INDEPENDENCE DAY

A crowd of people head down the hall for the shelter while
others stay glued to the set.  There is a mix of fascination
and panic.  David watches the commotion, dumb struck.

MARTY
Oh shit, I better call my wife.

INT. AIRPORT DINER - LATE MORNING

Depressed Russell nurses a beer at the counter.  Three FLIGHT
MECHANICS walk in, having a good laugh.  One of them spots
Russell and moves over to him.

MECHANIC #1
Hey, Russ, heard you had a little
trouble this morning.  Dusted the
wrong field?

The Mechanics laugh.  Russell tries to ignore them.

MECHANIC #2
I know, you're probably still a
little confused from your hostage
experience.

MECHANIC #2
Hostage experience?  Something
happen to you, Russ?

MECHANIC #1
He ain't never told you!?  Seems
years back our boy here had been
kidnapped by aliens.  Did all
kinds of experiments on him and
such.  Tell him, Russ.

RUSSELL
Not today, guys.  Okay.

Russell gets up and heads for the door.

MECHANIC #1
You just gotta get a couple more
beers in him, he'll tell you all
about it.  Crazy stuff.  Won't
you, Russ?

EXT. SMALL AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS

The Mechanic follows Russell outside, his buddies in tow.

MECHANIC #1
Hey, Russ, when they took you up
in their space ship, they do any
sexual things to you?

The mechanics crack up laughing.  Suddenly the things around
them begin to RUMBLE.  The SHADOW engulfs them, silencing the
Mechanics.

Panicked they turn and RUN AWAY.  Russell just looks up at the
sky, grabs his Jack Daniels and takes another swig.

EXT. TRAILER PARK - SAME

Dogs bark and people stumble out of their trailers as an
enormous SHADOW creeps over them.

INT. BRENNON MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS

The windows grow DARK and the room begins to RUMBLE.  Miguel
rushes to the door, ushering his siblings out.

EXT. TRAILER PARK - CONTINUOUS

Alicia and Troy step out the door, stopping dead in their
tracks.  Miguel follows them only to look up and SEE...

THE PHENOMENON - DARK CLOUDS

The flames are burning out, replaced by huge plumes of dark
smoke billowing around the edges of the phenomena.  Only small
traces of extinguishing flames illuminate it.

INT. COMPACT CABLE - STAIRWELL - SAME

David pushes past the people making their way down, fighting
against the tide.  Another CO-WORKER (#3) stops halfway.

CO-WORKER #3
Aren't you coming, David?

DAVID
No way, I've got to see this.

EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT - SAME

Frightened tourists run for cover as the colossal SHADOW
approaches.  Reflected in the water below we SEE the fiery
apparition transfigure into the dark foreboding clouds.

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL - WASHINGTON, D.C. - SAME

The SHADOW writhes up the detailed statue of Lincoln,
devouring him completely until we are left in total darkness.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAYS - SAME

People are being evacuated from their offices.  Patricia, the
President's daughter, breaks away from her nanny.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - SAME

The President talks on the phone.  Constance waits nearby.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
(into phone)
Of course, Russia and the United
States are in this together.  Yes,
Mr. President, you have my word.
Yes, Das Vedanya.

The President hangs up.

CONSTANCE
What is their position?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
I think he was drunk.

Patricia bursts through the door and runs into her father's
arms, terrified.  A SECRET SERVICE man appears.

SECRET SERVICE GUY
Mr. President, we have to go.

Abruptly, the room DARKENS as it begins to RUMBLE.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - SAME

The long, dark SHADOW moves across the entire White House,
engulfing it in darkness.

EXT. HUDSON RIVER, NEW YORK - STATUE OF LIBERTY - SAME

In the distance we SEE the mutated phenomenon's dark gray
clouds nearing Miss. Liberty.  As it approaches we SEE the New
York skyline begin to darken.

EXT. BLACK TOP BASKET BALL COURT, NEW YORK - SAME

Kids playing basket ball.  A young BOY stops playing, staring
skyward.  One by one, they all look upwards, stunned as a long
dark SHADOW creeps over them.

