Mars Rush
 
 
 
written by
 
 
Eli Miller
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Address
Phone
E-mail
EXT. DESERT- DAY
The harsh rays of the sun are quickly dimmed by the thick red
dust storm that rages across our rocky landscape.
A large black man MATHIAS (50), emerges from the sand. He
GASPS and then COUGHS. He is completely covered except for
his face and bare hands. He reaches a hand to his face and
pulls it back, it's covered in blood. On his back is an
oxygen tank with a tube that runs around his shoulder to his
face. He adjusts the tube into his mouth. He pulls a
bandana up to cover his face and pulls down goggles to cover
his eye. He turns a valve on the oxygen tank, he takes a long
GASP of filtered air. He attempts to stand, but loses his
balance in the wind and falls to his knees.
Next to his hands in the sand is a piece of scrap metal. He
looks up and follows a trail of rubble with his eyes which
leads to a billowing pillar of smoke.
He pushes his way through the storm and arrives at the
wreckage of a wrecked dune buggy crudely made out of old
scraps. It's half buried in the sand, Mathias approaches the
driver side and begins digging. He throws sand frantically
but his efforts are minimally effective with the raging wind.
Something black sticks out of the sand, Mathias grabs it and
pulls. An unbuckled seatbelt strap comes loose. He holds it
and looks around frantically. Something glimmers directly in
front of the buggy. He crawls toward it.
He pulls out a pair of goggles, the lenses are completely
shattered, making sight and protection from the elements
impossible.
Then a SCREAM. Standing ahead of Mathias in the storm is
another figure, LIDA (20's) dressed in the same get up as
Mathias, with long red hair blowing out from under her
wrapping. She stands over a third jumpsuit that is charred
and stilly lightly smoking and an oxygen tank that is bent
and punctured. She see's Mathias, and pulls down her mask in
order to speak, we see her face.
LIDA
(SCREAMING)
HELP ME!

INT. THE SAPPHIRE BALLROOM- NIGHT

Guests in tuxedos and gowns are seated at tables in an
immaculate ballroom. The floor is black and gold swirled
marble. The metal framing to the high vaulted room is gold,
and supports a magnificent chandelier.
 2.

A small orchestra plays light music mostly drowned out by the

chatter. The final guests hurry to be seated.
FLORA (30's) a woman with dark features and raven colored
hair in a red dress approaches a table. She initially goes
unnoticed as the guests at her table laugh and enjoy their
drinks. As she pulls her chair out, people turn to look at
her. They table goes silent immediately. Two men race to
pull back her chair. She nods to thank them and is seated at
the table. Everyone stares. CLEO (60's) a Korean woman in a
gold gown breaks the silence.
CLEO
Just when I thought this night
couldn't get any more interesting,
fate would have it that we get you.
 
Flora smiles forcefully, feeling a little awkward.
CLEO (CONT'D)
Give us your name, dear? Ms...
FLORA
Flora.
CLEO
Ah, Ms. Flora.
FLORA
No, just Flora, that's my given
name.

A plump woman, caked in makeup, sweating profusely, VAL

(50's) in satin and long white gloves, giggles and
interrupts.
VAL
Oh darling, please, last name?
CLEO
Don't give it to her, she's come
across a guest-log and know's
everything about everybody. But if
only if she gets your last name.
Val puts a shrimp into her mouth, and chews while juice drips
down her chin. She leans forward sprawling herself across
the table to "whisper" to the other guests.
VAL
(while chewing)
Not EVERYONE, but most.
(MORE)
 3.
VAL (CONT'D)
Him over there, the one with the
dismal combover, is Horatio
Ostracon!
Flora stares back unamused.
VAL (CONT'D)
You know, as in Ostracon
investments, the biggest hedge fund
manager in the United States.
The table whispers and gawks. Flora nods politely.
VAL (CONT'D)
Gordan and I once attended a gala
at their vineyard, it was
magnificent. But, you wouldn't
BELEIVE who I found out passed out
in the ladies room.
Gordan coughs.
GORDAN
Val, please, it isn't polite to
gossip.
VAL
Yes, you're right. BEAT. It was
Senator Darcy, pants around his
ankles, had more liquor in him than
Gordan on our wedding night.
Gordan gives her a glare.
VAL (CONT'D)
Oops! GIGGLES.
Some guests around the table laugh, and Val sits back smugly.
Flora again, unaffected.
GORDAN
See look! You've upset the girl!
FLORA
No, I'm sorry. Just a lot on my
mind.
A man CHARLES, young suave, puts his hand on her knee and
faynes pity. His hand begins sliding up her leg. She takes
his hand and pulls it off.
Before he can respond, the lights dim. The orchestra
silences, and a spotlight shines on the stage illuminating
RAY (50), ridiculously handsome, dressed in a white tuxedo.
 4.

