INDEPENDENCE DAY

DAVID
Better be.  You left me for him.

CONSTANCE
I wanted a career.  Didn't you
ever want to be part of something
special?

David stares daggers at her.

DAVID
I was part of something special.

Constance realizes he means their marriage.  She's hurt him
and can see it.  She turns and leaves.

CUT TO:

EXT. DARK SKIES - NIGHT

A black shadow is vaguely seen in the dark night.  As we pass
some moonlit clouds we recognize the shadow is, in fact, a B-2
STEALTH BOMBER.

As we WIDEN, we see that the bomber is part of a squadron of
eight.  These mighty winged giants fly together in attack
formation.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - ARE 51 - SAME

A tracking screen comes to life, eight blips flashing.

TECHNICIAN #1
We've got the AWAC on line.
Signals coming in low.

The President's group takes their position behind the
technicians.

EXT. BLACK SKIES - NIGHT

The eight B-2 Stealth Bombers break formation, each heading
off to their different target destinations.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

On a large map, we see the eight target destinations and the
planes heading for them.

PRESIDENT
Who will we reach first?

COMMANDER
Houston, Texas.  Intercept ETA,
six minutes and counting down.

PRESIDENT
Oh my God, Houston.

GENERAL GREY
The major cities have been
deserted.  Civilian casualties
should be at a minimum, sir.

One map screen, ENLARGES, tracking the bomber on route to
Houston.

EXT. LIQUOR STORE - OUTSIDE HOUSTON - NIGHT

Looters take all they can carry through the broken glass store
front.  A large heavily armored TANK rolls up front.

INT. ARMORED TANK - SAME

Nervous military technicians work equipment as their TANK
COMMANDER pulls down a periscope.

TANK COMMANDER POV - SPACE SHIP OVER HOUSTON

Through the periscopes cross-hairs we SEE downtown Houston,
the City Destroyer space ships settling in above it.

EXT. B-2 STEALTH BOMBER - SAME

Silhouetted against the shimmering waters on the bay, they
Stealth Bomber can be seen as it approaches Houston.

INT. B-2 STEALTH BOMBER - COCKPIT - SAME

The flight crew works their computers (similar readouts are
seen at command center).  The Multi-Function Display (MFD)
flashing before each crew member.

PILOT
We have laser targeting locked.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

TECHNICIAN #1
Target is locked, sir.  Do you
wish to deploy?

Everyone turns to the President who does not answer.

GENERAL GREY
Mr. President, do you wish to
deploy.

Still there is no answer.
NIMZIKI
Mr. President?

PRESIDENT
(softly)
Deploy.

EXT. B-2 STEALTH BOMBER - WEAPONS BAY - SAME

The bay doors open and a large Tactical Nuclear Cruise Missile
drops down, flies parallel with the bomber as it adjusts its
radar and laser tracking.  Suddenly it SHOOTS OFF.

The bomber BANKS AWAY.

INT. B-2 STEALTH BOMBER - SAME

We see the horizon twisting away as we bank off from target.

PILOT
She's away.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

On the big map we see one FLASHING target line tracking the
missile as it approaches Houston.

PRESIDENT
(to himself)
May our children forgive us.

INT. ARMORED TANK - OUTSIDE HOUSTON - NIGHT

The Tank Commander readjusts the periscope.

TANK COMMANDER POV - SPACE SHIP & B-2 STEALTH BOMBER

We follow the Cruise Missile as it guides itself on a direct
collision course with the space craft.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

The targeting map shows how close the missile is, nearly on
top of the target.  Everyone in the room holds their breath.

EXT. SPACE CRAFT - SAME

The nuke speeds closer.  It HITS the protective shield and
DETONATES.  A FLASH OF LIGHT.

WIDE ANGLE - HOUSTON

With the B-2 Stealth Bomber in the foreground, the city behind
it vanishes in a FLASH OF LIGHT, blinding us.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

We can see the extent of the explosion on the targeting map,
tracking it -- an expanding ring around Houston.

