Alien by Dan O’Bannon Script/Story Pages 31-50

-Disclaimer- Because of missing pages from the script PDF sourced from AvP Galaxy we have pasted the pages from Daily Script for your reference.

http://www.twitch.tv/muthur9000

Footnotes

pg30

                      STANDARD
        Still worried?

                      ROBY
        Oh well... you know me.

                       STANDARD
        I've always respected your opinion,
        Martin.  If something worries you, it
        worries me.

 Roby reaches over and changes the slide, to the one of the CRUDELY
  DRAWN TRIANGLE ON THE ALIEN CONTROL PANEL.

                      ROBY
        What would you say that was supposed
        to mean?

                       STANDARD
        Well... it's obviously intentional...
        some kind of attempt at
        communication... maybe it's a symbol
        that means something to them...

                        ROBY
        But why draw it on the wall?

 Roby switches off the projector, sits up, and rubs his face wearily.
 He rises and goes to the coffee machine.

                      ROBY (CONT'D)
             (picking a hair out of the coffeepot)
        This ship is full of cat hair.

                       STANDARD
        Tell you what, Martin. As soon as
        the engine's fixed --

 BEEP!  The communicator interrupts Standard.  He leans across and
  presses the button.

                      STANDARD (CONT'D)
        This is Chaz.

                       BROUSSARD
             (over, filtered)
        Chaz, this is Dell.  Can you come topside for a minute?

pg31

                      STANDARD
        What's up?

                       BROUSSARD
             (over, filtered)
        Well, the sun just came up again,
        and it seems the wind's died down.
        It's as clear as a bell outside.
        There's something I think you ought
        to see.

                       STANDARD
        I'm on my way.

 He and Roby head for the door.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

 Broussard is alone in the control room when Standard and Roby arrive.

                       STANDARD
        What is it?

                       BROUSSARD
        Take a look.

 EXTERIOR - SHIP - DAY

 The dust no longer blows.  The day is crisp, clear, and silent.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

                       BROUSSARD
        I was scanning the horizon to see
        what I could pick up.  Look there, on
        that screen.

                       STANDARD
        What is it, I can't --

 BLIP!  Broussard enlarges the image.
 The screen now shows a TAPERING STONE PYRAMID on the horizon.
 They all stare at the image for a long moment.  The silhouette of the
  PYRAMID IS INSTANTLY SUGGESTIVE OF THE SCRAWLED TRIANGLE in the alien
  ship.

pg32

Standard presses the nearest communicator and speaks into the grille.

                       STANDARD
        This is Chaz.
  All hands topside.
        Now.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY - A LITTLE LATER

 ANGLE ON A VIEWSCREEN.  It shows the PYRAMID on the horizon.  CAMERA
  PULLS BACK to reveal all the men, sitting and standing around the
  room.

                       STANDARD
        Doesn't seem much doubt about it,
        does there?

                       MELKONIS
        That creature sure must have
        considered it important... using his
        last strength to draw it...

                        BROUSSARD
        Maybe they built it.

                       FAUST
        As what?

                       BROUSSARD
        A marker for buried instrumentation?

                       HUNTER
        Or a mass grave.

                       BROUSSARD
        Maybe the rest of the crew is in
        there -- in some kind of suspended
        animation, waiting to be rescued.

                       MELKONIS
        It wasn't necessarily built by them.

 On the screens, a puff of DUST blows in front of the pyramid.

                       ROBY
        Here comes the dust again.

pg33

EXTERIOR - SHIP - DAY

 WITH A SHRIEK, THE DUST STORM RETURNS, completely obscuring the SNARK.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

                       STANDARD
        Well, does anyone else agree with
        Martin that we should not explore
        it?

 Everyone looks around the room, but no one volunteers.

                       STANDARD (CONT'D)
        Then the sooner we get moving, the
        better.

 EXTERIOR - PLANETOID - DAY

 LONG SHOT OF THE STONE PYRAMID, dust blowing in front of it.  It is a
  crumbling, ancient edifice, made of eroded grey stones, windowless,
  tapering toward the top.

