ALIENS NEXT DOOR
T.V. film script by Colin J Platt.
Copyright Colin J Platt 2014
CHARACTERS:
JOSH TAYLOR: Twelve- year old boy.
DAPHNE TAYLOR: Josh’s Mum 37 Year old woman.
HARRY TAYLOR: Josh’s Dad 40 Year old Police Sergeant.
AUGUST JOHNSON: Ten- year old girl. (Alien.)
MARTIN JOHNSON: August’s Dad (Robot)
BRANDY: cross Alsatian-Collie dog.
SETTING: Various scenes from Kitchen/ garden/ riverbank.
Background:
A twelve year old boy is best friends with his next door neighbor who happens to be an alien.
SCENE 1: JOSHE’S KITCHEN.
JOSH’S DAD HARRY:
Do you know, Daphne, Martin Johnson has no history of any kind.
Daphne:
What do you mean, Harry, Have you been checking up on him?
HARRY:
Don’t get excited, I only did a stage one on him. But the computer did a stage three.
Daphne:
What do you mean? Is he wanted or something?
HARRY:
No one knows. He is a complete mystery, also his wife and kid.
DAPHNE:
How can that be? Surely they must come from somewhere?
HARRY:
That is why I did a check. He told me that he worked for a government agency, but he wouldn’t tell me what or where. It has now started an FBI probe.
DAPHNE:
What?
HARRY:
Yes, I tried to play it down because he’s a neighbor, but it is now out of my hands.
DAPHNE:
My God, Harry, he could be arrested!
HARRY:
If they’re Illegal Aliens they will be, I never liked them, you know that, they never speak and won’t join in any of the town’s activities.
DAPHNE:
You’re only sore at him for not giving to your disabled charity.
HARRY:
Sure I am. Imagine someone who obviously gets a good salary but won’t contribute to their own town’s disabled children.
DAPHNE:
Oh Harry! Maybe he already contributed to other charities?
HARRY:
I was watching the house the other night with my Night Sight, do you know what? I saw Martin sat down by the window; he didn’t move a muscle for three hours!
DAPHNE:
You’re getting paranoid Harry. Maybe he is into Yoga or something?
HARRY:
What something? He’s like a Robot! I’ve never seen a man with that much control. It’s not natural! I tell you, Daphne, I don’t like Josh associating with that girl.
DAPHNE:
Oh, hold on now, Harry. She is a sweet and very clever girl, she has helped Josh immensely. Do you know Josh got an A Grade’ in Math!’
HARRY:
I don’t care. He would have gotten that anyway, he’s a smart kid.
DAPHNE:
I don’t know. It would have taken a long time to get that grade without August’s help. She spent many hours with Josh, I know, I used to watch them studying. And there was no playing around with games or TV.
HARRY:
I can’t understand it Daphne. I called in at the school the other day. Mr. Brady the math teacher said she can figure out the Hodge Conjecture and the Riemann Hypothesis: These are math problems that have baffled people for ages and he say’s a ten year old girl can solve them!
DAPHNE:
I’m sure she will be proved wrong. Surely the higher-up people will quickly see that August is just a gifted but normal child.
HARRY:
That’s just the thing; he said there was a good possibility that she would be proved right!
DAPHNE:
Just think Harry, if she is right. The press will come round to interview them. We might be on TV!
HARRY:
You’re missing the point. There is something creepy about the whole family!
DAPHNE:
Oh Harry, give over, August is such a good girl. Josh is smitten with her. He wants to ask her to go to the fair next month.
HARRY:
I’ll make you a bet Daphne; I bet that they won’t let her go.
DAPHNE:
OK Harry, It’s a bet because I happen to know that Martin is going away at that time.
HARRY:
That’s another thing; whenever he goes away he always comes back in the same suit and tie.
It must stink!
DAPHNE:
Nonsense! He probably has it dry cleaned.
HARRY:
I can’t stand the guy!
DAPHNE:
You don’t know him that well, and I thought you didn’t want to get to know him that much.
This isn’t anything to do with him showing you the mistakes you made when you first met him, is it?
HARRY:
I was only trying to teach the girl how to start a scrapbook. That’s all! Then Mr. Perfect came around to advise me and ‘edit it!’ can you see how crazy that seems?
(Knock on the door. Daphne answers it.)
Scene two:
MARTIN JOHNSON:
Is Mr. Taylor in, I want a word with him.
MARTIN JOHNSON:
Can I have a word with your husband Mrs. Taylor?
DAPHNE (Looks at her husband.)
