FADE IN:

INT. ARROWAY HOUSE - EVENING

We open on the upstairs of a two-story house, where we see a young girl talking into a radio transmitter.

CQ, this is W9GFO. CQ, this is W9GFO here, come back. CQ, this is W9GFO here, come back. CQ, CQ, this is W9GFO, is anybody out there? (looks to her father) It's not getting anything.

Small moves Ellie, small moves.

CQ, this is W9GFO here, come back.

Copy W9GFO. K4WLD here.

What do I say?

Just be yourself.

Where are you K4WLD? Come back.

Pensacola, over.

Pensacola? Where's Pensacola?

I'll give you a hint... orange juice.

Copy that K4WLD, how's the weather down there in Florida?

Pensacola, Florida. I have to tell you sparks, 1116 miles. That's the farthest yet.

Dad, can we hear all the way to New York?

Sure.

Can we hear all the way to California?

Absolutely.

Can we hear all the way to Alaska?

Yea, on a really clear day.

Can we hear all the way to China?

On a really, really clear day.

Could we talk to the moon?

Well, if it was a big enough radio, I don't see why not.

Could you talk to Jupiter? Or what's the one after that? Umm, don't tell me..

I'll give you hint... hoolahoops.

Saturn! Can we talk to Saturn?

Uh huh.

Dad, could we talk to Mom?

I don't think even the biggest radio can reach that far.

Alright, no more stalling.

K. (holds up a picture she drew of a beach in Florida). Pensacola!

Oh Ellie, that's a beauty. Better get some sleep.

Hey dad.

Yea?

Do you think there's people on other planets?

I don't know sparks, but I guess I'd say, if it is just us, it's seems like an awful waste of space.

INT. ARROWAY HOUSE - NIGHT

That night, Ellie sneaks back into the room with the radio transmitter...

CQ, CQ, CQ, this is W9GFO. Repeat, this is W9GFO, come back. CQ, this is W9GFO, come back. I'm gonna need a bigger antenna.

CUT TO:

EXT. ARECIBO TELESCOPE - DAY

What do you think Doctor Arroway? Ain't she a beauty?

It'll do.

The village is five miles away. There's a general store in the cantina. They can pretty much order anything you need from San Wan.

When can I get some dish time?

(laughs) Dr. Clark said you wouldn't be able to wait. You're first shift is up tonight.

Alright!

INT. ARECIBO CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

Ellie is sitting in the dark, with a headset on. She removes the headset, and we can hear the static she's listening to.

Go back.

What?

Try back a little, you had something there.

(Ellie moves the dial) There.

Right there?

Yea. Do you hear? Right there, yea, that's it.

Yup. It's by 1221.46. That's well in the L-band.

Check off axis.

Uh huh, on it. Umm, it's not in the neighbourhood. Ah, there it is. J1741 plus 2748. Cataloged November 4, 1982. Pulsar. (Sigh) Well, I don't know, it must have been a glitch in the timing that threw me.

I think it's great that you listen. Most people don't do that anymore.

Ah, it's just an old habit. You know, it makes it feel more real. (Putting out her hand) Ellie.

Kent, Kent Clark (puts his hand out, but misses Ellie's, we realize that he's blind)

Hi.

They said you'd been up at Owen's valley working under Drumlin. How'd you like him? (after Ellie doesn't answer) That much? And about what I'd expect after what he had to say about you.

What was that?

He said you were brilliant, driven, a major pain in the ass, and obsessed with a field of study that he considers tantamount to professional suicide.

Other scientist's enter the room, turn on the lights.

Yo, what's up?

Umm, those were the highlights.

Dr. Thadia, Dr. Burman... Dr. Arroway (greetings all around) and I believe you've already met our tireless research assistant, Mr. Fisher (who happens to be wearing a Cornell University Shirt).

Yup.

You can't miss his cologne.

(laughs) hey!

Chris is looking at the Black hole at the center of M87. Eli is studying Marcarian 541, a major Gama-ray source, and Dr. Arroway here will be spending here precious telescope time listening for uh, listening for uh...

Little green men.

INT. ELLIE'S CABIN - NIGHT

(Sticking a thumbtack into a start chart) One down, couple of billion to go.

INT. CATINA - DAY

Ellie buys two packs of thumbtacks from the general store merchant. Then sits at a table and nurses a beer, when PALMER JOSS approaches.

Arecibo, right?

Does it show?

Yea. (opens up a box of crackerjacks, and offers some) Crackerjack?

No. Thanks.

Mind if I sit down.

Sure.

I hear the locals; they call it El-Radar. They think is has some dark military purpose.

I think we're pretty harmless.

(holds out his hand) Palmer Joss.

(shakes his hand) Ellie Arroway.

Nice to meet you, Ellie. What are you studying up there?

Oh, the usual. Nebulae, quasars, pulsars, stuff like that. What are you writing?

The usual. Nouns, adverbs, adjective here and there.

I'm working on a project called SETI.

Search for extraterrestrial intelligence? Well, now that is out there.

Wait, are you a student or something?

I'm a writer, I'm writing a book. Doing some research. It's how technology affects third-world cultures. I'm also looking for this guy David Drumlin, he's the new head-honcho of the national science foundation; I'm trying to get an interview with him. I take it you know him?

Uh huh. You can say that.

SETI, man. That's fringe. I've crossed paths with this guy before. I mean something like that must really chap his ass, huh?

(pulls the toy out of the crackerjacks box) Compass. For you El.

You better keep this. Might save your life some day.

Will you go out with me tonight?

I don't make a very good research subject. I'm just not very quotable.

No quotes, no quotes, scout's honor. Just good meal, good company.

I gotta go. (gets up to leave), but Drumlin's coming in this Tuesday.

EXT. ARECIBO - DAY

A jeep pulls up with Drumlin in it. David gets out and is greeted by the team of scientists, except Ellie.

(getting up and stretching) Now I remember why I took that desk job. (greetings all around) How are you?

Glad you could make it David.

If I knew I was gonna take three planes, I might have reconsidered.

How is that new office?

Ellie comes running up the hill towards them.

Well, I'm still settling in. Of course there are... (Ellie arrives, out of breath) Ellie. Still waiting for ET to Call?

(turning to Kent, and walking away) Well, I understand we're having a little reception tonight...

(calling after him) Good to see you too. (and under her breath) Asshole.

EXT. RECEPTION - NIGHT

Uh Oh. Look like it's gonna be a long night.

Science must first and foremost be accountable to the people who are paying for it, the tax payers. We need to stop wasting money on pie in the sky abstractions, and start spending it on practical, measurable ways to improve the lives of the people who are after all, footing the bill.

Not unlike my L-band globular cluster experiment.

Wait. You're saying you want to do away with all pure research now?

What's wrong with science being practical? Even profitable?

(emerging from the crowd) Nothing, as long as your motive is the search for truth. Which is exactly what the pursuit of science is.

Well that's a rather interesting position coming from a man on a crusade against technology, Father Joss.

I'm not against technology, doctor. I'm against the men who deify it at the expense of human truth.

(deciding not to further the conversation) Kent. I've been meaning to have a word with you. Over here please. (Mr. Fisher leads Kent off in another direction)

(walking over to Ellie) I think that hurt my chances of that interview, what do you think?

You're a priest?

No, not really. I got my masters in divinity, then I dropped out of seminary and went off to do some humanitarian work. Coordinating the efforts of the third world churches. Couldn't live with the whole celibacy thing. You can call me a man of the cloth... without the cloth.

Wanna get out of here?

EXT. ARECIBO TELESCOPE - HILLSIDE - TWILIGHT

ELLIE and JOSS sit under a tree on the hillside, looking out over the dish; the long hanging bridge to the aiming array dwindles into twilight. They lie back, looking up at the stars.

Alright, you see that large W-shaped constellation right there, that's Cassiopeia. And Cassiopeia has itself a whole lot of radio signals; I actually listen to that one a lot. It's a remnant of a supernova.

When did you know you wanted to be an astronomer?

Well, when I was about eight years old, I was watching the sunset, and I asked my dad, "what's that bright star over there", and he said that it wasn't really a start at all, but it was actually a whole planet called Venus. (pointing to the sky) Which should be over there soon. He said, "you know why they called it Venus? because they thought it was so beautiful and glowing. And what they didn't know is that it was filled with deadly gases and sulfuric acid rain", and I thought, "this is it, I'm hooked". You know, there are four hundred billion stars out there, just in our galaxy alone. If only one out of a million of those had planets, and just of out of a million of those had life, and just one out of a million of those had intelligent life; there would be literally millions of civilizations out there.

Well, if there wasn't, it'd be an awful waste of space.

Amen.

INT. ELLIE'S CABIN - NIGHT

ELLIE and JOSS have spent the night together.

