by

Akiva Goldsman

CHAPTER 1: Earth 2058

---------------------

FADE IN ON:

EXT.-SPACE

PULL BACK slowly as MARS fills THE FRAME, a sphere of red desert and fast rushing crimson clouds.

A triangular CARGO SHIP descends from the dark of space.

PILOT (OVER)

Mars mining base, this is Grissom One,

Request final descent vector.

REVERSE ANGLE

EXT.-MARS

A row of giant red mountains and beneath, on the planet's surface, the spires of A MINING BASE. Illuminated landing crosshairs alight a landing pad, beckoning the ship.

CONTROLLER (OVER)

Roger, Grissom One, this is Mars

Mining, You are cleared to land. Hope

you got some Partagas in that rust

bucket, Sal.

EXT.-EDGE OF SPACE

THE CARGO SHIP changes attitude, landing thrusters FIRING as the vessel begins to penetrate the atmosphere.

PILOT

I brought you the most amazing...

Amazing, what, we'll never know. The CARGO SHIP begins to EXPLODE, the bubble bridge BLOWING out into space in a ball of fire.

EXT.- MARS

LOW ANGLE from the planet's surface-. Two shapes BLAST through FRAME, BUBBLE FIGHTERS, single pilot, transparent globes, racing up towards the sudden star of the cargo ship at impossible speed.

INT.-BUBBLE FIGHTER

POV of the burning Cargo Ship, coming towards us incredibly fast. Speed, trajectory and tactical readouts flash.

EXT.-CARGO SHIP

The pulse lasers are still hammering the ravaged hull.

WIDER

Two sinister ATTACK SHIPS, their lasers locked onto the Cargo Ship, FIRE away as they BLAST overhead. The nuclear core of the Cargo Ship overloads, the craft finally EXPLODING in a storm of fire.

A BUBBLE FIGHTER ROARS through the hurling world of flame. PUSH IN.

INT.-BUBBLE FIGHTER

A lone FIGURE stands in a gyroscopic harness, working a heads-up holographic display, command controls spinning 360 degrees with the pilot's Comas the fighter SCREAMS after the fleeing raider.

The harness spins, the pilot coming clearly into view. Handsome, intense, reckless eyes. MAJOR DON WEST.

WEST

Sino-Jordanian Raiders. They're

claiming the cargo ship violated

their air-space.

INT.-SECOND BUBBLE FIGHTER

Another pilot (JEB WALKER) commands an identical craft, ROCKETING towards the assault craft just below West's.

JEB

This cold war's heating up. Where did

they come from?

INT.-WEST'S BUBBLE FIGHTER

WEST

Hell. And we're going to send them

back screaming.

West activates his targeting computer.

WEST

Last one to kill a bad guy buys the

beer.

TARGETING DISPLAY-CLOSE. The fleeing Attack Ship jogs in and out of the crosshairs on West's holographic array. West fires.

EXT.-SPACE

The Attack Ship SHOOTS straight up, dodging West's laser BLASTS.

INT.-WEST'S BUBBLE FIGHTER

West closes on the fleeing craft, as Jeb engages the other Attack Ship, lasers FIRING in the b.g., visible through the transparent surface of the bubble glass under West's feet.

WEST

What's that sound? must be the fat lady

warming up.

EXT.-SPACE

The fleeing Attack Ship loops in mid-space, reversing direction, heading straight towards West's Bubble Fighter. A game of chicken.

INT.-WEST'S BUBBLE FIGHTER

West doesn't flinch. Bears down, FIRING madly, the two space ships heading straight for each other.

WEST

That's right. Come on, come on, you wanna

play, I wanna play.

EXT.-SPACE

The two ships are ROCKETING towards each other, locked in collision vectors, lasers FIRING wildly.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

WEST

I can hear her. Oh, yes, oh yes. She's

gonna sing.

TARGETING:DISPLAY-CLOSE. The Attack Ship flashes, captured in the targeting hatchmarks. The display expands into a tactical grid.

COMPUTER

Target lock.

EXT.-SPACE

Imminent collision.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

The hull of the Attack Ship fills his bubble glass.

WEST

The lights are dimming. The curtain's

coming down. Sing you fat, old bag,

sing!

West hits the firing stud.

EXT.-DEEP SPACE

West's pulse lasers converge on the Attack Ship barely meters ahead, the ROARING craft EXPLODING directly before him.

INT.-WEST'S BUBBLE FIGHTER

(OVER) WEST SCREAMS as he shoots through the sudden conflagration of flame and debris, everywhere and then gone, giving way to the blackness of space and the starfield beyond.

WEST

Show's over.

Below, the second Attack Ship ROARS past, lasers FIRING, locked in a pinwheel battle with Jeb's Bubble Fighter.

EXT.-SPACE

JEB'S BUBBLE FIGHTER banks, avoiding the high energy volley. Almost. A laser BURST grazes his Bubble Fighter, the surface of his craft sparking, suddenly scored with flames.

INT.-JEB'S CRAFT

The Attack ship is right behind him.

JEB

Weapons are off line. Jettisoning main

drive core.

