Edifice (8)
JESSE ISAAC! WE ARE GOING TO DIE! Jesse and Isaac stare at one another. After a few seconds, Jesse tries again. JESSE Remember when you used to play with your plane? You’d hold it in your hand and fly it, remember? ISAAC Yes. JESSE And then you would pretend to land it right? Remember? ISAAC (smiling) Yes. I used to close my eyes and . . . JESSE ISAAC, LAND THE PLANE! Jesse covers his head with a pillow. Isaac crosses his legs and closes his eyes. Suddenly the plane levels. Within a few moments he begins to rise in his seat, but the seatbelt pulls him back down, breaking his concentration. The plane begins to dive. Jesse watches as Isaac plays with his seatbelt. JESSE WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ISAAC I can’t get my seatbelt off. JESSE What? . . . You can’t what? Jesse quickly unbuckles Isaac’s seatbelt, then hides his head again. Isaac closes his eyes and the plane levels off again. He begins to rise from his seat. EXT. TAIPEI AIRPORT NIGHT The 747 jetliner hovers like a helicopter over the runway for a moment, then gently sets down onto the landing strip. INT. 747 JETLINER Isaac is playing with his seatbelt as Jesse observes. ISAAC (imitating Jesse’s voice) Open . . .close. Open . . . close. Open . . . close. JESSE And don’t you forget it. ISAAC (pointing) Look, you wet yourself, you wet yourself. JESSE I did not. And stop pointing. ISAAC Did too. JESSE Did not. EXT. PORT OF KAOHSIUNG TAIWAN Under a cloud covered sky, dozens of Asian passengers are crowded aboard an old fishing boat. As winds rock the boat, Jesse and Isaac huddle together beneath two coolie hats. EXT. FORMOSA STRAIGHT NIGHT As Isaac sleeps, gale winds toss the boat about. Children begin crying as their frightened mothers hold onto them tightly. Jesse spots the jagged rocks of the shoreline and wakes Isaac. JESSE Sorry to wake you, but we’re nearing the coast. If it keeps up like this, we're gonna be smashed against the rocks. ISAAC Where is your faith? Jesse smiles and points to his pants. JESSE In you. That’s why I woke you. See, all dry. Isaac stands, walks to the front of the boat and raises his arms. To the amazement of all, the rain stops, the winds die down and the sea becomes FLAT. He steps onto the water, walks out a few yards and stops. He pulls a rock from his pocket and skips it to the shore. He turns back to the boat and smiles at Jesse. ISAAC Come, I will teach you now. Jesse smiles and steps off the boat. He slowly walks over to Isaac. As the stunned passengers look on, the two turn, and walk to shore. Several Asian men step off the boat and promptly fall into the sea. They are quickly pulled back in. The remaining passengers fall to their knees and raise their hands skyward. They begin chattering and calling out names. PASSENGER GAN-DEN TRUP-PA? GAN-DEN TRUP-PA? PASSENGER TENSIN GYATSO? TENSIN GYATSO? PASSENGER DESHUNG RINPOCHE? DESHUNG RIN-POCHE? As they reach the shore, Jesse and Isaac pause to listen. JESSE What are they saying? ISAAC They say: "What manner of boy is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" By calling out the names of past masters, they are asking, . . . who are you? Isaac yells something in Cantonese and the boat quiets down. As he and Jesse begin walking up the beach, the boat chatter begins again. JESSE What did you tell them? ISAAC I said, . . . I am Isaac. JESSE Oh, I'll bet that cleared up everything. The passengers have confused looks across their faces as they point toward the beach and chatter excitedly. EXT. WAN CHAI MARKET, HONG KONG MORNING Isaac is picking fruit and vegetables from several stands and placing it in a large basket. Jesse looks twenty years old as he hurriedly tries to pay the vendors. JESSE Slow down Isaac. I don’t even know what the exchange rate is. Why all the food? Suddenly, Isaac turns down a narrow alleyway. Jesse grabs the basket and hurries after him. In the alley, dozens of beggars garbed in rags, huddle against the walls. As Jesse follows along, he notices some of the people are diseased. Several are missing limbs. Isaac begins healing everyone he touches as Jesse hands out food. Within a few moments, the people begin to crowd around Isaac. EXT. ALLEYWAY AFTERNOON The alley is now packed with people. Isaac has been lifted onto several boxes and is preaching to them in Cantonese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Indo-Aryan languages. Suddenly, a truck filled with Asian police pulls in front, blocking any escape. As the officers make their way to the rear of the alley, the crowd parts. Isaac and Jesse have disappeared. EXT. LHASA, TIBET DAY Outside of a Buddhist Temple, hundreds of monks are preparing to take a trip. EXT. KATMANDU, INDIA DAY Outside of a Buddhist Temple, hundreds of monks are preparing to take a trip. INT. BETHESDA MEDICAL CENTER DAY Wearing pajamas and a robe, Frank Spivey is sitting in a recreation room watching the news on a TV, when an elderly nurse enters, pushing