Ares Page #3

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SEARING NOONDAY SUN - HOURS LATER

Evan's skin fries as he continues burying the capsule. Hungergnaws at him. He’s mad with thirst.

7.

He digs in the ground. Moving sand aside reveals BLACK SKY ANDSTARS beneath, as if the ground is paper thin and there isnothing underneath but deep space. It’s the view one might

have out a spaceship window.

Disturbed, Evan covers the vision up again with sand.

INT. ARES 1 - MOMENTS LATER

He rips out wall panels, uncovering the cooling system. Clearpipes of FLUORESCENT LIQUID web like veins through the walls.

He empties a bottle of rubbing alcohol from the medical kitonto the sand.

EVAN:

Coolant is 80% water, 20%...

liquefied neon? Or it is just dibutylphthalate? It glows so it can berepaired in the dark...

(pouring coolant into theempty bottle)

Can... I... drink you...

As he stares at the bottle, his gaze changes. His eyes lost.

He says quietly:

EVAN:

I never vote in Presidential

elections.

He stops speaking, his mind now somewhere else completely. Ashe sets the bottle of neon green coolant down on top of thedrawers built into the capsule wall, we hear:

EVAN (O.S.)

Anyone who thinks they’re special

enough to be President is obviouslyinsane -

MATCH CUT TO:

CHLOE putting a neon green margarita down on the bar inside

A HOUSTON DIVE BAR

Evan sits beside her. He looks radically different. 15 yearsyounger. Clean-cut. The only recognizable thing is the drivein his eyes.

Chloe’s 24. Playful. Bold. Easy to fall for.

8.

They obviously don’t really know each other from the way

they’re sitting; occasionally she shoots a look over at her

girlfriends in the corner. As they talk, she sips themargarita.

CHLOE:

Didn’t you tell me two seconds ago

that you’re trying to be an

astronaut?

EVAN:

(nods)

I find out in two weeks.

CHLOE:

There’s probably only been about asmany astronauts as presidents. Whatmakes you think you’re qualified?

INTERCUT:
EVAN IN THE CAPSULE IN THE DESERT

Leaning against a storage container as if over a bar. His eyesfocused on thin air, totally detached from the present -- asif he were in the bar right now. He half says the words, half-

mouths them. Unclear if this is memory or fantasy...

EVAN:

I spent my life preparing for it.

Every decision I’ve ever made.

BACK TO THE BAR:

CHLOE:

Wow. It is like running forPresident.

EVAN:

It’s much easier to be President.

Bush did coke. Clinton and Obama

smoked weed. I don’t get to do

anything.

CHLOE:

You’re telling me you’ve never smoked

weed?

EVAN:

Impressed?

CHLOE:

No.

9.

EVAN:

I haven’t had sugar since I was

eight.

CHLOE:

What does that have to do with beingan astronaut?

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