"ALIEN"
Revised Final Draft
by
Walter Hill
and
David Giler
Based on a Story
by
Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett
December 28, 1978
NOTE:
This script reflects dialogue
changes added in post
production for story
clarification. Changes also
reflected are: computer readout
information; miniature effects
shots; conceptions and
alterations; matte shot
composition and alteration;
scene transpositions and scene
omissions, all as written and
edited after completion of
principal photography on Oct.
21, 1978.
W.H.
D.G.
Science fiction plucks from
within us our deepest fears and
hopes, then shows them to us in
rough disguise: the monster and
the rocket.
W.H. Auden
We live, as we dream -- alone.
Joseph
Conrad
"ALIEN"
FADE IN
SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE:
A STARFIELD A-1
Planet surface beneath.
Electronic transmission sounds over.
THE NOSTROMO A-2
A Factory Starship lumbering within the depths of
interstellar space.
Function: Petroleum tanker and refinery.
Capacity: 200,000,000 tons.
Length: One and a half kilometers.
Battered exterior encrusted with dark sludge.
Electronic sounds continue.
INT. ENGINE ROOM 1
Empty, cavernous.
INT. ENGINE CUBICLE 2
Circular, jammed with instruments.
All of them idle.
Console chairs for two.
Empty.
INT. OILY CORRIDOR "C" LEVEL 2-A
Long, dark.
Empty.
Turbos throbbing.
No other movement.
INT. CORRIDOR "A" LEVEL 2-B
Long, empty.
INT. INFIRMARY "A" LEVEL 2-C
Distressed ivory walls.
All instrumentation at rest.
INT. CORRIDOR TO BRIDGE "A" LEVEL 3
Black, empty.
INT. BRIDGE 4
Vacant.
Two space helmets resting on chairs.
Electrical hum.
Lights on the helmets begin to signal one another.
Moments of silence.
A yellow light goes on.
Data mind bank in b.g.
Electronic hum.
A green light goes on in front of one helmet.
Electronic pulsing sounds.
A red light goes on in front of other helmets.
An electronic conversation ensues.
FIRST HELMET 4-A
The readout:
IDENT.
NOSTROMO 180924609
COMMERCIAL TOWING VEHICLE
CARGO: YUTANI REFINERY...
2,000,000,000 TONS
SECOND HELMET 4-B
The readout:
WEYLAN YUTANI CORP.
MILSCIDIV.
NOSTROMO MISSION REROUTE
AS REQUEST SPECIAL ORDER 937
SCIENCE OFFICER EYES ONLY
All lights go off.
CUT TO:
INT. CORRIDOR TO HYPERSLEEP VAULT: 4-C
Lights COME ON.
Seven gowns hang from the curved wall.
Vault door opens.
INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT 5
Explosion of escaping gas.
The lid on a freezer pops open.
Slowly, groggily, KANE sits up.
Rubs the sleep from his eyes.
Stands.
Looks around.
Stretches.
Looks at the other freezer compartments.
Scratches.
Moves off.
INT. GALLEY 6
Kane plugs in a Silex.
Lights a cigarette.
Coughs.
Grinds some coffee beans.
Runs some water through.
KANE
Rise and shine.
INT. HYPERSLEEP VAULT 7
More lids pop open.
The rest of the crew begins to rise.
Nostromo crew:
Dallas.........Captain
Kane...........Executive
Officer
Ripley.........Warrant Officer
Ash............Science Officer
Lambert........Navigator
Parker.........Engineer
Brett..........Engineering Technician
Jones..........Cat
Five men and two women: Lambert and Ripley.
OUT 8-12
CUT TO:
INT. COMPUTER ROOM ANNEX 13
Floor to ceiling data banks.
Another flashing yellow light.
DALLAS enters.
Runs through access procedure.
Inner door opens.
Dallas moves to the console chair.
Sits.
Dallas punches the keyboard.
Legend on the screen: ALERT OVER MONITORING FUNCTION
FOR MATRIX DISPLAY AND INQUIRY.
Mother prints out: OVER MONITOR ADDRESS MATRIX
(columns of categories beneath)
Dallas picks one and types out: COMMAND PRIORITY
ALERT
Mother replies: OVERMONITOR FUNCTION READY
FOR INQUIRY
Dallas: WHAT'S THE STORY MOTHER.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE 14
Above eye level the room is ringed by viewscreens.
All of them blank.
Kane, RIPLEY, and LAMBERT enter.
Dallas' seat remains empty.
All of them now dressed; they find their way to
individual consoles.
Ripley puts down the cat, straps herself into the high-
backed chair.
KANE
Plug us in.
All three crew members begin throwing switches.
The control room starts to come to life.
Colored lights flicker.
Chase each other across glowing screens.
KANE
Give us something to look at.
Lambert presses a bank of switches.
Viewscreens glimmer into life.
On each screen, blackness speckled with stars.
LAMBERT
Where's Earth?
KANE
You're the navigator.
RIPLEY
That's not our system.
Lambert hits several toggles.
On the screens the images begin to drift.
ONE OF THE SCREENS 15
A moving image of a starfield.
OUT 16
INT. BRIDGE 17
Lambert pores over charts.
Consults her console.
KANE
Contact traffic control.
Ripley switches on her transmission unit.
RIPLEY
This is commercial vessel
Nostromo out of the Solomons.
Registration number 180924609
calling Antarctica Traffic
Control. Do you read me.
Over.
Nothing but the hiss of static.
RIPLEY
Nothing.
KANE
Keep trying.
RIPLEY
This is commercial vessel
Nostromo out of the Solomons.
Registration number 180924609
calling Antarctica Traffic
Control. Do you read me.
Over.
Kane turns to Lambert.
KANE
You got a reading yet.
LAMBERT
We're way out in the boondocks
here...
KANE
Keep trying...
LAMBERT
Working on it.
RIPLEY
It's not our system.
CUT TO:
INT. ENGINE ROOM 17-A
Giant reactor system purring smoothly.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 18
PARKER and BRETT in a glass cubicle.
Each having a beer.
Huge powerplant stretching before them.
All units on automatic hyper-drive.
Parker hits a switch above his desk.
A green light goes on.
PARKER
How's your light?
BRETT
Green.
PARKER
Mine too.
They both take a swig.
Suddenly a beeper signal begins.
PARKER
Christ. What is it now.
BRETT
Right.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
Report to the mess.
INT. OILY CORRIDOR "C" LEVEL 19
PARKER
I want to know why they never
come down here. This is where
the work is.
BRETT
Same reason we have half a
share to their one, our time is
their time, that's the way they
see it.
PARKER
Well, I'll tell you
something... it stinks... Hey,
you know why they never come
down here.
They move towards the companionway, leading up to "B"
level.
BRETT
Why.
PARKER
Your personality, that's why.
CUT TO:
INT. MESS 20
Entire crew present.
DALLAS
Some of you may have figured
out that we're not home. We're
only halfway back to Earth.
BRETT
What the hell.
PARKER
Yeah, what the fuck is this.
DALLAS
Mother's interrupted the course
of the voyage.
KANE
Why?
DALLAS
She's programmed to do that if
certain conditions arise. They
have...
(pause)
Mother intercepted a
transmission. She got us up to
check it out.
LAMBERT
What kind of transmission?
DALLAS
An acoustic beacon. It repeats
at intervals of 32 seconds.
KANE
Is it an S.O.S.?
DALLAS
Unknown.
RIPLEY
Russian?
DALLAS
Unknown.
BRETT
So what.
PARKER
Yeah. Fuck it.
KANE
We're obligated under section
B2...
PARKER
Shit. We're a commercial ship
not a rescue team. This kind
of duty's not in our contract.
ASH
You better read your contract.
Any systemized transmission
indicating possible intelligent
origin must be investigated.
At penalty of total forfeiture.
BRETT
This corporation sucks.
Dallas gives Parker and Brett a look.
DALLAS
We're going in, that's it.
Brett knows when to ease up.
BRETT
Right, we're going in.
He smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE 21
Dallas, Kane, Ripley and Ash stand around the
illuminated map table.
Lambert sits at the radio directional console.
