Interstellar by Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

INTERSTELLAR

written byJonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Transferred to PDF from:"Interstellar - The CompleteScreenplay with SelectedStoryboards"Published November 2014 byFaber & Faber Ltd. (UK)

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

BLACK. THE GENTLE SOUND OF WIND IN CORN

A row of books. From spaces between them, dust falls.

I N T E R S T E L L A R

ELDERLY FEMALE VOICE(V.O.)

Sure. Dad was a farmer.

BRIGHT CORN STALKS FILL THE FRAME, SWAYING IN THE BREEZE


Like everybody else back then.

The wind is RISING, shaking the plants more FORCEFULLY ...

Insert cut: a WOMAN in her eighties against a darkbackground.

ELDERLY WOMANCourse, he didnt start that way...

The WIND IS HOWLING, SHRIEKING and we RIP INTO -

EXT. THE STRATOSPHERE - DAY

BURNING through the fringes of space -

INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS

A young PILOT fights his BUFFETING craft -

RADIO(O.S.)

Computer says youre too tight -

PILOTI got this -

The Pilot grabs a panicked glance at his instruments -

RADIO(O.S.)

Crossing the Straights ... shuttingit down, Cooper. Shutting it alldown ...

2.

PILOTNO! I need the power up -

EXT. THE STRATOSPHERE - CONTINUOUS

The BLACK and RED SKY starts SPINNING HORRIFYINGLY -

INT. COCKPIT - DAY

As the controls RIP themselves free, the pilot SHOUTS and we-

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM, FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

A man WAKES, nightmare SWEATY. This is COOPER.

YOUNG GIRLS VOICE(O.S.)

Dad? Dad?

Cooper turns: in the doorway - his sleepy ten-year-olddaughter. This is MURPH.

COOPERSorry. Go back to sleep.

MURPHI thought you were the ghost.

COOPERTheres no ghost, Murph.

MURPHGrandpa says you can get ghosts.

COOPERMaybe Grandpas a little too closeto being one himself. Back tosleep.

MURPHWere you dreaming about the crash?

COOPERBack to sleep, Murph.

Murph shuffles back out the door. Cooper moves to thewindow. DAWN breaks over an ENDLESS SEA OF CORN ...

3.


Corn, sure. But dust. In your ears,your mouth...

INSERT CUT: AN OLD-TIMER IN CLOSE UP, WATERY-EYED, DESCRIBESDUST BOWL CONDITIONS.

OLD-TIMER(V.O.)

Dust just everywhere. Everywhere.

EXT. COOPERS FARM - MORNING

An old man, handkerchief across his face, sweeps dust out ofthe door onto the porch. This is Grandpa (DONALD).

INT. KITCHEN, FARMHOUSE - MORNING

Cooper pours himself coffee as Donald puts grits on thetable. TOM, Coopers fifteen-year-old son, stuffs his face.

Murph, wet hair, towel around neck, plays with pieces of aMODEL (a lunar lander).

DONALDNot at the table, Murph.

MURPHDad, can you fix this?

COOPER(takes pieces, frowning)

Whatd you do to my lander?

MURPHWasnt me.

TOMLemme guess - your ghost?

MURPHIt knocked it off my shelf. Itkeeps knocking books off.

TOMTheres no such things as ghosts,dumb-ass -

4.

COOPER(to Tom)

Hey -

MURPHI looked it up, its called apoltergeist.

TOMDad, tell her.

COOPERMurph, you know thats notscientific.

MURPHYou say science is about admittingwhat we dont know.

DONALDShes got you there.

COOPER(hands her pieces)

Start looking after our stuff.

Donald looks at Cooper, admonishing. Cooper shrugs.

COOPERFine. Murph, you wanna talkscience, dont just tell me yourescared of some ghost - record thefacts, analyze, present yourconclusions.

MURPHSure.

Cooper gets up, grabs his keys.

DONALDHold up.

(Off look.)Parent-teacher conferences.Parent - not grandparent.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

The kids pile into an old pickup truck, scraping DUST offthe seats. Cooper, coffee in hand, peers at a black cloud.

5.

COOPERDust storm?

DONALD(shakes his head)

Nelsons torching his whole crop.

COOPERBlight?

DONALDTheyre saying its the lastharvest for okra. Ever.

Cooper stares at the smoke. Uneasy. Gets into the truck.

COOPERShoulda planted corn like the restof us.

DONALDBe nice to Miss Hanley. Shessingle.

COOPERWhats that supposed to mean?

DONALDRepopulating the Earth - startpulling your weight.

COOPERStart minding your business.

INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON DIRT ROAD - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper sips his coffee, steering while Murph shifts -

COOPEROkay, gimme second -

Murph wrestles the long gear stick into second. Cooper sips.

COOPERNow third -

Murph struggles to find third - GRIND.

TOMFind a gear, dumb-ass.

6.

MURPHShut up, Tom!

BANG - A TIRE BLOWS OUT. Cooper stops the truck.

TOMWhatd you do, Murph?

COOPERShe didnt do anything. We lost atire is all.

TOMMurphys Law.

MURPHShut up, Tom.

Cooper gets out of the truck, checks the flat, turns to Tom.

COOPERGrab the spare.

TOMThat is the spare.

COOPEROkay, patch kit.

TOMHowm I supposed to patch it outhere?

COOPERFigure it out. Im not always goingto be here to help you.

Tom moves to the back of the truck. Murph is there.

MURPHWhyd you and Mom name me aftersomething bad?

COOPERWe didnt.

MURPHMurphys Law?

COOPERMurphys Law doesnt mean bad stuffwill happen. It means whatever canhappen, will happen. And thatsounded just fine to us.

7.

Murph frowns, hearing something ...

COOPERWhat?

Then Cooper hears it, too. A LOW RUMBLE. Cooper GRABS Murphas a DRONE SOARS low overhead -

COOPERCome on!

Cooper jumps into the truck - he pulls out a laptop andantenna hands them to Murph - shouts at Tom -

COOPERGet in!

TOM(jack in hand)

What about the tire?

INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK THROUGH FIELDS - MOMENTS LATER

Close on the SHREDDING TIRE as the truck BARRELS throughcornfields. Murph fires up the laptop. Cooper strains to seethrough the cornstalks, scanning the horizon -

TOMThere!

To the right, the dark shape of the drone, cruising low overthe fields. Cooper JERKS the wheel - the drone has long,thin wings like a U-2, but no cockpit.

COOPERIndian air force surveillancedrone. Solar cells could power anentire farm.

(To Tom.)Take the wheel -

Tom takes the wheel - Cooper hands Murph the antenna.

COOPERKeep it pointed right at it -

Cooper works the laptop - the screen fills with Hindi.Faster, Tom. Im losing it.

Tom WEAVES through the corn - they round a corner, almostHIT a HARVESTER - BANG - the truck loses a wing mirror -

Ahead the drone SOARS, banking, pulling away -

8.

The truck BURSTS out of the corn, Coopers nose is in thelaptop.

TOMDad?

COOPERAlmost got it. Dont stop.

In front of them, the drone plummets from view into the nextvalley - the path ahead leads to a three-hundred-foot drop.

TOMDAD ...

Cooper looks up.

COOPERTom!

Tom locks up the brakes. Cooper looks at him - he shrugs.

TOMYou told me to keep going.

Cooper grabs the laptop and opens the door.

COOPERGuess that answers the if I toldyou to drive off a cliff scenario.

Murph is still pointing the antenna.

MURPHWe lost it.

COOPER(smiles)

No, we didnt.

The DRONE SOARS BACK OVER THEM - Cooper is moving hisfingers across the track pad, PILOTING THE DRONE.

As the kids watch, Cooper sends the drone soaring over them,banking above the valley. Cooper crouches next to Murph.

COOPERWant to give it a whirl?

Murph, guided by Cooper, moves her fingers across the trackpad - the massive drone BANKS in response. Murph is inheaven.

9.

COOPERLets set her down next to theriver.

EXT. RIVERBANK - MOMENTS LATER

The truck limps up to the drone. Cooper and the kids climbdown. Cooper runs a hand along the smooth carbon flank ofthe aircraft.

TOMHow long you think its been upthere?

COOPERDelhi mission control went downsame as ours, ten years ago.

TOMIts been up there ten years? Whydit come down so low?

COOPERSun finally cooked its brain. Or itcame down looking for something.

MURPHWhat?

COOPERSome kind of signal. Who knows?

Cooper finds an access hatch. Pries it open. Examines theblack-box brain of the machine.

MURPHWhat are you going to do with it?

COOPERGive it something sociallyresponsible to do, like drive acombine.

MURPHCouldnt we just let it go? Itsnot hurting anyone.

Cooper looks down at his daughter. Good kid.

COOPERThis thing has to adapt, just likethe rest of us.

10.

EXT. COUNTY SCHOOL - DAY

The truck pulls up to school, drone fuselage hanging out.

COOPERHows this work? You guys comewith?

TOMIve got class. But she ...

Pats Murph on shoulder.Needs to wait.

Murph glares at Tom as he hops out.

COOPERWhy? What?

MURPHDad, I had a thing ... well,theyll tell you about it. Just tryand ...

COOPERAm I gonna be mad?

MURPHNot with me. Just try not to -

COOPERRelax, I got this.

Murph pulls out a notebook. Starts drawing a BARCODE.

INT. PRINCIPALS OFFICE - LATER (MORNING)

Cooper enters, awkward. The PRINCIPAL (male, fifties) turnsfrom the window.

PRINCIPALLittle late, Coop.

(Indicates chair.)Guess you had to stop off at theAsian fighter plane store.

COOPER(sits, smiles)

Actually, sir, its a surveillancedrone. With outstanding solarcells.

11.

Cooper nods at Murphs teacher, Ms Hanley, thirties,attractive.

PRINCIPALWe got Toms scores back. Hesgoing to make an excellent farmer.Congratulations.

The Principal slides a paper across the desk.

COOPER(taken aback)

What about college?

PRINCIPALThe university only takes ahandful. They dont have resources-

COOPERIm still paying taxes - wheresthat go? Theres no more armies.

PRINCIPALNot to the university. Coop, youhave to be realistic.

COOPERYoure ruling him out for collegenow? Hes fifteen.

PRINCIPALToms score simply isnt highenough.

COOPERWhatre you? About athirty-six-inch waist?

(Beat.)Thirty-inch inseam?

PRINCIPALIm not sure I see what -

COOPERYoure telling me you need twonumbers to measure your own ass,but just one to measure my sonsfuture?

