Starship Iris 3.07 Rethink

KREJJH

Folks, this is your pilot speaking. We are bearing down fast on Klaysnay. I predict we make landfall within the next ten minutes. Please look out your windows and—uh. I can’t. I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything dashing or cool. Just—let’s get our friend back, okay? Krejjh out.

ARKADY

Thanks, Krejjh. Okay, I know we’ve all got a lot on our minds right now, but let’s break this down one more time. Mission review. What do we know?

PARK

Somehow, someone built a backdoor into the Regime’s defense software. Sana’s biometrics can unlock the program and take out the drones. We’ve got her planetary coordinates from when she called. Regime’s coming down fast. 

ARKADY

Thanks, Park. Any word from Thasia?

PARK

We still can’t get ahold of them. Our forces have their orders to start the attack at noon. If we can’t clear the way, we have no means to tell them.

MCCABE

We have an hour, twenty seven minutes. Factoring in that we won’t have instant access to the security site that will scan her eyes, we have about an hour twenty minutes.

BRIAN

Klaysnay has been abandoned for maybe a hundred years. The overgrowth will make it harder to run any kind of land vehicle down there.

VIOLET

The Regime won’t gut the whole planet because it’s full of xenofauna and there are a lot of regulations about first contact. Sample gathering and so on.

MCCABE

They—sorry, having your life prioritized below animals doesn’t—

ARKADY

I know and I fully agree. “They—”?

MCCABE

They were arriving as we disconnected, so they’ve had a head start. That’s their advantage.

PARK

But she’ll be hiding from them. She won’t be hiding from us. That’s our advantage.

BRIAN

Thanks to Krejjh’s sources, we’ve got a pretty good map of the planet. Here’s that. Here’s as far as we think Tripathi could’ve made it inland. 

VIOLET

We’re assuming a water landing because she’s—y’know, still alive. 

ARKADY

We know she found some way to transmit to us. Brian, I want you and Krejjh searching for whatever comms she used.

BRIAN

Right. She referred to seeing the Regime “down on” the beach so we think it must be on something like higher ground. 

MCCABE

Eliminating these islands. Leaving this one.

ARKADY

What kind of forces would the Regime send?

MCCABE

Any agents in the area would be pinged, as well as the closest Armada.

PARK

To be clear, we want to get there, find her, and leave before the Armada arrives. Uh, most of them have tanks.

BRIAN

Hey folks, how will we know if we succeed?

ARKADY

We succeed if we get her back in time.

BRIAN

I mean, like, we can’t reach out to the people who need us to do this because we don’t know who they are. Regime news wouldn’t cover a successful attack and our news is spotty. How long will we just not know if we’ve done it?

ARKADY

That’s a problem for the future. Arkady Patel to Krejjh. Hey, how are we doing?

KREJJH

Folks, this is your pilot speaking. Sorry about, uh, really fell down on the job for a sec there.

VIOLET

Krejjh, it’s fine. I think we’re all having a lot of feelings right now.

KREJJH

Well, we are coming up on Klaysnay. Landing soon, landing stealthy, landing with catlike tread. Woof woof! Krejjh out.

ARKADY

Liu, you got your tools?

VIOLET

Hopefully everything I’ll need. You?

ARKADY

Locked and loaded. Park, McCabe, Brian?

PARK

There’s no “ready” in this situation but: we are armed. 

BRIAN

I think the—I think it’s still—

ARKADY

Right. Okay, Violet, McCabe, with me. 

VIOLET

Yep!

MCCABE

Coming.

FX: FOOTSTEPS ACROSS THE ROOM.

ARKADY

Violet, you wanna go over targeting or trigger discipline again?

VIOLET

I’ve got it, but I’m still not sure I’ll be able to kill anyone.

ARKADY

Don’t be modest, your aim’s good. (A BEAT) You meant—

VIOLET

I’m so far out of my depth.

ARKADY

You can’t know what you’ll do until it comes. In the service, I met some guys convinced they were killing machines, ‘til they got out there. Stay close by me and try not to overthink it. Even a kneecap or an ankle will help us. McCabe, how’re you feeling? (A BEAT) McCabe? 

