Lost Cadets - Screenplay - Draft 3

8/16/2019 Lost Cadets - Screenplay - Draft 3

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LOST CADETS

Written by

Vernon Shaw

Draft 3


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EXT. OPEN SPACE - NIGHT

A derelict HELLCAT MK V floats in the vaccuum of space. Itrotates ever so slightly.

This is an old interceptor. Or should be. Mk V’s werediscontinued for their superior successors, the HELLCAT MK

VI, 20 years ago. Its almost-immaculate paint job shimmers inthe glare from a distant sun.

The Mk V floats closer, almost as if it were taking its time.As it fills the frame, we catch the faintest glimpse of itsUNCONSCIOUS PILOT through a cracked glass cockpit.

BAUER (V.O.)IT’s really important that werespond to these distress signalsas soon as possible.

Four grappling magnets fired from two Hellcat Mk VIs connect

with the derelict Mk V. The Mk VIs feel stronger and faster. Wartime tech has advanced drastically in the last 20 years.

BAUER (V.O.) (CONT'D)This is a dangerous area. Not a lotof military presence. Lots ofbandits looking for anything theycan get their hands on.

The two Mk VIs tow the MK V toward the USF COPERNICUS, theirhome ship. The Copernicus is a light battlecruiser meant forquick hit-and-run missions in space. It’s miniscule bycomparison to larger ships in the USF’s fleet - most

comparable to a submarine. The ship has two gun turrets bothat the top and bottom sides and a forward facing energycannon at the bow.

A docking bay door opens at the forepeak to accept the newrescue.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - CONTINUOUS

The inside of C&C is cramped and claustrophobic, like thebridge of a submarine. Switches, instruments, and railingsjut out from the walls. THREE CREWMEMBERS helm the ship onvarious panels while SEVERAL MORE mill about, carrying filefolders and handheld devices.

SECTION LEADER HAMILTON BAUER (18, clean cut male cadet) andSECTION LEADER KATE PERSHING (15, female, short cropped hair,tiny by comparison) stare out one of the C&C viewports at therescue mission.


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Bauer and Pershing are members of the USF Cadets - SpaceROTC. They, among several other young cadets, are on theirintroductory mission into space.

BAUERSo essentially, it’s a race againsttime.

COMMANDER WILKINSON (40s, distinguished) steps into theforeground. Bauer and Pershing turn toward him.

WILKINSONBauer, head down to docking to help

with the offloading.

BAUER(saluting)

Yes, sir.

He punches Pershing on the arm, playfully.

BAUER (CONT'D)Bridge is yours, section leaderPershing.

He exits toward the docking bay.

WILKINSONPershing, don’t you have yourbridge drills?

PERSHINGSorry, sir.

INT. COPERNICUS - DOCKING HANGAR - MOMENTS LATER

The docking bay is the most spacious part of the ship,although it’s a wonder that they were able to fit three shipsin there. Boxes, hoses, and railings run the length of thebay.

Bauer enters into the Docking Hangar from the elevator,pausing as he sees the Mk V.

THREE MORE CREWMEMBERS surround the Mk V. CREWMEMBER #3 peersinto the cockpit while on a wheeled stepladder.

CREWMEMBER #1How old is this thing?

CREWMEMBER #2Old...


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CREWMEMBER #1Doesn't look old.

Crewmember #3 peers closer at the Unconscious Pilot. A suddenrealization:

CREWMEMBER #3

He’s breathing! I think he’s alive!

Bauer breaks into a run to aid the other crewmembers whilethey break open the glass cockpit.

They pull the Unconscious Pilot onto a simple stretcher andcarry him toward the elevator.

The Unconscious Pilot’s face is obfuscated by his helmet. Hisspace suit seems older than everything else on the Copernicus- lower tech. It’s like comparing space suits from the 1960sto the space suits of today.

CREWMEMBER #3 (CONT'D) When was the last time you saw gearlike this?

CREWMEMBER #2I think my dad wore something likethis back when he served.

INT. COPERNICUS - MAIN CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

The stretcher crew (including Bauer) exits the elevator intothe main corridor of the ship. They head in the direction of

the Sick Bay.

BAUERIt’s just strange, is all. How long

was he floating out there if hissuit is that old?

CREWMEMBER #3Everything out here in the coloniesis old. For all we know this couldbe some rat who scavenged thisgear.

This is our flythrough of the ship. The camera follows thestretcher as it passes each section. First peaking into...

INT. COPERNICUS - CREW BERTHING - CONTINUOUS

Crew Berthing is a room with a set of lockers and bunk bedsin the middle of the room and inlaid into the walls.


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CADETS TYONDAI BISHOP (15, male, short-cropped hair), ANDRENOVIKOV (17, lanky), and LONNIE MARSHALL (14) all scrub thefloor.

MARSHALLIt’s her last name that got it forher.

BISHOPPershing deserved the SectionLeader slot.

NOVIKOVSo you’re not mad that you gotpassed up?

Off Bishop's look we fly into the...


Back on the stretcher team. They pass through..

INT. COPERNICUS - ENGINEERING - CONTINUOUS

Engineering is intertwined with the corridor more so than theother sections of the ship - more pipes, more valves, moreclutter - all compartmentalized to be as space-effecient aspossible. It juts out into three different walkways toaccommodate for all of the machinery.

Four ENGINEERS wrench various instruments as the stretcher

team passes through.

ENGINEER #1 We’re gonna come up short on workthis week.

ENGINEER #2It’s these kids. Can’t get anythingdone when half your crew can’tlegally drink.

INT. COPERNICUS - MAIN CORIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Back on the stretcher crew as they run past...


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INT. COPERNICUS - SECURITY - CONTINUOUS

Weapons behind locked cabinets line the Security room. ASECURITY CREWMEMBER shows EMILY KUMAMOTO (14) and DARREN (14,chubby kid) a futuristic-looking assault rifle on a weaponsbench.

KUMAMOTODo you ever end up using these?

SECURITY CREWMEMBERNo, never.

DARRENHave you ever killed anyone?

KUMAMOTODarren!


Back on the stretcher team. They finally arrive at theirdestination, entering the doorway to the...

INT. COPERNICUS - INFIRMARY - CONTINUOUS

The infirmary is small - just a fold-down operating table with a single light hanging over it. To conserve room on theship, the Infirmary is also used as a supply room - storagecontainers crowd the peripheries.

The stretcher team clears the operating table of storageitems and lays the Unconscious Pilot down on the operatingtable. The CORPSMAN (late 20s, surgical mask covering hisface) approaches.

CORPSMAN What’s his deal?

CREWMEMBER #1Picked him up off a distresssignal. Figured he must’ve died ofexposure but we found himbreathing.

The Corpsman leans in closer and opens the UnconsciousPilot’s visor, revealing for the first time CAPTAIN JAMESRAEDER (early 30s, clean-cropped mustache under three days ofstubble). He’s covered in dirt, stubble, and sweat.

A brief moment of silence. The occupants of the room lean in.Raeder breathes peacefully... until--


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Raeder’s eyes SHOOT OPEN. A wave of panic washes of his face.

RAEDEROh no.

Raeder HEAVES FORWARD and vomits a BLACK, TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCEover the front of his space-suit.

The occupants of the room jump back in fright. Almostimmediately Crewmember #1, Crewmember #2, Crewmember #3 andthe Corpsman begin coughing and doubling over. Bauer isunaffected but scared. His eyes dart around the room.

INSERT: CU of an air vent in an upper corner of the room. Wehear the HISSING of the air flow.


Kumamoto and Darren watch as the Security Crewmember begins

coughing, backing away from them.


The engineers slump over their workstations as they doubleover in coughing fits.


Pershing watches every crewmember - including Commander Wilkinson, as they succumb to crippling coughs.

After a moment, the coughing slows, then stops. Thecrewmembers rise to full height. Changed. Predatory. Almostas if they were animals now.