Val slaps her hands on the table.

VAL
Ah! It's really him!
RAY
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of
the iridium company, we would like
to welcome you aboard the Sapphire.
The crowd claps. Ray touches his hands together and bows
mouthing the words "thank you".
RAY (CONT'D)
Now, before we continue, I've been
informed that we have a special
treat off our starboard side.
What once appeared to be black walls, now lighten to reveal
that they were dimmed windows. The view from the windows is
starlit space. Blue lights zip across the sky, a meteor
shower. The guests jump to their feet and run to the window
to watch the shower. The camera pulls out to see that the
guests are on a space cruiser flying through outer space.
RAY (CONT'D)
This is only the beginning of the
magnificent things you'll see with
us on Mars.
Cleo turns back to see Flora seated at the table by herself.
CLEO
Trust me, you don't wanna miss
this.
Cleo takes Flora by the hand and pulls her up and they
approach the window. The camera changes focus from theAs
meteor show to focus to Flora's reflection in the glass.
Flora inspects her face and reapplies lipstick to her
expressionless face
CUT TO MATCH SHOT

INT. DIM BATHROOM- RIGHT

A young Flora applies lipstick in the bathroom mirror. She
smacks her lips together, and pulls back and bats her
eyelashes, she can hardly suppress a smile. She turns away
from the mirror, and then whips around to face her
reflection.
 5.

FLORA
Didn't your mother ever tell you?
It's not polite to stare.
(Flora switches to a gruff
manly voice)
Yes, but she never met you.
Flora puts her hand to her chest, in a flattered way. She
fixes her fair and smiles.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Oh, that's a little forward, isn't
it?
A man NATE (20's) enters the modest bedroom, he is covered in
dirty oil stained clothes. He wipes the sweat from his brow.
He sits on the bed and takes off his boots. He hears voices
from the bathroom and leans to see through the cracked
bathroom door. He sees Flora, now slow dancing in a circle
with herself while she hums a song. He smiles and leans
forward.
Flora kicks the door open to dance into the bedroom. She
freezes upon seeing Nate watching her. Before she think of
what to say, Nate jumps up and takes her into the dance.
NATE
You were saying?
Flora resumes singing. They dance around the bedroom. Nate
wraps his arms around her waist, lifts her, and spins. He
sets her back down, still holding her close, and moves the
hair from her face and he smiles.
NATE (CONT'D)
Where are going tonight?
FLORA
I don't know, but does it really
matter? I mean, after all, it's
not where you're going, it's who
you're with.
The close up on Flora's face looking into Nate's eyes, cuts
back to a match shot of her reflection aboard the spaceship.
She rubs her lips together, and her face is somber. She puts
the lipstick back in her purse and turns to return to her
seat.

EXT. MARS CONSTRUCTION SITE- DAY

A giant glass biosphere is being constructed on the red
surface of mars.
 6.

We cut through various workers and their jobs. Welders sweat

under their flames as they work on the dome, down below
workers swing pick axes in rotation chipping away at rock.
Some shovel trenches, other push carts of debris.
A siren rings and the workers put their tools down. The
workers shuffle onto a rail system loading platform. The
cars open their doors. New workers unload, and as they do
they press wristbands against a sensor. As the finishing
workers load, they too, scan their wristbands.
The train leaves the construction site and travels through a
sparkling city, with glass skyscrapers and lush foliage, and
into another dome slightly more modest, and into another.
This time the buildings are made of rusty scrapmetal, stacked
one on top of each other, built on to the side of red rock
formations. The train stops at a station in these slums.

INT. TRAIN CAR- EVENING

The car is mostly empty now, with a few stragglers. The
doors open and in walk ROSCOE (40's) and BANSHEE (40's).
They both are in workers jumpsuits. Roscoe is big and
muscular with slicked back hair. Banshee has his jumpsuit
half down revealing his wife beater, he has long wild hair
and a crazed look in his eyes.
They scan their wrist bands and the doors closes behind them.
They whisper and snicker to one another. The doors close and
the train revs up and moves down the track. They idle in the
aileway. Waiting. The train enters a tunnel. Roscoe smiles.
ROSCOE
We're golden.
Roscoe bangs on the door to the conductor room. Through the
glass window, FELIX (20's) skinny, pale, with thick rimmed
circle glasses, turns to see the two men, he points at the
conductors board and out the front window, and turns back to
his post. Roscoe bangs again.
ROSCOE (CONT'D)
Last time I checked you don't need
steer nothin' that's on a track.
Banshee hisses a cackle, and then kicks the door.
BANSHEE
Open up, Sparky!
Felix opens the door.
 7.

