"owen and the aliens" - elliott davidson

7/27/2019 "Owen and the Aliens" - Elliott Davidson

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Owen and the Aliens

Written by

Elliott Davidson


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1

FADE IN:

EXT. TERRA NOVA COLONY DAY

OWEN a thirteen year-old boy with messy brown hair and

tanned skin - sits atop a storage container, alone,watching the stars fade as the sun rises.

He wears a white jumpsuit decked out with techno doodads,

but no helmet or heavy space suit required.

At his back stands an expansive space colony, made of a

clean, white, pseudo-plastic material.

Beyond the colony, its a sea of rock, isolated geological

formations littering the landscape.

Far off in the distance, massive towers stretch up into the

sky, half white, half green.

Owen gets to his feet and walks towards the colony.

INT. COLONY CORRIDOR DAY

Owen shuffles along the cylindrical corridor, passing

various men and women, a child in a world of adults.

INT. COLONY LIVING QUARTERS DAY

The living quarters are pristine, colorless.

Owen enters via sliding door. He finds his parents, MR. and

MRS. ADAMSON, jumpsuited up and preparing for the day.

MRS. ADAMSON

Morning, Owen. Youre up early.

OWEN

Couldnt sleep.

MRS. ADAMSON

Been anywhere in particular?

OWEN

Not really.


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MR. ADAMSON

Want to help me with the bio-

gennies today?

OWEN

No, thats okay. Could I, maybe,take the rover out? Ive done all

my homework. For the week.

Mr. and Mrs. Adamson eye one another.

MRS. ADAMSON

Going to stay out of trouble?

OWEN

Im the only kid on this rock. Not

much trouble to get into.

Owens parents wait for the correct answer.

OWEN

But, yes, absolutely.

Mr. Adamson scratches his chin, playfully wary.

MR. ADAMSON

I dunno ...

Mr. Adamson taps a nearby touch panel.

MR. ADAMSON

Rovers activated.

MRS. ADAMSON

But be careful.

OWEN

Uh huh, I will.

Owen hugs his parents briefly.

OWEN

Later.

MRS. ADAMSON

Sooner, rather than later, Owen.


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INT. ROVER HANGAR DAY

Owen enters the hangar. Dozens of rovers - bulbous,

wheelless vehicles with open cockpits - sit waiting.

INT. ROVER DAY

Owen hops into one of the rovers. It powers on

automatically, displays lighting up, engine humming. The

rover hovers a few feet off the ground.

Owen taps at the controls, grips the steering. He grins.

EXT. ROVER HANGAR DAY

The rover shoots out of the hangar, skimming above theground, Owen hooting with excitement.

EXT. TERRA NOVA DESERT DAY

Owen sweeps back and forth along the rocky surface of Terra

Nova, rover banking side to side.

INT. ROVER DAY

The wind kicks Owens hair back. A smile is ear to ear.


The rover hugs the ground, leaving the colony behind. Owen

pushes the rover faster.

EXT. TERRA NOVA ORBIT SPACE

Terra Nova - blue oceans, caramel rocky wastelands, traces

of green - spins lazily.

A dark metallic object hurtles towards the planet.

INT. COLONY COMMUNICATION CENTER DAY

A dozen people mind various displays. The communications

officers all appear on the verge of boredom-induced comas.

One of the displays begins to beep.


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Owen speeds across the desert.

INT. ROVER DAY

Something catches Owens attention. He looks up. High

above, a metallic streak heads towards the desert.


One of the officers cranes his neck towards the beeping and

flashing display in front of him.

INT. ROVER DAY

Owen eases up on the rover.

EXT. TERRA NOVA SKY DAY

The silvery shape plummets towards the desert below.

INT. ROVER DAY

The rover comes to a stop, still hovering above the ground.

The object begins to change direction, arcing through thesky ... until its headed straight for Owen.


The officer studies the display. Others crowd around.

The colonys ADMINISTRATOR - an older woman with tight,

sharp features - leans in close, inspecting the screen.

OFFICER

Maam, we have a visitor.

INT. ROVER DAY

Owen stares at the speeding object as it flies towards him,

now only a few hundred yards away.


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OWEN

No, I mean, youre a real live

alien. Like, really real, in front

of me. And Im talking to you.

JOEAm I missing something?

OWEN

You exist! Youre out there!

Joe chews on this comment, the gears slow, but steady.

JOE

Wait, wait, you didnt know that?

OWENWell, no!

JOE

How could you not know that?

OWEN

We just ... figured we were alone.

I mean, its not like we havent

been looking or anything, but -

JOEYou thought you were alone? Okay,

okay, come with me for a moment.

Joe grabs Owen and drags him into the spaceship.

INT. JOES SPACESHIP - BRIDGE DAY

Joe ushers Owen over to one of a handful of large seats

near the ships controls, then plops into the central

control chair beside Owen.

Joes fingers skitter above the controls. The ship rumbles.

JOE

Okay, just sit back ...


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INT. JOES SPACESHIP - BRIDGE HYPERSPACE

Stars, stretched out like taffy, streak by the spaceship.

Owen stands, stares at the viewscreen, eyes bulging.

OWEN

What are you doing? Youve got to

take me back!

JOE

Of course I will.

OWEN

No, I mean now! Right now!

JOENow? Why? We just left.

OWEN

Because ...

Joe waits for an answer, but Owen doesnt have one.

JOE

Owen, relax. Take a seat. Its a

quick trip. Close by.

OWEN

Close by?!

JOE

Relatively speaking.

Owen holds his face in his hands, groaning, then slumps

back into his seat.

OWEN

Where are you taking me?

JOE

Now that is a good question.

Joe works the controls. On the viewscreen, the stars begin

to compress into their typical spherical shape.


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JOE

Owen, this -

EXT. JUMP RING SPACE

The Jump Ring, a massive cylindrical space station a dozenmiles across, rotates in the dead of space.

Joes ship comes out of hyperspace.

JOE (V.O.)

- is a Jump Ring.

The hollow center of the Jump Ring shimmers like hot air

above pavement. Its a wormhole, a window into another

point in the universe. Countless ships flow through it.

A vast, vibrant red-purple cloud of cosmic dust lingers all

around the station.

INT. JOES SPACESHIP - BRIDGE SPACE

Owen stares at the Jump Ring.

OWEN

What is it?

JOEI just told you, Jump Ring. Holds

the wormhole open.

OWEN

Wormhole?

JOE

Well youre not going

intergalactic if you stick to

hyperspace, yeah?

OWEN

If you say so.


Joes silvery ship heads for the Ring.


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Another ship, closer to the station, turns and makes a

beeline for Joes vessel.


The second spacecraft rockets straight towards Joes ship,then peels off moments before impact.

Owen shields his eyes. Joe shakes his head, chuckling.

ARALLA - a young alien girl with large eyes framed by

feathers and downy fur that fades from violet to white -

appears in a communication window on the viewscreen.

ARALLA

Jotrox!

The second ship comes back into view, now facing the boys.

JOE

Hey Aralla, you enjoy that?

ARALLA

Very much so.

Aralla spots Owen, gives Joe an inquisitive look.

ARALLAWhos your friend?

JOE

All in good time. You headed to

the Ring?

ARALLA

Of course.

JOE

See you there then.

ARALLA

Alright. Dont keep us waiting.

The comm window blinks off. Arallas ship turns and zooms

towards the Jump Ring.


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JOE

Youre going to love this.


The two spaceships make their way towards the Jump Ring asspace traffic continues to courses through the wormhole.

EXT. JUMP RING - OUTER SURFACE - SPACE

Elevator shafts extend from the Jump Ring, connecting to

vessels that have docked underneath the station.

The two ships manoeuvre towards a pair of free lifts.


Joe eyes the controls, then stands and marches away.

JOE

Follow me.

OWEN

Have I been abducted by an alien?

JOE

What?

OWEN

Nothing.


A dark, angular spaceship heads for the Jump Ring.

INT. PIRATE SCOUT SHIP COCKPIT - SPACE

The PIRATE SCOUT - a lanky, weaselly alien - pilots the

small space ship, his shifty eyes on the Jump Ring.

INT. JOES SPACESHIP - UPPER HATCH SPACE

Joe guides Owen into an airlock.

JOE

Hold on.


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Joe knocks on Owens head, knuckles surveying skull.

JOE

You got brain all in there, right?

Owen tries to shoo him off.

OWEN

Stop it!

Joe relocates the translator patch behind Owens ear,

hidden behind Owens hair.

JOE

Still work?

OWEN

Yeah.

