EXT. SPACECRUISER FLANK - OVER ATLANTIC - RED MOON NIGHT
20W 1N 100 mi. high atmospheric deorbit level-forward E-NE 5 mi./sec. 550 mi. to the nearing west coast of Africa 12W 7N faint in the red glow of lunar eclipse 40W 70 deg. high.
(00:00 blocks - You Will become Jealous/Marquisard)
SHUTTLE DETACHES … VERNIERS … LIGHT-THRUSTS west-aftward …
(00:06)
Passes the impaled Croaker Probe … and beyond aft, pitches down toward Earth's ocean reflection of the lunar eclipse …
(00:11 "mmm")
Undershield eastward, MAIN-THRUST 50 ft./sec-sec. 0.5 mi. …
(00:21 clanks)
EXHAUST DWINDLES to idle as it recedes down 1 mi./10 sec.…
(00:31 voice, sinks)
EXT. SHUTTLE - OVER WEST AFRICA 20E - (RED MOON PREDAWN)
75 mi. above Earth, 30 deg. nose-down bottom-forward E-NE …
(POV BEHIND) Idle exhaust blows straight back-westward …
BOTTOM AEROGLOW begins pale red … with yellowish streaks …
Slow conic roll to 30 deg. nose-up upright …
(POV FRONT) Red Moon at 40 deg. above a red horizon trace …
(01:13 exalt bursts)
BOTTOM BLOOMS BUSY-BLUE WHITE AMID STRONG AEROGLOW AURA …
(POV ABOVE) Illuminating the Earth nightside mid Africa …
(POV BEHIND) 450 mi. west of approaching mid-lower Nile …
|
EXT. MID-LOWER NILE SHORE, THEBES 32E - (RED MOON PREDAWN)
4000-BC-Egyptian spearfishermen pole in round basket boats;
(01:24)
West BLUE-WHITE NOVA CROSSES into the red moon at 15 deg. …
One fisherman points hushed attention to it, "Mul-gi" …
1 deg. souther the trailing space-city-ship-engine NUCLEAR-FLASH 1 SEC. BLUE-WHITE;-- eliciting excitement, "Mul-ki" …
3 sec. later the LIGHT-ECHO WHITENS THE RED MOON, 1 sec.…
(01:35 fades, settles, glide)
|
INT. SHUTTLE, 38E 40 MI. UP - AEROGLOW THINNING, DAWN 05:25
Leveling, 3 mi./sec. dropping 0.3 mi./sec. below sunrise …
TfNi controls; Gabe monitors. Adam is seated behind.
An orange dragon-curve draws on the communications console.
Aeroglow dims to clear: MORNING STARS RISING FAST …
(01:45 voice)
Communications sweeps for acquisition … and decimates … and again … and communications acquires….
(02:00)
The display refreshes to [Mike face] repressing worry amid alarms, warnings, data, diagrams, re city-ship separation …
Gabe talks with him ad lib … passing over the HEJEZ RANGE …
(02:10)
COLLISION-AVOIDANCE INDICATORS;--
AUTO-BANKS-DODGES-BOBS-ABOUT FIREY METEORS SHOOTING AHEAD …
Ahead 100 mi. 75-MI. CEILING GLOWS ORANGE OF PLASMA-PLOWING ROCKET ENDS, 3, pirouetting heady 6+9 deg. apart, preceding 1.5 mi./sec., cleaving-off mile chunks storming and hordes of freed meteors chasing showering the sky, lagging …
[Mike face] IMAGE-STALLS repeatedly … then only telemetry …
06:00 AM daylight burns on the horizon …
(02:27 exalt bursts)
SUNRISE BREACHED: A SUN-OUT-SPOT solarizes in the window as the Shuttle 20 mi. high glides over the Hejez east slope …
(02:48 knocks, settled)
E-E-NE, 100 mi. north of Pishon … WAKES POP AND BUFFET …
(02:59 voice, piano, resumes)
CALMS to hypersonic cruise across a wet-desert mid-Arabia …
Rocket Storm 3 sections fully broken, tumbling, 90+140 mi. apart (6+9 deg.), extending 250-650 mi. ahead … lowering … METEORITES BEGIN PEPPERING the landscape diffusely below …
And a SLOWEST GRAVEL CLUSTER BLASTS THE LAND 29.7N 45.4E … And a FIRST CHUNK PLOWS a 3-mi.-wide furrow 31.5N 45.5E …
|
EXT. WET DESERT, PALMS - FIRST PLOWER ONCOMING - FIERY SKY
Plower fast approaching splashing-up a mile crest of dirt …
PASSES … BLASTING THE LAND BARE … ZERO VISIBILITY DUST …
|
INT. SHUTTLE, 45E 5 MI. UP - MORNING BECOMING EAST-OBSCURED
(03:40 exalt bursts)
STORM PLOWS 31.7N, 30.2N: 46.5E: FLAMING, LIGHTNING; DUST BILLOWS to 300 mi. across, obliterating morning sunlight; 28N STEAMS the Persian Gulf … and FLASHES UP THE RIDGE …
The space-ram pavis plows mid-mountain range 31.8N 51-53E …
(04:06 fade, settles)
Shuttle 5 mi. high 1 mi./sec. approaches first impact zone 150 mi. west of the Euphrates to Pishon-Batin north bend …
TfNi, Gabe, exchange concerned looks.