EXT.-SPACE

The thruster core of Jeb's Bubble Fighter BLOWS off in a bolus of flame, soaring back into the pursuit craft. The Raider EXPLODES.

INT.-JEB'S CRAFT

Controls are sparking. Displays flicker. (OVER) An ALARM sounds.

COMPUTER

Warning. Failure in redundant drive systems.

JEB-POV. The surface of Mars is rushing up fast.

COMPUTER

Impact on in 90 seconds.

JEB

Mars Control. . .

EXT.-SPACE

Jeb's ship is barreling toward the planet.

JEB (OVER)

. . .this is Ranger One.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

JEB (ON RADIO)

...Engines will not respond. Require

assistance. Repeat...

BASE (ON RADIO)

Ranger One this is Grissom Base.

Rescue craft have been dispatched.

EXT.- MARS MINING COLONY

Three small rescue craft race skyward.

INT.-JEB'S CRAFT

COMPUTER

Impact in 60 seconds.

Mars fills the view screen.

INT.-WEST'S CRAFT

The rescue craft are speeding toward Jeb's fighter below.

WEST

Grissom, this is Eagle One. Those Pugs

Will never reach him in time.

BASE (ON RADIO)

Eagle one clear this frequency and

return to base.

DON takes a beat. Then he spins his chair towards Mars, begins working the controls.

WEST

This is Eagle One. I'm going after

him.

BASE (OVER)

Negative Eagle one, your craft is not

equipped

West hits his thrusters.

EXT.-SPACE

West's craft dives toward Jeb's ship and Mars below.

INT.-JEB'S FIGHTER

Mars is coming up fast.

COMPUTER

Impact in 30 seconds.

WEST (OVER)

Jeb, do you have navigational

thrusters?

JEB

Don?

WEST (OVER)

It's a yes or no question.

Mars fills the windscreen. Jeb checks his status display.

JEB

Marginal. But in the green.

COMPUTER

Impact in 15 seconds.

WEST (OVER)

Head towards the canals.

JEB

What are you doing?

WEST (OVER)

Saving your ass. Read towards the

canals. Now!

The canal streaked face of the Mars is all Jeb can see. He grabs his throttle, engages his navigational thrusters and pulls.

EXT.-JEB'S SHIP

A tiny directional thruster FIRES, angling Jeb's craft so that it scrapes the surface of Mars and dives into a giant canal, rocky walls rushing up fast.

INT.-WEST'S SHIP

West is accelerating toward Jeb.

BASE (OVER)

Major West, your ship is not equipped

for rescue. You are not authorized to

jeopardize this asset. That is

a direct order. Acknowledge!

West slams a switch, deactivating his radio.

WEST

Never liked that station, anyway.

He BLASTS into the canal, walls rushing up on either side of him.

EXT.-MARTIAN CANAL

Jeb's tiny craft is plunging toward the rocky crater floor below.

Overhead West's fighter appears, under full thrusters, roaring towards the crater floor faster and at a sharper angle.

INT.-3EB'S FIGHTER

The canal floor is rushing up fast.

COMPUTER

Impact in five seconds.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

Don is blasting toward the canal floor, almost as if trying to beat Jeb's ship to a fiery impact below.

COMPUTER

Warning. Proximity alert.

WEST

Jeb, I'm going to give you a little

kiss. Don't take it the wrong way.

EXT.-MARTIAN CANAL

West angles his ship directly under Jeb.

INT.-JEB'S FIGHTER

The expanding surface of Mars, visible beneath his feet, is suddenly obscured by Don's fighter, swooping under his ship.

JEB

Don, abort. Abort.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

Jeb's fighter is visible overhead.

West going up. Don angles the throttle.

EXT.-MARTIAN CANAL

Don's ship, sandwiched between the surface of Mars and Jeb's fighter, angles up and, like a cue ball hitting it's target, Knocks Jeb's ship spinning toward the safety of space beyond. West's ship actually scrapes the surface of the planet, sending up a plume of Martian dust.

INT.-WEST'S FIGHTER

JEB (OVER)

Does this mean we're going steady?

West pulls his throttle all the way back.

EXT.-MARTIAN CANAL

West shoots up and out towards the dark of space.

WEST (OVER)

You weren't getting out of buying

those beers that easy.

The rescue craft converge on Jeb's ship as Don heads for base.

CUT TO:

CHAPTER 2: Mission Objectives

-----------------------------

IMAGES-CLOSE. A Sallow field. (OVER) a heroic, stringy anthem.

VO

Imagine an end to world hunger. What

if ample food and clean drinking water

were the birthright of all our

planet's children?

INSERT IMAGE-A dashing hero, wind in his hair. JOHN ROBINSON.

VO

This man, professor John Robinson,

inventor of the faster than light

hyperdrive can make that timeless

dream a reality.

INSERT IMAGES -Airbrushed faces of a perfect family. THE ROBINSONS.

VO

John Robinson and his family have been

extensively trained to take a ten year

journey across the galaxy in the

world's most advanced spacecraft,

The Jupiter.