... there I was just looking at the sky, then I felt something. I don't know. All I know is that I wasn't alone, and for the first time in my life I wasn't scared of nothing, not even dying. It was god.

And there's no chance that you had this experience because some part of you needed to have it?

Well, I'm a reasonable intelligent guy, but this... no not this. Not intellect; it couldn't even touch this, no.

I went to Sunday school a few times.

(laughs) uh huh, and?

Well, I just kept asking all these really annoying questions like, where did Mrs. Cain come from? Pretty soon, they called my Dad, and asked him if he wouldn't mind just keeping me home form now on.

Your Dad? Is that this guy? (pointing to a picture of Ellie and her father)

Yea.

You're close to him, aren't you?

Yea, I was. He died when I was nine years old. I never got to know my mother.

I'm sorry, that's gotta be tough.

Yea.

Being alone.

What do you say we pack a picnic tomorrow and hike up to Mount Aricebo?

(getting up) I don't think I can, I gotta work.

Alright, how 'bout dinner then? Tomorrow night, I know a great place.

(laughs) No, I don't think so.

Ellie, did I miss something?

Huh? No. Shit, I'm late. I told Kent that I'd meet him at 10:30.

You know, I'm not trying to push you.

No, no. Don't be silly. I've been wanting to look at this sector for weeks. Look, just hang around, sleep in, and there's a bunch of food in the fridge, k?

How can I reach you?

Oh, just leave your number, I'll call you.

Ellie steps outside and looks up at the sky to see a shooting start. We FLASHBACK to the past, where a young Ellie is on an exterior balcony with two telescopes set up in front of her.

Dad. It's starting, you're gonna miss it.

Dad. There's another one, hurry up.

In a minute Sparks, almost done.

Oh there's another one! Common, hurry up, Dad.

We hear a dish fall to the ground.

Dad?

She goes back inside

Dad?

Daddy?

Goes down a flight of stairs, and sees her father lying on the ground.

Dad. (starts to cry, but gets a hold of herself). Dad? Dad! I'll get the medicine.

Runs up the stairs to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and grabs his medication.

CUT TO:

EXT. FUNERAL - DAY

Ellie. I know its hard to understand this now, but we aren't always meant to know the reasons why things happen the way they do. Sometimes we just have to accept it as god's will.

Should have kept some medicine in the downstairs bathroom, then I could've gotten to it sooner.

She goes into the house, and up to the radio transmitter.

CQ. This is W9GFO, do you copy?

Dad, it's Ellie, come back.

This is Eleanor Arroway, transmitting on 14.2 Mhz. Dad, are you there? Come back. Dad, are you there? Dad, it's Ellie.

INT. ARECIBO OBSERVTORY - CONTROL ROOM - MORNING

Ellie is working, sees Kent outside, and goes to join him.

EXT. ARECIBO OBSERVATORY - DAY

Ellie.

Hey Kent, what are you doing up so early?

I was thinking, we'd make a pretty good team.

What?

We could put together a kick ass ad hoc SETI program.

What are you talking about?

You know the very large array in New Mexico? It would be a dynamite place to do some serious SETI work.

What are you talking about, Kent?

Drumlin pulled the plug. We're homeless.

Ellie speeds down a dirt road in her jeep towards where Drumlin is working.

Is it true? Huh, did you pull the plug?

I know you can't see it now, but I'm doing you a favour. You're far too promising a scientist to be wasting your gifts on this nonsense.

Look, I don't consider what could potentially be the most important discovery of the human race nonsense, ok? There's four hundred billion stars, and we have not even started!

There are only two possibilities. One, there is intelligent life out there, but it's so far away you'll never contact it in your lifetime. And two, (she tries to cut him off, but he raises his voice), there's nothing out there but noble gases and carbon compounds, and you're wasting your time. In the meantime, you won't be published, you won't be taken seriously, and your career will be over before it's begun.

So what?! It's my life!

INT. CABIN - DAY

Ellie sees Joss's phone number and compass thumbtacked to a chart on her wall. She takes them down and places them on her night table. Ellie picks up the phone and makes a call.

Hey, Kent. You were right, screw Drumlin. We're gonna raise the money ourselves. We're going to New Mexico.

EXT. CABIN - RAINING - DAY

Ellie, Kent, and Fisher are all packing their things into a car.

...Chicago's all set up, you'll call me and let me know how it goes. Oh, and I've got some more corporate stops set up on the East Coast for you. Hey, Fish. Did that private investor from Houston ever get back to us?

Uh, I'm gonna hit him up a little later, in LA.

Try begging for some of that Hollywood money. Why not, they've been making money off aliens for years.

They say that begging is good for the soul.

We'll see about that.

Just do me a favour. Try not to be too confrontational.

Huh, confrontational, me?! What are you mean? (laughs) Let me just see if I left anything.

Ellie looks at the paper with Joss' phone number that she left on her night table, and decides not to take it. The compass is nowhere to be seen, so apparently she took that.

INT. HADDEN INDUTRIES - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

This is a unique time in our history, in the history of any civilization. It's the moment of the acquisition of technology. That's the moment when contact becomes possible. The very large array in New Mexico is the key to our chances for success. With its 27 linked radio telescopes, we can search more accurately than any earth conventional facility. Now, we've already gotten the preliminary approval to buy ourselves some time from the government. Now, all we need is the money.

Nice Presentation, doctor. But while our foundation arm doesn't mandate to support experimental programs. We must confess that your proposal seems less like science and more like science fiction.

Science Fiction. You're right, it's crazy. In fact, its even worse than that, it's nuts. (slams her presentation books closed) You wanna hear something really nutty? I heard of a couple guys who wanna build something called an airplane, you know you get people to go in, and fly around like birds, it's rediculous, right?! And what about breaking the sound barrier, or rockets to the moon? Atomic energy, or a mission to Mars? Science fiction, right? Look, all I'm asking is for you to just have the tiniest bit of vision. You know, to just sit back for one minute and look at the big picture. To take a chance on something that just might end up being the most profoundly impactful moment for humanity, for the history... of history.

I'm sorry. I just spent the last 13 months coming to places like this and talking to people like you, and the truth is, you're my last chance, so I'm sorry I wasted your time.

(Picks up the phone. Ellie makes to collect her things, but he calls after her.) Doctor.

(Talks into the phone.) Yes sir. Yes sir. Yes sir.

(Back to Ellie) You have your money.

(To executive) Thank you.

(To camera in corner of room) Thank you.

FOUR YEARS LATER

EXT. VLA - DAY

A children's size wading pool is set up and Willie is fishing in it.

Oh, perfect catch. common fishy. Oh Frank, look at the size of that son of a bitch.

Van pulls up. KENT gets out.

Welcome back Dr. C. How'd it go? How was the trip?

I've had better.

INT. VLA - CONTROL ROOM

What is this, a personal vendetta?

It's not just Drumlin, there's been enormous pressure from other scientists as well.

It doesn't matter anyway, cause Hadden is funding us for another two years.

Umm, these are government owned telescopes, they can lease them to whomever they want, and they don't want the high priestess of the desert using them anymore.

What?

Staring at static on TV for hours at a time. Listening to washing machines. Did you really think these stories wouldn't get out?

I was looking for patterns in the chaos, common!

It doesn't matter anymore. We're a joke to them. They want us out. We've got three months until the paperwork goes through.

(Sigh) Fine, we're still looking for other funding, I'll just start writing...

Could you face reality please. Just this once, Ellie. We lost, it's over.

Ellie is standing in front of a sign that reads "Astronomy is looking up".

(Sigh) Alright. I'm not stopping. If I have to go it alone, I'll go it alone, I've done it before.

Ellie leaves the room and slams the door behind her, and drives up to a canyon not too far from the array, to think.

INT. VLA - CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

Fisher and Willie are on duty, they are watching Larry King on Television.

My guest tonight is author and theologian Palmer Joss. He's become a spiritual councilor of sorts and a recent fixture at the White House. God's diplomat, according to the New York Times. His latest book, Loosing Faith is currently number on that publication's best-seller list. Thanks for being with us Palmer. You have had quite a ride these last couple of years.

I sure have Larry...

Yo, fish. I was thinking. Who would make the best astronomers? Think about it. Who has the perfect symmetry of career and lifestyle?

I give.

Vampires! (turns around with fake vampire teeth and laughs)

... are you anti-technology? Are you anti-science?

No, not at all. The question I'm asking is, are we happier? As a human race, is the world fundamentally a better place because of science and technology? We shop at home, we surf the web, but at the same time, we feel emptier, lonelier, and more cut off from each other than at any other time in history... (gets drowned out by Pulses from outer space).

... maybe it's because we're looking for the meaning, well what is the meaning? We have mindless jobs, we take frantic vacations. Deficit finance trips to the mall to buy more things that we feel are gonna fill these holes in our lives. Is it any wonder that we've lost our sense of direction?

