Characters: Emmet Atwater, Defoe Defoe, Young Jacquelyn Requin, Pops, Moms, Kaya, Bilal, Longwei, Katsu, Jazzy, Roathy, Isadora, Azima, Jaime, MEB1, MEB2, MEB3 Rich woman 1, Rich woman 2, Rich woman 3, Rich man 1, Rich man 2, Rich man 3, Desmond,Adamite 1, Adamite 2, Adamite 3, Vandermeer, BE1, BE2, BE3, BE4, Crock, Young Emmet

FADE IN: 1 INT. BABEL COMMUNICATIONSMEETING ROOM- MORNING 1

RW1, RW2, RW3, RM1, RM2, RM3, and Desmond are sitting at the front of the room, Defoe is standing next to them. Azima, Isadora, Katsu, Roathy, Bilail, Emmet, Longwei, Kaya, Jazzy, and Jaime are sitting around the table (counter-clockwise in that order)

DEFOE You all know why you’re here.

The screen behind Defoe turns on to display the Babel logo. Azima and Isadora sit up taller and Emmet takes out his earbud which plays loud hip-hop music.

DEFOE (CONT’D) You were told this was going to be a game, but in reality, the ten of you were chosen to become the forefront of a space mission that is of the utmost seriousness to mankind. What you discover on this exploration will forever alter the future of the human race. (looks at each teen individually) The reward for your efforts will be beyond your greatest fantasy. A check for fifty THOUSAND dollars will be put into ​ ​ your bank accounts each month for the rest of your lives.

All the children sit up straighter with their eyes focused on Defoe except Jaime who remains in the same disinterested state as he was in before. Jaime and Emmet lock eyes then Emmet turns and looks back at Defoe.

DEFOE (CONT’D) Monetary stability is not the end of your payment, we are also offering our best medical plans for your families. As soon as you sign the contract, they will have free access to healthcare, counseling, surgery, and the most advanced treatments for cancer and other terminal diseases. These services come without a price tag and they’re offered in perpetuity.

Jazzy clasps a locket around her neck. Emmet quietly types into his phone ‘perpetuity’.

DEFOE (CONT’D) … We offer Stock options with their company internal connections with any business in the world and an opportunity to put your name in the history of the human race. Desmond is passing out a gag order if you're still interested just sign on the dotted line.

Desmond with a stack of papers in his hands gets out of his chair and walks towards the kids setting a packet of papers in front of each of them. The papers are all in different languages. Emmet picks up his pen and signs on the dotted line. The rich men and women at the front of the room turn to each other whispering. Defoe is walking around the circle of chairs looking over each of the kids shoulders. Emmet puts in both earbuds and music starts playing.

FADE TRANSITION: 2 EXT. BASKETBALL COURTS- FLASHBACK 2

The music gradually grows louder as the camera focuses on a park bench where slides and water bottles sit. The camera then pans over to the basketball courts where Emmet, PJ, MEB1, MEB2, and MEB3 are playing. The scene freezes and words ‘Most Excellent Brothers’ with doodled stars appear over them. The words disappear after 7 seconds. PJ makes a basket and the camera zooms into Emmet and PJ as they walk off the court together. The music gets quieter.

MEB2 Yeah PJ!

MEB1 Bro, that wasn’t even fair! PJ (snorts) Suck it up dude, you lost and that's just the hard truth.

MEB1 rolls his eyes and walks towards the bench. PJ and Emmet walk toward the bench together while MEB 2 and MEB 3 are behind them, jostling and joking with each other.

PJ (turning his head to look at Emmet) Hey, you have that Babel thing tomorrow, right?

EMMET (also turning to PJ) yeah, why?

PJ Well, um, so you know how we did a little research thing that night when you were chosen.

EMMET (laughs) ​ ha, yeah. I like had no clue who they actually were, were you know?

PJ: (forced laugh) ​ Yeah so I did a little more digging and (pauses)

EMMET Dude, what, just spit it out.

PJ Yeah so uh, so they took over Google back in ‘35 and some websites are uh projecting that um that they’ll take over NASA in the next twenty years.

EMMET so?

PJ Well, also, I found some… some other not so great things about Babel. Stuff like cover ups and big government conspiracies and stuff.

EMMET: (laughs in semi-disbelief) You really don’t believe that crap, do you? (silence on both sides) Duuude, we’re gonna have to send you to live with Aunt Addie on the corner of fifth and twenty-eighth.

PJ I’m just saying…

Emmet jogs away from PJ and gets his stuff from the bench and starts walking away from the group as MEB 1 starts talking

MEB 1 PJ! We told you to stop crushing on Wacky Addie!

PJ (rolls eyes and grabs his stuff, taking off his shirt and wiping his sweat) No du-, bro! Wait!

PJ runs after Emmet.

PJ (catching up to Emmet) hey, you walk fast

PJ reaches for Emmets hand, grasping it before Emmet pulls away

EMMET (keeping his eyes facing front) No, not right now. PJ (brow crinkling in confusion) But they can’t see us ​ (Emmet shakes his head in a ‘no’ way) um.. I'm sorry? What did I do?