FELIX
Pardon me, but it's regulation that
a moving vehicle be manned at all
times, now I'm sorry, but I must
return to my post.
Felix goes to close the door, but Roscoe sticks is foot in
the door so it can't close.
ROSCOE
And I'll let you do that just as
soon as you fix one little problem,
our trackers don't seem to be
working, and I ain't been getting
paid.
BANSHEE
That's right, ain't been gettin'
paid.
FELIX
I'm sorry but that's not in my
jurisdicti-
Roscoe reaches in and grabs Felix's wrist.
ROSCOE
Now, did I ask ya bout yer
jurisdiction?
BANSHEE
I'll give ya a hint, he di-n't.
ROSCOE
Why that's right, Banshee, now go
ahead and fix our trackers, so we
can get paid.
Felix takes a gulp, and shakes nervously. He steps forward
and pushes some buttons on Roscoe's tracker. A holographic
screen rises out of it, and Felix begins swiping it and
typing into it.
FELIX
It looks like... BEAT. Hmmm... You
clocked in and out just fine,
but... You didn't do any work while
on shift.
ROSCOE
Oh, but I did.
 8.

FELIX
Nah, you see here, this tracks
heart beat, blood flow, sweat
levels, muscle exertion. It helps
assign workers to tasks that will
maximize effectiveness, but in this
case, it looks like it has shown
that while at work, you didn't do
any work at all.
ROSCOE
Huh, I guess that makes sense, now
go ahead and fix that for me.
FELIX
I'm afraid I can't do that.
Roscoe grabs Felix by the collar and slams him into the door
he slowly lifts him til his feet are dangling in the air.
Banshee laughs, excitedly.
ROSCOE
This ain't complicated, so stop
trying to make it complicated. Do
you understand?
LIDA
I do.
FELIX
Lida, No!
Roscoe and Banshee turn to see Lida walking towards them from
the opposite end of the train car. She pulls her hair into a
ponytail.
ROSCOE
Sparky, didn't know you knew this
Mars rat. Look who's decided to
show her face.
Roscoe cricks his neck and stretches his arms back. Lida
pulls her arm back ready to punch. Roscoe runs at her, ready
to catch her punch, she takes a step back as if to throw a
punch, but then kicks him in the nose. He steps back, and
wipes blood from his face. He snarls.
He throws a punch, and another, and another. Lida steps back
dodging the punches but she is losing ground. The remaining
passengers scream and congregate to the corner of the car.
Lida pushed against the wall has her hands against Roscoes.
ROSCOE (CONT'D)
You've forgotten something.
 9.

LIDA
And what's that?
Banshee comes from the side and slams Lida, she falls to the
ground.
ROSCOE
You're outnumbered.
LIDA
Hey Felix, I could use some help!
Felix jumps up and runs to Lida's aid, without even turning
around, Roscoe swings and elbow, nailing Felix in the jaw,
and he falls back unconscious.
BANSHEE
Not a smart idea to pick a fight
now that lover boy is dead.
LIDA
You're gonna regret saying that,
once he gets back from the outpost,
you're gonna have someone to put
you back in place.
Lida is circled by the two, circling her like sharks, as she
is in a defensive position.
ROSCOE
Oh sweetheart, we done checked with
comps at all the outposts, ain't no
one seen yur man. That means he
died on the road, hate to be the
one to tell you.
LIDA
He's not at just any outpost, he
made it to Tharsis.
BANSHEE
You hear that Roscoe? Lil' Lida
over here still believes in
fairytales, ain't no such colony.
The two have cornered Lida.
ROSCOE
Now it's about time to stop
worrying about you once and for
all.
Roscoe nods at Banshee, he smiles and pulls a long blade from
his pocket, and raises it prepared to strike.
 10.

