[Closeup, wider than before, on the Girl’s head. Her eyes follow the flight path of the bird.]

Entranced, she turns to question an unseen individual.

GIRL: “Mommy, can we go to the park?”

MOTHER (O.S.): “Not yet, honey. I’m working on something. We’ll go in a bit.”

The girl briefly stares at a woman in her 30s who shares her dark hair and eyes. She’s seated at a desk in a lower section of their ultra-modern CREW QUARTERS. It’s an inviting living space that also serves as an office. Focused, the Mother taps at her console.

The Girl stands and quickly skips along an upper deck. The room is wrapped entirely by windows that look out onto the green trees — a scene that looks far too perfect to be real.

[The Girl walks along the upper deck past her Mother.]

[The Mother’s eyes glance from the screen to watch her daughter’s approach.]

[As the Girl continues walking, the entire room is revealed.]

The Girl reaches the steps leading into the pit and bounds down.

The Mother notices and smiles, beckoning to her lap.

The Girl hops on and stares at a series of images on screen.

One by one, video feeds of hibernating COLONISTS scroll by.

The Girl looks on in fascination at the frozen faces seen through ports in PROTECTIVE CAPSULES. They’re folks of varied age and race representing the entire spectrum of humanity.

GIRL: “They look cold.”

MOTHER: “That’s because they are.”

GIRL: “Who are they?”

MOTHER: “Survivors.”

GIRL: “From where?”

MOTHER: “Earth, honey.”

[The image of a woman colonist appears on the monitor.]

GIRL: “Like you and Daddy?”

With sadness the Mother looks at a PHOTO to the right of her monitor. It’s her with a man smiling and holding a baby.

MOTHER: “Yes… but unlike us, they were asleep when they came aboard.”

[Cut back to the monitor screen, displaying another COLONIST’S slumbering face.]

GIRL (O.S.): “And you keep them alive?”

MOTHER: “Sort of. I’m in charge of the systems that keep them alive. Someday, I’ll take you there and show you. Would you like that?”

GIRL: “Sure!”

The Girl glances at a model of COLONY ONE — a massive interstellar spacecraft — on the desk to their left. Beside
it are a number of small toy vehicles.

The Girl jumps off her mom’s lap and takes one of the toys– an AEROFOX shuttlecraft — and flies it around in her hand.

GIRL: (flying it around) “Is that scary?”

MOTHER: “Is what scary?”

GIRL: “Taking care of them.”

[Insert shot of Girl’s hand grasping the toy AeroFox.]

[The Mother gets to her knees in front of her daughter.]

MOTHER: “No more than looking after you.”

MOTHER: “Honey, we’re out here on a long trip to preserve life and make a new one.”

[As she hugs her Mother, the Girl’s eyes look at the AeroFox toy.]

MOTHER: “I care about them.”

[Tight closeup on the Girl’s eyes.]

MOTHER: “I care about you.”

MOTHER: “Every life is important.”

The Girl tries to make sense of it all. She looks down at the toy in her hand. She rotates it, pondering thoughtfully.

JUMP CUT TO: THE PRESENT.

[Tight closeup on the eyes of an adult woman.]

The toy is now a wireframe diagnostic COMPUTER GRAPHIC of the AeroFox spacecraft rotating on a monitor inside the cockpit of a real version of the same ship.

[Full shot of the woman’s head as she gazes lost in thought.]

DARCY CLARKE — a fit, 20-something version of the Girl — is wearing a trim gold and black flight suit, and is seated at the controls of the craft. She stares at the display, lost in thought.

An unseen male VOICE attempts to grab her attention.

VOICE: “Darcy, I need you to confirm the final flight plan. (Snapping his fingers) Darcy!”

Clarke is irritated by the interruption. Shaking off the memory, she refocuses, responding to a bearded and tired-eyed man in his 80s: CAPTAIN ISAAC BOVA — her adopted parent.

CLARKE (annoyed): “Jeez, Dad! We’ve been over it four * times. Flight plan confirmed.”

BOVA (ON SCREEN): “Thank you. Was that so hard?”

Clarke laughs at the Captain with a warm familiarity.

CLARKE: “Hey, instead of nagging me from the bridge, why don’t you come down to the launch bay. Do it face-to-face.”

BOVA: (ON SCREEN) “I’m sorry, peanut. It’s just…”

CLARKE: “Just what?”

BOVA: “It’s going to be a rough three days. One hell of a first mission.”

