FADE IN:
EXT.BOISE AIRPORT
The sun peeks over the horizon, casting an amber glow over the United Airlines DC-3 as it prepares for take-off. The time is 8:03 AM.
INT. DC-3 COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Captain JAMES, mid-40s, is sitting comfortably at the helm. Beside him, his co-pilot TOM, late 30s, is checking the instruments diligently.
CAPTAIN JAMES:
Boise Tower, this is United 105 requesting clearance.
BOISE TOWER (V.O.)
United 105, Cleared for take-off runway 23 Right. Wind 240 at 10 knots, climb via ODP, squawk 7377 after departure. Have a pleasant flight.
CAPTAIN JAMES:
United 105 runway 23 Right, ODP Four, squawk 7377, cleared for take-off. Tell the papers we’ll be on the lookout for those flying saucers Kenneth chatted about.
BOISE TOWER (V.O.)
(concealing laughter)
Roger, United 105. Keep your eyes peeled. Have a great day.
CO pilot Tom looks at the captain with a smile.
EXT: RUNWAY- CONTINUOUS
The old-looking United Air 105 DC 3 accelerates down the runway and gracefully lifts off into the early morning sky.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- DAY
A sleek cockpit cabin. Three humanoid aliens, NANHILDA, BERITER, and IROR, sitting calmly in front of the controls.
Their features are similar to humans but with some subtle differences - extra thumbs in each hand, shimmering, paler skin, and slightly large, expressive eyes.
As they calmly look at the panels, they hear a faint beep. Nanhilda presses a few buttons, which brings up a blinking dot on the screen.
NANHILDA
There’s something in front of us. Whatever it is, it looks like it is heading towards us.
Beriter adjusts the visual sensor while IROR looks at the radar.
EXT: ALIEN CRAFT -DAY
An oval-shaped craft flying quietly over the Earth, with one light in the front. As the craft flies, two other lights on either side turn on briefly for a few seconds.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- DAY -moments later
The oncoming passenger plane- DC 3 appears on Beriter’s screen.
BERITER
(calmly)
It’s a small commercial vessel. It shouldn’t see us unless…
Beriter stops mid-sentence after noticing that the plane is flashing at them.
BERITER
(With a high-pitched voice)
I think it can see us. It’s flashing its light. Trying to signal something?
Iror looks at the screen displaying the plane flashing its landing headlights.
IROR
(uninterested)
It’s a landing light. It is probably preparing to land.
NANHILDA
(excitedly)
Let’s go and inspect before it lands.
BERITER AND IROR (TOGETHER)
NO...
NANHILDA
(smiling)
I know, but a quick look won’t harm. A quick flyby. They won’t notice us. I promise.
Nanhilda presses a few buttons, and the craft increases its speed. Both Beriter and Iror fall into their seats.
CUT TO:
FLIGHT ATTENDANT MARY, early 30s, approaches the cockpit with a cup of drink for Captain James.
MARY
(With a smirk)
Luke warm coffee for the captain, just like his heart.
As the captain turns to respond, he notices a bright light in front of the plane.
CAPTAIN JAMES:
(squinting)
What on earth is that?
The light briefly splits into three before quickly merging into one.
CO-PILOT TOM:
(joking)
Captain!! I think we found Kenneth’s flying saucer.
Captain James smiles as he presses a button in front.
EXT. DC-3 Aircraft – day
The United Airlines DC 3’s landing lights flash a few times.
INT. DC-3 COCKPIT – moments later
The captain and the co-pilot’s eyes are focused on the light, flight attendant Mary is behind them.
Suddenly, the light swerves, and starts to approach rapidly.
MARY:
(panicking)
Captain!! Watch out!!
The lights swerve and speed towards them, disappearing overhead with a whooshing sound. The movement creates a mini turbulence that shakes the plane. Mary drops the tray and quickly holds the captain’s seat
Captain James quickly grabs the yoke to stabilise the plane.
Once the plane stabilises, the captain grabs the radio.
CAPTAIN JAMES:
(With a voice a mix of excitement and urgency)
To anyone who can hear this, we’ve just been buzzed by something... something strange, A large flying thing, possibly more than one... with lights and...
CUT TO
INT: ALIEN CRAFT -DAY
The two aliens fall back on their seats as they glimpse the shocked pilots and the air hostess.
INT.ALIEN MOTHERSHIP- EVENING
NANHILDA, IROR and BERITER are analysing the photos of the three humans they took earlier. KAKIO, the mission commander, is inspecting the screen.
KAKIO
(thoughtfully)
They DO look friendly. Let’s land tonight and say hello.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- DAY
NANHILDA and BERITER are in the cockpit.
