THE SILVER SURFER
LEARNING CURVE: PART ONE
(#1875-06)
TELEPLAY BY
LARRY BRODY & ANDREA LAWRENCE
STORY BY
LARRY BRODY & JEFFREY KNOKEY
REV. PAGES
APRIL 4, 1997
REV. FINAL DRAFT
MARCH 31, 1997
THE SILVER SURFER
"LEARNING CURVE: PART ONE"
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE OVER THE PLANET CRYSTALIA
A world that SHINES and TWINKLES like a star.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
Eons ago, there lived a race
called the Watchers, unique in its
total dedication to the gathering
of knowledge from everywhere in
the universe...
Slowly, we TIGHTEN ON the planet, SEEING that it's a world of
CRYSTAL, like a geode turned inside-out.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
(continuing)
The Watchers stored what they
learned on their home planet, and
renamed it the Universal Library...
We TIGHTEN CLOSER, ON a GLITTERING crystal continent.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Eventually, this noble culture
perished, as even the greatest of
civilizations may, and now only
one of its kind remains.
We CONTINUE TIGHTENING TO:
EXT. PLANET OF CRYSTALIA - CRYSTAL FOREST - DAY
Made up of SPARKLING crystal trees and shrubs.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
Before the end, the Watchers
created several Beacons, to be
used as guides to their planet so
others could reclaim the knowledge
that was left behind...
PANNING, we FIND the human-like MENTOR, elderly but alert,
making his way through the forest.
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2.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Because their creators deemed only
the most dedicated seeker worthy
of being rewarded, finding such a
Beacon is not easy. Entire
lifetimes have been wasted in
fruitless pursuit...
Mentor trips, and is caught by DRAX, a hugely muscular
humanoid with green skin.
DRAX
Are you all right, Mentor?
MENTOR
Drax, old friend, how can I not
be, with success so close at hand?
We HEAR A SERIES OF WINDCHIME-LIKE SOUNDS, and WIDEN TO SEE
that they come from the CRYSTALIANS, glittering creatures
made up of sharp angles, amid whom Mentor and Drax stand.
The Crystalian leader points, and Mentor, Drax, and the
others move to:
EXT. A CLEARING - DAY - THE BEACON
Standing in the center of a break in the trees is a black
crystal dotted with PINPOINTS OF WHITE LIGHT that FLASH like
constantly changing constellations in a planetarium. The
Beacon HUMS with power.
THE WATCHER (V.O.)
In spite of all the adversities,
however, some special individuals
are able to reap their reward!
WIDER
Eagerly, Mentor starts forward from the edge of the clearing.
MENTOR
A Beacon! Drax, the legends are
true!
DRAX
Mentor, this feels like a trap!
MENTOR
Of course it's a trap. But that
shouldn't keep us from desiring
the bait!
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3.
Mentor rushes to the Beacon, and around him the crystal trees
RING OUT -- and launch their sharp leaves like shirikin!
CLOSER ON MENTOR
Just as the jagged leaves are about to hit him, Drax flies
in, wrapping an arm around Mentor and soaring up with both
him and the Beacon, the crystal projectiles SHATTERING on
Drax's hard skin.
We ANGLE WITH Mentor and Drax as they fly high above the
forest. From below, O.S. COMES THE SOUND OF SHATTERING
GLASS, and the two men look down at:
THEIR POV - THE FOREST
As though with minds of their own, the trees pull out of the
ground, shooting upward like missiles!
BACK TO MENTOR AND DRAX
With his free hand, Drax touches an emblem on his chest. A
TRACTOR BEAM SHINES from it, arcing upward, and just as the
missile-like trees reach them, Mentor and Drax DISSOLVE INTO
the beam, vanishing to:
EXT. SPACE OVER THE PLANET CRYSTALIA - TRACTOR BEAM
Heading for a small starship.
GEATAR (O.S.)
Instruments show Mentor and Drax
returning to their ship, Captain.
We ANGLE FROM the tractor beam TO another ship. Bristling
with armament, it emerges from where it's been hiding on the
dark side of Crystalia's moon.
INT. NEBULA'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE - VIEWSCREEN
SHOWING both Mentor's ship and the tractor beam.
NEBULA (O.S.)
What's Mentor carrying?
We WIDEN TO SEE that watching from the command chair is the
Captain of the ship, NEBULA, a beautiful humanoid woman
studying the viewscreen intently. (NOTE: Nebula is only
visible in profile now.)
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4.
Around her, at their stations, are crew members from
different planets, including the grizzled First Officer,
GEATAR, and the hulking MACLAG. A swaggering, sneering lot,
the crewmen are armed to the teeth -- and beyond. This is no
ordinary ship: We're talking pirates, pure and simple.
GEATAR
I don't get a reading --
NEBULA
You would if your instruments saw
the way I do...
NEBULA'S POV - VIEWSCREEN
GLOWING, its background WASHING OUT so that we SEE the
outline of the Beacon in Mentor's arms.
NEBULA (O.S.)
That's the reason I've been
tracking the old coot...
