THE SECRET OF ANTIGRAVITY
by
Lanny Maude
FADE IN:
It's a bustling city. There are people with places to go and
things to do moving around. In the light industry and business
section of town there is a low sprawling building.
EXT. BELLINGHAM LABS - DAY
The sign in the front identifies it as Bellingham Scientific
Research. It's not the most attractive building around, but
it's well kept. This is a research lab so money is spent on
practicalities, not frills.
A nice car drives up to the building and parks in a reserved
parking space. Out steps JERRY TREVITT. He's wearing a suit
and carrying a briefcase. He secures his car before entering
the building.
INT. BELLINGHAM LABS - CONTINUOUS
Trevitt enters the reception area where LORNA FRANCISCO is
sitting behind the desk. The reception area is clean, but like
the building is also free of frills.
FRANCISCO
Welcome back, Mr. Trevitt. How was your
lunch?
Trevitt's response comes back a bit tired.
TREVITT
It's hard to enjoy yourself while you're
being grilled by investors.
He continues toward the door marked Director.
FRANCISCO
I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like me
to get you anything?
He pauses.
TREVITT
No, thank you.
He opens his door but stops before entering. He turns to face
Francisco.
TREVITT
Yes... Tell Fredricks that I need to see
him.
FRANCISCO
Yes, sir.
He enters his office and closes the door.
IN TREVITT'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
He leans his back against the door and closes his eyes, but not
for long. One doesn't become the director of a facility like
this by inactivity. He goes behind his desk and sets his
briefcase on the blotter before easing himself into the chair.
He removes a stack of files from his briefcase. He sets the
stack on the desk so he can close his briefcase and move it out
of the way onto the floor. He picks up the files and quickly
alphabetizes them.
He then takes the files to a filing cabinet and starts placing
them in their proper locations. He gets to one file on which he
stops while placing it. He tosses it on his desk before filing
the rest of the files.
CU on the file which reads "Project: Lightfoot."
He finishes the filing then returns to his chair. He picks up
the Project: Lightfoot file and starts to read. The intercom
comes to life.
FRANCISCO (filtered)
Doctor Fredricks to see you, sir.
TREVITT
Send him in.
After a few seconds, the door opens and in walks WALTER
FREDRICKS. He's a stereotypical research scientist who has
dedicated his life to science. His hair's a bit wild and he's
still wearing his lab coat. Francisco quietly closes the door.
Fredricks is a little uneasy. Does anyone like getting called
into the boss's office? He sounds a bit nervous.
FREDRICKS
Hello, Mr. Trevitt.
TREVITT
Walt... Good to see you.
Trevitt gestures toward a chair.
TREVITT
Have a seat.
FREDRICKS
Thank you.
Fredricks sits in the offered chair. Even seated, he doesn't
look comfortable.
TREVITT
Walt... I just had lunch with some of the
investors. They're concerned about the lack
of progress on Lightfoot.
FREDRICKS
But Mr. Trevitt--
Trevitt raises a hand, effectively shutting down Fredricks.
TREVITT
I have to show them something. What can you
give me?
FREDRICKS
We've had some good results with the
selenium-cobalt transducers--
Again, Fredricks is stopped by Trevitt's raised hand.
TREVITT
Are you prepared to show me?
FREDRICKS
Uh... yes...
TREVITT
Right now?
FREDRICKS
...Of course...
Trevitt stands.
TREVITT
Good. Let's go.
Fredricks doesn't show as much enthusiasm as he stands. Trevitt
moves to the door, opens it, and gives Fredricks an "after you"
gesture.
IN THE RECEPTION AREA - CONTINUOUS
Fredricks leaves Trevitt's office with Trevitt right behind him.
TREVITT
Miss Francisco... I'll be in the Lightfoot
lab if you need me.
FRANCISCO
Yes, sir.
She pushes a button at her desk to release the electronic lock
on the door marked "Labs." Fredricks opens the door and goes
through, Trevitt on his tail.
