Distant Star: Episode One - In The Twilight

Distant Star:

  Episode One-

  In The Twilight

  By W. A. Patterson

  Copyright 2010 W. A. Patterson

  Future Useless *

  Distant Star: Episode Two - Far Future

  DISTANT STAR- PILOT EPISODE- IN THE TWILIGHT- TEASER-

  FADE IN:

  EXT. CAMP SIGHT - SUNSET-

  Beside a stream or river trees stand in welcome to a man walking his horse. As we move closer we can see that he is wearing a UNIFORM of a REBEL SOLDIER from the Civil War.

  We can also see that this man's uniform is SOAKED WITH BLOOD from a a wound in his left shoulder. His face is covered in sweat and it is apparent that he is suffering from a fever and possible infection.

  TITLECARD: Kansas 1864

  This man is JOHN CAMPBELL, and we watch as he quickly

  ties up his horse and starts to unsaddle it.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  A CAMPFIRE now burns in the lower light a John tosses another log into the fire and struggles out of his uniform jacket. He shrinks away from the task in severe pain as he does so. Once the jacket is off we can see that his shoulder is obviously infected and broken.

  In the distance the sky lights up and illuminates JOHN. He holds up a hand to shield himself from he blast and the CAMERA moves around to see the FX of an explosion on

  the HORIZON as the sound of a distant thundering explosion reaches him.

  John is too sick to react to this much. He looks at his hand and in the light he can see the TRACERS as his hand moves. He quickly passes out as the lights in the distance fade completely.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  Late at night the campfire illuminates John's camp sight dimly. We watch as John sleeps fitfully then wakes with a start as we hear a twig snap.

  Instantly John is awake and swinging a large branch from his stock of firewood. He hits someone and the fire flares briefly. In the light we can see that this is a man but he is dressed in a silvery suit not of this time.

  The light dims as the man falls back. John looks around for him but he is seeing flares and spots in his vision. When the light from the fire stabilizes we can now see the stranger. He is now dressed in simple clothes of the time and looking rather surprised. When he speaks it is with a strange accent not exactly native to the area, or any area at all.

  STRANGER

  Easy there friend. You look like

  you're suffering from infection.

  John watches the stranger for a second or two then gives up, tossing his log onto the campfire.

  JOHN

  (Texas accent)

  I got shot in the shoulder about a week

  ago. I guess it got busted up pretty

  bad, and infected.

  STRANGER

  I could try to help clean it out, but I

  am afraid I don't know much about this

  sort of thing.

  JOHN

  I got most of the lead out right after

  it happened, but I'm afraid I need a

  doctor to get it right now.

  John looks around and then waves his good arm to another log.

  JOHN

  Go 'head. Pull up some dirt and share

  the fire. I ain't gonna hurt you none.

  The stranger does move forward quickly and holds his hands out to the fire to ward away the evening chill. John looks him over as he does so.

  JOHN

  I'm John Campbell out of Pecos. What do

  they call you?

  STRANGER

  I am sorry. My name is Jettiniah St'O.

  John blinks once then shakes his head seeing the world go fuzzy, the stranger seems to shimmer again, the silver suit coming back for an instant.

  JOHN

  This fever must be makin me see and

  hear things. .. Did you say your name

  was Jeddiah Stone?

  STRANGER

  (now JED)

  That is close enough.

  JOHN

  So where are you from, Jed? Your accent

  don't sound like anythin' I ever heard

  before.

  JED looks up to the night sky before speaking.

  JED

  I am, as you might say, "Not from

  around these parts."

  Jed looks over to John to see that he has passed out again.

  ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

  There are a million-billion stars in our Galaxy alone. There are more planets around more than just around our own star. There may be life on some of those planets. And with that life come their own stories.

  (beat)

  It doesn't matter how many legs or eyes the story teller has. It doesn't matter what color is their sun. All that matters now is that they have a story to tell you. Listen close and you might hear the message they are trying to send from their own Distant Star.

  FADE OUT:

  DISTANT STAR: PILOT- IN THE TWILIGHT- ACT I.

  FADE IN:

  EXT. CAMPSIGHT - DAWN

  We resume on a shot of the stranger JED tending to John with a damp rag being swabbed across his forehead and John shivering from fever. John opens his eyes to see Jed hovering over him and waves him away.

  JOHN

  Water... please.

  Jed hands over the canteen and John drinks from it then accepts Jed's help in sitting up and scooting back to sit against the log.

  JED

  You were talking in your sleep. It

  appears that you have been delirious

  with your fever.

  JOHN

  What? Talkin' in my sleep?... Dee-leer-

  ee-ous? What's that?

  JED

  Delirious means you are seeing things

  and hearing things that are not there.

  You are talking to people that you only

  imagine are there. As I understand, it

  often happens with a high fever.