 Standard, Broussard, and Melkonis, wearing the protective suits,
  approach the pyramid.  As they draw near, it becomes clear that the
  pyramid is roughly 50 feet tall.

                       STANDARD
        We can't make out any details or
        features yet... but it's definitely
        too regular for a natural
        formation... 

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

 Roby and Hunter are present.  They are listening to Standard's VOICE ON
  THE RADIO.

                       STANDARD (CONT'D)
             (over, filtered)
        ... There's one thing I can say for
        sure though... 

 BUZZZZZ!  Standard's voice is DROWNED OUT BY STATIC.

                       ROBY
        Now what's wrong?

                       HUNTER
        I've completely lost their signal.

pg34

              ROBY
  Can you get them back?

                 HUNTER
      I'm trying.

 EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY

  The three men come to the base of the massive structure.  Dust and sand
   have piled thickly around the crumbling, grey stones that form the
   base.

                        MELKONIS
         This looks ancient.

                        STANDARD
         Can't tell -- these weather
         conditions could erode anything,
         fast.

  They walk around the base.

                        BROUSSARD
         There's no entrance.

                        MELKONIS
         Maybe the entrance is buried. Could
         be under our feet.

                        STANDARD
         Maybe there is no entrance; the
         thing may be solid.

  INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

                        ROBY
         Well, there ought to be some way we
         can get through to them --

  The INTERCOM BEEPS.  Faust's voice is heard.

                        FAUST
              (over, filtered)
         Sorry to interrupt, but I'm gonna
         charge up the engines for a minute,
         okay?

                        ROBY
         Yeah, okay.  Go ahead.

pg35

A LOUD, POWERFUL THROBBING BEGINS, drowning out all other sounds, as
   the engines are tested.

  A light on Roby's panel is FLASHING.  We can see that it is the
   COMPUTER ALERT.

  Irritably, Roby throws the switch.

                        ROBY (CONT'D)
         Yes!

                        COMPUTER
         I have a temporary sequence on the
         monitor --

                        ROBY
         Hold it, I can't hear a damn thing!

  He puts an earphone to his ear and switches the computer's voice over.

                        ROBY (CONT'D)
         Go ahead!

  There is a PAUSE while Roby listens to the computer.  His eyes widen.

                        ROBY (CONT'D)
         You mean… you've translated it?

  Another PAUSE as he listens to the earphone.

                        ROBY (CONT'D)
         Well come on, come on!  What does it
         say?

  Another PAUSE.  Roby's face changes; he looks CHILLED TO THE BONE.  His
   mouth works.

  Abruptly, THE ENGINES SHUT OFF, LEAVING A RINGING SILENCE.

                        HUNTER
              (looking over at Roby)
         What?  What was that?

                        ROBY
         The computer just translated the
         goddamn message.  It's not an S.O.S.
         It was a warning.

pg36

EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY

                        BROUSSARD
         Maybe we can get in by the top.

                        STANDARD
         You want to try?

                        BROUSSARD
         Sure.

  Broussard takes out the graplon-gun, and fires the hook up toward the
   top of the pyramid.  It catches.  He clips himself to the wire.

                        BROUSSARD (CONT'D)
         You guys just wait down here till I
         say it's okay to come up.

  Broussard turns on the climbing device, and begins to walk up the side
   of the pyramid.

  OMINOUS ANGLES showing Broussard climbing the pyramid, the dust
   blowing, the wind shrieking.

  EXTERIOR - TOP OF PYRAMID - DAY

  The peak of the pyramid is in extreme disrepair.  Broussard arrives at
   the top and clings to the jagged, crumbling stones.

                        BROUSSARD
         There's a hole at the top.

  EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY

                        STANDARD
         Can we come up?

                        BROUSSARD
              (over, filtered)
         No, it's too small, only room enough
         for one person.

                        STANDARD
         Can you see anything in the hole?

