The Alien Switch
THE ALIEN SWITCH
By
WALTER THOMAS SAYERS
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
THE ALIEN SWITCH
First edition. July 21, 2022.
Copyright © 2022 Wally Wu.
Written by Wally Wu.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
The Alien Switch
(CONTINUED)
CAPT.SHUTE
TESS looks down. Smiles as AKITA screams out loudly.
BZZZZZSSSST!—Air brakes engage as DOOR SWINGS CLOSE.
ANGLE ON AKITA AND TESS looking down on two talking.
TESS(CONT)
MARTINI | Whatever ya say there Tupoc.
Sadly, RODNEY looks over at Akita and starts the truck.
AKITA (continued)
TESS(O.S.)
FOO | To the principals. Now!
wtsscripts@gmail.com
1
FADE IN:
1
2
MONTAGE:
2
3
CREDITS START HERE - CONTINUOUS
3
BLACK AND WHITE AND COLOR VIDEO OF PARTS OF THE MOVIE:
CPT. SHUTE BEING SHOT AT BY ENEMY COMBATANTS FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
CPT. SHUTE AND DAUGHTER SCENES.
RODNEY LEE SHUTE WITH CPT. SHUTE MARRIED.
FIRST BABY SON SIMON LEE SHUTE WITH RODNEY AT HOSPITAL WITH
SOMBER FACE OF YOUNG AKITA SNODGRASS.
SECOND BABY DAUGHTER AT HOSPITAL SCENE WITH CPT SHUTE AND
RODNEY SMILING WITH HAPPY FACE OF SIMON AND SAME SOMBER FACE
OF LITTLE OLDER AKITA.
AKITA GRADUATION PIC OF KINDERGARDEN STILL SOMBER FACE.
CPT. SHUTE AND RODNEY WEDDING PICS.
ETC.
4
FADE OUT:
4
5
FADE IN:
5
6
CPT. SHUTE O.S.
6
CAPT.SHUTE
(serious)
Now listen! Those that have any ears, to an amazing but true tale and oh. Hello, my name is Capt. Shutes and I am in charge of a very special team of special forces scouts and our job is key to operations here of the Afghan. Our mission is to collect human intelligence and we then pass it up to command central who makes decisions that sets up the stratege’m here. Yet sometimes we
(CONTINUED)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 2.
CAPT.SHUTE (continued) do have to fight. But this is not our job completely though. We basically are eyes on the ground. Let me explain:
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT)
Criticality: How important, in a
strategic context, is the target?
What effect will its destruction
have on other elements of the
target system? Is it more important
to have real-time surveillance of
the target (e.g., a road junction)
than its physical destruction?
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT)
Accessibility: Can an SR team reach
or sense the target, keep it under
surveillance for the appropriate
time, and then exfiltrate after the
target is struck?
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT) (continued) Vulnerability: do SR and supporting units have the capability to destroy the target?
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT) (continued)
Effect: Beyond pure military effect what are the political, economic, legal, and psychological effects of destroying the target? How would the attack affect local civilians? Recognizability: Can the target be recognized clearly, by SR and attack forces, under the prevailing weather, light, and in its terrain? If there are critical points within the target, they also must be recognizable by the means of destruction used.
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT) (continued) Recuperability: When the target is destroyed by fire support or direct action, in the case of DA missions, can the enemy repair, replace, or bypass it quickly using minimum resources? If so, it may not be a viable target.
Vulnerability: do SR (including DA) and supporting units have the capability to destroy the target?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
3.
CAPT.SHUTE(CONT) (continued)
So. why share this? You´ll see
later. Till then keep watchin.
SMASH CUT TO:
7
BAD DREAM SEQUENCE - CONTINUOUS
7
8
EXT. DESERT OF AFGHANISTAN - HOT DAY - CONTINUOUS
8
RATATATATATATA! BRRRRRRRT!—Multiple machine gun fire falls upon CAPT.TESS HAZEL SHUTE(SNODGRASS), SHE is leading and directing 22 SOLDIERS down the side of a small bluff as bullets are flying hitting all around them.
Above SOLDIERS are FIFTY TALIBAN combatants firing down on CAPT. SHUTE and SOLDIERS.
ONE HISPANIC SOLDIER is shot through falls dead as they are retreating.
