WE SEE THE US FLAG, AND AS WE ZOOM OUT IT IS REVEALED THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE APOLLO 11 LANDING SITE. NEAR THE FLAG IS THE LANDER, AND FOOTPRINTS LEFT BEHIND BY THE ASTRONAUTS, AND A PLAQUE LEFT BEHIND WITH THE NAMES OF THE ASTRONAUTS, THE DATE, JULY 1969, AND THE PHRASE "WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND". WE HEAR THE EXACT WORDS OF THE ASTRONAUTS AS THEY LANDED ON THE MOON IN THE BACKGROUND. BUT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. EVERYTHING STARTS SHAKING, AND THE FOOTPRINTS DISSOLVE. A LARGE SHADOW SWEEPS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. WE CUT TO EARTH, SPINNING IN ITS GLORY, BEFORE WE SEE AN ALIEN SPACECRAFT! IT HEADS IN THE DIRECTION OF EARTH.

WE SEE THE OUTSIDE OF SETI, WITH ALL ITS LARGE SATELLITE DISHES SCANNING THE SKIES. WE CUT INSIDE TO FIND TECHNICIAN #1. AS HE PRACTISES HIS GOLFING SKILLS, REM'S "THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT" IS PLAYING ON HIS RADIO. SUDDENLY THE RED TELEPHONE RINGS SOMETHING IS HAPPENING! TECHNICIAN #1 TURNS OFF THE RADIO AND ANSWERS THE PHONE. AN UNFAMILIAR SIGNAL IS BEING TRANSMITTED. QUICKLY, HE GOES TO THE PHONE AND DIALS FOR HIS SUPERIOR.

INSIDE THE SLEEPING QUARTERS, A PHONE RINGS. THE SUPERVISOR ANSWERS IT.

SUPERVISOR If this isn't an insanely beautiful woman, I'm hanging up.

BACK IN THE RADIO ROOM, TECHNICIAN #1 TALKS TO THE PHONE.

TECHNICIAN #1 Sir, uh, I think you should listen to this.

HE HOLDS THE PHONE SO THAT THE SUPERVISOR CAN HEAR THE STRANGE SIGNAL. THE SUPERVISOR SITS BOLT UPRIGHT WHEN HE HEARS, BUMPING HIS HEAD ON THE BUNK ABOVE.

SUPERVISOR Argh!

TECHNICIAN #1 Sir?

SUPERVISOR Dammit!

INSIDE THE RADIO ROOM A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE SUPERVISOR AND SEVERAL TECHNICIANS ARE ALL LISTENING TO THE NOISE. TECHNICIAN #2 IS ON THE TELEPHONE. THE GOLF BALLS ARE STILL LYING AROUND THE FLOOR.

TECHNICIAN #3 Come on baby, come on baby, come on baby.

SUPERVISOR This better not be another damned Russian spy job.

TECHNICIAN #2 HANGS UP.

TECHNICIAN #2 The boys from Air Traffic Res say the skies are clear.

TECHNICIAN #1 It's the real thing. A radio signal from another world.

THERE IS A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE AFTER YEARS OF SEARCHING, THEY'VE FINALLY FOUND IT!

SUPERVISOR Let's not jump the gun here. Get on line with Space Command, they're gonna want to know about...

THE SUPERVISOR TRIPS OVER SOME OF THE GOLF BALLS.

SUPERVISOR What's with the golf balls? You're gonna kill me here.

TECHNICIAN #3 IS TYPING ON HER COMPUTER.

TECHNICIAN #3 Wait, wait, this can't be right. Calculated distance from source is only 375,000 kilometres. It's coming from the Moon.

THE SUPERVISOR LOOKS AT THE COMPUTER AND THEN ADJUST THE VOLUME ON THE SPEAKER. THE STRANGE TONES CAN BE HEARD AGAIN.

WE FOCUS ON THE STATUE OF THE US ARMY RAISING THEIR FLAG ON IWO JIMA BEFORE CUTTING TO THE PENTAGON. GENERAL GREY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND COMMANDING OFFICER RAY CASTILLO WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY.

GENERAL GREY Who else knows about this?

CASTILLO SETI in New Mexico identified a signal but, uh, they're even more confused than we are Sir. Excuse me.

CASTILLO USES HIS SECURITY CARD TO OPEN THE DOORS, AND HE AND GENERAL GREY WALK THROUGH. INSIDE ARE TECHNICIANS AND ASSISTANTS WORKING AT THEIR COMPUTERS, AS WELL AS A SECOND COMMANDING OFFICER, DANOWITZ.

CASTILLO Major?

MAJOR Yes sir?

CASTILLO Radar reception has been impaired but we were able to get these.

WE SEE SOME SATELLITE OBTAINED PHOTOS OF THE OBJECT.

CASTILLO We estimate it has a diameter of over 550 kilometres and a mass roughly one fourth the size of our moon.

GENERAL GREY What the hell is it? A meteor?

CASTILLO No sir.

DANOWITZ No. Definitely not.

GENERAL GREY How do you know?

DANOWITZ Well Sir, er... it's slowing down.

GENERAL GREY It's what?

DANOWITZ It's... slowing down, Sir.

GENERAL GREY WALKS TO A PHONE AND PICKS IT UP.

GENERAL GREY Get me the Secretary of Defense. (PAUSE) Then wake him!

THE TELEPHONE RINGS, AND A MAN ANSWERS. HE IS PRESIDENT THOMAS J WHITMORE. HE IS LYING ON TOP OF HIS BED WITH SOME PAPERS. NEXT TO HIM IS A SMALL LUMP IN THE BED. PRESIDENT WHITMORE ANSWERS THE PHONE. IT'S HIS WIFE, MARILYN. SHE'S IN LOS ANGELES IN A HOTEL ROOM. DURING THE FOLLOWING WE KEEP INTERSECTING BETWEEN PRESIDENT WHITMORE AND HIS WIFE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Hello.

MARILYN WHITMORE Hi. It's me.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Hi. What time is it there?

MARILYN WHITMORE It's 2.45 in the morning. I know I didn't wake you.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE As a matter of fact you did.

MARILYN WHITMORE SMILES.

MARILYN WHITMORE Liar.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I have a confession to make. I'm sleeping next to a beautiful, young brunette.

WE FAN OUT TO REVEAL THAT THE LUMP NEXT TO THE PRESIDENT IS ACTUALLY HIS 6 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, PATRICIA.

MARILYN WHITMORE You didn't let her stay up all night watching TV, did you?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Of course not. You're coming home right after the luncheon, right?

MARILYN WHITMORE Yes, yes, yes, yes

PATRICIA WAKES UP.

PATRICIA Mommy?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Here's your mother.

HE HANDS HER THE PHONE.

MARILYN WHITMORE Hi honey!

PATRICIA Hi, I miss you.

MARILYN WHITMORE I know, I miss you too.

THE PRESIDENT GETS OUT OF BED AND TURNS ON THE TV.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN (ON TV) ...President Whitmore's approval ratings have slipped below 40%. Even his Crime Bill failed to pass. Are the salad days over for President Whitmore? Morton.

MORTON KONDRACHE (ON TV) Leadership as a pilot in the Gulf War is completely different to leadership in politics...

WE CUT TO PATRICIA STILL ON THE PHONE.

PATRICIA Daddy let me watch Letterman.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Traitor.

WHITMORE EXITS THE ROOM AS THE TV KEEPS PLAYING.

ELEANOR CLIFT (ON TV) That's the problem. They elected a warrior and they got a wimp!

FOLLOWING ON - CONTINUOUSLY, THE PRESIDENT ENTERS A WHITE HOUSE HALLWAY. HE PASSES A SECRET SERVICEMAN, GEORGE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Morning George.

GEORGE Good morning, Mr President.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE That game couldn't have been pretty.

GEORGE Thank you sir.

THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES DOWN THE CORRIDOR, PASSING A WOMAN READING A NEWSPAPER. THIS IS HIS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, CONSTANCE "CONNIE" SPANO. SHE GATHERS HER THINGS AND FOLLOWS THE PRESIDENT INTO A ROOM.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Connie, you're up awfully early this morning.

CONNIE They're not attacking your policies, they're attacking your age.

CONNIE READS FROM A PAPER AS A BUTLER MAKES THE PRESIDENT HIS BREAKFAST.

CONNIE "...addressing Congress, Whitmore seems less like the President and more like the orphan child Oliver asking, 'please sir, I'd like some more.'"

PRESIDENT WHITMORE That's clever.

CONNIE Yeah, well I'm not laughing. Age was never an issue when you stuck to your gun. You were thought of as young, idealistic. Now the message has gotten lost. There's too much politics, too much compromise.

CONNIE Well, the Orange County Dispatch has voted you one of the 10 sexiest men of the year.

THE PRESIDENT READS THE PAPER, AND SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED, SMILES.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE That's accomplishing something.

AN AIDE, ALEX, APPEARS AT THE DOORWAY.

ALEX Excuse me, Mr President. It's the Secretary of Defense.

THE PRESIDENT INDICATES HE'LL PICK UP THE PHONE, AND DOES SO.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Yes?

THERE IS A PAUSE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Could you say that again?

A SATELLITE IS IN ORBIT. WE FOLLOW IT AS IT APPROACHES US AND THEN PASSES US. AS IT DOES SO A HUGE BLACK OBJECT APPROACHES. THE SATELLITE CRASHES INTO THE OBJECT, WHICH IS BLOCKING ITS ORBIT, AND EXPLODES. THE OBJECT CONTINUES MOVING. IT IS HUGE AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN ALL OF IT YET!

AFTER A FEW SHOTS TO TELL US WE'RE IN NEW YORK SUCH AS THE CITY SKYLINE AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WE FOCUS IN ON THE PARK, WHERE THERE ARE MANY GAMES OF CHESS TAKING PLACE. WE FOCUS IN ON ONE OF THEM. DAVID LEVINSON IS PLAYING AGAINST HIS FATHER, JULIUS. DAVID IS IN HIS THIRTIES AND LOOKS A BIT OF A "NERD", SO TO SPEAK. IT'S HIS MOVE AND HE'S THINKING. JULIUS, SMOKING A CIGAR, WAITS IMPATIENTLY. A RADIO PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.0) ...to WXBY, out here in Brooklyn, the temperature is 95 degrees in Central Park, what it is here in the boroughs God only knows. Let's go to Nick Jones. He'll give us a traffic report at the beaches, in case anybody's not out there already. Nick, how is it?

JULIUS So why are you waiting, hmm? My social security will expire, you'll still be sitting there.

DAVID I'm thinking.

JULIUS Yeah, well think already.

DAVID FINALLY MOVES. JULIUS MOVES AS SOON AS DAVID TAKES HIS HANDS OFF HIS PIECE. DAVID NOTICES HIS FATHER HAS A POLYSTYRENE CUP.

DAVID Hey, you have any idea how long it takes for those cups to decompose?

JULIUS If you don't move soon, I'm gonna start to decompose. (RE: CHESS SET) Ah-ha.

DAVID MAKES ANOTHER MOVE, AND ONCE AGAIN JULIUS MOVES HIS PIECE ALMOST INSTANTLY.

JULIUS Listen, David, I've been meaning to talk with you. It's nice that you see me so much now, but...

DAVID Don't, don't start Dad.

JULIUS I'm only saying, it's been what? Four years, you're still wearing your wedding band?

DAVID HOLDS UP THREE FINGERS.

DAVID Three years.

JULIUS Three, four. You're divorced, come on, move on. this is not healthy.

JULIUS TAKES A PUFF ON HIS CIGAR.

DAVID No, this is not healthy. Smoking is not healthy.

DAVID MOVES HIS QUEEN.

DAVID Checkmate.

JULIUS Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, this is not, this is not checkmate.

DAVID See you tomorrow, Pop.

DAVID GETS ON HIS BIKE AND RIDES OFF.

JULIUS Now just hold on, this is not checkmate!

HE REALISES IT IS.

JULIUS Ugh, checkmate!

DAVID RIDES HIS BIKE THROUGH THE OFFICE. ALL AROUND EMPLOYEES ARE ON THE PHONES OR WORKING AT COMPUTERS. TV SCREENS ARE IN THE BACKGROUND, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE PICTURE DISTORTION. EMPLOYEE #1 IS ON THE PHONE TO A CUSTOMER.

EMPLOYEE #1 Yes, we have everyone we have working on the problem. Yeah, I love X-Files too, I don't get to see it that often.

DAVID'S BOSS, MARTY GILBERT, COMES RUNNING OVER TO DAVID.

MARTY David! David! What the hell is the point of having a beeper if you don't turn it on?

DAVID It was turned on. I was ignoring you. Hallo, what's the, er, what's the big emergency?

MARTY It started this morning. Every station's making like it's the 1950's. We got static, we got snow, all kinds of distortions. Nobody knows what the hell is going on...

MARTY PUTS HIS COKE CAN IN THE TRASH AS HE SPEAKS, AND DAVID INTERRUPTS HIM BY TAKING IT BACK OUT AND WALKING TO THE RECYCLE BIN.

DAVID Marty, what the hell are you doing? There's a reason we have bins labelled "recycle."

DAVID FINDS MORE CANS IN THE NORMAL TRASH CAN.

DAVID What the hell is going on? My God in heaven!

MARTY So sue me, David! We got a problem!

DAVID AND MARTY WALK THROUGH THE MAIN ROOM INTO AN OFFICE.

DAVID Did you try to switch transponder channels?

MARTY Oh please, do you think I would be this panicked if it was something simple?

DAVID EXAMINES THE COMPUTER READOUTS.

DAVID OK, let's point the dish at another satellite.

MARTY We've tried that, it didn't work. It's almost as though they weren't even there.

DAVID LOOKS PUZZLED.

DAVID That's impossible.

NARRATOR (V.O) We created a race of robots, their function is to...

WIDEN OUT TO REVEAL THAT WE ARE WATCHING AN OLD SCI-FI SHOW ON THE TV. THE PICTURE IS AS USUAL FUZZY. A HAND SLAPS THE TV. THIS BELONGS TO 11 YEAR OLD TROY CASSE, WHO'S TRYING TO GET A BETTER PICTURE BY SLAPPING IT.

TROY Miguel, the signal's all screwed up.

WIDEN OUT AGAIN TO REVEAL WE ARE IN A WINNEBAGO. TROY'S OLDER BROTHER, MIGUEL, 17, IS COOKING BREAKFAST. THEIR SISTER, ALICIA, 14, IS ALSO WITH THEM.

MIGUEL Stop it. Just leave it alone. You're gonna break it.

TROY It's so fuzzy.

WE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE A PICK UP TRUCK PARKING OUTSIDE THE CASSE TRAILER. A FARMER, LUCAS, GETS OUT WITH SOME ROTTING VEGETABLES IN HIS HANDS. HE WALKS TO THE DOOR.

MIGUEL Oh, no.

LUCAS ARRIVES AT THE DOOR.

MIGUEL Morning, Lucas.

LUCAS You see these! I've got a whole goddamned crop full of these! If your father's not in the air in 20 minutes, I'm getting someone else.

MIGUEL, ON HIS MOTORCYCLE, RIDES DOWN A ROAD, AND SEES A RED BI-PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD. HE CALLS TO THE PILOT, HIS STEPFATHER, RUSSELL CASSE.

MIGUEL Russell!

RUSSELL Hey, Miguel! Aha ha, whoo, whoo! Yahoo!

RUSSELL FLIES ACROSS THE FIELD, AND LETS SOME CROP SPRAY FROM IT.

MIGUEL Russell, what are you doing?

A FEW MOMENTS LATER, HE LANDS THE PLANE ON THE ROAD NEXT TO MIGUEL'S MOTORCYCLE.

MIGUEL Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?

RUSSELL FALLS AS HE GETS OUT OF HIS PLANE.

RUSSELL Whoa!

MIGUEL It's the wrong field, you idiot! Lucas' farm is on the other side of town!

RUSSELL Are you sure?

MIGUEL GIVES HIM NO ANSWER, HE JUST RIDES OFF. REALISING MIGUEL WAS RIGHT, RUSSELL LOOKS AT THE OWNERS OF THE FIELD HE'S JUST SPRAYED. THEY'RE HISPANIC. DEFIANTLY NOT LUCAS. RUSSELL TAKES OUT A BOTTLE OF ALCOHOL FROM HIS POCKET AND TAKES A SWIG. WE GET THE FEELING HE DOES THIS A LOT.

WE SEE THE ALIEN SHIP. SUDDENLY, A BIT OF IT BREAKS OFF. AS IT DOES SO WE SEE THE EARTH IN THE BACKGROUND. THE SEGMENT, A ROUND ONE, DETACHES FROM THE MOTHER SHIP AND HEADS TOWARDS EARTH. AS IT SETS OFF, WE SEE A FEW IDENTICAL SHIPS ALREADY ON THEIR WAY TOWARDS US.

CONNIE AND TWO AIDES ARE WALKING DOWN A CORRIDOR.

AIDE #1 CNN is running a story that we're covering up some kind of nuclear testing experiments...

CONNIE Well tell them to run with it if they want to embarrass themselves.

AIDE #2 NASA has been up my butt all morning. They want to know our position.

CONNIE Our official position is we have no official position.

AIDE #1 Connie, what the hell is going on here?

CONNIE ENTERS THE ELEVATOR. SHE SMILES CONFIDENTLY AT THE AIDES.

CONNIE Come on, guys. Would I keep you out of the loop?

AIDES #1 AND 2 SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME AS THE DOOR CLOSES. CONNIE PRETENDS NOT TO HEAR THEM.

AIDE #1 Yes!

AIDE #2 Absolutely.

CONNIE What? I can't hear you!

INSIDE ARE PRESIDENT WHITMORE, GENERAL GREY, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ALBERT NIMZIKI AND CHIEF OF STAFF GLENN PARNESS.