INSERT IMAGE-A towering launch dome glints in the morning sun.

VO

From a distant world, the Robinsons,

Will bring back a miracle...

INSERT IMAGE-A satellite photo of a planet. Closer on continental patches, enhanced to show deposits of a diamond like powder.

VO

Dimondium can turn even worthless sand

to fertile soil. Earth WILL be a

garden. What kind of - future can our

children look forward to?

INSERT IMAGES - Sun dappled, swaying wheat. (OVER) Music crescendos.

V0

A future without hunger. A future

without suffering. Heaven on Earth.

INSERT CORPORATE LOGO.-A Coke bottle hurling towards the stars.

V0

This mission sponsored by the US Army

and the Coca-Cola corporation.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

WILL ROBINSON (10) hides in a small space, watching the commercial on a jury-rigged, palm-sized computer. He mimics the Naylrator.

WILL

Coke. Saving the world for our

children.

(a beat)

Give me a hi-test break.

WILL-POV. Spying through the open slats of his biding place into...

INT:-LIVING ROOM-AFTERNOON

Basic twenty first century modern. MAUREEN ROBINSON stands, talking with a PRINCIPAL who in less than happy.

PRINCIPAL

He hacked our main power grid to run

his experiment. The school was in

chaos. We didn't even have lights.

The room lights suddenly dim. The Principal flickers, revealed as a holograph, her head now sitting on Schwartzenegger body.

Maureen LAUGHS, then realizes the Principal has no idea her image is being distorted. Maureen begins moving about the room, surreptitiously glancing behind couches, into cabinets.

PRINCIPAL (OVER)

This is no laughing matter, Mrs.

Robinson. Will is terribly gifted. His

little time machines, though pure

fancy, are the products of a truly

brilliant mind.

The Principal's body has become Twiggy's. Now that of an ape. Maureen pulls open a closet. Will sits inside. Grins.

WILL

The changing shape of education.

MAUREEN

No more monkey business.

Will shrugs, adjusts his deck. The Principal returns to normal.

PRINCIPAL

The boy is starved for attention. Was

there no way his father could have

attended the science fair?

EXT.-HOUSTON - DAY

Probably Austin and Dallas too. Texas has become a giant urban sprawl spreading into Mexico and beyond. Immense industrial air purifiers hang in a dark, wet sky.

EXT.-HOUSTON SPACE COMMAND-ESTABLISHING

A giant dome topped pedestal towers ever the skyline.

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-MISSION CONTROL-DAY

A MAN stands before a large viewscreen facing the throng of PRESS.

He's a little uncomfortable with all the media attention. This is PROFESSOR JOHN ROBINSON.

JOHN

Once we have landed on Alpha Prime our

on board robot will begin construction

of a hypergate.

ON SCREEN a hi-tech orbital gate is highlighted and expanded.

JOHN

By then, technicians here on Earth

will have completed a companion

hypergate in our planet's orbit.

ON SCREEN an image of an orbital gate now under construction.

JOHN

Once both gates are complete, ships

will be able to pass instantaneously

between them. The Jupiter can bring

the Dimondium back to Earth without

the ten year delay of a return trip.

REPORTER

Why can't you just use the Jupiter's

hyperengine to zap straight to Alpha

Prime?

JOHN

As you know, hyperspace exists beneath

normal space. If you try to enter

hyperspace without a gate

ON SCREEN a graphic spaceship appears randomly in the corner of a turning schematic of the galaxy.

JOHN

Your exit vector is random. There's no

telling where you'd come out.

REPORTER

Professor, how is Captain Daniels

recovering from the flu? Will we still

be able to pilot the mission?

John glances to the doorway where a uniformed GENERAL stands.

GENERAL

Ladies and Gentlemen, you came to get

a look at the Jupiter One. Don't you

think you've waited long enough?

John hits a button and the room darkens. A giant monitor reveals...

INT.-LAUNCH DOME

A giant saucer sits connected to its launch pad by loading belts, steaming fuel tubes and spindled gantries.

REPORTER (OVER)

Professor, how does your family feel

about leaving the Earth behind....

JOHN (OVER)

They couldn't be more excited.

CHAPTER 3: Goodbye!

-------------------

EXT.-ROBINSON HOUSE-ESTABLISHING

A suburban colonial, the launch dome towering in the distance.

PENNY (OVER)

This whole mission sucks!

INT.-ROBINSON HOME HALLWAY-SUNSET

PENNY ROBINSON (14) furious, turns, looks downstairs at Maureen.

PENNY

I Don't want to stay home for dinner.

I want to see my friends for the last

time.

She takes a beat, blinking away the tears. Lifts her wrist and turns on a video camera watch. She begins down the hall.

VIDEO-POV. Penny's face in the monitor screen.

PENNY

... On the eve before she is torn from

her friends, kidnapped, hurled into

deep space against her will, what

thoughts fill the mind of the young

Space Captive....

INT.-WILL'S ROOM-SUNSET

Penny enters a strewn, boy' a world. Will is trying to select items to place in a single packing canister marked: PERSONAL CARGO.