BACK TO NEBULA AND THE OTHERS
As she turns to Geatar and we SEE the cause of her strange
POV: One eye is normal, but the other is a GLOWING
CYBERNETIC IMPLANT.
NEBULA
Get it.
Nebula means business. Geatar pushes a button.
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Like a hi-tech version of the absent-minded professor's
study. Through a TRANSPARENT ENERGY SHIELD, we SEE Mentor
and Drax MATERIALIZE in the airlock with the Beacon.
MENTOR
At last! After all these years --
Mentor's ecstatic words break off into a CRY OF DISMAY as
ANOTHER TRACTOR BEAM APPEARS, ENGULFING the Beacon and
vanishing from the bridge!
DRAX
Mentor, look!
THEIR POV - VIEWSCREEN
Where the tractor beam is returning to Nebula's ship.
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5.
MENTOR (O.S.)
Nebula!
BACK TO MENTOR AND DRAX
As Drax soars upward through the airlock.
DRAX
We've come too far for that pirate
to take the prize now, Mentor.
I'll get it back!
EXT. SPACE OVER THE PLANET CRYSTALIA
As Drax flies from Mentor's ship, the tractor beam disappears
inside Nebula's. The weapons ports of the pirate vessel
FLASH, FIRING what look like FIREBALLS!
CLOSER ON DRAX
Flying determinedly into the barrage. But even though he
hasn't yet been hit, his body jerks and his face goes slack --
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Where Mentor watches the viewscreen.
MENTOR
(crying out)
Drax, no! Not again...!
EXT. SPACE OVER THE PLANET CRYSTALIA - DRAX
Whatever Mentor's worried about has happened: Drax's eyes
unfocus, and he floats in space, rigid and staring, as:
THE FIREBALLS
Find their targets, EXPLODING as they hit not only Drax but
Mentor's ship as well!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Where Mentor is thrown to the deck, unconscious.
EXT. SPACE OVER THE PLANET CRYSTALIA - NEBULA'S SHIP
STOPS FIRING. It speeds up, DISAPPEARING INTO WARP, and we
ANGLE TO both Drax and Mentor's ship.
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6.
Spinning around each other like twin stars, they careen
wildly and helplessly through space as we
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
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7.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. THE LANDING - PROMENADE - DAY - THE SILVER SURFER
Walking along the deck of the space station, carrying his
board. There's a LOW HUBBUB as around him the various BEINGS
go about their usual activity -- wheeling and dealing.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
Strange. When last I was at this
Landing its people reacted
bitterly toward me...
He turns a corner, almost bumping into a thin, elongated
ALIEN who looks so wispy that a breeze could blow him away.
The Alien's body twists sinuously to avoid being hit, and
with a pleasant smile it continues on its way.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Now I am accepted for who I am.
Can it be that I no longer bear
the stigma of having served dread
Galactus?
The Surfer reaches the entrance to the Space Cafe.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Perhaps here I will obtain news of
where I can find --
ANOTHER ANGLE
As a dark-haired young woman emerges from the Cafe, THUNKING
into the Surfer. He stares at her.
SILVER SURFER
Shalla Bal!
The young woman looks up -- and it is SHALLA BAL!
SHALLA BAL
Norrin Radd!
Their arms go around each other as, words tumbling out:
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SILVER SURFER SHALLA BAL
My Shalla Bal! Have I Oh, Norrin Radd...it is
truly found you -- ? really you -- !
SILVER SURFER
How do you come to be here,
instead of on Lost Zenn-La?
SHALLA BAL
I came searching for you, Norrin
Radd. I could not go on, unless
we were together --
A DEEP RUMBLING COMES FROM O.S. Shalla Bal looks frightened.
SHALLA BAL
(continuing)
What is it?
The SOUND GROWS LOUDER, becoming the LAUGHTER OF GALACTUS!
SILVER SURFER
Galactus! No!
WIDER
One of Galactus' cables of destruction plunges into the
Promenade from above, and everyone starts SCREAMING! Still
holding Shalla Bal, the Surfer leaps onto his board and soars
upward.
SILVER SURFER
I will fight for this woman,
Galactus!
GALACTUS' LAUGHTER BECOMES EVEN LOUDER, and another cable
smashes down -- straight at the Surfer and Shalla Bal! The
Surfer BLASTS at the cable with his POWER COSMIC, but it has
no effect! We TIGHTEN ON the faces of the Silver Surfer and
Shalla Bal as she clings to him in terror, and we
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. DEEP SPACE - AN ASTEROID - THE SILVER SURFER
Board at his feet, the Surfer lies on the craggy surface of
a small chunk of space rock, thrashing violently in his sleep.
SILVER SURFER
(crying out)
I will fight though it mean my own
destruction!
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9.
PIP (O.S.)
Whoa there, big fella!
We WIDEN TO SEE PIP THE TROLL, secure within an ENERGY
BUBBLE, desperately trying to shake the Surfer awake.
Pip ducks a swinging arm as the Surfer leaps to his feet,
hands starting to GLOW with the beginning of a BLAST OF THE
POWER COSMIC.
