Pilot Jane Smith
Carson City Police Department
Dr. Roger Fleming
UCLA School of Anthropology
PREFACE
The Great Rift Valley
Some 25 million years ago two continents, Africa and Eurasia,
moving on their respective tectonic plates, collided and
recoiled shattering the earth's crust and creating the land
feature known as the Great Rift Valley. The valley extends
over 6,500 km from the DEAD SEA in the north to BEIRA
in the south and varies in width from thirty to ninety
kilometers and in depth from a few hundred to several
thousand meters, far below sea level. In Kenya the
valley is deepest in the hundred and sixty kilometers
that run north from Nairobi. Most of the lakes in the
Rift, such as LAKE NAKURU are shallow and having
no outlet to the sea, are high in mineral content as the
evaporation of water leaves salts behind. Nairobi
Africa is the center of genetic studies of evolution
and Paleontology. It's longed believed that some
species became extinct because they were unable to
compete for their survival. Or in some cases wiped
out by natural disaster or widespread disease. Using
the dinosaurs for example, we are still not sure what
happened.
LAKE NAKURU AFRICA
5.12.98
FADE IN
EXT. SOUTH AFRICA DAY
EXT. LAKE NAKURU - SOUTH SHORE
Arial Shot - Dust Storm
The opening scene is the view of a prehistoric dry lake bed on
the south shore of LAKE NAKURU , the source of many recent fossil
finds. Two scientists have discovered a well preserved pre-
historic cadaver. The hot dry sand has mummified it. They are
carefully wrapping it in layers of foam packing. Then carefully
place it in a large wooden box. They lift it and head for the
field lab to perform tests.
SCIENTIST ONE
Roger, let's hurry or this damn
dust storm will be the death of us.
With the wind blowing at 45 to 50 miles per hour and gusts to
60 miles per hour, DR. DAVID WASSER a man in his late fifties
is huffing and puffing trying to keep up with his young charge
Dr. ROGER FLEMING.
FLEMING
Don't give yourself a heart attack
DR. WASSER it's less than a mile
back to the lab.
With the wind still blowing, DR. FLEMINGS voice is barely
heard. DR. WASSER strains to hear his well chosen words.
FLEMING
Tell me whenever you want to sit down
and rest!
They continue to carry the coffin like box in the direction
of their field lab. The blowing sand now is so heavy they're
barely seen through the sand storm.
EXT. MOBILE HOME SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
EXT. LARGE TRAILER SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
They finally arrive at their LAB TRAILER. FLEMING opens the
door and they haul the specimen into the main room.
INT. LARGE TRAILER
DR. WASSER closes the outside door and the sound of the sand
storm is still heard but they are now able to take a better
look at their find. They remove the outer packing and strip
the specimen down to the bare leather skin. They grab the body
and lift it carefully out of the box and place it on the
examining table. The sandstorm has blocked most of the sunlight
and the inside of the trailer is dark and murky.
WASSER
(Turning on the overhead light)
Roger I need to check the makeup of this thing
so why don't you do the chromosome test while
I attempt to date it.
The hard dark body of the specimen appears to be
a male and has six fingers and toes.
WASSER (Cont.)
I was struck by the uncanny timing
of this journey, which took place
because a stranger came into my lab
back home. I was very apprehensive,
when told of a new find. But I felt I,
we had to come, so here we are.
Fleming is taking a sample of dried up flesh to use as the
specimen for the Chromosome test.
FLEMING
I was told that in 1912 another team
about thirty miles from here found a
lost civilization but a dust storm
lasting for a month covered it back up.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA DAY
EXT. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
INT. ADVANCED ANTHROPOLOGY CLASS
The Professor is into his dissertation and has the interest
of his class.
PROFESSOR
It's always a scary thought for mankind
to consider that he could be anything
but what he has become on the evolutionary
scale. He does not even ponder the
thought that it may have been an ape or
chimpanzee swinging from a branch somewhere
eating a banana.
