Act 2, Scene 8

Jameson's control centre. He sits perched on his desk, hovering over his team, practically frothing at the mouth with nervous excitement.

JAMESON: 'Heroic Astronaut Makes Historic First Contact With Being From Another World'. (presses intercom) Robbie, get in here! We got a special edition to print, and a sixty-page pullout on my son to publish!

ROBBIE (V/O): Coming, Jonah.

TEAM GUY: Um, didn't your son say the alien had murdered one of his crew?

JAMESON: Alright – 'Heroic First Contact With Monster From Another World'. Either way it's gold!

TEAM GUY#2: We might have a problem…

JAMESON: Problem?

Robbie enters.

TEAM GUY#2: The landing gear control systems are gone, sir. Fried, most likely. That makes a standard glide landing almost impossible.

JAMESON: Are you telling me they stuck a 50 billion dollar new propulsion system on that damn thing and forgot to add parachutes?

TEAM GUY#2: No...but the damage the shuttle sustained taking off will most likely render at least one of the atmospheric parachutes inoperative. Maybe two.

JAMESON: So? We're not gonna to aim for the pavement, idiot! We'll go for the ocean!

TEAM GUY#1: Well, yes…but even so, if the shuttle doesn't slow its velocity enough even a splashdown impact will be extremely dangerous. If two parachutes are gone it's extremely unlikely your son would survive.

JAMESON: What do we do?

TEAM GUY#3: We can slow it down with the thrusters, but we don't know how effective that would be. The parachutes are vital. If they're gone…you'd need some other way of slowing down the shuttle.

JAMESON: Slowing down a space shuttle! And how in hell are we supposed to do that!

ROBBIE: Uh…

The entire office gives them their undivided attention. He licks his lips nervously.

ROBBIE: There might be someone…