HARRY:
Show him in Daphne. “We” don’t want to be impolite do we?
MARTIN JOHNSON: (looks on with expressionless face.)
Mister Taylor, have you been monitoring me and my family?
HARRY:
What makes you think that?
MARTIN JOHNSON:
I saw you watching us with your night-vision binoculars.
HARRY:
That’s impossible! You were… I mean, I’m a cop. I wouldn’t do that.
MARTIN JOHNSON:
You are a Police Sergeant with the Indiana State Police; badge number 4637, born 3.12.72.
Your height is 6.1.Your weight is 189 lbs. You have type 2 diabetes and your stress levels are high.
Do you want me to go on?
HARRY:
How in hell do you know I have diabetes?
MARTIN JOHNSON:
Go to your doctor tomorrow. I have done you a favor, so please drop the investigation.
HARRY (Acting innocent.)
What investigation?
MARTIN JOHNSON (still looking expressionless.)
Please don’t play this game. I know all about it, go to work on Tuesday as usual then at lunch time go to the Stat’s-room put this disc into the computer and type in these codes, press accept and bring back the disc.
HARRY:
Who the hell do you think you’re dealing with?
MARTIN JOHNSON:
I’m dealing with a life form that couldn’t even pass the entrance exam for the police force.
HARRY:
That does it; I’m calling my buddies, you are going to be placed on a stage 2.
MARTIN JOHNSON:
Don’t you mean a stage 3? A stage 2 is using violent behavior.
HARRY:
I’ll have you sectioned for this, I’ll have you arrested. I’ll …(Harry starts to have chest pains.)
MARTIN JOHNSON:
Your husband is having a heart attack, Mrs. Taylor. Please get an ambulance.
DAPHNE:
My God, Harry, hang on! (Daphne runs to phone.)
MARTIN JOHNSON (Grabs Harry and leads him to couch.)
Don’t worry Mr. Taylor you will be alright.
HARRY: (Panting for breath)
Get your hands off me. I am OK. I don’t need your help!
MARTIN JOHNSON:
/>
Lay’s Harry down on the couch while inserting a small micro-needle into the back of his neck.
DAPHNE: (Comes back.)
OK, Mister Johnson! I have called the police and the ambulance, so you will have some explaining to
do.
MARTIN JOHNSON: (Pointing to Harry.)
I want you to look at this Mrs. Taylor, it doesn’t look good.
DAPHNE: (Runs over to Harry.)
What is it, Pumpkin! (Daphne always calls Harry Pumpkin when something serious happens.)
DAPHNE : (Bends over Harry, Martin Johnson inserts a micro-needle into her neck.)
What do you want us to tell the Police, Martin?
MARTIN JOHNSON:
You will receive instructions in the next few minutes.
SCENE 3: Joshes’ kitchen
JOSH: (Fingering his fishing rod.)
Mum can I go fishing with August today?
MUM: (Now an alien accomplice)
Have you done your homework?
JOSH:
Yes Mum. August has been helping me; I don’t know how I would have got through the math test without her. She’s a genius!
MUM:
Yes, Josh, she is clever, but she’s no genius.
JOSH:
Well, I think she is. August is the smartest student the school has ever had! Mr. Taylor the headmaster said she is a phenomenon, what does it mean Mum?
MUM:
It means she is quite good that’s all.
JOSH:
Are you sure? Mr. Lane the Science teacher said August is the best student he’s ever seen!
She told me she can figure out the Hodge Conjecture. What does it mean Mum?
MUM:
Yes dear, it’s a pity that Brandy can’t take a shine to her.
JOSH:
I know. I hate to leave him at home when we go fishing.
MUM:
Don’t forget to take your rucksack with your waterproofs, it could rain.
JOSH:
You know Mum; it has never rained while August and I have been out together. It is as though she can control the weather!
MUM:
Don’t be silly, Josh, and don’t be too long.
JOSH:
Where’s Dad, Mum?
MUM:
He had to go to the station to help them with something urgent. (Josh’s Dad is actually in the garage under sedation brought on by the micro needle inserted by August’s Dad, Martin Johnson.)
JOSH:
You know Mum, I don’t say this very often, but I think you and Dad are the best parents anyone could ever wish for. (Josh expects his Mum to come over and hug him as usual. But she looks on expressionless.)
JOSH: (Looks at his mum.)
Are you OK, Mum? You look different.
MUM:
Yes, I am alright, I am tired; I will have a sit down for a few hours.
JOSH:
Do you mean a lie down?
MUM:
No. Yes. Please go. My neck aches.