One of his students raises his hand and asks a question.
STUDENT
Professor Goldman, I don't agree with
that thinking and you probably will
find very few people that will buy
that.
Dr. Goldman places his book down on his desk and paces a little
then answers the students denial.
GOLDMAN
What proof do you have that this is
not our heritage?
STUDENT
I'm a Christian and we don't believe
in those stupid DARWINIAN theories.
GOLDMAN
Of course that is your right. But please
let me continue. (A beat). There are more
than a million different known forms of
life on earth, defined as distinct species.
But Biologists are sure the number of the
not yet discovered species is several
times higher. The term species here is
defined as populations of organisms whose
members can interbreed freely under natural
conditions and whose offspring are fertile.
Biologists classify species in larger groups,
such as GENERA, FAMILIES, PHYLA and so on
according to whether or not they share a
basic feature. We'll take a quick ten
minute break and then continue.
CUT TO:
EXT. RENO NEVADA DAY
EXT. SPARKS DRY LAKE
EXT. RENO AIR RACE
The race is starting and the six unlimited ex-military high
performance aircraft have been in a formation in the circuit
raceway. A Red North American P-51 is being piloted by Jane
Smith the only female in the race. The announcer ED Maloney
is giving her a plug over the PA. Smith is in her early
thirties and very attractive.
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
The Candy Apple Red unlimited P-51 Mustang
Called "Melts in your mouth" is being Piloted
by Jane Smith who has flown Air Shows and
competitions throughout North America and
every year she performs in aerial exhibitions
before millions of spectators. Her low level
Air Show performances give spectators a front
row seat view of the precision and complexity
of unlimited racing. Jane was born in the USA
to an Air Force Family and When she was nine
years old, they moved to Reno Nevada where
her father is a Captain for United Air Lines.
She's earned her commercial, multiengine,
instrument, seaplane and helicopter ratings.
Jane is a helicopter pilot for the Carson City
Police Department in Nevada.
The race starts and Smith pulls out ahead of the Grumman Bear
Cat and the Hawker Sea Fury pulls out in front of Jane's
Mustang. She drops full flaps at over 200 knots and also
lowers the landing gear, despite everything she's not able
to slow the aircraft down. Her prop nicks the tail of the
Hawker throwing the aircraft into a spin. The pilot pops the
canopy and tries to bail out but the aircraft is too close
to the ground. The Hawker goes in and explodes in a huge
fireball!
INT: NORTH AMERICAN P51 MUSTANG
INT: COCKPIT
Smith is trying to recover but she's too close to the ground
and goes in. She's in a controlled Crash and belly's into
the sandy surface of the high Desert. Her plane is sliding
across the desert and Stops as it crashes into a small sand
dune. Before impact she was able to eject her canopy and is
now ready to exit the aircraft in case of fire. When the
aircraft stops she unbuckles her seatbelt and crawls out of
the cockpit, rolling over the side of the fuselage she drops
into the sand. She gets up and dusts herself off and sees the
Sea Fury as a crumpled mass of aluminum. She's able to see
the cockpit and views the pilot on fire and yelling for help.
At that time the fuel tank explodes totally destroying the
Sea Fury and creating a shock wave knocking her down into
the sand. She gets up and starts crying. She sees smoke
coming from her engine and fearing a fire or explosion she
gets up and runs away from her aircraft. She gets several
hundred feet away when her aircraft flashes then with a
tremendous explosion her P51 explodes in a huge fireball
creating another shock wave throwing her on the ground
again. Her pit crew drives up in a red HUMMER and they
jump out of the vehicle and race to her. Her father George
Smith comes to her side first.
GEORGE SMITH
(Worried)
Honey, are you ok?
She points to the burning Sea Fury and shakes her head.
JANE SMITH
(Breaking up)
I'm ok daddy, but my friend Coleman
The Fury driver is gone!
Jane's father hugs her and tries to comfort her, but she's to
far gone and is in agony over the loss of her good friend.