WILL

Will there be boys on Alpha Centuri?

What will I wear?

PENNY

When we wake up in ten years the video

journals of Penny Robinson, Space

Captive, will be devoured by millions.

I will be world famous. You on the

other hand, will have been totally

forgotten.

Penny shows the camera her arm, covered by strings of ribbons.

PENNY

The Space Captive has decided to wear

ribbons of support for fellow

sufferers as she is dragged into deep

space, green for the ecological

issues, white for human rights

WILL

You'd probably gag if I described the

secondary infections loss of

circulation can cause.

Penny seems about to speak, instead just smiles, goes to his bed and pulls off the sheets, begins knotting them together.

WILL

What are you grinning at?

PENNY

I just found an upside to this

mission. The thought of jettisoning

your body into deep space.

Penny knots the sheets into a rope, ties it to the bed-post. Will lifts several palm-sized gold-plated stars. Each reads: 1st prize.

WILL

Dad says Don't bring them. Like

anything I do matters to him.

PENNY

He never showed, huh?

WILL

Maybe if I had actually broken the

time barrier he would have paid

attention.

PENNY

Don't let him get to you, kiddo. He

just gets busy with work is all.

Penny tosses the rope out the window, prepares to climb.

WILL

So, that's a no to family dinner?

PENNY

Let's see, do I spend my last night on

Earth watching Mom and Dad pretend not

to be fighting again or get in ten

years of making-out at the mall ...

you do the math.

WILL

Mom's gonna go thermal.

PENNY

What's she gonna do. Ground me?

CHAPTER 4: Major West

---------------------

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-CORRIDOR

John and the General walk the metal passageway.

JOHN

We're lucky they didn't press on

Daniels, condition.

GENERAL

I figured a chance to look at the ship

would keep the dogs at bay.

JOHN

Ben, I'm worried about jamming in a

replacement pilot at the last second.

My family' a on this mission. I need

someone who's more than just spit and

polish.

GENERAL

I've got your man. He just doesn't

know it yet.

The General palms an access panel. A door hisses open to reveal...

INT.-SPACE COMMAND- CONFERENCE ROOM-CONTINUOUS

A figure stands staring silently out the window. Don West. He offers a salute. By his eyes, West is clearly agitated.

GENERAL

At ease, Major.

WEST

Sir, why was I pulled off active duty?

I salvaged my craft and Jeb's. I'll

fight a court martial, General.

GENERAL

Do you know Professor Robinson?

WEST

By reputation only.

(to John)

Your father's battle strategies were

required reading at the Academy.

GENERAL

How much do you know about the Jupiter

Mission, Major?

WEST

The Jupiter is fully automated. The

pilot flies the ship out of the solar

system and lands on Alpha Prime. It's

a baby sitting job, sir.

GENERAL

Major, you are aware Earth's resources

are severely limited.

WEST

Every schoolchild knows our recycling

technologies will save the

environment. Sending a family across

the galaxy is a publicity stunt to

sell soda to people of all ages.

GENERAL

What I am about to tell you is

classified. Every schoolchild

has been lied to. The recycling

technologies have failed. In

less than two decades Earth will be

unable to support human life.

GENERAL

We spun the ad campaign to give the

mission a friendly face, keep people

from panicking in the streets. We

partnered with Coke because the 900

billion this mission cost would have

bankrupted the government. The

SinoJordanian Alliance knows the truth

as well as we do. They hope to reach

Alpha Prime first - And if they do,

I guarantee you, they will not share

the Dimondium with Western Demons like

us. our crops will wither. We will be

left to die.

WEST

...Captain Daniels doesn't have the

flu, does he sir?

GENERAL

Daniels was murdered in his apartment

last night. The flu story is a cover

we fed the press.

WEST

Dan was a good pilot. A good man.

GENERAL

Your rescue stunt over Mars was

foolhardy. Explain yourself, Major.

WEST

I had a friend in trouble.

GENERAL

You endangered a one billion dollar

spacecraft, disobeyed a direct order

because of a friend?

WEST

Yes sir. And I'd do it again. Sir.

JOHN

He'll do.

(stepping forward)

GENERAL

Congratulations Major, you're the new

pilot of the Jupiter mission.

CHAPTER 5: Dr. Smith

--------------------

EXT.-DESERT-DAY

Sun beats hard on a MAN who stands on a windswept sand dune, talking to a smartly dressed BUSINESSMAN.

MAN

Perhaps a brief jaunt down memory

lane is required. I was contracted

to provide Daniels, apartment code.

My work is done.

BUSINESSMAN

They found a replacement pilot, the

mission is going ahead on schedule.

MAN

How tragic. For you.

BUSINESSMAN

We require more direct intervention.

MAN

I see. Well, that will cost you. And,

I'm afraid my price has just become

... astronomical.

(OVER) a KNOCK. The man reaches forward and presses a button. The businessman, the desert disappear, only holographs.

Room lights.

Lights come up to reveal...

INT.-MISSION CONTROL-MEDICAL LABS

The man turns, revealing a face as clever an his eyes are evil. This is DR. ZACHARY SMITH. He walks to the door, palms a panel, and the portal hiss open. A TECHNICIAN ENTERS.

