INDEPENDENCE DAY

Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
AN AMERICAN FLAG

Oddly still, posted in gray dusty sand.

WIDEN TO REVEAL:

EXT. LUNAR SURFACE - THE MOON

One small step for man, one large pile of garbage for moon-
kind.  Untouched for years, the flag stands next to the
castoff remains of the Apollo mission.  Slowly the discarded
equipment begins to RATTLE and SHAKE.

AN ENORMOUS SHADOW creeps towards us blotting out the horizon,
a loud RUMBLE is heard.

Suddenly we are covered in DARKNESS as the SHADOW engulfs us.
Only the lonely image of our EARTH hangs in the air, until a
huge silhouetted OBJECT suddenly blocks our view.

CUT TO:

EXT. NEW MEXICO - RADIO TELESCOPE VALLEY - NIGHT

A field of large satellite dishes scan the skies.

Super up: S.E.T.I. INSTITUTE, NEW MEXICO

INT. INSTITUTE - MONITORING CONTROL CENTER - SAME

A lone TECHNICIAN works on his putting skills.  Behind him,
wall to wall technical equipment quietly sifts through data.
A RED LIGHT begins to flash.

The Technician turns and slowly walks towards the source.  One
by one a series of LIGHTS turn on.  The Technician (TECH ONE)
grabs a pair of headphones.  His eyes widen.

INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - SAME

Sleepily a SUPERVISOR picks up the phone.

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

INT. CONTROL CENTER - SAME

TECH ONE
Shut up and listen.

He holds the phone up to a speaker, increases the volume.  A
strange FLUCTUATING TONE plays out in sequential patterns.

INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - SAME

HEARING it, the Supervisor BOLTS UP, banging his head on the
bunk above him.

INT. CONTROL CENTER - MOMENTS LATER

A pajama party on acid.  Five other technicians, in various
states of undress, hover anxiously around the main console.
The Supervisor enters, tying his robe.

SUPERVISOR
God, I hope it's not just another
damned Russian spy job.

TECH THREE
(overlapping)
Negative.  Computer affirms the
signal is unidentified.

TECH TWO
(hanging up the phone)
The boy from Air Res Traffic say the
skies are clear.  No terrestrial
launches.

TECH ONE
It's the real thing.  A radio
signal from another world.

The room becomes quiet as they realize that after years of
searching the heavens, they might have finally found
something.

SUPERVISOR
Let's not jump the gun.  Run a
trajectory source computation.

Tech Three slides over to another computer.

SUPERVISOR (cont'd)
I want to know exactly where it's
coming from.

TECH THREE
This can't be right.

Tech Three just stares at his screen in disbelief.

SUPERVISOR
What's wrong?

TECH THREE
Calculated distance from source is
at three hundred and eight five
thousand kilometers.
(turning to Supervisor)
It's coming from the moon.

The Supervisor reaches over and turns up the volume on the
speaker.  As they listen to the strange TONES we...

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - PENTAGON - SAME

Elevator doors OPENS revealing four star GENERAL GREY,
Commander in Chief U.S. Space Command.  Understandably
nervous, the COMMANDING OFFICER escorts him down the hall.

GENERAL GREY
Who else knows about this?

COMMANDING OFFICER
S.E.T.I. in New Mexico identified a
signal but they're even more
confused than we are.

The General shoots him a disapproving glance.

COMMANDING OFFICER
Excuse me, Sir.

He slides his security card through the lock and the doors fly
open.

INT. SPACE COMMAND - THE PENTAGON - CONTINUOUS

Banks of computers, Technicians and assistants working
feverishly through the night.  The Officers cross the room.

Super: SPACE COMMAND - THE PENTAGON

COMMANDING OFFICER
Satellite reception has been
impaired but we were able to get
these.

They arrive at a glass table.  The surrounding officers snap
to attention as a SECOND OFFICER quickly brings over a large
transparency.  We SEE a grainy image of a large vague OBJECT.

GENERAL GREY
Looks like a big turd.

The two Officers exchange a glance.

COMMANDING OFFICER
We estimate it has a diameter of
over five hundred and fifty
kilometers and a mass roughly one
fourth the size of our moon.

The General turns to the Second Officer, concerned.

GENERAL GREY
A meteor?

SECOND OFFICER
No Sir.  Definitely not.

GENERAL GREY
How do you know?

SECOND OFFICER
Well, er... it's slowing down.

GENERAL GREY
It's doing what?

SECOND OFFICER
It's... slowing down, Sir.

The General walks over to a phone, picks it up.

GENERAL GREY
Get me the Secretary of Defense.
(pause)
Then wake him up.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITMORE'S BEDROOM - FRE-DAWN

Laying in bed THOMAS J. WHITMORE reads a stack of papers.  The
phone RINGS.

WOMAN'S VOICE
(filtering through phone)
Hi. It's me.

The warm look on Whitmore's face tells us everything about how
he feels about the woman on the other end.

WHITMORE
Hi honey.  What time is it there?

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Dressed in a night gown, MRS. MARGARET WHITMORE unpacks her
briefing papers lays them out on a small desk as she talks.
Through the window we SEE Los Angeles at night.

MARGARET
Two in the morning.  I know I
didn't wake you?

WHITMORE
(filtered)
As a matter of fact you did.

MARGARET
(smiles)
Liar.

INT. WHITMORE BEDROOM - SAME

Whitmore sits up.

WHITMORE
I have a confession to make.
There's a beautiful young blonde
sleeping next to me.

Sleeping next to him, his six-year-old daughter, PATRICIA.

MARGARET
(filtered)
You didn't let her stay up
watching T.V. all night?

WHITMORE
Of course not.

The little girl stirs awake, looks up.

PATRICIA
Mommy?

WHITMORE
You're flying back right after the
luncheon?  Okay, here she is.

Whitmore hands her the phone and gets out of bed.  Habitably
he turns on the television.

T.V. - NEWS PROGRAM

Several 'Pundits' sit around a MaLaughlin-type news discussion
program.  The picture quality is snowy, static ridden.

PUNDIT #1
... the inexperience in public
office was inevitably going to
catch up with him.  He's
scarified his ideals for
'politics as usual.'

Whitmore ties on his robe as he adjusts the picture quality.

PUNDIT #2
...I said this during the
campaign.  Leadership as a pilot
in the Gulf War has no
relationship to political
leadership.  It's a different
animal...

Suddenly the channel changes.  A cartoon comes on.  Whitmore
turns to his daughter who holds he remote.

