John Burhop - Rise of The Kek Screenplay

ALEC

I'll be there in a minute. I need to

check my email real quick.

KRISTIN

Okay. But if I'm asleep when you get in

bed, tough luck.

ALEC

Understood.

EXT. BACK PORCH - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Alec sits down at the computer.

A distant light catches the corner of his eye. It is far out in the cornfield.

The light descends into the field and disappears from sight.

Alec pulls on a pair of shoes and heads toward it.

EXT. CORNFIELD - NIGHT

Alec arrives at Piren's scoutship.

Something RUSTLES nearby.

A open cocoon is visible on the ship's hull.

A small doorway suddenly opens.

Alec peers inside before stepping through.

INT. SCOUTSHIP - NIGHT

The outer door suddenly closes behind Alec.

An interior door whisks open.

Piren is sitting behind a small table. He waves Alec in.

Alec enters bravely.

A virtual screen hovers behind Piren. An image of Alec's book is displayed on it.

ALEC

Hello.

Piren forces a smile.

He directs his eyes toward Alec's end of the table.

Alec looks down.

A Neutrino Drive engine is sitting there. A small data crystal accompanies it.

ALEC (CONT’D)

What is it?

Piren points to the screen behind him. He struggles to speak.

PIREN

Is that you?

ALEC

Yes.

PIREN

I am Piren. That is a gift for your

future.

ALEC

I don't understand.

PIREN

I will show you.

The screen fades to darkness.

The inner door closes behind Alec.

The ship lurches.

Alec crouches to maintain his balance.

The screen now displays a receding Earth.

The Earth disappears into a sea of stars.

The sun moves blazingly into view, then recedes.

It quickly takes its place as a dim background star.

Familiar constellations creep inward.

Orion contorts itself in a slight, awkward rotation.

All at once, the stars grind to a halt.

The stars then begin a reverse migration.

Orion slips back into precise definition.

The distant sun grows brighter, then moves off to the side.

Earth approaches until it fills the screen.

Alec tightens. Holds his breath.

Another lurch. The air comes bellowing out of his lungs.

Both the inner and outer doors open.

Piren points to the Neutrino Drive.

He motions for Alec to leave the ship.

Alec picks up the drive, pockets the crystal, and then steps from the ship.

EXT. CORNFIELD - NIGHT

The corn is fully matured.

A blast of air hits Alec from above.

He looks up just in time to see the scoutship disappear into the sky.

He begins jogging toward the house.

EXT. BACKYARD - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Alec enters the yard.

He looks around suspiciously, and then steps carefully onto the back porch.

He spots Kristin through a window. She is peeking through the curtains at him. She looks older, sadder.

She slowly opens the back door.

KRISTIN

Alec?

ALEC

I thought you were in bed?

She looks carefully at his face, his bathrobe.

KRISTIN

You're alive.

ALEC

Of course I'm alive. Are you all right?

KRISTIN

That's what you were wearing the night

you disappeared.

ALEC

I've been gone a half hour.

KRISTIN

You're scaring me, Alec.

Alec looks around the yard more closely.

He studies the house, then her face.

ALEC

What happened to you? Why is everything

so different?

KRISTIN

Why are you acting like nothing's wrong?

Where have you been all this time?

ALEC

I was out in the field.

KRISTIN

You disappear for three and a half years,

then show up in the middle of the night

to tell me you've been out in the field?

ALEC

Three and a half years? What's the date?

KRISTIN

It's September 12.

ALEC

September 12? What year is it?

KRISTIN

Come on Alec, It's 2021.

ALEC

What happened on April 14, 2018?

KRISTIN

That was the night you disappeared. This

isn't funny. Everyone thinks you're dead.

ALEC

Why would anyone think that?

KRISTIN

Be honest with me. Is there someone else?

ALEC

Someone else? No! In fact, you won't

believe what just happened to me.

KRISTIN

Don't change the subject. How could you

leave me without even saying goodbye? I

thought we were happy.

ALEC

Kristin, love of my life, I'm right here.

You know I would never leave you. You had

a bad dream or something. I'm freezing.

Can I come inside please?

KRISTIN

(after a pause)

Yes, of course.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

They enter the living room and sit down on the couch.

ALEC

Check this out.

He offers her the Neutrino Drive.

She receives it cautiously. She looks it over, unimpressed, then sets it on the coffee table.

KRISTIN

What's this?

ALEC

I have no idea.

Kristin lowers her head, and then stands up.

KRISTIN

Please Alec, don't do this to me.

ALEC

Just hear me out.

Kristin sits back down.

ALEC (CONT’D)

After the party, I saw something out in

the field so I went to go check it out.

The next thing you know, I'm standing

face to face with an alien aboard his

spaceship.

KRISTIN

Alien, as in extraterrestrial?

ALEC

Yes. He took me into space for what

seemed like less than five minutes. After

that, he gave me this box and said it was

a gift for the future. I came back to the

house and that's when I saw you looking

at me through the window.

KRISTIN

I must admit, that's quite a story, even

for you. You honestly believe that you've

only been gone a half hour?

ALEC

I'm telling you this just happened. I

must have experienced time dilation. It's

the only explanation. Look at me. Do I

look three and a half years older to you?

KRISTIN

No, actually. In fact it was the first

thing I noticed when I saw you.

ALEC

I'm just as baffled as you, baby.

Whatever this thing is, it must be pretty

important.

Kristin picks up the Neutrino Drive. Examines it more closely.

She looks at Alec through the hole in its center.

KRISTIN

It's nothing but a block of metal with a

hole in it.

ALEC

He also gave me a data crystal. It'll

probably explain what it is.

Kristin starts to cry.

ALEC (CONT’D)

The last few years must have been hell

for you. I'm so sorry you had to go

through that.

KRISTIN

I had to file a missing persons report.

And then OLD MAN HUTCHINS' cattle started

disappearing. No one knew what to think.

They searched for your body for weeks.

ALEC

I've got to put this away.

Alec grabs the Neutrino Drive and moves into the bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM - ALEC'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Alec puts the Neutrino Drive in the closet.

Kristin is standing in the doorway.

ALEC

I can understand why you thought I left

you when they didn't find my body.

Kristin moves off. Then quickly returns.

She reaches inside Alec's robe, and then draws the elastic band of his briefs outward.

KRISTIN

It looks like I'm the one who found your

body.

ALEC

That's really creepy, Kristin.

She gently tucks the spider plant leaf into his briefs while flashing him a forgiving look.

Her eyes grow wide as she pulls two leaves out.

She immediately notices the cigarette burn on the second leaf.

KRISTIN

What's this?

ALEC

It's from the night of the party.