PARNESS At the moment, our satellites are somewhat unreliable. Isn't it possible that this thing may just pass us by?

NIMZIKI What if it doesn't "pass us by?" Let's retarget some ICBMs to blow it out of the sky...

GENERAL GREY And risk turning one dangerous falling object into many.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We don't yet know enough about what we're dealing with to make any kind of intelligent judgement.

CONNIE ENTERS.

CONNIE Luckily, the press is making up their own story at this point. But that's not going to keep.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We may need to upgrade to DEFCON 3.

NIMZIKI Absolutely. General, contact NORAD. You tell them we've upgraded to DEFCON 3.

GENERAL GREY That's not what the President said.

CONNIE Isn't that a little premature?

NIMZIKI I don't think so.

PARNESS We have over 50% of the armed forces out on weekend leave, not to mention the commanders and troops that are in town for the Fourth of July parade.

ALEX THE AIDE SHOWS TWO OFFICERS FROM SPACE COMMAND INTO THE ROOM.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Go ahead.

OFFICER Our intelligence tells us the object has settled into a stationary orbit.

NIMZIKI Well that's good news.

OFFICER Uh, not really sir.

THE OFFICER SHOWS THE GROUP THE NEW SATELLITE PHOTOS. THERE ARE A FEW SMALL SHAPES RATHER THAN A LARGE ONE.

OFFICER Part of it has broken off into nearly three dozen other pieces. Smaller than the whole Sir, yet over 15 miles in width themselves.

NIMZIKI Where are they heading?

OFFICER They should be entering our atmosphere within the next 25 minutes.

THE PRESIDENT WALKS OVER TO HIS DESK.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Upgrade to DEFCON 3.

YELLOW LIGHTS FLASH AND AN ALARM BUZZES, AS WE WIDEN OUT TO REVEAL WE ARE LOOKING AT THE MICROWAVE IN DAVID'S OFFICE. HE IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AS MARTY ENTERS.

MARTY Please, tell me you're getting somewhere.

DAVID Oh, there's good news and there's bad news.

MARTY All right, what's the bad news?

DAVID The bad news is you're in meal penalty for disturbing my lunch.

MARTY And the good news is you're not gonna charge me.

DAVID Uh, no. The good news is I found the problem and it's not our equipment. There's some kind of weird signal embedded in the satellite feed.

MARTY Wait, that's the good news?

DAVID SLIDES OVER TO ANOTHER COMPUTER AND TURNS ON AN INTRICATE COMPUTATION PROGRAM.

DAVID Yes, because the signal has a definite sequential pattern so as soon as I find the exact binary sequence and I calculate the phase reversed on that calculated spectra analyser I built you for your birthday and apply it, we should be able to block it out completely...

MARTY ...and then we'll be the only guys in town with a clear picture? Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh David, that's why I love you!

HE KISSES DAVID.

MARTY Yes!

DAVID You're too kind.

IT'S NIGHTFALL IN IRAQ. IN A TENT CITY, THE RESIDENTS SETTLE DOWN FOR THE NIGHT. SUDDENLY THERE IS SOME COMMOTION. THE IRAQIS LOOK UP TO THE SKY, AND SEE A GIANT FIREBALL MANY MILES ACROSS THE PHENOMENON. AS THEY RUN, WE QUICKLY CUT TO:

INSIDE THE SUB, ADMIRAL J C KERN, WALKS UP TO A SAILOR AT THE RADAR. HE IS BUTTONING UP HIS SHIRT HE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN DISTURBED FROM SOMETHING.

KERN This better be good.

SAILOR Sir, we're looking at a total radar black out over a 13 kilometre area.

LOOKING AT THE RADAR SCREEN, KERN SEES THAT THE UPPER BIT IS BLANK, AND THE BLANK BIT IS MOVING.

KERN Let's do a diagnostic check.

SAILOR Excuse me sir, the radar may be malfunctioning but infrared is totally off the map!

HE DIVERTS KERN'S ATTENTION TO ANOTHER SCREEN; A BRIGHT SEA OF RED LIGHT BLEEDS OFF THE MAP.

KERN Jeez!

HE WALKS TO THE TELEPHONE.

KERN Get me Atlantic Command on the line.

INSIDE, COMMANDING OFFICER CASTILLO IS ON THE PHONE WHEN DANOWITZ COMES TO HIM.

CASTILLO Hang on Sir.

DANOWITZ Sir, we have visual range with incoming over Iraqi airspace.

CASTILLO Second sighting?

DANOWITZ Yes Sir, this just came in from the Persian Gulf.

CASTILLO SPEAKS BACK INTO THE PHONE.

CASTILLO Correction Sir, we now have two confirmed visual contacts.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE, CONNIE, GENERAL GREY AND OTHERS ARE ALL IN THE OVAL OFFICE, ON TELEPHONES ETC.

GENERAL GREY It's affirmative Mr President, they're tracking another one off the California coast line.

CONNIE WHISPERS SOMETHING INTO PRESIDENT WHITMORE'S EAR.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE All right, go ahead, put it on. General, you might want to watch this.

GENERAL GREY Yes sir.

AIDE #2 I got it.

THE TV IS TURNED ON TO SKY NEWS BY ALEX. THE ANCHORMAN, GEORGE PUTNAM OF SKY'S WASHINGTON BUREAU, IS ON THERE.

GEORGE PUTNAM (ON TV) Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentleman, we are interrupting our regular broadcast to bring you extraordinary events taking place in the Russian Republic.

WE SWITCH TO PICTURES FROM SOVIET CENTRAL NEWS, HOWEVER THE SKY NEWS LOGO IS STILL THERE. WHAT WE HEAR ARE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE RUSSIAN BROADCAST.

RUSSIAN NEWSMAN (V.O) This unexplained disturbance, and the hysteria that it's causing, are incredible.

NEWSWOMAN (V.O) How would you describe what you are seeing?

THE TEXT ON SCREEN SAYS "PANIC IN RUSSIA, PHENOMENON RACING ACROSS CONTINENT".

RUSSIAN NEWSMAN (V.O) It is clearing the mountains, moving too slowly to be a comet or meteor, widespread panic has gripped the countryside as thousands have taken to the streets.

WE CUT BACK TO THE STUDIO, WHERE WE HEAR THE SAME WOMAN AS BEFORE ONLY NOW WE ALSO SEE HER.

NEWSWOMAN (ON TV) It is confirmed, the unexplained phenomenon is heading for Moscow.

GENERAL GREY Mr President, we have an AWAC off the west coast. ETA with contact point, 3 minutes.

INSIDE THE AWACS AIRPLANE. IT IS FULL OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICIANS.

RADAR TECH #1 I don't understand it Sir. Side radar doesn't see a thing!

RADAR TECH #2 That's correct. We're IMC blind, sir. Nothing is registering!

CUT TO THE PILOTS. IT IS CLOUDY AND HE SQUINTS TO SEE THROUGH THE CLOUDS.

PILOT #1 Negative. We have zero visibility. Visibility is at zero.

PILOT #2 This is Eagle Eye 370.

THE PLANE DISAPPEARS INTO THE CLOUDS.

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTOURAGE ARE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION.

GENERAL GREY Captain, the President is listening. Repeat what you just told me.

GENERAL GREY PUTS THE PHONE ONTO SPEAKER. THE PILOT SPEAKS THROUGH IT.

PILOT #1 (V.O) We still have zero visibility. Instrumentation is malfunctioning. We can't get any kind of reading on what's in front of us.

PILOT #1 Wait a minute, it may be clearing.

THE CLOUDS PART TO REVEAL A GIANT BALL OF FIRE! THE PILOT LOOKS VERY SHOCKED.

PILOT #1 Pull out! Pull out!

TOO LATE. THE PLANE IS ENGULFED. THE FIRE RIPS THROUGH IT.

THE PHONE LINE GOES DEAD.

AIDE #1 Line's gone, sir.

THE ATLANTIC COMMAND COMMANDER IN CHIEF TURNS FROM A DIFFERENT PHONE.

COMMANDER Two more have been spotted over the Atlantic. One is moving toward New York, the other is headed this direction.

PARNESS How much time do we have?

COMMANDER Less than ten minutes.

NIMZIKI TURNS TO ALEX.

NIMZIKI Alex, organise a military escort to Crystal Mountain.

GENERAL GREY Mr President, I strongly recommend we move you to a secured location immediately.....

PRESIDENT WHITMORE TURNS TO CONNIE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Connie, can we expect the same kid of panic we saw in Russia?

CONNIE More than likely.

NIMZIKI Mr President, we can discuss this on the way.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I'm not leaving.

NIMZIKI We have to maintain a working government...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I want you to get the Vice President, the whole Cabinet and the Joint Chiefs, and take them to a secured location. I'm staying. I don't want to add to a public hysteria that's gonna cost lives. Connie?

CONNIE Yes sir?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We'll initiate the Emergency Broadcast System. We'll advise people not to panic, the best idea right now is to stay in their homes.

CONNIE Yes sir. (TO HER AIDES) Roy, Dean...

NIMZIKI Alex, contact the Cabinet members, have them rendezvous here, we'll take them to NORAD.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE EXIT THE ROOM CONNIE AND HER STAFF LEAVE TO PUT THE EBS ON, AND NIMZIKI LEAVES TO GET THE CABINET MEMBERS. GENERAL GREY GOES TO THE PRESIDENT.

GENERAL GREY Mr President, with your permission, I'd like to remain at your side.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I had a feeling you would.

GENERAL GREY And what happens if they do become hostile?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Then God help us.

DAVID IS AT HIS OFFICE, DOING WORK ON HIS COMPUTER. HE IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THE PHENOMENON PLAYING ON THE TV BEHIND HIM, HOSTED BY ROBIN WAAS. THE STRANGE TONE FIRST HEARD AT SETI CAN BE HEARD.

ROBIN WAAS (ON TV) ...and I'm Robin Waas. There it is, the strange atmospheric phenomenon, it is apparently what has been causing all the distortion in our broadcasts.

AN EMPLOYEE (#2) ENTERS.

EMPLOYEE #2 David, are you watching this?

DAVID IGNORES HER SO SHE WALKS OFF. HIS COMPUTER PRINTS OUT A READING. DAVID GRABS THE READING AND WALKS TO THE MAIN ROOM OF COMPACT CABLE, WHERE MARTY AND MOST OF THE STAFF THERE ARE GATHERED AROUND THE TV. GENERAL GREY IS ON THE TV.

GENERAL GREY (ON TV) ...not to react in a manner of cold fear. There is no evidence that these phenomenon are endangering anyone. As far as reports of progression.....

DAVID Whoa Marty, listen to this, I've got a lock on the pattern of that signal so we can filter it out. But, if my calculations are right it's gonna be gone in like 7 hours anyway. It's reducing itself every time it recycles, so eventually it's gonna disappear. Are you listening?

MARTY HASN'T, HE'S BEEN WATCHING THE TV.

MARTY Can you believe this?

DAVID LOOKS AT HIM IN A "WHAT THE HELL?" WAY.

MARTY David, haven't you been watching? David?

DAVID TURNS TO THE TV.

GENERAL GREY (ON TV) And here's our Communications Director Constance Spano.

CONNIE APPEARS ON THE TV. AS USUAL, THE PICTURE IS FILTERED AND DISTORTED.

CONNIE (ON TV) Thank you General. Good afternoon. So far the phenomenon has not caused any damage.

CONNIE We have to ask you to try to stay calm, and it is important for everyone not to panic.

ALICIA AND TROY WATCH THE TV.

CONNIE (ON TV) We have a fix on 3 of the occurrences about to appear over American cities.

TROY It's just so unreal.

ALICIA Hey Miguel, come here!

MIGUEL COMES TO WATCH AS CONNIE CONTINUES.

CONNIE (ON TV) One is headed toward Los Angeles...

EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE TV IN SILENCE.

CONNIE (ON TV) ...the other 2 are on our Eastern seaboard headed towards New York and Washington, DC. Any questions?

THE EMPLOYEES ALL START TALKING NERVOUSLY. ONE OF THEM TURNS TO MARTY.

EMPLOYEE #3 Marty, Marty, Jamie says this building has an old bomb shelter. We're heading down there now.

MARTY Alright everybody, head down to the basement! Take it slow, don't run, walk down to the basement.

HE TURNS TO DAVID AS THE OTHERS ALL GO TO THE BASEMENT.

MARTY There's no shame in hiding. Oh, I'd better call my mother.

RUSSELL IS AT THE COUNTER, DEPRESSED AND DRINKING. A GROUP OF MEN WALK IN, INCLUDING MIKE DODGE AND STONEY JACKSON.

MIKE DODGE Well, look who we have here. Hey, Russ, I heard you had a little trouble this morning. Dusted the wrong field?

THEY LAUGH. RUSSELL IGNORES THEM.

MIKE DODGE I know, you're probably still a little confused from your hostage experience.

STONEY JACKSON Hostage experience? Did something happen to you, Russ?

MIKE DODGE Oh yeah! Seems years back our boy here was kidnapped by aliens. Did all kinds of experiments on him and such. Tell him about it, Russ.

HE TURNS TO HIS FRIENDS.

MIKE DODGE You just gotta get a couple more beers in him, he'll tell you all about it. Crazy stuff. Won't you, Russ?

RUSSELL SAYS NOTHING.

MIKE DODGE Russ, when they took you up in their space ship, they do any, you know, sexual things to you that you recollect?

THE GROUP LAUGH AT RUSSELL.

MIKE DODGE Oh, Russ!

RUSSELL GETS UP, READY TO LEAVE. SUDDENLY THEIR BEER MUGS BEGIN TO RUMBLE, AS DOES EVERYTHING IN THE DINER. EVERYONE STOPS. RUSSELL LOOKS UP IN SHOCK.

AN ENORMOUS SHADOW COVERS THE TRAILERS. INSIDE, MIGUEL, ALICIA AND TROY ARE STILL WATCHING THE TV. PLATES BEGIN TO FALL DUE TO THE RUMBLING.

ALICIA What's that?

MIGUEL Let's get out of here, c'mon!

THE THREE EXIT THE TRAILER AND LOOK SKYWARD.

TROY Wow!

WE SEE THE PHENOMENON. JUST LIKE IN RUSSIA, IT IS A BIG BALL OF FIRE.

A GIANT SHADOW COVERS THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN BEFORE COVERING THE CITY ITSELF.

A 6 YEAR OLD BOY RUNS INTO A BEDROOM. HE IS DYLAN DUBROW.

DYLAN Mommy, look at!

THE SHADOW CATCHES UP WITH THE ROOM. DYLAN'S MOM, JASMINE, IS IN THE BED WITH HER BOYFRIEND, STEVE HILLER. JASMINE SITS UP.

JASMINE Its too early baby.

SHE LIES BACK DOWN AS DYLAN LEAVES. THINGS START SHAKING DUE TO THE RUMBLING. STEVE SITS UP.

STEVE Is that an earthquake?

JASMINE Not even a 4-pointer. Go back to sleep.

HE DOES.

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT AND THE CAPITOL ALL GO DARK AS THE SHADOW PASSES OVER THEM.

PATRICIA RUNS UP TO HER FATHER CLUTCHING A TEDDY BEAR.

PATRICIA Daddy!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE What are you doing down here?

HE PICKS HER UP.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE You should be down in the shelter.

PATRICIA What's going on?

THE SHADOW PASSES OVER THE WHITE HOUSE, CAUSING IT TO GO DARK.

AS THE ROOM GOES DARK, EVERYONE GETS CLOSER TOGETHER.

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND THE CITY SKYLINE GO DARK AS ANOTHER SHADOW APPROACHES THEM.

SOME BOYS ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL.

KID #1 Pass it here, man!

KID #2 Come on, come on!

SUDDENLY THEY LOOK UPWARDS. ON THEIR RIGHT IS THE ROAD. TAXI DRIVERS ARE ALSO LOOKING UPWARDS AND THEY CRASH INTO EACH OTHER.

AS MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE HEADING DOWNSTAIRS, PRESUMABLY TO THE BASEMENT LIKE MARTY TOLD THEM, DAVID IS HEADING UPSTAIRS. HE HAS THE PIECE OF PAPER WITH THE SIGNAL IN HIS HAND.

EMPLOYEE #4 Aren't you coming David?

DAVID No, I gotta see this.

AS DAVID STEPS ONTO THE ROOF, IT GOES DARK. CENTRAL PARK IS IN THE BACKGROUND. DAVID STANDS THERE, AND SAYS NOTHING. HE LOOKS SKYWARD.

THE SAME PLACE WE WERE EARLIER. AN OLD MAN STANDS UP AND LOOKS UP AT THE PHENOMENON. JUST IN TIME TO SEE AN ALIEN SPACESHIP COMING OUT FROM THE CLOUDS! BIG, DARK AND VERY WIDE, IT MOVES TOWARDS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

KID #1 Oh man, what is that?

WOMAN Oh my gosh.

THE GIANT SHIP APPEARS OVER THE BUILDING. IN THE STREETS BELOW, THE CROWDS RUN. A POLICEMAN GETS OUT OF HIS CAR TO LOOK AT THIS THING. CARS BEHIND HIM CRASH INTO HIM. THEN A LORRY HEADING THE OTHER WAY CRASHES INTO THE POLICE CAR, DESTROYING IT. THE COP JUST LOOKS BACK AT IT FOR A SECOND AND THEN LOOKS SKYWARD AGAIN.

DAVID IS LOOKING AT THE SHIP APPROACHING. HE LOOKS DOWN AT THE PIECE OF PAPER IN HIS HAND AND THEN MAKES THE CONNECTION.

DAVID The signal! Oh my God!

THE GIANT SHIP IS NOW FIRMLY IN POSITION. ITS CENTER IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. THE SHIP STOPS MOVING AND STARTS SPINNING.

THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON THE SHIP IS CENTRED OVER THE WHITE HOUSE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE, PATRICIA, CONNIE, GENERAL GREY AND OTHERS ARE ALL STANDING ON THE BALCONY WATCHING. CONNIE TURNS TO THE PRESIDENT.

CONNIE Now what do we do?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Address the nation. There's gonna be a lot of frightened people out there.

CONNIE Yeah. I'm one of 'em.

STEVE AND JASMINE ARE STILL IN BED. JASMINE'S DOG BOOMER JUMPS UP ON TOP OF STEVE.

STEVE Hey, hey, hey, come on.

JASMINE He's just trying to impress you.

STEVE You wanna impress me, you need to get a job, and stop slobbering all over my shoes.

STEVE GETS OUT OF BED.

STEVE, NOW DRESSED, GOES INTO THE BATHROOM. AS HE DOES HIS BUSINESS HE LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW. THE NEIGHBOURS ARE ALL PACKING.

STEVE I don't believe this. Jasmine, the neighbors are moving out. Guess they finally got tired of all these quakes. Oh, they're shaking, they're running.

STEVE ENTERS THE KITCHEN AND TURNS THE TV ON. THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE ON THE TV "WHAT TO DO: CHECK FOR GAS LEAKS, TUNE IN TO EMERGENCY INFO, AVOID DOWNED POWER LINES, AVOID TRAVEL, CO-OPERATE WITH AUTHORITIES, STAY OFF PHONES". WE THEN SWITCH TO THE NEWSCASTER.

NEWSCASTER (ON TV) The fire department are asking everyone to stay off the phones...

A MAP OF LA COMES ON THE SCREEN MARKED "AFFECTED REGION".

STEVE Babe, something on the news 'bout the quake.

NEWSCASTER (ON TV) ...unless it's an extreme and immediate medical emergency. The police are asking us not to call 911.

DYLAN CRAWLS THROUGH THE DOGGIE DOOR WITH A TOY RAY GUN.

STEVE What's up man?

DYLAN Hey Steve.

STEVE What you been doing out there?

DYLAN Shooting aliens.

STEVE SMILES HE THINKS DYLAN IS PLAYING. PLAYING ALONG, HE DOES A "SECURITY SEARCH" ON DYLAN AS IF HE WERE BEING SEARCHED BY THE POLICE.

STEVE Are you shooting aliens or you acting tough? Alright, what you got, turn around.

DYLAN LAUGHS AS JASMINE AND BOOMER ENTER.

JASMINE Come on Boomer, let's get you something to eat. Good morn-

SHE IS INTERRUPTED BY STEVE KISSING HER.

JASMINE -ehh! Watch out, watch it there!

THEY BOTH SMILE AT EACH OTHER.

STEVE I'll go grab the paper.

DYLAN Mom, can I have some cereal?

JASMINE All right.

STEVE WALKS OUT AND TRIPS OVER A TOY TRICYCLE.

STEVE Argh! Dylan!

HE PICKS UP THE PAPER AND STANDS THERE READING IT. HE BECOMES AWARE THAT ALL OF THE NEIGHBOURS ARE PACKING.

MAN Come on honey, let's go!

A HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD, AND STEVE WATCHES IT FLY TOWARDS LOS ANGELES AND THE ALIEN SHIP! WE SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND IT IS DEFIANTLY 15 MILES WIDE LA LOOKS LIKE A MODEL VILLAGE BENEATH IT. NOW STEVE NOTICES IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. JASMINE COMES OUTSIDE WITH A COFFEE JUG IN HER HANDS.

JASMINE Babe, you want some of this coffee? Babe?

WHEN SHE DOESN'T GET AN ANSWER, SHE TURNS HER HEAD TO SEE WHAT STEVE IS LOOKING AT. SHE SEES IT AND HER JAW DROPS. DYLAN COMES OUTSIDE WITH HIS RAY GUN AND PUSHES BETWEEN STEVE AND JASMINE, PRETENDING TO SHOOT THE SHIP.

DYLAN Boom, boom, boom! 

Scene 48: Compact Cable

DAVID RUNS DOWN THE STAIRS TWO AT A TIME AND ENTERS THE OFFICE. IT'S EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR MARTY HIDING UNDER THE TABLE ON THE TELEPHONE. ONE OF THE TV SCREENS CAN BE HEARD.

JERRY DUNPHY (ON TV) Pentagon officials are reporting more ships have just arrived over the capitals of India, England and Germany, bringing estimates up to anywhere from 10 to 15 of these city sized spacecraft.

THE TV SHOWS PICTURES OF THE SHIPS OVER LONDON, MOSCOW AND PARIS WITH THE CAPTION "ALIEN FLEET ARRIVES".

MARTY I know, Ma, just try and stay calm!

DAVID FINALLY NOTICES MARTY.

DAVID Tell her to pack up and leave town.

MARTY Why, what happened?

DAVID (YELLS) Just do it!

MARTY SPEAKS BACK INTO THE PHONE.

MARTY Oh Ma, Ma, listen, uh, get your stuff together and head for Aunt Ester's. Don't argue with me, just go!

MARTY HANGS UP AND CRAWLS OUT FROM UNDER THE DESK.

MARTY David, why did I just send my mother to Atlanta? David, David, talk to me!

DAVID Didn't you hear me telling you that the signal hidden in the satellite feed is slowly recycling down to extinction.

MARTY Not really...

DAVID It's a countdown.

MARTY A countdown... wait, a countdown to what David?

DAVID It's like in chess: First, you strategically position your pieces and when the timing is right you strike.

HE TURNS TO THE TV. IT SHOWS A MAP OF SOME OF THE SHIPS. ON THE MAP ARE LONDON, BERLIN, ROME, MOSCOW AND BOMBAY. A CAPTION READS "SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE UNAFFECTED".

DAVID See? They're positioning themselves all over the world, using this one signal to synchronise their efforts and in approximately 6 hours the signal's gonna disappear and the countdown's gonna be over.

MARTY And then what?

DAVID Checkmate.

MARTY Oh, my God! Oh my God! I gotta call my brother, I gotta call my housekeeper, I gotta call my lawyer. Nah, forget my lawyer.

ALL THE SMALL MONITORS IN THE BACKGROUND SUDDENLY FORM ONE BIG SCREEN OF PRESIDENT WHITMORE.

ANNOUNCER (V.O) Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (ON TV) Good afternoon. My fellow Americans, a historic and unprecedented event has occurred. The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE CONTINUES HIS SPEECH.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Although its understandable that many of us feel a sense of hesitation, or even fear, we must attempt to reserve judgement...

NEARBY CONNIE AND SEVERAL AIDES ARE WATCHING THE PRESIDENT WHEN ONE OF THEM COMES TO CONNIE WITH A TELEPHONE.

AIDE He says he's your husband.

CONNIE (WHISPERS) Oh God.

CONNIE TAKES THE PHONE. ANOTHER AIDE LOOKS AT HER STRANGELY SHE DIDN'T KNOW CONNIE WAS MARRIED! CONNIE SMILES AT THE AIDE AND ANSWERS THE PHONE.

CONNIE What do you want?

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) You got to leave the White House.

YES, CONNIE IS DAVID'S EX WIFE THAT JULIUS WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER! SHE WHISPERS THROUGH THE CONVERSATION, AS SHE DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE HEARD LIVE ON NATIONAL TV LIKE THE PRESIDENT IS.

CONNIE Darling, this is not a very good place to be having this same old discussion.

DAVID You don't understand. You have to leave Washington.

CONNIE Well, in case you haven't noticed, we are having a little bit of a crisis here!

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) They're communicating with a hidden signal. They're going to attack...

CONNIE You are just being paranoid!

AIDE Shh!

DAVID It's not paranoia. The embedding is very subtle. It's probably been overlooked...

WE HEAR THE DIAL TONE CONNIE HAS HUNG UP. DAVID NOTICES MARTY STANDING NEXT TO HIM.

DAVID Marty, what are you doing? Get out of town as soon as you can. Please?

MARTY OK.

DAVID TURNS TO THE TV. PRESIDENT WHITMORE IS FINISHING HIS SPEECH.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (ON TV) ...My staff and I will remain in the White House as we attempt to establish communication. If you feel compelled to leave these cities, please do so in an orderly fashion.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT NO-ONE IS TAKING THE PRESIDENT'S ADVICE. AS DAVID RIDES HIS BIKE THROUGH THE STREET, TAXIS, CARS AND PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AND RIVING IN ALL DIRECTIONS TO GET OUT. DAVID JUST MANAGES TO GET THROUGH BUT HAS A FEW NEAR MISSES.

DAVID Excuse me, coming through!

STEVE IS WEARING A MARINE UNIFORM AND IS PACKING HIS BAGS. JASMINE WATCHES HIM NERVOUSLY. THE TV IS ON, WITH A NEWSCASTER, COLIN BARCLAY.

COLIN BARCLAY (V.O) The arrival of the alien visitors has caused over 10,000 fender-benders in just a few seconds time. But this is just the beginning. I'm here in Hyatsville, Maryland...

JASMINE Uh-uh, come on now, you can't go. You've got to call them back.

STEVE I'm not going to do this with you Jasmine. I've got to report to El Toro.

JASMINE But you said you was on leave for the 4th!

STEVE Yeah, well, they cancelled it! Look, why are you acting like this?

JASMINE Why?

JASMINE GRABS THE BLINDS AND YANKS THEM AWAY. WE SEE THE ALIEN CRAFT THROUGH THE WINDOW.

JASMINE That's why!

STEVE Look, I really don't think they flew 90 billion light years to come down here and start a fight. Get all rowdy. Look, why don't you just relax. I'm gonna report to El Toro and find out what's going on.

STEVE GOES OUTSIDE TO HIS CAR, TO FIND DYLAN IN THERE PRETENDING TO BE DRIVING. DYLAN IS MAKING CAR NOISES.

STEVE Hey, what are you doing in there man?

DYLAN Nothing, I'm just driving. Honk, honk, pull over!

JASMINE COMES OUT OF THE HOUSE DURING THE FOLLOWING.

STEVE Look, I got these for you.

HE GIVES DYLAN A BAG. DYLAN OPENS IT TO FIND...

DYLAN Firecrackers! Cool.

STEVE Now you be careful.

STEVE PUTS HIS STUFF IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AS JASMINE APPROACHES.

JASMINE Steve, wait. I want to tell you something.

STEVE What is it Jasmine?

JASMINE You take care of yourself, you hear?

STEVE Look, um, why don't you get some things packed and you and Dylan come and stay with me on the base? And you will see that there is nothing to be scared of.

JASMINE Really? You don't mind?

STEVE SMILES.

STEVE Well, I mean uh, I will have to let all my other girlfriends know that they can't come over, you know, and got to postpone a little freaky-deaky.

JASMINE SMILES.

JASMINE There you go, there you go, thinking you're all that. But you are not as charming as you think you are, sir.

STEVE Yes I am.

JASMINE Big old Dumbo ears.

STEVE Well, look at you with them chicken legs. Bucaw!

THEY KISS, AND THEN STEVE DRIVES OFF. JASMINE TAKES DYLAN.

JASMINE Come on Dylan, let's go!

AFTER A SHOT OF NEW YORK CITY, WITH THE SHIP ABOVE (STILL CENTRED ON THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING) WITH ALL THE LIGHTS N THE BUILDINGS SWITCHED OFF AND THE SOUNDS OF SCREAMS, WE SEE DAVID RIDING HIS BIKE UP TO A HOUSE AND STOPPING. GRABBING A BAG FULL OF HIS THINGS, HE RUNS UP AND KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. JULIUS SWIFTLY OPENS THE DOOR AND POINTS A GUN IN HIS SON'S FACE.

DAVID Whoa!

JULIUS REALISES WHO IT IS AND PUTS THE GUN DOWN.

JULIUS The television said they've started with the looting around now. Vultures.

DAVID You still have the Plymouth?

JULIUS You want to borrow the car? David, you don't have a license.

DAVID You're driving.

JULIUS Yeah, I'm driving I'm driving?

DAVID Come on, come on!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE IS ON HIS BED ON THE PHONE. PATRICIA LIES NEXT TO HIM WATCHING THE TV. DURING THE FOLLOWING WE KEEP INTERCEPTING BETWEEN THE WHITMORES (MARILYN IS IN A LOS ANGELES HOTEL LOBBY. BEHIND HER ARE HER SECRET SERVICE BODYGUARDS.).

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I really want you out of Los Angeles.

MARILYN WHITMORE You're staying there to keep people calm. It's the right thing to do. I'm not going to let them criticise you for it.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I appreciate you're trying to help me...

MARILYN SMILES A BIT.

MARILYN WHITMORE Liar. Stick to the truth, it's what you're good at.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Alright, I'll tell you the truth, I don't want you in any one of those cities.

MARILYN WHITMORE I'll leave as soon as the interviews are done.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Alright, there's a helicopter waiting, they're going to take you to Nellis.

MARILYN WHITMORE And the munchkin?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE She's gonna meet you there.

GENERAL GREY AND NIMZIKI ARE WAITING BY THE DOORWAY.

MARILYN WHITMORE Alright, I love you.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I love you.

MARILYN WHITMORE Bye.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Bye.

HE HANGS UP AS THE TV KEEPS PLAYING. ANOTHER IMAGE OF THE SHIP OVER LONDON APPEARS, WITH A CAPTION ABOUT THE UN - "NO MEMBER STATE TO ACT OUTSIDE OF UN CHARTER".

NEWSCASTER (ON TV) ...communication attempts in 30 languages and all common frequencies have failed...

DAVID AND JULIUS ARE IN THE CAR, JULIUS DRIVING. THEY ARE LEAVING NEW YORK, ALONG WITH LOTS OF OTHER DRIVERS. SOMEHOW THEY ARE MOVING ALL THE TIME THOUGH. CARS PASS THEM WITH TRAILERS, ROOFBOXES ETC.

JULIUS It's the White House, for crying out loud. You can't just drive up and ring the bell.

DAVID Can't this thing go any faster?

JULIUS You think they don't know what you know? They know. Believe me, they know. She works for the President. They know everything.

DAVID They don't know this.

JULIUS And you're going to educate them, huh? So tell me something, if you're so smart, how come you spent 8 years in MIT to become a cable repairman?

DAVID Dad...

JULIUS All I'm saying is they've got people who handle these things, David. They want HBO, they'll call you. Look at, look at, look at these people, look, uh, vultures. They take and then they go.

DAVID They're going, they're going faster than we are, we're in the fast lane!

JULIUS I can't go any faster, they're cutting me off here.

DAVID No-one's cutting you off, we're gonna get a ticket!

JULIUS They're getting in front of me, I can't go any faster.

DAVID Alright, alright, I don't want to argue, I don't want to argue, Shh, Shh, Shh, let's just get there, as quickly as possible!

JULIUS What's the rush, huh? You think we'll get to Washington and it won't be there?

DAVID LOOKS AT JULIUS WORRIEDLY THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. JULIUS SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THIS AND SPEEDS UP A BIT.

WE SEE AN EXTERIOR SHOT OF THE AREA FIRSTLY, WITH THE TRAILERS. IT IS NIGHTFALL, AND THE EDGE OF THE ALIEN SHIP CAN BE SEEN. AT THE CASSE TRAILER, MIGUEL AND TROY ARE WATCHING THE TV. A REPORTER, KIM PETERS, IS ON IT.

KIM PETERS (V.O) ...a local crop duster was arrested today as he papered city hall with leaflets from the air.

MIGUEL Well, everybody's leaving.

ON THE TV, WE SEE IMAGES TAPED EARLIER, AS IT IS DAYLIGHT ON THE TV. KIM PETERS RUNS UP TO A POLICE CAR WITH HER MICROPHONE.

KIM PETERS (ON TV) Can you give us some of your time? Do you want to make a statement?

WE CUT TO THE TV, WHICH SHOWS RUSSELL BEING ESCORTED INTO A POLICE CAR. MIGUEL SPITS OUT HIS DRINK IN HORROR.

RUSSELL (ON TV) We've got to stop them! I was kidnapped by space aliens ten years ago. They did all kinds of experiments on me. They've been studying us for years, finding out our weakness. We've got to stop them! They're gonna kill us all!

KIM PETERS (ON TV) Though some people attribute his eccentric behaviour to post-traumatic stress syndrome, from his service as a pilot in Vietnam, others however have a more unusual theory.

THE TWO MECHANICS FROM THE DINER (MIKE DODGE AND STONEY JACKSON) APPEAR ON SCREEN. THEY ARE LISTED AS "FRIENDS OF RUSSELL CASSE".

KIM PETERS (ON TV) How would you describe Mr Casse?

STONEY JACKSON (ON TV) Keeps himself private, quiet.

MIKE DODGE (ON TV) Real quiet. When they took him up in the spaceship, the aliens abused him. Sexually.

KIM PETERS (ON TV) Mr Casse is in the county lock up this evening.

MIGUEL Pack up, we're leaving.

KIM PETERS (ON TV) However, Sheriff's deputies have said that given the extenuating circumstances, he may be released later tonight. Kim Peters, KATN, Skull Valley.

TROY Miguel, what about Dad?

ALICIA AND AN OLDER BOY ARE SITTING INSIDE.

OLDER BOY This could be our last night on Earth. You don't want to die a virgin, do you?

MIGUEL OPENS THE CAR DOOR.

MIGUEL Come on, we're going.

ALICIA No, I'm not going anywhere.

MIGUEL GRABS HER BY HER ARM AND PULLS HER AWAY.

ALICIA Miguel, stop it!

MIGUEL DRIVES THE TRAILER BUT SUDDENLY STOPS. CUT TO A CAR PULLING UP, AND RUSSELL GETS OUT OF IT. HE CLOSES THE DOOR AS HE SPEAKS TO THE DRIVER. HE IS OBVIOUSLY DRUNK.