(04:12) (04:14 end -out-)
|
EXT. SHUTTLE - OVER PISHON NORTH BEND - DENSE HAZE 06:30 AM
Looping subsonic 2 mi. above thick billowing dust, as TfNi, Gabe, search for a site along the north bend 30-30.2N 47.2-47.4E impact zone 100 mi. west of Euphrates; a flame-tinged dust shroud across the east; forest fires up the mountains.
|
EXT. SHUTTLE LANDING - PISHON NORTH-BEND - OBSCURE 07:00 AM
(NB. SPACER EARTH VOICES TIP-OF-MOUTH QUIET TENOR-SOPRANO)
Persian range looms in smoke, dust, forest fire; Foreground is rubble-razed, tree stumps shattered, trunks scattered, bashed; Pishon-Batin muddy riverbed is at walking distance.
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN ….
Mr. Gabriel, TfNi, Adam disembark.
Gabe gives TfNi a hug … And kneels to Adam--
|
GABE
(neon high voice) Adam: You and your Mother have a long assignment here on this Earth-planet:- Be obedient to every word she tells you: She's a Lieutenant Commander; She's the only commander you will have on this planet;- And there is much to learn about this day-type-six planet: It's not like our spacecruiser: It's much bigger, and you can explore.… I must return to the cruiser; And I'll come visit you again when you've established your homebase with the staple seeds I've given you in these leaf-sacks; (holds up a garland-sack) You have ample resources around you to multiply and build, ten, cities. (a hug … stands to TfNi) TfNi, Go west, upriver, along the bend where it nears the city-ship atterrissage,- until you find fish and vegetation surviving, to feed you and Adam while you seed your farm; Eastward, the razed land will be barren and the river muddy for a season.… And, Take these with you. (holds 3 broken watchers)
TFNI
(surprised) They're broken,- and Mr. Michael said it's best I shouldn't.
GABE
Actually these are repaired, but look broken: to disguise them. Take them with you, TfNi: We can monitor your progress.… Mike agrees, but we had to be sure you'd get-away clear from suspicion here so we left them damaged in case anyone challenges you: Bargain one for three measures of grain-meal: That will make any simple man smile at the thought of reciprocal multiplication. (to both) God-be-with-you, TfNi, and Adam;- I must tend to space-city-business. (returns to the Shuttle)
|
TfNi, Adam, retreat …
Shuttle EXHAUST … Lifts and accelerates eastward into haze.
(~~:~~ - more: Isle of Her/Marquisard)
They turn, take hands, and walk away to the river …
EXT. PISHON RIVER, NORTH-BEND - BROAD SHALLOWS - HAZY SUN
TfNi, Adam wading warm muddy water, walk westward upriver …
(~~:~~ -subsides-)
A CAT hiding dusted behind a snapped tree stump banded by a straplike fragment, awakes and watches them pass near;
|
TFNI
(points west-to-east) … and the rain washes down the slopes of the mountains and hills and the land itself, and gathers into streams; and the streams run-together into rivers and cross the plain; and from here, flow to fill lakes and bigger seas and oceans.…
ADAM
(switches subjects) Mommy,-- Where's the toilet?
TFNI
On unbuilt planets, we improvise.
|
She leads him to a bush spared behind another tree stump.
And behind the bush, Adam squats,-- and leaves it.
|
TFNI
And back to the river: to clean-up.
|
She soil-covers his leavings while he returns to the river.
And she catches him at the river shore … and both wade-in.
The Cat rises, sneezes dust, and comes inspects the toilet.
And watches TfNi clean Adam with a handful of river sand …
AT THE SHORE:
And she shows him how to clean his hands using river sand--
|
TFNI
(works sand under water) And wash your hands in the sand and water. (sniffs hand; withholds) And wash thoroughly. (reworks with fresh sand)
|
They come out, and walk the shore upriver; Cat trailing …
|
ADAM
Mommy, Can we dry-off?
TFNI
It's warm today:- Let's walk;- We may swim some more.
|
MILES FURTHER - MIDMORNING (MILD-HAZY SUN ABOVE-BEHIND)
The river is gradually clearing; trees stand barren here …
|
TFNI
Adam, Can you identify the types of day, here?
ADAM
(ponders, points) There are plants, and trees:- Those are day-type Three. (looks up, around) This river of water is day-type Two … And the daylight, and the clouds earlier are day-type One … But the sun is clearing:- That is day-type Four … Can we stop and look for fish in the river waters?
|
She nods yes.