TECHNICIAN

Control hasn't received the results

of your final pre-flight exams,

Doctor Smith.

The Doctor moves to a circular overhead light board around which are displayed the faces of the crew of the Jupiter craft. Removes the micro-files, hands them to the technician.

SMITH

The Robinsons are checked out at one

hundred percent. They are in perfect

condition and ready to fly.

He smiles, so sweet you can barely see the malevolence behind it.

SMITH

Wish them good luck for me.

CHAPTER 6: Welcome Aboard!

--------------------------

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-WALKING

Three small figures walk through a gantry towards the ship.

GENERAL (OVER)

The mission protocols are simple.

Professor Robinson is in command

unless you encounter a military

emergency. In that case, Major West,

you will assume command.

The figures have come to the saucer entry-port.

JOHN (OVER)

Welcome aboard, Major.

INT.-JUPITER BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS

Don, John, and the General ENTER. Don's eyes widen.

West looks like somebody sprung for the full extras package on this baby.

REVERSE ANGLE

Hi-tech heaven. Two pilots, chairs face a giant windscreen. Don walks to the consoles that stretch toward the back walls.

JOHN

Some of this technology might be new

to you. I'll be happy to explain.

WEST

(off the com)

Cold fusion drive

(off the size consoles)

Rambler-Krey Life Sciences stations.

Don strides to a pedestal in the center of the bridge. Flicks a switch and a holographic Jupiter craft appears on the launch pad.

WEST

Holographic navigational interface.

Don points to a row of man-sized glass cylinders on the back wall.

WEST

Cryosleep array. Fully monitored.

He approaches the blast doors that lead off the back of the bridge.

WEST

Sick bay, remote Ops, engineering and

living quarters are below decks.

Hyperengine should be in here.

Don hits a wall panel which opens to reveal an immense ENGINE ROOM.

JOHN

If you have to baby sit, it's not

such a bad nursery, wouldn't you

agree, Major?

Just then the ELEVATOR rises from the lower decks. On its circular platform stands a DOCTOR in a lab coat. She walks to the General.

DOCTOR

The cryosleep systems are running at

ninety five percent.

GENERAL

Doctor Smith approved the specs-

DOCTOR

Doctor Smith is base physician. I am

responsible once this ship is in

flight. These tubes have to keep the

crew in suspended animation for ten

years. They will be perfect or this

ship will not launch. Is that clear?

GENERAL

Absolutely, Doctor.

JOHN

Judy, I'd like you to meet Major

West. He's taking Mike's place.

DOCTOR

He's heavier than Mike. We'll have to

re-calibrate.

WEST

I'd be more than happy to discuss my

dimensions perhaps over dinner?

DOCTOR

West - I've read about you. Something

of a war hero, aren't you?

WEST

(preening )

Well, yes, actually.

DOCTOR

Those who can't think, fight.

(a freezing smile)

Well, nice to have met you.

She heads toward the readouts. West turns to John.

WEST

That's one cold fish I'd love to

thaw.

JUDY

(turning)

I'm not going to make it home for

dinner, Dad.

West turns to John. Dad?

WEST

It's going to be a long flight.

EXT.-ROBINSON HOME-NIGHT

Lights burn in the windows.

INT.-ROBINSON HOME-DINING ROOM-NIGHT

John ENTERS to find the remains of an elegant dinner on the table, candles never lit, food never eaten.

John crosses to a small scale model sitting on the table. Around it hangs another gold plated 1st prize star. He smiles.

MAUREEN (OVER)

He won first prize again. He

practically brought down his entire

school. But he won first prize.

Maureen descends the steps in a bathrobe. Joins John.

JOHN

A non-working prototype for his time

machine. Sharp stuff for a midget.

Maureen is silent.

JOHN

I'm sorry about dinner. I had to work

late. The new pilot-.

MAUREEN

What you had to do was prioritize

your family over the mission

JOHN

Maureen. This mission is about our

family. So we can stay together

MAUREEN

The perfect nuclear family. The most

stable social unit, ideally suited

for the isolation of a long journey

into space. It's all just PR, John.

You're never home. Judy is

becoming a ghost just like you. Penny

can't see past her own navel and Will

has to black out-his school, just to

get his father's attention. The

perfect nuclear family in ruin.

John stares at his wife. Then he reaches forward, touches her hair.

JOHN

I know, Maureen. I'm scared too.

A beat. Then she moves to him. And he holds her close.

INT.-ROBINSON HOME-WILL'S ROOM-NIGHT

John stands in the yellow wedge of hall light. He touches something hanging around his own neck. A pair of metal dog tags.

WIDER

Will lies in his bed, eyes closed. Asleep. A beat. John turns, heading out into the hall.

EXT.-ROBINSON HOME-NIGHT

The bedroom lights go out, a normal home against the backdrop of the launch dome towering in the distance.

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-LAUNCH DOME-NIGHT

The Jupiter one stands amidst loading gantries, final supplies rolling into the

ship on automated conveyer belts and lifts.