They eye each other for a moment. There’s a moment ofsilence, then...

All hell breaks loose. The crewmembers in Command and Controlattack each other wildly. Pershing watches in disbelief asthey claw at each others’ throats.

INT. COPERNICUS - INFIRMARY - SIMULTANEOUS

The Corpsman attacks a shocked BAUER, who’s backing himselfinto a corner of the infirmary. Bauer tries blocking him withhis forearm.

BAUERStop!


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Bauer topples to the floor with the corpsman on top of him,knocking over supplies and instruments as the stretcher crewfights behind them.

The corpsman raises his hand high, ready to strike.

BAUER (CONT'D)

Please...

INT. COPERNICUS - SECURITY - SIMULATANEOUS

Kumamoto and Darren stare at the Security Crewmember, doubledover, his back to them.

DARRENAre you... okay?

The Security Crewmember turns and leaps at Darren, topplinghim over. Kumamoto scoots behind another weapons desk in the

corner of the room. She's gripped with fear.

The Security Crewmember wraps his hands around Darren’sthroat. He begins to turn purple.

Kumamoto can’t move.

INT. COPERNICUS - CREW BERTHING - SIMULTANEOUS

Bishop, Novikov, and Marshall look up from their cleaningtoward the entrance to berthing. They hear FAINT CLATTERINGAND SCREAMING. Bishop gets up and cautiously approaches the

hatchway.

He looks around down the hallway, revealing one Engineer ontop of another Dead Engineer - his bloody fist ready tostrike again.

The Engineer’s head snaps to Bishop. He gets up and beginsrunning at Bishop.

BISHOP(to Novikov and Marshall)Hide!

After a moment, the Engineer arrives at Crew Berthing andstops, surveying the room. The cadets are nowhere in sight.

CUT TO:


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INT. CREW BERTHING LOCKERS - CONTINUOUS

We see Bishop, Novikov, and Marshall in individual lockers.Novikov holds his hand over his mouth to cover the sound ofhis hyperventilating.

Marshall cracks first. He lets out a small yelp.


The Engineer takes the cue and slams full force into thelockers. He beats on them relentlessly.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - SIMULTANEOUS

Pershing continues to gape at the chaos in front of her.Crewmembers slam into instruments, destroying the environmentaround them. A crewmember slams another’s head into one of

C&C's workstations, sending sparks into the air andinitiating the ship's Emergency Mode: red lights flood andflash throughout the Copernicus continually.

Commander Wilkinson lunges at her. She falls back into thecrevice between two consoles. Screaming and kicking at

Wilkinson’s outstretched arms.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

We see all of our cadets:

-Bauer fighting for his life in the Infirmary, still pinneddown by the Corpsman.

-Kumamoto under the weapons bench, dead behind the eyes;

-Novikov, Bishop and Marshall inside of their lockers.

-Pershing wedged between consoles. Wilkinson reaching towardher.

-Close-up of Pershing’s name badge on the front of heruniform: PERSHING

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE - DAY

The USF Ptolemy floats in low orbit above a green gas planet.It’s roughly four times larger than the Copernicus - acarrier compared to a submarine.


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Large rotating cannons and missile bays cover the ship. Itshangar looks like it can hold 30 Hellcats easily.

MACHINIST’S MATE #1 (V.O.) When was the last time you were onEarth?

INT. PTOLEMY - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Two machinist’s mates walk down a long, wide corridor. Instark contrast to the Copernicus’ claustrophobic atmosphere,the Ptolemy is big and spacious. The ship is cleaner,brighter, and even the crewmembers are more strict abouttheir uniforms.

MACHINIST’S MATE #2Must be five years by now. I havefamily back there, just haven’t

made the time. Dunno why.

They round a corner, walking past UNKNOWN COMMANDER(50s,dignified) and EXECUTIVE-OFFICER ERIK STEINWELL (Late 30s).STEINWELL carries file folders.

MACHINIST’S MATE #1Good morning, Commander. XO.

Steinwell and Pershing enter through a bulkhead hatchway intothe...

INT. PTOLEMY - BRIEFING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The lights are dim. A huge viewport along the back wall showsthe curvature of the green planet. Steinwell and the unknowncommander sit down at an elongated conference table. Theirfaces are obfuscated by shadows.

A hologram apparatus at the center of the table turns on,alternating between a 3-dimensional wireframe model of theUSF Copernicus, a starmap, and an audio waveform of GENERALPARK’S (50s) voice.

GENERAL PARKAt 2100 hours last night, the USFCopernicus discovered a derelictHellcat MK V belonging to a oneCaptain James Raeder.

Commander Pershing processes this. A beat.

COMMANDER Was there anyone on board?


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GENERAL PARKNot specified. We lost contact withthe USF Copernicus one hour later.The last known transmission wassent just after the Copernicus hadbrought the Mk V aboard. She’s beendead in the water since.

COMMANDERThe Brahe Virus?

GENERAL PARK We can only assume so.

COMMANDER What about survivors?

GENERAL PARKBased upon our experience aboardthe USF Brahe and all investigation

performed thereafter. Any survivorsare assuredly compromised.

Through the shadows we see the emotionless, stone face of theunknown commander.

GENERAL PARK (CONT'D)Your orders are to destroy theCopernicus and investigate thesurrounding area. We’retransmitting encrypted coordinatesnow. There’s no telling what couldhappen if that disease were to

spread.

COMMANDERUnderstood.

The transmission ends and the lights turn back on. After a moment, Steinwell breaks the almost-uncomfortable silence.

STEINWELLThe Brahe virus?

COMMANDERIt’s classified.

A beat.

COMMANDER (CONT'D)You are to tell no one about that

meeting.

More silence between the two. Steinwell breaks it again.


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STEINWELLCommander, something wrong?

The unknown commander stops and looks Steinwell in the eyes.For the first time, we see emotion on his face.

COMMANDER

There were kids aboard that ship.

CU of the Commander’s name badge: PERSHING

INT. COPERNICUS - SECURITY - NIGHT

On Cadet Emily Kumamoto. She’s in shock, unable to processthe site of a security officer strangling her fellow cadet todeath. Red hazard lights continue to pulsate throughout theship.

The security crewmember’s head snaps over to Kumamoto. He

gets up and lumbers toward her, ready to attack.

Suddenly, the security member is tackled from the side. It’sBauer: bloody, beaten, but still alive - looking as crazy asone of the infected. He carries a bloody scalpel in one ofhis hands.

Bauer finds himself on top of the security crewmember andstabs the security crewmember repeatedly with the scalpel.Blood sprays everywhere - it’s somehow more brutal thanDarren’s death.

Breathing heavily, Bauer gets up and grabs the assault rifle

from the workbench. He loads in a magazine, primes a round,and turns on the flashlight at the front of the gun.

He almost misses Kumamoto tucked away in the corner. On asecond glance:

BAUERKumamoto, close the hatch behind

me. Don’t come out until it’s safe.

Bauer walks toward the exit. He stops and turns to Kumamotoagain, realizing she’s shell-shocked.

BAUER (CONT'D)Kumamoto. Close the hatch behind

me.

Kumamoto gives a shaky nod and finally gets up.


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INT. COPERNICUS - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

On Bauer as he rounds the corner out of Security - the hatchcloses behind him and we hear a LOCKING MECHANISM. Weapon atthe ready, Bauer moves cautiously into...


Bauer surveys the area: the bodies of engineers litter the walkway - all brutally murdered. He steps over them,seemingly worried that one will come back to life and grabhim. He accidentally kicks a wrench on the floor - it fallsthrough the metal grate of the walkway, CLANGING as it falls.


The engineer bangs on the locker, having made a significantdent in it. He reacts to the CLANGING in the distance. He

runs out of the room to pursue.


Bauer sees the engineer exiting crew berthing, runningstraight for him. Bauer lights him up with a three roundburst. The engineer falls to the floor - dead.