GEORGE SMITH
He's gone to a better life!
JANE SMITH
Bullshit daddy, he's dead!
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICA DAY
EXT. LAKE NAKURU - SOUTH SHORE
EXT. LARGE TRAILER SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
Fleming is running the Chromosome test. He pauses when he
reads the results. He shakes his head and calls DR. WASSER.
FLEMING
This can't be right professor, it just
can't be right.
Fleming is holding the Chromosome test strip up to the light.
DR. WASSER addresses Fleming.
WASSER
What is it Roger?
FLEMING
Professor, there is something wrong
with this test, but I've run it twice
and get the same results. This species
of man has 24 CHROMOSOMES.
Fleming gives the Chromosome test strip to DR. WASSER.
Upon examination WASSER shakes his head, takes off his
glasses and places them on the table. He slides the
strip under a large lighted magnifying glass, moving
it in several positions.
WASSER
Your absolutely right Roger, this
prehistoric man has twenty-four pairs
of chromosomes. My god what have
we found.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA DAY
EXT. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
INT. ADVANCED ANTHROPOLOGY CLASS
The Professor has resumed his dissertation on the origin
of man.
GOLDMAN
The largest division among life forms
that comprise this diversity are at
the kingdom level. The five kingdoms
as you already know are, bacteria,
protozoa's, fungi, plants and animals.
The features that distinguish these
five groups are the most fundamental
and most radical that biologists can
perceive. Yet despite these differences
there is an underlying unity. The
genetic code is identical in all species
and the fundamental metabolic processes
within cells are the same. This powerful
evidence that all forms of life share a
common ancestry.
One of his students raises her hand and she is recognized
by Professor Goldman.
YOUNG LADY
So what you are saying is that all life on
earth participates in one vast network of
cycles that take the matter and energy of
each organism and recycle those commodities
to give life to others.
GOLDMAN
That's exactly right my dear!
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICA DAY
EXT. LAKE NAKURU - SOUTH SHORE
EXT. LARGE TRAILER SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
DR. WASSER is running the Chromosome test again. He reads
the results. He shakes his head and addresses Dr. Fleming.
WASSER
Make no mistake about it, we do have
24 pairs of chromosomes.
FLEMING
So what do you think?
WASSER
It could be related to the aging
process.
FLEMING
Aging process?
WASSER
This could be interpreted in a number
of ways.
FLEMING
Like?
WASSER
One, is that this somehow represents
some advantage on the evolutionary
scale. And secondly this extra
chromosome my be the key to longevity.
FLEMING
Do we need help on this?
WASSER
Roger, please go over to the other
trailer and try to contact Dr.
Goldman on the SAT/PHONE and see
what he thinks?
CUT TO:
EXT. PACIFIC PALISADES CALIFORNIA DAY
EXT. SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP LAKE SHRINE
INT. DIRECTORS STUDY
PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA RAJI is a world
known YOGI following in the footstep of his famous
father PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA. RAJI is
a small thin man and is in his late twenties, wearing
long hair, full beard and wearing a monks robe in
bright colors. He is shown in deep concentration
supporting JANE SMITH in her attempt to better
understand the secrets of life and Death. They're
both in deep meditation and are now under Alpha
Wave communication.
RAJI
At our temples and meditation centers
around the world, weekly inspirational
services offer an opportunity to meet
with other truth-seekers to commune
with God and share spiritual fellowship.
What is troubling you my dear?
SMITH
I was responsible for the death of a very
good friend and I just cant let it go!
RAJI
Was it an accident?
SMITH
We were in an unlimited air race in Reno
Nevada. My friend cut me off and I
damaged his aircraft and he crashed.
RAJI
Throughout the ages philosophers,
scientists, theologians and anyone
who has paused to think about the
whys and wherefores of things,
have wondered about the experience
and meaning of life and death.
The ABSURDISTS have decided that
life and death are meaningless, so the
best thing to do is to ignore death
until it happens and, if you are still
alive, to ignore it immediately after.
