EXT. CAMPSIGHT- DAWN
Jed returns with a wad of willow bark in hand to find John sleeping, sitting up and holding his rifle in his arm, the whisky bottle on its side beside him.
Jed moves quietly and picks up the whisky bottle and sniffs it, tasting a bit of it left dribbling out.
He hears a definite CLICK and looks up to find a John has leveled the Rifle on him.
JOHN
I think we need to talk a little bit
Jed.
Jed drops the whisky bottle and the bark and raises his hands.
JOHN
Now just sit down over there and be
still. I'm not feeling well and I need
to get some questions answered.
Jed does so.
JED
Please be careful John. You are sick
and trembling and I fear the alcohol
may have clouded your judgement.
JOHN
Don't worry, I won't shoot you if you
don't move quickly or anythin'. I got
enough strength left for that.
(pause)
Now why don't you tell me where you
come from.
JED
But of course, I am from Ontario Canada
John.
John raises the rifle more and gestures with it as he speaks.
JOHN
Parlay Vou Francais Monsoiure?
Jed balks at the question not understanding.
JOHN
Come on Jed, don't lie to me now. If'n
you was from Ontario you'd be able to
speak French like them cajuns down in
Louisiana. I may be ignorant but I know
that much. ... We traveled through
Louisiana enough in the army for me to
pick up some things.
Jed nods and lowers his head.
JED
I am sorry John. I have lied to you.
JOHN
That's allright Jed. I figured you were
strange enough before. I just want to
know why that is?
Jed looks up to the sky and smiles.
JED
To tell the truth John, I am not from
this world at all. I come from up
there,
(points to the sky)
from the stars.
John looks up then back to Jed, not understanding.
JED
It is possible John. Stars are only
like your own sun. Around some of these
are other worlds. Some of these worlds
have no life on them, but some do.
John considers it a minute then nods.
JOHN
I can understand that I guess.
JED
Good. Now on my own world we fought a
war with another world. Much like you
fight here now.
JOHN
You had your own wars, up there?
JED
Yes John, but not like you have here.
Our wars take hundreds and thousands of
years. We have to travel many many
miles before we even get to a battle.
(pause)
Then, when you are wounded you have
almost nowhere to go for help.
JOHN
Like me, huh?
JED
Exactly like you.
John considers this then lowers the rifle, he is too weak to continue holding it.
JOHN
So how did you end up here?
JED
We travel in ships, like you do on your
oceans. We had a battle and I was
wounded. I hid in a "Lifeboat" you
would call it. When our ship was
destroyed the lifeboat was set adrift.
I was not pocked up by the enemy, or my
own kind.
John nods in understanding, taking the bottle of whisky and taking a drink.
JED
That alcohol can not help your illness
John.
JOHN
It won't hurt me none Jed. I'm dead
already.
(points to his shoulder)
The infection has spread to my chest
and heart. There ain't nothin' can be
done for me now.
Jed nods and then opens his own shirt to show the silvery coat that he has, soaked with a greenish substance.
JED
When I arrived here, My Lifeboat was
destroyed John. I slept for the entire
trip here, but I am still wounded and I
have no way of healing myself.
JOHN
So we're both in the same boat? We both
are going to die?
Jed is reluctant to answer John and John has to finally get the rifle back up to goad him into answering.
JED
That is correct, but it doesn't have to
be this way.
JOHN
How so?
JED
I did not always look like you John. My
own kind look somewhat different than
you do. Our bodies can adapt to a wide
variety of worlds.
JOHN
That doesn't answer the question Jed.
What do you mean?
JED
You are dying John, but you do not have
to die completely. ... My kind can take
parts of others and carry them with us
always. Part of your mind and memories
and your ... "soul" can become part of
me.
JOHN
But what's the other part? What's the
part you're afraid to tell me?
JED
I am wounded John. Without that part of
you to add to me, I will die too. ...
But without that part of you, you will
certainly die as it is all that is
keeping you alive now.
John considers it for a moment, letting the rifle fall, trying to grab for it but not reaching it. We can see he is very sick now.
JOHN
So ,... If I give up this part, I can
still live part of the way?
JED
Yes John. What part of you comes into
me will be alive and aware of
everything. I will be there too.