LAMBERT
I've found the quadrant. We're
close. It's coming from
ascension 6 minutes 20 seconds,
declination minus 39 degrees 2
seconds.
DALLAS
Let me see it.
Lambert punches buttons. One of the viewscreens
flickers and a small set of lights appears.
LAMBERT
That's it. Diameter 1200
kilometers.
DALLAS
Any rotation?
LAMBERT
Yeah. About two hours.
DALLAS
Gravity?
LAMBERT
Point eight six.
ASH
You can walk on it...
EXT. NOSTROMO MODEL 22
Moving within range of the planet.
Now on an equatorial course.
LAMBERT
(voice over)
Approaching orbital apogee.
Mark. 20 seconds. Nineteen.
Eighteen.
He continues the countdown...
KANE
(voice over)
Roll 92 degrees starboard yaw.
High above the planet the factory ship begins to rotate.
INT. BRIDGE 23
ASH
Equatorial orbit nailed.
EXT. NOSTROMO 23-A
Now within the planet's orbit.
The globe rolling by underneath on a right to left axis.
INT. BRIDGE 24
DALLAS
Give me an EC Pressure reading.
ASH
3.45 n/c m squared (5 psia)
DALLAS
Yell if it changes.
ASH
You worried about redundancy
management disabling CMGS
control.
DALLAS
Yeah.
ASH
CMG control is inhibited via
DAS/DCS. We'll augment with
TACS and monitor through ATMDC
and computer interface. Feel
better?
DALLAS
A lot. Prepare to disengage
from platform.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 24-A
PARKER
L alignment on port and
starboard is green.
BRETT
Green on spinal umbilicus
severance.
INT. BRIDGE 24-B
LAMBERT
Crossing the terminator.
Entering night side.
EXT. NOSTROMO 25
Below, night's curtain rolls across the sphere's
surface.
INT. BRIDGE 26
LAMBERT
It's coming up. It's coming
up. Stand by. Stand by.
Fifteen
seconds...ten...five...four.
Three. Two. One. Lock.
DALLAS
Disengage.
EXT. NOSTROMO 27
The tug disengages from the platform.
INT. BRIDGE 28
Dallas watches the refinery moving away on a viewscreen.
RIPLEY
Umbilicus clear. All systems
green. All functions green.
Give me a read on the
precess...
KANE
Precession corrected.
DALLAS
Okay. The money's safe. Let's
take it down.
EXT. NOSTROMO 29
The tug begins its arc toward the dark surface.
INT. BRIDGE 29-A
LAMBERT
Dropping. 50,000 meters.
Down. Down. 49,000 meters.
Entering atmosphere.
Jones sits on window platform and watches.
EXT. NOSTROMO 29-B
The ship drops into the thick cloud layer.
OUT 30
EXT. NOSTROMO 31
Tug-module hydroplaning downward.
A set of brilliant lights switch on.
Cut through the thick atmosphere.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 32
Parker and Brett strapped in their seats.
Begin rocking from the sudden, extreme turbulence.
PARKER
What the fuck is this?
BRETT
Pressure drop in intake 3.
Must've lost a shield.
(punches buttons, checks his gauges)
3's in trouble. Dust coming in
the intake.
PARKER
Fuck. Shut her down, shut her
down.
INT. BRIDGE 33
The turbulence continues unabated.
Lambert's eyes follow cross-plot gauges.
RIPLEY
Systems green. Functions
green. Warning big red on
intake 3. Warning big red
factor one. Priority one.
DALLAS
Shit.
LAMBERT
Approaching point of origin.
Closing at 20 kilometers, 15
and slowing...Drop
begins...now. Fifteen
kilometers and
dropping...twelve...ten...eight
and slowing. Five. Three.
Two. One kilometer and
slowing.
DALLAS
Activate lifter quads.
A throb of jets.
KANE
Quads on.
DALLAS
Kill drive engines. Keep
factoring 3...
The main engines fall silent.
RIPLEY
Warning big red. Still
warning. Max stress to 5th
overload.
EXT. PLANET - NIGHT 34
Storm blowing across the night-shrouded surface.
The Nostromo hovers on glowing beams of light.
Landing struts unfold like insect legs.
The ship slams down.
Rocks heavily on massive shock absorbers.
INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT 35
RIPLEY
We're down.
An enormous vibration.
The panels in the room flash simultaneously.
INT. ENGINE ROOM 36
Another huge vibration.
An electrical fire breaks out along three control
panels.
OUT 36-A-37
INT. BRIDGE 38
LAMBERT
Secondary generator should kick
over.
KANE
Where is it.
DALLAS
What happened?
Ripley hits the voice-amp.
RIPLEY
Engine room, what happened?
PARKER
(voice over)
God damn electrical fire,
that's what happened.
BRETT
(voice over)
It's big.
INT. ENGINE ROOM 39
Parker and Brett fighting the fire.
Screaming instructions at one another.
INT. BRIDGE 40
Ripley scans her gauges.
RIPLEY
I don't see anything. We've
still got pressure.
A beep from the communicator.
DALLAS
Hit the screen.
Kane snaps three toggles.
The screens flicker, but remain black.
KANE
Nothing.
EXT. SHIP - NIGHT 41
The wind sounds.
Storm continues to blow around the craft.
A few glittering lights distinguish the Nostromo from
absolute darkness.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 42
Parker on the communicator to the bridge.
PARKER
Four panel is totally shot, the
secondary load sharing unit is
out, at least three cells on 12
module are gone.
INT. BRIDGE 43
Ripley listening to Parker.
Dallas standing over her.
No images on any screens.
RIPLEY
Is that it?
PARKER
(voice over)
We lost a cell. Some fragments
caked up and blew the whole
system. We've got to clean it
all out and repressurize.
BRETT
(voice over)
Right.
RIPLEY
Get started on 4 panel. I'll
be down in five minutes.
She shuts off her voice communicator.
DALLAS
How long before we're
functional.
RIPLEY
Fifteen to twenty hours...
DALLAS
Stay on it. What about the
auxiliaries?
RIPLEY
Working on it.
EXT. SHIP - NIGHT 44
Bridge lights come to life.
Illuminate nothing but a patch of featureless ground.
The wind and storm now at a higher pitch.
OUT 45
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE 46
Dallas, Kane, Lambert, and Ash.
Slouched around the bridge.
Drinking coffee.
Occasionally staring at the opaque screens.
DALLAS
Any response yet.
ASH
Nothing but the same
transmission. All the other
channels are dead.
EXT. SHIP 46-A
A ring of floodlights comes to life.
Dimly illuminating the rocky landscape.
The wind and dust now at a higher pitch.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT 46-B
Dallas stares out the windows at the swirling storm,
illuminated by the external floodlights.
ASH
Mother says the sun's coming up
in about twenty minutes.
DALLAS
How far from the source of the
transmission.
ASH
Northeast... about 3000 meters.
DALLAS
Run an atmospheric.
Ash punches buttons, starts to consult his panel.
ASH
Almost primordial. Inert
nitrogen. A high concentration
of carbon dioxide crystals.
Methane. And ammonia, also
frozen... I'm working on the
trace elements.
DALLAS
Pressure.
ASH
Ten to the fourth dynes per
square centimeter.
DALLAS
Anything else?
ASH
Rock, lava base. Deep cold...
well below the line.
OUT 47
CUT TO:
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 48
Parker and Brett laser-welding one of the ducts.
Shirts off.
Sweat steaming.
Ripley rewiring one of the panels.
Parker shuts down the laser, inspects the fusion.
PARKER
Hey, Ripley, I got a question.
RIPLEY
Yeah.
PARKER
Do we get to go out on the
expedition or are we stuck here
until everything's fixed.
RIPLEY
You know the answer to that.
BRETT
What about the shares in case
they find anything?
RIPLEY
Don't worry, the corporation
will make sure you both get
what's coming to you.
BRETT
I'm not doing any more work
unless we get full shares.
PARKER
Me either.
RIPLEY
You're guaranteed by law that
you'll get a share... Now both
of you knock it off and get
back to work.
PARKER
It's shit. You know that.