LIDA
It's true, I've received
communication from him, from
Tharsis. If you as much as lay a
finger on me, he'll be back here so
fast, you won't know what happened.
BANSHEE
Nice try. I mean, I'll give it to
you, you really tried. But not
hard enough.
He pulls back his arm to make them swing, and hand grabs his
wrist, and twists. Banshee howls in pain, and drops the
knife. The figure grabs Banshee's long greasy hair and slams
his head into a glass window. The window cracks into a
spider web pattern, Banshee falls to the ground unconscious.
The figure lifts his head to reveal, Mathias. Roscoe throws a
punch, Mathias dodges and undercuts Roscoe in the jaw, he
falls back. Mathias walks toward him, shoves him to the
ground. Roscoe attempts to get up, and Mathias slams him
back to the ground.
Roscoe crab walks backwards and jumps up. Mathias
approaches, he punches him. Then again, and again. Roscoe
is bloody and battered. The train then exits the tunnel, the
lights to the security cameras turn back on. Mathias and
Roscoe immediately stop their brawl.
Roscoe climbs on a seat, opens a window, looks outside, back
in then outside, and jumps out of the train, tumbling into
the dirt as the train soars away.
Mathias turns back to a stunned Lida.
LIDA
You saved me, how can I-
MATHIAS
Save it. You telling the truth
about Tharsis?
LIDA
Uh.. uh... BEAT. Yeah.. Uh, Yes,
it's real.
MATHIAS
How do I get there?
LIDA
Well, you have to.. I mean, It's
complicated.
 11.

Mathias turns to walk away.

LIDA (CONT'D)
But it's not impossible.
Mathias pauses, and turns back toward her.
LIDA (CONT'D)
You just have to have the right
tools, and a big enough team.
Mathias scoffs. They are interupted by a new conscious
Felix.
FELIX
Lucky for you, I've got the tools,
and with you, it looks like now
we've got the team.

INT. THE SAPPHIRE BALLROOM- NIGHT

The guests are now eating their dinner, the type of fancy
food that only rich people eat at really expensive
restaurants. The others chat, while Flora listens.
Several tables over a young woman stands up on her chair and
then onto the table. She has a champaign flute in hand and
stumbles in her heels, kicking over things on the table,
obviously drunk. She takes her dress in her other hand
waving it up and down. Men on her table cheer.
VAL
Now, I'm not positive, but I
believe that's Ms. Menendez.
CHARLES
And who is she?
VAL
The latest in a string of brides
for Mars execs. Except they say
this one will go to THE weatherman.
CHARLES
The weatherman? You don't say,
I've only heard rumors.
Flora now perks up, paying attention.
VAL
Yes, we'll see how long this one
lasts. Most of these mail order
brides only last so long.
 12.

GORDAN
If she's smart, she'll make sure
that she gets pregnant before the
new season of brides comes in.
CHARLES
Or at the very least stash some of
those diamonds away, before she
gets thrown out.
VAL
True, true. Some people will do
anything to get to mars.
CUT TO:

EXT. TOLL BOOTH- NIGHT

Rain comes down hard in a slimy slum. Flora and Nate tap on
a glass window in a slum. They are drenched, Nate is bloody
and beaten, with a black eye. Flora raps again.
FLORA
Please! Please can you help us?
The window operator slides the window open.
BOOTH OPERATOR
Go home, we've filled out slots.
FLORA
I know but if you only give me one
second, we've got to get out of
her. We'll do anything, work for
anything. We'll go higher than any
other offer! We'll work for
anything.
BOOTH OPERATOR
Listen her, everyone else is
willing to make the same offer as
you. You ain't special, I can't
help you.
FLORA
No, you don't understand, we need
this. We'll do anything, I mean
anything!
BOOTH OPERATOR
No, YOU don't understand. Suppose
we do pick you.
(MORE)
 13.
BOOTH OPERATOR (CONT'D)
People are paying 40 years of Mars
labor for a ticket aboard a
shuttle. Am I gonna get 40 years
out of either of you? Look at you?
You're scrawny and pathetic. This
fella over here, he can't work in
the condition he's in?
FLORA
No, I promise, we're both excellent
workers, we'll go into the mines,
we'll go wherever you need us to.
BOOTH OPERATOR
See I'm not done, look at him,
looks like he picks fights, we
don't want that. And if this is
the result of debts, we do
background checks, we don't
facilitate debt deserters.
The operator goes to close the window but Flora sticks her
hands out.
FLORA
I'm begging you, what can we do.
The booth operator is approached by another employee behind
her.
SUPERVISOR
What's going on here?
BOOTH OPERATOR
Just a couple of nobodies begging
for scraps, it's nothing, they're
useless
The operator looks out and see's the two of them.
SUPERVISOR
Well what have we hear, I wouldn't
say useless.
BOOTH OPERATOR
Huh?
SUPERVISOR
We might hav something for the
girl. Hey Sweetheart, take your
coat off, give us a spin.
 14.