MCCABE

They’ll kill her if they find her. They’ll kill us if we let them. We need to hit first. 

ARKADY

Scale of one to ten, where one is “clear-eyed and ready” and ten is just a helpless whimper?

MCCABE

Four. 

ARKADY

I’ll take it. 

FX: KNOCK ON THE WALL.

ARKADY

Knock knock, Krejjh, we’re here for the grenade launcher.

FX: DOORS SLIDE OPEN.

KREJJH

Welcome, welcome, why don’t we—oh. OH.

ARKADY

Armada beat us here?

FX: MCCABE, VIOLET, AND ARKADY CROSS INTO THE ROOM, DOORS SHUT BEHIND THEM.

KREJJH

Fellas, I don’t mean to alarm you but we’ve got some real eager beavers on our hands.

VIOLET

Did we get close enough to set off their scanners?

KREJJH

We…did.

ARKADY

Hey Krejjh, can you do me a favor? If stealth isn’t an option, land with a flourish.

KREJJH

Krejjh to all crew. Looks like we’ve got an audience. (UNSETTLING LAUGH) And I was born to entertaaaain! Buckle up, buckaroos! Krejjh out.

FX: A SUDDEN BURST OF SPEED

VIOLET

Jesus!

ARKADY

Vi, here!

FX: RUSTLE OF A VOMIT BAG, I GUESS?

VIOLET

What—thanks.

MCCABE

If you two have a “moment” passing a vomit bag, I’ll need it next.

KREJJH

Passing through the atmosphere! Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a model G75B Fruitbat!

ARKADY

We’re coming up on that ocean really fast!

KREJJH

All by design, Captain Patel! All by glorious design!

FX: EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM RATTLES

VIOLET

Krejjh, do you see—

KREJJH

In full technicolor, Doctor Liu!

FX: SPLASH! WE ARE SKIMMING THE OCEAN

KREJJH

Down on the water, it’s a fish, it’s a whale, it’s a model G75B Fruitbat!

FX: WE HIT LAND AND ROLL TO A REST, BRUSHING UP AGAINST TREES.

KREJJH

Think we drew them off Captain Tripathi?

VIOLET

If anything could’ve, it was that descent. Great work, Krejjh.

KREJJH

Aw, thank you, thank you.

ARKADY

Not bad at all. Arkady to all crew. Okay, listen up. Based on their position, they had eyes on our approach. Thanks to the trees, no clear line of sight. They should hold fire until they can see us. They’re 3 klicks away, that gives us about twenty minutes. Less if they’ve got tanks.

FX: DISTANT ROAR OF AN ENGINE.

ARKADY

…they’ve got tanks.

VIOLET

Brian, can you come up here, please?

ARKADY

Arkady Patel out. What do we need him for? 

KREJJH

Same question, different mood.

FX: COCKPIT DOORS OPEN

BRIAN

What’s up?

VIOLET

I was thinking, can you rig up our comms equipment? The enemy already knows where we are, but maybe we could give Captain Tripathi a hint?

BRIAN

On it!

FX: TYPING.

ARKADY

Remember, Brian, you’re with Krejjh. Violet, you stay with me. McCabe, you and Park know to keep together.

MCCABE

Right.

BRIAN

Aha, there we go.

FX: “LANDERS NEVER STAND DOWN” PLAYS

BRIAN

I’ve got a loop going out on all frequencies, with the bonus that it could jam up their comms, too.

VIOLET

She’d love that.

ARKADY

Yeah, well, let’s hope we get to hear it from her in person. Krejjh, how’s our front door looking?

KREJJH

Coast is crystal for now, Captain Patel.

ARKADY

Arkady Patel to all crew. (INTERCOM) We got another Plan B in effect. Places, everyone. We can do this. I know we can. Arkady Patel out.

FX: COCKPIT OPENS. MCCABE, ARKADY AND VIOLET QUICKLY STEP OUT AND WALK/JOG DOWN THE HALL.

ARKADY

McCabe, your grenade launcher.

