* SPARSE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC www.able.co.nz Able 2021 WOMAN: I hate this part. You're still here, but I know you're going, and I hate that. MAN: Well, I'll call you, baby. (Whispers) Don't tease me. I miss you so much when you're gone. Oh, I miss you too, baby. Listen, last time Streck told me if I belly-ached about you for one more minute, he was gonna toss my ass right off the ship. You tell Streck your ass belongs to me and he can keep his hands off it. Alright. My class wants you to come by when you get back. I think I could arrange a visit, if you're nice. How nice? You like fruit? Yeah. Well... ..come here a minute. (Chuckles) Come here. Hey, baby-peach. (Giggles) Is that for me? That's for you. (Giggles) MAN ON RADIO: This is mission control. All systems are go. The crew of 'Victory' have been given a go for an orbit operation by the Mission Control Centre. Crew members are doing well and all systems of the orbiter are performing satisfactorily. Three...two...one...zero... and lift-off. Mission control, we have left the pad. Roger that, 'Victory'. You are go for throttle up. Mission control, this is 'Victory'. We have throttle up. A fine day for flying, Houston. All systems are go. CHILDREN: Pineapples. What do they have in Kansas? ALL: Corn. Yes, corn. And what about Georgia? What do they have in Georgia? ALL: Peaches. Very good. And what do we have, here in Florida? ALL: Oranges. And rocket ships. Yes, Calvin. And rocket ships. Mrs Armacost, you have a phone call. Thank you, Brian. OK, let's go to page seven, and we'll work quietly, OK? Hello? Mrs Armacost? Yes, this is Jillian Armacost. Mrs Armacost, NASA Communications. We have your husband for you. Go ahead, Commander. Jillian? Spencer? Yeah, I told you I'd call. It's amazing, isn't it? Yes, amazing. Hey, Jill. Yeah? What are you wearing? Spencer. Come on, now. There's nobody else listening. Uh, not exactly, Commander. Including Houston and JPL, there are about 300 folks on the line today. (Laughs) Nice day down there, huh? Beautiful. Can you see outside, Jill? Yeah. 15 seconds, Commander. I'm right above you. You lookin' up, honey? 10 seconds. Won't you smile for me, huh? I already am. He called you from outer space? Well, technically from earth's orbit but, yes. He called me from the orbiter. Stanley won't even call me from the Beef and Bourbon and you get a call from outer space. The earth's orbit, whatever. Technically speaking, Jill, you scored. I don't get it. We grew up in the same house, you land Johnny rocket boy, I get different versions of throws-up-on-himself Elmo. I bet he's good at the little things too, isn't he. What little things? Just those little things that mean so much. It's true. You know, men are like parking spaces. All the good ones are taken, and all the available ones are handicapped. OMINOUS MUSIC What? Spencer. Oh, man. Something happened. Come on! DOORBELL RINGS Keep checking. Mrs Armacost. I'm Sherman Reese from NASA. Um, it's about your husband. What's happened? We'd like you to come with us. Jill - something about Spencer! We have a car right outside. Please, Mrs Armacost. Captain Streck's wife is already there. Uh, the director wants... The condition of Armacost and Streck as well as the rest of the shuttle crew is at this time unknown. Reporting live from NASA... Is my husband dead? Ma'am, I don't know anything about the condition of your husband. Is my husband dead?! Ma'am, I just don't know. Then take me to someone who does. HAUNTING MUSIC He's dead. I know he's dead. They're not dead. They're not dead. Ssh. What have they told you? Nothing. He won't tell me anything. Mrs Streck, Mrs Armacost. First, your husbands are alive. Oh, thank God. They're back on the orbiter right now, we're gonna bring them down immediately. What happened up there? Your husbands were outside the orbiter performing some repairs on a satellite, there was an explosion and... ..we lost contact with both astronauts for about two minutes. What? You lost contact? What do you mean you lost contact? After the explosion they drifted behind the shuttle - we had to bring the craft around 180 degrees to get them. They were all alone? But they're back on the shuttle and they'll be back down here as soon as possible. Mr Reese here will stay with you until we can get you to them. They were all alone out there, Jillian. DOOR CLOSES (Whispers) It's OK. They're alive. This will give you a view from the shuttle as they land. Would you like me to get you the link up? I'll get the link up. DRAMATIC MUSIC MISSION CONTROL: 25 seconds to re-entry interface. THUNDEROUS RUMBLE Maintain descent. Velocity at 2,600. 235 knots. 