SARAH MARSHALL (35), disheveled but not defeated, irons with
robotic precision.
A cigarette dangles from her lips.
The iron hisses.
Her eyes are hollow but scanning.
The back door creaks open.
DANNY enters, covered in dust, half-panicked, half-proud.
He heads for the pantry, grabs a few supplies.
Sarah leans on the door, watches Danny.
SARAH
You’re bloody filthy. I hope you’re
not up to mischief.
(MORE)
36.
SARAH (CONT'D)
You’ve been gone all day. That Juba
with you again?
DANNY (O.S.)
Yeah, Mum. We’ve been fishing. Just
grabbing some food.
SARAH
(grumbling, but softer
now)
Your tea is in the oven. Clean up
before you touch anything. And
Danny—
Danny freezes, a jar of peanut butter in one hand.
DANNY
Yeah?
SARAH (O.S.)
News says there’s a storm coming.
Don’t be long.
DANNY
I know that. I got eyes.
Danny sneaks extra supplies into his backpack behind her
back.
SARAH
And for god’s sake, wear clean
underwear. You’re not immortal.
Danny rolls his eyes.
DANNY
Get a life, mum.
SARAH
Watch your bloody tongue!
Danny exits the scullery with a stealthy grin.
SECONDARY IMAGE - TIDAL FLATS.
Juba stalks his way across low-tide sand flats.
In his raised hand is a long spear with a sharp, barbed metal
point.
Attached to his waist is a rope with a gutted fish dangling.
37.
He peers into rock pools, where trapped fish dart about.
Spots a stationary cuttlefish and spears it, quickly guts it
and attaches it to his belt.
He looks out to the rising tide and starts to head back to
land.
He takes one more look into the large pool.
JUBA
(whispers)
There's something in there.
He drops his spear and fish.
Dives into the pool and stands near what he'd seen: a silver
capsule.
It shimmers when he touches it.
JUBA (CONT'D)
Shit!
He exits the pool, gathers his things and runs back to
Diggers Cave at speed.
CHAPTER 9 - REVELATION. IMAGE - REVELATION.
Blake wakes.
Sees Juba.
Juba offers food and water.
JUBA
I need your help. Found something
strange in the sea.
BLAKE
What kind of strange?
JUBA
Never seen anything like it. We
need to get it before the tide
covers it forever.
Danny arrives, dumps his backpack on the floor.
DANNY
I'm loaded. We can eat for a week.
38.
Blake stands, still weak, leans against the wall for support.
Part of the wall CRUMBLES, revealing the hidden chamber
beyond.
They peer through.
Ancient paintings cover the walls.
JUBA
(awed)
The old stories. It's all true.
Reverently, Danny turns to something on the wall. He traces
his hand over a scrawled, jagged "V".
DANNY
This...
BLAKE
Okay you two. This is getting
creepy. Let's go and get
your...whatever it is from the sea.
Fleabag cruises across the scrub in his pickup.
He's half hanging out of the window peering at the ground as
he goes.
Close to a rise in the land, he spots a motorbike wheel mark.
He stops, gets out follows the track on foot.
Looks down towards the tidal flats.
There, he sees a group of figures hauling something across
the shallow waters.
FLEABAG
(hoarsely)
Here we go.
Dashes back to his pickup, accelerates closer to the beach.
Hides his vehicle behind a rise.
Grabs his scoped .22 sporting rifle and climbs onto the
pickup's tray.
Looks through the scope and using the cross-member steadies
his aim.
39.
Just as he's about to pull the trigger, Drummer leaps into
the back and affectionately leans into his Fleabag's braced
legs.
The gun goes off.
Using the inflated tires of his trail bike, Blake floats a
makeshift raft into the shallow waters.
Danny and Juba help float it towards the coral reef.
Blake strips his shirt and shorts, stands in his boxers.
He pauses as Juba concentrates on the upcoming tide.
The three of them stand on the coral rim and stare at Juba's
find.
BLAKE
Right, I'm going in.
Grips a nylon rope. Slips into the water.
He takes a deep breath, ducks down, loops the rope under the
cylinder, then surfaces.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
Hold it there, Juba. It'll get
heavy once it's out.
The boys pull as Blake guides the buoyant load.
They roll the cylinder onto the tires and secure it.
As the quickly rising tide moves in, the raft moves with it.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
(grinning at Danny)
Still think it's from outer space?
Might just be a bit of space junk.
DANNY
I've read about stuff like this.
BLAKE
I suppose you're expecting it to
glow or spring open like a cosmic
jack-in-the-box?
