19 Nocturne Boulevard - THE OUTPOST - Reissue
[The Outpost won the Gold Mark Time Award for best sci fi audio drama for 2008]
You wake up, millions of light years away, in a place nothing like home.\xa0
...What do YOU do?
Cast List
- Grant Hickey - Gene Thorkildsen
- Vanessa 98949 - Julie Hoverson
- Lassiter - Russell Gold
- Yasmin - Melissa D. Johnson
- Recorder - Beverly Poole
Episode and incidental music from the album "...go..." by Sulatus (www.sulatus.cbl.pl).\xa0
(available on Jamendo.com) [Used under a Creative Commons license.]
Show theme:\xa0 Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com)
Recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio
Editing and Sound: \xa0 Julie Hoverson
Cover Design:\xa0 Brett Coulstock
"What kind of a place is it?\xa0 Would you believe it's a habitat, in an asteroid cloud, in a distant corner of the galaxy?"
*********************************************************
The Outpost
This story was very loosely inspired by the movie Suna No Onna (Woman in the Dunes), from 1964; directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara from the novel by K\xf4b\xf4 Abe, as adapted by Eiko Yoshida, starring Eiji Okada and Ky\xf4ko Kishida and the sand.\xa0
It's an awesome film - superficially about a man who is trapped by a small town and placed with a woman as her new husband.\xa0 In the film, he's an office worker and amateur entymologist seeking to make some kind of name for himself by finding a new species of bug on his day trip to a beach.\xa0 He falls asleep and wakes to find he missed the last bus, but a local town has someone who will take him in for the night \xa0- a woman who lives at the bottom of this odd huge sand pit.\xa0
The whole town live at the bottoms of these pits, and we slowly realize that the sand has built up over the town for generations, and they just dig out the areas around the huts by night and have the sand taken away. The woman lost her husband and child in a sandslide and cannot handle the work of digging the sand all by herself, so they have placed the man with her as her new husband - letting him down and taking away the ladder.\xa0 The man also finds out that he's not the only one - other men in other houses were similarly abducted.
I didn\u2019t want to work with any of that for my story, specifically since I had determined to make it a gender reverse, and a woman kidnapped and handed to a man to be trapped as his wife is kind of ... a lot of real history.
So I focused on the subtext and themes of the movie.\xa0 At its heart, it's a culture clash, the man representing "modern japan" (in the 60s) and the town and woman being so traditional that they won't even leave ancient homes that are being devoured by the sand.\xa0 In modern life, people are cogs, and he's coming from a life where he's basically interchangeable - hardly even missed when he vanishes - into one where the good of the community and the comfort of the partner are directly affected by the actions of the individual and each person is therefore important.
That gave me a more satisfying framework to play with.\xa0 By creating these two cultures - the efficient and interchangeable people she comes from - where even her personal achievements are somewhat generic - and the humble, personal, and individual life in the asteroids, where he takes time to respect the dead, and is proud of his little triumphs.
I also wanted an equivalent to the sand.\xa0 The film is basically a three character piece, with the sand as much a presence as the two people in it.\xa0 I made the outpost, with its gripes and problems, sounds, and needs, as similar to that as I could.\xa0\xa0
I like to think it's the writing that makes this episode really great but I give a lot of credit to my costar, for being able to bring to life a male character that is strong without being overbearing, who is in control without being controlling, and who is never ashamed to feel.
That left me free to be a bitch.\xa0
Of course the climax comes in both stories when the captive has a chance to walk away.\xa0 I won't spoil it.
****************************************************************
THE OUTPOST
Cast:
- Olivia (host)
- Grant Hickey (M20s-30s), calm and lonely. Stoic, eager.