RUSSELL Thanks a lot partner! And remember, get as far away from these things as you can!

HE SPOTS THE TRAILER AND THE KIDS.

MIGUEL (TO ALICIA AND TROY) Stay here.

RUSSELL (TO MIGUEL) You read my mind! We've got to get as far away from these things as we can!

MIGUEL They let you out?

RUSSELL You're damn right! They've got bigger fish to fry now, believe you me. Come on, boy!

MIGUEL We're leaving. Without you. We're going to live with Uncle Hector in Tucson.

RUSSELL (LAUGHS) Hector? Like hell you are. I'm still your father.

MIGUEL EXPLODES, THIS HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR SOME TIME.

MIGUEL No, you're not! You're just the man who married my mother. You're nothing to me at all!

RUSSELL IS MOMENTARILY SILENT, STUNNED. RECOVERING...

RUSSELL Oh, well, what about Troy?

MIGUEL Troy?

RUSSELL Yeah.

MIGUEL For once in your life why don't you think about what's best for him? Who has to beg for money to buy him medicine when you screw up? Huh? Who?

THERE IS A SOUND OF GLASS SMASHING. RUSSELL AND MIGUEL TURN AROUND TO FIND TROY STANDING BEHIND THEM.

TROY Stop it right now! I'm not a baby any more! I don't want your stupid medicine because I'm so sick of medicine!

MIGUEL LEANS DOWN TO SEE THE BROKEN MEDICINE BOTTLE ON THE FLOOR.

MIGUEL Do you know what this stuff costs? Do you want to get sick again!? Do you!?

CARLOS ORTIZ (ON TV) Once again, the LAPD is asking Los Angelenos not to fire their guns at the visitor spacecraft.

WE CUT OUT TO REVEAL WE ARE IN THE LOCKER ROOM. SEVERAL PILOTS ARE WATCHING CARLOS ORTIZ, A NEWSCASTER, ON THE TV. STEVE ENTERS AS CARLOS KEEPS TALKING.

CARLOS ORTIZ (V.O) You may inadvertently trigger an interstellar war.

STEVE I think we can find something better to do with our time gentlemen.

STEVE'S BEST FRIEND, CAPTAIN JIMMY WILDER, FOLLOWS HIS FRIEND TO STEVE'S LOCKER.

JIMMY Where've you been Stevie? Man, this is unbelievable, this is like huge, they've recalled everybody!

STEVE FINDS HIS LOCKER AND NOTICES AN ENVELOPE STUCK IN THE SIDE OF THE DOOR.

STEVE Ah, well, looks like the mail's still working.

STEVE IS ABOUT TO OPEN THE ENVELOPE WHEN HE NOTICES THE NASA LOGO ON IT.

STEVE Oh, oh, oh, you wanna do the honours for me, man?

JIMMY You're a wus.

HE TAKES THE ENVELOPE AND STARTS TO OPEN IT.

STEVE Yeah, whatever, shut up and read it.

JIMMY It says, (READING) "Captain Steven Hiller, loser. United States Marine Corp..."

STEVE Come on!

JIMMY (READING) "...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We regret to inform you that despite your excellent record of service..." (TO STEVE) I'm sorry man. You know what you need to do? You need to like kiss some serious booty to get ahead in this world man, that's what I'm trying to tell you.

JIMMY GETS DOWN ON ONE KNEE.

JIMMY See, I like the 1 knee approach, because it puts the booty, like right in front of the....

A SMALL BOX FALLS OUT OF STEVE'S LOCKER. BEFORE HE CAN PICK IT UP, JIMMY GRABS IT.

JIMMY What's this?

STEVE Oh, it's nothing.

JIMMY Hold on man, what is this?

STEVE (EMBARRASSED) Jasmine kinda has a thing for dolphins, I don't know...

JIMMY Stevie, this is a wedding ring!

JIMMY IS ON ONE KNEE. IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS PROPOSING AT LEAST TO THE MARINE WHO SPOTS THEM. STEVE AND JIMMY NOTICE HIM AND HE SMILES AS HE WALKS OFF WITH A "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING" LOOK. JIMMY STANDS BACK UP.

JIMMY I thought you said you were going to break the whole thing off.

AS STEVE TAKES THE RING BACK, JIMMY CONTINUES.

JIMMY You know I really like Jasmine, you know that, right? But you're never gonna get to fly the space shuttle if you marry a stripper.

WE SEE JASMINE. SHE IS A POLE DANCER, DANCING AROUND A POLE AND NOT WEARING THAT MUCH. WE FAN OUT TO REVEAL THAT NO-ONE IS WATCHING HER. THE FEW CUSTOMERS ARE ALL GLUED TO THE TV, WATCHING BARRY NOLAN.

BARRY NOLAN (V.O) ...from the "it could only happen in California" file, here's Wendy Walsh with a special report!

ON THE TV, WE SEE THE ROOFS OF THE LA SKYSCRAPERS. EACH ONE HAS LOTS OF PEOPLE ON IT.

WENDY WALSH (V.O) Below us, we can see hundreds of UFO fanatics who have gathered on the rooftops here in downtown Los Angeles to welcome the new arrivals...

ON THE ROOF, A WOMAN IS INTERVIEWED. BEHIND HER ARE LOTS OF OTHER ALIEN LOVERS HOLDING SIGNS SUCH AS "TAKE ME!" AND "I BELIEVE!".

WOMAN ON ROOF (ON TV) Oh God, I hope they bring back Elvis!

JASMINE WALKS INTO THE ROOM. NEARBY IS ANOTHER STRIPPER, TIFFANY, WHO IS ALSO WATCHING THE TV.

JASMINE I just came in to pick up my cheque tonight and I got talked into working. Oh, I must have been dreaming,

CUT TO THE TV. WE NOW SEE JUILIE MORAN, THE ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT REPORTER.

JULIE MORAN (ON TV) It's been called the party event of the century, and everyone is invited, especially you know who.

TIFFANY This is so cool!

JASMINE Girl, please!

TIFFANY Oh, hey, I made it before I came in tonight. Check it out.

SHE HOLDS UP A SIGN LIKE THE PEOPLE ON THE TV WERE HOLDING. IT SAYS "WELCOME! MAKE YOURSELVES AT HOME!"

JASMINE Now I know you're not thinking about joining those idiots.

TIFFANY Oh, I'm going over there soon as I get off. You wanna come?

JASMINE TURNS TO TIFFANY, DEAD SERIOUS.

JASMINE Tiffany, listen to me a sec. I've got a really bad feeling about this. I don't want you to go.

TIFFANY Oh, like the really bad feeling you got when I went to Las Vegas?

JASMINE Yeah, and I was right. You didn't get the job and you lost all your money gambling.

TIFFANY TRIES TO THINK OF A COMEBACK.

TIFFANY Yeah, but I wasn't in LA for the earthquake.

TIFFANY No.

JASMINE Come on girl, promise me.

TIFFANY (RELUCTANTLY) I promise.

JASMINE OK, look, I'm outta town for a while. Later.

TIFFANY Bye.

JASMINE ENTERS HER BOSS' OFFICE TO SEE DYLAN IN THERE WATCHING TV WITH BOOMER.

JASMINE Hey, there's my angel. Come on. Come on Boomer, let's go.

JUST OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, MARIO, JASMINE'S BOSS, WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR AND TURNS TO ANOTHER STRIPPER WHO IS JUST STANDING THERE.

MARIO Hey, coffee break's later.

HE WALKS INTO HIS OFFICE AND SPOTS THE DUBROWS THERE.

MARIO Hey! What the hell's your kid doing here?

BOOMER JUMPS UP ON HIM TO SAY HELLO.

MARIO (TO BOOMER) Hey, get out of here!

JASMINE You try finding a sitter today.

MARIO Hey! Hey! Where do you think you're going? You leave, you're fired.

JASMINE (OUT THE DOOR) Nice working with you, Mario. Come on Boomer.

WE SEE WASHINGTON IN THE DISTANCE WITH THE GIANT SHIP STILL HOVERING ABOVE IT. THE FREEWAY IS JAM PACKED ON ONE SIDE AS PEOPLE TRY TO LEAVE THE CITY. ON THE OTHER, JULIUS' CAR HAS THE CARRIAGEWAY TO ITSELF. INSIDE THE CAR:

JULIUS Everyone in the world is trying to get out of Washington, and we're the only schmucks trying to get in!

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O) All attempts to establish some line of communication have failed...

DAVID GETS OUT HIS LAPTOP AND GETS A CD OUT. HE PUTS IT INTO THE COMPUTER. UP COMES A MAP OF THE US WITH ALL THE STATES MARKED.

JULIUS What the hell is that?

DAVID Pops, this is every phone book in America.

JULIUS You think an important person like Constance is going to be listed?

DAVID STARTS TO LOOK UP THE NUMBER. JULIUS LOOKS AHEAD AND SEES TRAFFIC HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS HIM! THE MILITARY AND POLICE ARE NOW ALLOWING PEOPLE ESCAPING FROM WASHINGTON THE USE OF BOTH CARRIAGEWAYS!

JULIUS Oh my God!

JULIUS SWERVES VIOLENTLY TO AVOID COLLISION, BARELY MISSING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DODGING RIGHT TO LEFT, JULIUS HANGS ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

DAVID Hey, hey, hey, slow down! Look at all these people.

DAVID AND JULIUS ARE BOUNDED AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AS JULIUS TRIES TO VEER THROUGH TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY A TRUCK BLOCKS OFF THEIR ONLY ESCAPE ROUTE.

DAVID Stop!

JULIUS Tell them! Tell them!

DAVID Slow down!

JULIUS I'm trying!

DAVID NOTICES AN OFF-RAMP.

DAVID Off-ramp!

JULIUS TURNS HARD AND DRIVES UP ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE PLYMOUTH IS THE ONLY CAR IN HEADED THAT DIRECTION. USING THE SHOULDER, SWERVING TO MISS BARRICADES, THEY DRIVE DOWN THE OFF RAMP.

DAVID Nice driving, pops!

THEY TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO RECOVER AND THEN CARRY ON DRIVING TO WASHINGTON. DAVID STARTS LOOKING FOR CONNIE'S NUMBER AGAIN.

JULIUS Not listed, huh?

DAVID No, no, I just haven't found it yet. I tried C Spano, Connie Spano, Spunky Spano...

JULIUS Spunky?

DAVID College nickname.

JULIUS Cute. (PAUSE) You try Levinson?

DAVID She didn't take my name when we were married. Why would she? What are you talking about?

JULIUS Try it.

DAVID OK, here, look.

HE TYPES IN "LEVINSON, CONSTANCE" AND STARTS THE SEARCH, EXPECTING TO PROVE HIS FATHER WRONG. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE JULIUS WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL, AS A NUMBER DOES COME UP. (202) 555-4667.

FIRST WE SEE THE CAR DRIVE DOWN TOWARDS THE CAPITOL, WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND. IT THEN PULLS UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O) ...demonstrators in front of the White House are protesting about military involvement with our first contact with the alien visitors.

YEP, THERE THEY ARE. PROTESTORS ARE EVERYWHERE WITH THEIR SIGNS SUCH AS "DON'T PROVOKE" AND "VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE." DAVID ADJUSTS A SMALL PORTABLE SATELLITE, CONNECTING IT TO HIS PHONE AND LAPTOP COMPUTER. HE THEN PUTS THE SATELLITE ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR.

JULIUS So, you want to ring the bell or should I?

DAVID DIALS THE NUMBER. IT'S ENGAGED.

DAVID Perfect, she's using it.

JULIUS Perfect? What's prefect? It's busy!

DAVID Yeah, I can use her signal to triangulate her exact position in the White House.

JULIUS You can do that?

DAVID (SARCASTIC) Yeah. All cable repairmen can Pops.

THE TV PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN (ON TV) The visitors have arrived but the President has remained at the White House. Question: are Mr Whitmore's actions a) ultra brave, or b) foolhardy?

CONNIE IS FINISHING HER CALL.

CONNIE Take care.

SHE HANGS UP. SUDDENLY THE PHONE RINGS AGAIN! CONNIE ANSWERS IT.

CONNIE What?

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) Don't hang up.

CONNIE David! How did you get this number?

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) Uh, do me a favour. Walk to the window.

SHE DOES SO.

CONNIE And I'm looking for what?

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) You'll see.

SHE LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SEES DAVID STANDING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. JULIUS IS STANDING NEXT TO IT.

DAVID (THROUGH PHONE) Over here. See us?

CONNIE How does he do that?

A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACKGROUND. IT HAS HUGE PANELS ATTACHED TO IT, LIKE A PAIR OF WINGS. IN FRONT OF IT ARE VARIOUS MILITARY OFFICIALS AND REPORTERS. WE FAN THROUGH THE CROWD OF REPORTERS.

NEWSMAN Yes, that's right Tom, an amazing moment! We're reporting from Andrews Air Force Base...

WE THEN CUT ACROSS TO A NEWSWOMAN, MONICA SOLOWAY.

MONICA SOLOWAY Now in light of our apparent inability to communicate with the visitors, Pentagon officials have retrofit this Sky Lift helicopter with a type of visual communications device.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE WALKS INTO THE ROOM. AN AIDE SEES HIM.

AIDE Mr President.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Gentlemen.

MONICA SOLOWAY (V.O) Now this is not a military helicopter, but as you can see...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Where are we now?

GENERAL GREY They're just commencing lift-off.

MONICA SOLOWAY V.O, CONTINUED) ...powerful generators, and have been refitted with these enormous light panels...

MONICA (CONTINUED) ...that are attached to the hull and onto the sides.

INSIDE THE HELICOPTER, THE PILOT SPEAKS INTO HIS RADIO.

PILOT Echo 1, Welcome Wagon is in the air. I repeat, Welcome Wagon is in the air.

ECHO ONE PILOT (V.O) Roger Welcome Wagon, Echo 1 direct to target.

CONNIE LEADS DAVID AND JULIUS TO THE OVAL OFFICE.

JULIUS This is something I would never believe in my lifetime. That I would be in the White House! Look at this! If I'd knew I was going to meet the President, I'd have worn a tie. I mean look at me, I look like a schlemiel.

DAVID You look fine pops.

CONNIE LEADS THEM IN. JULIUS IS VERY IMPRESSED.

JULIUS Oi, my God.

CONNIE David, I don't know how happy he's gonna be to see you.

DAVID Yeah, that's right, we're wasting time, he's not going to listen to me, we should go.

JULIUS Why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he listen?

DAVID Because last time I saw him, we, er, we got into a fight.

CONNIE You walked in the room and punched him in the head.

JULIUS You punched the President?

DAVID He wasn't the President then. I punched him, he fought back, we wrestled around, it was a fight.

CONNIE A fight that you started! (TO JULIUS) Because David thought that I was having an affair.

JULIUS With the President?

CONNIE Which of course I wasn't!

DAVID Hey, hey, you can either go get him or we should head back to the car.

CONNIE All right, I'll get him. You wait here. And don't touch anything!

SHE WALKS OUT. JULIUS TURNS TO DAVID.

JULIUS You punched the President? Oh my god.

THE HELICOPTERS APPROACH THE FRONT OF THE SHIP. WE SEE HOW TINY THEY ARE COMPARED TO IT. THE PILOT SPEAKS INTO HIS RADIO.

PILOT We are approaching point of contact Echo 1, we are closing in.

ECHO ONE PILOT (V.O) Roger that, you can commence sequence when ready.

DAVID IS SETTING UP HIS LAPTOP ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE TV IS STILL TUNED INTO MONICA SOLOWAY'S REPORT FROM ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE.

JULIUS This I like. Look at this. You know what famous people have been here? Huh? Huh?

DAVID (NOT REALLY LISTENING) Yes Dad.

JULIUS Politicians, actors, baseball players, singers...and now me.

DAVID Imagine that. Look, a poor immigrant like me, it's a dream!

DAVID LAUGHS AT HIS JOKE.

JULIUS David, Shh! Please!

AS BEFORE, EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE TV. MONICA SOLOWAY FROM EARLIER IS STILL ON.

MONICA SOLOWAY (ON TV) The 3 choppers are steadily approaching what has unanimously agreed to be the front of these spaceships, a parabolic indentation 9 city blocks in diameter.

CONNIE WALKS UP TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHISPERS SOMETHING IN HIS EAR. HE GETS UP AND FOLLOWS HER OUT.

NIMZIKI You're leaving now?

DAVID IS SETTING UP HIS LAPTOP.

JULIUS Hey, see if they have those pens that they give away.

DAVID Dad, what?

THE PRESIDENT AND CONNIE ENTER. THE PRESIDENT SPOTS DAVID AND FREEZES.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I don't have time for this...

CONNIE 2 minutes Tom.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Connie, Connie...

CONNIE Just 2 minutes.

JULIUS UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS GOING ON, SO TRIES TO BREAK THE ICE. HE WALKS TO THE PRESIDENT.

JULIUS Mr President, Mr President, Julius Levinson. Uh, David is my son.

DAVID IS ARGUING WITH CONNIE.

DAVID I told you he wouldn't listen.

CONNIE No, you have to tell him now. Uh, tell him. David, you have to tell him.

DAVID Connie...

CONNIE David, tell him!

EVERYONE FALLS SILENT. DAVID TAKES A SHEET OF PAPER AS HE STARTS HIS SPEECH.

DAVID Uh, I know why we have satellite disruption.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE All right, go ahead.

DAVID OK, uh, let's say that you want to co-ordinate with spaceships on different sides of the Earth. You couldn't send a direct signal, right?

DAVID DRAWS A CIRCLE REPRESENTING EARTH AND A SMALLER CIRCLE REPRESENTING THE MOTHER SHIP.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE You're talking about line of sight?

DAVID Yeah, that's right, exactly. The curve of the Earth prevents it. You'd need satellites to relay that signal in order to reach each ship.

