A Matter of Balance/Transcript

Hook
2.INT. HYDROPONICS

Tony is with Shermeen & the brewing machine. Eddie is nearby, watching them.

TONY: "Shermeen. This time I think we've finally got it. Go get some glasses, will you?"

SHERMEEN: "Okay." (goes to propogatoscope to wipe some glasses)

EDDIE (walking up to her): "Shermeen."

SHERMEEN (not looking at him): "Yes, Eddie?"

EDDIE: "Shermeen, you're not listening to me."

SHERMEEN: "Sure I am."

EDDIE: "Look, since you started cultivating those hops for Tony Verdeschi's poison beer you don't even know I exist."

SHERMEEN: "Tony's beer is not poison." (she returns to Tony)

TONY (he pours a glass): "Shermeen. The moment of truth has arrived." (she drinks) "Well?"

SHERMEEN: "It's terrific!"

TONY: "Hey, Eddie. How about a sip of beer?"

EDDIE (glumly): "No thanks."

TONY: "Happier today than usual, huh? Come on."

SHERMEEN: "See you, Eddie." (they leave)

EDDIE: "Yeah, sure."

3.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Maya's desk monitor shows a jagged line in static.

MAYA (at front desk with Helena): "Sensors are picking something up out there, Commander."

KOENIG (VO): "Anything specific?"

MAYA: "Can't tell yet."

KOENIG: "I'm on my way."

Tony & Shermeen enter with tray of glasses.

TONY: "Alright, everybody. Get ready for the taste of a lifetime. Verdeschi's brew number twenty nine, made from a generation of Alpha hops especially brewed by our famous hydroponics botanist Shermeen Williams. Shermeen. You do the honours, please." ((pours glasses))

Shermeen takes a glass to Maya.

MAYA: "No thanks, I'd hate to ruin a beautiful friendship."

HELENA (as offered): "As Chief Medical Officer I must retain my sanity."

SHERMEEN (offers to Fraser at his desk): "Well."

FRASER: "Thanks, no. I happen to be on a liquid free diet."

TONY: "I see. Okay." (drinks, then splutters it out; others laugh) "Well huh huh, very funny. It didn't taste like that in Hydroponics."

SHERMEEN: "Maybe we misjudged the fermentation."

TONY: "Well we sure misjudged something."

SHERMEEN: "There is another string of hops, Tony. We could try again."

TONY: "No thanks, Shermeen, Hydroponics is out. I want to try something different." (he sits at his desk)

SHERMEEN: "You think it's my fault!" (runs out, passing Koenig as he enters)

TONY: "Well, I wasn't accusing her!"

HELENA (leaving): "She's a very sensitive girl. Very impressionable."

KOENIG: "What's going on?"

HELENA: "Someone needs a little comfort." ((she leaves))

MAYA: "Shermeen has a teenage crush on you, Tony. You have to handle her with care."

TONY: "Just because she cultivated a few hops for my beer? Oh, come on, you're all over reacting."

4.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

Shermeen sniffles on her bed. She hears something & sits up, looking.

POV: corner of room.

Shermeen.

POV: hands extend to her.

SHERMEEN: "No...no.."

Shermeen.

POV: close on face.

Shermeen, puts her hands to her face in fear.

SHERMEEN: "No...no..."

CU hand, wiggling figures.

Frightened Shermeen.

FADE OUT

Act One
4A.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

HELENA (VO): "Moonbase Alpha Status Report. Seventeen hundred and two days after leaving Earth orbit. Doctor Helena Russell recording."

4B.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

Close on nervous Shermeen.

HELENA (VO): "After countless number of days of serenity, a simple case of teenage infatuation has broken out on Alpha."

5.INT. CORRIDOR

Helena walks.

HELENA (VO): "I'm on my way to treat it now, and expect that it can be cured without any serious complications."

6.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

HELENA (entering): "Shermeen? You alright?"

SHERMEEN (still staring from bed): "Yeah, yeah. I must have fallen asleep. This dream, there was this face staring at me in the darkness."

HELENA (sitting on bed by her): "A nightmare, probably. You were very upset when you left Command Centre."

SHERMEEN: "The eyes, they were wanting me to stare back, they were coming closer."

HELENA: "I could give you a tranquilliser, it will make you feel better."

SHERMEEN (gets up): "Oh, no...doctor, I-I'm really alright. After all, it was only a dream, wasn't it. I'd like to go back to Hydroponics now, I-I have a few plantings I want to look after."

HELENA: "Okay." ((stands)) "Come along with me to Medical Centre first." ((puts arm around her to walk her out))

7.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): planet.

KOENIG (VO): "Magnify."

The horizon of the planet appears.

KOENIG: "Maya, give me a reading."

-Command Centre: Maya types.

MAYA: "Constellation- Pintarus...star -nineteen Pintarus...planet- "

-Big Screen (SFX): horizon.

MAYA (VO): "..Uncharted satellite.. atmosphere compatible.."