EMMET Hey, I appreciate your concern about Babel but Moms really needs surgery and it would be nice to let Pops retire (turns to look at PJ) maybe when I get back from wherever they’re gonna send me this (gestures between him and PJ) can happen, but not now. I can’t afford to be distracted. (PJ looks at his feet) I’m sorry, I just think we’re better off as friends. ​

PJ Yeah. okay.

FADE IN: 3 INT. BABEL COMMUNICATIONS MEETING ROOM- CONT’D S1 3

Azima is signing her paper and PJ is sitting behind her on the table by the door with criss-crossed legs.

PJ She’s more than cute (winks)

Emmet blinks in surprise and confusion then the camera moves back to where PJ was; he flashes a peace sign then fades away as the camera moves back onto Defoe. Defoe grabs Azima’s paper and smiles without his eyes.

DEFOE Very good. Now, as we describe your mission, you are welcome to leave at any point, but the gag order you’ve signed is something we’re deathly serious about. (beat) If you speak of this to anyone, you will find your hands tied legally for the rest of your life. Understood?

Everyone nods, RW1, RW2, RW3, RM1, RM2, RM3, and DESMOND get up from their seats at the front of the room and move to the side wall as the screen drops down to become larger. Defoe walks up to it and the camera zooms in until it fills the screen. The Babel logo gets larger then fades into an earth-like planet.

VOICE OF DEFOE Babel Communications discovered this habitable planet sixty-three years ago.

The picture then zooms out to show the planet with two moons around it and the symbols ‘P237HH’ in the top right corner

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) Eden. Our relationship with the planet has been a determined one.

The planet and the moons begin to orbit each other

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) Now, we know with certainty that life is possible here.

The screen changes to show astrological charts and other design things one fading into eachother

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) Even with our vast technological advancements, the original journey to Eden took twenty-seven years.

The camera cuts from the screen to show disappointed faces and the occasional wide eyed face to then cut back into the screen

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) (chuckles) Of course, that journey now takes us less than a year.

A collective breath is heard being released and the screen changes to show the tower space station

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) The Tower Space Station is already orbiting Eden. We will rendezvous there before sending you to the surface. The planet is populated by a species called the Adamites.

The screen changes to show pictures. First, of the rocky landscape, then some pictures of the Adamites

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) Naturally, we’ve had a few encounters with the species.

The last picture fades out to show a video clip. Military vehicles with armed soldiers in front and scientists in lab coats behind on one side of the screen and three Adamites talking to a man in a lab coat with a soldier holding a machine gun at his side. The lab coat crosses his arms and a big black liquid-y substance flies up from the Adamites. The soldiers fire at the Adamites and in retaliation, the Adamites release a dense fog of nyxia. It flies over all the soldiers and the scientists only to pull back revealing all of them dead and dismembered on the ground while one solitary figure stands in the midst of the blood and body parts. The camera zooms in to reveal the figure to be a girl of about seven. A pause sign appears then fades away again and the movement of the video stops.

VOICE OF DEFOE Jaquelyn Requin. She was born on the first flight to Eden.

The video unpauses while Defoe keeps talking to show the three Adamites walking over to Young Jaquelyn she shies away from them, then one steps forward and crouches in front of her, saying something then reaching out her hand. Young Jaquelyn grabs the offered hand and follows the Adamite into the trees.

VOICE OF DEFOE (CONT’D) Our satellites indicate she’s still alive. Why? Because the Adamites revere children and young people. They kept her alive because she represents something lost to them. Currently, the youngest member in their society is twenty-one years old.

The video fades back into the Babel logo as the camera zooms out to show Defoe

DEFOE They are unable to reproduce now. As such, they adore children. It is that adoration that has provided us the opportunity for this endeavor.

Defoe reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a very dark black marble pinched between his thumb and pointer finger. The camera moves to the back of the room to show the kids and Defoe.

DEFOE Meet nyxia.

Defoe throws the orb up into the air. As it falls, he crosses his pointer finger over his middle finger, then releases it to scoop the air into his fist and pull his fist down then holding out his hand to catch the falling object which has stretched into what we can see as a knife. He holds the tip, moving it in a semicircle so the kids can see it. He then flips the knife and grabs the hilt. He pivots and throws it at the table by the door. It embeds in the stack of pamphlets, scattering them. He reaches out his hand, palm facing the ceiling and flicks it toward himself, then faces the palm to the floor, then up as if to say stop. The nyxia draws back to Defoe and he again holds a marble in his hand.

DEFOE Babel communications has found a number of ways to use this substance. It has secretly become the most valuable resource in the world. Our mission is to harvest as much as the material as possible. Can anyone guess where one might find deposits of nyxia? (beat) If you guessed Eden, you would be correct.

The camera moves back to the screen and focuses on it. The screen then plays a video of the planet, spinning with areas colored in red and others in black.

VOICE OF DEFOE Each black dot represents an underground mine of nyxia. Speaking logically, each of those black dots is worth somewhere in the realm of fifty-billion dollars.