PIP
Slurper!
ANOTHER ANGLE
The Surfer's eyes snap open, and he sees Pip, butt up and
face down on the ground, head covered with his hands.
Catching himself, the Surfer POWERS DOWN.
SILVER SURFER
You have nothing to hide from now,
Pip.
PIP
(straightening
indignantly)
I wasn't hidin'. I was checkin'
the fertility of the soil. If
you'da' told me you were such a
bad sleeper, I never woulda booked
this trip!
SILVER SURFER
It is that same nightmare, over
and over. Am I to be haunted by
this until I find Zenn-La?
WIDER
Beyond the asteroid, an erratically moving pair of objects
FLY INTO VIEW. Neither the Surfer nor Pip notices as,
seriously now:
PIP
Is there anything I can do to help?
The objects CLOSE IN on the asteroid, and we SEE what they
are: Mentor's scorched and helpless ship and the blanked-out
Drax, whirling around each other.
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10.
SILVER SURFER
You can keep your eyes open,
little one.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Pip nods, but then, in sudden terror:
PIP
You mean for somethin' like
that -- !
The Surfer whirls -- and sees both the ship and Drax bearing
down on them. Grabbing the troll, he leaps onto his board,
soaring from the asteroid as:
MENTOR'S STARSHIP
Spins smack into it, SMASHING THE ASTEROID TO FRAGMENTS! We
ANGLE WITH the fragments as they shower Drax. Bits of rock
bounce off him no effect -- except that Drax's hand starts to
move. With a blink, he focuses his eyes, dazedly looking at:
DRAX'S POV - SPACE AROUND HIM - SUBJECTIVE CAMERA
BLURRY DOUBLE-VISION FINDS a soaring silver object. For an
instant we SEE the Surfer and Pip on the Surfer's board --
but then they BLUR INTO THE IMAGINED SIGHT OF NEBULA'S SHIP!
BACK TO DRAX
Looking just as determined as he did before he spaced out.
He speaks as though no time has passed:
DRAX
Nebula -- !
WIDER
Faster and faster, Drax flies -- at the Silver Surfer and Pip!
DRAX
Give me the Beacon, Nebula! Give
it to me now --
Drax holds out his hands -- and FIRES TWIN POWER BLASTS!
THE SILVER SURFER AND PIP
See the BLASTS coming. Pip CRIES OUT WORDLESSLY, while the
Surfer FIRES TWO BLASTS OF his own POWER COSMIC directly at
them.
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11.
SILVER SURFER
Why does he attack us? We have
done this man no harm --
WIDER
The opposing BLASTS meet in space -- FLARING UP like
miniature novas and vanishing as they cancel each other out!
ANOTHER ANGLE
Drax BLASTS again! This time, the Surfer puts on a burst of
speed and slides his board aside. The BLASTS skim by, and
only now does the Surfer FIRE!
DRAX
As the Surfer's POWER BLAST hits him! Drax reels and:
DRAX'S POV - SPACE AROUND HIM - SUBJECTIVE CAMERA
The impact of the blast INCREASES THE BLURRING. But then it
CLEARS, Nebula's silvery ship revealing itself to Drax as the
Surfer and Pip!
DRAX (O.S.)
(anguished)
No! What am I doing?!
BACK TO DRAX
THUDDING back, against Mentor's ship -- and realizing:
DRAX
Mentor!
Frantically, Drax grabs hold of a strut on the still-spinning
vessel, pulling against the spin with great strength.
THE SILVER SURFER AND PIP
Soar into a COSMIC WAVE.
PIP
(chortling)
Lookit that! The chump took yer
best shot -- and it drove him
right off the deep end.
SILVER SURFER
Something is wrong. He is trying
to stabilize the vessel.
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12.
WIDER
The Surfer carves to Drax, who bristles, ready to fight. But
then the Surfer too starts pulling, and together the two of
them slow the ship and then stop it from spinning.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Immediately, Drax flies into the airlock. The Surfer swoops
after him.
PIP
Hey! Where ya goin'? I was kinda
hopin' ta move on to a better view!
SILVER SURFER
I have been a part of too much
tragedy, Pip, to easily turn away
from what may be another's plight.
PIP
Just my luck, out on the town with
an Interstellar Samaritan!
And, with Pip hanging on behind him, the Surfer heads for:
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
As Drax hurries to where a groggy Mentor lies on the deck.
DRAX
Mentor, are you all right?
MENTOR
Remember when we were caught in
that Skrull crossfire, near the
Booton Nebula? Compared to how I
feel now, then I was all right.
The earnest Drax nods, helps the old man to his feet.
DRAX
I failed, Mentor. I'm sorry.
MENTOR
You couldn't help it, Drax. We
both know your situation --
WIDER
Mentor breaks off as the Surfer and Pip appear in the
airlock. He draws back quickly:
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13.
MENTOR
The Silver Surfer!
SILVER SURFER
Please -- I am not here to harm
you. No longer do I serve
Galactus.
MENTOR
(seeing Pip)
And a Kree slave troll?