SMITH
(Emotional)
I was instrumental in causing his death!
RAJI
It was an accident! Don't you see
THE RESISTERS see life as good and
death as bad, and do everything they
can to prolong life and avoid death
without regard to the quality of life
or the desire for death.
SMITH
I just can't deal with it anymore. I have
thought about suicide many times.
RAJI
Only the great creator will decide when
you will go onto the next life.
THE BEYONDERS say that life is a
proving ground. If you follow the rules
you will have a different and better life
after death, but if you break the rules
you'll have a different and worse life after
death.
SMITH
He was a wonderful human being,
and now he's gone!
RAJI
He's with his creator! Don't you see
THE CYCLISTS hold that the essence
of a person experiences life and death
over and over until by divine grace,
individual effort, or by self gradual
evolution there is no need for either one.
SMITH
Do you believe that's the way it is?
RAJI
Of course, humans being so creative,
there are many variations and also
alternatives to this theory. Here is one
derived from the principles of HUNA.
SMITH
HUNA?
RAJI
First, life and death exist as experiences.
Their meaning and consequences are
decided by you, either based on what
someone taught you or on your own
conclusions. No matter what life and
death may actually be, your beliefs
about them will govern your related
thoughts and actions. This is your
belief system.
SMITH
I was brought up as a Catholic and I
Believe, when I die I will go to Hell
because of what I did!
RAJI
That is your belief system however,
HUNA assumes that existence is infinite,
and therefore that life and death and
time and space are just names for
different types of experience. Third, a
belief is simply a way of organizing
your perceptions or expectations to
allow yourself certain experiences
and disallow others. By reorganizing
your perceptions and expectations
about life and death you can change
your experience of them.
SMITH
I don't understand?
RAJI
Don't you see my dear Jane, that all
experience is happening now. Time
is merely a belief. To people of the
past, right now you are unborn, to
those of the future, you are now
already dead. Life and death are part
of the impulse toward fulfillment that
we call love. Love changes the lover
and the beloved, and without change
there is no existence.
SMITH
I feel if I didn't exist he would still be alive!
RAJI
Nonsense, the power of life and death
comes from within. Not from within the
personality or the body, but from our
infinite spiritual source. "Outside"
factors may influence the timing and
manner of life and death, but they do
not cause the experience. And also,
regardless of what anyone says about
life and death, what really matters to
you is what you think. You have the
right to choose any set of ideas or
beliefs about life and death that makes
sense to you and that helps you deal
with those experiences.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA
EXT. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
INT. ADVANCED ANTHROPOLOGY CLASS
The Professor continuing with his dissertation on the origin
of man.
GOLDMAN
It is long believed that some species become
Extinct because they were unable to compete
For their survival. Or in some cases, wiped
out by some natural disaster or worldwide
pestilence.
One of his students raises his hand and is recognized.
STUDENT
Like the Dinosaurs, Dr. Goldman?
GOLDMAN
Yes, and using the dinosaurs for example,
we are still not sure what really happened.
Why a species that maybe successful for
thousands of years would disappear literally
overnight on an evolutionary scale. If we
look at the history of the earth and the
evolutionary turmoil, one can only speculate
that climatic changes, shifts in polar caps
and terrain shifts are not the only factors
that may determine the success or failure
of a species. That brings us to the reason
for this research and any new discovery. It
turns out that luck is more important then
superiority in determining the survival of
a species.
Dr. Goldman notices a messenger from the Administration office is
trying to get his attention so he closes early.
GOLDMAN
Ok, that should do it for today. Read pages
200 through 250 and expect a pop quiz on
Monday. Have a good weekend.
Dr. Goldman walks over to the messenger and the young lady converses
with him.
MESSENGER
Dr. Goldman, we have an urgent satellite call
From Dr. Fleming in Africa, can you pick it up
in your office.
WASSER
Yes of course, thank you very much.