IN THE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Trevitt closes the door to the reception area and makes sure
it's locked. He and Fredricks walk down the hallway, which is
lined on both sides by windows covered with blinds between the
doors.
Fredricks stops at a door with a "Lightfoot" plaque and opens it
using his card key. He and Trevitt enter the room.
IN THE LIGHTFOOT LAB - CONTINUOUS
The lab is spacious and well lit. There are tables loaded with
equipment lining the walls. There is a table in the center of
the room, upon which is two halves of a thick-walled box and a
large sphere about six inches in diameter.
Working on the box is LANCE STADNIK. He is Fredricks's
assistant. He currently has a panel open in the side of the
lower half of the box. He's doing something with the wiring.
He doesn't look up to see who entered the room.
STADNIK
I think I got it, Dr. Fredricks. The gyro
assembly was overcompensating when it sensed
a drift greater than calculated.
Trevitt closes the door.
FREDRICKS
Very good, Lance. Is it ready for a test?
STADNIK
Well, I--
He looks up and notices Trevitt for the first time, which
obviously startles him. He would stand if he weren't holding on
to the stuff in the box.
STADNIK
Mr. Trevitt... I didn't know you were here.
TREVITT
That's okay, Lance. Carry on.
STADNIK
As I was saying, I haven't had a chance to
verify the acceleration ratio when the
transducers engage, but I think it's ready.
FREDRICKS
Okay. Button it up and let's see what
happens.
Stadnik dresses the wires out of the way and closes the access
panel.
STADNIK
All ready, Dr. Fredricks.
FREDRICKS
No. You go ahead. You're doing fine.
Stadnik glances to Trevitt, who nods to proceed.
STADNIK
Okay...
He carefully picks up the sphere and lowers it into the bottom
half of the box. When it is partway in, he releases the sphere,
which hangs suspended in a magnetic field.
TREVITT
That's not it, is it?
FREDRICKS
Oh, no. That's simple magnetism. Any child
in science class could do that.
So far, Trevitt is not impressed.
STADNIK
Ready?
FREDRICKS
Start it, Lance.
Stadnik lightly grabs the top of the sphere in his fingertips
and imparts a spin to it. It sits there, spinning in the
magnetic field. It takes only a few seconds for Trevitt to see
what's happening.
TREVITT
It's picking up speed.
FREDRICKS
The compounds we're using will hit a natural
harmonic at about 38,000 RPM.
STADNIK
That puts the surface velocity at the
sphere's median line at just under the speed
of sound.
Trevitt is becoming a little bit impressed.
TREVITT
But, there's more... right?
Stadnik looks at Fredricks, who nods. Fredricks moves to the
table so he can help Stadnik place the upper half of the box on
the lower half. Fredricks steps back to Trevitt with an
explanation.
FREDRICKS
That completes the transducer circuits.
He turns back to Stadnik.
FREDRICKS
Lock it down and let's go.
Stadnik locks the two halves of the box together and stands
back. He retrieves a radio control transmitter from another
table and hands it to Fredricks. Fredricks flicks on the
transmitter.
FREDRICKS
Now we can start.
Stadnik positions himself at some monitoring equipment. He
checks the current status.
STADNIK
Passive oscillators are responding.
FREDRICKS
Actives coming on...
He flips a switch on his transmitter.
STADNIK
Active oscillators are responding.
FREDRICKS
Adjusting phase...
He slowly turns a dial on his transmitter.
STADNIK
Force is decreasing.
Fredricks continues slowly turning the dial.
STADNIK
Force is approaching zero.
He divides his time between watching the indicators on the
monitoring equipment and watching the cube on the table.
STADNIK
Force is zero.
Fredricks stops turning the dial. He moves his finger to
position it at another switch.
FREDRICKS
Firing stabilizers...
STADNIK
Ready...
Fredricks toggles the switch and the box smoothly rises about a
foot off of the table. It stops, hanging completely motionless.
Trevitt is finally impressed. His eyes are saucers.
TREVITT
That's incredible!
He moves around a little, looking at it from different angles.
TREVITT
Can I touch it?
Fredricks moves closer.
FREDRICKS
No. It's extremely unstable at this point.
That's why I haven't bothered you with it
yet.
TREVITT
But this is fantastic. We'll get another
six months of funding with this.
He eventually circles all the way around the box.
TREVITT
What do you mean it's unstable?
FREDRICKS
So far, it only works in Z.
TREVITT
What do you mean?
Fredricks gestures up and down with one hand.
FREDRICKS
The Z-axis. It only goes up and down.
STADNIK
Every time we try X/Y motion, it crashes.
FREDRICKS
I haven't figured out how to neutralize the
lateral forces internally. It causes an
imbalance.
TREVITT
Can you show me what happens?
Fredricks hesitates briefly.
FREDRICKS
Sure. Just move back and I'll try to move
it sideways.
Trevitt steps backward, away from the box. He can't take his
eyes from it.
FREDRICKS
Make sure the recorders are running. I want
all of this data.
Stadnik verifies the equipment.
STADNIK
Recorders are on. It's all ready.
FREDRICKS
Here goes...
He eases a joystick on the transmitter to the side. The box
starts to move to the side then immediately drops to the table
with a terrible crashing sound. The box appears undamaged.
TREVITT
What happened?
FREDRICKS
As I said, the lateral force--
TREVITT
No. I mean that crashing noise. The box
looks okay.
Stadnik moves to the table and starts to unlock the box.
FREDRICKS
It was the sphere. The sphere shattered.
Stadnik opens the box. The inside is covered with fragments,
most of them very small.
STADNIK
Ever since the first time we had a sphere
shatter, we've used a titanium-lined box.
FREDRICKS
That way we only have to replace the sphere,
not the whole thing.
TREVITT
I'm sorry I doubted you, Walt.
He claps Fredricks on the shoulder.
TREVITT
Keep up the good work.
He leaves the lab. Fredricks and Stadnik look at each other.
FREDRICKS
Clean it up and get a new sphere ready.
STADNIK
Yes, Dr. Fredricks.
He starts to clean up the mess in the box.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
This is Fredricks's kitchen. It's small and tidy and contains
all of the usual appliances.
Fredricks is sitting at the table, eating breakfast. It's cold
cereal: no preparation required. Between bites, he scribbles
furiously in a notebook. He mumbles to himself as he writes.
FREDRICKS
There's got to be a way to improve the
inherent instability of the magnetic field.
His toast pops out of the toaster. He gets up and butters his
toast. When he turns to return to the table, he drops one slice
of toast. Of course it lands with the buttered side down.
A brief wave of aggravation passes across his face, but he
accepts it. He sets down the surviving toast slice on the
table.
By the time he gets some paper towels to clean up the mess, his
cat is sniffing at the toast on the floor, trying to decide if
it's edible. He lightly shoos away the cat and cleans up the
butter from the floor.
He throws away the paper towels and turns around... and the cat
is back to sniffing at the floor where the butter was.
FREDRICKS
Oh, Bob.
He picks up the cat and gives it some attention.
FREDRICKS
You act like I never feed you.
He strokes the cat. The cat responds with satisfied purrs.
FREDRICKS
You know... we've only got two weeks of
funding left. If I don't come up with
something soon, I'll be eating cat food too.
When he lets the cat go, he doesn't bend over all the way, but
lets the cat pour out of his hands to the floor. The cat
wanders away to do whatever it is that cats do.
Fredricks returns to his cereal and his notebook. After a bit
more scribbling, he pauses. He looks up at nothing.
FREDRICKS
(with disbelief)
No...
He looks at his notebook again. He writes a little bit then
looks up again.
FREDRICKS
It can't be that easy...
Back to the notebook, a few more written lines. He looks up
again briefly before grabbing his notebook and running out of
the kitchen. A door slams, followed a moment later by the sound
of tires skidding out of the driveway.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
Back in the Lightfoot lab at Bellingham, Fredricks and Stadnik
are preparing Trevitt for a demonstration of the new antigravity
device. A large sealed box is sitting on the table.
FREDRICKS
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised this
time.
TREVITT
You better have something. Your extension
has almost run out.
Fredricks picks up the radio control transmitter from the table.
Stadnik is already at the monitors.
STADNIK
Ready when you are. Passive oscillators are
responding.
FREDRICKS
Actives coming on...
He flips a switch on the transmitter.
STADNIK
Active oscillators are responding.
FREDRICKS
Releasing suspensory agent...
He flips a different switch on the transmitter.
STADNIK
Suspensory agent is stable.
FREDRICKS
Adjusting phase...
He slowly turns a dial on his transmitter.
STADNIK
Force is decreasing.
Fredricks continues slowly turning the dial.
STADNIK
Force is approaching zero.
Fredricks is barely moving the dial now.
STADNIK
Force is zero.
Fredricks stops turning the dial. He moves his finger to
another switch.
FREDRICKS
Firing stabilizers...
STADNIK
Ready...
Fredricks flips the switch and the box rises from the table. He
turns to Trevitt.
FREDRICKS
You've seen this much before. But we've
changed out the magnetic field for a new
suspensory agent. This one is inherently
stable.
He moves to the box and puts a little pressure on the side with
his free hand. The box doesn't move.
FREDRICKS
Here's what you want to see.
He moves the joystick on his transmitter and the box moves. He
centers the joystick and the box stops moving. Trevitt is
speechless. He walks closer to the box and moves around it.
TREVITT
Can I touch it?
FREDRICKS
Of course. As I said, this one is
inherently stable.
Trevitt tentatively reaches to the box and touches it. The box
doesn't move. He applies a little more pressure. The box still
doesn't move. As he backs away, his next comment is almost a
whisper.
TREVITT
We'll be rich.
He looks up at Fredricks and Stadnik.
TREVITT
Boys... Park that thing and let's
celebrate. I'm buying.
FREDRICKS
(simultaneous)
Yes, sir.
STADNIK
(simultaneous)
Yes, sir.
Fredricks parks the box on the table while Stadnik shuts down
the monitoring. They complete the shutdown and turn to Trevitt.
Trevitt extends a hand to Fredricks.
TREVITT
Congratulations, Walt.
Fredricks shakes his hand.
FREDRICKS
Thank you, Mr. Trevitt.
Trevitt extends a hand to Stadnik.
TREVITT
Congratulations, Lance.
Stadnik shakes his hand.
STADNIK
Thank you, sir.
They all head for the door. Trevitt opens it and holds it as
the others pass through. He follows them through the door.
TREVITT
You guys like sushi?
He closes the door.
PAN and ZOOM IN on the box on the table.
MATCH CUT:
INT. EXPERIMENTAL HOVERCRAFT - DAY
CU on the antigravity box. ZOOM OUT to show the box mounted in
the engine compartment. The engine compartment is grey, plain,
and cramped.
Fredricks and Stadnik enter the compartment to make final
adjustments to the box. They have to bend over in the
compartment because the ceiling is so low.
Fredricks hands a device to Stadnik. There is a cable
connecting the device with another one in Fredricks's hands.
The device in Fredricks's hands has a row of lights that
consists of a number of red lights on either side of a single
green light in the center of the row.
FREDRICKS
Put the auxiliary level on the box. I'll
attach the reference level.
STADNIK
Okay.
He proceeds to attach the device to the box. Fredricks attaches
the other device to a structural beam in the engine compartment.
STADNIK
Ready...
Fredricks activates the reference level. The entire row of
lights illuminates briefly, then all of them go off except one
of the red lights.
FREDRICKS
Raise the forward end.
Stadnik pulls out a screwdriver and starts turning a screw on
one end of the box. As he turns it, the red light goes off and
the next one closer to the green light goes on.
FREDRICKS
Keep going...
Stadnik continues to slowly turn the screw, and the illuminated
light moves slowly closer to green. Eventually, the light next
to the green one illuminates.
FREDRICKS
Slowly... you're almost there.
Stadnik turn the screw slowly. The green light finally comes
on.
FREDRICKS
That's it.
Stadnik removes the screwdriver and moves back a bit from the
box.
STADNIK
Stable?
Fredricks stares at the reference level, which continues to show
the green light.
FREDRICKS
That does it. Let's go.
They unmount the levels and leave the engine compartment.
INT. HANGER - CONTINOUS
This is a large aerospace hanger. It is empty except for the
hovercraft sitting in the center and a handful of military and
executive personnel sitting against one wall. The people are
just chatting with each other.
Fredricks and Stadnik exit from the hovercraft and make their
way to the group. As they approach, Trevitt stands.
TREVITT
Ready?
FREDRICKS
It's solid.
TREVITT
Okay. Take your positions and standby.
Fredricks and Stadnik move to their control and monitoring
consoles. Trevitt moves to stand in front of those assembled.
TREVITT
Distinguished guests... thank you for coming
today.
Everyone quiets so they can hear Trevitt.
TREVITT
I expect that after this demonstration, you
will not feel that your time has been
wasted. Without further ado, let's begin.
He signals Fredricks and Stadnik to begin. They commence
operating the controls on the consoles.
TREVITT
We at Bellingham Labs have made a
breakthrough.
He gestures toward the hovercraft.
TREVITT
This will be the easiest way to demonstrate.
I want you to take note of how quiet this
new system is.
He looks back to Fredricks and Stadnik and gives a slight nod.
They finalize the preparations and begin the demonstration. The
hovercraft silently rises about a foot off of the floor. The
audience is astonished. Most of them jump to their feet.
TREVITT
We have developed a true antigravity
generator. This is not just a mag-lev
system.
He gives a nod to Fredricks and Stadnik. They play with the
controls and the hovercraft starts moving across the floor.
The audience stares in disbelief as the hovercraft silently
moves around the hangar. Trevitt smiles to himself. He knows
he's got a winner.
INT. BELLINGHAM LABS - DAY
Fredricks and Stadnik are fine tuning some equipment while the
box hovers over the table. The door opens and Trevitt enters
with GENERAL SAYERS. Sayers works on special projects. He
looks at the hovering box, fascinated.
SAYERS
So this is the feles engine.
Fredricks and Stadnik look up at Sayers. Fredricks signals to
Stadnik to continue at the equipment. Fredricks moves toward
Sayers and Trevitt.
FREDRICKS
Yes, sir. I'm Doctor Fredricks. How may I
help you?
TREVITT
Walt, this is General Sayers. He needs to
learn the workings of the feles engine so he
can help determine military use.
FREDRICKS
Well, you showed up at a good time. We'll
take the engine offline for feeding.
He signals to Stadnik who shuts down the engine. It gently
drops down to the table.
SAYERS
Don't you mean refueling?
FREDRICKS
No. Did you ever wonder why we called it
the feles engine?
SAYERS
I just thought it must be something
scientific.
TREVITT
You're close. It's Latin.
Stadnik finishes with the equipment and joins the group around
the table.
SAYERS
Latin for what.
Stadnik unsnaps and opens the lid on the box.
STADNIK
Cat.
He reaches into the box and lifts out a cat, which he sets on
the table.
FREDRICKS
Nature's antigravity: a cat always lands on
its feet, and a piece of buttered toast
always lands butter-side down. Put them
together and they can never hit the ground.
CU on the cat. It has a piece of buttered toast attached to its
back.
FADE TO BLACK.
The End
The Secret of Antigravity is © 2005 Lanny Maude