They stand at the water's edge, talking quietly--
|
TFNI
Do you know what a fish looks like?
ADAM
It's gray, long, smooth except its fins stick-out … There,- Is that a fish?- They live underwater.
TFNI
Could it be a dark rock?
ADAM
(watches a moment) There, It moved … I think … See?
TFNI
Yes, That is a fish:- a small fish.
ADAM
And fish are day-type Five;-- (looks up, around) But I don't see any birds;- And we won't see stars until nighttime,- except a moon sometimes: A moon and stars are day-type Four … But … Are we the mankind of day-type Six?
TFNI
We are visitors to this planet: We may find mankind;- And we will see animals too.
ADAM
(peers about the horizon) Not right here:- This planet must be mostly day-type Four or Five.
TFNI
Actually this planet is bigger than we see here,- which is already much bigger than our spacecruiser …. We may have to go far to find animals and mankind,-- but they are here.
ADAM
(a beat) Mommy, Where does this, river go?
TFNI
It flows a long way down the slope of the land, to the ocean.
ADAM
(looks around) Are we on a slope?
|
THE VIEW IS FLAT;- the mountains are still in smoky haze.
|
TFNI
Yes, a very gentle slope,- enough for shallow water:-- Come, watch:
|
She finds a bush-stick … and tosses it into the river …
|
TFNI
(squats with him) See: A stick of wood floats, and goes with the water current, which itself is flowing down-slope….
ADAM
(watches the stick) Can we make a river-ship to carry us?
TFNI
(quick looks about) We may,- with a lot more wood.
|
ADAM
Where are we going?
TFNI
We will go to our select base-camp, and set-up there.
ADAM
How far is our base-camp?
TFNI
It is about two miles from here:- We did not want to land the Shuttle right on top of the base-camp;- We should scout-around first, and see what's near and far;- See, Here are some berries, in bushes.
|
She leads him quickly to her discovered berry bush still intact and viable behind a small clump of barren trees …
And gathers sprays of berries, mid-high;
|
TFNI
(blows dust off) These may be edible.…
|
She heads back to the river; He follows, interested …
AT THE SHORE:
She washes the berries … and lets him try one--
|
ADAM
(eats … smiles) It's tart, and sweet!-- (and eats more)
Why didn't we have these on the spacecruiser?
TFNI
(eating too) We had the giant Balaustine berries you liked … I think Mr. Gabriel has included some in the seed pouches.… There are too many kinds of fruits, to grow them all onboard a cruiser.
|
They treat on the berries while she fashions two spears of stiff water reeds: fitting a splinter of rock in each tip.
|
TFNI
(holds-up a spear) This, is a spear for catching fish.
|
She leads to the water's edge ….
|
TFNI
Stand still and be quiet while we fish with a spear.
|
He quiets …. She strikes the spear into the water … a couple times … and finally spears a fish;-- He smiles.
|
TFNI
Fish are food for mankind:-- fish from clean fresh river water.…
|
She stands her spear upright; kneels and scoops handfuls of water two-handed-tipped-forward to her mouth, drinking …
He kneels and imitates … but has a hand-sieve …
And leans down prone, mouth to the water, and slurps ….
|
ADAM
(wiping mouth) Yes, it's fresh water.
TFNI
Plants that grow fruit right at the ground are unclean on Earth but are clean in outerspace;-- Do you know why?
ADAM
Planet soil is unclean … And we use hydroponics in the spacecruiser;-- But, Mommy, The plant nutrients are not for people.…
TFNI
Hydroponics are finished and wash freely;- But soil is unfinished and does not wash off readily;- It gets wet in the rain but leaves a stain. Plants that grow tall, are clean.
ADAM
How high do they have to grow?- Like trees?
TFNI
Trees are high enough; Clean plants have elevated fruits, higher than… (squats with him; quiet) Do you know about the very small animals?
ADAM
You mean the worms and bugs? (TfNi nods yes) They crawl on everything.
TFNI
(nods yes again) Yes, Elevated fruits must never sway to the ground.
ADAM
So, the berries are clean?
TFNI
Yes, Berries are clean,- but, Leave those near the bottom, near the ground:- Animals must eat, too.
ADAM
(considers admittingly) What do fish eat?
TFNI
(smiles) Not berries, but very tiny plants, and bugs.
ADAM
And worms?
TFNI
I suppose they can, but worms bury into the dirt out of reach. And big fish may eat tiny fish:- there are so many fish in all the waters.… This fish will be our dinner, with these berries;- the fish-tail is for children.
|
They walk-on, with speared fish and sprigs of berries.
(00:00 windwhistle - more: Under the Sun/Marquisard)
A DAYTIME FIREBALL MEANDERS tightly in the western sky …
(00:06 cry)
|
TFNI
(looks, pauses) Wait a moment, Adam.
|
It descends … to the horizon …
But just stillness on the horizon ….