It's shit.
RIPLEY
Parker, both of you, just fuck
off.
Parker looks at her.
Snaps on the laser-weld.
Starts to join another section of the duct.
BRETT
Right.
CUT TO:
INT. MAIN AIR LOCK - DAWN 49
Dallas, Kane and Lambert enter the lock.
All wear gloves, boots, jackets.
Carry laser pistols.
Kane touches a button.
Servo whine.
Then the inner door slides quietly shut.
The trio pull on their helmets.
DALLAS
Sending. Do you hear me.
LAMBERT
Receiving loud and clear.
KANE
Receiving. Hatch safety lock
free.
DALLAS
Okay. Backpacks... check,
check.
INT. ASH'S BLISTER - DAWN 50
Ash descends companionway to blister.
Punches up screens and instrumentation.
INT. MAIN AIR LOCK - DAWN 51
DALLAS
Open the hatch.
Another servo whine.
Ponderously, the outer lock hatch slides open.
Clouds of dust and steam swirl before the three crew
members.
A mobile gangway slides out the open hatch.
Burnt orange sunlight beyond.
LAMBERT
Jesus, look at this place.
KANE
Off we go, mates.
EXT. PLANET - DAWN 52
The trio walk down the gangplank.
Arrive at surface level.
Their feet striking onto a thick layer of lava rock.
The wind at gale force.
DALLAS
Which way.
LAMBERT
Over here.
DALLAS
You lead.
Lambert walks into the storm.
Followed closely by the others.
LAMBERT
I can't see a God damn thing.
ASH
(voice over)
Turn on the finder. It's tuned
to the transmission. Let it
lead you.
DALLAS
It's on...Ash are you
receiving.
INT. ASH'S BLISTER - DAWN 54
Ash leaning over his console.
Watches them beneath him.
Corresponding images on the screen in front of him.
ASH
See you. Read you.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Getting you clear and free.
EXT. PLANET - DAWN 54
The three crew members push their way along.
Like divers at the bottom of a dark sea.
The wind and dust continues driving down in dark shade.
LAMBERT
Can't see more than three
meters in any direction.
KANE
Quit griping.
LAMBERT
I like griping.
DALLAS
Come on.
They wade on, following Lambert.
She halts abruptly.
Confused.
INT. BLISTER - DAWN 55
Ash watches his screens intently.
LAMBERT
(voice over)
I've got it again.
ASH
Any problems.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Yeah. A lot of dust and wind.
Starting to get some fade on
the beam.
EXT. PLANET - DAWN 56
The trio moves through a dark limbo.
LAMBERT
This way.
Lambert indicates left.
Moves in that direction.
The others follow.
The storm growing.
KANE
I'm losing it.
They approach a towering rock formation.
The transmission dies out.
LAMBERT
It's gone again.
They shelter under a grotesque rock.
The storm shrieks 'round them.
DALLAS
Should be dawn soon.
(adjust headset)
Ash. If you hear me. How long
until daylight.
Static.
INT. BLISTER - DAWN 56-A
Ash checking instruments.
EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNRISE 57
Atmosphere turning the color of blood.
Then the sun is up.
INT. ENGINE CUBICLE 58
Brett and Parker still at work.
Ripley moves away from her panel in triumph.
RIPLEY
You ought to be able to handle
the rest.
PARKER
Don't worry.
RIPLEY
If you run into trouble, I'll
be on the bridge.
BRETT
Right.
She leaves.
PARKER
Bitch.
EXT. PLANET - DAY 58-A
The three figures stand and move away from the rock
formation.
There is enough daylight to see where they are walking.
The signal begins to fade in again.
INT. BLISTER - DAY 59
Ash watches video images of the three.
Now moving again.
Ripley's voice comes over.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
How's it going.
INT. BRIDGE 60
Ripley at her console.
ASH
(voice over)
All right.
RIPLEY
Have you tried putting the
transmission through ECIU.
ASH
(voice over)
Mother hasn't identified it as
yet.
RIPLEY
I'll give it a shot.
ASH
(voice over)
Be my guest.
She pushes some button.
The voice is now heard on her speaker.
EXT. PLANET - DAY 61
Dust clearing.
Three tiny figures against the landscape.
EXT. PLANET - DAY 62
Empty landscape.
Then Kane comes up over a rise startled by what he sees.
Suddenly the transmission is deafening.
KANE
Jesus Christ.
Dallas and Lambert join him equally startled.
THEIR P.O.V. - DAY 63
A gargantuan construction rising from the rock.
Clearly of nonhuman manufacture.
EXT. PLANET - DAY 64
Noise still at shrill pitch.
All members of the party shouting into their voice amps.
KANE
Some kind of building,
monument. Might even be some
kind of craft.
LAMBERT
It's weird.
DALLAS
Ash, can you see this.
INT. ASH'S BLISTER - DAY 65
Ash looking at the construction on a screen.
ASH
Yeah. Never seen one like it.
Neither has Mother.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Keep checking for enhancement.
ASH
Whatever the transmission is,
it's inside that.
KANE
(voice over)
I'll go in and have a look.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Hold on, Ash, I don't see any
lights or movements. Do you.
ASH
I can't get any reading.
EXT. PLANET - DAY 66
ASH
(voice over)
It's putting out so much power
I just can't get any reading.
Dallas shuts off his receiver.
Sudden quiet.
A long moment.
DALLAS
It looks pretty dead from here.
We'll approach the base.
They move toward the construction.
INT. BLISTER - DAY 67
Ash readjusts his instrumentation.
DALLAS
(voice over)
There's only one thing I can...
Dallas' voice fades in and out.
As do their images on the screen.
ASH
Dallas...
(frantically punches buttons
on console)
Dallas...Do you read me.
No reply.
INT. BRIDGE - DAY 67-A
Ripley is running the transmission through ECIU.
Over the speakers Dallas' voice fades in.
DALLAS
(voice over)
No sign of life. No lights...
No movement...
She studies a long series of binary programs.
DALLAS
(voice over)
We're beneath the base.
CUT TO:
INT. STRUCTURE - DAY 68
The lower part of the entrance filled with dust and
pumice.
KANE
Looks like an entrance.
DALLAS
Yeah... Let's move inside...
They climb up to one of the apertures and enter.
INT. CHAMBER - DAY 69
They move into a high-ceilinged chamber.
Ghostly light filters dust-filled air.
A few meters in an opening appears.
Dallas leans over and looks into the hole.
Only blackness.
DALLAS
It just goes down... smooth
walls. I can't see the bottom,
light won't reach.
Kane and Lambert come over.
Dallas begins unclipping gear from his belt.
DALLAS
Let's take a look around here
first.
Kane and Lambert exchange a glance.
Dallas shines his light about.
Then shines his light on nearby wall.
Moves closer.
DALLAS
Over here.
Kane leads them upward.
Into a huge chamber.
KANE
Oh, my God.
Dallas and Lambert close behind.
They sight a huge Alien beast melted onto a throne.
LAMBERT
What is it?
DALLAS
Alien life form. Looks like
it's been dead a long time...
Fossilized.
LAMBERT
Let's get out of here.
DALLAS
Not yet.
Kane moves off by himself.
Dallas and Lambert move around the plinth.
Dallas touches some instrumentation near the Alien's
head.
The transmission sound suddenly terminates.
LAMBERT
It stopped...Why?
DALLAS
I don't know.
Kane is now across the way, near an aperture in the
flooring. Sudden;y the transmission begins again.
KANE
Now it's coming from down
there.
Dallas looks at Kane.
DALLAS
This is your big chance.
KANE
Okay.
DALLAS
Don't unhook yourself from the
cable. Be out in less than ten
minutes. Read me.
KANE
Aye aye.
Dallas rigs a tripod over the opening in the floor.
Unspools a couple of feet of wire.
Kane attaches the end of it to his chest unit.
Climbs over the lip and drops it into the hole.
Now hanging by the wire...
Head and shoulders out of the opening.
Kane activates the climbing unit.
Lowers himself into the fissure.
INT. SHAFT OPENING 70
Kane braces his feet against the wall of the vertical
shaft.
