Space shuttle ENDURANCE drifts in space, cargo bay open.
Australia slides by.
COMMANDER MATT WALTERS (40s, seasoned) moves across the
shuttle's hull checking thermal tiles.
Suddenly, his tools begin floating away toward empty space.
10.
MATT
(into headset, uncertain)
Houston, my tools just... they're
moving the wrong direction.
Gravity's acting weird up here.
His helmet display flickers, displaying readings that shift
between numbers and strange geometric symbols.
MATT (CONT'D)
(voice tightening)
Instruments are showing
gravitational readings that would
require a black hole the size of
Manhattan. But there's nothing
here.
TOBY peers through the porthole, watching Matt with growing
concern.
TOBY
(into headset)
Matt, your suit cam just went to
static. Can you confirm your
position?
Matt turns toward Toby's porthole.
His breathing fogs his helmet visor with patterns that pulse
rhythmically.
MATT
What are you talking about? I'm
right here, buster.
A CAPSULE - pear-shaped, smooth, translucent - drifts into
view.
MATT (CONT'D)
(breathless)
Well, that's definitely not one of
ours.
The capsule's surface ripples, reflecting impossible light
sources that cast shadows on the shuttle's hull.
11.
A TECHNICIAN stares at his screen, confused.
TECHNICIAN
Flight Director, Matt's suit is
reporting he's in two places at
once.
FLIGHT DIRECTOR
Check your readings again.
TECHNICIAN
Yes ma'am. But the telemetry is
consistent from both locations.
With scientific precision, Matt reaches toward the capsule.
His hand trembles as it gets closer.
MATT
(studying it with forced
calm)
It's... responsive. Like it knows
I'm here.
His radio crackles with low HUMMING that seems to come from
everywhere and nowhere.
TOBY (V.O.)
(panicked)
Matt, you've been describing star
charts for the last ten minutes.
MATT
What? I haven't said a word.
TOBY (V.O.)
Jesus! Matt! Behind you!
A second SHROUDED CRAFT materializes - not appearing but
unfolding from dimensions that don't exist, like origami made
from folded spacetime.
The shuttle's hull begins reflecting light that isn't there.
MATT
(voice tight with
controlled panic)
Houston, space just... rearranged
itself. And I can hear music in the
vacuum.
12.
His suit's life support systems emit rhythmic BEEPS that
synchronize into something resembling harmony.
Matt tries to move his arms.
They won't respond.
His body goes rigid, visible through the suit, then slowly
relaxes into unnatural stillness.
MATT (CONT'D)
(fighting to keep voice
steady)
Houston... I can't move. Not the
suit. Me. I can't move me.
FLIGHT DIRECTOR
(staring at telemetry)
His brain activity is off the
charts.
TECHNICIAN
Ma'am... the shuttle's mass just
increased by 400 kilograms. But we
haven't detected any physical
change.
The shroud rotates to face Matt.
An OBJECT - multifaceted, chameleon-like in shifting colors -
doesn't float toward him but phases through intervening
space, existing simultaneously in the shroud and approaching
his hand.
MISSION CONTROL (V.O.)
(urgent, static-filled)
Commander Walters, return to
command module. Immediately.
MATT
(ignoring the order, awed)
You know what? It's actually
beautiful. And they just... handed
me their business card.
The object settles into Matt's gloved hand.
His helmet visor suddenly clears.
13.
His body language shifts - from rigid terror to profound
calm.
The shroud de-materializes.
Space returns to normal.
Stars resume their proper positions.
TOBY (V.O.)
Matt, whatever you're thinking—
MATT
(moving normally again)
I'm thinking we just made first
contact. And they expect something
from us.
Matt floats through the airlock, still holding the alien
device.
His hands shake uncontrollably.
TOBY
So... what exactly the fuck did you
bring home?
Matt holds up the alien device, which pulses with strange
light.
MATT
First contact, Toby. And I don't
think they're asking permission.
The device pulses once more in rhythm.
— ③
EXT. SPACE - DAY
Space shuttle ENDURANCE drifts in space, cargo bay open.
Australia slides by.
