INDEPENDENCE DAY

The door behind her flies open and Steve marches in.

JASMINE
You're late.

STEVE
You know me...

JASMINE
I know, you like to make a big
entrance.

Steve moves next to Jasmine, takes her hand.

STEVE
Before we do this, I want you to
know I'm sorry.

JASMINE
Sorry for what?

STEVE
(serious)
I should have done this a long
long time ago.

MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Do you have the ring?

As we REVERSE ANGLE we see that we are in a military CHAPEL, a
large crucifix on the wall.  A CHAPLAIN stands by the altar.

STEVE
You bet.

Steve pulls out the famous "dolphin" ring.

CHAPLAIN
Witnesses?

Just then the doors open and David and Constance enter taking
seats on opposing sides of the aisle.

CHAPLAIN
Then let's get this show on the
road.

Steve and Jasmine take their places at the altar.  Jasmine is
radiant.  Dylan rushes up and joins them.

As the ceremony begins, David and Constance share a pregnant
glance.  Slowly they reach across the aisle and hold hands as
Steve and Jasmine exchange their vows.

CUT TO:

HANGAR DOORS - PRE-DAWN

Slowly spread apart revealing the myriad of different planes
that have been gathered.  Pilots, flights crews and refugees
prepare for the battle.

EXT. AREA 51 - TARMAC - PRE-DAWN

Walking out the President scans the motley collection of
planes; old, new, high-tech, low-tech.

GENERAL GREY
Beggars can't be choosers, sir.

Nodding in agreement, the President walks among the rank and
file.  Slowly they turn their attention to the President.

PRESIDENT
Good morning.  In less than one
hour planes from here and all
around the world will launch the
largest aerial battle in the
history of mankind...
(beat)
Mankind.  The word has new meaning
for all of us now.  We are
reminded not of our petty
differences but of our common
interests.

Constance, David and Moishe join the group, listening.  Even
David is moved.

PRESIDENT (cont'd)
Perhaps it's fate that today, July
the Fourth, we will once again
fight for our freedom.  Not from
tyranny, persecution or
oppression.  But from
annihilation.  We're fighting for
our right to live, to exit.  From
this day on, the fourth day of
July will no longer be remembered
as an American holiday but as the
day that all of mankind declared
we will not go quietly into the
night.  We will not vanish without
a fight.  We will live on.  We
will survive.

The crowd erupts into applause and cheers.  The President
turns and walks over to an Officer holding a bundle of
clothes.  General Grey confronts the President as he begins to
disrobe.

GENERAL GREY
Mr. President, just what do you
think you're doing?

PRESIDENT
I'm a pilot, Will.  This is where
I belong.

General Grey wants to argue but can't.

INT. STORAGE LAB - SAME

Constance and David embrace as Steve turns to Dylan.

STEVE
When I'm back we'll light those
fireworks.

Jasmine hugs them both as Moishe walks over to David.

MOISHE
David, take these.

David looks down at the "barf bags" in Moishe's hand.

DAVID
Thanks, Pops.

MOISHE
I want you should know, I'm very
proud of you, son.

That means more to David than Moishe could have known.

CONSTANCE
Be careful.

Constance hugs David as Steve suddenly freaks out.

STEVE
Damn it.  We can't go yet.  I
gotta find some cigars.

Steve is about to bolt when Moishe grabs him, retrieving two
cigars from his coat pocket.

MOISHE
My last two.  With my blessings.

STEVE
You're a lifesaver.

Steve grabs them and climbs inside.  David smiles awkwardly,
then follows Steve.

INT. ALIEN ATTACKER - CONTINUOUS

The hatch shuts and David takes a seat next to Steve who hands
him one of the cigars.

STEVE
Hang on to this.  For our victory
dance.  But not 'til we hear the
fat lady sing.

Reluctantly David takes it.  As he does Steve notices the
"barf bag" on David's lap.  Off Steve's look...