With a loud CRASH, several New York Cabs SLAM into one another
in the street.  Two more cars crash into them.  A pile up
ensues.

EXT. WALL STREET - SECOND LATER

Foot traffic stops as the long SHADOW crawls over the entire
area.

EXT. ROOFTOP - COMPACT CABLE - SAME

Large satellite dishes beset a doorway to the roof which flies
open.  David steps out just as a long, dark SHADOW covers over
him, sending the city into darkness.  David looks up to SEE...

SKYLINE AND ALIEN CRAFT

Protruding through the dark clouds we get a glimpse of the
underbelly of a colossal ALIEN CRAFT, its outer veneer of
smoke and clouds beginning to fade away.

Below we see PANIC, cabs SLAMMING into one another, people
staring, people screaming.  No one knows how to react.

David runs to the other side of the rooftop, overlooking
Central Park, to get a better look.

DAVID'S POV - CENTRAL PARK - SAME

The entire park is plunged into darkness as the craft above
blots out of the sun.  Amazing as it may seem, the hovering craft
BLANKETS THE ENTIRE PARK and BEYOND.  We still have NOT seen
an entire craft.

DAVID
(realizing)
My God.  The signal.

EXT. LOS ANGELES BASIN - WIDE ANGLE - LATER MORNING

A panoramic view of the Los Angeles basin.  Slowly filling the
screen, we SEE a portion of the enormous space craft as it
creeps towards the city, obliterating our view.

EXT. HILLSIDE RESIDENTIAL AREA - SAME

A station wagon, filled with kids and a harried HOUSEWIFE,
comes to a stop.  The passenger door opens and a young six-
year-old boy, DYLAN steps out.

HOUSEWIFE
Dylan, tell your mom you can stay
overnight again Thursday.

Suddenly a car SAILS over a nearby hill in front of them,
hitting the ground with a BANG.  Two more cars follows, air
bound.  As the Housewife turns she SEES...

SPACE SHIP - SAME

Rising over the mountain we SEE the Space Ship as it nears the
city, blocking out the sunshine.

Panicked, the Housewife hits the gas and peels out, leaving a
confused Dylan staring skyward.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Two people sleep as Dylan runs into the room.

DYLAN
Mommy, look at!

He rushes away.  The SHADOW moves past the window, darkening
the room.  His mother, JASMINE DUBROW, stirs.

JASMINE
(re: darkness)
It's too early, baby.

She turns back over.  Suddenly the room briefly RUMBLES.

MAN
Earthquake?

JASMINE
Not even a four pointer.  Go back
to sleep.

Shrugging, the man does.

HOLLYWOOD SIGN (FORMERLY SC. 72) - SAME

In Los Angeles.  The SHADOW slowly covers the sign.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - WINDOW - SAME

The President and his daughter cautiously approach the window
staring in awe at the amazing sight above them.  Several
others approach from behind.

Cautiously some people begin to walk outside, staring up at
the leviathan, mouths agape.

INT. OVAL OFFICE - SAME

Slowly staff members approach, gazing out the window.
Constance steps up behind the President.

CONSTANCE
What do we do now?

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
Address the nation.  There are a
lot of very frightened people out
there right now.

CONSTANCE
Yeah.  I'm one of them.

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - ALIEN CRAFT - SAME

All of Washington is under the shadow of this gargantuan alien
craft.  A stunning tableau.

CUT TO:

INT. JASMINE'S DEBROW'S BEDROOM - SAME

The man sleeping next to Jasmine's beagle BOOMER drops
Steven's tennis shoes on top of him, waking him.

JASMINE
He's trying to impress you.

STEVE
He's doing a good job.

He pats the dog on the head and takes the shoes.  Steven gets
up and makes his way to the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Steve takes a pee, he SEES out the window a family packing
up their car, others standing around staring at something in
the distance.  A HELICOPTER flies overhead.

STEVE
Neighbors are moving.  I think
they're tired of earthquakes.

He finished and flushes.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Steve enters the living room.  The television is playing a
news broadcast.

NEWSCASTER
...with little damage reported to
the southland area.  People are
advised not to panic...

STEVE
Hon, something's on the table 'bout
the quake.

