owen and the aliens - episode 2 - "they're gone"

7/30/2019 Owen and the Aliens - Episode 2 - "They're Gone"

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Owen and the Aliens

Theyre Gone

Written by

Elliott Davidson


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ACT I

FADE IN:

INT. JUMP RING - CONCOURSE - SPACE

Sirens sound. Aliens run around like terrified idiots.

The kids try to push through the crowds.


Security officers look amongst themselves, clueless.

INT. JUMP RING - TEST CHAMBER - SPACE

The Admiral and the technicians look up from the monitors,drawn away by warning lights and the sirens.

EXT. JUMP RING - SPACE

Pirate raider ships fan out, moving towards the far rim of

the Jump Ring.

The massive command ship remains in the center, with the

small fighters buzzing around it.

INT. COMMAND SHIP - BRIDGE - SPACE

The bridge of the command ship is appropriately shadow-

filled and foreboding.

Pirates man various stations. Multiple views of the Jump

Ring and raider ships fill an expansive viewscreen.

A robotic hand, attached to an as yet unseen figure, raps

its fingers against the armrest of a central command chair.

MALEONAS (V.O.)Engage the drills.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIPS - SPACE

Large panels on the sides of the raiders ship pull back,

revealing what look like oversized drill bits.

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EXT. JUMP RING - TERMINUS - SPACE

The raider ships come to a stop in a circular formation

around the Terminus, one end of the tubular Jump Ring.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - SPACE

The drills extend towards the Jump Ring.

INT. JUMP RING - TERMINUS - SPACE

A shrill metallic screeching fills the Jump Ring.


The drill bits churn through the stations exterior wall.


One of the drill bits punches through the exterior wall.


The command ships viewscreen shows all of the raider ships

in position, now attached to the Jump Ring Terminus.

MALEONAS (V.O.)

Begin boarding.


The center of the drills split apart, opening up like bio-

mechanical flowers. The drill shafts are hollow tunnels.

Pirates - a wide range of alien species - charge out of the

tunnels and into the Jump Ring.


A squadron of elite Security Commandos enter the test

chamber, heading straight for the Admiral.


Pirates begin to loot the Jump Ring, grabbing machines,

robots, anything of value.

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They shoot laser guns wildly, more for show than effect. It

is utter chaos.


In another section, pirates stick up helpless aliens for

their possessions, equipment, jewellery.


The kids follow Aralla through the madhouse. Owen doesnt

need to be told to keep up.


Dr. Vroon pushes the metal box through the crazed masses.

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL SPACE

Aliens push and shove, trying to get back to their ships.


Civilian ships begin to flee the station.


COMMANDER ROFOLO steps forward from the squad of Commandos.

ADMIRAL

Commander Rofolo, what is going on

out there?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Security feed, sir.

Commander Rofolo hits a few buttons on a techno wristband,

and a large holographic display appears.

Pirates in different locations throughout the Jump Ring

flash on the display, cycling from one area to the next.

ADMIRAL

Pirates.

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The Security officers now face off against the pirates.

Both sides take cover behind walls, pillars, overturned

stands. Both sides are horrible shots.

The pirate lasers are sleep rays. Once hit, Security

officers go limp, falling into unconscious clumps.

The Security lasers, meanwhile, are freeze rays, stunning

the pirates, locking them in place like living statues.

Dozens of officers pile up on the floor, snoring loudly.

Others hide behind their napping cadres.

The pirates similarly take advantage of their fallenbrothers, using those frozen in place as additional cover.


Aralla leads the kids through the crowds and the impromptu

war zone, pirates and Security zapping away at one another.

A pack of pirates make their way towards the kids.

ARALLA

Get behind there!

The kids jump behind an overturned kiosk.

OWEN

Is this normal for you guys?!

JOE

What? No, no, of course not.

TESSARACTA

Truthfully, it is a little much.

The pirates move past, the kids unnoticed.

ARALLA

Were good, keep moving!

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INT. JUMP RING - HOVERJET SHOPS - SPACE

Pirates jump onto hoverjets, short them out with electrical

devices, and ride off, hooting and hollering like buffoons.


