HOME | DD

Description
(A conference room in Washington, D.C. A small group of revered Russian, British, Chinese, & American scientists mill about inside, engaging in idle conversation with each other or dancing their fingers across small, handheld devices absent-mindedly. Suddenly, a chorus of cheers & applause starts up as a serious young woman in a lab coat & glasses steps inside, smiling & waving to the small crowd. As the noise recedes, she steps up onto a makeshift stage & approaches the podium situated in the front.)

Lizzy:
Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone. Now, as most of you may know, my name is Dr.
Lizzy Williams, and I will be leading our scientific expedition to Zukani Prime. For years, theories & research have shown us that there would come a day when all of Earth's natural resources, both living & nonliving, would be completely depleted. Being the sheep they are, the public ignored these warnings & carried on with their daily destruction of our planet. Now their actions are catching up with them, because the men they laughed at & criticized were right.

(Turning to a screen behind her, Lizzy aims a small remote at a projector hanging from the ceiling & presses a button. The machine springs to life with a low hum & flashes an image on screen of the Serengeti Desert, the barren landscape devoid of any animals & covered in splotches of dried blood.)

Lizzy:
Nearly every animal species on the planet is extinct or on the brink of annihilation to keep up with the human population's growth & thus, the need for more food. The location depicted in the image used to be a wildlife reserve until locals & guards alike broke in & slaughtered the creatures for their nutritional value instead of resorting to cannibalism.

(Lizzy hits the button again, transitioning the image to one of a dried-up riverbed in the mountains.)

Lizzy:
Hundreds of natural waterways like the one shown here have dried up completely due to irrigation & use as drinking water by humans & animals alike.

(The slide again changes to a shot of a Brazilian favela. People lie on the streets or lean against doorways, their neck muscles tightened & their faces red as they struggle for air.)

Lizzy:
In some places, the air quality has gotten so bad that oxygen levels are near or at zero. Domes have been constructed around major cities in affected areas to prevent a fate similar to the one shown here.)

(Lizzy switches off the projector. As the image disappears from the screen, 2 men in military uniforms, one lean & older, the other young & well-built, step up on stage & take positions on either side of the podium.)

Lizzy:
Allow me to introduce Sergeant Peter Green & Corporal Lee Atkins. These are two members of an eight-man squad that will accompany us on our journey. They are both seasoned ITPF soldiers, & they will stop at nothing to ensure you're returned home safely. Questions?

(One scientist, a wiry, lanky man in a flower-print shirt, raises his hand & stands to his feet.)

Scientist:
Yes, I have a question. If this is a scientific expedition, then why do we need a military escort? Does this mean that you expect trouble on site?

Lizzy:
We do not expect any trouble, but there have been reports of attacks on low-flying supply ships by unidentified creatures on the 7th & 8th moons. The security detail is just a precaution.

Sgt. Green:
We won't interfere with any survey-taking unless it's an absolute emergency. Our presence is to remain near-unnoticeable.

(The scientist sits back down & his colleagues nod approvingly. The team applauds for a final time before slowly beginning to trickle out of the room.)

Lizzy: (calling after them)
Be ready to leave in 4 hours! Don't be late, or you will be left behind!

(The last of the scientists make their way out of the conference hall, murmuring excitedly in anticipation of the trip. Once they have left, Lizzy exhales nervously & quickly walks off the stage, collapsing in one of the many rolling chairs clustered around a large wooden table. Her colleague & closest friend, Dr. Dennis Johnson, takes a seat beside her & offers a sympathetic smile.)

Dennis:
Why the long face, Liz? I've known you for a while, & I know it takes a lot to dampen your spirit.

Lizzy:
I'm fine, Dennis, it's just...It's just the weight of this mission. If we fail, it'll mean the near-destruction of the human race.

Dennis: (in a teasing tone)
Would that really be such a bad thing?

Lizzy: (chuckling)
I'm serious. The people of Earth are depending on us.

Dennis:
There's never been a mission you couldn't handle as long as we've been partners & friends. Together, we'll give this mission our all & return to our people as conquering heroes.

Lizzy:
Well, when you put it like that... Let's do it.

(Several hours later. MacGregor Docking Station, Maryland. Corporal Atkins stands beside a large transport vessel, assisting the crew in loading several heavy boxes full of equipment into the cargo hold.)

Lee:
Easy, easy! These are chemicals, not food rations!

Crew Member:
I've got it!

(Sighing with frustration, Lee abandons his mobile loading vehicle & grabs the enormous crate, lifting it with close to no effort. He sets the box down in a large stack of the scientists' other supplies. Wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, he strides quickly but calmly to the front of the ship were Lizzy & Sgt. Green stand talking, saluting crisply as his commanding officer turns to face him.)

Lee:
Loading completed, sir. All cargo & crew present & accounted for.

Sgt. Green:
Very good, Corporal. You're dismissed.

(As Green nods & briskly boards the ship, Lee & Lizzy's eyes meet for just a second. He offers her a quick smile & pulls off his gloves.)

Lee:
Well, Doctor...Let's get this dog & pony show on the road.