-Command Centre:

MAYA: "..Temperature at constant seventy eight degrees.. suitable for human habitation. Abundant vegetation, no sign of animal life."

KOENIG (puts his hand on her shoulder): "Bill. Locate a landing site. We'll see just how good it is."

FRASER: "Right."

Koenig presses a button on Maya's desk.

HELENA (on screen): "Medical Centre."

KOENIG: "Helena. I'd like you to join a landing party."

HELENA (on screen): "I have some sequential lab tests I'm monitoring, John. I'll have to see them through."

KOENIG: "Alright, I understand."

HELENA (on screen): "John, I just left Shermeen. She was very upset. She said she saw a disembodied face staring at her from the wall."

KOENIG: "Well, she must have been having a nightmare."

HELENA (on screen): "Well I'm not sure. I gave her some tranquillisers and let her go back on duty."

KOENIG: "Well good. Because I'd like her to join a landing party."

HELENA (on screen): "I don't think she's in any condition to join a landing party. I think you'd better find a substitute."

KOENIG: "Alright, Helena. Thank you." (cuts link) "Bill. Tell Eddie Collins I want him to join the landing party. Now what's bothering you, young Tony?"

TONY: "Well, Shermeen's been on the first team a long time, John. She's going to be very hurt."

KOENIG: "She looks up to you, Tony. You explain it to her, okay?" (he pats his shoulder & walks away)

9.INT. HYDROPONICS

Shermeen sticks a metal probe in the magnus lilarium. She hears music & the whispers; pan slowly over to wall, where a face appears.

VINDRUS: "Shermeen...Shermeeen...Shermeen...Shermeen.."

TONY (VO): "Shermeen." (Tony enters; face disappears; Tony goes to her) "Shermeen."

SHERMEEN: "What do you want?"

TONY: "I've come to apologise."

SHERMEEN: "What for?"

TONY: "For being an unfeeling insensitive bore."

SHERMEEN: "You're not that, Tony."

TONY: "I didn't mean to be rough on you. I know you put in a lot of time and effort to help me, and,..well, I wish I had an excuse for acting the way I did."

SHERMEEN: "It's alright, I understand. It's okay. Shall we try again?"

TONY: "Oh, sure we should try again. Yeah. As a matter of fact, I've got a hunch we'll come up with the right combination next time." (he goes to his machine)

SHERMEEN (after pause): "Ah, I was thinking, ah, maybe if we cross pollinate the barley hybrids..."

TONY: "Oh sure, that sounds like a great idea. Look, there's something else, Shermeen. You know that planet that's hanging out there?"

SHERMEEN: "Uh huh?"

TONY: "Well, the Commander's sending a small landing party."

SHERMEEN: "I could be ready in.."

TONY: "Hang on. You've been upset, and...Eddie Collins is the botanist that we're taking."

SHERMEEN: "But you know I've been collecting specimens from every place we've been to."

TONY: "I know, I tried to tell them that."

SHERMEEN: "You tried to tell them? It was probably your idea that I don't go! Oh, you're a hypocrite!"

TONY: "Shermeen.."

SHERMEEN: "That's why you came up here. Not to apologise." (tearfully walks away) "Oh, I hate you. And I don't want to see you again."

TONY: "Shermeen.." (tries to put a hand on her shoulder)

SHERMEEN: "Oh don't touch me!" (cries)

TONY: "I'm sorry."

SHERMEEN (bitterly): "I bet you are!"

Tony leaves. Music as close on her.

VINDRUS (off screen): "Shermeen." (she turns; his face appears) "Don't resist, Shermeen. Let me come through." (she watches) "I won't harm you, Shermeen." (he appears) "Let me come through."

She advances; Close on Vindrus's faces; Shermeen; Vindrus materialises in full

VINDRUS: "No, Shermeen, I am not a figment of your imagination."

SHERMEEN: "Who are you? Where are you from?"

VINDRUS: "My name is Vindrus. And I suppose you could say I come from Sunim."

SHERMEEN: "Sunim?"

VINDRUS: "The planet that you are now approaching, where you will find the answer to your present unhappiness. You will see it soon."

SHERMEEN: "It's not possible."

VINDRUS: "Oh, I assure you it is. You have my word."

SHERMEEN: "I'm not going down to Sunim. Eddie's going."

VINDRUS: "So I heard. But trust me, Shermeen. Just do as I ask, and you will go with the landing party. And Tony will never upset you again. Is that the Magnus Lilarium?"

SHERMEEN: "Yes."

VINDRUS: "Break open the pod and select a healthy seed." (she does) "Now, put it on the propogatoscope." (puts it on tray & switches on machine) "Now bombard it with protons." (whine increases) "Increase the bombardment." (does) "Continue." (does) "Switch off." (does) "Plant it." (she takes the tray) "But be careful." (tips tray into soil & covers it)

12.INT. CORRIDOR

Eddie walks along.