VOICE OF LONGWEI (whistles)

The camera zooms back out and turns around Defoe to the side to show Bilal and Emmet along with Defoe.

BILAL (speaks in Arabic-no English subtitles are provided) What are the red areas?

DEFOE (nods) The red areas indicate locations that the Adamites have established off-limits to us. No one from Babel Communications has set foot in any of those regions. (beat) So, how do we retrieve nyxia from mines protected by a species with superior technology and an aggressive approach to border disputes? (beat) Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

JAZZY That's from the Bible, isn’t it?

DEFOE Yes, it is. Your age will protect you. Our journey will give us ample opportunity to train you in safely extracting nyxia from the mines you enter. We will set quotas for each of you. Meeting those quotes will gain you the monetary rewards promised earlier.

LONGWEI (speaks in Chinese-no English subtitles are provided) What if I die, do I still get paid?

DEFOE Longwei has asked about the risks. He’s worried about being killed and not receiving his reward. Not only do we have a confirmed occurrence where they demonstrated a clear precedent for protection of young people, but two months ago we made an agreement with the Adamites. Those of you that set foot on Eden will be permitted to come and go wherever you like. You will be their welcome guests.

JAZZY So we just collect the Nyxia stuff?

DEFOE Precisely Jasmine. The more the merrier.

Defoe glances over at the RM & RW and Desmond along the wall, they all nod vigorously. Defoe straightens up and adjusts his suit

DEFOE You may have noticed that there are ten of you here. At Babel Communications, we find competition to be valuable. Iron sharpens iron and all that. There are ten of you, but we will only be taking eight to Eden.

The room goes silent. Except for Jaime who leans back in his chair and cracks his knuckles. A couple beats pass.

KATSU (sarcastic; speaks in Japanese- no English subtitles provided.) Do the other two get ejected from the spaceship?

DEFOE (frowns a little) Katsu wants to know what will happen to the other two. Our year long flight will be a competition of sorts. Every test you perform will be measured. Every task we set you to will be analyzed. From the moment we enter space, you will be under a microscope. Rankings will be posted throughout the ship. Only eight of you will be permitted to travel to eden upon arrival. Those eight will receive the beneficial packages we've discussed. (beat) The other two will still receive a smaller monetary sum. THe average salary for a Babel Communications employee is right around one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. You’ll be paid for two years of service and sent back to your home. The other benefits won’t be available to you. (beat) Shall we begin?

The screen goes black

CUT TO: 4 INT. HALLWAY/COMFORT POD OF GENESIS 11- MOMENTS AFTER 4

Emmet follows Vandermeer down a hallway to a door while reggae music plays. Vandermeer stops at a door and presses a button. It slides open.

Vandermeer (very muffled) In here

Emmet takes out his earbuds and the music pauses.

EMMET Huh?

VANDERMEER (blandly) In here.

Emmet puts his earbuds in and music starts playing again. He looks around at the room, then turns behind him to see the door sliding closed again. He walks to one of the cushions in the corner of the room and sits. A timelapse begins and shows him fidgeting, getting up, walking a bit, sitting back down. Then, the camera turns to the door which is sliding open and Pops walks in. Emmet stands up and walks toward Pops while taking out his earbuds. Pops is crying and reaches out his hand. Emmet grips it and they shake once. Emmet turns and sits in the nearest chair, Pops following his lead.

POPS Mr. Defoe told us it’d be three years. (beat) Emmet, I know it’s a great opportunity. Lord knows I never saw any scholarships. But are you sure? Does it feel right? ​ ​

EMMET I can’t say no, Pops.

POPS You can always say no

EMMET (a little louder) It’s fifty thousand doll-

POPS Money’s money, Emmet. I could’ve had us sitting pretty if I’d earned a living doing the wrong thing. Does it feel right? ​ ​

EMMET: (looks away) Fifty thousand a month, Pops. (beat) Free health care too. Forever. You can take Mom’s tomorrow. Free treatment at any clinic in Detroit. (beat, looks back at Pops) I’ve seen the bills, I’ve seen how long the treatment list is. We need this, Pops. She needs this.

POPS I asked you a question.

EMMET (sighs) I don’t really know. It’s hard to tell the difference between rich and wrong

POPS (looks around the room) Never seen anything like this.

EMMET Me either.

POPS You scared?

EMMET Yeah.

POPS Just means you're smart.

EMMET Yeah.

POPS If they ask you to do something that isn’t right what do you say?

EMMET No

POPS If they push you over the edge what do you do?

EMMET Fly

POPS What’s your name?

TRANSITION INTO: 5 EXT. SIDELINES OF A FOOTBALL FIELD- FLASHBACK 5

Emmet and Pops are standing together, Emmet is in his football uniform, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

EMMET (with energy) Emmet Ethan Atwater

POPS What does Ethan mean?

EMMET Steady!

POPS What does Emmet mean?

EMMET Hard worker!

POPS What’s Atwater mean?

