ALIEN

(projectformerlytitledSTARBEAST)

StorybyDanO'Bannon&RonaldShusett

ScreenplaybyDanO'Bannon

1976

SYNOPSIS
EnroutebacktoEarthfromafarpartofthe
galaxy,thecrewofthe
starshipSNARKinterceptsatransmissioninan
alienlanguage,
originatingfromanearbystormshroudedplanet.
Mankindhaswaitedcenturiestocontactanother
formofintelligent
lifeintheuniversetheydecidetolandand
investigate.Their
searchtakesthemtoawreckedalienspacecraft
whosedoorsgapeopen

itisdeadandabandoned.Insidetheyfind,
amongotherstrange
things,theskeletonofoneoftheunearthlyspace
travellers.
Certaincluesinthewreckedshipleadthemacross
thehostilesurface
oftheplanettoaprimitivestonepyramid,the
onlyremnantofa
vanishedcivilization.Beneaththispyramidthey
findanancienttomb
fulloffantasticartifacts.Lyingdormantinthe
tombarecenturies
oldspores,whicharetriggeredintolifebythe
men'spresence.A
parasiteemergesandfastensitselftooneofthe
men'sfacesand
cannotberemoved.
Anexaminationbytheship'smedicalcomputer
revealsthatthe
creaturehasinsertedatubedownhisthroat,
whichisdepositing
somethinginsidehim.Thenitisdiscoveredthat
theparasite'sblood
isahorriblycorrosiveacidwhicheatsthrough
metaltheydarenot
killitontheship.
Ultimatelyitisdislodgedfromitsvictimand
ejectedfromtheship,
andtheyblastofffromtheHellplanet.However,
beforetheycanseal
themselvesintosuspendedanimationforthelong
voyagehome,a
horriblelittlemonsteremergesfromthevictim's
bodyithasbeen
growinginhim,depositedtherebytheparasite...
andnowitisloose
ontheship.

Aseriesofghastlyadventuresfollow.Theytrap
itinanairshaft
andamanhastocrawldowntheshaftwitha
flamethrowerittears
aman'sheadoffandrunsawaywithhisbodya
maniscrushedin
theairlockdoorandtheshiplosesmostofits
airinaterrific
windstormanothermanisburnedtodeathand
theneatenbythe
creatureandanotheriswovenintoacocoonas
partofthealien's
bizarrelifecycle.
Finallythereisonlyonemanleftalive,aloneon
theshipwiththe
creature,andonlysixhourstillhisairruns
out;whichleadstoa
climaxofhorrifying,explosivejeopardy,the
outcomeofwhich
determineswhowillreachEarthalivemanor
alien.

CASTOFCHARACTERS
CHAZSTANDARD,
Captain.................Aleaderanda
politician.Believesthat
anyactionisbetter
thannoaction.
MARTINROBY,
ExecutiveOfficer.......Cautiousbut
intelligentasurvivor.
DELLBROUSSARD,

Navigator...............Adventurer;brash
gloryhound.
SANDYMELKONIS,
Communications..........TechIntellectual;a
romantic.
CLEAVEHUNTER,
MiningEngineer.........Highstrung;came
alongtomakehis
fortune.
JAYFAUST,
EngineTech.............Aworker.
Unimaginative.
Thecrewisunisexandallpartsare
interchangeableformenorwomen.

FADEIN:
EXTREMECLOSEUPSOFFLICKERINGINSTRUMENTPANELS.
Readoutsanddigital
displayspulseeerilywiththetechnologyofthe

distantfuture.
Whereverweare,itseemstobechill,dark,and
sterile.Electronic
machinerychucklessoftlytoitself.
AbruptlywehearaBEEPINGSIGNAL,andthe
machinerybeginstoawaken.
Circuitsclose,lightsblinkon.
CAMERAANGLESGRADUALLYWIDEN,revealingmoreand
moreofthe
machinery,banksofpanels,flutteringgauges,
untilwereveal:
INTERIORHYPERSLEEPVAULT
Astainlesssteelroomwithnowindows,thewalls
packedwith
instrumentation.Thelightsaredimandtheair
isfrigid.
Occupyingmostofthefloorspacearerowsof
horizontalFREEZER
COMPARTMENTS,lookingforalltheworldlikemeat
lockers.
FOOM!FOOM!FOOM!Withexplosionsofescaping
gas,thelidsonthe
freezerspopopen.
Slowly,groggily,sixnudemensitup.
ROBY
Oh...God...amIcold...
BROUSSARD
Isthatyou,Roby?
ROBY
Ifeellikeshit...

BROUSSARD
Yeah,it'syouallright.
Nowtheyareyawning,stretching,andshivering.
FAUST
(groans)
Ohh...Imustbealive,Ifeeldead.
BROUSSARD
Youlookdead.
MELKONIS
Thevampiresrisefromtheirgraves.
Thisdrawsafewwoozychuckles.
BROUSSARD
(shakeshisfistinthe
airtriumphantly)
Wemadeit!
HUNTER
(notfullyawake)
Isitover?
STANDARD
It'sover,Hunter.
HUNTER
(yawning)
Boy,that'sterrific.
STANDARD
(lookingaroundwithagrin)
Well,howdoesitfeeltoberich
men?
FAUST
Cold!

ThisdrawsaLAUGH.
STANDARD
Okay!Everybodytopside!Let'sget
ourpantsonandgettoourposts!
Themenbegintoswingoutofthefreezers.
MELKONIS
Somebodygetthecat.
Robypicksalimpcatoutofafreezer.
INTERIORCONTROLROOM
Thisisafantasticcircularroom,jammedwith
instrumentation.There
arenowindows,butaboveheadleveltheroomis
ringedby
viewscreens,allblankforthemoment.
Thereareseatsforfourmen.Eachchairfacesa
consoleandis
surroundedbyadazzlingarrayoftechnology.
STANDARD,ROBY,BROUSSARD,andMELKONISare
enteringandfindingtheir
seats.
BROUSSARD
I'mgoingtobuyacattleranch.
ROBY
(puttingdownthecat)
Cattleranch!
BROUSSARD
I'mnotkidding.Youcangetoneif
youhavethecredit.Lookjustlike
realcows,too.

STANDARD
Allright,tycoons,let'sstop
spendingourcreditandstart
worryingaboutthejobathand.
ROBY
Right.Fireupallsystems.
Theybegintothrowswitches,lightinguptheir
consoles.Thecontrol
roomstartstocometolife.Allaroundtheroom,
coloredlights
flickerandchaseeachotheracrossglowing
screens.Theroomfills
withthehumandchatterofmachinery.
STANDARD
Sandy,youwanttogiveussome
vision?
MELKONIS
Feastyoureyes.
Melkonisreachestohisconsoleandpressesabank
ofswitches.The
stripofviewscreensflickersintolife.
Oneachscreen,weseeBLACKNESSSPECKLEDWITH
STARS.
BROUSSARD
(afterapause)
Where'sIrth?
STANDARD
Sandy,scanthewholesky.
Melkonishitsbuttons.Onthescreenstheimages
allbegintopan.

CAMERAMOVESINONONEOFTHESCREENS,withits
movingimageofa
starfield.
EXTERIOROUTERSPACE
CLOSESHOTOFAPANNINGTVCAMERA.Thiscamerais
remotecontrolled,
turningsilentlyonitsbase.
CAMERABEGINSTOPULLBACK,revealingthattheTV
cameraismountedon
theHULLOFSOMEKINDOFCRAFT.
Whenthepullbackisfinished,WESEETHEFULL
LENGTHOFTHESTARSHIP
"SNARK,"hanginginthedepthsofinterstellar
space,againsta
backgroundofglimmeringstars.
INTERIORBRIDGE
ROBY
Wherearewe?
STANDARD
Sandy,contacttrafficcontrol.
Melkonisswitchesonhisradiounit.
MELKONIS
Thisisdeepspacecommercialvessel
SNARK,registrationnumberE180246,
callingAntarcticaairtraffic
control.Doyoureadme?Over.
ThereisonlytheHISSOFSTATIC.
BROUSSARD
(staringatascreen)
Idon'trecognizethatconstellation.

STANDARD
Dell,plotourlocation.
Broussardgoesintoaction,punchingbuttons,
lightingupallhis
instruments.
BROUSSARD
Igotit.Ohboy.
STANDARD
Wherethehellarewe?
BROUSSARD
JustshortofZetaIIReticuli.We
haven'tevenreachedtheouterrim
yet.
ROBY
Whatthehell?
Standardpicksupamicrophone.
STANDARD
ThisisChazspeaking.Sorry,butwe
arenothome.Ourpresentlocation
seemstobeonlyhalfwaytoIrth.
Remainatyourpostsandstandby.
Thatisall.
ROBY
Chaz,I'vegotsomethinghereonmy
securityalert.Ahighpriorityfrom
thecomputer...
STANDARD
Let'shearit.
ROBY
(punchesbuttons)

Computer,youhavesignalleda
prioritythreemessage.Whatisthe
message?
COMPUTER
(amechanicalvoice)
Ihaveinterruptedthecourseofthe
voyage.
ROBY
What?Why?
COMPUTER
Iamprogrammedtodosoifcertain
conditionsarise.
STANDARD
Computer,thisisCaptainStandard.
Whatconditionsareyoutalking
about?
COMPUTER
Ihaveinterceptedatransmissionof
unknownorigin.
STANDARD
Atransmission?
COMPUTER
Avoicetransmission.
MELKONIS
Outhere?
Themenexchangeglances.
COMPUTER
Ihaverecordedthetransmission.
STANDARD
Playitforus,please.

Overthespeakers,wehearahum,acrackle,
static...THENA
STRANGE,UNEARTHLYVOICEFILLSTHEROOM,SPEAKING
ANALIEN
LANGUAGE.Thebizarrevoicespeaksalong
sentence,thenfalls
silent.
Themenallstareateachotherinamazement.
STANDARD
Computer,whatlanguagewasthat?
COMPUTER
Unknown.
ROBY
Unknown!Whatdoyoumean?
COMPUTER
Itisnoneofthe678dialects
spokenbytechnologicalman.
Thereisapause,thenEVERYBODYSTARTSTALKINGAT
THESAMETIME.
STANDARD
(silencingthem)
Justholdit,holdit!
(glaresaroundtheroom)
Computer:haveyouattemptedto
analyzethetransmission?
COMPUTER
Yes.Therearetwopointsofsalient
interest.Numberone:itishighly
systematized,indicatingintelligent
origin.Numbertwo:certainsounds
areinconsistentwiththehuman
palate.

ROBY
OhmyGod.
STANDARD
Well,it'sfinallyhappened.
MELKONIS
Firstcontact...
STANDARD
Sandy,canyouhomeinonthatbeam?
MELKONIS
What'sthefrequency?
STANDARD
Computer,what'sthefrequencyof
thetransmission?
COMPUTER
65330dash99.
Melkonispunchesbuttons.
MELKONIS
I'vegotit.It'scomingfrom
ascension6minutes32seconds,
declination39degrees2seconds.
STANDARD
Dellshowmethatonascreen.
BROUSSARD
I'llgiveittoyouonnumberfour.
Broussardpunchesbuttons.Oneoftheviewscreens
flickers,anda
smalldotoflightbecomesvisibleinthecorner
ofthescreen.

BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
That'sit.Letmestraightenitout.
Hetwistsaknob,movingtheimageonthescreen
tillthedotisin
thecenter.
STANDARD
Canyougetitalittlecloser?
BROUSSARD
That'swhatI'mgoingtodo.
Hehitsabutton.ThescreenflashesandaPLANET
APPEARS.
BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
Planetoid.Diameter,120kilometers.
MELKONIS
It'stiny!
STANDARD
Anyrotation?
BROUSSARD
Yeah.Twohours.
STANDARD
Gravity?
BROUSSARD
Pointeightsix.Wecanwalkonit.
Standardrises.
STANDARD
Martin,gettheothersuptothe
lounge.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM

TheentirecrewSTANDARD,ROBY,BROUSSARD,
MELKONIS,HUNTER,and
FAUSTareallseatedaroundatable,with
Standardatthehead.
MELKONIS
Ifit'sanS.O.S.,we'remorally
obligatedtoinvestigate.
BROUSSARD
Right.
HUNTER
Idon'tknow.Seemstomewecameon
thistriptomakesomecredit,not
togooffonsomekindofsidetrip.
BROUSSARD
(excited)
Forgetthecredit;whatwehavehere
isachancetobethefirstmento
contactanonhumanintelligence.
ROBY
Ifthereissomekindofalien
intelligencedownonthatplanetoid,
it'dbeaseriousmistakeforusto
blunderinunequipped.
BROUSSARD
Hell,we'reequipped
ROBY
Hell,no!Wedon'tknowwhat'sdown
thereonthatpieceofrock!It
mightbedangerous!Whatweshould
doisgetontheradiotothe
explorationauthorities...andlet
themdealwithit.

STANDARD
Exceptitwilltake75yearstoget
areplyback.Don'tforgethowfar
wearefromtheColonies,Martin.
BROUSSARD
Therearenocommerciallanesout
here.Faceit,we'reoutofrange.
MELKONIS
Menhavewaitedcenturiestocontact
anotherformofintelligentlifein
theuniverse.Thisisanopportunity
whichmaynevercomeagain.
ROBY
Look
STANDARD
You'reoverruled,Martin.Gentlemen
let'sgo.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Themenarestrappingin,butthistimeitiswith
grimdetermination.
STANDARD
Dell,Iwantgreatermagnification.
Moresurfacedetail.Iwanttosee
whatthisplacelookslike.
BROUSSARD
I'llseewhatIcando.
Hejabshiscontrols.Theimageonthescreen
ZOOMSDOWNTOWARDTHE
PLANET;butalldetailquicklyvanishesintoa
featurelessgreyhaze.
STANDARD

It'soutoffocus.
ROBY
Nothat'satmosphere.Cloud
layer.
MELKONIS
MyGod,it'sstormyforapieceof
rockthatsize!
ROBY
Justasecond.
(punchesbuttons)
Thosearen'twatervaporclouds;
theyhavenomoisturecontent.
STANDARD
Putshipinatmosphericmode.
EXTERIOR"SNARK"OUTERSPACE
ThegreatdishantennaontheSNARKfoldsdown
againstthemainbody
oftheship,andotherpartsflattenout,until
theshiphasassumed
anaerodynamicform.
INTERIORBRIDGE
STANDARD
Dell,setacourseandbringusin
onthatbeam.
EXTERIORSPACE
TheSNARK'senginescoughintolife,andsendit
driftingtowardthe
distantdotthatistheplanetoid.
CAMERAAPPROACHESTHEPLANETOID,untilitlooms
largeonscreen.Itis

turbulent,completelyenvelopedinduncolored
clouds.
TheSNARKdropsdowntowardthesurface.
INTERIORBRIDGE
STANDARD
Activatelifterquads.
BROUSSARD
Activated.Verticaldropchecked.
Correctingcourse.Ontangential
coursenow,orbiting.
(briefpauseashe
studieshisinstruments)
Crossingtheterminator.Entering
nightside.
EXTERIOR"SNARK"INORBIT
BeneaththeorbitingSNARK,night'scurtainrolls
acrosstheplanet.
Descendingatanangle,theSNARKdropsdowninto
thethickatmosphere
oftheplanetoid.
INTERIORBRIDGE
ROBY
Atmosphericturbulence.Duststorm.
STANDARD
Turnonnavigationlights.
EXTERIOR"SNARK"
Hydroplaningdownthroughthepeasoupatmosphere,
asetofbrilliant
lightsswitcheson,cuttingthroughthedust,but

hardlyimproving
visibility.
INTERIORBRIDGE
BROUSSARD
Approachingpointoforigin.Closing
at20kilometers,15andslowing.
Ten.Five.Gentlemen,weare
directlyabovethesourceofthe
transmission.
STANDARD
What'stheterraindownthere?
BROUSSARD
Well,lineofsightisimpossible
duetodust.Radargivesmenoise.
Sonargivesmenoise.Infrared
noise.Let'stryultraviolet.There.
Flat.It'stotallyflat.Aplain.
STANDARD
Isitsolid?
BROUSSARD
It's...basalt.Rock.
STANDARD
Thentakeherdown.
BROUSSARD
Dropbegins...now!Fifteen
kilometersanddropping...twelve...
ten...eightandslowing.Five.
Three.Two.Onekilometerand
slowing.Locktractorbeams.
ThereisaLOUDELECTRICALHUMandtheship
shudders.

ROBY
Locked.
BROUSSARD
Killdriveengines.
Theenginesfallsilent.
ROBY
Enginesoff.
BROUSSARD
Ninehundredmetersanddropping.
800.700.Hangongentlemen.
EXTERIORSURFACEOFPLANETNIGHT
Thenightshroudedsurfaceisahellofblowing
dust.TheSNARKhovers
aboveitonglowingbeamsoflight,droppingdown
slowly.
Landingstrutsunfoldlikeinsectlegs.
INTERIORBRIDGE
BROUSSARD
Andwe're...down.
EXTERIORSURFACEOFPLANETNIGHT
Theshiptouchesdown,heavily;itrocksonhuge
shockabsorbers.
INTERIORBRIDGE
ThewholeshipVIBRATESVIOLENTLYFORANINSTANT
thenallthe
panelsintheroomflashsimultaneouslyandthe
LIGHT'SGOOUT.

BROUSSARD
JesusChrist!
Thelightscomebackonagain.
STANDARD
Whatthehellhappened?
ROBY
(hitsaswitch)
Engineroom,whathappened?
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Justaminute,holdit,I'm
checking.
ROBY
Hasthehullbeenbreached?
BROUSSARD
Uh...
(scanshisgauges)
No,Idon'tseeanything.We've
stillgotpressure.
ThereisaBEEPfromthecommunicator.Then:
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Martin,thisisJay.Theintakesare
cloggedwithdust.Weoverheatedand
burnedoutawholecell.
STANDARD
(strikeshispanel)
Damnit!Howlongtofix?
ROBY
(intomicrophone)
Howlongtofix?

FAUST
(over,filtered)
Hardtosay.
ROBY
Well,getstarted.
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Right.Talktoyou.
STANDARD
Let'stakealookoutside.Turnthe
screensbackon.
Melkonishitsbuttons.Thescreensflicker,but
remainblack.
BROUSSARD
Can'tseeablessedthing.
EXTERIORSHIPNIGHT
Onlyafewglitteringlightsdistinguishtheship
fromtheabsolute
darknessaroundit.
THEWINDMOANSANDSCREAMS.DUSTBLOWSINFRONT
OFTHETINYGLIMMERING
LIGHTS.
INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
STANDARD
Kickonthefloods.
EXTERIORSHIPNIGHT
AringofFLOODLIGHTSontheshipcometolife,
pouringblindinglight

outintothenight.
Theyilluminatenothingbutapatchoffeatureless
greygroundand
cloudsofblowingdust.Thewindshrieks.
INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
ROBY
Notmuchhelp.
Standardstaresatthedarkscreens.
STANDARD
Well,wecan'tgoanywhereinthis
darkness.Howlongtilldawn?
MELKONIS
(consultshisinstruments)
Well...thisrockrotateseverytwo
hours.Thesunshouldbecomingup
inabout20minutes.
BROUSSARD
Good!Maybewe'llbeabletosee
somethingthen.
ROBY
Orsomethingwillbeabletoseeus.
Theyalllookathim.