EXT. VLA - BASE OF TELESCOPE - PRE-DAWN

Ellie wears a pair of headsets. We hear the SOUND of the COSMOS, the background wash of empty STATIC and a faint BEEPING, FADING IN and OUT of reception. Ellie slowly swims up to consciousness. After a moment her eyes open. She sits up...

Holy Shit!

She jumps back in her car and drives back to base.

(Yelling into a walky-talky) Right ascension, 18 hours 36 Minutes, 56.2 Seconds. Declination, left. 36 degrees 46 Minutes 56.2 Seconds.

INT. VLA - CONTROL ROOM - PRE-DAWN

(Over the radio) Confirm. Right ascension, 18 hours 36 Minutes, 56.2 Seconds. Hey, Is anyone awake in there? I'm moving the array. Confirm!

Processing bogey.

Right ascension, 18 hours 36 Minutes, 56.2 Seconds. Declination, left. 36 hours 47 Minutes and 1 Second.

We're on it.

Don't touch the dishes. I'm moving the rest of them now, and need you to confirm the coordinates

Check the status of the array; She's doing all the dishes.

All systems nominal. (sees the pulses on screen) Hello.

I need a full systems check!; coordinates confirmed, Willie's checking the system now.

Stay on top of the systems diagnostic. Check the record point offsets. I want you off axis on 27 the second we get there; and tell Willie to break out the Big Boy!

Copy that. Willie is... what? Go, go Ellie.

I can here it on the headphones, so we gotta be sure about this.

Give me another array status.

Her four are online, the rest are tracking in.

(to Ellie) Your four are online, the rest are tracking in.

But there's a bad drive on 16.

(to Ellie) Your four are online, the rest are tracking in, but there's a bad drive on 16, copy that? What do you want me to do about the source point?

Forget about it and hold the queue. Go get ready to set the target frequency to manual, the second we're live, do you copy? I want you to go off axis on 27 the second we're there, and leave the L-band frequency where it is. Stay on it, just don't let it get away. If you lose it, just scan the band, run every frequency you can think of.

(Running into to the Control Room) How you doing?

The array falls into place at the same time.

Talk to me guys.

Linearly polarized, set of moving pulses, Amplitude Modulated.

We're locked. Systems check out. Signal across the board, what's the frequency?

4.4623 GHz. Hydrogen times Pi. Told ya.

Strong sucker too.

I got it, I got it, I got it, I'm patched in!

Alright, let me hear it.

Pulses are played through the stereo (Big Boy)

Listen to that. Make me a liar, Fish.

Uh, could be AWACS out of Kirtland jamming us, but I'm stumped.

Alright, let's see if FUDD's reading it too.

Willie, patch it back and give me the off-axis. Are we recording?

Never stopped.

(Kissing computer monitor) Thank you Elmer.

AWACS status is negative.

How about White Sands?

On this frequency? No.

I'm gonna punch up the charts. How's the sky guys? Common. Alright.

Florida's not tracking any spoofs on this vector. Shuttle Endeavor's in sleep mode.

Ok. Point source confirmed. Whatever it is, it ain't local.

Position?

I checked the interferometry. Somewhere in Lyra I think.

Um, Vega?

Can't be, it's only 26 Light-years away.

Adjust the peak intensity.

On it.

Vega? Vega. Can't be, I've watched it many times at Aricebo. It was negative results, always.

Guys. I'm reading over a hundred janskys.

Jesus. I can pick that up on my...

The pulses stop and we hear background static.

No.

Two pulses.

Come on.

Three pulses.

Alright. It's restarting. Wait a minute, these are numbers. That was three, the one before it was two. Um, base 10 numbers, just start counting now and see what you can get.

Five Pulses.

Five.

Seven Pulses.

Those are primes 2, 3, 5, 7. Those are all prime numbers, there is no way it's a natural phenomenon.

Holy shit.

I know, I know, just calm down, and focus the stockpile on Vega.

It doesn't make any sense, the system is too new. So it can't have a planetary system, let alone life.

Well, maybe they didn't grow up there, maybe they're just visiting, I don't know.

Ok, so a spacecraft? No, this system is full of debris, it would get clobbered.

Well, not if they used their laser blasters and photon torpedoes (laughs).

That's not funny, Willie.

Well, how else would you explain it?

Willie's right. If we go public with this, and we're wrong, that's it; it's over, we're cooked. God, I wish Kent was here.

Whatever the signal is, we better do something soon, Vega's gonna set.

Ellie goes on a conference call with IAN BRODERICK in Australia.

Deposition is confirmed. We've got 4.4623 Ghz. Confirmed, we've got 112 janskys.

Alright, do you have a source location yet?

We put it right smack in the middle, Vega.

Ok, thanks Ian. Just keep tracking and we'll get back to you.

Yea, right-O.

Ok, 101. The pulse sequenced through every prime number between 2 and 101.

Who we gonna call now?

Everybody.

EXT. VLA - DAY

The next day, the VLA is swamped with news people.

Rumours are a fly, the implications extraordinary. This morning, detection of an unidentified radio source from deep space can neither be confirmed, nor denied...

... living outside of our solar system. Again, there is no confirmation that an official...

MICHAEL KITZ steps off a helicopter.

I want all these people out of here.

INT. VLA CONTROL CENTER - DAY

...twice the stations worldwide now confirming the signal. Vega is currently below our horizon, so what you're hearing is the signal from the original recording.

Let's get the decryption people in here. Lunacharsky's visiting at Cal-Tech.

Explain this to me. If the source of the signal is so sophisticated, why the remedial math?

Exactly, why don't they just speak English?

Well, maybe because 70% of the planet speaks other languages. Mathematics is the only truly universal language, Senator. It's no coincidence that they're using primes.

I don't get it.

Prime number. That would be integers that are only divisible by themselves and 1. Well, we think that this may be a beacon. Some kind of announcement to get our attention.

Well, if its attention you want, I think you got that. One thing, Vega. People have been looking at Vega for years, no results, and now yesterday they start broadcasting primes, why?

Well, it's hardly yesterday, because the signal has been transmitting for 26 years.

Doctor Arroway?

Excuse me, who are you?

Ellie, this is Michael Kitz, national security advisor.

Doctor, let me first say that your reputation...

Actually, first could you ask the gentlemen with the firearms to wait outside? This is supposed to be a civilian facility.

The soldiers leave the room.

Doctor, with all due respect, your scientific knowledge...

(Kent walks in) Excuse me. (she goes over to him) Hey, hey. Hi. I'm so glad you're back. Come on, I have something for you to hear.

Who are all these people?

I have no idea. Sit down, and we could use some help with the spectrum analysis, ok?

Oh god, listen to that. I'll get right on it.

I'll get you a headset.

So I'll get right to the point, shall I? Your having sent this announcement all over the world may well constitute a breach of national security.

This isn't a person-to-person call. You can't possibly think that a civilization sending this kind of message would intend it just for Americans.

I'm saying you might have consulted us; obviously, the contents of this message could be extremely sensitive.

You want to classify prime numbers?

Um, Mike, please. Because of the Earth's rotation, we're only in line with Vega so many hours a day. And the only way to completely monitor the signal is to get the cooperation of other nations. If doctor Arroway hadn't acted quickly, we could have lost key elements.

Kent is turning up the volume on the stereo.

Ok, so they got the primes; but if you're right about there being a more significant transmission still...

We've asked everyone who's helping to receive it, to decode it

Doctor, do you understand my job?

Shhh. You hear that?

I hear it.

Hear what?

Harmonics?

Bingo. Retune to 8.9247 Ghz. There's a lot more here folks.

Alright Fish, let's get on the negative side band.

On it.

What is going on?

We're tracking the signal at double the frequency, it looks like... somebody get a TV monitor.

Alright, patch the recording into this processor.

You want the new data?

Yea, the new frequency, the one we just recorded.

Alright.

David, would you explain this to me please.

Along with the primes there's another signal, looks like a TV transmission.

We're on.

Alright, do me a favour, go get the blinds. It has a lot of glare.

You're patched in.

It's definitely an image. Try to stabilize it. What do you make if this, Fish?

It's almost like there's two different interlaced frames. Frame one.

Nah, it's just noise.

Trying frame two.

Uh, I've got an offset carrier here, I think it's audio.

Plug it in, plug it in.

Center that segment.

Centering.

Can you clear it up anymore Fish?

I'm working on it.

What the hell?

Try zooming out.

What is that?

Reverse values.

Try zooming out again.

Rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise.

Oh my god.

Video of Hitler.

O-Kay.

Uh, What's going on?

You're not gonna believe this.

Does Anybody speak German?

Umm, I declare the games in Berlin, at the celebration of the first Olympics of the new era, as open.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

Twenty million people died defeating that son of a bitch and he's our first ambassador to outer space?