a food cart. NURSE I Mr. Spivey? How are you feeling? Spivey leers at her, revealing his wires. When he tries to speak with a clenched jaw, spittle runs down his chin. She smiles, wipes his face, then hands him a pad and pencil. NURSE I Just write down anything you want to say. It’s time for your medication. Have you had any more of those hallucinations? He jots down something and hands it to her. NURSE I When do I get out of here? I’m afraid that’s up to your doctors. You’re getting the best of care. Here, drink this now. She hands him a glass with a straw. He quickly sips it down. Once he's finished, he hurriedly jots something down and hands it to her. She calmly reads it, then smiles. NURSE I You should be getting the braces off in a few more weeks. I brought you some nice soup. Do you like fishing? She remotes to the show, then sets the remote down. NURSE I If you need anything, I’ll be at the nurses station. As soon as she leaves, Spivey remotes back to the news. An Asian reporter is speaking from the streets of Hong Kong while a picture of Isaac is being shown on the screen. REPORTER Hong Kong is in the midst of a revival of sorts. The maj- ority of Hong Kong citizens believe in reincarnation and the appearance of this six- year old boy here, seems to have reaffirmed that belief. Spontaneous healings throughout the island are being reported. Delirium here has reached epi- demic proportions. Amidst the threat of a hurricane, all air traffic has been closed. Yet everyday, hundreds of Buddhist monks arrive by boat. They are coming from India, Thailand, Tibet and all parts of China, to seek out this one small child. We’ve been unable to identify the boy. Sweeping across the Pacific region is word that the child was born . . . in the United States. Spivey jumps from his chair and rushes to the nurses station. Grabbing his nurse, he drags her toward the TV. She begins to scream as nurse II yells over the loudspeaker. NURSE II ORDERLY TO THE DAY ROOM! ORDERLY TO THE DAY ROOM STAT! Once he has her in the recreation room, he points to the screen. As she watches, he scribbles something down on the notepad. Suddenly, nurse II and two large male orderlies rush into the room and subdue him. Nurse I stares at the screen for a moment and witnesses a report on the drive-by shooting of a young black boy. She turns back to Spivey. NURSE I The news. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. It’s time for your bath Mr. Spivey. I’ll keep your soup warm for you. Spivey crumples up the note and throws it at her as he is being carried off by the orderlies. She picks it up, reads it, then throws it in the wastebasket. The two nurses talk. NURSE II What was that all about? NURSE I Spivey’s hallucinating again. NURSE II Well, what was it this time? NURSE I Same thing. He keeps talking about a young boy. Some alien child. NURSE II The Roswell thing again? NURSE I The slightest thing seems to set them off. Roswell gets blamed for everything. More than a few have gone mad over that myth. NURSE II Maybe it’s not a myth then? EXT. VICTORIA HARBOR, HONG KONG NIGHT A group of monks dressed in cowls are quietly boarding a small fishing boat. Jesse and Isaac are among the group. INT. WASHINGTON, D.C. DAY Hawkins is seated in a senate waiting room with William Gorman. GORMAN Now, you understand what you’re to say? HAWKINS This isn’t exactly my first time. Relax. I’ll cover your ass. You’re sure Schneider knows nothing about this? GORMAN He thinks he’s going to receive a medal. I’d like to apologize for the way Frank treated you. HAWKINS He got what he deserved. How long will they keep him? GORMAN Could be a long time. One thing’s for sure, his career is finished. We’re laying the audit off on him. Would you like to have his job? HAWKINS No, thanks. When this is over, pay me my money and I’ll quietly fade into retirement. GORMAN You got it. Retirement. You know, I envy you, Jack. The door opens and a senate aide enters. AIDE They’re ready for you, Mr. Hawkins. Hawkins stands and walks to the door. He steals a look back at Gorman. GORMAN Good-luck. HAWKINS Piece of cake. EXT. FARM DAY Abe and Sarah are greeting George and Lucy as they get out of their truck. EXT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER LAUNCH PAD NIGHT The laser gun is being loaded onto Space Shuttle Columbia. EXT. LHASA DAY Jesse looks like an eighteen year-old as he snaps pictures of Isaac, preaching from the base of a mountain, to the hundreds of Monks, seated below him. INT. HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS NIGHT Chinese scientists are preparing their missiles for launch. EXT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER DAY The Columbia shuttle has begun its lift-off when suddenly all thrusters shut down. The shuttle sits gently back down on the pad. Doctor Schneider stares at the scene in amazement. SCHNEIDER WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT IS HAPPENING? Fritz