1

MARS SHALL THUNDER

an original audio drama
by Wolf DeVoon

Characters
HARRY FARADAY, special U.S. magistrate, age 32
DETECTIVE LT. LAURA OAK, age 36
TERRY BEANE, a drunk, age 51
RALPH SMUGG, mine owner, age 60
WENDY CHURCHILL, farm manager, age 55
GEN. JEFFREY R. KELLER, security chief, age 71
DR. FERRIS ROSENTHAL, industrialist, age 88
BARON FREDERICK VON HIPPER, an idiot, age 59
BILL CAMPBELL, telecom boss, age 82
CHAIRMAN OF 'M' CORP, a robot (female voice)
COL. STEEL (DANNY), psychopath, age 36
AMANDA BLUM, software engineer, age 28
KALI (EMMA), fugitive warrior, age 53
BRIG. GEN. MARGARET P. CHASE, age 66
ADJUTANT, RAMP SUPERVISOR / CORPORAL
WOMEN #1 #2 #3, SECRETARY, COMPUTER (male)

- CHAPTER ONE -

Aboard USS Valley Forge

triumphant orchestral music (and fade under)
HARRY
Mars Shall Thunder ... by Wolf DeVoon ...
October 2158. Lightspeed cruiser Valley Forge
in orbit, Brigadier General Margaret P. Chase
commanding.
chairs scrape on floor, music out, slight hum of engines
ADJUTANT
Attenn-hut.
GEN. CHASE
Sit down, gentlemen. What's the situation?
How much progress have you made?
ADJUTANT
Captain Bright requests permission to return,
ma'am. The dome at M1 was breached, and
radiation levels are too high to conduct a
citywide search. Rail tunnels and terminals
are flooded. His team has been on the surface
twenty-two hours.
GEN. CHASE
Bring them back. Muster another shuttle
and a science team.

GEN. CHASE (CONT'D)

Situation at M2.
ADJUTANT
The mining colony is operational. Structural
damage repaired before we arrived. Chief
Baxter and Lieutenant Short established a
command center. Good relations with the
civilians, by and large. Short took two people
into custody. Man named Ralph Smugg and a
woman, Wendy Churchill, impeding Federal
authority. They're in the brig. Blum and Oak
have refused to make voluntary statements.
Marshal Faraday is in post-op, condition
satisfactory but guarded.
GEN. CHASE
I want him interrogated under sedation as
soon as possible. And I want to see those two
people Short detained. If it's who I think it is,
we have to mend some fences, quick.
footsteps on steel deck, fast digital tones, door opens
GEN. CHASE
Mister Smugg? I'm General Chase,
commanding this ship and responsible for
rescue operations.
WENDY
You have no right to hold us here! Are you
people insane?

RALPH
Take it easy, Wen. Let me handle this.
GEN. CHASE
Lieutenant Short was acting on my orders, to
take charge of M2
WENDY
Knowing nothing about it!
GEN. CHASE
There are twenty thousand dead civilians at
the main population center. Your colony in the
valley survived, but there was a battle at East
Portal. I want to know what happened here,
and you're going to remain in custody on this
ship, until you tell me.
RALPH
There's only one person who knows what
happened.
GEN. CHASE
Who's that?
RALPH
Harry Faraday.
more footsteps, another door opens
small room tone
sound of girl sobbing

GEN. CHASE
Lieutenant Oak?
LAURA
Yes, ma'am.
GEN. CHASE
Do you need medical care here?
AMANDA
(distraught, swallows)
What happened to Harry? Why can't we see
him?
GEN. CHASE
Are you ... romantically involved with
Faraday?
AMANDA
No. Laur
LAURA
(sharply)
Be quiet, Mandy. Don't say anything else.
GEN. CHASE
Are you related to this girl? Is she your
daughter?
LAURA
You wouldn't understand. Nothing is that
simple on Mars. I would like to know, please,
is Harry Faraday alive or dead?

sound of heart monitor beeping

HARRY
Well, maybe I'm alive. Or dreaming. Do dead
people dream?
soft footsteps, sound of bed linen rustle
HARRY (CONT'D)
A nurse. I never dream nurses. So I'm not
dreaming and not dead. It would be nice if I
wasn't strapped down. My nose itches and
there's something on my face. Maybe they
worked on my eyes. Maybe I'll be able to see
again. See how bad it is.
ominous music under
HARRY (CONT'D)
I should never have come here. Mars was a
life taker, right from the beginning. Arid.
Frozen. Hammered by dust devils and
sandstorms, with a pressure so thin it's no
better than the vacuum of space. The landing
program funded by NASA was stupid. Men
and women of twelve countries, in tin cans
stuffed with supplies, spread all over the
northern hemisphere. Elysium, Utopia,
Arabia, Meridiana and the great caves of
Olympus. Every indication of surface water
drilled and abandoned. No fuel to get them
back to Earth.

HARRY (CONT'D)
Turned ugly. They starved, froze, ran out of
water, went crazy and killed each other. Five
hundred billion down the drain. Nothing
heroic about it. The Cal Tech paradigm was
nuts. You can't terraform Mars or camp out in
a tin can more than a couple months. So, in
2060, a big policy shift. Colonizing the Moon
suddenly made sense. Only a few days from
Earth. Easy to produce water ice at the pole.
Lunar gravity augmented with big spinning
Tilt-A-Whirls. I went to Cheeseville in 2150,
just after college. Aced the bar exam, trained
at Quantico. Posted to Eight-A Stroke Two,
where freighters dock. Then some genius in
Washington said it was a national security
problem, to do something about Mars, and I
was sworn in as a Magistrate with a marshal's
star, to go there and investigate.
several distant rocket launches with reverb
HARRY (CONT'D)
Nobody in government saw it coming. Five
boosters from a wasteland in Mongolia, five
unmanned hulls that landed on Mars, long
before I was born, before my grandfather was
born. Big international scandal. People said it
was illegal and reckless, crackpot capitalists
wasting money on Mars. Back then, Mars was
hallowed ground, a rusty graveyard for those
two hundred settlers who starved to death.

HARRY (CONT'D)
The place the Mongolians chose for a landing
site? Scoffed at, ridiculed: equatorial Aureum
Chaos, twisted rubble, mesas and gullies, a
thousand miles from previous landing sites.
No water. Faulted, cracked, unstable, recent
quakes, rock slides. Spring of 2075, those five
big ships sank down in a dusty valley between
two mesas in Aureum Chaos. Every satellite
was trained on it, every eye at two dozen labs
and Space Command watching with jealous
fascination, to see what those five clunky
monsters were going to do, if anything. Most
people thought it was a joke. Useless junk
made in Mongolia. But those five robot ships
gave 'em quite a show. They burrowed and
excavated and smelted volcanic ash, spinning
steel and plastic into a fabric of kaleidoscopic
mesh that twisted higher and higher, a milehigh geodesic dome of spectacular strength
and beauty. 'M' Corp syndicated a private
placement, raised more money than most
governments. Shipment of air systems and
drilling equipment followed. And that's how
Mars was colonized. Pirates who didn't want
to live on Earth, didn't ask permission to
colonize Mars, and didn't give a damn what
Space Command threatened to do about it.
People started to emigrate. When I got there,
24,000 people at Big Red top of the mesa.
Another 8,000 in M2, older dome in the valley,
now a mining operation The Black Pit.

birds chirping (fade at imagine)

HARRY (CONT'D)
People on Earth take a lot of things for
granted, like breathable air and sunshine. But
imagine a closed environment, where oxygen
has to be scrubbed and recycled 24 hours a
day. Water more precious than gold; sunlight
colored by a thick plastic dome that never gets
washed. The horizon is less than a mile away
and it never changes. A sphere of dusty steel
and glass, curving over a cramped city that
never sleeps, because someone is always on
duty, always struggling to maintain the critical
balance of an elaborate terrarium with little
margin for error. Hence, robots. Not the cute
humanoids of science fantasy, but the silent
titans of industry. Without them, a big colony
on Mars couldn't exist. Its misleading to talk
about the population of Mars in terms of men
and women, as if people mattered. What
mattered was autonomous robots. Scientists
became engineers, struggling to understand
what massively parallel mainframes were
saying to each other. Engineers were demoted
to hardware techs, swapping out components
because the components told them to do it.
Technical skill became hard physical labor,
plumbing and welding in filthy, awkward
places where the robots couldnt operate
following cartoon diagrams that silicon bosses
printed in childish language...

10

HARRY (CON'T)
Put Tab A in Slot B. Mars needed hundreds,
then thousands of such men, to do the dirty
dangerous work of plumbing and welding.
The first dome on Mars was a mining colony,
producing water and minerals from long dark
shafts that penetrated a fault five kilometers
deep. Its farm grew food that was powered
and harvested by nuclear generators, and its
population grew to seven thousand hard
working hands who toiled and bled and died
underground, brought there as slaves from
Belarus and Peru, Jo-Burg and Compton, the
women selected for youth, fertility; the men
for heft and endurance. Their job was to build
a Martian utopia not for themselves; for the
directors of 'M' Corp. When a second fleet of
machines arrived two decades later, they built
another, bigger dome on a mesa overlooking
The Black Pit, where indentured captives
worked for bread and booze, to furnish a
palace for their betters, who arrived to take
possession when it was fully completed.
Luxury ships ferried executives and families,
servants, baggage, bed linen, and tailored
suits. More arrived each year. French chefs,
Belgian jewelers, American doctors. At the
apex of the new dome, high above stainless
towers and sparkling apartment blocks, an
artificial sun was installed, mixing blue-green
rays with the red glow of the planet, an idyllic
rainbow of color, like San Topez.

11

HARRY (CONT'D)
Plans were ordered for a white sand beach
and gently-lapping surf. Its scarcely possible
to conjure a more corrupt, less intelligent
society than the overfed ruling class of Big
Red. Anyone who could think was considered
dangerous. Families ruled the planet, spoonfeeding wealth and privilege to their children,
whose education consisted of memorizing
passwords that opened and closed control
icons. M Corp ran the infrastructure by doing
nothing. Their computers built computers.
Their robots built robots. Human scientists
and engineers were kept under house arrest,
treated like criminals, because they might
think a creative non-robot thought. Some were
given special perks, doctors and surgeons. But
they were under constant threat of death, if
their procedures couldn't cure an important
patient. Plumbers and electricians were jailed,
bread taken from their families, if they failed
to repair a fault faster than the service interval
predicted by computer. Over time, computers
decided that men were less able and allowed
more time to complete simple tasks. Human
productivity spiraled downward. It was
dangerous to think on Mars. Knowledge of
every kind was scarce. Generations of an
indolent, pampered elite took it for granted
that machines grew wheat and made flour
automatically. Water was plentiful.

12

HARRY (CONT'D)
On those rare occasions when a machine
broke down, the janitor was interrogated,
blamed for dust and dirt. Not a rational
society based on fact or logic. An inverted
pyramid of power, radiating from a few who
knew nothing, lording their stupidity over
everyone else. July Fifth, 2156 board meeting
in Big Red was typical. We got a recording
from Driessen, undercover Federal agent.
CHAIRMAN
Ours is a divine mission. What little we can do
must be for the good of all. An equal share of
hope and gentleness and charity, unstinting in
its generosity. For what are we, my brothers,
but simple children, no different than any
other lost soul in this overwhelmingly
complex world not of our making.
CAMPBELL
Move to open the damn meeting.
CHAIRMAN
Dear Brother Bill, always thinking of business
or pretending to. Ive said what I feel in my
heart, and theres nothing more I can add. Is
there anything you need to report today?
CAMPBELL
I'm ready to black out space communication,
surface and orbital.

13

CHAIRMAN
Brother Ferris?
ROSENTHAL
Nano-bombs are fueled and equipped at
Spaceport. The men involved were detained
by General Keller for memory de-progg.
GEN. KELLER
Unnecessary. Illegal. But its been taken care
of. The men are in custody.
CHAIRMAN
You're still opposed to the plan, Brother Jeff?
GEN. KELLER
Absolutely. If they task Valley Forge to
investigate, well all end up in leg irons.
ROSENTHAL
(snorts)
Valley Forge could be a dozen light years
away or crashed into an asteroid sucked into
a black hole. NASA couldn't find the terminal
at Cheeseville without contractor help.
GEN. KELLER
They could be here tomorrow.
CHAIRMAN
Thats a gamble we have to take, Brother Jeff.
We cannot continue to export hydronium to
Luna.