Actually...

(Cutting Ellie off) The broadcast of the '36 Olympics was the first television transmission of any power that went into space. The fact that they recorded it, and sent it back, is simply their way of saying hello, we heard you.

Or saying, "Hi, you're our kind of people."

Wait a minute. Hitler and his politics have nothing to do with this. It's highly unlikely that they would understand what they were looking at. People have to understand...

The people are in very good hands, doctor Arroway. We'll take it from here.

The White House has just released a statement confirming that a message of unknown origin emanating from deep space has been received by American scientists. Clair Shipman is at the White House.

...We've just been told that the president will have only a few brief remarks about today's extraordinary announcement, and that he won't be taking any questions from the press.

Good Afternoon. I'm glad to be joined by my science and technology advisor. This is the product of years of exploration, by some of the world's most distinguished scientists. Like all discoveries, this one will and should continue to be reviewed, examined, and scrutinized. It must be confirmed by other scientists. But clearly, the fact that something of this magnitude is being explored, is another...

INT. VLA CONTRON ROOM - DAY

Everyone is watching the president's speech.

What is this story? I thought Ellie was supposed to be on.

Uh, Uh guys. You know those interlaced frames we thought were noise? I'm getting structure.

...If this discovery is confirmed. It would surely be one of the most stunning insights into our universe that science has ever uncovered. It's implications are as far reaching and awe inspiring as can be imagined. Even as it promises answers to some of our oldest questions, it poses still others even more fundamental. We will continue to listen closely to what is has to say. As we continue the search for the answers, and for knowledge that is as old as humanity itself, but essential to our people's future. Thank you.

The president is bombarded by reporter's questions as he leaves the room.

(On camera) ... the message was received Friday morning at 6:31 am mountain standard time. It was largely mathematical, and despite the reports that you may have seen to the contrary, appears to be completely benign in nature. Let me say that again; the message is completely benign. The president has been in touch with heads of state from around the world, and every possible security measure is being taken. To better explain to you the events of the last 48 hours, I'm turning you over to the leader of the scientific team that made this remarkable discovery (Ellie begins to walk toward the podium), Doctor David Drumlin, special science advisor to the president.

(On camera) Thank you Rachel. Hello. In 1936 a very faint television signal transmitted the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games as a show of German superior technology. That signal left Earth at the speed of light and 26 years later arrived in the vicinity of the star we call Vega. That signal has been sent back to us hugely amplified. An unmistakable sign of intelligence. Now...

Ellie gets a page. She leaves the room, sets up her laptop, and calls Kent.

You're on line Kent, go ahead.

The Adolf transmission used 25 frames per seconds, but we're receiving 50 frames per second...

Uh huh.

...So we put the other 25 through a series of search algorithms, to see if there was anything else. We found a series of markers on the top of each frame, are you ready?

Uh, yea, go ahead.

Ok, send it Willie. Ok, here it comes.

Ellie receives the picture.

It's digital, massive amounts of data, which extend right to the higher harmonics.

Jackpot!

INT. WHITE HOUSE - CABINET ROOM - DAY

Alright, as you'll see, interlaced with the frames of the original Hitler image, we found these sections. Now we thought they were just noise, but they're actually data, huge amounts of it. And when we combine this, with the data from the amplification of the original signal, we get these encrypted pages of text. Now, no two are alike, and we've uncovered over 10 000 already.

What does it mean, doctor?

Well, we have no idea. It could be anything. It could be the first volume of an encyclopedia Galactica...

...Instructions to acquaint us with their colonization procedures.

...Maybe a few billion new commandments.

How long will it take to decode it?

It could take forever, we really need a primer, uh...

(Cutting off Ellie) We need to get the best decryption people we have. I intend to use the VLA as my command post, in the meantime, my office has made up a preliminary budget.

Wait a minute. This is a privately funded operation. We're only leasing this time from the government.

Doctor, if there's a precedent case in this domain, I've never seen it. I'm going to recommend to the president that we militarize this project immediately.

What?! This is my project! I mean nobody knows more about these scenarios than I do, David, tell them how many years...

Ellie, I'm sorry.

Can we calm down here? Now, I'm going to recommend that Dr. Drumlin administer and coordinate the decryption effort. However, in light of Dr. Arroway's long experience in these matters, for the time being, she will continue to direct operations at the VLA. With the express understanding that any future discoveries will be kept in the strictest of confidence, until such time as the president can decide the most suitable course of action. Understood?

Every television station is talking about the message...

So it turns out there's life on other planets, boy this is really gonna change the Miss Universe contest, don't you think...

Health officials from around the world are concerned that the message from Vega might trigger a rash of mass suicides not unlike the recent cult deaths near San Diego.

...even a scientist has to admit that there are some pretty serious religious overtones to all this.

...let's hear from someone who's organization has been accused of conducting it's own inquisitions in recent days. Richard Rank, head of the conservative coalition.

Thank you. This is yet another example of science intruding into matters of faith. Now...

... a TV signal that was sent off in the 1930s, they're just getting it. Imagine how disappointed they're gonna turn out to be if they're Cubs fans.

... we now go to the very large array in New Mexico.

Like a bolt from the blue it came. What is being called the message from Vega has caused thousands of believers and non-believers to descend upon the VLA facility here in the remote desert of New Mexico. Many have come to protest, many to pray, but most to come to participate in what has become the best show in town.

EXT. VLA - AERIAL SHOT - DAY

Campfires, BBQs, tents of all shapes and sizes litter the plains surrounding the telescope array in all directions. A huge banner in the distance reads "There are Aliens Among us." Lines for the porta-potties a quarter mile long. Woodstock, 2001. Songs such as "Flying Purple People Eater" can be heard. Elvis impersonators with signs reading "Viva Las Vega" can be seen. Hot Air Balloons that say "Vega or Bust". People dressed in green with tin foil antennae on their heads, people trying to hear the message themselves through their RCA digital TV dishes. Neo-Nazies with signs saying, "Hitler Lives!". even a choir singing "Hail to Vega".

EXT. VLA ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS ACTION

As the convoy is slowed by the crush of people we become aware of a crowd concentrated around a young man speaking on a small jerrybuilt platform; JOSEPH. As he speaks he doesn't come off at all like a fanatic -- in fact he seems quite rational, persuasive in his passion. His amplified voice rings out:

...but they have failed. It's the same people who have again and again brought us to the brink of destruction. Who polluted our air, poisoned our waters. Now these scientists have had their chance. Are these the kind of people you want talking to your God for you?

No!

Efforts continue around the clock, but for now, almost two full weeks after the message's arrival, scientists here at the VLA still have no answers. Only more questions. Jeremy Ross, CNN, Socorro, New Mexico.

More on the quest for the message's meaning after this...

We've gotta align them somehow.

But this one doesn't fit either. We've tried over a billion permutations.

Curious, I could only get 3 quarters to fit. I don't understand the significance.

Ellie gets home. Her computer is flashing that she has E-mail. She sees that it's in Real time. She starts the Chat and sees the message, "Take me to your leader."

(Typing) Who are you?

The response is "I've got a secret", and then a picture of one of the pages.

Huh, what? Somebody broke in.

(Typing) WHO ARE YOU?

The phone rings. She picks up.

Hello. Listen, I don't know who you are, but you broke into the database, and I'm... what? Now? Where?

A fax comes in... showing her a location and an arrow saying, "meet me here".

I'll be there.

EXT. HADDEN'S AIR CRAFT - NIGHT.

You should feel fortunate, he rarely lands for anyone.

INT. HADDEN'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Dr. Arroway, I presume.

Mr. Hadden.

I've had my eye on you a long time. I consider you one of my most valuable long term investments, and when it comes to my investments, I always do my homework.

He starts up a video sequence on a wall monitor.

Eleanor Ann Arroway, born 25^th August 1964 in DePere, Wisconsin. Mother, Joanna, died from complications during child birth. Early testing indicated high pre-disposition towards science and mathematics. Father, Theodore, advised to provide enrichment activities along these lines, did so conscientiously until his death by myocardial infarction November 10, 1974. You graduated from high school in 1979, almost two full years early. Rewarded full scholarship, MIT, graduated magna cum lauda. Doctoral work, Cal-Tech, where you did breakthrough work on the lansamine built ruby maser, dramatically increasing the sensitivity of radio telescopes. Subsequently, offered a teaching position at Harvard University, which you turned down, to pursue SETI work at the Arecibo observatory in Puerto Rico. Changes in NSF policy gave rise to certain funding problems, at which point you came to my attention.

You compromised our security codes.

Once upon a time, I was a hell of an engineer, please sit Doctor. I have visitors so rarely, it's important to me that they feel welcome in my home.

You live here?

I find it convenient to keep my interests mobile. Anyway, I've had my fill of life on the ground.