13.INT. HYDROPONICS

VINDRUS: "Now return to your quarters and prepare to embark."

SHERMEEN: "I don't understand, why.."

VINDRUS: "There isn't time to explain, Shermeen, go! Quickly. Hurry, Shermeen, hurry." (he disappears)

EDDIE (passing as he enters): "Hey, Shermeen. Hey, Shermeen, don't be mad."

Eddie sits & packs his case; in foreground a plant rises. He turns to see it (focus on foreground). He walks up to it & sniffs a flower, then staggers back & falls to the floor.

14.INT. RECEPTION

Koenig, Maya, Fraser & Tony walk up.

KOENIG: "Is all the gear on board Eagle One?"

TONY: "Yeh, all on board."

KOENIG: "Where's Eddie Collins?" (they open the Travel unit door)

TONY: "Well, I don't know. He should have been here."

INT. TRAVEL UNIT

They enter to find Shermeen sitting inside.

KOENIG: "Shermeen, I thought you were supposed to be in Hydroponics."

SHERMEEN: "You need a botanist."

KOENIG: "Yes, but I thought Eddie Collins-"

SHERMEEN: "Eddie Collins has suddenly been taken sick. He's on his way to the Medical Centre." (pause; she smiles) "Doctor Russell said I was fit for duty."

KOENIG: "Are you sure you're okay? No nightmares?"

SHERMEEN: "No nightmares."

KOENIG: "Good." (they sit)

TONY: "Well, good luck." (he leaves them)

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds off.

15.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle launches.

16.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle flies to planet.

17.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig pilots, with Fraser.

KOENIG: "Maya."

18.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

KOENIG (on screen): "Everything alright back there?"

MAYA (at desk): "Everything is under control, Commander."

KOENIG (on screen): "You Shermeen?" ((she doesn't respond)) "Shermeen?"

She looks up and sees Vindrus' face replace Koenig.

SHERMEEN: "All prepared."

Vindrus's face smiles.

FADE OUT

Act Two
EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Planet horizon.

19.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle in clearing.

20.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Close on yellow flowers. Focus beyond on Alphans walking in forest. Shermeen walks up to the flowers & clips some. The other 3 continue.

KOENIG: "Maya. Is there any variation on previous readings?"

MAYA (scans): "No hostile environment. Temperature still constant at seventy eight degrees. No life forms."

KOENIG: "Everything down here's exactly like Earth. There should be life forms. Keep checking." (Fraser shivers) "Bill?"

FRASER: "Commander?"

KOENIG: "You alright?"

FRASER: "Yeah. Just disembarkation readjustment."

Shermeen jumps down a small bank & goes to some berries with her clippers.

Koenig shudders as Maya scans.

MAYA: "Commander? You shuddered. But not from cold."

KOENIG: "It's almost as if a ghost had... I had a superstitious grandmother." (smiles)

MAYA: "Well, if you want to knock on wood there's plenty of that about." (they smile & go on)

Shermeen walks up to some pine needles.

Koenig walks out into the clearing around the temple (sc 21).

KOENIG: "Maya. That structure. Obviously built by intelligent life."

MAYA (scanning): "My sensors still record no life forms."

Shermeen walks up to a flower.

VINDRUS (VO): "Shermeen. Shermeen." (he appears under a tree) "This way." (they walk off through the forest)

The Alphans advance to the obelisks and stop. Maya scans. The Thaed emerges from the temple. Koenig advances to the obelisk on the border of the clearing. The Thaed races at him. Koenig fires a blue laser beam at it, then they run away. The Thaed stops at the obelisk & edge of the bushes. Koenig stops by the trees.

KOENIG: "Bill. Maya." (they stop) "It's stopped. It won't come past the obelisk." (Koenig then looks round) "Shermeen. Better find her." (the other two walk away; Koenig takes his comlock) "Koenig to Alpha. Koenig to Alpha. Koenig to Moonbase Alpha. Koenig to Alpha, come in Alpha."

Shermeen follows Vindrus through forest. Calls of searching Alphans are heard.

FRASER (distant shout): "Shermeen!"

MAYA (VO): "Shermeen!"

FRASER (VO): "Shermeen!" (pause) "Shermeen!"

MAYA (VO): "Shermeen! Where are you?"

FRASER (VO): "We're over here!"

Vindrus points to the temple & Shermeen continues on. The Thaed emerges & Shermeen looks nervously back at Vindrus.

VINDRUS: "Don't be afraid, Shermeen. He's one of us." (she is still nervous) "He won't attack you, you're quite safe." (she walks slowly on) "Go on, Shermeen." (she approaches growling Thaed) "That's right." (she continues up to him) "Go on, Shermeen. Past him."

She goes on past & down the steps. Vindrus fades out.

22.INT. TEMPLE

Shermeen walks down into the dark interior & looks around. Vindrus appears.

SHERMEEN: "Why didn't that..?"

VINDRUS: "Thaed."