• Grap-lon Hook may be the spear gun used later to kill the Alien or just the way they repel into the cavern in the final script, in Alien: Covenant Daniels uses the climbing gear to defeat the alien along with the crane on the Lifter.
• Strange Shapes also talks about the mortality of the Alien and the spear gun –
  https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/mortal-after-all/

pg37

EXTERIOR - TOP OF PYRAMID - DAY

  Broussard leans over and looks into the hole.  He sees only blackness.
  Freeing one arm, he unclips his datastick from his belt, switches on
   the "flashlight" function, and shines it down into the hole.

                        BROUSSARD
         I can see… partway down.  It just
         goes down like a stovepipe.  Smooth
         walls.  I can't see the bottom --
         light won't reach.

  INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

  Faust comes trotting up the steps, a questioning look on his face.

                        FAUST
         Yes?  What is it?

                        ROBY
         Jay, we've got a problem.  I was
         wondering if there was any way you
         could shortcut the repairs and give
         us immediate takeoff capability.

                        FAUST
              (quickly)
         Why, what's wrong?

                        ROBY
         The computer's translated the alien
         signal, and it's kind of alarming.

                        FAUST
         What do you mean?

                        ROBY
         It couldn't translate the whole
         thing, only three phrases.  I'll just
         read it to you the way I got it:
              (reads from a strip of paper)

         "… HOSTILE… SURVIVAL… ADVISE DO
         NOT LAND… "

              (looks up at the others)
         And that's all it could translate.

pg38

EXTERIOR - TOP OF PYRAMID - DAY
  Hanging from the lip of the hole, Broussard is unclipping gear from
   his belt.

                        STANDARD
              (over, filtered)
         Dell, you want to come down, we can
         figure out where to go from here.

                        BROUSSARD
         No, I want to go in.
  EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY
  Standard and Melkonis exchange a glance.

                        STANDARD
         Okay, Dell, but just for a
         preliminary look-around.  Don't
         unhook yourself from your cable.  And
         be out in less than ten minutes.

  EXTERIOR - TOP OF PYRAMID - DAY

                        BROUSSARD
         Right.

  Broussard has rigged a tripod across the mouth of the hole.  He
   unspools a couple feet of wire from the device, and attaches the end
   of it to his chest unit.

  He climbs over the lip and drops into the hole.  He is now hanging by
   the wire, with his head and shoulders out of the hole.

                        BROUSSARD (CONT'D)
         Okay, I'm in the mouth of the
         chimney now, and I'm starting down.

                        STANDARD
              (over, filtered)
         Take care.

  Broussard activates the climbing unit and lowers himself down into the
   hole.

pg 39

INTERIOR - PYRAMID - DAY

  Bracing his feet against the rough stone wall of the vertical tunnel,
   Broussard switches on his datastick and points it down into the
   depths.

  The beam penetrates only thirty feet or so, then is lost in darkness.

                        BROUSSARD
         It's noticeably warmer in here.  Warm
         air rising from below.

  He starts down, paying out the line and moving down in short hops,
   pushing off each time with his feet.

  He stops to catch his breath.  His breathing rasps loudly in his
   helmet.

  A little sunlight filters down from above.  Looking up, he can see the
   mouth of the hole, a glowing spot of light.

  Standard's voice comes over his earphones.

                        STANDARD
              (over, filtered)
         Are you okay in there?

                        BROUSSARD
              (gasping for breath)
         Yeah, I'm okay.  Haven't hit bottom
         yet.  Definitely a column of warm air
         rising; it keeps the shaft clear of
         dust.

                        STANDARD
              (over, filtered)
         What was that Dell, I lost you, do
         you read me?

                        BROUSSARD
         Yeah, but this is hard work.  Can't
         talk now.

  He kicks off and continues down, taking longer and longer hops as he
   gains confidence.

  Pausing for a moment to regain his breath, he shines the light on his
   instruments.

pg40

                   BROUSSARD (CONT'D)
     I'm way below ground level.

 EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY

                        STANDARD
         What'd he say?

                        MELKONIS
         I couldn't make it out -- too much
         interference.

  INTERIOR - BRIDGE - DAY

  Roby and Hunter.