Joe taps a control panel, and the airlock begins to close.

OWEN

Wait, Joe, should I know about

anything? Is it safe in there? Am

I going to be able to breathe?

JOEIf I can, you can.

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL SPACE

The Jump Ring is dark, smoky, dingy, busy, loud and alive,

crowded with a cornucopia of aliens.

Shops, services, entertainment, bars and restaurants are

crammed together in the Jump Ring.

A door connecting one of the Jump Rings outer lifts to thebowels of the station opens, revealing Owen and Joe.

Owen holds his breath, cheeks bulging, eyes shut.

JOE

Owen, relax. This place is built

for double-O breathers like us.


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Joe slaps Owen on the back. The boy inhales raggedly. Joe

grabs Owen by the jumpsuit and drags him forward.

JOE

Come on, come on.

Joe walks past other lift doors, searching the crowds.

Aralla appears from behind a cluster of aliens. Joe and

Aralla spot each other and embrace jovially.

ARALLA

Hey Joe.

JOE

Aralla, good to see you.

Three other young aliens join Aralla.

KOBOR is a big, burly, gruff, hunched combination of

armadillo, rhino, and elephant.

TESSARACTA is an insectoid with four arms and four legs, a

cross between mantis and black widow, with a shiny, almost

bejewelled carapace and a regal crest of horns on her head.

And lastly, LOOTHU is a nervous, shifting mass oftentacles, standing somewhat upright, his squid limbs

tangled together, imitating the shape of a biped.

Joe and the three other alien teens share typical hugs,

handshakes, greetings.

Owen stands a few feet back from the rest of the group.

ARALLA

So Joe, you going to introduce

this one or what?

JOE

Yeah, yeah, of course. Guys, this

is Owen. Owen, this is Kobor -

Kobor offers a grunt in acknowledgement.


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JOE

- Tessaracta -

TESSARACTA

Charmed.

JOE

And Loothu.

LOOTHU

Hello!

OWEN

Um ... hi.

ARALLA

Good to meet you, Owen.

Kobor walks over to Owen, looks him up and down, pokes him

in the forehead, arms, chest.

KOBOR

Seems kind of squishy.

LOOTHU

Nothing wrong with squishy.

ARALLAI think hes cute. Sort of plain

looking, but cute.

JOE

I met him on some dustbowl I was

surveying. Oh and get this: they

thought they were alone.

TESSARACTA

Alone where?

JOE

In the universe, I dunno.

A moment of silence, then the aliens burst into laughter.

Owen smiles weakly.


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ARALLA

We should show him the Inner Deck.

Thatll blow his mind.

Aralla waits for any disagreement, and receiving none,

leads the way.

INT. DR. VROONS LABORATORY - SPACE

Monitors, cables, robotic arms and precision instruments

dangle from the walls and ceiling of the expansive room.

The lab is half auto body garage, half electronics plant.

DR. VROON - a diminutive, aged humanoid alien with wispy

white hair and a wrinkled face - hums to himself.

He moves to the center of the room, where a large metallicbox is in the process of sealing itself shut.

COMPUTER (V.O.)

Dr. Vroon, you have an incoming

communication from the Admiral.

DR. VROON

Ill take it in here, thank you.

The GALACTIC SECURITY FORCE ADMIRAL appears on one of the

larger lab monitors, dressed in an authoritative blackuniform with red and blue stripes. He is a regal, angular

creature with determined, intelligent, but not unkind eyes.

ADMIRAL

Hello, Dr. Vroon.

DR. VROON

Admiral.

ADMIRAL

Is the prototype ready?

Dr. Vroon pats the metallic box.

DR. VROON

I believe so. But then you and I

both know not to get our hopes up

before a test run, dont we now?


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A nod and a knowing smile from the Admiral.

ADMIRAL

I look forward to it.

The Admirals image blinks off.


The Pirate Scout steps out of one of the lifts. His eyes,

sly and half-lidded, skip around the Jump Ring.

Though shifty, no one pays him any attention. The Scout

moves through the crowds, casing the joint.

A pair of slovenly Security officers walk by, dressed inblack uniforms similar to the Admirals.

The Scout watches the officers from the corner of his eye.

The officers stumble along, spending more time slapping

each other on the back than watching the crowds.

The Scout continues on.

INT. JUMP RING - MARKETPLACE - SPACE

The kids wind their way through a slightly more respectable

section of the Jump Ring.

Owen lags behind the others, his eyes everywhere, absorbing

the aliens, shops, architecture, cultures.

JOE

Still in a hurry to get back home?

OWEN

I ... wow.

The kids walk by rows of painted and polished hoverjets,

half motorcycles, half jet airplanes. Owen is drawn to

them, shuffles over like a zombie.

OWEN

Awesome.


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An alien SALESMAN saunters up.

SALESMAN

Pretty hot, huh son? And shes the

easiest thing the world to ride.

The Salesman lifts Owen off his feet and plops him onto one

of the nearby hoverjets.

SALESMAN

Grab a control stick and youre

locked in. Push to dive, pull to

climb, twist to turn. Right foots

go, left foots stop. Simple as

that. So how you payin?

JOE

Hes not. Get off, get off!

Joe pulls Owens hands off the control sticks before

grabbing Ownes jumpsuit and yanking him off the hoverjet.

The Salesman snorts at Joe as the kids shuffle on.

JOE

Cant let em rope you in like

that, Owen.

OWEN

So shiny.

OFFICER URKFURK - a pig-like alien in Security garb,

uniform straining at the seams - stumbles towards the kids.

KIDS

Hello, Officer Urkfurk!

Urkfurk spots the kids and groans.

OFFICER URKFURK

Shouldnt you kids be in school?

Or working? Or stuck in a Nunalium

mine somewhere?


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JOE

Not happy to see us, Urkie?

OFFICER URKFURK

Dont call me Urkie.

ARALLA

Still upset about that thing with

the bongledons?

OFFICER URKFURK

Do you have any idea how long it

took to clean that mess up?

The kids collectively shake their heads, all trying their

hardest not to smile or break into laughter.

OFFICER URKFURK

Im not going have any trouble

with you kids today, am I?

KIDS

No, Officer Urkfurk.

OFFICER URKFURK

Going to have a nice, relaxing

shift for a change?

KIDS

Yes, Officer Urkfurk.

OFFICER URKFURK

Good. Get a move on. Go make

someone elses life miserable.

Officer Urkfurk points at his eyes, then at Joe - Im

watching you - before he shuffles off.

OWENWho was he?

JOE

Officer Urkfurk? Galactic Security

Force. But the guys out here

patrolling the Ring arent exactly

top of their class.


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LOOTHU

I like Officer Urkfurk.

KOBOR

You like everyone, squirmy.

INT. JUMP RING - CONCOURSE - SPACE

Dr. Vroon pushes the metallic box, hovering above the

ground, through the throngs of alien creatures.

Ten feet away, the Scout continues his reconnaissance.

INT. JUMP RING - TEST CHAMBER - SPACE

The room is massive, bare metal walls. Makeshift platformsand cage-like enclosures fill the space.

The Admiral nears a dozen alien technicians that hover over

a bank of monitors.

ADMIRAL

How are we looking, gentlemen?

TECHNICIAN

Good to go here, sir.

INT. JUMP RING - INNER DECK - SPACE

The Inner Deck of the Jump Ring encircles the innermost

part of the station, closest to its hollow, tubular center.

The ceiling of the Inner Deck is a transparent material

that wraps around the inside of the Ring.

Ribbons of electricity wind around the inner circumference,

maintaining the wavering mouth of the wormhole.

Countless ships, from personal craft to freighter, pass

through the wormhole above.

The kids shuffle through the Inner Deck, with Owen in the

lead. His eyes are glued to the sights above, unblinking.


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OWEN

So many ships.

JOE

Well its a big place out there.

OWEN

Its amazing.

Owen starts to laugh, cant contain himself. He looks at

the others, and they smile back, Kobor included.


The Scout gives his surroundings one last scan, then holds

a slender metallic device to his ear.

PIRATE SCOUT

Come on through.


Owen continues to stare spaceward at the incoming ships.

For the others, the moment has run its course.

ARALLA

Alright, lets go.

All but Owen start to leave.

OWEN

Huh. Look at those ones.

EXT. JUMP RING WORMHOLE - SPACE

Scores of dark, imposing ships come through the wormhole.

Some are small fighter ships, zipping around erratically.

Others are hulking raider ships, steadily pushing forward.

A large, ominous command ship is at the center of the pack.


The shadowy ships fill the view above.