Aliens in dignified attire are surrounded by pirates.

PIRATE

Dont you all look important.


Pirates pile stolen goods at the entrances to the tunnels

before rushing off into the Jump Ring for more.


Officer Urkfurk and a few of his Security buddies huddle

behind a random stall, pirate lasers zipping overhead.

One of the officers gets tagged. He collapses into a

snoring heap at Urkfurks feet. Urkfurk grumbles.

EXT. PIRATE COMMAND SHIP - SPACE

A small, elegant shuttle detaches from the command ship.


The shuttle makes a course from the command ship towards

one of the raider ships.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - SPACE

The shuttle docks with the upper area of the raider ship,

near its bridge, above the extended drill tunnels.


Out from one of the tunnels marches CAPTAIN MALEONAS.

He is lion-esque, his powerful mane flowing over

utilitarian pirate garb. A web of scars runs across one

side of his face, accompanying his robotic arm.

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All nearby pirates face him and stand at the ready.

PIRATES

Captain Maleonas!

Maleonas looks around at the spoils, grinning, triumphant.


The Admiral and Commander Rofolo continue to scan the

rotating security feed. It settles on Maleonas.

ADMIRAL

Maleonas. Where is this?

COMMANDER ROFOLOThe Jump Rings Terminus, sir.

ADMIRAL

Head there immediately. He doesnt

get off the Ring. Understand?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Yes, sir!

COMMANDOS

Yes, sir!


The kids weave through the crowds, leaving slumbering

Security officers and immobile pirates behind.


Dr. Vroon hustles along, pushing the hovering box - no easy

task for the old man in such frantic conditions.

A pair of pirates jump out ahead of him, then another

handful from behind. The group advances towards Dr. Vroon.

PIRATE

What have you got there?

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Pirates and Security still shoot at one another as the

Commandos arrive on the scene.

Commander Rofolo guides his squad, single file, gunsnotched tight. Theyre dead-eyes, picking off pirates left,

right and center - zap, zap zap!

Fifty paces back, a half dozen Commandos escort the Admiral

as he marches fearlessly through the Jump Ring.

Security officers pop their heads out. Seeing the way

cleared for them, they join the pack.


The Pirate Scout, hidden in the shadows, watches the

Commandos handiwork from afar.

He pulls out his communicator.

PIRATE SCOUT

Weve got a problem.


Maleonas oversees the progress of the raid, looking over astolen techno item. Another pirate approaches.

PIRATE

Captain Maleonas, weve just got

word that the Security Admiral is

on his way.

MALEONAS

Still trying to catch me, Admiral?

(to pirate)

Dont worry, well be long gonebefore he and his reinforcements

show up.

PIRATE

No, sir, hes here already. Hes

on board the Ring.

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MALEONAS

Hes here?

PIRATE

Yes, sir.

Maleonas stares at the spoils, clenches his robotic hand.

The techno equipment bursts into pieces.

MALEONAS

Order the retreat.

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL SPACE

The crowds have thinned. Laser fire echoes in the distance.

The kids appear, spot the lifts back down to their ships,and explode with nervous laughter.

LOOTHU

That was all a little too close

for my liking.

KOBOR

You said it, squirmy.

ARALLA

Joe, going to have to cut thevisit short, Im afraid.

JOE

Yeah, yeah, totally with you.

Aralla, Kobor, Tessaracta, and Loothu are already on the

move as Owen and Joe reach the door to their lift.

ARALLA

Later!

Arallas group, a dozen doors down, offer perfunctory waves

before entering their lift.

Owen and Joe do the same.

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INT. JUMP RING - ELEVATOR LIFT - SPACE

Owen and Joe stand before the sliding door that seals off

the elevator lift from Joes ship. Joe punches away at a

nearby console.

JOE

Hows that for your first trip to

a Jump Ring?

OWEN

No comment.

JOE

Why isnt this working?

(takes closer look)

Lift connector disengaged? What?

It takes a moment to hit him, then Joes face goes slack.

JOE

They took my ship. They took my

ship!

Owen buries his face in his hands.

