PARADISO V

PARADISO V

(c) 2016 Danny Nolan

PAGE ONE

Panel 1: Planet hangs in space.

CAPTION:
PARADISO 5

CAPTION:
PLEASURE PLANET

Panel 2.

Establishing shot. Lovely facilities, oceans, tasteful décor. No people.

Panel 3.

A sign to the left of the panel. Beyond the sign in the back ground is the silhouette of a roller coaster and palm trees. In the foreground is a modern looking excavator – drilling rig, with two men standing around it, overseeing its work.

SIGN:

PARIDISO 5 - DREAM AMONG THE STARS.
MAJOR RENOVATION AND UPGRADE
INCORPORATING EXCITING NEW RIDES RESTAURANTS AND THEMES
UNVEILING Q3 THIS YEAR 
BROUGHT TO YOU BY ALLSTARS CONGLOMERATE

Panel 4.

There is a young man, TRAVIS, in the cabin dressed in coveralls and a hard hat. Outside is an older man with a beard, CHANG, dressed similarly. Both have company logo and the names on their coveralls. Dirt and boulders are scattered around. Chang is talking to Travis.

CHANG:

I’ll bet this beats travelling around the outer rim prospecting chunks of rock, eh, Mr. Travis?

PAGE TWO

Panel 1. 

Travis is holding a jar, looking at the odd rock sample contained within.

TRAVIS:

Sure is, Mr. Chang.  I never thought I’d see so much of this in one place... and it’s so pure, too.

Panel 2

TRAVIS:
Should I show it to...?

CHANG:
No. Tell no one about this.

Panel 3

CHANG:
If we play our cards right...

Panel 4

CHANG:
This could be our ticket to the good life.

PAGE THREE

Panel 1. 

The Senate’s orbital station.

CAPTION:

EARTH: RESIDENCE OF SENATE CHANCELLOR STANLEY MYRES

PERSON (OP):

Where are you heading for the holiday season?

Panel 2

A group of twelve people are sitting around a dinner table in a large spacious room. Everyone present is well dressed men in dinner suits women in dazzling dresses and fine jewellery. At the head of the table LHS is Chancellor Myres distinguishable by his bald pate.  Most of the plates are half eaten and conversation is in full swing.  Everyone is quite happy, except Myres who is stoney faced watching. NOTE: MAN 3 & MAN 4 will reappear in in the final scene on page seven.

SEATING REFERENCE FOR CONVERSATION.

 

WOMAN 3:
We’re thinking Paradiso 5.

MAN 2:
Very nice. Have you seen the new prospectus?

Panel 3.

WOMAN 3:
No, not yet. My husband says it’s going to have an all-new ocean simulation...

Panel  4

Myres interrupts the conversation between  W2 +3 and M2. He addresses Woman 3 directly. His face is still emotionless. Hers is one of shock when she replies.

MYRES:

I have some unfortunate news.

The Paradiso 5 renovation has been delayed indefinitely. I read the report this afternoon.

 Hush on that though.

PAGE FOUR

Panel 1

WOMAN 3:
Surely not, Chancellor!

You mean it’s just going to be the same place it was last year? I can’t be seen there!

Panel 2

Myres picks up his wine glass and everyone is looking in his direction. A half knowing mile has crept onto his face

MYRES:

It’s my understanding that Allstars’ contract on Paradiso five has been cancelled, and that they’re working to have the New Hamptons ready for the new season. More hush on that.

Panel 3. 

The table breaks back into different conversations as Myres leans back again with his stony expression  as he holds his wine glass and listens to the table.

CONVERSATION:

Oh, I’ve seen the prospectus for this one. It’s solid, and the innovation is just amazing.

Well, looks like a change of plans is called for.

Paradiso is clearly not the place to be seen anymore.

Panel 4. 

Myres looking very pleased with himself.

CONVERSATION (OP)

Delays! In this day and age!

Unforgiveable! It’s as if they don’t even care about keeping up! Paradiso has lost my business this year...

PAGE FIVE

Panel 1

CAPTION: THE STARSHIP INTREPID. ON MISSION OUTER RIM.

A massive and majestic interstellar battleship back dropped by a million stars.

Panel 2

The Interior of the vessel.  High on the bridge. The commodore a stern looking older man in uniform is looking out towards the vastness of space. Talking to his back is a middle aged officer - Ensign TAGGART.

COMMODORE:

Our live-fire exercise begins at 2215 hours. Bridge officers, ensure your crews are ready to proceed on my order.

Panel 3.

TAGGART:
Sir... do you have a moment?

Panel  4

The commodore turns and faces Taggart. His face is unreadable.

COMMODORE:

What is it, Ensign Taggert?

PAGE SIX

Panel 1.

TAGGERT:
Sir, I’m reading life signs on the planet. Are you sure we’re...

Panel 2.

COMMODORE:

Your first ship-to-surface live-fire exercise, isn’t it, ensign?

It’s all part of the simulation. Merely data for tactical to consider and evaluate.

Don’t give it another thought.

Panel 3.

TAGGERT:
Uh, yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

Panel 4. 

The Commodore has returned to his place on the bridge, looking out onto the planet before them.

