Distant Star: Episode One - In The Twilight, Page 3

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

 

 

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  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!