Ms Hanley stifles a laugh. The Principal shoots her a look.

12.

PRINCIPALYoure a well educated man, Coop. Atrained pilot -

COOPERAnd an engineer.

PRINCIPALOkay. Well, right now the worlddoesnt need more engineers. Wedidnt run out of planes, ortelevision sets. We ran out offood.

Cooper leans back. Hes not going to win this one.

PRINCIPALThe world needs farmers. Goodfarmers, like you. And Tom.

(Smiles benignly.)Were a caretaker generation. Andthings are getting better. Maybeyour grandchildren -

COOPERAre we done, sir?

PRINCIPALNo. Ms Hanley is here to talk aboutMurph.

Cooper shifts his gaze to Ms Hanley.

MS HANLEYMurphs a bright kid. A wonderfulkid, Mr Cooper. But shes beenhaving a little trouble ...

Ms Hanley places a textbook on the desk.She brought this to school, to showthe other kids the section on thelunar landings ...

COOPERYeah, its one of my old textbooks,she likes the pictures.

MS HANLEYThis is an old federal textbook.Weve replaced them with correctedversions.

13.

COOPERCorrected?

MS HANLEYExplaining how the Apollo missionswere faked to bankrupt the SovietUnion.

COOPERYou dont believe we went to themoon?

MS HANLEY(tolerant smile)

I believe it was a brilliant pieceof propaganda. The Sovietsbankrupted themselves pouringresources into rockets and otheruseless machines.

COOPERUseless machines?

MS HANLEYYes, Mr Cooper. And if we dontwant a repeat of the wastefulnessand excess of the twentiethcentury, our children need to learnabout this planet, not tales ofleaving it.

Cooper considers this in silence. Looks at Ms Hanley.

COOPEROne of those useless machines theyused to make was called an MRI. Andif we had any of them left, thedoctors might have been able tofind the cyst in my wifes brainbefore she died, rather thanafterwards. Then she could besitting here listening to this,whichd be good, cos she was alwaysthe calmer one ...

Ms Hanley looks at Cooper, embarrassed. Then -

MS HANLEYIm sorry about your wife, MrCooper. But Murph got into a fistfight with several of herclassmates over this Apollononsense and we thought it best to

(MORE)

14.

MS HANLEY (contd)bring you in and see what ideas youmight have for dealing with herbehavior on the home front.

COOPERSure. Well, theres a ball gametomorrow night, and Murphs goingthrough a bit of a baseball phase.Therell be candy and soda ...

Ms Hanley looks at him, expectant.

COOPERI think Ill take her to that.

Ms Hanley turns to the Principal, not happy.

EXT. PICKUP TRUCK OUTSIDE SCHOOL - MOMENTS LATER

Murph looks up from her notebook at her dad, expectantly.

MURPHHowd it go?

COOPERI, uh ... got you suspended.

MURPHWhat?!

COOPERSorry.

MURPHDad! I told you not to -

The CB radio CRACKLES to life.

CB OPERATORCooper? Boots for Cooper.

COOPERCooper.

BOOTS(over radio)

Coop, those combines you rebuiltwent haywire.

15.

COOPERPower the controllers down for acouple minutes.

BOOTS(over radio)

Did that. You should come take alook, its kinda weird.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

Cooper and Murph pass a slow-moving harvester pulling up tothe house, which is surrounded by AUTOMATED FARM MACHINES.Theyve nosed up to the house like animals at a Nativity.Boots, the farm hand, approaches -

BOOTSOne by one they been peeling offfrom the fields and heading over.

Cooper pops open the cabin to a harvester. Checks the autopilot hooked up to the controls.

BOOTSSomethings interfering with theircompass ...

Cooper jumps down and heads to the front door. Enters.BOOTS (O.S.)

Magnetism or some such ...

INT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Cooper looks at the kitchen. Nothing. Murph comes in.

MURPHWhat is it, Dad?

A small BANG from upstairs. Cooper heads up.

INT. MURPHS BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Murphs bedroom clearly used to be her mothers. Cooper, inthe doorway, looks at the wall of BOOKS opposite - severalGAPS. He looks down at some books on the floor.

MURPHNothing special about which books.

(Off look.)(MORE)

16.

MURPH (contd)Been working on it, like you said.

Murph holds up her notebook with its barcode.

MURPHI counted the spaces.

COOPERWhy?

MURPHIn case the ghosts trying to saysomething. Im trying Morse.

COOPERMorse?

MURPHYeah. Dots and dashes, used for -

COOPERMurph, I know what Morse code is. Ijust dont think your bookshelfstrying to talk to you.

He leaves. Murph, embarrassed, turns back to the shelf.

INT. FRONT PORCH, FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

Donald hands Cooper a beer.

COOPERHad to reset every compass clockand GPS to offset for the anomaly.

DONALDWhich is?

COOPERNo idea. If the house was built onmagnetic ore, wedve seen this thefirst time we switched on atractor.

Donald nods. Sips.

DONALDSounds like your meeting at schooldidnt go so well.

17.

COOPER(sighs)

Weve forgotten who we are, Donald.Explorers, pioneers. Notcaretakers.

Donald nods, thoughtful. Weighs up his words.

DONALDWhen I was a kid it felt like theymade something new every day. Somegadget or idea. Like every day wasChristmas. But six billion people... just try to imagine that. Andevery last one of them trying tohave it all.

He turns to Cooper.This world isnt so bad. And Tomlldo just fine - youre the one whodoesnt belong. Born forty yearstoo late, or forty years too early.My daughter knew it, God bless her.And your kids know it. SpeciallyMurph.

COOPERWe used to look up and wonder atour place in the stars. Now we justlook down and worry about our placein the dirt.

DONALDCooper, you were good at somethingand you never got a chance to doanything with it. Im sorry. Butthats not your kids fault.

Cooper looks up at the stars above.

OLD-TIMER (V.O.)May 14th. Never forget. Clear as abell. Youd never think ...

INSERT CUT: THE OLD-TIMER REMEMBERS. CUT TO A SECONDOLD-TIMER ...

SECOND OLD-TIMERWhen the first of the real big onesrolled in ... I thought it was theend of the world.

18.

EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - LATE AFTERNOON

The CRACK of ball off bat - a pop-fly caught to a trickle ofapplause. Half-filled stands at what looks like a minorleague game.

DONALDIn my day we had real ball players.Whore these bums?

As the team runs in from the field we see: NEW YORK YANKEES.

COOPERWell, in my day people were toobusy fighting over food forbaseball, so consider thisprogress.

Murph offers Donald some popcorn.

DONALDFine. But popcorn at a ball game isunnatural. I want a hot dog.

MURPH(confused)

Whats a hot dog?

Cooper sits with Tom a row in front.

COOPERThe school says youre gonna followin my footsteps. I think thatsgreat.

TOMYou think thats great?

MURPHYou hate farming, Dad. Grandpasaid.

Cooper looks at Donald, who shrugs sorry.

COOPERWhats important is how you feelabout it, Tom.

TOMI like what you do. I like ourfarm.

19.

On the field: the batter hits one along the ground - itrolls to an infielders foot - but the infielder IGNORES it,STARING up at the sky. The crowd starts to look up ...

OLD-TIMER (V.O.)Youve never seen the like. Black.Just black ...

INSERT CUT: THE OLD-TIMER CHOKES BACK FEAR AS HE REMEMBERS.

Cooper stares at the horizon, where an ENORMOUS BLACK DUSTSTORM IS MASSING. People start leaving, tying handkerchiefsacross their faces.

COOPERCome on, guys.

INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper speeds along as Donald and the kids stuff RAGS intocracks and vents ... behind them the WALL OF BLACK DUSTADVANCES, SWALLOWING UP ROADS, BUILDINGS. A nasty SOUND isdeveloping - the truck ROCKING with GUSTS of wind ...

Suddenly, BLACK DUST ENVELOPS the car, LIGHTNING CRACKLING.

DONALDIts a bad one ...

COOPERMask up, guys.

Murph and Tom take SURGICAL MASKS out of the glove box.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

VISIBILITY MERE FEET as the dust storm BRUTALIZES the farm.The truck CRAWLS up to the house. Cooper leans in to try andsee better ... CRACK - a panel of sheet metal SMASHES intothe windshield - Cooper turns - wrestles Murph out of thetruck as Donald blindly stumbles towards the front door withTom ...

INT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The SHUTTERS BANG as the wind WHIPS around the house,FORCING JETS OF DUST up through cracks in the window frames,floorboards ... Donald SLAMS the door. Murph is COUGHING ...Cooper looks around. Sees dust coming from upstairs.

20.

COOPERDid you both shut your windows?

Tom nods. Murph looks at Cooper. Runs for the stairs.

COOPERWait -


Cooper gets to the doorway. Murph stands in the middle ofthe room, STARING. Cooper SHUTS the window. The dust hangsin the relative quiet. Murph is staring, TRANSFIXED, atLINES where dust is FALLING UNNATURALLY FAST, STREAMING DOWNthrough the air, collecting on the floor in a PATTERN -

MURPHThe Ghost.

Cooper STARES at dust collecting like snow on power lines...

COOPERGrab your pillow, sleep in withTom.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAWN - MORNING

Calm. Dust settled.

INT. TOMS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Murph slips out of bed, wrapped in her blanket. Pads downthe hall, peeks in her bedroom door at -


Cooper sits, staring at the PATTERN of dust: thick radiallines, like a CIRCULAR BARCODE. Murph sits down next to herdad. They STARE at it together. He holds up a coin ...

COOPERIts not a ghost ...

Cooper tosses the coin across a line. It SHOOTS at the floor-

Its gravity.

21.

INT. SAME - LATER

Donald pokes his head in.

DONALDIm dropping Tom, then heading totown ...

(Looks at dust pattern.)You wanna clean that up when youvefinished praying to it?

Cooper reaches for Murphs notebook. Starts writing ...

INT. KITCHEN, FARMHOUSE - LATER

Murph fills a glass of water. Picks up a plate ofsandwiches.


Follow Murph into the room, to find Cooper standing there.

COOPERI got something.

Cooper is pointing to the thick and thin radial lines -Binary. Thick is one, thin is zero- its numbers ... number pairs...

He holds up the notebook to show Murph the number pairs.Coordinates.

INT. KITCHEN, FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper and Murph pore over MAPS. Cooper TOSSES one aside,lays it out on the table. Finds a spot. Looks up at Murph...


Cooper packing his truck - sleeping bag, flashlight ...

MURPHYou cant leave me behind!