CHAPTER 7: Primary Directives

-----------------------------

PAN DOWN

TWO TECHNICIANS stand checking off supplies on a lightpad.

LOADING TECHNICIAN

Anything else?

LOADING TECHNICIAN #2

I'm showing a late shipment from

Mission Medical. Smith's

authorization. Here it is now.

HOLD on a canister that reads: BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS: Do Not Open, as it passes on the loading belt. FOLLOW THE DRUM as it winds along the conveyer, up a gantry towards the Jupiter One. PUSH IN...

INT. -CARGO DRUM

Smith sits crouched inside, cleaning his nails.

INT.-JUPITER ONE-LOWER DECKS

A giant robot stands attached to its service bay. Still. Silent.

A SERVICE DRAWER slides open and a shadowy infiltrator emerges, his face visible in the dim service light. Smith.

Smith approaches the docked Robot, places a small keypad device on the Robot's dormant CPU panel. Smith activates the device.

SMITH

You'll forgive me if I forgo the

kiss, my sleeping behemoth.

Smith hits a switch on the panel and the Robot's system indicators light into life. Smith types several keys on the keypad.

SMITH

But the time has come to awake.

ROBOT

Robot is on-line. Reviewing primary

directives. One, preserve the

Robinson Family. Two, Maintain ship

systems. Three

SMITH

Spare me the chatter.

Smith taps the keypad. The Robot is silenced. Smith types again.

SMITH

What noble charges my steely

centurion. Sadly I fear you have far

more dire deeds in store for you.

Smith completes his re-programming. Hits a switch.

ROBOT

Robot is on-line. Reviewing primary

directives. Two hours into mission

destroy Robinson family. Destroy all

systems.

Smith smiles. Removes the re-programming module.

SMITH

Now that's more like it. Farewell my

tin-plated pal. Give my regards to

oblivion.

Smith climbs into a chute marked WASTE DISPOSAL.

INT.-WASTE DISPOSAL CHUTE

Smith begins crawling down the chute. His tiny reprogramming module BEEPS. Smith activates a tiny, built in com-link.

From the mic, the familiar visage of the Businessman is projected into the crawlspace over Smith's face.

SMITH

I told you never to call me here.

BUSINESSMAN

I see you have completed your mission

on schedule Good work, Doctor. And

goodbye.

The Businessman smiles. SMITH-CLOSE. Puzzled.

Suddenly the tiny module in his hand OVERLOADS, the flesh on his palm smoking as Smith is engulfed in an electrical charge. He goes out, his body perfectly still.

CHAPTER 8: Launch!

------------------

EXT.-SPACE COMMAND-MORNING

The giant dome shines in the early sun.

INT-JUPITER ONE John and Maureen face will and Penny who stand now in their freezing tubes. All wear silver flight suits. Maureen moves Penny's hair from in front of her face.

PENNY

Don't, mom. Vogue says this will be

the style in ten years.

WILL

Will she wake up less annoying?

PENNY

Does he have to wake up at all?

MAUREEN

Alright you two, enough.

Maureen kisses her children. John moves to will who reaches to shake at the same moment John tries to hug him. A beat. Then John tries to a shake as Will goes for the hug. A total miss. Will backs into his tube.

MAUREEN

You get a C in paternal expression,

Professor. But an A for effort.

John kisses his wife, already in her tube.

MAUREEN

You always get an A in that.

JUDY

Don't let me shatter this unbridled

display of affection, but we are

running behind.

JOHN

(entering his tube)

Major, she's all yours.

WEST

I'll try to give you a smooth ride.

Judy walks the row, checking their bio-monitors. Enters her tube.

JUDY

Mission control this is Dr. Robinson.

We are in the green.

MISSION CONTROL (OVER)

Roger, Doctor, you are go to initiate

cryostasis.

Don walks to Judy's tube.

WEST

One question, Doctor. in there room

in these tubes for two?

JUDY

Barely enough for you and your ego,

Major. Drive carefully.

(touches her com-link)

initializing cryostasis tubes.

The tubes rotate closed around the Robinsons. Suddenly each crew member is surrounded by a shimmering blue glow, brightening like a star and then subsiding. All stand fixed in suspended animation.

Don stares at the family a beat. He goes to the main console. Straps himself in.

WEST

Mission Control, this is Jupiter One.

The Robinsons are asleep. We are

ready to fly.

INT.-SPACE COMMAND-MISSION CONTROL

Welcome to the future. Banks of monitors manned by gum-chewing, pink haired technicians. A giant monitor shows the Jupiter on the launch pad. The CONTROLLER (NOAH FREEMAN) pulls in to his console.

NOAH

Jupiter Two this is Mission Control.

You are at T-minus two minutes and

counting. We're opening the dome.

MONITOR-CLOSE. The dome begins to part.

EXT.-JUPITER ONE

Giant gantries retract. Fueling lines disengage.

INT.-JUPITER ONE

WEST

External fuel pressure to zero.

Powering main drive systems.