- Vanessa 98949 (F20s-30s), sharp and commanding, modern
- Recorder (any)
- Lassiter (M20s-30s), on Janice (another nearby outpost)
- Yasmin (20s), another survivor of the Xanadu
OLIVIA \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Did you have any trouble finding it?\xa0 What do you mean, what kind of a place is it?\xa0 Why, it's an outpost in an asteroid cloud, can't you tell?\xa0
MUSIC
AMBIANCE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0INSIDE OUTPOST MU LAMBDA EPSILON [Millie]
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 MACHINE AND ELECTRONIC NOISES, SLOSHING OF LIQUID
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [waking up noises, then with a start, coughing]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Easy now.\xa0 Just breathe.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [breathing, coughing a bit]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Tell me.\xa0 Do you know your name?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 My what?\xa0 Of course.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Tell me your name.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Vanessa 9 [breaks into coughing]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [incredulous]\xa0 Your name is Vanessa 9?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Don't be stupid.\xa0 It's Vanessa 98949.\xa0 How old do I look? [coughing]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [not a clue] Um...
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Where am I?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I'll tell you whatever you wanna know.\xa0 Later.\xa0 You're all wrung out.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nonsense.\xa0 I am ordering you to tell me--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Now there ain't no call to get huffy, miss.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [offended]\xa0 Where is your Vox?\xa0 I plan to let her know precisely--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 My what?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [altering slightly] Your Vox?\xa0 The one who gives you orders?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ain't got none.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 There must be a female around here somewhere!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nope.\xa0 Just me.\xa0 And you.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What the hell kind of place is this?\xa0 [pain]\xa0 ooh....\xa0 ah.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 There, now.\xa0 You lie back down and get yourself some rest.\xa0 [fogging out]\xa0 Waking from deepsub is no cakewalk...
MUSIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [waking sharply again, gasp] Ohh.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SWOOSH OF POD HATCH OPENING, HESITANT FOOTSTEPS, A STUMBLE
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Where is that throwback?\xa0 Hmm?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SHE PICKS UP A NOTE AND A RADIO
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [reading] Frequency 12.\xa0 great.\xa0 [louder, commanding]\xa0 Frequency 12.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 NOTHING
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [more strident] Frequency 12.\xa0 [Ugh!]
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO UNIT BEING SHAKEN, CRACKLES TO LIFE
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hesitant] Frequency 12?\xa0 Is there anyone here?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on filter]\xa0 No need to holler.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your comm unit isn't set to recognize my voice!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [baffled] Oh.\xa0 I'll... see what I can do.\xa0 You need anything?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [snap] No.\xa0 Well, I could use something to eat.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 All righty.\xa0 I have to finish up something, and I'll be down as soon as I can.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CLICK RADIO OFF
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 You get down here immediately!\xa0 Ugh!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 THROWS RADIO UNIT - SOMETHING SNAPS
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SHE PACES
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR SWOOSHES OPEN, HE ENTERS, DOOR SHUTS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] All righty.\xa0 Brought you some chow.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [seething]\xa0 It's been almost an entire hour!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [matter of fact]\xa0 You caught me outside.\xa0 Was quicker to finish what I was doing than to come in and get back out again later.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Give me that.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 TRAY RATTLES
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [grunt of effort] No.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 How dare you?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You're in my home, and if you can't be civil, then ... well, I can be downright rude too.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 There must be someone else here - I will report your behavior--!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nope.\xa0 Just me.\xa0 Like I told you.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Take me to your comm unit--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [faltering] But I--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You can ask nicely.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [indignant] What?\xa0 How can you even look me in the face and say such a thing, male?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat, then sigh]\xa0 Call me again when you're in a better mood.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS, DOOR SWOOSHES OPEN
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [up]\xa0 The-- [deep breath, forces herself to a nicer tone] The radio is broken.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Broken?\xa0 Hold up.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SETS TRAY DOWN. PICKS UP RADIO
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I... shook it.\xa0 It wouldn't listen to me!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO SHAKES, RATTLES
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hmm.\xa0 Looks like I'm gonna have to get in there.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 VANESSA TRIES TO BE SNEAKY, GRABBING SOMETHING TO EAT
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 But I still don't understand what you're saying about-- [sees her eating, makes an impatient noise]
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [around a mouthful] \xa0You expect me to starve?\xa0 I just woke from deepsub.\xa0 I require caloric intake.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh, tsks]\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HIS FOOTSTEPS LEAVE, DOOR SWOOSHES SHUT
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 TINKERING WITH MACHINERY - LITTLE ZAP NOISES, ETC.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just ...about ...there!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BLIP AS SOMETHING TURNS ON
RECORDER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [crackly] Life pod B-L-T-L-1-4-5, ship Xanadu, designated X-14-Z-3-J--2-0-5--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [real relief]\xa0 Finally - a civilized voice!\xa0 Recorder.\xa0 Play back the Xanadu's final entry.