COOPERGrandpas back in two hours.

22.

MURPHYou dont know what youre going tofind -

COOPERThats why I cant take you.

INT. KITCHEN, FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper grabs the maps and a bottle of water. He calls up -

COOPERMurph?

Nothing.Murph, just wait here for Grandpa.Tell him Ill call him on theradio.

INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON ROAD - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper drives, map spread on the wheel, looks for a pen -reaches over to the passenger wheel well - lifts a BLANKET -Murph is there -

COOPERJESUS!

The truck WOBBLES as Cooper regains control.Murph, what are you doing?!

Murph is LAUGHING as she climbs into the passenger seat -

COOPERIts not funny -

But Murphs laugh is infectious.

MURPHYou wouldnt be here if it wasntfor me.

Cooper hands Murph the map.

COOPERFair enough. Make yourselfuseful...

The pickup cruises down the road, heading for the MOUNTAINS.

23.

EXT. PLAINS APPROACHING MOUNTAINS - DUSK

The tiny pickup is dwarfed by the darkening foothills.

EXT. DIRT ROAD OFF MOUNTAIN PASS - NIGHT

Cooper pulls up to a gate in chain-link fence. Murph isasleep next to him.

COOPERMurph. Murph.

Murph wakes.I think this is as far as we get.

Murph glances out at the fence. Closes her eyes again.

MURPHWhy? You didnt bring thebolt-cutters?

COOPERI like your spirit, young lady.

Cooper gets out of the truck, retrieves his bolt-cutters andcomes up to the fence. He looks up and down the road.Nothing. He reaches out and puts the jaws of the cutters -WHAM! SPOTLIGHTS IN COOPERS EYES - A HARSH ELECTRIC VOICE -

VOICESTEP AWAY FROM THE FENCE.

Cooper drops the cutters, puts his hands in the air -

COOPERDont shoot! My child is in thecar! Im unarmed! My daughter is -

Murph watches, terrified as, with a ZAP, Cooper DROPS. MurphSCRAMBLES back along the seat as MASSIVE FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.The door is WRENCHED open - a BLINDING LIGHT

VOICEDONT BE AFRAID.

Murph SCREAMS.

24.

INT. BRIGHT, INDUSTRIAL ROOM - LATER

Cooper comes to, sitting in a chair. Opposite him is anARTICULATED MACHINE. A VOICE emanates from its side.

MACHINEHow did you find this place?

COOPERWheres my daughter?

MACHINEYou had the coordinates for thisfacility marked on your map. Wheredid you get them?

Cooper leans in to the machine.

COOPERWHERES MY DAUGHTER?!

Coopers scream REVERBERATES. Cooper sizes up the machine.You might think youre still in theMarines, but the Marines dontexist anymore, pal. Ive got gruntslike you mowing my grass ...

The Machine RISES to its full height.

MACHINEHow did you find us?

COOPERBut you dont look like a lawnmowerto me ... you, Im gonna turn intoan overqualified vacuum cleaner -

FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)No, youre not.

Cooper turns to see a businesslike woman in her thirties.

WOMANTars, back down, please.

The machine, TARS, sinks back down.

COOPERYoure taking a risk usingex-military for security. Theyreold, their control units areunpredictable ...

25.

WOMANWell, thats what the governmentcould spare.

COOPERWho are you?

WOMANDr Brand.

COOPERI knew a Dr Brand once. But he wasa professor -

WOMAN (BRAND)What makes you think Im not?

COOPERAnd nowhere near as cute.

BRANDYou think you can flirt your wayout of this mess?

COOPER(honest, scared)

Dr Brand, I have no idea what thismess is. Im scared for my littlegirl and I want her by my side.Then Ill tell you anything youwant to know. Okay?

Brand considers this. Turns to Tars.

BRANDGet the principals and the girlinto the conference room.

(To Cooper.)Your daughters fine. Bright kid.

(Rises.)Must have a very smart mother.

INT. UNDERGROUND FACILITY - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper follows Brand into a corridor. Tars LURCHES behind.

COOPERIts pretty clear you dont wantvisitors - why not let us back upfrom your fence and be on our way?

26.

BRANDIts not that simple.

COOPERSure it is. I dont know anythingabout you or this place.

BRANDYes, you do.

Brand ushers Cooper through a door into a conference room -

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Where an OLD MAN is crouched down, talking to Murph.

MURPHDad!

Murph runs into Coopers arms. The Old Man SMILES at Cooper.

OLD MANHello, Cooper.

COOPER(stunned)

Professor Brand?

MAN AT TABLE (DOYLE)Just take a seat, Mr Cooper.

Cooper and Murph sit at a table where five people arewaiting - a bespectacled man, WILLIAMS, leans forward toaddress Cooper.

WILLIAMSExplain how you found thisfacility.

COOPERStumbled across it. Looking forsalvage and I saw the fence -

WILLIAMSYoure sitting in the worlds bestkept secret - you dont stumble in.And you certainly dont stumbleout.

PROFESSOR BRANDCooper, please. Cooperate withthese people.

27.

Cooper looks nervously around the room.

COOPERIts hard to explain, but welearned these coordinates from ananomaly ...

DOYLEWhat sort of anomaly?

COOPERI dont want to term itsupernatural ... but ...

Cooper is losing them. Williams leans forward. Serious.

WILLIAMSYoure going to have to, Mr Cooper.Real quick.

COOPERAfter that last storm, it was apattern ... in dust ...

MURPHIt was gravity.

All eyes turn to Murph. Shes said the magic word. Doylelooks at Professor Brand, excited. Turns to Cooper -

DOYLEWhere was this gravitationalanomaly?

COOPERLook, Im happy youre excitedabout gravity, but if you want moreanswers from us Im gonna needassurances -

WILLIAMSAssurances?

Cooper looks at Murph. Then covers Murphs ears.

COOPERThat were getting out of here ...and not in the trunk of some car.

Brand laughs. Williams smiles. Cooper looks confused.

28.

PROFESSOR BRANDDont you know who we are, Coop?

COOPERNo. No, I dont.

BRAND(points around table)

Williams, Doyle, Jenkins, Smith,you already know my father,Professor Brand. Were NASA.

COOPERNASA?

PROFESSOR BRANDNASA. Same NASA you flew for.

Now Cooper is laughing, too. Murph looks around, confused.

INT. UNDERGROUND FACILITY - MOMENTS LATER

Professor Brand shows Cooper the facility.

COOPERI heard you got shut down forrefusing to drop bombs from thestratosphere onto starving people.

PROFESSOR BRANDWhen they realized killing otherpeople wasnt a long term solutionthey needed us back. Set us up inthe old NORAD facility. In secret.

COOPERWhy secret?

PROFESSOR BRANDPublic opinion wont allow spendingon space exploration. Not whenwere struggling to put food on thetable.

Professor Brand ushers Cooper through a large door -

29.

INT. GREENHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Professor Brand gestures to large PLANTATIONS under glass.

PROFESSOR BRANDBlight. Wheat seven years ago, okrathis year. Now theres just corn.

COOPERBut were growing more than ever -

PROFESSOR BRANDLike the potatoes in Ireland, likethe wheat in the dust bowl, thecorn will die. Soon.

Brand enters with Murph. She shows her the greenhouses.

COOPERWell find a way, we always have.

PROFESSOR BRANDDriven by the unshakable faith thatthe Earth is ours.

COOPERNot just ours, but it is our home.

PROFESSOR BRANDEarths atmosphere is 80 percentnitrogen. We dont even breathenitrogen.

Professor Brand shows him a blighted stalk.Blight does. And as it thrives ourair contains less and less oxygen...

Professor Brand gestures over at Murph ...The last people to starve will bethe first to suffocate. Yourdaughters generation will be thelast to survive on Earth.

Cooper looks over at Murph. Then back to Professor Brand.

COOPERTell me this is where you explainhow youre going to save the world.

30.

INT. VAST CIRCULAR CHAMBER (LAUNCH FACILITY) - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper and Professor Brand enter like ants in a grain silo.A ROCKET is on a pad, DWARFED by the circular chamber. Farabove, a ring of mirrors reflects the dawn down into thefacility.

PROFESSOR BRANDWere not meant to save the world... were meant to leave it.

Cooper stares up at the rocket. He recognizes thearrangement of two CRAFT at the top.

COOPERRangers.

PROFESSOR BRANDThe last components of our oneversatile ship in orbit, theEndurance. Our final expedition.

COOPERWhat happened to the othervehicles?

PROFESSOR BRANDThe Lazarus missions.

COOPERSounds cheerful.

PROFESSOR BRANDLazarus came back from the dead -

COOPERHe had to die in the first place.You sent people out there lookingfor a new home ...

Professor Brand nods.Theres no planet in our solarsystem that can support life ...and itd take them a thousand yearsto reach the nearest star - thatdoesnt even qualify as futile ...Where did you send them, Professor?

PROFESSOR BRANDCooper, I cant tell you any moreunless you agree to pilot thiscraft. Youre the best we ever had.

31.

COOPERI barely left the stratosphere.

PROFESSOR BRANDThis crews never left thesimulator. We cant program thismission from Earth, we dont knowwhats out there. We need a pilot.And this is the mission you weretrained for.

COOPERWithout ever knowing. An hour ago,you didnt even know I was stillalive. And you were going anyway.

PROFESSOR BRANDWe had no choice. But somethingbrought you here. They chose you.

COOPERWhos they?

Professor Brand is silent. Cooper wrestles.How long would I be gone?

PROFESSOR BRANDHard to know. Years.

COOPERIve got my kids, Professor.

PROFESSOR BRANDGet out there and save them.

Cooper considers this. Decides.

COOPERWhos they?

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER

A man in his forties has the solar system up on the screen.This is ROMILLY.

ROMILLYWe started detecting gravitationalanomalies almost fifty years ago.Mostly small distortions to ourinstruments in the upper atmosphere- I believe you encountered oneyourself ...

32.

COOPER(realizing)

Over the Straights - my crash -something tripped my fly-by wire -

ROMILLYExactly. But the most significantanomaly was this ...

Cooper stares at an image of Saturn and its moons. Romillyzooms in on some stars DISTORTED like ripples in a pond.

ROMILLYA disturbance of spacetime out nearSaturn.

COOPERA wormhole?

ROMILLYIt appeared forty-eight years ago.

COOPERWhere does it lead?

PROFESSOR BRANDAnother galaxy.

COOPERA wormhole isnt a naturallyoccurring phenomenon.

BRANDSomeone placed it there.