                        HUNTER
         I'm getting nowhere.  The whole area
         around the pyramid is dead to
         transmission.  I think we should go
         after them.

                        ROBY
         No.

                        HUNTER
         What do you mean, no?

                        ROBY
         We're not going anywhere.

                        HUNTER
         But they don't know about the
         translation!  They could be in danger
         right now.

                        ROBY
         We can't spare the personnel.  We've
         got minimum takeoff capability right
         now.  That's why Chaz left us on
         board.

                        HUNTER
         Why, you chickenshit bastard --

                        ROBY
         Just can that crap!  I'm in command
         here till Chaz returns!  And nobody's
         leaving this ship!

pg41

INTERIOR - PYRAMID - DAY

  Broussard resumes his downward climb.  SUDDENLY, HIS FEET LOSE THEIR
   PURCHASE AS THE WALLS OF THE SHAFT DISAPPEAR.
  The tunnel has reached its end.  Below him is an unfathomable,
   cavernous space.

                        BROUSSARD
              (huffing and puffing)
         Tunnel's gone -- cave or something
         below me -- feels like the tropics
         in here; air is warm and humid…

               (consults his instruments)
         … high oxygen content, no dust,
         it's completely breathable --

  Puffing with exertion, he releases his purchase on the stone walls and
   begins to lower himself on power.  Now he is dangling free in darkness,
   spinning slowly on the wire as the chest unit unwinds.

  Finally, his feet hit bottom.  He grunts in surprise and almost loses
   his balance.

  INTERIOR - TOMB - DAY

  Broussard is standing on a dusty stone floor, with a feeble column of
   sunlight shining down around him from the tunnel above.  Around is
   solid darkness.

  He flashes his datastick around.  The beam reveals that he is in a
   stone room.  STRANGE HEIROGLYPHICS are carved into the walls.  They have
   a primitive, religious appearance.  Row after row of pictograms stretch
   from floor to ceiling, some epic history in an unknown language.  Huge
   religious symbols dominate one wall.

  Spaced at intervals are stylized stone statues, depicting grotesque
   monsters, half anthropoid, half octopus.

                        BROUSSARD
         It's unbelievable!  It's like some
         kind of tomb… some primitive
         religion!  Hey, is anybody there?  Do
         you read me?  Standard!

  Annoyed, Broussard yanks off his breathing goggles, and leaves them
   hanging around his neck.  He takes a deep breath of the wet air.

pg42

EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - LATE AFTERNOON

  Standard and Melkonis are standing around nervously.

                        STANDARD
         If we don't hear from him soon, I
         think we better go in after him.

                        MELKONIS
         Sun will be down in a minute.

  INTERIOR - TOMB - LATE AFTERNOON

  Face bare, Broussard approaches the center of the room, which is
   dominated by a large, broad pedestal.  On the pedestal are ROWS OF
   LEATHERY URNS OR JARS, EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE BROUSSARD STUMBLED ACROSS
   IN THE ALIEN SHIP -- EXCEPT THESE ARE ALL SEALED.

  He walks around the urns, studying them.  They all have sealed lids.  He
   shines his light on one of them; then he lays his gloved hand on it.
  He lifts his mask radio to his lips.

                        BROUSSARD
         I don't know if you can hear me, but
         the place is full of large bottles
         or jars, just like the one we found
         on the other ship -- except these
         are all sealed.  Also they're soft to
         the touch.

  He peers more closely at the leathery object.

                        BROUSSARD (CONT'D)
         Another funny thing -- I just put my
         hand on it, and now there are these
         raised areas appearing where my
         fingertips were.

  EXTERIOR - BASE OF PYRAMID - DAY

  THE SUN DROPS BELOW THE HORIZON, throwing the landscape into gloom.
   Standard and Melkonis switch on their lights.

                        STANDARD
         Let's go.
  He attaches his chest unit to the wire and starts up.

pg43

INTERIOR - TOMB - NIGHT

  Broussard is moving his light along the rows of heiroglyphs on the
   wall.  They depict stylized drawings of strange monsters.
  He pauses to quickly change the film clip in his datastick; then he
   turns back to the "urn" he was examining -- BUT NOW THERE IS A HOLE IN
   THE TOP OF IT.

