C OF SHADO. HENDERSON You're the best man for the job... the only man. WE SEE STRAKER FROM ANOTHER SEQUENCE. STRAKER I'm the guy in the responsibility seat... CUT TO: 120 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL (STUDIO) STRAKER STARES AHEAD AND WE SEE THAT THE HATCH DOOR LEADING TO CAPTAIN'S CABIN IS OPEN. WE CAN SEE THE DEAD FIGURE OF CHIN. ***PAGE*** -62- 120 (continued) STRAKER CLOSES HIS EYES AS MORE MEMORIES FLOOD IN. CUT TO: 121 SECOND FLASHBACK STRAKER AND MARY IN A MOMENT OF TENDERNESS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THEIR MARRIAGE. THEN STRAKER AND HIS SON AT THE STUDIO. CUT TO: 122 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER SMILES FAINTLY AS HE REMEMBERS A HAPPY TIME. HE OPENS HIS EYES AS WE HEAR A FAINT TAPPING FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN. STRAKER LOOKS OVER TOWARDS - POV SHOT FROM STRAKER'S POV, THE DEAD BODY OF CHIN THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR. ON STRAKER THE TAPPING HAS STOPPED. STRAKER RELAXES BACK AND REMEMBERS. HIS FACE CONTORTS A LITTLE AS - CUT TO: 123 THIRD FLASHBACK THE ACCIDENT WHEN HIS SON WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE CAR. IT IS EERIE WITHOUT SOUND EFFECTS. MARY'S 'DO SOMETHING' IS EVEN MORE STARTLING. CUT TO: 124 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO) STRAKER REJECTS THE HORROR AND HE COMES BACK TO REALITY. ON STRAKER WE HEAR THE TAPPING AGAIN. HE STARTS TO RISE, USING THE WALL TO SUPPORT HIS WEAK BODY. WIDER ANGLE STRAKER STUMBLES ACROSS THE CONTROL CENTRE TOWARDS THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -63- 125 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN - SKYDIVER. (STUDIO) STRAKER ALMOST FALLS INTO THE CABIN AND REELS TOWARDS CHIN'S DEAD BODY. HE KNEELS AT THE DEAD MAN'S SHOULDER, STARING INTO HIS FACE. ON CHIN HIS UNSEEING EYES STARE UP AT CAMERA. ON STRAKER HE IS AS NEAR TO LOSING HIS MIND AS HE WILL EVER BE. SLOWLY STRAKER LOOKS ROUND THE CABIN. STRAKER'S EYELINE WE PAN ROUND CABIN. THEN WE COME TO CRASHDIVE FLOOD TUBE HATCH... AND ZOOM IN. ON STRAKER HIS EYES CLOSE. HE REJECTS THE THOUGHT. CUT TO: 126 FOURTH FLASHBACK. ON MARY IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER HER SON'S DEATH. MARY I never want to see you again. STRAKER'S VOICE FROM THE SCENE STRAKER Mary.. CUT TO: 127 INT. CAPTAIN'S CABIN. (STUDIO) CLOSE ON STRAKER. HIS HANDS ON THE HANDLE ON THE ENTRANCE TO THE CRASHDIVE TUBE. STRAKER (low) Mary... VERY CLOSE ON STRAKER ***PAGE*** -64- 127 (continued) STRAKER (a little louder) Mary.. POV SHOT FROM STRAKER'S POV BLURRED AND OUT OF FOCUS A WOMAN. THE SHOT CLEARS: IT IS NINA. ON NINA SHE STANDS IN HATCH, ABOUT TO COLLAPSE, A SHOE FALLING FROM HER HAND WITH WHICH SHE HAS BEEN TAPPING. HER DRESS IS TORN, THE INFLATED SUIT DISCARDED. SHE FALLS FORWARD, EXHAUSTED. WIDER ANGLE NINA FALLS INTO STRAKER'S ARMS, MELTING INTO A NEAR UNCONSCIOUS STATE. STRAKER SLOWLY, LABOURIOUSLY HELPS HER TOWARDS THE CONTROL CENTRE. CUT TO: 128 INT. SKYDIVER CONTROL (STUDIO) STRAKER HELPS NINA TO THE WALL OF THE SUB AND THEY COLLAPSE TO THE DECK, SLIDING DOWN WALL. NINA The cover... it didn't blow.... NINA GOES INTO A SEMI-CONSCIOUS STATE AGAIN AND WE TRACK IN ON STRAKER. HIS EYES SHOW COMPASSION FOR THE GIRL AS HE RELIVES THE AGONY SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH. HIS EYES GLAZE AND HIS MOUTH DROPS OPEN. STRAKER'S EYELINE WE FEATURE PERISCOPE AREA AND FOCUS IS LOST AND FINALLY SCREEN GOES BLANK AS IF HIS EYES HAVE CLOSED. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -65- 129 INT. SEAPLANE CABIN. (NIGHT) (STUDIO) CLOSE ON FOSTER HEAD IN HANDS. WIDER ANGLE FOSTER LOOKS UP TO ROSS WHO SHAKES HIS HEAD IN DESPAIR. CUT TO: 130 INT SKYDIVER CONTROL. (STUDIO). STRAKER WITH THE LOG BOOK AS AT THE END OF THE OPENING SEQUENCE. ON NINA SHE OPENS HER EYES WIDER ANGLE STRAKER SLOWLY, WITH GREAT EFFORT PLACES THE BOOK IN A SPECIAL CONTAINER WHICH WILL PRESERVE IT FOR THE RECORD. NINA Closing the book... STRAKER LOOKS AT HER, BOTH ARE NEAR TO DEATH. HE KNOWS WHAT SHE MEANT, HE MOVES A LITTLE CLOSER. NINA If... if it had to be anyone....I'm glad you're here. I mean...I'm glad... it 's you... THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER, MUCH CLOSER IN THE UNREALITY OF DEATH THAN THEY COULD EVER BE IN LIFE. WE FEATURE THE REDNESS OF A BURNING LIGHT ON CONTROL PANEL. IT GOES OUT OF FOCUS AND THE RED SLOWLY FILLS THE SCREEEN. THEN IT CHANGES THROUGH A SERIES OF COLOURS, FADING AND MIXING. MIX TO: 131 INT. STRAKER'S OFFICE. (STUDIO) LINKING WITH PREVIOUS EFFECT, WE START ON MULTI-COLOURED LIGHT SCREEN BEHIND STRAKER'S DESK. WE PULL BACK SLOWLY TO TAKE IN STRAKER SITTING AT HIS DESK. ***PAGE*** -66- 131 (continued) BEFORE HIM, SHOT STILL HELD TIGHT, IS FREEMAN. AS THEY TALK WE CONTINUE TO WIDER ANGLE, REALISING THAT FOSTER AND NINA ARE ALSO IN THE OFFICE. STRAKER So you decided to blow me out of the water, Alec... FREEMAN It was the last resort... Holden came up with it... with Skydiver off the ledge the divers got in through the missile tubes. STRAKER SMILES AND FREEMAN MOVES ASIDE SO THAT THE COMMANDER CAN MOVE AROUND HIS OFFICE. THE FAMILIAR THINGS ARE REASSURING. STRAKER It's - er - good to be back... ON FOSTER HE GRINS ON STRAKER HE SMILES HIS THANKS. GROUP SHOT THEY BEGIN TO MOVE OUT OF THE OFFICE. ON STRAKER HIS GAZE MOVES ON TO NINA... THEY WERE CLOSE...BUT IT'S OVER. HE'S A COMMANDER AND THERE'S NO PLACE FOR HER IN HIS LIFE... NOR HIM IN HERS. STRAKER Lieutenant Barry... just a moment. ON NINA SHE TURNS FROM THE DOOR TO MOVE TOWARDS STRAKER'S DESK AND THE AUTOMATIC DOORS CLOSE BEHIND HER. WIDER ANGLE NINA STANDS BEFORE STRAKER'S DESK. HE STANDS UP AND MOVES ROUND TO FACE HER. HE HESITATES... ***PAGE*** -67- 131 (continued) STRAKER Well, Nina... NINA (gently) Sir... STRAKER We were pretty close down there... I mean.. to death. NINA (a beat) Yes.. if there was anything that I said which, er... SHE DROPS HER GAZE, THE WORDS FAILING. STRAKER Or didn't say ? That's what life's all about. The things we never say. ON STRAKER HE LOOKS AT A PAPER ON HIS DESK. STRAKER Well, I see your flight for Moonbase leaves this afternoon. NINA Yes, sir. 15.00 hours. STRAKER Well, take it easy. See you next time around. Goodbye, Nina... NINA (happy) Goodbye, sir. SHE WALKS TO THE DOOR. ON STRAKER HE FLICKS THE INTERCOM. STRAKER Let me have the D 17's for last week... FORD (VO) They're er not ready, sir. STRAKER Well when will they be ready, Lieutenant ? ***PAGE*** -68- 131 (continued) ON NINA LOOKING BACK FROM THE DOORWAY. SHE SMILES BROADLY. FORD (VO) Er maybe.. a couple of hours, sir. STRAKER (VO) Try maybeing 15 minutes. STRAKER IS HIS OLD SELF. NINA EXITS. FADE OUT: ------------------------------ CUT HERE --------------------------------