PIP
(looking around
exaggeratedly)
A slave? Where? My name's Pip.
I'm showin' the Surfer around.
Pip thrusts out his hand. Mentor looks at it guardedly.
DRAX
I believe it's safe, Mentor. The
Silver Surfer helped me right the
ship, even though I misguidedly
attacked him.
Mentor relaxes, shakes Pip's hand. He bows shakily to the
Surfer.
MENTOR
The tired old scholar before you
is Mentor.
(indicating Drax)
And this eternally young specimen
is Drax, a practical Sancho Panza
to my dreamy Don Quixote...
ANOTHER ANGLE
Mentor nods to Drax, who touches the emblem on his chest as
he did earlier. This time, Drax's entire body turns
TRANSLUCENT, revealing a PATTERN OF MOVING SYNAPSES AND
CONNECTIONS. Only Drax's head remains opaque.
MENTOR
As you can see, Drax is an
android. His brain, however, is
organic, and subject to lapses...
Pip gawks, then stretches up to try and pat the android's
emblem himself. Calmly, Drax blocks the troll's hand.
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14.
DRAX
I'm not a toy.
MENTOR
I apologize for any problem this
has caused.
SILVER SURFER
No harm was done. However, it is
not every day that I encounter
other beings spinning through
space. How did that come to be?
NEW ANGLE
Pip watches with fascination as Drax touches his chest again,
returning to normal while:
DRAX
In a word, Silver Surfer -- Nebula.
MENTOR
When we met at the cafe she seemed
so...sweet...
(beat)
How could I guess she was the most
ruthless freebooter in three
galaxies?
(as Pip LAUGHS)
You know the lady?
PIP
I been around. You had something
she wanted, right?
MENTOR
(world-weary sigh)
I had an idea. A world where I
could obtain -- this.
Moving to the control console, Mentor tosses aside the papers
piled there, hits a switch. We ANGLE To the viewscreen as an
IMAGE appears: The Beacon.
MENTOR (O.S.)
For centuries, Drax and I have
been traveling the spaceways,
seeking, always seeking...
THE SILVER SURFER
Watches the viewscreen closely as:
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15.
MENTOR (O.S.)
But I get ahead of myself. Tell
me, Silver Surfer -- have you ever
heard of a place called...the
Universal Library?
We TIGHTEN ON the surprised Surfer and
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE - THE SILVER
SURFER - MATCHING SHOT
In space, standing on his board and peering out at the stars
as:
PIP (O.S.)
(filtered)
If Kili saw me starin' into space
like that, she'd figure I was
thinkin' things I shouldn't...
We WIDEN TO SEE that the Surfer's image is on the viewscreen,
and that watching it are Pip, Mentor, and Drax. A
COMMUNICATIONS BEAM leads from the Surfer to the ship, and
from the communicator comes:
SILVER SURFER
(filtered)
One of the mixed blessings
bestowed upon me by Galactus is
the ability to detect powerful
energy sources...
EXT. DEEP SPACE - THE SILVER SURFER'S POV - AN ENERGY
FIELD
ILLUSTRATING what he's talking about. We PAN ACROSS VARIOUS
GLOWING LEVELS OF ENERGY, each a different color, and HOLD ON
a GLOWING BLOB moving into the distance as:
SILVER SURFER (O.S.)
Mentor! I have found the energy
trail of the stolen Beacon.
Follow me!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Mentor exchanges broad smiles with Drax, speaks into the
ship's communicator:
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16.
MENTOR
After spending centuries questing
for the hidden wisdom of the
Watchers, Silver Surfer, nothing
could keep me from doing so!
His hands go to the controls.
EXT. DEEP SPACE - THE SILVER SURFER AND PIP
The Surfer heads out to space, Mentor's ship moving behind
him.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
Although Zenn-La maintained a
heightened awareness of the human
spirit, still was there much we
did not know about other matters...
He starts going faster --
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Until this day I was ignorant of
the Universal Library, and of the
fact that once there was more than
one Watcher...
WIDER
As the speed of both the Surfer and Mentor's ship increases
still more.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
The remaining Watcher was unable
to tell me where Zenn-La could be
found, but now I feel new hope --
(excitedly)
That the ancient Library of his
people will provide a way to
locate my home -- !
And, as he says it, the Surfer FORESHORTENS AND VANISHES INTO
WARP, Mentor's ship doing the same as we DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - NEBULA'S STARSHIP
Moving through an empty area of space. There seems to be
nothing here. Not a star, not a planet, not a moon. Nada
but blackness.
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17.
MACLAG (O.S.)
A buncha lights're flyin' us
halfway around the universe so we
can go to the library...?
INT. NEBULA'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Nebula and her crew are gathered around the Beacon, which is
linked to the controls of the ship by LINES OF ENERGY that
pulse in rhythm with the Beacon's FLASHES.
MACLAG
Cap'n, are you sure about this?
The other crew members nod to each other, dissatisfied.
There's a genuine, mutinous tension here.
CREW MEMBER #1 CREW MEMBER #2
Maclag's got a point there, Seems like a screwy idea to
Captain -- me --
Disgusted, Nebula lashes out with a one-legged kick that
sends Maclag sailing across the deck to SLAM into a bulkhead.