SHERMEEN: "Thaed. Why didn't it attack me?"

VINDRUS: "I promised that you wouldn't be harmed."

SHERMEEN: "I wasn't even frightened."

VINDRUS: "You will not fear on Sunim, Shermeen. My only concern is for your well being. But first I must cross from my world into yours."

SHERMEEN: "I don't understand. I thought you were already here."

VINDRUS: "Only in spirit. Not in substance. This machine will enable my solid body to come over into your world. If you will assist me?"

SHERMEEN: "How?"

VINDRUS: "An unfortunate accident. Sometime in the past. The generator exploded. So before I can help you, you must help me. If you will detach this cylinder and take it to Alpha."

SHERMEEN: "But you were on Alpha. Why didn't you take it there yourself?"

VINDRUS: "As I have explained to you, I am only here in spirit. Not in substance." (waves hand through cylinder)

She takes the cylinder & puts it in her bag.

SHERMEEN: "What will I do with it?"

VINDRUS: "That will be explained to you. For the time being just put it with the clippings in your specimen bag." (she does)

21.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Maya goes to Koenig as he holds the comlock.

MAYA: "I can't find her."

KOENIG: "Shermeen gone, I can't raise Alpha. Our sensors recorded no animal life, yet we saw that creature."

MAYA: "Well, there could be a shield force coming from that structure. Cutting out our communications and blocking out our sensors."

FRASER: "Commander!" (they go to him) "She's been here. I've just found this." (a leaf cutting) "And her footprints lead towards the structure."

Thaed roars & runs up.

FRASER: "How did she get past that creature?"

KOENIG: "I don't know."

FRASER: "Even though the tracks lead in that direction, could be she never made it inside."

KOENIG: "There's one way to find out. Maya."

Maya nods; close on her eyes. A fox appears out of the black of her pupil. The fox runs through the long grass. The Thaed stabs the ground, but the dog runs past. It then runs in the temple door.

24.INT. TEMPLE

Maya enters & looks round. She sees the 2 cabinets. She looks up.

24A.INT. TEMPLE (SFX)

POV: skylight.

24B.INT. TEMPLE

Maya looks round.

27.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Koenig & Fraser look at the Thaed.

28.INT. TEMPLE

MAYA: "Shermeen."

SHERMEEN (appearing behind, surprising her): "Yes."

MAYA: "Uh! Shermeen. Are you alright?"

SHERMEEN: "Of course. Why shouldn't I be?"

MAYA: "Well, how did you get in here?"

SHERMEEN: "I walked in."

MAYA: "The creature must have been concentrating on us and missed you. Come on, let's go outside, the Commander's worried... Oh, wait a minute. I want to get this down on video."

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The Thaed growls at Koenig & Fraser.

KOENIG: "Koenig to Alpha. Koenig to Alpha, come in, Alpha." (he looks at Fraser)

28.INT. TEMPLE

Maya passes her scanner over the walls. She notices Shermeen wandering out.

MAYA: "Shermeen." (she hurries out after her)

35.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Shermeen emerges from the temple, & Maya runs up behind her.

MAYA: "Shermeen, wait!"

Fraser starts forward.

KOENIG: "Bill, hold it."

SHERMEEN: "It's alright, Maya. It won't attack us. Come on." (leads her on)

KOENIG (to Fraser): "Just wait." (Thaed screams)

SHERMEEN: "Come on. Yes, it's okay. It really won't attack us. Come on, look, I'll show you." (walks past Thaed holding Maya's arm) "See?" (they carry on past it) "There you are, you see, I told you?"

KOENIG: "Are you alright?"

SHERMEEN: "Yeah, fine."

KOENIG: "Bill." (Fraser takes Shermeen off)

MAYA: "You saw?"

KOENIG: "Yeah, Shermeen seems to have some kind of immunity. Mm. Let's go."

They leave the Thaed.

36.INT. TEMPLE

Harsh whispers chide Vindrus.

MALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

FEMALE WHISPER (VO): "When? When? When?"

MALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

FEMALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

MALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

FEMALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

ALL WHISPER (VO): "When?"

VINDRUS: "Patience."

FEMALE WHISPER (VO): "When? When?"

MALE WHISPER (VO): "When?"

FEMALE WHISPER (VO): "When? When?"

VINDRUS: "Patience."

ALL WHISPER (VO): "When? When?"

VINDRUS: "It will be soon."

FADE OUT

Act Three
37.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle.

37A.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig & Fraser fly with Maya present.

KOENIG: "Bill. Take over."

FRASER: "Right." (Koenig leaves)

37B.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Shermeen is sat at the desk sorting plant clippings.

KOENIG: "Shermeen. Mind if we have a little chat?"

SHERMEEN: "No." (she is sat, examining her cuttings)

KOENIG: "I'm curious. How did you get into that temple?"

SHERMEEN: "Just walked in, Commander."