(00:15 +drum tap excitement beat)
|
TFNI
Let's keep going.
|
They walk-on in the midmorning blazing sun.
(00:24 evaporates -stop before voice-)
|
EXT. NILE SAND BEACH - OTHER SHUTTLE - LANDING - MIDMORN
DESCENDING NEATLY vertically … Inside are Copilot Ra, his younger-twin Pilot THOTH, Ptah and the twin-WIVES in back …
TO THREE-POINT atop a groved hill (NB. No pyramid 4000 BC).
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN ….
The men disembark … and independently look about …
Last out--
|
PTAH
(foot out gingerly) Well, well … So this, is a planet!- Haven't seen one of these in years… (a beat; one-foot stomp) Terra … Solida … Cognita …. (steps out, a beat) One small step for the younger gods … One giant leap of faith, for me …
ATEM-RA
(fast-flatfooting away) There's a beach … a beach! … Gabe is missing all this …!
PTAH
(follows less-enthused) Not too easy to miss a whole planet with beaches … Just takes good aim.
|
Thoth walks-after for the shore … where Ra slides in sand:
|
PTAH
(watching Ra slide) Terra, not-so-solida ….
|
Ra flops full in the water,-- and splashes right back out--
|
ATEM-RA
(jumping soaked) Eigh-yigh-yigh … this is cold …!
PTAH
(stoops to touch sand) The sand is hot: Dry-off on this.
ATEM-RA
(tests; sits; lies back) Ooh… Ahh…!- This is warmer …!
|
Ptah takes tentative steps … but more-downhill accelerates flatfooting … sideways … and flops on the sand near Ra.
|
PTAH
(laments loud) Sekhmet…!- We forgot to simulate gravity with, hills,…! (calms, to Ra) Should be in the sun for a while … (supine a beat, leans up) And easier … too … Like zero gee ….
|
All-three lying on the beach … spread-eagle …
|
ATEM-RA
So, Which are we going to do first?
PTAH
I think we go for the gold … first.
ATEM-RA
I think silver, will beat gold … It was rarer on Mike's spectral map ….
PTAH
True … But gold has sunnier color.…
ATEM-RA
(trying to sit up) Only looking at a pinhole-obscura … (flops back) And, We have to sit, up, first.…
PTAH
(tries to sit up) Aah … yuh … Later-- (flops back)
|
Thoth swim-scrapes a 'sand-angel' … props and looks about …
|
THOTH
This could get real boring real fast.
PTAH
Is that any different than on the ship?
THOTH
Well … No … I suppose not,-- But we could do things better than lying around ….
PTAH
(a beat) Think of this planet as a larger ship … What would you do?
THOTH
I'd start, by finding-out where we're going ….
ATEM-RA
Did we know where we were going on the ship?
THOTH
We knew we were going to land one of these planets, eventually: soon as we found matchable speed.
ATEM-RA
Then we know where this planet is going:-- In the same direction as the ship ….
THOTH
(a beat) So we've upgraded to a bigger ship?
PTAH
Something like that … I suppose … Long as we don't land this planet, ship, on a bigger, planet … ship….
|
Thoth and Ra look mutually--
|
ATEM-RA
(confides quieter) You'd better, find-out where we're going….
|
Sekhmet calls-out from the shuttle--
|
SEKHMET
(loud) Any of you men going to come retrieve us women…?!
|
The men in unison "Aah!"--
|
PTAH
Chivalry, is a universal cosmic, interstellar, interplanetary, constant ….
|
EXT. PISON, NEAR GOOD GROVE - WEAK HAZE, LATE AFTERNOON
Parallel beyond the mile-wide river is the raised entry lip of a miles-long impact crater. Tfni, Adam, water-frolic …
|
TFNI
(breaks off) We've played long-enough, Adam;- Let's go rest.
|
And come out … a LIZARD scampers, stops … and runs again …
|
ADAM
(pointing to lizard) What's that?
TFNI
That's little more than a snake with fully developed legs.
ADAM
It's fast;- Does it live underground too?
TFNI
When the days are cooler it spends more time beneath.
ADAM
Will we build a camp underground?
TFNI
(looks at Adam, smiles) I hope it doesn't get that cold.…
|
A BIRD SWOOPS DOWN passed … and grabs-away the lizard.
|
ADAM
Oh!- What was that?!
TFNI
That's the bird you didn't see earlier:-- They fly in the day.
ADAM
Where do birds go in the night?
TFNI
They find a safe place high in the trees;-- maybe here.
|
EXT. THE GOOD GROVE, LARGELY LOW DATE PALMS - (CONTINUOUS)
The Cat, approaching the grove, chases the taunting BIRD.
|
ADAM
(points) What's that?
TFNI
A land-animal;-- What would you like to call it?
ADAM
(pauses) Does it have a name?
TFNI
Every planet has its own types of animals;-- We can name them here.
ADAM
(watches) It's trying to catch a bird:-- Let's call it a, Catcher.
TFNI
How about if it only tries?