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JOE

Oh no.

LOOTHU

This is bad.

Other aliens look up. Panic fills the Inner Deck.

ARALLA

Back to the ships!

The kids are already running. Owens clueless.

KOBOR

Move it, new guy!

OWENWhats going on?

JOE

Pirates!

This doesnt sink in. Joe gives Owen a frantic shove.

JOE

Go! Owen, run!


Sirens sound. Aliens run around like terrified idiots.

The kids try to push through the crowds.


Security officers look amongst themselves, clueless.


The Admiral and the technicians look up from the monitors,

drawn away by warning lights and sirens.

EXT. JUMP RING - SPACE

Pirate raider ships fan out towards the the Jump Ring.


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The massive command ship remains in the center, with the

small fighters buzzing around it.

INT. COMMAND SHIP - BRIDGE - SPACE

The bridge of the command ship is appropriately shadow-filled and foreboding.

Pirates man various stations. Multiple views of the Jump

Ring and raider ships fill an expansive viewscreen.

A robotic hand, attached to an as yet unseen figure, raps

its fingers against the armrest of a central command chair.

MALEONAS (V.O.)

Engage the drills.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIPS - SPACE

Large panels on the sides of the raiders ship pull back,

revealing gargantuan drill bits.

EXT. JUMP RING - TERMINUS - SPACE

The raider ships come to a stop in a circular formation

around the Terminus, the rim of the tubular Jump Ring.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - SPACE

The drills extend towards the Jump Ring.

INT. JUMP RING - TERMINUS - SPACE

A shrill metallic screeching fills the Jump Ring.


The drill bits churn through the stations exterior wall.


One of the drill bits punches through the exterior wall.


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The command ships viewscreen shows all of the raider ships

in position, now attached to the Jump Ring Terminus.

MALEONAS (V.O.)Begin boarding.


One of the drills splits apart, opening up like bio-

mechanical flower. The drill shaft is a hollow tunnel.

Pirates - a wide range of alien species - charge out of the

tunnel and into the Jump Ring.


A squadron of elite Security Commandos enter the test

chamber, heading straight for the Admiral.


Pirates begin to loot the Jump Ring, grabbing machines,

robots, anything of value.

They shoot laser guns wildly, more for show than effect. It

is utter chaos.


In another section, pirates stick up helpless aliens for

their possessions, jewellery, equipment.


The kids follow Aralla through the madhouse. Owen doesnt

need to be told to keep up.


Dr. Vroon pushes the metal box through the crazed masses.


Aliens push and shove, trying to get back to their ships.


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Civilian ships begin to flee the station.


COMMANDER ROFOLO steps forward from the squad of Commandos.

ADMIRAL

Commander Rofolo?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Security feed, sir.

Commander Rofolo hits a few buttons on his wristband, and a

large holographic display appears.

Pirates in different locations throughout the Jump Ring

flash on the display, cycling from one area to the next.

ADMIRAL

Pirates.


The Security officers face off against the pirates. Both

sides take cover behind walls, pillars, overturned stands.Both sides are horrible shots.

The pirate lasers are sleep rays. Once hit, Security

officers go limp, falling into unconscious clumps.

The Security lasers, meanwhile, are freeze rays, stunning

the pirates, locking them in place like living statues.

Dozens of officers pile up on the floor, snoring loudly.

Others hide behind their napping cadres.

The pirates similarly take advantage of their fallen

brothers, using those frozen in place as additional cover.


Aralla leads the kids through the crowds and the impromptu

war zone, pirates and Security zapping away at one another.


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A pack of pirates make their way towards the kids.

ARALLA

Get behind there!

The kids jump behind an overturned kiosk.

OWEN

Is this normal for you guys?!

JOE

What? No, no, of course not.

TESSARACTA

Truthfully, it is a little much.

The pirates move past, and the kids go unnoticed.

ARALLA

Were good, keep moving!

INT. JUMP RING - HOVERJET SHOPS - SPACE

Pirates jump onto hoverjets, short them out with electrical

devices, and ride off, hooting and hollering like buffoons.


Aliens in dignified attire are surrounded by pirates.

PIRATE

Dont you all look important.


Pirates pile stolen goods at the entrances to the tunnels

before rushing off into the Jump Ring for more.


Officer Urkfurk and a few of his Security buddies huddle

behind a random stall, pirate lasers zipping overhead.

One of the officers gets tagged. He collapses into a

snoring heap at Urkfurks feet. Urkfurk grumbles.


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EXT. PIRATE COMMAND SHIP - SPACE

A small shuttle detaches from the command ship and heads

towards the Jump Ring.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - SPACE

The shuttle docks with the upper area of the raider ship.


Out from one of the tunnels marches CAPTAIN MALEONAS. He is

lion-esque, his powerful mane flowing over utilitarian

pirate garb. A web of scars runs across one side of his

face, accompanying his robotic arm.

All nearby pirates face him and stand at the ready.

PIRATES

Captain Maleonas!

Maleonas looks around at the spoils, grinning, triumphant.


The Admiral and Commander Rofolo continue to scan the

rotating security feed. It settles on Maleonas.

ADMIRAL

Maleonas. Where is this?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

The Jump Rings Terminus, sir.

ADMIRAL

Head there immediately. He doesnt

get off the Ring. Understand?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Yes, sir!


The kids weave through the crowds, leaving slumbering

Security officers and immobile pirates behind.


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Dr. Vroon hustles along, still pushing the hovering box.

A pair of pirates jump out ahead of him, then anotherhandful from behind. The group advances towards Dr. Vroon.

PIRATE

What have you got there?


Pirates and Security still shoot at one another as the

Commandos arrive on the scene.

Commander Rofolo guides his squad, single file, gunsnotched tight. Theyre dead-eyes, picking off pirates left,

right and center - zap, zap zap!

Fifty paces back, a half dozen Commandos escort the Admiral

as he marches fearlessly through the Jump Ring.


The Pirate Scout, hidden in the shadows, watches the

Commandos handiwork. He pulls out his communicator.

PIRATE SCOUT

Weve got a problem.


Maleonas oversees the progress of the raid, looking over a

stolen techno item. Another pirate approaches.

PIRATE

Captain Maleonas, weve just got

word that the Security Admiral ison his way.

MALEONAS

Still trying to catch me, Admiral?

(to pirate)

Well be long gone before he and

his reinforcements hyper in.


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PIRATE

No, sir ... hes here already.

Hes on board the Ring.

MALEONASHes here? Now?!

PIRATE

Yes, sir.

Maleonas stares at the spoils, clenches his robotic hand.

The techno equipment bursts into pieces.

MALEONAS

Order the retreat.


The crowds have thinned. Laser fire echoes in the distance.

The kids appear, spot the lifts back down to their ships,

and explode with nervous laughter.

ARALLA

Joe, going to have to cut the

visit short, Im afraid.

JOE

Yeah, yeah, totally with you.

Aralla, Kobor, Tessaracta, and Loothu are already on the

move as Owen and Joe reach the door to their lift.

Arallas group, a dozen doors down, offer perfunctory waves

before entering their lift. Owen and Joe do the same.

INT. JUMP RING - ELEVATOR LIFT - SPACE

Owen and Joe stand at the hatch that connects elevator lift

to ship. Joe punches away at a nearby console.

JOE

Hows that for your first trip to

a Jump Ring?


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OWEN

No comment.

JOE

Why isnt this working? Wait,

what? Connector disengaged? Theytook my ship. They took my ship!

Owen buries his face in his hands.

Joe runs his hands through his hair-tentacles, squeezes his

eyes shut, then grabs Owen by the jumpsuit.

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL - SPACE

Joe exits the lift with Owen in tow.

JOE

Well have to catch a ride

with ...

Down the way, Arallas group has also reappeared. But now

theyre escorted by pirates.

Owen and Joe duck back into the entrance to their lift and

watch as their friends are hauled away.

Kobor shoves one of the pirates and sends him flying.

The other pirates laugh at their comrade, but raise their

laser guns to Kobor. Kobor stands down reluctantly.

Aralla, Kobor, Tessaracta and Loothu are led away.

Owen steps out from the lift.

JOE

Owen, where are you going?

Owen looks at Joe in disbelief.

OWEN

After your friends.


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The pirates are on the run, hauling booty, prisoners - and

some of their frozen coconspirators - with them.


Maleonas directs the pirates as they ferry their spoils

into the tunnels and onto one of the pirate ships.

Amongst the prisoners is Dr. Vroon. Amongst the booty, the

mysterious metallic box.