begins running from one computer to the next, pushing buttons. Nothing is responding. FRITZ DR. SCHNEIDER! WE CAN NO LONGER COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMPUTERS! ALL THE LANGUAGE CODES HAVE BEEN CHANGED! Schneider stares at Fritz, then at the chaos occurring in the control room. SCHNEIDER THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE! TRY THE BACKUP CODES! FRITZ I already have. They’re all garbled. . . . Look! Several scientists crowd around the main computer and stare at the screen. A line of garbled communication begins repeating itself. SCHNEIDER Fritz, track down those codes! EXT. OVAL OFFICE DAY Pope, Carvell, Fitch and Gorman are lounging on the sofa drinking brandy and laughing. GORMAN I’ve got to hand it to Hawkins. He pulled it off masterfully. By the time I testified, they were fully satisfied. They hardly had any questions for me at all. It will be a shame to lose him. CARVELL I received a call from committee chairman this morning. Oversight has been transferred to Houston. POPE Well, Columbia should be well on its way. By this time to- morrow, Judas II will be intact. FITCH And not a moment to soon I might add. We just received word, the Chinese may have acquired our guidance system, Mr. President. Pope stares wide-eyed at Fitch. The phone on his desk rings. Once he picks it up, he listens intently. His face becomes grave. He hangs up the phone and slumps down in his chair. CARVELL What’s happened Mr. President? POPE The shuttle did not take off. NASA’s computers are off the air. The four stare at one another, astonished. The door suddenly opens and Jack Hawkins steps inside. Gorman flashes a glare at Hawkins, then jumps to his feet. GORMAN Hawkins! How dare you barge in here! This is the President of the United States! The Committee Chairman and several senators enter with the Vice-President. He steps in front of Hawkins and faces off against Pope. VICE-PRESIDENT Bill, we need to talk. Hawkins turns to the Vice-President. HAWKINS Mr. Vice-president, I believe we should secure the shuttle. Important evidence remains on- board. The Vice-President walks to Pope’s desk, glares at him, then lifts up the phone. VICE-PRESIDENT Get me Air Force Command at Cape Canaveral. EXT. HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS DUSK From the top of a mountain, a nuclear missile electronically raises into the air. A count-down occurs and the missile begins it lift-off. Within seconds, the missile becomes suspended in mid-air. At the base of the mountain, where multitudes of monks are kneeling, Isaac stands, WITH HIS ARMS RAISED TOWARD THE HEAVENS. As the missile begins a slow return to it's place of origin, inside the mountain, Chinese begin their fire drill. Once the missile disappears, the mountaintop slowly closes. EXT. LHASA MORNING In the early morning hours, the Dalai Lama, accompanied by several other monks, wait at the base of the mountain for Isaac. Jesse is kneeling as they say their good-byes. He begins to cry. JESSE I never thanked you for giving me life. ISAAC Life is everlasting. JESSE I’m having trouble believing this is happening. I mean look at me; I’m crying like a baby. ISAAC The superior man bends his attention to what is radical. That having been established, all practical courses naturally grow up. JESSE Will I see you again? ISAAC A little while, an ye behold me no more; and again a little while, an ye shall see me. These things I have spoken to you in parables; the hour cometh when I shall no more speak to you in parables, but shall speak to you plainly of the Father. JESSE I don’t understand? As Isaac begins to take on Asian characteristics, he takes Jesse by the face and mimic’s “The Terminator’s” voice. ISAAC I’LL BE BACK! Jesse has a puzzled look across his face. Isaac smiles. ISAAC That was called a joke, Jesse. JESSE How will I recognize you? ISAAC Remain always as a child. JESSE What shall I do? ISAAC Continue to work for justice. They hug one another, then Isaac walks to where the Dalai Lama is standing and takes his hand. The monks turn and begin ascending the Himalayas as Isaac waves goodbye. Jesse watches as they disappear behind a mountain crevice. Jesse begins to look older. EXT. WHEAT FIELD DAY George and Abe are walking the rows of the old wheat field. GEORGE How was he, I mean toward, the end? ABE Just like he was when you left, . . . raving. GEORGE Do you believe he was crazy? ABE After what we’ve been through, I don’t know what to believe. I sometimes wonder if I ever had a son at all. But you saw him, right? GEORGE Oh yes, I saw him. I know what dad felt like now. I mean, who other than family, can I tell? ABE Well, one thing’s for sure; my brother was a damn good farmer. GEORGE Yeah, this old field could use some plowin’. ABE I’ve been thinking about that for the last ten years. GEORGE Do you still remember how? ABE Do you? They both laugh. GEORGE I’m glad dad gave it to you. It was the only way to