EMMET (less enthusiastic) I’m... not sure

POPS You’ll figure it out soon enough

TRANSITION BACK INTO: 6 INT. COMFORT POD ABOARD GENESIS 11- CONT’D S4 6 Emmet and Pops are sitting where they were in S4.

EMMET I still don’t know what that means

POPS Neither do I (smiles, beat) They’re gonna set you up nice, huh?

EMMET Not just me. You and Moms too. (beat) I want it bad Pops. POPS We want it for you first. When you’re up there. (looks up) Want it for yourself. I work hard, but you deserve so much more than we’ve been able to give you. Take what’s yours first. Got that?

EMMET They’re only going to take eight of us down to Eden.

POPS Out of how many?

EMMET ten.

POPS pretty good odds

EMMET What if I don’t win?

POPS What if you do? (Pops stands up and wipes the tears from his eyes) You get in there and fight, Emmet. Be worthy not in their eyes ​ but in yours. Break the rules you need to, but never forget who you are and where you’re from. When they knock you down, and the will, don’t you quit on me. (Emmet nods his head) Ever

Pops and Emmet hug. When they pull away. Pops hands Emmet a large brass key.

POPS Break the chains. Take what is yours.

VANDERMEER (coughs) Time to go. Emmet looks at Pops one more time, waves, then walks past him and to Vandermeer. Then Emmet follows Vandermeer out of the room. CUT TO: 7 INT. DETROIT HOSPITAL, MOM’S ROOM- AFTERNOON 7

Moms is laying in a hospital bed in the center of the room. She has a breathing tube and there is a subtle beeping of machines. Pops and Emmet are standing around her bed. Emmet leans in for a hug while Moms lays there, almost completely unable to move.

EMMET It’s only for a year. This is giving you a better chance to beat this thing. (beat) Moms, when I get back, you’ll be better and Pop’s will be retired. You’ll both be living like royalty. Okay?

A tear slips down Moms cheek as she opens her mouth to speak.

MOMS Stay safe, my beautiful boy.

Moms grasps Emmet’s hand and the screen fades to black

FADE INTO: 8 INT. OUTSIDE EMMET & KAYA’S ROOM ABOARD GENESIS 11- DAY 8

Emmet is standing behind Vandermeer outside of a door. Vandermeer turns to face Emmet who has music playing in his earbuds. Vandermeer mouths something to Emmet.

EMMET (takes out an earbud) What?

VANDERMEER Your room, Mr. Atwater.

Vandermeer swipes a card on the sensor beside the door. It slides open to reveal the foyer of Emmet & Kaya’s room.

EMMET (as he’s looking around) Do I get one of those cards? In Detroit we still use keys.

VANDERMEER Your suits are coded to your room.

EMMET I get a suit?

VANDERMEER And a gun.

EMMET Really?

VANDERMEER (smiles) No.

Emmet holds out his hand in a fistbump gesture. Vandermeer bumps it.

EMMET What’s your name?

VANDERMEER Donovan Vandermeer

EMMET That’s not American, is it?

VANDERMEER Dutch.

EMMET (sarcastically) Oh, I love Denmark.

Vandermeer looks confused, opening his mouth to say something but then realizes Emmet was joking and smiles.

VANDERMEER Very good, Mr. Atwater.

Vandermeer’s data pad beeps and he looks at it, then back up at Emmet. Vandermeer shifts his stance.

EMMET How long do I have to get ready? Before launch?

VANDERMEER (grins) The launch is happening as we speak, Mr. Atwater

EMMET (smiles in disbelief) Of course, my mistake. I got it from here, Vandermeer. (beat) Cool. That rhymed

Vandermeer snorts and Emmet starts walking across the room.

VANDERMEER Your bedroom door is on the left

EMMET And the bathroom’s on the right, right?

The sound of a door swishing causes Emmet to turn and look to the right. Kaya walks out of the door. She walks past Emmet, waves at Vandermeer, then exits the room.

EMMET What’s she doing here?

VANDERMEER She lives in one room. You live in the other.

EMMET But… She’s a girl!

VANDERMEER (smiles) My knowledge of America is sparse. Are there no girls there?

EMMET (exasperated) Yeah but that’s different. We don’t… they don’t (beat) We have our own bathrooms, right?

VANDERMEER Seperate rooms, separate bathrooms. You simply share the common area.

EMMET Right (beat) Do I have to talk to her?

VANDERMEER It would be polite

EMMET Is she American?

VANDERMEER I believe she’s Japanese

EMMET Right, Japanese. How am I supposed to learn that?

VANDERMEER You might have noticed the apparatus she was wearing. The mask.

EMMET (nods) Yeah. It looked like something out of a comic book.

VANDERMEER (laughs) It’s a nyian language converter. You’ll find one in your room. Vandermeer’s data pad beeps again and he stops smiling when he looks at it. Vandermeer looks back to Emmet

VANDERMEER Any other questions, Mr. Atwater?