RECORDER\xa0\xa0\xa0 Final log entry of star cruiser Xanadu.\xa0 G-vector, Delta quadrant, encountered space debris.\xa0 Explosion.\xa0 Unknown cause.\xa0 Xanadu evac mandated.\xa0 Pods loosed at ship day 172, T-vector, speed normal.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Calculate time in transit.
RECORDER\xa0\xa0\xa0 Calculating.\xa0 One thousand, three hundred and eighty two days since Xanadu Evac.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Four years--?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off] You were on a star cruiser?\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasp]
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BONKS HEAD AS SHE REACTS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 That musta been interesting.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes, I am part of the crew of the Star Cruiser Xanadu, bound for Ganymede 800 in the Gargon nebula.\xa0 There will be people looking for me.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [rueful]\xa0 Not here they won't.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What do you mean?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I don't know what all your specs there are, but first, no one much comes this far out, and second, well, I do know the Gargon Nebula is hellagone from here.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You have to let me contact someone.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nope.\xa0 I don't have to do anything.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I order you!\xa0 As third under-lieutenant subchief, engineering bay 5 of the star cruiser Xanadu, I command you to take me to your comm room.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Pff.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS, FOOTSTEPS LEAVE
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [very last second] Please.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off, leaning in]\xa0 Wish I could.\xa0 Left you some food there.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR SHUTS
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 ELECTRONIC MENDING NOISES
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Whatcha doing?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Keeping busy.\xa0 What do you want?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You about ready to come out?\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Out of what?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 The room here?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 The room? [working up] You kept me locked up in here, and now you ask--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Door don't even lock. \xa0I was wondering why you never--
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HER STOMPING FOOTSTEPS
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Door open!\xa0 See?\xa0 Nothing happens!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well o'course not.\xa0 Doors don't have ears.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Normal doors take orders.\xa0 Radios too.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You're an underengineer sub chief thingee and you don't even know how to work a door?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Normal doors take orders!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, I guess we're all a bit old fashioned here.\xa0 This is how you open the door.\xa0 Wave your hand right here--
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 WhoooosH.\xa0 DOOR OPENS
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sullen] Oh.\xa0 I see.\xa0 Wait!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAMS HIM UP AGAINST THE WALL
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You said we're all a bit old fashioned - who is "we"?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [controlling some strong emotion, at being slammed against a wall] Well - um - I was including the doors and all.\xa0 [deep breath] Since you like t'talk to them all.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SHE LETS GO
MUSIC
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off] To the left there.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR SWOOSHES OPEN. A COUPLE OF FOOTSTEPS, THEY SLOW
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 This is it?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [pride] Yup.\xa0 Millie's brain center.\xa0 There are 42 more like her spread throughout the cloud - um, here.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BUTTONS PUSH. SCREEN HUMS TO LIFE
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Pretty, huh?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's rubbish.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hurt, but covering]\xa0 Millie has 12 chambers - each a self-sealing unit, in case of breaches - and a backup--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How do you call out?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hmm?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Out!\xa0 How do you call out!\xa0 I need to make arrangements to get the hell out of here!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 It don't quite work that--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nothing here works!\xa0 Nothing works at all! [almost hysterical]
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAP
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [stunned gasp]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Now I'm real sorry about that, but you need to breathe.\xa0 And let me finish my sentences.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I could have you up on charges so fast!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, not here, you couldn't.\xa0 [sigh]\xa0 Now, as I was about to say, you can call the other habitats, or the quarterly supply ship - if he's in range.\xa0 Just might be - he come through here only last week.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Another male?\xa0 What is this, throwback central?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 What you got against fellows?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [disgusted noise] Males have been proven inferior and in the civilized galaxy have been effectively relegated to a purely functional capacity.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You mean where you come from is all ladies?\xa0 Don't it get boring?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 What are you implying--?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just - well, how do you have kids?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 So everyone has to have kids?