CECIL
I'm glad you're back safe and sound. You
two needed a long vacation.
JEREMY
Yeah, and I already need another one.
That trip sucked the life out of me. It
did just the opposite to Tara. It's like
she's on speed or something.
CECIL
Come to my office tomorrow morning. I may
have just the thing to re-energize you.
JEREMY
Let's make it early afternoon. I have a
feeling I'll be sleeping in tomorrow.
CECIL
Fair enough. See you then.
Jeremy deactivates the screen.
INT. CECIL'S OFFICE - DAY
Jeremy arrives. He falls wearily into a chair. Cecil lights a cigar.
CECIL
How would you like to add Mars to your
resume?
JEREMY
No thanks. The last thing I need right
now is to be cooped up in another
spacecraft for two more years.
CECIL
You'll only spend six months in the ship.
Three quarters of the mission will take
place on the planet's surface. Open skies
and vast horizons.
JEREMY
Encased in a spacesuit? No thanks.
CECIL
I really need you on this one, Jeremy. My
life support engineer was killed in a
railcar collision.
JEREMY
I'm sorry to hear that. Surely there's a
backup to take his place.
CECIL
Broken arm.
JEREMY
I know for a fact that you've got dozens
of experienced spacers far more qualified
than me.
CECIL
I know you studied The Hellas specs in
great detail, especially the life support
systems.
JEREMY
I can't leave Tara for two whole years.
CECIL
I'll make sure she's well taken care of.
You'll be back before you know it.
JEREMY
Sorry, Cecil, I'm just not ready for
another extended space flight. Just get
one of your regular spacers to go. Why
are you trying to recruit me, anyway?
CECIL
I can't tell you why. All I can tell you
is that I need you on that ship. Consider
it a personal favor. You're just going to
have to trust me on this.
Cecil produces a stack of manuals. Hands them to Jeremy.
CECIL (CONT’D)
Everything you'll need to know is in
these. Training begins next week.
JEREMY
This doesn't make any sense.
CECIL
I'll have BART start you off easy.
Jeremy looks wearily at Cecil, then at the manuals.
JEREMY
Okay, Cecil. This sounds really important
to you so I'll look this stuff over. But
no promises.
CECIL
Fair enough. You won't regret it.
JEREMY
I already regret it.
INT. HELLAS TRAINING BAY - DAY
Bart enters with Jeremy.
Bart is a large, powerful man in his early fifties.
They approach WILMA YING, late fifties, tall and muscular. She's wearing a tank top and boxing gloves. A large punching bag swings beside her.
BART
Commander Ying, may I introduce Jeremy
Ash.
Ying grips her right glove's lace with her teeth. Yanks her head back. It unties.
She flings off the glove. Extends her sweaty hand.
Jeremy embraces it. Her strong grip catches him off guard.
YING
So, you're the one we've all been hearing
about. What do you know about spacecraft
life support systems?
JEREMY
Quite a bit, actually. I studied The
Hellas specs in detail three years ago.
YING
A lot can change in three years.
She puts the glove back on. Continues punching the bag.
Bart leads Jeremy across the bay.
They approach TAD ROSEGARDEN, late forties, average build.
He's staring at equations on a computer screen.
BART
This is Colonel Tad Rosegarden. He'll be
Commander Ying's Second Officer.
ROSEGARDEN
(without looking up)
Never much cared for explosive bolts.
BART
Excuse me, sir?
ROSEGARDEN
If the detonations aren't perfectly
synchronized...
(finally looks up)
I'm sorry, Bart. You were introducing me
to this young man?
BART
This is Jeremy Ash. He'll be Acting Life
Support Specialist on the mission.
ROSEGARDEN
Ah, our last minute replacement. Pleased
to meet you, Mr. Ash.
JEREMY
And you, sir.
Rosegarden's gaze drifts back to the equations on the screen.
Bart leads Jeremy toward BIX.
Bix, early thirties, short and stocky, is examining a facsimile of the landing shell.
He spots them approaching.
BIX
Jeremy, is it true that you're our new
Life Support Specialist?
JEREMY
It's true.
BIX
I'm the Shell Pilot for this mission. I
heard you were able to contact Carlos out
near Jupiter.
JEREMY
Yeah. He was actually in pretty good
spirits after the gravity assist failed.
BIX
It's a risky business we're in. Maybe we
can grab a beer after work.
JEREMY
Sounds great. I'll stop by later.
Bix nods and returns to work.
Bart leads Jeremy to another corner of the bay.
SETH PETIMULE and GERT HAWKINS are working together, unfolding an inflatable igloo. They are both in their late twenties.
Bart and Jeremy stop at a white line and wait patiently for them to finish.
Seth spots them. He approaches.
Gert follows.
BART
Jeremy Ash, This is Seth Petimule and
Gert Hawkins. Seth and Gert will be the
Primary Surface Specialists.
GERT
Nice to meet you, Jeremy.
SETH
Welcome to the team.
JEREMY
We use air straight from the atmospheric
processors to inflate the igloos, right?
GERT
Actually, we inflate them with Mars
atmosphere. The carbon dioxide reacts
with the igloos' inner membrane and it
hardens within twenty four hours.
JEREMY
Oh yeah, the carbon seal. I remember now.
GERT
Once we've confirmed that they're
airtight, we replace the igloos'
atmosphere with breathable air from the
processor. Voila, our own little studio
apartments on Mars.
JEREMY
I've studied the design. Pretty cool.
GERT
I hate to be rude, but we've still got
two more of these to unfold.
JEREMY
No problem. I'll see you guys later.
Seth and Gert return to their task.
BART
That's it for the crew. Cecil wanted me
to start you off slowly so if you want to
call it a day, feel free.
JEREMY
Thanks, Bart. I think I'll go back and
visit Bix. See you tomorrow.
BART
See you then.
Bart moves off. Jeremy heads toward Bix.
INT. HELLAS SPACECRAFT - EARTH ORBIT
The crew floats around the ship's cramped bridge, checking the ship's systems.
ROSEGARDEN
Activating habitat wheel.
Rosegarden flips several switches in succession.
EXT. HELLAS SPACECRAFT - EARTH ORBIT
The Hellas is composed of a single habitat ring encircling a variety of supply pods and pressurized tanks.