MCCABE

Thanks. (A BEAT) Empty. Park’s got the grenades. How could I forget—

ARKADY

It’s okay, McCabe, we’re all going through it. Just focus. You’re tracking how much time we’ve got til it’s too late? For the attack on the–

MCCABE

On the Regime weapons facilities. And yeah. The countdown is right here.

ARKADY

Good. Go get those grenades.

FX: MCCABE EXITS THROUGH THE DOOR.

ARKADY

Vi. You ready?

VIOLET

No. (DEEP BREATH) Let’s do this.

ARKADY

Hell yeah.

VIOLET

Maybe a bad time for this, but I love you.

ARKADY

Love you too, and no such thing. Here, your armor’s showing. Let me just—

VIOLET

Thanks.

3.07.02 EXT. KLAYSNAY. 

FX: SHIP DOORS OPEN, VIOLET AND ARKADY STEP OUT ONTO THE PLANET. INSECTS BUZZ.

VIOLET

(DEEP BREATH) Okay, let’s— 

FX: VIOLET’S FOOT PLUNGES DEEP INTO MARSHY WATER.

VIOLET

Jesus! That’s like three feet deep.

FX: VIOLET STAGGERS BACK.

ARKADY

I got you. Are you okay?

FX: VIOLET AND ARKADY CONTINUE WALKING.

VIOLET

The red grass-looking stuff must be aquatic. It looks so solid. Marsh, forest, and beach in one biome. Wish we were here for other reasons.

ARKADY

Me too. C’mon. (FX: WALKIE TALKIE) Vi and Arkady to crew, come in.

BRIAN (OVER WALKIE)

Brian and Krejjh here. 

MCCABE (OVER WALKIE)

McCabe and Park here. Watch out for pits of standing water.

VIOLET

We think they’re marked by bright red grass. 

BRIAN (OVER WALKIE)

Ever the biologist, dude. 

ARKADY

Remember, fan out, and radio in if you come across anyone.

BRIAN (OVER WALKIE)

Copy that.

3.07.03 EXT. KLAYSNAY. 

TRANSITION

FX: FOOTSTEPS THROUGH UNDERBRUSH

FX: FOOTSTEPS CEASE SUDDENLY.

MCCABE

What? Park?

PARK

Is that a camera?

MCCABE

There’s hundreds of them, and speakers too. See the plant growth around them? They’ve been here for a long time. Dwarnian tech, not Regime. McCabe and Park to all crew, 52 minutes left.

ARKADY (OVER WALKIE)

Copy.

FX: FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE.

FX: VERY FAINTLY AND WITH STATIC, “LANDERS NEVER STAND DOWN”

MCCABE

What’s—

PARK

Shh!

FX: A WALKIE TALKIE IS SMACKED. THE FREQUENCY CHANGES.

AGENT TWO (THROUGH WALKIE)

—pinpointed the chip. It’s swimming circles a kilometer under the water. Confirmed, either Tripathi found a submarine or she gave us the slip.

AGENT ONE

Got it. We found the remains of a campfire. Brushed over, but still warm. Somebody’s been here within the last twelve hours. Where’s backup?

AGENT THREE (THROUGH WALKIE)

Approaching the newcomers’ ship due west.

AGENT ONE

Backup 2?

FX: ROAR OF AN ENGINE

AGENT FOUR

Approaching from the east. 

AGENT ONE

Copy that. My team will cover quadrant 3. She can’t have gotten far.

PARK

(WHISPERING) McCabe, what are you doing?

MCCABE

(WHISPERING) I’ve got a clear line of sight.

PARK 

(WHISPERING) I’ve got one eye. You think you can take them all down?

MCCABE

(WHISPERING) I’ve got a shot.

PARK

(WHISPERING) Stand down.

FX: MCCABE AND PARK SNEAK A WAYS OFF.

PARK

Priority is the intel. (FX: WALKIE) McCabe and Park to crew.

ARKADY

We’re here. Me and Violet.

BRIAN

Me and Krejjh, too. What’s the situation?

PARK

Five agents in a clearing on the other side of the island. They found a recent campfire. Agents approaching the ship from the west and a tank from the east.