15 seconds. MUSIC INTENSIFIES Eight at 215, five at 210... One foot. Ground control, this is 'Victory'. We are down. He's breathing on his own, his vital functions are good. As far as we can tell, there has been no brain damage. It should only be a matter of time before your husband regains consciousness. So he's going to be OK? Absolutely. And what about Alex? Captain Streck is an older man than your husband. There was a tremendous... strain on his heart. (Whispers) Natalie. SOLEMN MUSIC HEART MACHINE BEEPS STEADILY Jillian. (Whispers) Jillian. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, you. I missed you so much. How are you? I'm alright. Hey, huh? Yeah, I'm alright. Good. I gotta pee. Yeah. I gotta pee. I'll see what I can do for you. Where's Alex? Is he alright? STRECK: Spencer? Spencer. Spencer, what is that? SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC Did you feel that? Alex. My God, what is that?! EMERGENCY BUZZER SOUNDS Alex? Honey, I'm here. Goddamn it! What can I do?! NURSE: Change here. Alex! Help him! That's it, sir. He's still at zero. (Gasps) Nothing. Charging 300. DOCTOR: Clear. (Gasps) We got him. Hold off on that intubator. DRAMATIC MUSIC Stand by with some dopamine. Let's get an EKG prep. What did you say? Well, I told that bloated, fast food-eating mother we'd have never got the chance to be heroes if he hadn't cut our budget and made us put that shitty exploding satellite up on orbit. Really? Yeah. And then what happened? He said he'd never been talked to like that by anybody. I said I didn't give a rat's ass, and if he ever called me again I'd track him down, rouse him out of his bunk, pull his pants down and spank him with a coathanger in front of his wife and children. Well, that's real subtle. Yeah, I thought it would be so. You want to tell me what you really said to the President? Yeah. I thanked him for his call. Uh-huh. And I asked him what he was wearing. And he started breathin' kinda heavy, made a funny noise and hung up. What do you think that means? Maybe he's not into you. Guess not. She got balloons. Why didn't I get balloons? You got candy. I got no candy. Where's my candy? (Chuckling) In the car! NATALIE: Does he ever talk about it? Spencer ever...say anything about what happened up there? What it was like when they were alone? It's gonna be OK. They're back. He doesn't talk about it, does he? Neither does Alex. He never mentions it. Not a word. Well, do you blame them? Those two minutes - they almost died, Jillian. But they didn't. But they almost did. To go through that together. To come back and not talk about it, never bring it up - it's bizarre. Natalie. It's over. Honey. I know this has to be hard for you too. It just...scares me that they act like it never happened. PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD There you go. Thanks, Commander. You got it, buddy. Hey. Hmm? Guess what? What? I'm resigning from service. 'Cause of what happened? No, just because I'm done up there. I got an offer... from an aerospace firm. Executive position. Lots of money. I mean boatloads of money, Jill. What do you know about being an executive? You're a flyer, Spence. No, honey. What I am is a true American hero. Now, the President of the United States of America said that, and you heard it. Anyway. Apparently it's pretty good for business to have a true American hero on a company letterhead, you know? The thing of it is, Jill, is that the company headquarters... Mm-hm. ..it's in New York City. You're kidding, right? No. New York? Mmm. You hate New York. Yeah. Too many people, remember? I know. We have a life here, Spencer. A job, our friends, everything. Yeah. So what do you say? Will you do it? Will you move to New York City with me? Hmm? You've always been there for me. I want to be there for you. Let's go to New York. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC GIRL: Mrs Armacost? Yes, Paula. When your husband is in space, does he ever see God? BOY: What about aliens? Does he see aliens? Does your husband bring a laser gun in case there are aliens? I'd bring two laser guns - one for my pocket and a laser rifle. Does your husband have a laser rifle? Is he bringing it home with him? Does it work on earth or only in space? You know what, Calvin? What, Mrs Armacost? I'm going to miss you. (Kids laugh) (People sing) # And so I face... # No, no, no, no, no, no. # The final curtain... # Oh. # My friend, I'll say it clear # I'll state my case # Of which I'm certain # I've lived a life that's full # I've travelled each and every highway # But more, much more than this # I did his way UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC (Sid Vicious sings) # Regrets, I've had a few # But then again # Too few to mention # I did what I had to do # I saw it through... # (Laughs) # Without exemption # I planned each careful step # Along the highway # And more, much more than this # I did it my way # I've loved # And been afraid # I've had my fill # My share of losing # And now # As tears subside # I find it all