Distant Star:
Episode One-
In The Twilight
By W. A. Patterson
Copyright 2010 W. A. Patterson
Future Useless *
Distant Star: Episode Two - Far Future
DISTANT STAR- PILOT EPISODE- IN THE TWILIGHT- TEASER-
FADE IN:
EXT. CAMP SIGHT - SUNSET-
Beside a stream or river trees stand in welcome to a man walking his horse. As we move closer we can see that he is wearing a UNIFORM of a REBEL SOLDIER from the Civil War.
We can also see that this man's uniform is SOAKED WITH BLOOD from a a wound in his left shoulder. His face is covered in sweat and it is apparent that he is suffering from a fever and possible infection.
TITLECARD: Kansas 1864
This man is JOHN CAMPBELL, and we watch as he quickly
ties up his horse and starts to unsaddle it.
DISSOLVE TO:
A CAMPFIRE now burns in the lower light a John tosses another log into the fire and struggles out of his uniform jacket. He shrinks away from the task in severe pain as he does so. Once the jacket is off we can see that his shoulder is obviously infected and broken.
In the distance the sky lights up and illuminates JOHN. He holds up a hand to shield himself from he blast and the CAMERA moves around to see the FX of an explosion on
the HORIZON as the sound of a distant thundering explosion reaches him.
John is too sick to react to this much. He looks at his hand and in the light he can see the TRACERS as his hand moves. He quickly passes out as the lights in the distance fade completely.
DISSOLVE TO:
Late at night the campfire illuminates John's camp sight dimly. We watch as John sleeps fitfully then wakes with a start as we hear a twig snap.
Instantly John is awake and swinging a large branch from his stock of firewood. He hits someone and the fire flares briefly. In the light we can see that this is a man but he is dressed in a silvery suit not of this time.
The light dims as the man falls back. John looks around for him but he is seeing flares and spots in his vision. When the light from the fire stabilizes we can now see the stranger. He is now dressed in simple clothes of the time and looking rather surprised. When he speaks it is with a strange accent not exactly native to the area, or any area at all.
STRANGER
Easy there friend. You look like
you're suffering from infection.
John watches the stranger for a second or two then gives up, tossing his log onto the campfire.
JOHN
(Texas accent)
I got shot in the shoulder about a week
ago. I guess it got busted up pretty
bad, and infected.
STRANGER
I could try to help clean it out, but I
am afraid I don't know much about this
sort of thing.
JOHN
I got most of the lead out right after
it happened, but I'm afraid I need a
doctor to get it right now.
John looks around and then waves his good arm to another log.
JOHN
Go 'head. Pull up some dirt and share
the fire. I ain't gonna hurt you none.
The stranger does move forward quickly and holds his hands out to the fire to ward away the evening chill. John looks him over as he does so.
JOHN
I'm John Campbell out of Pecos. What do
they call you?
STRANGER
I am sorry. My name is Jettiniah St'O.
John blinks once then shakes his head seeing the world go fuzzy, the stranger seems to shimmer again, the silver suit coming back for an instant.
JOHN
This fever must be makin me see and
hear things. .. Did you say your name
was Jeddiah Stone?
STRANGER
(now JED)
That is close enough.
JOHN
So where are you from, Jed? Your accent
don't sound like anythin' I ever heard
before.
JED looks up to the night sky before speaking.
JED
I am, as you might say, "Not from
around these parts."
Jed looks over to John to see that he has passed out again.
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
There are a million-billion stars in our Galaxy alone. There are more planets around more than just around our own star. There may be life on some of those planets. And with that life come their own stories.
(beat)
It doesn't matter how many legs or eyes the story teller has. It doesn't matter what color is their sun. All that matters now is that they have a story to tell you. Listen close and you might hear the message they are trying to send from their own Distant Star.
FADE OUT:
DISTANT STAR: PILOT- IN THE TWILIGHT- ACT I.
FADE IN:
EXT. CAMPSIGHT - DAWN
We resume on a shot of the stranger JED tending to John with a damp rag being swabbed across his forehead and John shivering from fever. John opens his eyes to see Jed hovering over him and waves him away.
JOHN
Water... please.
Jed hands over the canteen and John drinks from it then accepts Jed's help in sitting up and scooting back to sit against the log.
JED
You were talking in your sleep. It
appears that you have been delirious
with your fever.
JOHN
What? Talkin' in my sleep?... Dee-leer-
ee-ous? What's that?
JED
Delirious means you are seeing things
and hearing things that are not there.