Flora takes off her coat. She slowly turns in the rain, her
clothes soaked clinging to her body in the rain. She
shivers.
FLORA
See, I'm healthy, I can work! So
can he!
SUPERVISOR
(chuckles)
Ah, you're perfect. In fact, your
a find that's gonna make the two of
us a pretty penny. But it won't be
for working.
FLORA
Wait, what?
Flora is confused at what is being insinuated. She goes back
to support Nate.
SUPERVISOR
I'll tell you what, come inside,
we'll get you cleaned up, take some
pictures, and we'll find a great
new home for you up in the stars.
FLORA
Wait... No, we go together, as
workers.
Nate looks up and coughs.
NATE
Flora. Go, you have to. It's your
only chance.
FLORA
No! No, I won't go. I'm not
going.
NATE
Flora. Please. For me?
FLORA
No. No. NO NO NO
Flora takes Nate and she begins running away from the booth
into the rain back into the slums. The supervisor calls out
as they vanish into the darkness.
SUPERVISOR
You had your chance!
 15.

INT. ELEVATOR, NIGHT

Mathias, Lita, and Felix ride down a rusty cargo elevator, a
single lightbulb flickering above them as they go. They are
in silence, Felix and Lita standing on one side, Mathias on
the other end. The elevator slams to to a stop. The doors
open to a long underground street.
Homes are carved into the stone walls, other lean to's are
made out of scrap material. A line of electrical wires with
hanging lights shines overhead. The streets are crowded.
Dirty children run and play, kicking a soccerball made out of
plastic bags and string. Woman hang clothing to dry. Small
stands are up selling small quantities of food.
Our 3 walk down the road weaving through the chaos.
FELIX
Once we built up as far as could in
the worker residential dome, we
realized the only expansion we
could do would be downward.
Another level is currently being
mined a level below, but we don't
have a lot of free time to dig
between our labor hours, so it's
gonna be a while.
Felix looks toward Mathias for some validation. Mathias
doesn't look at him but contiues walking.
MATHIAS
What does this have to do with
Tharsis.
FELIX
I guess it's because I figured that
at the rate things were going, I
would never have a good life here,
so I started working on something
to get me out of here. I never
imaged it would be Tharsis. This
whole time I thought Thatcher died,
not that he actually made it.
MATHIAS
Thatcher?
FELIX
Lida's friend.
LIDA
Fiance.
 16.

FELIX
Were you actually engaged, though?
LIDA
For all intensive purposes.
FELIX
How intensive could it be if he
left without you.
LIDA
Why you watch your mouth, you-
MATHIAS
Enough. I don't have time for
this, can you get us there or not.
FELIX
You bet I can.
They arrive to a move carved out of the red-rock. They enter
through a curtain into a bareliving space. Felix looks out
the door to make sure no one is close by. He slides an end
table to a small hole carved into the rock, and crawls
inside.

INT. BACKROOM-NIGHT
They are in a makeshift garage. Tools scattered on the
floor, wires attached to batteries. They stand around the
crude dune buggy, with a solar panel.
LIDA
The secret to getting to Tharsis is
to go through the dust-storm
prairie. The storms are always
changing, and creating a living
maze.
FELIX
We came across a shipment of temp
suits to help with the travel
through the -200 degree weather.
And if you had a vehicle that could
go fast enough you could outrun
storms.
LITA
But that still leaves navigating
the storm?
(MORE)
 17.
LITA (CONT'D)
Even if you can move fast, what
will stop you from taking a wrong
turn and getting buried alive or
asphyxiating in the sand? With
Thatcher's idea, and Felix's brain-
we figured it out.
Felix walks them over to a monitor at the front of the buggy,
he types into it and it displays a topographical view.
FELIX
It turns out the weatherman has
developed a software to predict and
follow storm patterns in certain
parts of the planet, including the
prairie. Wired into his live data,
I have a program that will navigate
us through.
LITA
Thatcher and two others
successfully made it through, we've
been looking for a third to operate
the roadster, and now that we've
got you, we can be out there in a
matter of weeks?
Mathias who hasn't shown much reaction as he inspects the
buggy makes eye contact for the first time.
MATHIAS
Weeks?
LITA
That's when the storms are at their
weakest, optimizing our highest
chance of safety.
Mathias goes silent looks at the vehicle, inspects the tech
suits on the wall and then over at the other two.
MATHIAS
We leave tonight.

INT. THE SAPPHIRE BALLROOM- NIGHT

The tables have been cleared and fine dancing is now taking
place in the ballroom. Most of the guests are now dancing.
Flora sits on the side by herself. Gordan and Val are
slightly in front of her gossiping. Flora leans in ever so
slightly to overhear them.
 18.