keep it in the family. ABE Well, it’s all yours now. Sarah and I are just too old . . . again. It’s really true; children do keep you young. They begin walking back toward the house. George stops when he kicks something in the ground. ABE Do you think she will still hold seed? BILLY I know she will. Abe looks up to see Sarah and Billy standing before him, smiling from ear to ear. ABE BILLY! How the hell are ya? You come to see George? George is busy digging up an object buried beneath the soil. BILLY Nope. I came to see Sarah. ABE What would you want to see Sarah about? Billy and Sarah continue to smile and stare at Abe. ABE Billy I swear. The last time you looked like that . . . Oh my Lord! Abe rushes to Sarah and they begin to dance as Billy walks to George. George pulls a metallic black box from the earth. BILLY Hello, George. Whatcha got there? He brushes away the dirt. The two stare into the box where a small empty vial glows. GEORGE I know what this is. INT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NIGHT Schneider and Fritz are running tests on the system when suddenly the repeating code changes. FRITZ Dr. Schneider! Come quick! SCHNEIDER What? What is it? FRITZ I think I found a compatible language code. It’s called LOGO. SCHNEIDER LOGO? FRITZ It was developed years ago to assist children in understanding computers. SCHNEIDER Well, . . . use it! Show us what the hell the damn thing’s been babbling about. The garbled codes suddenly align into a blinking message. MESSAGE THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. FADE OUT: FADE IN: As credits roll, news reports narrate the background. LONDON JAN. 18 1996 Amnesty International is seriously concerned that a seven-year-old Tibetan boy has been missing for eight months and may be under restriction by the authorities. Over 50 monks remain in detention in connection with the disputed choice of the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, Tibet’s second most senior lama. In late November of 1995, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Shen Guofang, said, “We have no idea about the whereabouts of the so-called soul boy determined by the Dalai Lama.” WASHINGTON, D.C. JAN. 30 The National Reconnaissance office, the secret agency that builds spy satellites, lost track of more than $2 billion in classified money last year, largely because of it’s own internal secrecy, intelligence officials say. INT. STATE COUNCIL DAY 1997 In a Chinese courtroom, a bald-headed Jesse is arguing for the release of imprisoned monks. Later, Jesse’s life is observed in a Tibetan temple. WASHINGTON D.C. SEPT. 3 Secretary of Defense, William S. Cohen has approved firing the nations most powerful military laser at a $60 million Air Force satellite to test it’s destructive power, the Defense Department said Thursday. The CIA recently concluded that China was the single most important supplier of equipment and technology for weapons of mass destruction and a major nuclear supplier to Iran and Pakistan, in the second half of 1996. WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE 7, 1998 U.S. officials are investigating whether missile guidance system technology was illegally disclosed to China, and whether violations of export-control laws damaged national security. CAPE CANAVERAL AUGUST 12 A U.S. Air Force unmanned Titan IV-A rocket exploded 40 seconds into flight this morning. On board was a $1 billion secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. A panel of investigators will be appointed to look into the accident. EXT. PECOS RIVER DAY 1999 The Lot family is enjoying a picnic alongside the river bank. Sarah and Lucy are laughing as they set out the food on a picnic table. Abe and George are trying in vain to coax their four- year-old daughter back from where she is standing. The little girl is also laughing, as she dances on the river water. EXT. MOTOR HOME SUNSET THE NEW MILLENIUM Sitting in front of an RV, parked just below a snow-covered mountain range, Jack Hawkins is enjoying a sunset, as he reads his bible. Music is playing on a portable radio when it’s interrupted by a breaking news report. He turns up the sound, but continues to read. REPORTER A mysterious computer virus has infected the systems of countries in all four corners of the globe. All computer languages, from local levels to the federal government, have been rendered unintelligible. Hawkins begins to laugh as the reporter continues. REPORTER This just in: At precisely 1:21 this morning, Pacific Standard Time, defense systems across the world began to systematically shut down. A world-wide state of emergency has been declared by the United Nations. Hawkins lays the bible on the chair and does a little jig. Suddenly he stops, closes his eyes, and raises his arms to the sky. The bible is left open to the passage he was reading. MATHEW 1:21 . . . for he shall save his people from their sins. FADE OUT
Copyright © 2000 David Duane Fortner |