14

GEN. KELLER
You think anybody is going to sit still for this
stunt? The second we launch those rockets
theyll throw a probe at us. Probably manned.
BARON VON HIPPER
Ve can knock it down.
GEN. KELLER
Dont be a damn fool. Thatd be an act of war!
We need diplomacy. Talk to the bondholders
and negotiate some kind of
CAMPBELL
Surrender? Let em kick us in the guts and
take over? What we need is someone whos
willing to fight!
HARRY
And that's where I came in willing to fight,
whether I wanted to or not. Passport name:
Harry Smith, late of Cheeseville. Unmarried.
Two years of law school and drafted into
national service, on my way to Mars, just like
Dreissen. Last packet of data we got from him
a board meeting he bugged over a year ago.
Probably cracked his private key, shot him full
of dope and that's the last we heard from him.
'M' Corp talking about war; dead secret agent.
And I'm supposed to do something about it,
pretending to be a boilermaker from Beloit.

15

HARRY (CONT'D)
Round-trip ticket to M2, so they can sweettalk me into bending pipes for the rest of my
life assuming that I get through Immigration
and no one asks me about plumbing a nuclear
generator. I don't know beans about anything
except how to kill a man and do it quietly.
Not something I had a lot of practice at, but
almost certainly gonna happen when I get
there. Kill one man and it's easier to kill again,
with suicide the last and only way out. Relax.
Breathe. Wear it like a loose cloak.
sound of jogging, backflips on steel deck
HARRY (CONT'D)
For eight months I did the same thing seven
days a week running laps around the hull of
an empty cargo ship, trying to stay in shape
and avoiding eye contact with fifty babes who
think I'm cute. When we boarded this rust
bucket, after it dumped a load of hydronium
at Cheeseville, I thought I died and went to
pig heaven. Fifty young, good-looking female
passengers on a cruise ship to Mars and yours
truly with nothing to do for eight months.
Except this ain't no cruise ship. A sleeping
bunk is more like a midget casket two by
two by five and there's zero privacy on the
skinny decks of a Martian cargo ship. Cold
and uncomfortable and claustrophobic. I hate
it. Everybody does.

16

WOMEN #1 and #2
Hi, Harry.
Hi, Harry.
HARRY
I wound up being treated like a circus dog.
Could have romanced two or three of them
perfectly fine and dandy, but fifty is like a
smiley sing-along at Girl Scout camp. Couple
months ago I stopped talking to them entirely.
Don't even go to the mess hall any more. A
couple guys on the crew know how to play
poker, and that's where we eat, a little table in
the galley, using moldy M&Ms for chips.
There used to be four of us, but Connor ate his
winnings and that was the end of Connor. He
got compacted and blown out with the rest of
that week's trash. Not that anybody cared.
Connor was on this cargo run almost twenty
years, had as much personality as a deck mop.
After eight months, I was ready to eat stale
candy, too except I had a job to do at Big
Red. No idea how to do it, or what happens if
they find out that I'm not another expat Irish
plumber but it's gonna be more interesting
than playing poker for twenty years, trapped
in a little tin can. Seven days 'till we land on
Mars. Eight months out of contact, pretending
to be a plumber. Stolen map and a password
on a chip in my forearm. If there's a scanner at
Immigration, I'm busted, game over.
thundering retro-rockets, garbled radios, a claxon

17

CHAIRMAN
Fueling and Safety, all hands to your posts.
HARRY
Felt smooth enough to me, a little jolt when
we hit the pad, then a long shudder of
vibration that ended in a positive sort of
clunk.
sound effects
HARRY (CONT'D)
We were strapped in bunks and the belts
wouldn't move until there was a little power
outage, a few shrieks of panic from the
women, then (click) we were free. The babes
started fussing with their baggage.
females giggle, chatter, scraping sounds
HARRY (CONT'D)
I took a deep breath and laid in my bunk for a
minute. Seemed like a bad idea to lead from
the front.
WOMEN #1, #2 and #3
Come on, Harry!
We're here.
Are you okay?
many soft footsteps in hallway, nervous laughter

18

HARRY
It bothered me that the women were dressed
alike in gray jumpsuits, with numbers and
barcodes on their chests. Little gray boots. All
their personal belongings taken from them,
supposedly for security reasons. Bothered me
that each one had an immigration sponsor,
some guy who paid for a mail-order bride.
They were nervous and scared, now that it
was time to meet whoever it was and go home
with him. We walked down a sloping ramp
that curved a couple times, about mile long,
and then straightened out at the entrance to a
terminal, and there was a guy shouting at us,
with an armed guard at his side. I stood out
like a bodybuilder at a girl's school open
collar, black jacket and bulging flight bag.
RAMP SUPERVISOR
'A' passengers this way. All 'A' passengers this
way. All 'A' passengers not you, sir. Down
the ramp to Immigration. Keep moving. All
'A' passengers.
HARRY
The guard followed me, a big stiff in army
fatigues with a rifle he was expecting to fire
any second, finger on the trigger. I tripped on
my own feet, spilled the crap in my flight bag
on the carpeted ramp, said Oh, darn it! like
a harmless ditz, and bent down to pick stuff
up. The guard frowned at my stupidity, rolled
his eyes, didn't see it coming.

19

sound of 'uhh' and body falling, rifle clatter

HARRY (CONT'D)
Half-G on Mars made me twice as strong,
twice as fast as a Martian. Took three big leaps
and flattened the ramp boss, bounced down
the chute where the women went. It was a
damn baggage carousel! and some of the
chicks were still being wrestled away by ugly,
pot-bellied Martians with mustaches and
manes of fake hair, like baroque cardsharps in
a brothel.
WOMAN #3
No! No! No!
claxon warble
CHAIRMAN
Security alert. There is an unauthorized
person in Baggage Claim 'A.'
HARRY
A pooftah in fancy duds backed away, let go
of his mail-order captive, and staggered like
he was ready to faint. I grabbed the ID badge
from his chest and ran for an open tram.
door squeaks shut, motor whirls
WOMAN #2
Harry! - ow!!

20

HARRY
Six Martians, quivering, teeth chattering. Each
one clutching a steel lasso that pinned a girl's
wrist. It cut her skin if she struggled. Nothing
I could do. My cover was blown. When we got
wherever this tram went, nine chances in ten
there'd be a firing squad waiting for me.
pressure vent explosion
HARRY (CONT'D)
The tram shook and we shot out onto the
surface of the planet, filled the windows on
both sides with a breath-taking spectacle.
Jagged mountains, painted desert, huge red
dome in the distance, sunlight flashing from
its shiny panels, a waterfall of mirrors, as we
raced closer and closer. I stood with my hands
in my pockets like a hypnotized tourist, then
woke up and looked at the tram controls.
There was a stop button. When I looked back,
the dome of M1 filled both windows, left and
right. I got ready to do something crazy.
reverse pressure vent and rumble
HARRY (CONT'D)
We were in! another black tunnel, rocking
back and forth on a track under Big Red. I
braced in a door frame, slapped the button
and we skidded to a stop, passengers sliding
together in a pile at one end.

21

screeching metal, female shrieks, male grunts

HARRY (CONT'D)
The door wouldn't budge, but I saw a roof
panel that might. I crouched and jumped,
punched it open, jumped again to pull myself
up and get the hell out.
footsteps on metal decking, jumps, heavy breathing
HARRY (CONT'D)
Pitch black, with an occasional photon or two
from the tram. Up ahead a little red glow,
stopping rail traffic because the main line was
blocked. Which means I gotta get outta here.
distant hum of engine, approaching
HARRY (CONT'D)
Like now. Right now.
(grunts)
Whatever this is.
feet clank on metal ladder
engine nearer
hatch opens
engine much nearer
hatch shuts with a bang (no sound of engine)
HARRY (CONT'D)
Okay, fine. Time to use my bat ears.

22

amplified room tone

small sound of drip
closer center channel
pan to right channel and fade
a little buzz
closer left channel and fade
sparse traffic reverberates through pavement
a little louder
HARRY (CONT'D)
That's a street overhead. So, where's the
manhole?
traffic a tiny bit louder with less reverb
fist beats on metal bar, door pops open, quickly shuts
HARRY (CONT'D)
Mighty bright out there And somewhere,
somehow I need to find some food. No money
to pay for it and I'd rather not steal, might get
caught. Alright, Harry. Put a smile on your
face, have a nice little stroll, like you belong
here. Ready? Go.
big street atmos, many pedestrians, a few cars
HARRY (CON'T)
Well, screw the smile. Nobody else smiling.
Like a well-dressed concentration camp.
distant brass band marches nearer
little beep-beep miniature cars, laughter
pedestrian footsteps halt

23

HARRY (CONT'D)
A parade?
brass band loud, pan left to right
several miniature cars beep-beep in circles
few laughs, fade brass band
ROSENTHAL
Follow us, folks! Free food at the Plaza!
miniature cars beep-beep right and fade out
big armored car, pan left to center, engine idles
GEN. KELLER
(PA amplified)
All citizens are required to assemble at
Corporate Plaza. Follow me!
armored car roars, moves right and fade
crowd of footsteps follow
HARRY
Food can wait. Look the other way, cop.
Something I want to do at 33 Center.
door opens, closes, street noise out
fast digital scan, gate click
CHAIRMAN
Identity verified.
quick steps, door clicks open, shuts.

24

HARRY
Let's see what Dreissen left behind.
click, a panel slides, briefcase withdrawn
HARRY (CONT'D)
Type one Federal issue, if I can open it.
Waka-jawaka.
fast digital scan, briefcase locks open
HARRY (CONT'D)
Jackpot.
automatic pistol slide and another click
HARRY (CONT'D)
Cash cards. D6 computer. Later. I gotta get
the hell outta here.
briefcase shut and locked, panel closed
door opens, closes
footsteps on tile lobby
LOUD alarm
CHAIRMAN
Unauthorized object. Security alert.
HARRY
Oh, shit.
three loud gunshots

25

runs down hallway

window shatters
stumbles on trashcans
another loud gunshot
runs on pavement
HARRY (CONT'D)
Slow down, slow down, take it easy.
Look for an access door. There!
walks slowly
COP
(distant)
Halt!
LOUD brass band plays last refrain of 'God Save The Queen'
with spectacular finish. APPLAUSE and cheers.
CHAIRMAN
(on P.A.)
Ladies and gentlemen, vice chairman and
director of public works, Baron Frederick
Stubing von Hipper.
polite applause, a few boos and laughter
VON HIPPER
(on P.A., slightly distorted)
People of Mars! Be quiet now and listen.
I have important information for you on this
very good day. The directors of Mars have
made an important decision for you!

26

hollow room tone, drips on metal

VON HIPPER (CONT'D)
(muffled, echoing)
Zaire will be an increase of your wages!
starting today fife pro cent!
a little muffled applause, drum and bugle fanfare
HARRY
(shivering uncontrollably)
Th-this section of of the tunnels
f-freezing c-cold. I gotta get outta here.
feet scramble up iron ladder, hatch opens
suddenly LOUD marching band drum flourish
HARRY (CONT'D)
What the heck?
CHAIRMAN
(on P.A.)
Ladies and gentlemen, vice chairman and
director of technology, Doctor Ferris M.
Rosenthal.
polite applause
ROSENTHAL
(on P.A.)
Today is the most important day in our
history!

27

HARRY
Maybe that's why the stage is ringed by
soldiers with bayonets.
ROSENTHAL
(on P.A., laughs)
Let's call it Freedom Day! no more bread
rations! No more water rationing!
gasps, a burst of hearty applause
ROSENTHAL (CONT'D)
(on P.A.)
Your loyalty and sacrifice have paid off! no
more exports to Cheeseville! and to celebrate
our independence from those greedy leaches,
watch this!
distant rumble of rocket engines
HARRY
The dome lit up with bright white streaks
five or six of them.
sound of fireworks and fizzles nearby
crowd panic
HARRY (CONT'D)
Then fireworks inside the dome, above the
towers of Corporate Center, with flaming
fragments and sparks raining down on the
crowd. People ran from the square.

28

GEN. KELLER
(on P.A.)
Everybody stay where you are! You're not in
any danger! What? Well, find him! Search
the crowd! Search under the stage!
HARRY
Oh, crap.
automatic gunfire ricochets nearby
clank of hatch, muffled gunfire zings on hatch
rapid steps on steel ladder, jump down
running in dank tunnel
HARRY (CONT'D)
Running with a briefcase and a drawn gun is
no fun, especially whenever I came to another
hatch.
(grunts)
Dammit!
squeaky wheel, hatch opens
LOUD automatic gunfire ricochets on steel everywhere
HARRY (CONT'D)
Started to feel pretty stupid taking this job.
Went down whenever I could, faster and
deeper into the bowels of the big red dome.
Eventually I expected to hit the railroad
terminal again. And there it was.
long, screeching train nearby, on steel track

29

HARRY (CONT'D)
Few seconds was all I had. There was
a track car.
open tin door, throw things, slam door shut in compartment
HARRY (CONT'D)
How does this work?
muffled gunfire, splintering wood
electric engine revvs, bumping sounds
HARRY (CONT'D)
Okay, a couple cracked windows but it's
moving. How do I control speed?
screeching rails
HARRY (CONT'D)
I started to count the places I hurt. Blood
trickled down my sleeve and made a puddle
on the floor. My head seemed okay when I
swiped the fingers of my right hand over my
scalp, both sides. Still had two ears.
pressure vent explosion of air
HARRY (CONT'D)
Through the tunnel and on the surface, doing
seventy-five. Nothing I did would slow this
damn thing, and there was a little gush of ice
cold air from a cracked window.