CLARKE: “You don’t think I’m ready?”

BOVA: “I didn’t say that.”

The rich voice of OMNI, the ship’s computer, fills the cabin with authority. His animated infinity symbol floats on one of Clarke’s forward monitors as he speaks.

OMNI: “Tank pressurization complete.”

CLARKE: “Copy that, Omni.” (back to Bova) “Please don’t worry about me.”

Clarke glances to a CREW MEMBER at another station.

CLARKE: (quietly) “Worry about Baxter.”

[Cut to inside the Command Center.]

BOVA: “I am. But, there’s no other choice.”

CUT TO an image of the astronaut Clarke was referring to: TANYA BAXTER — a 60-something systems engineer — is seen via a monitor on Captain Bova’s instrument-laded CONSOLE in the BRIDGE of Colony One.

Bova observes with concern as Baxter — clad in a tight hibernation suit — sleeps in her crash couch onboard the AeroFox.

BOVA: “She’s the only one who can get that shield operational in time.”

A determined Clarke is seen on a screen at the opposite end of his station. Bova turns his attention back to her.

CLARKE (ON SCREEN): “I’ll make sure that she does.”

Bova smiles in agreement, switching off Baxter. He’s wearing a formal version of Clarke’s flight suit and is seated in a elevated CAPTAIN’S CHAIR.

BOVA: “I know you will.”

The Command Center is bordered in giant, floor-to-ceiling displays that surround the bridge with real-time data and camera views of key ship interior and exterior sections.

Sensing tension, Clarke is determined to reassure Bova.

CLARKE (ON SCREEN): “In the meantime, if anyone can hold things together a while longer, it’s you. Just a few more weeks.”

Bova is clearly emotional over something big and unsaid.

BOVA: “Well… I’ve run out of chewing gum and duct tape. But, you’re right.”

Bova looks around at the surrounding ship with admiration. Crew members of varied ages and ethnicities work at nearby stations and on a lower platform.

BOVA: “The old girl is almost home.”

CLARKE (ON SCREEN): “We all are.”

Wistful, Bova refocuses on the mission at hand. He scans a geological survey of their target planet.

BOVA: “You’ll be the first people to see Proxima B up close. When you reach orbit, I need you to confirm the richest vein of copper.”

Back inside the AeroFox, the planet reference leads Clarke to another memory.

She glances at a trading card with the image of a statue from Easter Island affixed to her console.

CLARKE: “Will do. “

CLARKE: “Then we can use it to target the first mining operation. (back to business) Okay, let me and Omni get through this pre-flight before the launch window closes.”

BOVA (ON SCREEN): “Of course.”

A muffled moan causes Clarke to shoot a concerned glance toward Baxter — who is seated 120 degrees away from her.

The engineer has begun to stir, awakening groggily.

BAXTER: “Jesus…”

KYLE NIVEN, a 20-something med-tech, wearing the same uniform as Clarke, drifts to Baxter’s side.

[A floating Niven faces away from the camera, hanging in front of a strapped-in Baxter.]

Bright-eyed yet sheepish, he flashes her a friendly grin.

In the background, Clarke and Omni continue through a verbal pre-flight checklist.

NIVEN: “Doing okay, Ms. Baxter?”

BAXTER (barely comprehending): “Not sure… Did we make it?”

While using the same color scheme as the other uniforms, Baxter’s close-fitting unitard is different. It features a medical display on the chest and electrodes across the body.

NIVEN: “Not quite.”

BAXTER (coughing): “Then, why’d you thaw me out?”

NIVEN: “Couldn’t be helped.”

Niven holds a medical SCANNER, passing it over Baxter’s torso. Baxter slowly becomes aware that she’s strapped into a padded crash couch. She fights to focus her vision.

BAXTER: “And, who might you be?”

NIVEN: “Astrophysicist slash Med-Tech Kyle Niven at your service. Thirsty?”

BAXTER: “Sure. Got any coffee?”

Niven closes the scanner, placing it on his belt.

From beside it, he grabs and opens a DISC filled with GLOBES OF WATER.

He plucks one, allowing it to float as he closes the container.

NIVEN: “How about little water instead?”

Niven snags the globule, offering it to Baxter.

She opens her mouth as Niven taps the sphere toward her.

Baxter chews through the edible shell of the sphere, gulping water.

BAXTER (talking with mouth full): “If we aren’t there yet, then where the hell are we?”

