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43 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LAB, KITCHEN - MORNING 43-1 The SOUND OF A COFFEE MACHINE resembling an aircraft taking off. Coffee fills a cup with a sign 'Greet Morning With Smile'. |
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43-2 Teresa's hands wash five other cups, meticulously dry them with a towel and put in a row on the counter. HUGO (O.S.) Storm warning for tonight, everyone be careful on your way home. |
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43-3a Hugo passes by the kitchen corner, looks at Teresa with interest. HUGO (CONT'D) We have a new candidate for Guillaume's position of 'honorary coffee maker'... RON (O.S.) (from behind the lab equipment) 'Coffee brewer'... |
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43-3b JULIA (O.S.) 'Coffee burner' in Guillaume's case... He's late today. RON (O.S.) Oh, women, women!... Teresa presses a button. The coffee machine becomes LOUDER and LOUDER, resembling an aircraft taking off. |
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44 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LAB - MORNING 44-1 Guillaume walks into the lab. He is out of breath and has a pile of photocopies in hand. GUILLAUME I'm sorry I am late. |
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44-2a-b Ron sticks out his head. RON Indeed you are!... I think we'll have to close your project! HUGO Relegate him to applied biochemistry! Guillaume doesn't pay attention. He looks around, concerned. JULIA (to Guillaume) Are you looking for something? Someone? GUILLAUME Teresa? Julia points to the kitchen, from where the SOUND of a coffee-maker is coming. JULIA Making coffee. |
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45 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LAB, KITCHEN - MORNING (CONT'D) 45-1 Teresa turns to Guillaume, anxious. GUILLAUME (loudly over the sound of the coffee machine) I found the full list... The coffee-maker stops. Teresa shakes her head and puts a finger to the mouth. |
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45-2 GUILLAUME (CONT'D) (continues in whisper) ...of twenty-nine crews, hundred and seven people, and all experiments they conducted on board, according to NASA database... He gives her the photocopied file. Teresa glances through the pages. GUILLAUME (CONT'D) ...nothing on dendrites, I've checked already... The last crew left the Station in the beginning of the month. In fact, the last cosmonaut died on re-entry. Of a heart attack... So that's it. I've printed the transit schedule when the station is visible over Rimouski. TERESA Do you have his name? |
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45-3a Ron unexpectedly appears in the doorway. RON (loudly) Secrets? Fascinating!... Be careful, Teresa, he's broken many women's hearts! Especially given the warning of the approaching storm... |
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45-3b Guillaume blushes and pushes up his glasses. Satisfied with the effect, Ron laughs and fills himself a cup of coffee. Teresa shakes her head, collects the papers Guillaume has given her and walks out of the kitchen. JULIA (O.S.) (with reproach) Professor Barnet!... What does the storm have to do with Guillaume's ability to break women's heart? |
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45-3c Slightly ashamed, Ron shrugs and slaps Guillaume on the back. RON Don't worry, young man... Come here, we need your help. |
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46 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LIBRARY - DAY 46-1 The library seems empty. Teresa walks along shelves with books and journals. |
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46-2a She is looking for something. |
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46-2b Teresa pulls out collections of bound newspapers. |
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46-3 Teresa is at the table leafing through a pile of different bound newspapers in front of her. |
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46-5a |
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46-4 She finds a small article about the 'space disaster'. It has a PICTURE OF IVAN, in an official cosmonaut's uniform instantly recognisable. |
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46-5b |
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46-4 A LIBRARIAN, a dishevelled student in a tee-shirt, looks up from the computer. |
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46-7 She spreads the paper on the glass top, presses the lid down and adjusts settings. |
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46-8 As a paper is ejected out by the copier we can see have time to read a few phrases: '...SPENT THREE MONTHS ALONE AFTER THE REST OF THE CREW HAD TO RETURN DUE TO THE SUDDEN ILLNESS OF... TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE STATION... LEAVING BEHIND AN OLD MOTHER AND A FIANCEE, SVETLANA, WHO LIVE IN SERPUHOV...'. |
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47 EXT. STREET - DAY 47-1a Teresa quickly walks along the street carrying a video recorder. Somebody heavily runs after her. She turns around to see Gaston, out of breath. GASTON You walk very fast. TERESA I'm in a hurry. GASTON Do you want me to show you a short-cut? |
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Without waiting for her reply he takes the VCR from her. They continue along the street, Teresa with preoccupied expression and Gaston carrying her VCR. They turn into a narrow alley between the rows of two-storey buildings and pass by several rubbish bins, and cardboard boxes of various sizes, covered with snow. Teresa glances around with surprise but follows Gaston. GASTON (CONT'D) Winter is most cruel in March. The Sun wakes up and disturbs the air. The boots I brought for you, if you wore them they'd keep you warm. TERESA (coming back from her thoughts) What?... Yes of course... Gaston, can you tell me, is it possible for a signal, if it's coming from... say, a satellite... to be stranded, and to reach the Earth a few days, or even a week, later? Like it happens sometimes with emails? Gaston considers the question. GASTON I think it's not impossible... Like a ray of light lost in a thousand of mirrors... or like a thought lost between one person and another. |
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47-1c Teresa walks a few steps in silence, thinking. TERESA So I'll need a time-stamp to be sure, right? |
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47-1d Teresa continues further before she realises that Gaston has suddenly stopped. |
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47-2 Gaston walks to a dark pile of something by the wall . The pile turns out to be A MAN sleeping on a 'mattress' made of flattened cardboard boxes. Gaston stumbles over an empty beer can. He picks it up and throws against the wall. The man opens his eyes, blindly looks around and falls unconscious again. Gaston takes a handful of snow and forcefully rubs it against the man's face and shoulders. The man makes a groaning sound and starts coughing. GASTON (CONT'D) (to Teresa) Could you pass me... He nods to a flatten cardboard lying besides. |
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47-3 Teresa moves forward and drags the cardboard closer to Gaston. |
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47-4a Gaston carefully lowers Peter down on it. GASTON (CONT'D) We need to stop by the corner shop to tell them he's here again. I fear one day he'll freeze to death... |
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47-5 Something attracts Teresa's attention. There is a recycling box lying on its side filled with what appears to be old books. One is lying open on the ground, powdered with snow. |
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47-5b Teresa picks it up. |
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It's an old photo album. Black-and-white family pictures show first A MOTHER AND A LITTLE CHILD LEARNING TO WALK,a BOY with a young pioneer tie, then A TEENAGER, then a YOUNG MAN: playing football, skiing, celebrating a New Year, sky-diving... The pictures have hand-written inscriptions in Russian underneath. |
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TERESA (to Gaston) Is he Russian? GASTON Who? Peter?... I don't think so... Why? TERESA Just... |
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47-4b-c Gaston glances at the box. GASTON Oh this... He's a keeper... checks people's rubbish, picks up things he likes... TERESA Do you know him? GASTON Not really. But it's a small town. And he's a human being... You can take it if you want, he wouldn't mind. |
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47-6 Teresa shakes her head, puts the album back in the box and gets up, shivering. |
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47-4d Gaston looks at her with attention. GASTON (CONT'D) Are you cold? Want my parka? |
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48 EXT. SEA WALK - DAY 48-1 Gilles and Nicole walk together bellow the city embankment, along the tide line, now frozen and white. The silhouettes of the centre of the town are smudged by the fast-falling wet snow. Gilles is wheeling along his bike. Nicole leans down and grabs the snow from the frozen water. She looks at the snow melting in her palm and tries the taste of it. Gilles looks at her, smiling. |
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48-2 GILLES (O.S.) Should I buy you something to eat? NICOLE (O.S.) The snow is the only thing I can eat. |
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48-3 GILLES I have nothing to offer. NICOLE Oh that's not true. You can offer friendship. Kinship. A cup of coffee once a week at the student union shop. Letters. Poems. GILLES Nicole I can't fit you in my life without destroying it. And as for writing... I don't write anymore. NICOLE It doesn't fit in your life either, right? |
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48-4a She runs the hand with the snow along her face. Then she raises her hand and does the same to Gilles. The water from the melting snow runs down their faces. |
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48-4b NICOLE (CONT'D) Oh poor Gilles, he has to kill his heart... because it doesn't fit in his life! |
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48-4c Gilles is silent. |
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48-5a Nicole turns around, grabs his bike, jumps on it and rides away. |
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48-5d Gilles remains motionless, helplessly watching her go, on his own bike! |
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49 EXT. STREETS - EVENING 49-1 A garbage can is blown away from the house, rolling along the street. The sound is muted by the wind and snow. |