DISSOLVETO:
EXTERIORSHIPNIGHT(MAINTITLESEQUENCE)
ThefloodlightsontheSNARKfightalosingbattle
againstthe
darknessandthestorm.MAINTHEMEMUSICBEGINS,
EXTREMELYOMINOUS.

THETITLEAPPEARS:
ALIEN
RUNTITLES.
Gradually,thescreenbeginstolightenastheSUN
RISES.The
silhouetteoftheSNARKbecomesvisible,likesome
strangeinsect
crouchingmotionlessonthebarrenplain.The
floodsshutoff.Dense
cloudsofimpenetrabledustshriekandmoan,
obscuringeverythingand
reducingthesunlighttoadullorange.
ENDMAINTITLES.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
CLOSEONASCREENitshowsnothingbutswirling
cloudsoforange
dust.
PULLBACKFROMSCREEN.Themen(Standard,Roby,
Broussard,and
Melkonis)aresittingandstandingaroundthe
room,drinkingcoffee
andstaringatthescreens,whichrevealonlythe
billowingdust.
ROBY
Therecouldbeawholecityout
thereandwe'dneverseeit.
BROUSSARD
Notsittingonourbuttsinhere,
that'sforsure.
STANDARD

Justsettledown.Sandy,yougetany
responseyet?
MELKONIS
(pullsoffhisearphones)
Sorry.Nothingbutthatsamedamn
transmission,every32seconds.I've
triedeveryfrequencyonthe
spectrum.
BROUSSARD
Arewejustgoingtositaroundand
waitforaninvitation?
RobygivesBroussardablacklook,thenstabsa
buttononhisconsole
andspeaksintothemike.
ROBY
(intomike)
Hello,Faust!
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Yeah!
ROBY
How'sitcomingontheengines?
INTERIORENGINEROOM
Faustisseatedatanelectronicworkbench,
brightlylit,speaking
intoawallintercom.
FAUST
Ineversawanythingasfineasthis
dust...thesecellsareallpittedon
amicroscopiclevel.Ihaveto
polishthesethingssmoothagain,so
it'sgoingtotakeawhile.Okay?

INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
ROBY
Yeah,okay.
(putsdownthemike)
STANDARD
Sandy...howfararewefromthe
sourceofthetransmission?
MELKONIS
Sourceoftransmissionistothe
northeast...about300meters.
ROBY
Close...
BROUSSARD
Closeenoughtowalkto!
STANDARD
Martin,wouldyourunmean
atmospheric?
ROBY
(punchesbuttonsand
consultshispanels)
10%argon,85%nitrogen,5%neon...
andsometraceelements.
STANDARD
Nontoxic...butunbreathable.
Pressure?
ROBY
Tentothefourthdynespersquare
centimeter.
STANDARD
Good!Moisturecontent?

ROBY
Zero.Dryasabone.
STANDARD
Anymicroorganisms?
ROBY
Notaone.It'sdead.
STANDARD
Anythingelse?
ROBY
Yeah,rockparticles.Dust.
STANDARD
Well,wewon'tneedpressuresuits,
butbreathingmasksarecalledfor.
Sandycanyourigupsomekindof
portableunitthatwecanuseto
followthattransmissiontoits
source?
MELKONIS
Noproblem.
BROUSSARD
Ivolunteerfortheexploration
party.
STANDARD
Iheardyou.Youwanttobreakout
thesidearms?
INTERIORMAINARMLOCKDAY
Standard,BroussardandMelkonisenterthelock.
Theyallweargloves,
boots,jackets,andpistols.

Broussardtouchesabuttonandtheinnerdoor
slidessilentlyshut,
sealingthemintothelock.
Theyallpullonrubberfullheadoxygenmasks.
STANDARD
(adjustingtheradioonhis
mask)
I'msending.Doyouhearme?
BROUSSARD
Receiving.
MELKONIS
Receiving.
STANDARD
Allright.Nowjustremember:keep
awayfromthoseweaponsunlessIsay
otherwise.Martin,doyoureadme?
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
ROBY
Readyou,Chaz.
INTERIORMAINAIRLOCKDAY
STANDARD
Opentheouterdoor.
Ponderously,theouterlockdoorslidesopen.
ORANGESUNLIGHTstreams
intothelock,andcloudsofdustswirlin.We
heartheMOANINGOFTHE
WINDOUTSIDE.
Amobilestairwayslidesoutoftheopenhatchway,
andclunksasit
hitstheground.

Standardwalksoutintothestorm,followedbythe
others.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
Thethreementrotdownthegangplanktothe
surfaceoftheplanet.
Theirfeetsinkintoathicklayerofdustand
looserock.
Themenhuddletogether,lookingaround.Thewind
screamsandtugsat
theirclothes.Nothingcanbeseen.
STANDARD
Whichway,Sandy?
Melkonisisfiddlingwithaportabledirection
finder.
MELKONIS
(pointing)
Thatway.
STANDARD
Youlead.
Melkoniswalksintotheblindingdustclouds,
followedcloselybythe
others.
STANDARD
Okay,Martin.We'reonourway.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
Robyisthesoleoccupantofthebridge.Heis
huddledoverhis
console,smokingacigaretteandwatchingthree
movingblipsona

screen.
ROBY
Okay,Chaz,Ihearyou.I'vegotyou
onmyboard.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Good.I'mgettingyoucleartoo.
Let'sjustkeepthelineopen.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
Thethreemenploughtheirwaythroughalimboof
yellowdustand
shriekingwind.Withtheirrubberymasksand
deliberatemovements,
theylooklikedeepseadiversatthebottomofa
murkyocean.
Melkonisleadsthecolumn,followingthecompass
onthedirection
finder.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Can'tseemorethanthreemetersin
anydirectionouthere.We're
walkingblind,oninstruments.
Theywadeon,followingMelkonis.Abruptlyhe
halts.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
What'swrong?
MELKONIS
Mysignal'sfading.
Hestudiesthedirectionfinder.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY

Robyislisteningintentlytothedialoguefrom
thehelmetradios.
MELKONIS(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
It'sthedust,it'sinterfering...
HisconcentrationissogreatthathedoesNOT
NOTICEHUNTERCOMINGUP
BEHINDHIM.
MELKONIS(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
...Holdit,I'vegotitagain.It's
overthatway.
StandingDIRECTLYBEHINDROBY,Hunterspeaks.
HUNTER
What'shappening?
Startledoutofhiswits,RobyGASPSandwhirls
aroundtofaceHunter.
ROBY
(startledsilly)
Hell!
HunterstaresatRoby,whosemomentaryterror
dissolvesinto
embarrassedanger.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
Thethreemenpushtheirwaythroughthestorm.
Melkonisstopsagain,
studiesthedirectionfinder.
MELKONIS
It'sclose,realclose.

STANDARD
Howfar?
MELKONIS
Weshouldbealmostontopofit.I
justcan'tquite...
Suddenly,BroussardgrabsStandard'sarmand
points.Theothersstare
inthedirectionheispointing.
REVERSEANGLETHEIRPOINTOFVIEW
Throughthedensecloudsofswirlingdustwecan
justbarelymakeout
somekindofHUGESHAPE.
Aswewatch,thedustclearsslightly,REVEALINGA
GROTESQUESHIP
RISINGFROMTHESHIPLIKESOMEGIGANTICTOADSTOOL.
Itisclearlyof
nonhumanmanufacture.
ANGLEONTHEMEN
Theyarestruckdumbbythesightofthecraft.
Finally,Standard
findshisvoice.
STANDARD
Martin,uh,we'vefoundit.
ROBY
(sharplyover,filtered)
Foundwhat?
STANDARD
Itappearstobesomesortof
spacecraft.We'regoingtoapproach
it.

Theystarttowardthealienship.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
Therearenosignsoflife.No
lights...nomovement...
RobyandHunterarelisteningwithhypnotic
concentration.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
We're,uh,approachingthebase.
EXTERIORBASEOFTOADSTOOLSHIPDAY
AstrangelyshapedDOORyawnsopenatthebaseof
theship.Dustand
sandhaveblownin,fillingthelowerpartofthe
entrance.
Withgreatcaution,themenapproachtheentrance
andgrouparoundit.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Appearstobeadoorhangingopen,
theentranceiscloggedwithdebris.
BROUSSARD
Lookslikeaderelict.
STANDARD
Martin,we'regoingin.I'mgoingto
holdtheconversationtoaminimum
fromhereon.
INTERIORALIENSHIPDAY

Thedoorwayisaglowinggeometricbluroflight
againstblackness,
spewingdust.Inthedarknessofthechamberare
huge,formless
shapes.
Standard,BroussardandMelkonisappear
silhouettedagainstthe
doorway.Theyswitchonflashlightlikedevices
called"DATASTICKS",
andstepin.

Carefully,peeringaround,theypicktheirway
pasttheindistinct
machinery.
MELKONIS
Airlock?

STANDARD
Whoknows?
BROUSSARD
Let'stryandfindthecontrolroom.
Astheymovetheirlightsaround,theycansee
thatthewalls,
ceiling,andmachineryareFULLOFHUGE,IRREGULAR
HOLES.
MELKONIS
Lookattheseholes.Thisplace
lookslikeSwisscheese.
Broussardshineshislightupintoahugeholein
theceiling.
BROUSSARD
Thisholegoesupseveraldecks
lookslikesomebodywasfiringa
militarydisintegratorinhere.
Theyallpeeruptheholeintodarkness.
STANDARD
Climbinggear.
Standarddrawsoutastubbyspeargunwitha
graplonattachedtoit.
Heaimsitupintotheholeandfires.
Thegraplonislaunchedupintodarkness,trailing
athinwire.There
isadullCLUNK,andthewiredangles.
BROUSSARD
I'llgofirst.
STANDARD
No,you'llfollowme.

Standardattachesthewiretoapoweredgearbox
onhischest,and
pressesabutton.Withamechanicalwhine,heis
pulledupintothe
hole,usinghisfeetforleveragewherehecan.
Broussardattachesthewiretohisownchestunit.
INTERIORCONTROLROOMOFALIENSHIP
ThischamberistotallydarkasBroussardarrives
atthetopofthe
hole.
Standardstandswithhisflashlight/camera
("datastick")tracinga
beamthroughthehangingdust.
Broussardunclipshimselffromtheclimbingwire,
thenraiseshisown
light.Atthatmoment,Melkonisarrivesatthe
topofthehole.
THEIRLIGHTSSCANTHEROOM.Thebeamsareclearly
visibleascolumns
oflightinthefloatingdust.Theyrevealheavy,
oddshapes.
Broussardstumblesoversomething.Heshineshis
lightdownonit.
Itisalarge,glossyurn,brownincolor,with
peculiarmarkings.
Broussardstandsitupright.Ithasaround
openinginthetop,andis
empty.
Suddenly,Melkonisletsoutagruntofshock.
Theirlightshave
illuminatedsomethingunspeakablygrotesque:A

HUGEALIENSKELETON,
SEATEDINTHECONTROLCHAIR.
Theyapproachtheskeleton,theirlightstrained
onit.ITISA
GROTESQUETHING,BEARINGNORESEMBLANCETOTHE
HUMANFORM.
MELKONIS
HolyChrist...
Standardshineshislightontheconsoleatwhich
thehideousskeleton
isseated.Hemoveshislightcloserandpeersat
thepanel.
STANDARD
Lookatthis...
Theyapproach.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Somethinghasbeenscratchedhere...
intotheveneer.See?
Tracedraggedlyontothesurfaceofthepanel,as
bythepointofa
sharpinstrument,isasmalltriangle:

Hearingsomething,Broussardflasheshislight
acrosstheroom.Asthe
beamscansthewalls,itbrieflytoucheson
SOMETHINGTHATMOVES.

Melkonisconvulsivelyyanksouthispistol.
MELKONIS
LOOKOUT,ITMOVED!
Standardknockshishanddown.
STANDARD
Keepawayfromthatgun!
Standardshouldershimselfinfrontoftheothers.
Then,slowly,he
beginstomovetowardthefarsideoftheroom.
Theyapproachaconsoleonthewall,training
theirlightsonit.
Thereisamachine.Onthemachine,asmallbar
movessteadilyback
andforth,slidingnoiselesslyinitsgrooves.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Justmachinery.
BROUSSARD
Butfunctioning.
Melkonislooksdownathisdirectionfinder.
MELKONIS
That'swherethetransmissionis
comingfrom.
Hethrowsaswitchonthedirectionfinderwith
acrackleanda
hum,theUNEARTHLYVOICEfillstheirearphones.
BROUSSARD
Arecording.Adamnedautomatic
recording.

EXTERIORPLANETOIDSUNSET
SINISTERANGLEONTHESNARK.Aswewatch,the
sunlightturnsthecolor
ofblood,andthenthesunisdown,leavingmurky
blacknessinits
wake.Theringoffloodlightsontheshipflares
intolife,feebly
combattingthedarknessandthestorm.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM
Theentirecrewisseatedaroundtheconference
table,watching
holographicpicturesprojectedontoascreen.
Thesearephotostaken
bytheir"datasticks"(flashlight/cameras).
Standardiscommentingonthechangingslides.
STANDARD
...Thisisthecontrolroom...
Twoorthreepicturesclickontothescreenin
succession,showingthe
suitedmenstandingagainstbanksofmachinery.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
...Somedetailsofthecontrol
room...
TheSKELETONappearsonthescreen.Themenreact
withmutters.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
...Thisistheskeleton...another
viewoftheskeleton...the
transmittingdevice...
Thetrianglethatwascutintothealien'sconsole
appears.

STANDARD(CONT'D)
...Thisisacloseupofthetriangle
wefoundscrawledontheconsolein
frontoftheskeleton...
Standardchangestheslide.Thescreengoes
white.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
...Andthat'sit.
Heturnsofftheprojectorandbringsthelights
up.
HUNTER
Phenomenal.Staggering.
BROUSSARD
We'vegottogobackandtakealot
morepictures,holograph
everything.
MELKONIS
Andbringbackasmuchphysical
evidenceaspossible,too.Therest
oftheskeleton.Someofthe
machinery.Writtenrecords,ifthere
areany.
Robyisslumpedinhischair.Hehassaid
nothing.
STANDARD
Martin?
ROBY
Iagree.Thisisthesinglemost
importantdiscoveryinhistory.
STANDARD

But?
ROBY
Whatkilledit?
BROUSSARD
Hell,thatthing'sbeendeadfor
years.Maybehundredsofyears.The
wholeplanet'sdead.
FAUST
ThewayIfigureit,theylanded
hereforrepairsorsomething,then
theycouldn'ttakeoffagain.Maybe
thedustruinedtheirengines.They
setupanS.O.S.beacon,butnobody
came.Sotheydied.
ROBY
Hedied.
FAUST
What?
ROBY
Notthey...he...
TheyallturntolookinthedirectionofRoby's
nod.CAMERAMOVES
OVERTOREVEALTHEALIENSKULLSITTINGONATABLE.
ROBY(CONT'D)
...Therewasonlyoneskeleton.
Thereisamomentofsilence.
STANDARD
Jay...how'sitcomingonthe
repairs?
FAUST

Well...I'mgoingtohavetoblowthe
enginesout...
STANDARD
Andwhenwillyoubereadytodo
that?
FAUST
OhI'mnotnearreadyyet.
STANDARD
Thenwhythehellareyousitting
aroundhere?
FAUST
Right.
Themenriseandbegintodisperse,butRoby
remainsseated,deepin
thought,staringattheskull.Melkonislingers
intheroomwithhim.
MELKONIS
Andtheresitsman'sfirstcontact
withintelligentlifeinthe
universe.
EXTERIORSHIPNIGHT
ANGLEONTHESHIP,itsspotlightscuttingintothe
gloom.
INTERIORENGINEROOM
Aroomthrobbingwithpower,enormouspulsing
enginescapableof
releasingunimaginableenergies.
Fausthasacomplicatedarrangementsetupatthe
baseofoneofthe
engines,withspotlightsonit.Heiswearing

gogglesandthingloves.
FAUST
Youreadyupthere?
INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
BroussardandMelkonisareseatedattheir
consoles,conversingwith
Faustwhiletheywatchtheirinstruments.
BROUSSARD
Sure,we'reready.
INTERIORENGINEROOM
FAUST
Okay.I'mgoingtostartthe
extractionprocedurenow.
Hepausestowipehisbrow.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM
Robyisaloneintheroom,slumpedintoachair,
watchingthe
photographicslidesonthescreen.Heisclicking
slowlythroughthem.
Hestopsonanangleoftheskeleton,andstares
atit.
Thealien'smisshapenskullissittingonthe
tablenexttohim.He
picksitup,holdsituptothescreenfor
comparison,andstudiesit.
Standardappearsinthedoorway.
STANDARD
Alas,poorYorick.

RobySTARTS,putsdowntheskull.Standardsits
atthetable.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(noddingatthescreen)
Findanythingwemissed?
ROBY
(shrugs)
Idon'tevenknowwhatI'mlooking
for.
STANDARD
Stillworried?
ROBY
Ohwell...youknowme.
STANDARD
I'vealwaysrespectedyouropinion,
Martin.Ifsomethingworriesyou,it
worriesme.
Robyreachesoverandchangestheslide,tothe
oneoftheCRUDELY
DRAWNTRIANGLEONTHEALIENCONTROLPANEL.
ROBY
Whatwouldyousaythatwassupposed
tomean?
STANDARD
Well...it'sobviouslyintentional...
somekindofattemptat
communication...maybeit'sasymbol
thatmeanssomethingtothem...
ROBY
Butwhydrawitonthewall?
Robyswitchesofftheprojector,sitsup,andrubs

hisfacewearily.
Herisesandgoestothecoffeemachine.
ROBY(CONT'D)
(pickingahairoutof
thecoffeepot)
Thisshipisfullofcathair.
STANDARD
Tellyouwhat,Martin.Assoonas
theengine'sfixed
BEEP!ThecommunicatorinterruptsStandard.He
leansacrossand
pressesthebutton.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
ThisisChaz.
BROUSSARD
(over,filtered)
Chaz,thisisDell.Canyoucome
topsideforaminute?
STANDARD
What'sup?
BROUSSARD
(over,filtered)
Well,thesunjustcameupagain,
anditseemsthewind'sdieddown.
It'sasclearasabelloutside.
There'ssomethingIthinkyouought
tosee.
STANDARD
I'monmyway.
HeandRobyheadforthedoor.

INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
Broussardisaloneinthecontrolroomwhen
StandardandRobyarrive.
STANDARD
Whatisit?
BROUSSARD
Takealook.
EXTERIORSHIPDAY
Thedustnolongerblows.Thedayiscrisp,
clear,andsilent.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
BROUSSARD
Iwasscanningthehorizontosee
whatIcouldpickup.Lookthere,on
thatscreen.
STANDARD
Whatisit,Ican't
BLIP!Broussardenlargestheimage.
ThescreennowshowsaTAPERINGSTONEPYRAMIDon
thehorizon.
Theyallstareattheimageforalongmoment.
Thesilhouetteofthe
PYRAMIDISINSTANTLYSUGGESTIVEOFTHESCRAWLED
TRIANGLEinthealien
ship.

Standardpressesthenearestcommunicatorand
speaksintothegrille.
STANDARD
ThisisChaz.Allhandstopside.
Now.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAYALITTLELATER
ANGLEONAVIEWSCREEN.ItshowsthePYRAMIDon
thehorizon.CAMERA
PULLSBACKtorevealallthemen,sittingand
standingaroundthe
room.
STANDARD

Doesn'tseemmuchdoubtaboutit,
doesthere?
MELKONIS
Thatcreaturesuremusthave
considereditimportant...usinghis
laststrengthtodrawit...
BROUSSARD
Maybetheybuiltit.
FAUST
Aswhat?
BROUSSARD
Amarkerforburiedinstrumentation?
HUNTER
Oramassgrave.
BROUSSARD
Maybetherestofthecrewisin
thereinsomekindofsuspended
animation,waitingtoberescued.
MELKONIS
Itwasn'tnecessarilybuiltbythem.
Onthescreens,apuffofDUSTblowsinfrontof
thepyramid.
ROBY
Herecomesthedustagain.
EXTERIORSHIPDAY
WITHASHRIEK,THEDUSTSTORMRETURNS,completely
obscuringtheSNARK.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY

STANDARD
Well,doesanyoneelseagreewith
Martinthatweshouldnotexplore
it?
Everyonelooksaroundtheroom,butnoone
volunteers.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Thenthesoonerwegetmoving,the
better.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
LONGSHOTOFTHESTONEPYRAMID,dustblowingin
frontofit.Itisa
crumbling,ancientedifice,madeoferodedgrey
stones,windowless,
taperingtowardthetop.
Standard,Broussard,andMelkonis,wearingthe
protectivesuits,
approachthepyramid.Astheydrawnear,it
becomesclearthatthe
pyramidisroughly50feettall.
STANDARD
Wecan'tmakeoutanydetailsor
featuresyet...butit'sdefinitely
tooregularforanatural
formation...
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
RobyandHunterarepresent.Theyarelistening
toStandard'sVOICEON
THERADIO.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
...There'sonethingIcansayfor

surethough...
BUZZZZZ!Standard'svoiceisDROWNEDOUTBY
STATIC.
ROBY
Nowwhat'swrong?
HUNTER
I'vecompletelylosttheirsignal.
ROBY
Canyougetthemback?
HUNTER
I'mtrying.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
Thethreemencometothebaseofthemassive
structure.Dustandsand
havepiledthicklyaroundthecrumbling,grey
stonesthatformthe
base.
MELKONIS
Thislooksancient.
STANDARD
Can'ttelltheseweather
conditionscoulderodeanything,
fast.
Theywalkaroundthebase.
BROUSSARD
There'snoentrance.
MELKONIS
Maybetheentranceisburied.Could
beunderourfeet.

STANDARD
Maybethereisnoentrance;the
thingmaybesolid.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
ROBY
Well,thereoughttobesomewaywe
cangetthroughtothem
TheINTERCOMBEEPS.Faust'svoiceisheard.
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Sorrytointerrupt,butI'mgonna
chargeuptheenginesforaminute,
okay?
ROBY
Yeah,okay.Goahead.
ALOUD,POWERFULTHROBBINGBEGINS,drowningout
allothersounds,as
theenginesaretested.
AlightonRoby'spanelisFLASHING.Wecansee
thatitisthe
COMPUTERALERT.
Irritably,Robythrowstheswitch.
ROBY(CONT'D)
Yes!
COMPUTER
Ihaveatemporarysequenceonthe
monitor
ROBY
Holdit,Ican'thearadamnthing!

Heputsanearphonetohisearandswitchesthe
computer'svoiceover.
ROBY(CONT'D)
Goahead!
ThereisaPAUSEwhileRobylistenstothe
computer.Hiseyeswiden.
ROBY(CONT'D)
Youmean...you'vetranslatedit?
AnotherPAUSEashelistenstotheearphone.
ROBY(CONT'D)
Wellcomeon,comeon!Whatdoesit
say?
AnotherPAUSE.Roby'sfacechanges;helooks
CHILLEDTOTHEBONE.His
mouthworks.
Abruptly,THEENGINESSHUTOFF,LEAVINGARINGING
SILENCE.
HUNTER
(lookingoveratRoby)
What?Whatwasthat?
ROBY
Thecomputerjusttranslatedthe
goddamnmessage.It'snotanS.O.S.
Itwasawarning.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
BROUSSARD
Maybewecangetinbythetop.
STANDARD

Youwanttotry?
BROUSSARD
Sure.
Broussardtakesoutthegraplongun,andfiresthe
hookuptowardthe
topofthepyramid.Itcatches.Heclipshimself
tothewire.
BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
YouguysjustwaitdownheretillI
sayit'sokaytocomeup.
Broussardturnsontheclimbingdevice,andbegins
towalkuptheside
ofthepyramid.
OMINOUSANGLESshowingBroussardclimbingthe
pyramid,thedust
blowing,thewindshrieking.
EXTERIORTOPOFPYRAMIDDAY
Thepeakofthepyramidisinextremedisrepair.
Broussardarrivesat
thetopandclingstothejagged,crumbling
stones.
BROUSSARD
There'saholeatthetop.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
STANDARD
Canwecomeup?
BROUSSARD
(over,filtered)
No,it'stoosmall,onlyroomenough
foroneperson.

STANDARD
Canyouseeanythinginthehole?
EXTERIORTOPOFPYRAMIDDAY
Broussardleansoverandlooksintothehole.He
seesonlyblackness.
Freeingonearm,heunclipshisdatastickfromhis
belt,switcheson
the"flashlight"function,andshinesitdowninto
thehole.
BROUSSARD
Icansee...partwaydown.Itjust
goesdownlikeastovepipe.Smooth
walls.Ican'tseethebottom
lightwon'treach.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
Faustcomestrottingupthesteps,aquestioning
lookonhisface.
FAUST
Yes?Whatisit?
ROBY
Jay,we'vegotaproblem.Iwas
wonderingiftherewasanywayyou
couldshortcuttherepairsandgive
usimmediatetakeoffcapability.
FAUST
(quickly)
Why,what'swrong?
ROBY
Thecomputer'stranslatedthealien
signal,andit'skindofalarming.

FAUST
Whatdoyoumean?
ROBY
Itcouldn'ttranslatethewhole
thing,onlythreephrases.I'lljust
readittoyouthewayIgotit:
(readsfromastripofpaper)
"...HOSTILE...SURVIVAL...ADVISEDO
NOTLAND..."
(looksupattheothers)
Andthat'sallitcouldtranslate.
EXTERIORTOPOFPYRAMIDDAY
Hangingfromthelipofthehole,Broussardis
unclippinggearfrom
hisbelt.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Dell,youwanttocomedown,wecan
figureoutwheretogofromhere.
BROUSSARD
No,Iwanttogoin.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
StandardandMelkonisexchangeaglance.
STANDARD
Okay,Dell,butjustfora
preliminarylookaround.Don't
unhookyourselffromyourcable.And
beoutinlessthantenminutes.
EXTERIORTOPOFPYRAMIDDAY
BROUSSARD

Right.
Broussardhasriggedatripodacrossthemouthof
thehole.He
unspoolsacouplefeetofwirefromthedevice,
andattachestheend
ofittohischestunit.
Heclimbsoverthelipanddropsintothehole.
Heisnowhangingby
thewire,withhisheadandshouldersoutofthe
hole.
BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
Okay,I'minthemouthofthe
chimneynow,andI'mstartingdown.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Takecare.
Broussardactivatestheclimbingunitandlowers
himselfdownintothe
hole.
INTERIORPYRAMIDDAY
Bracinghisfeetagainsttheroughstonewallof
theverticaltunnel,
Broussardswitchesonhisdatastickandpointsit
downintothe
depths.
Thebeampenetratesonlythirtyfeetorso,then
islostindarkness.
BROUSSARD
It'snoticeablywarmerinhere.Warm
airrisingfrombelow.
Hestartsdown,payingoutthelineandmoving

downinshorthops,
pushingoffeachtimewithhisfeet.
Hestopstocatchhisbreath.Hisbreathingrasps
loudlyinhis
helmet.
Alittlesunlightfiltersdownfromabove.
Lookingup,hecanseethe
mouthofthehole,aglowingspotoflight.
Standard'svoicecomesoverhisearphones.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Areyouokayinthere?
BROUSSARD
(gaspingforbreath)
Yeah,I'mokay.Haven'thitbottom
yet.Definitelyacolumnofwarmair
rising;itkeepstheshaftclearof
dust.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
WhatwasthatDell,Ilostyou,do
youreadme?
BROUSSARD
Yeah,butthisishardwork.Can't
talknow.
Hekicksoffandcontinuesdown,takinglongerand
longerhopsashe
gainsconfidence.
Pausingforamomenttoregainhisbreath,he
shinesthelightonhis
instruments.

BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
I'mwaybelowgroundlevel.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
STANDARD
What'dhesay?
MELKONIS
Icouldn'tmakeitouttoomuch
interference.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
RobyandHunter.
HUNTER
I'mgettingnowhere.Thewholearea
aroundthepyramidisdeadto
transmission.Ithinkweshouldgo
afterthem.
ROBY
No.
HUNTER
Whatdoyoumean,no?
ROBY
We'renotgoinganywhere.
HUNTER
Buttheydon'tknowaboutthe
translation!Theycouldbeindanger
rightnow.
ROBY
Wecan'tsparethepersonnel.We've
gotminimumtakeoffcapabilityright
now.That'swhyChazleftuson
board.

HUNTER
Why,youchickenshitbastard
ROBY
Justcanthatcrap!I'mincommand
heretillChazreturns!Andnobody's
leavingthisship!
INTERIORPYRAMIDDAY
Broussardresumeshisdownwardclimb.SUDDENLY,
HISFEETLOSETHEIR
PURCHASEASTHEWALLSOFTHESHAFTDISAPPEAR.
Thetunnelhasreacheditsend.Belowhimisan
unfathomable,
cavernousspace.
BROUSSARD
(huffingandpuffing)
Tunnel'sgonecaveorsomething
belowmefeelslikethetropics
inhere;airiswarmandhumid...
(consultshisinstruments)
...highoxygencontent,nodust,
it'scompletelybreathable
Puffingwithexertion,hereleaseshispurchaseon
thestonewallsand
beginstolowerhimselfonpower.Nowheis
danglingfreeindarkness,
spinningslowlyonthewireasthechestunit
unwinds.
Finally,hisfeethitbottom.Hegruntsin
surpriseandalmostloses
hisbalance.
INTERIORTOMBDAY

Broussardisstandingonadustystonefloor,with
afeeblecolumnof
sunlightshiningdownaroundhimfromthetunnel
above.Aroundis
soliddarkness.
Heflasheshisdatastickaround.Thebeamreveals
thatheisina
stoneroom.STRANGEHEIROGLYPHICSarecarvedinto
thewalls.Theyhave
aprimitive,religiousappearance.Rowafterrow
ofpictogramsstretch
fromfloortoceiling,someepichistoryinan
unknownlanguage.Huge
religioussymbolsdominateonewall.
Spacedatintervalsarestylizedstonestatues,
depictinggrotesque
monsters,halfanthropoid,halfoctopus.
BROUSSARD
It'sunbelievable!It'slikesome
kindoftomb...someprimitive
religion!Hey,isanybodythere?Do
youreadme?Standard!
Annoyed,Broussardyanksoffhisbreathing
goggles,andleavesthem
hangingaroundhisneck.Hetakesadeepbreath
ofthewetair.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDLATEAFTERNOON
StandardandMelkonisarestandingaround
nervously.
STANDARD
Ifwedon'thearfromhimsoon,I
thinkwebettergoinafterhim.
MELKONIS

Sunwillbedowninaminute.
INTERIORTOMBLATEAFTERNOON
Facebare,Broussardapproachesthecenterofthe
room,whichis
dominatedbyalarge,broadpedestal.Onthe
pedestalareROWSOF
LEATHERYURNSORJARS,EXACTLYLIKETHEONE
BROUSSARDSTUMBLEDACROSS
INTHEALIENSHIPEXCEPTTHESEAREALLSEALED.
Hewalksaroundtheurns,studyingthem.Theyall
havesealedlids.He
shineshislightononeofthem;thenhelayshis
glovedhandonit.
Heliftshismaskradiotohislips.
BROUSSARD
Idon'tknowifyoucanhearme,but
theplaceisfulloflargebottles
orjars,justliketheonewefound
ontheothershipexceptthese
areallsealed.Alsothey'resoftto
thetouch.
Hepeersmorecloselyattheleatheryobject.
BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
AnotherfunnythingIjustputmy
handonit,andnowtherearethese
raisedareasappearingwheremy
fingertipswere.
EXTERIORBASEOFPYRAMIDDAY
THESUNDROPSBELOWTHEHORIZON,throwingthe
landscapeintogloom.
StandardandMelkonisswitchontheirlights.

STANDARD
Let'sgo.
Heattacheshischestunittothewireandstarts
up.
INTERIORTOMBNIGHT
Broussardismovinghislightalongtherowsof
heiroglyphsonthe
wall.Theydepictstylizeddrawingsofstrange
monsters.
Hepausestoquicklychangethefilmclipinhis
datastick;thenhe
turnsbacktothe"urn"hewasexaminingBUT
NOWTHEREISAHOLEIN
THETOPOFIT.
Heshineshislightontheflooratthebaseof
the"urn."Therelies
the"lid"thestopperthathadfilledthehole.
Hepicksitupand
studiesit.Itappearsmoreorganicthan
artificial;theinside
surfaceisspongyandirregular.
Thenheturnsthelighttothenowopen"urn."
Hebendsoverthemouthofthe"urn"shiningthe
lightin,ANDWITH
SHOCKINGVIOLENCE,ASMALL,OCTOPUSLIKETHING
LEAPSOUTANDATTACHES
ITSELFTOHISFACE,WRAPPINGITSTENTACLESAROUND
HISHEAD.
WithaMUFFLEDSCREAM,helauncheshimself
backward,tearingatthe
thingwithhishands.

EXTERIORTOPOFPYRAMIDNIGHT
ThedustblowsandhowlsasStandardandMelkonis
arriveatthetop,
lightsbobbinginthedarkness.
STANDARD
(puffingwithexertion)
Here'shisline.Wecanhaulhimout
ofthereifwehaveto.

MELKONIS
It'llyankhimrightoffhisfeetif
he'snotexpectingit.Theline
couldgettangledinsomething.
STANDARD
Butwhatcanwedo?He'soutof
radiocontact.
MELKONIS
Maybeweshouldjustwaitafewmore
minutes.
Standardhesitates,clingingtothelipofthe
hole.
STANDARD
(makinguphismind)
No,Itoldhimtobeoutinten
minutes.It'sbeenmuchlonger.
Let'sgethimoutofthere.
Standardpullshimselfupandcrouches
precariouslyontheedgeofthe
tunnel.Hebeginstofiddlewiththewinch
mechanismfromwhich
Broussard'slinedangles.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Theline'sslack.Christ,doyou
thinktheidiotunhookedhimself?
Heswitchesonthewinchmotor.Withawhine,it
beginstoreelthe
linein.Afteramoment,thelineTIGHTENSWITHA
JERKandthe
motorslowsdown,laboringundertheaddedweight.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
There,itcaught!

MELKONIS
Isitstillcomingup,orisit
hookedonsomething?
STANDARD
No,it'scoming.
MELKONIS
Canyouseeanything?
Standardshineshislightdownintothehole.
STANDARD
No,Ican'tseefarenough.The
line'smoving,though.
Foramoment,thetwomenhangtothenarrowtop
ofthepyramid,
savingtheirstrength,whilethelinereelsinand
thewindhowls.
ThenStandardshineshislightbackdownin.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Icanseehim!Herehecomes!
ThewinchbeginstoLABORHEAVILY.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Getreadytograbhim!
Broussardappearsatthetopofthepit,dangling
limplyfromthe
wire.StandardreachesforhimthenRECOILS
SHARPLY.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Lookout!There'ssomethingon
hisface!
Melkonisattemptstocometohisaid.

MELKONIS
Whatisit?
STANDARD
Don'ttouchhim,watchit!
Intheirpanicandconfusion,thementeeter
momentarily,finally
regaintheirbalance.Theyshinetheirlightson
Broussard.
HeappearstobecompletelyunconsciousANDTHE
OCTOPUSTHINGIS
STILLWRAPPEDAROUNDHISFACE,MOTIONLESS.
MELKONIS
OhGod,ohGodno.
STANDARD
HelpmeI'mgoingtotrytoget
itoff.
Withhisglovedhands,Standardgraspsthe
tentacledmessandtriesto
pullitfromBroussard'shead.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Itwon'tcomeit'sstuck.
MELKONIS
Whatisit?
STANDARD
HowthehellshouldIknow?Comeon,
givemeahand,let'sgethimoutof
there!
ThetwomengrapplewithBroussard'slimpbody,
liftinghimfromthe
hole.

INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
RobyandHunteraresittingmoodily,silent.
Thereisalongmoment
whilenothingissaid,then:
HUNTER
I'vegot'em!They'rebackonmy
screens!
ROBY
(leapstohisfeet)
Howmany?
HUNTER
Threeblips!They'recomingthis
way!
Robygrabsamicrophone.
ROBY
(intomike)
Hey,canyouguyshearme?
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Yeah,wehearyou!We'recoming
back!
ROBY
ThankChrist!Welostyou!Listen,
there'sbeenanewdevelopment
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Can'ttalknow;Broussard'sinjured.
We'llneedsomehelpgettinghim
intotheship.
Robycollapsesintoachair,suddenlylimpwith

apprehension.He's
fearedsomethinglikethisallalong,andnowit
hasbeguntohappen.
ROBY
(tohimself)
Ohno.
HUNTER
(intointercom)
Jay,thisisCleave!Meetmeatthe
mainairlock!
Hunterdashesfromtheroom.
Robyremainswhereheis,seatedathisconsole.
Heisstunned,his
mindracing.CAMERAMOVESINONHISFACE.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCKNIGHT
Huntercomesracingdownthestepsandhurriesup
totheinnerlock
door.
Hepressesthewallintercom.
HUNTER
(intointercom)
Martin,I'mbytheinnerlockdoor!
I'llwaithereforyoutoletthem
in!
INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
ROBY
(strangelyquiet)
Right.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCKNIGHT

Faustcomesrunningup,coveredwithgrime.
FAUST
Whatthehell'sgoingon?
HUNTER
Don'tknowBroussardgothurt
somehow.
FAUST
Hurt!How?
HUNTER
Don'tknowmaybewe'llbereal
luckyandhejustbrokehisneck.
(abeat)
Iknewweshouldn'tofcomedown
here.
INTERIORBRIDGENIGHT
Robyisseatedaloneintheroom,listeningtothe
transmissionfrom
StandardandMelkonis.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Martin,areyouthere?
Robyleansforwardandspeaksintothemicrophone.
ROBY
Here,Chaz.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
We'recomingupnow,opentheouter
lockdoor.
ROBY
ChazwhathappenedtoBroussard?