Aralla and her friends are herded forward by their captors.


Owen and Joe hustle through the mostly deserted station.

JOE

Owen, this is not a good idea.

This, this you leave to Security.

OWEN

You see one of them right now? You

see any of them?

JOE

No.

OWEN

Me neither.


The Commandos, the Admiral, and the Security officers have

picked up momentum as the pirates abandon the Jump Ring.

Commander Rofolo checks his wrist band security feed.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Admiral? I dont think were going

to reach them in time.


33/121

32

ADMIRAL

We can make it close.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Sir, the pirates have breached the

stations exterior walls. If wedont stop them, close is the last

thing we want to be.

ADMIRAL

Recommendation?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Seal off the Terminus.

The Admiral stops, exhales aggressively, grits his teeth.

ADMIRAL

Do it.


Owen and Joe sneak behind walls and abandoned kiosks.

Up ahead, the Terminus is empty save for the last of the

pirates, the scant items yet to be brought on board, and

Aralla and her friends.

The captured kids make one last, futile stand against the

pirates before theyre prodded into one of the tunnels.

JOE

Owen, if you think were following

them onto one of those ships, you

are crazy.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HOLD - SPACE

The ship is dank, rusty, dripping with grease.

Booty, prisoners and pirates fill the hold. Aralla and her

friends are shoved into a small pack of fellow prisoners,

including Dr. Vroon.

Maleonas enters and addresses a handful of nearby pirates.


34/121


35/121

34

They reach the second tunnel. It hasnt sealed itself shut,

but theyre not squeezing through.

Owen and Joe have already set their sights on the last

drill-tunnel as it begins to close.

OWEN

Dont stop, dont stop!

They pump their feet. Theyre almost there.

The drill tip is a third closed, the opening shrinking.

But they make it. Owen and Joe jump up, grab ahold of the

drills lower segments, and hoist themselves up and in as

the drill tip clenches shut.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BRIG - SPACE

Aralla, her friends, Dr. Vroon, and a few stately looking

aliens are shoved into a dingy holding cell. Metal bars

lower from the ceiling. Kobor gives them a futile shake.

KOBOR

Not liking this, guys.

ARALLA

No disagreement.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BOARDING TUNNEL - SPACE

Owen and Joe lean against the tunnel wall, panting.

OWEN

Man, that was close.

The tunnel begins to retract into the ship, forcing the

boys along with it.

JOE

Seriously?


The raider ships begin to pull away from the Ring. Debris

is sucked violently into space.


36/121

35


The raider ships move away from the Jump Ring.

INT. JUMP RING - SECURITY COMMAND - SPACE

The Admiral and the Commandos file into a Security command

center, followed tentatively by the Security officers.

The Commandos quickly activate and man the myriad of

viewscreens. All feeds reveal the same scene: raider ships

pulling away from the Ring.

The Admiral turns to the Security officers, setting his

eyes on Officer Urkfurk.

ADMIRAL

You.

URKFURK

Sir?

ADMIRAL

Is this station equipped with

fighter craft?

URKFURKSome, sir, yes.

ADMIRAL

Man them, as many as you can.


The pirate armada assembles around the command ship.

Other vessels continue to take off from the Ring, most

entering hyperspace, a scant few taking the wormhole home.


Owen and Joe enter the dark innards of the ship, hiding

behind a nearby bulk of techno treasure, alert and on edge.


37/121

36

INT. JUMP RING - PILOT LOADING BAY - SPACE

Dozens of detached fighter craft cockpits line the floor of

the loading bay, canopies open and waiting for pilots.

The Rings Security officers race towards the cockpits,jumping in and strapping themselves down.

INT. SECURITY FIGHTER COCKPIT - SPACE

Urkfurk, just barely able to fit in the small space, smacks

away at the fighters controls, grumbling.

The cockpit drops below the floor of the loading bay,

travelling downwards on a dimly lit guide track.

EXT. JUMP RING - OUTER SURFACE - SPACE

A pack of small Galactic Security Force fighters cling to

the underside of the Jump Ring.

Mechanical arms ferry the pod-like cockpits from the

innards of the Ring and lock them onto the fighter crafts.

Manned fighter crafts disengage, one after another.


The fighters fly towards the pirates in formation.

The Security ships engage the pirate fleet, clashing with

the small pirate fighters, zooming around the hulking

raider ships like wasps.


Maleonas storms onto the bridge of the command ship and

throws himself into his chair. He surveys the viewscreen

and the state of his forces.

MALEONAS

Find the farthest rendezvous point

we can reach at masked speeds, and

get us out of here.


38/121

37

PIRATE

Sir!


Laser fire fills the vacuum of space as Security and piratefighters target one another.

And just ask quickly as the skirmish had begun, the pirate

command ship enters hyperspace, blinking out of sight.

Its followed by one of the raider ships, then a second,

and a third. The rest arent far behind.

The pirate fighter ships are next, disengaging from

Security and disappearing into hyperspace.


The Admiral and Commander Rofolo watch the now abandoned

Security ships looping around aimlessly in space.

ADMIRAL

Track their hyperspace trails and

have our ships follow the pirates.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Yes, sir.

Commander Rofolo brings up a variety of scans.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Sir? Theyve masked their jump

trails. Theyre gone.

The Admiral grips the edge of the terminal, fuming.

EXT. TERRA NOVA DESERT - DAY

Owens rover remains at Joes landing site, now accompanied

by a team of scientists that sweep the desert.

Most of them flock around the tracks in the dirt left from

the spaceships landing gear and propulsion systems.

Another one of the colonists inspects Owens rover.


39/121


40/121

39

OWEN

Huh?

JOE

You with me here, buddy?

Owen takes in the shadowy alien space ship.

OWEN

Yeah. I am.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BRIG - SPACE

Arallas gaze roams the brig, steady and methodical.

Kobor leans against the bars, arms crossed. He stares atthe pirate guards, muttering to himself.

Loothu waves sheepishly at the other captive aliens. Sadly,

he doesnt get much of a response.

KOBOR

We waiting this out?

ARALLA

Dont know what other option we

have at the moment.

Tessaracta walks up to Aralla and Kobor.

TESSARACTA

This simply will not do.

KOBOR

Easy there, Tess.

He glances at the handful of regal alien prisoners, then

nods his head at the pirates.

KOBOR

Best to keep the royal-pain-in-

the-butt routine in check.


41/121

40

TESSARACTA

I dont plan on drawing it to

their attention, Kobor, but thank

you kindly for the suggestion.


Security officers walk the concourse, surveying the

aftermath of the pirate raid, the debris, the scorch marks.


The Admiral consults with Commander Rofolo.

ADMIRAL

Any trace of hyperspace

tunnelling? Anything at all?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

None, sir. Complete mask.

The Admiral leans in closer to the bank of viewscreens.

ADMIRAL

How many known gravitational

bodies are along the exit

trajectories and can be reached at

masked speeds?

Rofolos hand skip furiously across the controls.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

One thousand, seven hundred and

three.

The Admiral winces.

ADMIRAL

Organize the search. Start withthe nearest locations.


The pirates continue to play their game.


42/121

41

GRUMBLING PIRATE

The Security Admiral was on that

Ring! Unbelievable.

SECOND PIRATE

I hear ya, I hear ya. Practicallybegging Security to lock us up.

A hand comes to an end and the grumbling pirate throws his

cards on the table. The third pirate laughs raucously,

grabbing his money off the table.

THIRD PIRATE

Might happen anyway if we didnt

mask our trails right.

Joe slumps against the nearby booty and snorts humorlessly.

JOE

Masked their trails.

OWEN

What? What does that mean?

JOE

Means no ones going to find us.

The sound of the ships engines changes, winding down intone, and Joe picks up on it.

JOE

And now were coming out of

hyperspace. Brilliant.

EXT. JUNGLE PLANET ORBIT - SPACE

The planets expansive crimson and purple jungle is like an

angry, all encompassing bruise.

The pirate ships exit hyperspace, re-compressing above the

planet before heading towards it en masse.

EXT. JUNGLE CLEARING - DAY

Abandoned ships and techno junk, rusted and derelict,

litter the jungle clearing.


43/121

42

The raider ships, fighter craft and stolen ships fly

towards the clearing. They touch down, forming a large ring

around the edge of the open area, leaving the center of the

clearing open.

The massive command ship looms above the clearing.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HOLD - DAY

A horizontal seam of light appears on the wall opposite the

drill tunnels.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - DAY

The side of the raider ship opens, becoming a loading ramp

that drops down to the dirt.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BRIG - DAY

The pirate guards approach the prisoners, laser guns drawn,

and the brigs metal bars rise into the ceiling.