ARKADY

Headed straight for you. Damn. 

BRIAN

You folks gonna be okay?

MCCABE

I don’t—

PARK

We’ll figure it out. I’m confident in my team.

ARKADY

Good. Everyone, stay sharp. 

MCCABE

Okay. Tank headed this way. How are you—

FX: ROAR OF AN APPROACHING TANK

FX: TWIGS SNAPPING AS MCCABE AND PARK SLIP TOWARDS THE FOREST.

PARK

Alright, we get as much tree cover as we can—watch out, red grass. 

MCCABE

Got it.

PARK

The tank’ll mow it down, but it’ll buy us a few seconds to—

MCCABE

I’ve got a plan.

ARKADY

Good. Brian and Krejjh, what’s the news?

3.07.04 EXT. KLAYSNAY.

BRIAN

Getting real creepshow vibes from this place. Uh, abandoned-looking building, heavy on the broken windows. Smells like an orange somebody left in the sun way too long. Kinda looks like it too.

KREJJH

If I’m right, through here—

FX: BRIAN AND KREJJH CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOW SANA BROKE IN 3.05.

KREJJH

Yep, this is a computer control room.

FX: FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THE BUILDING

ARKADY

You getting the lay of the land?

KREJJH

Over there, that terminal.

FX: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS.

BRIAN

(HUSHED) Someone’s brushed the dust off.

KREJJH

My emreh had this model. Solar-powered. See this gooey little panel? Universal adapter. It’ll take any format if you’ve got it hooked up right. This must be what feeds into all those speakers and cameras. What’re the odds they left it logged in?

FX: TYPING

KREJJH

No dice. And you’d need permissions to make any commands without a log-in, of course.

FX: TYPING

BRIAN

What’re you doing?

KREJJH

Giving myself permissions.

BRIAN

How?

FX: TYPING

KREJJH

(CONCENTRATING) Remember I said, about flight simulators? Weaseling?

BRIAN

Yeah?

FX: TYPING CEASES. 

KREJJH

And bingo was their name-o! 

ARKADY

Krejjh, if you can swing it, Code Orange. Just in case.

KREJJH

Oho!

ARKADY

Keep us in the loop.

3.07.05 EXT. KLAYSNAY.

FX: VIOLET AND ARKADY ARE WALKING THROUGH UNDERBRUSH.

VIOLET

Have you ever done a mission like this before?

ARKADY

Not exactly, no.

VIOLET

This is a big island with a lot of cover. What are the odds either of us find her?

ARKADY

There’s no way they’re letting her go free. However long it takes—

FX: VERY DISTANT FOOTSTEPS, ALSO THROUGH UNDERBRUSH.

VIOLET

…do you hear something?

ARKADY

Behind here!

FX: VIOLET AND ARKADY HIDE. AGENT TWO AND THREE OTHERS APPROACHING, AT FIRST VERY QUIET AND THEN LOUDER. WALKIE TALKIE BUZZ.

AGENT ONE

Backup, come in!

AGENT TWO

Sweeping the area with my team.

ARKADY

(WHISPERING) There’s only three of them. Count of three, element of surprise, we pick ‘em off. Shortest to tallest.

VIOLET

(WHISPERING) Got it.

ARKADY

(WHISPERING) One—

FX: AN ALIEN BIRD CAWS, LANDING ON A NEARBY BRANCH.

AGENT TWO

Wha—! (GUNS COCK) Violet Liu and Arkady Patel, by the authority of the Intergalactic Republic of Free Worlds, you are under—

FX: AGENT TWO IS THUNKED ON THE HEAD WITH A ROCK. AGENT TWO COLLAPSES.

AGENT FIVE

What was that? I don’t see any—

FX: GUNSHOTS

AGENT FIVE

Agh!

AGENT SIX

(GURGLING NOISE)

FX: AGENTS FIVE AND SIX COLLAPSE. SANA TRIPATHI MOVES OUT OF THE UNDERBRUSH.

SANA

Good shots, Arkady!

ARKADY

Sana.

SANA

It’s really you. Can I just. Can I just look at you for a moment.