STANDARD
(over,filtered)
It'ssomekindoforganism,it's
attacheditselftohim.Letusin.
Robydoesnotreply.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(over,filtered)
Youhearme,Martin?Opentheouter
door.
ROBY
Chaz,ifit'sanorganism,andwe
letitin,theshipwillbe
infected.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Wecan'tleavehimouthere,open
thedoor.
ROBY
(urgently)
Chaz,listentomewe'vebroken
everyruleofquarantine.Ifwe
bringanorganismonboard,wewon't
haveasinglelayerofdefenseleft.
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Martin,thisisanorder!Openthe
door!
Hatingit,Robyleansforwardandthrowsthe
switch.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCKNIGHT
AREDLIGHTgoeson,onaconsoleonthewall.

Thewhineofalarge
servoisheard,followedbyasolidmetallic
CLUNK.
HUNTER
Outerdoor'sopen.
Afteramoment,theyhearthemotorsoundagain,
followedbyanother
CLUNK.Theouterdoorhasclosedagain.Thered
lightgoesoff.
Theinnerdoorslidesopen,andStandardand
Melkonisstaggerthrough,
carryingthesaggingbodyofBroussard.Acloud
ofchokingdust
followsthemoutofthelock.
STANDARD
(pullingoffhismask)
Youmenstayclear,there'sa
parasiteonhim.
HunterandFaustRECOIL.
HUNTER
OhGodoh
FAUST
Isitalive?
STANDARD
Idon'tknowbutdon'ttouchit.
Giveusahandhere,let'sgethim
uptotheAutodoc.
HunterandFaustmoveincarefullytohelpwith
thelimpburden.
INTERIORINFIRMARY

Oneofthemflicksonthelightsastheycome
shufflingintothe
medicalroom,carryingBroussard.
Revealedisarathersmallcubiclewhosewallsare
linedwith
machinery.Theprincipleitemofinterestisa
mechanizedbunkbed,
whichrestsinacradleandslidesinandoutofa
slotinthewall.
STANDARD
Helpme,comeon,let'sgethimup
here.
Theyslidethemanontothebunk.
HUNTER
Thatthing,Godalmighty,didn'tyou
trytogetitoffhim?
STANDARD
Itwouldn'tcome.
Standardyanksoffhisgloves.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Medicalgloves.
Theypullthinelasticglovesfromadispenserin
thewall,andpull
themon.
Gingerly,theyapproachBroussard.
Standardplaceshishandsontheoctopusthing
thatisslowlypulsing
onBroussard'sface.Hegraspsthetentaclesin
hishandsandtriesto
pullitfree.

STANDARD(CONT'D)
It'sreallyontheretight.
FAUST
Here,letmetry.
Fausttakesapairofpliersfromarack,and
carefullygraspsthetip
ofoneofthetentacles.Squeezingtightly,he
leansbackwithallhis
weight.
STANDARD
(grabbingFaust'shands)
Stopit,you'retearinghisface.
AtrickleofbloodbeginstooozedownBroussard's
cheek.
MELKONIS
It'snotcomingoffnotwithout
hiswholefacecomingofftoo.
STANDARD
Let'sletthemachineworkonhim.
Efficiently,theystripBroussardnaked,then
Standardpressesa
coupleofswitchesonthewall.Themachine
lightsup,andBroussard
issuckedintotheslotinthewall.
Heisvisibleinside.Themachineimmediately
spraysacloudof
disinfectantonhim,thensterilizeshimwitha
blindingpinklight.
Abankofvideomonitorspopson,revealingXray
imagesofdifferent
partsofhisbody.Sensorsbegintoscan,relays
chatter.

ROBYAPPEARSINTHEDOORWAY.
Standardturnsandlooksathim.Foralong
moment,thetwomenregard
eachother,thenSTANDARDSTEPSFORWARDANDSLAPS
ROBYACROSSTHE
FACE.
Theothersareshocked.
HUNTER
Heynow,whatisthis?
STANDARD
Askhim.
ROBY
(slowlyputshishand
tohischeek)
Iunderstandwhyyoudidthat.
STANDARD
Good.
MELKONIS
Hewouldn'topenthelock;hewas
goingtoleaveusoutthere.
HUNTER
Yeah...well,maybeheshouldhave.I
mean,youbroughtthegoddamnthing
inhere.Maybeyoudeservetoget
slapped.
FAUST
(embarrassed)
Excuseme,I'vegotworktodo.
Faustexits.

HUNTER
Ikeepmymouthprettymuchshut,
butIdon'tlikehitting.
ROBY
(toStandard)
IguessIhaditcoming.Let'scall
itsettled.
AfterahardstareatRoby,Standardgiveshima
curtnodandturns
hisattentiontothemachinery.
ROBY(CONT'D)
(slowly)
Wouldsomebodyfillmein?
STANDARD
Hewentintothepyramidalone.We
lostradiocontactwithhim.Whenwe
pulledhimout,itwasonhisface.
Itwon'tcomeoff,notwithout
injuringhim.
HUNTER
Wherediditcomefrom?
MELKONIS
He'stheonlyonethatknowsthat.
HUNTER
Howdoeshebreathe?
Theystudythemonitors.
MELKONIS
Blood'sthoroughlyoxygenated.
HUNTER
Yeah,buthow?Hisnoseandmouth
areblocked.

STANDARD
Let'slookinsidehishead.
Standardpunchessomebuttons,andonthe
monitors,akindofXray
imageinvividcolorsappears,depicting
Broussard'sHEADANDUPPER
TORSO.
TheparasiteisclearlyvisibleonBroussard's
face.InXray,the
creatureisamazeofcomplicatedbiology.But
theshockingthingis
that,inXray,wecanseethatBroussard'sjaws
areforcedwideopen,
andTHEPARASITEHASEXTRUDEDSOMEKINDOFLONG
TUBE,WHICHISSTUFFED
INTOHISMOUTHANDDOWNHISTHROAT,endingnear
hisstomach.
ROBY
Lookatthat.
HUNTER
WhatisitIcan'ttell
anything
ROBY
It'ssomekindoforganit's
insertedsomekindoftubeor
somethingdownhisthroat.
HUNTER
(turningsick)
Oh...God...
HunterbendsoverandRETCHES.
ROBY
Ithinkthat'showit'sgetting

oxygentohim.
HUNTER
Itdoesn'tmakeanysense.It
paralyzeshim...putshimintoa
coma...thenkeepshimalive.
MELKONIS
Wecan'texpecttounderstandalife
formlikethis.We'reoutofour
backyard.Thingsaredifferent
here.
HUNTER
Well,can'twekillit?Imean,we
can'tleavethedamnthingonhim.
MELKONIS
Wedon'tknowwhatmighthappenif
wetriedtokillit.Atleastright
nowit'skeepinghimalive.
HUNTER
Howaboutcuttingitoff?Wecan't
pullitloose,butwecancutoff
everythingbutthebottomlayer,
whereit'sstucktohisface.
STANDARD
You'reright...wecan'tstandhere
anddonothing.
Standardpicksuphisdustybreathingmaskand
pullsitoverhishead.
Thenhepullsbackonhisbulkygloves.Finally,
hepressesaswitch
andBroussardslidesbackoutofthebooth.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(muffledinhismask)
Somebodygivemeascalpel.

Melkonistakesaglitteringsurgicalbladefroma
slotinthewall,
andcarefullypassesittoStandard.
Clumsilybecauseofthegloves,Standard
manipulatestheknifeinhis
handtillhehasadecentgriponit.Thenhe
flicksalittlebutton
withhisthumb.Thescalpelbeginstohum.
Standardadvancesontheparasite.Theothers
drawbacknervously.
Robyreachesoveranddrawsyetalongerblade
fromtherack,and
holdsitinconspicuouslyathisside.
Standardbendsovertheparasite.Carefully,he
touchesthescalpelto
theextremeendofoneofthetentacles,whereit
curvestowardthe
backofBroussard'shead.
Effortlessly,theelectronicbladeslidesthrough
thealientissue.
Immediately,aurinelikefluidbeginstoflow
fromthewound.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(muffled)
I'vemadeanincision...it'snot
reacting...butsomekindof
yellowishfluidisleakingoutof
thewound...
Thenoxiouslookingliquiddripsdownontothe
beddingnextto
Broussard'shead.Instantly,itstartstohiss,
andathinstreamof
smokecurlsupfromthestain.

STANDARD(CONT'D)
(muffled)
Holdit,thisstuff'ssmoking!
TheothersREACTnervously.
Bynow,theyellowfluidhaseatenaholethrough
thebunkbedandhas
drippeddownontothefloorbelow.Themetal
floorbeginstobubble
andsizzle,andmoresmokerises.
ThemenstarttoCOUGH.
MELKONIS
God,thatsmoke'spoisonous!
HUNTER
(pointing)
It'seatingaholeinthefloor!
Abruptly,themenjostletheirwayoutoftheroom
andhuddleinthe
corridoroutside,coughingtheirlungsout.
Standard,whoismasked,remains.Frantically,he
attemptstoputa
bandageonthewound,butthefluidinstantly
meltsthebandage,and
intheprocess,someofthestuffgetson
Standard'sgloves.They
begintosmoke.
FranticallyStandardleapsback,pullingoffthe
smoulderinggloves.
Thenherunsoutintothecorridorandyanksoff
hismask.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEINFIRMARY
STANDARD

Thatstuff'seatingrightthrough
themetal!It'sgoingtoeatthrough
thedecksandrightoutthroughthe
hull!
BythistimeStandardhasstartedtorunforthe
stairs.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Followedbytheothers,Standardfrantically
clangsdownthestairsto
thelevelbelow.
STANDARD
There!Look!
Adropletofthefluidissizzlingontheceiling.
Itoozesdownand
dripstothefloor.
Itbubblesonthefloor.
MELKONIS
Jesus,whatcanweputunderit?
StandardandHunterchargedownthestairstothe
levelbelow.
INTERIORLEVELBELOW
StandardandHuntermovecautiouslydownthe
corridor,lookingupat
theceiling.
STANDARD
(pointing)
There.Shouldbecomingthrough
aboutthere.
HUNTER

Careful,don'tgetunderit!
INTERIORLEVELABOVE
RobyandMelkoniscrouchbythespotonthefloor
wheretheacid
sizzles.
MELKONIS
Christ,thatstinks.
Robyfishesapenoutofhispocketandprobes
intotheholeinthe
floor.
ROBY
Seemstohavestoppedpenetrating.
Huntercomeschargingupthesteps.
HUNTER
What'shappeninguphere?
ROBY
Ithinkit'sfizzledout.
Hunterapproachesandlooks.Robystraightensup,
startstoputthe
penbackinhispocket,thenchangeshismindand
standsholdingitby
theend.
MELKONIS
Ineversawanythinglikethatinmy
life...exceptmolecularacid.
HUNTER
Butthisthingusesitforblood.
MELKONIS
Hellofadefensemechanism.You

don'tdarekillit.
Standardcomesupthestairs.
STANDARD
It'sstopped?
MELKONIS
Yes,thankheaven.
STANDARD
We'rejustplainlucky.Thatcould
havegonerightthroughthehull
takenweekstopatchit.
MELKONIS
RemindedmeofwhenIwasakidand
theroofleakedeverybodyrunning
forthepotsandpans.
ROBY
MyGod,whataboutBroussard?
Theyturnandrunupthestairs.
INTERIORINFIRMARY
Theyallcomeintotheroom(Robycarryingthe
partiallymeltedpen).
Broussardisstillmotionlessonthebunk,with
thethingonhisface.
ROBY
Diditgetonhim?
StandardapproachesandpeersatBroussard'shead.
STANDARD
No,thankGod...justmissedhim.
MELKONIS

Isitstilldripping?
STANDARD
(examiningit)
Itappearstohavehealeditself.
HUNTER
Itmakesmesicktoseehimlike
that.
MELKONIS
Isn'ttheresomewaywecangetit
offhim?
STANDARD
Idon'tseehow.Butlet'sdowhat
wecanforhim.
Standardpressesabutton,andBroussardslides
backintothe
diagnosticcoffin.Hepressesmorebuttons,and
thedisplayslightup
again,showingdifferentpartsofBroussard's
body.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Ithinkwe'dbettergetsome
intravenousfeedingstarted.God
knowswhatthatthingisleaching
outofhim.
Standardoperatessomecontrols,andthemachine
beginstoinvade
Broussard'sbody,slidingneedlesintohim.
ROBY
(studyingthescreens)
Lookthere,what'sthatstainonhis
lungs?
TheXrayrevealsaspreadingdarkblotinthe

vicinityofBroussard's
chest.Inthecenter,thestainiscompletely
opaque.
MELKONIS
Itappearstobeaheavyfluidof
somesort...itblockstheXrays...
ROBY
Thattubemustbedepositingitin
him.
MELKONIS
Couldbesomekindofvenom,or
poison...
HUNTER
Thisishorrible.
ROBY
Hey!whataboutthefilm?
STANDARD
Whatfilm?
ROBY
Broussardhadfilminhisdatastick,
didn'the?Wecanseewhathappened
tohim.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM
Againwearewatchingslidesinthedarkenedroom.
ThistimeStandard,
Roby,Melkonis,andHunterarewatchingthe
sequenceofphotographs
takenautomaticallybyBroussard'sdatastickashe
probedthetomb.
Thecamerarevealsthe"urns."Theclimaxofthe
sequenceofstills

comeswhenTHECREATURELEAPSOUTOFTHE"URN"
TOWARDTHECAMERA
andafterthatthecameradropstoauselessangle
andproceedsto
showaseriesofmeaninglessblurs.Thenthereel
ends.
HUNTER
Thatmusthavebeenwhenhegotit.
ROBY
Thesamethingmust'vehappenedto
thecreaturesontheothership...
excepttheytookoneofthosejars
onboard,andopeneditthere.
MELKONIS
(clicksbackthroughthe
slidestoapictureof
oneofthe"urns")
AtfirstIthoughttheywerejars
too,orartifactsanyway.But
they'renot.They'reeggs,orspore
casings.Let'sgobacktothe
heiroglyphics.
CLICKETYCLICKETYCLICKMelkonisaccelerates
throughtheslidesina
blur,stoppingattheonehewantswhichshows
astripof
heiroglyphsonthewallofthetomb.
STANDARD
Ipersonallycan'tmakeanysense
outofit...
CLICK.CLICK.Melkonisischangingtheslidesas
theytalk,showing
differentanglesontheglyphs.
MELKONIS

It'sacrudesymboliclanguage
looksprimitive.
HUNTER
Youcan'ttellthatkindofstuff
couldrepresentprintedcircuits...
STANDARD
Thatsoundsalittlefanciful...
MELKONIS
Primitivepictoriallanguagesare
basedoncommonobjectsinthe
environment,andthiscanbeusedas
astartingpointfortranslation...
ROBY
Whatcommonobjects?
HUNTER
Listen,hadn'tsomebodybettercheck
onBroussard?
STANDARD
(rising)
I'lldoit.Therestofyou
continue.
HUNTER
(rising)
I'llcomewithyou.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEINFIRMARY
StandardandHuntercomedownthepassageway.
STANDARD
Youknow,it'sfantasticthe
humanracehasgonethislong
withouteverencounteringanother
advancedlifeform,andnowwerun

intoaveritablezoo.
HUNTER
Whatdoyoumean?
STANDARD
Well,thosethingsouttherearen't
thesame,youknowthespaceship
andthepyramid.They'refrom
differentculturesanddifferent
races.Thatshipjustlandedhere
crashedlikewedid.Thepyramidand
thethingfromitareindigenous.
HUNTER
Howcouldanythingbeindigenousto
thisasteroid?It'sdead.
STANDARD
Maybeitwasn'talwaysdead.
Theyarriveattheinfirmary.
INTERIORINFIRMARY
Thedoorslidesopen,andtheystepintotheroom.
Hunteractivates
thebed,anditslidesoutofthewall.
THEREISALONG,HORRIFIEDPAUSE.
HUNTER
It'sgone.
TheyrushtoBroussard'sproneform.THEPARASITE
ISGONEFROMHIS
FACE.
Broussardisstillunconscious,butheis
breathing.HISFACEIS
COVEREDWITHSUCKERMARKS.

HUNTER
Nowwe'reinforit.
STANDARD
Thedoorwasclosed.Itmuststill
beinhere.
Theyimmediatelygrowverytense.Hunterstarts
edgingtowardthe
door.Standardgrabshisarm.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
No,don'topenthedoor.Wedon't
wantitescaping.
HUNTER
(verynervous)
Well,whatthehellgoodcanwedo
inhere?Wecan'tgrabitit
mightjumponus
STANDARD
Maybewecancatchit.
Standardpicksupastainlesssteeltraywitha
lid.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Aslongaswe'recarefulnotto
damageit...
Trayinonehand,lidintheother,Standard
beginsmovingslowly
aroundtheroom.Thereareveryfewplacesto
hide.
Hebendsdownandpeersunderthebunk.
Asheisdownonhishandsandknees,WESEEONE
TENTACLEOFTHE

THING,VIBRATINGONALEDGEJUSTABOVESTANDARD.
Herises,andHISSHOULDERBRUSHESTHETENTACLE.
THEPARASITEDROPSTO
THEFLOOR.
STANDARD
(leapingback)
Shit!
Butthethingisnotmoving.Itliesmotionless
onthefloor,its
tentaclescurledup.Itscolorhasfadedtoa
deadlookinggrey.
Withouttakinghiseyesoffthething,Standard
reachesbehindhimand
takesalongprobefromthewall.Heprodsthe
thing;itdoesnot
respond.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Ithinkit'sdead.
Withgreatcare,heusestheprobetofishthe
motionlessparasite
intothetray.Thenhequicklyclosesthelid.
INTERIORLABORATORY
Standard,Roby,andMelkonishavetheparasite
spreadeagledona
stainlesssteeltable,withabrightlightonit.
Itisbellysideup.
Wearinggloves,Standardprobesatthethingwith
aninstrument.
STANDARD
Lookatthesesuckersnowonder
wecouldn'tgetitoffhim.

