FADE IN: EXT-DEEP SPACE
On a large, savagely burning sun, throwing out solar flares in all directions.
NARRATOR: Billions of miles away, in a far-distant galaxy…
SLOW PAN RIGHT
Showing a planet coming into view.
SLOW CLOSE ON
Planet. It is covered with swirling, evil looking red and gray clouds, hiding any surface features from view.
NARRATOR: ...a doomed world awaits its destruction...
CUT TO: EXT-FUTURISTIC CITY-DAY
The air shimmers, giving the impression of tremendous heat. The streets are empty, futuristic flying automobiles sit abandoned everywhere, some crashed into streets and buildings, burning away.
CUT TO: EXT-A LAUNCH PAD-DAY
In the sweltering heat, several destroyed hulls of what were rocket ships sit on the pad. Two intact ships are on the pad with wrecks either side of them. There is no activity visible. Suddenly, one ship seems to shimmer more intensely in the heat than its surroundings, and it explodes violently; seconds later, the one remaining does the same.
NARRATOR: ...as the last hope of this great civilization...is gone...
CUT TO: A HOUSE ON A HILL-DAY
A large future-style house overlooks the city.
PAN
Over house to show, on the top floor, an observatory with a large panel set into the roof.
NARRATOR: ...or is it?
CUT TO: INT-OBSERVATORY
The same sweltering effect is seen indoors, too; though less pronounced. Two humanoid figures are seen; they have larger than normal heads and eyes. A man bends into the eyepiece of a telescope. He stands and backs away, wiping sweat from his brow. He has rounded facial features and black hair, graying at the sides. Next to him is a woman, with long, red-orange hair. She nervously puffs on a cigarette in a holder. Both are wearing futuristic clothing.
WOMAN: Have you learned anything new, JOR-AL? We are running out of time!
JOR-AL: Nothing we didn't already know, DOR-AL. The planet isn't much, but it will support life. We only have a short time before our sun goes super-nova. Go get the children, Dor-al. And get rid of that cigarette!
CAMERA PULLS BACK
Dor-al exits to the left. The ugly glow of the sun can be seen shining through the swirling clouds; viewed through the many windows of the observatory.
PAN ON
Jor-al as he walks to the right and stops next to a very small rocket on a small launch pad. He presses some buttons on a control panel and a clear hatch opens up on the rocket.
WHIP TO
Ceiling, as the panel in the roof opens, showing more swirling clouds.
WHIP TO
A doorway, as Dor-al reappears, carrying three bundles.
PAN ON
Dor-al, as she walks to Jor-al standing at the rocket ship. All that can be seen of the children is that they are small, with large, rounded heads. Blankets cover their bodies and their hair. Each blanket corresponds to the color of the large eyes of the child wrapped in it; the colors are pink, green and light blue. Jor-al as he walks to the right and stops next to a very small rocket on a small launch pad. He presses some buttons on a control panel and a clear hatch opens up on the rocket.
WHIP TO
Ceiling, as the panel in the roof opens, showing more swirling clouds.
WHIP TO
A doorway, as Dor-al reappears, carrying three bundles.
PAN ON
Dor-al, as she walks to Jor-al
standing at the rocket ship. All that can be seen of the children is that
they are small, with large, rounded heads. Blankets cover their bodies
and their hair. Each blanket corresponds to the color of the large eyes
of the child wrapped in it; the colors are pink, green and light blue.
CLOSE UP ON
The children. They don't look afraid; the green-eyed one is frowning, the other two look a bit bewildered, their mouths in O's.
CAMERA PULLS BACK
To show all five, as Jor-al takes the pink-eyed child from Dor-al.
JOR-AL: Girls, there is nothing for you to be afraid of. You are going on the Great Adventure I told you might come some day.
PINK-EYED GIRL (looking at the rocket): That's too small! Aren't you coming?
DOR-AL (voice wavering): No, girls; we will be along...later...
JOR-AL: No, Dor-al, we mustn't lie to them. Girls, our world is dying, the sun will explode very soon. All of our rockets are destroyed. You are our only hope, now.