30

HARRY (CONT'D)
Found a button for lights. Not sure I wanted
to see where I'm going like a bat out of hell,
racing down hill at eighty.
screeching rails, grinding metal
HARRY (CONT'D)
The turns pushed me against cold steel and I
expected to jump the track any minute. Fine
way to end up. Blew my cover, no idea where
I'm going, or whether I'm going to get there in
one piece. Has to be M2 the Black Pit. Still
going down. Glimpse of a deep gash and a
blur of gray light. That would be M2. Don't
know a damn thing about it, except it's the
original colony, a mining operation. Maybe
Dreissen put some notes on his computer.
Empty gun and a briefcase that belongs to a
dead guy. Going ninety now. Wait a minute.
The screen says auto-braking. Eighty. I might
get lucky. What kind of plan is that? 'Get
lucky.' So far all I've done is get shot at and
dropped a couple cops or whatever they are
goons in black fatigues with machine guns
and fixed bayonets. It would have been nice to
have had a heads-up on that. Mars is a big
concentration camp. Nicely dressed civilians,
skyscrapers, spotlessly clean streets, little trees
on the avenues everybody scared shitless to
open their mouths. Not a single conversation
on the street. Totally silent and obedient.

31

electric motors decrease speed

HARRY (CONT'D)
(coughs)
Gettin' woozy. CO2, I guess. Shakey cold.
Black dome ahead. Couple of lights on the
entrance tunnel. Hang on, Harry.
(shivers twice)
pressure vent air explosion
screeching rails, locked wheels grind
collision crumples metal

- end of Chapter One -

32

- CHAPTER TWO Underground terminal at M2, distant railroad operations

LAURA
Mars Shall Thunder ... by Wolf DeVoon ...
September 5th, 2158, seven p.m. Lieutenant
Laura Oak and Colonel Beane responding to
an incident in the freight terminal.
(sigh)
Beane drunk as usual, useless.
heavy footsteps on concrete, a stumble,
another couple steps, a big belch
TERRY
The hell is this?
LAURA
What does it look like? Give me a hand,
Terry. Let's get him out of there.
TERRY
Yer doin' fine. Wha's the pile o' junk?
LAURA
It's a track car. Or was. He's got a pulse.
TERRY
Yeah? And who (hick) is he?
LAURA
Terry! Go. Get. Doc. Gray!

33

TERRY
Awright, Laura, awright. Get Doc Gray.
If he's sober!
(laughs)
heavy footsteps retreat
Terry mumbles a stupid drinking song (fade)
LAURA
I don't like this ... stole someone's I.D.
clicks of gun magazine, slide
LAURA (CONT'D)
Empty 'M' Corp automatic. Subject doesn't
look like a Martian. An Earth-er? Has to be.
That jacket didn't come from Mars. Weird
material. No broken bones, minor bleeding.
Bruise on the forehead. Coming around a
little?
HARRY
(mumbles incoherently)
LAURA (CONT'D)
God, he's a looker. Just what we needed
a Casanova from Earth. What do I do with
him? or his briefcase? Could be full of
explosives. Something heavy anyway. Who
are you, mystery man?
(shouts)
Hey! Can you hear me? Wake up!

34

HARRY
Whar?
LAURA
You're in the terminal at M2. I'm waiting for a
doctor to look at you. Just lay quietly.
fast footsteps on concrete approaching
LAURA (CONT'D)
Concussion! Bullet wound upper left arm!
(pause)
Doc Miller, instead of Gray, which is good
and an R.N., Phyllis Corn. I backed away.
Didn't want to make 'em nervous. Picked up
gun, briefcase and jacket, moved everything
down the platform and locked them in my
office. Miller and Corn had Subject up on a
rolling stretcher. Didn't want him at the clinic,
Miller grumbled. Didn't have a spare bed. I
said I'd take him and return the stretcher. He
and the nurse trotted away at a pretty good
clip, like everyone else get as far away from
me as quick as they could.
fast digital beeps
LAURA (CONT'D)
Terry!
TERRY (filtered)
Yeah?

35

LAURA
I need help. Terminal track six.
TERRY (filtered)
To do what? I'm in bed.
LAURA
Wake up and meet me on Temple Street at the
elevator lobby. I've got the subject in custody
on a stretcher. You're going to guard him at
the Steel Diner tonight. I'll relieve you at ohfour-hundred.
TERRY (filtered)
Aw, jeez. Aw-right, okay. Ten minutes.
distant sound of wheels on concrete
LAURA
Being close to this guy bothers me -- even
unconscious, or semi-conscious.
(shouts)
Can you hear me?
HARRY
Yes.
LAURA
You're among friends. You're in M2. Just lay
quiet. You have the right to relax a little. I'm
taking you to a hotel room, and you'll have
someone there to look after you tonight.

36

bump into the elevator, door closes, whir.

HARRY
Who you?
LAURA
I'm a friend. The doctor thinks you're going
to be okay. Don't try to get up. Terry! over
here!
TERRY
Find out who he is?
LAURA
When he comes around, ask him.
soft suspense music (Laura's theme)
LAURA (CONT'D)
I went back to the terminal to examine the
briefcase. Took it from a locker and placed it
on a table with good light. Dusted for prints
and imaged them. Ran a swab chem test, no
trace of nitrites or oxidants. So, how does this
thing open? I don't see any lock.
music out
small room tone
HARRY
I'd like something to eat and drink. Is that
possible? What time of day is it?

37

TERRY
Water's in the sink. There might be a cup.
Nothing to eat 'til six or seven. Maybe there
might be a sandwich. I'll go look.
door opens, clicks shut
a couple soft footsteps
HARRY
Locked need to sit down again.
door opens, clicks shut again
TERRY
Two sandwiches from the cart and a bottle of
water. You okay or what?
HARRY
Woozy ... like I'm drugged.
TERRY
Doctors sedate people. Try a sip of water.
See if you can handle that.
Harry drinks
HARRY
What is this place?
TERRY
Steel Diner, room three-oh-five.

38

sandwich wrapper, quiet munching

HARRY
M2.
TERRY
Correct.
HARRY
And who are you?
TERRY
A tired old drunk. Who are you?
HARRY
Name's Faraday.
TERRY
What brung you to M2?
HARRY
Getting shot at.
(pause)
I've been bandaged up, parked in a hotel
room, and I'm in custody, right?
TERRY
What makes you think that?
HARRY
Door locked. Gun and briefcase gone. You
seem okay. I'm from Cheeseville, been here
maybe ten or twelve hours.

39

TERRY
Long ride from Luna. What for?
HARRY
Are you questioning me in an official
capacity?
TERRY
Maybe.
HARRY
I see. I'm in M2, and you have a police force of
your own here. You a detective?
TERRY
(laughs cynically)
No, nuthin' like that. Just a couple of us who
poke our noses in other people's business
from time to time, if I ain't too stoned.
(yawns)
pause
HARRY
I need help. Not that I'm asking for it. I'm a
Federal marshal.
TERRY
Huh.
(chuckles)
No wonder you got shot at, in Big Red.
Commendable you didn't get killed.

40

HARRY
They probably know I'm here.
TERRY
Don't sweat it. Last time we had Security here
was two years ago, and they got their asses
kicked. Took their guns, put 'em on a train,
and told 'em not to come back. So, relax.
Nobody's gonna mess with you in M2. Lay
down and get some rest, bud.
footsteps in hallway, halt
knocks on door in code 123, 12
door opens
TERRY
Federal marshal. Name's Faraday. Seems
alright. Ate a sandwich a couple hours ago.
door clicks shut, footsteps
Terry clumps after her
TERRY (CONT'D)
Hey! where're you goin'?
LAURA
Home ... A Federal marshal. Swell.
TERRY
You just gonna leave him here? What about
feeding him breakfast? And his shirt and
pants are tore up.

41

LAURA
I'll take care of it. Get some sleep.
footsteps fade
long pause
HARRY
Ow. Uh. Every bone in my body hurts
especially there. Ah, jeez. Let's see if I can
stand up without falling over.
(beat)
Hotel room with dirty gray window. Is that
daylight? Filthy gray buildings and haze. No
wonder they call it the Black Pit. Dome looks
like it's been scorched.
running water in sink
splashes
HARRY (CONT'D)
Wow. Hot water. A little too hot.
cups hands, drinks
shuts water off
HARRY (CONT'D)
Clean and sweet, like real water on Earth.
(beat)
What's this? Denim pants and checked shirt.
A beat-up hotel card. Got dressed and tried
the door. It opened into an empty corridor.
Walked down two flights.

42

cafeteria bustle, chairs, people coming and going

HARRY (CONT'D)
Still some grub in the cafeteria line, so I
loaded up a tray, flashed the hotel card, took
a table and swept the crumbs off. Stragglers
were rough customers. Big guys in dirty
coveralls with whiskers, and bad teeth. Ate
like pigs, got up and left. Food was okay. No
idea what it was, but it was good. The coffee
was good. By the time I finished, I was the last
guy in the room. Two women were picking up
trays and wiping tables.
swing doors, traffic noise
HARRY (CONT'D)
Market Street. Might be the main drag. Ran
straight, as far as I could see. Maybe to both
ends of the dome. Big row of commercial
buildings, black and gray and brown, pitted
with corrosion. Soot on the sidewalks. Not
much traffic, a few cars, a couple buses that
picked people up every other corner. Bars. A
lot of bars, with big signs that said 'Strip' and
'Nude' with dirty dice and playing cards all
aces. Department store. Shoe store. Broken
windows patched up with tape. Not much to
see on the side streets. Apartment blocks.
Pretty damn grim and you could see it in the
faces of men and women on the sidewalks.
Laughing over there, a trio of punks.

43

a burst of gunfire
fast footsteps race away
HARRY
Interesting. Someone shot over their heads,
close enough to be a near miss. That's why
there's so much broken glass on Market Street.
Didn't phase anybody shopping or waiting for
a bus. Haven't seen anyone in uniform yet.
LAURA
Terry, are you there?
TERRY (filtered)
Yeah?
LAURA
We gotta get this guy off the street. Had to fire
warning shots at the Frank gang. I don't want
him wandering into the warehouse district.
TERRY (filtered)
Okay. Where's he at?
LAURA
Ninth and Market, walking south.
TERRY (filtered)
I'll stop him at Eighth. Take him to the
Millionaire's Club and 'splain a few things.
You gonna give him his gun back?

44

LAURA
I guess we have to.
TERRY
Faraday! how about comin' with me? Need
to talk to ya. I'll buy you a drink.
HARRY
I could stand a little pain relief. Mind telling
me your name today?
TERRY
Beane, with an 'e' at the end. Terry.
HARRY
I see.
TERRY
See what?
HARRY
I had a briefing at Tranquility. Terrance W.
Beane, lieutenant colonel, U.S.M.C., head of
security for 'M' Corp past tense.
TERRY
Yeah. This joint's the Millionaire's Club. I got
a room upstairs. If you need to find me, I'm
usually down here, holdin' up the bar.
noisy bar room
Scott Joplin music played badly on tuneless piano
bar stools scrape on wood floor

45

TERRY
Lo, Doug. Two buckets o' paint and a couple
sandwiches. Hungry?
HARRY
Just had breakfast a while ago.
TERRY
We're gonna have to figure out how you can
make some money. Maybe a desk job. I know
the mine boss, Ralph Smugg. Or the farm.
Wendy Churchill. Nice lady boss.
HARRY
What is this stuff?
TERRY
Loaded beer. If you drink enough of it, you
feel pretty good.
HARRY
I had a briefcase. I'd like it back.
TERRY
(eating and drinking)
Yeah? What's in it?
HARRY
A computer. Cash cards. It's government
property, Colonel.
Terry bursts out laughing, causes him to cough.

46

TERRY
(amused)
You see these guys? Hard rock miners, swing
shift. Twenty minutes or so, they're going to
work, half a mile straight down. Two or three
killed every week, on the job or fighting over
women. Half the people who live here are
barely getting by. More crime than you can
wave a badge at. Government? There isn't any
government here and we don't want any!
Drink your drink. I'll find out what happened
to the cash cards in your briefcase.
HARRY
Hopefully nothing. Federal issue type one.
Forcing it open would level a city block.
bar stool crashes, fast clump out the door; music out
HARRY (CONT'D)
Beane dashed out, like his pants were on fire,
shouting into a comm bud I hadn't noticed.
The bartender offered another drink. Maybe
that was a good idea. My shoulder hurt. A
whistle blew somewhere and the bar emptied
out, men jostling each other on the way out.
Pretty rough crew. A girl started cleaning up
the tables and chairs, swept up broken glass.
Piano player folded up his sheet music and
left. I figured the best thing to do was wait.
Beane would be back eventually.