ADAM
Okay, a cat: It's a small, -maybe- catcher.
TFNI
(nods acknowledging) And how would you describe a cat, to me?
ADAM
It's long; it has four legs, and a longish tail, and short ears; it's brown.
TFNI
And if there were another that were white?- Would that be a cat?
ADAM
(considers) … Yes;- This is a brown, cat.
TFNI
And if it had a short tail,-- Would it be a cat?
ADAM
(considers) … I don't think so …. Do you think there are any?
TFNI
This is a small base-camp;-- We'll see what we find. But, Adam: Don't you chase wild animals;- Do you understand me?!
ADAM
Yes.
TFNI
And don't squeeze your pet animals hard, like you do Mommy and Daddy.… Let's prepare dinner: (takes dangling branches) Let's gather dry brush and sticks for a fire.
ADAM
(helps gather dry brush) Okay.
|
She rubs or flints a fire …
|
TFNI
We will make our fire of sticks tonight,- but we must find more tinder soon: Sticks grow in season and in place,- and have other uses.
|
EXT. NILE SAND BEACH - SHUTTLE LANDING - LATE AFTERNOON
All tanned: They're busy unloading about the shuttle …
|
ATEM-RA
(loud from Shuttle Comm) Mike says they've found Tefen, and he is very alive … spinning wildly, cooling evenly just above freezing, breathing slowly … suit intact, and had enough spare heat and air … But four, days, still, is a long time …
PTAH
Good to hear … But we should hide the shuttle somewhere … But after we figure-out exactly where we are!
ATEM-RA
(getting out) Tefen will be up and about in a few days … They'll send him right down.
PTAH
Good, Good … But about the shuttle?
ATEM-RA
(joining) Frightened clean out of his wits … (a beat) Stiff hangover of proton radiation. (a beat, about) Hmmm … Could sink it in the river … Or impact it in the hillside … Bury it deep, unseen that way ….
PTAH
Excellent … As soon as we unload.
ATEM-RA
(a beat) They renamed him … (enunciates) Shw …
PTAH
Shw…?- Tefen?!-- Shw …?-- Why …?!
ATEM-RA
They're convincing him he's died and gone to heaven with a new name.
|
Ptah lets out a goodly cackle.
|
EXT. PISON GROVE - LATE DUSK - DARKENING (A THOUSAND STARS)
Soft desert BREEZE RUSTLES the trees; CRICKETS CHIRP.
They finish dinner.
She prepares a bed of fronds-leaves while he tosses bone-scraps to invite the Cat.…
She takes him in her arms to rest.
An occasional meteor streaks across the sky …
|
TFNI
(quietly) Do you know the stars in the sky?
ADAM
Mr. Gabriel assigned us research to learn them.… There's Sirius:- (points) It's bright red … And Adara … And there's Rigel … And Betelgeuse … And Aldebaran:- it's red too … And there's the 'cluster-of-seven', but that's not their name … And there's Capella … And over there's Procyon,- And Pollux … (looking around) The stars appeared on the fourth-day-type …
|
ADAM
(surprised, points) And a meteor! (a beat) There are also lots of stars we can see from the other side.… (a beat) Mommy, Will we get to visit the other side of the Earth?
TFNI
Not very soon, Adam; but eventually we may …. We'll see how we like living on this side;-- But, you remember what you told me about the planets revolving around the sun?
ADAM
(ponders) Yes… Oh: We don't have to go to the other side, to see the other stars! (exuberates on discovery) When will we see them…?!
TFNI
In a hundred and 83 days: about two times it takes for fruit to grow.
ADAM
(figures) Then we will, see the other stars.…
TFNI
Yes, many times,-- maybe a thousand times again.
ADAM
Okay. (redirects) But, Mommy, There were more stars on this side, before.
TFNI
From our spacecruiser, in space the sky is clear to see dimmer stars that on a planet, the deep sky hides.… Most stars we see are very near our sun, in this galaxy arm … yet during the day the blue sky obscures even those.… Do you know which lights we see during the day?- and which of them are stars?
ADAM
The sun is the star nearest this planet,- but, What other stars? (pauses) And we see the moon too, and maybe other planets.
TFNI
We may see comets and supernovae sometime.
ADAM
Mr. Gabriel said, a supernova is a big star that burns like a billion suns, in six hours, and then glows brightly as it blows-away in space; And these are rare now.
TFNI
Rare, yes;- but when the universe began there were very many.
ADAM
(a long beat) Are there people, like us, living near every star?- Or are they like the sixth-day-type mankind?
TFNI
Sixth-day-type planets abound in the galaxy; But Adam, We must never endanger their peoples with our technologies. Do you know why?- or where their technology comes-from?
ADAM
It comes from partial knowledge of planet surface physics.
TFNI
Right, you are:-- a thousand times too slow and too shallow for us.
ADAM
Will they ever become like us?
TFNI
In a thousand times as long before your adult-teeth come-in.