Well, I guess I should thank you for bailing me out all that time.

I know a good bet when I see one. (hands her a tea) Earl Grey, no sugar, no milk, I believe.

What am I doing here?

(laughs) The powers that be have been very busy lately, clawing over each other to position themselves for the game of the millenium. Maybe I can help deal you back in.

I didn't realize that was out.

Well, maybe not out, but certainly being handed your hat. I've had a long time to make enemies, doctor. So many governments, business interests, even religious leaders that would like to see me depart this Earth. I'll grant them their wish soon enough, but before I do, I wish to make a small contribution, a final gesture of good will to the people of this little planet who have given me... from whom I have taken so much.

You found the primer.

Clever girl. Lights.

Another video appears on the wall monitor.

Pages and pages of data. Over 63 thousand in all, and on the parameter of each...

...alignment symbols, a registration marks, but they don't line up.

Ahh, but they do. If you think like a Vegan. An alien intelligence is going to be more advanced. That means efficiency functioning on multiple levels and in multiple dimensions.

The video reflects this by combining three pages in 3 dimensions... they match up.

Yes! Of course. Where's the primer?

You'll see. Every three dimensional page contains a piece of the primer, there it was all the time, staring you in the face. Buried within the message itself, is the key...

INT. WHITE HOUSE - CABINET ROOM - DAY

...to decoding it. Within the layering of the matrix, we have these basic equations. So with this very elementary foundation, they have given us a kind of general scientific vocabulary. We now have the symbols for true and false...

(Cutting Ellie off) ...This was the key, to put it simply, that allowed us to decipher their language for physics, geometry, chemistry, next frame Ellie.

Yes, and when we apply this to the rest of the message, we find this...

Those look like engineering schematics, almost like blueprints.

Yea

Yes, It is our belief that the message contains instructions for building something. Some kind of machine.

A machine? That does what, doctor?

Well, we don't know. It might be some type of advanced communication device, or it could be a teaching machine of some kind, or it might... turn out to be some kind of a transport.

Transport?

There's no proof of that.

The fact is, you don't know what it does. It could be anything. It could be a Trojan horse. We build it and out pours the entire Vegan army.

Why bother even risking the personnel. It could be a weapon

Right, some kind of doomsday machine.

Exactly, every time they detect a new civilization, they fax down these construction documents from outer space. We poor saps build... whatever this thing is, and blow ourselves to kingdom come.

There's no reason to believe that their intentions are hostile.

Why is it always the default position of the eggheads that aliens would always be benign, why is that?

We pose no threat to them. It would like us going out of our way to destroy a few microbes on some ant hill in Africa.

Interesting analogy. And how guilty would we feel if we went and destroyed a few microbes on an ant hill in Africa?

I hope you're right, doctor. I really do. But right now, my job is to protect American lives from any plausible threat, and in that regard I am obligated to assume the worst.

Well, yes, and I'm forced to agree with you. My problem is this; The content of that message is morally ambiguous at best. Now our internal numbers show that support for this is incredibly soft, so if the president wishes to stay this course, I guarantee you're gonna find his numbers going south like a duck in winter.

This is nuts.

Excuse me miss, we know nothing of these creatures' values. The fact of the matter is we don't even know whether they believe in god.

Now this doesn't make any sense, I mean if you were to ask...

Excuse me Dr, Arroway, we won't be suppressing any opinions here today.

No, of course not, it's just that the message was written in the language of science. Now, if it had been religious in nature, it should have taken on the form of burning bush, or a big booming voice from the sky...

Joss walk in.

But a voice from the sky is exactly what you found, Dr. Arroway. I'm sorry I'm late, ma'am. Now, I agree with Mr. Rank that there are unavoidable religious implications at stake here, but that doesn't justify taking an alarmist's position. My hope here is that we can find a common ground, break through any obstacles that may have kept us apart.

Right well perhaps we can just...

Yea, and I need to make a point...

...our organization will not be qualified to bang heads with flowery, new age rhetoric from...

Mr. President.

The president walks in, everyone stands up...

The president met with his top advisors today regarding the latest efforts to decode the message. While there has been reports of some progress, the official line remains a cautious one.

If you're asking me when we'll find out what the purpose of that machine is, maybe tomorrow, maybe next year, maybe never.

Here he is, the man with his finger on the spiritual pulse of a nation, huh?

It's so good to see you Ellie.

You too.

Your discovering all of this, it must be a real vindication. I'm really happy for you.

Are you ?

Mr. Joss, the president's waiting.

(laughs) The president's waiting.

Ellie, see you at the reception tonight?

Uh, yea, I wouldn't miss it.

Alright, good.

Excuse me, Miss Constantine, may I speak to you.

Certainly.

I have a big problem.

Yes?

Do you know where I can find, like a really great dress.

Ellie arrives at the reception, where there is a crowd of protestors. People are chanting, praise God. She sees Joseph again.

INT. RECEPTION - NIGHT

Wow. You look beautiful Ellie.

So do you.

Wow, you really do.

I read your book.

Here we go.

Would you like me to quote you? Ironically, the thing people are most hungry for, meaning, is the one thing that science hasn't been able to give them.

Yea, yea.

Come on. It's like you're saying that science killed God. What if science simply revealed that he never existed in the first place.

I think we're gonna need to get some air.

What?

And a few more of these (taking two glasses of champagne)

EXT. RECEPTION - NIGHT

Whew, it's a little chilly out here.

Yea, this is nice.

Hey, I've got one for you.

What have you got?

Occam's Razor, you ever heard of it?

Hackem's Razor, sounds like some slasher movie.

No, Occam's Razor, it's a basic scientific principle. And it says, all things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one.

Make sense to me.

Alright. So what's more likely (Joss puts his jacket around Ellie), thank you...

You're welcome.

...An all powerful and mysterious God created the Universe, and then decided not to give any proof of his existence, or that he simply doesn't exist at all, and that we created him so that we didn't have to feel so small and alone?

I don't know. I couldn't imagine living in a world where God didn't exist. I wouldn't want to.

How do you know your not deluding yourself? As for me, I'd need proof.

Proof. Did you love your father?

Huh?

Your Dad, did you love him?

Yes, very much.

Prove it.

Just then they both get a page.

Kent.

The White House.

They go back inside, and someone calls Joss away.

... I don't want excuses, whoever's responsible, I want their head on a platter, ok?

What happened?

You were right all along.

The decryption team here at the VLA has been working around the clock, and all the hard work has finally paid off. This key section uncovered tonight, and obtained exclusively by CNN, shows an illustration of what is unmistakenly a human figure inside a geometric structure of some kind. This and other contextual clues, now lead scientists to believe that the message is in fact...

The president's just called a meeting.

... device designed to take a single human occupant into space. Presumably to the star named Vega.

Ellie is waiting for the meeting to finish. When the door opens, everyone floods out. Ellie walks towards Joss.

Damn, I missed my mother's birthday party, could you get her on the phone for me?

(To Joss) Tell me.

They're gonna build it.

Who gets to go?

The president's just called it international to spread the risk and construction cost.

Who gets to go?

Well, it's complicated Ellie.

What?

They've formed a group of international candidates. Now, it was your discovery, and they understand that. You're at the top of a very short list. But they're also putting together a formal selection committee, it's made of scholars, theologians, scientists, philosophers...

You're on it?

I've been asked, yes.

I guess that means that you're a selector and I'm a selectee, and we can't...

Yea, but what you don't understand Ellie is...

Ellie, I want you to know that whatever happens as far as I'm concerned... well, good luck.

Well, whatever you do, just make sure he doesn't monopolize the committee.

He's not on the committee Ellie.

What?

He just resigned as science advisor, he wants to be the one to go.

And the media goes crazy again...

The president is already beginning to feel the financial pitch. Consortium sources say the cost of the project is spiraling to more a third of a trillion dollars. Making this, what may be the most expensive single project in all of human history.

Meanwhile, months of debate finally reached a conclusion of sorts last week as ten international candidates were selected by the IMC, representing a cross section of political, philosophical and religious figures. Many of these scientists are the same experts who have been consulting on the machine's design and function. As such, they will be actively participating on site during the construction process. The choice of these ten candidates has not been without controversy. Nearly one third the candidates are American. Many international observers are asking why?

(Being interview) The US is shouldering an enormous percentage of the financial burden.

But Isn't it true though a lot of the large contractors, like Hadden Industries are actually making those contributions in exchange for technology rights.

Different nations are being compensated in different ways. For example...

Japan made headlines last month when it announced it would forego candidate representation in exchange for the lucrative systems integration sub contract.

On what basis do you choose a human being to represent humanity?

Good question Larry...

Yes, well, if nothing else, they should be someone who's fluent in the language that the message was given in, science in this case.