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49-2 A satellite dish flies down from the roof. |
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49-3 Blasts of the wet wind carrying a mixture of snow and water bend and swing trees around. |
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49-4 The wind hauls and throws wet snow on the houses. |
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50 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 50-1a A table light on, Teresa is waiting by the television screen, the VCR plugged in and ready to record. The screen remains dark. |
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50-1b The table light goes off, together with the stand-by light of the VCR and the slight glow of the television. In the darkness Teresa flicks the switch with no effect. |
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50-2 The room is lit up by a strange bluish light that sometimes turns orange. Teresa looks outside... |
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51 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, STREET - NIGHT 51-1 ...All lights are off on the street, including the streetlights. In the eerie darkness the wind is throwing around snow and rain. The electrical transformers on the street poles are shorting out with loud popping sound. One transformer explodes into a colourful fireworks-like display. Its light illuminates the street, revealing a LONELY FIGURE (PETER) stumbling in the tempest dragging something behind and... |
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51-2a ...a damaged satellite dish lying on the ground. |
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51-2b_52-1a |
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52 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, STREET/ROOF - DAY 52-1b Bright sunny day. Gaston's hands pick up the satellite dish. |
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52-2 Bright sunny day, which bears no trace of the storm the previous night, except for the tree with a broken branch in front of Gilles' house. The satellite dish is re-attached on the roof of Nicole's house. Gaston's van disappears around the corner of the street, where TWO REPAIR MEN in a cherry-picker by the pole are replacing the exploded transformer. A MAN is walking his dog along the street. The dog is busy sniffing the snow. The man walks behind with a plastic bag in hand. |
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52-3 The dog lingers in front of Gilles' house. Gilles comes out, passes the dog with a friendly smile and nods to the man. MAN WITH A DOG Quite a storm it was last night! GILLES Quite a storm indeed. Gilles removes a flyer stuck under the windscreen wipers of his car and throws it to the blue recycling box. He looks around as if expecting to see his bike parked by the fence. The bike is not there. MAN WITH A DOG (crouching to pick up dog's poop) Peter's died you know. GILLES Oh dear! MAN WITH A DOG Yeaa... (to the dog) Here we go... |
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52-4 MAN WITH A DOG (O.S.) Yeaa... (to the dog) Here we go... (back to Gilles) Police picked him up but too late. GILLES Oh, it's too bad. MAN WITH A DOG (O.S.) Well we all saw it coming. |
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52-4 Gilles looks at Nicole's house, hesitates, but doesn't go there and proceeds along the street on foot. Teresa is walking on the opposite side of the street, with a carton of milk and a newspaper in hand. Gilles glances at her but Teresa looks away. She stops at the corner with an alley, lifts the empty rolling garbage bin and pushes it to the wall. The alley is covered with debris scattered around by the storm. |
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53 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY 53-1a (Nicole is lying in the living room on the settee facing the wall, wrapped in a blanket. The radio is softly broadcasting NEWS from the kitchen. Half-packed parcels and papers are piled on the desk by Nicole's computer.) Teresa's hands holds a small round glass container and a screw-driver, the end of which is wrapped in cotton and inflamed. Teresa heats the inside of the jar... V.O. ANNOUNCER (CONT'D) ...In Germany, officials in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia immediately decided to slaughter all sheep imported from France in the last three weeks... TERESA The best remedy for bronchitis. My mum insisted I took it with me to Canada... |
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53-1b Teresa puts the jar on Nicole's bare back. The jar sticks, sucking the skin in. Teresa takes another one. NICOLE (O.S.) I don't have a bronchitis. I can't breath because I wake up and all my cells are longing for him. |
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53-2a TERESA I think you should take up yoga. It helps to deal with emotional difficulties... NICOLE You are silly, Teresa. How can I do yoga with him living next door? |
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53-2b Nicole moves, the glass containers clank. TERESA Don't move... I'll take the bike back later tonight when I go to pick up Saga. NICOLE No. |
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53-3 TERESA Just two more left. In the silence the radio comes in again. V.O. ANNOUNCER According to unconfirmed reports from Moscow, a last-minute offer to save the last remaining on orbit module of the Russian Space Station came from Iranian President Mohammed Khatani... Teresa freezes, holding the flame inside the jar. NICOLE I feel like my heart is... TERESA (interrupting) Shhh... Just a moment... She listens to the radio. V.O. ANNOUNCER ...The speaker of the Russian Parliament Gennady Seleznev also made a call to save the Station calling it the symbol of Russian space achievements... |
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53-4a V.O. ANNOUNCER ... He points to what he calls a sophisticated conspiracy plot designed to give NASA and the United States an unrivalled hegemony in space. Observers largely dismiss the statement as a purely political ploy. Officials claimed to have restored full control over the station, and are planning to use the Station's thrusters in the controlled re-entry operation to be conducted next week... |
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53-4b Teresa finally places the jar on Nicole's back. |
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53-2c Nicole screams. TERESA (O.S.) I am sorry... |
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53-2d TERESA ...I think there is a man there, on the Russian station. A cosmonaut. NICOLE (incredulous) A cosmonaut? Why? TERESA I don't know. I need to find out. Teresa tucks Nicole in the blanket and gets up with a decisive, almost stubborn expression. |
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54 INT. RUSSIAN SPACE STATION - DAY (SP-ST scene 3-1) 54-1a Hanging upside down Ivan looks in the illuminator. He floats to the camera and slowly turns it to face the centre of the block. |
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54-1b |
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54-1c |
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54-1d As the camera turns it catches some glimpses of Ivan's cabin - a picture of a young woman (SVETLANA), a hand-written note and a black and white picture of a mother and a little child learning to walk, exactly like the one in Peter's album... |
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54-1e As Ivan is moving the camera, we can see the nametag on his suite, saying in Russian and English 'Ivan Nekrassov'. |
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54-1f |
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54-1g Once the camera has been adjusted, Ivan moves away... |
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54-1h |
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54-1i ...attaching himself to the railing of the cabin's table. The basic block looks tidy comparing with its normal state - it seems that all spare cables have been put away, and there is no free floating objects... And Ivan looks fresh and glowing in anticipation of something. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) (in Russian) ...You look well. IVAN (in Russian) I've just shaved, thought I'd better, before mum sees me... He smiles. There is an awkward silence and confusion at the other end, and after the noises the voice of Anatoly Konstantinovich comes in. ANATOLY KONSTANTINOVICH (O.S.) Vanya, unfortunately permission for communications with relatives has been withdrawn. So that she doesn't get upset. She is a mother, you see, she would feel something is going on. Ivan is silent. His buoyant mood has disappeared, and the glow is gone. IVAN Pity... I've cleaned here today... ANATOLY KONSTANTINOVICH (O.S.) You should understand, Vanya. It's easier for her like that... She'll remember you happy. Don't worry we'll provide for her. She will have a good pension, can't be otherwise when her son is a hero. We'll help your sister with a new apartment. I'll take care of it myself... Ivan doesn't seem to listen to Anatoly's apologies. |
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54-1j The container with the crystal slowly appears between the camera and Ivan, floats across the screen and disappears. IVAN Sereja, how is she there? OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) I'll drop by today after the shift. IVAN I've remembered the other day... There is a library book, on the stool near my bed... It would be good if it could be returned somehow, ah?... It must be cold in Moscow, the Earth's white... And Svetlana... Svetlana... Give her a balloon, you know, but it should be bright green. ANATOLY KONSTANTINOVICH (O.S.) What are you talking about, Vanya? IVAN (ignoring Anatoly) But don't forget, Sereja, a bright green one!... Well, that's it then. Ivan almost puts down the radio microphone, but raises it up for one last question. IVAN (CONT'D) How's Spartak? OPERATOR 1(O.S.) Lost again, this time four - nil. IVAN To whom? OPERATOR 1(O.S.) Bayern Munich. IVAN Well, Bayern is a good team. |
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54-1k He puts down the microphone and turns away from the camera. |
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54-1l The image disappears. |
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55 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 55-1a Teresa stops the recording, rewinds it and presses play. Ivan appears again on the screen. Teresa pauses the recording, contemplating the black and white photograph... |
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55-1b ...then plays the tape further. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) (in Russian) ...You look well. IVAN (in Russian) I've just shaved, thought I'd better, before mum sees me... |