so amusing # There were times # I'm sure you knew # When there was fuck, fuck, fuck-all else to do # But through it all # When there was doubt # I shat it up # Or kicked it down # I faced that wall # And stood tall # And did it my way... # MUSIC BECOMES DISTORTED (Screams) (Screams) Spencer! Spencer! Spencer! Spencer! Alex! WOMAN SCREAMS TENSE MUSIC Baby. Alex. (Turns music off) DRAMATIC MUSIC (Cries) MAN: I have a brief prepared statement, then there will be time for questions. Captain Alex Streck died last night at 8:55. The cause of death has been determined to have been a massive stroke, what the surgeons are calling a severe insult to the brain. Alex was an asset to this program way beyond his professional expertise. He will be missed terribly by all of us. There will be a private ceremony. (Reporters talk simultaneously) Is Commander Armacost in any danger? I'll let Doctor Patraba answer that. Commander Armacost has been through an intensive array of examinations and tests. It is the opinion of myself and my colleagues that he's in no more danger than any of us. (Quietly) Hey. (Quietly) Alright. Hey. Hey. I'm going to be over here, baby. OK. You OK? Yeah. Where's Natalie? She's in the back. She's been asking for you. OK. I'll see you in a bit, OK? Alright. OK. Natalie? Jillian. They talk to him every night. All the time. I couldn't understand them. Who talked to him, Natalie? They did. ETHEREAL MUSIC They did, Jillian. He's hiding inside me. * I certainly appreciate your concern, Mr Reese, but I have been probed and poked by enough needles. Your superiors have given me a clean bill of health. I know they have, but, Commander... Look, it's probably nothing, but, um... (Speaks quietly) No... ELECTRICITY CRACKLES (Girl screams) DRAMATIC MUSIC (Screams) ELECTRICITY CRACKLES (Screams) Oh, God. Oh, my... Oh, my God. Oh, God. No. Oh, God. Oh, no. Oh. Oh, my God. No! ETHEREAL MUSIC WOMAN: I'll be sure and let you know. There's some good places for you to shop. That dress is sweet... ..packed with high explosives. After they strap me in... You'll meet all sorts of interesting people, like I do. You can feel the first kick... You know, you're very lucky. I, er... But then, the solid rocket boosters come on and that's when you know that you're going somewhere real fast. Zoom, zoom, zoom. That's right. I used to be into AIDS, but now I'm into hunger. I teach. Oh, at the university? No, second grade. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said you taught second grade. Yes, I...I... Oh, Ambrose, hi. You look great. Will you excuse me? Yeah, sure. Yeah, alright. Excuse me, fellows. Now, don't worry about her. Total lack of body fat has made her less than human. (Laughs) I don't think she's had her period in three years, which is a blessing for the gene pool, wouldn't you say? Shelly McLaren. Jillian Armacost. Yeah, I know. Oh, your husband... Jackson McLaren, uh-huh. They all had cigars, but Jackson had the biggest cigar of all. Ah, here we go. Thanks. Do you have many friends here in the city? Yeah, some at work. And Spencer, of course. Your husband and your friend? Yeah. Well, you better not let that get around. You know, they're going to haul you up on charges. (Laughs) Now, that I like. What? Your laugh. That's an honest laugh. It's been a while since I've heard one. Thank you. It's alright. I'll be right there. Apparently, there's some minor disaster in the kitchen. Something to do with burning rum balls. Now, I'm going to call you and we're going to go out and laugh, alright? OK. Alright. You alright? I'm drunk. (Both laugh) Well, that's good, honey. HEARTBEATS That's good. Tell me what happened up there. Tell me. Alright. Come on, let's take a walk. OK. You want to know what happened? Yeah. I'll tell you. Yeah. You want to know about them two minutes? You never talk about it. Two minutes. Dark... ..black... ..no light. There was an explosion. And, er, everything shut down. HEARTBEATS No light. No communication. It was black, silent. No sound, but loud, something loud. Loud nothing. And it was cold. It was so cold, Jill. And I knew what that cold was. It was death. And it held me real tight for about the first minute. And, then... ..I felt warm. It was the warmth of you, Jillian. The warmth of your body. Your hands. The inside of your mouth. DRAMATIC MUSIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES Spencer! Spencer. What's happening? STRANGE SOUNDSCAPE What's happening? (Gasps) Spencer? RADIO STATIC JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS What are you doing? I couldn't sleep, so I just... ..listening to some music. GENTLE MUSIC I'm sorry if I was a bit rough. I guess maybe I had a little too much to drink. Come on. Let's go to bed. MUSIC SWELLS SLIGHTLY (Groans) Goodnight, sweetheart. * ROCK MUSIC PLAYS (Reads) "Then she began to guess the little man's