Wilkinson still reaches out toward Pershing. C&C is a broken

down wreck at this point - smoking panels and bodieseverywhere. We hear the BANG BANG BANG of the assault riflecoming from further down in the ship.

The three living crewmembers, including Wilkinson, react tothis. Wilkinson disengages with Pershing and runs out of theroom with the rest of the crewmembers.


Bauer advances. He sees the first crewmember emerge from C&Cand fires another three round burst - following him with hisrifle as the body falls.

Distracted by the first crewmember, Bauer looks up just intime to fire at the second crewmember just yards way fromhim. The crewmember’s momentum continues him down the hall,toppling Bauer over onto the floor.


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Wilkinson follows. He lunges, landing on top of Bauer beforehe can fire. Bauer fights to keep Wilkinson from getting hishands around his neck. He struggles to regain control of hisrifle. The two kick around on the floor, Wilkinson thrashingat Bauer’s face. Bauer just manages to position the assaultrifle on Wilkinson’s stomach. Then...

BANG

Wilkinson’s eyes go wide, the fight drains out of him. Bauerpushes him to the side and stands over him, assault rifletrained.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL

BANG BANG BANG

Muzzle flashes illuminate the hallway. A moment later, Bauerenters into C&C, stepping over dead bodies.

He pushes a dead crewmember off of a console and punches acode into an analog keyboard inset into the panel. The red,pulsating emergency lights switch to normal.

BAUERIt’s okay, Pershing. You can comeout now.

Pershing emerges from her nook.


Bishop, Novikov, and Marshall all peek out of their lockers,exiting cautiously.

INT. COPERNICUS - MAIN CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER

Bishop, Novikov, and Marshall round the corner toward C&C. Inthe background we see Kumamoto approaching from Engineering.


Bauer punches more keys. A holographic video panel pops up,displaying in red:

DISTRESS SIGNAL ACTIVATED

A subtle BEEP plays in rhythm to signify the distress signal.


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Bishop, Novikov, Marshall, and Kumamoto enter through thehatchway. For the first time, we see our crew gatheredtogether. Bauer stands heroic, assault rifle at the side.

BAUERIt’s all gonna be okay.

EXT. COPERNICUS - CONTINUOUS

The ship almost seems serene from the outside looking in.

We still hear the BEEP BEEP BEEP of the distress signal.

We pull back thousands of kilometers, ending on a GROUP OFBANDITS as they round a large asteroid. They are a squadronof 10 ships, all varying in shape and size, but all attack-ready. They share a diagonal red stripe spray-painted ontothe ships’ wings to signify that they are operating as aunit.

BAUER (O.S.)The worst is over.

INT. PTOLEMY - BRIEFING ROOM

A group of OFFICERS, including Steinwell and CommanderPershing, attend a briefing for their upcoming mission. TheNAV OFFICER presents a star map.

NAV OFFICEROn Commander Pershing’s orders,

we’ll reach target in a total ofthree jumps, lasting over a periodof about 24 hours.

On Steinwell, he’s concerned. Lost in thought.

NAV OFFICER (CONT'D)This will put us within safeoperating distance to fire nuclear

warheads as we see fit.

INT. PTOLEMY - STEINWELL’S CABIN - LATER

Steinwell at his computer. He accesses a news database andtaps in “USF BRAHE.” This produces fluff articles about theBrahe’s mysterious destruction. Headlines flash across thescreen: “BRAHE EXPLOSION KILLS 80,” “USF LAUNCHESINVESTIGATION,” “BRAHE EXPLOSION DEEMED ACCIDENTAL.”


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Steinwell peers further, reading comments left on the newsarticles: “cover-up,” “lies,” “tell the truth.”

He closes the news database and accesses the USF’s commanddatabase, typing in his username and passcode.

The article he pulls up on the Brahe is sparse, but has

several photocopied documents attached. Steinwell clicks on acouple: they’re entirely blacked out. More documents areappended with big, red “CLASSIFIED” type.

STEINWELLSomething’s not right.

Steinwell goes back to the search bar, typing in “USFCOPERNICUS.” This pulls up a more robust article. He scrollsdown to the ACTIVE CREW section.

Close on: a row in the section. CDT K. Pershing.

On Steinwell’s look, we...

CUT TO:

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - NIGHT

The crew: Bauer, Pershing, Bishop, Novikov, Marshall, andKumamoto stand among the wreckage and bodies of Command andControl. The soft BEEP of the distress signal continues.

BAUERAlright team, gimme a sit-rep.

What’s up and what’s down?

Everyone stands there. They don’t know what to do. After a moment...

BAUER (CONT'D)C’mon people! Distress signal’s upbut we’re sitting ducks til we’repicked up. Check all the systemsand let’s get our eyes and earsout.

The team slowly approaches each console. Pershing pushes adead body off of one of the panels. She taps a couple keys.

PERSHINGNav is up.

NOVIKOVLife support is up.


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KUMAMOTO Weapons is up.

MARSHALLDefense is up.

Bishop tries inputting a command on a broken-looking panel.

He knocks it a couple times.

BISHOPComms is... down. Both long rangeand short range.

BAUERChrist, alright. Coulda been way

worse.

An emergency BEEP sounds at Marshall’s station. He peers atthe equipment, almost unable to believe his eyes.

MARSHALLC...Contact!

Bauer snaps to attention.

BAUEROn-screen.

Marshall taps a few keys, a three-dimensional, holographic map fires on in the middle of C&C. Copernicus is in thecenter. On the outskirts of the map are 10 red dots, slowly

moving toward the center.

MARSHALL10 hostiles on an attack vector.Small craft. Couple different shipsbut all moving as a unit.

BAUERETA?

MARSHALLFive minutes, twenty seconds.

Silence for a moment. Bauer thinks.

BISHOP What do we do?

BAUER We’re gonna have to fight our wayout.


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NOVIKOVCan’t we do an emergency jump?

BAUERAn emergency jump is a last casescenario. There’s no telling where

we would end up and it'd be harder

for a rescue team to reach us. I’mnot about to put ourselves in moretrouble than we’re already in.

Bauer exhales, prepares himself.

BAUER (CONT'D)There’s time to prep. Pershing andBishop, get down to the docking bayand suit up for flight. The twoHellcats should still be hot tolaunch from the last run. Awaitorders once ready.

Pershing and Bishop both nod. They hustle out of C&C. Bauerturns his attention to the rest of the crew.

BAUER (CONT'D)Alright team, gameplan. They'regonna come at us cautiously butthey definitely have enoughfirepower to take us down if theyneed to. If we engage too early,they’ll have time to regroup andpick a different attack pattern. Wehave to give ‘em a surprise,

scatter their troops and scare themoff. Kumamoto and Novikov, get tothe turrets. Top and bottom.

The two nod and run out of C&C.

BAUER (CONT'D)Marshall, you’re here with merunning Navs. It’s a skeleton crew,so we’re gonna have to jumpstations. Can you handle that?

MARSHALLYes sir.

INT. BANDIT SPACESHIP - CONTINUOUS

BANDIT #1, wearing a helmet with a full face cover, flips aset of switches on an overhead panel. He activates his comms.


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BANDIT #1Try to keep the ship in tact thistime. The less we have to glue backtogether the more we make. By thebooks, gents.

RADIO CHATTER squawks on.

BANDIT #2 (O.S.)Roger.



EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS

The bandit ships fan out into formation - the red glow oftheir thrusters pulsate as they pick up speed.

INT. COPERNICUS - LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT

Pershing and Bauer rush to hop into loose-fitting jumpsuits.Once around their necks, they press a button on the lapel,causing the suit to form-fit around their bodies. Bishopaddresses Pershing without looking at her.

BISHOPStay on my wing and follow my

moves. If someone drops in on usthen we'll have better tacticaladvantage with the both of usthere.

Pershing pauses her suit-up process.

PERSHINGI know what a wingman does.

Bishop looks at Pershing.

BISHOP What do you think our odds are outthere?