COOPERThey.

BRANDAnd whoever They are, they appearto be looking out for us - thatwormhole lets us travel to otherstars. It came along right as weneeded it.

DOYLETheyve put potentially habitableworlds within our reach. Twelve, infact from our initial probes.

COOPERYou sent probes into it?

33.

PROFESSOR BRANDWe sent people into it. Ten yearsago.

COOPERThe Lazarus missions.

Professor Brand rises and moves to a MEMORIAL, pointing -

PROFESSOR BRANDTwelve possible worlds. TwelveRanger launches carrying thebravest humans ever to live, led bythe remarkable Dr Mann.

DOYLEEach persons landing pod had lifesupport for two years - but theycould use hibernation to stretchthat, making observations onorganics over a decade or more.Their mission was to assess theirworld, and if it showed promise,send a signal, bed down for thelong nap, and wait to be rescued.

COOPERAnd if their world didnt showpromise?

DOYLEHence the bravery.

COOPERBecause you dont have resources tovisit all twelve.

DOYLENo. Data transmission back throughthe wormhole is rudimentary, simplebinary pings on an annual basisto give some clue as to whichworlds have potential. One systemshows promise.

COOPEROne? Kind of a long shot.

BRANDOne system with three potentialworlds ... no long shot.

34.

COOPERSo if we find a new home, whatthen?

PROFESSOR BRANDThats the long shot. Theres PlanA and theres Plan B. Did younotice anything strange about thelaunch chamber ...

INT. LAUNCH FACILITY - MOMENTS LATER

Cooper cocks his head, puzzling at the VAST chamber ...there are structures built SIDEWAYS around the CURVEDwalls...

COOPERThis whole facility ... its avehicle? A space station?

PROFESSOR BRANDBoth. Weve been working on it, andothers like it for twenty-fiveyears. Plan A.

COOPERHow does it get off the Earth?

PROFESSOR BRANDThose first gravitational anomalieschanged everything - suddenly weknew that harnessing gravity wasreal. So I started working on thetheory - and we start building thisstation.

COOPERBut you havent solved it, yet.

PROFESSOR BRANDThats why theres a Plan B.

INT. LABORATORY - MOMENTS LATER

TECHNICIANS work the complex, high-tech lab. Professor Brandand Cooper follow Brand to a large glass and steelapparatus.

BRANDThe problem is gravity. How to geta viable amount of human life off

(MORE)

35.

BRAND (contd)this planet. This is one way - PlanB. A population bomb. Almost fivethousand fertilized eggs, weighingin at under 900 kilos.

COOPERHow could you raise them?

BRANDWith equipment on board we incubatethe first ten. After that, withsurrogacy, the growth becomesexponential - within thirty yearswe might have a colony of hundreds.The real difficulty of colonizationis genetic diversity,

(Indicates vials.)This takes care of that.

Cooper looks at the equipment. Unenthusiastic.

COOPERWe just give up on the people here?

PROFESSOR BRANDThats why Plan As a lot more fun.

INT. PROFESSOR BRANDS OFFICE

Professor Brand watches Cooper as he gazes over the vasttracts of ALGEBRA covering every available surface.

COOPERWhere have you got to?

PROFESSOR BRANDAlmost there.

COOPERAlmost? Youre asking me to hangeverything on an almost?

Professor Brand moves close to Cooper.

PROFESSOR BRANDIm asking you to trust me.

Cooper looks at the passion in Professor Brands eyes.

36.

COOPERAll those years of training - younever told me.

PROFESSOR BRANDWe cant always be open abouteverything, Coop, even if we wantto be. What can you tell yourchildren about this mission?

Cooper considers this. Uneasy.

PROFESSOR BRANDFind us a new home. When youreturn, Ill have solved theproblem of gravity. You have myword.

EXT. FARMHOUSE - LATE DAY

Donald, on the porch, gets to his feet as he sees Cooperspickup approaching. The truck pulls up. Murph TEARS pastGrandpa into the house - Donald looks at Cooper,questioning.

INT. HALL OUTSIDE MURPHS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Cooper tries to open the door, but Murph has stacked a deskand chair against it -

COOPERMurph?

MURPHGo! If youre leaving, just go!

EXT. PORCH - NIGHT

Donald looks out at the night, taking it all in.

DONALDThis world never was enough foryou, was it, Coop?

COOPERIm not gonna lie to you, Donald -heading out there is what I feelborn to do and it excites me. Thatdoesnt make it wrong.

Donald considers this. Turns to Cooper.

37.

DONALDIt might. Dont trust the rightthing done for the wrong reason.The why of a thing? Thats thefoundation.

COOPER(sadly)

Well, the foundations solid.(Gestures at landscape.)

We farmers sit here every year whenthe rains fail and say next year.Next year aint gonna save us. Northe one after. This worlds atreasure, Donald. But shes beentelling us to leave for a whilenow.

(Stares at the horizon.)Mankind was born on Earth. It wasnever meant to die here.

Donald considers this. Scoops the dust off the rail.

DONALDTomll be okay. But you have tomake it right with Murph.

COOPERI will.

DONALDWithout making any promises youdont know you can keep.

Cooper meets Donalds gaze. Looks away, nodding.

INT. MURPHS BEDROOM - MORNING

Coopers hand, reaching in, removes the chair from the desk,barricading the door. Murph is lying on the bed, turnedaway. Cooper pushes the desk back gently. Enters, quietly.

COOPERYou have to talk to me.

Nothing.I have to fix this before I go.

Murph turns, tear-stained, angry cheeks blazing -

38.

MURPHThen Ill keep it broken so youhave to stay.

Cooper sits down on the bed next to Murph.

COOPERAfter you kids came along, yourmother said something I didntreally understand - she said, Ilook at the babies and I see myselfas theyll remember me. She said,Its as if we dont exist anymore,like were ghosts, like now werejust there to be memories for ourkids. Now I realize - once wereparents, were just the ghosts ofour childrens futures.

MURPHYou said ghosts dont exist.

COOPERThats right. I cant be your ghostright now - I need to exist.Because they chose me. They choseme, Murph. You saw it. Murph sitsup.

Points at the shelves. The gaps.

MURPHI figured out the message ...

(Opens her notebook.)It was Morse code ...

COOPERMurph -

MURPHOne word. You know what it is?

Cooper shakes his head sadly. Murph holds out her notebook -STAY. It says STAY, Dad.

COOPEROh, Murph.

MURPHYou dont believe me?! Look thebooks! Look at -

Cooper takes his daughter in his arms ...

39.

COOPERIts okay, its okay ...

Murph buries her head on Coopers shoulder, sobbing.Murph, a father looks in hischilds eyes and thinks - maybeits them ... maybe my child willsave the world. And everyone, oncea child, wants to look into theirown dads eyes and know he saw howthey saved some little corner oftheir world. But, usually, by then,the father is gone.

MURPHLike you will be.

Cooper looks at his daughter. Lies with head, not heart:

COOPERNo. Im coming back.

MURPHWhen?

Cooper reaches into his pocket. Pulls out two WATCHES.

COOPEROne for you. One for me.

Murph takes the watch, curious. Cooper holds up his watch.When Im in hyper-sleep, or travelnear the speed of light, or near ablack hole, time will change forme. Itll run more slowly. When Iget back well compare.

MURPHTime will run differently for us?

COOPERYup. By the time I get back wemight even be the same age. You andme. Imagine that ...

Murph takes this in. Cooper sees hes made a mistake.Wait, Murph -

MURPHYou have no idea when youre comingback.

Cooper looks at his daughter.

40.

MURPHNo idea at all!

Murph THROWS the watch - TURNS HER BACK.

COOPERDont make me leave like this.

Nothing.Please. I have to go now.

Murph will not turn around. Cooper tries to rest his hand onthe back of her head, but she shakes it off.

COOPERI love you, Murph. Forever. And Imcoming back.

Cooper walks slowly out. A BOOK DROPS FROM THE SHELF. Cooperturns to look at it. Then leaves.


Cooper, mechanical, puts his small bag in the truck.

DONALDHowd it go?

COOPERFine. It was fine.

Cooper turns to Tom. Hugs him. Tight enough for both kids.I love you, Tom.

TOMTravel safe, Dad.

COOPER(indicates farm)

Look after our place, you hear?

TOMCan I use your truck while youregone?

COOPER(smiles)

Ill make sure they bring it backfor you.

Cooper gets in. Starts the engine.Mind my kids for me, Donald.

41.

Donald nods. Cooper pulls out.


Murph jumps off the bed, GRABS the watch, RUNS downstairs.

INT. PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS

As Cooper drives he lifts the blanket in the wheel-wellwhere Murph hid last time. Nothing. And we hear aCOUNTDOWN...

VOICE(O.S.)

TEN ... NINE ...

EXT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Murph RACES out of the house, watch in hand -

MURPHDad?! DAD?!

VOICE(V.O.)

EIGHT ... SEVEN ...

But Cooper is a dust trail far down the road.

VOICE(O.S.)

SIX ... FIVE ...

Murph SOBS as her grandpa puts his arms around her ...

INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON DUSTY PLAIN - CONTINUOUS

As Cooper drives away tears roll down his cheeks

VOICE(O.S.)

FOUR ... THREE ... TWO ... ONE ...

42.

INT. LAUNCH FACILITY - DAY

VOICE(O.S.)

IGNITION.

FIRE SHOOTS FROM THE BASE OF THE ROCKET ... The rocket RISESslowly from the pad, up into the sky ...

INT. RANGER COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS

Cooper, in his space helmet, lets the FORCE of the rocketvibrate through him ...

VOICE(O.S.)

Stage one ... SEPARATION.

Cooper starts to see the Earths curve through the window...

VOICE(O.S.)

Stage two ... SEPARATION.

And Cooper shakes loose the bonds of Earth.

EXT. UPPER ATMOSPHERE - CONTINUOUS

The rocket RIPS upwards into the sky.


Cooper glances around the vibrating, cramped cockpit -Brand, Doyle, Romilly, Tars. Tars spots Coopers glance -

TARSAll here, Mr Cooper. Plenty ofslaves for my robot colony.

Cooper looks at him, confused.

DOYLEThey gave him a humor setting sohed fit in with his unit better.He thinks it relaxes us.

COOPERA massive, sarcastic robot. What agreat idea.

43.

TARSI have a cue light I can turn onwhen Im joking, if you like.

COOPERProbably help.

TARSYou can use it to find your wayback to the ship after I blow youout the airlock.