  He shines his light on the floor at the base of the "urn."  There lies
   the "lid" -- the stopper that had filled the hole.  He picks it up and
   studies it.  It appears more organic than artificial; the inside
   surface is spongy and irregular.

  Then he turns the light to the now-open "urn."
  He bends over the mouth of the "urn" shining the light in, AND WITH
   SHOCKING VIOLENCE, A SMALL, OCTOPUS-LIKE THING LEAPS OUT AND ATTACHES
   ITSELF TO HIS FACE, WRAPPING ITS TENTACLES AROUND HIS HEAD.

  With a MUFFLED SCREAM, he launches himself backward, tearing at the
   thing with his hands.

 EXTERIOR - TOP OF PYRAMID - NIGHT
  The dust blows and howls as Standard and Melkonis arrive at the top,
   lights bobbing in the darkness.

                        STANDARD
              (puffing with exertion)
         Here's his line.  We can haul him out
         of there if we have to.

                        MELKONIS
         It'll yank him right off his feet if
         he's not expecting it.  The line
         could get tangled in something.

                        STANDARD
         But what can we do?  He's out of
         radio contact.

                        MELKONIS
         Maybe we should just wait a few more
         minutes.

  Standard hesitates, clinging to the lip of the hole.

pg44

                   STANDARD
          (making up his mind)
     No, I told him to be out in ten
     minutes.  It's been much longer.
     Let's get him out of there.

 Standard pulls himself up and crouches precariously on the edge of the
   tunnel.  He begins to fiddle with the winch mechanism from which
   Broussard's line dangles.

                        STANDARD (CONT'D)
         The line's slack.  Christ, do you
         think the idiot unhooked himself?

  He switches on the winch motor.  With a whine, it begins to reel the
   line in.  After a moment, the line TIGHTENS WITH A JERK -- and the
   motor slows down, laboring under the added weight.

                        STANDARD (CONT'D)
         There, it caught!

                        MELKONIS
         Is it still coming up, or is it
         hooked on something?

                        STANDARD
         No, it's coming.

                        MELKONIS
         Can you see anything?

  Standard shines his light down into the hole.

                        STANDARD
         No, I can't see far enough.  The
         line's moving, though.

  For a moment, the two men hang to the narrow top of the pyramid,
   saving their strength, while the line reels in and the wind howls.
   Then Standard shines his light back down in.

                        STANDARD (CONT'D)
         I can see him!  Here he comes!
  The winch begins to LABOR HEAVILY.

                        STANDARD (CONT'D)
         Get ready to grab him!

  Broussard appears at the top of the pit, dangling limply from the
   wire.  Standard reaches for him -- then RECOILS SHARPLY.

pg45

                   STANDARD (CONT'D)
     Look out!  There's something on
     his face!

 Melkonis attempts to come to his aid.

                    MELKONIS
     What is it?

                    STANDARD
     Don't touch him, watch it!

 In their panic and confusion, the men teeter momentarily, finally
   regain their balance.  They shine their lights on Broussard.
  He appears to be completely unconscious -- AND THE OCTOPUS THING IS
   STILL WRAPPED AROUND HIS FACE, MOTIONLESS.

                    MELKONIS
     Oh God, oh God no.

                    STANDARD
     Help me -- I'm going to try to get
     it off.

 With his gloved hands, Standard grasps the tentacled mess and tries to
   pull it from Broussard's head.

                    STANDARD (CONT'D)
     It won't come -- it's stuck.

                    MELKONIS
     What is it?

                    STANDARD
     How the hell should I know?  Come on,
     give me a hand, let's get him out of
     there!

pg46

The two men grapple with Broussard's limp body, lifting him from the
   hole.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - NIGHT

 Roby and Hunter are sitting moodily, silent.  There is a long moment
   while nothing is said, then:

                    HUNTER
     I've got 'em!  They're back on my
     screens!

                    ROBY
          (leaps to his feet)
     How many?

