"Pilot": 09-24-08

INT. RAYNES WORKSHOP

Scott enters first. The overhead lights flicker on and the others enter. Janusae's eyes open wide at the sight of the workshop. Thad stands behind the group, looking stern.

They walk toward the prototype drive, with Janusae frequently lagging a bit while she takes it all in. Thad starts giving her annoyed looks, to which Janusae is oblivious.

They group stops before the prototype drive. Janusae looks at it with awe. The others look at it for only a moment. It looks pretty much the same as the last time it was seen.

SCOTT
Where do we start?

DEVEREUX
(to Elizabeth)
Do you have your scans from before?

ELIZABETH
Yes, Captain.

There is a brief, but awkward, pause as she addresses Devereux by her rank. Devereux glances at Elizabeth, gives her a quick smile, and then lets it pass.

DEVEREUX
What did you find out?

Elizabeth looks uncomfortably over at Scott and then at Thad before she turns back to Devereux and continues.

ELIZABETH
They've burned out some of the components. It looks like the pulse regulators and variance buffers.

Scott frowns, looking slightly puzzled.

DEVEREUX
That doesn't sound right?

SCOTT
Well, it might. It's not that we actually had names for those things yet.

DEVEREUX
(smiles)
Now you do.

Scott smiles in return. Thad continues to scowl from behind them.

SCOTT
Guess so.

ELIZABETH
(to Scott)
You've been getting unexplained spikes that burn out the components?

SCOTT
(nods)
Yeah. It starts up fine and seems to run within specs and then, suddenly, there's these weird spikes and, before we can shut things down, the components get fried.

ELIZABETH
(nods)
That's because you haven't been monitoring the field fluctuations around it.

Scott looks at Elizabeth blankly for a moment and then turns and looks at Thad. Thad shrugs, still looking on with sharp distrust.

SCOTT
I'm not sure we have the equipment for that. I'm not even sure we'd know what to look for if we did.

Elizabeth smiles in spite of her nervousness. She glances over at Devereux.

ELIZABETH
We know.

Scott looks surprised at her statement. Thad's scowl deepens.

SCOTT
(thoughtfully)
It was an accident.

ELIZABETH
(nods)
Or will be. (frowns slightly) Or was.

Scott pauses for a moment and then laughs quietly.

SCOTT
I have a feeling we really don't want to go there. It's confusing enough as it is.

Scott looks over at Devereux. She smiles slightly at him.

ELIZABETH
We can get started by removing the damaged components.

Elizabeth starts to reach inside the chassis.

THAD
No you don't.

Everyone else reacts in surprise at Thad's sharp outburst.

THAD (CONT'D)
Hands off. I'll do it.

Scott frowns, watching as Thad approaches the prototype drive. Devereux looks on with some concern.

Thad all but shoves Elizabeth aside and reaches into the chassis. He begins tugging at something inside, his jaw tightening as it resists. He turns his head to look inside, adjusts his grip, and starts to pull again.

The component comes free suddenly. Thad stumbles backward, but manages to keep his feet.

THAD (CONT'D)
(quietly)
Damn it.

A thick gash runs the length of Thad's forearm. It bleeds copiously. Before anyone can react, Hope moves forward and grips Thad's arm firmly.

A faint green glow appears around that part of his arm. The blood coagulates quickly, leaving only a long, red line that slowly begins to fade.

Thad stares at his arm and then suddenly yanks it out of Hope's grasp. He stares at her in wide-eyed surprise.

THAD (CONT'D)
What the hell?

Thad continues to stare at Hope.

Scott looks at Hope, at Thad's arm, and then at Devereux. Devereux looked uncomfortable. After a moment of consideration, she nods to Hope.

Hope removes her sunglasses. She then leans her head down slightly and removes the scarf around her hair.

Scott and Thad react with stunned looks. Scott looks over at Devereux with questioning surprise. She does not smile.

THAD (CONT'D)
She's a freakin' alien!

Devereux continues to meet Scott's gaze.

HOPE
Yes.

Thad glares at Hope and then at Devereux.

THAD
What the hell did she do to me?

DEVEREUX
(calmly)
It looks like she fixed your arm.

Thad looks down at the faded scar on his forearm. He scowls, and looks back at Hope, and then away.

Scott is now looking at Hope with obvious wonder. Devereux notices and smiles with genuine humor.

DEVEREUX (CONT'D)
She's an Aerian. (beat) Well, that's what we call them.

THAD
(angrily)
I'll bet her name isn't really Hope either.

Devereux eyes Thad carefully.

DEVEREUX
The rough translation of her real name is "Hope's Fury". Her Aerian name is difficult for us to pronounce.

THAD
(snidely)
I'll bet.

Scott looks at Hope and then at Devereux. He smiles, completely captivated. Thad notices and scowls.

Hope regards Scott placidly. If she is aware of Thad's angry gaze, she makes no sign of it.

Thad's eyes narrow and she looks at Devereux, Janusae, and Elizabeth in turn.

THAD (CONT'D)
How do we know you're not all aliens?

DEVEREUX
(laughs gently)
Trust me, we're all too human.

Devereux looks over at Scott to see how he is handling all of this. Devereux gives him a small, but warm smile. After a moment, Scott returns it with one of his own.

Thad glares at Scott and Devereux. He gingerly touches the mostly-healed injury on his arm and then faces Hope.

THAD
Don't ever. Do that. Again.

HOPE
(calmly)
As you wish.

There is a long silent pause.

DEVEREUX
(half-questionly)
Shall we continue?

Thad stares at Devereux and then the others for a moment.

THAD
I need a clean shirt first.

Abruptly, Thad rises and leaves the workshop. Scott watches him leaving, frowning.

SCOTT
That could have gone better.

DEVEREUX
(looks toward door)
It's my fault. (to Scott) I wasn't quite sure how to bring up the subject.
Scott glances toward Hope.

SCOTT
(laughs quietly)
Understandable.

DEVEREUX
I just hope Thad does.

SCOTT
(frowns)
Me too. (beat) I don't know what's got him so rev'ed up.

DEVEREUX
(smiles gently)
It's a lot for him to take in all at once.

Scott nods slowly. His expression still carries a slight frown.

SCOTT
(quietly)
Yeah. (beat) Let's get back to work.

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