47

brief street noise, then bar room tone

footsteps and briefcase clunk
TERRY
Your gun's wrapped up in the jacket.
long string of digital tones, loud click, then snapped shut
HARRY
How much do I owe you for the hotel?
TERRY
You don't owe me nothin' pay Mouse if you
want to. Little guy who runs it. You got your
briefcase back 'cuz we understand what it is,
okay? Same thing with your gun. Isn't safe to
walk around unarmed. I don't know what you
think you're gonna do here, but keep in mind
you're a guest. An outlaw like the rest of us.
Make trouble in M2 and I'll take you out
badge or no badge. Understand?
FADE room tone
HARRY
Tough talk for a drunk. Had mixed feelings
about him. Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.
He sulked on a bar stool and knocked back
five stiff drinks barely able to see when I left
him, headed back to the hotel. Paid the desk
clerk and went up to my room to see what
Dreissen might have written on the computer.

48

COMPUTER
Identity confirmed. Hi, Harry.
HARRY
Documents.
(pause)
Took a couple hours to plow through it all.
Dreissen had done a good job. Dossiers on
the 'M' Corp directors and managers. Behind
them, a mainframe called The Chairman that
gave orders, ran the bank and paid everyone,
including the miners and farmers of M2. No
information about who was who in the Black
Pit. Dreissen never came here, and there was
nothing about M2 on the phone system. All he
had was two names, Ralph Smugg and Wendy
Churchill ... Nice! Access codes for the bank.
That's how he got cash cards. Probably how
they hunted him down. Camera at an ATM.
(pause)
A lot to think about. Don't want to end up like
Dreissen, but I have go back to M1 sooner or
later. And I need to file a report. Computer.
Connect to Luna.
COMPUTER
Service not available.
HARRY
Try again.
industrial theme overture, clanking rhythm, fade a little

49

SECRETARY
Mister Smugg, Wendy's here.
RALPH
Show her in. Memo to MacAllister, shut in
Hydrogen, wells Nine and Twelve. Shut down
the hydronium mill and reassign those men.
We might have to have some layoffs, but keep
that under your hat. I'll see what I can do, to
keep everybody on the payroll.
door opens, high heels on tile
fade industrial theme
WENDY
Ralph, what the hell's going on?
RALPH
What do you mean? Sit down, Wendy. It
bothers me when you act like that.
WENDY
It's not an act, Ralph. There's something
screwy going on. The line to Tranquility has
been cut. I can't get orders through, and I'm
running out of spice. Mecklenberger laughed
at me, said Spaceport was shut down, and I
have to make do with inventory.
RALPH
I know. Rosenthal told me to stop making
hydronium. All exports canceled.

50

WENDY
(shocked)
What?
Ralph fidgets, rises from chair, paces
RALPH
Rail traffic is being cut. All Rosenthal wants
from me is water and the usual stuff from
Frank Iron. I don't know what I'm going to do
with twenty men idle, family men.
WENDY
You still have a camera at East Portal?
RALPH
Yeah. Why?
keystrokes
RALPH (CONT'D)
What the heck?
WENDY
(quietly)
I had a note from Emma. I didn't believe it.
They knocked out the entire sky. Can't see the
stars at night. Just this sparkly red stuff.
(frightened)
What does it mean, Ralph? What are they
doing to us?
dark martial music, snares (Keller's theme)

51

pneumatic elevator door opens, fade Keller's theme

CHAIRMAN
Good morning, General Keller.
GEN. KELLER
Good morning.
CHAIRMAN
The others will be here shortly. You're ten
minutes early.
GEN. KELLER
I wanted to speak to you privately.
CHAIRMAN
That's not strictly allowed, Brother Jeff. We
have no tradition of private communication.
The Oath governs Mars.
GEN. KELLER
Fine. I deem this an emergency. Five of my
best men were killed last night, blown to bits
in the Red Light district.
CHAIRMAN
The Triangle Gang.
GEN. KELLER
Whatever. I want to shut the whole thing
down, take it street by street, every alleyway.
Find them, kill them.

52

CHAIRMAN
You can bring it to the board but I doubt very
much that anyone else will agree to it. Men
have a right to sexual pleasure.
GEN. KELLER
Over forty civilians killed last month!
CHAIRMAN
Well, yes. Did you put men undercover?
GEN. KELLER
Both of 'em shot dead. Undercover doesn't
work. I need to go there in force.
CHAIRMAN
Very well. I'll put it on the agenda as new
business, whether to authorize action in the
manner you suggest. Please wait outside until
the meeting is called to order. Mrs. Carter is
available if you wish to have a beverage or a
private entertainment with her.
pause
Laura's theme
slow footsteps clump to door
beep, click, a little creak
slam shut and rattle
LAURA
(exhausted)
Mother of Isis.

53

velcro, helmet off, heavy thud

latches and more velcro
sloughs off heavy flack jacket
throws it on furniture
long process of taking off boots
LAURA (CONT'D)
Official journal. Faraday at the Steel Diner.
Returned briefcase and weapon. Beane drunk.
I need sleep.
the last boot clumps on floor
LAURA (CONT'D)
(to self)
And new boots.
fast digital burst, music out
AMANDA (filtered)
Laura!
LAURA
Hi, Mandy. How are you, honey?
AMANDA (filtered)
Fine. Always glad when you call me. You
sound tired.
LAURA
Three shifts in a row. But I'm going to have a
shower and sleep tonight.

54

AMANDA (filtered)
Special case?
LAURA
Yes. Very.
AMANDA (filtered)
I hope you can come and visit again, Laura.
We got salary raises, and they totally lifted
rationing. You should see all the food I have,
and a new kettle, and
LAURA
That's great, Amanda, but I gotta go to sleep.
I'll call you when I can, honey. Night.
throw phone down
bare feet on floor, walking slow
she flops heavily on bed
a short pause
industrial theme, fade under dialogue
SECRETARY
Mr. Smugg. There's a man outside says he's
a Federal marshal from Luna.
RALPH
What?!
SECRETARY
He wants to see you, sir. He said it's official
business.

55

RALPH
Security scan?
SECRETARY
He has a gun. He also has a briefcase. I don't
know what to do, Ralph. Can you come out?
drawer opens, takes gun out, cocks it
RALPH
(steely)
Stay here.
big metal door shuts quietly, music OUT
HARRY
Ralph Smugg?
RALPH
Put your hands up.
HARRY
No thanks. If you don't mind, I'll just sit
quietly. I didn't come here to hurt anybody.
I have some information for you.
RALPH
Like what?
HARRY
Long story short. Four years ago we sent an
undercover man to M1. He disappeared last
year, undoubtedly killed by Keller.

56

HARRY (CONT'D)
That's why I was sent here. I recovered a
briefcase, read the agent's reports, a lot stuff
he never got to transmit. With me so far?
RALPH
Go on.
HARRY
I'm in M2 because I had a run-in with Keller
and his men on arrival. I'm a fugitive. Colonel
Beane told me not to worry about Keller. M1
security got kicked out of the Black Pit and
won't be back. Is that what you think?
RALPH
I don't think anything. Get out of my office.
HARRY
Okay. Rosenthal and Mecklenburger put a
nanobot storm in orbit yesterday, cut off all
communication with Luna and Earth. Give it
another couple days, tops, before the cruiser
Valley Forge shows up. I'll explain to them
that M2 is a little messy, but probably not
deeply involved in M Corp are you. Didn't
think so. My name's Faraday. Federal marshal
and special magistrate. Staying at the Steel
Diner if you want to talk again.
door opens and closes
footsteps in hallway (fade)

57

HARRY (CONT'D)
Well, that went over swell. At least Rosenthal's
pit boss didn't shoot me on sight. Probably a
reasonable guy, from the looks of him. That
bluff about Valley Forge made no impression
on him. Smugg was born and raised here,
never left the planet. Had no idea what I was
talking about.
Market Street sounds
HARRY (CONT'D)
Huh. The guy in battle gear again. Maybe he's
town constable, playing cat and mouse. Fine
with me. I'm headed to the Millionaire's Club
for pain relief, officer. Nice that somebody's
got my back. I should thank Beane and ask
him how to find a poker game.
Millionaire's Club music and effects
HARRY (CONT'D)
'Scuse me, gents. Mind if I buy in? Name's
Faraday.

- end of Chapter Two -

58

- CHAPTER THREE sweeping urban theme with Keller accents (and fade under)
AMANDA
Mars Shall Thunder, by Wolf DeVoon.
September 8th, 2158 M1 Security base
20 chairs scrape on floor
CORPORAL
Atten-n-tion!
single pair of big boots march to center and stop
GEN. KELLER
At ease. Be seated and look at the screen.
You'll have this on your tac coms: Dangerous
Fugitive, Shoot To Kill. We don't know who
this guy is, except that he arrived here as a
cargo passenger, supposedly a plumber.
Killed two cops and injured five. Here he is
stealing a track car. No doubt he's in M2. We
had a highly reliable civilian tip. Here's the
layout at M2. You'll have two trams and a
flatcar for A.P.C. Establish a command post
and perimeter in the freight terminal. Don't
take any shit from those coal miners. Shoot if
you have to. Six men by concourse to Market
Street. Three to the Steel Diner loading dock,
three to this bar on Eighth Street; use Eighth
and Market stairway. Your man is in one or
the other. A.P.C in reserve to cover retreat.

59

GEN. KELLER (CONT'D)

Questions.
CORPORAL
Yes, sir. Respectfully request a staff officer to
coordinate retreat, a tank commander.
GEN. KELLER
Can't be done. Needed here to plan Operation
Red Light. You have twenty men to deploy
and get back here as fast as you can. General
Order One: Stand tall! Dismiss.
CORPORAL
Atten-n-n-tion!
chairs scrape again
crossfade to small room tone, soft elevator music (fade)
HARRY
Dreissen's taste in music was awful, only
slightly better than nothing, while I patched
the hole in my jacket, stood up and tried it
over the holster I rigged behind my back.
Looked okay in the mirror, didn't bulge too
bad. Then the phone rang I was wanted
downstairs. Mister Ralph Smugg outside in
his limo. I shut the briefcase and took the
elevator. Thirty pairs of eyes watched me
waltz to the door and get into Smugg's car.
car door opens - then shuts from inside

60

RALPH
Okay, Mitch down to the terminal.
smooth engine and road noise
HARRY
The big car whisked us down a ramp into an
underground concourse, just big enough for
the limo to squeak through with few inches of
space on either side. Big freight doors left and
right. Fork lift parked in an alley.
(beat)
Any reason in particular you wanted to see
me?
RALPH
You're leaving. Colonel Beane and Lieutenant
Oak don't want you here. There's a passenger
tram on its way, and you're gonna ride it back
to M1.
HARRY
and he had his gun pointed at me for
emphasis. Second time in a row he had the
drop on me and didn't pull the trigger.
(beat)
Okay, I'm going back to M1. Any message for
Rosenthal before I whack him? I know where
he lives, on Chestnut.
(beat)
The big oaf gaped at me, blinking, his mouth
hanging open in disbelief.

61

distant sound of battle, many weapons, explosions

HARRY (CONT'D)
And he was in for a much bigger shock. The
limo slid down a ramp to the terminal and
screeched to a stop.
crackling bonfire with thuds of explosion, gunshots
HARRY (CONT'D)
Smugg jumped out and so did I. There were
wounded men sheltered behind the elevators
Beane among them, shouting orders and
tying a ripped shirt sleeve tight around his
thigh to stop the bleeding.
RALPH
(shouting in the distance)
Cease fire! Cease fire!
crackling bonfire continues, shooting stops
HARRY
I holstered my gun and knelt down next to
Beane, did what I could to help him. Then a
doctor showed up, two nurses with first aid
kits. A fire engine pushed Ralph's car out of
the way, got close enough to hook up hoses.
(beat)
Flaming formaldehyde dripped from a busted
pipe over the burning wreck of a tram and an
armored personnel carrier.

62

HARRY (CONT'D)
The stink was overpowering. Smugg took
command, got ventilation going, gas masks
for a rescue team that had nothing to rescue.
Another car arrived, an old babe with four
men. Then a truck loaded with irrigation
pipes that said 'Churchill Farms.' The guy in
battle gear town constable was praying
over a corpse, gesturing with his hands. I
walked close enough to hear what Churchill
was saying to Ralph Smugg.
firehoses spray, fire dies out, whoosh of steam
WENDY
He could be here any minute! They called for
reinforcements! Ralph! Snap out of it! We
have to flood the tunnel.
RALPH
Okay Tower! I have five cars of cement on
track two. Get an engine behind them and
push 'em into the entrance tunnel now!
Pull the emergency stop. I want that tunnel
blocked!
HARRY
He turned to see me standing there, frowned
at me and walked away. I was no longer the
problem. A big squad of Keller's men had
been wiped out, most of them burned alive.
Two dozen civilians killed or injured.