name. "'Is it Conrad Peppermill?', she said. "And the little man said..." CHILDREN: No! "'I know, I know, it's Sir William Doorknob.' "And the little man said..." CHILDREN: No! "'I have it. It must be Little Ribs of Beef.' "And the little man said..." CHILDREN: No! "'It couldn't be Rumpelstiltskin, could it?' "'What did you say?', said the little man. "'I said, it couldn't be..." CHILDREN: Rumpelstiltskin! "And the little man screamed." (Children scream) "And stamped his foot." STAMPING DISTORTS Honey, you sound so sad. It's just the city, Nan. It just gets inside you, that's all. You can't let it! That's how you got in trouble after Mom and Dad died. You sound like you did then. Found a doctor to talk to yet? Oh, not yet. Then promise me something, OK? Um, if it gets like it was before, that you'll just... you'll find someone to talk to. KEY TURNS IN LOCK Nan, I really have to go, OK? 'Bye. Hey, Jill. Hey. You're late. You didn't get my message? Had a dinner meeting tonight. Oh, I didn't check the machine yet. Oh. Well, I'm sorry. I still ain't conquered this corporate shit yet. I'm going to take a shower, honey. OK. (Sighs) PENSIVE MUSIC BELL RINGS CHILDREN CHATTER AND LAUGH SOLEMN MUSIC Do you ever think, what if I had an F15 in World War II? Or a B17 in World War I? No, never. What kind of ass I could kick with that type of advanced technology? How many different kinds of 'ass' are there, Jackson? Many kinds, love. But the modern battlefield is all electronic. And the fighter that this man has helped us design can detect, sort, identify and eliminate anything electronic. You got two McLaren engines pumping 25,000 pounds of thrust. Wingspan is 75 feet. Fully...fully extended. Oh, yeah, that's fully extended. You got a top speed of 1,800 miles per hour. Ceiling at 55,000 feet and a crew...of two. The modern battlefield is a blizzard. A transparent, electronic blizzard. With planes and tanks and computers and missiles all humming away. And into that storm flies our fighter. Doesn't drop bombs, it doesn't shoot missiles. It just sends out a signal. It's like the voice of a god. Just a signal that turns everything off. I forget, Jackson, who is the enemy now that we need your plane to defend us from? The enemy at this moment? You are, dear. You are. The signal it makes, what does it sound like? Oh, humans can't hear it, darl. Humans can't hear it at all. (Whispers) Excuse me, ma'am. Miss Augusta waits. Alright. Come on, Jackson. Augusta has summoned us to her bedside. A goodnight kiss. After allowance, it's the most important event of the day. The joys of parenting. Come on, Jackson. Coming. ETHEREAL MUSIC Why are you so far away? I'm right here. What's the matter? What's wrong? I don't understand any of this. What they're talking about, it's like they're speaking in code. Honey, it's business. That's all. Why do you have to build that plane? The way you talk about it... it doesn't even sound like you. Baby, it's my job. My job. You used to say you'd fly forever. You used to say they'd have to bury you in the sky. Yeah, they almost did. What are you looking for when you look at me like that? What are you hiding from me? Hmm? Nothing. Nothing. MUSIC INTENSIFIES No. Yeah. Uh-uh. Yeah. Yeah. (German accent) This is going to be a little cold. Let's have a look in here, shall we? Ah, there it is. Let's take a measurement. Mmm. Nine weeks. Give or take a few days. See this here? This...this flickering? What is that? That's the heartbeat. Supposed to be moving that fast? (Laughs) I would be worried if it were not. Everything looks fine, Jillian. That's interesting. What? Well, wait, I'm not sure. See this here? What is that? A second heartbeat. Two heartbeats. It's twins, Mrs Armacost. Twins. This is a number of a support group for women who are expecting twins. There's something I didn't tell you...for my chart. I know I should have but... A few years ago, after my parents died... ..I... ..I had a bad time. How bad, Jillian? I would see people I knew... ..and I'd see them dead. (Sniffs) And sometimes I... ..I would see myself. Did you seek treatment? Were you hospitalised? Yes. Does he know? He's the one that got me through it. You are afraid that this pregnancy's going to bring all that back, right? Yeah. Spend time with Spencer. Go through this together. Now that you know that all these feelings you've been having are caused by the life growing in you and by your body adapting to it - oh, cherish it. OK. And if you need, call me anytime, day or night. Thank you. * SMASHING GLASS FOOTSTEPS ECHO SCREAM GETS LOUDER ELECTRICITY BUZZES Just a nightmare, baby. You talk in your sleep. What was I saying? Couldn't tell. Didn't sound like words, really. It was more like sounds. I'm scared. Well, I think it'd be strange if a first-time mother wasn't scared. Yeah. Come on. Come with me. GENTLE MUSIC