Volunteers
Page 2
Mariella kneels down and returns the bottle with a smile.
Marika smiles back, still uncomfortable.
MARIKA
(Estonian)
Thank you.
Mariella nods and turns to Eunice.
MARIELLA
(French)
You can sit here.
She pulls out and chair and sits beside her.
MARIELLA (CONT'D)
We'll be starting shortly.
Eunice looks around the table. On the far side we see Caleb with a US official.
Another American, Joshua, a bespectacled man in his 30s, is led forward and sat with them.
Caleb looks at him as he fumbles to open a bottle of water. Caleb pauses then turns to the US official.
CALEB
(smiles)
Hey could I get a Coke or something?
The official looks at Caleb, already annoyed, but then gets up.
CALEB (CONT'D)
Chilled please!
He waits until he's gone then leans over to Joshua.
CALEB (CONT'D)
Hey you don't look like you're with the MIB.
Joshua looks back at him and stops.
JOSHUA
(beat)
They brought you in too?
CALEB
First class all the way. Caleb
(offers his hand)
Caleb Colton.
Joshua shakes.
JOSHUA
Joshua Campbell.
CALEB
Where you from Joshua Campbell?
JOSHUA
Stillwater, Oklahoma. I work in real estate. I don't understand what all this is about. They just came to my apartment this morning and the next thing I know I'm flying out of the country.
Caleb looks across the table.
CALEB
Same here.
He glimpses Eunice, half blocked by Mariella. He leans forward and sees her sip some water.
CALEB (CONT'D)
(to himself)
Nice.
JOSHUA
They're talking about giving out millions, millions! But we can't keep any of it for ourselves. I don't get it. What's so special about us?
Caleb draws back.
CALEB
I don't know pal. Maybe we got some disease?
JOSHUA
(stops)
What??
The lights dim down.
Mariella hands Eunice a headset.
MARIELLA
You'll need to put this on.
Eunice puts on the headphones.
Translators on the other side of the room check their mikes.
Hollis steps forward and stops at the end of the table, a large screen behind him.
HOLLIS
(beat)
Good afternoon. My name is Derek Hollis, US director of operations.
Translators (French, Nigerian, Thai, Czech, Estonian) repeat into their mikes.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
(beat)
Over the past 6 days agencies from around the world have been working around the clock to bring you here.
-Caleb raises his hand.
Hollis stops.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
(beat)
Yes Mr Colton?
CALEB
Excuse me Sir but director of operations for what exactly?
Eunice turns her head, noticing Caleb for the first time.
JOSHUA
-What have we got? Some disease??
HOLLIS
If you'll give me a few minutes everything will be explained.
Caleb pats Joshua's back.
CALEB
Easy there, we'd be in quarantine if we had anything.
Eunice turns back to Hollis as the screen behind him comes to life.
A computer generated animation shows a probe drifting through space.
HOLLIS
Thirteen months ago the Eos-1, an ESA funded survey probe, was sent to Jupiter, specifically its moon Europa.
The animation shows the probe approaching the orange gas giant.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Ten days ago the probe made a scheduled realignment to Saturn when an anomaly was detected.
The animation cuts to still images taken by the probe.
Saturn engulfs the entire screen but we can make out a tiny black speck, hidden in the planet's glare.
Eunice sits up.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
At first it was thought to be a small moon, undiscovered until now, but it seemed the object is not in orbit around Saturn but moving past it.
The next image is a little clearer, we see a distinctly circular shape, still silhouetted by the planet.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
It was then speculated to be a meteor or asteroid, moving at tremendous speeds. That was however until these images came through.
Another image appears.
Eunice quietly gasps, hand over her mouth.
Caleb stops and leans forward.
The object is now shown passing Saturn, the side facing the planet reflecting its light.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
The object has a perfect circumference of just under a mile, giving off no radiation of any kind. Which means whatever this thing is it's artificial.
We now see a crisp clear image of what looks like an enormous silver marble.