EMMET She’s pretty

Emmet slaps his hand over his mouth. Vandermeer laughs and exits the room. The door slides shut behind him and Emmet walks toward his room. He opens the door and observes the suit laying on the bed along with a suitcase beside the dresser. He cautiously picks up the suit and examines it before taking off his pants and sliding it on. He smiles and takes off his shirt to pull it up over his torso. He turns and looks at himself in the mirror. He gapes and runs his hands over his abs. EMMET Nice

He flexes his biceps and turns in a circle while trying to look at himself. He completes the circle then just stares at himself. Moms appears beside him. She runs a hand down the side of his face.

MOMS You look just like Pops. I can’t believe you’re almost eighteen

Emmet turns to look at where Moms was but she’s gone. He sighs and looks back at the mirror. In the top corner a medical readout appears. Emmet glances at it, then brings the nyxian converter in his hand to his chest. He examines it, then brings it to his face. It unfurls to grab a hold of skin and clamp down on his mouth. Emmet yelps in surprise. When it stops moving, he looks at himself in the mirror once again before turning and walking out of his room.

CUT TO: 9 INT. LOWER LEVEL/CAFETERIA ABOARD GENESIS 11- DAY 9

Emmet is looking over the walkway railing at some of the other kids on the lower level/cafeteria. His thoughts play out loud

VOICE OF EMMET Fact check. Four girls, six boys. I live with a japanese girl. There are a lot of global people. Kumbaya and cooperation. But competition too. Only eight of us get chosen. Babel is really rich. Maybe I should form an alliance. Should I be quiet?

BILAL Hey!

Emmet jumps in surprise as he takes in Bilal who is smiling widely over his nyxian converter.

BILAL My name (points to himself) Is Bilal

EMMET (nods) I’m Emmet

Emmet and Bilal shake hands

BILAL Woah, big drop. The ship is huge, yeah?

EMMET Definitely. We don’t have anything like this in Detroit

BILAL This is where you are from? Detroit?

EMMET (shrugs) What about you? Where are you from?

BILAL Palestine (beat) The West Bank (beat) Bible lands

EMMET (laughs in confusion) Ok. Um, you sound good in English

Bilal takes off his nyian mask.

BILAL (in Arabic no English subtitles provided) You sound very good in Arabic (puts mask back on; speaks in English) You sound good in Arabic

EMMET It’s kind of cool

BILAL In my room too. Maybe that’s just how space is.

EMMET (laughs) No, like good. Cool means good.

BILAL You like it cold?

EMMET Never mind. (points to the lower level/cafeteria) Should we join them?

Bilal nods and they both walk down the clanging metal staircase and into the lower level/cafeteria. Katsu, Jazzy, Azima, Jaime, and Longwei afre sitting at a table. Katsu, Jazzy and Azima are talking while Jaime and Longwei are further down the table sitting in silence. Bilal and Emmet approach the table. As they get closer, Katsu stands up and pulls Bilal into a hug.

KATSU My name is Katsu! I’m from Japan.

Emmet holds out his hand for a handshake. Katsu grasps his hand and uses a finger to scratch Emmet’s palm. Emmet jerks his hand away, surprised. Katsu laughs.

KATSU That’s it. The best trick in Japan. My toolbox is empty now, What’s your name?

EMMET I’m Emmet from Detroit. This is Bilal he’s from… The Bible lands.

BILAL Palestine. The West Bank.

Katsu points around in a crazy manner.

KATSU In space there are no directions! So now you’re just from the Bank. Everyone! If you need money, go to Bilal!

Emmet laughs and he and Bilal and Katsu take a seat. Jazzy waves at Emmet when he sits down.

JAZZY Detroit? I know Detroit! My name’s Jasmine, but y’all can call me Jazzy. I’m from Memphis, Tennessee. In the states.

AZIMA Hello, I am Azima

Emmet looks confused.

AZIMA Ah-zee-ma. I am from Kenya.

Katsu taps the table with his hands until Longwei and Jaime look at him.

KATSU Friends! Make friends! Don’t be pisspots!

Jaime holds out his hand, no expression on his face.

Jaime Jaime. I’m from Switzerland.

Katsu bypasses Jaime’s hand and pulls him into a hug.

KATSU How painfully neutral! Can I tell you guys a joke? Okay, so, a priest, a zombie and a cactus walk into a bar. Well, I guess a cactus can’t walk, so a cactus was already in the bar. Anyways, the priest asks if (starts laughing) If he can have a drink (laughs harder) And the zombie asks if he can have some fries

Katsu continues laughing as Kaya, Isadora and Roathy approach the table. Roathy and Isadora take seats on the far end of the table. Kaya taps Bilal on the shoulder, he slides over, and Kaya sits next to Emmet. PJ appears with his arms crossed over Katsu’s head and his chin resting on his arms.

PJ I see you’ve already replaced me

PJ laughs as Emmet looks at Kaya. When Emmet looks back to where PJ was, he’s gone.

ISADORA I’m Isadora from Brazil. (does a little dance) The best country in the world!

Emmet turns to look at Roathy.

ROATHY (beat) I’m Roathy.

Roathy looks at his hands, ignoring the others. Kaya sits up straighter.

KAYA Oh yeah, and I’m Kaya from Japan.

Katsu throws up his arms in happiness.

