Last Signal
An astronaut receives a radio signal from a spacecraft that was lost 50 years ago. When she follows the signal, she finds the crew alive — and not a day older.
Astronaut Lena Hanson, stationed on a solo mission monitoring deep space radio waves, intercepts a signal from the long-lost spacecraft 'Odyssey,' presumed destroyed 50 years prior. Intrigued and driven by a sense of duty, Lena disobeys protocol and sets a course for the Odyssey's last known coordinates. Upon arrival, she discovers the ship intact and its crew alive, seemingly untouched by the passage of time.
CHARACTERS
Lena Hanson
supporting
PAGE 1
Panel 1:INT. LENA'S SPACECRAFT - MONITORING STATION - NIGHT. Lena Hanson sits in front of a bank of monitors, her face illuminated by their glow. She wears a simple jumpsuit. Empty coffee cup on the console.
Panel 2:CLOSE UP - MONITOR. The graph is labeled with frequency markers. A single line is spiking erratically above the noise floor.
Panel 3:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - MONITORING STATION - NIGHT. Lena leans forward, her eyes widening. She types rapidly on the console.
“This can't be right...”
Panel 4:MONITOR SCREEN - Displaying a fragmented audio waveform and text: 'ODYSSEY...CALLING...'
Panel 5:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - MONITORING STATION - NIGHT. Lena grabs her headset, speaking urgently into the microphone.
“This is Lena Hanson to Command. I'm receiving a… a distress signal. Origin… unknown. Possible source: Odyssey.”
Panel 6:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - MONITORING STATION - NIGHT. Close on Lena's face. Her expression is a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
“Command, do you copy?”
PAGE 2
Panel 1:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT - DAY. Lena is piloting her ship through space. Stars streak past the viewport.
“No response. Guess I'm on my own.”
Panel 2:EXT. SPACE - LENA'S SPACECRAFT - DAY. Lena's small spacecraft speeds towards a distant point in space.
Panel 3:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT - DAY. Lena checks her instruments, her brow furrowed in concentration.
“Almost there... Readings are consistent with the Odyssey's last known location.”
Panel 4:EXT. SPACE - DAY. In the distance, a large, retro-futuristic spacecraft drifts silently. It is the Odyssey.
Panel 5:LENA'S SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT - DAY. Lena stares in disbelief, her mouth agape.
“It... it can't be.”
Panel 6:EXT. SPACE - DAY. Lena's spacecraft approaches the Odyssey. A docking port extends from Lena's ship.
PAGE 3
Panel 1:INT. ODYSSEY - AIRLOCK - DAY. Lena, in her spacesuit, enters the airlock of the Odyssey. The airlock looks old but functional.
Panel 2:INT. ODYSSEY - AIRLOCK - DAY. The inner door of the airlock hisses open. Beyond, a group of people stand in the corridor, staring at Lena. They wear vintage spacesuits and look surprisingly young.
Panel 3:CLOSE UP - ODYSSEY CREW MEMBER - DAY. A young woman with wide eyes stares at Lena. Her face is unlined.
Panel 4:INT. ODYSSEY - CORRIDOR - DAY. The Odyssey crew stands together, a man steps forward.
“Who… who are you?”
Panel 5:LENA IN HER SPACESUIT - DAY. She looks at the crew, bewildered.
“I'm Lena Hanson. I picked up your signal. You're… you're alive?”
Panel 6:WIDE SHOT - ODYSSEY - CORRIDOR - DAY. The Odyssey crew looks at each other in disbelief.
PAGE 4
Panel 1:CLOSE UP - MAN FROM ODYSSEY - DAY. He stares intently at Lena.
“Alive? What year is it?”
Panel 2:LENA - DAY. She speaks into her helmet com.
“It's... 2342.”
Panel 3:WIDE SHOT - ODYSSEY CREW - DAY. They look at each other, fear and confusion etched on their faces.
Panel 4:CLOSE UP - YOUNG WOMAN FROM ODYSSEY - DAY. She grabs the man's arm, her eyes wide with terror.
“Fifty years? What happened to us?”
Panel 5:LENA - DAY. She looks at the crew with a mixture of pity and apprehension.
“I… I don't know. But I'm here to help.”
Panel 6:FULL SHOT - ODYSSEY - CORRIDOR - DAY. The crew of the Odyssey stands frozen, staring at Lena. The camera focuses on the end of the corridor, suggesting more mysteries and dangers lie ahead.
