Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Synopsis: The Federation calls on Adm. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the Starship Enterprise to contain an immense nimbused object that's on a crash course with Earth. After investigating, the crew discovers that the alien cloud harbors artificial intelligence with an ominous primary directive. Crisis strikes when a probe dispatched by the energy cloud attacks the crew, abducting navigator Lt. Ilia (Persis Khambatta). An android look-alike containing her memories shows up soon after.
Production: Paramount Home Video
  Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 16 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.4
Metacritic:
48
Rotten Tomatoes:
44%
G
Year:
1979
132 min
1,057 Views


FADE IN :

1 EXT SPACE (S) 1

An ever expanding infinity of light and color as CAMERA

TRAVELS THROUGH deep space, MOVING DIRECTLY for one

pinpoint of light: a STAR GROWING RAPIDLY as we SWEEP

TOWARD IT, a normal white star SUDDENLY CHANGING,

brightening, flaring unbelievable intensity: supernova.

The CAMERA HOLDS just a moment, then MOVES on, SEARCH-

ING through space, the jeweled beauty of other star

systems, sparkling nebulae, swirling hydrogen clouds.

STILL MOVING, then CAMERA FINDS:

2 EXT. AREA OF LUMINESCENCE (S) 2

In the far distance, slowly growing in size as CAMERA

APPROACHES:
it resembles, vaguely at this distance, an

Aurora Borealis:
flaring colors from the fringes,

beautiful yet ominous. It is so large, this Cloud, it

can envelope an entire solar system. CAMERA CONTINUES

APPROACHING the Cloud, and then suddenly, crossing

our POV, a:

3 KLINGON HEAVY CRUISER (S) 3

In a graceful, turning arc toward the mysterious

LUMINESCENCE. CAMERA FOLLOWS this Klingon, then FINDS

a second Klingon cruiser, also turning toward the Cloud,

which continues to grow in size as the Klingons

approach at warp speed, CAMERA CLOSING on the lead

ship, until the vessel's detail can be clearly MADE

OUT:
lights, weaponry, power systems, identification

emblazoned on the nacelles and saucer in Klingon

language (and symbols).

4 INT. KLINGON CRUISER BRIDGE (O) 4

Clearly alien, an ODD-SOUNDING KLAXON signaling

"battle stations." Orders issued in KLINGON LANGUAGE,

the KLINGON CAPTAIN and EXEC peering at an unusual

bridge viewer at the huge area of LUMINESCENT HAZE

directly ahead. In KLINGON DIALOGUE:

KLINGON CAPTAIN:

(Give me tactical.)

5 CLOSE - MAIN VIEWER (O) 5

goes suddenly to a TACTICAL GRID SYSTEM, showing the

LUMINESCENT HAZE to be an ENORMOUS BLIP OF LIGHT ON

THE SCREEN, with two TINY PINPRICKS OF LIGHT complete-

ing their turn on a direct course toward it.

6 EXT. SPACE - THE KLINGON PATROL AND THE HAZE (S) 6

The Patrol is clearly SEEN now on the right of the

bottom of the FRAME... THREE tiny ships closing on the

steadily growing LUMINESCENT HAZE.

7 INT. THE KLINGON BRIDGE - CAPTAIN AND EXEC (O) 7

All eyes on the viewer that shows the ships sweeping

on the Mysterious cloud.

KLINGON CAPTAIN:

(In Klingonese)

Visual.

The TECHNICIAN makes the switch.

8 CLOSE - VIEW SCREEN - LUMINESCENT HAZE (O) 8

growing ever larger, its flaring colors menacing,

mysterious, strangely beckoning.

9 INT. BRIDGE - KLINGON COMMAND CRUISER 9

The crew stands by for battle.

KLINGON CAPTAIN:

(In Klingonese)

Tactical again. Stand by on

torpedoes.

10 EAT SPACE - LEAD KLINGON VESSEL (TORPEDO HATCH) (S) 10

sliding open, the glowing "Hell Fire" of the Photon

Launch tubes, slowly revealed.

11 VERY WIDE ANGLE - THE THREE SHIPS (S) 11

They are tiny, insect-like shapes moving still CLOSER

to the Luminescent Cloud, so large now that it begins

to dominate all space behind.

12 INT. KLINGON BRIDGE - TACTICAL GRID - CAPTAIN AND 12

EXEC (O)

The growing nearness and enormous size of the Cloud

also reflected on the Tactical Grid, somehow more

awesome by this schematic view. The Captain gestures

the order to "FIRE."

13 EXT. SPACE - ANGLE ON KLINGON VESSEL - TORPEDO HATCH (S) 13

The BRILLIANT PHOTON BLOBS of the torpedoes spurt from

the tubes.

14 ANGLE ON KLINGON VESSEL (S) 14

A deadly PHOTON TORPEDO pattern racing away from the

Klingon and toward the Luminescent glow in the distance.

15 INT. KLINGON BRIDGE - TACTICAL GRID (O) 15

Three torpedoes are heading directly toward the Cloud.

Suddenly they glow briefly and disappear long before

they reach their intended target.

16 INT. KLINGON BRIDGE - CAPTAIN AND EXEC 16

incredulous that their torpedoes have disappeared

without a trace.

17 EXT SPACE - THE CLOUD - THREE KLINGON SHIPS (S) 17

as the second and third ships launch torpedoes toward

the color-flaring surface of the cloud. This time we

have an outside, real VIEW of the torpedoes glowing

brightly and then disappearing with no effect.

18 INT. KLINGON BRIDGE (O) 18

The Klingon crew grim, desperate, watching a BRIGHT

STACCATO BLIP OF POWER from within the LUMINESCENCE.

KLINGON CAPTAIN:

(quickly; Klingonese)

Full force fields; evasive

maneuvers.

19 EAT SPACE - THE CLOUD - THE KLINGON PATROLS (S) 19

Out of the LUMINESCENCE hurtles a FRIGHTENING WHIPLASH

OF ENERGY. It bears down on the Klingon Patrol, now

in an evasive maneuver. Then the WHIPLASH BOLT hits

the third cruiser in a writhing flare of energy which

totally engulfs the vessel.

The other two ships veer off, warping around again into

attack position. The THIRD SHIP has begun to implode

in on itself, the matter-energy of its existence

drained by the WHIPLASH BOLT that HOLDS IT.

20 ANGLE ON REMAINING KLINGON CRUISERS (S) 20

desperately defending themselves, FORCE FIELDS FULL UP,

RAPIDLY FIRING PHOTON TORPEDOES. But now a SECOND

WHIPLASH ENERGY BOLT has emerged from the cloud and

hits the second vessel, DESTROYING it.

The THIRD WHIPLASH BOLT glances off the surviving

Cruiser as the ship retreats in a wide, evasive turn,

FIRING from stern tubes.

21 INT. KLINGON BRIDGE 21

The bridge shattered; Klingon bodies. The mortally-

wounded Captain is transmitting urgently:

KLINGON CAPTAIN:

(In Klingonese)

... severely damaged. Returning

fire...

22 EXT. SPACE - STARFLEET MONITOR STATION EPSILON 9 (S) 22

Serenity here. A barren, rocky small plantoid softly

lit by the myriad stars. This is a small Starfleet

outpost, antennae sprouting everywhere. Tiny figures

(WORKERS) servicing one antenna illustrate the size

of the installation.

Rate this script:3.5 / 4 votes

Harold Livingston

Harold Livingston is an American novelist and screenwriter who wrote the screenplay for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Before his career as a writer, Harold was a fighter pilot. more…

All Harold Livingston scripts | Harold Livingston Scripts

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