There you go. That's better, eh? Yeah. Yeah. Everything's going to be OK, isn't it? Mmmm. Everything gonna be just fine, honey. And they're going to be healthy, right? Uh-huh. They gonna be beautiful. Just like their mother. What do you think they'll be when they grow up? What they gonna be? Yeah. Shit. They gonna be pilots, honey. Just like their father. Just like their father. Alright, lean back here. Let me wash your hair. Am I dreaming, Spencer? No. No, you're not dreaming. And then he gives you that look. That 'Honey, I understand look'. Ha! I don't care how long he rubs my feet for. He doesn't understand a thing. He rubs your feet? I know what you mean. We're supposed to be going through this together but I have never felt more separate from him. It's like there's something going on in my body he knows nothing about. He rubs your feet? (All laugh) I got into the bathtub with my socks on. LAUGHTER TENSE MUSIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES RHYTHMIC LATINO MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC STOPS Oh! Oh, my God. Jesus. You scared me. (Laughs) You are in big trouble. Do you like the pie? I don't believe I can take much more of this, honey. How much do you like the pie? (Giggles) Mmmm. Come get the pie! First I'm gonna drink you. Then I'm going to eat you. Get the pie. I'm gonna eat that, right? (Laughs) Yeah. Think you can handle all three of us? Yep. Yeah? Do you love the belly? I love it. Good. 'Cause I love the belly too. 'POP GOES THE WEASEL' PLAYS Excuse me. Mrs Armacost? Do you, er...do you remember me? Mr Reese? Yes. Um... Oh! (Edgy) How many months? Just a few. I need to speak with you. You know, Spencer works for McLaren now, if you're looking for him... No. I-I-I need to speak with you, Mrs Armacost. A-about those two minutes. Two minutes, Mrs Armacost. What is it, Mr Reese? Have you noticed any change in your husband's behaviour since the shuttle mission? Because I've been going through these files and there are some peculiarities. Like right here. This is your husband's signature before he went on that last shuttle. Here's a form he signed when he returned. Now, they are similar but... but not the same. Not the same signature. Mr Reese, are you in New York on official NASA business? And...and here's the results of the medical test we ran when he got back. Mr Reese. Are you on official NASA business? Everything is fine. Everything shows up normal but everything's just a little bit different. Blood levels, temperature, EKG, EEG. Everything's just a little bit off from what it was. Look at this! Mr Reese. Does NASA know you're here? Oh...they wouldn't listen. Um, they terminated my employment. I have to go now. No. If you have anything to say you can call my husband at McLaren. I-I-I showed them the facts and...and...and they terminated my employment. They referred me to a psychiatrist. Don't follow me. TENSE MUSIC I've seen Captain Streck's autopsy report. It was a massive stroke. His system overloaded. His body couldn't stand the strain. I've seen Natalie Streck's autopsy report as well. DRAMATIC MUSIC That was a suicide. She killed herself. I was there. I saw it. Yes, she did. But according to the report when she killed herself she was three weeks pregnant. What did you say? She probably conceived right after her husband left the hospital. She was pregnant, Mrs Armacost. So what happened during those two minutes when they were alone? What happened? The suits your husband and Captain Streck wore had built-in recorders. Listen to the voices. Something scared the shit out of them. What could do that? No. It was an accident. There was an explosion and the satellite... NO! They trained for explosions. They trained for accidents. They trained for hundreds of hours. If something goes wrong there's a plan. They don't panic or deviate. They stick to the plan. That's what they do. Something happened that these two men had not trained for. What would do that? To two highly trained astronauts? Scare them like that. Can you swear to me that he's still your husband? Can you? Let go of me, Mr Reese. Ma'am, is this man bothering you? Yes. Yes, he is. You know, don't you? You already know. OK. Room 304, Nesbit Arms, Mrs Armacost. Please! Mrs Armacost! EERIE MUSIC SPENCER: Rotate the panel 48 degrees. You got me, Alex? ALEX: What is that? Did you feel that? What is it? LOUD HISSING What the hell IS that? HISSING BECOMES LOUDER (Turns off cassette player) No! No! No! NO! KNOCK AT DOOR I'm looking for the pregnant woman in 24F. Jillian, what's wrong? He said she must have gotten pregnant right after Alex got back. Did he say anything else? Oh, God. Oh, honey. The last thing you need to worry about is that freak. I mean, just have Spencer call someone. No, Nan. Spencer can't know about this. Jillian, you said he looked crazy. You have to promise me you