Scene 4.06 - Terra-Luna Command
EST: EXT. INDICA
INT. Bridge, The Starship Indica
(First an establishing shot of the L.S.D. Indica and a cutaway to the bridge, where all are busy looking busy.)
WOODY
Skipper, we got company.
JOHN THOMAS
On screen.
TERRA-LUNA OFFICER
(As seen through an old web-cam:) L-S-D Indica, you are in violation of the no-fly order of this space lane. Return now to Luna base or be fired upon -- immediately; (Pause.) Indica, please respond.
JOHN THOMAS
Fighter Pilot, this is Lunar Star Destroyer Indica. We have classified orders from Luna’s Central Command to proceed to Terra to capture an interplanetary fugitive. Over.
TERRA-LUNA OFFICER
Roger. Indica, we'll check your story with Central Command Flight Operations. Until then, we request you stay within our wing pattern, we will escort you on this present heading -- and I recommend that you do not deviate from this heading -- (Half-beat.) -- unless you want to be praying for an airlock. Delta over.
JOHN THOMAS
Lieutenant, we read you, we're standing by.
ROD
John, I know it’s a pain, not like the old days, you know as well as all of us. It seems bureaucratic, but without T-L-C, the Earth would be a land-fill -- there'd be millions of people down there, doing who knows what.
JOHN THOMAS
(Chuckles) Rod, believe it or not, before the Big Shower, even before Lunar Command, I was an activated reservist with T-L-C. In fact, that’s where I received my commission. Did you know that?
ROD
(At least a decade since he has heard anything new:) No, sir, I didn’t. I’d always figured you got a battlefield promotion from the Smart War.
JOHN THOMAS
No, but that's when I got promoted to Captain. Believe me, there was nothing smart about that war. In those days, every piece of ground, every spacelane was a battlefield, so I guess they were all battlefield commissions. (Panoramic view of Earth, sun coming up.) Things change. A century passes, and before you know it, it’s all completely different from what anybody ever imagined it would be like, certainly different from what we thought it would be like. (Pause. Sunrise. Windows quickly become opaque, a monitor display replaces the view. Both reflecting, both laugh, stepping from their stoic character.) You know, the older we get, the younger I find we really are. I’m glad you waste time like I do.
PATCH
Bark!
WILLIE
Mmm. (Beep.) Jon-Tom, (Beat.) it's the pilot, sir.
JOHN THOMAS
Put him through, Willie.
TERRA-LUNA OFFICER
Your story checks out, Kaptain K. It’s an honor to be flying with you and your team -- Sir, we’re -- Delta Patrol knows this lane pretty well; and we were wondering if you’d like an escort? (Short pause.) Kaptain K?
JOHN THOMAS
Thanks, L-T, but we hafta do this on our own. (Pause.) We could use your assistance, however. D’ya think your Delta Dogs could double-check our flight plan? We need some back-up analysis for this classified mission and we just can’t trust anyone else with it, cuz everybody knows that only the Delta Dogs know the really fast lanes.
LINE CHATTER
Ooh-Rah! Roger that! Hoo-Rah! Delta Dogs, Yeah!
(Various other ad-libs from numerous other Delta Dogs riding the channel.)
WOODY
(Aside to JOHN THOMAS:) What’s up, chief? Ya don't trust my calculations? I aced Number Theory, ya’know. Top of my class...
JOHN THOMAS
Ah, Woody, ya’know I trust ya, I’m just being sociable. I trained with some of those dogs on Mercury a while back; you just gotta love ‘em.
TERRA-LUNA OFFICER
Flight plan Romeo-Six-Niner, looks good; perfect even. Can’t wait to tell the C-O that we were high-in-the-skies with The Indica. Good luck, sir. Delta Dogs! Huah! (Line chatter; almost ridiculous. Pause.) Ah, over & out.
PETER
J.T., what’cha dink Dablo's afta? Sheezeddin’ta Loz Danjaleez, dat’s fa sha; cudditbee dabree fomda Bigshaw? Ektherz almoz nuddin elz ta finedowndare, sawatkinnitbee?
JOHN THOMAS
(Yes: He knows provincial Pita-ese:) I reelydunno, Pita.
WILLIE
Guess we'll have to wait to see what Diablo's really up to.
PETER
I jus’ ope wedoen fine outoolayt.
FTB