DAVID DRAWS SMALL "SATELLITES" SURROUNDING "EARTH".

DAVID Well, I found a signal hidden inside our own satellite system.

ALEX APPEARS IN THE DOORWAY.

ALEX Excuse me, Mr President. They're starting.

ALEX LEAVES AS DAVID FINISHES.

DAVID They're using our own satellites against us. And the clock is ticking.

DAVID TURNS HIS LAPTOP AROUND TO THE PRESIDENT. THERE IS A CLOCK THERE SHOWING "TIME REMAINING". THERE ARE 28 MINUTES LEFT!

THE HELICOPTERS ARE NOW IN POSITION.

PILOT Bringing it into hover.

ECHO ONE PILOT (V.O) Welcome Wagon, Echo 1, approaching alien ship.

PILOT Initiating communication sequence Echo 1, Welcome Wagon has commenced.

THE LARGE LIGHT PANELS ATTACHED TO THE HULL AND ONTO THE SIDES TURN ON, LIGHTS FLASH IN A REPEATING SEQUENTIAL PATTERN. THIS GOES ON AS THERE IS NO REACTION FROM THE SHIP.

AS BEFORE, EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE TV WHEN THE PRESIDENT WALKS IN.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE General Grey, co-ordinate with the Atlantic Command. Tell them to evacuate as many people out of the cities as they can.

GENERAL GREY Yes sir.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE And get those helicopters away from the ship. Call them back immediately.

GENERAL GREY OBEYS, TURNING TO AN ASSISTANT WHO QUICKLY GRABS A PHONE. NIMZIKI GOES TO THE PRESIDENT.

NIMZIKI What the hell's going on?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We're leaving. (TO AN AIDE) Kim, my daughter.

PILOT Uh, there's something happening here.

ALEX POINTS TO THE TV.

ALEX They're responding.

THE ALIEN SHIP IS OPENING UP. A HAZY GREEN LIGHT IS EMITTED FROM IT.

PILOT Something is opening.

WE HEAR MONICA SOLOWAY, THE REPORTER FROM EARLIER, AS EVERYONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WATCHES THE TV NERVOUSLY.

MONICA SOLOWAY (ON TV) Something is happening.

PILOT It looks like there's some kind of activity here. This may be some type of response Echo 1.

ECHO ONE PILOT (V.O) We see it too, can't identify it.

THE ALIENS SUDDENLY SHOOT A GREEN RAY AT THE HELICOPTERS. ONE BY ONE THEY BLOW UP AND 3 FIREBALLS FALL BACK TOWARDS WASHINGTON.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE HEADS TOWARDS THE DOOR HOLDING PATRICIA'S HAND. FOLLOWING HIM ARE CONNIE, GENERAL GREY, NIMZIKI, DAVID AND JULIUS AMONGST OTHERS.

ALEX We are evacuating, I repeat we are evacuating the White House.

GENERAL GREY Put the rest of the staff in the second helicopter.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE AND PATRICIA GET ON THE HELICOPTER. GENERAL GREY GETS ON THE HELICOPTER AND SITS NEXT TO THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Is my wife in the air?

GENERAL GREY She will be shortly.

DAVID AND JULIUS SIT DOWN. JULIUS IS VERY IMPRESSED

JULIUS Nice, very nice.

THE HELICOPTER DOORS ARE SEALED SHUT.

ALEX OK, buckle up!

AIDE That's secure!

INSIDE, JULIUS NOTICES THE TELEPHONE NEXT TO HIS SEAT.

JULIUS We have our own phone, look at that.

DAVID OPENS HIS LAPTOP. THE CLOCK NOW READS 09:12, 09:11... THE PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER LIFTS OFF AS SEVERAL OTHER HELICOPTERS WAIT BEHIND, PEOPLE FILING INTO THEM.

ALEX Let's get out of here!

MARILYN WHITMORE PACKS HER BAG, AS THE HORRIFYING IMAGE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HELICOPTER REPLAYS ON THE TV. A SECRET SERVICE MAN COMES TO HER.

SECRET SERVICE MAN The President has ordered an evacuation. We have to leave now.

ON THE TV, SKY NEWS ANCHORMAN BOB FRIEND IS SEEN.

BOB FRIEND (ON TV) And our prayers go out to the wives and children of those brave pilots, indeed, God help us all.

SECRET SERVICE MAN Mrs Whitmore?

AS MARILYN WALKS OUT WITH HER BAGS, SHE PASSES ANOTHER TV SET.

GEORGE PUTNAM (ON TV) The visitors responded with terrifying...

INSIDE THE CAR ARE JASMINE, DYLAN AND BOOMER. THE TRAFFIC IS AT A STANDSTILL. JASMINE IS LISTENING TO THE RADIO.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O) ...authorities have called for a complete evacuation of Los Angeles County. People are advised to avoid the highways whenever possible.

JASMINE Oh yeah, great, now he tells me.

THE UFO TRUE BELIEVERS ARE STILL THERE, HOLDING UP THEIR SIGNS. MAKING HER WAY THROUGH SEVERAL OF THEM WE SEE TIFFANY. SHE LOOKS UP TO THE SPACECRAFT ABOVE. A LAPD HELICOPTER FLIES OVER HEAD.

BELIEVERS Boo! Boo!

POLICE HELICOPTER PILOT (V.O) This is the Los Angeles Police Department. Please vacate the premises immediately. For your own safety.

THE SIGN HOLDERS BOO THE POLICE AGAIN.

BELIEVERS Take me! Take me!

TIFFANY TAKES OUR HER SIGN AND HOLDS IT PROUDLY.

TIFFANY Yeah!

JUST LIKE IN LA, TRAFFIC IS MOVING ALONG VERY SLOWLY. MARTY IS IN HIS CAR.

MARTY Can we move it along?

HE HONKS HIS HORN AS THE PERSON HE'S CALLING ON HIS CELLPHONE ANSWERS.

VOICE (V.O) Dr Katz's office.

MARTY Hello, let me speak to Dr Katz please.

VOICE (V.O) I'm sorry he's not available.

MARTY Listen, for $300 an hour you can put me through to his house in the Hamptons!

MARILYN IS GETTING INTO HER HELICOPTER. THE LAPD HELICOPTER IS STILL FLYING AROUND.

POLICE HELICOPTER (V.O) This is the Los Angeles Police Department. Please vacate the premises immediately. For your own safety.

DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE UFO BELIEVERS, MARILYN WATCHES THEM, CONCERNED.

POLICE HELICOPTER (V.O) You must leave now!

BELIEVERS No!

SECRET SERVICE MAN Mrs Whitmore!

RELUCTANTLY, MARILYN TURNS AND GETS IN THE HELICOPTER. THE DOOR IS SHUT.

SECRET SERVICE MAN First Lady secured, we're on the move.

THE HELICOPTER TAKES OFF.

THE BELIEVERS ARE STILL THERE LOOKING AT THE SHIP. SUDDENLY, THERE IS A NOISE. THE SHIP STARTS OPENING UP. THERE IS A GREEN LIGHT COMING FROM THE DOORS, WHICH ARE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ROOF OF THE FIRST INTERSTATE BUILDING.

TIFFANY They're opening up!

THE DOORS OPEN EVEN FURTHER. EVERYONE ON THE ROOF IS NOW COVERED BY THIS GREEN LIGHT.

TIFFANY So pretty.

EXACTLY THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK.

EXACTLY THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON. ALEX IS HELPING PEOPLE GET ONTO THE REMAINING HELICOPTERS.

ALEX ...get the hell out of here!

THE PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER LANDS. THE PRESIDENT, CARRYING PATRICIA, AND HIS GROUP ARE USHERED OVER TO AIR FORCE ONE WHICH STANDS ONLY A HUNDRED YARDS AWAY. FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT ARE CONNIE, GENERAL GREY, NIMZIKI, DAVID, JULIUS AND OTHERS. THE EDGE OF THE ALIEN SHIP CAN STILL BE SEEN.

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTOURAGE GET ON THE PLANE AND GO TO THEIR SEATS.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Go ahead pilot, we're ready to take off right now.

PILOT Right away sir.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (TO STEWARDESS) Could you get a blanket for Patricia?

OUTSIDE, DAVID LOOKS AT HIS WATCH. IN THE PLANE, NIMZIKI HANDS CONNIE HER CASE.

NIMZIKI Here.

AS CONNIE SITS DOWN, DAVID AND JULIUS ARE SHOWN TO THEIR SEATS. AS HE SITS DOWN, DAVID CHECKS THE CLOCK ON HIS LAPTOP. IT READS 00:02, 00:01, 00:00.

DAVID Time's up.

THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE SHIP STARTS GETTING TOGETHER LIKE A RAY. A SCHISM IS COMING DOWN FROM THE SHIP. THE GREEN RAYS HEAD TO THE SCHISM. TIFFANY AND THE OTHER BELIEVERS WATCH. INDEED, PROBABLY THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW, AS THE SAME SCENE IS HAPPENING IN 35 OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD. TIFFANY IS SLIGHTLY DAZED BY IT.

TIFFANY Ugh!

SUDDENLY A BIG RAY SHOOTS DOWN FROM THE SCHISM! TIFFANY IS THE EPICENTER. THE RAY BLOWS UP THE FIRST INTERSTATE BUILDING. A FIRE MUSHROOM, THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION, STARTS HEADING THROUGH THE CITY. IT DESTROYS BUILDINGS, CARS AND PEOPLE. NOTHING STANDS A CHANCE. PEOPLE SEE THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION AND RUN SCREAMING.

A MAN LOOKS OUT OF HIS WINDOW TO SEE THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HEADING TOWARDS HIM. IT IS THE LAST THING HE SEES AS THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HITS THE BUILDING AND IT EXPLODES.

EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN NEW YORK. THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IS HIT BY THE RAY AND IT EXPLODES. ANOTHER WALL OF DESTRUCTION STARTS DESTROYING NEW YORK. IN HIS CAR, MARTY PUTS HIS PHONE DOWN AND SEES THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION COMING TOWARDS HIM.

MARTY Oh, crap.

MARTY'S POV: THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HEADS TOWARDS HIM. IT CAUSES A CAR TO COME FLYING TOWARDS HIS WINDSCREEN. ITS THE LAST THING MARTY SEES.

ALEX LOOKS OUT THE HELICOPTER WINDOW. IT IS THE LAST HELICOPTER TO TAKE OFF. HE LOOKS OUT TO SEE EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON. THE RAY FROM THE SHIP HITS THE WHITE HOUSE, BLOWING IT TO PIECES AND TAKING THE HELICOPTER WITH IT.

THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HEADS THROUGH WASHINGTON. PEOPLE RUN AND AS BUILDINGS ARE DESTROYED, A TAXI CAB FLIES THROUGH THE AIR.

WE SEE AN ALMOST ARIEL VIEW OF THE CITY. THE RAY FROM THE SHIP DISAPPEARS, BUT WE SEE THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION MAKING ITS WAY FURTHER OUTWARDS.

A FIRE ENGINE IS AMONGST THE VEHICLES TOSSED ASIDE BY THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION.

THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION REACHES THE CAPITOL AND THE BUILDING EXPLODES.

PATRICIA RUNS TO HER FATHER AND HE HOLD HER. A SHOT OF JULIUS AND A WOMAN NEXT TO HIM SHOW THEM LOOKING SLIGHTLY NERVOUS. WE ALSO SEE CONNIE, AND GENERAL GREY AND NIMZIKI.

THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION IS CHASING AIR FORCE ONE AS THE PLANE TRIES TO TAKE OFF.

THE PRESIDENT COMFORTS HIS DAUGHTER. THE LIGHTS IN THE PLANE FLICKER. DAVID AND JULIUS LOOK WORRIED.

AIR FORCE ONE JUST MANAGES TO GET AWAY IN TIME FROM THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION.

WE SEE GENERAL GREY AND NIMZIKI, AS WELL AS CONNIE. ALL LOOK SLIGHTLY WORRIED.

THE PLANE IS NOW SAFELY FLYING AWAY. ON THE STREETS, MORE BUILDINGS ARE DESTROYED.

PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AND SCREAMING PAST JASMINE'S CAR. SHE LOOKS THROUGH HER MIRRORS TO SEE WHY AND SEES THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HEADING FOR THE TUNNEL.

JASMINE Oh my God! Come on Dylan, we gotta go!

SHE GRABS SOME BAGS AND LIFTS DYLAN INTO HER ARMS AND RUNS AWAY WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

DYLAN Aaahhh!

THE WALL OF DESTRUCTION HAS REACHED THE EDGE OF THE TUNNEL AND IS COMING IN. THE CARS AT THE EDGE OF THE TUNNEL ARE BLOWN AWAY AND DESTROYED. JASMINE KNOWS SHE WILL NOT GET OUT IN TIME BUT THEN SHE SPOTS A MAINTENANCE ALCOVE AND RUNS TO THAT INSTEAD. SHE TRIES TO KICK THE DOOR DOWN.

JASMINE Augh! Augh! Augh! Augh!

SHE MANAGES IT. THE DOOR IS OPEN AND JASMINE PUTS DYLAN AND HER BAGS IN THE ALCOVE. SHE LOOKS AROUND AS A MOTORCYCLE FLIES PAST HER, JUST MISSING. SHE SPOTS BOOMER AND CALLS TO HIM.

JASMINE Boomer! Boomer!

BOOMER SPOTS THEM AND BOUND TOWARDS THEM. HE JUMPS OFF A CAR AND INTO THE ALCOVE JUST AS IT IS BLOWN AWAY. IN THE ALCOVE, JASMINE SHIELDS HER SON, DOG AND BAGS WITH HER BODY. THE LIGHT BULB IN THE ALCOVE SHATTERS, AND WE ARE LEFT IN DARKNESS.

WE SEE A WIPED OUT NEW YORK. THE REMAINS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWERS AND A FEW OTHER BUILDINGS CAN BE SEEN, AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY HAS FALLEN INTO THE SEA. THE SHIP IS STILL ABOVE, UNDAMAGED. SLOWLY, THE SHIP BEGINS TO CLOSE ITS DOORS AND PULLS THE SCHISM INSIDE.

THE CASSES ARE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, TOWING RUSSELL'S BI-WING AEROPLANE BEHIND THEM. MIGUEL AND RUSSELL ARE LISTENING TO THE RADIO.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O) ...reports are unclear as to the extent of the devastation, but from all accounts, Los Angeles, Washington and New York have been left in ruins. Although severed communication lines make confirmation...

RUSSELL IS ASTONISHED.

RUSSELL Good God! I've been saying it. I've been saying it for 10 damn years! Aingt I been saying it Miguel? Huh, I've been saying it!

TROY COMES TO THEM.

TROY Dad, I'm sick, I don't feel good. Pull it over man.

RUSSELL STOPS THE TRAILER AND TROY RUNS OUT, FOLLOWED BY MIGUEL. TROY RUNS TO SOME BUSHES AND VOMITS. RUSSELL ALSO STEPS OUT.

MIGUEL You're gonna be all right, Troy

TROY Yeah, leave me alone man, I got it.

RUSSELL HAS NOTICED SOMETHING.

RUSSELL Miguel? Look at all that.

MIGUEL GOES TO LOOK. IN THE VALLEY BELOW ARE CAMPERS, TRAILERS, BUSSES FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ESCAPED THE CITIES. IT'S A CITY OF REFUGEES SO TO SPEAK.

PATRICIA WHITMORE LIES SLEEPING ON A SEAT WITH A BLANKET. NEXT TO HER, HER FATHER SITS AND WATCHES HER. HE IS DEEP IN THOUGHT. CONNIE COMES OVER AND SITS NEXT TO HIM.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We could have evacuated the cities hours ago. (PAUSE) That's the advantage of being a fighter pilot. In the Gulf War we knew what we had to do. It's just not simple anymore. A lot of people died today. How many didn't have to?

GENERAL GREY ENTERS THE AREA.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Any news on my wife yet?

GENERAL GREY The helicopter never made it to Nellis. No radio contact.

WE SEE THE REMAINS OF THE TUNNEL. THERE IS WRECKAGE EVERYWHERE. TWO FIGURES COME OUT OF THE TUNNEL.

JASMINE Come on Dylan, stay close. It's OK. Here it is!

YES, IT IS JASMINE AND DYLAN, FOLLOWED BY BOOMER. THEY CRAWL OUT FROM THE LAST BIT OF RUBBLE AND ARE NOW SAFELY OUT. THEY LOOK AROUND. IT'S A FRIGHTENING SIGHT POST-APOCALYPTIC LA. PILES OF RUBBLE ARE EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE USED TO BE THE CITY OF ANGELS. ONLY A FEW PALM TREES HAVE SURVIVED.

DYLAN What happened, Mommy?

JASMINE I don't know, baby.

INSIDE THE ROOM ARE STEVE, JIMMY AND OTHER PERSONNEL. STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM IS THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER, WATSON. HE IS POINTING TO A MAP OF LOS ANGELES.

WATSON You men will be the first wave in our counter attack. Our target is to the north, above what remains of downtown Los Angeles. Our Black Knight squadron...

STEVE AND JIMMY ARE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER NEAR THE BACK OF THE ROOM WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER AS WATSON CARRIES ON SPEAKING.

JIMMY (WHISPERING) You scared man?

STEVE (WHISPERING) No.

WATSON ...with fighters from 29 Palms...

STEVE (WHISPERING) You?

WATSON ...our satellite recon is unreliable...

JIMMY (WHISPERING) No.

WATSON We will fix on our target positions...

JIMMY SUDDENLY PUTS HIS HEAD ON STEVE'S LAP, PRETENDING TO BE SCARED.

JIMMY Hold me!