NIMZIKI
(excited)
It's a hit!

The others are still waiting.  The monitor shows the night
vision picture of the growing MUSHROOM CLOUD rising above the
city.

EXT. HOUSTON - WIDE - SAME

The MUSHROOM CLOUD engulfs the horizon.

EXT. ARMORED TANK - SAME

Rocked by the massive explosion, the shock wave ROCKS the
armored tank but doesn't destroy it.

INT. ARMORED TANK - SAME

The men inside are KNOCKED around, hard from the explosion.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

NIMZIKI
We got the bastards!

General Grey shoots Nimziki a look.  The President holds up a
hand, silencing the room.

PRESIDENT
Can they see it?  Did it destroy
the target?

TANK COMMANDER'S POV THROUGH PERISCOPE - SAME

As the cloud begins to dissipate we see THE SPACE CRAFT IS
STILL THERE, completely unharmed.

INT. ARMORED TANK - SAME

TANK COMMANDER
Negative.  Target remains.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME

On the monitors as well, we can see the target remain.  The
air is let out of the room, everyone deflated.

PRESIDENT
Call them back.

NIMZIKI
The other bombers might have more
luck.  We shouldn't just give
up...

PRESIDENT
I said call them back.

As the technicians call the bombers away, the President sinks
into a depression.  His last hope of survival gone.

CUT TO:

EXT. EL TORO MARINE CORPS AIR STATION - NIGHT

Jasmine keeps Margaret company as the rest sleep around the
last flames of their campfire.  From the worried expression on
Jasmine's face we can tell that Margaret has gotten worse, her
wounds bleeding badly.

A WIND kicks up, the sound of an ENGINE approaching.  Jasmine
squints her eyes looking up into the wind when a BRIGHT LIGHT
engulfs her.

JASMINE'S POV - LIGHTS - NIGHT

Bright lights in the sky growing nearer.  Slowly the others
begin to wake up, frightened as the lights INTENSIFY.

The others slowly begin to retreat but Jasmine stands, staring
defiantly.  A smile creeps across her face as she sees that
the lights belong to...

TRANSPORT HELICOPTER

The Transport Helicopter touches down and Steve leaps out,
racing towards Jasmine.  Overwhelmed, Jasmine jumps into his
arms.

JASMINE
You're late.

STEVE
You know how I like to make a big
entrance.

They kiss.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

The double doors burst open as the President carrying his
young daughter marches through.  Doctor ISAACS comes over to
them.

PRESIDENT
How is she?

ISAACS
I'm sorry, Mr. President.  If only
we could have gotten to her
sooner.

The President puts his daughter down as he sees...

PRESIDENT'S POV - MARGARET

Margaret lays in bed, doctors and nurses surrounding her.
Patricia rushes over.

ISAACS
She's bleeding internally.
There's nothing else we can do.

Stunned, the President watches as Patricia hugs her mother.

MARGARET
Hiya Munchkin.

PATRICIA
Mommy, we were worried.  We didn't
know where you were.

MARGARET
I'm right here, baby.

Recovering, the President nods for the doctors to leave the
room.  As they begin to march out, he makes his way over to
his wife and daughter.

PRESIDENT
Honey, why don't you wait outside
so Mommy can get some rest.

Patricia kisses her mother, says goodbye and leaves.  Out of
sight, Margaret winces, fading away.  The President grabs her
hand for support.  She squeezes tightly.

MARGARET
(through tears)
I'm scared, Tom.

PRESIDENT
It's okay.  The doctors said
you're going to be just fine.

Margaret smiles at the man she knows all too well.

MARGARET
Liar.

The look between them says more than any words.

INT. HALLWAY - OUTSIDE MARGARET'S ROOM - LATER

The President exits the room, overcome with emotion.
Constance, the doctors and some medical crew move to comfort
him.  He holds them off with a gesture.

He looks up and sees Jasmine, Steve and Dylan down the hall.
He pushes through the crowd and makes his way over to them.

JASMINE
I'm so sorry.