ADAM
(2 beats thinking) How long is that?
TFNI
Maybe six or seven thousand planet years, they'll get their spacer-teeth;- But only if you help them, and never hurt them,-- never ever.
ADAM
(drowsily) They'll be adults for a very long time.
|
INT. SPACECRUISER - CHILDREN'S HALL - RED (DREAM FLASHBACK)
(00:00 heehoo - Exquisite Marquise/Marquisard)
(POV) TfNi ranger-goggled walks amid personnel scattering …
COLLAGE: Assault at Jupiter: LIGHT FAILS TO GOGGLE VIEW …
(00:08 +rhythm, grinding strains)
Goggle DATA, FAINT STROBES;-- EXPLOSION INTO HALL, Croakers enter GUNFIRING, Armoried Crew return LASERGUN-PATTERNS …
TRANSPARENT DANIELESQUE Tefen-Ra, white robe, golden sash, standing amidst, arms raised to the sky, long hair blowing, ruby eyes, and as-it-were-water dappling about his feet …
(00:17 string, smooth-wipe-spread)
|
EXT. NARROW RIVER, SANDBAR AMIDST - (CONTINUOUS LAST)
Two loin-clothed, oiled MUSCLE-GUARDS: Mr. Michael on this side, Mr. Gabriel the other, facing opposite, arms crossed; TfNi seated unclad (BACKSIDE), breathing hard, reaching up;
|
DANIELESQUE
(arms high, prophesying)
By His irrefutable Word created the Almighty the sun and moon and every star and planet in their courses, and set the heavens in motion; … He spreadeth His understanding before the foundations of the Earth … He weigheth His wisdom upon the scales of the sky … His truth divideth the minds of the nations …
|
DANIELESQUE
that it should be counted two times and weighed for a time and parted for half a time … and then shall it be parted again for half a time and weighed for a time and counted two times … 'til all be fulfilled ….
|
(00:45 -stop before voice-)
|
EXT. GROVE - DARK NIGHT, STARS (PRESENT AWAKE)
MELD: TfNi breathing excessively … wakes,-- calms …
Adam remains sleeping, breathing quietly.
|
TFNI
Good night, Adam.
|
EXT. GROVE, PISHON RIVER - DAWN
TfNi rouses;
Takes palm fronds and half the remaining berries;
Walks to the mile-wide river shallows;
Washes the berries and eats, looking across at the crater;
Looks back at Adam sleeping … and around … and crosses …
|
EXT. ALONG THE NILE - SANDY SHORE - EARLY DAWN
They're hiking with spacer backpacks, Ptah wading …
|
PTAH
(looks about) We're going to have to change to local clothes … plaited leaves … or sewn-up fishskins ….
ATEM-RA
Fishskins:-- I can wear that…!- Get me one of those deep sea creatures: Something bloated and terrifying …!
PTAH
You're supposed to be Sun-god … not terrifying.
ATEM-RA
Think there are any golden fish with radial spines … at least?
PTAH
(stoops and picks up) Regard … a gold, fleck … See: Gold is the first, rarest to be found ….
ATEM-RA
That makes silver rarer … when we find it ….
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EXT. GROVE - RETURNED - SUN UP AN HOUR
PAN TO JOIN: Wearing frond-slippers, she washes the last of the berries in a frond-plate at the shore …
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ADAM
(approaches carrying Cat) Mommy, The cat likes me.
TFNI
Speak to the cat: Tell it the truth, You are the master.
ADAM
(to Cat) You are one, cat, on this planet, in the cosmos: Your place is here.
TFNI
Adam, Come see the things I found at the river.
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Adam comes close, loosing the Cat …
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TFNI
(handling pitch lumps) This is oil-sludge: We can use it for our cooking fires: instead of dry twigs and leaves.
ADAM
What is oil-sludge?
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TFNI
Wash your hands in the water, and eat some berries.
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He rubs his hands in the water and sand, to wash.
She gives him the frond-plate of berries: He eats while she demonstrates oil-sludge that floats;
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TFNI
This oil-sludge is a blend of deep-Earth carbons, plus the slick gooey remains of plants and animals that lived long ago and got stuck in it. It makes a sludge underground where it collected thousands and millions of years:- Oil-sludge is not clean; It comes to the surface because it floats above the water table here;- (tosses it on the river) Oil and water can seep through tiny cracks in the ground, and ooze-up, and collect. And oil burns in fire.
ADAM
How do animal remains get underground?
TFNI
Everything the animal leaves of its body adds to the soil and is washed with rain, and mixed with the dusts of Earth and outer-space, settling from the wind …. Plants grow in the soil, and everything a plant leaves that the animals don't eat, adds to the soil until it is very deep, in tens of thousands of years. We will plant a garden, with trees, in soil like this, of the seeds we brought.
ADAM
(touches oil-sludge) Will we make oil-sludge too?