KOENIG: "Well, I know, but when I tried to do that the...the creature attacked me. What I'm trying to find out Shermeen is why didn't the creature attack you?"

SHERMEEN (with slight laugh): "I don't know. Maybe it knew that I wouldn't attack him."

KOENIG: "Why did you go in there?"

SHERMEEN: "It was just very..peaceful."

KOENIG: "You could have been hurt."

SHERMEEN (after pause): "No harm will come to me on Sunim, Commander."

KOENIG: "On where?"

SHERMEEN (uncertain): "O- on the planet."

KOENIG: "Is that what it's called, Sunim?"

SHERMEEN: "Yes..."

KOENIG: "How do you know that?"

SHERMEEN: "I don't know, uh...someone must have told me."

KOENIG: "Someone? Who?"

SHERMEEN: "I don't remember," (sudden hysteria) "Look, why are you asking me all these questions? I haven't done anything wrong!"

KOENIG: "Of course you haven't. I'm not even suggesting you have. Shermeen, I'm very glad you came along with us. In fact I'll be very curious to find out about those." (looks to specimen bag & sees cylinder. She closes the bag) "You will give me a report, won't you?"

SHERMEEN: "Yes. Y- yes, I will."

KOENIG: "Good." (leaves)

41.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): pan of interior of temple.

MAYA (VO): "I found these on the walls."

-Command Centre: (sc 42) Only Koenig, Maya & Tony are present.

MAYA: "They depict the whole evolutionary process of man. Emerging from a sea of primeval slime, "

-Big Screen (SFX): jellyfish & caveman.

MAYA (VO): " then advancing through all stages of development...Simian, Australopithecus, Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, "

-Command Centre: (sc 41)

MAYA: " to modern."

KOENIG: "Well, they sure look human enough."

MAYA: "I'm not sure, Commander."

KOENIG: "What do you mean?"

MAYA: "There's something strange. Somewhere up the ladder of development, at some period in time, something happened."

-Big Screen (SFX): picture changes to silhouettes on wall. (sc 43)

MAYA (VO): "There was violent death. Whatever they were they must have died in some searing bursts of energy."

-Command Centre (sc 44)

TONY: "That would explain why our sensors recorded no life forms. Yet you did see a life form."

KOENIG: "Yeah. So what's the explanation?"

MAYA: "Well, based on what I've observed and computer hypothesis, I think we're dealing with a form of antimatter against matter." (she operates Eagle remote control) "This accelerator was set up in the temple."

-Big Screen (SFX): cabinet (sc 45)

MAYA (VO): "I've seen a similar one once before, on my own planet."

-Command Centre (sc 46). Koenig advances to look closely.

KOENIG: "What's its function?"

-Big Screen (SFX): converter (sc 45)

MAYA (VO): "It's used to convert. Antimatter into matter."

-Command Centre (sc 46)

TONY: "Uh. That's a theory I never did understand."

MAYA: "Well." (touches desk) "This is made up of particles of matter, and, " (lifts report) " this is made up of particles of matter, and " (tugs his hair) " even this is made up of particles of matter."

TONY: "I don't have to be a genius to understand that."

MAYA: "Well, for every particle of matter there's a balancing particle of antimatter. It's called the law of symmetry. In other words it's nature's way of maintaining a balance."

KOENIG: "We live in a world of matter. So in theory there must be an antimatter world."

TONY: "Existing where?"

KOENIG: "Here, now."

TONY: "Occupying our space."

MAYA: "No. Occupying their own antispace. If there was an antimatter being here, right now,.."

TONY: "Yeah."

MAYA: "..My hand would go straight through him." (sweeps her hand)

TONY: "I see."

KOENIG: "Tony. Something happened to Shermeen on that planet. I want to know what it was."

TONY: "Why don't you ask her?"

KOENIG: "I did, but she was holding back."

TONY: "Oh, I see. You want me to ask her, right?"

KOENIG: "Right. I think you can reach her."

TONY: "Not anymore, I don't think."

KOENIG: "Tony, Tony. Because if we don't find out.."

TONY: "Okay, I'll try."

46A.INT. HYDROPONICS

VINDRUS: "What you must do, Shermeen, is to take that cylinder to the equipment room. They have many nuclear generators in there, you must find one into which that cylinder fits."

The door opens & Tony enters. Shermeen puts the cylinder back & starts typing on calculator while looking in a microscope.

TONY: "Shermeen. I'd like to talk to you."

SHERMEEN: "What about?"

TONY: "About the way you've been behaving. You haven't been yourself, you used to be so happy, full of life, and now you walk around..." (sees cylinder) " as if you're sleepwalking." (he lifts out the cylinder) "Where did you get that?"

VINDRUS: "Sunim." (whip pan to Vindrus) "My name is Vindrus. Shermeen has very kindly volunteered to assist me."

TONY: "Assist you? To do what?"

VINDRUS: "To cross over into your world."

TONY: "I see our world is more attractive than yours."