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55-2 Teresa watches with intense attention. |
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56 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LAB - EARLY MORNING 56-1 Teresa searches the Internet. |
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56-2 Different data-bases pop out on the computer screen: Russian phone directories, addresses, property status, passport information, driving licenses, car accident reports... Teresa fills in her credit card information, types in Ivan's name. An address and a telephone number in Serpuhov appear on the screen. |
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56-3 Teresa is alone in the lab. She checks the time on the lab's clock and reaches for the telephone. The loud laughter of Ron who enters the lab, stops her. Ron is lingering by the door to finish a CONVERSATION with SOMEONE INVISIBLE in the corridor. Teresa puts the phone down. |
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57 EXT. STREET, PUBLIC PHONE - MORNING 57-1 |
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57-2 Teresa waits with the receiver in her hand, her heart loudly beating somewhere in her throat. Finally, the phone is picked up. IVAN'S MOTHER (O.S.) (in Russian) Allo... Allo!... Allo!... I can't hear you!... TERESA (in Russian) I want to speak to you about Ivan... IVAN'S MOTHER (O.S.) (in Russian, angrily) Ivan? What Ivan? Ivan's died, he's dead, don't you know?! (starts crying) Buried him with my own hands... my only joy... Ivanushka!.. TERESA (in Russian) Please listen to me. Ivan is alive. I have a video with Ivan on the Station... I want you to speak to the ground control centre. I will send video to you... IVAN'S MOTHER (O.S.) (in Russian) Don't know what you are talking about... Fedya, what is she talking about?! Some mad women... Stop abusing me, you, do you hear me?! There is no more Ivan, no more... Go speak to those, in the Space Ministry... I don't need anything.... TERESA Can I speak to Svetlana? IVAN'S MOTHER (O.S.) (in Russian) What Svetlana? There was Svetlana and all has come to nothing. She has a fiancé now. Well, I can't blame her, can I?! She's a young thing, lust doesn't let her live calmly.... Leave us alone, dear, I have no tears left, no words, no voice... Ivan's mother hangs up. Teresa stands still, the receiver in her hand. |
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58 INT. RESEARCH CENTRE, LAB - MORNING 58-1a In a dishevelled but determined state, Teresa walks into the lab, a newspaper in hand. There is a presentation in progress, with Ron talking near an illuminated projection. Teresa walks to Hugo who is sitting besides, watching the presentation. |
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58-1b TERESA (softly) I need a day off. Hugo nods, without looking at her, concentrating on the screen. HUGO Of course, of course... When? TERESA Now. Hugo looks up at her with surprise. He notices her state. HUGO Are you all right? TERESA I need to go to Montreal. Hugo makes a sign to Ron to hold for a moment. Ron stops half-sentence with a comical expression. HUGO I hope not alone? Romance is the only legitimate reason if you want to disappear in the middle of the week. Am I right, Ron? TERESA I'm going there to speak to the Canadian government. HUGO (puzzled) The government?... |
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58-1c TERESA (after a hesitation) I think there is a cosmonaut on the Russian Station, to be de-orbited this week. I don't want him to die! Ron shakes his head. RON (gently) Is this your... dream man... with the crystal? He winks to Hugo. |
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58-1d RON (back to Teresa) The end of March in Quebec is statistically the worst time to get all kinds of... vitamin deficiencies... |
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58-1e JULIA (to Ron) Could you stop, please. (seriously, to Teresa) How do you know? TERESA (turning to her in hope) I see him. Every day. On my television. The communication sessions. RON Communications, voices ... I don't get anything on mine, even the CBC is fuzzy! JULIA (ignoring Ron) Perhaps it's a recording, an older transmission? TERESA He discusses football! The European Champions League! Last night he mentioned the score, and look!... She shows the newspaper. TERESA (CONT'D) Bayern Munich four, Spartak nil! The Russians announced he died, but he is still alive. I think they can't control the station otherwise... JULIA So what do you want to do? TERESA To save him. RON (O.S.) Oh how romantic, how socialist... and how naive! |
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58-1f JULIA But why?! Do you want the Station to plunge on our heads, killing thousands of people?!... As far as I am concerned... even if it was true... He's chosen to be a solder, he follows orders, saves the world!.. It's a justified sacrifice and it probably makes him feel good. It would have made me feel good! Honestly!... If you want to speak about it to the Government, why don't you speak about the Middle East, about water pollution, about starving children in Africa... TERESA That's a cynical attitude! JULIA Not at all! |
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58-1g HUGO Please, girls... (to Teresa) Look, if it were true, it would have been a top secret, you wouldn't be able to get un-encrypted transmissions... There are hundreds of thousands people like you all over the world watching satellite, you know... Why don't you talk to someone... a journalist... I have an old friend who teaches here, I'll call him now to see what he thinks. |
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58-1h HUGO Why don't you talk to someone... a journalist... I have an old friend who teaches here, I'll call him now to see what he thinks. |
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58-1i Hugo walks to his desk, dials a number and softly talks on the background. RON Dear Teresa, it's time to come back to Earth and give your precious heart to someone around you, not to a cosmonaut in the sky. Teresa turns to him, fighting tears and anger. RON (CONT'D) (gently) Look, we all love you and wish you well... He makes an attempt to hug her but Teresa sways away. RON (CONT'D) Alright... silence, silence, silence... He presses his hand to his mouth, turns around... |
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58-1j ...and pointedly tiptoes to his desk. |
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58-1k Guillaume walks into the lab with a pile of fresh newspapers and dispatches. Ron, relieved, stops tiptoeing and grabs Guillaume's elbow. RON (CONT'D) (to Guillaume) Any good German news to cheer up our dear Teresa? GUILLAUME (readily) Bayern Munich beat Spartak in semi-final. RON Don't you start this nonsense too! Guillaume looks profoundly puzzled, almost offended, pushes up his glasses and goes to the kitchen. Julia pensively follows him with her eyes. JULIA If we think about it, Bayern Munich always beats Spartak... RON What are you talking about? JULIA Don't worry, it's European. |
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58-2a Hugo puts down the phone. HUGO (to Teresa) He is waiting for you in his office, McPherson building, seventh floor, room 705. Teresa nods, blows her nose, gets her backpack and walks past Ron, Julia, Guillaume and Hugo to the door. |
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58-2b JULIA (softly, to Guillaume) Could you please show her where it is. Guillaume nods, grabs his coat and runs after Teresa. |
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58-2c The rest look at each other. RON (about Guillaume and Teresa) I am afraid he's not the right type for her. Charming but unsophisticated! HUGO Poor she. And pity the poor bugger on the station, dead or alive... I think it's your turn to make coffee, Ron! |
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59 INT. UNIVERSITY, GILLES' OFFICE - DAY 59-1a Teresa knocks at the door, left ajar. VOICE (O.S.) Come in. |
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59-1b Teresa enters and almost immediately exits again - the man at the desk is... Gilles! He is on the phone and makes an apologetic sign, pointing to an empty chair. |
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59-1c One wall of the office is all glass, looking down at the frozen St. Lawrence river and distant silhouettes of the city. The other walls are taken up by the shelves filled with books and papers. GILLES (on the phone) I disagree with you, but I can't talk about it now, I have someone waiting for me... Yes of course. Bye-bye. He puts down the phone and smiles to Teresa. GILLES (CONT'D) Now, Hugo told me a bit about... your story... and that you want to go to Montreal... If it's true... |
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59-2a Teresa sits down. TERESA I have a tape with the last transmission. And the newspaper with the football results he mentions. Do you want to watch? |
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59-1d Gilles looks at her, thinking. GILLES I think I've seen you in the neighbourhood... Do you know Nicole? |
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59-2b TERESA I am her lodger. |
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59-1e He looks at her, silent for a moment. GILLES How do you want to go to Montreal? TERESA (O.S.) I've checked the timetable, there are buses leaving every two hours. GILLES A six-hour journey?... |
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59-3a Gilles shakes his head. He gets up. GILLES Let's watch the tape. If it's how you describe it, and if you are prepared to leave straight away.. |
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59-3b He takes his jacket and the scarf off the hook. GILLES ...I'll drive you to Montreal. But we'd need to stop by my house to take the car. |
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60 EXT. STREET NEAR NICOLE'S HOUSE - DAY 60-1a Shifting from foot to foot, Teresa is waiting by Gilles' car. The engine is warming up. |
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60-2a Gilles closes the car hood. |
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60-2b He glances at Teresa. GILLES Get inside, it's getting warmer. As Teresa is getting inside the car, Nicole with a coat thrown over her shoulders walks down the steps of their house with a blue recycling box. She sees Gilles and Teresa and freezes. |
| Frame #116 |
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60-3a Gilles is energetically moving around the car, scraping the ice off the windows. |
| Frame #117 |
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60-3b Nicole puts the blue box on the ground and crosses the road. |
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60-3c Teresa puts down the driver's window and leans over to it. TERESA (O.S.) You are ill, go back to the house. NICOLE (to Teresa, ignoring Gilles) I didn't know you knew each other. |