Dr. Arroway, despite your obvious enthusiasm, there's been a lot of criticism of late that this whole endeavour is simply too dangerous. Some of that criticism from scientists. One noble prize winner recently noted his words, "There is every indication that this is simply beyond our capabilities. That this endeavour will fail, and that the machines occupant will pay for that failure with their life." How do you respond to something like that?

Well, this message is from a civilization that may be anywhere from hundreds to millions and millions of years ahead of us. I have to believe that an intelligence that advanced knows what they're doing. All it requires on our part is...

Faith?

I was going to say a sense of adventure.

And in other news, Major John Rusell, a former astronaut considered to be the leading American candidate for the machine seat, has unexpectedly dropped out of the running. Rusell met with reporters this afternoon as his Houston home.

(On camera) I told my dad that I didn't want him to go.

Daddy, don't go.

Nothing would give me more pride than to represent my country, but what can I say to this?

Consortium officials have no comment, but sources within the American delegation have disclosed that Dr. Arroway appears to be the front runner for the machine seat.

EXT. WASHINGTON PARK - DAY

"Meet me at noon, must talk". I wasn't expecting any messages from you.

Thanks for coming.

So is this kosher? Fraternizing with the enemy? Selectors and selectees mingling around (laughs).

Can we talk about Einstein?

Yea, sure, ok.

Special relativity. This machine, now if it works and you travel to Vega at even close to the speed of light when you come back...

...if you come back.

If you come back, you will only be 4 years older, but over 50 years will have passed here on Earth, and everybody that you care about will be gone, dead and buried.

If you came back, if you survived it all, which is... look Palmer, no one's saying that this isn't dangerous, alright. I - The rest of the candidates and myself we fully understand the implications, the risks that we're taking.

Why?

Because it's a historic opportunity, because the world needs...

You, Ellie, you. You personally. I mean by doing this you're willing to give your life to it, you're willing to die for it... why?

For as long as I can remember, I've been searching for something, some reason why we're here -- what are we doing here, who are we? If this is a chance to find out even just a little part of that answer, I don't know, I think it's worth a human life, don't you?

You're an incredibly brave Woman, Ellie.

Or incredibly Nuts.

They kiss, and then just hold each other.

Palmer, I'm confused.

So am I.

INT. IMC BUILDING -DAY

I think I speak for us all when I thank you for your patience. Myself, I have one final question Dr. Arroway. If you should meet these Vegans and were permitted only one question to ask of them. What would it be?

Well I suppose it would be, umm, how did you do it, how did you evolve, how did you survive this technological adolescence without destroying yourself. That more than any other question is the one that I would personally like to have answered.

And in an office somewhere watching what's happening.

Not too bad, Mike.

Eh.

Back at IMC.

I join Dr. Bergeron in expressing thanks for your patience Dr. Arroway. We've all been more than impressed with your candor and your stamina. I believe we are ready to move on to your final statement.

Madame Chairman, I have one more question.

Yes Mr. Joss.

Dr. Arroway. Would you consider yourself a spiritual person?

I don't really understand the point of the question. I consider myself a moral person.

I'm sure we all agree that is the case, but I think what Mr. Joss is in fact asking is...

Do you believe in God, Dr. Arroway?

As a scientist I rely on imperical evidence, and in this matter, I don't believe that there is data either way.

So your answer would in fact be that you don't believe in God?

I - I just don't understand the relevance of the question.

Dr. Arroway, 95% of the world's population believes in a supreme being in one form or another. I believe that makes the question more than relevant.

Dr. Arroway?

I believe um, I believe I've already answered that question.

I'm proud of what we've achieved as a species, and as a civilization. I would hate to see all we stand for, all that we have fought for, for a thousand generations, all that God has blessed us with, betrayed in the final hour because we chose to send a representative who did not put our most cherished beliefs first. Thank you.

INT. ELLIE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Ellie is packing her bags. There's a knock on the door. Ellie opens it. She sees its Joss and goes back to her packing.

Why did you do it?

Our job was to select someone to speak for everybody. I just couldn't in good conscience vote for a person who doesn't believe in God. Someone who honestly thinks the other 95% of us suffer from some form of mass delusion.

I told the truth up there and Drumlin told you exactly what you wanted to hear.

She retrieves the crackerjack compass from her bags. She gives it back to Joss.

EXT. CAPE CANAVERAL - DAY

With full humility and utmost gratitude I accept this great honor, and I promise I will do my best to represent my nation, my planet, and my God on this historic journey. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There's a carnival atmosphere here at Cape Canaveral. As the International Machine Consortium holds as much a media event as a systems test. David Drumlin is supervising the on-site portion of the test. We spoke to him earlier today.

(on camera) We'll be able to monitor the stresses and effects using the robot passenger who we loving call Elmer.

Ellie pulls up in a car.

Dr. Arroway, we would like to ask you a few questions as soon as you're done with Dr. Drumlin.

...there will be a substantial amount of energy generated at the core. We'll be able to monitor the stresses and effects using the robot passenger who we loving call Elmer.

Sir, they're ready for you at the site.

Uh, ya. Just a minute.

Ellie.

Congratulations David.

Glad you could come. I didn't expect to see you here.

Well, I'm still crew ops at the control center, and I suppose the fact that I discovered the message means that I have PR value.

Of course. Ellie, I know you must think this is all really unfair. Maybe that's an understatement. What you don't know is that I agree. I wish the world was a place where fair was the final line, where the kind of idealism you showed at the hearing was rewarded, not taken advantage of. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world.

Funny; I've always believe that the world is what we make of it.

Excuse me, Dr. Drumlin, sir.

Good luck on the tests.

INT. CAPE CANAVERAL - CONTROL ROOM - DAY - MAIN MONITOR

The alien, spherical pod rests on a complex drop mechanism that in turn hangs from an overhead track. The track extends out along the long gantry arm that hangs over the top of the machine's three immense concentric rings.

Test director, everything looks good up here, we're ready to go.

Alright people, I want things double and triple checked here. We only get one shot at this, let's get it right.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready to start up. For all controllers, I need a go/no go for test initiation. Mechanical?

Go.

Electrical?

Go.

Dynamics?

Go.

Communications?

Go.

Life Support Systems?

Go.

Safety?

Go.

Crew Ops? Verify all pretest procedures are complete.

Yes, verified, am go.

Ground leader, we're looking good here, everything ok with you?

Roger, the pad is a go.

Test initiation on my mark. 5...4...3...2...1...mark. System?

Rings are unlocked. Power levels indicate a good start.

Rings start spinning.

... and we have begun the full scale test of Earth's first system built by the sharing of knowledge with a neighbour in our Universe.

Power sources are going up to bust.

IPV Power transfer complete.

Ring motion detected on Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.

Jerry. How we looking?

Looks good. We're underway.

Looks like we have a normal start up.

Roger. David, It's looking good here.

Mechanical, we still happy?

Roger that.

I'll tell you, this is very exiting from up here.

We've got 4%.

We're confirming, 4%

Frequency, niner point eight five. Dynamics in the green. Queue level one point one. 5%

Confirm, we are at 5%. David how's it looking to you?

Ok, I'm gonna take a look and show you what we've got.

All test subject instrumentation looks good.

Confirmed. We have a good picture from Dr. Drumlin's PRD.

I hope you guys can see what I'm seeing.

All systems are go.

Now this is really something.

For the purpose of this test, Dr. Drumlin will on top of the gantry frame that's over the machine. We've got some video animation to show you just this machine, it is thought, will work. The passenger pod will be released, it'll come down to the center of the rings, and into the machine's core. The big question everyone here is asking is of course, what happens then? Some believe that the rings' function as some sort of an accelerator or something, sending its energy into this passenger pod making it rocket away at near the speed of light. Other people believe it might open up doorway to some other dimension. Who's right? That's what today's test is all about.

35%... 40%

We're ready

Confirm, 40%

All controllers stand by to initiate drop sequence, on my mark.

All systems ready for drop sequence.

45%

We're ready at 45%

Can Verify closure.

46%

All controllers stand ready to initiate IPV drop sequence, on my mark.

49%

System Director, I'm feeling a very strange vibration, are you reading it down there?

Jerry, can you confirm any vibration out of place?

Negative, everything looks good here.

Crew Ops?

Nothing wrong with Elmer.

David, we're not seeing anything abnormal here.

No good, hold the sequence, I'm gonna take a direct reading.

What the hell's he talking about?

Can anyone say Grand standing?

He sure knows he's on TV.

Back home, that's what we call an overcooked ham.

What's your reading on the G levels?

G levels are right on.

Director, we just reconfirmed all readings. We're go.

Copy that dynamics. I think we're ok, but we'll let him finish. Mechanical you still ok?

Roger that...

(who's been moving one of the cameras and sees Joseph on the gantry) We've got a security problem here.

Ellie, are you sure?

Yea, this guy, he shouldn't be there, I know him.

