Bible: A Message from Outside of Time/Space

Scott -- (enters carrying laptop computer, crosses to podium, opens computer, types)

Steven -- (enters briskly, slows) Hello, I'm from the agency...

Scott -- (not looking up) ...You're late! I told them I needed you by eight a.m.!

Steven -- I'm sorry, they just called me 15 minutes ago... I...

Scott -- ...Fifteen minutes ago! I called them yesterday morning!

Steven -- I'm sorry. Apparently, with sweeps week coming up, all the full time writers are booked.

Scott -- Oh, no! Don't tell me you're a part time writer!

Steven -- Well, as a matter of fact, I...

Scott -- ...Okay, how much science fiction have you written for television?

Steven -- Well... none.

Scott -- ..Oh, no.

Steven -- They said you needed someone who knew science...

Scott -- ...Have you written ANY scripts for television?

Steven -- Does radio count?

Scott -- Oh, brother!

Steven -- I'm sorry.

Scott -- Alright, what scripts did you write for radio?

Steven -- Bible studies.

Scott -- Bible studies!? I thought you knew science!

Steven -- I do. I've written some magazine ar...

Scott -- ...Magazine?! Oh, brother!

Steven -- I'll just go back and tell the agency you... (turns)

Scott -- No!

Steven -- (turns) No?

Scott -- No, they've obviously scraped the bottom of the barrel. The next writer they send will probably be a fugitive from that kids show with the purple dinosaur. (moves away from podium, points at it) Here, you type. I work best while pacing the floor.

Steven -- (steps up to computer, points to it) I see you've already started a script.

Scott -- It isn't like I haven't had time...

Steven -- (looks up from screen apologetically) I'm sorry... I...

Scott -- Alright, let me tell you what we've got so far. I already wrote most of the story line and action scenes near the end of this episode. The reason I called the agency is because I need help with some technical aspects and the opening, where we set up the situation leading to the action scenes.

Steven -- (scanning) What's your story line?

Scott -- (paces) Okay. This alien being from another universe is going to visit this isolated planet in our universe. When he arrives, his presence sets up a war between those who understand his peaceful intensions and those who assume he's there for other reasons.

Steven -- I see. Where would you like to start?

Scott -- The way the action scenes are written, everyone on the planet already knows he's coming in advance. So, as soon as he arrives on the planet, the war breaks out between the two factions.

Steven -- I see. But how do the locals know he's coming?

Scott -- That's what I'm hoping YOU could tell me. We need a credible way for this alien to send a message to another universe well in advance of his arrival, so that by the time he arrives, everyone on the planet will know he's coming and will have an opportunity to choose up sides.

Steven -- That's no problem. Since he's from another universe, he is outside of space and time in this universe. He can just travel back in time, send his message, then time travel forward and arrive on the planet.

Scott -- Good. I like that.

Steven -- But, how do they receive the message? Do they have radios, TVs...?

Scott -- No, they're a primitive culture. I was thinking in terms of a message chisel in a big monolith like "2001 a space Odyssey".

Steven -- I don't recommend that.

Scott -- Why not?

Steven -- First of all, if the alien's enemies don't like the message, they could destroy the monolith, removing all traces of the message.

Scott -- Oh, yeah.

Steven -- Second, if these are primitive people, they'll live in tents, they might need to move around a lot. A big monolith would be impossible to move.

Scott -- Oh, yeah, yeah, that's right.

Steven -- I recommend small stone tablets for the main message and papyrus scrolls for the other things they need to know.

Scott -- Good! Write that down!

Steven -- (types) And since they'll be copying the messages to distribute throughout the world, I recommend an economical language.

Scott -- ECONOMICAL language?

Steven -- Yes, one that saves paper.

Scott -- Oh, I like that. That's the kind of detail the sci-fi fans love. Tell me more.

Steven -- I recommend a language like Hebrew.

Scott -- Hebrew.

Steven -- Yes, it has very few characters to learn. It leaves out the vowels and no spaces are needed between the words.

Scott -- Perfect. That will give the audience the idea that this alien has thought of the smallest detail.

Steven -- I also recommend that the alien carefully select the people entrusted with caring for the tablets and spreading the message.

Scott -- People? Why not one person?

Steven -- A crowd can spread the message around the world faster than just one person.

Scott -- You've got a point there.

Steven -- And many people can defend the tablets better than one.

Scott -- Yes. (paces) Let's say that the alien gives the tablets to the king of a great nation....

Steven -- Oh, he wouldn't want to give the message to the ruling class.

Scott -- Why not?

Steven -- Because the alien's superior intelligence and power would be a threat to a king.

Scott -- Yes, yes, that's right. Who then?

Steven -- Slaves.

Scott -- Slaves?

Steven -- A nation of slaves. First, the alien frees the slaves by miraculous means to let them know how powerful he is.

Scott -- Oh, I like that! Write that down! (points) Freeing the slaves makes them grateful and loyal.

Steven -- (types) And humble. They know that without the alien, they'll end up in captivity again.

Scott -- Good! We can even depict them disobeying his commands and going back into captivity for awhile!

Steven -- And, since the alien is outside of time and space, he can predict the future.

Scott -- Yes, yes! I like that! (paces) So, he sends his message...

Steven -- Just for safe keeping, and so everyone knows the stone tablets are valuable, the slaves should make a gold box to store the stone tablets in...

Scott -- Good. Write that down.

Steven -- (types) ...With a heavy solid gold lid, so no one could ever open the box by mistake.

Scott -- Are you sure you haven't written science fiction before?

Steven -- Mostly Bible studies.

Scott -- (paces) Okay, let's see what we've got so far. The alien chooses some reliable people, he's delivered his message to them on stone tablets. (snaps fingers) What if some powerful king hears about the whole thing and decides to go to war and kill off the good guys? What if several kings join forces against the slave nation? (points) Supernatural protection!

Steven -- Since the alien is outside of space and time, he can time travel back to the ancestor of the slaves to predict the exact names of some of the people who will support and oppose the slaves.

Scott -- Oh, you are good! You've just given me the possibility for a couple more action sequences. We can also depict the alien winning their battles for them through supernatural means.

Steven -- ...with hundred-pound hale stones from the sky?

Scott -- You are really good! Write that down! (paces) Okay, just one more problem.

Steven -- What's that?

Scott -- I've got no ending. At final battle, the alien steps in and destroys the enemy. But what happens then?

Steven -- How about if the alien takes all his loyal friends back with him to the other universe?

Scott -- Yes! I like it! I like it a lot! Say, listen, I... I'm sorry I yelled at you when you came in. I...

Steven -- Forget it. You were under a lot of pressure. Sweeps week is coming up. (points to screen) Shall we go back now and start writing the dialogue?

Scott -- Listen, I've been working since six o'clock this morning. (points offstage) Let me buy you a cup of coffee. (motions)

Steven -- Oh, okay, sure.

Scott -- (exiting) So, tell me about those Bible studies you wrote.

Steven -- (exiting) I just did.

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