EXT.-JUPITER ONE

The nuclear drive at the base of the saucer EXPLODES, the giant craft TREMBLING, straining towards the sky.

INT.-MiSSION CONTROL

NOAH

Jupiter One you are at ninety five

percent.

INT.-JUPITER ONE

WEST

Houston, main drive systems to on

line status. It's showtime.

EXT.-JUPITER ONE

Nuclear ENGINES ROAR. The ship begins to rise in a bolus of flame.

INT.- MISSION CONTROL

NOAH

We have lift off.

INT.-JUPITER ONE

WEST

Requesting escape trajectory.

INT.-MISSION CONTROL

NOAH

Major, your escape vector in clear of

all military and commercial traffic.

Op in go on your command.

INT.-JUPITER ONE

WEST

Roger, Houston.

West reaches for a glowing panel.

WEST

We're outta here.

EXT. JUPITER ONE

The atomic power source fires a focused BLAST, shooting the Jupiter through cloud and sky towards the black edge of space.

INT:-MISSION CONTROL

The main screen shows a graphic of the Jupiter's trajectory as the ship arcs toward the outer edge of the atmosphere.

NOAH

Jupiter One, you are clear Earth's

atmosphere.

A CHEER goes up in the control room.

EXT.-JUPITER ONE

The giant saucer shell EXPLODES, revealing the inner ship, the glittering high tech shape of the JUPITER TWO.

INT.-JUPITER TWO

Don watches as the Earth recedes into a blue marble, flickering orbital billboards growing distant. Smiles at the familiar sight.

WEST

Jupiter One booster disengaged.

Proceeding towards Mercury.

EXT.-JUPITER TWO

Nuclear diodes at the ship's base spin into life, glowing with atomic fire, the ship now heading towards Mercury and beyond.

INT.-JUPITER TWO-LOWER DECKS

The Robot stands dormant in his service bay. HOLD on the closed service drawer in the b.g. PUSH IN.

INT.-SERVICE DRAWER

Smith lies still, unconscious in the dark compartment.

INT-JUPITER TWO BRIDGE

Mercury hangs like a red moon in the front viewscreen.

WIDER

Don presses a button and two giant blast shields close over the Jupiter Two's main viewscreen.

WEST

Houston, diverting all spacecraft

controls to the main computer.

(off mic)

Eight years of flight training.

He walks to the center of the bridge and activates the navigational holograph, images forming in mid-air over the pedestal.

HOLOGRAPH- CLOSE. The Jupiter Two is visible, backed by the planets of our solar system.

WEST

Navigational holographics on line.

(off mic)

Fifty combat missions.

Don touches buttons and a highlight indicates the ship's trajectory past mercury, around the Sun in a slingshot and into space beyond.

WEST

Course confirmed for slingshot exit

of the solar system.

(off mic)

Just so I can take the family camper

on an interstellar picnic.

Don walks to the freezing tubes. He zips up his silver flight suit.

WEST

Ten world series. My, nephews' high

school and college graduations. A

decade's worth of Sports Illustrated

swimsuit editions.

(a beat)

Noah, ten years in a lifetime.

West climbs into his tube.

INT.-MISSION CONTROL

NOAH

Sleep well, old friend.

INT.-JUPITER TWO

Don hits a switch and his tube closes. A beat then he is engulfed by the blue

glow, frozen in space. The tubes rise into the craft.

EXT.-JUPITER TWO

The ship flies on into the endless night.

DISSOLVE TO:

CHAPTER 9: Destroy!

-------------------

INT.-JUPITER TWO-WASTE DISPOSAL CHUTE-LATER

Smith lies still. He starts from a nightmare into...-a nightmare

INT.-JUPITER TWO-LOWER DECKS

Smith scrambles out of the chute, stares at his hand, the impression of the overloaded communicator seared into his palm.

He spins around disoriented. Stumbles to a closed view screen and hits a stud. The blast shield opens. Space.

SMITH-CLOSE. Shock. No words.

THE ROBOT-CLOSE. In his docking bay. Suddenly the automaton powers up, lights activating as his CPU comes on line.

SMITH

No.

Smith turns, slaps the burned out programming module on the Robot.

SMITH

Disable program.

No response. The Robot continues to power up.

Smith engage interface. Initiate system shut-down.

ROBOT

Robot is on line. Implementing prime

command directives.

The Robot disengages from the service bay, begins rolling forward.

ROBOT

Robinson family, destroy.

SMITH

No. Cease. Desist.

The Robot rolls towards the bridge.

ROBOT

All operating Systems, destroy.

Smith grabs a wrench from a tool bracket, leaps for the Robot. The Robot swings once, sending Smith flying into a flaring console.

ROBOT

Jupiter Two, destroy.

INT.-MISSION CONTROL-NIGHT

Dark. A single Techie (ANNIE) mans the watch, playing holo-games with a stylus over her desk. SCREENS flicker into life.

ANNIE

What the-?

(into a mic)

Somebody wake up the chief.

INT.-JUPITER TWO-BRIDGE

Still. The bridge doors open and the ambient lights come on.