VAL
It's gotta be that one, the man
dancing with the woman in green.
I've never seen him before, he's
one of the only ones I haven't
matched.
GORDAN
What about the man with the gold
coat?
VAL
Gordan, are you daft?! This
mysterious Mr. Young is the richest
man on the flight. They bought the
three floor penthouse on the top
floor of the Iridium building. If
Mr. Young has kept a level of
anonymity thus far, he's not going
to go around wearing a gold dinner
coat.
GORDAN
Excuse me! Sorry I don't know the
laws of fashion. But if you ask
me, he would already own the
penthouse.
He gestures up to Ray, the host of the evening standing on
stage.
VAL
No you imbisile, he's not actually
the CEO of Iridium, he's just the
face. They need someone pretty to
keep the stockholders happy.
As they watch Ray oversee the dancing, a bodyguard in
sunglasses approaches Ray, and whispers into his ear. He
turns and smiles to the audience, and then excuses himself
and walks out.

INT. HALLWAY, NIGHT

Ray is escorted into a small room and is seated in front of a
holographic screen. It turns on, and he is speaking to JAQ
(50's) seated in from of an expensive desk, and ROMAN (65)
pacing behind him in the executive business suite, both are
dressed in suits.
Ray's Hollywood smile fades.
 19.

RAY
What is it this time, Jaq?
JAQ
Nice to see you too, Ray. Now, is
this anyway to speak to the man who
signs your paychecks?
RAY
How can I help you.
JAQ
It's actually us who are here to
help you. We've received a tip
that things are about to get very
interesting, so as a favor, I would
recommend that you get as far away
from the first class guests as you
can.
RAY
Could you be any more vague?
ROMAN
(to Jaq)
Why do you tolerate this
insufferable man.
(to Ray)
That is all you get, and if you
know what's good for you, you'll
listen. And if you find it within
that puffed up head of yours to
listen to us, then I hope you
remember who's debt you are in when
the time comes to thank us.
RAY
Screw you, Roman.
ROMAN
(to Jaq)
That's enough, turn it off.
JAQ
Goodnight, Ray. Hope to see you
soon.
The call ends, and screen flashes off.

INT. IRIDIUM EXECUTIVE OFFICE- NIGHT

Jaq stands up from his desk to approach the disgruntled
Roman.
 20.

JAQ
For someone so smart, it is
stunning to me how you can possibly
be so stupid.
ROMAN
Why do you waste your time with
that bafoon. We have better things
to do.
JAQ
It's because his face sells
tickets, and those tickets fund my
company, and I pay you to design
the future. You don't work if I
don't pay you, and I can't pay you
if I don't sell tickets.
ROMAN
Well if the weatherman is write, we
don't be needing to sell tickets
much longer, and then my real
masterpiece can take flight.
JAQ
You're scaring me, Roman.
ROMAN
Just you wait, Jaq. Just you wait.

EXT. MARS DOME- EARLY MORNING

Mathias, Felix, and Lita push the draped dune buggy to the
edge of the half built dome, they look around, being cautious
not to get caught. They are wearing workers uniforms to
dodge suspicion.
Felix looks at his watch and then back to the other two.

FELIX
In about one hour the sun should be
up and we'll have the daylight to
make the journey, so just hang
tight until then I guess.
They nod and sit down next to the buggy. Mathias pulls his
hat down over his eyes, and begins to sleep. The screen
begins to fade to black.
Before it fades, Lida shakes Mathias awake.
LIDA
We got company, we gotta go.
 21.

Lida points up at the train platform. Looking down at them

are a bloody and battered Roscoe and Banshee.
MATHIAS
They don't scare me. As you were.
LIDA
Wait, who's that?
Walking up behind them is a third man. Tall, with the face
of a skeleton, pale skin, sunken eyes, and defined
cheekbones. He's not in uniform, but a long duster, his
spidery limbs poking out from inside.
Mathias eyes widen as he makes eye contact with the skeleton
man. The skeleton man smiles and reaches under his duster to
his side. Mathias slowly walks backwards.
MATHIAS
You're right. Time to go.
FELIX
You know him?
MATHIAS
I said time to go.
They undrape the buggy and load into their positions.
DIRECT CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM- EARLY MORNING

ROSCOE
We got em! Get him boss, get 'em!
SKELETON MAN
That time will come soon enough,
but for the time being, we have
more pressing items to attend to.
CUT TO:

EXT. MARS DOME- EARLY MORNING

The three are now loaded in the buggy, Felix the driver revs
the engine and it purrs. He slams the gas and the buggy zips
forward. It drives up off the jump and out of the frame of
the mars dome frame that is missing glass.
It lands in the rocks and climbs over them with ease in its
giant tires.
 22.