\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 No one "has" children. [shrugs, indifferent] Everyone donates genetic material, and it's automatically matched up with compatible fertilizing agents.\xa0 Children belong to the community, and are raised in a proper safe environment, under supervision.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 But - those poor little boys and girls--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Girls.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] Them poor little kids, never knowing who their - mommas are.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 They're cared for by properly trained personnel.\xa0 Much better for their long-term physical and mental health.\xa0 How would someone like me, with a career on a star cruiser, ever find that sort of time?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 That's real sad.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not to mention, I haven't spent my life immersed in study of childhood ailments and development.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, neither did my mama.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes.\xa0 I'm sure.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hurt, slightly annoyed]\xa0 Look, you can mock me, and turn your nose up at Millie, but don't you never speak ill of my mama.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CRACKLE OF STATIC
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter] Hey Grant?\xa0 You there?\xa0 Grant?\xa0 You there?\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SQUEAK OF CHAIR, CLICK
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yup.\xa0 Whatcha need?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter] That capsule thing you sold me - you got yours to work OK?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hurried] Ah, hell.\xa0 Let me call you back, Lassiter.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CLICK
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [absolute fury] Sold?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I got work to do.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLIGHT SCUFFLE, SHE BLOCKS HIM FROM LEAVING
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [not quite screaming] Was he talking about a deepsub pod like mine?\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttered] I find all sorts of things.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You sold a - a - a PERSON to that - that male?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 What makes you think the pod weren't empty?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 That's slavery!\xa0 And you know what that means?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Don't matter.\xa0 Sides, what would I do with two of y'all out here?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 The same as you're doing with one - nothing at all!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [standing up to her a bit]\xa0 Yup.\xa0 long as I'm talking to you, I'm doing nothing at all.\xa0 Like I said, I got work to do.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HE LEAVES, DOOR
MUSIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 It was one of these switches--
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO STATIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes!\xa0 [lower, into the mike] Lassiter?\xa0 Come in Lassiter?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Huh?\xa0 Who's this?\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I'm at .... Millie.\xa0
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Excellent - it did work!\xa0 You tell Grant to let me know what he did, y'hear?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 To wake up the woman in the pod?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter] Yeah.\xa0 [eager] I can't wait.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [warning] Lassiter.\xa0 You do know it's vastly illegal to rescue someone and then force them into slavery, don't you?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 What?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 If you press her into service, you are committing high seas slavery, according to Rule 4715 D of the unitary code.
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Is Grant there?\xa0 Can you put him on?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Shut up!
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Jeez.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Lassiter.\xa0 I will make a bargain with you.
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 I dunno--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I will help you revive the survivor, if you will --\xa0 let me talk to her as soon as she wakes up.
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Sure.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 And if you understand that I will find a way to come over there and kill you if you hurt her in any way.
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 Hurt her?\xa0 Hey!\xa0 I paid good money for--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Agh!
MUSIC
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scratchy, on filter]\xa0 What do I do?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Be placating - we have to try and get together, make our way home.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Aye-aye, Vox.\xa0 Data mode for now.\xa0 I await your word.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Remind him I will kill him if he hurts you.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 He doesn't seem very threatening.\xa0 I could put him down if I have to.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Good.\xa0 Engineer Vanessa 98949 Out.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yasmin 222338 Out.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sad] Whatcha doing?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CHAIR WHIPS AROUND
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Huh?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I see you found your friend.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 We were part of the same crew.\xa0 I have rank, so I told her I would protect her.\xa0 It's my duty.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Protect her?\xa0 From Lassiter?\xa0 He ain't some kinda --\xa0 of -- I ain't even sure what you're thinking he is.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 A man.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 GETS UP FROM CHAIR
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [realizing]\xa0 Are you afraid of me?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [thinks, then] You hold all the cards.\xa0 All you have to do is refuse me food, and I'm helpless.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I wouldn't do that!