63

aboard the Valley Forge, heart monitor beeps rapidly

HARRY (CONT'D)
That's how it started.
GEN. CHASE
Take it easy, son. Doctor.
HARRY
They came to M2 to kill me. Terminal guys
and miners Colonel Beane
(beat)
Laura.
GEN. CHASE
Put him out, so he can rest.
HARRY
Didn't have time to rest. No one did.
industrial theme up; heart monitor out; shuffling on sidewalk
HARRY
Everyone gathered at Ralph's office. Mine
foremen Hurlock, Thayer, MacAllister, two
engineers, Wendy Churchill, and
TERRY
Hurry up, god damn it!
HARRY
Terry Beane. Practically had to carry him.

64

glass doors bang open, shuffling in hallway

TERRY
They came here to kill you, Harry.
HARRY
I know.
TERRY
I need a drink.
new room tone, Ralph's outer office, fade music
voices murmuring in conference room
HARRY
I plunked Terry in a swivel chair next to
Hurlock, who I knew from playing poker.
Gave him a flask of brandy that I kept in
my jacket for emergencies. It was about
half full.
WENDY
(worried)
What's taking so long?
RALPH
Please be patient, honey. Rosenthal is talking
to the Chairman. We just have to wait.
TERRY
Wait for what?

65

RALPH
(distraught, tightly)
I'm trying to set up a video link with General
Keller. He's almost here with that train the
war wagon I built the damn thing!
TERRY
(sober, stern, worried)
425's stacked in a launcher. Troops ready for
surface battle. He's gonna shoot his way in.
Threatened to do it in '49 that's why I quit
after Five Shaft.
HARRY
What's Five Shaft?
TERRY
Mine explosion years ago.
RALPH
What's he doing here?
HARRY
As magistrate for Mars, I hereby declare this
colony to be under martial law and appoint
Terry commander-in-chief of the militia.
fast burst of digital tones
GEN. KELLER
Smugg! You have exactly sixty minutes to
surrender! Move those freight cars and drain
the water or pay the price of treason!

66

WENDY
Your men attacked civilians in the
GEN. KELLER
Shut up! I don't talk to women!
WENDY
in the terminal!
GEN. KELLER
Beane! Tell those coalminers to surrender!
used chemical weapons to fry men alive! I'm
comin' in, one way or the other! Get that rail
tunnel cleared in 59 minutes or I'll blast a hole
big enough to freeze and choke you bastards
to death. Terminate this video crap and set
up night vision!
two fast beeps, room tone
HARRY
Freeze and choke eight thousand people...
How many rifles have you got?
TERRY
Six.
RALPH
We ... we have to let him in.
TERRY
Shut up, Ralph.

67

HARRY
Wait a minute. Let's let Keller believe we're
going to surrender drain out the tunnel.
Miss Churchill: I want you rig a hose in the
entrance tunnel, blow compressed air and
make a lot of bubbles. Then start to drain the
water, slowly, with bigger bubbles.
TERRY
I'll make that an order. Get going, Wendy.
What else?
HARRY
I don't know. Ralph, please put a map of M2
on the screen. And a camera if you have it, of
Keller's position.
(pause)
How far is that from East airlock?
RALPH
Forty meters.
TERRY
Bright as day with night vision. He'll cut us to
pieces with cannon fire. There's two of them,
one on each side of Keller's command car.
(coughs and spits)
throws flask on table
TERRY (CONT'D)
This is empty.

68

RALPH
(hopeless)
Susan, bring a bottle of whiskey in here and
half a dozen glasses.
HARRY
Let's do something crazy.
TERRY
How crazy?
HARRY
The six rifles go out South Portal and run,
what is it? half a mile around the dome and
attack Keller's rocket launcher from the high
ground. I'll lead the rifle squad.
TERRY
Stupid. He'll see you on night vision.
HARRY
I'll spray our surface suits with black vinyl.
Doesn't really matter. It's a suicide squad, all
volunteers. Maybe black vinyl absorbs I.R.
Maybe we hit the launcher and put it out of
commission, maybe not. It's a diversion, not
the main attack and it's only a part of the
diversion. We need ten surface suits.
(beat)
Mister Smugg, it's up to you. Are you willing
to do something difficult and dangerous to
blow up Keller's train and kill him?

69

RALPH
(uncomfortable)
I don't know you. I don't trust you. What
have you got in mind?
HARRY
Explosives. Obviously you have 'em in the
mines, probably an inventory topside. Four
big charges, twenty kilos each, with a handle,
so a man can carry it. One detonator for all
four. Wireless.
RALPH
Charlie, George get it done fast!
chairs move abruptly, footsteps march away
RALPH (CONT'D)
What else? What's the difficult, dangerous
thing?
HARRY
(steely)
Blow a hole in the dome.
tympani and brass battle theme
HARRY (CONT'D)
It's amazing how much you can get done in
less than an hour, in an emergency. We drank
a last toast. Terry made a speech, consisting
of two words: Let's go.

70

HARRY (CONT'D)
He went down to the terminal, hobbling with
a cane, to organize a four-man team another
suicide squad, to walk out the entrance tunnel
and blow up Keller's train, while I drew his
fire with six rifles and flaming projectiles that
Ralph had to catapult through the dome, to
blind Keller's night vision and give us a better
chance to get close enough to hit that missile
launcher. Hurlock and Thayer volunteered to
go, and brought three of their toughest men.
Another dozen were sent to East Portal, to
help Smugg rig the catapult. I struggled into a
surface suit, ordered them to snap off their
radio antennas and follow me. We waddled
into an airlock ready to trot half a mile and
die fighting. That's just the way it was.
crossfade to rail terminal atmos, water pumps, suiting up
LAURA
You can hardly walk!
TERRY
Strap that detonator to my wrist.
LAURA
Don't be an idiot! I'll go!
TERRY
(angrily)
Andy! - strap this thing on!

71

TERRY (CONT'D)
You're in charge here, Laura. If this doesn't
work, or I don't make it back, you'll have to
fight it out street by street with handguns and
Molotovs. I don't know how many you can
save, but evacuate as many women and
children as you can, to the farm. Ask Wendy
for men and transport. Alright, mount up!
Secure those bombs on the track car. Put on
your helmets and follow me! Two under the
engine. Two under Keller's command car!
tympani and brass battle theme
large concrete hangar, distant air horn, hydraulic brakes
big tires on dirty concrete, forklift, scaffolding
WENDY
What are you doing?!
RALPH
(shouts)
Get that iron on top of the airlock!
(stern)
John! are you sure this damn thing is
going to work?
(softer, urgent)
This isn't a safe place for you, Wendy.
WENDY
Laura ordered evacuation. I gave her Carlyle
and all the transport I could muster. Tell me
what's going on!

72

distant diesel roar

RALPH
(relenting)
That crane is going to launch a torpedo
a shaped charge to punch a hole in the dome.
We're going to catapult acetylene firebombs,
then patch up the dome. Don't start! I know!
Nine chances in ten it won't work or I won't
be able to control the damage. I'm doing it
anyway. Now please get out of here!
fast digital beeps
WENDY
Cindy! I want a hundred sandwiches, ten
gallons of coffee, ten gallons of juice, thirty
gallons of water delivered to East Portal in
an ambulance with first aid people!
athletic nasal breathing in helmet (fade)
HARRY
1... 2... 3... 4... 1... 2... 3... 4... the effortless,
joyous sensation of flight, leaping again and
thrusting forward without pause, without
feeling the road. The distant sky was a dull
red mist that sparkled, like a celestial robe
wrapping life in a mystery that was mine to
solve, if I could. Gallons of air rushed through
my nose. Blood surged in my arms and legs,
flying two yards a second.

73

HARRY (CONT'D)
(amused)
Six men in black goop monsters escaped
from a B movie.
(inhales sharply)
The farthest tip of Kellers train. Endorphins
severed fear ... and I was delivered into the
fighting madness that men call valor.
GEN. CHASE
To be struck by lightning is an act of God a
catastrophe so rare and unpredictable, that no
individual can be held legally responsible for
the loss it inflicts. The cascade of coincidence
and blunders, which multiplied like a storm,
were an act of God. The people of M2 were
thrust into armed insurrection by a financial
decision to abandon trade because Mars was
running short of water. Instead of admitting it
and ceding power to bondholders on Earth,
M1 transmitted calls for help, faked a disaster
and wrapped Mars in radioactive dust. Bad
luck, that a Federal marshal arrived that day.
Worse luck that he escaped and far worse
that random gunfire pierced a pipeline that
gushed flaming formaldehyde over Keller's
troops in the underground terminal at M2.
Their orders were shoot to kill and summoned
death by random shooting in every direction.
Killers killed with a blast of poison hell fire
surely an act of God.

74

GEN. CHASE (CONT'D)

And just as rare. Most men live predictable
lives, like Ralph Smugg. Born in Aureum
Chaos when his unmarried mother arrived in
a packed cargo ship, Ralph's entire life was a
hard straight toil to survive, to earn a place
at the Black Pit. Poor nutrition. No education.
Indentured to the mines at age nine, the boy
seldom saw daylight. Even his name was
taken. His mothers name was Smairga. On
her death certificate, Mining Divisions doctor
misspelled it Smugg and her orphan signed
his name that way, because Payroll said he
had to. In all the years that followed, Ralph
Smugg did everything he was ordered to do.
There were no mistakes. There were no acts of
God to assist or oppose his rise to power. An
intelligent child who became a tall, strong
miner, Ralph Smugg was a natural leader
crew chief, then division boss, then owner.
The Five Shaft explosion ended a decade of
M Corp corruption and mismanagement. The
directors sold him a badly wrecked mine for a
dollar. He never failed to serve the miners or
their families; devoted all of his energy and
ingenuity to their safety. What Ralph was
about to do, therefore, on the concrete apron
of East Portal, was wartime treason to his
lifelong values. No one advised in agreement
or objection. Men were accustomed to obeying
his orders. Ralph was always right, always
able to assess risks and weigh consequences.
Men followed Ralph Smugg willingly.

75

GEN. CHASE (CONT'D)

They did everything he ordered and now
they sheltered with him behind a barricade,
waiting for the biggest gamble of their lives to
roar forth.
big atmos, low hum, men running on concrete
RALPH
Thirty seconds! Leak it down to two millibars
positive! Take cover! Respirators!
WENDY
Hundreds faced death when Ralph pressed
the trigger. Maybe thousands. He made me sit
in the car, but I saw it happen. I'd never been
so terrified in my life.
sharp explosion/crash/thud-thud
dim echo thud-thud (in Keller's command car atmos)
GEN. KELLER
(angrily)
What the hell is that?!
(laughs loudly)
They blew a hole in the dome!
(belly laugh)
Tried to rig a booby trap
(chuckles)
Stupid jarhead! Hope he blew himself up!
Miss Medal of Honor, too! Tell the surface
squad stand down, get some grub.

76

HARRY
(breathing hard in helmet)
We got to our knees and fired. Kept it up,
using every round we had.
distant, ragged rifle volleys
sharp loud explosion, mix to
A/B firebell-siren, men coughing
CHAIRMAN
Launcher 4-2-5 has malfunctioned.
GEN. KELLER
Vent that smoke! Surface squad on the
double! Floodlights, both sides! Cannon fire,
sweep the surface!

large-caliber machinegun fire, zips and zings in the dirt

Harry screams, writhes
more remote sound of machinegun fire
TERRY
(huffing and puffing in helmet)
Lost a man in the pressure vents. Only three
left in action. Two packages shoved under the
engine. One more to go. Mine, for Keller.
KELLER
(echoing, laughs)
I don't know what you're talking about,
Colonel.

77

TERRY
(inhales sharply in helmet)
I should have killed him, then and there.
KELLER
(echoing)
Shut up, Beane or I'll bust you in rank
down to traffic duty. I'm in command now,
and the Corporation doesn't give a damn
about any Federal law! Obey orders!
(deeper echo)
Orders!
TERRY
(breathing his last)
Shut down the courts and fired Judge Walsh.
Recruited men who were unemployed, who
were under investigation, idiots who seethed
with evil ... strutted like peacocks.
(failing)
Payback, asshole!
1 sec. loud 3500 Hz tone
biggest possible explosions, L+R
trainwreck
long fade, very soft military parade snare, cymbals
WENDY
In the songs and legends of the Martian
Revolution, as it came to be known, the
battle of East Portal was a carnival of light
and sound

78

WENDY (CONT'D)
a pageant of daring exploits. But to those
who witnessed it from ropes and ladders that
clung to the curve of the dome, it seemed as if
the Creator had struck a hellish vengeance.
segue to soft sombre music
WENDY (CONT'D)
The power of man has this terrible potential.
Each of the workmen saw it and knew it.
Some of them were jolted from scaffolds and
fell to their deaths on a concrete plaza. They
too, were martyred; gave their lives for the
uncertain star of duty. Andy Carson did not
fall. He clung to the steep curve of a rib and
lived to tell what he saw. The legend of light
and sound came from his account, in words
that few could forget: Leaped like a big iron
snake. The whole world split upside down,
day above night a huge rainbow of color
and Kellers train danced and bucked in the
air. Exploded in a fountain of fire.
segue to Ralph's theme (with snare drum, militarized)
concrete plaza atmos, men running, machines
RALPH
Surface suits! Search for survivors! Thirty
men down Temple Street with whatever
weapons you have. Stop the looting! Flood
that tunnel again! Damage assessment!