ROBY
Isthatitsmouth?
MELKONIS
Morelikelythatorganthetube
likethingfitsupinthere.
Withapairofneedlenosedpliers,Standard
fishesinthefleshy
aperture.Carefully,heextractstheendofthe
tubeorgan.
ROBY
Ugh.
Suddenly,itstartstoFALLAPARTINTHEPLIERS.
STANDARD
Quickit'sdecomposinggimme
somethingtograbitwith!
ItbeginstoSMOKEANDBUBBLE.
Robygrabsalongpairoftongsfromthewalland
thruststhemat
Standardwhothrowsdownthepliers,snatches
thetongsandseizes
thethinginthetongs.
Itissmoulderinganddrippingacidonthefloor.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Christ!Let'sgetitoutofhere!
Carryingthething,heheadsforthedoor.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Themenrundownthepassageways,Standard
carryingthedrippingthing

inthetongs.Itleaveslittlesmokingdroplets
onthefloor.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK
Theycomerunninguptotheairlock.Robystabs
thebuttonandthe
innerdoorslidesopen.BythetimeStandardis
inthelock,Robyis
alreadyontheintercom:
ROBY
(shoutsintointercom)
ForChrissake,openthemainlock!
INTERIORAIRLOCKDAY
Robystumblesinastheinnerdoorcloses;and
withaheavywhine,the
thicksurfacedoorrumblesopen.Orangesunlight
billowsin,followed
bytheinevitabledust.
StandardHURLSTHECARCASSOUT,tongsandall.
EXTERIORBASEOFSHIPDAY
Theparasitehitsthegroundandbeginstosink
intothedust,
smoulderingandfuming.
INTERIORAIRLOCKDAY
Theouterdoorrollsshut.
ROBY
(slumpingagainstthe
wall)
MyGod,it'slethalevenwhenit's
dead!

Melkonisgetsdownonhiskneesandstudiesthe
smallburnholesin
thefloor.
Standardopenstheinnerdoorandstepsoutinto
thecorridor.There,
heactivatesthewallintercomandpunchesouta
combination.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK
HUNTER
(overintercom,
filtered)
Yes?
STANDARD
How'sBroussard?
HUNTER
(over,filtered)
He'srunningafever.
STANDARD
Stillunconscious?
HUNTER
(over,filtered)
Yes.
STANDARD
Canyoudoanythingforhim?
HUNTER
(over,filtered)
Themachinewillbringhis
temperaturedown.Hisvital
functionsarestrong.
STANDARD
Good.

Heswitchesofftheintercom.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(suddenlyexhausted)
Ineedsomecoffee.
Heturnsandwalksaway.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM
ThecatisstrollingaroundasRobyandMelkonis
dropintoseats;
Standarddrawsacupofcoffeefromthemachine.
MELKONIS
Thesedayandnightcyclesare
totallydisorienting.Ifeellike
we'vebeenherefordays,butit's
onlybeenhowlong?
ROBY
(strokingthecat)
Aboutfourhours.
STANDARD
(staringintohiscoffee
cup)
I'msorrytosayitlookslikeyou
wererightinthefirstplace,
Martin.Wenevershouldhavelanded
here.
ROBY
Look,I'mnottryingtorub
anybody'snoseinanything.The
importantthingisjusttogetaway
fromhereasfastaspossible.
STANDARD
Ican'tleanonFaustanyharder

he'sbeenworkingnonstoponthe
engines.
ROBY
Ifweknewexactlywhathappenedto
thebeingsontheothership
MELKONIS
Wedoknowthat.
ROBY
Yeah?
MELKONIS
Theynevermadeitofftheplanet.
Theparasiteswon.
ThisbringsaCHILLYSILENCE.
ROBY
Wheredidtheparasitescomefrom?
STANDARD
Theyseemnativetotheplanet.It's
gotanatmosphereandadense
gravity.It'sdeadnow,butonceit
musthavebeenfertile.
MELKONIS
No.It'sjusttoosmalltosupport
faunaasbigastheparasites.If
therewereanativeecology,it
wouldhavetobemicroscopic.
ROBY
Couldn'tthepyramidhavebeenbuilt
herebyspacetravellers?
STANDARD
Tooprimitive.It'sapre
technologicalconstruction.That

slabwasengineeredbyanIronAge
cultureatbest.
MELKONIS
They'refromadeadcivilization;
they'resporesfromatomb.God
knowshowlongthey'vebeenhere.
ROBY
Ithinkwebettertakeanotherlook
atthoseheiroglyphs.
SuddenlythedooropensandFauststickshishead
in.Heiscovered
withdirtandgrime.
FAUST
Hey,guesswhat?
STANDARD
What?
FAUST
Theenginesarefixed.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
TheSNARK'senginescoughandthenwithaROAR
BEGINTOBELCHOUT
STREAMSOFSUPERHEATEDAIR,cuttingthroughthe
tulgydust.
Theshiproarsandvibrateslikeahugebeast,
capableofunlimited
power.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
Theyareallattheirposts.
STANDARD

Switchontractorbeams.
ThereisahairtinglingELECTRICALHUMwhich
permeatesthewhole
ship,anditbeginstofloat,likeacorkin
water.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Locktractorbeams.
Thepitchofthehumchanges,andtheshiplevels
itself.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Retractlandingstruts.
EXTERIORSHIPDAY
Theshipishoveringabovethegroundonbeamsof
shimmeringforce.
Thelandingstrutsfoldupunderthebellyofthe
ship.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
STANDARD
Takeusup.
ROBY
(intointercom)
Uponekilometer,Jay.
EXTERIORPLANETOIDDAY
TheSNARKbeginstolevitateupintothesky,on
thebeamsoflight.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
STANDARD
Switchonlifterquads.

APOWERFUL,DEEPTHROBBINGBEGINS.THESHIP
VIBRATES.
EXTERIOR"SNARK"DAY
ThehoveringSNARKbeginstoacceleratethrough
thechoking
atmosphere.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
STANDARD
Engageartificialgravity.
Robythrowsaswitch,andtheshipLURCHES.
ROBY
Engaged.
STANDARD
Let'stakeherintoanescapeorbit.
Themengetbusywithswitches.
ROBY
I'malteringourvectornow;should
giveusaneasyescapevelocity
AHUGETREMORRUNSTHROUGHOUTTHESHIP.
ROBY&MELKONIS
(inconcert)
Whatwasthat?
Inanswer,THECOMMUNICATORBEEPS.
FAUST
(over,filtered)
Thisdustisgettingcloggedinthe
intakesagain!

STANDARD
Justholdustogethertillwe'rein
space,that'sall!
Thepitchoftheengineschanges,deepens.
EXTERIORSKYDAY
TheSNARKswoopsupatanacuteangleintothe
boilingclouds.
Visibilityiszero.
INTERIORENGINEROOM
Faustispullingonagasmask,becausetheengine
chamberisbeginning
tofillwithdust.Heturnsonahugeexhaust
unitwhichbeginsto
suckupsomeofthedust.
INTERIORBRIDGEDAY
Onthescreens,nothingbutclouds.Then,ANOTHER
TREMORSHUDDERS
THROUGHTHESHIP.Themennolongerspeak;their
expressionsaregrim,
set,andsweating;theyarewatchingtheir
instruments.Periodically
theymuttertechnicalinstructionstoeachother.
EXTERIORSHIPDAY
AbruptlytheshipCLEARSTHETOPOFTHECLOUD
LAYERANDBURSTSOUT
INTOSTARSPRINKLEDSPACE,trailingawakeofdust
behindit.
INTERIORBRIDGEOUTERSPACE
TheyallCHEER.

ROBY
(poundshispanel)
Wemadeit!Damn,wemadeit!
STANDARD
Youbetwemadeit.Martin,set
courseforIrthandaccelerateus
intostardrive.
ROBY
Withgreatpleasure.
Robybeginstopunchbuttons.
MELKONIS
IfeellikeanescapeefromHell.

DISSOLVETO:
EXTERIORSHIPATLIGHTSPEEDLATER
Theship'sspeedissogreatthatthereis
perceptiblemovementinthe
universeallaround.
Thereisastrangecoronaeffectwhichcausesthe
starsapproaching
theshiptoappearblue,andtherecedingonesto
bered.Thisis
redshift,madevisiblebecauseoftheirincredible
velocity.
INTERIORBRIDGEOUTERSPACE
Theyareunstrapping.
ROBY
That'sthepartthatalwaysmakesme
feellikeI'mgonnapukewhenwe

accelerateintolightspeed.
STANDARD
Quitcomplaining;we'reinspace.
Theyriseandheadoutoftheroom.
INTERIORCORRIDOR
Astheywalkalong.
STANDARD
Ithinkthebestthingtodowith
Broussardistojustfreezehimas
heis.It'llarresttheprogressof
hisdisease,andhecangetcomplete
medicalattentionwhenwegetback
totheColonies.
ROBY
We'llhavetogointoquarantine,
maybeforquiteawhile.
STANDARD
That'sokay,hecanremainin
hypersleepuntilthey'rereadyto
treathim.
Theyentertheinfirmary.
INTERIORINFIRMARY
Astheyentertheroom,THEYARESHOCKEDTOSEE
BROUSSARDSITTINGUP
inBEDAWAKE.
BROUSSARD
(hoarsely)
...Mouth'ssodry...canIhavesome
water...

Instantly,Robybringshimaplasticcupofwater.
Broussardgulpsit
downinaswallow.
BROUSSARD(CONT'D)
More.
Robyquicklyfillsamuchbiggercontainerand
handsittoBroussard,
whogreedilyconsumestheentirething.Thenhe
sags,panting,onthe
bunk.
STANDARD
(softly)
Howdoyoufeel,Dell?
BROUSSARD
(weakly)
Wretched.Whathappenedtome?
STANDARD
Don'tyouremember?
BROUSSARD
Don'tremembernothing.Can'thardly
remembermyname.
ROBY
Areyouinpain?
BROUSSARD
Notexactly,justfeellike
somebody'sbeenbeatingmewith
rubberhosesforaboutsixyears.
Melkonislaughsatthisremark.Broussardsmiles
faintlyathim.
STANDARD
Hell,you'reingreatshape,you've

gotyoursenseofhumorback!
BROUSSARD
GodI'mhungry.
ROBY
Dell,what'sthelastthingyoucan
remember?
BROUSSARD
...Idon'tknow...
ROBY
Doyourememberthepyramid?
BROUSSARD
No.Justsomehorribledreamsabout
smothering.Wherearewe?
STANDARD
We'regoinghome.We'rein
hyperspace.
MELKONIS
We'regoingintothefreezersnow.
BROUSSARD
I'mreallystarving;canwegetsome
foodbeforewegointothefreezers?
STANDARD
(laughs)
Ithinkthat'saprettyreasonable
request.
INTERIORMULTIPURPOSEROOM
Theentirecrewisseatedaroundthetable,eating
hugeportions
greedily.Thecateatsfromadishonthetable.

HUNTER
BoydoIfeelalotbetter.It'sa
straightshotbacktotheColonies,
andthenwecanstarttakingbidson
thepaydirt.Anybetsonthetop
bid?
FAUST
(chewing)
Well,weshouldatleastbeableto
eachbuyourownplanet.
TheyallCHUCKLE.
MELKONIS
I'mgoingtowriteabookaboutthis
expedition.I'mgoingtocallit
"TheSnarkLog."
STANDARD
(stiffly)
Thecommandernormallyhasfirst
publicationrights.
MELKONIS
Maybewecouldwriteittogether.
ROBY
FirstthingI'mgoingtodowhenwe
getbackiseatsomebiological
food.
MELKONIS
What'sthematter,youdon'tlike
thisstuff?
ROBY
Tasteslikesomethingyou'dfeeda
chickentomakeitlaymoreeggs.
STANDARD

Ohit'sokay.I'vehadbettercag
thanthis,butI'vehadworsetoo,
ifyouknowwhatImean.
FAUST
Ikindoflikeit.
ROBY
Youlikethisshit?
FAUST
Itgrowsonyou.
ROBY
Youknowwhattheymakethisstuff
outof?
FAUST
(annoyed)
Yes,Iknowwhattheymakeitout
of,sowhat?It'sfoodnow.You're
eatingit.
ROBY
Ididn'tsayitwasbadforyou,
it'sjustkindofsickening,that's
all.
HUNTER
Dowehavetotalkaboutthiskind
ofcrapatthedinnertable?
Suddenly,unexpectedly,BROUSSARDGRIMACESAND
GROANS.
STANDARD
What'swrong?
BROUSSARD
(hisvoicestraining)
Idon'tknow...I'mgettingthese

CRAMPS!
Theothersstareathiminalarm.AnotherGROAN
istornfromhislips.
Heclutchestheedgeofthetablewithhishands,
hisknuckles
whitening.
STANDARD
Breathedeeply.
BROUSSARD
(screaming)
OHGODITHURTSSOBAD!
ROBY
WhatDellwhat?
Broussard'sfaceisscrewedupintoamaskof
agony,andheis
tremblingviolentlyfromheadtofoot.
BROUSSARD
(incoherentshriek)
OhmygooaaAAAHHHHH!!!
AREDSMEAROFBLOODBLOSSOMSONTHECHESTOF
BROUSSARD'STUNIC.
THEIREYESAREALLRIVETTEDTOBROUSSARD'SCHEST
ASTHEFABRICOFHIS
TUNICISRIPPEDOPEN,ANDAHORRIBLENASTYLITTLE
HEADTHESIZEOFA
MAN'SFISTPUSHESOUT.
EverybodySCREAMSandleapsbackfromthetable.
Thecatspitsand
bolts.
Thedisgustinglittleheadlunges,comesspurting
outofBroussard's

chesttrailingathick,wormliketail
splatteringfluidsandblood
landsinthemiddleofthedishesandfoodon
thetableand
scurriesawaywhilethemenarestampedingfor
safeground.
Whentheyfinallyregaincontrolofthemselves,it
hasescaped.
Broussardliesslumpedinhischair,ahugehole
inhischest,
spoutingblood.Thedishesarescatteredandthe
foodiscoveredwith
bloodandslime.
HUNTER
Oh,no.Oh,no.
FAUST
Whatwasthat?WhattheChristwas
that?
MELKONIS
Itwasgrowinginhimthewholetime
andhedidn'tevenknowit!
Slowly,theygatheraroundBroussard'sgutted
corpse.
ROBY
Thatthingusedhimforan
incubator!
EXTERIORSHIPOUTERSPACE
Ahatchslidesopenonthesideoftheship,and
Broussard'swrapped
bodytumblessilentlyout.
ANELECTRONICBASSDRUMBEATSADIRGEasBroussard
driftsinto

eternity.
INTERIORCORRIDORS
Theentireremainingcrewiswalkingtowardthe
bridge.
MELKONIS
Wecan'tgointohypersleepwith
thatthingrunningaroundloose.
HUNTER
We'dbesittingducksinthe
freezers.
ROBY
Butwecan'tkillit.Ifwekillit,
itwillspillallitsbodyacids
rightthroughourhullandoutinto
space.
FAUST
Shit...
STANDARD
We'llhavetocatchitandejectit
fromtheship.
MELKONIS
(sighs)
Well,Ikindofhatetopointit
out,butalloursuppliesarebased
onusspendingastrictlylimited
amountoftimeoutofsuspended
animation...andasyouknow,weused
upmostofthattimeinharvesting.
STANDARD
We'vegotaboutaweekleft,right?
HUNTER

Andthenwerunoutoffoodand
oxygen.
FAUST
Thewaterwillstillrecycle.
ROBY
Wewon'tneeditthen.
STANDARD
Allright,sothat'swhatwe'vegot.
Aweek.It'splentyoftime.
ROBY
Butifwehaven'tcaughtitina
week,thenwehavetogointothe
freezersanyway.
Theyenterthebridge.
INTERIORBRIDGE
STANDARD
Sodoesanybodyhaveany
suggestions?
FAUST
Wecouldputonourpressuresuits
andblowalltheairoutofthe
ship.Thatwouldkillit.
STANDARD
No,wecan'taffordtolosethat
muchoxygen.We'regoingtohaveto
flushitout.
MELKONIS
How?
STANDARD
Roombyroom,corridorbycorridor.

Noonelikesthisthought.
MELKONIS
Andwhatdowedowhenwefindit?
STANDARD
We'llhavetotrapitsomehow.Ifwe
hadareallystrongpieceofnet,we
couldbagit.
FAUST
Wecouldcutasectionoutofthat
metallitenetting.Itwon'tholdup
tothatacid,butasidefromthat
it'sprettystrong.
ROBY
Wehavetoavoidinjuringit.What
wereallyneedissomeelectric
animalprods.
HUNTER
IthinkIcouldcobblesomething
together.Alongmetalrodwitha
batteryinit.Giveitahellofa
shock.
STANDARD
Good.Getonit.Butfirst,I'm
issuingastandingorder:fromthis
momentforth,everyoneofuswill
wearprotectivegarments,including
helmets.Let'sgetdowntothe
lockerandchange.
Theystartfortheexit.
EXTERIOROUTERSPACE
TheSNARKcontinuesonitswaythroughtheweird

vortexofhyperspace.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Standardiswalkingpurposefullyalongthe
corridor,alone.Heis
garmentedinanunusualoutfitwhichmakeshim
looklikeariot
policeman,includingclearplastichelmet.
Hereachesacornerandturns.Butthisnew
passagewayhasadifferent
gravityorientationStandardseemstobe
walkingdownavertical
wall.
Hemakesyetanotherdisorientingturn,andnowhe
iswalkingupside
down.Hereachesasetofstepsandclimbsup
themorrather,down
them.
INTERIORVENTRALOBSERVATIONDOMEVIEWOF
OUTERSPACE
Melkonisisseatedinthedome,upsidedown,
peeringdownintospace.
Healsowearstheprotectivesuit.
Standard,upsidedown,climbsintothedome.It
isdarkandeerie
here,underthestarsofinterstellarspace.A
fewglowingpanels
providetheonlyillumination.
STANDARD
IthoughtI'dfindyouhere.
MELKONIS
Iwasthinkingofalinefromanold
poem:"Water,watereverywhere,but

notadroptodrink."Allthatspace
outthere,andwe'retrappedinthis
ship.
STANDARD
That'stheoneaboutthealbatross,
right?
MELKONIS
Wecan'tevenradioforhelp;the
carrierwavewouldn'treachits
destinationtilllongafterwe'd
diedandturnedtodust.Weare
utterly,absolutelyalone.Can
anybodyreallyvisualizesucha
scaleofdistances?Halfwayacross
Creation...
STANDARD
Wecameoutthere,we'llgoback.A
longtimebytheclock,butashort
timetous.
MELKONIS
Timeandspacehavenomeaningout
here.We'relivinginEinsteinian
equation.
STANDARD
Icanseeyou'reputtingyourspare
timetogooduse.
(leansforwardandtaps
himontheknee)
Letmetellyousomething:youkeep
staringathyperspaceforlong
enough,they'llbepeelingyouoffa
wall.I'veseenithappen.
MELKONIS
(smilesathim)
We'rethenewpioneers,Chaz.We

evenhaveourownspecialdiseases.
STANDARD
Comeonlet'sgoaboveandsee
howthey'recomingwiththegear.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Thewholecrewhasassembled.Faustisunfolding
severalyardsof
shimmeringmetallicnetting.
Hunterhandsoutfivethinrods,likemetalbroom
handles.
HUNTER
Thesehaveportablegeneratorsin
them.They'reinsulateddowntohere
justbecarefulnottotouchthe
end.
Hedemonstratesbytouchingthetipofoneofthe
rodstoametal
object.Abluesparkleaps.
FAUST
Mightevenincineratethedamn
thing.
STANDARD
(sharply)
Ihopenot.
HUNTER
Don'tworry,itwon'tdamageit,
it'lljustgiveitalittle
incentive.
STANDARD
Howdowelocatethecreature?