PATRICIA
(into phone)
Daddy let me watch Letterman.

WHITMORE
Traitor.

Whitmore exits the room.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

As Whitmore steps out of his bedroom, a Security guard snaps
to attention.  Someone hidden behind a newspaper, sits on a
bench.

SECURITY GUARD
Good morning, Mr. President.

WHITMORE
Good morning, George.

The paper is dropped revealing CONSTANCE HALBROOK, mid-
thirties, aggressive, sharp, the President's communications
director.  Quickly she gathers her things and follows
Whitmore.

INT. BREAKFAST TABLE - CONTINUOUS

Two servants are preparing breakfast as Whitmore and Constance
enter.  Whitmore sits down, grabs a coffee.

WHITMORE
You're up early this morning,
Connie.

She tosses him one of the many newspapers in her hands.

CONSTANCE
They're not attacking your
policies, they're attacking your
age.
(another paper; reading)
'...addressing Congress, Whitmore
seems less like the President and
more like the orphan child Oliver
asking, 'please sir, I'd like some
more.''

WHITMORE
Clever.

CONSTANCE
Age was never an issue when you
stuck to your gun.  You were
thought of as young and
idealistic.  But the message has
gotten lost.  There's too much
compromise, too much politics.

WHITMORE
(pointedly)
Isn't it amazing how fast everyone
can turn against you.

Realizing she may be pushing him too far, she hands him
another paper.

CONSTANCE
Well, the Orange County Register
has named you one of the ten
sexiest men of the year.

WHITMORE
You see, substance at last.

An AIDE appears at the doorway.

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

Whitmore goes to the phone, picks it up.

WHITMORE
Yes?  Say that again?

CUT TO:

AN OLD RUSSIAN SATELLITE

Drifting away from us the old Russian satellite becomes
smaller and smaller.  We PAN with it as we SEE it's on a
collision course with something huge.

Suddenly the satellite EXPLODES on IMPACT with the much larger
object that dwarfs the puny piece of hardware.  As huge as it
is, we get the feeling we've only seen a portion of the total.

NEW YORK SKYLINE - EARLY MORNING

A slow crane down from the Manhattan skyline, revealing...

EXT. CLIFFSIDE PARK - NEW JERSEY - MORNING

With the New York skyline across the Hudson behind them, old
men sit in this small park playing chess.  Unlike the others,
DAVID MARTIN is in his early thirties, sixties hippie meets
nineties yuppie nerd.

He concentrates intensely on his next move.  MOISHE. sixties.
smokes a cigar impatiently.

MOISHE
What are you waiting?  My social
security will expire, you'll still
be sitting there.

DAVID
I'm thinking.

MOISHE
So think already.

David makes a move.  Instantly Moishe counters his move.
David furls his brow in thought.

MOISHE
Again he's thinking.

Moishe reaches into a paper bag and retrieves a coffee in a
Styrofoam cup.

DAVID
You have any idea how long it
takes for those things to
decompose?

MOISHE
You don't move soon.  I'll begin to
decompose.

Just as David finally makes his move, Moishe counters again.
David shoots him a look and stares back down to the board.

MOISHE (cont'd)
David, I've been meaning to talk
with you.  It's nice you've been
spending so much time with me,
but...

DAVID
Dad, don't start.

MOISHE
I'm only saying, it's been what?
Four years, you still haven't
signed your divorce papers.

DAVID
Three years.

MOISHE
Three, four.  Move on.  It's not
healthy.

Moishe takes a big puff on the cigar and coughs.

DAVID
Look who's talking healthy.

Suddenly David's beeper goes off.

MOISHE
How many times is that now?  You
trying to get fired?

David moves his queen.

DAVID
Checkmate.  See you tomorrow, Dad.

He gives his father a quick kiss and hurries away.

MOISHE
That's not checkmate I can
still... Oh.
(yelling after him)
You could let an old man win once
in a while, it wouldn't kill you.

CUT TO:

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - MINUTES LATER

David pedals his bike through mid-town Manhattan.  He arrives
at COMPACT CABLE SYSTEMS.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICES - LATER

His bike hoisted on his shoulder, David squeezes through the
revolving doors. MARTY GILBERT, short, nervous and harried,
comes rushing over.

MARTY
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.  What's the big emergency?

MARTY
Started this morning.  Every
channel is making like it's
nineteen fifty.  Snow, static, all
kinds of distortions.  No one
knows what the hell is going on.

David deposits his bike in the kitchenette as Marty tosses his
coke bottle in the trash.  David retrieves it.

DAVID
Damn it, Marty.  There's a reason
we have bins labeled 'recycle.'

Finding more bottles in the trash, David turns to Marty
accusingly.

DAVID
What the hell is this?

MARTY
So sue me.

Before David can say anything, Marty ushers him out of the
room.

INT. TRANSMISSION FEED - CONTINUOUS

Technicians are working feverishly.  Clearly every monitor is
experiencing varying degrees of signal disruption.  David
moves over to the main console.

DAVID
Did you try to switch to
transponder channels?

MARTY
Please, would I be this panicked
if it was that simple?

David examines the readouts, puzzled.

DAVID
Let's retrofit the dish to another
satellite.

MARTY
We've tried.  It's not working.
It's almost as though they
weren't even there.

David looks up, puzzled.

DAVID
That's impossible.

CUT TO:

A TELEVISION SET

Bad reception.  A hand SMOCKS the side of it.  No use.

WIDEN TO REVEAL:

INT. MOBILE HOME - DAY

Eleven-year-old TROY BRENNON tries to fix the television.
His older brother MIGUEL, seventeen, cooks breakfast.

MIGUEL
Stop it.

TROY
It's all fuzzy.

MIGUEL
You're gonna break it.  Just leave
it alone.  Here, take your
medicine.

Miguel sits a small bottle of medicine and a spoon down in
front of Troy.  Troy pushes the bottle away.

TROY
I don't need it.

MIGUEL
(pushing it back)
Just take it, dick head.
(turning to his sister)
Alicia!  Make sure he takes his
medicine.

His sister, ALICIA, fourteen, hormones kicking in, testing
boundaries, listens to her walkman while putting on too much
makeup.  Miguel throws a dish towel to get her as Troy hits
the television again.

EXT. TRAILER PARK - SAME - MORNING

A beat up pick-up truck comes down a dirt road and skids to a
halt on the gravel next to the Brennon Mobile Home at this
small shabby countryside trailer park.  An angry FARMER jumps
out, slamming his door.