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60-4 TERESA Listen, Nicole, I am going to Montreal to speak to the Canadian Space Agency about the cosmonaut, remember? |
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60-3d NICOLE A cosmonaut? What cosmonaut?! TERESA (O.S.) Yes, I told you. I need to save him. Gilles is a journalist, he is helping me. You'll catch a cold, go back to the house. Nicole looks at Gilles. Gilles continues scraping the windows on the other side of the car, not looking at Nicole. NICOLE He's not a journalist! He is a little frightened man! He's stopped being a journalist years ago!... I'll be right back! |
| Frame #121 |
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60-3e She runs across the road back to the house. Gilles brushes off the snow scrapings and gets in the car. |
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60-3f The engine is idling, slowly warming down. GILLES Should we go? TERESA Just a moment. Traces of ice start melting on the windows. |
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60-5a Nicole knocks on the passenger's door window. Teresa opens it. Nicole pushes through a thermos and a plastic container. NICOLE Careful, it's coffee... and here are some sandwiches. It's a long trip. TERESA Thanks. Could I ask you... I need you to record the transmission at... |
| Frame #124 |
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60-5b She gets a piece of paper, unfolds it. It is a table of the Space Station transits printed by Guillaume. TERESA (CONT'D) Around eleven thirty in the evening. Just press 'record', it's all set up. Nicole nods. Without ever looking at Gilles she steps aside and waves. |
| Frame #125 |
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61 INT/EXT. GILLES' CAR - DAY 61-1a Teresa is silent, looking out the window onto a deserted landscape of white trees and white ground. The RADIO in the car is softly on, broadcasting a daily programme of classical musical requests with a very enthusiastic female announcer. GILLES We have another two hours to go... I actually would not mind a drop of coffee. Teresa nods. She carefully unscrews the lid and pours some coffee in it. The cup steams. Gilles stretches one hand, takes the coffee, drinks and returns the cup to Teresa. GILLES The first summer I came to Canada, I drove to Vancouver, it took me five days. It's a big country. TERESA It's beautiful. GILLES Have you been here long? TERESA About a month. GILLES So you've probably been to Nicole's parties? TERESA No I have not. |
| Frame #126 |
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61-2 An arrangement of an old French Canadian song: ...'my father did not have a daughter but me, and he sent me far away in the sea'... is heard from the radio. Gilles clears his throat. GILLES (O.S.) (after a pause) What's your subject? TERESA (O.S.) A mathematical model to describe how the influences of outer world are transformed into the shape of snowflakes. GILLES (O.S.) Oh, I see. But they don't last for a long time. TERESA (O.S.) So I have to work very fast. |
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61-1c Gilles smiles. GILLES Do you like living in Quebec? Must be quite a change for you, ah? TERESA People are very nice. GILLES Do you have your family back in Dresden? TERESA My parents still live in Dresden, but my sister with her husband and children are in Berlin. |
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61-3 GILLES Nicole has a small child, doesn't she? |
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61-4a TERESA Yes. GILLES (O.S.) Are you close friends? Teresa looks at him. TERESA (O.S.) No. I am her lodger. |
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61-4b She turns away to the window. |
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61-4c |
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61-5 |
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62 EXT. MONTREAL, DAY 62-1 The car drives across the bridge, leaving behind the outlines of downtown Montreal. |
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63 EXT. MONTREAL, CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY 63-1 Teresa and Gilles enter the building. |
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64 INT. MONTREAL, CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY, RECEPTION HALL - DAY 64-1A Gilles holds a glass door letting Teresa into an empty hall with TWO SECURITY GUARDS at the counter in the middle. There is a small waiting area with soft chairs and a low table to the right. GILLES Take a seat. I used to know their public relations clerk, I'll see if I can find her. He disappears. Teresa sits down in a chair, clutching the backpack. Gilles walks to the security guards and softly talks to them. One of the guards picks up the phone and dials. Teresa looks around. |
| Frame #136 |
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64-1b A black car stops outside, letting out THREE MAN. TWO are dressed in grey suites, while the THIRD MAN (NICOLAI) has a pullover under his bulky unzipped parka and carries a briefcase. The men in the suites respectfully open the door for the third. They glance at Teresa and walk straight pass the security guards, disappearing around the corner of a circular corridor. Gilles comes back to Teresa. Teresa stands up from the chair. GILLES (CONT'D) (energetically) She'll see us in ten minutes. |
| Frame #137 |
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65 INT. MONTREAL, CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY, OFFICE - DAY 65-1a Gilles and Teresa sitting at a small office - a part of a bigger space separated with movable screens. PICTURES OF TWO SMILING CHILDREN are pinned to the cork board, together with a calendar and some printed notes. The CLERK (CHRISTINE), a middle-age woman with straight hair and a pleasant expression, is taking notes. CLERK Do you know the frequency of the transmission? Do you understand me? I am not talking too fast, am I? TERESA No. CLERK I am curious how you get it... (to Gilles) When it snows I can't even get the CBC here!... GILLES A friend installed a modified satellite receiver for her. CLERK Oh I see. I'll be right back. She leaves the room with the tape. |
| Frame #138 |
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65-1b Gilles reassuringly smiles to Teresa. Teresa looks around. A silently rotating CCTV camera follows their movements. A MAN glances in the office. GILLES She stepped out. The man nods and disappears. ... The clerk comes back to the office with someone else. It is a SENIOR OFFICIAL, a tall middle-aged man in an impeccable suit. He smiles and stretches his arm to greet Teresa and Gilles. SENIOR OFFICIAL Sorry I kept you waiting. Very nice to meet you... I am George Andrews... I was in Germany last month... Where are you from, exactly? TERESA Dresden. SENIOR OFFICIAL A wonderful city, isn't it?... He smiles. SENIOR OFFICIAL (CONT.) (CONT'D) Now, we've looked at your tape and appreciate your concern. However we don't have any reason not to believe our NASA colleagues who work closely with the Russian partners, and who confirm the station is unmanned at present. We can also confirm the tragic landing accident, which killed the cosmonaut Ivan Nekrassov two weeks ago. You see we are watching each other so closely these days that it is difficult I'd say impossible to stage anything like that!... As for your tape, it is an older recording broadcast for training purposes. He smiles and spreads his arms. Gilles looks at Teresa. |
| Frame #139 |
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65-1c TERESA Ivan mentions the result of a football game, which took place only two days ago. She digs in her backpack. SENIOR OFFICIAL Pardon? GILLES Teresa understands Russian and apparently the cosmonaut discussed the result of a European soccer game played last Sunday... Teresa finally finds the newspaper and puts on the desk in front of the Senior Official. He glances at it. SENIOR OFFICIAL It's all very amusing. Do you seriously want us to take a soccer score as a proof? Have you checked if it was not the same the last month or the last year, or two years go? I am sorry to disappoint you.... (to Gilles) We haven't had a case like that before, usually we deal with HAM enthusiasts recording alien transmissions!... Well, I have to leave you but Christine will give you a short tour around the agency... Are you travelling back tonight? GILLES Yes. Thank you for your time, much appreciated. SENIOR OFFICIAL You are journalist, aren't you? Do you want a KSC credential for Terminal Countdown in late April? We are processing applications now, so let me know. |
| Frame #140 |
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65-1d Christine smiles to Gilles. CHRISTINE Here you are! It might make you consider writing again!... Should we go? We have a delegation visiting for UVAI transmission from Interball Aurora so you might be able to see our ground control centre in action! TERESA Can I have the tape back? CHRISTINE I am sorry, we'll have to keep it on file. TERESA I see. In the German Democratic Republic it would have meant that there was something to hide. Christine looks at her with concern. CHRISTINE But we are in Canada. I usually don't do this, but if it would make you feel better, I can see if we can have five minutes with the President of the Agency. He is an astronaut himself, and perhaps you'll find his words more convincing. Teresa wants to say something, but Gilles interrupts her. GILLES Many thanks, Christine, but I don't think it's necessary. |
| Frame #141 |
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66 INT. CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY - DAY 66-1 Christine, Gilles and Teresa walk along a second floor gallery. On one side of it, through the glass wall, they see a small ground control centre with a HANDFUL OF PEOPLE working in front of the monitors. On the big screen there is a map of the world with a sinusoid of orbit and a small dot moving along it. The information on the side of the board reads: INTERBALL AURORA 1 24293U 96050C 05323.52727622 -.00000051 00000-0 10000-3 0 1607 2 24293 063.9876 353.1773 5094017 295.9791 020.7840 04.14715663139751 Christine stops and points down. CHRISTINE Interball Aurora maintenance session. In 1996, Canada placed a highly specialized camera, the auroral ultra-violet imager, aboard the Russian satellite Interball Aurora to study the aurora borealis. UVAI's mission was to take photos of the Arctic region to improve our understanding of space weather and the aurora borealis. Space storms cause various problems. For example, in 1994, a violent magnetic storm put Canada's Anik satellites out of commission for several days, cutting off information transmission to Canada's print and electronic media... While Christine is talking, Teresa turns around. TWO MEN IN SUITS stand a few meters away, talking quietly. One of the men is looking straight at Teresa. When he meets Teresa's eyes, he turns away. |