Switches on his light, points it into the depths.
The beam penetrates only thirty feet or so, then is lost
in darkness.
Kane starts down, playing out the line.
Descending in short leaps.
Stops to catch his breath.
Breathing rasping loudly in his helmet.
A little light filters from above.
Looking up, Kane can see the mouth of the hole...
A glowing spot.
DALLAS
(voice over)
You okay in there.
KANE
Haven't hit bottom yet.
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.
KANE
I'm below ground level.
OUT 71
INT. SHAFT 72
Kane 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 a dark, cavernous space.
Deep breaths due to his violent
exertion.
DALLAS
(voice over)
See anything?
KANE
No...Cave or something below
me.
He consults his instruments.
Helmet instrumentation strobing softly in the darkness.
KANE
...high nitrogen content, no
oxygen.
Still puffing, he releases his purchase on the stone
walls.
Begins to lower himself on power.
Now Kane is dangling free in darkness.
Spinning slowly on the wire as the chest unit unwinds.
Then his feet hit bottom.
Kane grunts in surprise, almost loses his balance.
He flashes his suit lights.
The beams reveal that he is in a large hold.
Row after row of extrusions stretch from floor to
ceiling.
KANE
This is strange.
DALLAS
(voice over)
What do you mean.
KANE
There's something all over the
walls.
Kane walks across the chamber.
Examines the organic protrusions.
INT. CHAMBER ABOVE 73
Dallas and Lambert.
DALLAS
How long till sunset?
LAMBERT
Twenty minutes.
A look from Lambert.
INT. HOLD 74
Kane approaches the center of the room.
On the floor are rows of leathery ovoid shapes.
He walks around them.
Shines his light on one.
KANE
It's like some kind of storage
area. Is anybody there. Do
you read me.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Loud and clear.
KANE
The place is full of leathery
things. They seem to be
sealed.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Can you see what's in them.
KANE
I'll give it a look.
He tries to open one of them.
It won't open.
KANE
Strange feeling to it.
Kane peers closely at the leathery ovoids.
Turns away.
Raised areas begin to appear where he touched it.
He moves his light along the rows.
Turns back to the one he was examining.
Something has changed.
The opaque surface begins to clear.
Object becoming visible within.
Kane shines his light on the floor at the base of it.
He studies it.
The sound of the transmission grows louder... louder.
KANE
Jesus...
DALLAS
(voice over)
What.
Viscera and mandible now visible.
The interior surface spongy and irregular.
Kane shines the light inside.
The transmission suddenly ceases...
With shocking violence, a small creature smashes
outward.
Fixes itself to his mask.
Sizzling sound.
The creature melts through the mask.
Attaches itself to Kane's face.
Kane tears at the thing with his hands.
His mouth forced open.
He falls backward.
INT. CHAMBER ABOVE 75
DALLAS
Kane...Kane can you hear me.
LAMBERT
What's the matter.
DALLAS
We better haul him out.
LAMBERT
Kane...Kane...God damn it.
Answer me.
Dallas switches on the winch motor.
With a whine, it begins to reel the line in.
After a moment the line tightens with a jerk.
The motor slows, laboring under added weight.
DALLAS
It caught.
LAMBERT
Is it hooked on something.
DALLAS
No, it's coming.
LAMBERT
I can't see anything.
Dallas shines his light down into the hole.
DALLAS
Here he comes.
The winch labors heavily.
DALLAS
Get ready to grab him.
Kane appears at the top of the opening.
Dangles limply from the wire.
Dallas reaches for him, then recoils.
DALLAS
Look out. There's something on
his face.
Lambert attempts to help.
LAMBERT
What is it?
Kane appears to be completely unconscious.
The life form is still wrapped motionless around his
face.
LAMBERT
Oh Jesus.
DALLAS
Don't touch it.
They grapple with Kane's limp body.
Lift him from the hole.
OUT 75-A
CUT TO:
EXT. THE NOSTROMO - SUNSET 75-B
Atmosphere turning the color of blood.
And the sun is down.
The ring of floodlights on the ship comes to life.
Feebly combatting the darkness and continuing storm.
INT. BRIDGE/INT. BLISTER - DUSK 76
(NOTE: INTERCUT)
Jones, the cat, staring through a port opening at the
storm.
Ripley waiting on the bridge.
Ash stares at his inactive monitors.
Suddenly:
ASH
We've got them. They're back
on the screens.
RIPLEY
How many?
ASH
Three blips. They're coming
this way.
Ripley presses transmitter.
RIPLEY
Dallas. Dallas. Can you read
me.
DALLAS
(voice over)
We hear you. We're coming
back... Kane's injured... We'll
need some help getting him in.
Ash moves from the Blister.
Ripley remains seated at her console.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 76-A
Parker and Brett listening over the intercom.
EXT. LANDING LEG - NIGHT 76-B
Dallas and Lambert dragging Kane on a travois towards
the landing leg.
INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK 77
Ash comes down the steps.
Hurries to the inner door lock.
Presses the wall voice-amp.
ASH
Ripley, I'm by the inner lock
hatch.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
Okay.
EXT. LANDING LEG - NIGHT 77-A
Dallas and Lambert drag Kane onto lift platform.
OUT 78
INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK 79
Ash waiting.
INT. BRIDGE/EXT. LANDING LEG - NIGHT 80
(NOTE: INTERCUT AND VOICE OVERS.)
DALLAS
Ripley, are you there.
RIPLEY
Right here.
DALLAS
We're coming up.
They move onto lift.
RIPLEY
What happened to Kane.
Pause.
DALLAS
Some kind of organism. It's
attached itself to him. We've
got to get him to the
infirmary.
RIPLEY
I need a clear definition.
DALLAS
Just open the hatch, Ripley.
RIPLEY
If we let it in, the ship could
be infected. You know the
quarantine procedure. Twenty-
four hours for decontamination.
LAMBERT
Open the God damn hatch. We
have to get him inside.
RIPLEY
I can't. If you were in my
position you'd do the same.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 80-A
Parker and Brett listen.
INT. PASSAGEWAY NEAR AIR LOCK 81
DALLAS
(voice over)
Ripley, do you hear me.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
I read you. The answer is
negative.
Ash hits the emergency switch.
A red light goes on.
Servo whine.
Followed by a solid metallic chunk.
ASH
Inner hatch open.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 81-A
Parker and Brett react.
INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT 82
Ripley's console flashes.
INNER HATCH OPEN.
She can't believe what she sees.
OUT 83
CUT TO:
INT. INFIRMARY 84
Hands begin to open Kane's helmet with a laser cutter.
The helmet separates easily.
The life form slowly pulsing on Kane's face.
Dallas hesitates, then puts his hand on the small
Creature.
Tries to pull it free.
Unsuccessful.
The Alien remains anchored to Kane's tissue.
Ash takes a pair of pliers from a rack.
Carefully grasps the tip of the Creature.
Squeezes tightly.
Leans back.
DALLAS
You're tearing his face.
A trickle of blood appears on Kane's cheek.
DALLAS
It's not going to come off
without pulling his whole face
off at the same time.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INFIRMARY WINDOW 84-A
Lambert, Parker and Brett watch through the infirmary
window.
Ripley appears.
Lambert turns and looks at her.
A long moment.
INT. INFIRMARY 84-B
ASH
We better let the M.D.A. work
on him.
Ash presses a switch.
The machine lights up.
Kane is sucked into a slot on the wall.
Visible inside through the glass layer.
A blinding colored light performs antisepsis.
Two video monitors pop on.
Ash punches three buttons.
An X-ray image appears.
A color depiction of Kane's head and upper torso.
The Alien is clearly visible.
A maze of complicated biology.
Kane's jaws are forced open.
The creature has extruded a long tube down his mouth and
throat.
The appendage ending at the base of the esophagus.
DALLAS
It doesn't make sense. It
paralyzes him, puts him into a
coma, then keeps him alive. We
have to get it off him somehow.
ASH
At the moment the Creature is
keeping him alive. If we
remove it we might terminate
Kane...
DALLAS
We have to take the chance and
cut it off him.