INT. BRENNON MOBILE HOME - SAME

Alicia opens the front door and smiles flirtatiously at the
angry farmers, LUCAS, who marches over.  Miguel edges her out
of the doorway, wanting to handle this himself.

MIGUEL
Morning, Lucas.

Lucas holds a bowl full of rotted vegetables.

LUCAS
You like these!  I've got a whole
goddamned crop full!

Unceremoniously, he dumps them at Miguel's feet.

LUCAS (cont'd)
Where the hell is your father?
You know what time it is?

MIGUEL
He had to re-fuel.  There musta
been a problem.

LUCAS
We both know what the problem is.
He's a damned nut case, is what he
is.  I musta been out of my mind.

Troy SMACKS the television again.

MIGUEL
Troy, stop it!  I swear to God!

LUCAS
Miguel, if he's not in the air in
twenty minutes, that's it.  I'm
getting someone else.

Lucas storms away.  Again, Troy whacks at the television.

MIGUEL
Stop it, Troy!  I swear to God!

Determined, Troy HITS the television again.  This time the
picture goes out completely.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE - THE ORBIT - SAME

Rolling over us, the immense under-belly of this enormous
craft obliterates our view.  A loud SCREECH.  Suddenly the
bottom begins to SEGMENT.

Dozens of large sections begins to DISENGAGE, extracting
themselves, twisting away from the larger bilge.

The separated SEGMENTS themselves are enormous.  Slowly they
twist downwards on a collision course to the blue planet
below... Earth.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - BASEMENT CORRIDORS - DAY

Under a barrage of questions from her own staff, Constance
hurries down the corridor.

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

CONSTANCE
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.

CONSTANCE
Our official position is we don't
have an official position.

AIDE #3
Connie, what the hell is going on?

Constance escapes into the elevator, turns around.

CONSTANCE
(smiles confidently)
Come on, people.  Would I keep you
guys out of the loop?

AIDE #1
In a second!

AIDE #2
Absolutely.

Before she can retort, the elevator doors close.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - WIDE SHOT - SAME

The President, General Grey, the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE and
White House Chief of Staff ALBERT NIMZIKI are gathered around
the couch.

SEC. OF DEFENSE
At the moment, our satellites are
somewhat unreliable.  Isn't it
possible that 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
Forgive me, but with the little
information we do have, the only
thing that would accomplish is
turn one dangerous falling object
into many.

Just then the door opens and Constance enters.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
What's the damage?

CONSTANCE
The press is making up their own
stories at this point.

NIMZIKI
(to General Grey)
Get on the horn with Atlantic
Command.  Let's upgrade the
situation to DEFCON 3.

GENERAL GREY
That's not your call to make, Mr.
Nimziki.

CONSTANCE
Isn't that a little premature?

NIMZIKI
I don't think so.

SEC OF DEFENSE
We're two days away from the fourth
of July.  We have over fifty percent
of our armed forces on weekend leave,
not to mention the troops and
commanders we have in town for the
Fourth of July parade.  We call them
back now, we're sending up a major red
flag.

They go quiet as Commanding Officer from Space Command dashes
into the room.

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

NIMZIKI
Well that's good news.

COMMANDING OFFICER
Not really.

He lays out the diagrams and photos on the table.  Everyone
gathers around.

COMMANDING OFFICER
Part of it has broken off into
nearly three dozen other pieces.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
Pieces?

COMMANDING OFFICER
Smaller than the whole, yet over
fifteen miles in width themselves.

NIMZIKI
Where are they heading?

COMMANDING OFFICER
They should be entering our
atmosphere within the next twenty-
five minutes.

The room is silenced.  All eyes turn to the President who says
nothing.  Nimziki leans in close to him.

NIMZIKI
Like it or not, we're at DEFCON 3.
Recall the troops and put them on
yellow alert.

CUT TO:

YELLOW LIGHTS FLASHING ON

as an ALARM quickly BUZZES. David leans into frame and opens
the door to the microwave.  We WIDEN to reveal...

INT. DAVID'S CUBICLE - COMPACT CABLE - DAY

David retrieves his home-make cup-a-soup.  We SEE this cubicle
clearly has the David touch; ecology posters, plants, tons of
computers and electronic gizmos.

MARTY
Please, tell me you're getting
something.

Marty enters, looking over David's shoulder as he eats.

DAVID
There's good news and bad news.

MARTY
What's the bad news?

DAVID
You're in meal penalty for
disturbing my lunch.

MARTY
And the good news is you won't
charge me.

DAVID
No.  The good news is I found the
problem and it's not our
equipment.  There's some weird
signal embedded within the
satellite feed.

MARTY
That's the good news?

David slides over to another computer and turns on an
intricate computation program.

DAVID
Yes, because the analog signal has
a definite sequential digital
patterns embedded within it.  When
I find the exact binary sequence
and I apply a phase reversed
signal to that calculated spectra
analyzer I built you last
Christmas, we should be able to
block out the overlay completely...

MARTY
...and we'll be the only guys in
town with a clear picture?  That's
my man.

CUT TO:

EXT. CALIFORNIA FARMLANDS, IMPERIAL VALLEY - DAY

Racing over back roads behind a long open field, Miguel rides
his beat-up motor bike, searching.  Looking up he SEES
something in the air.

MIGUEL'S POV - AN OLD BI-WING AIRPLANE

converted into a crop-duster, BUZZES overhead.  Spraying
insecticide wildly, the plane zigzags over the field.

MIGUEL
(yelling)
Russell!  God damn it, Russell!

Looking down from the cockpit, RUSSELL BRENNON waves stupidly.
Shaggy blonde hair and two days' growth, Russell is the image
of a fifty-one-year-old little boy.

Miguel follows him below, screaming at him.  Russell, flying
recklessly, looks down at Miguel not understanding.  By the
time he looks back he SEES...

A LINE OF TREES

at the edge of the field, nearly on top of him.  In a trick
move, Russell turns the plane on ITS SIDE, and SLICES through
the narrow gap between the trees.

Miguel screams with delight at his prowess.  Miguel looks
pissed.

ANGLE - OTHER SIDE OF TREES - MOMENTS LATER

Miguel races over, skidding to a halt next to the landed Bi-
with plane.

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

RUSSELL
(climbing down)
I'm bringing home the bacon.
Earning my keep.  And doing a fine
job if I do say so myself.

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

RUSSELL
You sure?

MIGUEL
Damn it, he was doing you a favor.
You know how hard it is to find
someone who doesn't think you're
completely crazy?
(MORE)
What are we supposed to do now?
Huh?  Where are we supposed to go
now?