TFNI
Not for ten thousand years … But we may find more things that have oil: The seeds of many grain-plants are rich in oil clean for making food.
ADAM
(sniffs finger) This doesn't smell like food.
TFNI
Eating-oils must be made fresh, and used fresh, and eaten fresh …. This sludge is very old, and was made of already-eaten foods.… We'll collect this for our cooking fire, and keep it in pots made of clay.… Would you like to help?
ADAM
Okay.… But where do we get clay on this planet?
TFNI
(scoops deeper clay) The kind of clay we will use here, is very fine, soil, thick and damp; and is found deeper under the sand.
ADAM
Oh:- Mr. Gabriel said, Soil is like our toy-modeling clay.…
TFNI
(works and shapes clay) Yes, but we have lot's of clay-soil here … And we will bake it very hot till it's very hard and dry,- after we fashion-out pots.
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A BEE buzzes-by Adam "vv…vv" … and alights on a flower bud.
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ADAM
(searching delighted) What's that?!
TFNI
It's smaller than a bird.…
ADAM
Let's call it a, Vee: It sounds, (enunciates) "Vvv…vvv".
TFNI
Where does the Vee, go?
ADAM
(watches it crawl buds) It is stopping on little plants and inspecting the flower buds, before these open.
TFNI
It is a worker-insect: (joins, watches) A pollinator.
ADAM
What does work mean among insects?- What work is pollinating?
TFNI
It means, It doesn't eat the plants but tends and promotes the fruiting for seeding by collecting grains of flower-pollen and leaving specks on other flowers of the same species.… It keeps most of the pollen for its own food,- as flowering plants have much extra. (appends) We, will tend the plants we, grow.
ADAM
Will we pollinate the flowers?
TFNI
We can let the Vees do that:- there are many more …. We will water and feed the plants:- the whole plants. (new subject) Now, Would you like to help, gather the oil-sludge, and the pot-making?
ADAM
Yes.
TFNI
(presents frond-slippers) Put-on your shoes,- and let's begin this day's work.
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He puts on the frond-slippers.
COLLAGE: A DAY'S ACTIVITIES:
MORNING HOURS
She teaches him to fashion pots of moist clay-soil …
While she makes a larger kiln of clay in a place for it …
And they set the pots out aside to sun-dry …
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TFNI
We will let these dry thoroughly,- And then bake them all very, dry.…
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She builds an open fire of oil-sludge-dipped-pebbles, while he watches, alternately petting and playing with his Cat …
NOON
She finishes cooking fish and vegetation-stalks on wet leaves steamed over the remaining fire and hot pebbles …
And they eat, with a side-order of palm dates.…
AFTERNOON HOURS
She teaches him to fashion frond-baskets …
And they scoop river-pebbles and-clay for the next task:
LATE AFTERNOON HOUR
They pour a large fire-hearth of clay and pebble filling … smoothing it with fronds … And leave it to dry.…
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TFNI
This will dry in a few days.…
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She tries fashioning several clay spear heads, and chipping a few -softer- rocks, for knife-like tool pieces.
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EXT. RIVER, SHORE - EARLY EVENING
They frolic and splash in the river ad lib until dinner …
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TFNI
(stops from play) Adam. Before our evening dinner, It is time for the special discovery of today:- Let's cross the river.
ADAM
Can I take the cat?
TFNI
Do you remember what I said?
ADAM
You said to not squeeze it.
TFNI
(purses a smile) Yes.
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He retrieves the cat … and They cross the shallows to the far side … Adam holding his Cat high in waist deep water …
And beyond … until they come to:
(POV) 100 PACES DOWN THE STEAMY-MISTY BARREN CRATER SLOPE … They appear and stop at the lip … He lets Cat loose.…
SURVEYING the 3 mi. wide 10 mi.-along 100 ft. deep crater …
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ADAM
Is this, the special discovery?
TFNI
Yes: See how far it is, across.
ADAM
But it's plain:- There's nothing growing down there.…
TFNI
It just started today;- This will be your garden:- You will grow it.
ADAM
(surprised) The whole garden?!
TFNI
Yes, With the seeds we brought, we will plant it,-- and we will divert the river to water it when the rain does not …. This is all yours: You will tend it,- And later in the year, its harvest will feed us.
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Adam marvels the extent …
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EXT. NILE - SANDY BEACH - MIDDAY (MONTHS LATER)
All in fishskin suits, Ra welcomes SHW (Tefen), except who is still spacer-suited, sullen, exiting from a shuttle--
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ATEM-RA
(a hand support) Welcome to … Heaven, Shw ….
SHW
(looks at him funny) Et tu, Ra…?- You guys have turned all weird, since I got back ….
ATEM-RA
You've joined-up with the gods …!
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Shw out and away, Ra waves-off the Pilot;-- Shuttle rises …
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ATEM-RA
You'll get use to planet living … And you'll have to change to one of these fishskins suits … unless you prefer scratchy leaf loincloths …
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Ptah is careful-footing along wet beach above the water:--
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PTAH
(watching his feet, loud) Look at this … Look, at, this…!