Joe runs his hands through his hair-tentacles, squeezes his

eyes shut, then grabs Owen by the jumpsuit.

JOE

Come on.

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL - SPACE

Joe exits the lift with Owen in tow.

JOE

Well have to catch a ride with -

Down the way, Arallas group has reappeared as well. But

now theyre escorted by pirates.

Owen and Joe duck back into the entrance to their lift as

their friends are hauled away.

FADE OUT.

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ACT II

FADE IN:

INT. JUMP RING - LOWER LEVEL - SPACE

Owen and Joe, hidden behind the lift entrance, watch as the

the other kids struggle with the pirates.

Kobor shoves one of the pirates and sends him flying.

The other pirates laugh at their comrade, but raise their

laser guns to Kobor. Kobor stands down reluctantly.

Aralla, Kobor, Tessaracta and Loothu are led away.

Owen steps out from the lift.

JOE

Owen, where are you going?

Owen looks at Joe as if this were the stupidest question in

the world.

OWEN

After your friends.


The pirates are on the run, hauling booty, prisoners - and

some of their frozen coconspirators - with them.


Maleonas directs the pirates as they ferry their spoils

into the tunnels and onto one of the pirate ships.

Amongst the prisoners is Dr. Vroon. Amongst the booty, the

mysterious metallic box.


Aralla and her friends are herded forward by their captors.

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Owen and Joe hustle through the mostly deserted station.

JOE

Owen, this is really not a goodidea. This, this you leave to

Security.

OWEN

You see them right now? You see

any of them?

Joe doesnt have to look.

JOE

No.

OWEN

Me neither.

JOE

What do you think we can do?

OWEN

I have no idea. But we cant just

sit back and watch them get hauled

away.

JOE

Yeah, yeah, okay, fine. Lets go.

Just, just keep your distance.


The Commandos, the Admiral, and the Security officers have

picked up momentum as the pirates abandon the Jump Ring.

Commander Rofolo checks his wrist band security feed.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Admiral? I dont think were going

to reach them in time.

ADMIRAL

We can make it close.

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COMMANDER ROFOLO

Thats not what I mean, sir. The

pirates have breached the

stations exterior walls. If we

dont stop them, close is the lastthing we want to be.

ADMIRAL

Likelihood?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

All but certain.

ADMIRAL

Recommendation?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Seal off the Terminus.

The Admiral stops, exhales aggressively, grits his teeth.

ADMIRAL

Do it.


Owen and Joe sneak behind walls and abandoned kiosks.

Up ahead, the Terminus is empty but for the last of the

pirates and the scant items yet to be brought on board.

This includes Aralla and her friends.

The captured kids make one last, futile stand against the

pirates before theyre prodded into one of the tunnels.

JOE

Owen, if you think were followingthem onto one of those ships, you

are crazy.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HOLD - SPACE

The ship is dank, rusty, dripping with grease and

condensation. The Jump Ring is pristine in comparison.

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The ships hold is rectangular, with the drill tunnels

along only one of the rooms long walls. A main entrance is

situated at one of the short ends.

Booty, prisoners and pirates already fill the hold, but thelast additions are brought on board.

Aralla and her friends are shoved into a small pack of

fellow prisoners, which includes Dr. Vroon. All of them

are, understandably, very much on edge.

TESSARACTA

Well isnt this just wonderful.

KOBOR

Real inviting.

Maleonas enters and addresses a handful of nearby pirates.

MALEONAS

Get the prisoners in the brig. And

ready my shuttle.


The last of the pirates enter the nearest drill tunnel.

Owen and Joe stare at the gaping drill tunnels that lead

onto one of the pirate ships.

JOE

Now what?

Fifty feet behind the two boys, blast doors lower from the

ceiling. Interlocking metal teeth bite into the floor.

The boys watch, stupidly, as the Terminus is sealed shut.

JOE

Now that is not a good thing.

Owen and Joe turn back to the drill-tunnels.

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JOE

Owen, you know about space,

vacuums, hull breaches, all that

good stuff?

OWENTotally.

JOE

Yeah I dont think were going to

want to be in here when those

ships leave.