Pissed, Miguel peels away, kicking gravel back at Russell.
Pathetically, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out a
bottle of Jack Daniels.  He takes a healthy swig.

CUT TO:

EXT. IRAQI DESERT - REFUGEE CAMP - NIGHT

A tent city.  Ubiquitous overcrowding and poverty.  Several
hundred refugees settle down for the night.

Super: Northern Desert, Iraq

A BEDOUIN stokes a small fire besides his family's tent.
Suddenly a group of shouting SCREAMING TRIBES PEOPLE come
rushing past him.

The Bedouin watches them with confusion.  Overcome with
curiosity he goes against the tide of people, up the hillside.

As the Bedouin reaches the top of the hillside, his mouth
falls open, aghast as he SEES...

THE SKIES - THE PHENOMENON

Creeping from across the horizon above the rocky mountain
terrain, a wide FIREBALL high in the sky, flaring and
exploding.  A terrifying sight.

CUT TO:

EXT. USS EISENHOWER - AIR CARRIER - ESTABLISHING - DAWN

Super: Battle Carrier, USS Eisenhower - Persian Gulf

INT. USS EISENHOWER - RADAR ROOM - DAY

A loud KLAXON ALARM is ringing out.  The FIRST LIEUTENANT
comes rushing in.

LIEUTENANT
Ensign, status?

SAILOR #1
We have a total radar black out
over a thirteen kilometer area.

The Lieutenant moves over to the main radar screen.  The
entire upper portion of the screen is BLANK.  And the blank
area is MOVING.

LIEUTENANT
Have a complete diagnostic run...

SAILOR #1
Excuse me sir, radar may be
malfunctioning but infrared is off
the map!

He diverts the Lieutenant's attention to another screen; A
BRIGHT SEA OF RED light bleeds off the map.

LIEUTENANT
Get the CINC Atlantic Command on
the line.

CUT TO:

INT. PENTAGON - COMMANDING CENTER - DAY

A technical OFFICER rips off a data sheet as it shoots out of
the printer and rushes over to the Commanding Officer.

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

COMMANDING OFFICER
A second sighting?

OFFICER
Yes Sir, this just came in from
the Eisenhower.

The Commanding Officer grabs a phone laying off the hook.

COMMANDING OFFICER
Correction, we have two confirmed
visual contacts.  One over Iraq,
one over the Pacific.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - DAY

The room is packed.  The President and his chief advisors are
there along with the Joint Chief of Staff.  Representatives
from the Atlantic Command and U.S. Space Command have formed
small clusters around telephones.

GENERAL GREY
Where in the Pacific?
(turning to the President)
They've spotted one off the
California coast line.

Surrounded by the Secret Service, the President is speechless.
Constance Halbrook comes rushing into the room and whispers to
the President.

PRESIDENT
Put it on.

Constance moves over to a cabinet and turns on the T.V. (the
reception is still fuzzy, picture 'rolling').  The CNN News
broadcast shows the phenomenon over Novosibirsk, Russia.
There is mass hysteria behind the reporter.

NEWSCASTER
(filtered)
...sightings of this atmospheric
phenomenon have been reported here
in Novosibirsk, Russia and other
parts of Siberia.  Moving too
slowly to be a comet or meteor,
astronomers are baffled as to its
origin...

Everyone is locked onto the television, mesmerized.

NEWSCASTERS (cont'd)
(filtered)
...Widespread panic has gripped
the countryside as thousands have
taken to the streets and clogged
the highways.  Hundreds have been
injured...

General Grey confers with the Atlantic command CINC.  He nods,
turns to the President and whispers.

GENERAL GREY
Mr. President, we have an AWAC on
the west coast.  E.T.A. with
contact point, three minutes.

INT. AWAC AIRPLANE - DAY

Wall to wall computer, radar and intelligence gathering
equipment.  Technicians frantically try to adjust as the
system goes hay wire.

RADAR TECH #1
(reporting into radio)
It's no use.  Side radar doesn't
see a thing!

RADAR TECH #2
(reporting)
That's correct.  We're IMC blind,
sir.

We TRACK across them over to the pilots and into the cockpit.
Cloudy skies.  The PILOT squints out the window as he speaks.

PILOT
Negative.  We still have zero
visibility.

EXT. AWAC AIRPLANE - CLOUDY SKIES - DAY

ZOOMING overhead as we SEE the AWAC sailing through a thick
cloudy sky.

Super: Pacific Coastline, California

The AWAC disappears from view into the clouds.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - SAME

The President and his top advisors are gathered around a
speaker phone listening to the pilot of the AWAC.

PILOT
(filtered)
Instrumentation is malfunctioning.
We can't get any kind of reading
on what's in front of us.

INT. AWAC - SAME

The Pilot squints as he tries to see through the clouds.

PILOT
Wait a minute, it may be clearing.

Suddenly the clouds part before us and we're face to face with
a WALL OF FLAMES.

INT. AWAC - SAME

The speaker phone cracks and distorts.

PILOT
(filtered)
Jesus God!  The sky's on fire!

EXT. AWAC AND PHENOMENON - SAME

The AWAC attempts to climb sharply as we get our first real
look at the atmospheric phenomenon.  Majestic and monstrous.
The AWAC is not going to be able to make it.

Quickly it is ENGULFED in the flames.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - SAME

The phone line goes dead.  General Grey spins to an AIDE.

GENERAL GREY
Get them back on line.

AIDE #1
(on other phone)
Line's gone, sir.

The ATLANTIC COMMAND CINC, turns from a different phone.

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

CHIEF OF STAFF
How much time do we have?

AAC CINC
Less than ten minutes.

NIMZIKI
(turning to aid)
Organize a military escort to
Crystal Mountain.

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

... The President hesitates, he turns to Constance.

PRESIDENT
Can we expect the same kid of
panic here as in Russia?

CONSTANCE
More than likely.

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

Torn, the President grapples with a decision.  Finally...

PRESIDENT
                I'm not leaving.

NIMZIKI
We must maintain a working
government in a time of crisis...

PRESIDENT
I want the Vice President,
Secretary of Defense, the whole
Cabinet and the Joint Chiefs taken
to a secured location.
I'm staying here.  I am not going
to add to a public hysteria that
could cost lives.

NIMZIKI
But, Mr. President...

PRESIDENT
So far these things have not
become hostile.  For the moment
let's assume they won't.
(to Constance)
Connie, let's issue statements
advising people not to panic, to
stay home and take cover.