PERSHINGAll honesty? It’s two against ten.They must have years of experience.

We’ve logged 90 hours between thetwo of us.


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They pull out helmets from their lockers, walking towardthe...

INT. COPERNICUS - CONNECTING HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Pershing and Bauer march through a short connecting hallway.

PERSHINGBut we’re playing defense. We stayclose to the ship and sticktogether and we'll make it outalive.

They arrive at an airlock door marked “HANGAR.” Beforeopening it, Bishop turns to Pershing.

BISHOPYou good?

PERSHINGI’m fine.

Bauer takes this in. He turns back and punches a button onthe wall, causing the dock to slide open.

Immediately a HANGAR CREWMEMBER jumps on him, toppling bothhim and Pershing over and knocking Bauer's helmet down thehallway.

The Hangar Crewmember thrashes at Bishop, who protects hisface with raised hands. He can reach just far up enough toget a hand on the Crewmember’s chin.

BISHOPP...Pershing!

Pershing gets up and tackles the crewmember, knocking her offof Bishop. The Hangar Crewmember twists and throws Pershingagainst the floor, getting on top of her.

Bauer dives for his helmet and jumps back into the fray,smashing the back of the Hangar Crewmember's head with theblunt object.

The Hangar Crewmember drops to the floor and the two taketurns kicking and stomping on her until she stops moving.

With both breathing heavily, Pershing vomits.

PERSHING What the hell...


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BISHOP (O.S.)Ran into some snags but we’re backon track. Hellcats are still hot.

INT. COPERNICUS - HANGAR - CONTINUOUS

Bishop and Pershing walk through the hangar toward theirHellcats.

BISHOPLet’s go.

The two climb the ladders to their respective Hellcats andjump into the cockpits. The glass covering closes over themand their instruments flicker to life. A 3D HUD appears infront of them.

BISHOP (CONT'D)(into his radio)

Hotel One online.

PERSHING(into her radio)

Hotel Two online.


On Bauer.

BAUERCopy. Hold for launch orders.

BISHOP (O.S.)Copy.

PERSHING (O.S.)Copy.

BAUERPershing and Bishop. Stay on eachother and stay close to the ship.Don’t let ‘em lead you out - that’s

where you’re vulnerable. Marshall.

MARSHALLSir.

BAUERReady at the helm. What’s the ETA?

MARSHALLOne minute, sir.


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BAUERAlright everybody, hold for mycommand.

Bauer takes a deep breath, calming himself.

EXT. SPACE - MOMENTS LATER

On the raiders. They slow once they’re in visual distance ofthe Copernicus.

INT. BANDIT #1 SPACESHIP - CONTINUOUS

Bandit #1 flips some switches, running a short range scan ofthe Copernicus. After peering at his hud for a moment, hespeaks into his radio.

BANDIT #1

Exterior seems intact, but I’mpicking up some internal damage.Approach with caution.


The bandit spaceships move to encircle the Copernicus.

EXT. BANDIT #1 SPACESHIP

A BEEP sounds on Bandit #1’s HUD.

BANDIT #1Got a maintenance port here that wecan brute force. Moving in to dock.


The bandit spaceships now have a cautious perimeter setaround the Copernicus. Bandit #1’s spaceship approaches

within meters of the Copernicus’ topside.


Beads of sweat form on Bauer’s forehead. He stares intentlyat his battle map.


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Bandit #1’s ship points directly at the Copernicus. He pullsup.


Bandit #1’s ship reorients so that the access port on thebottom of his ship aligns with the maintenance port.

Just before it attaches...


Bauer sees his moment.

BAUERMarshall, launch countermeasures!


On the Copernicus. Tiny cylinders fire from several ports allaround the Copernicus. They explode in clusters, sending tiny

metallic flakes in all directions.


Bandit #2’s HUD flickers in and out. His instruments areobfuscated with television snow. Electronics have been

compromised.

INT.COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - CONTINUOUS

On Bauer.

BAUERAll turrets, weapons free!


On the Copernicus: the turrets come to life and fire wildlyin all directions. One trains directly on Bandit #1’s ship.


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24.

INT. BANDIT #1 SPACESHIP - CONINUOUS

Bandit #1 slams his thruster forward, trying to put distancebetween him and the Copernicus. His instruments are fryingas well.

He jumps on his radio. The message is barely audible.

BANDIT #1(filtered)

All squad pull out and regroup!

The bandit ships peel off in the same direction, firing off whatever shots they can on the Copernicus.

As he pulls away, Bandit #1’s ship gets tagged once...twice... three times... and explodes on the fourth. Thedemolished ship floats on.

INT. COPERNICUS - NOVIKOV’S TURRET

Novikov reads information on his HUD. There’s some televisionsnow on it, but it’s still very readable. The Copernicus isset up to deal with these countermeasures.

We can see the ships retreating from the Copernicus.

NOVIKOVBogey down!

BAUER(radio)

Good work. Keep at it, everybody!


Bandit #2’s ship rumbles forward. He can see two or three ofhis comrades in front of him.

He slams his fist against a console in anger, then switcheson his radio, which gradually becomes more legible as theyput distance between them and the Copernicus.

BANDIT #2They got Marco! They got Marco!

Bandit #3 squawks in over comms.

BANDIT #3 (O.S.)Hate to say it, Lee, but that's afield promotion for you. You'resquad leader now.


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25.

LEE (formerly Bandit #2) takes a moment to gather himselfbefore hopping back on comms.

LEEAll squad, group up for an attackrun. Break the shield then aim forturrets!


The bandits pull a 180, then fly in formation directly at theCopernicus.


Bauer watches the Battle map. He speaks into his radio.

BAUER

All turrets, ready up. Watch forevasive maneuvers. Hotel 1 and 2,on my mark.

INT. PERSHING’S HELLCAT - CONTINUOUS

Pershing grips tightly to her thrust lever. She tries tocontrol her breathing.


The bandit ships race toward the Copernicus. In a flashthey’re in range. The turrets and bandits exchange fire.

LEE(radio)

Evade! Evade! Evade!

The bandit ships peel off from one another, drawing fire while they continue blasting at Copernicus’ shields.


Marshall peers at his controls.

MARSHALLShields at 60%!

BAUERUnderstood. Hotel 1 and 2, you’rego for launch!


27/58

26.

INT. BISHOP’S HELLCAT - CONTINUOUS

Bishop fires his thruster to 100. His ship rumbles to lifeand launches forward as we see the bay doors open in front ofhim.


As the bandits blow past the Copernicus and begin encirclingit, the two Hellcats fire out of the launch bays. Pershingbehind Bishop. They immediately catch the tail of one of thebandit ships.

Bishop’s ship fires, catching the bandit ship in itsthrusters. It tilts in space, revealing the cockpit toBishop’s crosshairs.

Bishop fires again, scoring a direct hit on the cockpit, which bursts into flames.


Bishop speaks into his radio.

BISHOPBogey down!

BAUER(radio)

That’s two.


Marshall looks at his instruments.

MARSHALLSir, shields at 10%. I can’t divertany more power to them.

BAUERCopy that. All team, shields arelow. Keep your eyes peeled outthere. Hotel 1 and 2, protect shipvitals.

BISHOP(radio)

Copy that.


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29/58

28.


Bauer stares at his battle map. He sees Bishop’s ship leadingfurther and further away from the Copernicus.

BAUERBishop. They’re leading you out.


Realization washes over Bishop’s face. He’s been played.


A bandit’s ship drops in on Bishop and opens fire. One shottags one of the Hellcat’s wings. Bishop’s ship beginsspinning.

BAUERMy stabilizer!

On the bandit’s ship as he lines up another shot. Just ashe’s about to pull the trigger...

Pershing intercepts at a perpendicular! She fires a volley atthe bandit, which tags it in its engine. It isn’t enough todestroy the ship, but causes him to pull off and evade.