THERE ARE SOME GIGGLES FROM THE PILOTS BEHIND THEM AS WATSON CONTINUES.

WATSON ...visually from the ground.

STEVE Hey, hey, pay attention.

IT SEEMS THOUGH THAT WATSON HAS REALISED THEY WERE NOT LISTENING TO HIM.

WATSON Something you want to add to this briefing, Captain Hiller?

STEVE No Sir. Just a little anxious to get up there and whoop ET's ass, that's all.

THERE ARE LAUGHS FROM JIMMY AND THE OTHER PILOTS.

WATSON You're gonna get your chance. You'll all get your chance. Good hunting. Dismissed!

THE PILOTS ARE WALKING TO THEIR PLANES.

JIMMY Let's kick the tyres and light the fires big daddy. Let's bring it home. Let's bring that bad boy home Cap! You loose?

STEVE Yes sir. You got your victory dance?

JIMMY GETS OUT A CIGAR.

JIMMY (IN A "SINGING" STYLE) Well I got it right heeeere! Yeah!

STEVE Hey, hey, don't get premature on me, soldier. We don't light up till the fat lady sings.

JIMMY I'm all ears, brother.

THEY GET INTO THEIR PLANES.

JIMMY You the man!

THE PLANES FLY OFF.

MILITARY COMMAND IS ON AIR FORCE ONE. THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL GREY, NIMZIKI AND VARIOUS RADIO TECHNICIANS ARE THERE.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Right, gentlemen, we're on.

THE TELEPHONE RINGS AND RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 ANSWERS IT. HE TURNS TO GENERAL GREY.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 General, it's NORAD.

GENERAL GREY General Grey here.

THE PRESIDENT TURNS TO NIMZIKI.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Al?

NIMZIKI All satellites, microwave and ground communications with the cities are down.

GENERAL GREY (ON PHONE) ...all systems down...

NIMZIKI We believe we're looking at a total loss.

THE PRESIDENT LOOKS AT THE RADAR SCREENS.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE How about our boys? Where are they?

GENERAL GREY (POINTING) ETA to target 4 minutes.

THE PLANES ARE EN ROUTE TO THE RUINS OF LOS ANGELES. STEVE LOOKS DOWN ON THE WRECKAGE SADLY HE'S SURE JASMINE AND DYLAN DIED IN IT.

STEVE I shouldn't have left her.

IN HIS PLANE, JIMMY REALISES WHAT STEVE IS FEELING.

JIMMY Don't worry about it, big man. I'm sure she got out of here before it happened. Or, as the good Reverend would say...

JIMMY NOW STARTS IMITATING JESSE JACKSON.

JIMMY "Why we are on this particular mission, we'll never know. But I do know, that, here today, that the Black Knights will emerge victorious, once again.

THE OTHER PILOTS, AND STEVE, HAVE ALL LISTENING AND ARE SMILING.

PILOT Amen, man.

STEVE Amen, Reverend.

STEVE'S POV: SUDDENLY THE CLOUDS DISAPPEAR, AND WE SEE THE ALIEN SHIP! IT IS SLOWLY MOVING AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES. STEVE IS AMAZED AT THE SIGHT OF IT.

JIMMY Holy God!

STEVE Lock and load.

THE SOLDIERS ARE MANNING THE RADIOS.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 Roger that. Los Angeles attack squadron has AMRAAM missiles locked on target.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 Washington and New York squadrons, reporting lock on.

GENERAL GREY Fire at will.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) Fire at will!

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 (INTO RADIO) Fire at will!

THE COMMAND CENTER NOW STARTS ISSUING ORDERS.

COMMAND CENTER (V.O) Knights, we are red and free. Knight 1, Fox 3!

KNIGHT 1 FIRES A MISSILE.

COMMAND CENTER (V.O) Knight 3, Fox 3!

KNIGHT 3 FIRES A MISSILE.

COMMAND CENTER (V.O) Knight 7, Fox 3!

KNIGHT 7 FIRES A MISSILE.

THE SOLDIERS ARE WATCHING THE COMPUTER SCREEN. NIMZIKI STANDS BEHIND THEM.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 Missiles have been fired.

INDEED, THE COMPUTER SHOWS THE PLANES ADVANCING TOWARDS THE ALIEN SHIP AND THE MISSILES ARE ON THE WAY.

STEVE'S POV. HE WATCHES THE MISSILES HEAD TOWARDS THE SHIP FROM HIS PLANE.

NIMZIKI WATCHES THE SCAN. THE MISSILES ARE GETTING CLOSER.

THE MISSILES ARE ADVANCING TOWARDS THE SHIP. SUDDENLY THEY ALL EXPLODE BUT THEY HAVEN'T HIT THE SHIP!

NIMZIKI IS WATCHING THE MONITOR.

NIMZIKI Are they not getting through?

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 No, sir. Not one.

COMMAND CENTER (V.O) Command, Knight 1. Command, Knight one. Switching to sidewinders. Moving in. KNIGHT three, low 50. Knights reference, one, two, zero. Knight 7, one, two, zero. Knight 1, sweet light, good tow, Fox 2! Knight 7, Fox 2! Come on, come on!

AGAIN THE MISSILES ARE FIRED AND AGAIN, THEY MISS.

STEVE They must have some kind of protective shield over their hull. Knights, pull up, pull up! Knight 3, pull up.

KNIGHT 3 PILOT Controls are showing complete failure in the stabs.

STEVE Pull up!

TOO LATE. THE PILOT CRASHES INTO THE SHIELD. STEVE AND THE OTHERS FLY OFF, BUT AS THEY PASS OVER ANOTHER PART OF THE SHIP, THE ALIENS RELEASE THEIR ATTACKERS! HUNDREDS OF THEM FLY TOWARDS THE US PLANES.

STEVE Low through. Low through!

PILOT Too many of them!

THE PILOT CRASHES INTO AN ATTACKER. HIS PLANE EXPLODES, BUT THE ATTACKER JUST FLIES OFF AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. IT HAS A SHIELD TOO.

ANOTHER PLANE ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN TURNS RED.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 They got another one, sir.

ATTACKERS ARE CHASING STEVE AND JIMMY, FIRING GREEN RAYS AT THEM (AND MISSING).

STEVE Oh, no. You did not shoot that green shit at me.

JIMMY I got ya covered, big daddy.

JIMMY FIRES A MISSILE AT THE ATTACKER. THE MISSILE DOES NOT HIT THE ATTACKER DUE TO THE SHIELD. JIMMY MAKES THE CONNECTION.

JIMMY Damn! They got shields too.

STEVE Let's go, Knights. Move, Knights, move!

THE REMAINING PLANES START TO FLY OFF AS ANOTHER ONE IS HIT.

JIMMY Jesus!

ANOTHER PLANE ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN GOES RED.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 They got another one, sir. Two more just went down, they're dropping like flies. We're losing 'em.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE All right, get 'em out of there.

THE RADIO TECHNICIANS SPEAK INTO THEIR RADIOS.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) All right, squadron leaders, retreat to fallback positions.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 (INTO RADIO) Abort mission!

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) Abort mission right away.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 (INTO RADIO) Do you read me?

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) Do you copy?

THERE ARE VERY FEW EARTH PLANES LEFT.

STEVE All right, I think we're gonna have to make a run for this one here. Let's get low, let's get fast!

JIMMY I've got ya, big daddy. Let's get 'em! Whoo!

STEVE AND JIMMY FLY AWAY. TWO ALIEN ATTACKERS CHASE THEM.

STEVE Watch the deck!

THE ALIENS SHOOT AGAIN AND JUST MISS.

STEVE Woah!

THE RADIO TECHNICIANS ARE STILL SPEAKING INTO THEIR RADIOS.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) Review your position.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 (INTO RADIO) Squadron leader, do you read?

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 (INTO RADIO) Abort!

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 (INTO RADIO) This isn't happening fast enough.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (ANGRILY) Get 'em out of there!

STEVE WATCHES ANOTHER PLANE GET BLOWN UP THE ALIENS.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 Abort! Abort!

SUDDENLY THE COMPUTER SCREEN GOES BLANK.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #2 What happened to the monitor? Where's the picture?

GENERAL GREY PICKS UP THE PHONE. NOTHING CAN BE HEARD.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 We've lost the satellite.

WE SEE AN ARIEL VIEW OF THE PLANES.

STEVE We got two on our six, Jimmy. Shackle.

JIMMY Roger.

STEVE Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on! Move! Move! Move!

JIMMY They're still on me like white on rice, big daddy.

STEVE That's all right, Jimmy. They ain't got nothing for us. Let's push it. We gotta go! We gotta go!

STEVE'S POV: THE GROUND IS WHIZZING ALONG BELOW THEM. THEY ARE ALMOST TRAVELLING AT MAXIMUM SPEED. IN JIMMY'S PLANE, A LOOK AT HIS SPEEDOMETER SHOWS HE IS ALMOST TRAVELLING AT MACH 2.

JIMMY I can't shake him. I can't shake him!

STEVE Yes, you can. Just the way I showed you. Let's go!

JIMMY Check me out, Stevie. I'm gonna try something.

STEVE Man, don't do nothing stupid over there.

JIMMY You know me.

STEVE That's what I'm talking about!

JIMMY STARTS GOING EVEN FASTER.

JIMMY Argh!

STEVE Jimmy! Jimmy! What are you doing'? You can't bank at that speed!

THE ALIENS SHOOT AGAIN.

STEVE Jimmy, he's closing on you!

JIMMY'S SPEEDOMETER SHOWS US HE IS NOW TRAVELLING ABOVE MACH 2. HE IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING AND TAKES OFF HIS MASK.

STEVE Put your mask back on! That's an order, marine!

JIMMY I can't breathe!

THE ALIENS SHOOT AGAIN.

STEVE Jimmy!

JIMMY'S POV: THE ALIEN CRAFT IS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR HIM.

STEVE Jimmy!

JIMMY IS SHOT DOWN BY ONE OF THE ATTACKERS. IT THEN FLIES BACK TO LOS ANGELES. THE OTHER ATTACKER CARRIES ON CHASING STEVE.

STEVE No!

THE RADIO OPERATOR TURNS TO COLONEL WATSON, WHO HAS A CIGAR IN HIS MOUTH.

EL TORO RADIO OPERATOR That's affirmative. We have incoming.

WATSON Let me have it, son.

EL TORO RADIO OPERATOR (STANDS UP) You got it.

WATSON SITS IN THE CHAIR AND TALKS TO THE SERGEANT.

WATSON Friendly?

THE SERGEANT SAYS NOTHING.

WATSON Sergeant?

SERGEANT I don't think so!

WATSON LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW, AND IS SO SHOCKED HIS CIGAR FALLS OUT OF HIS MOUTH. A HERD OF ALIEN ATTACKERS IS HEADING RIGHT FOR THE BASE. THE SIRENS SOUND AND THE PILOTS RUN FOR THEIR LIVES. WE SEE WATSON THROUGH THE WINDOW, THE ALIEN ATTACKERS ARE REFLECTED ON IT AS THEY START TO ATTACK THE BASE. THE ALIENS FIRE AT THE RUNNING PILOTS AND THE PLANES ON THE GROUND.

STEVE'S PLANE HEADS DOWN THE GRAND CANYON. THE ALIEN FOLLOWS HIM IN.

STEVE Come on and get me! Come and get me!

THE ALIEN FIRES AGAIN, CAUSING A CLOUD OF FIRE JUST AHEAD OF STEVE.

STEVE What are you shooting at?

STEVE MANAGES TO GET THROUGH THE CLOUD OF FIRE, AS DOES THE ALIEN.

STEVE Where you at, baby? Come on! Come on!

STEVE'S POV: HE FLIES THROUGH THE CANYON. THE ALIEN'S POV: IT AIMS FOR STEVE AND FIRES - AND MISSES.

STEVE Aw, you can't hit nothing!

THE ALIEN'S POV: IT FIRES AGAIN. STEVE LOOKS AT HIS FUEL GAUGE. IT SAYS "WARNING: FUEL LOW! TANK 1/4 021% TANK 2/3 - 000% MISSION TERMINATION IMPERATIVE". STEVE PASSES THROUGH A NARROW PART OF THE CANYON.

STEVE Hiyah!

THE ALIEN FOLLOWS, SHOOTS AND MISSES. STEVE'S POV: AN ALIEN SHOT BRINGS DOWN PART OF THE CANYON JUST IN FRONT OF HIM. IT STARTS TO FALL INTO HIS PATH.

STEVE Ho! Low bridge! Whoa!

STEVE JUST MAKES IT UNDER IN TIME. THE ALIEN FLIES OVER THE PIECE OF ROCK. STEVE LOOKS AT HIS FUEL GAUGE AGAIN. IT NOW SAYS "WARNING: FUEL LOW! TANK 1/4 000% TANK 2/3 - 005% RESERVE (THE NUMBER IS GOING DOWN TOO RAPIDLY FOR US TO SEE IT) MISSION TERMINATION IMPERATIVE". STEVE LOOKS AHEAD. HE IS ALMOST AT THE END OF THE CANYON!

STEVE See if you can fly that thing under cover!

HE PULLS A LEVER AND THE PARACHUTE COMES OUT FROM THE BACK OF THE PLANE, COVERING THE ALIEN SHIP.

STEVE Hope you got a air bag!

STEVE EJECTS FROM HIS PLANE JUST BEFORE IT CRASHES INTO THE CANYON. THE ALIEN SHIP MANAGES TO FLY TO THE TOP OF THE CANYON, THUS AVOIDING CRASHING INTO IT LIKE STEVE'S PLANE, BUT IT CRASHES TO THE GROUND NEXT TO THE CANYON. STEVE FALLS TO EARTH WITH HIS PARACHUTE.

STEVE Hiyah!

HE LANDS AND PUSHES OFF HIS PARACHUTE. STEVE'S POV: HE SEES THE ALIEN SHIP ON THE GROUND. IT IS SMOKING.

STEVE Son of a bitch!

HE STARTS RUNNING TOWARDS THE ALIEN SHIP SCREAMING.

STEVE That's right! That's right! (RE: PARACHUTE) Get off me! Get off of me! That's what you get! Ha ha! Look at you! Ship all banged up! Who's the man? Huh? Who's the man? Wait 'til I get another plane! I'm lining all your friends up right beside you!

STEVE STARTS CLIMBING UP THE SIDE OF THE SHIP.

STEVE Where you at, huh? Huh? Where you at?

THE ALIEN'S POV: STEVE OPENS THE DOOR. WE CAN SEE THE ALIEN'S TENTACLES. STEVE'S POV: THERE IS SMOKE. SUDDENLY THE ALIEN APPEARS! IT ROARS AT STEVE. STEVE PUNCHES IT REALLY HARD AND KNOCKS IT OUT.

STEVE Welcome to Earth!

HE SITS DOWN AND GETS OUT A CIGAR.

STEVE Now, that's what I call a close encounter.

JASMINE LEADS DYLAN AND BOOMER THROUGH THE RUINS. SUDDENLY SHE STOPS AND NOTICES SOMETHING.

JASMINE Baby, stay right here. Stay right here with Boomer.

SHE HEADS FOR A GARAGE. INSIDE IS A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT TRUCK THAT HAS SURVIVED THE DESTRUCTION. JASMINE TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR AND WHEN SHE DOES SO, SITS INSIDE. SHE STARTS LOOKING FOR KEYS, MUTTERING AS SHE DOES SO.

JASMINE Keys. Come on, keys.

SHE LOOKS THROUGH THE SUN VISOR IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW AND THE KEYS FALL OUT.

JASMINE Yes!

JASMINE TRIES TO START THE TRUCK.

JASMINE Come on, baby. Come on. Come on. Come on.

THE TRUCK STARTS.

JASMINE Yes!

INSIDE, TROY IS LYING DOWN ON A BED. RUSSELL SITS NEXT TO HIM. ALICIA IS GETTING A DAMP CLOTH.

RUSSELL You're just like your mother, you know that? She was stubborn too. I had to twist her arm to get her to take her medicine.

HE SMILES A BIT AND CHUCKLES.

RUSSELL You're gonna be all right.

ALICIA BRINGS OVER THE DAMP CLOTH.

ALICIA You're gonna be fine.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O) Numerous reports indicate that this battle has repeated itself all over the world with the exact same results...

RUSSELL Ya see, Troy? You're feeling better already.

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. RUSSELL LOOKS TO SEE WHO IT IS, ALICIA ACTUALLY GOES TO THE DOOR. IT'S A TEENAGE BOY, PHILIP.

PHILIP Penicillin, uh, at least it'll help keep his fever down.

ALICIA TAKES THE BOTTLE FROM HIM AND THEY SMILE AT EACH OTHER. IT'S OBVIOUS THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER.

ALICIA Thank you. It's really nice of you to help us.

RUSSELL GOES TO THE DOORWAY.

PHILIP I wish I could do more but we're moving out.

ALICIA (EXCITEDLY) I'm going with you!

SHE NOTICES RUSSELL STANDING BEHIND HER AND REALISES WHAT SHE JUST SAID.

ALICIA Uh, I just mean...we're going too.

RUSSELL MOVES TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

PHILIP Cool.

RUSSELL (TO ALICIA) Tell that bum to shut the door, we're out of here. Sniff around somewhere else.

PHILIP Bye.

HE SMILES AT ALICIA AND SHE SMILES BACK,

ALICIA Bye.

SHE SHUTS THE DOOR AND RUSSELL STARTS TO DRIVE OFF.

INSIDE, DAVID AND JULIUS ARE STILL IN THEIR SEATS. DAVID IS FEELING VERY SICK.

JULIUS It's Air Force One, for crying out loud. Still he gets sick.

DAVID Boy. I don't feel so good.

JULIUS Look at me, huh? Like a rock. Could be bad weather, could be good weather. It doesn't matter.