Constance issues commands to her staff as they quickly
exit along with most people in the room.  General Grey goes
over to the President.

GENERAL GREY
With your permission, Mr.
President, I'd like to remain my
your side.

PRESIDENT
I had a feeling you would.

GENERAL GREY
Sir, what happens if they do
become hostile?

PRESIDENT
Then God help us.

CUT TO:

INT. DAVID'S CUBICLE - DAY

On the T.V. behind David, news footage of the phenomenon in
Russia plays silently.  Oblivious, David works his computers.

FEMALE CO-WORKER
(stopping in doorway)
David, are you watching this?

David waves her away, deep in concentration.  Suddenly a
computer BEEPS.  Excitedly David prints out his finding.  He
grabs it and exits.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Engrossed in his printout, David walks past his co-workers who
are glued to the distorted picture on the television, watching
the phenomenon.

INT. MARTY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Marty stares at his television watching General Grey
addressing the press.  David enters, staring at his reading.

DAVID
I've got a lock on the signal
pattern.  We can filter it out.

MARTY
(distracted)
Huh?  Oh, good, hood.

DAVID
Strange thing is, if my
calculations are right it'll be
gone in approximately seven hours
anyway.  The signal reduces itself
every time it recycles.
Eventually it will disappear.  Are
you listening?

MARTY
(still glued to T.V.)
Can you believe this?

DAVID
What re you talking about?

MARTY
Haven't you been watching?

David turns for the first time to the television and sees the
phenomenon.  Constance comes on addressing the press.

CONSTANCE
(filtered)
...so far the phenomenon has not
caused any damage.  In all
likelihood it won't...

INT. WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM - SAME

More reporters rush in from the back quickly setting up as
this hastily called press conference continues.

CONSTANCE
...everyone should remain calm.
Take cover where you can but the
important thing is not to panic.

INT. BRENNON MOBILE HOME - SAME

Miguel, Alicia and Troy watch the static riddled T.V.

CONSTANCE
(filtered)
...we have a fix on three
different occurrences about to
appear over American cities.  One
is headed toward Los Angeles...

INT. MARTY'S OFFICE - SAME

CONSTANCE
(filtered)
...the other two are on our
Eastern seaboard headed towards
New York and Washington, D.C...

Suddenly hectic CO-WORKER #2 appear at the door.

CO-WORKER #2
Jamie says this building has an
old bomb shelter.  We're heading
down there now.

MARTY
(dry; to David)
Feel no shame in hiding.

INT. HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS

A crowd of people head down the hall for the shelter while
others stay glued to the set.  There is a mix of fascination
and panic.  David watches the commotion, dumb struck.

MARTY
Oh shit, I better call my wife.

INT. AIRPORT DINER - LATE MORNING

Depressed Russell nurses a beer at the counter.  Three FLIGHT
MECHANICS walk in, having a good laugh.  One of them spots
Russell and moves over to him.

MECHANIC #1
Hey, Russ, heard you had a little
trouble this morning.  Dusted the
wrong field?

The Mechanics laugh.  Russell tries to ignore them.

MECHANIC #2
I know, you're probably still a
little confused from your hostage
experience.

MECHANIC #2
Hostage experience?  Something
happen to you, Russ?

MECHANIC #1
He ain't never told you!?  Seems
years back our boy here had been
kidnapped by aliens.  Did all
kinds of experiments on him and
such.  Tell him, Russ.

RUSSELL
Not today, guys.  Okay.

Russell gets up and heads for the door.

MECHANIC #1
You just gotta get a couple more
beers in him, he'll tell you all
about it.  Crazy stuff.  Won't
you, Russ?

EXT. SMALL AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS

The Mechanic follows Russell outside, his buddies in tow.

MECHANIC #1
Hey, Russ, when they took you up
in their space ship, they do any
sexual things to you?

The mechanics crack up laughing.  Suddenly the things around
them begin to RUMBLE.  The SHADOW engulfs them, silencing the
Mechanics.

Panicked they turn and RUN AWAY.  Russell just looks up at the
sky, grabs his Jack Daniels and takes another swig.

EXT. TRAILER PARK - SAME

Dogs bark and people stumble out of their trailers as an
enormous SHADOW creeps over them.

INT. BRENNON MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS

The windows grow DARK and the room begins to RUMBLE.  Miguel
rushes to the door, ushering his siblings out.

EXT. TRAILER PARK - CONTINUOUS

Alicia and Troy step out the door, stopping dead in their
tracks.  Miguel follows them only to look up and SEE...

THE PHENOMENON - DARK CLOUDS

The flames are burning out, replaced by huge plumes of dark
smoke billowing around the edges of the phenomena.  Only small
traces of extinguishing flames illuminate it.

INT. COMPACT CABLE - STAIRWELL - SAME

David pushes past the people making their way down, fighting
against the tide.  Another CO-WORKER (#3) stops halfway.

CO-WORKER #3
Aren't you coming, David?

DAVID
No way, I've got to see this.

EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT - SAME

Frightened tourists run for cover as the colossal SHADOW
approaches.  Reflected in the water below we SEE the fiery
apparition transfigure into the dark foreboding clouds.

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL - WASHINGTON, D.C. - SAME

The SHADOW writhes up the detailed statue of Lincoln,
devouring him completely until we are left in total darkness.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAYS - SAME

People are being evacuated from their offices.  Patricia, the
President's daughter, breaks away from her nanny.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - SAME

The President talks on the phone.  Constance waits nearby.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
(into phone)
Of course, Russia and the United
States are in this together.  Yes,
Mr. President, you have my word.
Yes, Das Vedanya.

The President hangs up.

CONSTANCE
What is their position?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
I think he was drunk.

Patricia bursts through the door and runs into her father's
arms, terrified.  A SECRET SERVICE man appears.

SECRET SERVICE GUY
Mr. President, we have to go.

Abruptly, the room DARKENS as it begins to RUMBLE.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - SAME

The long, dark SHADOW moves across the entire White House,
engulfing it in darkness.

EXT. HUDSON RIVER, NEW YORK - STATUE OF LIBERTY - SAME

In the distance we SEE the mutated phenomenon's dark gray
clouds nearing Miss. Liberty.  As it approaches we SEE the New
York skyline begin to darken.

EXT. BLACK TOP BASKET BALL COURT, NEW YORK - SAME

Kids playing basket ball.  A young BOY stops playing, staring
skyward.  One by one, they all look upwards, stunned as a long
dark SHADOW creeps over them.