won't tell Spencer. Please, promise me. You can't keep these things bottled inside you, Jillian. You're right. OK. If he bothers me again, I'll tell Spencer. OK? Deal? Sure. Mr Armacost? Yeah. Your table's ready. Oh, right. Let's go sit down. Yeah. Oh, Stan? You mean this year's grand marshal of the parade of losers? He's gone. We can't all be as lucky as Jill here. Oh, no. It's me that's lucky. STRANGE ELECTRICAL PULSING (Distorted) You alright? (Distorted) What's the matter? (Normal voice) You alright? Just a little hot. Why don't you have some water? I think I want to go home. Alright. Feeling better? Yeah. Where's Nan? She went out. It's after midnight. She's young. She's having fun. Don't you remember when we used to have fun? No. No? You don't remember that, huh? OK. (Exhales) Alright. What's wrong with you? You ever think about what happened to Alex? Oh, shit. What happened to Natalie? (Sighs) I do. All the time. Those two minutes you could have died. Why you want to go back there? Why do you want to go back to that? Can't you just try for once to be happy? Just once. I'm gonna go to sleep. Mr Reese? Yes. It's Jillian Armacost. The autopsy on Natalie Streck - what did it say about the baby? Mr Reese? Not on the phone, Mrs Armacost. No, you don't understand. You have to tell me. What did Natalie's autopsy say about the baby? Babies. What?! Natalie Streck was pregnant with twins, Mrs Armacost. Oh, my God. What's happening to me? You are too, aren't you? Mrs Armacost? Pregnant with his twins? Natalie's babies - Mr Reese, what did the autopsy say about them? There's something I need to show you, Mrs Armacost. Something you need to see. Do you know the story... ..of the princess whose beloved prince dies in battle? Mrs Armacost, I have something you need to see. Do you understand me? The enemy prince, after overrunning the castle... ..finds the princess and forces himself upon her. Months later, the princess is with child. But whose? It's either the child of her enemy, of the man that killed her husband, the man that raped her... ..in which case, she'll kill herself and the child. Or it's the child of her prince. The only thing she has left of him. A part of him still alive within her. Kept safe inside her. In which case... But how would she know until it was too late? How will she know until the child is born and she can see its eyes? Meet me right now. Somewhere public. Leave your apartment - meet me now. TRAIN RATTLES LOUDLY OMINOUS MUSIC SPENCER: Mr Reese. Sherman Reese. I thought that was you. I was standing over there across the street and I said to myself, "Now, is that Sherman Reese?" Nice to see you. Commander Armacost. Yeah. Are you in town on official business? I'm...not with NASA anymore. You know what? You know what, I heard that. I heard that - thought it was one of them nasty agency rumours. Well, listen. If you need a recommendation, don't hesitate. Because maybe I can help you out. I-I appreciate that. It's real weird, running into you. 'Cause the thing of it is, I was just thinking about you. I was thinking about them tests you wanted to run on me. You know, after Alex died. Listen, if you've got a couple of minutes, we can go have a coffee or something. Actually, I-I gotta go. Oh, come on, Sherman. You're a man of leisure. You ain't got nothing but time, do you? Come on! Yes, nice to see you. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC Almost forgot your satchel, Mr Reese. I got it. STREET SOUNDS BECOME OVERWHELMING You're the only one who knew. I asked you not to tell him! I didn't. OK. What were you talking about last night when I was sleeping? We were just talking. About what?! Just talking, Jillian. Don't do this - it's not good for you. Where did you go last night? Would you listen to yourself? Where did you go?! Jillian, I love you. And Spencer loves you. We all do, so much. Spencer was there. Nan, Spencer was there. With Reese. And you were the only one who knew, Nan. How did he know unless you told him?! You promised me! Jillian, I love you. But I won't do this with you. Do what with me? Come back, Nan! Nan, come back! Don't leave, Nan. GLASS SHATTERS Shit! * PHONE RINGS Hello, Nesbit Arms. Mr Reese in Room 304. EXTENSION PHONE RINGS There's no answer in Room 304. (Children sing) # Down came the rain and washed the spider out # Out came the sun and dried up all the rain # And Incey Wincey spider climbed up the spout again... # DOOR CREAKS (Gasps) (Screams) Are you OK? It's like a joke, right? But if you are watching this tape, I didn't get to that meeting. If you're watching this tape, Mrs Armacost, I'm probably fucking DEAD. This is my backup. That's what they taught us at NASA. ALWAYS have a backup system. I'm...I'm not crazy. I wish I was. I prayed I was. I KNOW I'm not. You might think you're crazy. How could you not? ALWAYS have a backup. You're