The tunnel begins to close.

OWEN / JOE

Ahhhh!!

The two boys shoot forward, rushing towards the tunnel as

its petal-like drill tip draws shut.

But theyre far too late. The tunnels shut tight. All they

can do is slam their fists against it.

JOE

No, no, no!

Owen looks down the Terminus. Two tunnels remain open.

OWEN

(pointing)

Joe!

Joe sees the other tunnels. They charge towards them. The

nearer of the two begins to close.

The boys sprint towards the tunnel, faster and faster, but

the drill tip has almost come together.

They reach the second tunnel. It hasnt sealed itself shut,

but theyre not squeezing through.

Owen and Joe have already set their sights on the last

drill-tunnel as it begins to close.

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OWEN

Dont stop, dont stop!

They pump their feet. Theyre almost there.

The drill tip is a third closed, the opening shrinking.

But they make it. Owen and Joe jump up, grab ahold of the

drills lower segments, and hoist themselves up and in.

The drill tip clenches shut.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BRIG - SPACE

Aralla and her friends, Dr. Vroon and a few stately looking

aliens are shoved into a dingy holding cell.

Metal bars lower from the ceiling. Kobor gives them a

futile shake.

KOBOR

Not liking this, boss.

ARALLA

No disagreement.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - BOARDING TUNNEL - SPACE

Owen and Joe lean against the tunnel wall, panting.

OWEN

That was close. Wow that was

close.

The tunnel begins to retract into the ship, forcing the

boys into the ship with it.

JOE

Oh come on, seriously?


The raider ships begin to pull away from the Ring.

Debris is sucked violently out into space.

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The raider ships move away from the Jump Ring.

INT. JUMP RING - SECURITY COMMAND - SPACE

The Admiral and the Commandos file into a Security command

center, followed tentatively by the Security officers.

The Commandos quickly activate and man the myriad of

viewscreens. All feeds reveal the same scene: raider ships

pulling away from the Ring.

The Admiral turns to the Security officers, setting his

eyes on Officer Urkfurk.

ADMIRALYou.

URKFURK

Sir?

ADMIRAL

Does this station have any fighter

craft?

URKFURK

Yes, sir.

ADMIRAL

Man as many as you can.


The pirate armada comes together, raider ships, small

pirate fighter craft, stolen civilian ships, all grouping

around the command ship.

Other vessels continue to take off from the Ring, mostentering hyperspace, a scant few taking the wormhole home.


The hold is mostly crammed full of stolen goods, but a

number of pirates still mull about.

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Owen and Joe enter the dark innards of the ship, hiding

behind a nearby bulk of techno treasure, alert and on edge.

INT. JUMP RING - PILOT LOADING BAY - SPACE

Dozens of detached fighter craft cockpits line the floor ofthe loading bay, canopies open and waiting for pilots.

The Rings Security officers, including Urkfurk, race

towards the cockpits. The officers jump in and strap

themselves down as the canopies close shut.

INT. SECURITY FIGHTER COCKPIT - SPACE

Urkfurk, just barely able to fit in the small space, smacks

away at the fighters controls.

The cockpit drops below the floor of the loading bay,

travelling downwards on a dimly lit guide track.

Urkfurk grumbles.

EXT. JUMP RING - OUTER SURFACE - SPACE

A pack of small Galactic Security Force fighters cling to

the underside of the Jump Ring.

Mechanical arms ferry the pod-like cockpits from theinnards of the Ring and lock them onto the fighter crafts.

Manned, the fighter crafts disengage, one after another.


The fighters fly towards the pirates in formation.

The Security ships engage the pirate fleet, clashing with

the small pirate fighters, zooming around the hulking

raider ships like wasps.


Maleonas storms onto the bridge of the command ship and

throws himself into his chair.

He surveys the viewscreen and the state of his forces.

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MALEONAS

(growling)

Find the farthest rendezvous point

we can get to at masked speeds,

relay it on to the others, and getus out of here.

PIRATE

Sir!


Laser fire fills the vacuum of space as Security and pirate

fighters target one another.