With a loud CRASH, several New York Cabs SLAM into one another
in the street.  Two more cars crash into them.  A pile up
ensues.

EXT. WALL STREET - SECOND LATER

Foot traffic stops as the long SHADOW crawls over the entire
area.

EXT. ROOFTOP - COMPACT CABLE - SAME

Large satellite dishes beset a doorway to the roof which flies
open.  David steps out just as a long, dark SHADOW covers over
him, sending the city into darkness.  David looks up to SEE...

SKYLINE AND ALIEN CRAFT

Protruding through the dark clouds we get a glimpse of the
underbelly of a colossal ALIEN CRAFT, its outer veneer of
smoke and clouds beginning to fade away.

Below we see PANIC, cabs SLAMMING into one another, people
staring, people screaming.  No one knows how to react.

David runs to the other side of the rooftop, overlooking
Central Park, to get a better look.

DAVID'S POV - CENTRAL PARK - SAME

The entire park is plunged into darkness as the craft above
blots out of the sun.  Amazing as it may seem, the hovering craft
BLANKETS THE ENTIRE PARK and BEYOND.  We still have NOT seen
an entire craft.

DAVID
(realizing)
My God.  The signal.

EXT. LOS ANGELES BASIN - WIDE ANGLE - LATER MORNING

A panoramic view of the Los Angeles basin.  Slowly filling the
screen, we SEE a portion of the enormous space craft as it
creeps towards the city, obliterating our view.

EXT. HILLSIDE RESIDENTIAL AREA - SAME

A station wagon, filled with kids and a harried HOUSEWIFE,
comes to a stop.  The passenger door opens and a young six-
year-old boy, DYLAN steps out.

HOUSEWIFE
Dylan, tell your mom you can stay
overnight again Thursday.

Suddenly a car SAILS over a nearby hill in front of them,
hitting the ground with a BANG.  Two more cars follows, air
bound.  As the Housewife turns she SEES...

SPACE SHIP - SAME

Rising over the mountain we SEE the Space Ship as it nears the
city, blocking out the sunshine.

Panicked, the Housewife hits the gas and peels out, leaving a
confused Dylan staring skyward.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Two people sleep as Dylan runs into the room.

DYLAN
Mommy, look at!

He rushes away.  The SHADOW moves past the window, darkening
the room.  His mother, JASMINE DUBROW, stirs.

JASMINE
(re: darkness)
It's too early, baby.

She turns back over.  Suddenly the room briefly RUMBLES.

MAN
Earthquake?

JASMINE
Not even a four pointer.  Go back
to sleep.

Shrugging, the man does.

HOLLYWOOD SIGN (FORMERLY SC. 72) - SAME

In Los Angeles.  The SHADOW slowly covers the sign.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - WINDOW - SAME

The President and his daughter cautiously approach the window
staring in awe at the amazing sight above them.  Several
others approach from behind.

Cautiously some people begin to walk outside, staring up at
the leviathan, mouths agape.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - SAME

Slowly staff members approach, gazing out the window.
Constance steps up behind the President.

CONSTANCE
What do we do now?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
Address the nation.  There are a
lot of very frightened people out
there right now.

CONSTANCE
Yeah.  I'm one of them.

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - ALIEN CRAFT - SAME

All of Washington is under the shadow of this gargantuan alien
craft.  A stunning tableau.

CUT TO:

INT. JASMINE'S DEBROW'S BEDROOM - SAME

The man sleeping next to Jasmine's beagle BOOMER drops
Steven's tennis shoes on top of him, waking him.

JASMINE
He's trying to impress you.

STEVE
He's doing a good job.

He pats the dog on the head and takes the shoes.  Steven gets
up and makes his way to the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Steve takes a pee, he SEES out the window a family packing
up their car, others standing around staring at something in
the distance.  A HELICOPTER flies overhead.

STEVE
Neighbors are moving.  I think
they're tired of earthquakes.

He finished and flushes.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Steve enters the living room.  The television is playing a
news broadcast.

NEWSCASTER
...with little damage reported to
the southland area.  People are
advised not to panic...

STEVE
Hon, something's on the table 'bout
the quake.

Jasmine sits up in bed, yelling out to Steve.

JASMINE
Dylan out there?

Steve turns, looking for Dylan when the doggie door pops open
and Dylan crawls through.

STEVE
What have you been up to, Sport?

DYLAN
(holding his gun)
Shooting aliens.

Steve musses up the boy's hair, smiling.

JASMINE
(entering)
Coffee?

Steve mumbles an affirmative as he exits.

EXT. JASMINE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Steve picks up the morning paper and opens it.  He doesn't
notice the DOZENS of neighbors quickly packing up and rushing
to get away as he reads the paper oblivious.

JASMINE (O.S.)
You want milk with your coffee?

Jasmine appears behind him, her view, too, obscured by the
open newspaper.  Suddenly another HELICOPTER room overhead.
Annoyed, Steve lowers his paper.

STEVE AND JASMINE'S POV

As the paper is lowered we SEE the helicopter SWOOP down.  As
it flies away we SEE...

THE ALIEN CRAFT

Covering all of Los Angeles.  This is the first time we see
the entire craft.  It is stupendous.  Steve's jaw hits the
floor.  The milk goes CRASHING as Jasmine SCREAMS.

CUT TO:

INT. STAIRWELL - DAY

Running for all he's worth, David sprints down the stairs.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Dashing off the stairs, David stops seeing that the room is
now completely empty.  The wall of monitors play for no one.
David walks up to one, adjusting the volume.

T.V. - CNN BROADCAST - (DISTORTED BROADCAST SIGNAL)

A space ship logo spins next to the words VISITORS: CONTACT OR
CRISIS.  Wolf Blitzer comes on screen live from the Pentagon.

WOLF BLITZER
Pentagon officials are reporting
more ships have just arrived over
the capitals of India, England and
Germany.

As he speaks we get quick glimpses of the other ships.

MARTY (O.S.)
I know, babycakes.  Calm down.

David spins around at the sound of the voice but the room is
still empty.  David leans down and looks under a desk where he
finds Marty still on the phone with his wife.

DAVID
Tell her to get the kids and leave
town.

MARTY
What happened?

DAVID
(yells)
Just do it!

Marty realizes David is dead serious.

MARTY
Babycakes, pack the kids up and
take them to your mother's.  Don't
ask.  Go.

Mary hangs up, crawls out from under the table.

MARTY (cont'd)
Okay, why did I just send my
family to Atlanta?

