The Discovery of Thea
SCENE I
Several astronomers laze around a round room, the center marked with a telescope. They fiddle around with their phones - one man -- BEN -- in the corner holds a device that project a Candy Crush-like game into the air, which they play by swiping the projection. A computer by one astronomer beeps, and the other man -- JACK -- looks up, mostly disinterested, reaching for a pen. BEN
Let me guess, its our savior to humanity. JACK
Oh, yeah. Earth like atmosphere, 70% water, radiation free. I can see the lifeforms on my screen here, looks like they’re human-like with unlimited funding to their astronomy programs. (He puts the pen back down, indicating the beeping is nothing of consequence.) Both men laugh. The sound is enough to startle the other two astronomers into looking up from their phones, only to glance back down. BEN
(still smiling)
Ah, shit dude. Not even allowed to log it. Di’you hear what Cat said last time I marked down a find? Fifteen times the size of Jupiter, scientifically not even possible - who KNOWS what the moons would be like on that thing - but nope. Earth-like planets only, that’s all she cares about. JACK
Man, give her a break, she’s doin her best with the new laws. At least she’s giving hours so we’re paid to be bored shitless. As he speaks, the computer beeps again. Jack glances up noncommittedly, then leans forward, as though not quite believing what he’s seeing. BEN
Oh, don’t do that again, you’re getting me all excited. JACK
(after a beat)
Go get Cat. Now.
Several astronomers laze around a round room, the center marked with a telescope. They fiddle around with their phones - one man -- BEN -- in the corner holds a device that project a Candy Crush-like game into the air, which they play by swiping the projection. A computer by one astronomer beeps, and the other man -- JACK -- looks up, mostly disinterested, reaching for a pen. BEN
Let me guess, its our savior to humanity. JACK
Oh, yeah. Earth like atmosphere, 70% water, radiation free. I can see the lifeforms on my screen here, looks like they’re human-like with unlimited funding to their astronomy programs. (He puts the pen back down, indicating the beeping is nothing of consequence.) Both men laugh. The sound is enough to startle the other two astronomers into looking up from their phones, only to glance back down. BEN
(still smiling)
Ah, shit dude. Not even allowed to log it. Di’you hear what Cat said last time I marked down a find? Fifteen times the size of Jupiter, scientifically not even possible - who KNOWS what the moons would be like on that thing - but nope. Earth-like planets only, that’s all she cares about. JACK
Man, give her a break, she’s doin her best with the new laws. At least she’s giving hours so we’re paid to be bored shitless. As he speaks, the computer beeps again. Jack glances up noncommittedly, then leans forward, as though not quite believing what he’s seeing. BEN
Oh, don’t do that again, you’re getting me all excited. JACK
(after a beat)
Go get Cat. Now.
Comments