COMMODORE:
Ladies and gentlemen, I make it 2215 hours.

You may begin acquiring targets.

PAGE SEVEN

Panel  1

CAPTION:  PARADISO 5 INNER CORE

Another external shot of Paradiso 5. The sky is dark; it’s evening now.

Panel 2.

A modern office overlooks the place .  The resort’s manager, PAUL ELLIS, is a suited bespectacled man in his late 30s. Looking side on at him he has a worried look on his face. He is staring out the tinted glass looking down on the crowds enjoying themselves.

ELLIS:

These figures aren’t good. I know bookings usually go down during the annual construction phase, but...

Panel 3.

ELLIS (cntd):

Damn Allstars pulling out and leaving us three months behind! Almost all of our high rollers and regulars have all deferred their bookings.

Panel 4

Ellis has turned to address the other person in the room, his 2IC MARGARET WONG. A pretty lady also well dressed and in her 30s.

ELLIS:

Even with the discounted fares and package deals, we’re way down on last year. If this continues, we’re going to have to look at staff reduction and service cuts.

PAGE EIGHT

Panel 1.

MARGARET:

Calm down, Paul. We’re only into the first quarter. Things always pick up.

ELLIS:

I hope you’re right.

Panel 2

Down on the ground with the crowds. Everyone’s attention is drawn to the night sky as lights streak into the atmosphere.

Children look up in wonder. Couples embrace as they point out which is their special wishing star.

Panel 3.

ELLIS:

I don’t recall a light show on tonight’s schedule...

Panel  4

Margaret has caught on, and her face is terrified as she joins him looking out the window.

MARGARET:

There wasn’t one.

           

PAGE NINE

Panel 1. Senate’s orbital station.

CAPTION: EARTH - THE GALACTIC  SENATE.

Panel 2.

Chancellor Myres is addressing the press; to his left in the foreground a screen with his image can be seen. It is part of a media pack reporting his address. Across the base and top of the screen are banners reading:

LIVE FROM THE SENATE. CHANCELLOR STANLEY MYRES. REPORTS OF TRAGEDY.

NOTE: Reference SENATE CHAMBER –PEACEFUL TOMORROWS Vol. 1 –PAGE 47 -53

Myres is holding a tablet but not reading from it.

MYRES:

The Senate has received some distressing news. The resort planet Paradiso 5 has been hit by an asteroid of - as yet - indeterminate size.

Panel 3.

MYRES:
The Senate mounted an immediate and vigorous rescue effort, but it appears there were no survivors.

Panel 4

Same scene. Maybe a different angle, possibly from behind the chancellor looking out towards the senate and the media pack.

MYRES:

The Senate will be liaising with the Paradiso corporate headquarters to ensure that the families of registered visitors and workers receive appropriate compensation for the loss of their loved ones.

PAGE TEN

Panel 1

This shot is focused on Myres, this time looking directly up at him from the position of those in the senate.

MYRES:

The disaster has rendered Paradiso 5 desolate and inhospitable. It has been struck off the register as a Class M planet.

Panel 2.

Myres continues his speech. This time it is a close up on his stony faced visage.

MYRES:

This of course means that access to the planet, in both  commercial and commemorative terms, is restricted indefinitely.

Panel 3.

MYRES:
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims of this tragedy, as well as to their loved ones. The Senate is committed to getting us all through this dark time.

Panel 4.

MYRES:

Thank you.

PAGE ELEVEN

Panel 1. A lush world, with plush office buildings.

CAPTION: ALLSTAR CORPORATE OFFICES.

Panel 2.

Inside the offices of a corporate building. Sitting around a large boardroom table are suited business men including two  of the male faces from the dinner table in scene 2.

 POV from a far corner that captures the board members , a screen on the wall and a wall of glass revealing a wonderful high view of the city.

Another of the men is holding a remote control and is pointing towards the screen what is on the screen isn’t clearly visible.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

…..And massive deposits of perobauxite  have been discovered on a planet in the inner core.

Panel 3.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

This planet has recently been declassified and rezoned. This means all previous regulations regarding environmental integrity and mining restrictions no longer apply.

Panel 4.

POV from the end of the boardroom table facing the screen. On the screen is a picture of a non disrupt rock. This of course is Perobauxite. The man has put down his remote and addressing the other members seated around the table.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

We have already received approval from the Senate to survey the land in greater detail and determine the best sites to situate mining operations.

PAGE TWELVE

Panel 1.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

With this find I can say without hyperbole that this quarter and the next few to follow are going to be some of the company’s best in decades. We expect share prices and dividends to increase substantially as soon as we make the official announcement.

Panel 2.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

Now, before I introduce our newly-promoted principal geologist, Mark Travis, I’d like to share with you that we’ve just met our final construction deadline for the New Hamptons.

Those of us with reservations for the opening night gala can breathe a sigh of relief.

Panel 3

MAN HOLDING REMOTE:

We here at Allstars have a particular talent for getting in on the ground floor. Now not only do we get great cheap holidays, but we get to enjoy some of that mining money while we do it.

 Panel 4.

MAN HOLDING REMOTE

It’s a great time to be alive.

FIN

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