| Frame #142 |
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67 INT. CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY - DAY 67-1 Christine leads Teresa and Gilles to the exit. They pass by the wall displaying THE OFFICIAL PICTURES OF CANADIAN ASTRONAUTS. Teresa looks at their smiling, confident, positive faces. A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE walks up the stairs passing Christine, Teresa and Gilles. Teresa hears a CONVERSATION IN RUSSIAN and turns around to follow the group with her eyes. She notices the same two men whom she has seen on the gallery, lingering on the top landing. TERESA Who are these people? Christine looks around. The group screens the two men from Teresa, and when the group passes, the men are no longer there. CHRISTINE It's a Russian delegation helping with Interball Aurora. Almost all our projects are based on international cooperation... She stops just before the guards and smiles. CHRISTINE (CONT'D) It was nice to meet you. Have a safe journey home... (to Gilles) It was nice to see you again. Stay in touch, will you? She stretches her hand out to Teresa, then exchange a kiss with Gilles. |
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68 EXT. CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY - AFTERNOON 68-1 A slow snowfall in the darkening air. A big uneven SNOWFLAKE lands on Teresa's sleeve. Teresa looks at it till it melts, disappearing into a drop of water. |
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68-2a Gilles sweeps the snow off the car windows. |
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68-2b GILLES (O.S.) Should we set off? My wife is back tomorrow morning... |
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68-3a Another black car appears by the entrance to the Space Agency and is waiting there, the engine idling and a small bluish smoke coming form the exhaust pipe. TERESA I would like to speak with the President of the Agency. |
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68-2c GILLES I don't think it's a good idea. TERESA No problem. GILLES If you want to go back on your own, I'll wait here... |
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68-3a |
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69 EXT. CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY 69-1 (68-3b) The black car is still waiting by the doors. One of the guards, A YOUNG BLACK MAN IN A UNIFORM, walks in front of the building, waving his arms to warm the hands. There are illuminated windows on the upper floors, but the entrance is dark, and the doors look shut. Teresa walks straight to the door, but the guard stops her. GUARD Can I help you? TERESA I have been here just now, remember? I need to speak to your press officer, Christine. GUARD I am sorry I can't let you in. TERESA Why? I've just been in... I have my passport. I really need to see her. GUARD Sorry, madam. We are now closed for public. TERESA Can I use your phone to call her?... GUARD I am sorry I can't help you. You would need to contact her tomorrow. The guard turns away. Teresa looks up at the illuminated windows WITH SHADOWS OF PEOPLE moving inside. She moves a few steps away from the entrance and stops, thinking. A SMALL MAN IN PARKA WITH A BRIEFCASE (NICOLAI) comes out of the building. The guard holds the door for him, lets him out and steps inside the building himself. The small man's mobile phone RINGS. Nicolai takes it out. NICOLAI (in Russian) Yes... I've just left... I understand. Agreed... I am going to have something to eat and will come back. Bye. He puts the phone away. |
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69-2a TERESA Excuse me... Are you Russian? Nicolai turns to her and looks with curiosity. NICOLAI Yes. TERESA Do you have anything to do with space? The man lightly smiles. NICOLAI Yes. I am a cosmonaut. TERESA (in Russian) It's good, because I want to ask you... about the Space Station... Is anyone still there? Nicolai looks at her with attention. NICOLAI (in Russian) The Station is unmanned in preparation for de-orbiting. TERESA (in Russian) And if someone was there, and the Station was de-orbited, would this someone have any chance of surviving? |
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69-2b A MAN appears from the building. Nicolai watches him approaching. NICOLAI (quickly, in Russian) No. He wouldn't. (in a different tone, in English) Nice talking to you and best of luck with your projects. MAN We are ready to go. Nicolai nods. |
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69-3a Nicolai nods. The DRIVER comes out of the black car, opens the door. Nicolai and the man get in. |
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69-3b The car drives away. |
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70INT. EVENING, MONTREAL, TV STATION Gilles and Teresa are sitting in the office of the NEWS EDITOR, RAY, a red-haired man with feckless. Ray is in front of the computer screen and during the conversation doesn't stop typing and checking something on the computer. It's not clear if he is writing notes related to the conversation, or doing something else in parallel with it. RAY The European Champions League semi-final, I've got you. (to Gilles) You've seen the tape, haven't you? GILLES Yes I have. RAY Curious. Let's check something... He types on the computer, waits a second, reads information on the screen and reaches for the phone. RAY (CONT'D) (on the phone) Hello... Can I speak to Christine Lafleur please, it's Ray Conrad from the News Today... Thanks... He winks to Teresa and Gilles and puts the phone on the loudspeakers. CHRISTINE (O.S.) Christine Lafleur, press relations... RAY (on the phone) Christine it's Ray Conrad. I have a quick question. A woman came this afternoon claiming there was someone on the Russian Space Station. She said she had a tape but you had taken it from her?... CHRISTINE (O.S.) A German one? Oh she is completely mad. Try to rid of her in a polite way, if you have not already done so. RAY (on the phone) Thanks for the warning, I thought she was a bit mad. Teresa gets up, grabs her coat and the backpack and walks out of the office. Ray makes gestures to Gilles to stop her. Gilles rushes after Teresa, catching her at the door. Teresa is abut to say something but Gilles presses his finger to the lips and points back to the chair. RAY (CONT.) (CONT'D) (on the phone) By the way, what's on the tape? CHRISTINE (O.S.) A year-old Russian telecommunication recorded from NASA channel. RAY (on the phone) I see. Well I appreciate your help... By the way I am sending Henri to the Interball press-conference. I thought you'd enjoy it! CHRISTINE (O.S.) I sure will! Ray hangs up and turns to Teresa, who has not taken her coat off but is sitting back on the chair. RAY (to Teresa) I am sorry, but you s |
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71 EXT. GILLES' CAR/ ROAD TO RIMOUSKI - NIGHT 71-1 The car is parked on the side of the road. An empty road is seen faintly between the white fields and a thin forest of small Northern trees. One can just make Gilles' figure in the forest a few feet away from the car. A SOFT SOUND OF PEEING. |
| Frame #156 |
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71-2 Teresa switches on the light, unfolds a piece of paper. |
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71-3 It's the Space Station transit chart. Teresa checks her watch and gets out of the car. |
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71-4a A car appears on the road, its headlights blinding Teresa. The car slows down and stops beside Gilles' car. There are two people inside - a MAN and a WOMAN. |
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71-5a The WOMAN (who is sitting in the passenger seat) puts down her window. WOMAN (to Teresa, in English) Are you alright? Need any help? TERESA No thanks. Just a toilet break. The woman nods. |
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71-4b The man, without switching off the engine, gets out of the car, a scraper and a big brush in hand. He starts cleaning the headlights. |
| Frame #161 |
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71-5b WOMAN How far are you travelling? TERESA Rimouski. WOMAN A long way... We are going to Riviere-du-Loup to see my father. He's been taken ill this afternoon... eighty years old... The man returns to the car. WOMAN (CONT'D) Well good luck and a safe journey. She puts up the window. |
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71-4c The car drives away. |
| Frame #163 |
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71-6 Teresa looks up. HEAVY STEPS and the SOUND OF CRUNCHING BRANCHES are heard, and Gilles comes out on the road. He stops near Teresa. TERESA (without taking her eyes off the sky) Look. It's the Space Station. GILLES Gosh, it's beautiful... He looks up, silenced. Teresa holds her breath. |
| Frame #164 |
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71-7 A deep black sky is pierced with stars. A SATELLITE looking like a very bright star appears on the horizon. It moves swiftly across the sky, right on the zenith. GILLES (O.S.) How far is it? TERESA (O.S.) Used to be four hundred, but it's three hundred seventy kilometres now. GILLES (O.S.) Not so far. About the same as from here to Rimouski... The station crosses the sky and disappears behind the forest. |
| Frame #165 |
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72 INT. GILLES' CAR - NIGHT 72-1 Gilles turns the engine on. Something in how the car starts moving attracts his attention. He stops and gets out. |
| Frame #166 |
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73 EXT. GILLES' CAR/ ROAD TO RIMOUSKI - NIGHT 73-1 Gilles crouches in front, looking at the front wheels. The car is visibly leaning to one side. Gilles studies the tires. |
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73-2 The light from the flashlight illuminates the front and the back tires on the driver side. Both are flat. Gilles pulls out a piece of barbed wire. |
| Frame #168 |
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73-3a GILLES Damn it! What's that?! |
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73-3b Teresa touches his shoulder. TERESA I might be mistaken... A car stopped asking if we needed any help. The woman chatted to me while the man was outside. I did not see what he was doing. Gilles looks at her, very serious. GILLES It doesn't happen in Canada. |
| Frame #170 |
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73-4 GILLES Get inside the car, we are staying here for a while. Teresa gets inside. Gilles reaches for his mobile. GILLES (on the phone) I need urgent road service... A Plus member... Two flat tires... About 80 kilometres East of Drummondville on highway 20... I don't want towing I want a flat tire assistance and an emergency spare purchase... Up to three hours?!... |