Sunlight floods the hold as pirates begin to haul the

spoils down the ramp.


Pirates file out of the raider ships and stomp down the

ramps, hauling booty towards the clearing.


Owen and Joe watch as the hold is slowly emptied. A few

hoverjets rest on the other side of the hold.

Joe grabs a piece of stolen equipment from off the floor.

JOE

This could be tricky.

OWEN

Huh?


44/121

43

Joe lobs the equipment at the hoverjets. It arcs through

the air, spinning slowly ... and hits one of the vehicles

dead on. The hoverjets begins to topple over.

The pirates rush over to the overturned vehicles, shouting

at each other, pointing fingers. And turning their backs tothe loading ramp.

Joe shoves Owen, pointing furiously at the ramp. The boys

hustle towards the opening in the hold.

EXT. LOADING RAMP - DAY

Owen and Joe step out into the jungle sunshine and quickly

jump off the side of the ramp.

EXT. UNDERNEATH LOADING RAMP - DAY

Owen and Joe hide beneath the ramp.

OWEN

Good throw.

The two boys cautiously stick their heads out.

EXT. LOADING RAMP - DAY

Aralla and her fellow prisoners are prodded towards theclearing by their pirate guards.


Owen smacks Joe and points to a far ramp.

OWEN

Found em.


The prisoners step off the ramp. Dr. Vroon is slow to move,

and one of the guards gives him a shove.

Dr. Vroon tumbles forward, nearly hitting the dirt, but he

braces himself against the hovering metal box.


45/121

44

ARALLA

Hey!

Kobor and Aralla storm over to the guard. Kobor is almost

eye to eye with the pirate. The two stare each other down.

KOBOR

Dont do that.

Tessaracta goes to Dr. Vroon, helping him to his feet.

PIRATE GUARD

Get moving, old man.

The group begrudgingly continues on.

TESSARACTAAre you alright?

DR. VROON

Im fine enough. And thank you.

Your highness. Ive never met a

princess before. Odd timing.

Tessaracta sizes up an impish, grinning Dr. Vroon.

TESSARACTA

Were overrated.

Dr. Vroon extends a wrinkled hand to the children.

DR. VROON

Im Dr. Elimat Vroon, physicist.

TESSARACTA

Tessaracta.

ARALLA

Aralla.

KOBOR

Kobor.

LOOTHU

And Im Loothu!


46/121

45

DR. VROON

My youre excitable.

KOBOR

You have no idea.


The Administrator walks amongst the terminals.

The scientists from the landing site enter. Chatter in the

room dies down to a quiet murmur.

ADMINISTRATOR

What did you find?

SCIENTISTTouchdown confirmed, maam.

ADMINISTRATOR

Incredible. And? Contact?

The scientists share uncertain glances.

ADMINISTRATOR

What is it?

SCIENTISTIt seems likely.

ADMINISTRATOR

What does that mean? Did you make

contact or not?

SCIENTIST

No maam, we did not. But it looks

like someone else did.


Owen and Joe watch the pirates as a loose ring of booty

forms around the center of the clearing.


47/121

46

EXT. STOLEN SPACESHIPS - DAY

Joes ship stands amongst a dozen others. Pirates make

their way to the clearing, leaving the ships unattended.


Joe smacks Owen and points to stolen ships.

JOE

Found my ship.

Something rumbles above. Owen and Joe look skyward.

EXT. COMMAND SHIP UNDERSIDE - DAY

A rectangular seam appears on the underside of the ship. Aplatform lowers from the ship, hover engines extending.


The pirates and prisoners watch the platform descend.


Owen and Joe watch as the platform nears the ground.


The platform touches down, surrounded by stolen goods.

EXT. HOVER PLATFORM - DAY

Captain Maleonas stands in the center of the platform,

flanked by more pirates.


Joe groans, pulls at his hair-tentacles dramatically.

JOE

And its Captain Maleonas.

OWEN

Not a good guy?


48/121

47

JOE

Not a good guy. Wed better hurry.

The boys crawl out from under the loading ramp.

EXT. HOVER PLATFORM - DAY

A group of high ranking pirates join Maleonas, all nodding

or bowing slightly in his presence.

MALEONAS

No sign of Security coming out of

hyperspace?

PIRATES

No. / Uh-uh. / No, sir. / etc.

MALEONAS

If theyd tracked us, theyd be

here by now. Lets get started.


Maleonas walks by the mounds of booty, inspecting it

superficially, tossing some items aside.

MALEONAS

Not quite the discretion in ourlooting I wouldve hoped for.

Maleonas stops his tour, turns to the ranking pirates.

MALEONAS

If we can use it or sell it, it

goes on the platform. The chaff

stays behind.

The high ranking pirates nod and hustle off. Maleonas

continues to peruse the contraband.


The kids stand at the edge of a pack of other prisoners.

Something across the clearing catches Arallas attention.


49/121

48

KOBOR

What is it?

ARALLA

Thought I saw something.

EXT. EDGE OF JUNGLE CLEARING - DAY

Owen and Joe sneak behind the bulky pirate raider ships,

along the perimeter of the clearing.


Commander Rofolo consults with one of the Commandos. Heads

nod. Rofolo turns and approaches the Admiral.

ROFOLOSir, we havent been able to

locate Dr. Vroon.

ADMIRAL

And the prototype?

ROFOLO

No signs of it either, sir.

ADMIRAL

Better by the moment.


Dr. Vroon makes his way through the prisoners, then sets

his eyes on the hovering metallic box.

Two pirates sort through stolen goods. They knock on the

nondescript metal surface of the box, look at one another,

shrug, and push the box onto the platform.

The old man winces.


Owen and Joe peer out from behind a raider ship. The stolen

ships are just up ahead.


50/121

49

Maleonas and a half dozen pirates appear from the clearing

and inspect the ships.


Maleonas walks past the ships and looks them over.

MALEONAS

Take it, take it, leave it.


Owen and Joe follow Maleonas progress.


Maleonas eyes Joes ship.

MALEONAS

Take it.

Maleonas gives the other ships one last cursory glance.

MALEONAS

Good enough. Trash the nav banks

on the ones were leaving behind.

The pirates file onto the unfavorable ships as Maleonasmarches back towards the platform.


Aralla pulls her friends into a loose huddle.

ARALLA

Kobor, how many of these guys you

think you could take on at once?

KOBORIll put those three over there to

sleep right now if you want.

ARALLA

Not yet, too much attention.

Aralla looks across the clearing at the stolen ships.


51/121

50

ARALLA

But if we managed to hide onboard

my ship and wait for them to

leave, youre looking at two or

three of those morons onboard,tops. Then once we clear orbit -

Kobor smashes a fist into an open palm.

ARALLA

Exactly.

KOBOR

I like it.

LOOTHUWhat about everyone else?

ARALLA

Well get help.

TESSARACTA

What if theyre gone by then?

ARALLA

You know we cant take them, Tess.

Tessaracta looks over at the other prisoners. Dr. Vroon

stands on his own, lost in thought.

EXT. JOES SPACESHIP - DAY

A pirate walks away from Joes ship. Owen and Joe appear.

Joe gives his ship a loving pat.

JOE

Ill be back, baby. Hang tight.

(to Owen)Alright, lets grab the others and

get out of here.


Aralla and her friends make their way to the back of the

mass of prisoners, closer to the jungle.


52/121

51


Owen and Joe come around one of the raider ships. The

prisoners stand fifty feet away.


One of the pirates hops onto a hoverjet and starts it up.


Owen and Joe creep towards the prisoners.


Aralla and the others stand at the back of the prisoners.

And thirty feet away, lurking in the shadows of the closest

raider ship, stand Owen and Joe.

TESSARACTA

Is that ... ?

ARALLA

Joe?

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - DAY

Owen and Joe spot the others, staring right back at them.


Aralla, Kobor, Tessaracta and Loothu take a step away from

the other prisoners.

Joe grabs Owen. They dash out of the shadows.

The pirate on the hoverjet appears, making a slow loopingturn towards the platform, bringing him face to face with

Owen and Joe.

The kids are still. Same goes for the pirate.

PIRATE

What ... are you two ... doing?


53/121

52

The pirate looks back and forth between the boys and the

prisoners, then scrambles for his laser gun.

Owen reaches out and shoves the pirate off the hoverjet.

The pirate hits the dirt, dumbstruck.

Once again, everyones still. Aralla breaks the spell.