40.
DANNY
(touching the cylinder)
It feels like it's alive, mister.
Danny pulls his hand away quickly.
They all laugh when he slips on a sea slug.
SECONDARY IMAGE - SHOOTER
Danny's laugh freezes.
A small ragged hole soundlessly appears on the top of his
arm.
A distant CRACKING sound reaches their ears, followed by a
bullet WHIPPING past, BUZZING before it ricochets off the
cylinder.
DANNY (CONT'D)
(crying out)
Shit!
Danny falls back clutching his arm.
Blake reacts instantly, lunging to push the boy behind the
cylinder.
BLAKE
(urgent)
A shooter. Keep low.
Danny whimpers, feels his own warm blood, then his eyes roll
as he passes out.
Blake examines the wound.
A flesh-wound from a small calibre rifle.
Another round ZINGS past his head and PLOPS into the sea.
Blake rips his shirt into strips and ties the material around
Danny's arm.
The tide continues rising - fast.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
How long for the tide to rise,
Juba?
JUBA
No more than a couple hours. Who's
shooting at us, mister?
41.
BLAKE
Beats me. I'll hold Danny's head
above water. You push the cylinder
ahead for protection. Stay behind
it, keep your head down, move with
the tide's speed. Got it?
Juba nods.
Minutes later, it's dark enough to provide cover from the
shooter.
The wind is increasing.
A full blood moon rises but scudding clouds begin to obscure
it.
They trudge ashore, Danny groans.
They rest against rocks up from the beach.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
Juba, you need to go get Danny's
parents. Are they near here?
JUBA
Danny's mum lives quite near. He
ain't got a dad.
BLAKE
Okay, whatever. Join the club.
We'll wait here. Get going.
DANNY
(hoarse)
My old lady will shit herself.
As Juba vanishes into the waning light, Blake looks at the
mysterious cylinder, then at Danny.
BLAKE
(to himself)
Fuck's sake.
CHAPTER 10 - EMERGENCY. IMAGE - EMERGENCY.
— ⑧
INT. SARAH’S HOUSE – LOUNGE ROOM – EARLY EVENING
SARAH MARSHALL (35), disheveled but not defeated, irons with
robotic precision.
A cigarette dangles from her lips.
The iron hisses.
Her eyes are hollow but scanning.
The back door creaks open.
DANNY enters, covered in dust, half-panicked, half-proud.
He heads for the pantry, grabs a few supplies.
INT. SARAH'S HOUSE - SCULLERY – CONTINUOUS
Sarah leans on the door, watches Danny.
SARAH
You’re bloody filthy. I hope you’re
not up to mischief.
(MORE)
36.
SARAH (CONT'D)
You’ve been gone all day. That Juba
with you again?
DANNY (O.S.)
Yeah, Mum. We’ve been fishing. Just
grabbing some food.
SARAH
(grumbling, but softer
now)
Your tea is in the oven. Clean up
before you touch anything. And
Danny—
Danny freezes, a jar of peanut butter in one hand.
DANNY
Yeah?
SARAH (O.S.)
News says there’s a storm coming.
Don’t be long.
DANNY
I know that. I got eyes.
Danny sneaks extra supplies into his backpack behind her
back.
SARAH
And for god’s sake, wear clean
underwear. You’re not immortal.
Danny rolls his eyes.
DANNY
Get a life, mum.
SARAH
Watch your bloody tongue!
Danny exits the scullery with a stealthy grin.
EXT. TIDAL FLATS - EVENING
SECONDARY IMAGE - TIDAL FLATS.
Juba stalks his way across low-tide sand flats.
In his raised hand is a long spear with a sharp, barbed metal
point.
Attached to his waist is a rope with a gutted fish dangling.
37.
He peers into rock pools, where trapped fish dart about.
Spots a stationary cuttlefish and spears it, quickly guts it
and attaches it to his belt.
He looks out to the rising tide and starts to head back to
land.
He takes one more look into the large pool.
JUBA
(whispers)
There's something in there.
He drops his spear and fish.
Dives into the pool and stands near what he'd seen: a silver
capsule.
It shimmers when he touches it.
JUBA (CONT'D)
Shit!
He exits the pool, gathers his things and runs back to
Diggers Cave at speed.
CHAPTER 9 - REVELATION. IMAGE - REVELATION.
INT. DIGGERS CAVE - DUSK
Blake wakes.
Sees Juba.
Juba offers food and water.
JUBA
I need your help. Found something
strange in the sea.