ASH
You'll take the responsibility.
DALLAS
That's right.
Dallas presses a switch, Kane slides back out of the
booth.
Ash takes a surgical laser blade from the case.
He manipulates the knife until he has a comfortable
grip.
Flicks a small button with his thumb.
The blade begins to hum.
Touches the scalpel to the Creature.
The electronic blade slices effortlessly downward.
Suddenly a urine-like fluid begins to drip from the
womb.
ASH
Starting to bleed.
The liquid flows onto the bedding next to Kane's head.
Starts to hiss.
Smoke curls up from the stain.
Next the yellow fluid eats a hole through the bunk bed.
Then drips onto the deck below.
Metal bubbling and sizzling.
INT. PASSAGEWAY OUTSIDE INFIRMARY 85
BRETT
Shit. It's going to eat
through the decks and go out
the hull...
They start to run for the companionway.
INT. PASSAGEWAY "B" DECK 86
Dallas wrenches an emergency light from a socket.
Snaps it on.
Hurls himself down a companionway.
The others follow.
DALLAS
There.
A droplet of fluid is sizzling on the ceiling bulkhead.
It oozes down.
Drips to the deck.
Continues to bubble.
Then goes through the bulkhead.
RIPLEY
What can we put under it.
They charge down the companionway below.
INT. MAINTENANCE CORRIDOR "C" DECK 87
They enter the maintenance area.
Look up to the ceiling bulkhead.
The acid bubbles.
PARKER
Don't get under it.
The acid drips to the deck.
Continues to bubble.
Slower.
RIPLEY
Looks like it's losing steam.
Dallas fishes a pen out of his pocket.
Probes the hole in the deck.
DALLAS
It's stopped penetrating.
BRETT
Yeah. After it penetrated two
levels.
Dallas straightens up.
Starts to put the pen back in his pocket.
Changes his mind and stands holding it by the end.
DALLAS
I've never seen anything like
that, except molecular acid...
BRETT
This thing uses it for blood.
PARKER
Wonderful defense mechanism.
You don't dare kill it.
They start back towards the companionway.
INT. INFIRMARY 89
Kane still motionless on the bunk.
The Alien remains secured to his face.
Wound completely healed over.
PARKER
Any of the acid get on him.
Dallas approaches, peers at Kane's head.
DALLAS
Doesn't look like it.
BRETT
Is it still dripping that crap.
ASH
Healed over.
Ash presses a button.
Kane slides back into the diagnostic M.D.A.
More buttons pressed.
Display lights up again, showing the different parts of
Kane's body.
ASH
I better get some intravenous
feeding started. So far I
can't tell what the Alien has
absorbed from his system.
The machine begins to process Kane's body.
BRETT
So far things ain't working out
real good today.
CUT TO:
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 90
Brett at work in the cubicle.
Parker supervising him.
BRETT
I think I've got it. Give it a
try.
Parker pushes a button.
Negative reaction on his monitor.
PARKER
Nothing.
BRETT
Damn. I was sure that was it.
PARKER
Well, it wasn't. Try the next
one.
BRETT
Right.
Adjusts several toggles.
A beep on the communicator.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
What's happening.
PARKER
I'll tell her what's happening.
My Johnson is happening.
(punches the communicator)
A lot of hard work. Real work.
INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT 91
PARKER
(voice over)
You ought to try it sometime.
RIPLEY
I'll tell you something,
Parker. I've got the toughest
job on this ship...
Derisive laugh from Parker through the speaker.
RIPLEY
I have to listen to your
bullshit.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 92
PARKER
Get off my back.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
I'll get off your back when 12
module is fixed. Now piss off.
She clicks off.
Parker turns away.
PARKER
Smart mouth broad.
CUT TO:
INT. INFIRMARY 93
Ash running test on the equipment.
Kane respirating on the view screens above.
Still deep within a coma.
All instruments recording his life processes.
The Alien's position unchanged.
Ripley approaches.
Sits near Ash.
RIPLEY
Anything new.
ASH
He's holding, no changes.
RIPLEY
What about the Creature?
ASH
It's got an outer layer of
protein polysaccharides. Plus
it's constantly sloughing off
cells and replacing them with
polarized silicon. Which gives
it prolonged resistance to
adverse environmental
conditions... That enough for
you?
RIPLEY
Plenty. What's it mean.
ASH
Interesting combination of
elements making it practically
invulnerable... One very tough
little son-of-a-bitch.
RIPLEY
Is that why you let it in.
ASH
I was following a direct order.
Remember.
RIPLEY
While Dallas and Kane are off
the ship, I'm Senior Officer.
ASH
Yes, of course -- I forgot,
RIPLEY
You also forgot the science
division's basic quarantine
law.
ASH
No. that I didn't forget.
RIPLEY
You just broke it.
ASH
What would you have done with
Kane... His only chance of
staying alive was to get into
the infirmary.
RIPLEY
By breaking quarantine
procedure you risk everybody's
life.
ASH
Maybe I should have let him die
out there. Maybe I have
jeopardized the rest of us...
It's a risk I'm willing to
take.
RIPLEY
That's your official position
as science officer... Not
exactly out of the manual.
ASH
The first position of science
is the protection and
betterment of human life. I
take my responsibility as
seriously as you do... you do
your job and I'll do mine.
Ripley stands...looks at Ash.
CUT TO:
INT. MESS 94
Lambert playing with some string, amusing Jones.
Cat's cradle.
Both looking bored.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 95
Parker and Brett at work on the final intake screen.
INT. NARCISSUS 96
Dallas listening to a primitive tape.
His foot tapping with the rhythm.
Beep.
An interruption on the communicator.
DALLAS
Dallas.
ASH
(voice over)
I think you should have a look
at Kane. Something's happened.
DALLAS
Serious.
ASH
(voice over)
Interesting.
Dallas exits.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE 97
Ash stares through window.
Dallas joins him.
Ripley appears behind.
A long pause.
DALLAS
It's gone.
Kane's prone form.
The Alien is no longer on his face.
Kane still unconscious but continues to breathe.
Face covered with sucker marks.
RIPLEY
The door is closed. It must
still be in there.
INT. INFIRMARY 97-A
They enter cautiously.
Dallas begins moving slowly around the room.
Picking up a stainless steel tray.
Looking.
Ash and Ripley do the same.
Ripley bends down and peers under the bunk.
Nothing.
Accidentally kicks over a tray.
She stands.
Doesn't see the Alien on a ledge above her.
Her shoulder brushes against the Creature.
It drops on her.
She screams. Twists.
The Alien drops to the floor.
Then lies motionless.
Its skin faded to a dead-looking grey.
Ripley doesn't raise her eyes from the Creature.
Prods the Alien.
No response.
ASH
I think it's dead.
Looks at Ripley.
DALLAS
You okay.
RIPLEY
Yeah.
Ash carefully touches the Creature with a metal probe.
Fishes the motionless life-form into the tray.
Quickly closes the lid.
Lifts it onto a stainless steel table.
Bright light trained on the Alien.
The Creature in a supine position.
Ash touches at the Alien with a surgical instrument.
Carefully he extracts the end of the organ.
ASH
It's hardening.
(slips the Creature
under a fluoroscope)
Dead. No life sign whatever.
RIPLEY
Let's get rid of it.
ASH
This has to go back. This is
our first contact with a
specimen like this. All kinds
of tests need to be run.
RIPLEY
That thing bled acid. God
knows what it'll do when it's
dead.
ASH
I think it's safe to assume
it's not a zombie... Dallas, we
have to keep this specimen.
Pause.
DALLAS
You're the science officer.
It's your decision.
ASH
Then it's made... I'll seal it
in a stasis tube.
Pause.
RIPLEY
What about Kane.
Ash turns back to the bunk.
Studies the life support gauges.
Kane continues to breathe steadily.
ASH
Running a fever. And still
unconscious. The machine will
bring his temperature down.
His vital functions are
strong... who knows he may make
it.
Ash begins to seal the Alien in a large vacuum tube.
CUT TO:
INT. BLACK CORRIDOR TO BRIDGE 98
Ripley and Dallas.