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74 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, STREET - DAY 74-1 A police car is parked by Nicole's house. |
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74-2 Across the street Gilles is lingering by the mailbox, a newspaper and letters in hands, waiting. |
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74-3 The door is unlocked and ajar. Teresa enters. |
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75 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, CORRIDOR/TERESA'S ROOM - DAY 75-1A VOICES OF NICOLE and TWO POLICEMEN are coming from the kitchen. The door to Teresa's room is wide open. Nicole appears from the kitchen. NICOLE It's good you are back. TERESA (O.S.) What happened? NICOLE A bit of excitement. Someone broke into the house last night. Climbed in through your window! Saga heard something and screamed. I woke up. |
| Frame #175 |
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75-1B TERESA (O.S.) Is Saga alright? NICOLE (O.S.) Yes she thinks it was Peter, a homeless guy from the neighbourhood, who wanted a bit of food... Drug addicts most likely. Sorry it normally doesn't happen in Rimouski... Was your trip good? Saved your cosmonaut? |
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75-1C |
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75-1D Teresa shakes her head. She steps inside her room, which is ransacked, with the windowpanes propped open. |
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75-1E Gaston's decoder is lying on the floor, smashed in pieces. Teresa picks up what's left of the decoder. TERESA Do you know how to find Gaston? |
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76 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, STREET - AFTERNOON 76-1a A TELEVISION CREW - A CAMERAMAN and A REPORTER - are taking boxes from a taxi to Nicole's door. |
| Frame #180 |
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76-1b CAMERAMAN (going up and down the stairs and talking to Teresa) We had an accident just before Riviere-du-Loup, some idiot on a tractor, so while waiting for the car to be toed away we called Ray and he said jump in the taxi, bastards. We'll do your interview first. How much time do we have till the transmission? TERESA (O.S.) A couple of hours. |
| Frame #181 |
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76-1c Nicole and Saga walk to the house. Nicole has a grocery bag in her hand. Saga runs up the stairs, Nicole follows her. |
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76-2 Teresa looks at Nicole with a silent question. NICOLE He was not at the office. But they sold me a new one from his safe. Nicole shows her the contents of the grocery bag. |
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76-3 A NEW DECODER is lying there on top of the apples. |
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77 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - EVENING 77-1 Nicole's big older television and a VCR and a new decoder are installed on the floor in Teresa's room. The room has been tided, and the window closed. Teresa connects cables. |
| Frame #185 |
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77-2 The television is on. Teresa turns up the volume and flips channels back and forward, briefly passing by Arab news and a neighbourhood supermarket's CCTV images. Satisfied, she gets up. |
| Frame #186 |
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78 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE - EVENING 78-1a The cameraman roams around the apartment, filming. He looks with curiosity at the unpacked boxes of Nicole's sex toys and accidentally pushes Gilles' bicycle, which falls down with great noise. |
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78-1b Nicole glances from the kitchen. CAMERAMAN Sorry. |
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79 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 79-1 Teresa puts a new VHS tape in the VCR and presses 'record'. |
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79-2a Teresa watches the screen with extreme intensity. The reporter, the cameraman and Nicole are waiting in front of the television. |
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79-3 A signal appears, ripping the blackness of the screen with horizontal uneven lines. |
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79-2b Everyone moves closer to the screen. |
| Frame #192 |
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79-3 The noise signal increases, the horizontal lines run faster, followed by almost unbearable CRACKLING PULSATING NOISE. Concerned, Teresa gently turns the tuning knob. The signal disappears, giving space to the Arab television. Teresa turns the knob back, to the crackling image. The cameraman aims the camera at Teresa, pans to the television screen and back to Teresa. TERESA It should be here. Teresa flips channels once more, turns down the volume, watching the white lines on the screen. TERESA (CONT'D) It'll clear up, we must wait a bit longer... White lines on television screen. More lines. More CRACKLING SOUND. Then everything disappears, the screen is black and silent again. REPORTER Is that it? |
| Frame #193 |
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79-4 REPORTER (CONT'D) Don't worry, it's just this kind of a day! We'll have dinner and will be in the hotel, call us if something happens. He pats Teresa on the shoulder and walks out of the room. The cameraman collapses the tripod and follows the reporter. Nicole remains in the room with the distraught Teresa. NICOLE You might not have adjusted it properly. Keep an eye on Saga, I'll see if I can find Gaston. |
| Frame #194 |
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80 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, STREET/ GILLES' CAR - NIGHT 80-1a Nicole carries Gilles' bike down the stairs. She gets on the bike and rides away in the middle of the street, finding a path between brown squashed snow. Her unbuttoned coat flies behind her shoulders. A WHITE VAN parked a bit further along the road turns its engine on and slowly follows Nicole at distance. Nicole doesn't notice it. Gilles' car appears on the road. Nicole slows down and steps to the side to let it pass. Gilles looks at her. Nicole turns away. |
| Frame #195 |
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80-1c Gilles' car stops by his house. Gilles and his wife get out. WIFE (looking at Nicole) Someone's as mad as you on a bicycle in the middle of winter! You did not put the recycling out, darling... |
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80-1c The white van drives by, continuing after Nicole. Gilles looks at the van. Nicole stops at the crossroad, the van stops few yards away. Nicole moves forward, the van creeps behind. |
| Frame #197 |
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80-1d Gilles takes a quick decision. GILLES I've forgotten to buy something. I'll be straight back. The wife turns around from the door. WIFE Get Chinese take-away as well, will you? She disappears inside the house. |
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80-2 Gilles jumps back in the car, turns around and follows the van. |
| Frame #199 |
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81 EXT. STREET, CROSS-ROAD - NIGHT 81-1a Nicole rides along a commercial street. She stops the bike on the red light, and rocks it impatiently from side to side waiting. There are a few cars between Nicole and the white van, which is followed by Gilles. Gilles swerves to the left, overtakes the van and other cars, gestures his need to turn and squeezes in front of the first car by the lights, right by Nicole. |
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81-1b Nicole looks at him with surprise. |
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81-2a Gilles leans across to the passenger's side. GILLES (urgently) Park the bike by the Arcade, run across, I'll pick you up at the other exit. |
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81-3 The light changes. Gilles turns right in front of Nicole. Nicole continues along the street, the white van following behind. |
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82 EXT/INT. STREET, ARCADE SHOPPING MALL/ GILLES' CAR - NIGHT 82-1a Nicole comes out of the mall, looks around. |
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82-1b Nicole runs to the car and gets inside. |
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82-1c Gilles turns the car around and drives away. NICOLE What's it all about? GILLES Where were you going on a bike? NICOLE Looking for Gaston, the guy who installed Teresa's dish. What's wrong? GILLES I don't know. I think you were followed. NICOLE Followed?! |
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82-2a Gilles mobile phone rings. Gilles answers. GILLES (on the phone) Yes I called but you didn't answer. I've ordered food, it should be there in ten minutes. I'll be back later, I have an urgent thing to attend... |
| Frame #207 |
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82-3 GILLES ...Helping someone in an emergency, I'll tell you when I get home... No I'm fine, don't worry. |
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82-1d He hangs up and turns back to Nicole. GILLES What does he look like? NICOLE Who? GILLES Gaston. NICOLE I can't be in the same car with you, Gilles! GILLES We'll think about it later. Nicole shakes her head and turns away. NICOLE An Innu. About forty years old. Big. Goes everywhere in a van with the satellite television logo. You've seen him around... |
| Frame #209 |
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83 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 83-1a Teresa is restlessly pacing her room. The television screen is dark, with an occasional cracking white line passing through the screen. |
| Frame #210 |
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83-2 The light on the VCR is flashing indicating the recording in progress. |
| Frame #211 |
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83-3 Outside the window, snowfall has started. Big soft snowflakes dance in the air, landing on the glass like fragile butterflies. |
| Frame #212 |
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83-1b Teresa stops the recording and rewinds the tape. She gets the tape out, then changes her mind and pushes it back in the machine. |
| Frame #213 |
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83-1c The screen is filled with white lines. Teresa fast-forwards the tape, scanning the recording. The white lines run faster, revealing a distorted outline of a person. Teresa exclaims and moves closer to the screen. She rewinds and fast-forwards the tape again, watching the outlines of a MAN. |