Tars looks at Cooper. A beat. An LED turns on. Cooper shakeshis head.

COOPERWhats your humor setting, Tars?

TARSOne hundred percent.

Cooper turns to the instruments -

COOPERTake it to seventy-five, please.

EARTH ORBIT - CONTINUOUS

The Rangers streak across the Earth, settle into a loworbit.


Quiet. Cooper stares down at the continents sliding by. Helooks over at Brand who is doing the same, abstracted.

COOPERWell get back.

She stares at the land. The oceans.Its hard. Leaving everything. Mykids ... your father ...

BRANDWere going to spend a lot of timetogether ...

COOPER(nods)

We should learn to talk.

44.

BRANDAnd when not to.

(Off look.)Just trying to be honest.

COOPERMaybe you dont need to be thathonest.

(Turns to Tars.)Tars, whats your honestyparameter?

Tars DISENGAGES from the floor and MOVES to the rear airlock-

TARSNinety percent.

COOPERNinety? What kind of robot are you?

TARSAbsolute honesty isnt always themost diplomatic, or safe form ofcommunication with emotionalbeings.

Cooper turns to Brand. Shrugs.

COOPERNinety percent honesty it is, then.

Brand looks at Cooper. Cant help smiling.

VOICE(over radio)

Sixty seconds out...

EXT. EARTH ORBIT - CONTINUOUS

The Rangers approach a RING MODULE, fire retro-thrusters andslide gracefully into the center of the ring - the lastpiece of a large modular craft: the U.S.S. ENDURANCE. FourLANDERS (including the Rangers) are nestled inside the ringmodule.

45.

INT. RING MODULE, ENDURANCE - MOMENTS LATER

Brand, Doyle and Romilly, following Tars, FLOAT through thecramped cabins, powering up. Tars powers up a secondarticulated machine, CASE.

DOYLECooper, you should have control.

INT. COCKPIT, ENDURANCE (RANGER) - CONTINUOUS

Cooper checks instruments -

COOPERTalking fine. Ready to spin?

INT. RING MODULE, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

Doyle and Romilly are strapped in - Brand grabs a handhold -

INT. COCKPIT, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

BRAND(over radio)

All set.

Cooper hits a switch ...


Thrusters silently fire on the Endurance. It startsROTATING.


The crew members settle in as gravity is established.Romilly is clearly struggling to find his sea legs in therotating ship.

BRANDYou okay there?

ROMILLYYup. Just need a little time -

BRANDThere should be Dramamine in thehab pod.

46.

INT. RING MODULE, ENDURANCE - LATER

The crew listen to Professor Brand over the video link -

PROFESSOR BRAND(on screen)

I miss you already. Amelia, besafe. Give my regards to Dr Mann.

BRANDI will, Dad.


Things look good for yourtrajectory. Were calculating twoyears to Saturn.

ROMILLYThats a lot of Dramamine ...

Cooper thinks about two years. What it means to his kids.

COOPER(on screen)

Keep an eye on my family, sir.Specially Murph. Shes a smart one.


Well be waiting when you get back...

INT. COCKPIT, ENDURANCE - LATER

Cooper and Doyle flick switches and check instruments -

PROFESSOR BRAND(V.O.)

... A little older. A little wiser.But happy to see you ...


Brand, Romilly, Tars and Case strap in.


Do not go gentle into that goodnight ...

47.

INT. COCKPIT, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

Cooper turns to Doyle. HITS the thrusters.


Endurances main engines FIRE. The craft PUSHES out of orbit-


Rage, rage against the dying ofthe light. God speed, Endurance.

The craft accelerates away from Earth.

INT. RING MODULE, ENDURANCE - DAY

The crew sets up their CRYO-BEDS. Cooper looks out at thediminishing Earth floating in the void. Brand joins him.

COOPERSo alone.

BRANDWeve got each other - Dr Mann hadit worse.

COOPER(points at Earth)

I meant them. Look at that perfectplanet. Were not gonna findanother one like her.

BRANDNo. This isnt like looking for anew condo - the human race is goingto be adrift ... desperate for arock to cling to while they catchtheir breaths. We have to find thatrock. Our three prospects are atthe edge of what might sustainhuman life.

Brand shows him a blurry image of a dark blue planet.Laura Millers first. She startedour biology program.

She shows him a red world, just a tiny dot.And Wolf Edmunds is here.

Cooper hears something in her voice.

48.

COOPERWhos Edmunds?

BRAND(fondly)

Wolfs a particle physicist.

COOPERNone of them had family?

BRANDNo attachments. My father insisted.They knew the odds against everseeing another human being. Imhoping we surprise at least threeof them.

COOPERTell me about Dr Mann.

Brand replaces the screen image for a grainy, white orb.

BRANDRemarkable. The best of us. Myfathers protg. He inspiredeleven people to follow him on theloneliest journey in human history.Scientists, explorers ... Thatswhat I love - out there we facegreat odds. Death. But not evil.

COOPERNature cant be evil?

BRANDFormidable, frightening - not evil.Is a tiger evil because it rips agazelle to pieces?

COOPERJust what we bring with us, then.

BRANDThis crew represents the bestaspects of humanity.

COOPEREven me?

Brand looks at him. Smiles.

49.

BRANDHey, we agreed, ninety percent.

Brand moves to her cryo-bed. Cooper looks out at space.

BRANDDont stay up too late. We cantspare the resources.

COOPERHey, Ive been waiting a long timeto be up here -

BRANDYou are literally wasting yourbreath.

Cooper nods at her. Joins Tars.

COOPERShow me the trajectory again.

TARSEight months to Mars, thencounter-orbital slingshot around -

Brands cryo-bed darkens.

COOPER(whisper)

Tars? Was Dr Brand -

TARSWhy are you whispering? You cantwake them.

COOPERWere Dr Brand and Edmunds ...close?

TARSI wouldnt know.

COOPERIs that ninety percent, or tenpercent wouldnt know?

TARSI also have a discretion setting.

COOPERSo I gather ...

(Rises.)(MORE)

50.

COOPER (contd)But not a poker face.

Tars watches Cooper head for the comm. station. He sits downto record a message. Awkward. Stuck. He dives in -

Hey, guys. Im about settle downfor the long nap, so I figured Idsend you an update ...

EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS

The Endurance slips away from the small blue planet ...

COOPER(V.O.)

The Earth looks amazing from here... you cant see any of the dust -

EXT. CORNFIELDS - DAY

A line of dust slides across the shimmering horizon.

COOPER(V.O.)

Hope you guys are doing great. Thisshould get to you okay ...

EXT. FRONT PORCH, FARMHOUSE - DAY

Donald watches two approaching vehicles kick up dust.

COOPER(V.O.)

Professor Brand said hed make sureof it. Guess Ill say good night.

Donald recognizes Coopers truck ... Murph BURSTS out of thehouse -

MURPH(quiet)

Is it him?

DONALDI dont think so, Murph.

Donald rises to meet the truck. Professor Brand gets out.

51.

PROFESSOR BRANDYou must be Donald. Hello, Murph.

MURPHWhyre you in my dads truck?

PROFESSOR BRANDHe wanted me to bring it for yourbrother.

Silence. Professor Brand reaches into his briefcase.He sent you a message -

Murph TURNS and goes back into the house. Donald takes adisc from Professor Brand.

DONALDPretty upset with him for leaving.

PROFESSOR BRANDIf you record messages, Illtransmit them to Cooper.

Donald nods. Professor Brand looks up at the house.Murphs a bright spark. Maybe Icould fan the flame.

DONALDShes already making fools of herteachers. She should come make afool out of you.

Professor Brand smiles. Donald looks up into the blue.Where are they?

PROFESSOR BRANDHeading towards Mars ...

EXT. MARS - DAY

The Endurance streaks away from Mars ...


Next time we hear from Cooper,theyll be coming up on Saturn.

52.

EXT. SATURN - DAY

The Endurance settles into an orbit around the ringed giant.

TOM(O.S.)

But they said I can start advancedagriculture a year early ...

INT. COMMUNICATIONS BOOTH, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

Cooper, blanket around his shoulders, watches a highlycompressed video of Tom -

TOMGot to go, Dad. Hope youre safe upthere.

Tom makes way for Donald:

DONALDIm sorry, Coop, I asked Murph tosay hi, but shes stubborn as herold man. Ill try again next time,stay safe.

The video cuts out. Cooper gets up, puts a pair of EAR BUDSin his ears and heads into -

OMITTED

INT. HAB POD, RING MODULE - LATER

Cooper enters. Romilly is staring out the window.

COOPERYou good, Rom?

Romilly looks at Cooper.

ROMILLYIt gets to me, Coop. This tin can.Radiation, vacuum outside -everything wants us dead. Werejust not supposed to be here.

Cooper looks at him, sympathetic.

53.

COOPERWere explorers, Rom, on thegreatest ocean of all.

Romilly bangs on the side of the ship.

ROMILLYMillimeters of aluminium. Thatsit. And nothing within millions ofmiles that wont kill us inseconds.

COOPERA lot of the finest solo yachtsmencouldnt swim. They knew if theywent overboard that was it, anyway.This is no different.

Romilly considers this. Cooper passes him his ear buds -

COOPERHere -

And the sounds of a THUNDERSTORM wash over Romilly, soundsthat take us to ...

EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS

The Endurance is a tiny speck before the ringed gassy giant.

INT. NAVIGATION, RING MODULE, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

Cooper looks over Doyles shoulder - hes flicking throughimages of star fields, distorted as if through a fish-eyelens.

COOPERFrom the relay probe?

DOYLEIt was in orbit around the wormhole- each time it swung around we gotimages of the other side of theforeign galaxy.

COOPERLike swinging a periscope around?

DOYLEExactly.

54.

COOPERSo weve got a pretty good ideawhat were gonna find on the otherside?

DOYLENavigationally.

Brand approaches.

BRANDWell be coming up on the wormholein less than forty-five. Suit up.

INT. COCKPIT, RANGER - LATER

Cooper straps in, peering out at the inky blackness pastSaturn. Romilly joins him there, excited.

COOPER(over radio)

Strap in - Im killing the spin ...

EXT. SATURN - CONTINUOUS

As the Endurance streaks past Saturn, it stops rotating,headed for a DISTORTED BLUR of stars.

INT. COCKPIT, RANGER - CONTINUOUS

ROMILLYThere!

He points at the SPHERICAL blur of stars.

ROMILLYThats it! Thats the wormhole!

COOPERSay it, dont spray it, Rom.