Baxter: (looking around) “And why am I waking up in an AeroFox?”

NIVEN: “Relax, we made it to the Proxima system. You’ll learn the rest during the mission briefing.”

Baxter shifts angrily. It’s not the answer she’s looking for.

BAXTER: “When is that?”

NIVEN: “Soon. Don’t worry. This trip will be quick. Then we’ll get you back before the real fun begins.”

BAXTER: “Get me back..?’ You won’t even tell me where we’re going.”

Niven smiles apologetically and pats Baxter on the shoulder.

NIVEN: “I better strap in.”

Niven descends to the lower section to stow his scanner in a dispensary in the wall. Above him, having finished her pre-flight check, Clarke reinstates her conversation with Bova.

CLARKE: “Okay, Dad… The board is green.”

[Camera pans right to show Clarke]

BOVA (ON SCREEN): “Understood. Listen, before you go, we just confirmed the bad news.”

Back aboard Colony One, Bova glances toward a large screen showing the projected flight paths of his ship and Clarke’s.

BOVA: “During our final braking maneuver, Colony One will pass so close to the star, the radiation will likely disrupt communications.”

CLARKE (ON SCREEN): “That’s what the FoxSats are for. We’ll deploy all three on our first orbit.”

Inside the AeroFox, Clarke is ready to go. Bova is impressed.

BOVA : “The Clarkes would be proud of you.”

Clarke is taken off-guard by the unexpected reference.

CLARKE: “You think so?”

BOVA : “I know so. As am I.”

CLARKE: “Thank you, sir.”

Listening in the background, Niven plays with a tiny, antique GYROSCOPE — vintage 1900s — that floats in front of his face.

He snags it out of the air.

CLARKE (offscreen):“Permission to disembark, Captain?”

On Colony One, Bova nods with pride.

MOBILE OMNI – a roaming version of the ship’s computer rolls by in the background.

BOVA: “You’re cleared for launch.”

In the AeroFox, Clarke grasps the control stick.

CLARKE: “Separation on my mark.”

Baxter grabs her safety harness and mutters to herself.

BAXTER: “Why is this happening?”

She shoots Niven a glance. He gives her a thumbs up.

Pressing buttons, Clarke completes the undocking sequence.

CLARKE: “Disconnect in three, two, one.”

The vehicle fires its maneuvering thrusters and moves away.

[The camera follows the AeroFox’s progress as it strafes to the left.]

[The AeroFox continues to taxi away form the mothership. Behind, the interconnected girders and support trusses that line Colony One’s hemisphere are visible.]

INT. AEROFOX, COCKPIT

Clarke activates a series of commands.

She turns to the crew.

CLARKE: “Everyone get ready for the pain.”

[Close-up of Clarke’s hand on joystick.]

Baxter squeezes her eyes shut while Niven tensely clutches his gyroscope.

[Closeup of Niven’s fingers as they curl around the gyroscope.]

The craft trembles violently. The sound of engines roars through the cabin.

[Closeup of Baxter.]

[Closeup of Niven.]

INT. AEROFOX, COCKPIT

The rumbling continues for an eternity. The crew hold on for their lives, straining against the acceleration.

Clarke’s thumb floats above red button on her joystick.

CLARKE: “Main engine cut off in three… Two… One… Mark!”

She presses it. The vibrations stop.

INT. AEROFOX, COCKPIT

The view from Clarke’s window abruptly clears revealing the gulf of space.

She is awed by the expanse.

Baxter watches as the fast packs dwindle in the distance.

BAXTER: “At Alpha Centauri less than five minutes. Already dumping garbage.”

Clarke overhears Baxter and responds facetiously.

CLARKE: “They’ll be retrieved.”

BAXTER: “I bet.”

Clarke ignores her. Her forward display indicates a long, curving orbital path. She reestablishes radio contact.

CLARKE: “Colony One, burn complete.”

CLARKE: “On course for Proxima B.”

BOVA (ON SCREEN): “Copy, AeroFox Two. As soon as Baxter is coherent, I want to brief her on the situation we’re facing.”

CLARKE (frowning): “Roger that. She’s already… awake. I’ll put on the Autobrew for her and we’ll be in touch. AeroFox out.”

EXT. SPACE

The AeroFox leaves Colony One behind. Up head, the crescent of a large, rocky planet can be seen. In the distance beyond is the flaming orb and solar prominences of a red dwarf star.