RIPLEY
How could you leave that kind
of decision to him.
DALLAS
I just run the ship. Anything
that has to do with science
division, Ash has the final
word.
RIPLEY
How does that happen.
DALLAS
Same way everything else
happens. Orders from the
Company.
RIPLEY
Since when is that standard
procedure.
DALLAS
Standard procedure is do what
they tell you... Besides, I
only know about flying... I
haul cargo for a living.
RIPLEY
Did you ship out with Ash
before.
DALLAS
First time. I went five hauls
with another science man. Then
two days before we left they
replaced him with Ash.
She looks at him.
DALLAS
So what. They replaced my
warrant officer with you.
RIPLEY
I don't trust him.
DALLAS
I don't trust anybody...What's
holding up repairs.
RIPLEY
There are still some things
left to do.
DALLAS
Like what?
RIPLEY
We're blind on B and C decks.
Reserve power systems blown...
DALLAS
That's crap. We can take off
without them...I want to get
out of here. Let's get this
turkey off the ground.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET - SUNRISE 99
The Nostromo's engines roaring.
Belching out streams of superheated air.
The starship vibrates, then lifts off hovers above the
ground on beams of shimmering flame.
The land struts begin folding.
OUT 100-101
INT. BRIDGE - DAY 102
A thump as the struts retract.
RIPLEY
Struts retracted.
DALLAS
It's all yours.
Ripley pushes a lever forward. The engines begin to
thunder.
RIPLEY
Rolling up the G's.
(pushes more buttons)
And here we go.
EXT. NOSTROMO - DAY 103
The ship begins to surge forward.
Accelerating upward through the dense atmosphere.
OUT 104-106
INT. BRIDGE - DAY 107
LAMBERT
One kilometer on ascension.
Lambert throws a switch.
The ship lurches.
LAMBERT
Engaged.
RIPLEY
Altering the vector now. All
systems green. All functions
green.
A huge tremor runs throughout the ship.
DALLAS
What was that?
RIPLEY
A big red priority one on four.
The intercom beeps.
PARKER'S VOICE
Starboard quad's overheating.
I'm shutting it down.
DALLAS
Just hold us together 'til
we're beyond GI that's all.
The pitch of the engines changes.
RIPLEY
A yellow on two. A red on
four. All other systems green.
EXT. NOSTROMO - DAY 108
The ship moves at an acute angle.
Slices through the boiling clouds.
Black smoke pouring from one engine.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 109
Parker and Brett in a frenzy of activity.
BRETT
Dust is clogging the damn
intakes again. Number two's
overheating.
PARKER
Spit on it for another two
minutes.
INT. BRIDGE - DAY 110
Outside the windows, clouds, clouds, clouds.
Another tremor runs through the ship.
The crew's eyes riveted to their instruments.
EXT. NOSTROMO 111
The ship clears the top of the cloud layer.
Bursts out into star-sprinkled space.
Trailing a wake of clouds.
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 111-A
Parker breaks open a can of beer.
PARKER
Walk in the park. When we fix
something it stays fixed.
OUT 111-B
INT. BRIDGE 111-C
DALLAS
Let's pick up the money and go
home. Put her in the garage.
RIPLEY
That's a roger niner and go.
All green.
EXT. NOSTROMO 111-D
Above the planet.
The Nostromo makes its rendezvous with the refinery.
INT. BRIDGE 112
DALLAS
Fire up the big ones and get us
up to light plus four.
RIPLEY
That's a roger. All quads
active. All green. All
systems go.
LAMBERT
Feets get me out of here.
EXT. OUTER SPACE 113
The Nostromo now at light speed.
CUT TO:
INT. MESS 114
Parker, Brett, Dallas and Ripley around the table...
Drinking coffee.
PARKER
The best thing to do is just to
freeze him. He can get a
doctor to look at him when we
get back home.
BRETT
Right.
RIPLEY
Whenever he says anything you
say 'right'. You know that,
Brett.
BRETT
Right.
RIPLEY
What do you think, Parker.
Your staff just follows you
around and says 'right'...Like
a parrot.
Parker turns to Brett.
PARKER
Yeah. Shape up. What are you,
some kind of parrot.
BRETT
Right.
DALLAS
Knock it off... Kane will have
to go into quarantine.
RIPLEY
Yeah. And so will we.
Lambert enters.
LAMBERT
How about a little something to
lower your spirits.
DALLAS
Thrill me.
LAMBERT
According to my
calculations...based on the
time spent getting to and from
the planet and the speed at
which it's moving away from the
other...
DALLAS
Give me the short version...How
far?
LAMBERT
Ten months in the freezers.
PARKER
Christ.
Beep.
DALLAS
Dallas.
ASH
(voice over)
Come and see Kane right away...
DALLAS
Any change in his condition.
ASH
(voice over)
It's simpler if you just come
and see him.
OUT 115
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INFIRMARY WINDOW 116
Kane is sitting up in bed...wide awake.
They enter...
LAMBERT
Kane...Are you all right?
DALLAS
How do you feel?
KANE
Rotten. Like somebody's been
hitting me with a stick.
PARKER
Where do you hurt?
KANE
All over.
(smiles)
Are we still on this horrible
planetoid.
RIPLEY
We're on our way home.
BRETT
Getting ready to go back into
the old freezerinos.
KANE
Good...I'm starving. I want
some food.
PARKER
I'm pretty hungry myself.
DALLAS
One meal before bed. I'm
buying.
CUT TO:
INT. MESS 117
The entire crew is seated.
Hungrily swallowing huge portions of artificial food.
The cat eats from a dish on the table.
KANE
First thing I'm going to do
when we get back is eat some
decent food.
PARKER
I've had worse than this, but
I've had better too, if you
know what I mean.
LAMBERT
Christ, you're pounding down
this stuff like there's no
tomorrow.
PARKER
Something else I wouldn't mind
eating.
He gives her a leer and a smile.
BRETT
I mean I like it.
KANE
No kidding.
PARKER
Yeah. It grows on you.
KANE
It should. You know what they
make this stuff out of...
PARKER
I know what they make it out
of. so what. It's food now.
You're eating it.
Suddenly Kane grimaces.
RIPLEY
What's wrong.
Kane's voice strains.
LAMBERT
What's the matter.
KANE
I don't know... I'm getting
cramps.
The others stare at him in alarm.
Suddenly he makes a loud groaning noise.
Clutches the edge of the table with his hands.
Knuckles whitening.
ASH
Breathe deeply.
Kane screams.
KANE
Oh God, it hurts so bad. It
hurts.
PARKER
Come on, man, this shit ain't
that bad.
Kane stands up.
KANE
Ooooooh.
BRETT
What is it. What hurts?
Kane's face screws into a mask of agony.
He falls back into his chair.
KANE
Ohmy gooaaaahh.
A red stain.
Then a smear of blood blossoms on his chest.
The fabric of his shirt is ripped apart.
A small head the size of a man's fist pushes out.
The crew shouts in panic.
Leap back from the table.
The cat spits, bolts away.
The tiny head lunges forward.
Comes spurting out of Kane's chest trailing a thick
body.
Splatters fluids and blood in its wake.
Lands in the middle of the dishes and food.
Wriggles away while the crew scatters.
Then the Alien being disappears from sight.
Kane lies slumped in his chair.
Very dead.
A huge hole in his chest.
The dishes are scattered.
Food covered with blood.
LAMBERT
No, no, no, no, no.
Slowly they gather around Kane's gutted corpse.
Then they all look at one another.
Then at Kane.
Dead on the table.
DALLAS
Parker. Take Brett and close
off the immediate area. Make
sure we're secure.
(pause)
We've got to find it and kill
it.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE 117-A
The Nostromo on its mordant path.
CORRIDOR "C" LEVEL 118
Ripley, Parker, Brett searching...
CARGO HOLD 119
Dallas, Lambert, Ash searching...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BRIDGE 120
The crew looking at Kane's body on view screens.
Silent.
Depressed.
DALLAS
Inner hatch sealed.
Ripley nods.
DALLAS
Anybody want to say anything.
Nothing top say.
He nods to Ripley.
