Steve is already heading toward him when they spot each other.
STEVE
If it isn't my long lost little brother.
Jeremy maneuvers around a very fat man wearing a computer headset. Its tiny screen appears dangerously close to his eye. He is oblivious to the many people inconvenienced by his slow, swaying gait.
JEREMY
Who you calling little?
Jeremy reaches out to shake Steve's hand.
Steve grabs it and pulls him into a hug.
STEVE
One sec.
Steve slips into an airport bar.
Downs a shot of whiskey.
He comes circling back out as if their pace to baggage claim had been uninterrupted.
They retrieve Jeremy's bag. Steve picks up the pace.
STEVE (CONT’D)
There's a bunch of construction going on
in the main terminal. People were
actually waiting in line for available
railcars when I came in.
JEREMY
You took a railcar here? I figured you'd
pick me up in some cool new car.
STEVE
Traffic is a nightmare. I can't take it
anymore. Railcars are great. I'm not as
dumb as everyone thinks I am. It just
takes me a little longer to catch up.
INT. DOUBLECAR - NIGHT
The doublecar speeds toward a bridge spanning The Mississippi River.
STEVE
Have you really been working for
Microcore all this time?
JEREMY
Yep. I have a mansion on the beach and
thirty million dollars in the bank. Also,
Tara and I are married.
STEVE
You married Tara? Congratulations! I
guess sending her down to Florida wasn't
such a bad idea after all.
(his smile turns to a frown)
And you didn't invite me to the wedding?
JEREMY
It was a last minute thing and we didn't
want to make a big deal out of it. Did
you hear what I said before I mentioned
being married to Tara?
STEVE
You mean about the beach house and the
millions of dollars? Yeah, right.
JEREMY
It's true. Cecil and I are buds.
STEVE
Who the hell is Cecil?
JEREMY
Cecil Millikan, the President of
Microcore. Dude, we aired live from the
moon to thirty two countries. Did you not
see that?
STEVE
I remember there was some surprise
broadcast by Microcore, but all the hype
turned me off so I didn't watch it.
JEREMY
I could probably get you a job there if
you're interested. The Asteroid Crusher
shop would be right up your alley. I
might even be able to get you into spacer
training.
STEVE
I'd jump on a plane tomorrow if I could
get into spacer training. I hate my job
at that crappy machine shop. You want to
convince me that you're a millionaire and
Cecil Millikan's bud? Take me to your
leader.
EXT. BRIDGE LEADING TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - NIGHT
The doublecar reaches the bridge.
The St. Louis Arch is visible just to the north.
A sign that reads "WELCOME TO ILLINOIS" can be seen ahead.
PAN DOWN. The glow of a bonfire emanates from the shoreline beneath the St. Louis side of the bridge.
EXT. BENEATH BRIDGE - NIGHT
Three homeless men are sitting around a bonfire, sharing a bottle of cheap wine.
The firelight reflects off the steel framework of the bridge's underside.
Movement can be seen within the framework.
Three Kek burst from the shadows.
The Kek quickly subdue the men before slashing their throats.
They slice up the men as other Kek scramble in and out, one by one, to retrieve various portions of the mens' bodies.
PAN OVER to an old, abandoned building in St. Louis.
Military trucks are surrounding the building.
Dozens of heavily armed, camouflaged soldiers take up positions outside.
All at once, the soldiers storm in.
Yelling and gunfire and squealing Kek can be heard from inside.
The soldiers bring out Kek corpses and pile them into the trucks.
A Kek escapes from the building. It is quickly gunned down and its body retrieved.
INT. ASTEROID CRUSHER MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Steve and Jeremy wait while Penny reviews Steve's job application.
PENNY
Everything looks in order. In short, we
machine out all the mechanical components
of the Asteroid Crushers. We produce
everything from the grinding gears to the
nuts and bolts in here.
STEVE
I have over three years experience as a
machinist, as you can see.
PENNY
You're hired. Be here Monday at seven.
I'd give you a tour but I'm in a hurry.
Jeremy can show you around. Lord knows
that he spends enough time here.
JEREMY
What's that supposed to mean?
PENNY
I first met Jeremy on a railcar. He was
pretty jumpy back then but he seems to
have calmed down over the years. He's
certainly won the heart of our
illustrious leader.
(whispering to Steve)
They're very close.
She retracts her lower lip and widens an eye, implying a secret relationship between them.
JEREMY
I'm a married man. And so is Cecil.
PENNY
You see. Jumpy little bugger, isn't he?
STEVE
I should know, I grew up with him.
PENNY
I'm sorry guys, but I've got to go.
Penny exits.
JEREMY
Come on Steve, I'll show you the assembly
shop.
INT. ASTEROID CRUSHER ASSEMBLY SHOP - DAY
The shop is buzzing with activity.
Jeremy and Steve enter.
A fully assembled Asteroid Crusher sits in the far corner.
Steve spots it immediately. He glares at it with awe as they approach.
Its three forward gears face them.
A small cockpit is attached to its top.
Pressure tanks on either side are marked "H20."
Oxygen tubes behind them.
The entire rig stands ten feet high.
STEVE
This is the coolest thing I've ever seen.
JEREMY
Now imagine a modified space shuttle
liquid fuel tank attached to its aft.
That's where the ore is separated and
stored.
STEVE
You're right bro, this really is right up
my alley.
EXT. ABOVE AFRICA - DAY
MONTAGE:
The entire continent is visible.
ZOOM IN to West Coast of The Sahara Desert.
Floodgates are opened in huge desalination plants.
Ocean water pours into a large aqueduct toward the desert's interior.
CAMERA FOLLOWS the aqueduct deep into the desert, ahead of the flow.
Thousands of workers are producing cement slabs, extending the aqueduct.
Continue into open desert.
Tanks marked "TREATED SEWAGE" litter the region.
A huge lake of sewage appears.
Water begins trickling into the region.
ACCELERATED TIME LAPSE:
Thousands of workers plant crops in the sewage muck.
Crops grow, fields are harvested.
Livestock is imported.
Buildings are built.
Roads are laid.
Communities emerge.
PULL BACK into HIGH ANGLE.
The Central Sahara is green and habitable.
INT. CECIL'S OFFICE - DAY
Jeremy, Tara, and Steve are waiting. Cecil steps from the elevator and takes his chair.