| Frame #214 |
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83-4 |
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84 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT 84-1 Teresa is pouring water into a kettle. A knock on the kitchen window makes her jump. |
| Frame #216 |
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84-2 She turns off the light and carefully moves the curtain. |
| Frame #217 |
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84-3a Nicole, Gaston and Gilles are standing on the balcony. Teresa opens the door. |
| Frame #218 |
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84-3b TERESA You scared me. GILLES There is a car parked by the house with its headlights off, so I decided to take a precaution. I think I've caught your socialist paranoia! They enter, letting a cloud of cold air and snow into the kitchen. Gilles closes the door and pulls back the curtains. GILLES (CONT'D) Nicole I suggest we call the police and tell them that you've been stalked. |
| Frame #219 |
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84-3c Gaston's clothes are in a mess, and he sports a bruise and blood on his face. Teresa looks at him with concern. TERESA (to Gaston, gently) Could I offer you something? A tea? Gaston turns to her. GASTON First make me something to eat. Then bring me coffee. |
| Frame #220 |
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84-4 Gaston takes off his boots and walks straight to Teresa's room. NICOLE (softly) He was on the roof this afternoon doing an installation, and someone, teenagers most likely, got into his van. He run after them, hung to the cabin and tried to get the bastards out, but they sped up, and he fell on the ground. TERESA Is he alright? NICOLE Very upset. Everyone knows him here. Things like that don't normally happen. |
| Frame #221 |
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85 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT 85-1a A POLICEMAN 1, a young man, almost a boy, with freckles and very short hear, is sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Teresa is making coffee. The POLICEMAN 2 is talking in the walkie-talkie, an empty plate on the table in front of him. POLICEMAN 2 (on the walkie-talkie) The name's Jamie Steward, travelling on American passport... VOICE ON THE WALKIE-TALKIE (incomprehensible) ShPssHrmm Thm Crm ShPss Hrmm |
| Frame #222 |
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85-2 |
| Frame #223 |
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86 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 86-1a Teresa enters the room with a big plate of hot pasta. |
| Frame #224 |
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86-2a The voice of the policeman is heard from the corridor. POLICEMAN 2 (O.S.) (on the walkie-talkie) Any information on the white van?... VOICE ON THE WALKIE-TALKIE (O.S.) (incomprehensible) ShPssHrmm Thm Crm ShPss Hrmm POLICEMAN 2 (O.S.) (on the walkie-talkie) Well it's the same girl who had a house breakdown last night. She has a small child. |
| Frame #225 |
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86-2b VOICE ON THE WALKIE-TALKIE (O.S.) (incomprehensible) ShPssHrmm Thm Crm ShPss Hrmm POLICEMAN 2 (O.S.) (on the walkie-talkie) We'll stay in the area... |
| Frame #226 |
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86-1b All papers on Teresa's desk are moved to the side. A soldering iron in hand, Gaston is leaning over the decoder box, all in bits and pieces. |
| Frame #227 |
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86-1c Gaston looks up, puts the solder on a support, wipes his hands with a rag and moves aside the parts to make space for the plate. |
| Frame #228 |
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86-3 Teresa and Nicole are motionless on the settee, watching Gaston with mounting intensity. |
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86-4a Gilles walks in the room, with the mobile phone in hand. GILLES Ray said he was ordered to get the crew back to Montreal and to forget the story. He is willing to risk but he needs a recording. He can't run anything without it. It has to be in Montreal by seven in the morning. |
| Frame #230 |
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86-5a The policemen step into the room. POLICEMAN 2 We'll go now but we'll be in the area. Let us know if you see any more of those American bastards. |
| Frame #231 |
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86-5b Gaston finishes re-assembling the decoder, which has now lost its sides but received a new front plate with several switches and knobs saying 'descramble 1-2-1', 'descramble Y-C-L', 'descramble 50Hz'... Policeman 1 looks at Gaston and disassembled decoder with an open interest. POLICEMAN 1 (to Gaston) What are you doing? GASTON (without taking his eyes away from the desk) Adjusting the decoder to de-scramble transmissions from the Russian Space Station. POLICEMAN 1 Cool! What ciphers are you using? |
| Frame #232 |
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86-6 The second policeman smiles. POLICEMAN 2 Don't let him start on this! He's crazy about electronics! He gives the first policeman a friendly shove on the shoulder. |
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88 EXT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, ROOF - NIGHT 88-1a Clutching the chimney, Gilles holds a flashlight directing the light towards Gaston. |
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88-1b Gaston attaches an additional antenna to the centre of the satellite dish. |
| Frame #235 |
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88-2 A police car slowly moves along the street. It stops by the house. Gilles looks down. The car window lowers and Policeman 1 waves to Gaston and Gilles. Gilles waves back. |
| Frame #236 |
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89 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 89-1 Gaston is asleep on Teresa's settee, curled up like a child, with a hand under his cheek. Teresa's blanket is tucked around him. |
| Frame #237 |
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89-2 The screen fills with white stripes and noise. Anxious, Teresa presses the 'descramble' switch to 'on'. |
| Frame #238 |
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89-3 |
| Frame #239 |
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90 INT. RUSSIAN SPACE STAION - DAY 90-1a Ivan is by the control panel working as he talks, without turning to camera. IVAN I tried to correct the orbit using attitude control thrusters firing short burns. OPERATOR 1(O.S.) You lost fifteen hundred meters. |
| Frame #240 |
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90-1b IVAN I think I am about thirty-forty degrees off now. I won't have enough time to re-orientate. OPERATOR 2 (O.S.) We know. We have an instruction to start preparations for immediate emergency re-entry. |
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90-1c Ivan stops what he has been doing, turns around and floats closer to he camera. |
| Frame #242 |
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90-2a IVAN So where will be my... landing patch? OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) We have NASA recommendation for 53 North - 54 West. We'll wait till you've lost another kilometre, in eight orbits or so, then we'll start slowing down, for about thirty minutes... OPERATOR 2 (O.S.) We'll pass you over to the Americans, since it's their territory. They'll take you from the beginning of slowing down. Your operator will be Fred Bayron, remember him? IVAN Fred? No I don't remember any Fred. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) We'll be watching you but won't be communicating any more. IVAN Yes I've got it. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) So, Vanya... IVAN It's time to say good-bye? |
| Frame #243 |
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90-1d He makes a movement as if getting up from the chair, stopping himself by lightly touching the cable. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) Yes. IVAN I wonder if the Other World is as beautiful as what I see here. I'll check it out for you guys. OPERATOR 1 (O.S.) Yes... The voice chokes and disappears. IVAN Take it easy. Everything will be fine. Most important, the job will be done. I feel fine and in positive working spirits. Ivan smiles. OPERATOR 2 (O.S.) Farewell, Vanya. The image disappears. |
| Frame #244 |
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91 INT. NICOLE'S HOUSE, TERESA'S ROOM - NIGHT 91-1 For a moment everyone is silent. |
| Frame #245 |
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91-2a GILLES Eight orbits is about twelve hours... |
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91-2b GILLES So the scheduled time of re-entry is eleven in the morning... We might be already too late. |
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91-3 He stops the tape and takes it out of the recorder. |
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91-4a He carefully lifts the curtain and surveys the street outside, then draws the curtain. GILLES (CONT'D) Well I should stop by my house and set off for Montreal. |
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91-4b He kisses Teresa good-bye... |
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91-4c |
| Frame #251 |
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91-5a ...then looks at Nicole. GILLES (CONT'D) Keep all the lights up. Lock the doors. Have the phone with you all the time... I... He is about to say something else, but stops himself. Instead he touches her cheek with his hand, turns around and leaves the room. |
| Frame #252 |
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91-5b The SOUND of the CLOSING FRONT DOOR and STEPS down the stairs. NICOLE What are we going to do, Teresa?! |
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91-6a TERESA Gaston! |
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91-6b Gaston opens his eyes and sits up. TERESA (CONT'D) You were in the Air Force, can you fly an aeroplane? If we can find a small private plane... Gaston looks at her, baffled. TERESA (CONT'D) (with determination) I need to be in East Labrador tomorrow morning. Gaston thinks for a moment. GASTON I can't. I didn't pass the medical. I was always on the ground. But I have a friend. He owes me. I can ask him. |
| Frame #255 |
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92 EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT 92-1 Teresa is waiting on the street, while Gaston is talking to AN OLDER MAN (PILOT) on the porch of a small house with a manicured yard. The man is dressed in trousers with braces, and has sleepers on his feet. The house has a satellite dish on the roof. AN OLDER WOMAN glances outside from the illuminated window of the house. The window reveals a living room with a big television showing news. The man disappears in the house. Teresa sees him talking to the woman in the living room. |