DAVID
I have a confession to make.  I'm
not real big on flying.

STEVE
Great.

INT. STORAGE LAB - SAME

Constance and Jasmine join the others behind the observation
glass outside the room as the Attacker prepares for lift off.

Part of the ceiling suddenly PEELS AWAY, revealing an enormous
SHAFT leading topside.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

Strapping in and securing their equipment, Steve grabs hold of
the throttle.

STEVE
You ready?  Let' rock and roll.

Steve pulls back on the throttle but the attacker swings
BACKWARDS.

INT. STORAGE LAB - SAME

The Alien Attacker SMASHES BACKWARD into the rear of the lab.
Moishe winces as the others react fearfully.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

Embarrassed, Steve adjusts the throttle.

STEVE
Oops.

Like a stick shift diagram of a car, a small hand written
"post it" card is pasted onto the dash.  Steve reaches over
and turns it upside down, righting the problem.

STEVE
Let's try that again.

This time he pushes the throttle forward and the Attacker
JERKS ahead.

INT. STORAGE LAB - CONTINUOUS

Shooting up into the ceiling shaft above, the Attacker ZOOMS
out of the underground laboratory.

EXT. AREA 51 - SHAFT - SAME

With a WHOOSH the Alien Attacker ZOOMS out of the underground
shaft and SOARS into the sky.  Once high enough it goes into a
wild barrel roll.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

Just as it comes out of the roll.

DAVID
What the hell are you doing?

STEVE
Just getting a feel for her.

EXT. MORNING SKIES - CLOUD BANK - SAME

The Attacker arcs upward and disappears into the clouds.

EXT. AREA 51 - THE PRESIDENT'S PLANE - SAME

The President watches the Attacker flying away.  His canopy
locks down as he adjusts his helmet.

PRESIDENT
Grey, you read me?

GENERAL GREY
(filtered)
Roger, Eagle One, our primary
target has shifted course.

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

General Grey is standing by the large map tracking the alien
ships over the United States.

PRESIDENT
(filtered)
Where's it headed?

GENERAL GREY
I think our secret is out.
They're headed right for us.

INT. PRESIDENT'S PLANE - SAME

GENERAL GREY
(filtered)
ETA thirty six minutes.

The President gets a determined look in his eye.  He FIRES UP
his engine.  Following his lead, engines ignite, canopies lock
down and planes taxi to position.

EXT. UPPER ATMOSPHERE - ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

The captured alien attacker soars higher and higher.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ATTACKER - SAME

Slowly getting sick, David holds onto his "barf bag."

STEVE
You still with me?

David nods sheepishly.  Steve's eyes go wide with wonder as
the ship climbs to the edge of our atmosphere.

STEVE
(to himself)
I've waited a long time for this.

The ship begins to SHAKE, rattling harshly as it climbs.
Through the window we SEE the blue sky EVAPORATE.  Slowly a
field of STARS take its place.

This is the moment Steve had wished for all his life.  He's
not disappointed.  David, however, is not so thrilled.

EXT. SPACE - STEVE AND DAVID'S ATTACKER - SAME

Heading further into space, ZOOMING overhead.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ATTACKER - SAME

Through the windshield we see a huge OBJECT floating in
the distance, the moon behind it.

DAVID
That's it.  Head straight for it.

But Steve gets distracted, something wrong with the controls.

STEVE
Something's happening.  It's not
responding.

David looks over at his laptop, connected to the ship's on
board computers.  Th signal is ADJUSTING.

DAVID
(thrilled)
I was counting on that.  They're
bringing us in.

EXT. BLUE SKIES - MORNING

The President's plane leads thirty fighters in attack
formation.

PRESIDENT
We have visual.

RESERVE ANGLE - ALIEN SPACE CRAFT

The fifteen mile wide space craft peeks over a mountain range
headed straight for us.

GENERAL GREY
(filtered)
Do not engage until we've
confirmed the package has been
delivered.

PRESIDENT
Roger.