THE ALPHA CENTAURI PROJECT SCRIPT by Marco Santini Read Free Book Online Page B

Caravels, meet for the first
time.
    They are all standing, with the ADMIRAL (digital
being, apparently 50 years old) at the center, in full dress,
turned towards the audience.
    The streets and squares, the stadiums and theatres
are crammed with people.
    A SOFT MUSIC spreads; music which speaks of the hopes
of a people, their brotherhood and magnificent destiny.
    Now the Alpha Centauri anthem is heard everywhere.
SILENCE follows.
    admiral
    The moment that we all have dreamt of, has arrived.
Ten years ago, at the beginning of the Alpha Centauri project, our
Government did not want to grant us autonomy.
    But we held on, because a people doesn't need
obstacles, but stimulating laws. Most of all a people needs the
freedom to choose its own future, at least for a matter of
survival.
    And we are destined to govern, since four light years
will separate us from our homeland, a distance sufficient to make
any influence impossible.
    They have understood, and today we are celebrating
the birth of the Alpha Centauri Republic, the fifth state of the
Confederation after the Earth, the Moon, Mars and Net.
    beat
    We are going to face our future with serenity and
determination. The Martian experience has strengthened our will and
has allowed us to develop the techniques for widespread
colonization.
    Above all it is the ultimate aim of our mission to
guide us. Alpha Centauri is an important step, but only the first
one.
    The population replies with LENGTHY APPLAUSE.
    ADMIRAL
    Today I have the honor of presenting the parliament
and the government to you...
    The Admiral staggers and props himself up against the
table, but a moment later, his strength gone, falls to the
floor.
    Still conscious, with bright eyes, he stares at the
audience that is affected by the same disease at the same time.
    EXT. ALPHACITY -- MOMENTS LATER
    Terror spreads through the vast crowds. They are
about to start a desperate flight, when the same illness reaches
them.
    After a few minutes, they all are lying on the
ground, with glassy looks.
    Everyone can see a man dressed in dark clothes.
    voice (o.S.)
    I am taking possession of your lives.
    The inhabitants fall fast asleep. When they open
their eyes again, they look around with a puzzled expression,
wondering why they are lying down.
    They stand up without effort, not at all troubled;
all of them with the same expression.
    INT. flagship bridge -- DAY
    In the middle of the bridge, shine the holograms
transmitted from Alphacity.
    Some androids in blue uniform are observing them IN
DEEP SILENCE.
    soldier
    A viral attack of unprecedented power.
    C573Y
    It seems to be finished. Let's start the population
checkup.
    The screens fill up with statistics: VIRUS INACTIVE
AGAIN. PEOPLE'S MEMORIES AND PERSONALITIES WIPED OUT OR PROFOUNDLY
MODIFIED. ONLY A FEW HAVE ESCAPED THE INFECTION.
    C573Y reaches the middle of the hall.
    C573Y
    Equip the troops with antiviral protection and send
them to Alphacity. Meanwhile, the medical corps get ready to
intervene.
    The soldiers coming from another server, materialize
in the town. C573Y follows the events from the screens.
    At first the inhabitants observe them from a
distance, speaking IN LOW VOICES.
    Then they begin gathering in groups that move
forward, threatening the newcomers with their fists and striking up
more and more aggressive slogans.
    C573Y
    Get ready to fight.
    The troops take up positions. In unison, the masses
launch an assault everywhere in Alphacity.
    The first rows fall under the shots of the
paralyzers, but the following waves engage the soldiers in
ferocious hand-to-hand fighting. It's chaos.
    C573Y
    Too many; immediate withdrawal. Introduce the
soporific programs.
    The troops vanish. Then the inhabitants start falling
to the ground, one after the other, like flies.
    The streets and the squares fill up with an expanse
of bodies.
    C573Y
    Activate the combat androids to garrison the
Caravels.
    Flash of the armory where hundreds of war robots are
stored.
    SOLDIER
    They are out