Ares Page #4

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EVAN:

Sugar causes all kinds of chronicproblems. You can’t have any if youwant to go to space. Not evensinusitis.

CHLOE:

You didn’t even have birthday cake

when you were like ten? That’s sad.

EVAN:

Only if you’re thinking small.

Immediate gratification. Think bigpicture. What do you want?

CHLOE:

I’ll take another margarita, I guess.

EVAN:

No. What do you really want? What doyou want to die having done?

CHLOE:

Maybe had a family. Kids.

EVAN:

That’s it? That’s your big

accomplishment?

CHLOE:

Having a family is an accomplishment

if it sticks together.

EVAN:

(shaking his head)

People act like the kids are the onlything that matters. Why are we stillso focused on spreading our genes?

It’s primitive. Tribal.

CHLOE:

You have to have children. Otherwise

who will remember you?

EVAN:

The whole world.

10.

He smiles. She smiles despite herself. His confidence -- hisconviction -- is magnetic.

CHLOE:

If every decision you’ve ever made

has been about getting to space, whydid you decide to come over here andtalk to me?

EVAN:

If I’m going to be confined in a ship

with other astronauts, I need to

prove to my superiors that someonecan stand me.

CHLOE:

So you need a girlfriend?

EVAN:

Or a wife.

CHLOE:

(laughs)

I haven’t even finished the drink you

bought me. Now you’re asking me to

marry you?

EVAN:

Now you’re talking big picture. I

thought we could start with dinnerand go from there.

She looks at him. Can’t tell if she thinks he’s brilliant or

bananas. He can tell she’s unsure and smiles. Enjoying her

uncertainty.

CHLOE:

If you finish this.

She holds out her margarita to him.

EVAN:

I can’t drink margaritas. Sugar.

CHLOE:

Exactly.

A test. He looks at her, uncertain. She stares back at him.

Finally he takes her glass and downs her drink. He splutters.

Hasn’t had anything that sweet in 16 years. Chloe cracks up.

MATCH CUT TO:

11.

INT. ARES 1 CAPSULE

Evan spluttering as he drinks the disgusting GLOWING COOLANT.

He puts the bottle of it outside by the door.

He opens the DRAWERS built into the walls. Inside are HUNDREDSof tiny lead boxes. Each is numbered and sealed shut with a

strange complex lock.

He picks up a BOX labelled Lana Tube #97. Carefully zips itinto his pocket.

EXT. ARES 1 CRASH SITE - TWILIGHT

Evan finishes heaping sand over the capsule. Gasps for breath.

The sound of blood coursing through his head grows LOUDER. Its

rhythm changes. Like his heart’s beating in double-time.

Evan swallows -- what’s happening to him?

He looks up. Sees TWO TINY MOONS in the sky, as if he were on

an alien planet. He squints. The MOON reverts to normal. Then

A HELICOPTER sweeps over the brim of the mesa above him.

Evan’s eyes widen in horror a second. He DUCKS BEHIND A ROCK.

Peeks out. Terrified. He realizes he left the bottle of

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