EXT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
COMMANDER MATT WALTERS (40s, seasoned) moves across the
shuttle's hull checking thermal tiles.
Suddenly, his tools begin floating away toward empty space.
10.
MATT
(into headset, uncertain)
Houston, my tools just... they're
moving the wrong direction.
Gravity's acting weird up here.
His helmet display flickers, displaying readings that shift
between numbers and strange geometric symbols.
MATT (CONT'D)
(voice tightening)
Instruments are showing
gravitational readings that would
require a black hole the size of
Manhattan. But there's nothing
here.
INT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
TOBY peers through the porthole, watching Matt with growing
concern.
TOBY
(into headset)
Matt, your suit cam just went to
static. Can you confirm your
position?
EXT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
Matt turns toward Toby's porthole.
His breathing fogs his helmet visor with patterns that pulse
rhythmically.
MATT
What are you talking about? I'm
right here, buster.
A CAPSULE - pear-shaped, smooth, translucent - drifts into
view.
MATT (CONT'D)
(breathless)
Well, that's definitely not one of
ours.
The capsule's surface ripples, reflecting impossible light
sources that cast shadows on the shuttle's hull.
11.
INT. MISSION CONTROL - CONTINUOUS
A TECHNICIAN stares at his screen, confused.
TECHNICIAN
Flight Director, Matt's suit is
reporting he's in two places at
once.
FLIGHT DIRECTOR
Check your readings again.
TECHNICIAN
Yes ma'am. But the telemetry is
consistent from both locations.
EXT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
With scientific precision, Matt reaches toward the capsule.
His hand trembles as it gets closer.
MATT
(studying it with forced
calm)
It's... responsive. Like it knows
I'm here.
His radio crackles with low HUMMING that seems to come from
everywhere and nowhere.
TOBY (V.O.)
(panicked)
Matt, you've been describing star
charts for the last ten minutes.
MATT
What? I haven't said a word.
TOBY (V.O.)
Jesus! Matt! Behind you!
A second SHROUDED CRAFT materializes - not appearing but
unfolding from dimensions that don't exist, like origami made
from folded spacetime.
The shuttle's hull begins reflecting light that isn't there.
MATT
(voice tight with
controlled panic)
Houston, space just... rearranged
itself. And I can hear music in the
vacuum.
12.
His suit's life support systems emit rhythmic BEEPS that
synchronize into something resembling harmony.
Matt tries to move his arms.
They won't respond.
His body goes rigid, visible through the suit, then slowly
relaxes into unnatural stillness.
MATT (CONT'D)
(fighting to keep voice
steady)
Houston... I can't move. Not the
suit. Me. I can't move me.
INT. MISSION CONTROL - CONTINUOUS
FLIGHT DIRECTOR
(staring at telemetry)
His brain activity is off the
charts.
TECHNICIAN
Ma'am... the shuttle's mass just
increased by 400 kilograms. But we
haven't detected any physical
change.
EXT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
The shroud rotates to face Matt.
An OBJECT - multifaceted, chameleon-like in shifting colors -
doesn't float toward him but phases through intervening
space, existing simultaneously in the shroud and approaching
his hand.
MISSION CONTROL (V.O.)
(urgent, static-filled)
Commander Walters, return to
command module. Immediately.
MATT
(ignoring the order, awed)
You know what? It's actually
beautiful. And they just... handed
me their business card.
The object settles into Matt's gloved hand.
His helmet visor suddenly clears.
13.
His body language shifts - from rigid terror to profound
calm.
The shroud de-materializes.
Space returns to normal.
Stars resume their proper positions.
TOBY (V.O.)
Matt, whatever you're thinking—
MATT
(moving normally again)
I'm thinking we just made first
contact. And they expect something
from us.
INT. SPACE SHUTTLE - CONTINUOUS
Matt floats through the airlock, still holding the alien
device.
His hands shake uncontrollably.
TOBY
So... what exactly the fuck did you
bring home?
Matt holds up the alien device, which pulses with strange
light.
MATT
First contact, Toby. And I don't
think they're asking permission.
The device pulses once more in rhythm.