She presses a button.
EXT. NOSTROMO 121
The outer hatch opens.
Kane's body shoots out into eternity.
The hatch closes.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MESS 122
Completely cleaned up since Kane's death.
Parker, Brett and Ripley enter from one hatch.
Dallas, Lambert and Ash from another.
DALLAS
Any sign on your side.
RIPLEY
Nothing. It must have gone
below somehow.
They sit.
DALLAS
We're going to have to catch it
and eject it from the ship.
ASH
Sounds great...but how?
DALLAS
Room by room, corridor by
corridor.
RIPLEY
That could take forever.
ASH
Our supplies are based on us
spending a limited amount of
time out of hypersleep.
Strictly limited.
RIPLEY
We can't go into the freezers
with that thing running loose.
Remember what the other one did
to Kane's helmet.
LAMBERT
We can't kill it. If we do,
the body acids will eat right
through the hull.
RIPLEY
There's another problem...
there's no visual
communications on B and C
decks. All the screens are
out.
LAMBERT
And what do we do when we find
it?
DALLAS
Trap it somehow.
BRETT
If we had a really strong piece
of net, we could bag it... I
could put something together.
A long metal rod with a battery
in it. Only take a few hours.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE 123
The Nostromo continues through the vortex.
INT. INFIRMARY 124
Dallas enters.
Ash working at a read-out section.
DALLAS
I want to talk.
ASH
I'm a little busy at the
moment.
Pause.
DALLAS
I don't care.
Pause.
ASH
All right, go ahead.
DALLAS
Why did you let the Alien
survive inside Kane?
ASH
I'm not sure you're getting
through to me.
DALLAS
Mother was monitoring his body.
You were monitoring Mother.
You must have had some idea of
what was going on.
ASH
What are you trying to say.
A long moment.
DALLAS
You want the Alien to stay
alive... I figure you have a
reason.
ASH
Name one.
DALLAS
Look, we both work for the same
company. I just want to know
what's going on.
ASH
I don't know what the hell
you're talking about. And I
don't like any of the
insinuations. The Alien is a
dangerous form of life... I
don't want it to stay alive any
more than you do.
DALLAS
You're sure.
ASH
Yeah, I'm sure. You should be
too.
Dallas walks out.
Ash watches him go.
Stares in his direction a long while.
CUT TO:
OUT 125
INT. BRIDGE 126
The crew has assembled.
Brett unfolds several yards of asbestos netting.
Hands out five thin rods.
Each of them like metal broom handles.
BRETT
I put portable generators in
each of these. They're
insulated down here. Just be
god damn careful not to get
your hand on the end.
He touches the tip to a metal object.
A blue spark leaps.
BRETT
It won't damage the little
fucker unless its skin is a lot
thinner than ours... It'll just
give it a little incentive.
LAMBERT
Now if we could only find it.
Ash picks up a portable unit.
ASH
I've taken care of that...
tracking device. You set it to
search for a moving object...
It hasn't much range but when
you get within a certain
distance it starts beeping.
Ripley takes the tracker from Ash's hand.
RIPLEY
What's it key on.
ASH
Micro changes in air density.
Keep it pointed ahead of you.
DALLAS
Let's go.
CUT TO:
INT. PASSAGEWAY "A" LEVEL 127
Lambert and Dallas carry the net.
Ash walks directly behind, carrying the tracking device.
He continually scans from side to side.
Lambert stops by a stairwell...
LAMBERT
Anything down there.
INT. ANOTHER PASSAGEWAY "B" LEVEL 128
Parker and Ripley move silently along.
Ripley ahead of them with the tracker by the stairwell.
RIPLEY
Nothing.
The move on.
A small light flashes.
RIPLEY
Hold it. I've got something.
Parker and Brett grow tense.
Start looking around.
BRETT
Where's it coming from.
Ripley peers closely at the tracker.
RIPLEY
Machine's screwed up. I can't
tell. Needle's spinning all
over the dial.
BRETT
God damn, malfunction.
Ripley turns the tracker on its side.
The needles stabilize.
RIPLEY
No, just confused. It's coming
from below us.
They all look down at their feet.
INT. MAINTENANCE "C" LEVEL 129
Ripley, Parker and Brett come down ladder onto an
endless oily corridor.
They stop at the foot of the companionway...
They move down corridor into darkness.
RIPLEY
Okay.
Looks at the tracker.
Nods down the passageway. Stops.
RIPLEY
Back this way.
They begin to walk i that direction.
Entering drab section of the ship.
Surrounded by deep shadows.
Footsteps clanging on the metal deck.
RIPLEY
I thought you fixed twelve
module.
BRETT
We did.
PARKER
Circuits must have burned out.
They switch on lights.
Move around two turns.
RIPLEY
Wait.
They stop quickly, almost stumbling.
RIPLEY
It's within five meters.
Parker and Brett heft the net.
Ripley has the prod in one hand, tracker in the other.
Moves with great care.
Almost in a half-crouch, ready to leap back.
Prod extended, Ripley constantly glances at her tracker.
The device leads her up to a small hatch in the
bulkhead.
perspiration rivers down her face.
She sets aside the tracker.
Raises the prod, grasps the hatch handle.
Yanks it open.
Jams the electric prod inside.
A nerve-shattering squall.
Then a small creature comes flying out of the locker.
Eyes glaring, claws flashing.
Instinctively, they throw the net over it.
Very annoyed.
They open the net and release the captive.
Which happens to be the cat.
Hissing and spitting,. it scampers away.
RIPLEY
God damn it...hold it.
PARKER
We should have killed it...Now
we might pick it up on the
tracker again.
RIPLEY
Go get it. We'll go on.
BRETT
Right.
Ripley and Parker move down the passageway.
Brett follows the direction taken by the cat.
Moves across passageway into equipment maintenance area.
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA "C" LEVEL 130
Brett walking between rows of shadowed equipment.
Looking for the cat.
Nervous.
BRETT
Jones...Here kitty...Jones...
God damn it Jones.
Scratching noises.
A reassuring cat yowl.
Brett moves on.
INT. PASSAGEWAY "C" LEVEL 131
Ripley and Parker walk along.
Tracker signal weakens.
Finally stops.
RIPLEY
Nothing here.
PARKER
Let's go back.
INT. UNDERCARRIAGE ROOM "C" LEVEL 132
Brett enters.
Still looking for Jones.
Another yowl followed by a hiss.
Two eyes shining in the dark.
Jones.
Relieved, Brett moves toward the cat.
BRETT
Here kitty...Come on Jones.
Brett reaches for Jones.
Jones hisses.
An arm reaches for Brett.
The Alien.
Now seven feet tall.
Hanging from the undercarriage strut in reverse
position.
Grabs Brett and swings up into darkness.
Brett screams.
To no avail.
In the doorway Ripley and Parker.
They witness the horror.
INT. MESS 133
The remaining crew assemble.
Long faces.
Dallas sits with a layout in front of him.
Parker stands anxiously by the doorway.
PARKER
Whatever it was it was big.
I'm telling you, big...big.
Dallas looks up.
DALLAS
You're sure it dragged Brett
into a vent.
RIPLEY
Yeah...It disappeared into one
of the cooling ducts.
PARKER
It's using the air shafts to
move around.
LAMBERT
Brett could still be alive.
RIPLEY
Not a chance.
A shiver.
PARKER
I say we blast the rotten
bastard with a laser and take
our chances.
DALLAS
No way. If it's as big as you
say. It's holding enough acid
to burn a hole in this ship as
big as a room.
ASH
Shooting it is not going to
help us. It's self-
regenerating. You saw that
when we operated on it.
Dallas runs his fingers over the diagram.
DALLAS
The shaft could work for us.
That duct comes out at the main
airlock. There's only one big
opening on the way. But we can
cover that. Then we drive it
into the airlock and blast it
into space.
PARKER
Drive it...I'm telling you the
son-of-a-bitch is huge.
RIPLEY
The science department should
be able to help...
ASH
Well it seems to have adapted
to an oxygen-rich atmosphere
and it's certainly adapted well
for its nutritional
requirements. The only thing
we don't know about is
temperature.