ARKADY

Can you look and run, because we don’t exactly—

SANA

In a second. Come here, both of you. Let me put down this rock and we can hug, as a downpayment on a much longer hug later.

VIOLET

Captain. Are you okay? Your side is bleeding—

SANA

Was bleeding. I cauterized it. With a hot knife. Maybe we table the hug.

FX: THREE SETS OF FOOTSTEPS

VIOLET

That’s—

SANA

I would not recommend it, no.

VIOLET

I was gonna say “badass.”

SANA

Hey, I’ll take it. How much time do we have?

ARKADY

About forty minutes. McCabe’s tracking the countdown. Park’s with them. Krejjh and Brian are in the comms building. We gotta move. How did you—the biometrics, how’d you—?

SANA

Thank Charlotte Williams. Personal assistant to Major General Frederick, stole access to the drone targeting software and passed it along to me. Hopefully in time. What’s the plan?

ARKADY

At this point, we’re improvising.

SANA

(WEAKLY) You know how much I love a “yes and.”

BRIAN (WALKIE TALKIE)

Hey folks. You got anything you want broadcast from any point on the island?

SANA

Come to think of it…

KREJJH

Captain Tripathi?

SANA

Hey Krejjh, hey Brian. 

KREJJH

Captain Tripathi!

SANA

It is so, so good to hear your voices. Is McCabe there? How much time do we–?

BRIAN

We can’t get through to them, not sure why.

3.07.06 EXT. KLAYSNAY. 

TRANSITION

FX: A TANK IS ROARING TOWARDS US.

PARK

Think it’ll work?

MCCABE

The thing about infantry fighting vehicles is, in the older models, the glass isn’t always a hundred percent shatter-proof, and the range on the cannon is shorter than you’d expect. So once the machine gets a little closer…

FX: TANK ACCELERATES

PARK

(TIGHTLY) Is it “closer” yet?

MCCABE

Almost. A lot of sniping is about patience. Setting up the shot before you take it.

PARK

Mm-hm.

MCCABE

Almost.

FX: WOW THAT TANK IS REALLY GETTING CLOSE, FELLAS!

MCCABE

Almost…

FX: A GRENADE LAUNCHED. THE GRENADE HITS THE WINDSHIELD, BOUNCES OFF, AND EXPLODES.

MCCABE

Dammit! Must be a new one. 

PARK

That plasma cannon’s really heating up.

MCCABE

Run!

FX: MCCABE AND PARK RUN THROUGH THE TREES.

FX: A PLASMA BOLT. THE TANK CHUGS FORWARDS.

PARK

How are we—

MCCABE

Faster!

FX: THE ENTIRE TANK CHARGES STRAIGHT INTO A BOG HOLE AND SINKS THREE FEET.

PARK

Did it just—right into the bog?

MCCABE

I think so.

FX: MCCABE AND PARK RUN.

ARKADY

Come in, come in, Park and McCabe, come in!

FX: GUNSHOTS.

PARK

(HISSES)

MCCABE

Park?

ARKADY

Park, McCabe, this is not a goddamn drill!

PARK

Can this wait? I’ve been shot.

SANA

Are you okay?

PARK

Sana?

SANA

Jin Seon, I’m here with Violet and Arkady, where are you—

PARK

Graze, it’ll heal. Or not. I’ll be fine.

VIOLET

I’ve got supplies. I can take a look at it once we reconvene.

SANA

Looking forward to it. McCabe, time?

MCCABE

Oh my god, Captain Tripathi, you’re here!

SANA

Time, please.

MCCABE

37 minutes, nine seconds.

SANA

Look, can you get down to the beach where the Regime landed? We’re working on something.

PARK

What kind of something?

ARKADY

How do you feel about stealing an armada ship?

MCCABE

All Regime ships are heavily guarded.

SANA

Well, listen. Can you still head for the beach?

ARKADY

We’ve got the start of a plan.

MCCABE

We can try. 

SANA

That’s all we ask. Thank you.

3.07.07 EXT.  KLAYSNAY. THE BEACH. 

TRANSITION

FX: DISTANT WAVES. RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON A SANDY BEACH.