You are talking to people that you only
imagine are there. As I understand, it
often happens with a high fever.
John looks to Jed and nods, then takes another drink from the canteen.
JOHN
I'm not hungry but I probably should
eat somethin'. There's some jerky in my
pack if you can get it for me.
(beat)
You can have some too if you're hungry.
Jed gets the jerky out of the pack and hands it to John.
JED
Thank you but I am not hungry. I ate
some of my own food... You may wish to
try some if your own jerky is not
enough for you.
Jed pulls a small cloth wrapped biscuit out of his pocket and hands it to John but John waves it away.
JOHN
Nah. I had enough of them salt biscuits
with the Army. I had enough.
JED
That reminds me. You spoke, in your
sleep, of your fellow soldiers. Where
are they?
John looks over Jed for a few seconds as he takes a hunk of jerky and chews it. It seems as if he is debating what answer he is deciding to give him.
JOHN
I don't know. Truth to tell, I don't
know if I really care.
(takes another bite)
I got shot and passed out. When I woke
up I was the only one on the field with
all the other dead men. They must have
retreated and left me behind.
Jed only nods and accepts this as John eats another bit of jerky. He only sits and watches John, taking sips of the canteen until John speaks again.
JOHN
After that, I figured they could just
fight this stupid war without me. ...
Hell, they already think I'm dead I
guess so they can just keep thinking
that. I have a home and a family to
take care of.
Jed nods at this in understanding and nibbles at his biscuit then hands the canteen to John. John is starting to shiver again now and his face is getting paler.
JOHN
I guess eatin' that jerky wasn't such a
good idea... Can you help me up, I
think I'm gonna be sick.
Jed moves fast and soon John is on his feet, staggering
to the trees and making retching sounds as he goes.
DISSOLVE TO:
It is later in the day and John returns from the trees as
Jed sits and looks over the rifle from John's saddle.
JOHN
You not ever see a rifle afore?
JED
Yes, I have, but I am not familiar with
this particular model. I was thinking
of hunting some rabbits. I have seen
many in the fields and fresh food may
help you.
John nods and goes to his saddle to get his powder and
ammunition, which he tosses to Jed.
JOHN
That rifle has a hell of a kick to it.
Go easy on the powder and it keeps the
aim true.
Jed takes the ammunition and gets up, just in time to catch John as he starts to faint. He lowers him to the ground, covers him with his saddle blanket and then considers the situation quickly before taking off to hunt as he can do nothing for the man.
DISSOLVE TO:
John wakes to find the camp sight deserted and his horse gone. His saddle is still there but his rifle and ammo is gone too. It is later in the afternoon and the light is getting a bit dim. As he looks around we can see that he is seeing things again and his is feverish.
A second later a young woman we will call ABBY steps out of the trees and comes to sit beside him, handing him the canteen and holding it as he drinks from it.
JOHN
(surprised)
Abby! ... What are you doin' here?
ABBY
Shhhh. Don't talk so much. Save your
strength.
JOHN
I'd like to, but this don't make any
sense. Last I knew I was in Kansas and
you were still in Pecos. There's no
way you could have found me here.
Abby gets a hurt look.
ABBY
Do you not want me here John?
JOHN
No! No, don't go! I don't care how you
got here, but don't go now that you
are. ... I don't care how you got here.
Abby smiles at this and then cradles his head in her lap and helps him take another drink from the canteen before she speaks.
ABBY
John, what are you doing here? Aren't
you supposed to be with your unit.
JOHN
I got shot, obviously. They left me for
dead and I figured they could just go
on thinking I was dead.
(pause)
You were right Abby. ...
I didn't have no business going to
fight in their little war. It didn't
have nothin' to do with me. ... Not
what they were all fighting about.
ABBY
What were they fighting about?
(smiles)
I wish I knew but you know how these
things bore me.
JOHN
As far as I could tell, no one really
knew what they was fighting about.
What they told me at first was that the
North wanted to take over everythin',
but now I'm not so sure. The south
wants to make its own country separate
from the north but they seem just
intent on fightin' with the North is
all.
(pause)
All I saw was that the same people were
still in charge of everthin' but none
of 'em could find their ass with both
hands tied behind their back.
ABBY
(blushes)
Oh, John, watch that mouth of yours.
JOHN
I'm sorry Abby. It's been awhile since
I been in polite company.
Abby smooths John's hair and swabs his forehead as he is convulsed in intense shivering. When John opens his eyes we can see a strange Halo around Abby.
JOHN
Abby, ...
ABBY
Yes John?