Suchin stares, quiet.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
At this moment in time it is two hundred million miles away but it is approaching the Earth at just under eight million miles an hour, its speed steadily falling. By our calculations it will reach the Earth in fifty one hours and seventeen minutes.
Eunice, Vincent and Marika turns to their representatives and start asking the same question in their native language.
Suchin remains quiet.
EUNICE
(French, to Mariella)
-What does this have to do with me?
Hollis raises his hands.
HOLLIS
Please allow me to continue.
Everyone settles.
Mariella squeezes Eunice's arm, assuring.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
(beat)
When the anomaly crossed paths with the Eos-1 a transmission was sent to the probe and subsequently relayed back us. What you're about to see may alarm you.
He steps aside as twelve circular images appear on screen, all taken high and from afar.
Eunice stops, stunned.
Of the twelve faces shown seven are in this very room (Eunice, Christopher, Suchin, Caleb, Joshua, Vincent and Marika).
Marika covers her mouth, frozen.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
The transmission included the coordinates to the exact location these images were taken, which was how we were able to find you. Also included were the coordinates to an isolated region in Antarctica, which we believe is where the object is directed.
Suchin lowers her head, her face blank.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
In addition to all this, a message was also sent.
On the screen a single sentence appears, repeated in every known language on Earth.
As the sentences scroll down those in English, French, Czech, Thai and Estonian expand.
“THE CHOSEN MUST COME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD”
The room falls deathly quiet.
- Someone starts to clap.
Everyone turn and see Caleb on his feet, unable to contain himself.
CALEB
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! “The Chosen must come of their own accord”? This is a joke right?! ET's calling and asking for us? Where's the cameras? This is some God damn MTV set-up!
HOLLIS
-Mr Colton SIT down!
Caleb stops.
He sees everyone's eyes on him.
He raises his hands, still chuckling, and sits back down.
CALEB
(to Hollis)
As you were Doctor Sagan.
Hollis returns to
the others.
HOLLIS
These images were taken approximately a month ago, seemingly at the exact same time.
Marika looks away, her face going white.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Two of the individuals are confirmed dead.
The screen zooms in on two faces, a Zambian man and a Colombian man.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Mkilifi Mwenzi, southern Lusaka, died of cancer 3 weeks ago. Diego Fernando was gunned down by Bogota police only yesterday.
This means whoever or whatever took these images did not stay to monitor you.
A world map appears, pinpoints flashing in the Amazon, Eastern Somalia and Iran.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Of the remaining ten we have not been able to identify or locate three. It is unlikely they will be found before this object arrives.
Eunice turns to Mariella and whispers something. Mariella listens then raises his hand.
Hollis nods.
MARIELLA
(English, accented)
Miss Michel would like to know why they were selected.
HOLLIS
We don't know. There's no connection between any of you. The random nature was probably intentional.
Caleb looks away, still smiling to himself.
The Estonian Rep raises her hand.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Yes.
Marika looks away, trembling.
ESTONIAN REP
(English, accented)
Miss Petrov would like to know what will happen to them and... whether they have a choice in this matter.
Eunice hears the translation and pauses.
All of their eyes are on Hollis. Caleb glances, quiet.
HOLLIS
(beat)
We don't know what will happen. If they wanted to communicate with us there are far more efficient ways such as radio. This object is clearly a transport of some kind. They want to take you somewhere, perhaps the place of its origin.
Caleb shakes his head, smiling again.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
We have no reason to believe any harm will come to you. If that was the intention they could have taken you when these images were taken but they didn't. They want you to go freely, which must mean something.
He turns to Marika.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
And to answer your second question. Yes. You all have a choice. No one will force you to go.
As the message requests you must go of your own accord.
Marika closes her eyes, relieved.
CALEB
(to himself)
This is insane.
Eunice tries to process everything.
Another hand is raised.
It's a Thai Rep.