Stuck in a spin with warning sirens BLARING around him,Bishop frantically toggles buttons in his cockpit. Hestabilizes the ship, then pulls back to orient himself on theCopernicus.


Pershing and Bishop race back toward the ship as the banditslaunch another attack run. The bandits' shots connect withthe Copernicus, doing serious damage.

INT. COPERNICUS - KUMAMOTO’S TURRET - CONTINUOUS

Kumamoto trains on one of the approaching bandits. She letsloose, catching it in its wing. The bandit spins out ofcontrol and crashes directly into Kumamoto’s turret. Her HUDgoes offline and she's left staring shocked at a blankterminal as the entire ship rumbles.


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29.

INT. COPERNICUS - INFIRMARY - CONTINUOUS

The rumbling rocks Raeder back and forth until he falls over.He hits the floor with a thud, jolting him awake. He gasps,

wide-eyed, as if he were coming back to life.


Bauer sees the turret go offline on his battle map.

BAUERMarshall, sitrep!

MARSHALLTurret 3 offline. No hull breach.

Bauer stares intently at the battle map. He sees the enemiesbreaking away from the Copernicus.


On the bandits. They pull away from the Copernicus.

LEE(radio)

Casualties too heavy. It isn't worth losing anyone else. Peel offand abort.

INT.COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - CONTINUOUS

After staring intently at the battle map for a moment, Bauerjumps back on comms.

BAUERAll ships return home. All crewreport to C&C. They’re disengaging.

INT. PERSHING’S HELLCAT - CONTINUOUS

Pershing pumps her first in the air.

PERSHINGCopy that!

INT. COPERNICUS - NOVIKOV’S TURRET - CONTINUOUS

Novikov wipes the beads of sweat off of his forehead. Hesighs.


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30.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - MOMENTS LATER

Novikov and Kumamoto join Bauer and Marshall around thebattle map. They share weary high fives and congratulations.

BAUERAmazing shooting, guys.

KUMAMOTOThank you, sir. Sorry about losing

my turret.

BAUERDon’t be. The Copernicus lives tofight another day.

NOVIKOVNow it’s just a matter of timebefore the USF picks up our signaland sends a rescue crew.

BAUERThey've probably even picked up thesignal by this point.

RAEDER(OS)

What’s... going on here?

The four cadets turn to see Raeder leaned against theentrance of the entrance to C&C. He’s still in his space suitand still covered in black, tar-like vomit. He’s barelyholding himself up.

Before he can get another word out... CRACK! Raeder goesdown. Reveal Bishop, helmet in hand as a bludgeon. Behind himis Pershing.

Bishop looks up at the rest of the crew.

BISHOP What? He wasn't infected?

INT. COPERNICUS - STORAGE CLOSET - LATER

Raeder wakes up handcuffed to a pipe inside of a smallstorage closet. This is the Copernicus’ makeshift brig. Bauerstands over him as he regains consciousness. The rest of thecadets huddle in the cramped corridor, a safe distance away.

RAEDERYou couldn’t afford an actual Brig?


32/58

31.

BAUER(forceful)

Who are you?

RAEDERSlow down, kid. I’m still a little

woozy. I just woke up handcuffed to

a...

Raeder tugs on his handcuff.

RAEDER (CONT'D)...handcuffed to a pipe. Cool. AndI’m currently being held captiveby...

He eyes the cadets up and down.

RAEDER (CONT'D)...children. Is there any adult

supervision here?

Bauer leans in.

BAUER Who. Are. You.

RAEDERCaptain James Raeder. Hellcatpilot. USF Brahe.

This perks Pershing’s ears. She moves forward.

PERSHING We lost the Brahe 20 years ago.

RAEDER(genuine confusion)

News to me.

Raeder sees Pershing’s name badge.

RAEDER (CONT'D)Hey you got an... uncle aboard theBrahe?

PERSHINGFather.

RAEDER(bemused)

Captain James Pershing has a kid?


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32.

PERSHINGCommander. James Pershing.

RAEDER Wait, that doesn’t add up.

BAUER

No. It doesn’t. Because I don’tthink you are who you say you are.

PERSHINGHe knows who my dad is.

RAEDER(piping in)

I know who her dad is.

BAUERHalf the bandits out here do. He’sbeen chasing them around this

system for the last five years. No,at best you must’ve stolen thatsuit from a dead man more decentthan you. But to be honest itdoesn’t matter. Whatever youdragged onto our ship killed theentire crew, ‘cept for us.

RAEDERListen buddy I don't know anythingabout--

BAUER

So we’re gonna sit tight while we wait for a USF rescue team andyou’re gonna stay chained to a

water main in this supply closetuntil the USF figures out what todo with you.

Bauer gets up and faces the cadets.

BAUER (CONT'D)Alright team, cleanup time. Wegotta clear the bodies on the shipand get them into cold storage sothey’re fresh when rescue getshere.

RAEDERHey, wait a second!


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33.

BAUERMarshall, you lucked out. Man thehelm and lemme know if anythinghappens. Try to see if you can getcomms back online.

MARSHALL

Yes, sir!

Marshall runs down the corridor toward C&C.

RAEDERYou can’t just leave me here!

BAUERLet’s get to work, people! Gimmesome hustle!

The team starts moving down the corridor, ignoring Raeder.

RAEDERThis isn’t the first brig I’vebroken out of, you know!

He tugs fruitlessly at his handcuffs.

RAEDER (CONT'D)And this isn’t even a brig!

INT. COPERNICUS - CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER

The team moves down the corridor. Bauer follows from the

rear.

BAUERHey Pershing, hang back for asecond.

Pershing breaks off from the group and engages with Bauer inthe narrow corrider.

PERSHINGYes, sir?

BAUERDon’t “sir” me. You’re a sectionleader too so we’re on equal rank.That was some slick flying outthere. You saved Bishop’s life.

PERSHINGThank you. Doubt he’d ever admitit.


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34.

BAUERI wouldn’t expect him to. Listen,Pershing.

He catches his formality.

BAUER (CONT'D)

Kate. A lot of stuff just wentdown. Some really hard tocomprehend kind of stuff that noone should ever have to deal with.How are you feeling?

PERSHINGI’m okay.

BAUERHonestly...

A beat. Tears begin welling up in Pershing’s eyes.

PERSHINGI’m scared. I’m really scared.

Bauer brings her in for a hug, comforting her.

BAUERHey, it’s okay. It’s okay. We’reall scared.

They pull away from each other. Pershing wipes her tears andholds her chin up, embarrassed that she let her guard down.

BAUER (CONT'D)Kate, if what you did out therejust now was any indication, you'rethe strongest, most capable personI know. There’s no one I’d ratherhave as a section leader than you.

Pershing nods.

BAUER (CONT'D) With how bad things have beengoing, who can tell what’s gonnahappen between now and when rescuecomes. I need you to be a leader.To be a person that the cadets cantrust to get them through this.

PERSHINGYes, sir.


36/58


37/58

36.

Pershing gives Steinwell his attention.

COMMANDER PERSHINGXO.

STEINWELLSir, I know that your daughter is

on the Copernicus. You hid thisevidence from me. You are not fitto complete this mission and I willpetition to remove you from duty ifyou do not recuse yourself.

Commander Pershing stares at Steinwell for a long moment,choosing his next words wisely. He leans forward.

COMMANDER PERSHINGXO, do you want to hear the storyof the Brahe?

Silence from Steinwell. He stares intently at CommanderPershing.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)20 years ago I was an officer onboard the USF Brahe, a ship thesame size as this one, crew of5,114. I flew Hellcats back then,Mk V’s. Myself and my wingman JamesRaeder were ordered to retrieve abeacon that had mysteriouslyappeared on short range scanners.

We flew out and towed it in.