Jerry, execute the rapid shut down sequence...

Get me Drumlin on a secure loop please.

You got it.

David, can you hear me?

Yes, I hear you.

We've got a security breach here. Right behind you, the tall guy, the technician, see him? He's not supposed to be there. David, he's got something in his hand.

Him. Stop him, security breach.

A bomb, he's got a bomb.

He's on the gantry now

Security. Stage one alert.

Oh my god!

Joseph sets off the bomb, the monitors go blank one at a time. And the machine gets destroyed in a spectacular explosion. Pieces of it go flying in all directions.

Alright, alright, back to your stations. I need you to be professional people, settle down.

...today, which David Drumlin, advisor to two presidents and winner of the national academy of science's lifetime award of excellence, was laid to rest at Arlington national cemetery. And in the latest story, last night...

VLA CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

Ellie has returned to the VLA. She is watching the news report on a TV in the control room. There is someone on duty there.

Can I help you? Oh, you're... I've got some mail for you.

... a video. The apparent suicide note of the leader of the terrorist group, now believed responsible for the explosion in Florida this week.

(on video) What we do, we do for the goodness of all mankind. This won't be understood, not now, but the apocalypse to come will vindicate our faith.

Ellie walks over to the stereo system and listens to the message at the original frequency.

KENT CLARK

Welcome home. She goes to Kent and hugs him.

INT. ELLIE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Her room has a bunch of strange equipment scattered around. There's a note that says, "hit any key". She does, and everything comes to life, specifically a screen where she sees a cosmonaut floating around. The Cosmonaut talks to someone in Russian and then...

Oh, Comrad Arroway, we have been expecting your call. Um, one moment please.

Ellie sees S. R. Hadden peeling a banana in zero G.

Mr. Hadden?

Doctor. How kind of you to call.

Mr. Hadden, where are you?

The Russian government was kind enough to give me accommodations on Mir.

You're living on a space station?

Its quite simple really; the low oxygen, zero gravity environment is the only thing keeping the cancer from eating me alive. Actually, I quite like it up here. My little room has one hell of a view. I wanna show you something (hits some buttons on a keypad, we see a satellite image of an island). Hokkaido Island.

The systems integration site.

Look closer (hits more buttons, image zooms further in on the island). First rule in government spending, why build one when you can have two at twice the price. Only, this one can be kept secret. Controlled by Americans, built by the Japanese sub contractors, who also happen to be recently acquired, wholly owned subsidiaries of...

...Hadden Industries.

They still want an American to go, doctor. Wanna take a ride?

INT. HOKKAIDO STATION - DAY

... and augmenting our restraint in communications consort sub systems, we have your personal recording unit. Normal, infrared and Ultraviolet lenses. Digital microchip, good for thousands of hours of recording.

Ok, I understand the reason for recording and documenting the mission, I just want to go on record one more time; the transmitted specs never said anything about a chair or a restraining harness or survival gear. Why can't we just trust the original...

Because the IMC board and the SI team carefully reviewed the matter and concluded that design impact is negligible. Bottom line is we are not putting anyone aboard this machine unless there is some sort of minimal protection. Minimal protection, end of story.

Ok.

(Handing her a tablet of cyanide) Ellie, we've been giving these to the astronauts since the beginning of the space program, it's never been made public, of course. It's fast and its painless.

I'm gonna travel 26 light years to commit suicide?

Something may go wrong, there might be an unforeseen mechanical failure, you could be marooned, unable to return. There are a thousand reasons we can think of for you to have this with you, but mostly its for the reasons we can't think of.

INT. ELLIE'S ROOM ON HOKKAIDO - NIGHT

There's a knock at the door.

Come in.

Dr. Arroway, time to get ready.

Thank you.

Joss appears at the door.

I know you don't have much time, as soon as I found out about the machine I called the President. I came with Kitz. I had to see you one more time. Oh God, I'm sorry.

It's ok. I'm glad you came.

Listen, there's something I gotta say to you. The reason I didn't want you to go, was a good reason, but it wasn't the real one. I didn't want you to go, because I don't want to lose you. (handing her back the compass) You find your way home, alright?

...23 hours ago, the world was stunned by announcement of the existence of a second machine, and its passenger, Eleanor Ann Arroway. Now, the question that's on everyone's mind, will history repeat itself? With a piece of engineering this complex, with so many unknowns, could the unthinkable occur? The security in Hokkaido has been incredibly tight. No reporters whatsoever have been allowed near the site.

INT. MACHINE GANTRY - NIGHT

Ellie is escorted across the gantry by two Japanese guards. We hear the rings spinning, and are aware of Ellie's breathing. She is magnetically attached to the chair in the IPV.

Magnetic restraints secure, all life support functions are normal.

Roger that. Ellie this is control, do you copy?

Ellie to control. Reading you five by five.

Comm one, get me on the PRD.

Video unit recording, transmitting. Are you reading me?

That's affirmative. Video looks good.

Copy that, control.

Ok, Ellie, we're going to proceed to button you up.

Roger control, ready.

The walkway begins to retract, and the door begins to slide into place.

I can confirm the walkway retraction.

Communications?

Go.

Life Support?

Go.

Ellie, we are go for closure.

I'm go here.

Mechanical, initiate IPV closure sequence.

Joss and Kent come into the room.

Nice to smell you again, Mr. Kitz.

You too.

(To Joss) I wouldn't peg him as a polo man.

Got a visual on the door.

Door is looking good.

Door alignment looks good.

The door closes, the seams around it disappear.

Ellie, we are showing green across the board.

Roger that control. IPV is secure.

We are at 30%

Copy that, 30%

How you doing in there, El?

Kent? Is that you?

That's a big affirmative.

Well, who let you in there, huh?

A higher power intervened. (Joss and Kent exchange glances)

Well, I'm glad you came.

35%

Copy that, 35%

40%

I'm picking up a moderate vibration here.

Dynamics, can you confirm vibration?

Everything looks good here. She's feeling the same thing they felt at the Cape at this point.

Ellie, the vibration is normal.

We're at 50%, all systems go.

Copy that, 50%.

Vibrations getting a little stronger now.

We're picking up some low frequency noise.

Mechanical, can you confirm?

Looks fine to me.

Roger. Jerry what do you think?

I say go.

People, we are still go.

Something's happening... There's a light, do you see that? I'm seeing something, I can't tell whether its daylight or not, its... there it is again, its coming from the bottom... Here, let me show it to you, do you see that?

Negative. Ellie, you're breaking up. Comm one, can we boost her signal?

Already at maximum.

The material is changing. Its bordering on translucent. But the system's intact. Its gotta be some kind of electro-magnetic field. Are you reading this?

Negative, we're seeing only interference.

It's becoming completely translucent, I can't describe it, I can't even explain it.

70%

People, we've got intermittent comm, but we are still go. Initiate secondary drive systems.

Initiating auxiliary booster sequence... We're go for ignition... We have auxiliary booster ignition.

Two rockets fire off one of the rings.

Life support, how's she doing?

Heart and respiration within limits, she's ok.

Ellie, do you copy?

If you can hear me, I'm ok to go.

80%. All vibrations and T-levels are in the green.

Control, are you reading me? I am ok to go... ok to go.

85%

90%. We're detecting some structural instability.

Confirm, how's she holding?

We're within limits, barely.

I'm ok to go. I'm ok to go.

A huge ball of energy erupts in the center of the machine.

My God!

Ok to go, I'm ok.

100%; target velocity.

Steve, we're picking up tremendously high levels around the machine, all field measurements are pegged off scale high... Steve, we're approaching our abort limits.

The Director is about to push the abort button...

Ok to go.

I hear her, I hear her! Barely, but she's there.

Ok to go.

She says she's ok to go.

Steve, we're real close.

Electrical, what's your reading in the core?

The internal environment looks normal. Inside the core, the weather is beautiful.

Ok to go, ok to go, ok to go.

Initiate drop sequence... on my mark. 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...

Ok to go...

The IPV Drops into the core and Ellie starts falling though a tunnel of sorts.

Oh God!!! Ellie to control, do you read me? I'm gonna try to keep recording. I'm going through some kind of tunnel. There's a light source ahead, brilliant, blue/white...

The IPV Emerges from the tunnel.

It's a star. I must have gone through a wormhole. It's Vega.

Ellie sees the radio telescopes that were used to send the message to Earth, but then the IPV gets pulled into another wormhole.

I'm in another wormhole now, a series of them. Some kind of transit system...

The IPV Emerges from the wormhole.

Ok, I've gotta keep talking.

She looks out the IPV.

A triple, no, quadruple system. Oh, it's beautiful.

She sees a spaceport on the planet below her.

They're alive.

The IPV gets pulled into another wormhole. She's experiencing massive amounts of turbulence.

Another wormhole. This one has more turbulence.

