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INT. CONCOURSE/AIRPORT - DAY
THE DREAM AGAIN! But at an earlier moment. YOUNG COLE, flanked
by his PARENTS, whose faces are out of view, is watching a PLANE
land through one of the big glass windows that lines the concourse
leading to the departure gates.
P.A. SYSTEM (o.s.)
Flight 784 now boarding at gate...
Suddenly, a SHOUT, followed by raised VOICES, interrupts the
monotonous airport routine. As YOUNG COLE and his PARENTS turn
to see what's going on, a man we'll call MR. PONYTAIL, his face
averted, hurries past them, bumping YOUNG COLE with a Chicago
Hulls Sports Duffle Bag.
MR. PONYTAIL
WATCH IT!
YOUNG COLE sees little more than the gaudy pants, the duffle, and
the man's ponytail flopping as he rushes towards the gates.
Just then, a WOMAN'S VOICE cries out, "NOOOOOOOOO!"
YOUNG COLE turns back toward the Security Check Point just as
TRAVELERS scatter madly, some diving to the floor, others
running. A TERRIFIED TRAVELER, hitting the floor close by, looks
up at YOUNG COLE with panicky eyes, and asks....
TERRIFIED TRAVELER
Just exactly why did you volunteer?
INT. ENGINEERING OFFICE/FUTURE WORLD - (ETERNAL NIGHT)
COLE comes abruptly awake. Seated now, he's facing the
SCIENTISTS.
ASTROPHYSICIST
Wake up, Cole.
COLE
Uh, I didn't hear the...
MICROBIOLOGIST
(tapping a pencil on the table)
I asked you, why did you volunteer?
COLE
Well, the guard woke me up. He told me
I volunteered.
The SCIENTISTS react, whispering urgently among themselves.
COLE starts to nod off again, then comes awake with a start as
the ENGINEER speaks to him.
ENGINEER
We appreciate you volunteering. You're
a very good observer, Cole.
COLE
Uh, thank you.
ENGINEER
You'll get a reduction in sentence.
COLE keeps his face impassive.
ASTROPHYSICIST
To be determined by the proper authorities.
ENGINEER
You don't want to jeopardize that reduction,
do you, Cole? Have it taken away?
COLE
No, sir!
ASTROPHYSICIST
We have a very advanced program, something
very different, requires very skilled people.
MICROBIOLOGIST
An opportunity to reduce your sentence
considerably...
ZOOLOGIST
And possibly play an important role in
returning the human race to the surface
of the earth.
ENGINEER
We want tough minded people. Strong
mentally. We've had some...misfortunes
with "unstable" types.
ASTROPHYSICIST
For a man in your position...an opportunity.