ARALLA

Run!

JOE

Run? Run where?!

Owen jumps onto the vacant hoverjet and grips the controls.

OWEN

Get on?

Joe hops on behind Owen, holding onto Owens waist.

JOE

Do you know how to ride one of

these things?!

OWEN

Not really.

The hoverjet bolts forward.


The hoverjet flies around the clearing like a wild bottle

rocket, engines roaring, passengers screaming.

EXT. OWENS HOVERJET - DAY

Owen struggles with the hoverjets controls as Joe tries tohang onto Owen for dear life.


All eyes, pirates and prisoners alike, follow the hoverjet

as it loops and spins fifty feet above the ground.


54/121


55/121

54


Both kids watch as the pirates man the hoverjets below.


The pirates set their hoverjets in gear and rocket skyward.


Joe twists backwards, watching as the pirate hoverjets gain

altitude and head towards the boys.

OWEN

Whats the call?!

JOELose em!


The boys fly towards the jungle. The pirates follow.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

While the crimson jungle is expansive, golden pillars of

sunlight cut through the loose canopy. Thin, newspaper-wide

leaves fill the air, hanging from drooping branches.

Owen and Joe race through the jungle, their hoverjet

bobbing and weaving through the foliage.

Theres distance between the pirates and the boys, but the

gaps not getting any bigger.

The boys bank left and right, up and down, snaking through

the trees. Each turn is tighter than the one before.

EXT. PIRATE HOVERJETS - DAY

The pirates unholster their laser guns and take aim.


56/121

55


Lasers whiz by the kids. Joe yelps in surprise. None of the

lasers hit the boys, but some ricochet off of the hoverjet,

scorching metal.

OWEN

Hows this thing holding up?

JOE

Still flying, aint we?

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The boys fly forward, avoiding branches, trunks, and

massive leaves, laser fire at their backs.


The pirates struggle to aim as they steer the hoverjets.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The foliage to the right of Owen and Joe begins to change,

giving way to thick, looming banyan-esque jungle trees.

The strip of banyans creeps closer to the boys.


A wall of banyans appears straight ahead, and Owen jerks

the hoverjet to the left.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The boys narrowly avoid entering banyan territory.


Joe stares at the daunting banyans, again on the right.

JOE

Too close, Owen, too close!

More laser fire shoots past their heads, and they hunch

down instinctively. Joe smacks Owen on the back.


57/121

56

JOE

Lets go, lets go!

OWEN

Shut up and hold on!

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

A chorus of squeaks and chirps grows louder, drowning out

the sound of the hoverjets.

Then the air is clogged with bird/bat/reptilian things that

dive out from the trees and fill the jungle.


The boys cling even tighter to their hoverjet as they pass

through the thick cloud of flying creatures, a few of them

smacking against the hoverjets small windshield.

Owen pushes the hoverjet towards the dirt, skimming above

the ground and below the creatures.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The pursuing pirates are engulfed by the flying things.


A pirate comes face to face with one of the flying

creatures and is knocked off his hoverjet.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The dismounted pirate falls twenty feet to the ground. His

aimless hoverjet connects with a tree and explodes.


The pirates and the prisoners all watch as a tendril of

black smoke rises from the jungle and into the sky.

Maleonas looks at his gawking minions.


58/121


59/121


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59

Then theyre all through, leaving the black pods behind.


Owen scans the jungle frantically.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The dense body of banyan-like trees appears up ahead. Owen

pilots the hoverjet right for them.


Joe sees where theyre headed. His yellow eyes bulge.

JOE

Owen, Owen, be careful, man!

OWEN

I know what Im doing.

They reach the banyans.

EXT. BANYAN FOREST - DAY

Owen pulls back on the throttle as the boys enter the

throng of banyan trees.

The vine-wrapped trees are woven together like organic

catacombs, sunlight barely breaking through the canopy.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The pirates near the banyans and enter cautiously.


Bobbing and weaving, every turn brings Owens hoverjet

within an arms reach of a gnarled banyan trunk.


Owen means business as he cuts through the trees.

OWEN

They still back there?


61/121

60

Joe glances back, can only make out quick flashes of the

pursuing hoverjets through the trees.

JOE

Not right behind, but not far.

OWEN

Get ready.

JOE

Ready for what?

Owen and Joe swoop around a large trunk. Another massive

banyan awaits dead ahead.

Owen grabs a hold of Joes jumpsuit and guns the engine.


The pirates weave through the trees, and encounter an

expanding inferno.


The pirates scramble to avoid the explosion and flaming

banyan trees, spreading out in all directions.

Slowly, carefully, they return to the burning wreckage of

the boys hoverjet.

FIRST PIRATE

Yikes.

SECOND PIRATE

What a mess.

THIRD PIRATE

Lets get back then.

The pirates turn, and head back through the banyan trees.


The droning of hoverjet engines grows louder, and the

hoverjet-riding pirates appear.


62/121

61

They circle briefly before settling down near Maleonas.

FIRST PIRATE

Sir, we tried grabbing the two of

em, but before we could, they ...took a wrong turn. Head first.

A second pillar of smoke now rises above the jungle canopy.

MALEONAS

Unfortunate, those were good

machines. Finish loading the

platform.

The pirates nod, then move towards the platform.


Aralla and her friends stare at the black smoke as it

climbs higher into the alien sky.

EXT. ICE GIANT ORBIT SPACE

The planet is a swirling orb of purple and blue gas, no

visible land or sea to speak of.

A Security fighter kicks out of hyperspace.


Officer Urkfurk inspects the controls. The purple ice giant

dominates the view before him.

URKFURK

This is Officer Urkfurk, location

one-oh-nine. Not picking up any

unknown hyperspace tunnelling.

He plunks at a few buttons and gauges.

URKFURK

Atmosphere is scanning toxic

across the board. Gravitys three

times standard. Looking pretty

unfriendly, even for a pit stop.


63/121

62

A final few cursory checks.

URKFURK

EM radiation within natural

ranges. No ones down there.Transmitting and moving on.

Urkfurk rubs a weary face. He grabs the controls, and the

planet sweeps out of view.

EXT. ICE GIANT ORBIT SPACE

The Security ship blinks off into hyperspace.


The Admiral sits off to the side of the main bank of

monitors, rubbing at the alien equivalent of his temples.

Commander Rofolo approaches.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Sir?

The Admiral opens his eyes and sets them on Rofolo.

COMMANDER ROFOLOWe havent detected any sign of

the pirates, although more than

two thirds of the target locations

remain to be inspected.

ADMIRAL

Assuming the pirates headed to one

of them. Instead of some uncharted

rock, or station, or coordinates

in the middle of nowhere.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Thats correct, sir. We have

received word that the Fleet is en

route to assist, but ...

ADMIRAL

But time is not on our side.


64/121

63

COMMANDER ROFOLO

No, sir, it is not.

The Admiral nods, and a hand returns to his temples.

ADMIRAL

Thank you, Commander.

Rofolo leaves the Admiral to his thoughts.


The totalled hoverjet and nearby banyans continue to burn.

And but of course, out from behind a fallen tree trunk

twenty feet from the fire crawl Owen and Joe, dirty,scratched, but relatively unharmed.

The boys stand before the wreckage, inspecting the fire

that, moments before, was their ride out of the jungle.

OWEN

Wow.

JOE

Owen, that was way, way too close.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

Owen and Joe step out of the banyans. They spot the

airborne command ship through the tree tops.

OWEN

There. That way.

JOE

So what, sneak attack, round two?

OWEN

Unless youd prefer to stay here,

camp out for a bit.

JOE

Ive had enough of these trees.


65/121

64


The pirates load the remaining items onto the platform. The

prisoners, now one pack, are just off to the side.

The kids stare at the lingering black smoke that driftsabove the jungle.

Aralla looks over at her ship. She takes a few steps

towards it.

Kobor grabs her by the arm. Aralla looks back at her

friend. He shakes his head.

Maleonas takes one last look around, then addresses the

other pirates.

MALEONAS

Get the prisoners onboard. Were

done here.

The prisoners are pushed onto the platform and left

standing amongst the stolen wares.

The platform lifts off the ground.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The boys push through the jungle, the command ship ahead.

Then the hover platform appears, rising above the trees.

OWEN

No.

EXT. PLATFORM - DAY

The platform is midway between the clearing below and the

command ship above.

The prisoners stare transfixed at the black smoke. Dr.

Vroon shuffles over to the kids.

DR. VROON

Im sorry.


66/121

65

The platform is cloaked in shadows as it nears the

rectangular notch underneath the pirate command ship.