It zips off through the dirt leaving a dust cloud behind. We

watch as it fades into the horizon, while we hear Felix
scream with delight.
The camera pulls out to see the tiny buggy disappear in the
vast wilderness of mars below. We watch the sun raise into
the sky.
MATCH CUT:
Cleo and Flora look at the same sun out the window in the
ballroom.
CLEO
We're almost there, how are you
feeling?
Flora shows a look of vulnerability on her face as if she is
about to answer honestly, but then catches herself.
FLORA
Very well, thank you. Very excited
to be here.
CLEO
BEAT. You know, it's blatantly
clear to me that you are not who
you are presenting yourself to be.
I would know, I'm not who many
people think I am either.
Flora pauses unsure of how to answer. Then procedes.
FLORA
I appreciate your concern, I really
do. To be honest, you may be the
only person I can tolerate on this
ship.
CLEO
Wow, tolerate, that's high praise.
Flora cracks a smile.
FLORA
It's just that I've made mistakes
in getting close to the wrong
people, and I don't want to do that
again.
Cleo takes a step closer and puts an arm onto Flora's
shoulder. She doesn't say anything but leans in.
 23.

CLEO
I'm going to tell you something
I've told very few, which is
that...
Cleo pauses, and looks a little stunned.
CLEO (CONT'D)
Does that look normal to you?
The sun which was glowing normal now seems to be dimming
turning almost white. It grows dimmer, dimmer. Cleo and
Flora look at it in confusion. Then, BOOM.
A solar flair erupts from the surface of the sun, flames
riding its surface like a tidal wave, erupting waves of light
every direction. A rippling heat wave ripples off and
approaches the ship with a violent velocity. It hits the
ship, all of the guests fall back onto the ground.
MONTAGE, QUICK CUTS:
-The ballroom floor shakes, the chandelier swinging back and
forth, the people scream.
-Down below, the workers in the 3rd class tier of the ship,
rock back and forth in an earthquake like condition. They
cling to one another as they are rocked.
-The heat wave reaches the planet mars.
-Satellites on a radar station shake, sparks spray out.
-The lights in the city inside the dome all go out, the train
stops on the track.
-The workers down below look up in at the darkness. Their
wristbands power off, then click, come unattached and fall
off. Everyone looks at one another stunned.
-Jaq and Roman look out at the dark city below from the top
window of their skyscraper. Roman smiles.
-The flight deck of the Saphire is in chaos, many of the
machines are offline.
PILOT
Do you read me. Over. Copy. Do you
read me, does anybody read me. This
is the USS Sapphire, requesting
contact.
He slams his hand and shakes the device he is speaking into.
 24.

PILOT (CONT'D)
Does anything on this blasted ship
work?!
-The people in the underground streets of mars screem as
rocks fall from the ceiling and the lights go in and out.
-Back in the ballroom Cleo takes Flora by the hand, now as
many of the other guests hide under their tables.
CLEO
We've got to get out of here.

EXT. MARS DESERT- DAY

Now the early morning, the buggy zips through the prairie.
Twisting between rocks. Giant sand storms twist to the left
and the right. They look behind them and a wall of sand
moves in covering the path they came from.
Felix steers, while Lita reads the monitor navigating him,
giving instructions to Mathias as he changes gears and plugs
and unplugs parts of the buggy in the back.
The heat wave moves over them, the ground shakes, and the
monitor goes black.
LITA
Felix! This isn't good, we've lost
connection!
FELIX
What do you mean we've lost
connection?! We can't lose
connection!
LITA
Well we did!
Lita starts slamming her hand into it, she looks below and
around the monitor to check and if it's plugged in.
MATHIAS
Do something!
LITA
What does it look like I'm doing!
A dust wall approaches in front of them. Felix looks left,
and looks right, he choses right. As he is driving and sand
falls in behind him catching up. He accelerates. On his
left and right, sand closes in.
 25.

He is in a shaft of sand, as the walls around grow in. The

only clear sky is straight ahead.
MATHIAS
Floor it!
He gives it everything they've got as the walls close it.
They are closed they are in the sandstorm now. Hoping to
push through and reach the clearing ahead. They can't see
anything as they push through the sand. CRASH.
The buggy slams into a boulder, it ricochets off, and rolls
the opposite direction. Close up on the buggy rolling in the
sand, the three being slammed. Mathias holds on tight, but
with a bump flies from the buggy and lands on a rock. On
impact-
CUT TO BLACK

INT. FLIGHT DECK- MORNING

The flight crew applauds, some of the crew stand up and hug
each other.
OPERATOR
I can't believe it, even with comps
down, we landed the ship, it's a
miracle, we landed the ship!
People continue to celebrate, when a blinking light goes off
on a control panel, the operator runs over to see what is
going on.
OPERATOR (CONT'D)
Captain, it appears that we are
being boarded?