BLAKE
What kind of strange?
JUBA
Never seen anything like it. We
need to get it before the tide
covers it forever.
Danny arrives, dumps his backpack on the floor.
DANNY
I'm loaded. We can eat for a week.
38.
Blake stands, still weak, leans against the wall for support.
Part of the wall CRUMBLES, revealing the hidden chamber
beyond.
They peer through.
Ancient paintings cover the walls.
JUBA
(awed)
The old stories. It's all true.
Reverently, Danny turns to something on the wall. He traces
his hand over a scrawled, jagged "V".
DANNY
This...
BLAKE
Okay you two. This is getting
creepy. Let's go and get
your...whatever it is from the sea.
EXT. OUTSIDE CACTUS LOOP - EVENING
Fleabag cruises across the scrub in his pickup.
He's half hanging out of the window peering at the ground as
he goes.
Close to a rise in the land, he spots a motorbike wheel mark.
He stops, gets out follows the track on foot.
Looks down towards the tidal flats.
There, he sees a group of figures hauling something across
the shallow waters.
FLEABAG
(hoarsely)
Here we go.
Dashes back to his pickup, accelerates closer to the beach.
Hides his vehicle behind a rise.
Grabs his scoped .22 sporting rifle and climbs onto the
pickup's tray.
Looks through the scope and using the cross-member steadies
his aim.
39.
Just as he's about to pull the trigger, Drummer leaps into
the back and affectionately leans into his Fleabag's braced
legs.
The gun goes off.
EXT. TIDAL FLATS - EVENING
Using the inflated tires of his trail bike, Blake floats a
makeshift raft into the shallow waters.
Danny and Juba help float it towards the coral reef.
Blake strips his shirt and shorts, stands in his boxers.
He pauses as Juba concentrates on the upcoming tide.
The three of them stand on the coral rim and stare at Juba's
find.
BLAKE
Right, I'm going in.
Grips a nylon rope. Slips into the water.
He takes a deep breath, ducks down, loops the rope under the
cylinder, then surfaces.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
Hold it there, Juba. It'll get
heavy once it's out.
The boys pull as Blake guides the buoyant load.
They roll the cylinder onto the tires and secure it.
As the quickly rising tide moves in, the raft moves with it.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
(grinning at Danny)
Still think it's from outer space?
Might just be a bit of space junk.
DANNY
I've read about stuff like this.
BLAKE
I suppose you're expecting it to
glow or spring open like a cosmic
jack-in-the-box?
40.
DANNY
(touching the cylinder)
It feels like it's alive, mister.
Danny pulls his hand away quickly.
They all laugh when he slips on a sea slug.
SECONDARY IMAGE - SHOOTER
Danny's laugh freezes.
A small ragged hole soundlessly appears on the top of his
arm.
A distant CRACKING sound reaches their ears, followed by a
bullet WHIPPING past, BUZZING before it ricochets off the
cylinder.
DANNY (CONT'D)
(crying out)
Shit!
Danny falls back clutching his arm.
Blake reacts instantly, lunging to push the boy behind the
cylinder.
BLAKE
(urgent)
A shooter. Keep low.
Danny whimpers, feels his own warm blood, then his eyes roll
as he passes out.
Blake examines the wound.
A flesh-wound from a small calibre rifle.
Another round ZINGS past his head and PLOPS into the sea.
Blake rips his shirt into strips and ties the material around
Danny's arm.
The tide continues rising - fast.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
How long for the tide to rise,
Juba?
JUBA
No more than a couple hours. Who's
shooting at us, mister?
41.
BLAKE
Beats me. I'll hold Danny's head
above water. You push the cylinder
ahead for protection. Stay behind
it, keep your head down, move with
the tide's speed. Got it?
Juba nods.
Minutes later, it's dark enough to provide cover from the
shooter.
The wind is increasing.
A full blood moon rises but scudding clouds begin to obscure
it.
They trudge ashore, Danny groans.
They rest against rocks up from the beach.
BLAKE (CONT'D)
Juba, you need to go get Danny's
parents. Are they near here?
JUBA
Danny's mum lives quite near. He
ain't got a dad.
BLAKE
Okay, whatever. Join the club.
We'll wait here. Get going.
DANNY
(hoarse)
My old lady will shit herself.
As Juba vanishes into the waning light, Blake looks at the
mysterious cylinder, then at Danny.
BLAKE
(to himself)
Fuck's sake.
CHAPTER 10 - EMERGENCY. IMAGE - EMERGENCY.