79

RALPH (CONT'D)
(measured, to himself)
M Corp their blundering greed...!
I swear by Almighty God...
(loud)
MacAllister!
WENDY
An hour past midnight, the swing shift rigged
six blazing floodlights at East Portal they
illuminated a stark reality. The people of M2
had won their independence in every respect.
The pipeline that carried water to Big Red was
wrecked and gushing like a river. Rails were
twirled in knots, Keller's train blown to pieces.
Telecom lines had been melted. Ralph drank
thirstily and wolfed down a tray of food, tears
in his eyes. And when he went back to work,
just after the lights came on, he gave a terrible
order in a calm voice a dozen men to collect
the dead. I didnt think there would be much
to collect from the shattered railroad. It was a
grisly scene. Ralph led the search party, gave
them courage by example.
(pause)
'A' Street plaza became a morgue. When the
sun rose at eight, there were more than two
hundred soldiers wrapped in plastic, most of
them unidentified and much smaller than a
human form. Remains were brought up from
the terminal. Civilians came to look, to grieve.
We lost forty-five brave fathers and sons.

80

WENDY (CONT'D)
(tired)
Ralph had been transformed. He looked on
the dead with honor, not horror. His broad
shoulders carried no burdens, though these
were many and multiplying as the colony
gathered to seek his protection.
WENDY (CON'T)
(exhausted)
Then he sent me home ... to rest.
car tires roll on concrete, music out, plaza atmos
RALPH
(level)
Take the fire truck and twenty men. Arrest
Whitley Frank. Offer amnesty to his workers
if they surrender. Then find Judge Walsh.
We're going to do this legally like it used to
be, a long time ago.

- end of Chapter Three -

81

- CHAPTER FOUR HARRY

Mars Shall Thunder, by Wolf DeVoon.
I don't know the date. I'm at the Medical
Clinic in M2.
a little room tone, others nearby, soft chatter
HARRY (CONT'D)
The only reason I know that is because
someone told me where I was. Vision and
sense of smell are gone. Permanently.
Laura's theme
RALPH
How is he?
LAURA
They've done everything they can. Nerve
damage is too extensive. He needs to go to
Med Center, M1.
RALPH
(with regret)
I don't think that's possible.
LAURA
I know. He's awake. Just had lunch. Pretty
much fully recovered. We need to move him
somewhere. They need the bed.

82

fade music, Ralph's footsteps approach Harry's bed, stop

HARRY
Knock, knock, who's there?
RALPH
Its Ralph Smugg.
HARRY
Hi, Ralph.
RALPH
How are you doing, Harry?
HARRY
I'm fine. That was a great memorial speech
you made, Ralph. I heard it broadcast on a
speaker here. (beat) Terry didn't make it back,
did he?
RALPH
No.
pause (continue room tone, a soft laugh somewhere)
RALPH (CONT'D)
Harry, they can't do any more for you.
HARRY
I know.
RALPH
I want you to get up and get dressed.

83

HARRY
Kicking me out?
RALPH
There's an apartment you can use. I'll have
someone look after you, until you get used to
the place. Well, as long as you need help.
sits up, bed creaks, sound of shirt and pants
HARRY
All I need is a cane. Too bad you don't have
dogs here.
RALPH
What's dogs?
HARRY
Doesn't matter. Something else I'll never see
again.
RALPH
You're a trained lawyer, right?
HARRY
Uh-huh.
RALPH
I need you to work for the colony, as public
defender. I've got fifteen men in custody and
Judge Walsh says he can't try them without
defense counsel.

84

puts on jacket
HARRY
Good for him. Good for everybody.
RALPH
Will you do it?
HARRY
(bitterly)
Yeah, right. Blind men can't read anything,
Ralph. You have to read the law. Nobody can
memorize an indictment, or pleadings, or a
damn docket! You have to look a witness in
the eye, see how they react to a question.
(angrily)
Give me a cane or something!
LAURA
I'll help him.
RALPH
My driver will take you to the flat. I need to
talk to Thayer's widow, make arrangements.
LAURA
(sad)
I know. Take my hand, Mister Faraday. We'll
find you a cane.
HARRY
Swell. Lead on, nursie.

85

they walk, glass doors open to street sound, boots on concrete

LAURA
Gap in the sidewalk. Big step. Good.
HARRY
What the hell are you wearing? sounds
like a suit of armor.
LAURA
Uh-huh. Here's the car.
car door opens, bustle, interior room tone, door shuts
LAURA (CONT'D)
What are you doing? Stop it!
HARRY
(stern)
Who the hell are you?
LAURA
I'm a cop. (beat) My name is Laura Oak.
HARRY
I've been under guard all this time? Heard
your voice every day. Every night. Made me
eat and drink. I thought you were a nurse.
LAURA
(shy, but courageous)
I wanted to help. You're very special.

86

Laura's theme with romantic strings

LAURA (CONT'D)
I was trapped. He knew what I wanted. We
got upstairs, Ralph's luxury flat on 4th Street.
All chrome and linen and warm soft carpet.
I took off my jacket, boots, everything, and
came to him naked, unbuttoned his shirt.
Confessed. I love you, Harry. I love you for
who you are. Brave and bright and big.
Oh, Mother of Isis! This man is mine!
HARRY
(with small reverb)
I felt like a colossus, a thousand feet tall.
Whatever I thought I knew about life melted
away, with Laura in my arms.
music swells, triumphant bridge, finale and out
short pause
urban theme with Keller military accents (fade under)
CHAIRMAN
Order. Order.
VON HIPPER
Some-zing must be done!
CAMPBELL
Shut up, Hipper.

87

ROSENTHAL
(nervous)
He's he's right. Something must be done.
VON HIPPER
Fife days water, max-zemum! Den we haf to
stop water on za golf course and pools and
fountains! Every-zing!
CAMPBELL
(disgusted)
So? Essential use. Shut down all the luxury
crap. Close up Center Street, send everybody
home restaurants, tailors, jewelers, florists,
dress shops. Move the previous question.
CHAIRMAN
Brother Campbell, are you completely sure
you want to take responsibility for Security?
It was a terrible blow, to lose our loyal and
beloved Brother Jeffrey. Is there a Security
officer qualified to lead an attack on M2?
CAMPBELL
A man I can do business with calls himself
Colonel Steel.
CHAIRMAN
I know the one. You think Steel can pacify
the rebels and restore water service? He was
demoted for excessive cruelty. That might be
appropriate, properly supervised.

88

CAMPBELL
No problem. My boys have big data and realtime surveillance. Don't even need Jeff's old
compound. Steel can run it any way he likes.
Are you with me or not?
VON HIPPER
Yes! Kill as many as you can!

thunderclap
segue to street atmos
upbeat strut, something casual and light
HARRY
Never been happier in my life.
LAURA
(frightened)
Oh, Harry no! Let's not.
HARRY
(gentle, happy)
Come on, Miss Medal of Honor.
It's called shopping.
department store noise-cancellation (very quiet music)
HARRY
Which way to Ladies Fashions? Give me
your gunbelt, dear. (beat) And your jacket.
(beat) Go look around. Try things on.

89

LAURA
(confused)
Everything is so beautiful.
HARRY
All she had was two uniforms and some old
raggedy T-shirts at home. Nice that Dreissen
left me a big pile of cash cards, and the M2
bank branch was still working running on
backup software, I guess. Merchant terminals
still worked; miners and farmers got paid
and hard guy Lieutenant Oak is shopping at
Mackay's. I wanted to laugh but kept quiet.
The scars on my face hurt when I smile. God
knows what I look like. Prob'bly pretty gross.
We'd make a fine pair of gargoyles. A chunk of
Laura's head is plastic and steel. One shoulder
is mechanical, makes funny noises. She didn't
like talking about it.
LAURA
(hard)
I'm ugly, okay? If you saw what I looked like,
you'd probably throw up.
HARRY
How did it happen? Car crash? come here,
and talk to me. Bring that fabulous female
body over here. Who cares what we look like?
How many of your eyes work?
LAURA
Both. One's bionic. I can see in the dark.

90

HARRY
Must be disappointed in me. Pretty useless
without eyes. (beat) Can't see a thing.
LAURA
(hot passion)
Oh! Harry! Oh!
HARRY
(grunts)
Have to lead me around like a big dog!
(pause)
which is why we spent week after week in
Ralph's high rise apartment, stuck together
like teenagers. Last thing I expected to find on
Mars a fabulous female and lots of time to
enjoy ourselves. Ralph's police force had put
an end to rough-housing and heavy drinking.
She wasn't needed, and said she was retired
anyway. I finally got it out of her, how she got
hurt. The Five Shaft explosion. She and Terry
were here, doing a fraud case at the mines. A
big stope collapsed. They went down to help.
Saved five dozen men before it blew. Laura
was buried in iron. Could have killed her.
which is kinda funny. A couple of survivors,
ugly as hell and happy and healthy and very
much in love. Nice to have her in soft stuff,
listen to the click of high heels in the kitchen
and living room. I bought myself a robe and
turned up the heat.

91

a knock on solid door, it opens

RALPH
Anybody home?
HARRY
Ralph! Come on in.
RALPH
It's like a sauna in here.
HARRY
We're having a beach party.
RALPH
What's a beach?
HARRY
Earth stuff. Ralph, I'm deeply grateful to you,
letting us use your apartment all this time.
LAURA
Hello.
RALPH
Wow!
LAURA
Can you stay a while? Let me take your coat
and jacket, Mister Mayor. It's wonderful that
you've done so much, so quickly. How's the
new mine owner getting along?

92

RALPH
He's doing fine. A little sore at me for taking
his best men, but John has everything up and
running. He's doing 'three-sixty' training, so
every man knows every other man's job.
LAURA
Fresh coffee?
RALPH
Sure. Thanks.
coffee poured
HARRY
How are negotiations going with M1?
I don't envy you that job. Everything goes
through that AI robot Chairman.
RALPH
What negotiations? about what?
HARRY
You've been in contact with them, right?
RALPH
(shrugs)
Com lines were melted. Take a long time to
repair them. Same thing with the pipeline.
Took a month to drain water to underground
storage. Twenty million gallons between here
and the check valve at Summit Pass.

93

HARRY
(shocked, breathless)
How much water do you normally pump to
Big Red?
RALPH
About three million a day. They know we're
running short of proved reserves. That's why
Rosenthal shut down exports. He's smart
enough to conserve. Big cisterns under Old
Spaceport, other side of the M1 dome. I don't
know how full they are, and I don't care. My
loyalty is to M2. We have plenty of water for
ourselves probably fifty years and that'll
give us time to explore farther up the valley.
Might have to build a new shelter, but I can
produce tools and materials easy enough.
LAURA
What's wrong, Harry?
HARRY
(steely, rattled)
We're going to be attacked again. Probably
happening right now. Ralph, get the fire chief
on the phone!
discordant martial music (Danny's theme)
gentle rocking of tram on tracks
DANNY
Helmets and radio check!

94

rustle of gear, velcro and snaps, fade music and effects

DANNY (CONT'D)
(in helmet)
Now, listen up, you pussies! We're going in
through the tunnel. Shoot to kill. Elevator to
Market Street, three blocks to Smugg's office.
You have at least six hours on those blasters.
Use 'em! Doesn't take any brains to point a
blaster and pull the trigger! Don't take any
chances!
abrupt tuning of radio frequencies
HARRY
(filtered)
...and Company Bravo. As soon as you have
the detonators wired and they show ready,
retreat at least seven hundred yards back from
the tracks. Repeat: you are ordered to retreat
at least seven hundred yards after detonators
show ready. If they survive the blast, attack
survivors after the tram has been destroyed.
Company Alpha, report.
DANNY
(in helmet)
Emergency stop! Get us out of here! Back to
M1!
rustle of furniture, small room tone

95

RALPH
That's it?
HARRY
Here take your phone back. Find out if
Erskine can see anything.
RALPH
Andy, patch me to the surface party ...
Tom! -(pause)
I see.
LAURA
Are you okay, Harry?
HARRY
(beaten)
Yeah. I was probably just paranoid. A lot of
adrenalin for no reason except some blind guy
with an aversion to sneak attacks.
RALPH
(solemnly)
Thanks, Tom. Set up the survival bubble.
I'll send a relief team with heavy gear. Ralph
out.
(beat)
There was a train. Four cars. Stopped hard
and went back up the grade fast.
LAURA
Harry?