FAUST
Withthese.
Hepicksupasmallportableunit.
FAUST(CONT'D)
Trackingdevice.Yousetitto
searchforamovingobject...It
hasn'tgotmuchrange,butwhenyou
getwithinacertaindistance,it
startsbeeping.
Standardtakesthedeviceandstudiesit.
STANDARD
Thesewillbeveryuseful.Atleast
wewon'thavetogodiggingaround
inclosetswithourbarehands.All
right,here'sthebattleplan:we're
goingtobreakintotwoteamsand
startsystematicallycoveringthe
ship.Whoeverfindsitfirst,
catchesitinthenetandejectsit
fromthenearestairlock.Clear?
ROBY
Evensimple.
Standardshootshimaviciouslook,then
continues:
STANDARD
Forstarters,let'smakesurethe
bridgeissafe.
Fausttakesthedeviceandturnsiton.Hescans
itaroundtheroom.
FAUST
It'sclear.

STANDARD
AllrightRobyandMelkoniswill
gowithFaust.HunterandIwill
makeupthesecondteam.
Theystartdolingouttheequipment.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
We'llallcarrycommunicators.We
wanttokeepinconstanttouch.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
MelkonisandRobycarrythenet,whileFaustwalks
directlybehindit,
carryingthetrackingdevice.Hecontinually
scansitfromsideto
side.
FAUST
Nothingyet...nothing...wecanmove
prettyfastaslongasthere's
nothingonthetracker.
INTERIOROTHERCORRIDORS
StandardandHuntermovesilentlyalong.Standard
isforcedtoservea
doublefunction,carryingoneedgeofthenetand
thetrackeraswell.
INTERIORCORRIDORS
Roby'steamismovingatafairlybriskpace,
when:
FAUST
Holdit.
Faust'strackerisBEEPING,andasmalllight
flashes.

FAUST(CONT'D)
I'vegotsomething.
Immediately,theygrowverytenseandstart
lookingaround.
ROBY
Where'sitcomingfrom?
FAUST
(peerscloselyattracker
andfrowns)
Machine'sscrewedup,Ican'ttell.
Needle'sspinningalloverthedial.
MELKONIS
Isitmalfunctioning?
Faustturnsthetrackeronitsside,andthe
needlestabilizes.
FAUST
No,justconfused.It'scomingfrom
belowus.
Theyalllookdownattheirfeet.
INTERIORMAINTENANCELEVEL
Roby,Melkonis,andFaustcomecarefullydowna
setofcrudemetal
stairs,intoadrab,functionalsectionofthe
ship.
Thecorridorsinthislevelarelitbyrowsof
barebulbsinthe
ceiling.Theeffectisuglyandconfining.
Theystopatthefootofthestairsandmoveinto
position,spreading

thenetacrossthecorridor.
ROBY
Okay.
FAUST
(lookingattrackerand
noddingdownthepassageway)
Thatway.
Theybegintowalkdownthepassageway,footsteps
clangingontheraw
metalflooring.Itisextremelydark.
ROBY
Whathappenedtothelights?
FAUST
Bulbsburnedout,nobodybotheredto
replace'em.
Theyswitchonthehelmetlights.
CAMERAFOLLOWSTHEMAROUNDACOUPLEOFTURNINGS,
ANDTHEN:
FAUST(CONT'D)
Holdit.
Theyallstopquickly,almoststumbling.
FAUST(CONT'D)
(whispering)
It'swithin4meters.
RobyandMelkonisheftthenet,eachkeepinghis
prodinhand.Faust,
prodinonehandandtrackerintheother,hasthe
unpleasantjobof
approachingthesourceofthesignal.

Hemoveswithgreatcare,inahalfcrouch,ready
toleapbackatany
second,prodextended,constantlyglancingatthe
tracker.
Thetrackingdeviceleadshimrightuptoasmall
hatchordoorinone
wall.
Behindhisplasticmask,sweatispouringdown
Faust'sfaceashesets
downthetrackerandreachesforthelittledoor.
Heraisestheprod,
graspsthedoorhandle,yanksitopen,andjams
theelectricprod
inside.
WITHANERVESHATTERINGSQUALL,ASMALLCREATURE
COMESFLYINGOUTOF
THECABINET,EYESGLARING,CLAWSFLASHING.
Instinctively,theythrowthenetoverit,but:
ROBY
(veryannoyed)
Oh,holdit!
Theyopenthenetandreleasethecreature.ITIS
THECAT.Hissingand
spitting,itscampersaway.
MELKONIS
We'remakingfoolsofourselves!
Roby'sCOMMUNICATORBEEPS.
ROBY
(intocommunicator)
Yes!
STANDARD

(over,filtered)
We'vegotituphere!It'strapped!
Getupherefast!
ROBY
Whereareyou?
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Foodstorageroom!
ROBY
We'recoming!
Theydashforthestairs.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Roby,Faust,andMelkonischargedownthehallways
untiltheyarrive
at:
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEFOODSTORAGEROOM
StandardandHunterarewaitingforthem,in
hysterics.
HUNTER
Wesawitinsideandslammedthe
dooronit!It'sintherenow!
Ontheothersideofthedoor,CRASHINGAND
BANGINGcanbeheard.
ROBY
What'sitdoing,havingaseizure?
STANDARD
Itstartedcrashingaroundright
afterwelockeditin.

ROBY
Nowwhat?
STANDARD
Iguessweopenthedoorandnetit.
HUNTER
Ihatetoopenthatdoor.
AgainthethingcanbeheardCRASHINGAROUND
INSIDE.
STANDARD
Itlookscompletelydifferentfrom
thefirstoneit'smorelikea
wormwithlegs...andtentacles.
FAUST
Wellwebetterdosomething.
HUNTER
Maybewedon'thaveto.It'strapped
inthere.Wecouldjustleaveitin
thereallthewaybacktoIrth.
STANDARD
(snaps)
Don'tbeanidiot.
FAUST
Iknowwhatwecando.Wecanpump
poisongasintotheroomandkill
it.Throughthoseventilatorslots
there.
Heindicatesarowofslotsinthebottomofthe
door.
ROBY
Hey,waitaminute!That'sallour
foodsuppliesinthere!Wecan't

pumppoisongasalloverthem!
STANDARD
Oncewekillthethingwewon'tneed
thefoodanymorewecango
straightintohypersleep.Also,it
soundslikethatthingisalready
doingaprettygoodjobonour
supplies;itmaybefoulingthem
all.
ROBY
Youwin.
FAUST
Somebodygimmeahand,I'llgetthe
stuff.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEFOODLOCKERLATER
CAMERAPULLSBACKTOREVEALTHATtheyare
fasteningalargefunnel
shapeddeviceovertheventilatorgrillatthe
bottomofthedoor.
Thisfunnelisattachedtoathickhose,which
runsbacktoalarge
metaltankwithpressuregauges.
STANDARD
Getthosemaskson.
Theypullongasmasks.
ROBY
Thisstuff'sdeadlyIhopewe
knowwhatwe'redoing.
STANDARD
Goahead,Jay.
Faustturnsonthemachine.Itbeginstothrobas

itpumpsthegas
throughthehoseandintotheroom.
Immediately,THECRASHINGNOISESRISEIN
CRESCENDO,ANDTHETHINGCAN
BEHEARDSCREECHINGANDSQUEALING.
Thenthesoundsstopaltogether.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Shutitoff.
Faustshutsoffthepump.
ROBY
Nowwhat?
STANDARD
Whatdoyouthink?Nowwegoin.
Standardstepstothedoorandopensit.Athick
cloudofgasbillows
out.
INTERIORFOODSTORAGEROOM
Theroomisthickwiththepoisongas.Themen
looklikeinsectsin
theirgasmasks.
Thefoodpackagesarerippedtoshreds,and
foodstuffsarescattered
alloverthefloor.
FAUST
Lookslikehehelpedhimself.
Carefully,themenpokethroughthegarbage,net
andprodsraised.
ThenHunterpoints.

HUNTER
Goddamnit.
Theyalllookwhereheispointing.Inthewall,
AVENTILATORGRILL
HASBEENRIPPEDOPEN.
HUNTER(CONT'D)
Itescaped.
Theymovetotheshreddedventilatorandshine
theirlightsintoit.
ROBY
Wheredoesthatgo?
FAUST
Allovertheship;we'llhaveto
checkthechartstoknowforsure.
STANDARD
Thenlet'sgoanddoit.
Theyheadforthedoor.
HUNTER
Havewegotanyfoodatallleftin
theship?
Theyslamthedoorshutandsealit.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Thescreensareshowingthemaschematicofthe
ship'ssystemof
ventilatorshafts.
FAUST
Thatonesectionoftheventilator
shafthasonlytwooutletsyou

notice?Thefoodstorageroomonone
end
HUNTER
Andthecoolingunitonthe
other.
STANDARD
Soit'strappedinbetweennowwe
havetodriveitout.
FAUST
Poisongas...
HUNTER
Wecan'tpumppoisongasdowninto
thecoolingunit!It'llfloodthe
wholeship!
STANDARD
TheonlyotherthingIcanthinkof
isforsomebodytocrawlinthere
andflushitout.
ROBY
Areyoucrazy?
STANDARD
Themanwouldneedprotection,
obviouslyaswellassomewayto
drivethethingbeforehim.
FAUST
Howaboutaflamethrower?That
wouldn'tpoisontheair.
MELKONIS
Sooneofusgoesintotheairshaft
anddrivesthethingalong
STANDARD

Whiletherestofuswaitdownin
thecoolingunitwiththenet.
HUNTER
Soundslikearoughone.
STANDARD
Gotabetteridea?
Huntershrugs.
ROBY
Sotheonlyquestionleftis:who
getstocrawldowntheairshaft?
STANDARD
Let'sbedemocratic.
Hetearsfivesmallsheetsofpaperfromapadon
hisconsole.Onone
ofthem,hedrawsalargeX.Thenhewadseach
pieceofpaperintoa
tinylittleball.
Herollsthepaperballsbetweenhishandsand
tossesthemonthetable
likedice.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Martin,takeone.
Robypicksoneupandunfoldsit.Itisblank.
Melkonispicksupanotherandopensit.Again
blank.
Faustpicksupaball,andStandardimmediately
pickshisownup.They
arebothblank.
TheyalllookatHunter,whohasnotyetunfolded

his.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Openitup,Cleave.
INTERIORFOODSTORAGEROOM
Hunterisstrappingonanoxygenmaskandaflame
thrower.Faustis
helpinghim.
Finally,Fausthandshimatrackingdevice.
FAUST
Well,uh...goodluck.Ihopeyou
won'tneedme,butifyoudo,I'm
here.
HUNTER
(grimly)
Right.
Hunterturnsandclimbsintotheventilator
opening,whichisjust
largeenoughtocrawlthrough.
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
Itiscompletelydarkintheshaft.Hunter
reachesupandturnsonhis
helmetlight.Thenheswitchesonhisradio.
HUNTER
Hey,doyouguysreadmedownthere?
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM
Standard,MelkonisandRobyarespreadingoutthe
net.Wehearthehum
ofhugecoolingplants,andtheirhairruffles.
Largeairshaftsrun

offindifferentdirections.
STANDARD
Yeah,we'regettingintoposition.
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
HUNTER
Okay,I'mstartingnow.
Hebeginstocrawlforwardintothenarrowmetal
tunnel.Heturnsa
corner.
Afteracouplemoretightturns,THETRACKER
SUDDENLYBEEPS.
Huntertwitches.Heraiseshisflamethrowerand
FIRESABLASTINTOTHE
DARKNESS.Itroarsloudlyintheconfinedtube,
andtheairinstantly
heatsup.Smokedriftsbackintohisface.He
beginstosweat.
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM
Robypointstoalargerectangularopeninginone
wall.
ROBY
(pointing)
There.That'swhereit'sgottocome
out.
Hethrowsaswitch,andalargemetalpanelrises
andsealsoffthe
opening.
ROBY(CONT'D)
That'saflipflopgatetochannel
theair,butwecanuseittotrap

thething.
STANDARD
Rightnowlet'skeepitclosed.
Melkonisissettingupalittleportableunitwith
ascreenonit.The
screenshowsasectionoftheship'sschematic.
MELKONIS
I'vegotHunter...andsomethingelse
aswell,infrontofhim.
STANDARD
Aretheyclose?
MELKONIS
They'reonthenextlevelup.
STANDARD
Let'sgetmovingwiththisnet.
Theyliftthenetup,holdingitinfrontofthe
opening.
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
Hunterisstillcrawlingonhandsandknees.Up
ahead,hecanseethat
theshafttakesanabruptdownwardturn.
Hecrawlstowardthedownangle,thenfires
anotherblastfromhis
flamethrower.
Thenhestartscrawlingdown,headfirst.
Whenheisnearlyupsidedown,theshafttakesyet
anotherturning
whichputshimintoanearlyimpossibleposition,
almostimmobilized.

ThenthetrackerstartsBEEPINGLIKECRAZY.
Frantically,hefumblestheflamethroweraround,
butthespaceis
narrowitisdifficultmaneuvering.Hehearsa
HISSINGCRYup
ahead,andclawsscramblingonmetal.
Thenhehastheweaponintoposition,andsprays
anotherlethal
flamingbursttowardthesound.
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM
Melkonisisstaringathisscreen.
MELKONIS
They'regettingprettyclosenow.
STANDARD
Allright,thenwhenitgetsto
theothersideofthedoor,yousing
out,thendropthedoor.Okay?
MELKONIS
Okay.
STANDARD
(toRoby)
AndyouandIwillbagit,andthen
we'lltakeittotheventralair
lock,gotit?
ROBY
(tensely)
Uhhuh.
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
Hunterishuddledagainstawalloftheshaft,

clutchingthe
flamethrower.
HUNTER
(whispers)
Hey,youguys.
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM
STANDARD
(intocommunicator)
Yes!
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
HUNTER
(whispering)
Idon'tthinkthisshaftgoesontoo
muchfarther...anywayit'sgetting
prettyhotinhere...
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM
STANDARD
(intocommunicator)
Okay,ourscreensshowyouasbeing
neartotheopening.We'llopenit
up,thenwe'llcueyouandyoucan
startblasting.That'lldriveit
rightout.Youdon'thavetogoany
farther.
INTERIORAIRSHAFT
HUNTER
Good.
Hereadiestheflamethrower.
INTERIORCLIMATECONTROLROOM

STANDARD
Okay,getready.
HeandRobyhefttheirrespectiveendsofthenet,
crouchedtocatch
thesmallcreaturewhenitdartsout.Melkonis
picksuphiselectric
prod.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Openthevent,Sandy.
Melkonisreachesoverandthrowstheswitch.The
metalgatedrops
down,openinguptheshaft.
ASIXFOOTMONSTROSITYSTANDSINTHEOPENING.
GHASTLYBEYOND
IMAGINATION,SQUAMOUS,COVEREDWITHTENTACLES,IT
HOPSDOWNLIKEAN
OVERSIZEDBIRDANDGRABSMELKONISINRAZORSHARP
TENTACLES.
Melkonisletsoutahorribleshriek,andthething
grabshisheadin
oneclawandTWISTSITOFFLIKEAMANPULLINGTHE
HEADOFFACHICKEN,
THENTHROWSITTOTHEFLOORWITHANAUDIBLECLUNK.
CLUTCHINGMELKONIS'BODYTIGHTLYAGAINSTITSELF,
ITTURNSANDBOUNDS
DOWNTHEHALL.MELKONIS'HEADLESSBODYISSTILL
KICKINGANDSTRUGGLING
ASTHEMONSTERLEAPSHEADFIRSTINTOANOTHERAIR
SHAFT.
StandardandRobyareleftstandinginshock.
Afteramoment,Hunter
climbsoutoftheshaft.
HUNTER

Whathappened?Whereisit?
Theybreakfromtheirparalysis,andruntoward
theopeningthe
creaturejustleapedinto.Itisanothershaft,
goingdowninto
darkness.
STANDARD
(awed)
Howdiditgetsobig?
ROBY
Byeatingourfoodsupplies.
HUNTER
Where'sMelkonis?
INTERIORFOODSTORAGEROOM
Faustisstillwaiting.
FAUST
(intohiscommunicator)
Hey,areyouguysstillthere?
What'sgoingon?
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
Meetusonthebridge.Becareful
it'shugenow.
FAUST
Right.
Faustletshimselfoutofthefoodstorageroom
andcarefullylocks
thedoorbehindhim.
INTERIORCORRIDORS

Standard,RobyandHunterarerapidlyascending
towardthebridge.
HUNTER
Youmeanhisbodywasstillkicking
whenitranoffwithhim?
ROBY
Itwashorriblehorrible.Likea
chicken.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Standard,RobyandHunterenteranddropinto
chairs.Faustfollows
shortly.Theyalllookblank,stunned.
FAUST
Whathappened?Where'sSandy?
ROBY
Dead.
FAUST
Dead!
ROBY
It'smonstrousitgrew,likesome
horribletapeworm.Wewere
completelyunprepared.
FAUST
It'sstillintheship?
STANDARD
We'dbettersealoffthelower
maintenancelevel;atleasttrapit
there.
(throwsaswitch;
circuitrylightsup)

HUNTER
Atleastitcan'tgetupherenow.
ROBY
Twodown,fourtogo.
STANDARD
(angrily)
What'sthatsupposedtomean?
ROBY
Nothing.
HUNTER
Listen,itsuredidn'tlikethis
flamethrower.
STANDARD
That'srightwecan'tkilliton
theship,butwecanatleastkeep
itatbayandmaybedriveitinto
theairlock.
HUNTER
Thingis,I'maboutoutoffuel.
FAUST
There'ssomemorecombustiblefuel
downinthestoragelockersnextto
thelounge.
(rises)
I'llgogetit.
STANDARD
No,Idon'twantusseparated.
FAUST
Youjustsealeditoff;itcan'tget
tothatsection.
ROBY