KATSU Same!

Everyone laughs then descends into awkward silence as Defoe is noticed, standing at the front of the room. He smiles.

DEFOE Our intrepid crew, welcome. Did you know that you are officially the youngest crew to ever enter space? Already setting records.

The wall behind him separates to show a window which is overlooking Earth.

KATSU Woah

DEFOE Welcome to the final frontier. Allow me to introduce you to Commander Crocker.

Crock walks in.

CROCK Welcome to the end of the world, minions. I’m Commander Crocker, but you can call me Crock. I’ll be your flight operations commander. If all goes well, you won't see my pretty face until we reach the Tower Space Station

Holoscreen images pop up as the window tints to black. Crock pulls out a pointer finger and the group chuckles as he starts pointing at the diagrams.

CROCK This is where we perform our no-gravity operations. My crew has a hell of a time making sure this ship does all the things a ship ought to do. The best way you can help us keep everyone safe is by not adventuring out where you’re not supposed to. The black outline indicates the nyxia-sealed corridors. Everything in that perimeter is available to you. Just a few reminders. You’re in space. People experience changes in space. Report anything unusual to your medics. If you have repetitive nightmares, if you have stomach cramps, if you feel sad at night. Anything. We have an amazing staff, but they can’t help you if you’re not willing to talk. Any questions?

Azima raises her hand

AZIMA In the movies, there’s no gravity in space. Everyone knows this. Why aren’t we floating around? (beat) I wanted to float around.

CROCK (laughs) You know how the Trojans stole away Helem and the whole Greek fleet went after her? Well, Helen ain’t nearly as pretty as nyxia. How did we cut our trip by twenty-something years? Nyxia-enhanced fuel. How do we enclose sections of the ship and maintain gravity? Nyxian sealants and filters. How do you poop in space? Nyxia. (beat) Actually, we had that one figured out a bit ago. But the magic word is nyxia. Babel put the majority of their initial mining deposits back into the space program. Inside this section of the ship, it’s not even going to feel like space. Nyxia’s helping seal this environment. As a result, your bodies won’t even experience the usual effects. My crew and I will be a little taller by the time we get to the tower space station, but you all will be too busy competing to deal with any of that. Honestly, this ship, the station, and Babel’s ground operations on Earth are all about one hundred years more advanced that what you’re used to using. All thanks to the new black gold. Any other questions?

Roathy narrows his eyes and puts his hand in the air.

ROATHY What if one of us dies?

Beat

CROCK We-um, Well we have policies in place, but the history of space exploration has very few casualties. Babel’s records are immaculate, so I wouldn’t worry about that.

Crock leaves the room and Defoe takes his spot.

DEFOE My name, as all of you know, is Marcus Deofe. I am in charge of making sure that you arrive prepared for operations. Our competition is designed to be a system of merit. We want the best of the best to go down to Eden and work for us. You already know the rewards we’ve arranged for being one of the best. My job is to hone the skills and impart the knowledge you’ll need before you go to the Adamites’ home planet. This process will be very difficult.

Defoe snaps his fingers and BE3, BE4, and Vandermeer walk into the room. They maneuver their way to the tables and place a black ring in front of each of the kids. Everyone picks up their rings and examines them. Emmet slides his nyxian ring onto his finger.

DEFOE You’ll learn to use nyxia through a series of different tasks. The first of which will begin right now.

Emmet and Bilal look at each other.

BILAL Good luck, yeah?

EMMET You too.

Defoe manipulates his nyxia into a dagger and holds it up to the light so it shines.

DEFOE One of the most crucial functions of your training will be the creative manipulation of nyxia. We want you to be able to use the resource you;re mining for us. It takes concentration.

Defoe turns the nyxia into a pebble and holds it up for the kids to see.

DEFOE Step one, transform your ring into a stone. You may begin.

Emmet slides the ring off his finger. Everyone is silent. Emmet squeezes his eyes shut. He opens them again and a marble is sitting in his hands. Bilal and Isadora are the only ones who haven’t completed the task. Defoe points to the screen behind him which has changed to show a pair of leather gloves.

DEFOE Step two, manipulate the substance into this pair of gloves.

Emmet squeezes his eyes shut and when he opens them, he has a pair of gloves missing a few fingers in his hands. He squeezes his eyes shut and has a complete pair of gloves in his hands. He turns them over, examining them. A ‘ding’ sounds and a scoreboard appears on the screen. The names appear in order: Longwei, Azima, Kaya, Roathy, Katsu, Jaime, Emmet, Bilal, Jazzy, Isadora. Isadora’s still manipulating her gloves. As her score ticks down point by point. Bilal leans in to Emmet to whisper something.

BILAL It will get better, yeah?

Emmet nods, not focusing on him.

DEFOE Lastly, I need you to produce a flower with a purple stem and ten petals.