He lies there groggily as she turns to the others.
NEBULA
Listen up, you lowlife, bottom of
the barrel dregs of pseudo-
sentient life!
ANOTHER ANGLE
Nebula glares from man to man, and slowly everyone shuts
up -- but their hands are all near their weapons.
NEBULA
We've been on more missions
together than you can count -- if
you could count -- and have I ever
let you gobs down?
No one responds. They regard their captain defiantly. Geatar
steps forward, to stand at Nebula's side.
GEATAR
Begging your pardon, Captain, but
I think the boys're just a tad
confused. They know plunder --
not education.
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18.
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - NEBULA'S STARSHIP
Continuing through the nothingness. We ANGLE ahead of the
ship, and FIND A TINY, FLICKERING RING OF BLUE PLASMA.
NEBULA (O.S.)
And plunder's what they'll get,
Geatar...
INT. NEBULA'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Nebula strides before the others.
NEBULA
Knowledge is power, and power is
profit.
(turning to Beacon)
What do you think the profit'll be
when this "buncha lights" puts all
the knowledge in the universe
right into our hands?
CREW MEMBER #1 CREW MEMBER #2
Hey, I never thoughta She's got a point --
that --
The crew members quiet down again as Maclag pulls himself up
off the deck. After a tense beat he starts to grin.
MACLAG
Cap'n, I've always been proud to
be a member of your crew --
THE BEACON
Its HUM CHANGES PITCH, the crystal FLASHING SO BRIGHTLY that
Nebula and the others have to hide their eyes as:
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - NEBULA'S STARSHIP
The LIGHT ERUPTS through the hull, stabbing out at:
THE RING OF BLUE PLASMA
The PLASMA FLARES, PULSATING WILDLY, and the ring EXPANDS
with sudden swiftness, until it's bigger than Nebula's ship.
Within it, an ENDLESSLY STRETCHING BLACKNESS beckons!
NEBULA (O.S.)
Brace yourselves, boys. Looks
like we're about to get our
library cards punched!
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19.
Nebula's ship plunges into the ring, and, from within, O.S.,
we HEAR THE DISMAYED CRIES of the crew as we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - MENTOR'S STARSHIP
WARPING INTO the same area of space. There's no sign of the
RING OF BLUE PLASMA, or anything else, as:
SILVER SURFER (O.S.)
How can this be? The energy I
have been following leads directly
to this point in space...
WIDER
Sweeping ahead of the ship is the Silver Surfer, his
COMMUNICATIONS BEAM active. He peers into the emptiness.
SILVER SURFER
But now I find nothing!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
As Pip and Drax watch the viewscreen, Mentor finagles with
various instruments, and the Surfer's image is replaced
temporarily by a series of readings and graphs...all of them
the equivalent of "flatline."
MENTOR
(into communicator)
Nor do I. My instruments show no
sign of the Beacon...
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - THE SILVER SURFER
Flying through the area, looking around.
MENTOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
Have we truly come to the end of
the road?
The Surfer hears the dismay in Mentor's voice, responds
quickly:
SILVER SURFER
Were that so, Nebula still would
be here. Yet she has continued
on --
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20.
THE SILVER SURFER'S POV - SPACE
FINDING the RING OF BLUE PLASMA, which is now the same tiny
size it was before.
SILVER SURFER (O.S.)
A Plasma Jump! In all my time
with Galactus I encountered only
one of its ilk...
BACK TO THE SILVER SURFER
Soaring to the RING.
SILVER SURFER
It served as a doorway, an
instantaneous transporter to a
star system millions of light-
years away.
(beat)
But this one is so small...
MENTOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
According to my research, the
Beacon would be capable of opening
the Jump so a ship can go through.
Without it --
SILVER SURFER
Without it, that task must fall to
me!
We TIGHTEN ON the Surfer's face as he concentrates. His eyes
GLOW WITH THE POWER COSMIC, and it BEAMS out at:
THE PLASMA JUMP
The BLUE RING FLARES UP, sucking in the ENERGY the Surfer
gives it, and again the Jump begins to EXPAND, growing to
about twice the Surfer's size.
WIDER
The POWER COSMIC continues to BEAM from the Surfer's eyes,
and, with a LOUD WAILING SOUND, the BLUE RING ERUPTS IN GREAT
SPURTS OF PLASMA! The Jump pulls at the Surfer, drawing both
him and his board to:
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21.
INT. PLASMA JUMP
An unending tube of revolving RINGS OF ENERGY that go both
clockwise and counterclockwise, CLASHING together when they
meet. The RINGS whirl the Surfer around, pushing and pulling
him like a storm-tossed leaf.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
The Jump has fastened onto my
power cosmic...!
Great gouts of the POWER COSMIC start to stream from the
Surfer like blood.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
(continuing)
Never have I felt anything like
this! Can it be feeding on my
very being?