They both leave the lecture hall and disappear.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICA
EXT. LAKE NAKURU - SOUTH SHORE
EXT. LARGE MOBILE HOME SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
DR. Fleming is conversing with Dr. Goldman via lansat
connection.
FLEMING
There is no error, we do have 24 pairs of
chromosomes. So what do you think?
GOLDMAN (V.O.)
What is Wasser's opinion?
FLEMING
He doesn't have a clue!
GOLDMAN (V.O.)
Have you done a carbon dating yet?
FLEMING
Wasser is doing it as we speak.
GOLDMAN
Ok, call me when you get a date, and
I'll do some checking at this end.
FLEMING
Ok, thank you.
The door opens to the Mobile home and Dr. Wasser walks in.
WASSER
So what did he say?
FLEMING
He doesn't know?
WASSER
Shit!
FLEMING
So what's the date?
Wasser sits down and wipes his brow.
WASSER
About ten thousand years old.
The computer ran a preliminary
On the sample and projected
The breakdown of the carbon
At 10,000 years.
FLEMING
So what does it mean?
WASSER
The true meaning is deciphered, the
connection made to the possible time
dated extinction of this species.
This concluded as they have found
entire members of the tribe buried
within the geographical areas of
the settlement. It is first believed
that may have perished because of
disease. There is no evidence of
large burial site. The manner of the
finds indicate that they may have
just died on the spot.
Dr. Fleming picks up the computer printout and looks it over.
FLEMING
Shit!
WASSER
Ten thousand years ago was the tragic
end to this Genus.
FLEMING
So!
WASSER
Other mass extinction's are examined. In 1987, Berkley,
California. James Valentine and Douglas Erwin check
the fossil records. It is noted that in the Permian period,
225 million years ago that the largest mass extinction
occurred. Which wiped out as many as 96% of the
marine species. Could this be time released enzymes
or climate related phenomenon ?
FLEMING
Spit it out Professor, what are you trying to
Say?
WASSER
What I'm trying to say is our species will be
Ten thousand years in the year 2000.
FLEMING
Bullshit! Your saying the human race will
All perish in the year 2000.
WASSER
No what I'm saying is that the Caucasian Race
may all perish in the year 2000!
CUT TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA DAY
EXT. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
INT. ADVANCED ANTHROPOLOGY CLASS
The Professor is continuing with his dissertation.
GOLDMAN
Several of you were asking about Carbon
Dating, so I'll briefly describe what
it is. The biological recycling of
organic carbon is fundamental to nearly
all biological systems on this planet.
While some forms of organic carbon, such
as fresh organic matter, are quickly
recycled, other more resistant forms,
such as humus and charcoal, are recycled
at a much slower rate.
Goldman is amazed how quite the lecture hall is.
GOLDMAN (Cont.)
Radio carbon dating determines the age of
ancient objects by means of measuring the
amount of carbon-14 there is left in an
object. A man called Willard F Libby
pioneered it at the University of Chicago
in the 50's. In 1960, he won the Nobel Prize
for Chemistry. This is now the most widely
used method of age estimation in the field
of archaeology.
One of his students raises her hand and he points to her.
STUDENT
Professor Goldman, can you tell us a
little about how it works?
GOLDMAN
Certain chemical elements have more than one
type of atom. Different atoms of the same
element are called isotopes. Carbon has three
main isotopes. They are carbon-12, carbon-13
and carbon-14. Carbon-12 makes up 99% of an
atom, carbon-13 makes up 1% and carbon-14
makes up 1 part per million. Carbon-14 is
radioactive and it is this radioactivity
which is used to measure age.
STUDENT
What does half life mean?
GOLDMAN
Radioactive atoms decay into stable atoms
by a simple mathematical process. Half of
the available atoms will change in a given
period of time, known as the half-life.
For instance, if 1000 atoms in the year
2000 had a half-life of ten years, then
in 2010 there would be 500 left. In 2020,
there would be 250 left, and in 2030 there
would be 125 left.
