the scene i'm consindering
From Sphere by PAUL ATTANASIO. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton.
INT. CAFETERIA - MOVING INSIDE
to the galley, where the team, now in their blue jumpsuits,
confers over hot coffee. Fletcher bakes something in the
oven...
TED
An American spacecraft -- materials and
technology more advanced than anything we
know of -- crashes into the ocean --
HARRY
If it crashed how come it's not damaged?
TED
The materials are obviously superstrong.
HARRY
If that's the case, how come the door
chipped just from you banging on it?
Fletcher brings them a tray of fresh-baked muffind. They all
dig in.
TED
Okay. Better. It didn't crash. It
arrived. Three hundred years ago.
BETH
From where?
TED
Not from where, from when.
BETH
So, you're saying, this thing took a
wrong turn?
TED
Yes, that's right. What if the craft
inadvertently flew into a black hole. It
arrived in our past from its present.
What about those dates you saw on the
flight recorder.
NORMAN
'43, '47 --
TED
That's right. That has to be two thousand
forty three...two thousand forty seven.
That image that you told me you saw on
the monitor...from what you describe that
sounds exactly like a black hole...a tear
in the space...
HARRY
We know what a black hole is, Ted.
NORMAN
I don't know what a black hole is.
HARRY
A black hole is a collapsed dead star
that has so much gravity it acts like a
huge vacuum cleaner, sucking everything
into it. A light interstellar dust...
time...
TED
Time.
HARRY
It's possible, but not plausible.
TED
It's more than probable, it's rudimentary
astrophysics. We just haven't been able
to fly into one and prove it.
HARRY
Well, Ted, sounds like you've got this
all figured out.
Barnes enters.
BARNES
Well, I just got off the horn topside.
Expecting a bad blow-up there. They're
pulling us out.
TED
Pulling us out? Wait a minute...what do
you mean, pulling us out? What does that
mean, pulling us out?
HARRY
What part of 'pull out' don't you
understand, Ted? Extraction...we're
leaving.
TED
No...no...that's ridiculous. I mean,
we haven't even begun to scratch the
surface down here.
BARNES
If you've ever seen these Pacific
cyclones -- what we call a tornado is
nothing more than a little fart, so I
suggest you go back to the dormitory and
take a nap. You need to lower your
metabolism before the decompression.
TED
You're just gonna leave a time-traveling
spacecraft at the bottom of the coean?
BARNES
I'm just going to follow my orders, Ted.
BETH
We're the Welcome Wagon for the aliens,
right? There's no aliens. It's all Made
in America.
TED
(to Beth)
What's your point?
BETH
My point is I'm a biochemist. There's no
life down here, and you guys are bugging
the shit out of me.
TED
What is wrong with all of you? That
doesn't mean there's nothing left to
learn -- nothing to explore -- Jesus!
BARNES
(cutting him off)
She's right, Ted. You guys are the human
contact team for an Unknown Life Form.
There is no Unknown Life Form.
(beat)
So, we're pulling out at oh-nine hundred.
TED
Norman, will you please say something to
him.
NORMAN
What?
TED
I don't know. Do you not have an opinion
about this?
NORMAN
Yes. I'm delighted we're going back up
top. You know what I mean?
I mean, I don't know about you, this
might look like a road-side diner, but in
the meantime, my ears won't pop...if I
pull this thing away from my neck I sound
like someone's squeezing my testicles.
Let's go home.
Ted takes Barnes aside.
TED
Look, why don't you tell me. What is it
you don't want us to find out, huh?
BARNES
I don't want you to find out what I
really think of you.
ANGLE ON HARRY AND NORMAN
NORMAN
Harry. Doesn't it seem odd to you that
Barnes was so excited about coming down
here, but he wasn't the least bit upset
about going up?
HARRY
We're on the same page.
Norman puts his finger in his ear to release pressure.
HARRY (cont'd)
Equalize, Norman.
NORMAN
What do you mean?
HARRY
You know how to equalize, don't you? Just
pinch your nostrils together and blow.
NORMAN
Don't get racy.