INT. COMMAND SHIP - PLATFORM HANGAR - SPACE

Pirates stand at attention along an upper catwalk thatwraps around the perimeter of the cavernous room.

The platform locks into place, doubling as the hangars

floor, and sealing the prisoners in.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The boys watch the platform merge with the command ship.

OWEN

No, no, no.

Then the raiding vessels and stolen ships lift off the

ground. The small armada points spacewards, accelerates

quickly, and is gone in an instant.

Owen and Joe are left staring at an open sky.

OWEN

What am I doing here? Joe, what am

I doing here? I shouldnt be here,

what am I doing here?!

JOE

I shouldnt be here either! And I

didnt drive us into that tree,

Owen, you did!

OWEN

We were being chased through the

jungle, by pirates from space,

because you walked face first

right into them!

JOE

Hey it was your genius idea to

come to the rescue, remember? We

shouldve stayed put on the Ring,

left this to the professionals!


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Owen takes a slow, surly step towards Joe.

OWEN

Why was I there in the first

place? I should be at home,

oblivious. Safe. But you showedup. And kidnapped me. Now Im

going to die on some random, crazy

alien planet, that probably

doesnt even have a name, because

of you. You stupid, stupid alien.

JOE

That so? Makes two of us, buddy.

Owen turns his back on Joe, pulling at his hair, fuming.

One of the carnivorous pods drops out of a tree. Owen jumps

out of the way to avoid its gaping, fang-lined maw.

OWEN

Would you just give me a break -

Owen grabs a log and smashes the pod in the mouth.

OWEN

- for one second? Come on!

The pod yelps and pulls itself back up into the trees. Owen

holds onto his log like an irate caveman.

JOE

You done? I can wait you know, if

you want to knock around a few

more plants. Your call.

Owen tosses the stick aside, and takes a step forward.

OWENDone.

The boys continue on in silence.


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Owen and Joe step out of the jungle and into the clearing.

Other than the discarded items and rejected spaceships, the

jungle clearing is empty, not an alien soul in sight.

INT. COMMAND SHIP - PLATFORM HANGAR - SPACE

The prisoners sit on the floor, huddled together, heads

down, silent.

The sound of the engines changes, their pervasive hum

winding down as the ship comes out of hyperspace.

The prisoners look amongst one another nervously.

TESSARACTAWere here.

KOBOR

Wherever here is.

The pirates stand at attention and circle the prisoners.

The prisoners get to their feet.

Theres a muffled sound like two heavy objects colliding,

metal on metal, and the ship lurches sideways.

The ship settles. Everythings quite. Everythings still.

Then, footsteps from above as Maleonas appears.

MALEONAS

Take the prisoners down in groups,

and lock them up.

One end of the hangar is dominated by a pair of large

doors. They slide open, revealing a freight elevator.

The kids and Dr. Vroon are part of the first group thatsled inside.

EXT. ABANDONED SPACESHIPS - DAY

Owen sits atop a weathered storage container, alone,

staring at a trio of feint daytime alien moons, the

abandoned spaceships at his back.


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Joe steps out of the nearest ship, a junker of a vessel,

and ambles over to Owen, flopping down beside him.

JOE

They wiped the nav charts.

OWEN

I take it thats a bad thing.

JOE

Yep. Even if the ship works, we

dont know where were going. Wed

be flying blind through the

galaxy. And if you hadnt figured

by now, big galaxy.

Owen nods absently. Then he cocks his head, face scrunched.

OWEN

But we do know where were going.

Were going wherever they went.

Can we follow them?

JOE

Well, maybe, but only if they ...

if they didnt mask their jumps.

OWEN

Did they?

The boys jump off the container and scramble onto the ship.

INT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - BRIDGE - DAY

Joe smacks away at monitors and buttons.

JOE

Unbelievable.

OWEN

What?

JOE

Ive got em. All the hyperspace

entry points, one after another.


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OWEN

Well lets go!

JOE

Owen, these trails are likeripples in water. Theyre clear at

first, but eventually, space

settles. Trails die out. And these

ones are already fading.

OWEN

Then wed better get moving.

JOE

Owen ... if we lose those trails

before we reach the exit points,then were stranded, in space,

without any way of knowing which

way to go.

OWEN

What other choice do we have?

Joe giggles humourlessly, eyes wide, almost like a madman.

JOE

Alright. Alright. Take a seat,were already running out of time.

EXT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - DAY

The spaceships exterior door slides shut, the engines rev

up, and the ship lifts off the ground.


The space junker flies away from the jungle planet.

INT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - BRIDGE - SPACE

The viewscreen displays the void of space beyond. Its

overlaid with realtime visualizations of the hyperspace

trails, along with vector indicators and calculations.

Joes eyes dart side to side, scanning the viewscreen.


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JOE

Weve got a problem.

OWEN

What?

JOE

The ships didnt stick together.

Indeed, though the trails start together, they veer off in

all directions like a three dimensional starburst.

OWEN

Go where most of them go.

JOEThere isnt a most of them.

OWEN

Then follow the biggest one.

JOE

Owen, are you sure about this?!

OWEN

No.

JOE

Oh man.

OWEN

Joe? Do it.

Joe reaches out to the controls.

EXT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - SPACE

The spaceship speeds up and enters hyperspace.

INT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - BRIDGE - HYPERSPACE

Stretched-out stars flash by the viewscreen as the ship

barrels through hyperspace. A dozen of the visualized

hyperspace trails lead the way, twisting through space like

roller coasters, bending around stars and planets.


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JOE

Tunnels are clear. Velocities

matched.

Then the lights in the bridge begin to flicker. The soundof the engines wanes, the pitch oscillating.

JOE

No, no, no, no, no.

The engines rev up, then back down. Lights shine bright,

then dim. Alarms sound, warnings flash.

JOE

You piece of junk!

Joe claws at the controls.

JOE

Come on, come on!

The engines cant seem to maintain a steady output. The

hyperspace trail visualizations are expanding, losing

definition, bleeding into one another.

JOE

Owen, were losing them.

Now the trails arent much more than one blurry tunnel.

OWEN

Just stay in the middle!

JOE

Were not going to have a middle

for much longer!

The ghostly pack of the hyperspace trails is almost gone.

OWEN

Please, please, please ...

Then the viewscreen explodes with information,

notifications, and alien script, all pointing to spherical

nodes at the end of the trail: hyperspace exit points.


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JOE

There!

Joe slams his hand against the controls.

EXT. PIRATE PLANET ORBIT - SPACE

The beat-up spaceship exits hyperspace above an ominous

grey sphere. Dark, churning clouds sweep across the planet,

leaving most of the surface obscured.


The pirate planet looms enormous on the viewscreen. Joe

slumps back in his chair, groaning.

JOE

Owen, I really dont think you

understand how close that was.

OWEN

Maybe not, but tell me later.

INT. COLONY LIVING QUARTERS DAY

Mrs. Adamson stands at a wall-mounted communication screen,

while Mr. Adamson taps at a thin tablet.

MRS. ADAMSON

Honey, I still cant reach Cater.

MR. ADAMSON

Huh. Transport bay logs show the

rovers been returned. Just a few

minutes ago, actually.

MRS. ADAMSON

Then why isnt he answering?

MR. ADAMSON

Hes a teenager. Probably thinks

we bug him too much as it is.

MRS. ADAMSON

He could still answer his mother.


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The front door chimes. Owens parents look at one another.

MRS. ADAMSON

Why would Owen ring?

Mr. Adamson walks to the main entry the living quarters.

MR. ADAMSON

Open.

The door opens, revealing the Administrator and the

scientists from the landing site.

ADMINISTRATOR

Mr. and Mrs. Adamson?

Mrs. Adamson joins her husband.

MRS. ADAMSON

Yes?

ADMINISTRATOR

We have a situation.


Joe taps at the controls. A fluctuating scanning gridappears overtop the planet on the viewscreen.

JOE

It aint pretty down there, but at

least they should be easy to find.

Just one point of activity.

The display zooms in on a small pinprick on the planet,

which expands to fill the screen. A sort of infrared / x-

ray view highlights a solid mass against the grey.

JOE

If the others are anywhere on that

rock, Im thinking its there.

OWEN

Along with the pirates.


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JOE

Along with the pirates.

OWEN

Alright then. Lets take a look.

EXT. PIRATE PLANET WASTELANDS - DUSK

The planet is a dark mirror of Terra Nova. Barren, desolate

grey rock, clouds blocking out the systems star. Lightning

snakes down to the ground, violent and jagged.