ROMILLYCooper, this is a portal, cuttingthrough spacetime -

(Points.)Were seeing into the heart of agalaxy so far away we dont evenknow where it is in the universe.

Cooper stares at the wormhole as they approach: a massivespherical lens into another galaxy.

55.

COOPERIts a sphere.

ROMILLYOf course it is. You thought itwould be just a hole?

COOPERNo ... well, in all theillustrations -

Romilly grabs a piece of paper, draws two points, far apart-

ROMILLYIn the illustrations theyre tryingto show you how it works -

He pokes a hole in one point with his pen ...So they say You wanna go from hereto there but its too far? Awormhole bends space like this ...

He folds the paper over and jams the pen through the secondpoint, connecting them.

ROMILLYSo you can take a shortcut acrossa higher dimension. But to showthat, theyve turnedthree-dimensional space ...

(Gestures around.)Into two dimensions.

(Hold up paper.)Which turns the wormhole into twodimensions ... a circle.

(Indicates hole in paper.)But whats a circle in threedimensions?

COOPERA sphere.

ROMILLYExactly.

(Points out window.)Its a spherical hole ...

Cooper marvels at the concept. And at the looming sphere ...And who put it here? Who do wethank?

56.

COOPERIm not thanking anyone till we getthrough it in one piece.

OMITTED

EXT. WORMHOLE - CONTINUOUS

As the Endurance SWINGS around the wormhole, the view of theforeign galaxy SWINGS in opposition, like an ENORMOUSSHAVING MIRROR ... its extremely disorienting.

The Endurance fires retro-thrusters to slow, descendingtowards the wormhole ...


Cooper is at the controls. Doyle is next to him.

COOPERAny trick to this?

DOYLENo one knows.

COOPER(glances at Doyle)

But the others made it, right?

DOYLEAt least some of them.

COOPERThanks for the confidence boost.

Cooper stares down into the vast lens of the wormhole.Everybody ready to say goodbye toour solar system?

ROMILLY(over radio)

To our galaxy ...

Cooper pushes the sticks forward, nosing down and lettinggravity PULL them towards the center of the wormhole ...

57.


The Endurance reaches the surface of the wormhole. As itcrosses the threshold it becomes apparent that THERE IS NOSURFACE ... the craft simply passes into the space of thedistortion, its own warped reflection flickering towards itas if the ship were leaning into a giant shaving mirror ...

INT. COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS

Cooper and Doyle stare at the distortion of space ahead ...


Brand and Romilly look out at reflections bordering the bulk- a space beyond our three dimensions ...


The Endurance moves through a TUNNEL OF DISTORTEDREFLECTIONS, seeming to gather more and more dizzying speed,but getting no closer to the far mouth, as if on anaccelerating treadmill -


Cooper, awestruck, checks his instruments -

DOYLEThey wont help you in here. Werecutting through the bulk - spacebeyond our three dimensions ...

(Checks his equipment.)All we can do is record andobserve.


Brand JUMPS - a shape in the air in front of her is BENDING,warping to form ripples in spacetime inside the cabin -Romilly STARES at the distortion -

ROMILLYWhat is that?!

Brand watches the distortion move towards her -

58.

BRANDI think - I think its them.

ROMILLYDistorting spacetime? Dont -!

Brand is reaching out towards the warped space - it MOVEStowards her, DISTORTING her hand - but Brand is not in pain...


Cooper and Doyle watch the tunnel mouth STREAK towards them,a mass of stars and nebulae GROWING ...

EXT. FAR SIDE OF THE WORMHOLE - CONTINUOUS

The Endurance slides out of the wormhole.

INT. COCKPIT, LANDER - CONTINUOUS

Suddenly, the instruments are chirping -

DOYLEWere ... here.

Cooper and Doyle look out at the new galaxy ...


Brands hand is back to normal. She stares at her fingers.

ROMILLYWhat was that?

Brand flexes her fingers, delighted.

BRANDThe first handshake.

EXT. FAR SIDE OF THE WORMHOLE - CONTINUOUS

The cosmos is more CROWDED here - STAR upon STAR, NEBULAE...

59.


Doyle calls up data on a workstation -

DOYLEThe lost communications camethrough -

BRANDHow?

DOYLEThe relay on this side cached them.

Doyle flicks through data -Years of basic data - no realsurprises. Millers site has keptpinging thumbs up, as has Mann ...but Edmunds went down, three yearsago.

BRANDTransmitter failure?

DOYLEMaybe. He was sending the thumbs upright till it went dark.

ROMILLYMiller still looks good?

Doyle nods. Romilly is drawing on a whiteboard -Shes coming up fast ... with onecomplication - the planet is muchcloser to Gargantua than wethought.

COOPERGargantua?

DOYLEA very large black hole. Millersand Dr Manns planets orbit it.

BRANDAnd Millers is on the horizon?

ROMILLYA basketball around the hoop.Landing there takes us dangerouslyclose. A black hole that big has ahuge gravitational pull.

Cooper glances around the concerned faces -

60.

COOPERLook, I can swing around thatneutron star to decelerate -

BRANDIts not that, its time. Thatgravity will slow our clockcompared to Earths. Drastically.

COOPERHow bad?

ROMILLYEvery hour we spend on that planetwill be maybe ... seven years backon Earth.

COOPERJesus -

ROMILLYThats relativity, folks.

COOPERWe cant drop down there withoutconsidering the consequences.

DOYLECooper, we have a mission - COOPERThats easy for you to say - youdont have anyone back on Earthwaiting for you, do you?

DOYLEYou have no idea whats easy forme.

BRANDCoopers right. We have to think oftime as a resource, just likeoxygen and food. Going down thereis going to cost us.

Doyle steps up to the screen, points out three planets.

DOYLELook, Dr Manns data is promising,but we wont get there for months.Edmunds is even further. Millerhasnt sent much, but what she hassent is promising - water, organics...

61.

BRANDYou dont find that every day.DOYLE No, you do not. So thinkabout the resources it would taketo come back here ...

They look at each other, considering. Cooper turns toRomilly -

COOPERHow far off the planet do we haveto stay to be out of the timeshift?

Romilly indicates a spot on his white board.

ROMILLYJust back from the cusp.

COOPERSo we track a wider orbit ofGargantua, parallel with Millersplanet but a little further out ...take a Ranger down, grab Miller andher samples, debrief and analyzeback here

BRANDThatll work.

COOPERNo time for monkey business downthere - Tars, youd better wait uphere. Who else?

ROMILLYIf were talking about a coupleyears - Id use that time to workon gravity - observations from thewormhole. Thats gold to ProfessorBrand.

COOPEROkay. Tars, factor an orbit ofGargantua - minimal thrusting -conserve fuel - but stay in range.

TARSDont worry, I wouldnt leave youbehind ...

(Swivels around.)Dr Brand.

She smiles at him.

62.

EXT. BLACK HOLE, GARGANTUA - DAY

A black sphere sucking light from the cosmos, visible by itsdistorting effect on the light of stars behind it - squeezedinto a GLOWING, CURVED HORIZON. The Endurance approaches.

INT. RANGER COCKPIT - DAY

Cooper looks out at Gargantua. Doyle peers over his shoulder

DOYLEA literal heart of darkness ...

Brand points to a small glowing planet nearer the blackness.

BRANDTheres Millers planet.

Cooper turns to Case, the machine riding shotgun.

COOPERReady?

CASEYup.

COOPERDont say much, do you?

CASETars talks plenty for both of us.

Cooper chuckles as he throws a final switch -

COOPERDetach -

EXT. ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

The Ranger DETACHES from the ring module, like an X-1 from aB-29, FIRES retro-thrusters to slow and ... DROPS -

EXT. THE BLACK HOLE, GARGANTUA - DAY

The Ranger SHOOTS down towards Gargantua -

63.


Cooper is in awe at their acceleration -

COOPER(into radio)

Romilly, you reading these forces?


Romilly studies data, marveling.

ROMILLYUnbelievable.

(Looks out at Gargantua.)If we could see the collapsed starinside, the singularity, wed solvegravity.


Cooper looks down at the eerie blackness sliding beneath -

COOPERNo way to get anything from it?

ROMILLY(over radio)

Nothing escapes that horizon. Noteven light. The answers there,just no way to see it.

EXT. GARGANTUA - CONTINUOUS

The Ranger looks tiny as it STREAKS over the blackness, highabove the GLOWING HORIZON. It is approaching Millersplanet, a gleaming dark-blue world ...


Cooper studies his trajectory.CASE

This is fast for atmospheric entry.Should we use the thrusters toslow?

64.

COOPERWere gonna use the Rangersaerodynamics to save the fuel.

CASEAir brake?

COOPERWanna get in fast, dont we?

CASEBrand, Doyle, get ready.

EXT. MILLERS PLANET - CONTINUOUS

The Ranger STREAKS down towards the planet. It starts toencounter the STRATOSPHERE -


The craft starts to HOWL and SHAKE. Cooper studies thecurving horizon, concentrating -

CASEWe should ease -

COOPERHands where I can see them, Case!Only time I ever went down was amachine easing at the wrong moment-

CASEA little caution -

COOPERCan get you killed, same asreckless.

DOYLECooper! Too damn fast!

COOPERI got this.

Cooper squeezes the shaking controls with white knuckles -

CASEShould I disable the feedback?

65.

COOPERNo! No, I need to feel the air ...

EXT. STRATOSPHERE, MILLERS PLANET - CONTINUOUS

The Ranger glows WHITE HOT, slicing through FLAT CLOUDS -


Cooper peers out at the razor-like layers of cloud -

COOPERDo we have a fix on the beacon?

CASEGot it. Can you maneuver?

COOPERGotta shave more speed. Ill tryand spiral down on it -

Doyle looks at Brand, nervous. She takes a breath.


The Ranger CUTS through cloud formations, BURSTING out intoCLEARER AIR, HIGH ABOVE AN ENDLESS OCEAN -


The crew peer at SPARKLING WATER, streaking below them -

DOYLEJust water.

BRANDThe stuff of life ...

CASETwelve hundred meters out.

Cooper BANKS sharply, eases down.

BRANDIts shallow. Feet deep ...

66.


The Ranger is low now, kicking up backwash -


CASESeven hundred meters ...

Cooper peers ahead -

COOPERWait for it ...

CASEFive hundred meters ...

Cooper YANKS the stick -

COOPERFire!


The Rangers retro-rockets FIRE - killing the crafts speedjust feet from the surface. Water SPRAYS UP as the RangerSLEWS diagonally, gear is lowered, the Ranger drops, itslanding gear holding it just above the shallow water.