Don'tcountonit.
HUNTER
Wesureneedthisflamethrower.
STANDARD
Allright...butdonotgobelow
decks.
FAUST
Right.
(headsforthedoor)
STANDARD
Andberightback.
Faustexits.
ROBY
Ithinkit'stimewetookahard
lookatthoseheiroglyphs.
Robybeginstopunchbuttons;thephotographsof
theheiroglyphics
appearonsomeofthescreens.
ROBY(CONT'D)
Canyoumakeoutanypatterninall
that?
STANDARD
(baffled)
Well...yes...there'sapattern...but
it'smeaninglesstome.
ROBY
Iknowitlookslikeasenseless
jumble,butifyoulookclosely,
therearerecognizableforms.
HUNTER

Recognizable!Inthat?
ROBY
Insymbolicform...verystylized...
butifyoustareatit,youcansee
someofthedifferentcreatures
we'vebeendealingwith.
HUNTER
Well...Isupposethatstarshaped
thingcouldbetheparasitethatgot
onBroussard.Isthatwhatyoumean?
ROBY
Andrightnexttoit,thatoval
designwiththemarkingsit'sa
deadringerforthesporecasings.
STANDARD
Thatnextthingtheresixlegs,
tentaclesthat'sthethingwesaw
inthefoodlocker.
ROBY
Sothenextstepshouldbe
HUNTER
Thebigone.Andthereitis.
Outofmeaninglessgeometricsymbolsonawall,it
hasbecomepossible
torecognizeeachstageinthealien'slifecycle.
ROBY
Thisisallthesamecreature.We're
seeingthedifferentstagesinits
lifecycle.
STANDARD
Thenthattomb...musthavebeensome
kindoffertilitytemple...where

theystoredtheireggs,andmaybe
heldmatingrituals...
HUNTER
...AndBroussardgotcaughtintheir
reproductivecycle.
ROBY
Youwillnotice,though,thatthere
arenomorephases.Onlyfourforms
areshown.Afterthatthepattern
repeats.
STANDARD
Whichpresumablymeans...
ROBY
...Moresporescoming.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK
Faustquicklyturnsacoupleofcornersandthen
comestoanabrupt
haltwhenhenoticesthataDOORLEADINGTOTHE
LOWERDECKSHASBEEN
WRENCHEDOFFITSHINGES.
Hehesitates,uncertainwhattodo,thenthereis
ASOUNDFROMTHE
DIRECTIONOFTHEAIRLOCK...ANDTHEINNERLOCK
DOORISOPEN.
Fausthesitatesandpeersintothelock.
INTERIORAIRLOCK
Thecreatureissquattinginthemiddleofthe
floor,gnawingona
bloodythighbone.ItdoesnotseeFaust.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK

Stealthfully,droppingbackintotheshadows,
Faustpressesthewall
intercomandspeaksintoit.
FAUST
(whispering)
It'sinthelockblowthemain
lock.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Standard,RobyandHunterarestaringatthe
pictures.Thecallfrom
FaustcatchesStandardinmidsentence.
STANDARD
(intointercom)
What?
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK
FAUST
(whispering)
It'sinthemainairlock.Blowthe
lock.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Standardhesitates,startstoframeareply
thenchangeshismind
andrunstohisconsoleandTHROWSTHESWITCH.
INTERIORAIRLOCK
Withamechanicalwhine,theinnerdoorstartsto
close.Thecreature
hearsitandINSTANTANEOUSLYLEAPSOUTOFTHE
LOCK.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK

Thecreaturecomesflyingoutofthelockand
DEALSFAUSTABACK
HANDEDBLOW,KNOCKINGHIMACROSSTHETHRESHOLDOF
THEAIRLOCKDOOR.
FAUSTSCREAMSINMORTALAGONYASTHEINNERDOOR
CLOSESONHISWAIST,
crushinghimtoathicknessofaboutthreeinches.
Onthewall,agreenlightgoeson:
"INNERDOORCLOSED"
INTERIORAIRLOCK
Despitethefactthattheinnerdoorisstillheld
openafewinches
byFaust'ssquashedbody,THEOUTERDOORBEGINSTO
SLIDEOPEN.
IMMEDIATELY,THEREISATREMENDOUSSCREAMOF
ESCAPINGAIR.
EXTERIORSHIPOUTERSPACE
Indeadsilence,athickspurtofsteamcomesout
oftheopenairlock
door.Thisistheship'satmospherefreezingas
itsquirtsoutinto
thevacuumunderpressure.
INTERIORBRIDGE
INSTANTLY,ATREMENDOUSWINDSTORMSTARTSUPasthe
ship'sairis
suckedouttowardthelock.
ASIRENBEGINSTOSOUND,ANDAREDLIGHTFLASHES:
"CRITICALDEPRESSURIZATION"

Afteramomentofpanicandconfusion,Robybolts
outofthecontrol
room.
INTERIORCORRIDORS
Loosepapersandarticlesoffurniturehurtle
throughthepassageways,
asRobyhurriestowardtherock,partlyrunning,
partlysuckedalong
bytheaircurrent.
EXTERIORSHIPOUTERSPACE
Ahugeplumeofsteamgrowsfromthesideofthe
ship,withallkinds
oftinylooseparticlestumblingoutinit.
INTERIORCORRIDORS
Whippedbythehurricanewind,Robycrashestoa
momentaryhalt
againstawall.Ashehesitatesthere,tryingto
regainhisbalance,
HESEESTHECREATURESCURRYINGAWAYDOWNANOTHER
CORRIDOR.
Ignoringthemonster,hepushesofffromthewall
andstartsrunning
again.
INTERIORCORRIDOROUTSIDEAIRLOCK
Robystopshimselfbygrabbingtheedgeofa
doorwayattheendofthe
halldownfromtheairlock.Here,thewindis
reallyterrifichis
clothesflaponhisbodyandallkindsofthings
flybythesound
isaDEAFENINGWHISTLE.

Instantly,Robystartsturningalargewheel,
whichbeginstoclosea
slidinghatchdoor,closingofftheairlock
corridor.Asthehatch
closes,THECURRENTDECREASES,THENISFINALLYCUT
OFFASHESEALSIT.
Donein,hecollapsestothefloor.
Thenheclutcheshisthroatandbeginstogaspfor
breath.Becauseof
thethinnessoftheair,THESOUNDLEVELINTHE
SHIPISVERYODD
THIN,DISTANT,ALMOSTINAUDIBLE.Robyisgasping
loudly,butwecan
barelyhearhim;andhisfootstepsboomthinly
likeamanwalking
underwater.
INTERIORCORRIDORS
Clutchinghisthroat,hecomesacrosstheothers
Standardand
Hunterandtheyareallchoking,clawingat
theirthroats,gasping
likefishesoutofwater.Theyaresweating
heavilyandtheirnoses
bleed.
Theytrytospeaktoeachother,butthesoundis
somuffledwecan
onlyheardistantcroaks.
Standardmumblessomethingandstumblesdownthe
hall.Theothers
followhim.
INTERIORMAINAIRTANKROOM
ThedoorburstsopenandStandardreelsin,his
footstepspinging

thinlyonthemetalflooring.Weseeseveralrows
oflargeoxygen
tanks,allconnectedbyhosestoafewpetcocks.
Standardstaggerstotheseandstartstwistingthe
handles,opening
them.THEREISAPIERCINGHISSOFESCAPINGAIR,
ANDTHESOUNDLEVEL
GRADUALLYRETURNSTONORMALasStandardandthe
otherssinktothe
floor,gaspingintheoxygengratefully.
Finallytheyhaverecoveredenoughtobeableto
situp.
ROBY
Howmuchoxygendidwelose?
Standardrisesunsteadilyandpeersatthegauges.
STANDARD
We'vegotsixhoursleft.
HUNTER
(groans)
OhmyGod.
STANDARD
Doesanybodyknowwhathappened?
ROBY
Isawit.Faustgothimselfjammed
intheairlockdoor.Hisbodyheld
itopen.
STANDARD
Canwegettohim?
ROBY
No,Ihadtosealoffawhole
section.We'dlosetoomuchofour

remainingairifweopenedthe
connectingdoor.
INTERIORAIRLOCK
Faust'sbody,crushedintheinnerdoor,floats
weightlesslyinthe
vacuum.Hisnoseandmoutharecrustedwithhuge
gobsofdriedblood.
INTERIORBRIDGE
ThethreesurvivorsStandard,RobyandHunter
slumpintochairs.
Thecatemergesfromahidingplace,yowlingwith
fear.
ROBY
(pickingupthecat)
Poorkitty;pusspusspuss.
STANDARD
Atleastwe'reridofthedamn
monster.Itmusthavebeenthefirst
thingsuckedoutoftheship.
ROBY
Nosuchluck.Isawitrunningdown
oneofthecorridors.
HUNTER
(groans)
Ohno!Wecan'tfightthisthing!
There'sonlysixhoursofairleft
we'redeadmen!
STANDARD
Idon'tbuythat.There'sstilltime
todestroyitandgetourselvesin
thefreezers.

HUNTER
How?
STANDARD
It'stimefordrasticremedies.
ROBY
Itwastimeforthatacoupledays
ago.
STANDARD
Thatkindofremarkispointless.
NowcomeonIwanttohearevery
suggestionyoucancomeupwith,no
matterhowwild.
HUNTER
Wecan'tkillitonboard.It'shuge
nowandmusthavetremendousamounts
ofthatacidinitsbody.
ROBY
I'vegotanidea,butyou'renot
goingtolikeit.
STANDARD
Let'shearit.
ROBY
Okay.Firstweshutdownallthe
coolingsystemsonthestardrive
engines.
STANDARD
That'llblowtheshipup.
ROBY
Right...butit'lltakeafewminutes
fortheenginestooverheatandmelt
downthecore.Inthemeantime,we

getinthelifeboatandleavethe
ship.
HUNTER
Blowtheshipup?
ROBY
Andthecreaturewithit.Wecan
makeitbacktoIrthinthe
lifeboat.
STANDARD
Butthelifeboatcan'taccelerateto
lightspeed.
ROBY
Doesn'tmatterwe'realreadyat
lightspeed.Andwhenwegetbackto
theColonies,they'llpickusupin
thenetwork.
HUNTER
Whataboutallthemineralsand
elementsinthecargohold?That's
theonlyreasonwecameouthere.
We'dhavetoabandonthemall.We'd
bebroke.
ROBY
Ourlivesaremoreimportant.
Anyway,wecantakeasmallamount
ofthemostvaluablestuffwithus
onthelifeboat.
STANDARD
No,itwon'tworkandIjust
realizedwhy.There'sonlyone
hypersleepfreezeronthelifeboat.
Onlyoneofuscouldsurvive.
ROBY

Yeah...Iforgot.
STANDARD
Buttheidea'sgood,ifwecould
justturnitaroundsomehow.
Theythink.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
Ifwecouldjustgetthecreature
intothelifeboat,wecouldlaunch
itintospaceandblowitup.
HUNTER
Good!That'sgood!
STANDARD
Wecanloadthelifeboatupwith
explosivesandtriggerthem
remotely,oncethelifeboatisin
space.
ROBY
Ithinkit'sgoingtobealmost
impossibletodriveitupintothe
lifeboat.
HUNTER
Wecanusetheflamethrower.
ROBY
It'snotgoingtowork.
STANDARD
Youcan'tsaythat;Ithinkit'sa
goodplan.
HUNTER
Theflamethrowerneedsmorefuel.
STANDARD

Right.We'vegotalotto
accomplish.Let'sgetmoving.
INTERIORMINING&CARGOBAY
Thethreemencomedownstepsintothisrather
dirtyareaoftheship.
Alotoftoolsandlargeitemsofmachineryare
storedaround.
LONGRACKSOFSHELVESARESTOCKEDWITHMETAL
CONTAINERSOFVARIOUS
SHAPES.Eachcontaineriswellpackedand
labelled.
HUNTER
Whichexplosiveshouldweuse?
STANDARD
I'dsuggesttheN13sticks.They're
portable,andtheycanberadio
detonated.
Hunterbeginstounlockalockeranddrawout
long,redstickslike
broomhandles,withtinyprintingonthem.
Meanwhile,ROBYISSTARINGATTHEROWSOFMETAL
CANNISTERS.Hetouches
oneofthem.
ROBY
Youknow,it'sfunnythisstuff
wewenttosomuchtroubletodigup
thistreasure,thepaydirt
it'llmakeitbacktoIrthjustfine
evenifwe'renotwithit.
STANDARD
Here,carrythese.

Huntertakesanarmloadoftheredbroomsticks,
andstumbles.
ROBY
(grabbingathim)
Heywatchit!
STANDARD
(grinning)
It'sstable;itdoesn'thurttodrop
it.
Theybegintocarrytheexplosivesupthesteps.
INTERIORCORRIDOR
Thethreemenarecarryingtheirequipmentalong
thehallway,when
Hunter'strackersuddenlyBEEPS.
HUNTER
Holdit!
Theyallstop.ThetrackerBEEPSAGAIN.Hunter
putsdownhisstuffand
pointsthetrackeraround.
HUNTER(CONT'D)
(noddingupsomesteps)
Upthere.
Theyalllookateachother.Standardputsdown
hisbundleandpicks
uptheflamethrower.
ROBY
Sowhatdowedo?Doweignoreit
andfinishloadingtheexplosives
intotheboatordoweflushit
outnow?

STANDARD
Now.Ifwecangetitintotheboat,
wewon'thavetoblowitupwe
canjustejectitintospace.
Standardheftstheflamethrowerandstartsupthe
steps.
INTERIORDIMSTAIRWELL
Standard'sfaceistenseasheadvancesupthe
circularsteps.
Suddenly,aMETALLICTAPPINGSOUNDisheard.He
freezes.
Thenhecontinuesup.
EXTERIORDORSALOBSERVATIONDOMEVIEWOFOUTER
SPACE
Theviewofinterstellarspaceisspectacular.As
Standardcomesup
thesteps,theMETALLICTAPPINGisheardagain.
Standardlooksaround.Thenheseesit
BROUSSARD'SCORPSEFLOATS
OUTSIDETHEGLASSOFTHEDOME.Itistangledin
somerigging,andthe
movementofthemachinerycausesthecadaverto
tapontheglass
periodically.
STANDARD
(shouts)
Youcancomeup!It'ssafe!
Theotherscomeupthesteps.
ROBY
(spyingthecorpse)
OhJesus

Broussard'scorpseisblueandbloatedwherethe
wrappingshavetorn
loose.Bumpingagainsttheglass,helookslike
hewantstocomein.
STANDARD
Theship'sgravitationalattraction
musthavedrawnhimback.
HUNTER
(horrified)
Shouldwegooutsideandbringhim
in?
STANDARD
No...theriskistoogreat.Perhaps
afterwe'vedestroyedthething.
Glancingback,themenretreatfromthe
observationdome.Broussard
remainsagainsttheglass,peeringinwithdead
eyes.
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP
Thefloorslopesupwardslightlyhereasthe
corridorfunnelsinand
endsintheentrancetoanarrowpassagewayor
crawlway.This
passagewayconnectsthenoseoftheshipwiththe
lifeboat.
Thethreemencomeuptotheentrancetothe
passageway,carryingthe
equipment.Theyduckinandwalktheshort
distancetothelifeboat.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thepassagewayconnectsintotherearofthe

lifeboat.Itisan
extremelysimple,strippeddownvehicle;eventhe
metalstrutsand
beamsareexposed.Asinglehypersleepfreezer
takesupafairamount
offloorspace.Itisanescapecraft,nothing
more.
STANDARD
(pointing)
Alongthebaseofthewallsthere.
Theybegintostacktheredbroomsticksagainst
thebaseofthewalls
onbothsidesofthelifeboat,andtowirethem
intopositiontightly.
HUNTER
Thisshoulddoit.
ROBY
Ishouldhopeso!Andwe'dbetter
makesureit'sprettyfarfromthe
shipwhenweblowit.
STANDARD
Itwillbe.
HUNTER
(surveysthecraftuneasily)
Whatwereallyneedissomeredmeat
inhereforbait.
ROBY
Well,ifwehadsome,I'deatit.
I'mstartingtogethungry.
Bythistime,theyareexiting.
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP

STANDARD
Well...nowwehavetoherdthat
thinguphere.
HUNTER
(nervously)
Whoever'sdoingtheherdingisgonna
havetheirhandsprettyfull.I
thinksomebodyshouldstaybythe
lifeboattoslamthedooronthe
thingonceit'sinside,andtoserve
as...as...
(searchesforaword)
ROBY
Isn't"bait"thewordyouused?
HUNTER
Heylook,somebodyhastohavehis
handsfreetolockthecreaturein
thelifeboat!
STANDARD
Yes,andmaybelaunchtheboatand
blowittoo...iftheothersare
injured.
ROBY
Whogetstheprivilege?
INSERT:THREECRUMPLEDPIECESOFPAPER.Three
handspickthemup.
ANGLEONROBY.Heunfoldshispaper,turnsitso
theotherscansee
it.IthasabigXonit.
ANOTHERANGLESHORTLYLATER.Hunterisshowing
Robyasmalldevice
likeatransistorradio.