And just ask quickly as the skirmish had begun, the piratecommand ship enters hyperspace, stretching infinitely

before blinking out of sight.

Its followed by one of the raider ships, then a second,

and a third. The rest arent far behind.

The pirate fighter ships are next, disengaging from

Security, pointing towards the direction of escape, and

disappearing into hyperspace.

The Security ships are left behind, the only ships movingin the Jump Rings vicinity.


The Admiral and Commander Rofolo watch the now abandoned

Security ships looping around aimlessly in space.

ADMIRAL

Have our ships track their

hyperspace trails and follow the

pirates.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Yes, sir.

Commander Rofolo brings up a variety of scans.

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COMMANDER ROFOLO

Sir? Theyve masked their jump

trails. Theyre gone.

The Admiral grips the edge of the terminal, fuming.

ADMIRAL

Maleonas.

FADE OUT.

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ACT III

FADE IN:

EXT. TERRA NOVA DESERT - DAY

Owens rover remains at Joes landing site, but its no

longer alone.

A team of scientists in white jumpsuits sweep the desert

with techno do-dads.

Most of them flock around the tracks in the dirt left from

the spaceships landing gear and propulsion systems.

Another one of the colonists inspects Owens rover.

INT. ROVER DAY

The scientist reaches into the rovers cockpit and

activates the dash controls. A user profile appears: Owen.

INT. COLONY LIVING QUARTERS DAY

Mrs. Adamson taps away at an ultra-thin transparent

touchscreen, working on something or other.

The front door to the living quarters slides open and Mr.Adamson enters.

MRS. ADAMSON

Hi, honey.

MR. ADAMSON

Hi, dear.

They embrace, sharing a cute peck on the lips.

MRS. ADAMSONHows the bio-generator?

MR. ADAMSON

Humming along nicely.

MRS. ADAMSON

Thats nice. Heard from Owen?

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MR. ADAMSON

Nope, not a peep. But Im sure

hes fine. Probably on his way

back home this very moment.


The two boys remain near the tunnel entrances, hidden,

crouched with their back to their pilfered booty cover.

Owen stares at the walls, eyes unfocused.

JOE

Owen?

No response.

JOE

Owen?

Same result. Joe gives Owen a shove. Owen snaps out of it.

OWEN

Huh?

JOE

You with me here, buddy?

Owen takes in the shadowy alien space ship.

OWEN

I certainly am.

Joe peeks his head out and watches as the last of the

pirates exit, unknowingly leaving Owen and Joe behind.

JOE

So this, this aint great.

Joe hunkers back down beside Owen.

JOE

I dont see the others in here.

Probably locked up somewhere else.

But were clear.

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The boys stand up.

JOE

Ships got to come out of

hyperspace at some point, and

hopefully Security will be rightbehind. Weve just got to get off

this ship when it happens.

OWEN

Unescorted.

JOE

Yeah. So do we stay put, or do we

take a look around?

Owen exhales like hes preparing to climb a mountain.

OWEN

Lets find your friends. Stay

hidden, but find your friends.

JOE

Alright. Lets see if we cant

suss em out.

Owen and Joe make their way towards the exit.


Pirate guards sit on the liberated side of the bars, feet

up, playing something like an alien card game.

Arallas gaze roams the brig, steady and methodical.

Kobor leans against the bars, arms crossed. He stares at

the pirate guards, muttering to himself.

Loothu waves sheepishly at the other captive aliens.

LOOTHU

Hello.

Sadly, he doesnt get much of a response.

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KOBOR

(to Aralla)

We waiting this out?

ARALLA

Dont know what other option wehave at the moment.

Tessaracta walks up to Aralla and Kobor.

TESSARACTA

This simply will not do.

KOBOR

Easy there, Tess.

He glances at the handful of regal alien prisoners, thennods his head at the pirates.

KOBOR

Probably best to keep the royal-

pain-in-the-butt routine in check.

TESSARACTA

I dont plan on drawing it to

their attention, Kobor, but thank

you kindly for the suggestion.

The kids dont notice, but Dr. Vroons eyes are on them.