JOHN
Abby, don't take this wrong. I don't
want to question things too much, ...
but its hard to believe you're really
here.
ABBY
Why is that, Honey?
JOHN
It just don't make any sense is all.
... I'm glad I got to see and talk to
you even if you are somethin' I am
imaginin', ... but I think I know you
aren't really real right now.
Abby smiles sadly and continues to stroke his forehead.
JOHN
I am really grateful, because I get to
tell you I love you one more time. ...
But I don't know if you know that or
not.
ABBY
Oh John,... I do know. Just think about
it a minute. You told me you loved me
everyday at least twice a day since you
first kissed me. You never had a harsh
word for me or ever raised your hand to
me. You told me yo loved me everyday
we were together in going to work and
then coming home to fix up that shack
your Daddy gave us when we got married.
John smiles at this and closes his eyes.
JOHN
Thank you Abby. I am so glad to know
that. I don't think I want to open my
eyes again
(pause)
I'm afraid that when I open my eyes
again you'll be gone.
ABBY
Then close your eyes John. Rest awhile
and let me tend to you for a little
bit. Save your strength to get better
and come back to me for real!
John's head lolls to the side as he sleeps again and the hand that strokes his head slips OUT OF FRAME for a second to be replaced with a male hand.
DISSOLVE TO:
John wakes again to find it is Night and Jed cooking
something over the fire. He is obviously feeling better
as he is not shaking or sweating and he can sit up on his
own.
JOHN
My fever must have broke.
He looks to his shoulder to find a POULTICE tied around it.
JOHN
Did you do this?
JED
Yes. I found two rabbits and some herbs
I know that are good with infections
and fevers. I am making you a broth to
drink that you may be able to eat
without being sick.
JOHN
Well, thank you. I am feeling a little
better.
Jed says nothing but only stirs the contents of the pot a little more. He pointedly does not look at John.
JOHN
Say fella. Is there something you
afraid to tell me?
JED
I checked your shoulder John. It is, as
you might say, sicker than ever. ...
The medicine I can make for you can
help slow the sickness you feel but
without a proper doctor, I fear that
you will get sick again soon.
John con
siders it and looks at his shoulder again, then back to Jed.
JOHN
I wish I know more about the area
around here. Chances are that even if
we found a Doc around here I'd just get
shot by Union Boys for wearin' the
wrong uniform.
Jed dips a cup into the broth and brings it over to John, placing it in his lap and tearing some leaves to add to it.
JED
There. Drink this. It might not taste
very well but it will help.
John ignores the cup and takes Jed's hand for a moment.
JOHN
Thanks. ... I knew I was sick a while
ago, but meetin you here is helping in
more was than you know.
Jed says nothing but looks at John, puzzled.
JOHN
What? ... Did I grow another ear on my
forehead or something?
JED
No, ... you haven't... it's just
that,...
JOHN
Just what? Spit it out Jed.
JED
You understand that I just told you
that you may die from your sickness,
don't you.
JOHN
Yes. I reckon I do.
JED
Then why do you seem so relieved?
John lets Jed's hand go and takes a drink from the cup, grimacing from the taste before answering.
JOHN
I guess most people would rather die
around someone than to die alone. ...
Until last night I was thinkin' I was
going to die alone.
(pause)
That I would die and no one would know
who I was or where I was from.
Jed nods in some understanding and then returns to his spot by the fire to get a cup of broth for himself.
JOHN
Jed, ... can I ask a favor of you?
JED
Yes, John.
JOHN
I have some things I'd like my family
to know back home. If I told you what
they was could you promise me that
you'd make sure they'd know what that
is?
JED
Of course. If you like I have some
paper and a pencil. You can write them
a letter.
Jed starts to pull some paper from a pocket but John waves his hand to stop him.
JOHN
No, don't bother. I can't write
anyways.
Jed stops a second, but too late to hide his astonishment. Still he pulls out the paper and a pencil and grabs then holds it to his leg to write.
JED
Go ahead and say what you want. I will
write the letter for you.
John says nothing for a moment but then takes another swig of broth and clears his throat.
JOHN
Well, I guess you can write it to Abby,
that's my wife, she can read and she
can tell my Ma what I said.
Jed nods and as John begins to speak we
FADE OUT:
DISTANT STAR- PILOT - IN THE TWILIGHT- ACT II
FADE IN:
EXT. CAMPSIGHT - NIGHT
John lays and struggles fitfully as Jed watches him, swabbing his head with a wet rag but there is nothing else he can do.