The Return 2

Second scene from Man: The Return.



EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

A HOUSE sits in quiet, upscale neighborhood. Lights are on. Snow covers the ground. A car drives passed, sloshing sounds can be heard.

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

An older couple, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE BILL COHEN and JANE COHEN, sit in their living room. 

BILL sits in his recliner reading that day's issue of the Washington Post. 

JANE is lounging in the couch with a copy of US Weekly. 

The TELEVISION is turned onto the news but goes largely ignored by the couple.


DIANE WENDELL (OS)

Another roadside bomb has gone off in Pakistan, killing 30 civilians and 5 US soldiers. All of this comes on the heels of President Williams announcing his plans for escalation of the war in the Middle East. The President has stated there will be a surge of 300,000 troops. It is believed that Congress will vote on and most likely pass a bill that will reinstate the draft to meet these new quotas.


DIANE WENDELL fades into background.

JANE addresses BILL without looking up from her magazine.


JANE

Williams seems to be getting good at going back on his promises. I thought we were supposed to be ending these wars, not escalating them. (looks at BILL) Shouldn't you have some say in this, Mr. Secretary of Defense?


BILL scoffs.


BILL

Nope. I have merely become a figurehead at the department. He seems to think Coffer is better for this than I.


JANE

Then why do you not resign?


BILL

Well...

(lowers the paper)

Up until about a month ago, I had decided to do just that. Then, I got a phone call from a gentleman in the astronomy field who had some very interesting information.


The phone RINGS before JANE can ask him what the information was. 

She gives a look to leave it alone. 

The answering machine picks up. The voice of DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JEFF MARKS belts out on the machine.


JEFF (OS)

(frantic)

Bill?!  Bill?!  You need to turn the news on right now.

(beat) 

Holy shit.  I didn't think he was actually serious.  Get back here ASAP!


BILL looks at the TV. 

The NEWS has cut to a picture of the night sky above MANHATTAN. 

FIELD CORRESPONDENT JOHN RICHARDSON is reporting.


JOHN RICHARDSON

Diane, at the time we do not know what it is or where it came from.  It has appeared above the skyline of Manhattan with an eerie silence.


BILL jumps from his chair quickly, running towards the stairs. 

He moves up the stairs with the agility of a younger man and heads to the bedroom. 

He's throwing on a suit and a tie.  JANE enters room utterly confused.


JANE

Bill, what was that on the news. Is this what you were talking about?


BILL

I can't discuss this right now. Above top secret.


JANE

Well, not for long. Whatever it is, it's plastered all over the news.


BILL

I can't discuss it. Williams doesn't even know.

BILL leaves the room while JANE still has the look of confusion on her face.