STUDENT
Then you somehow count them?
GOLDMAN
Yes, my dear and by counting how many
carbon-14 atoms in any object with
carbon in it, we can work out how old
the object is, or how long ago it died.
So we only have to know two things, the
half-life of carbon-14 and how many
carbon-14 atoms the object had before
it died. The half-life of carbon-14 is
5,730 years. However knowing how many
carbon-14 atoms something had before it
died can only be guessed at. The assumption
is that the proportion of carbon-14 in
any living organism is constant. It can
be deduced then that today's readings
would be the same as those many years ago.
When a particular fossil was alive, it
had the same amount of carbon-14 as the
same living organism today.
One of his other students raises his hand and is recognized.
STUDENT
Where do they use carbon dating?
GOLDMAN
As I said before, carbon-14 has a half-life
of 5,730 years. This is one of the reasons
why carbon dating is so useful in archaeology.
Dates derived from carbon samples can be
carried back to about 50,000 years. Potassium
or uranium isotopes which have much longer
half-lives, are used to date very ancient
geological events that have to be measured
in millions or billions of years.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICA
EXT. LAKE NAKURU - SOUTH SHORE
EXT. LARGE MOBILE HOME SUNK PARTIALLY IN THE SAND
DR. Fleming is conversing with Dr. Wasser over their findings.
FLEMING
What do you mean the end of the Caucasian race?
WASSER
A Dutch scientist said only the
CAUCASIAN RACE has had this extra
chromosome.
FLEMING
Bullshit!
WASSER
ELLIS-VAN CREVELD SYNDROME
FLEMING
The ELLIS-VAN what?
WASSER
ELLIS-VAN CREVELD syndrome, is a rare
genetic disorder characterized by short
limb dwarfism, additional fingers and/or
toes, referred to as POLYDACTYLY.
Also, HARELIP and congenital heart defects.
This disorder is inherited through any
ordinary paired chromosomes alike in
males and females or recessive trait.
A recessive trait is incapable of expression
unless the responsible gene is carried by
both members of a pair of homologous
chromosomes.
FLEMING
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT!
WASSER
ELLIS-VAN CREVELD has an unusually high
incidence among the Old Order Amish
community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
This inbred, isolated religious group has been
carefully studied, as it affords a rare opportunity
to observe the passage of thisparticular disorder
from generation to generation.
FLEMING
So what are you trying to say, that this
thing that we found is a link to the past
or the future?
WASSER
There is a link, but I'm not sure how it
fits. We need some input from Dr. Goldberg.
CUT TO:
GO TO PART 2
THE PREMISE
News has taken hold in the media that there is major concern, now that
a prominent scientist has considered this issue a real possibility. More
disturbing is the fact that it has been estimated that the now extinct
species had only survived for 10,000 years. In comparison, the
Caucasian race has now survived for close to that amount of time.
Prominent scientist at the University of Nigeria are now predicting
that at midnight of the year 1999, members of the Caucasian race will
suddenly start to perish. Members of the scientific community dismiss
this as the biggest hoax since the end of the world prediction by
Nostradamus. They are however beginning to scrutinize the data a
little more closely as the year 1999 draws to a close.
Any serious evolutionary biologist knows the average life span of
any animal species is approximately four million years. So you can
see in the 530 million years since the Cambrian period, 99 percent
of the species have become extinct. Scientist have failed to make
the connection between procreation and extinction. The subject
of extinction has been neglected by man, in his complacent attitude
towards nature and the evolutionary record. If a species such as the
dinosaurs, who have been successful for 140 million years, could
become extinct, the Homo sapiens are still in their infancy as a
successful species.
COLIN COX
Questions? E-Mail me at bajan@gte.net
AntiOnline
Copyright 1998 by Rob Perry and NorthStarr Productions
All Rights Reserved
Dr. David Wasser 
Richard Hamilton
Detective Arnold Negrete 
Pilot Jane Smith 