Defoe walks across the room and starts sifting through papers. Emmet squints his eyes. Longwei’s name gets highlighted on the scoreboard and points are added to his total. He takes the flower and puts it into his suit. The gloves in Emmet’s hand change into a purple stem. He tries again, but there are too many petals. He keeps trying but fails as Kaya, Katsu, Azima, Jazzy, Jaimie, and Bilal. He succeeds moments after Bilal finishes. Only Isadora and Roathy remain working for a few more seconds.

DEFOE As we progress, I will ask you to make bigger and more complex images and items. You’re welcome to consult each other for advice on successful manipulation, but I wouldn’t want to trade secrets if I knew something everyone else didn’t. Please transform your substante back into a ring and follow me.

Longwei almost immediately stands up. Kaya and Azima stand up at the same time. Everyone staggers after them.

CUT TO: 10 INT. TURBINE TANK ABOARD GENESIS 11- DAY 10

Everyone is standing around a tank of water with a fan attached to simulate gale-force winds.

DEFOE This task is easy, just get in the tank and swim.

KATSU Ooh, I can go first. I swim just like a whale.

Katsu climbs up the ladder on the side and belly flops inside the tank. The fan starts and Katsu takes two strokes before floating to the back wall, choking on water. BE 1 and BE 3 pull him out. He lays on the ground with his hands on his stomach. After a coughing fit, he laughs. The scoreboard appears, filling the screen. Emmet’s name moves up a few slots. CUT TO: 11 INT. BABEL CLASSROOM ABOARD GENESIS 11-NOON 11

The kids sit at desks around the room. They are equipped with a sheet of paper, a highlighter and a pencil. BE2 stands at the front of the room in front of a whiteboard with the words ‘EDEN AND LIFE’ written on it.

BE2 Welcome to Eden’s plant and indigenous species. A crash course.

The screen cuts to the scoreboard which fills it up. Emmet’s name goes down to second to last.

CUT TO: 12 INT. BABEL HALLWAY ABOARD GENESIS 11-NOON 12

Defoe and the kids stand in a hallway.

DEFOE Nyxia time. Make a miniature car.

The kids struggle and the screen cuts to the scoreboard which fills it up. Emmet’s name goes up a little. A montage begins.

BE2 How Adamites Think.

Vandermeer’s voice and image overlap BE2’s, same goes for all who follow.

VANDERMEER Evasion and Techniques for Survival.

BE2 More swimming

BE3 Mr.Defoe wants to speak to you all.

DEFOE Make a notebook

The voices get louder and more overlapping until they are unintelligible and the pictures are a flash of images.

FADE IN TO: 13 INT. LOWER LEVEL/CAFETERIA ABOARD GENESIS 11- AFTERNOON 13

All of the kids are slumped over tables, tired. Defoe stands in front of them.

DEFOE Enjoy lunch.

Kaya leans over and whispers to Emmet.

KAYA Iron sharpens iron.

Emmet takes a bite of his food and closes his eyes. The screen goes black FADE TO: 14 INT. RABBIT ABOARD GENESIS 11- AFTERNOON 14

The kids are looking at Defoe who is standing in front of them.

DEFOE Afternoon activities will be group oriented.

Emmet crosses his arms and looks around. Many of the others have taken defensive stances as well.

DEFOE To the right, Longwei, Katsu, Roathy, Bilal, and Jazzy. To the left, Jaimie, Azima, Emmet, Kaya, Isadora.

Defoe taps something on his data pad and the room begins to rumble. He then steps onto a platform that raises him into the air. DEFOE We call this the rabbit room.

The walls of the room turn on to look like a forest.

DEFOE If you make contact with the back wall, you’re out of the competition. The team with the most people standing at the end of the exercise wins.

Defoe taps his datapad again and the floor starts moving. The walls begin to move to simulate going into the forest as if you were running.

JAIME Come on!

Jaime jogs forward and the team follows. Longwei’s team is busy strategizing.

JAIME Let’s get as close to the front wall as possible.

The team starts to run faster as the screen twists. Then , a tree trunk appears on the treadmill and Azima trips and falls over it. She clips Kaya’s legs on the way to the back and brings Kaya down with her.

ISADORA Watch out!

A low-hanging branch sweeps from the screen and Jaime ducks to avoid it. Kaya tries to help Azima stand up, but isn’t able to, instead Kaya runs back up to the group as Azima hits the back wall in a flash of white light. A beeping sound and Emmet’s team’s treadmill goes faster. A rockslide falls from the left. Everyone moves to the right. A wild animal jumps out of the foliage, Emmet rolls onto the ground and the animal clips Jaime. He falls with a yell, reaching out for something and grabbing Kaya’s ankle. She goes down with him and together they hit the back wall with two flashes of lights and two beeps.

EMMET Dammit

Emmet and Isadora run faster.

EMMET Keep going!

There are beeps and pulses of light from the other team’s side. A river appears on the front wall. Emmet and Isadora run through it. In the middle, their feet get stuck and they both faceplant. Emmet scrambles up and sprints to the front again, but Isadora hits the back wall with a flash, scream, and beep. On the other side of the track, Longwei, Bilal, and Jazzy are still running. Jazzy looks almost professional at the front of their group. The front wall shows a crevice that’s about two feet wide.