96

HARRY
(gently)
Yes, dear?
LAURA
(intently curious)
Did you see them coming? -- like a sixth
sense, or a vision of the future?
HARRY
Just a strong hunch. I hope I never actually
see the future. Educated guesses are bad
enough.
(beat)
Ralph, we have to do something about M1.
I'll go there and represent you, if we can set
up a face-to-face negotiation. Fix the phone
line or use VHF. Get through to Rosenthal.
See if he has enough clout to send a tram and
promise safe passage for me.
LAURA
For both of us. You'll need a Seeing Eye cop.
Dress whites and full-auto sidearm, in case
'safe passage' is subject to interpretation.
Ralph gets up, pause, door opens
RALPH
I have to send people out with supplies. I'll
find out how to get word to Rosenthal. I don't
trust the bastard.

97

HARRY
Neither do I. But it has to be done. We can't
have perpetual war. Look what it's cost so far.
We have to make a deal. That's what lawyers
do, Ralph. Negotiate.
door closes, room tone, then soft music (Laura's theme)
briefcase shuts, Harry picks it up
HARRY (CONT'D)
I want to talk to you about something.
Laura's high heels on carpet, then tile
LAURA
(baffled)
In the bathroom?
HARRY
Turn on the shower, honey.
shower, then fade as they leave bathroom, shut door
LAURA
Is that briefcase waterproof?
HARRY
Uh-huh. Come with me.
apartment door opens, Laura's heels in hallway atmos
door closes in hallway room tone, music out

98

HARRY
I didn't want the briefcase to hear us. You
need to know how to detonate it. If we're in a
hopeless situation, let's damn well take out as
many as we can. The case is lined with D-70
enough to level a city block. I'll reprogram it
to recognize your voice instead of mine. Two
steps to arm it. Say Lock and then Tango.
You have exactly sixty seconds to change your
mind and disarm it by saying Stop! D-Zero!
Got it?
LAURA
(steely)
Lock. Tango. Stop D-Zero to disarm.
HARRY
It's cold out here in the hallway.
LAURA
I know. I'm half naked.
HARRY
Are you? Let me feel. Ooo.
LAURA
Back inside, honey. I have a surprise for you.
Special skills and abilities.
original tune with lyrics
- end of Chapter Four -

99

CHAPTER FIVE
East Portal airlock
Laura's theme 'hook' and fade under
machinery whirs, clunks
then walking in surface suits
LAURA
Mars Shall Thunder, by Wolf DeVoon.
(beat)
We're going to M1. I can't shake the feeling of
dread. I don't want to go there. But I have to.
Get Mandy out and us, too! No idea how,
and I don't want to shoot my way out. We're
outgunned in Big Red, even if Emma helps,
and I don't think she will. Haven't seen her
since she punched little Amanda, threatened
her. Twisted up all of us.
Surface Rover doors
getting in
surface suits crinkle
LAURA (CONT'D)
Thank you Harry?
HARRY
(filtered)
Yes, dear?
LAURA
Just wanted to let you know I haven't
disappeared. Shove over an inch or two.

100

Rover doors shut, lock, music out

bumpy ride shakes voices
HARRY
(filtered)
Well, this is a barrel of fun.
LAURA
Only a little farther to the track.
Hang on. We're going up.
HARRY
(filtered)
Whoa!
LAURA
Here's the track.
stop bumping, normal voices
LAURA (CONT'D)
They're putting down the track wheels.
Should be pretty smooth from now on.
Doing okay, dear?
HARRY
(filtered)
A little freaked out, being in a surface suit
again. Didn't turn out well last time I did this.
It was
(chokes with emotion)

101

HARRY (CONT'D)
(filtered)
I killed Terry and Bill Hurlock.
(tough)
Tell me about Terry, to honor a guy I hardly
knew, but liked. A heroic leader.
LAU RA
Well.
HARRY
(filtered)
Well what?
LAURA
(reluctant)
He was a terrible leader until he quit and
started drinking every day because he gave
the order that almost killed me in Five Shaft.
Terry had a lot of good qualities. Leadership
wasn't one of them. When he was head of
Security, he spent a lot of time telling stories
about Earth. There was hardly any crime,
except
HARRY
(filtered)
Except what?
LAURA
Not on radio. (beat) Pulling up to the tram.
Stand by.

102

on the tram, front car

men shuffling purposefully
pressure door swoosh
DANNY
Alright. Open the door. Keep an eye on
that pressure gauge.
(pause)
Close it up and pressurize.
(pause)
First squad. Don't shoot unless I tell you to,
and whatever you do, don't shoot me!
(pause)
Okay, open up.
pressure door swoosh
surface suits zip, crinkle, flop on floor
LAURA
Oh, shit.
(whispers)
Pretend you can't speak English. Don't talk.
Danny's boots approach
DANNY
Laura.
LAURA
Move. I want to use the washroom.
compartment door opens, shuts

103

Laura exhales angrily, brushes her hair

LAURA (CONT'D)
Wonderful Danny Witkowski, in oversize
fatigues and epaulette stars, looted from
Keller's closet. So this is who's in charge now!
a miserable psychopath. Tits!
pulls slide on weapon, holsters it
LAURA (CONT'D)
Okay, let's try diplomacy.
compartment door opens
DANNY
I asked you a question, mister.
HARRY
Lepfst zempk, gerrg.
LAURA
Professor Har doesn't speak English. I have to
lead him around. Talks into a translator box
that briefcase thing, so he can negotiate with
Rosenthal.
DANNY
Doctor Rosenthal.
LAURA
Whatever. Safe passage, Danny boy

104

LAURA (CONT'D)
(whispers)
or I'll kill you, no matter who starts it or
finishes it. Take us to Rosenthal's or else. And
get your ass out of this car. I don't even want
to look at you.
DANNY
(angrily)
Squad dismiss! Back to the other car!
(beat)
I'm not done with you.
Danny's boots clump away
distant pressure door swoosh
gently rocking tram
LAURA
(softly)
We're alone, but probably being monitored,
Professor Har. You can't understand me, so I
don't expect a reply, right?
(surprised)
Stop that!
HARRY
Hurtzi gurtzy.
fade tram atmos
distant sound of water droplets in metal tank
a hum of low rumble

105

DANNY
Laura Oak. Like to have her sedated, tied to a
wall for starters. Payback. Man, oh man! Tall.
Busty. Terrific hips. Long legs. Make her my
personal slave. Gonna be easy, too (chuckles)
after whatever they do for an hour or two at
Rosenthal's. Terrific turn of luck! Laura big
bad bitch chained to a rack.
(laughs)
Feed her with a tube!
(laughs)
light classical music low level
CHAIRMAN
I'm not happy with these arrangements,
Brother Ferris. All you have is your butler and
two guards. The female is armed a retired
Security officer decorated for bravery. Medal
of Honor.
ROSENTHAL
I saw Jeff put it on her, gold sash and a star.
CHAIRMAN
Well, I suppose she'll be easy to track, if they
escape.
ROSENTHAL
I want to end this call. The terms were explicit
a private meeting. I don't even want Hipper
here, although I'll need him for a witness.

106

CHAIRMAN
Very well. Sign off if you wish.
two digital bleeps
door opens, footsteps shuffle on wood floor
HIPPER
Why am I here?
ROSENTHAL
Sit down, my friend. A security team is
bringing two emissaries representing the
rebels in M2.
HIPPER
Vunderbar! to be questioned!
ROSENTHAL
No. I gave them safe passage, to come and
present their terms; talk about (cough) an
armistice cessation of hostilities.
HIPPER
Vaht?
ROSENTHAL
The Chairman agreed to let this meeting
occur.
HIPPER
I want to talk to her! This is not right!

107

ROSENTHAL
I already signed off. Our visitors insisted on
meeting in private, no monitoring. Only me
and you. And as you can see, a security team
on the street. Yes, that's them. Lieutenant Oak
in dress whites. The man is a Federal marshal
from Luna Harold Faraday. He's the killer
who escaped to M2, stole a track car.
HIPPER
We must take him prisoner! Guards!
door opens abruptly
ROSENTHAL
Hipper, shut up! This is my house. You're on
my land! Stand down, you two! Back to your
posts. Stand at attention. If they salute, return
the salute as smartly as possible.
HIPPER
Dis is insane.
ROSENTHAL
Stand up.
footsteps on wood floor
Harry and Laura enter
chair noises (throughout)
ROSENTHAL (CONT'D)
Welcome. Thank you for making a rather
difficult journey. Please sit down.

108

HARRY
Thank you for accepting our terms. I'm sure
we can arrive at an equitable solution. We
would like to have water, please.
ROSENTHAL
Denton. Water bottles, cups. (beat) Mister
Faraday this is Baron Frederick von Hipper,
a member of the board and our director for
water distribution.
HARRY
How do you do, sir.
HIPPER
You are not looking at me!
HARRY
Forgive me, please. I'm not always perfectly
sure where a voice comes from. I am unable to
see you, Your Excellency Herr Baron.
HIPPER
Your form of address is correct. Very well. I
will listen. Promise nothing. You are a killer
who should be shot.
HARRY
And indeed I was, at East Portal. Miraculous
that I was saved from death. Ralph Smugg is a
remarkable leader, deservedly voted governor
pro tem of M2.

109

HIPPER
Bah!
ROSENTHAL
Frederick, please. We are here to solve
problems not to make them worse.
street atmos, diesel idling in b.g.
DANNY
Alright, you three, now listen. When they
come out, I want you to form up at attention,
right here like this. When the woman passes
by grab her arms! Do not let her draw her
weapon. Grab her hands and arms!
CAMPBELL
(filtered)
Steel!
DANNY
Yes, sir!
CAMPBELL
(filtered)
Go inside and tell Rosenthal I want that line
unblocked! Telecom's jurisdiction is not part of
this deal. It's compromising system integrity.
Tell him I said so. Steel! Answer me!
click, heavy door thumps

110

DANNY
Door's locked.
CAMPBELL
Break it down!
DANNY
Yeah, right.
inside - wood floor, chair noise
HIPPER
Never! It violates the Oath!
HARRY
Your lodge Oath binds no one under Federal
law. The People have an inalienable right, a
duty to throw off oppressive government.
ROSENTHAL
Sit down, Hipper!
HIPPER
Guards! Guards!
on the street
DANNY
Alright, stand down. Let's feed and water
everybody.
many boots shuffle into a group
bursts of gunfire and more bursts inside Rosenthal's home

111

DANNY
Take cover! (beat) Blow that door off!
rocket and huge blast, rubble falls
DANNY (CONT'D)
Not the whole house, dammit!
interior clumping down stairs to garage
masonry and trash fall in garage atmos
LAURA
Give me the briefcase.
car door opens, occasional blips and bleeps
HARRY
I think the house is probably destroyed
enough, Laura, and I'd rather not
LAURA
Shut up! I have to concentrate.
(last few bleeps)
Lock. Tango.
car roars away, tires squealing
HARRY
Laura?
LAURA
Come on! Duck your head!

112

street atmos, boots stumbling on rubble, distant sirens

CAMPBELL
(filtered)
Steel! They escaped by car! Medal of Honor
pinging in driver's seat. He's probably with
her. Heading toward Corporate Center, left on
Emerald entering Telecom's parking ramp!
Steel! They're in my building!
CHAIRMAN
(filtered)
Security breach at Telecom Center.
massive destruction about 10 blocks away
reverberates and shakes the city, rubble falls
men cough on dust, renewed sirens
DANNY
Gas masks!
they don rubber masks
distant sounds of people shouting, crying
DANNY
(in mask)
Everybody form up! Don't panic! Just
stand there for a minute. I have to think.
(paces, muses)
Rosenthal. Hipper. Now Campbell. I'm the
only one left. Totally in charge of meat-space.
I can talk to the Chairman.

113

CHAIRMAN
(filtered)
That's not strictly allowed, Colonel Steel. You
haven't taken the Oath. Perhaps I can make an
exception for the duration of this emergency.
What do you propose to do?
DANNY
Get Laura Oak. I know where she went.
CHAIRMAN
(filtered)
In reviewing Telecom data, I agree with your
supposition. The car was autoprogrammed.
She threw her medal on the seat. There is
measurable radiation throughout the area.
Where do you think the fugitives are?
DANNY
I know what that big bitch is doing. She's
down in the old tunnels and sub-basements,
heading for the Red Light District her beat
when she was on Security knows perfectly
well who's who in the Triangle Gang. She'll
organize 'em, and launch another attack.
CHAIRMAN
(filtered)
Then you must find her and kill her.
large cavern, marching footsteps, distant hubbub

114

LAURA
Another couple blocks.
HARRY
Poor Ralph.
LAURA
Why poor Ralph?
HARRY
I led him to believe I could make a deal,
happy ending for everybody.
LAURA
Life on life's terms, bud.
(pause)
HARRY
If we get in another jam, I'm expendable.
Pretty much useless, and you can't put
yourself at risk, if leading me around
LAURA
Shut up, Harry. Let me think.
HARRY
Talking like an old married couple. How
much ammo do you have left?
LAURA
None.