  John looks to Jed and nods, then takes another drink from the canteen.

  JOHN

  I'm not hungry but I probably should

  eat somethin'. There's some jerky in my

  pack if you can get it for me.

  (beat)

  You can have some too if you're hungry.

  Jed gets the jerky out of the pack and hands it to John.

  JED

  Thank you but I am not hungry. I ate

  some of my own food... You may wish to

  try some if your own jerky is not

  enough for you.

  Jed pulls a small cloth wrapped biscuit out of his pocket and hands it to John but John waves it away.

  JOHN

  Nah. I had enough of them salt biscuits

  with the Army. I had enough.

  JED

  That reminds me. You spoke, in your

  sleep, of your fellow soldiers. Where

  are they?

  John looks over Jed for a few seconds as he takes a hunk of jerky and chews it. It seems as if he is debating what answer he is deciding to give him.

  JOHN

  I don't know. Truth to tell, I don't

  know if I really care.

  (takes another bite)

  I got shot and passed out. When I woke

  up I was the only one on the field with

  all the other dead men. They must have

  retreated and left me behind.

  Jed only nods and accepts this as John eats another bit of jerky. He only sits and watches John, taking sips of the canteen until John speaks again.

  JOHN

  After that, I figured they could just

  fight this stupid war without me. ... />
  Hell, they already think I'm dead I

  guess so they can just keep thinking

  that. I have a home and a family to

  take care of.

  Jed nods at this in understanding and nibbles at his biscuit then hands the canteen to John. John is starting to shiver again now and his face is getting paler.

  JOHN

  I guess eatin' that jerky wasn't such a

  good idea... Can you help me up, I

  think I'm gonna be sick.

  Jed moves fast and soon John is on his feet, staggering

  to the trees and making retching sounds as he goes.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  It is later in the day and John returns from the trees as

  Jed sits and looks over the rifle from John's saddle.

  JOHN

  You not ever see a rifle afore?

  JED

  Yes, I have, but I am not familiar with

  this particular model. I was thinking

  of hunting some rabbits. I have seen

  many in the fields and fresh food may

  help you.

  John nods and goes to his saddle to get his powder and

  ammunition, which he tosses to Jed.

  JOHN

  That rifle has a hell of a kick to it.

  Go easy on the powder and it keeps the

  aim true.

  Jed takes the ammunition and gets up, just in time to catch John as he starts to faint. He lowers him to the ground, covers him with his saddle blanket and then considers the situation quickly before taking off to hunt as he can do nothing for the man.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  John wakes to find the camp sight deserted and his horse gone. His saddle is still there but his rifle and ammo is gone too. It is later in the afternoon and the light is getting a bit dim. As he looks around we can see that he is seeing things again and his is feverish.

  A second later a young woman we will call ABBY steps out of the trees and comes to sit beside him, handing him the canteen and holding it as he drinks from it.

  JOHN

  (surprised)

  Abby! ... What are you doin' here?

  ABBY

  Shhhh. Don't talk so much. Save your

  strength.

  JOHN

  I'd like to, but this don't make any

  sense. Last I knew I was in Kansas and

  you were still in Pecos. There's no

  way you could have found me here.

  Abby gets a hurt look.

  ABBY

  Do you not want me here John?

  JOHN

  No! No, don't go! I don't care how you

  got here, but don't go now that you

  are. ... I don't care how you got here.

  Abby smiles at this and then cradles his head in her lap and helps him take another drink from the canteen before she speaks.

  ABBY

  John, what are you doing here? Aren't

  you supposed to be with your unit.

  JOHN

  I got shot, obviously. They left me for

  dead and I figured they could just go

  on thinking I was dead.

  (pause)

  You were right Abby. ...

  I didn't have no business going to

  fight in their little war. It didn't

  have nothin' to do with me. ... Not

  what they were all fighting about.

  ABBY

  What were they fighting about?

  (smiles)

  I wish I knew but you know how these

  things bore me.

  JOHN

  As far as I could tell, no one really

  knew what they was fighting about.

  What they told me at first was that the

  North wanted to take over everythin',

  but now I'm not so sure. The south

  wants to make its own country separate

  from the north but they seem just

  intent on fightin' with the North is

  all.

  (pause)

  All I saw was that the same people were

  still in charge of everthin' but none

  of 'em could find their ass with both

  hands tied behind their back.

  ABBY

  (blushes)

  Oh, John, watch that mouth of yours.

  JOHN

  I'm sorry Abby. It's been awhile since

  I been in polite company.

  Abby smooths John's hair and swabs his forehead as he is convulsed in intense shivering. When John opens his eyes we can see a strange Halo around Abby.

  JOHN

  Abby, ...

  ABBY

  Yes John?