THAI TRANSLATOR
(English, accented)
If they go what guarantees are there that they will be brought back alive?
Eunice looks at Suchin. Her face is blank.
HOLLIS
(beat)
There are no guarantees. We don't know where this object came from or where it will go. There is nothing to indicate that you will be returned. We cannot promise that any of you will come home. That is the truth.
The room falls silent again.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
(beat)
If no one comes forward when this “thing” arrives we don't know what will happen. If the public learn of this contact your lives will be changed, and perhaps not for the better. You will be analyzed and scrutinized for the rest of your life.
You will never have a normal life again.
If you do choose to go no one can know the truth. Legally you will be dead with the money offered by your respective nations passed on to your family, loved ones, or anyone else you choose fit.
Joshua stares at his bottle of water, almost catatonic.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
(beat)
I know this is a difficult choice but we don't have much time. We must have your decision in the next thirty six hours.
CUT TO.
EXT. SPACE
The silver sphere closes in on Earth, now visible in the distance.
CUT TO.
INT. PRIVATE JET - NIGHT
Caleb and Joshua sit alone, both staring out the window.
Neither say a word.
CUT TO.
INT. GOVERNMENT CAR - FRANCE - NIGHT
Eunice sits in the back, alone. She too stares out the window.
Over the fields we see the moon, full and strong.
CUT TO.
INT. BAR - HOTEL - NIGHT
A glass of Jack Daniels is poured. The clock on the wall reads 2am.
HOLLIS
(raising his glass)
Here's hoping none of them go running to the press.
Mariella smiles, tired. Both looking exhausted.
MARIELLA
I don't see that happening.
HOLLIS
The guys at the Pentagon are expecting it to be all over the social media in less than twenty hour hours.
MARIELLA
It probably already is somewhere. We're just lucky this thing isn't the size of a city. That would be a little more difficult to explain.
Hollis smiles.
Mariella sips her white wine and pauses.
MARIELLA (CONT'D)
What do you think would happen if it did get out?
HOLLIS
Just what they say. Religious nuts will be singing and dancing in street, celebrating the end of the world and doing all they can to make it happen.
MARIELLA
What happened to American optimism?
HOLLIS
I can give you a list.
Mariella smiles.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Lets not forget the millions of others who'll be thinking these twelve idiots are God's Messiahs.
He draws back and sighs.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Seven billion people Mariella. Seven BILLION people on the planet and its these twelve they come for. What do they want with them?
Mariella shakes her head, completely lost.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
I tell you there's a lot of men and women out there that could go. People that would want to go, and they wouldn't have to be bribed like these guys.
MARIELLA
It's not compensation they'll be enjoying. Some of them don't even have anyone to leave it for.
HOLLIS
It's still the deciding factor. We should be sending our best, not these... people.
Mariella looks at him.
MARIELLA
(beat)
Would you go?
HOLLIS
The money wouldn't make a difference.
MARIELLA
So you'd go? Just like that.
Hollis stops and looks back at her, seriously considering.
Mariella can see it's not easy.
MARIELLA (CONT'D)
You know I never thought about it much before but it's true. No matter where we're from, no matter how wealthy or educated, none of us are really that different. We could have our twelve smartest, our twelve best trained, but in the end, at this moment in time, they'd be just like them.
HOLLIS
What?
She finishes her drink.
MARIELLA
Fucking scared.
(gets up)
Get some sleep, we still have a lot of work to do.
Hollis nods, returning to his drink.
HOLLIS
Right.
He takes out his credit card, nodding for the bartender, when he notices a photograph in his wallet.
He pauses, looking at his children, and again considers.
CUT TO.
EXT. VENICE BEACH - EVENING
The sun sets.
Caleb sits alone, jet-lagged and smoking a joint. With his unkempt and beard hair he looks like a bum.
A young mother passes by with her 7 year old daughter, walking t
heir dog.
Caleb notices them and pauses.
He whistles the mother's attention.