She lets go of the compass in her hand. She notices that it's floating in zero G, and unbuckles herself from the chair and begins floating. The chair shakes itself loose, and then all is silent until she emerges from the wormhole and the chair is pulled up to the top of the IPV. All is dark. Ellie turns on a flashlight.

Some celestial event. No - No words. No words to describe it. They should've sent a poet. So beautiful, So beautiful... I had no idea.

Her words are echoed as she passes out. She wakes up on a celestial beach that looks a little like the picture of Pensacola she drew when she was young. She reaches out and her hands brushes against something invisible that makes a sound. She touches somewhere else, a different sound. She continues to do this, making beautiful music, until she sees something in the distance... her father.

Hiya Sparks.

Dad?

She gives him a hug.

I missed you.

I missed you (crying).

Oh, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you sweetheart.

You're not real. None of this is real.

That's my scientist.

When I was unconscious, you downloaded my thoughts, my memories, even Pensacola.

We thought this might make things easier for you.

Why did you contact us?

You contacted us. We were just listening.

Then there are others?

Many others.

They all travel here through that transit system that you built?

We didn't build it, we don't know who did. They were gone long before we ever got here. Maybe some day they'll come back.

All the other civilizations that you find, they come here?

Not all.

Is this some test?

No, no tests... (holding Ellie's hand) you have your mother's hands... You're an interesting species, an interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams and such horrible nightmares. You fell so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we found that makes the emptiness bearable, each other.

What happens now?

Now, you go home.

Home? But I have so many questions, do we get to come back?

This was just a first step. In time you'll take another.

But other people need to see what I've seen, they need to see...

This is the way it's been done for billions of years. Small moves, Ellie. Small moves.

She takes one last look at the sky and the stars, and then... the IPV drops into the net at the bottom of the machine.

She's though!

She's in the net!

She's alive, get a medical team over there right away...

Ellie, Ellie, this control do you copy?

Ellie, just hold tight, we're still trying to determine the nature of the malfunction, but the important thing is you're ok.

What?

It's ok Ellie, the important thing is that you're safe.

What malfunction? Where am I? What day is this?

I'm sorry Ellie, did you say, "what day"?

How long was I gone?

Ellie, the IPV dropped straight through the machine, you didn't go anywhere.

CUT TO:

INT. MEDICAL FACILITY

But I did. I did go. That's what I'm trying to tell you. The headset didn't record a single image?

Just this... static. Now doctor, let me show you what we saw.

We see the IPV dropping straight through from many different angles.

43 separate remote cameras show the exact same event. The IPV dropped straight through. Everyone who watched saw the exact same thing. Nothing happened. How do you explain this, doctor?

I can't.

I would encourage you not to inflame this situation beyond the facts. Let us deal with this on the facts. We are monitoring what has actually happened. We are taking what we believe is factually appropriate steps.

In a flurry of accusations and counter accusations by the nations representing the Machine consortium. The government has ordered a special executive inquiry. However, the appointment to the committee of Michael Kitz, who has recently resigned as national security advisor, has raised a number of eyebrows on capital hill.

(on camera) Uh, I have made no decision to run for congress. I have announced no candidacy. And the fact that I have resigned as national security advisor has nothing to do with anything other than I want to devote all of my energy to this inquiry. The people of the world have a right know what really happened.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

...and yet every scientific instrument confirms the IPV was out of contact for only a fraction of a second, isn't that correct, doctor?

A fraction of a second, Earth time, yes.

Earth time?

Senator, I believe that the machine opened up a wormhole, a tunnel through the fabric of space-time. Also known as an Einstein-Rosen bridge. Now because of the laws of general relativity, what I experienced as 18 hours, passed instantaneously on Earth.

Now isn't it true that these wormholes you speak of are theoretical predictions. There is no evidence they actually exist, is there?

There is no direct evidence, no.

Tell me something doctor, why do think theses aliens would go to all this trouble, bring you tens of thousands of light years, and then just send you home without a single shred of proof.

They said that's how its been done for billions of years.

That's very deep, doctor. You have no proof, because they didn't want you to have any. A phenomenon known in psychiatric circles I believe as a self-reinforcing delusion.

Is that what you think, that I was delusional?

Oh, I do think you may have suffered some kind of episode, yea. I do. Doctor, I'd like to propose an alternate hypothesis, if I may, and I'd like you to bring your considerable scientific expertise to bear on it. To fake a signal from Vega, what would you need?

You would need a satellite to transmit the signal, but it would be impossible to simulate something...

...you would need a satellite, and you would need launch capabilities to put the satellite into orbit. And of course the message itself. To put something like this together, so complex, drawing on so many different disciplines...

... would be impossible.

Impossible? Impossible? Is there anyone who might have been up to the challenge? Someone with extraordinary technical expertise. Enormous financial resources. Someone perverse enough, eccentric enough to have come up with the idea in the first place?

Hadden?

S. R. Hadden.

You're implying that this was all some kind of a hoax, that he engineered this...

...S. R. Hadden. A legendary card broker and manipulator, in perhaps his final bid for immortality. Maybe he wanted to explore and exploit experimental technology and get the governments of the world to pick up the tab. Perhaps this was his final altruistic gesture to unite the world in some common goal. Maybe all of the above. S. R. Hadden, a brilliant and complicated man.

Meanwhile on Mir. Cosmonauts are putting Hadden in a body bag... he's dead.

Doctor, are you familiar with the scientific precept known as Occam's Razor?

Yes, it means that all things being equal. The simplest explanation tends to be the right one.

Exactly. Now, you tell me, what is more likely here? That a message from aliens results in a magical machine that wisps you away to the center of the galaxy to go windsurfing with dear old dad, and then a split second later, returns you home without a single shred of proof? Or, that your experience is the result of being the unwitting star in the farewell performance of one S. R. Hadden? A man with the means, the motive, and the opportunity to play you, and indeed the rest of us, as pawns in the biggest, the most elaborate, the most expensive hoax of all times.

Dr. Arroway. You come to us with no evidence, no record, no artifacts, only a story that, to put it mildly, strains credibility. Over half a trillion dollars was spent, dozens of lives were lost, are you really gonna sit there and tell us we should just take this all on faith?

Ellie hesitates.

Please answer the question, doctor.

Is it possible that it didn't happen, yes. As a scientist I must concede that, I must volunteer that.

Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You admit that you have absolutely no physical evidence to back up your story?

Yes.

You admit that you very well may have hallucinated this whole thing.

Yes.

You admit that if you were in our position, you will respond with exactly the same degree of incredulity and skepticism?

Yes.

(Yelling) Then why don't you simply withdraw your testimony and concede that this journey to the center of the galaxy, in fact, never took place?!

Because I can't. I had an experience I can't prove, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real. I was part of something wonderful, something that changed me forever; a vision of the Universe that tells us undeniable how tiny, and insignificant, and how rare and precious we all are. A vision that tells us we belong to something that is greater than ourselves. That we are not, that none of us are alone. I wish I could share that. I wish that everyone, if even for one moment, could feel that awe, and humility, and the hope, but... that continues to be my wish.

After the inquiry, Ellie goes over to Joss, and they embrace each other.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

As they leave the White House, there is a crowd of people surrounding them dressed in blue and carrying signs that read, "Ellie has discovered the new world" and, "We believe you, Ellie", and things to that effect. Ellie gets into the car avoiding any questions.

Palmer Joss, what do you believe?

As a person of faith, I'm bound by a different covenant than Dr. Arroway, but our goal is one and the same, the pursuit of truth. I for one, believe her.

Ellie holds his hand. He gets in the car and they drive away.

INT. - WHITE HOUSE - DAY

Constantine and Michael Kitz are video conferencing.

So what now? We give here a medal?

I say at least a healthy grant. I assume you read the confidential findings report from the investigating committee?

I flipped through it.

I was especially interested in the section on Arroway's Video unit. The one that recorded the static.

Continue.

The fact that it recorded static isn't what interests me.

Continue.

What interests me, is that it recorded approximately 18 hours of it.

That is interesting, isn't it?

18 MONTHS LATER

EXT. VLA - DAY

Ellie is giving a tour of the array to a group of children on a field trip from school.

You can see over there, we're building 45 brand new dishes. And that means that when you put them together with all the different radio telescopes all over the world, then we get to hear further into space than anybody's ever heard before.

A Kid raises his hand.

Yup.

Are there other people out there in the Universe?

That's a good question. What do you think, huh?

I don't know.

That's a good answer. A skeptic, huh? The most important thing is that you all keep searching for your own answers. I'll tell you one thing about the Universe though. The Universe is a pretty big place, it's bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space, right?

Ellie sits in front of the canyon, contemplating life, as we...

FADE TO STARS

THE WORDS "FOR CARL" APPEAR ON SCREEN AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT

FADE TO BLACK

END