Everyone BOUNCES with the impact. Then BREATHES.

BRANDVery graceful.

COOPERNo. But it was very efficient.

(Looks at them.)Whatre you waiting for? Go!

Brand and Doyle hurry out of their harnesses, helmets on.Case moves to the hatch. With a CRACK, the hatch opens andLIGHT and SPRAY whip inside ...

67.

EXT. MILLERS PLANET - MOMENTS LATER (DAY)

Case climbs quickly from the craft, knee deep in the water.Brand and Doyle follow. Case TRACKS the beacon.

CASEThis way, about two hundred meters.

Brand and Doyle peer into the distance. Smooth, ankle-deepwater to the horizon, where a distant MOUNTAIN RANGE LOOMS.They start splashing towards it in their heavy spacesuits...

DOYLE(panting)

The gravitys punishing ...

BRANDFloating through space too long?

CASEOne hundred and thirty percentEarth gravity.


Cooper listens to their chatter, IMPATIENT.

COOPER(under his breath)

Come on ...


Doyle falls behind. Brand pushes on. Ahead, Case stops.

CASEShould be here.

Brand joins him, searching the shallows for some sign ofMillers mission. She looks up, confused.

BRANDIf the signals coming from here -

Case DROPS to his knees THRASHING under the water, like abear fishing. Doyle arrives -

DOYLEWhats he doing?

68.

INT. COCKPIT, LANDER - CONTINUOUS

Cooper notices something. In the distance. The mountains -


Case WRENCHES a piece of DAMAGED EQUIPMENT from the sea bed.

BRANDHer beacon ...

Case starts lugging the beacon to the Ranger.

DOYLEWreckage. Wheres the rest ...?

BRANDTowards the mountains!

She starts moving fast towards some FLOATING OBJECTS.


Cooper is staring out at the horizon -

COOPERThose arent mountains ...


Brand pauses -

COOPER(over radio)

Theyre waves -

Brand looks closer - the mountains are moving, tiny linesof white sea spray are blowing from the tops ...


Cooper looks the other direction ... there is a MOUNTAINWAVE BEARING DOWN ON THE SHIP ...

69.


Brand is searching the wreckage -.

COOPER(over radio)

Brand, get back here!

BRANDWe need the recorder -

Doyle looks from Brand to Case, who is loading the beacon.Beyond him Doyle sees the mountain wave approaching -

DOYLECase, go get her!


Cooper hits the dash, frustrated.

COOPERDammit! Brand, get back here!


Brand sloshes along, checking DEBRIS -

BRANDWe cant leave without her data -

COOPER(over radio)

You dont have time!

Case is back at Doyle.

DOYLEGo, go!

Case takes off towards Brand, who is trying to lift a pieceof equipment from the water. She drops it and moves on -

EXT. RANGER - CONTINUOUS

Cooper swings open the hatch, stands in the doorway, peeringout at the approaching mountain waves - turns back to Brand-

70.

COOPERGet back here! Now!

Brand has pulled something heavy from the wreckage - sheSLIPS, the wreckage PINNING her down ... She looks back atthe Ranger - sees the mountain wave THOUSANDS OF FEET HIGHALMOST UPON THEM -

BRANDCooper, go! Go! I cant make it!

Cooper looks at Case RACING towards her -

COOPERGet up, Brand!

BRANDGO! GET OUT OF HERE!

Case THROWS her onto his back and starts running. Doylestands, mesmerized by the sheer liquid mountain face ...

COOPERDoyle! Come on! Case has her!

Doyle turns, starts sloshing back, the water RUNNING againsthis ankles now ... Two hundred yards behind, Case POUNDSthrough the shallows, Brand on his back -

Cooper looks up at the EVER CLOSER MOUNTAIN WAVE - jumpsinside.


Cooper powers up, as the wall of liquid fills his view.

COOPERCome on, come on ...

He sees the water right upon them - RUNS back to the hatch.Doyle is at the foot of the ladder, Case RUNNING FAST.

DOYLEGo!

Case JUMPS up the ladder, THROWS Brand inside - TURNS forDoyle. The Ranger TILTS, RISES - DOYLE IS RIPPED FROM CASESHAND - WATER RAGES ACROSS THE OPEN HATCH -

COOPERShut the hatch!

Case shuts the hatch. Cooper is throwing switches -

71.

COOPERPower down! Power down! We have toride it out!

(To Brand, furious.)We are not prepared for this!


Doyle is DRAGGED under and away. The Ranger is SUCKEDSIDEWAYS up the face of the mountain -


Brand and Cooper are thrown across the cockpit. Case GRABSBrand, pulls her into her seat - Cooper holds on as thecraft ROLLS and ROLLS -


The Ranger reaches the top of the wave, rocks upright -


Cooper drops into his seat as the water pours off the canopy-


The Ranger tilts over the backside of the wave, SURFING fora second then PITCHING FORWARD - TUMBLING DOWN 8,000 FEET...


They hang on for dear life, THRASHED MERCILESSLY -


The Ranger comes AGROUND as the wave leaves it behind ...

72.


The craft comes to rest. Cooper jumps to the controls,powers up the electrics. The engines wont respond -


The gear LIFTS the Ranger. Water FLOODS out -


Cooper tries the engines again. Nothing.

CASEToo waterlogged. Let it drain.

COOPER(hits console)

GODDAMN!

BRANDI told you to leave me.

COOPERAnd I told you to get your ass backhere! Difference is, only one of uswas thinking about the mission -

BRANDCooper, you were thinking aboutgetting home - I was trying to dothe right thing!

COOPERTell that to Doyle.

Quiet. Cooper looks down at the clock. Bitter.How long to drain, Case?

CASEForty-five to an hour.

Cooper shakes his head. Pulls his helmet off.

COOPERThe stuff of life, huh? Whats thisgonna cost us, Brand?

BRANDA lot. Decades.

Cooper rubs his face. Mind reeling. Trying to breathe.

73.

COOPERWhat happened to Miller?

BRANDJudging by the wreckage, she wasbroken up by a wave soon afterimpact.

COOPERHow could the wreckage still betogether after all these years?

BRANDBecause of the time slippage. Onthis planets time, she landed herejust hours ago. She mightve onlydied minutes ago.

Case indicates the beacon.

CASEThe data Doyle received was justthe initial status, echoingendlessly.

Cooper takes this in. Breathes hard. Takes off his gloves.

COOPERWere not prepared for this, Brand.Youre a bunch of eggheads withoutthe survival skills of a boy-scouttroop.

BRANDWe got this far on our brains -farther than any humans in history-

COOPERNot far enough. And were stuckhere till there wont be anyoneleft on Earth to save -

BRANDIm counting every second, same asyou, Cooper.

Cooper takes this in. Theyre in the same boat.

COOPERDont you have some clever way wejump into a black hole and get backthe years?

74.

She shakes her head, dismissive.

COOPERDont just shake your head at me -!

BRANDTime is relative - it can stretchand squeeze - but it cant runbackwards. The only thing that canmove across dimensions like time isgravity.

COOPER(thinks)

The beings who led us here ... theycommunicate through gravity ...

Brand nods.Could they be talking to us fromthe future?

BRAND(considers)

Maybe ...

COOPERWell, if they can -

BRANDLook, Cooper, theyre creatures ofat least five dimensions - to themtime may be just another physicaldimension. To them the past mightbe a canyon they can climb into andthe future a mountain they can canclimb up ... but to us its not,okay?

Brand pulls her helmet off. Looks Cooper in the eyes.

BRANDIm sorry, Cooper. I screwed up.But you knew about relativity.

COOPERMy daughter was ten. I couldntexplain Einsteins theories beforeI left.

BRANDCould you tell her you were goingto save the world?

75.

COOPERNo. I wasnt much of a parent, butI understood the most importantthing - let your kids feel safe.Which rules out telling aten-year-old that the worldsending.

CASECooper?

Case is pointing out at another MOUNTAIN RANGE.

COOPERHow long for the engines?

CASEA minute or two -

COOPERWe dont have it!

The mountain wave is approaching. Cooper tries the engines -


The rockets COUGH and steam ...


Cooper tries the engines again. Close. But no ignition.

COOPERHelmets on!

The wave is upon them ...

COOPERBlow our cabin oxygen through themain thrusters. Well spark it -

Case hits a button - a HISS and SHRIEK of gas escaping ...Brand seals her helmet just as the cockpit DEPRESSURIZES -

COOPERCome on, now ...

Cooper hits the engines - they BLAST TO LIFE -

76.


A fiery BLAST sends the Ranger clear of the mountain wave.

Down below, Doyles body lies in the shallows, about to beswept up into the next rush of water ...


Romilly watches as Cooper and Brand enter the Endurance.

BRANDHello, Rom.

ROMILLYIve waited years.

COOPERHow many years?

ROMILLYBy now ... it must be -

TARSTwenty-three years ...

Coopers head lowers.

TARS... four months, eight days.

Cooper turns away.

ROMILLYDoyle?

Brands eyes flicker down. She shakes her head. She graspsRomillys hands, looks up into his eyes, vulnerable -

BRANDI thought I was prepared. I knewall the theory. Realitysdifferent.

ROMILLYAnd Miller?

BRANDTheres nothing here for us.

Brand looks at Romillys wrinkles. His greying beard.

77.

BRANDWhy didnt you sleep?

ROMILLYI did a couple of stretches. But Istopped believing you were comingback, and something seems wrongabout dreaming your life away. Ilearned what I could from studyingthe black hole, but I couldnt sendanything to your father. Weve beenreceiving, but nothing gets out.

She looks up at Romilly, not wanting to ask ...

BRANDIs he still alive?

Romilly nods. Brand closes her eyes with relief.

ROMILLYWeve got years of messages stored...

Brand opens her eyes, looks for Cooper. He is in the comm.booth. He SHUTS the privacy curtain. She looks down.

INT. COMMUNICATIONS BOOTH, ENDURANCE - CONTINUOUS

Cooper studies the machine like it might bite him.

COOPERCooper.

COMPUTER VOICEMessages span twenty-three years -

COOPERI know.

(Whispers.)Just start at the beginning.

Cooper leans forward as the screen flickers to life: Tom,still seventeen, turns on the camera.

TOMHi, Dad -

Cooper pauses it. Prepares himself. Lets it run -

78.

TOMI met another girl, Dad. I reallythink this is the one -

Tom holds up a picture of himself and a teenage GIRL.Murph stole Grandpas car. Shecrashed it - shes okay, though.Your trucks still running -Grandpa said she should steal thatnext time. I said if she did itdbe the last thing she did ...