DOR-AL: The Elders decided that if this day ever came, some of our children should be sent to other worlds. Only one world was found that we could live on, and this is our only surviving ship.
JOR-AL: You are going to a place called Earth. Its people are called humans. They are basically good but very weak. Compared to them, you three will be super-beings. In return for a place to live, you must help protect them from the many evils that live among them.
GREEN-EYED GIRL: All right! Bad guys!
JOR-AL: Yes, children, bad guys. Including one who is the definition of evil itself. But he lacks the physical power to harm you and has to use others to get what he wants. You can't destroy him but you can keep him in check.
DOR-AL: And he will never destroy you!
ALL THREE GIRLS: Why not?
JOR-AL: You must know the truth, but you must also try to forget it. As long as Earth has a breathable atmosphere, you are virtually indestructible. To Earthlings you are essentially immortal. You must NEVER let them be aware of this, or they will see you as gods, instead of super-powered little girls.
DOR-AL: You will have enough trouble with that as it is. It is our dream, girls, that until we are reunited with you, that you enjoy your time on Earth and try to be as much like Earth children as you can. But this evil force will never defeat you.
JOR-AL: One more thing. Humans will look different than we do. Try not to make them feel self-conscious about it.
ALL THREE GIRLS: We won't!
JOR-AL: And they will probably comment on your lack of external ears, noses and digits, all of which, as you know, you will develop by your adulthood. The average human will never see it in three of their lifetimes. You will always be children to them.
DOR-AL: But we will see you before that, anyway.
There is a loud crash of thunder and the room brightens suddenly.
JOR-AL: Girls, we must say goodbye.
He lifts the pink-eyed girl into her seat on the ship.
JOR-AL: NOET-AL, as the oldest, you will be the leader of the team. Use your intelligence wisely and watch over your sisters. Promise?
NOET-AL (smiles): I promise!
Dor-al hands the frowning green-eyed girl to Jor-al.
GREEN-EYED GIRL: Oldest! By two minutes! Geesh!
JOR-AL (smiling, pats her on the head): Now, KIL-AL, she is the oldest. But your fierceness will be needed just as much as her leadership.
He lifts her into her seat, and winks at her.
JOR-AL: Go easy on the heiney whuppings, okay?
KIL-AL (breaks into huge grin): Do I hafta?
As Dor-al hands the blue-eyed girl to Jor-al, the child begins to cry.
BLUE-EYED GIRL: I'm not smart 'n I'm not tough, either! What about me?
JOR-AL (laughs and gives her a squeeze): Yes you are!
She responds by smiling as she is lifted into the last seat.
JOR-AL: BUBB-AL, you have the most important job of all. Always stay as sweet as you are.
BUBB-AL: Okay! Can I bring my crayons?
DOR-AL (smiling through her tears): No, dear, they'll melt. I'm sure they have crayons on Earth, too.
NOET-AL: Mommy? Daddy? Are we ever gonna see you again?
JOR-AL (reacts with surprise): Dor-al! Where is it?
DOR-AL: I forgot!
FAST PAN ON
Dor-al as she runs to the doorway and disappears.
WHIP TO
Jor-al next to the ship with the girls inside it.
JOR-AL: I can't say what the future holds, Noet-al.
Dor-al re-enters the scene, holding what looks like a huge red hairbow. Jor-al takes it and places it inside the ship.
JOR-AL: If we survive, we will find you. This transmitter will tell us where you are. You must keep it with you always, Noet-al.
Dor-al steps up to the ship, leans in and kisses each child. She steps back.
DOR-AL and JOR-AL: Goodbye, children.
Jor-al closes the hatch and seals it shut with laser beams from his eyes. As their parents step away, the girls look out sadly at them.
CUT TO-EXT-SPACE
High above the ill-fated planet, a pinpoint of light breaks through the clouds, growing larger and closer. It continues to come straight ahead, showing itself as the rocket ship with the girls’ faces visible, as it quickly passes above and out of view.
NARRATOR: Will these three innocents find a home amidst the evil that awaits them? Find out in the exciting conclusion of 'To Heck and Back'!
FADE TO BLACK
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Part
2