DURING THE FOLLOWING JULIUS GESTURES WITH HIS ARMS THE DIRECTIONS HE SAYS.

JULIUS We could go up, we can go down. We could go back, we can go forward. We can go side to side and...

IT'S TOO MUCH FOR DAVID. HE RUNS OFF TO THE BATHROOM, RUNNING PAST CONNIE WHO IS WALKING TOWARDS JULIUS.

JULIUS What'd I say?

CONNIE He still gets airsick, huh?

JULIUS Yeah.

CONNIE Julius, with all of this, I, uh... I didn't get a chance to thank you two.

JULIUS All he can think of was getting to you. There's still love there, I think. Hmm?

CONNIE SMILES TO HERSELF.

CONNIE Love was never our problem.

JULIUS "All you need is love." John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back. Very sad.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE IS TALKING WITH NIMZIKI AND GENERAL GREY. ALL ARE SITTING DOWN.

GENERAL GREY We've moved as many of our forces away from our bases as possible, but we've already sustained heavy losses.

NIMZIKI I spoke with the Joint Chiefs when they arrived at NORAD. They agree we must launch a counteroffensive with a full nuclear strike.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Over American soil?

IN THE CORRIDOR NEXT TO THE ROOM, DAVID, ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS SEAT, OVERHEARS. HE IS SEEN BY CONNIE WHO STARTS WALKING TOWARDS HIM.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (V.O) You're saying at this point we should sacrifice more innocent...

BACK IN THE ROOM...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (CONTINUED) ...American civilians. Is that right?

NIMZIKI Sir, if we don't strike soon, there may not be much of an America left to defend.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 ENTERS THE ROOM.

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 Sir. They've taken out NORAD.

GENERAL GREY What?

RADIO TECHNICIAN #1 It's gone, sir.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE STANDS UP.

GENERAL GREY My God. The Vice President. Joint Chiefs.

NIMZIKI Mr President, we must launch. A delay now would be more costly than when you waited to evacuate the cities.

THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR DAVID. HE ENTERS THE ROOM AND BEGINS TO SPEAK.

DAVID No, no. You're not going to launch nuclear weapons. You're gonna kill them and us at the same time.

CONNIE MAKES HER WAY INTO THE ROOM.

DAVID If we fire nukes, then everybody else who's got 'em is gonna fire 'em...

GENERAL GREY Sir, may I remind you that you are a guest here!

DAVID You know what that means? Fallout. You ever hear of nuclear winter?

JULIUS IS NOW COMING OVER, HE IS NOT NOTICED BY ANYONE EXCEPT THE PRESIDENT.

CONNIE David, you can't be in this conversation.

DAVID It's the end of life as we know it. (TO CONNIE) Do you hear what they're talking about? (TO THE PRESIDENT) Don't even think about it!

CONNIE You have to leave.

DAVID I don't have to go. It can't be allowed.

NIMZIKI Shut up! Captain, get him out of here!

JULIUS ENTERS THE ARGUMENT. HE ANGRILY SPEAKS TO NIMZIKI.

JULIUS Hey, hey! Don't tell him to shut up! You'd all be dead now if it wasn't for my David. None of you did anything to prevent this!

GENERAL GREY There was nothing we could do. We were totally unprepared for this.

JULIUS Ah, don't give me unprepared.

CONNIE Come on, Julius.

CONNIE PREPARES TO LEAD HER FATHER-IN-LAW OUT, BUT HE HASN'T FINISHED YET.

JULIUS It was what, in the 19 what, 50s, whatever. You...you had that spaceship.

DAVID HAS OBVIOUSLY HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE.

DAVID Dad. No, Dad.

JULIUS Yeah, that thing that you found in New Mexico!

DAVID Dad.

JULIUS Where was that?

DAVID N-n-not the spaceship. was that?

JULIUS Roswell. Roswell, New Mexico. Yeah!

CONNIE Don't do this.

JULIUS No! You had the spaceship, and you had the bodies. They were all locked up in a, in a bunker. Where was that? David!

CONNIE I don't know.

JULIUS Area 51. Right? Area 51. You knew then! And you did nothing.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, THE PRESIDENT SMILES.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Sir, regardless of what you may have read in the tabloids, there have never been any spacecraft recovered by our government. Take my word for it. There's no Area 51. There's no recovered spaceship.

HE LOOKS AROUND SMILING, BUT NIMZIKI LOOKS BACK AT HIM UNCOMFORTABLY.

NIMZIKI Uh, excuse me. Mr President? That's not entirely accurate.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE, GENERAL GREY, DAVID AND CONNIE ALL TURN AROUND IN SURPRISE.

DAVID What? Which part?

JASMINE IS DRIVING THE TRUCK SHE FOUND. DYLAN AND BOOMER ARE IN THE FRONT WITH HER. IN THE BACK ARE VARIOUS SURVIVORS SHE HAS FOUND.

JASMINE Hold on, everybody. Hold on! Sorry.

PREACHER The end has come! He speaketh His word and the endeth come!

JASMINE Hop on! We're heading out to El Toro!

PREACHER You cannot defy the word of God! It is the end!

JASMINE Can you give me a hand?

MAIN IN SUIT Yeah, sure.

JASMINE Damn.

THEY START TO CLEAR SOME OF THE RUBBLE. UNNOTICED BY THE OTHERS, BOOMER HAS JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK AND STARTS BARKING AT SOMETHING. JASMINE AND THE MAN IN THE SUIT TURNS AND NOTICE. A WOMAN IS LYING ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE HELICOPTER. THEY GO OVER AND RECOGNISE HER AS - FIRST LADY MARILYN WHITMORE! SHE IS STILL ALIVE - ONLY JUST.

JASMINE God. OK, OK. Let's get th... let's get this off.

MAN IN SUIT Here. Let me help you.

THEY GET THE WRECKAGE OF MARILYN AND HELP HER UP.

MAN IN SUIT She's hurt pretty badly.

STEVE IS WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. BEHIND HIM IS HIS PARACHUTE. HE IS DRAGGING IT THROUGH THE DESERT. INSIDE THE PARACHUTE IS THE UNCONSCIOUS ALIEN. ITS TENTACLES CAN BE SEEN DRAGGING BEHIND.

STEVE You know, this was supposed to be my weekend off. But no. You got me out here dragging your heavy ass through the burning' desert with your dreadlocks sticking out the back of my parachute. You gotta come down here with a attitude, acting all big and bad. And what the hell is that smell?

STEVE ANGRILY KICKS THE ALIEN.

STEVE I could have been at a barbecue! But I ain't mad. It's all right. That is all right.

HE CARRIES ON WALKING. SUDDENLY HE HEARS A NOISE. LOOKING UP, STEVE SEES A CONVOY OF WINNEBAGOS, TRAILERS AND CARAVANS HEADING TOWARDS HIM. HE WAVES TO THEM, TRYING TO GET HIS ATTENTION.

STEVE Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

ONE TRAILER STOPS NEXT TO STEVE - THE CASSE TRAILER. RUSSELL STICKS HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW.

RUSSELL You need a lift, soldier?

STEVE When I flew overhead I saw a base not too far from here.

RUSSELL GETS OUT HIS MAP.

RUSSELL It ain't on the map.

STEVE Trust me. It's there.

WE SEE AIR FORCE ONE AND ITS ESCORT PLANES HEADING TOWARDS THE BASE. OUTSIDE AREA 51, MAJOR MITCHELL WALKS ACROSS THE RUNWAY TO GREET THE PRESIDENT. MAJOR MITCHELL IS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND AS AIR FORCE ONE LANDS HE SPEAKS TO THE SOLDIERS ON THE BASE.

MAJOR MITCHELL Ten-hut!

THE PLANE LANDS AND THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTOURAGE EXIT THE PLANE.

MAJOR MITCHELL Mr President.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE General.

MAJOR MITCHELL Welcome to Area 51. Please follow me.

MAJOR MITCHELL LEADS THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ENTOURAGE THROUGH A DOOR. AHEAD IS A GLASS DOOR WHICH WOULD OPEN TO AN INCLINED CORRIDOR BEFORE MEETING WITH ANOTHER GLASS DOOR.

MAJOR MITCHELL We're now 24 floors beneath the surface, and, uh, here's our main research facility.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Let's see it.

MAJOR MITCHELL I'm sorry, sir. It's a clean room. We have to keep it static free. If we'll all go to decontamination...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Open the door.

MAJOR MITCHELL Yes, sir.

MAJOR MITCHELL OPENS THE FIRST GLASS DOOR WITH HIS SECURITY CARD, AND EVERYONE FOLLOWS HIM DOWN THE INCLINED CORRIDOR TO THE SECOND GLASS DOOR. MAJOR MITCHELL OPENS THE SECOND GLASS DOOR TO REVEAL A LABORATORY. AS HE LEADS THE GROUP THROUGH, IT IS CLEAR THE PRESIDENT IS AMAZED BY THE PLACE. EVERYWHERE HE LOOKS THERE ARE TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS WHO TURN THEIR HEADS TO THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE My God. (TO NIMZIKI) Why the hell wasn't I told about this place?

NIMZIKI Two words, Mr President. Plausible deniability.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I don't understand. Where does all this come from? How do you get funding for something like this?

JULIUS OVERHEARS.

JULIUS You don't actually think they spent $20,000 on a hammer, $30,000 on a toilet seat, do you?

JULIUS GIVES A SLIGHT CHUCKLE. THE LOOK ON THE PRESIDENT'S FACE THOUGH SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE JULIUS IS RIGHT! A MAN WITH LONG HAIR AND WEARING A LAB COAT COMES OVER TO THE GROUP.

MAJOR MITCHELL Mr President, this is Dr Okun. He's been heading up the research department on this project for the last 15 years.

DR OKUN SHAKES HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE How do you do?

DR OKUN Mr. President. Wow. Ah, this...what a pleasure. As you can imagine, they...they don't let us out much.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I can understand that.

DR OKUN Well, guess you'd like to see the big tamale, huh? Follow me.

DR OKUN LEADS THE GROUP TO THE ROOM HOUSING THE ALIEN SHIP. IT IS AN ATTACKER, IDENTICAL TO THE ONES THAT ATTACKED STEVE, JIMMY AND THE OTHER BLACK KNIGHTS EARLIER.

DR OKUN She's a beaut, ain't she? As you can see from the repairs, we've been trying to put her back together since the late 1960s.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Don't tell me you've had this for 40 years and you don't know anything about 'em?

DR OKUN Oh, hell, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. We know tons about 'em. But, but the neatest stuff? The neatest stuff has only happened in the last few days. See, we can't duplicate their type of power so we've never been able to experiment. But since these guys started showing up, all the little gizmos inside turned on. The last 24 hours have been really exciting.

THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK SO!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (ANGRILY) Exciting? People are dying out there! I don't think "exciting" is a word I'd choose to describe it.

DAVID IS LOOKING AT PART OF THE SHIP.

DAVID You guys are hoping to fly this thing, huh?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE You said you can repair their technology. Can you tell us anything useful about them?

DR OKUN Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, uh, I mean, they're not all that dissimilar from us. Breathes oxygen, comparable tolerances to heat, cold. Probably why they're interested in our planet. (EXCITEDLY) Hey. Hey. You guys wanna see 'em? Huh?

DR OKUN Uh, this is, this is the vault. Or as some of us have come to call it, the "Freak Show".

HE CHUCKLES AT HIS JOKE AS HE PUSHES A BUTTON - AND THE BODIES OF 3 ALIENS ARE REVEALED! THE GROUP GASP IN AMAZEMENT/HORROR/BOTH.

DR OKUN When we found 'em, they were wearing, uh, some sort of biomechanical suits. But once we got 'em off, we learned a great deal about their anatomy. Eyes, ears, no vocal cords. We're assuming they communicate with each other through some other means.

DAVID You're obviously thinking about, uh, hand signals and body language.

DR OKUN Uh-uh, it's some kind of extrasensory perception, telepathy.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE So, it's an organic life form. Can they be killed?

DR OKUN Oh, their bodies are just as frail as ours. (POINTS TO THE FIRST 2 ALIENS) These two died in the crash. (POINTS TO THE THIRD ALIEN) Uh, this one a few weeks later. You just... you have to get through their technology, which is, I'm sorry to say, far more advanced.

THE PRESIDENT TURNS TO DAVID.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE David, you unlocked part of that technology. You cracked the code.

DAVID Oh, no, no, no. All I did was stumble onto their, um, signal. I don't know how, uh, helpful I can be.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Why don't you show 'em what you've discovered so far. Figure out what they haven't thought of yet. And we'll see if you're as smart as we all hope you are.

HE STARTS TO WALK OFF. DR OKUN TURNS TO DAVID.

DR OKUN What code?

AT THE ENTRANCE TO AREA 51, TWO GUARDS ARE ON PATROL WHEN THE CASSE TRAILER AND ALL THE OTHER TRAILERS IN THE CONVOY DRIVE UP TO THE ENTRANCE. STEVE JUMPS DOWN TO SPEAK TO THE GUARDS.

STEVE Captain Steven Hiller, United States Marine Corps.

GUARD I'm sorry, Captain. This is a restricted area. I can't let you pass without clearance.

STEVE OK. Come here. You wanna see my clearance?

HE SHOWS THE GUARDS THE ALIEN. BOTH OF THEM ARE REPULSED BY THE SIGHT OF IT.

STEVE Maybe I'll just leave this here with you.

GUARD Let him pass! Let him pass! Get the hell out of the way.

THE TRAILERS START DRIVING INTO AREA 51. THE GUARD TURNS TO HIS FRIEND.

GUARD Did you see that?

INSIDE THE ALIEN ATTACKER, DR OKUN GOES DOWN THE STEPS INTO THE SHIP.

DR OKUN Come on down.

DAVID FOLLOWS HIM IN.

DAVID Electrostatic?

DR OKUN Yeah. Well, obviously this, er, this cockpit was designed to seat 3, though how they sat on things I don't know. You see these gizmos flashing?

DR ISAACS AND A TECHNICIAN ENTER THE SHIP.

DAVID Yeah.

DR OKUN We've been working around the clock trying to get a fix on all this crap. Some stuff we figured out right away. Uh, this, we're pretty sure, is the life support system for the cabin...

HE COUGHS BEFORE CONTINUING.

DR OKUN (CONTINUED) And this do-hickey over here is connected...oh, er, was connected with the engines. (TO DR ISAACS) Here, take that away. (TO DAVID) These configurations, er, well, to be honest with you we don't know what the hell this crap is. But this is clearly what they use to er, guide and navigate their craft.

HE CHUCKLES AGAIN.

DR OKUN Neat, huh?

DAVID HAS NOTICED SOMETHING. AT THE FRONT OF THE SHIP IS A SCREEN WHICH HAS THE SAME PATTERN THAT HIS LAPTOP HAD WHEN HE SHOWED THE PRESIDENT THE COUNTDOWN SIGNAL BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE. DAVID TURNS TO DR ISAACS AND THE TECHNICIAN.

DAVID Uh, if someone could grab my laptop there? Dr Isaacs, can I, can just have a computer inside there.

DR ISAACS PASSES DAVID HIS LAPTOP.

DR OKUN What?

DAVID To see if these patterns are repeating sequentially, just like their countdown signal. They're using that frequency for computer communications.

DR OKUN Huh?

DAVID SHOWS DR OKUN HIS LAPTOP.

DAVID See? It's how they co-ordinate their ships.

DR OKUN You know, you're really starting to make us look bad.

OUTSIDE THE ALIEN SHIP, A SCIENTIST RUNS UP TOWARDS THE GLASS DOOR.

SCIENTIST They got one! They got one, alive!

INSIDE THE SHIP, DR ISAACS TURNS TO DR OKUN.

DR ISAACS They got one. Alive.

DR OKUN Jesus! (TO DAVID) Look, will you be OK by yourself Dave?

DR ISAACS LEAVES THE SHIP TO SEE THE ALIEN.

DAVID Fine buddy.

DR OKUN Yeah, uh, don't touch anything!

HE LEAVES. DAVID MUTTERS TO HIMSELF.

DAVID Not as long as you tell me not to touch anything.

DAVID PUTS HIS HANDS ON THE "DASHBOARD" OF THE SHIP. HE TAKES THEM OFF, THEY'RE GOOEY!, JUST LIKE THE "DASHBOARD"! DAVID WIPES HIS HANDS.

STEVE ARRIVES WITH THE ALIEN IN THE BACK OF A PICK UP. BEHIND HIM ARE THE CASSES AND ALL THE OTHER TRAILERS. SOLDIERS, TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS RUN TOWARDS HIM.

STEVE Right here, we got her in the back of the pick up.

DR OKUN RUNS OUT. GENERAL GREY COMES OVER TO STEVE.

STEVE General, sir, Captain Steven Hiller, United States Marine Corps. Guess who's coming to dinner.

RUSSELL OPENS THE DOOR OF THE CASSE TRAILER.

RUSSELL I need a doctor! I need a doctor!

THE SOLDIERS, TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS RUN BACK INTO AREA 51 WITH THE ALIEN. RUSSELL AND MIGUEL GIVE CHASE.

DR OKUN Oh, boy. Oh, boy! Let's go! How long has he been unconscious?

STEVE About three hours.

DR OKUN Let's get him into containment. Stat!

RUSSELL My son, he's very sick! He needs immediate attention!

RUSSELL IS IGNORED AS EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON THE ALIEN.

DR OKUN He's drying out, I want him sprayed down...

RUSSELL (RE: TROY) He has a problem with his adrenal cortex! Please!

AGAIN, NOBODY LISTENS. RUSSELL GRABS DR ISAACS, WHO HAPPENS TO BE RUNNING PAST HIM, BY THE SCRUFF OF HIS NECK.

RUSSELL If we don't get some help around her, my son will die!

DR OKUN OK, just help him!