EMMET You’ve got to be kidding

Emmet barely makes the jump across. Bilal misses the jump and gets eliminated. For Emmet, two jumps come back to back. He lands wrong and is now limp-running. Emmet attempts the next jump, but lands right in the middle of the red crag on the treadmill causing him to fall on his but and slide all the way back and into the wall. The walls go dark and Longwei and Jazzy slump to the ground breathing heavily. Defoe glides to the floor and walks over to the collapsed teens.

DEFOE We will visit the Rabbit Room often. These teams are permanent. The map you run will vary, but you can still discuss strategies if you want to succeed. The dynamics of the game will change as we progress into your training. Today is just a glimpse at the pace we will set for you. Get your rest. In the Bible, Sabbath comes every seventh day. Here at Babel, we break every tenth.

Emmets team stumble to their feet. Jaime holds out a hand to Emmet.

JAIME Solid running, Emmet. We’ll get them next time.

Emmet takes Jaimes outstretched hand and shakes

EMMET Thanks.

TRANSITION TO: 15 INT. LOWER LEVEL/CAFETERIA ABOARD GENESIS 11- SUPPERTIME 15

All the kids walk drunkenly into the lower level/cafeteria and slump into their seats. The scoreboard is on the wall. The order of people from highest points to least is as follows: Longwei (9,324), Katsu (6,124), Bilal (6,100), Jaime (5,874), Jasmine (5,650), Azima (5,454), Roathy (5,324), Kaya (5,200), Emmet (4,843), Isadora (3,980). Everyone has stopped and is looking at the scoreboard. Defoe walks past the group. Emmet points at the scoreboard and speaks to Defoe.

EMMET I don’t get it, I finished third.

DEFOE Actually, you finished second.

EMMET Jazzy and Longwei were still going. If they’re the only ones that beat me, why’d I drop in the standings?

DEFOE You were on a team. You finished second.

EMMET (angrily) That’s not my fault DEFOE It’s a team effort. First place receives two thousand points. Second place earns one thousand. Next time, I suggest you do everything in your power to make sure your team wins

EMMET That’s not fair.

Defoe just smiles and adjusts his tie. DEFOE I was wondering when I would first hear that word. Fair. Dismiss ​ ​ your idea of fair here and now. Our rules are our rules. There will be injuries and accidents and mistakes in this competition. You will be sent to the med unit at some point. You may even send others to the med unit. But never forget that this is our competition. We say what is fair and what isn’t.

Defoe then walks off down a corridor that branches off of the lower level/cafeteria. Bilal walks towards Emmet, waving, but Emmet turns and walks back to the stairs. He walks up them, then down the corridor to his room.

TRANSITION TO: 16 INT. EMMET’S BEDROOM ABOARD GENESIS 11- EVENING 16

Emmet strips off his suit and leaves it in a pile on the floor. He crawls under the covers and shuts his eyes.

FADE TO: 17 INT. THE ATWATER’S KITCHEN/FOYER- FLASHBACK 17

Moms is sitting at the kitchen table sipping from a cup of tea while Pops walks in. He kisses her on the forehead and grabs keys from the counter. He kisses her again and walks out of the kitchen.

MOMS Love you.

POPS Love you too.

FADE BACK TO: 18 INT. EMMET’S BEDROOM ABOARD GENESIS 11- EVENING 18

Emmet pulls down the covers again and gets up from his bed. He crosses the room to his dresser where the brass key sits. Emmet picks up the key.

TRANSITION TO: 19 INT. ATWATER LIVING ROOM- FLASHBACK 19

Young Emmet is sitting on the couch, holding the brass key. Pops is sitting with him.

POPS Now, Emmet, it’s important that you know the story that goes with this key.

YOUNG EMMET Okay

POPS When your ancestors escaped north, a locksmith up by Dtroit took the measure of your great-great-great-great-great-grandmother’s chains and made her a key. It was passed down as a symbol to every Atwater as a reminder that we weren’t always free to do what we wanted. Many of the men and women who have held this key still weren’t free, not really.

FADE BACK TO: 20 INT. EMMET’S BEDROOM ABOARD GENESIS 11- EVENING 20

Sleep Awake by Mother Mother starts playing from 3:23

Emmet puts the key back and walks over to where he discarded the nyxian ring. He sits at his desk, staring at the ring until Sleep Awake hits 3:45. He then starts practicing in a burst of short clips of things he’s created. When sleep Awake hits 4:00 the clips slow down and he yawns. He climbs back into his bed and closes his eyes. Sleep Awake plays from 4:20. The credits roll. FIN Hello Ms. Nelson,

I am a high schools student at Mercersburg Academy, a boarding school in south central Pennsylvania, USA. This winter, I was given the opportunity to participate in an intensive course on script writing with a teacher at the school who has adapted Ken Liu’s “The Perfect Match” into a play.

I am writing to you to let you know that I have written an entire pilot episode for a Nyxia television series. If you would like, I could send it to you and you could review it and decide if you would like to use it.

Thank you for reading this.

Best, Quinlan Caretti

717-377-3394