PRESIDENT
I just wanted to thank you.
You're a very brave woman.

Across the hall, Patricia sits in a chair, waiting.  Whitmore
walks over to her and kneels down next to his small child.

PATRICIA
Is Mommy sleeping now?

PRESIDENT
Yes, baby.  Mommy's sleeping.

FADE OUT:

A GARBAGE CAN

Topples over with a BANG!  A foot steps in and starts kicking
trash all over.

EXT. AREA 51 - NIGHT

David is drunkenly knocking everything over, making a gigantic
mess.  Moishe comes up behind, restraining him.

MOISHE
David, David!  What the hell are
you doing!?

DAVID
I'm making a mess.

MOISHE
This I can see.

DAVID
We've gotta burn the rain forest,
Pops.  Dump toxic waste, pollute
the air, rip up the ozone.  Maybe
if we screw this planet up enough
they won't want it anymore.

MOISHE
David, you're drunk.

David slips, falls on his ass, hard.  Moishe helps him back up
on his feet.

MOISHE
I think you better sleep this off.
Go back inside before you catch a
cold.

Slowly David looks up towards Moishe, an idea.

DAVID
Pops, you're a genius!

MOISHE
What'd I say?

DAVID
A cold?  Of course.

Sobered, David jumps kisses his father and bolts inside.

CUT TO:

INT. STORAGE LAB - DAY

A large crowd has been gathered here at the lab.  General Grey
and Nimziki walk up to Constance.

NIMZIKI
All right, Connie, we're here.
What's this all about?

CONSTANCE
I really have no idea.  He just
said to bring everyone down here.

Steve shows Dylan the alien space craft.

DYLAN
Does that thing fly in outer
space?

Steve loos up at the craft admiringly.

STEVE
It certainly does.

When the President enters a technician rushes over and knocks
on the hatch door on the alien attacker.  The door swings open
and David climbs down.

Grabbing a coke can from the "recycle" trash bin, David places
the empty can on top of the alien attacker.  David turns and
faces the gathering.

DAVID
Could anyone please step back
away from the craft?

They do and David nods to a Technician inside the craft.  The
Technician disappears inside, closing the door behind him.  A
loud HUM emits from the craft.  David has to yell over it.

DAVID
Lt. Mitchell, would you mind
drawing your pistol?

MITCHELL
What?

DAVID
From where you're standing, do you
think you could shoot that can off
the alien craft?

Mitchell shrugs affirmatively.  David gestures for him to try.
Taking aim, Mitchell SHOOTS.

The bullet RICOCHETS off the attacker's protective shield.
Several people in the crowd dock, afraid of being hit by the
errant bullet.

DAVID
Sorry 'bout that.  You see, it's
protected by the craft's shields.
We can't penetrate their defenses.

NIMZIKI
We know that already.  What's your
point?

David walks over to his laptop, now connected directly to the
craft by cables and starts typing furiously.

DAVID
My point is if we can't beat their
defenses, then we must get around
them.

David stops typing and stares at his wrist watch, silently
counting down.

DAVID
Lt. Mitchell, would you please try
to shoot it again?

Reluctantly Mitchell obliges.  This time the can is BLOWN OFF
THE CRAFT.  Everyone in the room is shocked.  The Technician
re-opens the craft's door and the loud HUM disappears.

GENERAL GREY
How did you do that?

DAVID
I gave it a cold.

The President is fascinated, he steps closer.  Moishe beams
proudly at his smart son.  Constance is amazed.

DAVID (cont'd)
More accurately, I gave it a
virus.  A computer virus.

David turns his laptop around for the President to see.

GENERAL GREY
Are you telling us you can send
out a signal that will disable all
their shields?

DAVID
Just as they used our satellites
against us, we can use their own
signal against them.

David walks over to a diagram he's made showing the
relationship between the Mother Ship, the Space Crafts and the
smaller alien attackers.

DAVID (cont'd)
If we plant the virus directly
into the mother ship, it would
then filter down into all the
corresponding ships below.