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You already did.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I was trying to get you to-- Look, if I wanted to actually hurt you, I gotta blaster for that.\xa0 I just wanted you to think twice and act civil.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How many more were there?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 More?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Of the deepsub pods.\xa0 Did you just find the two?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [grudging]\xa0 Four.\xa0 Total.\xa0 Lassiter's was the last to revive, so all of y'all are all right.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 All right?\xa0 Let me talk to them!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You gotta learn to stop giving me orders.\xa0 You're not my momma.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your mother is--?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 She died.\xa0 Since then... [shrug]\xa0 I got work to do.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [belligerent] What is this work that seems to constantly demand your attention?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You ask nice, you'll get a lot more answers.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat, then making an effort]\xa0 What is it that you do all day?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Salvage.\xa0 Used to be mining, but the cloud here grabs every lump of crap out of the nearest 10-20 sectors, so salvage pays a helluva lot better.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Salvage?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 And maintenance.\xa0 Millie here's old.\xa0 I keep her limping along, but it's truly full time.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Come on.\xa0 I'll show you where the food units are.\xa0 Then you ain't gotta wait on me if you get hungry.
MUSIC
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 So this switch here changes the band - you gotta jiggle it a bit, here, sometimes.\xa0 And this list here shows all the other habitats\xa0 - the ones up top are closest - most reliable for contact.\xa0 Next down, these three - well - I ain't heard from them in a while.\xa0 Not even sure they're still... functional.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Vacated?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 No one vacates.\xa0 Not unless--\xa0 But [trying to convince himself] comm equipment goes down sometimes - a lot - and it's a bitch to get the right parts.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 All the habitats are as old as ...this one?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yeah, they were built for miners - never really meant to be permanent, but you know how things go.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why don't you leave?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Leave?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 If you sell your salvage, it must go somewhere.\xa0 Someone must be buying it.\xa0 Why don't you just go, too?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You say it's a full time job just keeping this place from falling down around your ears.\xa0 So find another place.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 But this is my home.\xa0 I was born right here in Millie.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is falling apart.\xa0 I hope you don't think I plan to stay here with you.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat, then neutral] Course not.\xa0 But you do owe me.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [indignant again] Owe you?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I rescued you.\xa0 I pulled your damn pod in here and I woke you up.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 That's --
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 And I've been feeding you and letting you breathe my air - which ain't cheap, I should point out.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Then let me get out of your air.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 First you gotta ... you know...pay me back.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [suspicious] How, exactly?
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 ELECTRONIC REPAIR NOISES
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Damn!\xa0 Bloody stone-age tools!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CLICK RADIO TURNS ON, VERY CLEAR AND NO STATIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ha!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on radio] What?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [a little winded] I patched your antenna into the router from the pod's emergency signal - some serious interface issues, let me tell you - but you should get much clearer signals now.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on radio] [congratulatory]\xa0 Damn.
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CLANK OF METAL DROPPED
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Damn.
GRANT \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Everything all right?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Half my damn solar cells were damaged in the landing.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 So?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I was thinking I'd jury rig them into something, get you a little extra free power.\xa0 Bloody hell.
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SOLDERING IRON SPARKS, STOPS, FACEPLATE UP
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 That's a nice bead right there.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it.\xa0 Now watch this.\xa0 [command] Chicken!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 VENDING MACHINE RUMBLES, THEN CLUNKS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Holy cow!
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, chicken, but yes - you get the idea.\xa0 I still have to code the machine's other foodstuff options in for voice.\xa0 I'll need to get your voice into the system sometime, too.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [mood dropping] Right.\xa0 O'course.\xa0 So I can do it myself.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [not noticing] Absolutely.\xa0
MUSIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You didn't have any trouble making contact?\xa0 I appear to be at the very arse end of the cloud, so they're out of my range from here.\xa0 Damn these archaic --
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 I... got them.\xa0 You may be disappointed, though.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Helen 74589, and Griselda 80281 ... um... do not ... wish to participate.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What are you saying?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 They have become attached to this place.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How the blazes--?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Griselda declined any details, but Helen seems to find some - companionship in the man Conrad and his children.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [disparaging]\xa0 Children.\xa0 At least we've only got men to deal with.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [iffy note] Yes.