Commander Pershing gets up and paces the room. Steinwellfollows him with is eyes from the seat.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)Simple enough mission, but whatstruck me was that it was unlikeanything I’d ever seen before:covered in writing I couldn’t placeand pulsating so bright it feltlike you could hear it. We pulledit into the Brahe and broke off tofly patrol. That’s when things wentto hell. First there was silence,then we heard the screaming patchedin through our comms. Footage laterconfirmed that every man and womanbegan clawing each others’ eyes out- killing each other in the mostbrutal ways imaginable.


38/58

37.

He holds his gaze on a framed picture of the himself and theBrahe's Hellcat squadron pilots, grouped together like abaseball team picture inside of a hangar. Everyone is allsmiles. Next to a young Arthur is Captain James Raeder, notlooking a day older than we've already seen him.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)

My god if you could hear thescreams like I still can. Fivethousand people - many of whom Iknew personally - mercilesslyripping each other limb from limb

with their bare hands. I don’t knowexactly what happend - Maybe afight got started in the weaponsbay - but hundreds of tons ofordnance ignited. First it took achunk out of the stern, but thedamage was enough that the shipstarted crumpling in on itself.

Raeder was too close to the ship when the core exploded.

He turns from the wall to face Steinwell.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)I only barely made it out alive.Blew a hole in my own ship. Engines

were dead and couldn’t sendcommunications. If you wanna know

what Hell is, it’s floating in avast expanse of nothingness beinghaunted by the screams of five

thousand one hundred and twelve ofyour closest comrades for threedays before rescue arrived.

Whatever happened on the Brahe hasnow happened on the Copernicus. Iknow the fate of my daughter and Iknow that I wouldn’t wish it upon

my worst enemy. Thank you for yourconcern, but I know what must bedone.

Off Commander Pershing, we...

Cut TO:


39/58

38.

INT. COPERNICUS - CORRIDOR - DAY

Pershing is alive and well, she splashes water from a bucketonto a bloodstain in the middle of the corridor and mops itback and forth - pushing back around. She cleans variousspots for a while longer.

When she’s finished, she takes the mop and bucket andabsentmindedly opens the door into the...

INT. COPERNICUS - STORAGE - CONTINUOUS

Raeder is where we left him: handcuffed to a water maininside of the storage closet.

RAEDER Welcome to the brig! How may I beof service?

Pershing regains her composure.

PERSHINGYeah, well, it’s still a storagecloset.

She walks to the other end of the closet and places the mopand bucket in a corner. On her way out she pauses, thinking.She turns around.

PERSHING (CONT'D)You said you knew my father?

RAEDERLook, hey, I know this all may not make a lot of sense right now, butI’m just as in the dark as the restof you. I have no idea where thelast 20 years went, but I swear togod I was just joking around withArthur yesterday.

PERSHING...what was he like?

RAEDERBest pilot I ever knew. Smart andloyal, too. The guy could’vesingle-handedly won the war on hisown, but he was gracious enough toshare the action. If you got any ofhis blood in you then you’redestined for great things.


40/58

39.

Pershing takes a long moment before she

PERSHING Was he a good man?

Raeder’s face almost betrays him. There’s a lot to thisquestion.

RAEDERHow well do you know your father?

Pershing takes this as a joke.

PERSHINGI could count the days I’ve seenhim face to face. All these peopletell me how great a leader he isand what a brilliant mind he hasbut he could use some help in thefatherhood department.

RAEDERY’know a couple years ago... acouple years plus another twentyyears I s'pose. Me and your dad

were stationed on Earth. I get thiscrazy idea in my head that I wannasteal some whiskey from thecommissary. Can't remember why, allI know was that I was dead set onit. Now back then, that was an easyten lashes if we were caught.Straight across the back. Arthur,

your dad, he doesn't even questionit. His bud wants to steal some whiskey so we're stealing some whiskey, he says. So we make it outof the commissary and get corneredby the scariest looking MP I'veever seen. I'm about to have ananeurysm, right? Never been soscared in my life. But your dad,god bless him, he sugar-talks thisgorilla straight-faced for five,six minutes, all the while havingan entire handle of Evan Williamstucked under his shirt behind hisback. It was the most goddamnbeautiful display of friendship andloyalty I've ever seen.

(a beat)Then we both got blackout drunk andhe broke my rib with a right hook.


41/58

40.

Pershing laughs.

RAEDER (CONT'D)He's human, is what I'm trying tosay.

PERSHING

(smiling)It’s good to know he’s that, atleast.

She moves toward the mop and bucket.

PERSHING (CONT'D)Thanks for that. There's otherstorage closets for this.

RAEDER(almost too quickly)

No.

Pershing stops.

RAEDER (CONT'D)I don’t mind it there. Figure meand the bucket could develop a realfriendship.

Pershing chuckles. She leaves the mop and bucket where it is,then exits.

After a beat, Raeder swings into action. He stretches hislegs out as far as he can, just barely hooking his leg onto

the handle of the bucket. Dragging it toward his body, hepasses it up to his hands and manages to break off the metallic handle.

Bending the metal into a shim, he sets to work.

INT. COPERNICUS - INFIRMARY - LATER

Novikov peers intently into a microscope on a bench in theinfirmary. Marshall enters.

MARSHALLYou can't sleep either?

NOVIKOVAfter all we've seen today?

Marshall looks down. Oh right.


42/58

41.

MARSHALL What are you looking at?

NOVIKOVC'mere and take a look foryourself.

Marshall walks over to the microscope and peers in.

NOVIKOV (CONT'D)Now tell me, what does that looklike to you.

Insert: POV From the microscope.

It's a reddish, viscous substance speckled with black dots.It pulsates ever so slightly, almost trying to move off ofthe slide.

MARSHALL

No idea.

NOVIKOVIt's blood. I pulled it from one ofthe dead crewmembers.

MARSHALL What's the black stuff?

NOVIKOVYou got me, all I know is that it'sthe weirdest looking blood I'veever seen.

MARSHALLThat's so strange...

NOVIKOVYou're telling me. Blood doesn'tcongeal like that. I swear to godif you stare at it for long enoughit moves on its own.

Novikov pulls off the slide and finds a fresh one. He prickshis thumb and transfers the blood to the slide.

NOVIKOV (CONT'D)Here, for comparison.

He centers the slide under the microscope and Marshall peersback in. After focusing, he gulps. Beads of sweat form on hisbrow.


43/58

42.

MARSHALL Wake up the rest of the crew.

INT. COPERNICUS - INFIRMARY - LATER

The entire crew: Pershing, Bishop, Novikov, Marshall, and

Kumamoto crowd around Bauer who's staring into the microscope. A few hold or suck on their thumbs, freshlypricked.

Bauer pulls away from the microscope. He's worse for wear,sweat beading on his forehead and sunken eyes and sallow-faced.. He addresses the crew.

BAUERSo that's all of us, then.Infected.

Dead silence in the room. The atmosphere is heavy.

KUMAMOTO What does that mean?

NOVIKOV Who's to say. Obviously none of usare ripping each others' throatsout, but whatever the rest of thecrew had, we have.

BISHOPBut what makes us different? Whydidn't we go crazy like they did?

NOVIKOV We're younger? We haven't been inspace as long? Maybe we have adifferent diet? There's a bunch ofvariables and no way for us totest.

MARSHALLSo we just wait here until we turninto one of those things?

BAUER We wait here until rescue arrives.There's no doubt a ship is on its

way to investigate.


44/58

43.

KUMAMOTOBut what if they know already?Pershing, you said that thatfighter pilot was from the Brahe,and that the Brahe was destroyed.The same thing that happened tothem could be happening to us.

BAUERThat's nonsense.

KUMAMOTOIs it? Plenty of things areclassified in the USF and

weaponized space virus doesn't seemso much like science fiction.

BAUERKumamoto.

KUMAMOTOJust... what if instead of a rescueship, they nuke us into nothing.

Bauer slams his fist against the table. The entire crewtenses.

BAUERIf we're infected then the USF willknow how to treat us. It's assimple as that.

Quiet shuffling from the crowd. Bauer looks around, sensing

that he's losing his grip. He loses his fire immediately.