CAPT. SHUTE and men are ducked down as bullets fly above their heads.
CAPT. SHUTE is behind radio man screaming into mic of radio.
CAPT.SHUTE
Bravo Mike Zulu! We are under fire over! Bring in the support. Or me and my men are dead! 2 hours. No now! Out! Men we are on our own for 2 hours. Head for the rondevue. Go!
TWO WHITE SOLDIERS are trying to pick up dead soldier.
CAPT.SHUTE (continued)
Leave him. Not gonna risk another
life for a dead one. Move.
PVT.
(Hispanic accent)
Capt. What about us never leavin
anyone b’hind.
CAPT.SHUTE
That´s tha Marines. Go!
PVT.
Yes Ma´am! Poor Miguel. good bye my friend. Good travels.
TALIBAN SOLDIER rises up with RPG and fires down on CAPT.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
4.
KABOOM!—THREE SOLDIERS blown apart including the radio man.
REMAINING PLATOON following CAPT. to a long ravine at the bottom of bluff and they turn and fire on the SOLDIERS above them killing TWO.
BRRRRTBOOM!—RPG blast hits behind PLATOON and another SOLDIER blown up.
CAPT. is leading charge down dry river bed as rain starts to fall.
RATATATATAT!—Automatic AK-47 FIRE is heavier and heavier as they run up the ravine.
BRRRRTKABOOM!—Another RPG BLAST but they are out of range and it blows up 20 yards to their rear as they run fast up ravine.
THEY RUN up into a box canyon with high walls on each side as they charge up river bed.
CAPT. is looking at her GPS device tablet in hand as rain is pouring bucket loads and then...
BOOM!—WALL OF WATER that is pure mud is fast approaching them from their front.
CAPT. and SOLDIERS turn to limb rock face and it is impossibly smooth.
TRAPPED!
ANGLE ON CAPT.SHUTE´S FACE.
CAPT.SHUTE
I wish I could be Akita right now!
What am I saying. Run! Back!
BOOM!—FLASH FLOOD catches SOLDIERS enveloping them in the pure muddy goo launching back to where they came.
SOLDIERS are all mixed together. Some here and some there.
CAPT. is in the rear floating on her back watching as her men are shot one by one as the TALIBAN SOLDIERS are on the same bluff they escaped from shooting down on them smiling.
CLOSE UP ON SMILES of shooting TALIBAN SOLDIERS.
ANGLE ON SCOUTS being shot one by one.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
5.
WIDE ANGLE VIEW AT TALIBAN and CAPT. as TALIBAN combatant LIFTS RPG slowly pointing it at CAPT.
WATCH!—As RPG LEAVES—RUSHING FASTER and FASTER TOWARDS THE CAPT.
SMASH CUT TO:
9
INT. BEDROOM MORNING - CONTINUOUS
9
CAPT.TESS HAZEL SHUTE wakes with a scream next
to her
husband RODNEY
LEE SHUTE who is a
small Chinese American and
at the foot of
the bed is their 9
year old son
SIMON LEE
SHUTE and their precious 5 year old daughter AADYA LEE SHUTE.
TWO kids fall off end of bed with TESS´ big dream and baby girl is crying.
RODNEY and TESS both jump out of bed running to foot of bed each grabbing a kid when...
BOOM!—AKITA RUBY SNODGRASS who is 13-15 years of BUSTS into room wiping eyes from sleep.
WIDE ANGLE POV—LOOK AROUND THE ROOM and it is covered with pics of their life. Military awards, American flag, etc.
RAYMOND TURNS WITH baby girl in hand who is holding him tight and each face each other and kiss passionately.
AKITA turns turning up mouth in disgust and closes the door.
TESS sits up in bed pulling RODNEY closer to her with muscles bulging totally covering up his head and neck. Slightly intimidated.
RODNEY looks up at much bigger muscles than his. Smiles.
Gives in. Relaxes.
ANGLE ON TESS’ ARMPITS as they are very hairy. Rubbing on face of RODNEY who puffs out hair away from his face.
TESS looks down. Smiles as AKITA screams out loudly.
AKITA (O.S.)
Breakfast will be ready in 30
minutos!
(
CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 6.
TESS
Okay sweety. Thank you!
AKITA (O.S.)
Sure. I wish we could trade places.
TESS
Me too! Wish I could go back to...