DAVID
Remember I told you that the
signal hidden within our satellite
signal is slowly recycling down to
extinction.

MARTY
Not really...

DAVID
That signal.  It's a countdown.

MARTY
(confused)
A countdown to what?

DAVID
Think.  It's like in chess.  First
you strategically position your
pieces.  Then, when the timing's
right.  You strike.

David motions to the television.

BLITZER
...there are additional
unconfirmed sightings over Japan,
the Mediterranean, and China...

DAVID
They are positioning themselves
all over the world and using this
one signal to synchronize their
efforts.  In approximately six
hours the signal will disappear
and the countdown will be over.

MARTY
Then what?

DAVID
Checkmate.

Marty takes a beat to digest.  Then, grabbing the phone....

MARTY
I gotta call my brother, my
bookie, my lawyer... fuck my
lawyer...

David also grabs a phone.  Suddenly the bank of monitors
synchronize into one enormous image across the entire video
wall; the President addressing the nation.

INT. PRESS ROOM, WHITE HOUSE - SAME

The President stands at the podium giving his address.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
My fellow Americans, a historic
and unprecedented event has taken
place.  The question as to whether
or not we are alone in the
universe has been answered...

ANGLE - SIDE ENTRANCE TO PRESS ROOM

As Constance watches the President, she unconsciously mouths
the words of his speech, after all, she did write them.  A
PRESS AIDE tugs on her sleeve.  She tries to wave her off.

PRESS AIDE
He says he's your husband.

Her expression drops.  She takes the phone from her.

CONSTANCE
What do you want?

DAVID
(filtered)
You have to leave the White House.

CONSTANCE
This is not the time or the place
to have this same old discussion.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICES - SAME

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

INT. SIDE OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - DAY

Impatient, Constance tries to get off the phone.

CONSTANCE
In case you haven't noticed, we're
in a little bit of a crisis here.

DAVID
(filtered)
I've worked with embedded loading.
They're communicating with a
hidden signal.  They're going to
attack...

CONSTANCE
You're being paranoid.

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

Constance hangs up.  Her face betrays mixed emotions.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICES - SAME

David stares at the phone, pissed.  Something on T.V.
catches his attention.  Through the snowy image he SEES...

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
(filtered)
...My staff and I are remaining
here at the White House while we
attempt to establish
communication...

Hanging up the phone, David sprints for the exit.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE (cont'd)
...so remain calm.  If you are
compelled to leave these cities,
please do so in a safe and orderly
fashion.

SMASH CUT TO:

CABS SLAMMING TOGETHER - NEW YORK CITY STREETS

The rush to get away creeps slowly as cars jam the streets in
total grid-lock.  David pedals his bike furiously through
traffic.

EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - NEW YORK - DAY

The mass exodus has reached the bridge.  Total congestion.
David fights his way through.

EXT. CLIFFSIDE, NEW JERSEY - LATER

The New York skyline behind him across the Hudson, David jumps
off his bike, and races towards a row of tract houses.

EXT. MOISHE'S TRACT HOUSE - SECONDS LATER

David BANGS on the door.  It flies open.  Moishe is holding a
hunting rifle, pointing it at David.

DAVID
Pops!

MOISHE
The television said they've
started with the looting already
Vultures.

DAVID
You still got the Olds?

MOISHE
You want to borrow the car?  You
don't have a license.

DAVID
That's okay.  You're driving.

CUT TO:

INT. JASMINE'S HOUSE - DAY

Steve, wearing his Marine flight officer uniform, shoves the
last of his things into his duffel bag.  We notice there are
small figurines of dolphins everywhere.  Jasmine hovers
nervously behind him.

JASMINE
You can't go.  Call them back.

STEVE
Baby, you know how it is.  I have
to report to El Toro right away.

JASMINE
You said you were on leave for the
Fourth.

STEVE
They cancelled it.  Why are you
acting like this?

Jasmine grabs the blinds and yanks them away.  We SEE the
alien craft through the window.

JASMINE
Why?  That's why.  That thing
scares the piss out of me.

EXT. DEBROW HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Dylan sits behind the wheel pretending to drive.  Steve grabs
him, pulling him out.  He reaches into his duffel, grabs a small
brown paper bag.

STEVE
Here.  I got these for you.  Be
careful with them.

Dylan opens the bag; fireworks.  Jasmine walks over.

DYLAN
Cool.

Steve tosses his gear into the back, opens his door.

JASMINE
Wait.  I have to tell you
something.

STEVE
What?

JASMINE
(loses her nerve)
Be careful.

STEVE
Look, after your shift tonight,
why don't you grab Dylan and come
stay with me on base.

JASMINE
Really?  You don't mind?

STEVE
(smiling)
Naw.  I'll just tell my other
girlfriends they can't come over
tonight.

Pissed, she hits him.  He loves it.

JASMINE
You know, you're not as charming
as you think you are.

STEVE
Yes, I am.

JASMINE
Dick-weed!

STEVE
Butt-munch.

They kiss.  Steve hops into his car and peels out.  Jasmine
takes the bag from Dylan.

JASMINE
I'll take these.

DYLAN
Mommmmmm...

CUT TO:

EXT. JERSEY - HIGHWAY - LATER THAT DAY

A perfectly preserved '68 Olds drives cautiously down the
highway.  Around him we see other cars packed to the gills as
they make their escape from New York.

INT. OLDS - SAME

Not the most confident driver, Moishe holds the steering wheel
close to his chest.

MOISHE
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?

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

DAVID
They don't know this.

MOISHE
And you're going to educate them?
Tell me something, you're so smart
how come you spent eight years at
M.I.T. to become a cable
repairman?

DAVID
Dad...

MOISHE
All I'm saying is they've got
people who handle these things,
David.  They want HBO, they'll
call you.

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL LOUNGE, LOS ANGELES - LATE AFTERNOON

Mrs. Whitmore is at a house phone.  Behind her we see several
news crews waiting for interviews.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
(filtered through phone)
I want you out of there.

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

INT. WHITMORE BEDROOM - WHITE HOUSE - SAME

The President sits on his bed, his daughter lays next to him,
watching T.V.  The signal distortion is getting worse.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
Okay, fine but the second your
interviews are done, I have a
helicopter ready to take you to
Nellis Air Force...

MARGARET
(filtered)
How's the munchkin?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
She's glued to the T.V., just like
the rest of the world.  I love you
too.  Here she is...

He hands Patty the phone as General Grey and Nimziki appear in
the doorway.  The President walks over to them.