MCCABE

Park and McCabe here. We’ve reached the beach. There’s a whole fleet of warships, not much cover left.

ARKADY

Arkady, Violet, and Sana here. See you soon. 

PARK

Think you’ll ever get used to approaching an IGR craft, weapons drawn?

MCCABE

Not in this life. Hey, over there by the shore, is that—?

PARK

Sana!

FX: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON SAND.

SANA

Jin Seon! And McCabe, hi.

VIOLET

Your arm’s looking rough, Park.

PARK

Don’t feel a thing. Hey.

SANA

Hi.

ARKADY

McCabe, all good?

MCCABE

Ten minutes, four seconds. 

ARKADY

We can do this. We can do it. Where’s—?

AGENT THREE

Hands in the air, all of you!

FX: MANY GUNS COCKING

ARKADY

Shit.

AGENT FOUR

Sana Tripathi?

SANA

Yes?

AGENT FOUR

Keep your hands up, or we really will shoot.

SANA

See, I’m not sure about that. You could’ve killed me much sooner. You didn’t. And I know you’re not keeping me alive out of kindness, you need to know what I know. And that means—

FX: GUNSHOT.

VIOLET

(PAIN SOUND) (FX: VIOLET CRUMBLES TO THE GROUND)

ARKADY

Violet!

AGENT ONE

That’s a gut shot. Fatal in the old days. Nowadays, proper equipment, speedy medical attention, she could be okay. If you follow orders, right now.

SANA

What do I need to do?

AGENT ONE

Surrender yourself into IGR custody. But first. Arkady Patel, aka Kay Grisham, aka—

ARKADY

Hey, can we save all the names for when my girlfriend’s not dying?

FX: GUNSHOT

ARKADY

(PAIN) Ah! Shit. My shoulder.

AGENT ONE 

Arkady Patel, Riley Jo McCabe, and Jin Seon Park, line up along the shore. 

ARKADY

I’m not leaving her.

AGENT ONE

Agent Hubbard, Agent Watkins, keep your weapons trained on Violet Liu.

MCCABE

Arkady—Captain. You take one arm, I’ll take the other?

ARKADY

Thanks, McCabe.

FX: THREE SETS OF FOOTSTEPS, ONE DRAGGING A FOOT, LINE UP ALONG THE BEACH.

ARKADY

Why the line?

MCCABE

It’s, uh. New regulation. For death by firing squad.

VIOLET

God…

ARKADY

Hey, Jeeter? Get ready. Just like what we talked about.

AGENT ONE

(AS THEY TALK, THEY START TO FADE OUT A LITTLE) Arkady Patel, you have been found guilty on 87 criminal counts, and as such, you are to be put to death immediately. RJ McCabe, you have been found guilty on 23 criminal counts, and as such, you are to be put to death—

SANA (OVERLAPPING WITH AGENT ONE)

Brian? Hit it.

BRIAN

Right on, man!

FX: “GOING TO FALL” BEGINS TO PLAY, STARTING AT 0:52

AGENT THREE

What?

FX: THE LYRICS START UP

ARKADY

Vi! Vi! She’s not getting up.

AGENT ONE

Any last words?

SANA

Yeah, actually. Did you know in some circles, they call me Saint Sana? I just wanna, while I still have breath in my lungs, I wanna put in a prayer to the universe to change my nickname.

What do saints do? They suffer, they ascend. They forgive those who hurt them, and those who hurt their friends. They leave all that behind. Me—

AGENT ONE

That’s enough. Agents, take aim. In the name of the Intergalactic Republic of Free Worlds, you are—

SANA

I’m not done.

FX: WATER RUSHING TOWARDS US.

AGENT THREE

Uh, what’s that?

AGENT ONE

It’s a bluff! Take aim!

SANA

I love deeply. Always have. But I’ll be honest, I don’t feel a shred of forgiveness for you. I know they say resentment weighs you down, but I think I’m fine bearing that weight a little longer.

AGENT ONE

Agents, aim your weapons, right now!

SANA

See, I’m no saint. I hold a grudge. 