BAUER (CONT'D)(dejected)

Dismissed.


The crew shuffles out of the room. Bauer marches past themand turns the corner. Growing worse by the moment, he seemsto tense every muscle in his body just to walk. He entersinto...


Bauer locks the door behind him. He coughs wildly whilepacing the room. The pacing slows, then stops as he hunchesover, supporting himself on a weapons bench.


45/58

44.

Bauer catches his breath. He looks across the room to an opengun cabinet. He crosses to it and pulls out a pistol andloaded magazine. Ever the cadet, his weapons handling isimpeccable: check the chamber, check the magazine, maintaintrigger discipline, load the magazine, cock the gun.

He places the gun in his mouth and shuts his eyes.

Nothing. He can't seem to pull the trigger. He opens his eyesin disbelief. He shuts his eyes and tries again.

Nothing.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - LATER

Pershing stares out of a porthole at the vast exapanse ofspace. The sun from a distant star illuminates her face,almost like a sunrise. She sighs, her eyes look heavy.

Bishop enters the room. He hesitates, trying to think of theright thing to say.

BISHOPDo you remember the first time you

went up into space?

Pershing is startled at first, but settles back when sherealizes who it is. She keeps staring out the window.

PERSHINGNo, actually. I've been hoppingfrom space station to space station

since as long as I remember.

Refusing to be brushed off that easily, Bishop begins pacingaround C&C.

BISHOPMine was last year. First day atthe Academy. Probably the first dayI met you. Indiana's a sonofabitch

when all you get to do is look outat the stars and wonder what it'slike.

PERSHING What was it like... down there?

BISHOPJust like they say it is.Crowded... polluted... lots ofcrime. Man do I miss it.


46/58

45.

Pershing finally cracks a smile.

BISHOP (CONT'D)If you ever get the chance to holdfresh Indiana soil in your hands...

man. The simulations are close butthere's something about the smell

that isn't the same. It's that rainsmell.

PERSHINGSo why'd you come up here?

BISHOPGreener grass. Or blacker space.

Who knows.

They both smile at each other.

PERSHING

You know they have a saying out inspace stations. Everyone knows it.

BISHOP What's that?

PERSHING"...at least I'm not on Earth."

They both crack up. Bishop starts heading for the exit.

BISHOPYou getting to sleep anytime soon?

PERSHINGProbably not.

BISHOPMaybe try and give it a shot. Whoknows, could be worse tomorrow.

PERSHING(somber)

Yeah...

Bishop reaches the exit. He works up the courage for thisnext part.

BISHOPHey... thanks. For saving my lifeout there. I owe you one.

PERSHINGNo problem.


47/58

46.

Bishop leaves. Pershing gazes back out of the window. Hereyes look a little less heavy.

INT. PTOLEMY - COMMAND AND CONTROL - MORNING

Commander Pershing enters into a bustling Command and Control

room. Spacious but busy, ensigns move around and prep for alight speed jump.

He surveys the organized chaos for a moment, then...

COMMANDER PERSHINGPatch me into the entire ship.

The PTOLEMY RADIO OFFICER pushes a few buttons, then nods toCommander Pershing, who pulls a remote speaker mic from aconsole and begins addressing the crew.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)

Good morning, everyone. We are moments away from another jump which will bring us to our targetdestination. When we arrive, we

will immediately commence battlestations procedure. Now, what I amabout to say is classifiedinformation.

INT. PTOLEMY - ENGINEERING BAY 1 - CONTINUOUS

This is one of the massive warehouses that house one engine

of the USF Ptolemy. The ENGINEERS hold work, looking towardthe PA system as Commander Pershing's voice plays out ofthem.

COMMANDER PERSHING (O.S.)Last night the USF Copernicus wascompromised and all hands werelost. The ship is unsalvageable.

INT. PTOLEMY - HANGAR - CONTINUOUS

Parked Hellcats line the hangar. A young, female 3rd ClassPetty Officer holds her hand over her mouth as she hears thenews.

COMMANDER PERSHING (O.S.) We have the unfortunate task ofdestroying her.


48/58

47.

INT. PTOLEMY - GALLEY - CONTINUOUS

An entire breakfast line is halted in its place. TheCREWMEMBERS are silent, transfixed upon the PA system.

COMMANDER PERSHING (O.S.)Now, some of you may have known

some of the good men and women ofthe Copernicus.

INT. PTOLEMY - COMMAND AND CONTROL - CONTINUOUS

Back on Commander Pershing. He balks on that line. Holds itfor too long.

COMMANDER PERSHINGAnd we'll pay our respect in duetime. But for now we need to focuson our mission. Nobody would envy

what we have to do, I realize.However what sets the USF andespecially the fine crew of thePtolemy aside is our willingness todo what is right.

(a long beat)Thank you.

Commander Pershing places the speaker mic back into theconsole. He sits in his captain's chair.

COMMANDER PERSHING (CONT'D)Ensign. Jump when ready.

INT. COPERNICUS - STORAGE CLOSET - MORNING

Raeder, much more disheveled and obviously having worked allnight, lies defeated on the floor of the storage closet. He'sstill attached to the storage room pipe. A bent and brokenstrip of metal lays right next to him.

RAEDEROkay, one more try.

Raeder sits up and jams the makeshift pick into hishandcuffs, jiggling it around. After moments of fruitlesseffort, he chucks the pick around the room, frustrated.

RAEDER (CONT'D)Come on!

He turns around and tugs over and over on the pipe in a finalact of desperation. Then...


49/58

48.

The pipe breaks. It unseats itself from it bracket.

Raeder is in disbelief. He lets out a chuckle.

RAEDER (CONT'D)I could've... just... okay.

INT. COPERNICUS - MAIN CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER

Raeder pops his head out of the storage closet, looking leftand right to make sure the coast is clear. He tiptoes downthe hallway.

INT. COPERNICUS - LOCKER ROOM - LATER

Raeder has a new space-suit halfway on. He presses the buttonon the lapel, startling him as it shrinks immediately to hisform.

RAEDER What the hell!

INT. COPERNICUS - HANGAR - LATER

Raeder walks through the hangar to his parked Hellcat MK. V,taking a moment to regard it. He turns to the newer sleekerMK. VIs.

RAEDERI don't believe in any of this

Raeder manually opens the cockpit to his fighter and hops in.Like the Copernicus, everything is tactile and mechanical. Heflips switches and punches code into keys to initiatestartup.

BISHOP (O.S.)Your thruster's busted. She won'tget off the ground.

Raeder sighs, he turns to Bishop who stands in the middle ofthe hangar, wiping grease off of a spare part.

RAEDERI knew that.

Raeder gets out of the cockpit and hops down, making his wayover to one of MK VIs.

BISHOP What do you think you're doing?


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49.

RAEDERA guy mysteriously shows up on aUSF ship and kills the entire crew.They question him and his alibi isthat the he time traveled 20 yearsinto the future and isn't too sure

what's going on. Now, do you know

any USF tribunal that'd hear thatand not hang me? Nope. I'm gonnafly outta here and FTL jump to thefirst sane settlement I can find.

He reaches the MK VI and climbs in.

BISHOPDo you even know how to fly that?

RAEDEROf course I do.

Raeder settles into the cockpit. It looks vastly different -almost alien. He hazards a button press and severalholographic buttons surrounding him spark to life, startlinghim.

RAEDER (CONT'D)Oh come on.

He takes another stab at a button. Emergency lights flash anda WARNING SIREN blares. He quickly shuts it off.

BISHOPYou won't even be able to get her

started without the launch codes.

RAEDER What are the launch codes?

BISHOPYou think I'm gonna tell you?

Raeder, frustrated, hops out of the cockpit. He drops down tothe hangar floor and circles around Bishop so that his ownback is to the exit. He removes his helmet as he speaks.

RAEDERSo you know the codes.

BISHOPYeah, and?


