Get off my back, Steve. Jeremy told me
about it but I didn't believe him.
STEVE
Jesus, Jeremy. I can't believe you would
betray Alec like that. And then when I
send Tara down for a visit, you end up
marrying her.
JEREMY
Is there some reason I shouldn't have
married her?
STEVE
She was with me before she came to
Florida. I was just giving her a
vacation.
TARA
I was never with you, Steve.
JEREMY
Have you two slept together?
TARA
We hooked up a few times, but that was
long before I came to Florida.
STEVE
Is that what we're all doing here? We're
here because you stole Alec's crystal,
and then sold it to the highest bidder?
No offense, Cecil.
CECIL
None taken.
JEREMY
I was just trying to safeguard it. I
emailed one of the equations to
Microcore, hoping they could shed some
light on it. One thing led to another.
CECIL
Your brother may have provided the means
to develop a previously unknown form of
spacecraft propulsion.
STEVE
Well I hope it was worth it.
Steve enters the elevator.
Tara slips in just before the door closes.
Jeremy and Cecil stare at each other with great concern.
INT. BBT SHUTTLE - EARTH ORBIT
All SIXTY PASSENGERS wear lightweight, plastic helmets.
Jeremy and Tara sit near the back.
Several small VOMIT VACUUMS are attached to the hull.
The Himalia is visible through a window. Ten passenger rings, each housing two dozen habitation modules, wrap around the Himalia's central drum. Observation bulbs protrude from both the bow and stern of the craft.
The shuttle's airlock engages The Himalia.
INT. HIMALIA - EARTH ORBIT
Jeremy is gazing out a window, holding on to an Observation Cage in The Himalia's Receiving Bay. Star clusters and faint nebulae are visible.
Earth's edge is visible just below the window.
A shuttle can be seen edging away from the ship.
With a jolt, the Earth dips away.
Jeremy suddenly notices Tara in the cage next to him.
JEREMY
How long have you been there?
TARA
The whole time.
They watch the stars roll by.
The Earth breaches the window's upper edge. Migrates downward. Completely covers the row of windows. Eventually drops down out of sight.
JEREMY
It's good to be back in orbit. Did you
ever think you'd be leaving Earth?
TARA
Not in a million years.
JEREMY