The Robot rolls onto the bridge, faces the cryosleep array. He extends his arms, an electrical charge arcing between his claws.

ROBOT

Robinson Family, destroy.

He fires, a blast of electricity hitting the cryosleep controls. (OVER) ALARMS sound as the tubes begin to descend, electricity sparking across the sleeping Robinsons.

SMITH (OVER)

Mechanical moron. You'll kill us all.

Smith, wrench in hand, rushes the Robot, is again hurled across the room. The Robot turns towards the navigational computer.

INT.-MISSION CONTROL

Fully lit. All the monitors are manned by sleepy Techies. Noah ENTERS, taking a coffee from Annie without breaking stride. , ALARMS flash everywhere.

NOAH

This mission's over. Wake them up.

The Techies begins working the controls.

ANNIE

No response, sir. I'm sorry.

INT.-JUPITER TWO

The Robot is facing the navigational holograph in the center of the bridge. The electricity arcs between his claws once again.

ROBOT

Operating systems, Destroy.

Smith is slumped against the bulkhead. He shakes off his fall in time to see the Robot fire at the navigational array, the holograph disappearing in the flames of the exploding pedestal.

EXT.-JUPITER TWO

The ship begins to veer off course, falling towards the sun.

INT.JUPITER TWO

The Robot is rolling toward the com.

THE FREEZING TUBES are quickly being engulfed in flames. Smith stumbles toward their control station. Begins typing madly.

SMITH

Wake up, damn you. I can't stop this

infernal contraption on my own.

He SMASHES a glass panel that reads EMERGENCY DEACTIVATE. The figures inside the lowering tubes glow. All except Judy.

The Robot is before the Com, electricity arcing between his claws.

SMITH

(off the tubes)

Hurry up. Hurry up.

The Robot FIRES at the main Com, controls EXPLODING everywhere. The freezing tubes begin to open, the Robot spinning to face them.

John blinks to life first. Emerges, ducking a BLAST of electrical energy from the Robot, hitting the deck and rolling.

JOHN

Maureen. The children.

Maureen grabs Will and Penny, pulls them down just as the Robot blows away their tubes.

John pulls a laser pistol from a wall mount.

JOHN

Disengage safety.

GUN

Voiceprint confirmed.

The Robot spins towards John, FIRES an electrical charge - John dodges at the last instant, the grazing blast burning his silvery suit, singeing his side, sending into the wall, his gun flying.

WILL

Dad!

Will ducks under his mother's arm, scrambles across the bridge.

MAUREEN

Will, wait.

The Robot FIRES at the scrambling boy but misses, Will disappearing down the gunny hatch leading to the lower decks.

DON leaps from his tube atop the Robot's back, trying to grab the Robot's power source. The mechanical monster electrifies his shell, sending the Major flying.

The Robot turns to Penny and Maureen. Extends his arms toward them.

Electricity arcing between his claws. The two are done for. Maureen puts her hand over Penny's eyes.

MAUREEN

Look away, baby.

The Robot is about to fire. Suddenly the Robot freezes, his claws deactivate, his power lights go to stand-by and he stands immobile.

WIDER. Will stands in the b.g., his tiny hacking deck in his hands.

WILL

Robot. Return to your docking bay and

power down.

ROBOT

Command accepted.

The Robot turns and begins heading for the elevator. All watch in amazement. Will grins, a familiar mischievous gleam in his eyes.

WILL

If the family won't come to the

science fair, bring the science fair

to the family.

An EXPLOSION rocks the ship.

PENNY (OVER)

Mom, look, it's Doctor Smith.

Penny stands over Smith who lays crumpled in the corner. Maureen grabs an emergency medi-kit from a wall clamp, tosses it to Penny.

MAUREEN

Pulse, respiration and bleeding-

PENNY

Basic triage, lock down and

stabilize. I know the drill.

John is standing, helps Don to his feet.

WEST

NEXT picnic, no robots.

Don moves fast to the helm. The main view screen is still closed, covered by giant metal blast shields.

WEST

Communications links are down.

Maureen is at the life sciences console.

MAUREEN

Life support is at ten percent.

Trying to bring secondary systems on

line. It's not working.

VIDEO MONITOR-POV. Penny is bandaging Smith's head, her bravado barely masking her fathoml4ss terror.

PENNY

Explosions rock the ship. Danger is

everywhere, 'Yet the Space Captive is

fearless as she...

A console FLARES. Penny fights back tears, terrified.

PENNY

I want to go home now.

Don is at the navigational system.

WEST

Rerouting power from the secondary

couplings. Try it again.

MAUREEN

Finding a power tap....

Suddenly the lights go on, the air compressors begin to Hiss.

MAUREEN

Life support is back on line.

WEST

I can't get the blast shields open.

We're flying blind.

Penny in working ever Smith, bandaging his head. She runs stimulator under his nose. Smith begins to stir, COUGHING.

PENNY

I've got life signs.

(wincing)

Boy, somebody could use a breath

mint.

West turns, spots Smith for the first time.

WEST

(to John)

Try the emergency back-ups.

Don moves to the fallen figure, lifts him up against the bulkhead