INDEPENDENCE DAY

INT. AREA 51 - RESEARCH FACILITY - SAME

Like images from England during the blitzkrieg, the refugees
are huddled on the floor, the lights FLICKERING and the muted
sounds of distant EXPLOSIONS.  Miguel moves through the
refugees, searching for Russell.

A Yarmulke is unfolded.  As it is lifted we realize Moishe is
putting it on.  He holds the hands with the people around him
and begins to pray.  Nimziki moves next to Moishe.  Moishe
takes his hand.

NIMZIKI
I'm not Jewish.

MOISHE
It's okay.

ANGLE - PHILIP AND ALICIA

As another bomb rocks the room, Alicia moves closer to Philip.

ALICIA
This could be our last night on
Earth.  I don't want to die a
virgin.

PHILIP
If we do, we'll both die virgins.
But at last we'll be together.

Alicia smiles, a nice guy at last.

EXT. AREA 51 - SPACE SHIP - SAME

The City Destroyer space ship is settling just above the
compound as the American fighters circle it, chased by the
attackers.  Below the SCHISM begins to open!

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

In all the commotion, no one notices as Miguel sneaks inside.

OFFICER
We're running out of missiles,
Sir.  We're just not causing
enough damage.

EXT. PRESIDENT'S PLANE - SAME

GENERAL GREY
(filtered)
They're getting ready to fire the
big gun.  You're going to have to
find a vulnerable spot, fast.

PRESIDENT
I've got an idea.  Keep 'em off my
tail.

Taking the advice, the President DIVES.  He's met by two
flanking Fighters (EAGLES 9 & 2) as they cruise the underbelly
of the City Destroyer.  Sure enough, the SCHISM is opening,
preparing to fire the WALL OF DESTRUCTION.

PRESIDENT
Let's take 'em out before they
take us out.

The President locks the SCHISM hatchway into the center of his
HUD (heads up display).  Just as he FIRES, Eagle 9 is BLOWN
OUT OF THE SKY.  It rocks the President, sending his missile
off target.

Off balance, the missile hits just wide of the hatchway and
EXPLODES, rocking the entire ship.

PRESIDENT
I'm out of missiles!  Eagle 2?

EAGLE #2 PILOT
I'm on it.

But before he can target, his fighter EXPLODES.

INT. HALLWAY - SAME

The lights continue to flicker.  Jasmine grabs onto Dylan and
Patricia, holding them tight.

INT. WAR ROOM - CONTINUOUS

On the monitor we SEE the SCHISM, and BRIGHT LIGHTS as several
fighters fly past.

GENERAL GREY
We're out of time.  Get out of
there!  Get as far away as you
can.

EXT. PRESIDENT'S FIGHTER - SAME

Pissed, the President refuses to give up.

PRESIDENT
Doesn't anyone have any damned
missiles left?!

RUSSELL (O.S.)
Sorry I'm late, Mr. President.

The President spins and SEES darting out of the clouds...

RUSSELL'S OLD BI-PLANE

Russell ZOOMS past the President and alien attackers, barely
missing their FIRE.

PRESIDENT
(filtered)
Who is that?  What are you doing?

RUSSELL
(into mic)
It's okay, Sir.  I'm packin'.

We SEE he has a large MISSILES propped up in the seat behind
him.  A light on it flashes ARMED.

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

RUSSELL
(filtered)
Just keep those guys off me for a
few more seconds.

Hearing his voice, Miguel is shocked.  He moves closer towards
the monitors.

EXT. CITY DESTROYER - SAME

The remaining fighters lay down COVER FIRE for Russell's old
bi-wing.  Russell heads directly TOWARDS THE SCHISM.

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

Everyone is gripped to the screen as we see it get closer and
closer to the closing bay doors.  Miguel is aghast.

RUSSELL
(filtered)
Do me one favor...

OFFICER
Who is that guy?

MIGUEL
Russell!

Miguel races over to the microphone, attempts to grab it.

RUSSELL
(filtered)
...tell my children I love them
very much.

EXT. CITY DESTROYER - SCHISM - SAME

Russell nears the SCHISM, a hail of alien firepower erupting
around him.

MIGUEL
(filtered)
Dad!  No!

Russell smiles at b being called "Dad."

RUSSELL
I've got to, kid.  You were always
better at taking care of them than
I was anyways.

Russell turns off his radio as he banks UPWARD towards the
open SCHISM.  The climb is steep, and the bi-wing nearly
stalls out.

Suddenly the bright lights VANISH and the beam begins to form.

Russell's bi-wing just makes it INSIDE THE OPEN SCHISM and
disappears from view.

The President and remaining fighters BANK AWAY, clearing.

Suddenly, A GIGANTIC EXPLOSION, RIPS THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE
SPACE CRAFT.  It's causing a CHAIN REACTION of explosion.

Teetering, the entire space ship, turns away out of control.

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

The room erupts in CHEERS.  Everyone, that is, except Miguel.

EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE - SAME

Not far away from Area 51, the enormous craft is burning from
the center outwards.  Suddenly it DROPS and COLLIDES with the
mountain range, EXPLODING ON IMPACT.

INT. WAR ROOM - SAME

Intercepting the celebration, General Grey moves over to a
radio technician.

GENERAL GREY
Let's get on the wire.  Tell every
squadron around the world how to
shoot those fuckers down.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

Sitting below the dash, Steve takes out the cigars, hands one
to David.

STEVE
I guess there's nothing left to
do.  Let's nuke 'em.

David realizes they're both about to die.  He stares at the
cigar.

DAVID
(re: cigar)
Funny, I always thought things
like these would kill me.

They share a quick sober laugh.

STEVE
Nice meeting you.

DAVID
You as well.

Steve lights his cigar, then lights David's.

STEVE
Ready?

EXT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ALIEN ATTACKER - SAME

Popping up from behind the dash, cigars in their mouths, Steve
and David start waving "good-bye" like idiots.

The Aliens in the tower don't know how to react.  The
attackers move in for the kill.

INT. STEVE AND DAVID'S ATTACKER - SAME

STEVE
Think they know what's coming?

He reaches down to the black box we saw before and enters the
launch code.

DAVID
(still waving)
Not a chance in hell.