Joes clunker spaceship breaks through the clouds, heading

down to the rocky surface.

INT. PIRATE JAIL - DUSK

The jail cells are hollowed-out pits in dank grey rock,

sectioned off by rusted metal bars. Pirates push the

prisoners towards the open cells, separating the kids from

the rest.

The pirates place their hands on stubby consoles beside the

cells. The metal bars swing shut, clanging heavily.

One of the pirates takes a lazy seat by the door.

Kobor, Tessaracta, and Loothu step up beside Aralla.

KOBOR

Now what?

ARALLA

Theres only one question, really: how

many of them do you think we can all

take on at once?

EXT. PIRATE BASE - DUSK

A colossal escarpment stretches across the horizon. The

pirate base is built into the cliff, a metal wedge

splitting the sheer rock face apart.

The base is wider at the bottom, tapering as it climbs up

and above the rock, ending in a sharp spire. Near the

bottom is an open hangar.


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The pirate command ship hangs in the air just below the

upper tip of the base, docked to the spire.

INT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - BRIDGE - DUSK

The boys observe the base on the viewscreen.

OWEN

Are they going to know were here?

JOE

At this distance? Yeah, probably.

OWEN

So ... ?

JOE

Working on it.

EXT. PIRATE BASE - DUSK

The beat-up spaceship coasts towards the pirate base.

INT. HANGAR CONTROL BOOTH - DUSK

A portly pirate mans a control booth, feet up, watching

some sort of alien show.

A monitor beeps beside him. He shifts his weight, scans the

monitor, and smacks a few buttons.


The bridge is empty. The viewscreen blinks repeatedly.


The pirate waits for a response, scratches his head.

HANGAR PIRATE

Hello? Whos out there? Respond.

INT. BEAT-UP SPACESHIP - STORAGE - DUSK

The boys rummage through the ships cargo.


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JOE

Yeah, thats great, use that!


The pirate sits up, looming over the console.

HANGAR PIRATE

This is the hangar, identify

yourself. Identify yourself.

No response. The pirate turns away and begins to access

another program. Then a comm window appears on the monitor.

Its Owen and Joe. Dressed as pirates.


Owen and Joe sit in the bridge, their jumpsuits adorned

with rough odds and ends salvaged from the ships cargo.

Rags, pelts, scraps of metal and plastics cover their suits

and their faces, just barely mimicking pirate garb.

The hangar pirate stares at them, impatient, suspicious.

JOE

(surly like a pirate)Sorry, sorry, were, uh, were

having troubles with the comms on

this bird.

HANGAR PIRATE

What are you doing out there?

Owen and Joe share a nervous glance.

JOE

She broke down on the way back,isnt running too good.

OWEN

(surly like a pirate)

Needs a lot of work! Shouldve

left er behind.


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JOE

Yeah, so, were going to bring er

in now, have someone take a look.


The pirate chews on the boys words, scrutinizing them on

the monitor ... then shrugs indifferently.

HANGAR PIRATE

Alright. Set her down before you

crash into something.


The hangar pirate disappears from the viewscreen. Owen and

Joe share a moment of silence.

OWEN

Now what?

JOE

I think we just fly in.

INT. PIRATE BASE HANGAR - DUSK

The hangar is filled with pirate attack craft and stolen

vessels. Pirates mull around the hangar floor.

The battered spaceship enters through the wide outer

entrance, flies over to a vacant spot, and sets down.

INT. HANGAR FLOOR - DUSK

The beat-up spaceships hatch opens, and Owen and Joe step

out into the hangar, a pair of diminutive pirates.

OWEN

Caught a break for once, huh?

JOE

We were due.


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Owen and Joe move through the hangar, surrounded by

spaceships and genuine pirates. They keep their heads low,

trying to remain unnoticed as they look around the place.

A group of pirates approach the boys. Owen and Joe slow.

The pirates nod. The boys clear their throats, which is

about the best their (human and alien) adolescent vocal

chords can manage. The pirates grunt in acknowledgment.

The boys hustle forward.


The boys reach Joes ship, its hatch open and inviting.

JOE

Missed you, baby!

They scan the area before darting into the ship.

INT. JOES SPACESHIP - BRIDGE DUSK

Joe jabs away at the ships console, running antsy hands

through his hair-tentacles. Owen stands behind.

JOE

Charts are all here, systems

operational. Shes good to go.

Joe pauses, then turns to Owen, hesitant.

JOE

We could go home, you know. Right

now. And get help.

OWENWhat if theyre taken somewhere

else? Or worse? I cant leave now.

Can you?

JOE

No. No ... but Ive got an idea.


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The boys reach Arallas ship, nestled amongst the others.

JOE

We dont tell Aralla about thisuntil after we get them out of

here, you got that?


The hangar pirate continues to watch his show. Owen and Joe

appear on the second monitor.

JOE

Hey, we got another bird that we

need to check out, make sure sh-

HANGAR PIRATE

Yeah, yeah, just let me know when

youre heading back.

The pirate cuts the feed and returns to his show.

INT. ARALLAS SPACESHIP - BRIDGE - DUSK

Owen and Joe stare at the ships blank viewscreen.

JOE

I like that guy.


Owen and Joe zip down the ships external stairs as the

landing hatch closes behind.

They wheel around and watch as Arallas ship lifts off,

heads towards the exit, and flies away from the base.

OWEN

I hope this works.


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INT. PIRATE COMMAND ROOM - DUSK

Maleonas sits on a throne-like chair at the far end of a

war table, his back to a wall of windows that look out onto

the dark grey expanse of the rocky planet.

A dozen idiot pirates sort through some of the spoils,

littered across the floor. Off to the side, unattended,

hovers Dr. Vroons box.

MALEONAS

Whats in that?

A few of the pirates bring the box out from the shadows.

They poke and prod at it, but the box remains closed.

Maleonas sighs heavily, looks out at the rock sea beyond.

Then gas plumes hiss out from spreading cracks in the box.

It opens like a flower, unfolding onto the floor.

Maleonas leans forward in his seat, elbows on the table.

The air clears. The box holds a circuitry-imbued metallic

halo. Long grey cables hang from the back of the headband.

MALEONAS

Which one of you found this?

Dr. Vroons original pirate captor steps forward.


Dr. Vroon watches the kids from his cell as they whisper

amongst themselves on the other side of the room.

EXT. JUNGLE PLANET ORBIT - SPACE

A Security fighter exits hyperspace, appearing far abovethe crimson jungle planet.


Officer Urkfurk taps at the controls.


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EXT. DERELICT SPACESHIP - DAY

Urkfurk steps out of the spaceship, walks a few paces. He

takes in the desolate clearing, lifeless, still.


Owens parents have joined the Administrator in the

colonys command center. Mr. Adamson paces back and forth.

MR. ADAMSON

Okay, I want to make sure I have

this right. You think that there

was some sort of alien landing,

out in the desert.

ADMINISTRATOR

Correct.

MR. ADAMSON

And Owen was at the landing site.

ADMINISTRATOR

Correct.

MR. ADAMSON

And whatever landed has since leftthe planet. Along with our son.

ADMINISTRATOR

Correct.

Mr. and Mrs. Adamson share an anxious, desperate glance.

MRS. ADAMSON

So what do we do?

ADMINISTRATORWe wait. And hope they return.

INT. PIRATE BASE - HANGAR CORRIDOR - DUSK

The bases hallways are cut out of the bare grey rock.

Metal doors, hanging lights, random equipment and exposed

cables adorn the otherwise raw tunnels.


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Our two short pirate impostors make their way through the

halls of the hideout, sneaking around in plain sight.

Joe dodges a drop of stagnant water that falls from above,

joining a murky puddle in the middle of the floor.

JOE

Cozy.

Owen glances at the ship-filled hangar they leave behind.

OWEN

This is so weird.


The kids are huddled together in their cell.

ARALLA

Ready to make this happen?

Arallas friends each nod in response.

KOBOR

Tess, time to play the princess

card.

TESSARACTA

I suppose it is.

Tessaracta moves up to the bars, stares directly at the

lone guard by the door, and clears her throat.

TESSARACTA

Hey, you, peon. On your feet. Now.

KOBOR

Yikes. Here we go.

The guard gets out of his chair and lumbers over.

GUARD

What did you say?


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TESSARACTA

Kobor, do you have anything

persuasive to add to this

conversation?

KOBORHuh? Oh, right.

Kobor reaches out, grabs the pirate by the shirt, and

smashes the pira

"owen and the aliens" - elliott davidson

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