Jasmine sits up in bed, yelling out to Steve.

JASMINE
Dylan out there?

Steve turns, looking for Dylan when the doggie door pops open
and Dylan crawls through.

STEVE
What have you been up to, Sport?

DYLAN
(holding his gun)
Shooting aliens.

Steve musses up the boy's hair, smiling.

JASMINE
(entering)
Coffee?

Steve mumbles an affirmative as he exits.

EXT. JASMINE'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Steve picks up the morning paper and opens it.  He doesn't
notice the DOZENS of neighbors quickly packing up and rushing
to get away as he reads the paper oblivious.

JASMINE (O.S.)
You want milk with your coffee?

Jasmine appears behind him, her view, too, obscured by the
open newspaper.  Suddenly another HELICOPTER room overhead.
Annoyed, Steve lowers his paper.

STEVE AND JASMINE'S POV

As the paper is lowered we SEE the helicopter SWOOP down.  As
it flies away we SEE...

THE ALIEN CRAFT

Covering all of Los Angeles.  This is the first time we see
the entire craft.  It is stupendous.  Steve's jaw hits the
floor.  The milk goes CRASHING as Jasmine SCREAMS.

CUT TO:

INT. STAIRWELL - DAY

Running for all he's worth, David sprints down the stairs.

INT. COMPACT CABLE OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Dashing off the stairs, David stops seeing that the room is
now completely empty.  The wall of monitors play for no one.
David walks up to one, adjusting the volume.

T.V. - CNN BROADCAST - (DISTORTED BROADCAST SIGNAL)

A space ship logo spins next to the words VISITORS: CONTACT OR
CRISIS.  Wolf Blitzer comes on screen live from the Pentagon.

WOLF BLITZER
Pentagon officials are reporting
more ships have just arrived over
the capitals of India, England and
Germany.

As he speaks we get quick glimpses of the other ships.

MARTY (O.S.)
I know, babycakes.  Calm down.

David spins around at the sound of the voice but the room is
still empty.  David leans down and looks under a desk where he
finds Marty still on the phone with his wife.

DAVID
Tell her to get the kids and leave
town.

MARTY
What happened?

DAVID
(yells)
Just do it!

Marty realizes David is dead serious.

MARTY
Babycakes, pack the kids up and
take them to your mother's.  Don't
ask.  Go.

Mary hangs up, crawls out from under the table.

MARTY (cont'd)
Okay, why did I just send my
family to Atlanta?

DAVID
Remember I told you that the
signal hidden within our satellite
signal is slowly recycling down to
extinction.

MARTY
Not really...

DAVID
That signal.  It's a countdown.

MARTY
(confused)
A countdown to what?

DAVID
Think.  It's like in chess.  First
you strategically position your
pieces.  Then, when the timing's
right.  You strike.

David motions to the television.

BLITZER
...there are additional
unconfirmed sightings over Japan,
the Mediterranean, and China...

DAVID
They are positioning themselves
all over the world and using this
one signal to synchronize their
efforts.  In approximately six
hours the signal will disappear
and the countdown will be over.

MARTY
Then what?

DAVID
Checkmate.

Marty takes a beat to digest.  Then, grabbing the phone....

MARTY
I gotta call my brother, my
bookie, my lawyer... fuck my
lawyer...

David also grabs a phone.  Suddenly the bank of monitors
synchronize into one enormous image across the entire video
wall; the President addressing the nation.

INT. PRESS ROOM, WHITE HOUSE - SAME

The President stands at the podium giving his address.

PRESIDENT WHITMORE
My fellow Americans, a historic
and unprecedented event has taken
place.  The question as to whether
or not we are alone in the
universe has been answered...

ANGLE - SIDE ENTRANCE TO PRESS ROOM

As Constance watches the President, she unconsciously mouths
the words of his speech, after all, she did write them.  A
PRESS AIDE tugs on her sleeve.  She tries to wave her off.

PRESS AIDE
He says he's your husband.

Her expression drops.  She takes the phone from her.

CONSTANCE
What do you want?

DAVID
(filtered)
You have to leave the White House.

CONSTANCE
This is not the time or the place
to have this same old discussion.