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92-2 Teresa shifts from one foot to another. |
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92-3a The man reappears on the doorsteps, now wearing a pilot's leather flying jacket, boots and gloves. He has a selection of badges on the jacket. |
| Frame #258 |
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92-3b He opens the garage door revealing a car and drives it out. Teresa looks at the car with astonishment. The body of the car is completely covered with McDonald's 'free-gift' plastic toys. Some are weathered, some have more colour and shine to them. |
| Frame #259 |
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92-3c The woman appears on the threshold with a thermos and sandwiches. |
| Frame #260 |
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92-4 Gaston smiles to Teresa. She makes a step and almost falls down, clutching Gaston's sleeve. TERESA (helplessly) I can't walk anymore. I can't feel my feet. |
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93 INT/EXT. SMALL ROAD - NIGHT 93-1a The light in the car is on. Gaston is driving. Teresa half-lying in the back, flanked by the Pilot. She has Gaston's parka on top of her own coat, but is still shivering. |
| Frame #262 |
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93-1b Her bare feet are placed on the Pilot's lap. The Pilot gets a handful of whisky out of a small black flask and vigorously massages it into Teresa's feet. |
| Frame #263 |
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93-2a GASTON (to the Pilot) Give her the flask! The Pilot passes the flask to Teresa. |
| Frame #264 |
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93-1c GASTON (to Teresa) Drink! TERESA I don't drink. She meets Gaston's eyes... |
| Frame #265 |
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93-1d ...after a moment's hesitation takes a gulp from the flask. |
| Frame #266 |
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93-3 She coughs, takes another gulp and slowly breathes out as the colour returns to her cheeks. She looks at her bare feet... |
| Frame #267 |
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93-4 ...moves her toes and giggles. The Pilot doesn't react, continuing his act. |
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93-5 Gaston nods with satisfaction. |
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94 EXT. AIRFIELD, ENTRANCE - NIGHT 94-1a The car slows down in front of an electric gate. The sign on the gate says: 'Listuguj Reserve Airfield, unauthorised entrance is forbidden'. |
| Frame #270 |
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94-1b The pilot gets out of the car, unlocks a security lock and opens the gate. |
| Frame #271 |
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94-2 The car drives along an airfield to the looming silhouette of hangar. |
| Frame #272 |
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94-3 Teresa is waiting, illuminated by the lcar's headlights. She has Gaston's parka on top of her coat and wears male-size snow-boots instead of her high-heels. TERESA (feverish) Do you have a First Aid kit?... And a stretcher, I think we might need a stretcher... |
| Frame #273 |
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94-4 The Pilot appears from inside the hangar. He holds helmets, an orange parka and a wind-up radio. |
| Frame #274 |
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94-5 Gaston and Pilot prepare the plane for the flight. |
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95 INT/EXT. PLANE - MORNING 95-1 Teresa looks out the window. |
| Frame #276 |
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95-2 The plane is flying along a frozen riverbed... |
| Frame #277 |
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95-3 The Pilot and Gaston are in the plane's cockpit, silent. A hand-held Global Positioning Device is taped above the control panel, swinging as the plane turns. |
| Frame #278 |
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95-4 |
| Frame #279 |
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96 EXT/INT. GILLES' CAR - MORNING 96-1 Gilles' car is driving along a wintry road. |
| Frame #280 |
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96-2 He looks tired, but defiant. |
| Frame #281 |
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96-3 The tape is lying on the passenger's seat. |
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97 EXT. PLANE - MORNING The plane is flying over forests with patches of clear-cuts... |
| Frame #283 |
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98 EXT. GILLES'CAR - MORNING Gilles's car on a highway, overtaking lorries. |
| Frame #284 |
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99 EXT. PLANE - MORNING The plane passes several houses lost in the middle of nowhere... |
| Frame #285 |
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100 EXT/INT. GILLES'CAR - MORNING Gilles is entering Montreal suburbs. |
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101 INT/EXT. PLANE - MORNING 101-1 The plane passes ...a frozen lake... ...a small logging settlement... ...finally, a white endless desert of the frozen Ocean... |
| Frame #287 |
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102 EXT. LABRADOR SEA - MORNING 102-1 The plane dives down, touches the ground on a scarcely marked deserted airfield, taxis and stops in a cloud of snow. |
| Frame #288 |
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102-2 |
| Frame #289 |
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102-3 Gaston and the Pilot make an improvised stretcher out of two poles and a piece of blue tarpaulin. Teresa is waiting besides them. The Pilot spreads out a shiny emergency blanket. He sits down and pours a cup of coffee. He has a drink, then passes it to Gaston. Gaston passes it to Teresa. The Pilot shares sandwiches. They eat in silence. |
| Frame #290 |
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103 INT. MONTREAL, TV STATION, NEWS STUDIO - MORNING 103-1 An ANNOUNCER looks through the notes, preparing for the broadcast. Gilles and Ray watch from behind the camera. The announcer looks up. A big digital counter-down flashing 5-4-3-2-1-go. ANNOUNCER The Russian Space Station, which is scheduled to be de-orbited today under an immense pressure that NASA put on the Russian partners claiming that the Station's exploitation was no longer safe, will be directed to eternity by a hero who was meant to remain unknown. Ivan Nekrassov, a Russian cosmonaut who was officially declared dead earlier this month, is still alive and has remained on board the Station to ensure its safe and controlled descent |
| Frame #291 |
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| Frame #292 |
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104 EXT. LABRADOR SEA - MORNING 104-1 The group slowly moves towards the Ocean: Teresa, walking in front, then Gaston, with the stretcher on his shoulder and the Global Positioning Device, and the Pilot with the First Aid kit and the wind-up radio... Morning has fully broken. The sky is clear, bleached by the cold. There is no sign of human presence. Even the sound of steps seems to be muted by the emptiness of the space around... Teresa stops and waits till the men catch up with her. TERESA How far is it? Gaston looks at the Global Positioning Device. GASTON (pointing forward) About fifty kilometres further this way. We stop here. It's too dangerous to be closer. |
| Frame #293 |
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104-2 Gaston puts the radio on the snow, winds it up, tunes... There is a silence at first, then the noise, whistles and rattles. Finally, a distorted breaking VOICE is heard. Gaston flips a switch, the voice focuses. V.O. IVAN (in Russian) ...Yesterday I saw a snowstorm over your house... |
| Frame #294 |
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104-3a IVAN (CONT.) (in Russian) I caught myself breathing on the pane as if I thought to blow the clouds away... |
| Frame #295 |
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105 105-1 IVAN (CONT.) (in Russian) ...I thought that if I pushed myself far enough, I could catch the orbit, and become your guardian satellite... until one day I'd fall on your doorsteps as myriads of intricate snowflakes... Final burn forty seconds completed... passing Cape Mercy... beginning descent... |
| Frame #296 |
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106 EXT. LABRADOR SEA - MORNING 106-1 The voice breaks and disappears in the noise of radio waves. Teresa holds her breath. |
| Frame #297 |
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106-2 A strange, almost imperceptible HIGH SOUND penetrates the silence of the frozen desert. A moving star appears far away near the horizon. The star becomes brighter and breaks into five. As the five fragments move across the sky, leaving behind tender brown tail of smoke, they change their colour from blue to golden. |
| Frame #298 |
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106-3 (104-3b) Teresa, Gaston and the Pilot wait, standing together, stock-still, their eyes watching the sky. |
| Frame #299 |
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106-4 Finally, the five fragments engulf in flames and disintegrate into a shower of burning fragments. |
| Frame #300 |
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107 INT. ARCHIVE FOOTAGE: GROUND CONTROL CENTRE, STAR CITY, RUSSIA - DAY 107-1 A MALE VOICE makes an ANNOUNCEMENT about the successful re-entry of the Russian Space Station (in Russian, English and French). The GROUND CONTROL CENTRE STAFF - few MEN in front of computers - rise on their feet, silent. GUESTS - officials and diplomats - applaud and smile with relief. A big screen on the wall shows the World map with the trajectory of re-entry. |
| Frame #301 |
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108 EXT. LABRADOR SEA - DAY (bird's POV) 108-1 In the middle of the frozen sea THREE LITTLE FIGURES move slowly. Around them, as far as the eye can see, BURNED FRAGMENTS OF THE STATION are scattered on the ice, lying in dark patches of melted snow. The three figures move from one fragment to another in their futile search. |
| Frame #302 |
 |
108-2 It starts to snow, powdering the dark patches with merciful white cover. Myriads of unusual, intricate snowflakes fly, whirl and dance in the air, each looking like a tiny copy of Ivan's crystal. TERESA (V.O.) During the so called 'dark period' of the existence of the Universe, about five hundred million years after the 'big bang' space was filled with hydrogenised snow... The snowflakes had intricate, refined shapes, long fragile intertwined branches unseen on Earth. This snow melted when the temperature in the Universe rose with the birth of first stars. THE END |