                    HUNTER
     Three blips!  They're coming this
     way!

 Roby grabs a microphone.

                    ROBY
          (into mike)
         Hey, can you guys hear me?

pg47

                   STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     Yeah, we hear you!  We're coming
     back!

                    ROBY
     Thank Christ!  We lost you!  Listen,
     there's been a new development --

                    STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     Can't talk now; Broussard's injured.
     We'll need some help getting him
     into the ship.

 Roby collapses into a chair, suddenly limp with apprehension.  He's
   feared something like this all along, and now it has begun to happen.

                    ROBY
          (to himself)
     Oh no.

                    HUNTER
          (into intercom)
     Jay, this is Cleave! Meet me at the
     main air lock!

 Hunter dashes from the room.
  Roby remains where he is, seated at his console.  He is stunned, his
   mind racing.  CAMERA MOVES IN ON HIS FACE.

 INTERIOR - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE AIR LOCK - NIGHT

 Hunter comes racing down the steps and hurries up to the inner lock
   door.

  He presses the wall intercom.

pg48

                   HUNTER
          (into intercom)
     Martin, I'm by the inner lock door!
     I'll wait here for you to let them
     in!

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - NIGHT

                        ROBY
              (strangely quiet)
         Right.

 INTERIOR - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE AIR LOCK - NIGHT

 Faust comes running up, covered with grime.

                    FAUST
     What the hell's going on?

                    HUNTER
     Don't know -- Broussard got hurt
     somehow.

                    FAUST
     Hurt!  How?

                    HUNTER
     Don't know -- maybe we'll be real
     lucky and he just broke his neck.
          (a beat)
     I knew we shouldn't of come down
     here.

 INTERIOR - BRIDGE - NIGHT

 Roby is seated alone in the room, listening to the transmission from
   Standard and Melkonis.

pg49

                   STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     Martin, are you there?

 Roby leans forward and speaks into the microphone.

                    ROBY
     Here, Chaz.

                    STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     We're coming up now, open the outer
     lock door.

                    ROBY
     Chaz -- what happened to Broussard?

                    STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     It's some kind of organism, it's
     attached itself to him. Let us in.

 Roby does not reply.

                    STANDARD (CONT'D)
          (over, filtered)
     You hear me, Martin?  Open the outer
     door.

                    ROBY
     Chaz, if it's an organism, and we
     let it in, the ship will be
     infected.

                    STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     We can't leave him out here, open
     the door.

                    ROBY
          (urgently)
     Chaz, listen to me -- we've broken
     every rule of quarantine.  If we
     bring an organism on board, we won't
     have a single layer of defense left.

                    STANDARD
          (over, filtered)
     Martin, this is an order!  Open the
     door!

 Hating it, Roby leans forward and throws the switch.

pg50

 INTERIOR - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE AIR LOCK - NIGHT

 A RED LIGHT goes on, on a console on the wall.  The whine of a large
  servo is heard, followed by a solid metallic CLUNK.

                       HUNTER
        Outer door's open.

 After a moment, they hear the motor sound again, followed by another
  CLUNK.  The outer door has closed again.  The red light goes off.
 The inner door slides open, and Standard and Melkonis stagger through,
  carrying the sagging body of Broussard.  A cloud of choking dust
  follows them out of the lock.

                       STANDARD
             (pulling off his mask)
        You men stay clear, there's a
        parasite on him.

 Hunter and Faust RECOIL.

                       HUNTER
        Oh -- God -- oh --

                       FAUST
        Is it alive?

                       STANDARD
        I don't know but don't touch it.
        Give us a hand here, let's get him
        up to the Autodoc.

 Hunter and Faust move in carefully to help with the limp burden.

 INTERIOR - INFIRMARY

 One of them flicks on the lights as they come shuffling into the
  medical room, carrying Broussard.
 Revealed is a rather small cubicle whose walls are lined with
  machinery.  The principle item of interest is a mechanized bunk bed,
  which rests in a cradle and slides in and out of a slot in the wall.

                       STANDARD
        Help me, come on, let's get him up
        here.