FX: A WHALE-SNAKE SCREECHES, THEN ANOTHER, THEN ANOTHER

SANA

But not as much as these guys.

AGENT THREE

What the hell is that? 

FX: WHALE-SNAKES SPRING ONTO SHORE. CHAOS. GUNS FIRING.

AGENT ONE

Nobody shoot to kill! We’ve got a priority two to bring in one of these things alive!

AGENT THREE

Holy shit!

AGENT FOUR

Don’t let them get away! Backup, we need you, right now! BACKUP, NOW!

SANA

Someone help up Violet, grab Arkady and let’s go!

MCCABE

On it!

FX: SANA, VIOLET, ARKADY, MCCABE, AND PARK RUN.

ARKADY

Violet, are you okay?

VIOLET

Bruised, not broken. I think this armor’s spent, though.

PARK

What just happened?

SANA

The eels really hate that song. C’mon, let’s go!

TRANSITION

FX: SANA, VIOLET, ARKADY, MCCABE, AND PARK RUN

BRIAN

Krejjh and Brian to, uh, everyone else, meet you at the ship?

ARKADY

McCabe, how much time do we—

FX: MCCABE STOPS RUNNING.

MCCABE

Zero.

ARKADY

Hey McCabe, the eel stunt probably only bought us a few minutes. They’re still right behind us, we need to—

MCCABE

It’s over. We’re out of time. See?

ARKADY

Didn’t we have a seven minute cushion to access the defense software?

SANA

McCabe, honey, you’ve gotta run. Please.

VIOLET

They’re still behind us, we still wanna live.

FX: MCCABE RUNS

MCCABE

We only have six minutes left and it can’t be done in under seven.

ARKADY

You’re right. But you know what definitely has access?

FX: SWEEPING ASIDE UNDERBRUSH

VIOLET

Oh my god, the warships!

PARK

Run!

TRANSITION: RUNNING

MCCABE

Three minutes.

PARK

Two guarding the head ship.

FX: MCCABE SHOOTS TWICE. TWO BODIES DROP.

MCCABE

Two minutes, 55 seconds. 

FX: PRESSING BUTTONS ON AN ACCESS PANEL

MCCABE

We can’t get in without an ident—

FX: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS APPROACH—KREJJH AND BRIAN

KREJJH

You mean, like this?

BRIAN

Turns out the computers up there have 3D printers if you’re very very good at, uh—

KREJJH

Weaseling. As requested, we put in a call to Forger Campbell. He says hey. Crewman Park, catch!

FX: IDENT CARD IS THROWN AND CAUGHT.

KREJJH

Meet my husband: General Brock Blaze. 

BRIAN

Hi.

FX: IDENT CARD IS SCANNED, DOORS OPEN

ARKADY

Entry is clear!

3.07.08 INT. REGIME SHIP. 

FX: THE CREW RUNS INTO THE SHIP, ARKADY RUNNING AHEAD.

ARKADY

Brian, follow the prompts and re-key the door behind us!

BRIAN

Aye-aye!

FX: DOOR BEING REKEYED.

ARKADY

Main hall is clear!

MCCABE

Two minutes, 38 seconds.

FX: THE CREW RUNS DOWN THE HALLWAY, ARKADY RUNNING AHEAD.

SANA

Where is the computer?

ARKADY

Side room is clear! 

FX: THEY SKID INTO A DEAD END.

ARKADY

Wrong way, double back!

FX: THEY DOUBLE BACK.

MCCABE

(WHISPERING) Stop.

VIOLET

(LOW) McCabe?

MCCABE

(LOW) I see movement. On your 3.

ARKADY

(LOW) Everyone behind McCabe.

CAT

(MEOWS)

MCCABE

…It’s a cat.

VIOLET

Uh, hey people? In here?

FX: THE CREW RUNS INTO A SIDE ROOM.

ARKADY

There it is. Krejjh, get to the steering console and stand by. McCabe?

MCCABE

Two minutes. 

FX: A TOUCHSCREEN BEEPS. BEEPS. BEEPS.

ARKADY

Alright, I’m in. Sana?

MCCABE

One minute, fifty four seconds.