HUNTER
Justkeepyourfingeroffthebutton
tillshe'swayawayfromtheship,
that'sall.
ROBY
Isitarmed?
HUNTER
Ifyoupressthebuttonrightnow,
itwillblowthewholenoseofthe
shipoff.
ROBY
Thanksforthethought.
(putsdetonatorinhis
breastpocket)
STANDARD
Allright,Martin,we'llbeintouch
withyouonthecommunicator.
ROBY
Andyou'llletmeknowwhenyou've
gotitcomingthisway...
STANDARD
Andyoustandasidewhilewedrive
itin,thenshutthehatch,launch
theboat,and
ROBY
Kablooey.
Hunter'sfacetwitchesnervouslyatthis.
STANDARD
Comeon;wehaven'tmuchtime,air
isafactor.
Theyleavethenoseoftheship,Standardcarrying

theflamethrower,
Hunterthetracker.
Robysettleshimselfatthecontrols,runsthrough
thembrieflyto
familiarizehimself.Usingaswitch,heopensand
closesthelifeboat
dooracoupleoftimes.Itslamsopenandshut
quiterapidly.
Hepressesafewbuttonsandsetsthelaunch
buttonto"READY."
ThenSTANDARD'SVOICEcomesfromthecommunicator:
STANDARD
(over,filtered)
We'vegotsomethingonthe
tracker...gottobeit,it's
toobigforthecat.
ThisisaVERYSPOOKYSCENE,ROBYALONEBYTHE
LIFEBOAT,LISTENINGTO
THEVOICESONTHECOMMUNICATOR.
HUNTER
(over,filtered)
It'scomingfromdownthere.
Robyhearsvarioustinnysoundeffects,rustlings,
clunkings,
breathing,etc.
INTERIORCORRIDORINSHIP
Standardhastheflamethrowerattheready,and
Hunterisstaringat
thetracker.
HUNTER
Itmusthavestoppedmoving.I'mnot

gettinganything.
STANDARD
Letmegofirst;youstaybehindme.
Carefully,Standardadvancesdownthecorridor.
ThenTHECREATUREPOPS
OUTOFHIDINGBEHINDHUNTER,ANDPICKSHIMUP.
HUNTERSCREAMS.
Standardwhirlsaround,seesthethingclutching
Hunter.Itholdshim
offtooneside,asthoughtokeepStandardfrom
gettingathim.
Standarddoesn'tknowwhattodo.
HUNTER
Theflamethrower!
STANDARD
Ican't,theacidwillpourout!
AtthatmomentthecreatureTAKESABITEOUTOF
HUNTER,WHOSCREAMSIN
MORTALAGONY.
Standardcantakeitnolonger;heraisesthe
flamethrowerandfires
BUTTHECREATURESWINGSHUNTERAROUNDASA
SHIELDANDHUNTER
CATCHESTHEFULLBLASTOFTHEFLAME.
Standardinstantlystopsfiring,butnowHunteris
akickingballof
flame,heldoutatarm'slengthbythemonster.
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP
Robyislisteningtoallthisonthecommunicator.

Hecanhearthe
shrieksandcrashingnoises.
Thenthecommunicatorgoesdead,andallhehears
isarushofstatic.
ROBY
Hello?Standard?Hunter?
Hewaitsquiteawhileforaresponse,butwecan
seefromhis
expressionthatheexpectsnone.
Hedropshisfaceintohishands.Whenhelifts
hisheadagain,hehas
managedtosummonacertainamountofresolve.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Robywalksalongwatchingthetracker,carryinga
pistolintheother
hand.HecomesacrossStandard'sflamethrower,
lyingonthefloor.He
picksitup,substitutingitforthepistol.
Thenhecontinuestofollowthetracker;ittakes
himdownthesteps
intothemaintenancelevel.
INTERIORMAINTENANCELEVEL
Robyfollowsthedeviceforashortdistanceuntil
itindicatesthat
thesourceofthesignalisdirectlyunderhis
feet.Lookingdown,he
seesthatheisstandingonasquaremetalplate.
Gettingdownonhishandsandknees,heremoves
theheavyplate,
revealingablackopeningwithaladdergoing
down.

Substitutingthetrackerforaflashlight,but
stillcarryingthe
flamethrower,Robystartsdowntheladder.
INTERIORDARKSTORAGEROOM
Shiningthelightaroundintothedarkness,Roby
descendsthemetal
laddertothefloor.
THEPLACEISAHORRIBLELAIR,FULLOFBONES,HAIR,
SHREDSOFFLESH,
PIECESOFCLOTHING,ANDSHOES.
SomethingmovesinthedarknessRobyturnshis
lightonit.
HANGINGFROMTHECEILINGISAHUGECOCOON.It
appearstobewovenfrom
somefine,white,silklikematerial,anditis
slowlyundulating.
Flamethrowerready,Robyapproachesthecocoon.
Ashegetsclose
enough,heseesthatthecocoonissemi
transparentandTHEBODYOF
STANDARDISINSIDEIT.
Unexpectedly,Standard'seyesopen,andfocuson
Robywhojumps
violently.
STANDARD
(afeeblewhisper)
Killme...
ROBY
(sickened)
Whatdiditdotoyou?

STANDARD
(moveshisheadslightly)
Look...
RobyturnshislightwhereStandardindicates.
Anothercocoondangles
fromtheceiling,butthisonelooksalittle
different.Itissmaller
anddarker,withahardershell.Infact,it
looksalmostEXACTLYLIKE
THESPORESINTHETOMB.
STANDARD(CONT'D)
(whispering)
ThatwasMelkonis...itateHunter...
ROBY
(lookingaroundforatool)
I'llgetyououtofthere.
STANDARD
No...don't...
ROBY
ButIcansaveyougetyoutothe
Autodoc!
STANDARD
Nogood...it'seatentoomuchof
me...
ROBY
(inhorror)
WhatcanIdo?
STANDARD
Killme...
Robystaresathiminhorror,thenbendsdownand
takesacloserlook
athim.REACTING,hestraightensbackup,raises

theflamethrower,and
spraysamoltenblast.Whentheentireroomisin
flames,heturnsand
scramblesbackuptheladder.
INTERIORMAINTENANCELEVEL
Robydropstohiskneesandgaspsforbreath,
tryingnottothrowup.
Atlength,heregainscontrolofhimself.
EXTERIOROUTERSPACEATLIGHTSPEED
TheSNARKappearstohangmotionless,withplanets
andstarclusters
rollingpastintheinfinitedistance.
INTERIORBRIDGE
Robyisputtingthecatintoametal,vacuum
sealedcatbox,witha
littleoxygentankonit.
ROBY
Kittygobyebye.
Hesealsthecatbox,thenturnsontheoxygen.
Thereisafainthiss
ofpressurizedair.Wildeyed,thecatpeersout
ofalittlewindowin
front.ItYOWLS.
Hepicksupthepressurizedcatboxandleavesthe
bridge.
INTERIORMINING&CARGOBAY
Carryingthecatboxandashoulderbag(andof
coursethe
flamethrower),Robygoesquicklytothenearest
rankofmetal

cannisters.
ROBY
(readingfromlabels)
What'llitbe,Kitty?Herehow
aboutsomeTacitum35,tenkilosof
it.This'llbuyusanislandonsome
niceplanet.
Puttingtheinvaluablecannisterintotheshoulder
bag,hehurries
backupthesteps.
INTERIORENGINEROOM
Catboxinonehand,flamethrowerintheother,
Robyenterstheengine
room,containingthemassivestardriveengines.
Heputsdownhisparcelsandapproachesthemain
controlboardforthe
engines.Studyingtheinstructions,hebeginsto
closeswitches,one
byone.
ASIRENBEGINSTOHONKTHROUGHOUTTHESHIP.
COMPUTER
Attention!Thecoolingunitsforthe
stardriveenginesarenot
functioning!Engineswilloverload
in4minutes,50seconds!Attention!
FinallyRobyclosesthelastswitch.Shakingwith
nervousness,he
hurriedlypicksupcatbox,bagandflamethrower
andhurriesoutofthe
engineroom.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP

Robyhurrieson,listeningtothesiren.
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswilloverheatand
maincorewillmeltin4minutes,30
seconds!
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP
Robycomeshustlinguptowherethelifeboatis
berthed.Handsfull,
hestartstoentertheconnectingpassageway.
INTERIORCONNECTINGPASSAGEWAY
THECREATUREISWAITINGATTHEOTHERENDOFTHE
PASSAGEWAY,INSIDETHE
LIFEBOAT.
ItHISSESandstartstowardhim.
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP
Robyleapsoutofthepassageway,boundstothe
controls,andthrows
theswitch.ThehatchdoorSLAMSSHUT,locking
thethinginthe
lifeboat.
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswilloverloadin
4minutes!
Indecisive,Robystaresatthelifeboat"LAUNCH"
button.Thethingcan
beheardfumblingaroundinthepassageway.
Finally,heturnsandboltsbacktowardtheengine
room.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP

Likeamaniac,Robyrunsthroughtheship,level
afterlevel,pounding
downstairwells,hisfootstepsclanging
metallicallythroughoutthe
shipashesprintsfortheengineroom.
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswilloverloadin
3minutes,30seconds!
INTERIORENGINEROOM
ThedoorcrashesopenandRobycomesrunningin.
Theroomisfullof
smokeandtheenginesarewhiningdangerously.It
isextremelyhotin
theroom;Robyinstantlybreaksoutinsweat.
Herunstocontrolsandbeginsthrowingbackon
thecoolingunit
switches.
StillTHESIRENCONTINUES.
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswilloverloadin
3minutes!
Robypushesabuttonandspeaksintoit.
ROBY
Computer!I'veturnedallthe
coolingunitsbackon!What'swrong?
COMPUTER
Thereactionhasproceededtoofar.
Thecorehasbeguntomelt.Engines
willoverloadin2minutes,35
seconds.

AlookofterrorcomesontoRoby'sface.Heturns
andrunsfromthe
engineroom.
INTERIORCORRIDORSINSHIP
Again,Robymustrunthroughallthelevelsofthe
ship,thistime
upthestairs,exhausted,stumbling,whilethe
computercountsdown:
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswilloverloadin
2minutes!
INTERIORNOSEOFSHIP
Reeling,gaspingforbreath,Robystaggersinto
thevestibulewhere
thelifeboatisberthed.Hegrabsthe
flamethrowerandturnsittoward
thepassageway.
ItisthenherealizesthatTHELIFEBOATDOORIS
OPENAGAIN.
Quickly,heglancesaroundtoseeifthecreature
mightbebehindhim.
Thenheadvancesonthepassageway.
INTERIORPASSAGEWAY
Drippingwithsweat,hisfaceamaskoffear,Roby
entersthe
passageway,flamethrowergrippedtightlyinhis
hands.Heisgoadedon
bythesirenandthecomputer:
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswillexplodein
90seconds!

Hemakesitallthewaytotheendofthe
passageway,thenstickshis
headintothelifeboat.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
HISPOINTOFVIEWashequicklyscansthe
lifeboat,revealsthatitis
EMPTY.
INTERIORPASSAGEWAY
Immediately,heturnsanddashesbacktothehead
ofthepassageway.
Therehegrabsthecatboxandbag,thenrunsback
intothelifeboat.
COMPUTER
Attention!Engineswillexplodein
60seconds!
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Hecomesinontherun,hurlsthecatboxandbag
towardthefront,and
doesadiveoverthebackofthecontrolchair.
Heisnosoonerinthe
seatthanhehitsthe"LAUNCH"button.
EXTERIORNOSEOFSHIPOUTERSPACE
Theretainerclipsdropaway,andwithablastof
ramjets,THE
LIFEBOATISLAUNCHEDAWAYFROMTHE"SNARK."
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Robyisfranticallystrappinghimselfin,asthe
lifeboataccelerates
awayfromthemothership.

EXTERIORSPACE
Thetinypodofthelifeboatacceleratesawayfrom
thelargerbulkof
theSNARK.Thesceneisstrangelysereneforsuch
deadly
circumstances.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Robyfinishesstrappinghimselfin,thenhe
reachesandgrabsthe
catbox.ThecatisYOWLING.Robyhugstheboxto
hischestandhunches
hisheaddownoverit.
EXTERIORSPACE
TheSNARKdriftseverfartherawayasthelifeboat
leavesitbehind,
untilitisbarelyapointoflight.
THENITBLOWSUP.
ANEXPANDINGORANGEFIREBALLWITHPIECESOFMETAL
FLYINGINALL
DIRECTIONS.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Theshockwavehitstheescapecraft,joltingit
andrattling
everythinginside.Thenallisquiet.
Robyunhookshimselffromhisstraps,rises,and
goestothebackof
thelifeboat.Hestaresoutthroughtheporthole.
Hisfaceisbathed
inorangelight.

EXTERIORSPACE
Whatheseesistheboilingfireball,nowfading
andfizzlingaway
intonothingness,andacoupleofpiecesofdebris
floatingpast.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Roby'sexpressionismournfulashewatchesthe
finalobliterationof
hisshipandfriends.
BEHINDHIM,THECREATUREEMERGESFROMSOMEHIDING
PLACEITHASBEEN
INSIDETHELIFEBOATALLALONG.
ThecatSCREECHES.
Robywhirls,andfindshimselffacingthething
acrossthelengthof
theboat.Itsquats,thenpullsoutitstrophy
aman'sarm.
Itbeginstoeatthearm,watchingRoby.
Hisfirstthoughtisfortheflamethrower
unfortunately,itlieson
thefloorrightnexttothemonster.Nexthe
glancesaroundforany
placetohide.Hiseyefallsonatinylocker
containingaspacesuit,
withthedoorstandingopen.
Hebeginstoedgetowardthelocker.Thecreature
rises.Hefreezes.
Itthrowsdownthearm.Withthat,Robydivesfor
theopenlocker
door,hurlshimselfinside,andslamsthedoor
shut.

INTERIORSPACESUITLOCKER
Thereisaclearglasspanelinthedoor,andthe
thingputsitsface
rightuptotheglass,peeringinatRoby.The
lockerissosmallthat
Roby'sfaceisonlyinchesawayfromthe
creature's.Thesightis
disgusting.Itturnsitshead,lookingathimin
curiosity.
ThentheMOANINGOFTHECATdistractsit.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thecreaturewaddlesovertowherethepressurized
catboxsits.It
bendsdownandpeersinside.TheCATYOWLS
LOUDER.
Itpicksupthecatboxinitstentacles.
INTERIORSPACESUITLOCKER
Tryingtodistractthemonsterawayfromthecat,
RobyTAPSONTHE
GLASS.
Butthemonsterreactssofastthatitsfaceis
instantlybackatthe
glass,startlingthehelloutofRoby.
Gettingnomoreinterferencefromhim,thething
returnstothe
catbox.
Robylooksaround.Hespiesthespacesuit.
Quickly,hebeginstopull
iton.

INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thecreaturepicksthecatboxupinitstentacles
andshakesittosee
ifthereisanythinginside.ThecatMOANS.
INTERIORSPACESUITLOCKER
Robyishalfwayintothepressuresuit.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thecreaturethrowsthecatboxdown.Itclangs,
andbounces.Thething
picksitupagainandhammersitagainstthewall.
Thenitjamsit
intoacreviceinthewall.
Withonetentacle,itbeginstopoundthesealed
catboxintothe
crevice.Thecathasgonebeyondhysterics.
INTERIORSPACESUITLOCKER
Robypullsonthehelmet,latchesitintoplace,
thenturnsonthe
oxygen.Withahiss,thesuitfillsitself.
Inarackonthewallisalongmetalrodwitha
bluntrubbertip.
Robypeelstherubberoff,revealingasharpsteel
point.
Againherapsontheglass.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thecreatureturns.Itfacesthelocker,peersat
him.
INTERIORSPACESUITLOCKER

ROBY
Tryalittleofthis,youfucking
bastard.
HEKICKSTHEDOOROPEN.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Thecreaturerises,butjustintimetocatchTHE
STEELSHAFTRIGHT
THROUGHITSMIDRIFF.
ITMAKESAHORRIBLENOISEANDCLUTCHESATTHE
SPUR.Theyellowacid
beginstoflowfromthewound.
Beforetheacidcantouchthefloor,Robyreaches
backandpullsa
switchBLOWINGTHEREARHATCH.
Inapoof,thetinyatmosphereinthelifeboatis
suckedoutinto
spaceandthebleedingcreaturealongwithit.
Robygrabsasteel
struttokeepfrombeingsuckedout,butasthe
creaturepasseshimIT
WRAPSTHEENDOFATENTACLEAROUNDHISANKLE.

EXTERIORLIFEBOATOUTERSPACE
Robyisnowhanginghalfwayoutofthelifeboat,
withthething
clingingtohisleg.Hekicksatitwithhisfree
foot,butitwon't
letgo.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Lookingforanysalvation,Robygrabsthehatch
controlleverand
yanksit.
Thehatchslamsshut,closingRobysafelyinside
butTRAPPINGTHEEND
OFTHECREATURE'STENTACLEINTHEDOORJAMB.
ItinstantlyreleasesRoby,whostaggersback.

EXTERIORLIFEBOATOUTERSPACE
Thecreatureisnowoutsidethelifeboat,inthe
vacuum,squirming,
thetipofitstentaclecaughtintheclosed
hatch.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Wherethetentacleiscaughtinthehatch,itis
wounded,andis
startingtofoamwithacid,eatingawayatthe
metal.
Robystumblesforwardtothecontrolsandpushesa
leverlabeled:
"RAMJETS"
EXTERIORLIFEBOATOUTERSPACE
Thejetexhaustsarelocatedattherearofthe
craft,rightwherethe
creatureiswriggling.THEENGINESBELCHFLAME
FORAFEWSECONDS,THEN
SHUTOFF.
INCINERATED,THECREATURETUMBLESSLOWLYAWAYINTO
SPACE.
INTERIORLIFEBOAT
Robyhurriestotherearhatchandlooksoutafter
thething.
EXTERIOROUTERSPACE
Theburnedmassofthemonsterdriftsslowlyaway
intospace,a
writhing,smoking,foamingmass.

Asittumblesintothedistance,piecesdropoff
ititbloats
thenbursts,soggily,sendingasprayofparticles
offinall
directions.Thelastweseeofitisafew
smoulderingrags,dwindling
intoinfinity.

DISSOLVETO:
INTERIORLIFEBOATLATER
TheboatisrepressurizedandRobyisseatedin
thecontrolchair.He
seemscalmandcomposed,almostcheerful.Thecat
purrsinhislap.
ROBY
(dictating)
...SoitlookslikeI'llmakeit
backtotheColoniesonschedule
afterall.Ishouldbetothe
frontierinanother250yearsorso,
andthenwithalittleluckthe
networkwillpickmeup.I'mnotas
richasIwasacoupledaysago
butI'mnotexactlybrokeeither.
Incidentally,Ididmanageto
salvageonesouveniroutofthis
wholemess.
Hereachesdownintothecarryingbaghebrought
onboard,andpulls
outtheALIENSKULL.
ROBY(CONT'D)
PoorYorickhereshouldgoatleast
partwaytowardprovingI'mnota
crank.Iwishitwashimwe'dmetin
thefirstplacethingsmighthave

turnedoutdifferent.
Heputstheskulldownonashelfandlocksa
glasslidoverit.
ROBY(CONT'D)
ThisisMartinRoby,executive
officer,lastsurvivorofthe
commercialvesselSNARK,signingoff.
Comeon,cat,let'sgotosleep.
Robyleansforwardandswitchesofftherecorder.
Thenherisesand,
carryingthecat,walkstothehypersleepfreezer,
whichstandsopen.
Heclimbsinandstretchesoutonhisback,
holdingthecatagainst
hischest.Withonehand,hepressesaswitch,
andTHELIDCLOSESOVER
HIM.
CLOSEUPOFTHEALIENSKULL,watchingsentinel
overtheslumbering
Robylikesomedead,melancholypixie.
EXTERIOROUTERSPACE
ThelifeboatSNARK2sailsawaytowardits
rendezvouswithIrth,
250yearsfromnow.
AsSNARK2driftspastcamera,wesuddenlysee
thatASPOREPODIS
ADHEREDTOTHEUNDERBELLYOFTHECRAFT.
ROLLENDTITLES&MUSIC.
THEEND