Security officers walk the concourse, surveying the

aftermath of the pirate raid.

Debris litters the floor. Scorch marks are everywhere.

A few merchants tend to their stalls and shops, but the

Ring is otherwise vacant.

Urkfurk is just as stunned as the other officers.


The Commandos continue to work at the viewscreens as the

Admiral consults with Commander Rofolo.

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ADMIRAL

Have you found any trace of the

pirates hyperspace tunnelling?

Anything at all?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

None, sir. Complete mask.

ADMIRAL

Unfortunate ... but, that should

limit their movement, and speed.

The Admiral leans in closer to the bank of viewscreens.

ADMIRAL

Do we have their departuretrajectories?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Yes, sir.

ADMIRAL

How many known gravitational

bodies are on that course, and can

be reached with masked propulsion?

COMMANDER ROFOLOOn it.

Rofolo slides in front of one of the viewscreens, hands

furiously skipping across the controls.

COMMANDER ROFOLO

Calculated, sir.

ADMIRAL

And?

COMMANDER ROFOLO

... one hundred and seventy-three.

The Admiral winces.

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ADMIRAL

Organize the search. Start with

the nearest locations. This isnt

over yet.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - ENGINEERING WALKWAY - SPACE

The ship is utilitarian: conduits, electrical circuits and

various mechanisms are obscured but still visible behind

gratings and mesh.

Owen and Joe slink along the dark engineering walkway.

Heavy footsteps clang against the metal floor.

The boys frantically look around the hallway. Owen spots a

small recess nearby, points at it hurriedly, then shovesJoe into the space before following behind.

Owen and Joe stand motionless, backs against the wall.

A handful of pirates walk right past the boys, oblivious to

the intruders. As quickly as they appeared, theyre gone.

Once alone, the boys can breath again. The two soldier on.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HALLWAY - SPACE

Owen and Joe near a doorway. Light and muffled pirate

chatter spill out of the room.

The boys shuffle towards the door and take a look inside.


Close to the door, three pirate guards continue to play

their alien card game.

On the other side of the bars: the prisoners, including theother kids, all quiet and sitting on the floor.


Joe and Owen trade anxious smiles.

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The third pirate grabs the cards and begins to deal.

THIRD PIRATE

Well if we didnt mask our trails

good, that might happen anyway.


Joe slumps against the wall and snorts humorlessly.

JOE

Masked their trails.

OWEN

What? What does that mean?

JOE

It means ... it means no one is

ever going to find us.

The sound of the ships engines changes, winding down in

tone, and Joe picks up on it.

JOE

And now were coming out of

hyperspace. Brilliant.

EXT. JUNGLE PLANET ORBIT - SPACE

The pirate ships exit hyperspace, re-compressing above a

crimson and purple planet. The planets expansive jungle is

like an angry, all encompassing bruise.

The ships head for the planet en masse.


Joes having a moment, lightly hitting his forehead againstthe wall.

More footsteps echo from unseen pirate boots.

OWEN

Joe, were landing, or docking, or

whatever. Weve got to go.

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Owen grabs a non-communicative Joe and gets moving.

EXT. JUNGLE CLEARING - DAY

Abandoned ships and techno junk, rusted and derelict,litter the jungle clearing.

The raider ships fly towards the clearing, touch down, and

form a large ring around the edge of the open area.

The fighter crafts and stolen ships follow, leaving the

center of the clearing open.

The massive command ship looms above the clearing.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HOLD - DAY

Owen and Joe enter and snake their way through the spoils

to the far side of the hold.

Then a heavy rumble reverberates throughout the room. A

horizontal seam of light appears on the apparently

innocuous and barren wall opposite the drill tunnels.

EXT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - DAY

The side of the raider ship opens. Its a loading ramp thatdrops down to the dirt like a draw bridge.

INT. PIRATE RAIDER SHIP - HOLD - DAY

Sunlight floods the hold. Owen and Joe stare at the crimson

jungle that waits beyond the ship.

OWEN

Were on our own, arent we?

JOEWe are on our own.

FADE OUT.

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owen and the aliens - episode 2 - "they're gone"

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