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 MACHINE DISPENSES FOOD
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sit down.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sit?\xa0 Why?\xa0 I always eat standing.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You practically sleep standing.\xa0 I have never seen you relax.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Last time I just sat and waited was...
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [evasive] Don't know.\xa0 doesn't matter.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why not sit?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Too much to do.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Please.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BEAT, THEN SQUEAK OF A CHAIR
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Haven't I helped at all?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Oh, yeah - many hands make light work, like momma used to say, but there's always more to do.\xa0 [beat]\xa0 But the repairs are real good.\xa0 If this keeps up, I can maybe repressurize capsule 14.\xa0 [trails off]
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do you need the space?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hurt but covering] Never hurts - could put some more hydroponics in there, maybe put in some greens and generate oxy of my own.\xa0 Why not?\xa0 It's like minting money.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You'd be better off with algae tanks.\xa0 They take more processing to make them palatable for eating - much more - but they've been genetically manipulated to give a much higher O2 to cubic foot ratio, and they require less nutrient.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I'd have to get it from somewhere--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Shouldn't be difficult - most cruisers have algae tanks, and all you need is a dip to start with and some growth media.\xa0 The tank - well you could pretty much put anything together, if you're not too concerned about sterile edible conditions - but for oxy production, anything that will contain the growth medium and keep the temp stable will do.\xa0 You'll need U-V simulators, too--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yeah.\xa0 [sigh]\xa0 Maybe you can send me some when you get home.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 --you could re-make one room for food plant growth and have the algae - What?\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nothing.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 There's even better technology out there, you know.\xa0 I'm surprised you're not more curious.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, I figure it's like this - of all you've talked about so far, doors that listen and whatever, this algae thing is the only one that seems like it'd fit into my life.\xa0 Everything else is like - so far beyond me, I don't see it mattering much.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 But you would know.\xa0 You would have something to - to work toward.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Something to chase?\xa0 Something to... miss.\xa0 Something to worry about not having?\xa0 Nah.\xa0 I figure, easier just to assume you're gonna tell me you can shit blueberry cobbler - it's all well and good, but I don't wanna do it.\xa0 And goodness knows I don't wanna eat it.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [laughing] Cobbler?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I-I got things to do.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let me help.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [breath] Nah.\xa0 It's all outside - I gotta hawk in some stuff.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [brightening a bit] Outside?\xa0 In a suit?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [very unhappy] Yes.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let me help!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?\xa0 Are you afraid I'll run away?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttered] No, just ...float away.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HE GETS UP
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's my job.\xa0 I have to do it.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do you have two suits?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Many hands make light work.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [thinks, then] No.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Look, I've put in my 100 hours on simulators, plus over 300 hours working on the hull in stagnant space.\xa0 Goodness - you've even got gravity here--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Minimal gravity.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Point is, I know my way around a suit!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [finally snappish] Look!\xa0 If things didn't have to be done, I'd never get into one of those damn things myself!\xa0 There's no way I'd put you in that kind of danger.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You don't - you don't like being out there?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 But - but I enjoy--
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HIS FOOTSTEPS EXIT
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You don't want to be here and that's fine.\xa0 I'd rather see you leave on the cargo ship than [barely controlled] floating off into blackness...
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR SHUTS
MUSIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Can you ask your Lassiter something?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on filter]\xa0 You can talk to him yourself.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I just want to know about suit drifts in this area.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [overly casual]\xa0 Just something Grant said.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ah, here he is - You can help Vanessa, can't you?\xa0 [teasing, fond noise] Hmm?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on filter] Sure.\xa0 What you need? [snickers, then aside]\xa0 Stop that!\xa0\xa0\xa0
MUSIC
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Chicken.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DISPENSER DISPENSES FOOD
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How old were you?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [completely startled] what?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 When your father drifted?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [tightly controlled]\xa0 Why do you care?\xa0 You don't even have a father.\xa0 [beat]\xa0 I should get back to--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.\xa0 Unless you actually physically move me, you're not leaving this room.\xa0 Talk to me.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [mumbled]\xa0 I don't want to talk to you.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [swallows, then sighs, speaks very quietly]\xa0 The more I talk to you, the more I'll miss having someone to talk to - later.\xa0 [sniff] Get out of my way.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.\xa0 I've lost people in space too - I did my time in the corps, shipboard accidents... \xa0I- I understand.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's different with family.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Show me.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I was 12 when my father's line got tangled, and he had to cut it - then something in the piece he was salvaging blew, and - it took forever for him to be completely out of sight - he kept talking right up to the edge of radio range....
