INNERSPACE

OUTSIDE - THE LAB

FINNEGAN

Al?

JOE

The little man in my...

(sees he's in trouble.)

...head...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

Oh shit.

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - The guards exchange looks: another nut case!

AL (VO)

He doesn't know about the experiment.

He'll just think you're nuts.

COLIN enters, glances at Joe, OTHER TECHS COME UP TO COLIN.

TECH 3

The Emergency committe...

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

The Emergency Committee!

OUTSIDE - THE LAB

TECH 3

...will meet at Four.

AL (VO)

Four! Why not wait till Spring!

I have to talk to them.

Joe tries to approach them, but the guard prevents him from

getting close. COLIN glances at Joe, pulls FINNEGAN aside.

JOE

I have to talk to them.

COLIN

What is it., Sergeant?

FINNEGAN

Must be delayed effects of the drug...

I'll get him out of here.

COLIN

He work for us?

FINNEGAN

Ah...no sir. He was here for a job

interview.

COLIN (thinks for a moment)

Give him a job.

FINNEGAN

What Job?

COLIN

Doesn't matter. Then put him away.

FINNEGAN

Sir?

COLIN

Private clinic. Best of care. Total

privacy. We'll pay all costs.

FINNEGAN

Bit expensive, sir.

COLIN

It's the least we can do. After all,

it's our responsibility.

Finnegan sits Joe at a desk as he fills out forms.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Did you hear that?

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - JOE

JOE

Yeah. (to them) Al wants

to talk to you!

THE TECHS, exhausted, look more worried...They speak furtively.

TECH 2

What'd he say, how's he

know about Al?

TECH 3

What does he know?

TECH 2

Too much.

COLIN ignores it, continues his discussion.

COLIN

...You know the implications

for the lab.

TECH 2 (sarcastic)

You mean that we lost the PEM and

the POD and Al right out of the lab?

Try to get a security clearance after

that. The next government contract we

get will be for urinal handles.

TECH 3

Look, nobody knows we did it.

TECH 2

Whoever took it does.

COLIN

They're not gonna tell.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Hey, wait a minute. They don't

have a clue who led the attack.

Or who has the PEM. I don't like

the sound of this.

OUTSIDE

COLIN notices Joe evesdropping and moves the TECHS

into the next room. Joe can see them through a window, but cannot

hear them.

JOE

I get the idea they're writing you off.

INSIDE - THE POD - AL goes crazy...Flipping dials, cutting in

amplifiers and filters...no good. He cannot pick them up.

AL

What is it? What happened?

THE LAB -

The guard watches Joe closely. He can't respond. He

sees the TECHS SPEAKING: Vital stuff, but we cannot hear it.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD

- AL thinks frantically, mumbling to himself. He cranks up the main thrusters...

AL

I'll be out of touch for a bit.

INT. THE LAB

JOE shows surprise and confusion in as restrained

a manner as possible. The guard looks over, shifts his weight.

JOE

Going somewhere?

The guard just looks at him, curiously.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

I'll be right back. Don't go away.

INT. THE LAB

JOE - wants to respond, but can't.

INSIDE - EXT. - THE POD

Moves through a GIANT, FLUID FILLED CAVERN - THE INNER EAR.

The SOUND is louder now...it rattles the POD. Al manouvers to the ORGAN

OF CORTI, a ledge resting against a set of hairs sticking out of nerve cells.

This is the organ where fluid vibrations are converted to electrical signals to the brain.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD

AL triggers the SONOBUOY RELEASE.

INSIDE - EXT. THE POD -

A SONOBUOY releases from a hatch.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD -

AL programs...trying to pick up better sound. He INCREASES THE GAIN

and starts to HEAR THE TECHS.

TECH 3

It'l take months.

TECH 2

So we better get started.

OUTSIDE - THE LAB - THE TECHS SPEAK SOFTLY, BUT NOW WE CAN HEAR.

TECH 3

What about Al...

COLIN

...If he was right here, what

would we do? What would we tell him?

TECH 3

You're glad to get rid of him!

COLIN (ignores that)

We tell him we don't have the PEM,

we can't get you back to size...?

TECH 2

We can build another.

COLIN

Look at this mess. That would take months.

JOE - He's amazed, Al's enhancement lets him HEAR it too.

AL (VO)

It can't take that long.

JOE

Why?

JOE'S POV TECH 3-

TECH3

We have to get the PEM and

reverse the process...before...

JOE

AL (VO)

...the POD looses power and can

no longer maintain life support.

JOE'S POV - COLIN -

COLIN

How soon?

TECH 2

WITHIN 92 HOURS...

JOE

JOE

Or what?

AL

I don't know. I don't want to find out.

COLIN looks over in Joe's direction.

AL (VO)

They'll find a way.

COLIN (dismissive)

Forget it...Al's dead. It's better...in a way.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (indignant scream)

BETTER! You son of a bitch!

COLIN (coldly)

Beyond our control...an accident.

Nothing we can do. In a way, you

might say...Al was lost ...at Sea.

Joe HEARS a gasp of frustration from Al. He tries to make the

best of it, tries to put the best face on it, to calm Al down.

JOE

They could put you back in the tube..

AL (VO)

I'd be helpless and useless.

They don't have the PEM.

Without that...there's no chance.

JOE

Well...they sure as hell aren't

gonna get it for you.

AL (VO)

They're busy covering their

asses. They're not the type

of people we need."

JOE

Yeah...Who is?

AL (VO)

I am. You are.

JOE

You are CRAZY!

AL (VO)

You're the one talking to

a little guy in your head.

(JOE SULKS)

...We'll have to do it on our own.

JOE

What do you mean we.

AL (VO)

You gotta help.

JOE

I did. I brought you back here.

AL (VO)

We're a team...My...talent.

Your... mobility.

JOE

Thanks.

AL (VO)

Think of the scientific data

we'll gain. Come on, lets

get out of here.

JOE

I'm not leaving until you do.

FINNEGAN steps in.

FINNEGAN

Nobody asked you to.

AL (VO)

You tell them about me,

they'll put us both away

for sure. Get out...now.

JOE

I'm not going anywhere until

you get this guy out of my head.

FINNEGAN

Of course you're not.

We'll take good care of you.

The guard grins at him. Joe doesn't like the way he grins.

AL (VO)

Ever think of what they might

have to do to find me?

JOE

Find You?

AL (VO)

I'm not gonna make it easy.

JOE looks away. The guard slowly pulls out his cuffs.

AL (VO)

They'll have to take you apart.

...piece by piece.

JOE

Why don't you just get out,

leave me alone.

The guards think he means them. They turn and laugh at him.

AL (VO)

I got nowhere to go. Neither

do you. You're either crazy, or...

you got a little man in your head.

Either way, they're gonna hold on

to you.

Joe looks worried. The guard moves on him, he backs away.

AL (VO)

Do these guys look like they've

got your best interests at heart.

As this thought settles into Joe's brain, one of the TECHS takes

an interest in him. He moves to Joe.

TECH 3

What seems to be the problem.

AL (VO)

Now's your chance. You want out,

just tell him.

JOE

Ahhh...nothing.

FINNEGAN

Been complaning of hallucinations.

JOE

Not...complaining, actually.

FINNEGAN

Been hearing voices.