going to hear two voices on this tape. One is your husband's. The other, Captain Streck. Rotate the panel 48 degrees... This line is your husband's voice. What is that? Did you feel that? This line - Captain Streck's. What the fuck?! Jesus Christ, what the hell is that?! Two voices, but three lines. There's something else on the tape. Something beyond our range of hearing. But I translated it. I had to hear it. And this...is what it sounds like. (Flicks switch) LOUD HISSING, THEN THROBBING NASA said that it's static... It's not static. ..following the explosion of a satellite - static build-up in their suits. But it's not static. I tracked it - it is NOT static. Not from the suits, not from the satellite, not from the shuttle. It's not... It's not from earth, either. Two minutes - that's all there is. That's all it took. If you wanted to come here from very, very far away maybe you wouldn't have to travel in a ship. Maybe you could travel in a transmission - at the speed of light, like a thought. Just wait... for two of us to be up there. Two of us - in orbit. Near a target - something to aim at, like a satellite. Two of us beyond suspicion - heroes, all-Americans. Wait for them. Then erase them like a tape and record your own message. He's not your husband anymore. He's not. But... The computer that runs this airplane - it's not there, not designed yet - but it's supposed to go right here in the cockpit. Right where the pilots are supposed to be. Two computers that work off each other, that feed off each other. Twins. Twin computers. Twins, Mrs Armacost. What do you think you have inside of you? What do you think he put there? What they gonna be... they gonna be pilots... Just like their father. (Gasps) Hey, Jill. Hey. What's the matter? I didn't hear you come in. Listen, I came home 'cause... ..I felt bad for you - that fight with Nan, you know. Why don't you tell me what it was about? She's so stressed out. Have you heard from her? No. Well, I'm sure she'll call you. You're trembling. I am? Mm-hm. I'm a little cold. Mm. Well, you know what I did? I brought something home that I believe is going to cheer you right up. What do you think? I'll pop it in. Oh. Were you watching something? Yeah. It's a...it's a pregnancy video. Oh? Well, maybe we should watch it together. No. Let's watch the movie. You sure? Yeah. Alright. Why are you building that plane? What's that? Why do you have to build that plane? It's a contract, Jill. Besides, I didn't add half as much as Jackson said I did. They got some real sharp engineers over there. Come on, lie back. I know what you're thinking. Don't you worry. Everything's gonna be just fine. OLD-TIME MOVIE MUSIC PLAYS LOUD RUSHING WONDROUS MUSIC SPENCER: Yeah, you pesky goddamn satellite. I'm going to rotate the panel 48 degrees. You got me, Alex? Spencer, what was that? Did you feel that? Spencer, what IS that? What the fuck...? Jesus Christ! What the hell is that? LOUD RUSHING (Groans) Must've dozed off. Were you dreaming? Hmm? No, just sleeping. You weren't dreaming? No, Jill. Wasn't dreaming. Were you? * TENSE MUSIC SHELLY: My caterer gets them from the French Caribbean. I always think the French are so much more advanced in this way, don't you think? Now, listen, with these, all sales are final. Are you sure this is the way you want to go? Yeah. Now, when you get home, you take both pills and then go to bed. There's going to be quite a bit of vile cramping, but as soon as you start spotting it goes real fast. And Spencer won't know? Well, if he's anything like the rest of them, he'll think you miscarried and he'll go out and buy you a bracelet. Now, don't beat yourself up about this, sweetheart. I mean, it's not as if any of this means anything. TENSE CHORAL MUSIC BUILDS (Sobs) Just a little bit of pain and then it's over. Oh God. I can't. Oh God. (Sobs) I can't do it. I just can't. I'm so sorry. You'll understand. I have to. OK. Just... Just... And then it's over. OK. I... They're just babies. I can't do it. Oh, my God! I can't do it. Oh, help me! (Sobs) (Cries out) Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh! Oh, God, stop. He's going to... Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. (Gasps) I have to. HOLLOW CLANG Oh, God, no. What were you going to do to them? (Sobs) No. No! No. You'll hurt them. Oh, God. What were you going to do? (Cries out) SINISTER ECHOES No! (Screams) MENACING MUSIC No. No. NO! (Gasps) Jill. Please. Let's just calm down and talk about this, OK? Ah! Come on now, honey. No. Where you going to go, Jill? Huh? Where you going to go? CHAOTIC WHIRRING AND RUSHING (Cries out in agony) SOLEMN CHORAL MUSIC (Groans faintly) MUFFLED THROBBING HEARTBEAT HARSH, GRATING SCRAPES (Gasps) THROBBING HEARTBEAT Shh! Shh, don't talk. Don't say a word, honey. You're fine. You're fine now. They're still inside you, Jill. They're right where they need to be. And we're not ever going to mention what you tried to do, what you tried to do with them pills, OK? Doesn't exist. Never happened, Jill. (Weakly) Spencer... I don't want to hear a peep out of you. You hear me? I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you and the babies. Now, you just keep quiet and you rest. I'm here with you. I'm always going to be here, Jill. Always. TENSE MUSIC You sleep. Good girl. WARDROBE DOOR OPENS, COATHANGERS JANGLE Nan! Hey, Jilly. Hi. I didn't want to fight with you, Jilly. There's something wrong, Nan. There's not. Doctor says you can go home any day. (Weakly) No, something's wrong with Spencer... ..and the twins. It's just this place. No. He did something to me, Nan, and I didn't tell you. Jillian, it's just being in the hospital that makes you feel this way. I know...I know that you hate it here, I know that, but we're going to take you home soon. We're all going to take care of you. You? Yeah. Of course me. Me, Spencer, all of us. (Whispers) Oh, God, Nan. I'm so scared. Something horrible is happening to me... ..and the babies. I don't know what's happening. And... Tell me, Jillian, what is it? Spencer... He's hiding inside me. Spencer... ..hiding... ..inside me. MYSTERIOUS MUSIC (Sighs) (Sighs) Tell me something, Jill. If the doctors had any idea what you were thinking... ..you know, them awful...dark thoughts... ..what do you think they'd do? (Quietly) They'd lock me up. Huh? (Louder) They'd lock me up. Lock you up? They'd chain you to the wall, Jilly. Yeah. They'd put you back into the hospital. You want that to happen? (Whispers) No. No. I know you don't want that. No, no, no. Well... ..we ain't going to let them, are we? No. No. 'Cause we're going to be strong. We're going to be strong. Together. We're going to be strong for our family, aren't we? Yeah. Yeah. And we're connected now. You feel me inside there where it's safe, don't you? Mmm. See? I live here. We're one. FOREBODING MUSIC * Why do you have Sherman Reese's bag? What did you do to my sister? WARPED CRACKLES AND ECHOES Who are you? What...what the hell are you doing? Let go of me! SCREAMING, DRAMATIC CLANGS CHAOTIC SWIRLING MUSIC (Screams) Jillian! (Jillian gasps) SINISTER MUSIC (Gasps) Nan! Jillian! Go! (Screams) (Gasps) (Whispers) Nan. (Pants) Nan. ELEVATOR BELL RINGS ELEVATOR BELL RINGS SINISTER NOTE PANICKED MUSIC Washington Square Park. (Pants) DISTORTED NOTE LAUGHTER ECHOES EERILY PANICKED MUSIC SURGES DISTORTED MUSIC Oh, no! Go! GO! But it is red, Mrs. I don't care. Just go! But, Mrs, I cannot. Will you go?! You don't understand! Please! I cannot. MUSIC REACHES CRESCENDO (Calls out in foreign language) TENSE NOTE ELECTRONIC CRACKLING Captain Alex Streck died last night at 8:55. Cause of death has been determined to have been a massive stroke. What the surgeons are calling a severe insult to the brain. He's not your husband anymore. He's not. MENACING MUSIC Hello. Welcome back, Mrs A. (Pants) LIFT BELL DINGS SOMBRE CHORAL MUSIC MUSIC BECOMES AGITATED Nan. SPENCER: Jillian! Jillian. Jillian! METALLIC SCRAPING Jesus fucking Christ, Jill. Stay away from me. Why are you doing this to me? I said stay...away from me. Who are you? Who am I? I'm the only person in the world ever gave a fuck about you. I'm the one who gave you a reason to breathe. I'm every single fucking moment ever mattered in your life. No, you're not. I don't even know you. No? Well, I tell you what. I remember a time when I was about to go up there and you begged me not to. You remember how scared you were? And I told you then that I would bring you back a little piece of heaven. And you cried. You remember that? Well, fucking A! I did it! What do you think's inside you? I gave you heaven. No, you didn't. You're not Spencer. It don't gotta be like this, honey. Please, come on, now. Step out of that water. Please, baby. Get out of that water. Come on. Oh, my God. Please. Nan. Oh, my God! DRAMATIC CRESCENDO You killed my sister. You killed my husband. Yeah. I did. And then I fucked his wife. I live there. No. ALIEN SCREECHING (Gasps) I live there. Forever. (Whispers) No, you don't. I live there. (Forcefully) No, you don't. Oh, yeah. Jillian! ELECTRICAL EXPLOSIONS (Gasps) HEARTBEATS THUMP HEARTBEATS INCREASE (Screams echo) SOMBRE CHORAL MUSIC Ready for your first day of school? BOTH: Ready. Wait! OK. There's an apple each and I want you guys to eat it. Promise? BOTH: Promise. OK. Give me a kiss. Go, go, go, go, go! Be good. What do you think they'll be when they grow up? Grow up? Give them some time, Susan. This is their first day of school. I think... ..they're gonna be pilots. Just like their father. Stepfather. SCHOOL BUS BEEPS No. You're their father now. ALIEN SCREECHING JETS ROAR Captions by the Australian Caption Centre. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2021