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [pause, then sincere, if dry] I feel for you.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Thank you.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I wish I knew what to say.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 That's all right.\xa0 [deep breath]\xa0 I've got work to do.\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HE WALKS AWAY
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your food?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HE DOESN'T SLOW - DOOR SHUTS
MUSIC
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How do you talk to them?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [arch] It's not always in the talking.\xa0 What's wrong?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I want to - offer him sympathy, but he just walks out of the room.\xa0 He says he... just wants to ignore me until I leave.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Are you still planning to leave?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Aren't you?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well.\xa0 No.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?\xa0 Is it the sex?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well... That's part of it - you have to admit it's kind of fun.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I don't - haven't.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Maybe that's why he's avoiding you.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 But don't you want to go back to your job?\xa0 Your home?\xa0 Don't you want your life to have some meaning?
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Meaning?\xa0 What meaning?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I was on the way to making full chief engineer - and I would have been the youngest to reach that grade.\xa0 Ever,
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dry] You would have impressed everyone.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Don't talk like that about my goal.\xa0 The point of ... everything.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 And who benefited from this goal?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I would.\xa0 The ship would.\xa0 Everyone on it.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 And someday someone would reach that rank even younger, and when you retired, someone else who could do the job just as well would take over, and no one would even remember you.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I would--
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 Unless you did something like - I don't know - discover an alien race or die to save a bunch of people - but how often does that really happen?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I once prevented an explosion because I spotted a faulty valve.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 And I'll bet every person you saved came and thanked you.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [somewhat dissatisfied]\xa0 The point of preventing a disaster is so that no one knows they were ever in danger.
YASMIN\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh]
MUSIC
AMBIANCE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0SPACESUIT.\xa0 BUZZ, BREATHER, ECHO
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BOTH - this scene - on filter throughout
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You needed help--? \xa0Oh!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's jammed.\xa0 I can't shift it alone.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I see.\xa0 Hold on.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 METAL IMPACT
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Is your line secure?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes.\xa0 I checked and double checked.\xa0 Hmm.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do you think the person inside is still all right?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Won't know if she is till we clear some of this debris.\xa0 [beat]\xa0 Looks like it still has some power.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Help me shift this plate - I think it'll clear some of this.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hold on - No, not that.\xa0 There's too much leaning on it, and we don't know which way it'll fall.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 What then?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Um.... This.\xa0 I think this is the key piece, and I don't see anything it can bring down with it.
BOTH\xa0\xa0\xa0 [Grunt with effort]
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 A BUNCH OF STUFF SHIFTS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ah hell.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What? [seeing the damage] Oh.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 At least we should be able to get it clear, now.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let's lighten the load - get the corpse out of there.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You want to just dump her out, right here?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why not?\xa0 She's dead.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 She still deserves some respect.\xa0 I'll do it, if you don't want to be bothered.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do what?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Bury her.
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH SHUTS, HELMETS COME OFF.\xa0 SOUND OF REMOVING SPACE SUITS
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SOMETHING DROPS
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sharp gasp]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hey?\xa0 What's wrong?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [in pain] Nothing.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let me-- [sigh] You shoulda come back in earlier - your fingers are nearly blue.\xa0 I told you the heat circulation in that suit ain't up to snuff.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I'm fine.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Give me your hands.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let me warm your hands fro you.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BEAT, THEN SKIN ON SKIN, AS HE SLOWLY CHAFES HER HAND.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 How do you do that?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hmm?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasp] Your hands are... warm.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 They just come that way.\xa0 Here, hold your hand here while I--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 In your jacket?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just do it.\xa0 Give me the other one.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLOW CHAFING AGAIN
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 They're fine now.\xa0 I'll go and--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I don't like that nail color there.\xa0 Can you feel this?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yes.\xa0 I'm perfectly capable of--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 This?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [a bit more irritated] Yes.\xa0 I know what the--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 This?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 --difficulties with cold can be, and--\xa0 what?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 This?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [startled] No.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Here.\xa0 [puts her finger into his mouth]
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [long gasp, startled, amazed, and aroused]
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [talking around her finger] Stop squirming.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Let - let go.\xa0 Let go!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Need to get the circulation back.\xa0 Heat and suction.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ahh!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLIGHT STRUGGLE, SHE PULLS HER HAND FREE
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [mouth noise] Look.\xa0 Whatever it is you don't like about this - is it worth losing a finger over?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [long beat, erratic breathing]\xa0 No.\xa0 [gasp as he takes her finger again]\xa0
MUSIC
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [talking on the radio]\xa0 Thanks for the heads up Lassiter, but it'll happen or it won't.\xa0 Glad you're doing well, and... and congrats.
