FADE IN:

EXT. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION – DAY

Well, technically it’s day because it’s not on the dark side of
the earth right now; but in space, day and night are mostly
artificial.

An airlock door opens and LIEUTENANT PETROFSKI leaves the space
station.  Unfortunately, she’s not wearing a space suit.  She
screams soundlessly and convulses violently before exploding
into pink mist.

INT. SPACE STATION, AIRLOCK – CONTINUOUS

CAPTAIN TERRIL looks through the small view port in the inner
airlock hatch.  He looks in horror at the cloud that used to be
Petrofski.

                        TERRIL
          Oh, Anna...

He pulls back from the hatch and pauses briefly before hitting
the switch to close the outer airlock hatch.  He turns away from
the airlock, takes a deep breath to calm himself, and heads for
his quarters.

IN TERRIL’S QUARTERS – CONTINUOUS

Terril heads straight for his closet.  He pulls out his space
suit and goes through the time consuming task of donning it.
With helmet in hand he heads for the hatch...

But wait.  He goes to his bunk.  Beside it is a framed picture.
Terril, his wife, and his two kids are smiling for the camera.
He smashes the picture against the nightstand to break the glass
so he can take the photo.

That’s all he needs.  He heads for the command center.

IN THE COMMAND CENTER – CONTINUOUS

Terril sits in the command chair.  He pauses to gather his 
thoughts before flipping a switch.

                        TERRIL
          Captain’s log: final entry.  I’m the last
          one on Alpha.  Lieutenant Anastasia
          Petrofski chose to space herself this
          morning.

He pinches the space between his eyes.

                        TERRIL
          I almost got there in time to stop her, but
          she probably would have just been pissed at
          me if I did.  You have to admit she chose a
          unique method.

He looks at the photograph of his family then tucks it inside
his helmet.

                        TERRIL
          Lieutenant Harris hanging himself was
          mundane by comparison.  I’ll take my chances
          with the X-38 and attempt to return to
          earth.

He stands, too anxious to stay seated.

                        TERRIL
          No external communication for three months
          doesn’t mean everyone’s dead down there, but
          I’d rather die there than alone up here.

He flips the switch to close the log then heads for the escape
pod.

IN THE ESCAPE POD – CONTINUOUS

Terril straps himself in and puts on his helmet.  He energizes
the control panels and checks the gauges.

                        TERRIL
          I never thought I would be the first to test
          this thing.

He pushes the button labeled RELEASE.

EXT. SPACE STATION – CONTINUOUS

The X-38 is pushed away from the space station with a blast of
compressed air and begins its long glide to earth.

                                                   FADE TO BLACK.


                             The End