And, as the Silver Surfer thrashes desperately, trying to
pull away, the Plasma Jump HOWLS EVEN LOUDER and we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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22.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. PLASMA JUMP - THE SILVER SURFER
Thrashing around within the whirling PLASMA, his own POWER
COSMIC STREAMING from his body. He CRIES OUT:
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
The pain is too much to bear! I
feel as if I am being ripped apart!
The Surfer's board spins nearby, and he reaches out for it --
but another ring of energy whirls it from his grasp. The
Surfer flails uselessly as:
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - MENTOR'S STARSHIP
Where Drax comes flying out, Pip clinging to his back.
PIP
Drax, hurry! The Surfer's inside
that cockamamie thing!
Drax nears the Plasma Jump, hesitates. He forms a
COMMUNICATIONS BEAM to the ship.
DRAX
Mentor? If I destroy this Jump,
we may never get to the Universal
Library!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Mentor is watching everything on the viewscreen. He turns to
the communicator:
MENTOR
We've taken more than our share of
chances already, old friend...
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - PIP AND DRAX
As Drax circles the Jump, staying away from its "mouth."
MENTOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
I'd rather save the Silver Surfer
and fail in our quest than succeed
at the cost of his life!
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23.
PIP
You heard the man! Whaddaya
waitin' for?
DRAX
Nothing, little one. Nothing at
all --
Their eyes meet, and an understanding passes between them.
With a grim smile, Drax BLASTS at the Jump, again and again!
INT. PLASMA JUMP - THE SILVER SURFER
The POWER COSMIC CONTINUES TO STREAM from him, and the
Surfer's body is changing shape, becoming longer, attenuated.
He's beginning to resemble not silver but quicksilver!
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
I do not know how to fight
this...My very essence seems to be
slipping away...
Around him, the Jump EXPANDS once again, and, amid all the
buffeting, the Surfer cranes his head around to see:
THE SILVER SURFER'S POV - THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLASMA JUMP
Drax and Pip fly past, Drax BLASTING. The Jump greedily
gulps at the BLASTS.
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
Instead of extinguishing the Jump,
Drax's blasts are causing it to
grow...
BACK TO THE SILVER SURFER
His TRANSFORMATION continues! There is literally less and
less of the Surfer as:
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
The doorway is eager to devour
energy from any source. Like
Galactus, it always demands more...
(getting an idea)
On Zenn-La we were taught that
peace comes to those who walk with
the wind, not against it...
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24.
CLOSER ON THE SILVER SURFER
Instead of fighting, the Surfer stops flailing and gathers
himself. First his eyes GLOW, then his hands, then his whole
body. The GLOW BECOMES BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER as:
SILVER SURFER (V.O.)
If this Plasma Jump wants me so
much -- then have me it shall!
And the Surfer's entire body seems to FLARE OUT IN A
QUICKSILVER EXPLOSION!
EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - THE PLASMA JUMP
Shudders -- and EXPANDS so quickly that its BLUE RING smashes
into Drax and Pip, sending them sprawling backward. Drax
recovers quickly, but Pip loses his grip, falling --
CLOSER ON PIP
CRYING OUT WORDLESSLY as he tumbles through space. His hands
reach out -- and suddenly another pair grabs onto them!
INT. PLASMA JUMP
Where an exhausted Silver Surfer holds onto Pip within a Jump
that's enormous now, even larger than it was when Nebula's
ship went through. Pip looks at their joined hands:
PIP
This don't mean we're goin' steady.
The Surfer doesn't have time to respond. He calls out toward
the mouth of the Jump:
SILVER SURFER
Drax! Mentor! I do not know how
long the Jump will hold its size!
You must hurry through!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
The ship RUMBLES as Mentor works the controls.
MENTOR
(into communicator)
On my way. What about you?
EXT. PLASMA JUMP - THE SILVER SURFER AND PIP
As the Surfer looks around for something.
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25.
SILVER SURFER
Pip and I will meet you on the
other side!
(calling out)
To me, my board!
THE SURFER'S BOARD
Pulls itself from the RING OF ENERGY that holds it and flies
to the Surfer. With the last of his strength, the Surfer
leaps onto it with Pip -- and collapses!
WIDER
With Pip standing protectively over the unconscious Surfer,
the board SHOOTS through the long tunnel of the Jump,
whirling and spinning.
As the Surfer and Pip vanish into the distance, Mentor's ship
starts in. It too whirls and spins, with Drax hanging onto
one of the struts. We HOLD ON its passage as:
EXT. THE OTHER END OF THE PLASMA JUMP
As first the Surfer and Pip, then Mentor's ship and Drax,
come CASCADING out of the Plasma Jump and into the BRIGHT
LIGHT OF:
A BLOATED RED SUN
FILLING CAMERA. Sunspots whirl across its huge face. We
ANGLE FROM it TO:
AN TRANSLUCENT IMAGE OF THE WATCHER
Hanging in space before the the red sun. His head turns from
side to side.
PIP (O.S.)
That your old pal, the Watcher,
Surfer...?
We ANGLE TO AN IMAGE OF ANOTHER WATCHER. He is similar in
general look, but individual features are different.