JOSH:
OK Mum. Bye. ‘Love you.’
MUM: (No response.)
Scene four: August’s garden.
JOSH: (Leaning on a garden post holding the fishing rod and trying to look cool.)
Hi August, are you ready?
AUGUST:
Hello Josh, did you manage to do the homework?
JOSH:
Yes, thanks to you higher math isn’t a problem anymore.
AUGUST:
Shut the gate quick, Brandy is coming!
BRANDY: (barking and snarling behind fence.)
JOSH: (slams the gate while still trying to be cool.)
Wow! I’ve never seen him this bad.
AUGUST:
Please tie him up next time. I’m frightened.
JOSH:
I’m sorry, August; I don’t know why he doesn’t like you?
AUGUST:
He is an animal and animals don’t recognize higher-consciousness.
JOSH:
What do you mean?
AUGUST:
It is time I told you about myself and my parents.
JOSH: (Joking.)
Why? Are you Aliens?
AUGUST:
Let us walk to the river and I will explain.
Setting: The riverbank.
JOSH:
This is my favorite spot, look you can see the fish just over there!
AUGUST:
Josh, please put the rod down, I want to talk to you seriously.
JOSH:
Please, August. You know I get nervous when you say things like that. Let’s just enjoy the fishing.
AUGUST:
Do you want to be someone important when you grow up?
JOSH:
Of course, but I want to enjoy fishing too. I really like fishing August, you know that.
AUGUST:
I know you do, but I want to show you something that will interest you more than fishing.
JOSH:
Nothing will ever take the place of fishing, August.
AUGUST: (Looks up.)
JOSH: (Looks up open mouthed.)
SCENE CHANGES TO SKY: (Giant UFO appears directly above them.)
AUGUST:
Don’t be afraid, this is normal where I come from.
JOSH:
I don’t believe it! Won’t people be alerted?
AUGUST:
No Josh, this is just for us; to everyone else it is invisible.
JOSH (Looks at August then back at the craft.)
It’s so big, how far is it? It could be five miles away or fifty; there’s no way of knowing.
AUGUST:
There is a way of knowing, you just have to be conscious of it.
JOSH:
What do you mean?
AUGUST:
Look again.
JOSH: (Looks up then back to August)
It’s gone!
AUGUST:
It is still there but I made it disappear.
JOSH: (Looking at August with awe.)
How do you do that?
AUGUST:
I simply tell it to appear with my mind.
JOSH:
Do you mean like telepathy?
AUGUST:
Yes Josh, you are starting to rise up in consciousness, even as we speak.
Now sit still, I want to inform you of something.
JOSH:
Inform me? What do you mean?
AUGUST: (Looking around to make sure no one is about. She takes Josh’s head in her hands.)
Just sit still. Now, do you want to become like me?
JOSH:
Gee, August, this is a lot to take in, can’t we just fish and then talk about it later?
AUGUST:
No! There is no later. I have to go. I have to help with the regeneration. I will not be back until 2042. Do you want higher-consciousness?
JOSH:
I guess so. But I still want to fish.
AUGUST: (Beginning to feel the human emotion of frustration starting to affect her.)
Will you forget the fishing! I am trying to format your mind.
JOSH:
No August! I don’t want to be formatted. Get off me!
AUGUST:
It is too late. You have been accepted into our nation. Do you know what you must do?
JOSH:
Yes, after gaining all needed qualifications; I will apply for the post of Assistant Director at Science and Robotics Technologies Ltd. I will then instruct staff to introduce new technology from our home planet.
AUGUST:
Very good, you now know that your parents have also been accepted as Androids.
JOSH: (Looking on expressionless.)
AUGUST:
You must make it a point to smile now and again, it is expected here.
JOSH:
Yes, I realize, but it is hard to do.
AUGUST:
My Clone w
ill now take over for the duration of the next phase; treat her as you would me.
JOSH:
Thank you Orphalise; I now know that is your real name. I suppose figuring out the ‘Hodge Conjecture’ was child’s play to you seeing as you are 567 years old.
AUGUST:
Yes, but you will learn in time. When you reach eighty five you will also be ‘Cloned’ into another body.
Go now and enjoy your higher-consciousness, oh, and the fishing was enjoyable in a funny way but totally unnecessary, don’t you think?
JOSH:
Yes, no point to it.
The End.
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?
You can also visit my website to read my book and other stories at
https://sites.google.com/site/danshermanspaceguardian/
Thank you for downloading this eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favorite eBook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support
Colin J Platt.