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 We're real happy.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Out.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CHAIR TURNS
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [startled] Oh!
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Congrats?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Lassiter and Yasmin are pregnant.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [bothered] Oh.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, they're pleased.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I didn't mean to sound... I'm just confused.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, it won't be for much longer.\xa0 Quarterly cargo ship will be here in the next couple of hours.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Don't worry - by my calculations - we're pretty much square, in fact you're a bit ahead, hooking up those solar panels and all--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 So I'll just cover the cost of your trip, at least as far as--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant!
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Damn, now you got me lost.\xa0
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant, I--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I appreciate your help here... Vanessa.\xa0 Got me ahead of my schedule.\xa0 [cracking a little]\xa0 Um, I should go and get the cargo ready.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CHAIR SQUEAK, FOOTSTEPS, THEY STOP
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant.\xa0 I need to know something.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Whatever I can help with.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Would you--\xa0 Do you-- [a breath] What will you do?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 When?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 If - when - if I go.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Same as I done before.\xa0 Nothing's gonna \xa0change.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You should have kept Yasmin or Helen - they love it here.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yasmin loves Lassiter. And Helen--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [snapping him back] Grant.\xa0 Why me?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttered] You're ...the prettiest.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I ...am?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yup.\xa0 I looked at you and I knew that if I was ever gonna take a chance, it'd have to be on that one.\xa0 [sniff]
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Tell me you want me to stay.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 N-no.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You don't - want - ?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 You go home.\xa0 Have a good life.\xa0 I got cargo to move.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HE SHOVES PAST HER
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO TURNS ON
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant?\xa0 You there?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Um - yeah.\xa0
LASSITER \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0How'd it go?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I'm doing all right.\xa0 Even ordered an algae starter culture.\xa0
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 But your ...lady--?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Oh, I'm still ahead, even after her ticket--
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ticket?\xa0 Ticket?\xa0 You let her leave?
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Course.\xa0 [breaking down] She - sh-she don't belong to me.\xa0
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 She woulda gotten used to it.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I had to get used to being all alone.\xa0 How could I do that to--?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 --to me?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CHAIR TURNS FAST
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 What-- What happened?\xa0 Did they-?\xa0 Did you miss it?
LASSITER\xa0\xa0\xa0 Grant?\xa0 Grant?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 I decided there was a better use for the cost of my passage - negotiated for three more solar panels, and a couple more oxygen tanks for the suits.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 I don't understand.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 It was what Yasmin said, about being important to someone.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 But I never said you were--
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You said it every time you couldn't look me in the face.\xa0
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 But what do we do now?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 We build a tank for the algae.\xa0 Many hands make light work.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 Many hands make light work.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Oh, yes, and--
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 And?
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 This--
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 NOISY KISS, RUSTLE OF AN EMBRACE
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not bad.\xa0 You could use a little practice.
GRANT\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasping a bit for breath, making a joke] Well - I may have had my 100 - and then some - hours of simulation, but I never actually took one of those there out for a spin.
VANESSA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [chuckles] Wait till you see the rest of the equipment...!
CLOSER
OLIVIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Now that you know how to find us, you'll have to come back.\xa0 Maybe next week?\xa0 Don't be a stranger - we have enough of those already...
\xa0