INT. THE SAPPHIRE BALLROOM- MORNING

The guests appear panicked, no one seems to know what is
going on. Someone messes with the control panel to open up
the doors, but it is to no effect. The door opens and the
guests applaud.
Through the door walks the skeleton man, with Roscoe and
Banshee, and a whole crew of workers. He walks in and bows
to the sound of cheers.
 26.

SKELETON MAN
Good morning, ladies and gentleman.
It looks like no one got any rest
last night, I hear ya'll were
locked in this here ballroom.
The guests chatter in affirmation.
SKELETON MAN (CONT'D)
That is a mighty shame, but I-
Some men and women walk past the man on their way to the
exit. The man pulls out a pistol and shoots the ceiling,
everyone stops moving and screams.
SKELETON MAN (CONT'D)
Now did I say that ya'll had
permission to leave?
People go silent listening.
SKELETON MAN (CONT'D)
See this didn't have to be ugly,
but ya'll made it ugly.
He paces out into the middle. His thugs block the exit.
SKELETON MAN (CONT'D)
As part of the welcoming committee,
I needed to cue ya'll in on some
recent developments. On yer's
flight over, you experienced what
is known as a solar flair. In fact
it was the first in any of our
lifetimes. But what that means is
that all communications between
Earth and Mars is kaput. Gone.
Done. Which means we ain't the
dancing monkeys no more, and ya'll
are witness to what I'm calling a
democratically elected transition
of power, or as other might say,
power to the people, I.E., us
people.
The crowd let out gasps and they are nervously look about the
thugs that have entered the ballroom.
ROSCOE
So, our first order of business is
to make sure you fat cats don't
think ya'll run the show no more.
Yer wallets don't do much here.
(MORE)
 27.
ROSCOE (CONT'D)
But don't worry too much, we'll
leave ya'll alone to try your luck
at survivin out here. We just had
a couple pick up orders.
He snaps his fingers and the men disperse out to take men and
woman from the audience. A man walks toward Flora, she
gulps. He walks right to her, and pushes her to the side,
and grabs Cleo.
THUG
Thought you could hide, Ms. Young?
Shoulda thought of that before you
bought half the town.
He yanks her and pulls her off, all of the hostages are
pulled out and off with the thugs while everyone else remains
in the ballroom. The skeleton man WHISTLES.
SKELETON MAN
That'll be all, ladies and gents.
If ya'll got someone to pick you
up, I'd recommend waiting at the
platform down below, if not, I wish
ya'll luck in finding yer way.
Good day.
He WHISTLES again, and then turns to make his exit. He walks
out and chaos erupts in the ballroom. Some guests scream,
while others cry. Flora stands stunned.

EXT. PLATFORM EVENING

A few final guests remain waiting. The drunk girl from
earlier rides off with a man in a space car. Flora watches
as Gordon and Val drag their suitcase down the street,
accepting that no one will come for them. Her powdered face
and mask stained with tears. Flora chokes back the lump in
her throat, and takes a deep breathe. She chokes back tears,
and then starts crying, she bows her head down and back up.
CUT TO MATCH CUT:

INT. RECRUITMENT OFFICE

A younger Flora looks up, tears in her eyes. She places a
pen on the table next to a contract that bears her signature.
She wipes tears from her eyes, and EXHALES.
 28.

SUPERVISOR
Trust me, you won't regret this.
You might not think so now, but
you'll be happier than you could
ever imagine.
Flora continue to cry, but nods affirmitavely while wiping
tears.
SUPERVISOR (CONT'D)
I mean, I knew you was pretty, but
who would've imagined the
weatherman. I don't think you
realize the magnitude of that. It
don't get any bigger than that.
Flora takes one last breathe, and stands to leave. She
collects her bag and walks to the door.
FLORA
I'll be back her on the 17th as
agreed, you know how to reach me if
you need anything else.
SUPERVISOR
Will do. BEAT. And remember our
agreement, if there is any funny
business, neither of us will see
the end of it, and if the
weatherman comes after us, there is
no way I can do what you asked me.
Flora nods.
FLORA
I understand.
She walks out the door and closes the door behind her.

EXT. DESERT- DAY

We end at where we began. Mathias is standing by the ruins
of the smoking buggy and Felix's smoking temp suit. He looks
up at Lida.
LIDA
Help me!
Mathias looks at her.
LIDA (CONT'D)
You have to help me find him, he
can't make it on his own!
 29.

Mathias looks at her, then turns and walks away toward the
camera. Lida cries after him but he doesn't turn back and he
keeps walking in the sandstorm.
FADE TO BLACK