GENERAL GREY
More ships keep arriving, fifteen
in total so far.

NIMZIKI
This is crazy.  We're loosing our
first strike capabilities!

GENERAL GREY
We're trying to communicate with
them on all frequencies but we're
getting nowhere.  Atlantic Command
is working on a type of visual
communication.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
What the hell are they up to?

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAILER PARK - NIGHT

A long crowded highway of people trying to escape from Los
Angeles can be seen in the distance.  The huge space craft
hovering behind them.

Miguel is on the roof of the trailer, adjusting the T.V.
antenna trying to get a picture.  Suddenly the image clears
and we SEE a group of people in a crowded hallway.

REPORTER
(filtered)
...a local crop duster was
arrested today attempting to land
at Edwards Air Force Base...

On the T.V. we SEE Russell being escorted to a police car.
Mortified, Miguel can't believe what he's seeing.

RUSSELL
They've got to do something.
I was abducted by space aliens ten
years ago.  They did all kinds of
experiments on me.  They've been
studying us for years, learning
our weakness.  We've go to do
something before they kill us all!

TROY (O.S.)

Just as Troy starts to climb up, Miguel changes the channel to
Mrs. Whitmore.  Troy sits down next to Miguel.

MRS. WHITMORE
(filtered)
...we need to remain calm.  As
more people decide to leave the
cities, safety is key...

MIGUEL
Troy, you remember Uncle Hector,
from Tucson?

TROY
He's got that SEGA Saturn CD, 64
bit, right?

MIGUEL
Yeah.  What would you think if we
went there to live for a while?

TROY
That'd be cool!

Miguel thinks for a second, makes a decision.

MIGUEL
Pack up, we're going.

Miguel jumps down from the roof.  Troy climbs down the ladder.

TROY
(yelling after him)
What about Dad?

ALICIA AND OLDER BOY

Kissing.  It's getting hot.  Alicia laughs, pushes him away.

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

ALICIA
What makes you think I'm a virgin?

The Older Boy is taken off guard.  Before he can answer the
tarp they were hiding under is ripped away.  Miguel stands
there.

MIGUEL
Come on, we're going.

ALICIA
I'm not going anywhere...

Miguel grabs her by the wrist and pulls her away.

EXT. FREEWAY - OUTSIDE WASHINGTON - NIGHT

We see the long highway leading to Washington, the space ship
hovering above it.  One side of the freeway is packed solid,
the other completely empty, save for one car...

INT. MOISHE'S OLDS - NIGHT

Moishe looks to the other side of the freeway, jam packed.  On
his side, they are the only car for miles.

MOISHE
The whole world is trying to get
out of Washington and we're the
only schmucks trying to get in.

As Moishe drives, David distracts him as he unpacks his
backpack unloading his laptop.  He grabs a CD.

MOISHE (cont'd)
What the hell is that?

DAVID
This, pops, is every phone book in
America.

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

DAVID
She always keeps her portable
phone listed, for emergencies.
Sometimes it's just her first
initial, sometime her nickname...

David starts to look it up.  Suddenly...

DOZENS OF CARS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM

In the attempt to get out, hundreds of cars have been re-
directed by the military to use the opposite side of the
highway.

MOISHE
Oh my God!

Moishe SWERVES violently to avoid collision, barely missing
the oncoming traffic.  Dodging right to left, Moishe hangs on
for dear life.

A Military Office, assisting in diverting the cars turns just
in time to see the Olds whiz by.

David and Moishe are bounded around the inside of the car as
Moishe tries to veer through traffic.

Suddenly A TRUCK  blocks off their only escape route.

Moishe turns HARD and drives up onto the right shoulder.

OVERHEAD ANGLE - OLDS AND TRAFFIC

The Olds is the only car in headed that direction.  Using the
shoulder, swerving to miss barricades, they drives off an exit
ramp.

DAVID
Nice driving, pops!

Dangerously close to a heart attack, Moishe is, for once, at a
loss for words.  Over their adrenaline pumped faces...

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
...put your hands together for
Sabrina!

CUT TO:

INT. STRIP CLUB - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

A bikini-clad Sabrina twirls gracefully on the stage.  As she
comes to a stop we reveal Sabrina is actually Jasmine.  She
looks out into the audience and her expression DROPS.

REVERSE ANGLE - JASMINE'S POV - EMPTY CLUB

Five strippers and eight customers.  All crowded near the
television watching the news.

ANGLE T.V. - ROOFTOP - LOS ANGELES

Helicopter footage of people gathered on the rooftops of
downtown Los Angeles holding up drawings of space aliens.

NEWSCASTERS
(filtered)
...from the 'it could only happen
in California' file, hundreds of
UFO fanatics have gathered on the
rooftops of downtown Los Angeles,
welcoming the new arrivals...

INT. DRESSING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Jasmine storms into the dressing room.  Wiping off her makeup,
she sits down next to TIFFANY who watches the same report on a
small b&w.

JASMINE
I can't believe I even came in
tonight.  What was I thinking?

TIFFANY
(re: T.V.)
Isn't this cool?  And you thought
I was nuts.  Oh, look, I brought
mine with me.

Tiffany holds up a drawing of a space alien.

JASMINE
You're not thinking of joining
those idiots?

TIFFANY
I'm going over there soon as I'm
off.  Wanna come?

Jasmine turns to Tiffany, dead serious.

JASMINE
Tiffany, I don't want you to go up
there.  Promise me you won't.
(Tiffany pouts)
Promise!

TIFFANY
I promise.

JASMINE
Okay.  I'm gone.  I'm outta town
for a while.

Her boss MARIO enters and walks over to his private office in
back.  He opens the door and finds Dylan playing with his dog,
Boomer.

MARIO
What the hell's your kid doing
here?

Jasmine rushes past picking up Dylan and carrying him away as
she heads for the exit.  Boomer follows.

JASMINE
You try to find a sitter today.

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

JASMINE
(out the door)
Nice working with you, Mario.

CUT TO:

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT

The streets are nearly deserted.  Millions of small lights on
the underbelly of the craft cast strange reflections on the
streets below.  The Olds drives on its way towards the Capitol
building.

INT. OLDS - CONTINUOUS

David types frustratedly on his laptop.

MOISHE
Not listed, huh?

DAVID
I just haven't found it yet.  I
tried C. Halbrook, Connie
Halbrook, Spunky Halbrook...

MOISHE
Spunky?

DAVID
College nickname.

MOISHE
You try Martin?

DAVID
She didn't take my name when we
were m

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