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RAEDERAnd now I'm gonna have to kick akid's ass so that he'll tell me thelaunch codes to a Hellcat.

Raeder squares up, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Bishopdoes the same, throwing the part he was working on to the

ground.

RAEDER (CONT'D)Or you could just tell me and we'llavoid this.

BISHOPI ain't telling you shit.

RAEDER Well... alright.

Raeder lunges, throwing a hefty right cross toward Bishop.

Bishop effortlessly slips out of the way and trips Raeder, who falls face first. He gets up, holding his nose. Bloodstarts flowing out of it.

RAEDER (CONT'D) What the hell do they teach youkids in that academy?

BISHOPJudo.

A distinct ALARM BELL rings, breaking the tension. They look

toward a flashing blue light at the other end of the hangar.

RAEDER What's that?

BISHOPContact. There's a big ship in thesector.

Bishop marches toward the exit.

BISHOP (CONT'D)Come on.

RAEDERYou can't be...

BISHOPThe Copernicus woulda blown yououtta the sky soon as you leftanyway.


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51.

Raeder looks at Bishop, then to the Hellcat, back to Bishop,then back to the Hellcat. He sees his window of opportunityclose.

RAEDERI'm a dead man.

He follows Bishop out of the hangar.

INT. COPERNICUS - COMMAND AND CONTROL - LATER

Bishop and Raeder (nursing a broken nose with a rag) enterC&C. Everyone, minus Bauer, have just begun huddling aroundthe battle map. Marshall joins the rest while Raeder hangsback near the hatchway.

BISHOP Where's Bauer.

PERSHINGDunno, but guess who dropped in?

Bishop peers at the battle map for a moment, closing in on agray blip in the distance with some text below it.

BISHOPThe USF Ptolemy

PERSHINGRescue's here.

The entire crew breathes a sigh of relief.

Bauer pipes in through a speaker over comms.

BAUER (O.S.)Pershing to security, priority one.

Pershing presses a button on a C&C panel.

PERSHINGCopy, on my way.

She makes her way to the exit, bumping into Raeder, who wastrying to act inconspicuous.

RAEDERHey.

Pershing looks to the rest of the crew for an explanation.

BISHOPDon't worry, he's cool.


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52.


Commander Pershing stands over the Ptolemy's battle map,looking at the small gray dot that represents the Copernicus.Steinwell stands at his post behind the commander.

RADAR TECH

Sir, we're within firing range ofthe Copernicus.

Commander Pershing takes a deep breath.

INT.COPERNICUS - SECURITY - MOMENTS LATER

Pershing enters Security through the hatchway. She looks tothe far end of the room to find Bauer in the corner, engulfedin shadow. He looks rough: hunched over, sunken cheeks,drenched in sweat.

BAUERI got bad news, kiddo.

Silence from Pershing. She's confused.

BAUER (CONT'D)Lock the door, okay?

PERSHINGBauer what are you...

Bauer lurches forward, revealing a gun in his hand. He pointsit at Pershing.

BAUERLock the door.


Commander Pershing back at his battle map. Poker faced -careful to hide his emotion.

COMMANDER PERSHINGFire warhead when ready.

He steps back from the battle map and sits in his commander'schair next to Steinwell.


Pershing complies, never drawing her gaze away from Bauer.


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53.

BAUERThis is important. I need you toslide along the wall, over toward

where I'm standing right now.

He coughs. Pershing slides along the wall slowly. As she moves, Bauer moves. They keep up the dance until Bauer has

his back up against the door.

PERSHINGThe Ptolemy just dropped in on us.

BAUERDoesn't matter, at least not now.I'm a goner, Pershing. Been tryingto fight it all night but it's nouse. I dunno what it is or why ittook so long. Jesus, been racking

my brain on it for hours. But itdoesn't matter. I can feel it

starting to whisper things in myear, Pershing. They're bad things.

PERSHINGThere's gotta be something we cando.

BAUERThere is. But I can't do it myself.It won't let me. Self preservation,I think. Whatever's in me is assmart as it is evil.

Bauer drops the gun on the floor. With great effort he kicksit across the room toward Pershing. She picks it up.

BAUER (CONT'D)Kate, I'm sorry, but I need you now

more than ever.


Bishop, Kumamoto, Novakov, and Marshall crowd around thebattlemap. Kumamoto's face drops when she notices a statuschange.

KUMAMOTOThey're... arming weapons.

BISHOP What?


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54.

EXT. PTOLEMY - CONTINUOUS

A missile bursts forth from one of the torpedo ports of thePtolemy and hurtles toward the Copernicus. Its thrustersbring it to supersonic speeds in the vaccuum of space.


Pershing put everything together and immediately startsshaking her head.

PERSHINGNo...

BAUERI figured you'd say that. So I'mnot giving you the choice. Betweenyou and the door is me, and I'mdoing my best to hold this back but

I dunno how long I'm gonna last.

He coughs violently.


Kumamoto, Bishop, Novikov, and Marshall watch the missile'strajectory on the battle map. Raeder leans in.

MARSHALLETA... one minute.

RAEDER We gotta contact em. We gotta letem know that they're about to killa bunch of kids!

MARSHALLComms are down. We have no way.

An idea sparks into Raeder's head. He bolts out of the roomand and into...


Raeder continues sprinting.


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55.


BAUERKate, I need you to be strong. Notjust right now. I need you to getthese kids home. They're countingon you.

Pershing holds back tears.

PERSHINGI can't do it, Bauer.

Bauer tries to say something, but he only coughs.

PERSHING (CONT'D)Bauer... Please

The coughing worsens. Bauer hunches over, holding backscreams.

PERSHING (CONT'D)Bauer... Scott... just hold on.

The coughing stops. Bauer looks up slowly, an altogetherdifferent man. There's evil in his eyes.

He begins staggering toward Pershing.

PERSHING (CONT'D)Scott...


We hear a loud BANG.


Kumamoto, Bishop, Marshall, and Novikov react to the gunshot.

NOVIKOV What was that?

INT. COPERNICUS - DOCKING HANGAR - CONTINUOUS

Raeder sprints through the hangar and up to his Hellcat. Hedives into the cockpit, grabbing his remote mic from theconsole. He presses some dials and speaks into it.


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56.

RAEDERAttention, this is Captain JamesRaeder of the USF Brahe--


Pershing exits through the Security hatchway into the maincorridor. She's shellshocked. She doesn't notice the smokinggun still in her hand.

She walks toward Command & Control.


Pershing enters like a ghost, seeing everyone hunched aroundthe battle map. She walks up to it, reading the informationon the screen.

She snaps out of it.

PERSHINGOh god.

KUMAMOTO What do we do?

Pershing drops her gun and pushes everyone out of the way.She starts furiously tapping on keys


The Radar Officer's head pops up. She removes her headset.

RADAR TECHSir, we have an incomingtransmission on an emergencychannel.

PERSHINGPlay it.

The Radar Tech punches a few keys and Raeder's voice pipes inthrough the comms speakers in C&C.

RAEDER (O.S.)This is Captain James Raeder of theUSF Brahe! You are firing upon afriendly ship! There are childrenon board! I repeat--


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57.

INT. COPERNICUS - DOCKING HANGAR - CONTINUOUS

Raeder yells into the remote mic attached to his Hellcat.

RAEDER...there are children on board!


A prompt pops up on the battle map:

INITIATING EMERGENCY FTL

PERSHINGGrab onto something!

The crew braces themselves as the jump drives spin up.


Commander Pershing jumps up from his captain's chair.

COMMANDER PERSHINGDivert the goddamn missile!

EXT. COPERNICUS - CONTINUOUS

Just mere kilometers away from the Copernicus, the missileveers away at a drastic angle.

At the exact same moment, the Copernicus blinks out ofexistence. They've jumped to light speed.


On Commander Pershing's face as he sees the Copernicusdisappear from the battle map, we...

CUT TO BLACK

Documents

Lost Cadets - Screenplay - Draft 3