VINDRUS: "Not really. But you see, you in your world have started your evolutionary process from the slime in the ocean and are ascending towards perfection sometime in the distant future. We in the antimatter world, however, started our evolutionary process at the top, and are descending towards the slime. So. Our future is extinction. Don't try to give the alarm, Mister Verdeschi. You will never reach it."

TONY: "We have no objection to your coming over into our world, Vindrus. If it will keep you from ending up in the slime. Why don't you let us help you cross over?"

VINDRUS: "Thank you for your offer. But you would not do it willingly."

TONY: "Why not?"

VINDRUS: "Because nature has to be kept in balance. For everyone who crosses into your world, one of you must cross into ours." (Tony moves to the alarm, but passes the flower & collapses) "You will forget everything that took place here." (to Shermeen) "You know what you have to do, Shermeen." (he disappears)

54.INT. EQUIPMENT ROOM

SHERMEEN (enters): "Hello, Chris."

POTTER: "Hello, Shermeen. What can I do for you?"

SHERMEEN: "I brought you a plant. You said you wanted something to brighten up the Equipment Room."

POTTER (goes to adjust some equipment): "Oh, come on, Shermeen. You know if there's one thing I can do without, it's plants."

SHERMEEN: "Not this one though."

POTTER: "Mm?"

SHERMEEN: "This one's very special."

POTTER: "Um mm?"

SHERMEEN: "You'll like it. It has a really beautiful fragrance."

He bends to the flower in her hands & smells it, then falls over. She walks into a room labelled 'Nuclear Generators/ No Unauthorised Personnel'.

54A.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Tube extends to Eagle.

55.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

SHERMEEN (enters): "Bill?"

FRASER (by computer): "Shermeen." ((he goes to her))

SHERMEEN: "I have a surprise for you."

FRASER: "Oh."

SHERMEEN: "It has a lovely fragrance."

She opens her hand to reveal the flower. He sniffs & rises, his eyes glazed. Vindrus appears. Bill turns to him.

VINDRUS: "You must take us to Sunim."

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Fraser enters & sits, the door closes on him.

EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle launches.

56.INT. HYDROPONICS

TONY (feels head): "Oh. Wow, do I feel lousy." (sits back in chair)

KOENIG: "Yes, so does Chris Potter. We found him in the Equipment Room in the same state you're in."

TONY: "What?"

KOENIG: "Yeh. Not only that. One of our miniature nuclear generators. It's missing."

The comms post bleeps & Koenig goes to it.

MAYA (VO): "Commander."

KOENIG: "Yes, Maya."

MAYA: "Eagle One has just taken off without authorisation."

KOENIG: "What!? Who's aboard her?"

MAYA (VO): "Fraser was piloting. Shermeen was with him."

KOENIG: "Well that figures, doesn't it? I want an Eagle on the pad ready for immediate lift off. Come on, let's go."

60.INT. TEMPLE

Shermeen operates the Alpha generator, then goes to the converter.

VINDRUS: "Now just turn the green dial a fraction more to the right." (slight whine sounds) "Excellent. Now all that remains is for me to come into your world, Shermeen." (both enter the cabinets).

SHERMEEN: "Is everything set now?"

VINDRUS: "Everything's set." (the doors close)

61.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle 2 lands next to Eagle 1 in the clearing.

62.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Fraser sits with a glazed expression on his face as Koenig, Maya & Tony enter beyond.

KOENIG: "Shermeen! Shermeen! Shermeen!" (they approach the pilot section) "Bill! Bill!"

MAYA (waves hand in front of him): "He's in a trance. Hypnotic."

KOENIG: "The temple." (they leave)

63.INT. TEMPLE

Power builds with an increasing whine, as they stand in their cabinets. Shermeen starts to panic.

64.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Koenig, Maya & Tony run along.

65.INT. TEMPLE

Vindrus feels his head.

66.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The three Alphans run.

67.INT. TEMPLE

Abruptly Vindrus appears in Shermeen's cabinet & Shermeen appears, semi-transparent, in his.

VINDRUS: "You will not be harmed, Shermeen. Take her down."

SHERMEEN: "No! No, I want to stay! I want to stay! No!!" (she disappears)

68.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The three reach the border of the temple grounds, & the Thaed roars & runs up. Tony aims his laser.

KOENIG: "No, Tony. Don't fire the laser, it will bounce back at us." (they retreat; the Thaed stops at the border) "It won't come past that point. Hold it's attention." (leaves them)

MAYA: "He won't go past the obelisk."

Koenig finds a spot behind the Thaed. He creeps up to the temple, then stands upright, putting his hands on his hips.

KOENIG: "Hey!"

The Thaed turns from Tony & Maya & runs up to him - & passes through him. It turns & charges through him again, back up to Tony & Maya. They join him.

TONY: "How did you know?"

KOENIG: "Our sensors showed no life forms on Sunim. So it had to be antimatter."