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RA
(quiet to Shw) Say, Hi.
SHW
(coming near) Hi.… What did you find?
PTAH
(occupied: to his feet) When I step on the wet sand it instantly oozes-up water …. We can build channels of wet sand and run flat-bottom barges across them to transport tons of gold: A thousand-man army can build magnificent … gold temples … for worship …
SHW
Oh.
PTAH
(looks at last: taken) Ahh!- Shw! … Shw,- You've got, to keep your mind active, down here … (a beat) You know why we call you, Shw:- You were one air-headed little baby ….
SHW
My birth name was, Tefen.
PTAH
And a typhoon, you were! -Lord!- We were amazed, at the abundance we'd achieved:- We could hear you from one end of the ship to the other … (a beat; A FOOT TEST) Ten miles away … We were going to call you, "Echo" … but you quieted down when you married Tefnuit …!-- But we were prepared for worser … (careful-foots away) But you can't go puttering across the cosmos blowing wind 9-thousand years, Shw … You'll go nuts …!
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EXT. CRATER GARDEN, PISON - SUMMER EVENING (FIRST HARVEST)
Flourishing nursery-size trees; berry bushes; wheat field;
Adam routes slope-stream water by pick-hoe, to tend trees;
TfNi, near term, sings ad lib, occupied at a potter wheel;
Watering done, he spreads compost …
A hungry WOLF creeps stealthily amid bushes … Cat scats …
She notices each … Reaches for a frond-sling and stone …
Wolf approaches behind Adam … She turns, smoothly slinging the stone --the wolf looks-- into the wolf's forehead;--
The wolf drops.
Resolutely, she takes the wolf by the scruff and drags it away … up-slope to the river whence it came.…
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EXT. CRATER LIP, GRASS FIELD ALONG RIVER
Walking a ways … she HEARS HUNGRY CUBS … and approaches …
Finds a den of 4 wolf cubs;-- Looks at her limp wolf,- and places it amid the cubs,- which suckle.…
(00:00 - The Sun in the Stream/Enya)
SUN GLINTS IN THE RIVER, in her face … Tears welling, she breaks to sob, face in hands, wailing …
(00:14 sad sax reed)
Standing, showing fully pregnant herself.…
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EXT. GARDEN
"WING FOG" GROWS DOWN from the far W-NW lip of the crater.
TfNi brings the Cubs by the scruff 2x2, to Adam.
(01:00 -melt away before reed-)
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ADAM
What are they?
TFNI
These are cubs, the children of an animal:- Their mother is no longer available to them;- We'll take care of them till they are grown.
ADAM
Can we name them?- They have short tails;-- They're, (enunciates) Dockts.
TFNI
Alright, we'll call them, Dogkts.
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He plays with the cubs while she invents cub mash …
And they feed them … [Note Adam's prior surgery belly scar]
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TFNI
Adam, I want to tell you a special secret.
ADAM
What is a secret?
TFNI
A secret is something you didn't have to pay attention-to before I tell you.
ADAM
What is the secret?
TFNI
The secret is, You are going to have a little baby-sister.
ADAM
What is a baby-sister?
TFNI
A baby is someone who is like you now, and when your sister grows-up she will be a mommy like me;- You will be a daddy.
ADAM
How will she be like me?- I am I … You are like me ….
TFNI
She will start little and quickly grow to your size, and then you can play together.
ADAM
Where is the baby-sister now?
TFNI
The baby is in my belly.
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Inquisitive, he looks at her, her belly, but unsure where …
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TFNI
(taps his belly) Below the rib-bone …. But you are never to poke your sister! You may play with her, but never, animal-play with her: not like playing with your cats and dogks: She is the same flesh as you.
ADAM
(thrusts-out his belly) Will I have a baby, too?
TFNI
(laughs) No, Only mommies have the baby in the belly. But you will have to help me take care of your baby-sister. Do you think you are ready to help me by doing what I tell you, when I tell you?
ADAM
I think so.
TFNI
Good. Your baby-sister will come soon: I will tell you when. (begins away)
ADAM
Mommy … (a beat) When will Mr. Gabriel come again?
TFNI
(staying) Adam:- Mr. Gabriel has his own work to tend; --as you have yours;-- He will visit when he has the season…. But we always have what we already know of him.…
ADAM
Yes.
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The fog rolls past; he watches it flow and fill about him …
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ADAM
What is that?
TFNI
That, is a cloud that reaches the ground … it is fog ….
ADAM
(grabbing at it) It feels wet ….
TFNI
It is, water, finely misted in air.
ADAM
(dunks under, a beat) I can breathe in it.…
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The fog covers him, and the plants …
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TFNI
(a long beat) Adam, Where are you…?
ADAM
(laughs) I'm still right here.…
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[NOTA BENE: TfNi dresses in wolfskin-fur hereafter]
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