PIP (O.S.)
(continuing)
Or is that him?
WIDENING, we FIND MORE IMAGES OF OTHER WATCHERS, men and
women, all seeming to scan the universe before them, looking
from side to side. They stretch out to space in pairs.
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26.
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
As Mentor looks from the WATCHER IMAGES in his viewscreen to
the control console, makes some adjustments.
MENTOR
(into communicator)
I'd say that rumors of the demise
of the Watchers' civilization were
greatly exaggerated...
EXT. THE OTHER END OF THE PLASMA JUMP - DRAX
He too is gazing raptly at the IMAGES as:
MENTOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
Except for that fact that my
readings show that those are
images, not living beings.
PIP
Staring at the IMAGES.
PIP
Whaddaya think they're for? Road
signs?
There's no reply. Pip looks down, and we WIDEN TO INCLUDE
the Surfer.
PIP
(continuing)
Surfer? Surfer -- ?
We HOLD ON the Surfer. No longer is he silver. Instead,
he's a DULL, FLAT GRAY. He lies on the board, MOANING
something we can't make out. Pip bends down closer to him,
and the Surfer clutches at him and speaks again, in a weak
whisper:
SILVER SURFER
Shalla Bal...
Letting go of Pip, the Surfer falls back.
PIP
SURFER -- !!!
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27.
But the Silver Surfer lies there unmoving, as Pip's CRY
REVERBERATES through space and we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE OTHER END OF THE PLASMA JUMP - MATCHING SHOT -
SILVER SURFER
No longer on his board, which is next to him now. Instead,
the Surfer lies atop Mentor's starship, GROANING quietly as:
DRAX (O.S.)
I fear for the Surfer, Mentor. He
doesn't have very good color.
We WIDEN TO INCLUDE Pip and Drax watching a space-suited
Mentor kneel over the Surfer with a handheld ANALYZER.
MENTOR
(filtered )
How ironic! This should be a
moment of victory, not despair.
The Universal Library finally is
within our grasp...
Mentor takes another reading, shakes his head sadly.
MENTOR
(continuing; filtered)
Yet it appears that the man
responsible for our being here has
paid the ultimate price.
THE RED SUN
FINDING one of its many sunspots as Mentor continues with a
SIGH:
MENTOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
The internal energy level of the
Silver Surfer is so low it can't
even be measured. And I'm at a
loss as to how to increase it!
As Mentor speaks, WISPS OF ENERGY from the sunspots pull
away, as though being sucked into space. The IMAGES of the
Watchers seem to look on as we ANGLE WITH the wisps while
they glide toward:
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28.
MENTOR'S STARSHIP
Drax turns to the silent Pip.
DRAX
You've been unusually quiet, Pip.
PIP
I'm doin' something I never did
before.
(beat)
I'm prayin'...
Pip is the most serious he's ever been in his life.
Suddenly, he jumps back, alarmed.
PIP
(continuing)
Wha -- ?
CLOSER ON THE SILVER SURFER
The ENERGY FROM THE SUNSPOTS reaches him, bathing the
Surfer's body until it SIZZLES AND SPARKS. The GRAYNESS
LIGHTENS, and slowly it turns GLEAMING SILVER once more!
ANOTHER ANGLE
The Surfer opens his eyes, looks around.
SILVER SURFER
The last time I was the object of
such close attention, my world
almost came to an end.
(beat)
I trust that this situation is not
quite so dire.
PIP
(leaping with joy)
Awriight! Check those highlights!
You wanna talk color -- lookit
this guy shine!
The Surfer gets to his feet. He regards the others seriously.
SILVER SURFER
I see that we have successfully
passed through the Plasma Jump.
It is time to obtain the answers
we seek!
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29.
WIDER
The Surfer tries to leap onto his board -- and sags back
weakly. Drax catches him.
DRAX
Easy, my friend. You aren't yet
fully recovered.
MENTOR
(filtered; indicating
airlock)
It isn't much, Silver Surfer, but
may I offer you a ride?
And, as they head into the airlock, we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE OTHER END OF THE PLASMA JUMP - MENTOR'S STARSHIP
Moving through a route outlined by the paired IMAGES of the
different Watchers.
MENTOR (O.S.)
Remarkable! It's as though the
Watchers are welcoming us after
all our travail.
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
Where the Surfer and the others study the viewscreen closely.
PIP
You're sure they aren't really
protectin' their turf?
SILVER SURFER
I believe we will be safe. If the
rest of his people were like the
surviving Watcher, never would
they involve themselves in the
events of the universe.
MENTOR
We have seen no sign of Nebula.
She and her ship must already be --
DRAX
There! That must be our
destination!
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30.
We ANGLE WITH their gaze TO:
THE VIEWSCREEN
At the end of the line of Watchers a dark planet is
silhouetted against the red sun. We TIGHTEN ON it as:
EXT. THE OTHER END OF THE PLASMA JUMP - MATCHING SHOT -
THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY
Not round but still a shape that we've seen before, the
planet of the Watchers is actually a macroscopic version of
the black crystal Beacon! Tall and narrow, it rotates slowly
on an internal axis as it orbits the bloated sun.