68A.INT. TEMPLE

ALL WHISPER (VO): "Vindrus."

VINDRUS: "We have three more ready for the transfer."

FADE OUT

Act Four
69.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Vindrus walks out of the temple to them.

VINDRUS: "Welcome." (they react)) "Welcome to Sunim. My name is Vindrus."

KOENIG (as Tony reacts): "What?"

TONY: "Well, I know it's crazy, but..I feel I've seen him before."

MAYA: "How is it our lasers bounce off antimatter?"

VINDRUS: "We have evolved certain techniques in our many attempts to cross over. As you have witnessed, we can reflect electrical beams."

KOENIG: "And project into our minds the illusion that an antimatter form may appear solid."

VINDRUS: "Yes."

MAYA: "Are you antimatter?"

KOENIG: "There's only one way to find out." (steps forward & tentatively puts his hand on Vindrus's shoulder)

VINDRUS: "Obviously I am no longer antimatter."

KOENIG: "You've taken over one of our technicians. She's here somewhere. I want her back."

VINDRUS: "She's inside the temple."

KOENIG: "Send her out."

VINDRUS: "I wanted her to come out with me but she refuses; perhaps it would be better if you came in and got her yourself." (returns into temple)

TONY (grabbing Koenig's arm): "John. Don't go in there. Don't ask me how I know, but...there's terrible danger in there."

KOENIG: "Maya, stay with Tony." (follows Vindrus in)

TONY: "I'm going in with him. You stay out here as a back up, Maya." (Tony follows Koenig in)

70.INT. TEMPLE

Koenig enters. Tony arrives after him. They look round. Vindrus smiles. Koenig finds the Alpha generator.

KOENIG: "Where is she, Vindrus?"

The door shuts abruptly behind them.

70A.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Maya reacts & runs down the temple steps.

70A.INT. TEMPLE

Maya reaches the door.

MAYA: "Commander! Tony!"

70B.INT. TEMPLE

TONY (pointing): "Now I remember."

VINDRUS: "Yes. Now you are permitted to remember."

TONY: "You sent her into your world so that you could come into ours."

VINDRUS: "We have to maintain the balance. We would prefer it to be different, of course, but unfortunately it is the only way we can come over."

KOENIG: "Where is she, Vindrus?"

VINDRUS: "You're going to see her very soon, Commander. My coming here is an act of self survival. If it was the other way round you'd do the same."

KOENIG: "What about Shermeen's survival?"

VINDRUS: "She can expect an anti-life of hundreds of years. And so can you, Commander. And mister Verdeschi. And Maya."

KOENIG: "How many others, Vindrus? How many others? Certainly not just us. Not even just Alpha."

VINDRUS: "Eventually we will establish machines such as this throughout the Universe."

KOENIG: "No, Tony, no!" (as Tony fires at Vindrus: the beam bounces off him at an acute angle upwards)

VINDRUS (taking out Darian gun): "Commander Koenig is already aware that your lasers are, shall we say, counter productive." (fires own gun into floor before Koenig) "However. We have weapons that are quite effective."

KOENIG: "Vindrus. We're no good to you dead. You need us alive so you can make the exchange."

VINDRUS: "Accept the exchange. Both of you. As individuals you will have an extended anti-life span."

KOENIG: "And our species?"

VINDRUS: "Please. Into the cabinets, gentlemen."

Koenig throws his comlock at him & hides behind a pillar.

76.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Maya looks up at the temple roof. She transforms into a monkey & climbs the temple walls.

81.INT. TEMPLE

Koenig moves behind Vindrus, picking up his comlock.

KOENIG: "Vindrus."

Using the distraction Tony darts past foreground.

80.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Monkey climbs along top of temple wall.

73.INT. TEMPLE

Vindrus searches for the Alphans.

80.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Monkey climbs into a hole in the temple.

81.INT. TEMPLE

The monkey drops in, & is seen by Koenig & Tony.

KOENIG: "Vindrus. Shermeen's coming back. She's coming back."

VINDRUS: "Impossible."

TONY: "No, Vindrus, it's not."

KOENIG: "She never got fully into your world, Vindrus. She only got half way. I knew what you were after. So I programmed the generator so it couldn't function on full power."

TONY: "It's no use, Vindrus. She'll be back. She didn't go all the way." (sound of Maya transforming heard in darkness) "There wasn't enough power."

Shermeen/Maya emerges from behind pillar & rushes into a cabinet.

SHERMEEN: "Vindrus. Vindrus, come here. I'm over here, Vindrus, come to me." (Vindrus approaches, incredulous) "Do not be afraid, Vindrus. We have to try again. They're waiting for me." (Vindrus walks round the cabinet) "If I cannot reach them, we will be destroyed."

WHISPERS (VO): "Stop. No. No, Vindrus. No, Vindrus."

Koenig & Tony creep up behind Vindrus. The other cabinet door opens before him.

WHISPERS (VO, various in chorus): "No, no, Vindrus." & occasional "Stop."