RODNEY
(interrupts, accent)
Good morning sweety bun.
TESS
Oh. Good mornin my baby. Sorry.
RODNEY
(interrupts raises hand)
Oh no sweety bun. I will go help
Akita. I think Aadya pee again.
TESS
Aayda?
AADYA
Sorry mamma. I drank too much.
TESS
Alrighty hunny. Go get changed and I will change tha bed. Pee yew that stinks.
RODNEY
Don´t worry. I change bed. You go help Akita. Be good for her. When do you go back?
TESS
Next Month. Another 18 months. This is really getting harder and harder.
RODNEY
No more Army talk. Go.
TESS
Thanks sweety. I love you so much.
RODNEY
Me too swetty bun.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
7.
RODNEY (CONT.)
(in Chinese)
C´mon Aadya let us get you clean
up.
AADYA
(in Chinese)
Okay daddy.
TESS pulls on sweats and walks out of the room as RODNEY
takes AADYA into master bathroom.
TESS WALKS down the hall and turns to the left and
disappears.
FOLLOW TESS.
10
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
10
TESS ENTERS kitchen coming behind AKITA as she is cooking scrambled eggs.
TESS is kissing her right ear. AKITA starts to laugh.
BOTH hug lovingly as RODNEY enters with SIMON and AADYA.
RODNEY grabs the froot-loops from top of fridge.
TESS picks up two colored bowls with spoons on the table.
SIMON and AADYA sit as bowls placed in front and they grab the colored spoons holding them ready to eat.
RODNEY pours cereal in each bowl. Done.
TESS walks up with milk pouring.
RODNEY PLACE THREE plates in other places as AKITA pours eggs into each plate.
RODNEY with plate of bacon places in each plate with fingers licking them when done.
ALL quickly sit.
TESS holding each hand next to her and all join in as she is mumbling a simple prayer and then all start to tear into eggs and cereal all smiling as they eat haply.
HOLD.
KEEP HOLDING ON SPECIAL MOMENT.
BOOM!—HOUSE PHONE RINGS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
8.
TESS JUMPS UP—walks to portable phone lifts from carrier looking at the number and answers.
TESS
Hello, Yep. This is CPT.Shute. Yep.
Yep. Right away sir. 1 Hour sir.
Out. Sorry guys. Gotta it short.
The Army calls.
RODNEY
1 hour huh?
TESS
Yeah. But I´ll be home at four as
always.
AKITA
Can I come mamma?
TESS
You already know tha answer to that one. Gotta shower and dress. Bye.
GROUP
Bye. Bye mamma. Love ya mamma. Bye sweety.
DISSOLVE TO:
11 EXT. HOUSE - DAY - CONTINUOUS 11
CAPT. SHUTE is in special forces desert-camo with green beret on and sunglasses as she exits front door into officers quarters on Ft. Bragg, North Carolina sign over looking the highway that is close to the house that is lined up with hundreds of others with many officers leaving in hum-v´s, private vehicles, etc.
BOOM!—LOUD SIREN GOES OFF.
CELL PHONE CALLING ON ALL OFFICERS CELLS as each one looks down.
OFFICERS including TESS all run back inside houses.
EACH OFFICER EXITS WITH duffle bags and or flight bags.
TESS kissing her FAMILY who stand there sad kis quickly as siren sounds.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
9.
TESS with one big duffle, flight bag, and camo green backpack with dirty running shoes attached, enters inside parked hum-v, and takes off as FAMILY waves from the entrance of house.
ALL VEHICLES one by one turn and head towards main part of base disappearing.
RODNEY AND KIDS waving as TESS with arm out of driver side window waves with her hand.
ANGLE ON HER face in the rear view mirror sad but turns serious looking forward as many other similar vehicles are backing out or are pulling from the curb into traffic all around her down the 4 lane roadway.
HOLD.
HOLD MORE.
ANGLE ON RODNEY HOLDING AADYA. AKITA standing next to SIMON as all wave sadly at Tess leaving.
ANGLE POV ON RODNEY looking at entrances of every house which are many. He is the only man.
WOMEN look at him funny and each one by one slams the door.
AKITA and KIDS look at RODNEY funny. He is sheepishly embarrassed.
BOOM!—LOUD HONK of yellow school bus is fast approaching picking up kids just a block away.