WIDER
As Mentor's ship approaches the Library, we HEAR AN EERIE
HUBBUB, THE SOUND OF AS MANY VOICES, INSTRUMENTS, ELECTRONIC
GADGETS, AND JUST PLAIN NOISES as are available in PUBLIC
DOMAIN AUDIO COLLECTIONS (or that we can afford).
We HOLD ON the ship as it continues, and in addition to the
NOISE we now SEE things. IMAGES like those of the Watchers
APPEAR on the surface of the Beacon-like planet, and one at
a time they SPIRAL OUTWARD in a:
SERIES OF SCENES INCLUDING:
A VAST EXPLOSION CREATING THE UNIVERSE!
GASES EXPANDING INTO SPACE!
GASES COALESCING INTO STARS AND PLANETS!
BOILING SEAS OF LAVA COOLING ON THE PLANETS!
PRIMITIVE MICROSCOPIC LIFE BEGINNING!
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE - INTERCUTTING WITH
THE ABOVE AS NEEDED
The Surfer and the others stare at the viewscreen.
PIP
What is all this?
SILVER SURFER
It is coming from the planet.
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31.
MENTOR
(beaming)
There's only one thing this can
be -- the sight and sound of all
the Watchers have ever recorded!
(beat)
Gentlemen, we've done it! We've
found the Universal Library!
EXT. SPACE OVER THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY
MORE IMAGES APPEAR, COMING FASTER AND FASTER, and the NOISE
BECOMES LOUDER AND MORE DISCORDANT, as, SHOUTING to be heard:
DRAX (O.S.)
But where's the order, Mentor?
The index?
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE
The SOUND BECOMES STILL LOUDER, and the IMAGES FLASH EVEN
FASTER. Not only do they appear on the viewscreen, they --
like the SOUND -- seem to EXPLODE into the ship itself!
It's like a LIGHT SHOW, the IMAGES coming so quickly that
they start to STROBE, and the Surfer and the others stagger
as though struck by the force of them.
DRAX
Swipes uselessly at an IMAGE that ENGULFS him. The IMAGE
VANISHES -- but is immediately replaced by another one!
PIP
Doesn't know what to do first, cover his ears or his eyes.
He falls to his knees, CRYING OUT:
PIP
Make it stop! Make it stop!
But the SOUND AND THE IMAGES CONTINUE, FASTER AND LOUDER AND
MORE POWERFUL than ever! Pip collapses.
MENTOR
Stares at everything with growing incredulity -- and pain.
MENTOR
Did I say this was a library?
It's an assault!
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32.
Mentor's eyes close, and he too hits the deck!
EXT. SPACE OVER THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY - MENTOR'S STARSHIP
Very close to the Library planet now, and completely ENGULFED
IN IMAGES AND SOUND. The ship's speed remains constant, and
it is headed straight at the center of the Beacon-shaped body.
INT. MENTOR'S STARSHIP - THE BRIDGE - VIEWSCREEN
Where the planet -- and the inevitable collision -- loom!
SILVER SURFER (O.S.)
Drax! I need your assistance! We
must protect the ship -- !
There's no response, and the Surfer whirls --
WIDER
As we SEE the problem: The big android's body jerks, and his
face slackens. His eyes unfocus, and, staring, he CRASHES to
the deck.
SILVER SURFER
Drax!
We TIGHTEN ON the Silver Surfer's anguished face and
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE OVER THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY
HOLDING ON the IMAGES of the Watchers as:
INFINITY (O.S.)
Watcher! We know you are there!
We TIGHTEN ON the IMAGE of the original WATCHER. He looks
around in opposition to the others.
THE WATCHER
Who calls the Watcher?
ANOTHER ANGLE
Distant constellations FLICKER and CHANGE PERSPECTIVE, their
outlines forming the shapes of the god-like beings, ETERNITY
and INFINITY.
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33.
ETERNITY
Do you not know Eternity? And my
sweet sister, Infinity?
Now the Watcher can see them. He nods solemnly.
THE WATCHER
(to Eternity)
How can I not know the living
representations of time...
(to Infinity)
And space...
(beat)
What brings you to my ancestral
home?
ETERNITY
A crisis is on the horizon,
Watcher, one that threatens us all!
INFINITY
My brother believes that the
Silver Surfer will be able to
resolve it. I, however, have
grave doubts...
As Infinity speaks, we PAN ACROSS HER, TILTING BACK AND DOWN
THROUGH INFINITY'S BEING TO:
EXT. SPACE OVER THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY - DAY - MENTOR'S
STARSHIP - UPSHOT
From this ANGLE we can SEE nothing of how the planet itself
looks. But we do see the ship as it comes ROARING into the
atmosphere. With all aboard, it heads directly AT CAMERA,
straight for what seems to be an inevitable crash!
INFINITY (O.S.)
The Surfer's obsessive search for
Zenn-La may mean not only his own
end, but that of the universe as
well...!
HOLDING the moment, we
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED
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