JOHN
And you can go back to my family and
help them. Or at least tell them I'm
dead.
JED
That is another part of the problem
John. ... To survive in your world I
will have to let that part of you run
things for me. ... In effect we will
become part of a new person, both parts
of each other, but not entirely one or
the other.
John lays over on his good arm and looks at Jed.
JOHN
There isn't much time left is there?
JED
No John. Hardly any at all.
JOHN
And if I don't give up this part of me,
will you take it?
Jed looks horrified.
JED
Oh, my, no! The ones we were fighting
would do that! We would never do that!
We are morally opposed to it!
John only nods and thinks of things as Jed moves over and hands him the canteen to drink from.
JOHN
And if I don't give you this, then you
die too?
JED
Yes John. ... But John, there is
something else I would have you know.
(pause)
When I was stranded in my lifeboat, I
could have called for help but I did
not. ... I let them think I was dead.
... I wanted no part of war any longer.<
br />
(beat)
I deserted my post and my friends.
JOHN
I think you know I can understand that,
Jed.
Jed nods and then helps John onto his back, helping comfort him as he coughs and shakes.
JOHN
Can you promise me something Jed?
JED
What John?
JOHN
If I give this peice of me to you, will
you help my family get on? Can you go
to Pecos, Texas and help them?
JED
I think that would be an Ideal
situation John. It would allow me to
learn how to survive in this world of
yours as one of you.
JOHN
And I'd be with you?
JED
Always.
John reaches out with his good hand and grabs Jed's.
JOHN
Go ahead and take it Jed. What ever
that part of me it is you need, take it
before it's too late.
Jed Smiles and then places both hands on either side of John's head. We see the lights get brighter and brighter as we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CAMPSIGHT - DAY
We see that there is a small crude grave that has been dug and there is a pair of men's legs and the horse standing nearby.
As the CAMERA moves back we can see that it is actually JOHN, dressed in Jed's clothes, standing by the horse. He does not speak but we hear the two men speaking in Voice over's.
JED (V.O.)
Are you comfortable John?
JOHN (V.O.)
Yes Jed. I can't complain none. How
did you end up lookin' like me?
JED (V.O.)
I thought it would be best for when we
return to your family John. ... They
will be more willing to accept you than
they would accept me.
JOHN (V.O.)
That's mighty wise of you Jed.
JED (V.O.)
I think it was your idea John.
JOHN
Was it? I don't remember.
JED
It will be like that for awhile. We
will grow to be part of the same person
soon enough. We will forget who we once
were and just be one identity.
JOHN
I think that's good enough Jed. It's
all strange somehow now. I'm not afraid
of you as I was before.
JED
Am I am not as afraid of you either.
... If you try you may see what I was
and see my own memories if you like.
They will show you things you have
never seen before.
JOHN
I think I'd like that Jed.
The figure of John/Jed takes the horse by the reigns and starts to walk away as we:
FADE OUT SLOW:
OVER THE CREDITS-
Over the credits we hear the announcers Voice speak:
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Why is it we of tyhe present accept the
tales of Alien encounters and very
rarely explore the idea that these
visitations have occured in the past?
(beat)
If they happen now then it is
reasonable to expect that they have
been happening all along isn't it?
END OF PILOT - IN THE TWILIGHT
Where to find W. A. Patterson online:
Website: https://wapatterson.com
Twitter: W_A_Patterson https://twitter.com/W_A_Patterson
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Blog: https://futureuseless.blogspot.com/
About W. A. Patterson
W. A. Patterson has worked in a variety of fields from being an embalmer to call centers, to working at anything with independent film.
His first novel: Future Useless has just been released and he's hard at work on the next few books he hopes to finish in 2010.
He lives in Kansas with his happy little family and hopes to make writing his career wihin the next few years.
Or - if you really want to reach someone interesting--- send an Email to Carl Gussman at Carlgussman(at)gmail(dot)com. (he’s from Future Useless and if you didn’t read the book you are really missing out!)
He’s been dead since 1997, but Manny Moe or even Jack may answer your emails!
Thanks for reading my book!
Distant Star: Episode One - In The Twilight Page 3