  JOHN

  Abby, don't take this wrong. I don't

  want to question things too much, ...

  but its hard to believe you're really

  here.

  ABBY

  Why is that, Honey?

  JOHN

  It just don't make any sense is all.

  ... I'm glad I got to see and talk to

  you even if you are somethin' I am

  imaginin', ... but I think I know you

  aren't really real right now.

  Abby smiles sadly and continues to stroke his forehead.

  JOHN

  I am really grateful, because I get to

  tell you I love you one more time. ...

  But I don't know if you know that or

  not.

  ABBY

  Oh John,... I do know. Just think about

  it a minute. You told me you loved me

  everyday at least twice a day since you

  first kissed me. You never had a harsh

  word for me or ever raised your hand to

  me. You told me yo loved me everyday

  we were together in going to work and

  then coming home to fix up that shack

  your Daddy gave us when we got married.

  John smiles at this and closes his eyes.

  JOHN

  Thank you Abby. I am so glad to know

  that. I don't think I want to open my

  eyes again

  (pause)

  I'm afraid that when I open my eyes

  again you'll be gone.

  ABBY

  Then close your eyes John. Rest awhile

  and let me tend to you for a little

  bit. Save your strength to get better

  and come back to me for real!

  John's head lolls to the side as he sleeps again and the hand that strokes his head slips OUT OF FRAME for a second to be replaced with a male hand.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  John wakes again to find it is Night and Jed cooking

  something over the fire. He is obviously feeling better

  as he is not shaking or sweating and he can sit up on his

  own.

  JOHN

  My fever must have broke.

  He looks to his shoulder to find a POULTICE tied around it.

  JOHN

  Did you do this?

  JED

  Yes. I found two rabbits and some herbs

  I know that are good with infections

  and fevers. I am making you a broth to

  drink that you may be able to eat

  without being sick.

  JOHN

  Well, thank you. I am feeling a little

  better.

  Jed says nothing but only stirs the contents of the pot a little more. He pointedly does not look at John.

  JOHN

  Say fella. Is there something you

  afraid to tell me?

  JED

  I checked your shoulder John. It is, as

  you might say, sicker than ever. ...

  The medicine I can make for you can

  help slow the sickness you feel but

  without a proper doctor, I fear that

  you will get sick again soon.

  John con
siders it and looks at his shoulder again, then back to Jed.

  JOHN

  I wish I know more about the area

  around here. Chances are that even if

  we found a Doc around here I'd just get

  shot by Union Boys for wearin' the

  wrong uniform.

  Jed dips a cup into the broth and brings it over to John, placing it in his lap and tearing some leaves to add to it.

  JED

  There. Drink this. It might not taste

  very well but it will help.

  John ignores the cup and takes Jed's hand for a moment.

  JOHN

  Thanks. ... I knew I was sick a while

  ago, but meetin you here is helping in

  more was than you know.

  Jed says nothing but looks at John, puzzled.

  JOHN

  What? ... Did I grow another ear on my

  forehead or something?

  JED

  No, ... you haven't... it's just

  that,...

  JOHN

  Just what? Spit it out Jed.

  JED

  You understand that I just told you

  that you may die from your sickness,

  don't you.

  JOHN

  Yes. I reckon I do.

  JED

  Then why do you seem so relieved?

  John lets Jed's hand go and takes a drink from the cup, grimacing from the taste before answering.

  JOHN

  I guess most people would rather die

  around someone than to die alone. ...

  Until last night I was thinkin' I was

  going to die alone.

  (pause)

  That I would die and no one would know

  who I was or where I was from.

  Jed nods in some understanding and then returns to his spot by the fire to get a cup of broth for himself.

  JOHN

  Jed, ... can I ask a favor of you?

  JED

  Yes, John.

  JOHN

  I have some things I'd like my family

  to know back home. If I told you what

  they was could you promise me that

  you'd make sure they'd know what that

  is?

  JED

  Of course. If you like I have some

  paper and a pencil. You can write them

  a letter.

  Jed starts to pull some paper from a pocket but John waves his hand to stop him.

  JOHN

  No, don't bother. I can't write

  anyways.

  Jed stops a second, but too late to hide his astonishment. Still he pulls out the paper and a pencil and grabs then holds it to his leg to write.

  JED

  Go ahead and say what you want. I will

  write the letter for you.

  John says nothing for a moment but then takes another swig of broth and clears his throat.

  JOHN

  Well, I guess you can write it to Abby,

  that's my wife, she can read and she

  can tell my Ma what I said.

  Jed nods and as John begins to speak we

  FADE OUT:

  DISTANT STAR- PILOT - IN THE TWILIGHT- ACT II

  FADE IN:

  EXT. CAMPSIGHT - NIGHT

  John lays and struggles fitfully as Jed watches him, swabbing his head with a wet rag but there is nothing else he can do.