Cooper leans back ...

INT. COMMUNICATIONS BOOTH, ENDURANCE - DAY

Cooper is holed up, still watching, unshaved. Hes beenwatching for days. On the screen, Tom is in his twenties -

TOMIve got a surprise for you, Dad.Youre a grandpa ...

Tom holds up an infant wrapped tight in swaddling.Congratulations. Meet Jesse.

Cooper smiles a tearful smile.Grandpa said he already earned thegreat part so we just leave it atthat.

The screen cuts out. Then comes back on. Tom in his thirties-

Hi, Dad. Im sorry its beenawhile. What with Jesse and all ...

He stops, emotional.Grandpa died last week. We buriedhim out in the back forty, next toMom and Jesse.

(Looks down.)Where wed have buried you, ifyoud ever come back.

(Looks up.)Murph was there for the funeral. Idont see her so much anymore.

(Sighs.)Youre not listening to this. Iknow that. All these messages arejust out there, drifting in thedarkness ... I figured as long asthey were willing to send themthere was some hope, but ...

79.

(Pauses.)Youre gone. Youre never comingback. And Ive known that for along time. Lois says - thats mywife, Dad - she says I have to letyou go. So I am.

(Reaches up to turn offcamera.)

Wherever you are, I hope youre atpeace. Goodbye, Dad.

The screen goes black. Tears are streaming down Coopersface. He stares at the black screen, wiping his face. Hestarts to get up - the screen flickers to life once more -

A beautiful WOMAN of about forty has turned on the camera -she looks at us, unsure about this. Makes a start -

WOMANHello, Dad. You sonofabitch.

Cooper peers into the face, recognizing -

COOPER(whispers)

Murph?

WOMAN (MURPH)I never made one of these when youwere still responding cos I was somad at you for leaving. When youwent quiet, it seemed like I shouldjust live with my decision. And Ihave ...

(Looks around.)But todays my birthday. And its aspecial one because you once toldme -

She stops, unable to speak for a second.

MURPHYou once told me that when you cameback we might be the same age ...and today Im the age you were whenyou left ...

(Starts crying.)So itd be a real good time for youto come back.

Murph reaches up, switches off the camera and we stay withher in -

80.

INT. COMMUNICATION ROOM, NASA - DAY

Murph brings her hand down from the camera. Wipes her tears.

PROFESSOR BRAND(O.S., softly)

I didnt mean to intrude.

Murph turns to see Professor Brand, now ELDERLY, in aWHEELCHAIR in the doorway.

PROFESSOR BRANDIve never seen you in here before.

Murph rises -

MURPHIve never been in here before.

Murph wheels Professor Brand out into the corridor.

INT. CURVING CORRIDOR, NASA - MOMENTS LATER

Murph pushes Professor Brand.

PROFESSOR BRANDI talk to Amelia all the time. Ithelps. Im glad youve started -

MURPHI havent. I just had something Iwanted to get out.

INT. PROFESSOR BRANDS OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Professor Brand wheels behind his desk.

PROFESSOR BRANDI know theyre still out there.

MURPHI know.

PROFESSOR BRANDThere are so many reasons theircommunications might not be gettingthrough.

MURPH(smiles gently)

I know, Professor.

81.

PROFESSOR BRANDIm not sure which Im more afraidof ... they never come back, orthey come back to find wevefailed.

She watches his introspection. Brings him back with -

MURPHThen lets succeed.

PROFESSOR BRAND(gestures at formula)

So, back from the fourth iteration,lets run it with a finite set.

Murph has picked up a notebook. Pauses.

MURPHWith respect, Professor. Wevetried that hundreds of times.

PROFESSOR BRANDAnd it only has to work once,Murph.

She shrugs. Starts to work.

INT. LAUNCH FACILITY - LATER

Murph and Professor Brand sit, eating sandwiches on awalkway. WORKERS move about the CIRCULAR CHAMBER, buildingmore SIDEWAYS INFRASTRUCTURE. Professor Brand looks down,proud.

PROFESSOR BRANDEvery rivet they drive in couldhave been a bullet. Weve done wellfor the world, here. Whether or notwe crack the equation before I kick-

MURPHDont be morbid, Professor.

PROFESSOR BRANDIm not afraid of death, Murph. Iman old physicist - Im afraid oftime.

82.

INT. PROFESSOR BRANDS OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Murph stands before the algebra. She REALIZES something.

MURPHTime ... youre afraid of time ...

CONVINCED, she TURNS -Professor, the equation ...?

He looks up.For years weve tried to solve itwithout changing the underlyingassumptions about time -

PROFESSOR BRANDAnd?

MURPHAnd that means each iterationbecomes an attempt to prove its ownproof - its recursive. Nonsensical-

PROFESSOR BRAND(sharp)

Are you calling my lifes worknonsense, Murph?

MURPHNo, Im saying youve been tryingto finish it with one arm - no,with both arms tied behind yourback ...

Murph focuses on Professor Brand, suddenly WARY ...... and I dont understand why.

Professor Brand looks down. Starts wheeling his chair.

PROFESSOR BRANDIm an old man, Murph. Could wepick this up some other time? Idlike to go talk to my daughter.

Murph nods. Looking at the Professor. Confused.


Stepping out into the universe, wemust first confront the realitythat nothing in our solar systemcan help us ...

83.

INT. COMMUNICATIONS BOOTH, ENDURANCE - NIGHT

Brand watches her father on screen.


... then we must confront therealities of interstellar travel.We must venture far beyond thereach of our own life spans. Wemust think not as individuals, butas a species ...


Romilly, Brand, Cooper, Tars and Case sit in discussion.

COOPERTars kept the Endurance right wherewe needed her, but it took yearslonger than we anticipated ...

Cooper puts both planets on screen - Dr Manns ice world,and Edmunds desert planet.

COOPERWe dont have the fuel to visitboth prospects. We have to choose.

ROMILLYHow? Theyre both promising.Edmunds data was better, but DrMann is the one still transmitting.

BRANDWeve got no reason to supposeEdmunds results would have soured.His world has key elements tosustain human life -

COOPERAs does Dr Manns.

BRANDCooper, this is my field. And Ireally believe Edmunds is thebetter prospect.

COOPER(challenging)

Why?

84.

BRANDGargantua, thats why.

(Steps to board.)Look at Millers world -hydrocarbons, organics, yes. But nolife. Sterile. Well find the samething on Dr Manns.

ROMILLYBecause of the black hole?

BRAND(nods)

Murphys Law - whatever can happenwill happen. Accident is the firstbuilding block of evolution - butwhen youre orbiting a black holenot enough can happen - it sucks inasteroids and comets, random eventsthat would otherwise reach you. Weneed to go to further afield.

COOPERYou once referred to Dr Mann as thebest of us.

BRANDHes remarkable. Were only herebecause of him.

COOPERAnd hes there on the groundsending an unambiguous message thatwe should go to that planet.

Brand is silent. Romilly looks from Brand to Cooper.

ROMILLYShould we vote?

COOPERIf were going to vote, theressomething you need to know. Brand?

She says nothing.He has a right to know.

BRANDThat has nothing to do with it.

ROMILLYWhat does?

85.

COOPERShes in love with Wolf Edmunds.

ROMILLY(to Brand)

Is that true?

BRANDYes. And that makes me want tofollow my heart. But maybe wevespent too long trying to figure allthis with theory -

COOPERYoure a scientist, Brand -

BRANDI am. So listen to me when I tellyou that love isnt something weinvented - its observable,powerful. Why shouldnt it meansomething?

COOPERIt means social utility - childrearing, social bonding -

BRANDWe love people whove died ...wheres the social utility in that?Maybe it means more - something wecant understand, yet. Maybe itssome evidence, some artifact ofhigher dimensions that we cantconsciously perceive. Im drawnacross the universe to someone Ihavent seen for a decade, who Iknow is probably dead. Love is theone thing were capable ofperceiving that transcendsdimensions of time and space. Maybewe should trust that, even if wecant yet understand it.

Brand looks at Romilly, who cant meet her eye.

BRANDCooper, yes - the tiniestpossibility of seeing Wolf againexcites me. But that doesnt meanIm wrong.

Cooper thinks back to his conversation with Donald.

86.

COOPERHonestly, Amelia ... it might.

Romilly looks at Brand. Its clear shes lost.

COOPERTars, set the course for Dr Mann.

Brand is starting to tear up. She turns away.

EXT. OUTER SPACE - MOMENTS LATER

The thrusters FIRE, pushing the Endurance out of its orbitof Gargantua.


Brand is checking her POPULATION BOMB. Cooper enters.

COOPERBrand, Im sorry.

BRANDWhy? Youre just being objective.

(Beat.)Unless youre punishing me forscrewing up on Millers planet.

COOPERThis wasnt a personal decision forme.

Brand turns from her equipment. Looks him in the eye.

BRANDWell, if youre wrong, youll havea very personal decision to make.

(Off look.)Your fuel calculations are based ona return journey. Strike out on DrManns planet, and well have todecide whether to return home, orpush on to Edmunds planet withPlan B. Starting a colony couldsave us from extinction.

She closes the population bomb.You might have to decide betweenseeing your children again ... andthe future of the human race.

(Smiles bitterly.)(MORE)

87.

BRAND (contd)I trust youll be as objective,then.

EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS

The Endurance sinks past a GLORIOUS NEBULA whose GOLDENMISTS DISSOLVE TO ROILING BLACK CLOUDS and we are -

EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

Murph stands with Tom, now late forties. Watching a fieldBURN.

TOMWell lose about a third thisseason. But next year ... Im gonnastart working Nelsons fields.Should make it up.

MURPHWhat happened to Nelson?

Tom glances at her. Dont ask. Heads for the house.

INT./EXT. FARMHOUSE - DUSK

Murph at family dinner with Tom, LOIS, and theirsix-year-old son COOP.

LOISWill you stay the night? We leftyour room like it was ...

Murph looks down, awkward ...

MURPHNo, I need to ...

Murph looks upstairs. At Lois.Too many memories, Lois.

She nods. Coop helps Tom clear. As Coop takes Murphs platehe starts COUGHING. Looks up at her, sees her concern,GRINS.

COOPThe dust.

He and Tom head into the kitchen.

88.

MURPHI have a friend who should look athis lungs, Lois.

She nods, is about to speak. Tom sits back down.

Pull

Documents

Interstellar by Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan