Genesis Blind Chapter 2

EXT. PRESS CONFERENCE - DAY

The President's press conference continues, as we move away from Jackson and focus on Adams.

The President speaks, "I present to you the second member of the crew, pilot of the Reprisal -- the fearless Captain Richard Adams!"

A picture of Adams appears on the screen. Adams stands in front of it, fully confident. He raises a hand to the cheering crowd, then pulls it into a salute.

Announcer 2 begins, "Now, this guy is a machine."

INT. GYM - DAY

We see Adams doing pull-ups on a bar, wearing form-fitting gym attire.

Announcer 1 cuts in, "Apparently also a math genius. Brilliant at planning strategies and combat tactics. At age 8, he wrote an award winning essay on American Defense Economics."

INT. TRAINING FACILITY - DAY

We see Adams inside a human gyroscope. Next we see him run on a treadmill.

Announcer 2 says, "And I'll be it was that paper that fast tracked him to the top of his class at MIT. Graduating at only 18 years old, he was immediately recruited by the Airforce. He was specifically requested to test fly the Fireblazer, a revolutionary Mach-9 fighter jet."

EXT. PRESS CONFERENCE - DAY

Announcer 3 continues, "Of course with a past like that, it's no wonder he jumped at the chance to captain the first manned flight to the moon in 60 years. Back to you, Ted."

We finish our summary of Adams, and move on to Lance Baxter.

The President reaches the end of the introductions with focus on Baxter, "And of course, your civilian representative -- in compliance with Article Six O' Three of the full disclosure national policy: the one and only -- Lance Baxter."

Baxter's picture is projected onto a giant, white, vinyl screen. The photo is shot like a magazine cover, close-up on his face. But where is Baxter? We don't see him.

Suddenly a knife stabs through the vinyl, slicing a vertical rip.

The crowd gasps in shock.

Baxter dives through the hole in the screen. The crowd goes nuts. Baxter thrives on the crowd's attention.

EXT. AIR STRIP - DAY

The five members of N Surge climb out of a limousine. There are girls going crazy. We push in on Baxter. He smiles and waves.

Announcer 3 narrates the scene, "Obviously the most famous of the Reprisal crew. One of the original members of the sensational boy pop musical group N Surge. Taking the world by storm and selling over 300 million copies of their self-titled debut CD.

EXT. BAXTER'S BACKYARD - NIGHT

Baxter is just a boy, laying on a lounge chair. He is wearing a New Kids on the Block t-shirt. He is staring up at the stars. The image is grainy, like old home movie footage.

Baxter's POV: The Starry Sky.

EXT. BAXTER'S BACKYARD - NIGHT - YEARS LATER

We see Baxter fully grown, laying on the same chair. Still looking up at the stars. He is now wearing an N Surge t-shirt. The image is grainy, like old home movie footage.

Announcer 2 takes over, "But, Baxter always dreamt of more. In his own heart, he knew where his destiny lay. The stars. So he quit the band N Surge, in search of the final frontier. In search of his future as an astronaut."

EXT. DEVRY CAMPUS - DAY

A fresh-faced Lance Baxter walks up to the Astronomy Building with a smile on his face, and backpack over his shoulder. He enters the building.

Announcer 3 begins to narrate, "Unfortunately it took more than sheer will to make it into NASA."

Baxter exits the building, and throws his backpack at the ground in frustration.

Announcer 3 continues, "And with that, Baxter left the DeVry Institute of Technology in 2016, less than a year after enrollment -- heartbroken. His final paper on corporeal astrophysics was never graded."

INT. MALL - DAY

We see Baxter sitting at a table, signing autographs. There is a huge crowd of people, mostly middle-aged women. These women listened to N Surge in their youth, and the nostalgia factor drives their desire. Posters for the 1997 album are plastered around the mall.

Announcer 1's voice is heard over the scene, "But that wouldn't be the end for this entertaining cosmonaut. In 2029, in conjunction with the US government's discovery of an incriminating microfilm, and coinciding with the re-release of N Surge's Greatest Hits --"

Two SECRET SERVICE AGENTS in black suits approach Baxter from behind, and stand on either side of him. He looks up at each of them, left to right. Baxter is a little scared.

Announcer 1 continues, "-- and in accordance with a full disclosure policy requiring civilian access to all Government Operations, Lance Baxter was chosen to become the third and final member of NASA's highest profile mission of all time."

EXT. PRESS CONFERENCE - DAY

The President stands in front of the three men, and speaks to the Nation, "And thus, on July 16, 2029 -- 60 years after the original Apollo 11 moon landing mission was launched, we will watch the crew of Apollo 1 Prime board the shuttle Reprisal. Good luck gentlemen, and may God be with you."

EXT. SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH PAD - DAY

We see the shuttle prepared for launch.

Mission control counts down, "3... 2... 1... Launch."

CUT TO BLACK.