ARKADY

Sana?

KREJJH

Folks, I’m in the cockpit looking at the external cameras, and the Regime louts are back. They’re training anti aircraft on us, we need to be in the sky yesterday.

MCCABE

We don’t have time.

SECURITY COMPUTER

Override needed.

SANA

Computer, scan iris.

SECURITY COMPUTER

Scan commencing. Please do not blink.

KREJJH

I’m taking off.

ARKADY

We need to stay still for the scans.

MCCABE

One minute, forty seven seconds.

KREJJH

They’re gonna hit us.

ARKADY

Krejjh, activate every shield we’ve got!

FX: THE SHIP ROCKS WITH A HARD IMPACT.

NON ELLA VOICE

Shields at seventy eight percent.

SECURITY COMPUTER

Scan complete. How can I help you?

FX: THE SHIP ROCKS WITH A HARD IMPACT.

ARKADY

Now, Krejjh!

NON ELLA VOICE

Shields at fifty six percent.

KREJJH

Let’s gooooo!

FX: KREJJH BEGINS TO INITIATE TAKEOFF.

SANA

Computer, disable all drones.

SECURITY COMPUTER

Are you sure you want to pro—

FX: SHIP ROCKS WITH A HARD IMPACT.

SECURITY COMPUTER

—ceed?

SANA

YES!

NON ELLA VOICE 

Shields at thirty seven percent.

SECURITY COMPUTER

Program “drones” disabling.

MCCABE

36 seconds!

FX: TAKEOFF SUCCEEDS!

FX: CAT COMPLAINING

KREJJH

We have liftoff! Accelerating—

NON ELLA VOICE

Danger: craft in immediate pursuit.

KREJJH

They’re on our tails!

FX: SHIP IS HIT BY A HARD IMPACT

ARKADY

Krejjh, we’ve got weapons again, hit them!

NON ELLA VOICE

Shields at fourteen percent. Danger: craft in—

VIOLET

Got it!

ARKADY

Vi?

VIOLET

I found the weapons system. Triage. Sometimes you—triage.

NON ELLA VOICE

Achieving warp speed.

MCCABE

Eight seconds!

SECURITY COMPUTER

Program “drones” disabled.

A PAUSE. THE SHIP IS MOVING SO FAST.

SANA

Did that—did we–?

ARKADY

We won’t know for sure til we hear back.

BRIAN

Holy crap.

SANA

Holy shit. (LAUGHS WILDLY)

FX: SANA SLIDES TO THE FLOOR.

PARK

Sana!

SANA

I’m fine. I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Just—floor.

KREJJH

Hey fellas? So do we…have a cat now?

CREDITS MUSIC

JESS

This episode features—

BRI

Bri LeFever as Krejjh

ISHANI

Ishani Kanetkar as Arkady Patel

CINDY

Cindy Chu as Violet Liu

JAMIE

Jamie Price as Brian Jeeter

JACKIE

Jackie Andrews as RJ McCabe

CHRIS

Chris Choi as Jin Seon Park

ALICIA

Alicia Atkins as Agent 1

OLIVER

Oliver Knight as Agent 2

RYAN

Ryan Messcher as Agent 3

HANNAH

Hannah Floto as Agent 4

JASON

Jason Warner as Agent 5

RUKHMANI

Rukhmani K Desai as Sana Tripathi

PHILIP

Philip C as Pleasant Voice

NICK

Nick Bean as Security Computer

JESS

Written by Jessica Best

LAUREN

Directed by Lauren Grace Thompson

ELEANOR

Production Coordinator Eleanor Hyde

JEFFREY

Sound design by Jeffrey Nils Gardner

JESS

Opening credits music is “Fear for the Storm” by Jessica Best and S.E. Winters, performed by Chiron Star with Erin Bauman on vocals and harmonies arranged by Jamie Price.

JONNY

“Going to Fall” is written and performed by Tail Light Rebellion. It was exclusively created for The Strange Case of Starship Iris, and will be the lead single off their upcoming album.

AMBER

The closing credits music is “Rocket Science” by Amber Devereux of Tin Can Audio.