CECIL
I apologize for making you wait. It's
good to see you, Tara. How was Africa?
TARA
Hot.
CECIL
I can imagine. So, what's up?
STEVE
I thought you called us here.
CECIL
Jeremy told me that he and Tara had an
announcement to make.
STEVE
I was hoping that you called me here to
tell me that I'd been accepted into the
spacer program.
Cecil lights a cigar.
CECIL
You've been here six months and Penny
says you're a hard worker. That's good
enough for me. How about we start your
training next week?
STEVE
That would be awesome. Thank you, Mr.
Millikan.
CECIL
So, what is it that you two wanted to
tell me?
JEREMY
We booked passage on THE HIMALIA.
CECIL
The Himalia? That's three whole years. I
thought that contraption was booked solid
before the first component was launched.
JEREMY
There was a cancellation.
CECIL
Below the Belt Tours. They would love to
beat me out to Jupiter, but they're not
going to. And now, two of my own people
will be onboard when they arrive in
defeat.
STEVE
What's The Himalia?
CECIL
There's a Chinese space agency called
Beyond The Belt Tours; The BBT. They just
completed their first luxury touring
spacecraft; The Himalia. Five hundred
people will get to risk their lives as
they venture out to Jupiter. Eighteen
months out and eighteen months back.
STEVE
You obviously don't like them very much.
CECIL
Let's just say they've been less than
responsive to my various offers of a
limited partnership. As I said, I've
decided to beat them out to Jupiter. I've
got a man scheduled to arrive just days
before The Himalia gets there.
JEREMY
To be honest, I thought you might like to
have me out of your hair for awhile. My
spacer training is complete. All I do
here is watch other people work.
CECIL
You're my lunch partner.
JEREMY
Steve can be your new lunch partner.
STEVE
Is that why you brought me here? To fill
in for you while you take a three year
vacation out to Jupiter?
CECIL
I'm sure Jeremy brought you here because
he knew you were a good machinist. You've
become a valuable asset in the Crusher
shop. I'm sure you'll be just as valuable
as one of my spacers. Actually, I'd like
to get to know the brother of my crystal
star.
STEVE
Crystal star?
Steve looks at Tara.
She shrugs, clearly confused and a little creeped out.
JEREMY
Think about it. I'll have three years to
study the ship. You've got to admit that
when it comes to spacecraft design, I've
got an eye for detail. Maybe I could
bring back some useful information.
STEVE
I've been wondering, Jeremy. You came
into all this money and opportunity just
after Alec disappeared. I'm not buying
the Apollo simulator story. There's
something else going on.
TARA
I never believed that story, either. Why
don't you tell us all the truth, Jeremy.
JEREMY
I've already told you the truth, Tara. I
switched out the data crystal the night
we launched Alec's sub. Where did you
think all the Venus Project data came
from?
STEVE
Come again?
JEREMY
I have Alec's crystal.
STEVE
You stole the crystal that was given to
Alec with the alien engine?
TARA
Wait a minute. You're telling me that
story about the crystal is true?
(to Cecil)
Did you know about this?
CECIL
I didn't have all the details.
STEVE
(to Tara)
Are you implying that you didn't know
anything about this?
TARA
Get off my back, Steve. Jeremy told me
about it but I didn't believe him.
STEVE
Jesus, Jeremy. I can't believe you would
betray Alec like that. And then when I
send Tara down for a visit, you end up
marrying her.
JEREMY
Is there some reason I shouldn't have
married her?
STEVE
She was with me before she came to
Florida. I was just giving her a
vacation.
TARA
I was never with you, Steve.
JEREMY
Have you two slept together?
TARA
We hooked up a few times, but that was
long before I came to Florida.
STEVE
Is that what we're all doing here? We're
here because you stole Alec's crystal,
and then sold it to the highest bidder?
No offense, Cecil.
CECIL
None taken.
JEREMY
I was just trying to safeguard it. I
emailed one of the equations to
Microcore, hoping they could shed some
light on it. One thing led to another.
CECIL
Your brother may have provided the means
to develop a previously unknown form of
spacecraft propulsion.
STEVE
Well I hope it was worth it.
Steve enters the elevator.
Tara slips in just before the door closes.
Jeremy and Cecil stare at each other with great concern.
INT. BBT SHUTTLE - EARTH ORBIT
All SIXTY PASSENGERS wear lightweight, plastic helmets.
Jeremy and Tara sit near the back.
Several small VOMIT VACUUMS are attached to the hull.
The Himalia is visible through a window. Ten passenger rings, each housing two dozen habitation modules, wrap around the Himalia's central drum. Observation bulbs protrude from both the bow and stern of the craft.
The shuttle's airlock engages The Himalia.
INT. HIMALIA - EARTH ORBIT
Jeremy is gazing out a window, holding on to an Observation Cage in The Himalia's Receiving Bay. Star clusters and faint nebulae are visible.
Earth's edge is visible just below the window.
A shuttle can be seen edging away from the ship.
With a jolt, the Earth dips away.
Jeremy suddenly notices Tara in the cage next to him.
JEREMY
How long have you been there?
TARA
The whole time.
They watch the stars roll by.
The Earth breaches the window's upper edge. Migrates downward. Completely covers the row of windows. Eventually drops down out of sight.
JEREMY
It's good to be back in orbit. Did you
ever think you'd be leaving Earth?
TARA
Not in a million years.
JEREMY
I never figured you for a spacer.
TARA
I'm not a spacer!
JEREMY
You know what I mean.
TARA
No I don't. You just called me a spacer.
JEREMY
It's just that I picture you out in the
rain or collecting shells on the beach.
Climbing into an interplanetary
spacecraft for three years to brave the
vacuum of space just doesn't seem like
your style. I was nearly certain that you
would back out at the last minute.
TARA
And throw away ten million dollars? Not
me.