"EARTH--PLANET UNDER SIEGE" (2/11/96)

Characters:

• Anchorman
• Alien(s)
• Reporter(s)
• Dr. Finkelberg
• Witness

Show small clip from TV show (e.g. Friends). Abort abruptively.

Anchorman:

We interrupt our program to give you this special report! This is Jack Mileur live in the LVTV News Center. An unidentified flying object has landed in the California desert. For years, people over the world have seen strange lights and flying saucers in the sky. Now, one is on the ground, and people are stunned! We now turn to our field correspondent, _____________, in Lucerne Valley.

Cut to quad. Reporter stands in front of benches with wall plainly visible.

Reporter:

The alien craft has stood behind that wall for some time now. However, as of yet, we have been unable to get a shot of it. The intense heat, light, and radiation emanating from the craft has stopped us. However, we have here a witness who was nearby when the craft landed. (Camera pans to witness.) Tell me, what did you see?

Witness:

(Terrified) It just came down, you see, like the sun was just plummeting down to earth! Just like a big ball of flame comin' down! It burned my family and friends, and it was all I could do for me to get out....(Bursts into tears)

Reporter:

There, there. (Comforts witness.) As you can see, the landing of the alien ship has caused a stir. However, since it has done nothing since its arrival, we have no idea what will happen next. (Weird sounds and music play.) What is this? Those strange sounds are coming from behind the wall, from the ship! What does it mean? Is it a form of--

(Alien walks out from behind the wall. It comes toward the Reporter and Witness, acting menacingly.)

Witness:

Let's get out of here! (Runs away.)

Reporter:

I'm with you! From Lucerne Valley, this is ____________, LVTV news!

(Back at studio.)

Anchor:

Thank you. In case you have just tuned in, an alien being has just emerged from the spaceship in Lucerne Valley, and it appears to be hostile! (Offstage hand passes Anchor a paper.) This just in! In Tokyo-- (Looks off to side.) What's that you say? (Pauses. Turns to audience.) Oh, I forgot. The most important development in the history of mankind and my producer says we have to cut to a commercial! We'll be back.

(Show 2 or 3 idiotic commercials.)

Anchor:

We're back. Alien spaceships, like the type spotted in Lucerne Valley, are being seen everywhere, and in Tokyo, Japan, they're doing more than posing for pictures. Here's Amanda Gutierrez with the latest.

(Reporter sits in front of whiteboard with "Tokyo" written on it.)

Reporter:

The situation here is catastrophic! People are running about in a state of panic! The aliens here appear to be using some sort of death ray and are destroying everything in sight! Skyscrapers, parks, priceless monuments--all gone! Not even Japan's mighty protector, Godzilla, can save the city now! Just now, alien forces abducted the monster from his home under lake Mitsubishi!

(Show clip of Godzilla vs. Monster Zero where the alien ships abduct Godzilla and friends.)

Reporter:

What a horrible scene! But, with no help currently in sight, it's bound only to get worse. In Tokyo, this is Amanda Gutierrez, LVTV news.

(Back at studio.)

Anchor:

More reports are coming in from everywhere! In Paris, aliens have demolished the Eiffel Tower! In Italy, they've crumbled the Coliseum, violated the Vatican and activated Mt. Vesuvius! There's lava everywhere! Also, the aliens are creating mayhem in London, Moscow, New Dehli, and the South Bronx! Millions lay dead and more rush to join them! And now--(turns to side)--Uh huh. Good grief! The world is coming to an end and we have to give our sponsors their due time! We'll be back, hopefully.

(Show more idiotic commercials.)

Anchor:

We're back. In Los Angeles, O.J. Simpson is calling a press conference to tell the world that he was actually involved in the mur--(turns to side)--What? (Offstage hand passes Anchor a paper.) This just in! At Cal Tech, military scientist Dr. L. H. Finkelberg has called a press conference relating to the alien threat. We now turn to our field correspondent, ______________, live in Pasadena.

(Can be shot in classroom. Students are quiet.)

Reporter:

Tensions are hushed now as Dr. Finkelberg prepares to enter the room. He(or she) is the foremost authority on alien invasions. He claims he has the answer to the alien threat. Here he comes now.

(Scientist enters room.)

Dr. Finkelberg:

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. My colleagues and I believe we have the answer to the terror that is atomizing Earth's cities. The military has given me their full support on this plan. We believe that a crack force of secret XZ-28 supersonic fighter jets, using the latest in laser technology, can penetrate the upper stratosphere and attack the alien ships before they have time to activate a second line of defense. Watch this computer simulation.

(Show clip from ancient Atari 2600 video game. Doesn't matter which one.)

Dr. Finkelberg:

Any questions?

Reporter:

(Waves raised arm) Dr. Finkelberg? Dr. Finkelberg?

Dr. Finkelberg:

Yes?

Reporter:

How do we know this plan will actually work? Will our weapons actually work against the aliens? And how will their death ray affect the jets' shields?

Dr. Finkelberg:

Well, uh, well...

(Suddenly, the lights flicker on and off. Everybody screams as the Alien enters. It points a finger at the Scientist and he falls to the ground, screaming, clutching his heart.)

Reporter:

In all my years of reporting, I have never seen anything so horrible! The alien is slaughtering people left and right with nothing but its index finger! Who knows who will be next--

(Alien points finger. Reporter clutches heart and dies. Cut back to studio.)

Anchor:

Oh my! It seems like only minutes ago the Earth was a nice, quiet, suburban neighborhood. Now it has been reduced to a smoking hole in the ground. The view outside the LVTV news center just about sums that up. (Show a clip from The War of the Worlds.) Our nations' militaries are dropping like flies from this onslaught. We have been attacked without warning by an alien race so far advanced from us, and yet so sinister--who knows what they have next in store for us? This station will continue to broadcast for as long as--

(Explosion. Lights flicker on and off. )

Anchor:

What? (Gasps) The aliens--they've entered the building! Oh my--they're even more hideous in person! The only thing I can say right now is--RUN! Escape! Flee the cities! Get out--while there's still time---

(Silence. Show end credits.)

This teleplay I wrote in my senior year of high school for my Photo Publications class. It is meant to run about 10 minutes long. My teacher, Mr. Powell, called this script brilliant and visionary but unfortunately due to lack of props, editing, cooperation, and acting capability, the end result was disappointing. If you think you can do this script justice, go for it. I would love to see you try. Just send me a copy, okay? Or if you would like to see the show as it was performed *lol*, email me and request your copy TODAY!

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Copyright 1998 By Jack Mileur. All rights reserved.

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