NANHILDA
(excited)
Are you excited too, Beri? What do you think we should say first? (mimics) One step for man, One giant step for..
CUT TO:
INT.ALIEN MOTHERSHIP- EVENING
KAKIO and IROR are having a disagreement.
IROR
(frustrated)
We don’t have equipment or a single weapon onboard. What if... What if they shoot us down, or... capture us? Landing was never in the plan.
KAKIO
(excited but calm)
I know. But we can make history tonight. The first ever contact with another intelligent life. (pauses)
If they wanted to hurt us, we would have known it by now.
IROR
I am not asking to give up, commander. What I am saying is that let’s stick to our mission to observe them. Then we decide and ask the mission control for permission to land.
KAKIO
It could take months, if not years, to get approval for landing. Besides, they don’t look aggressive to me.
IROR
(annoyed)
But we don’t know that, commander!! How can you be so sure? We aren’t here to land!!!
IROR gets up.
IROR (Contd)
I tell you, commander; I don’t want to be part of this, and I’d be grateful if you took my wife off this absurd mission, too.
IROR rushes towards the exit.
IROR (Contd)
(muttering)
I am not risking lives to fulfil your ego, commander.
He enters his cabin and slams the door loudly behind him.
CUT TO:
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- NIGHT
Nanhilda and Bertier are in command. This is a different craft from the one we saw earlier. The soothing sound of the craft is pleasant, there are occasional soft beeps. Suddenly, a soft alarm goes off. Nanhilda quickly glances at the radar.
NANHILDA
(slightly worrying)
It looks like we’re being followed.
Beriter looks at the radar, which is displaying two tiny dots behind their craft.
BERITER
(calmly)
Are you sure? It could be another commercial vessel.
NANHILDA
(Attempting to suppress her fear)
They don’t fly in pairs, not in the same altitude.
BERITER
(calmly)
Let’s change the course.
Bertier presses a few buttons.
EXT. EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE -NIGHT
An oval-shaped craft whooshes past the atmosphere, shortly followed by two Grumman F9F Panthers. The craft manoeuvres, and so do the jets.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- NIGHT
NANHILDA and BERITER look at each other as they see the dots are still following them.
NANHILDA
(Slightly panicked but firm) Initiate evasive manoeuvres!
BERITER
Rojer that. Hold on tight.
EXT. EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE -NIGHT
The oval shaped craft turns sharply towards the ground. The two following jets miss the turn and continue.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- NIGHT
Several alarms are going at the same time. The two aliens are desperately trying to gain control of the unstable craft.
NANHILDA
(panicking)
System malfunction, we’re losing control. Brace for impact.
EXT: NEW MEXICO DESERT -NIGHT
The ovel shaped craft spirals down, slamming into the ground, Half of the craft ploughs the land as a piece of flies and hits the signpost “welcome to Rosewell” The impact creates a explosive sound which shakes the ground, followed by a silence as the craft comes to halt. Smaller flambeaus appear everywhere.
EXT: THE CRASH SITE- LATER
The fires grow steadily bigger. Sirens can be heard in the distance. A group of military vehicles arrive and start securing the area. The fire fighters start putting the fire out diligently.
INT. ALIEN CRAFT- NIGHT
NANHILDA slowly gets up, bruised and bleeding. BERITER is unconscious.
NANHILDA
(in pain, but firmly) Bert, wake up.
BERITER slowly opens his eyes.
BERTER
(relieved) you’re okay. We need to go and hide till the rescue arrives.
Suddenly they hear a loud bang as somebody is trying to enter the cabin. Nanhilda quickly hides inside an empty storage area.
After a few loud bangs, the door opens, stars are visible from the door, BERITER lifts his head towards the door as two heavily armed soldiers enter the cabin.
Soldier 1
(awe-stricken)
What the…
Soldier 2
(on radio)
There’s something... somebody injured but still alive, I repeat there is an alive, erm.... object.
INT. DC-3 COCKPIT – day
The captain and the co-pilot are preparing to land the craft at the Pendleton Airport.
CAPTAIN JAMES:
(calmly) Do you think they would believe us?
EXT. pendleton airport, oregon runway -day
A United DC 3 aircraft lands smoothly.
CO-PILOT TOM:(V.O)
They would probably think that Kenneth asked to back his story up.
CAPTAIN JAMES: (V.O)
Yes, probably, but we know what we saw.
CO-PILOT TOM:(V.O)
Do we, captain?
EXT. THE CRASH SITE -DAWN
The crash site is now swarming with activity. There are two helicopters with a few hovering up in the sky. A body covered in white sheets is getting airlifted. There are some dim lights all around the area in the distance - implementing that the area is heavily secured.
FADE OUT