KOENIG: "Now, Tony, get him in."

Tony & Koenig push Vindrus forward into the cabinet. Koenig secures a bar across the door to seal it shut. Maya leaves the other cabinet. She transforms back into herself (merge). They switch on the generator.

SHERMEEN (faint VO): "Commander! Commander! Help me! Help me!"

TONY: "Come on, Maya, hurry it up."

MAYA: "I'm trying to remember the one on Psychon."

SHERMEEN (VO): "Commander!"

MAYA: "If I make a mistake, matter and antimatter will collide."

KOENIG: "Right. And this corner of the Universe will be blotted out."

SHERMEEN (VO): "Help me! Commander! Commander, help me!" (whine increases; flashes in Vindrus's cabinet as he hits the walls angrily; a faint transparent Shermeen appears)

MAYA (as reaches for red dial): "I can't remember."

SHERMEEN (hits wall, indicating; faintly): "Left...left..No, no, no, no, the green one. The green one." (abruptly Shermeen & Vindrus change places; he fades out) "Let me out." (Tony opens the door)

MAYA (holding her; she cries): "Oh, Shermeen..."

KOENIG (operating generator): "I'm setting this to self destruct. Better get the door open so we can get out of here."

TONY (goes to door): "There's gotta be a switch here somewhere. Wait a minute. He was standing there when he closed it." (puts hand to wall; door opens. They run out)

82.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The 4 run out of the temple.

The 4 run through the trees.

83.INT. TEMPLE

Generator glows red. Pan up to converter.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The 4 run through the forest.

84.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

CU command modules of both Eagles.

85.EXT. PLANET SURFACE

TONY: "I'll take Eagle One!"

KOENIG: "Alright, Maya, you go with him. Shermeen, you come with me. This way."

MAYA: "Okay."

90.INT. TEMPLE

Generator glows white. Spot explosions around.

87.INT. EAGLE 2 PILOT SECTION

Koenig & Shermeen enter & sit.

86.INT. EAGLE 1 PILOT SECTION

Tony & Maya enter. Tony lifts Fraser out of his seat & hands him to Maya.

TONY: "Get him in the back."

He takes the seat.

90.INT. TEMPLE

Spot explosions.

89.INT. EAGLE 2 PILOT SECTION

SHERMEEN: "What about Vindrus's people, they'll all be destroyed?"

KOENIG (operating console): "Only matter will be destroyed, not antimatter."

90.INT. TEMPLE

Spot explosions.

91.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

CU Eagle command modules. Trees beyond disappear & become space.

92.INT. EAGLE 1 PILOT SECTION

Tony pilots, Maya copilots.

TONY: "Hey, look at that. The whole planet's just "

92A.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

2 Eagles in space.

TONY (VO): " disappeared, right from under us."

INT. EAGLE 1 PILOT SECTION

MAYA: "It's gone back to being antimatter."

INT. EAGLE 2 PILOT SECTION

Koenig & Shermeen.

92A.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

2 Eagles in space. They fire their engines & move off.

93.INT. EAGLE 2 PILOT SECTION

OPERATIVE (VO): "Eagle Two. Commander, this is Moonbase Alpha. Can you read me?"

KOENIG: "Loud and clear, Alpha. Loud and clear. We're on our way back to Alpha now. Out."

Shermeen smiles widely at Koenig.

FADE OUT

Epilogue
INT. LIVING QUARTERS

Tony inspects his beer making machine, as beyond Koenig & Maya sit drinking.

TONY: "The problem is mechanical. It's not creative, no way. Proper flow, proper time, proper place, that's the trick." (Shermeen brings in a tray of hops & puts them by him) "Oh, Shermeen, you've brought me some new hops. Thanks. Be right with you, soon as I've fixed this."

SHERMEEN: "Not the new ones, Tony, they're the old ones."

TONY: "Yeah? Oh. Well, how about storing them for me until I'm ready, hmm?"

SHERMEEN: "I'm sorry, Tony. I don't have the room in Hydroponics anymore. I'm clearing out that area. No more hops." (Koenig & Maya smirk behind them)

TONY: "Hmm? No more hops?"

SHERMEEN: "Eddie Collins has a rather interesting theory on plant growth. And Eddie and I need that area for our own cultivating." (she leaves)

Tony looks round open-mouthed at the others.

MAYA: "How about that? A couple of days ago Shermeen was pining away due to unrequited love."

TONY: "Yeah. And now she looks straight through me like I was.."

KOENIG: "Antimatter."

TONY: "Yeah." (inspiration; points at Koenig) "Hey. Antimatter. Yeah." (turns to his machine) "Now if I could blend some antimatter hops with some hydroponic barley, or some antimatter barley with some hydroponic hops... " (behind, Maya & Koenig creep away) "Where would I get the antimatter grain from? Hmm. And then if I did come up with a great beer, would I be able to see it? Or taste it?"

FADE OUT