DR ISAACS (TO HIS AIDES) OK, O'Haver, Miller, you come with us. (CALMLY, TO RUSSELL) You, take us to him, OK? Let's go.

DR ISAACS AND HIS AIDES FOLLOW RUSSELL AND MIGUEL TO THEIR TRAILER. DR OKUN UNLOCKS A DOOR AND SPEAKS TO THE OTHERS IN HIS GROUP.

DR OKUN OK, move it, move it, move it!

GENERAL GREY As the former head of the CIA, you knew about this place. When were you planning on informing the rest of us?

NIMZIKI It had been deemed classified.

GENERAL GREY You should have told us about this when they first arrived. You should have warned us before we launched a counterattack that cost the lives of hundreds of American pilots!

NIMZIKI There was no way that we could have known that our fighters would have been that ineffective against their attackers.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE AND MAJOR MITCHELL ENTER THE ROOM SO GENERAL GREY AND NIMZIKI STOP THEIR ARGUMENT.

NIMZIKI Mr President.

MAJOR MITCHELL The little bit of information we have comes directly into this room, Mr President.

THE PRESIDENT LOOKS AT A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE WALL. THE DESTROYED CITIES ARE MARKED - WITH A FEW ADDITIONS.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. Destroyed.

GENERAL GREY We've learned that NATO and Western Allied Installations were the first to be taken out. Then we were hit. They knew exactly where and how to hit us.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE And our forces?

GENERAL GREY We're down to 15%. If you calculate the time it takes to destroy a city and move on, we're looking at the worldwide destruction of every major city in the next 36 hours.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE We're being exterminated.

MAJOR MITCHELL ENTERS WITH STEVE.

MAJOR MITCHELL Mr President. This is Captain Steven Hiller.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Captain.

STEVE Mr President.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Well done. (TO MAJOR MITCHELL) Where is it now?

MAJOR MITCHELL We have it isolated down in the containment lab, sir.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I'd like to go see it.

MAJOR MITCHELL LEADS THE PRESIDENT TO THE ALIEN. STEVE TURNS TO GENERAL GREY.

STEVE General, I'm really anxious to get back to El Toro.

GENERAL GREY Hasn't anyone told you? El Toro has been completely destroyed.

JASMINE DRIVES THE TRUCK TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE BASE. SHE SEES THE BASE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

JASMINE No!

THE SURVIVORS THAT JASMINE FOUND ARE SITTING BY A CAMP FIRE. THE MAN WEARING THE SUIT IS TALKING TO ANOTHER MAN.

MAN IN SUIT We were lucky.

MAN Yeah.

MAN IN SUIT Today was the first time I used the subway. Thank God for the metro rail.

JASMINE AND DYLAN COME BACK WITH TINS OF FOOD TAKEN FROM THE REMAINS OF THE BASE CAFETERIA.

JASMINE These should last us a while.

FIRST LADY MARILYN WHITMORE STARTS TO MOVE TOWARDS THE FOOD.

JASMINE Don't move. I'll get it for you. Stay still.

MARILYN WHITMORE He's your son?

JASMINE He's my angel.

MARILYN WHITMORE Was his father stationed here?

JASMINE Naw, he, uh... he wasn't his father. But I was kinda hoping he wanted the job, though.

MARILYN WHITMORE So what do you do for a living?

JASMINE I'm a dancer.

MARILYN WHITMORE Oh. Ballet?

JASMINE No. Exotic.

MARILYN WHITMORE (EMBARRASSED) Oh. Sorry.

JASMINE Don't be. I'm not. It's good money. Besides, my baby's worth it.

SHE CALLS TO DYLAN.

JASMINE Dylan, come here. I want you to meet the First Lady.

DYLAN COMES OVER TOWARDS THEM.

MARILYN WHITMORE Hello.

DYLAN Hi.

MARILYN WHITMORE I didn't know that you'd recognised me.

JASMINE Well, I didn't want to say nothing. I voted for the other guy.

DR OKUN AND HIS AIDES HAVE THE ALIEN ON AN OPERATING TABLE.

AIDE #1 All right. Life support monitors recording, so if we screw up, it's all on tape.

THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING THE AIDES PASS DR OKUN SOME EQUIPMENT AND HE USES IT ON THE ALIEN.

DR OKUN OK. Come on, come on, come on. Let's get this biomechanical suit off. Put the spreader right here, right along the ridge. Microprobe thingamajig goes right here. Pick there.

AIDE #1 Good.

DR OKUN All right. Now, spread it very, very gently. Let me get in. Uh-huh. Gentle, gentle. That's it. Run this right in easy.

THE BODY OF THE ALIEN POPS OPEN TO REVEAL A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CREATURE UNDERNEATH. THE ALIEN OBVIOUSLY USES THE BODY OF ANOTHER CREATURE FOR PROTECTION.

DR OKUN All right. OK. Let's proceed. Now comes the, uh, the really icky part. Oh, boy. This is one smelly, disgusting-- all right.

UNSEEN BY ANYONE, THE ALIEN'S FINGERS BEGIN TO MOVE.

DR OKUN Oh, look at it. It doesn't look alive, does it?

THE ALIEN MOVES ITS ARM, AND NOW DR OKUN NOTICES.

DR OKUN The arm is moving.

DR OKUN BEGINS ACTING VERY STRANGELY.

AIDE #1 Doctor?

AIDE #2 Doctor?

DR OKUN My head!

AIDE #1 Doctor!

AIDE #2 Doctor!

AIDE #1 Cut it, Phil!

AIDE #2 Don't move!

AIDE #1 Don't move!

AIDE #2 Help me hold him!

THE ALIEN BREAKS FREE AND THE DOCTORS BEGIN SCREAMING. OUTSIDE, THE VAULT DOORS OPEN AND THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL GREY, MAJOR MITCHELL AND NIMZIKI ENTER THE ROOM OUTSIDE THE OPERATING ROOM. THEY LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOWS BUT THEY ARE ALL STEAMED UP. MAJOR MITCHELL SPEAKS THROUGH THE INTERCOM.

MAJOR MITCHELL Dr Okun?

SUDDENLY THE BODY OF DR OKUN IS THROWN AGAINST THE WINDOW. HE LOOKS ALMOST DEAD, BUT MUTTERS SOMETHING. THE ALIEN IS SPEAKING THROUGH DR OKUN.

ALIEN (DR OKUN) Release me.

MAJOR MITCHELL Open the door. Get him out of there.

GENERAL GREY HAS REALISED WHAT IS GOING ON.

GENERAL GREY No. Wait.

ALIEN (DR OKUN) Release me... now. Now!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I know there is much we can learn from each other, if we can negotiate a truce. We can find a way to coexist. Can there be a peace between us?

ALIEN (DR OKUN) Peace? No peace.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE What is it you want us to do?

ALIEN (DR OKUN) Die. Die!

SUDDENLY THE PRESIDENT PUTS HIS HAND TO HIS HEAD AND FALLS TO THE FLOOR SCREAMING.

GENERAL GREY Mr President? (TO MAJOR MITCHELL) Is that glass bulletproof?

MAJOR MITCHELL No, sir!

MAJOR MITCHELL SHOOTS THROUGH THE GLASS AT THE ALIEN. IT FALLS BACK. MAJOR MITCHELL RUNS TO DR OKUN. HE'S DEAD. A BIT OF THE ALIEN TENTACLE AROUND HIS NECK IS STILL THERE - THIS WAS HOW THE ALIEN SPOKE THROUGH DR OKUN. THE ALIEN STARTS TO MOVE. MAJOR MITCHELL SHOOTS IT AGAIN AND IT FALLS BACK, DEAD. GENERAL GREY RUNS TO THE PRESIDENT.

GENERAL GREY Are you all right?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I saw his thoughts. I saw what they're planning to do. They're like locusts. They're moving from planet to planet. Their whole civilisation. After they've consumed every natural resource, they move on. And we're next. Nuke 'em. Let's nuke the bastards.

HE WALKS OFF. WE SEE NIMZIKI WITH AN "I TOLD YOU SO" SMIRK.

DAVID IS OPENING THE FRIDGE. HE IS GETTING DRUNK. CONNIE STEPS INTO THE ROOM.

DAVID Just my luck. No ice.

CONNIE I take it you've heard?

DAVID Hey, toast. To the end of the world.

CONNIE Well, he...he didn't come to this decision lightly. He didn't have any other choice.

DAVID Yeah. Well, you still believe in him.

CONNIE Yeah. Well, he's a good man.

DAVID Oh, he'd better be. You left me for him. Or, you know, for your career.

CONNIE See, now, it wasn't just my career. It was the biggest opportunity of my life. I wanted my life to make a difference. I wanted my life to mean something.

DAVID Yeah, and, um, I wasn't, um, ambitious enough for you?

CONNIE David, David, you could have done anything that you wanted. research, development. You could just...

DAVID Oh, honey, I was happy where I was.

CONNIE Haven't you ever wanted to be a part of something special?

DAVID I was part of something special.

CONNIE Well, if it makes any difference, I never stopped loving you.

DAVID But that wasn't enough, was it?

CONNIE SLOWLY WALKS OUT. SHE HAS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

STEVE SITS OUTSIDE, UPSET OVER JASMINE WHOM HE IS CERTAIN IS DEAD. BEHIND HIM, MAJOR MITCHELL IS SHOUTING ORDERS TO THE MEN.

MAJOR MITCHELL Let's pick it up, men. We got a tight schedule, now. Let's go!

SOLDIER ON BASE Let's pick it up, men. We're working on a tight schedule. Let's go! Pick it up, men! Pick it up!

STEVE NOTICES A HELICOPTER, UNGUARDED. HE GETS INSIDE AND IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF WHEN THE SOLDIER NOTICES HIM. HE COMES TOWARDS STEVE HOLDING A GUN.

SOLDIER ON BASE What the hell are you doing? Get outta there!

STEVE Look, I got something I got to handle. I'm just borrowing it.

SOLDIER ON BASE No, you're not, sir.

STEVE Do you really want to shoot me?

OBVIOUSLY NOT. THE SOLDIER PUTS DOWN HIS GUN.

STEVE Just tell 'em I hit you.

THE B2 STEALTH BOMBER PLANE FLIES ABOVE HOUSTON.

PILOT (INTO RADIO) Command, this is Retal Op. Squadron is in the air. We are on station...

INSIDE THE AREA 51 RADIO ROOM, THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL GREY, NIMZIKI, MAJOR MITCHELL AND VARIOUS RADIO TECHNICIANS AND OPERATORS LISTEN TO THE PILOT.

PILOT (V.O, CONTINUED) ...and awaiting instructions.

MAJOR MITCHELL (INTO RADIO) Roger. Break formation, head to targets.

THE B2 STEALTH BOMBER PLANES HEAD TO THEIR TARGET.

MAJOR MITCHELL Sir, they're breaking formation.

GENERAL GREY Mr President, we're initiating sequence code.

MAJOR MITCHELL (INTO RADIO) Verification: Alpha, Zulu, 6, 8, niner.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Which city will be reached first?

RADIO TECHNICIAN Uh, Houston, Texas. ETA 6 minutes and counting down.

THE PRESIDENT IS STILL WONDERING IF HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Houston.

GENERAL GREY TRIES TO REASSURE HIM THAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ARE SAFE.

GENERAL GREY The major cities have been deserted. Civilian casualties should be down to a minimum.

A TANK DRIVES DOWN THE STREETS OF THE ABANDONED CITY. INSIDE ARE TWO DRIVERS.

TANK DRIVER #1 (INTO RADIO) Command, this is neighbourhood watch. We are in position. Tracking monitors are locked on. We are going to visual recon.

TANK DRIVER #2 (INTO RADIO) Roger that, t-c-double.

MAJOR MITCHELL They have confirmation.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) Launch code confirmed. Alpha, zulu, six, eight, niner. Standing by.

PILOT(INTO RADIO) Laser targeting... locked on.

RADIO TECHNICIAN We're locked on, sir. Do you wish to deploy?

GENERAL GREY Mr President, if you wish to deploy, the time is now.

THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING - IT IS CLEAR HE DOES NOT WISH TO DO THIS.

NIMZIKI (WHISPERING) Mr President?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Deploy.

MAJOR MITCHELL (INTO RADIO) That's a go. Alpha, zulu, six, eight, niner, that is a go. That is correct. Deploy.

PILOT (INTO RADIO) Here we go.

HE FIRES THE MISSILES.

THE RADAR SCREEN SHOWS THE MISSILE IS ON ITS WAY.

MAJOR MITCHELL Bird's away.

PILOT (INTO RADIO) We have visual confirmation of the missile. It's on target. Approaching.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE May our children forgive us.

PILOT (V.O) 5 seconds to impact. Three, two...

PILOT (INTO RADIO, CONTINUED)...one.

THE MISSILE APPEARS TO HAVE HIT ITS TARGET!

THE SCREEN IN AREA 51 SHOWS THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. THERE IS NO SIGN OF THE ALIEN SHIP.

NIMZIKI Oh, yeah! It's a hit!

THE EXPLOSION CAUSES THE PLANE TO SHUDDER AND EVERYTHING INSIDE IS SHAKING.

PILOT Get down! Get down!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Can we confirm that the target was destroyed?

MAJOR MITCHELL Get the tank commander on-line. I want confirmation that the target was destroyed.

RADIO TECHNICIAN Yes, sir. (INTO RADIO) Red arrow, alpha, niner, 7-2-3. Can you read?

TANK DRIVER #1 (V.O) Lost visual. It's gone.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) Repeat, commander. You're breaking up.

TANK DRIVER #1 (V.O) We have lost visual.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) Roger that.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (V.O) We're looking for confirmation.

NIMZIKI We got the bastards!

MAJOR MITCHELL Yeah! Good job, everyone! Congratulations.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) Commander, do you have visual? I repeat. We need visual confirmation. Has the target been destroyed?

THE TANK DRIVER LOOKS THROUGH HIS EQUIPMENT TO SEE IF IT HAS BEEN DESTROYED. THE ALIEN SHIP IS STILL THERE!

TANK DRIVER #1 (DOWNHEARTED) Negative.

THE SCREEN IN AREA 51 ALSO SHOWS THE ALIEN SHIP IS STILL THERE.

TANK DRIVER #1 (V.O, CONTINUED) Target remains. I repeat. Target remains.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Call the other planes back.

NIMZIKI Why, other bombers might have more luck, sir. We shouldn't just give up on this!

PRESIDENT WHITMORE I said, call them back.

GENERAL GREY Abort.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) All right, abort mission. Issue the abort codes right away.

MAJOR MITCHELL SLAMS DOWN HIS HEADPHONES IN DISGUST.

RADIO TECHNICIAN (INTO RADIO) This is an abort. Full abort. Do you read? Abort mission right away. Repeat...

JASMINE IS TENDING TO THE FIRST LADY. SUDDENLY SOME BRIGHT LIGHTS APPEAR IN THE SKY. THE SURVIVORS HUDDLE TOGETHER, READY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN CASE WHATEVER IS UP THERE IS AN ALIEN. SUDDENLY HELICOPTER BLADES CAN BE HEARD, AND THEY REALISE ITS AN EARTHLING. A HELICOPTER LANDS, AND STEVE STEPS OUT. HE CALLS OUT TO JASMINE.

STEVE Jasmine?

JASMINE (TO HERSELF) Yes!

SHE RUNS OVER TO STEVE. MARILYN WHITMORE SMILES.

JASMINE You're late.

STEVE Well, you know I like to make an entrance.

THE HAPPY COUPLE KISS.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE, CARRYING PATRICIA, WALKS THROUGH THE CORRIDORS WITH HIS SECRET SERVICE ENTOURAGE AND DR ISAACS.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Tell me, where are we going?

SECRET SERVICE MAN Right through there, sir.

DR ISAACS Mr President, your wife is resting comfortably.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Great.

DR ISAACS Perhaps if we had gotten to her earlier we could...

THE PRESIDENT SPOTS HIS WIFE LYING IN A BED. CONNIE IS NEXT TO HER. HE TALKS TO PATRICIA.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Hey, there she is. Go on.

PATRICIA RUNS TO HER MOTHER. MARILYN GROANS WITH PAIN.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE She doesn't look too good.

DR ISAACS Your wife is bleeding internally, Mr President. Perhaps if we'd gotten to her earlier...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Hey. W...wait a minute. What are you saying?

DR ISAACS We can't stop the bleeding. If we cou... there's nothing we can do for her.

PATRICIA AND HER MOTHER HUG EACH OTHER.

PATRICIA We were worried, and we didn't know where you were.

MARILYN WHITMORE Well, I didn't know where I was either. You got bigger, I think.

PATRICIA I did?

MARILYN WHITMORE Mm-hmm. You just keep growing and growing. I can't...

THE PRESIDENT COMES OVER AND SPEAKS TO PATRICIA.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Hey, can you, er, wait outside for a little bit? So mommy can get her rest?

CONNIE Hey, come on, munchkin.

SHE LEADS PATRICIA OUTSIDE AFTER THE GIRL HUGS HER MOTHER.

MARILYN WHITMORE I'm so sorry that I didn't come home when you asked me to.

SHE GROANS AGAIN.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE No. It's OK. The doctors think that you're gonna be just fine.

MARILYN WHITMORE (SMILES) Liar.

THE COUPLE HUG AND KISS AND CRY TOGETHER.

THE PRESIDENT COMES OUT OF THE ROOM CRESTFALLEN. HIS WIFE HAS JUST PASSED AWAY. HE WALKS TOWARDS PATRICIA, WHO IS SITTING BY HERSELF ON A CHAIR. HE SITS NEXT TO HER AND SHE PUTS HER HAND ON HIS KNEE.

PATRICIA Is mommy sleeping now?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE Yeah. Mommy's sleeping.

THEY HUG EACH OTHER AS THEY BOTH BEGIN CRYING.