EXT.

CAL TECH CAMPUS - DAY

Ellie and Drumlin walk briskly, in heated discussion.

DRUMLIN
I'm sorry, Miss Arroway, not only is
it too Speculative a subject for a
doctoral dissertation, at this point
in your career it'd be tantamount to
suicide.

ELLIE
I'm willing to take that risk.

DRUMLIN
I'm not. You're far too promising a
scientist to waste your considerable
gifts on this nonsense --

ELLIE
Dr. Drumlin, we are talking about
what could potentially be the most
important discovery in the history
of humanity. There are over four
hundred billion stars out there --

DRUMLIN
And only two probabilities: One:
there is intelligent life in the
universe but they're so far away
you'll never contact it in your
lifetime --

ELLIE
You're --

DRUMLIN
Two: There's nothing out there but
noble gasses and carbon compounds
and you'd be wasting your time.

ELLIE
What if you're wrong?
(as he starts to
speak)
No -- I'll grant you probabilities
but as a scientist without all the
evidence -- you can't deny the
possibility -- and I believe even
the remotest possibility of
something this profoundly...
 profound is worth investigation --
and worth taking a few risks.

DRUMLIN
I disagree.

ELLIE
Then disagree but don't stand in my
way!

By this point they've gathered a small crowd. Drumlin

regards her for for a moment; then, softly:

DRUMLIN
What is it that makes you so lonely,
Miss Arroway? What is it that
compels you to search the heavens
for life when there's so much of it
being neglected right here at home?

Body blow. Ellie just stares, stunned. Finally:

DRUMLIN
I will approve a general thesis on
the detection of radio signals from
space but that's all. No E.T.I.s.
Enough?

Flushed, overwhelmed... Ellie nods. Enough.