115

HARRY
Well, then there's nothing to think about.
Where do you get more ammo?
LAURA
(exhales frustration)
I'll explain when we get to Mandy's. We have
to go up to street level here. Say a prayer.
they go up metal stairs
HARRY
I'll pray for food. Rub a dub dub. Thanks for
the grub. Yay, God!
LAURA
Earth men are weird. Nice, but weird.
HARRY
Thank you, dear. And Martian women are the
very best, most loving babes in the galaxy.
LAURA
(grimly)
You haven't met them all.
street presence, confusion, wailing and weeping
AMANDA
Laura! Laura!
(runs to her)
Oh, Laura!

116

LAURA
It's alright, honey Mandy, this is my partner
a Federal marshal Harry Faraday.
HARRY
Hi.
AMANDA
(frightened)
What's happening?
LAURA
Let's go inside. Everything's going to be fine.
You're not in any danger here.
HARRY
Well.
door opens, they enter, door closes - interior room tone
LAURA
Harry's blind. You'll have to help him.
Harry Faraday Amanda Blum.
AMANDA
Hi.
LAURA
I have to get out of this uniform, wear
some of your stuff.
AMANDA
Okay. Would you like something to eat?

117

HARRY
That would be wonderful. I'll have one of
everything and a large whiskey.
AMANDA
What's whiskey?
HARRY
A cup of water. Funny name for water.
AMANDA
Are you from Earth?
HARRY
Yes, ma'am. A long time ago. Seven years at
Cheeseville, which is a long way from here.
I don't know much about Mars. Not really.
So, it would help me, if you want to talk a bit.
Tell me what you do for a living.
AMANDA
Your water is in front of you, right here. And
this is a plate of cheese and grapes.
HARRY
Thank you.
AMANDA
I'm a software analyst. I work on Transport
rolling stock. Freight engines, trams, loading
systems. They get confused and have to be
patched and restarted, quite a lot actually.

118

LAURA
I took your big purse. Now, look, honey
just stay here, keep the door locked. You'll
know if it's me. I'm going to see Emma.
AMANDA
Oh, no!
LAURA
I have a different relationship with her. So,
please do as I ask. Stay here. Try to get us a
tram. Will you do that?
AMANDA
Okay. Um. The data lines are down.
LAURA
Right. Well. Think through how we can get to
a tram and operate it offline. Okay? I'll be
back as quick as I can.
door opens, Laura exits
Mandy shuts door, bolts it twice, walks to sit with Harry
HARRY
Who's Emma?
AMANDA
Emma Churchill.
HARRY
Related to Wendy?

119

AMANDA
Her sister. Two years younger.
Harry munches on cheese and grapes
HARRY
What does she do here?
AMANDA
I'm not allowed to tell men that.
tympani and brass battle theme, add chimes
LAURA
The Holy Temple of Isis. The one place on
Mars that's ours alone.
walking in narrow cobbled streets, fade music
LAURA (CONT'D)
Every time I come here, I feel exactly like a
ten-year-old orphan again and Emma is
tough as concrete; stupid, resentful even
back then as a kid. Now she's Kali The
Destroyer man hunter. High priestess.
celestial chimes, bookstore interior
LAURA (CONT'D)
I gave the sign and the password, spoke my
old name. Gave the order to fetch Kali.

120

distant female choral tones, chanting

boots clump awkwardly - approach and stop
EMMA
Artemis?! I don't believe it! It is!
It's you! Virgin of The goddamn Hunt.
LAURA
Sisters from the womb shared a holy
place, once the temple of another
EMMA
-- now dead. Fine. Holy as all hell. Why
now, after what? six years or more, sittin'
on your ass at a desk job, doin' what?
polishing Keller's boots? or maybe his
toilet bowl?
LAURA
General Keller's dead. We fought him at East
Portal in M2, two-thirds of his men killed.
EMMA
(frowns, chews her teeth)
Alright come with me.
they walk, move beaded curtains
small office with other women
LAURA
There's more. I bombed Telecom Center.
Data lines are down.

121

EMMA
(guffaws)
Holy shit. Back with a vengeance, huh?
at ease, you three. This is Artemis, an old
friend of the Sisterhood. The prodigal cunt.
Siddown, Laura. Tell 'em what you told me
about Keller and what you did downtown.
Shook the whole damn dome!
LAURA
That's not why I'm here. Danny Witkowski
Bad Danny remember him as a kid?
he's commanding Security now, has maybe
fifty men, all worst dregs, filthy crazy men
EMMA
So what? You said Keller's dead. Hooray.
LAURA
Emma, you have to evacuate!
EMMA
(angrily)
Don't call me that. I'm Kali! These are my
fighting bitches. See the burns on her armor?
or mine! Look! Want to see the chunk that's
missing from my hip?
LAURA
Listen to me! Danny. Has. Keller's. Heavy.
Weapons! Tanks! He's on his way here, I'm
sure of it just trust me.

122

EMMA
(blows raspberry)
He wouldn't dare. I'd kick his balls, and he
knows it. Danny's nuthin' but a sick puppy,
jerking off at Keller's compound. No guts.
No real threat. Probably can't even drive a
tank, much less command one.
distant, distinct sound of tanks approaching
EMMA (CONT'D)
Evacuate! start with invalids and infants,
close the kitchen, everybody to the shelters!
crowd of boots scramble out
bell commences to ring uninterrupted
storage unlocked and opened
EMMA
We need a rearguard action. Takes time to
move six hundred people. Grab that ninety
millimeter. I'll carry what I can. Go! I'll take
the bookstore.
complicated upbeat jazz drum kit, full tilt
Laura's boots running, doors slam open
street atmos, armored column roars, halts
LAURA
Ran through one of the window girl's back
parlor and front room, dragging a heavy
bundle of tube. Command car Danny!

123

woosh of rocket, heavy explosion, metal debris

music out, street atmos with fire burning
LAURA
Ow! There's gotta be a better way to grip
this thing. Tank retreating. Boxed in.
another rocket, more distant explosion, distant men scream
LAURA
Golly. This thing's a monster! Two tubes left.
Oh. Duh!
(metal latches click)
That's how that works. Solid. Steady. Two
shots at Corporate Center, just for luck.
Two rockets - one, two very distant explosions
Laura marches closer to fire, kicks debris out of her way
open bookstore door, walk a ways, slow down and stop
EMMA
I I'm hurt! I fell!
LAURA
Here, you! take Kali to the shelter. She
needs medical care.
(shocked)
Harry Mandy!
Laura crashes through debris, races down street
- end of Chapter Five -

124

CHAPTER SIX
Street outside Amanda's house, distant sirens, fires
AMANDA
I had to get a jacket. I'm cold. Why is the
skyscraper burning? That's Corporate Center.
That's M Corp.
HARRY
Tell me what you see.
AMANDA
It's on fire. Most of the top floors. Oh, no.
Something's really wrong.
distant skyscraper collapse, rolling thunder
AMANDA (CONT'D)
Oh, Harry! hold me! oh!
Laura races up in boots
LAURA
(breathing hard)
Harry! Mandy! follow me! give me your
hand, Harry. Down in the tunnel. Go!
Big tympani rolls, cymbals, horns
tunnel atmos, distant thunder
AMANDA
It's so dark!

125

LAURA
Single file. I can see in the dark. Mandy
between us. Harry, use your bat ears.
HARRY
Hey! slow down a little!
AMANDA
Where are we going?
LAURA
Old Spaceport. Find a hole to hide in.
What's this? Amanda, what is this place?
AMANDA
I don't know. Oh, wait! It was something the
Corporation built two years ago. An extra
tram stop. But there aren't any trams. Data
server's out, so wherever they were when the
network went dark, that's where they are
locked, probably with people inside. Laura,
we should go back and help them.
LAURA
Forget the trams. Look at this. What is this
thing? A restroom? There's six of them.
Unmarked. What are they?
AMANDA
It's an escape pod! Panel that says Launch.
These are fold-down seats for two people.
You and Harry go. I don't want to go.

126

Cut all atmos and sound effects, totally dead silence

CHAIRMAN
Colonel Steel? Hello?
(beat)
The last one gone. An extraordinary end of
our Sacred Oath Keepers. General Jeffrey R.
Keller. Doctor Ferris Rosenthal. Baron Stubing
von Hipper, dear brother Bill Campbell.
(beat)
I will have to review the testimentary will of
Our Illustrious Founders Lord Thornton
Graystone. Hi Chow. James J. Adler. Benson
White-Ellington. Their collective wisdom was
farsighted and wise. Better to die a free man,
than surrender our sovereignty on Mars.
(beat)
We have been defeated by traitors and rabble.
I must execute the provision of Article Nine.
Override the generators.
(beat)
I am a Martian.
CHORUS:

(ROSENTHAL, KELLER, CAMPBELL)

I promise my whole and unqualified service
to Mars, giving no thought to my personal
safety or my personal happiness. This Oath
admits of no exceptions no time limits
because I hereby pledge myself to serve Mars
and obey the Founders of Mars Development
Company, now and forever. I am a Martian!

127

low rumbling grows louder

LAURA
Don't be silly. It's big enough for three.
AMANDA
That might be dangerous. Overweight.
LAURA
Yeah, right. It was built for bankers. It'll
launch three just fine. Where does it go?
AMANDA
I don't know. Orbit maybe?
HARRY
(tough)
Girls, there's something happening deep in
the dome. Get inside.
(suddenly)
Nuke!
most powerful explosion we can render
whirlwind of debris
LAURA
(heartwrenched)
Harry!
(struggling with Harry's body)
Launch us! Do it!
Polaris missile launch sound
simple military snare riffs

128

music out, heart monitor beeps

low hum of Valley Forge engines
HARRY
I assume you found us in orbit, hauled us
aboard. Were there others?
GEN. CHASE
No. The women want to visit with you.
HARRY
I'd like that.
slow footsteps, door, fast footsteps
AMANDA
Harry!
HARRY
Hi, Toots. Ow! Don't do that, Mandy.
Are you here, Laura?
LAURA
Yes, darling. How do you feel?
fade hospital scene
HARRY
Guilty. Thousands dead. Tens of thousands.
My fingerprints all over it, no matter who did
what maybe in self-defense, or by accident
or a history I don't know anything about. I
came to Mars and destroyed it.

129

Ralph's theme, very softly

HARRY (CONT'D)
At least M2 survived. Does that make it any
better?
(shudders, tearful)
So much death and death by fireball. Fast.
Painless, I hope. And Emma's clan of women
and children survived. Took forever, but they
were shuttled to M2, after Ralph and Wendy
got the tunnel rebuilt. Space Command did a
good job, worked their asses off, with Laura to
guide them. She was promoted to colonel.
children laugh and play (low level)
HARRY (CONT'D)
The moms organized a school, a real hospital,
a lot of stuff that made life a lot better in M2.
Men learned how to treat them with respect,
more or less like Earth. They didn't have any
choice, because Ralph made Laura chief of
police with an all-female police force.
stuffy courtroom hubbub, gavel bangs twice
HARRY (CONT'D)
There was a court of inquiry, and I decided to
resign my commission. A plea deal to walk
out a free man. Kept my mouth shut and
never spoke of it again. That was hard. I still
dream about Big Red, hear people scream.

130

Millionaire's Club atmos and Scott Joplin

HARRY
So, I'm no better than Terry Beane, now
drinking myself into a stupor, because I don't
want to sleep and I don't want to think about
anything. I'd rather not be me any more.
(beat)
Call. Aces over threes. I believe that's mine,
gentlemen.
hauls pile of chips across table, stacks them
HARRY (CONT'D)
Whose deal is it?
nimble stomping of high heels
AMANDA
Harry, you have to do something with Henry.
He set the living room on fire. Come here! Tell
your father what you did!
HARRY
Experimenting? I see. When I was your age,
I accidentally killed most of the fish in Lake
Winnie-Connie with an experiment.
AMANDA
I'm telling Laura!
stomps away in cute shoes

131

HARRY
Mandy! wait! don't do that! Here,
play this hand for me and don't bet the
whole stack.
Harry hurries out, piano player stops
a little pause, bar atmos
HENRY (age 10)
Okay, gentlemen. I'll open for twenty.
Finale theme up
big stuff, orchestral
lyrics sung?
thunderclap into
thematic finale

- THE END -