RIPLEY
All right. What about the
temperature. What happens if
we change it.
ASH
We could try. Most animals
retreat from fire.
DALLAS
How long to hook up three or
four incinerating units?
PARKER
Give me a couple of hours.
LAMBERT
Only one thing left. Who gets
to crawl in the vent with it.
(pause)
Parker, you always wanted a
full share.
Parker scowls at her.
DALLAS
Parker, Lambert, you cover the
maintenance level exit. Ripley
you and Ash take the airlock.
There's no doubt as to who's going inside the vent.
CUT TO:
COMPUTER ANNEX 133-A
Dallas enters.
Sits in front of Mother.
Punches up a code.
Monitor screens come to life.
Dallas hits several more buttons.
The readouts begin:
Question: Request evaluation of current
procedure to terminate Alien.
Response: Unable to compute. Available
data insufficient.
Question: Request options for possible
procedure.
Response: Unable to compute. Available
data insufficient.
Question: What are my chances...
Response: Does not compute.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE 133-B
Nostromo at light plus four.
INT. STARBOARD AIR LOCK VESTIBULE 134
Ripley stands in vestibule.
Looks through the Bulkhead door to Air lock.
She throws a switch.
Watches airshaft entrance into Air lock open.
The trap is ready.
RIPLEY
Do you really think this will
work?
ASH
It could.
RIPLEY
And this is really the best
Science Division can come up
with...
ASH
I'm afraid so.
A long look from Ripley.
ASH
I'm doing my best, you know.
RIPLEY
Is that right.
ASH
That's right.
INT. MAINTENANCE LEVEL 135
Parker and Lambert get set.
OUT 136
INT. AIR SHAFT 137
Completely dark.
Dallas turns on his helmet light.
Flips switch on throat mike.
DALLAS
Do you receive me? Ripley.
Parker. Lambert.
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 138
The hum of vast cooling plants.
Large air shafts run off in different directions.
Parker and Lambert stand ready by a duct.
Lambert hits the wall amp button.
LAMBERT
We're in position. I'll try
and pick you up on the tracker.
Parker hefts his flamethrower.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Parker, if it tries to come out
by you, make sure you drive it
back in. I'll push it forward.
PARKER
Right.
INT. AIR LOCK VESTIBULE 139
Near the air lock.
Ripley pops open the hatch.
The air lock now open and ready.
She moves to the air duct opening.
RIPLEY
Air lock open.
DALLAS
(voice over)
Ready.
RIPLEY
Ready.
INT. AIR SHAFT 140
Dallas begins to crawl forward.
The tunnel is narrow...
Only a foot or two wider than his shoulders.
DALLAS
I'm under way.
Turns a corner.
Several more tight turns.
Instinctively Dallas pulls back.
Raises the flamethrower.
Fires a blast around the corner into the darkness.
It roars loudly in the confined tube.
Smoke drifts back into his face.
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 141
A large rectangular duct in one wall.
PARKER
That's where it's got to come
out, if it leaves the main
shaft.
He throws a switch.
A metal pane rises and seals off the opening.
LAMBERT
Let's keep it open. I want to
know if anything's coming.
Reluctantly, Parker again throws the switch and raises
the metal pane.
INT. AIR LOCK VESTIBULE 142
Ripley waiting.
INT. AIR SHAFT 143
Dallas still crawling on hands and knees.
Ahead the shaft takes an abrupt downward turn.
He moves toward the corner.
Fires another blast from the flamethrower.
Then starts crawling down, head first.
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 143-A
Lambert sees something on the tracker.
LAMBERT
Beginning to get a reading on
you.
INT. AIR SHAFT 143-B
The shaft makes yet another turn.
Puts Dallas into an almost immobilized position.
OUT 144
INT. AIR SHAFT 145
Dallas against a wall of the shaft.
Clutching his flamethrower.
Whispers into his throat mike.
DALLAS
Ripley.
INT. AIR LOCK VESTIBULE 146
RIPLEY
Read you clear.
INT. AIR SHAFT 147
DALLAS
I don't think this shaft goes
much farther... It's getting
hot in here.
He readies the flamethrower.
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 148
Parker readies his weapon.
INT. AIR SHAFT DOUBLE-TIERED PASSAGEWAY 149
The air shaft tributary opens into a larger two-tier air
tunnel.
Dallas crawls out and stands.
Moves to a catwalk floor.
Looks about.
Moves forward.
Reaches a repair junction.
Sits.
His feet dangle beneath the catwalk floor to the next
level.
DALLAS
Lambert, what kind of reading
are you getting?
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 149-A
Lambert huddled over her tracker.
Puzzled.
LAMBERT
I'm not sure. There seems to
be some kind of double signal.
INT. AIR SHAFT DOUBLE-TIERED PASSAGEWAY 149-B
Dallas sitting.
His feet still dangling in the dark beneath the catwalk.
DALLAS
It may be interference. I'll
push on ahead.
Dallas begins to rise.
From below, a gentle movement toward the hanging feet.
A hand reaches up.
Misses his leg as Dallas moves ahead.
DALLAS
Lambert, am I coming in any
clearer.
LAMBERT
(voice over)
It's clear all right, but I'm
still getting two signals.
(pause)
I'm not sure which one is
which.
Dallas stops.
Turns around.
Looks back down through the catwalk.
Lowers the nose of the flamethrower, his finger on the
trigger.
From behind him, the hand reaches up.
The Alien is the front signal.
INT. AIR LOCK VESTIBULE 150
Ripley bends forward.
Hears the sounds of the struggle...
And Dallas' screams.
She cries out.
RIPLEY
Dallas...Dallas...
INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AREA 151
Lambert and Parker.
Hearing it all.
Then silence.
CUT TO:
INT. MESS 152
Dallas' flamethrower on the table surface.
PARKER
(voice over)
We just found it laying there.
No sign of him. no blood. No
nothing.
Ripley, Ash and Lambert standing by the table.
Lambert obviously still shaken.
PARKER
This puts you in command.
RIPLEY
Unless someone's got a better
idea about dealing with the
Alien, we'll continue with
Dallas' plan.
PARKER
Bullshit, lady. Bullshit.
RIPLEY
Shut up, Parker. Just shut up.
And listen.
LAMBERT
He's right. We'll wind up the
same way. no thanks.
RIPLEY
You've got a better idea.
LAMBERT
Yes. Abandon ship. Take the
shuttle craft and get the hell
out of here. Take our chances
on getting picked up later.
The unsaid alternative.
ASH
You are forgetting something.
Dallas and Brett may not be
dead. It's a ghastly
probability perhaps, but not a
certainty.
RIPLEY
You're forgetting something
else. The life boat only holds
three.
LAMBERT
Draw straw...I don't know.
PARKER
I ain't drawing straws. I
ain't drawing no fucking
straws. Get it.
RIPLEY
We've got to give it another
try. We know it's using the
air shafts. Let's take it
level by level. This time
we'll laser seal every bulkhead
and vent behind us until we
corner it.
Parker resigns himself.
PARKER
Fuck it. I'll go with it.
Lambert doesn't answer.
RIPLEY
How are our weapons.
PARKER
They're working fine...We could
use more fuel for that one.
Indicating Dallas' flamethrower.
RIPLEY
Then you'd better get it. Ash
you go with him.
Parker looks at Ash.
PARKER
I can manage.
He leaves.
Ripley turns to Ash.
RIPLEY
Any other thoughts. From you
or Mother.
ASH
Nothing new. Still collating.
RIPLEY
I can't believe that.
ASH
I'm sorry, Captain. what would
you like me to do.
RIPLEY
Nothing. so far you've been
useless. I'm in command, I've
got access to Mother. I'll get
my own answers.
He doesn't reply.
But gives her an ironic salute and exits.
Ripley looks over at Lambert.
RIPLEY
Lambert I promise you...I
promise...if it doesn't work
out I'm going to get us all out
of here okay.
LAMBERT
All right.
RIPLEY
Okay. Look, I want you to find
Parker and stick with him.
I'll use Command Priority and
try and get some answers from
Mother -- okay -- Tell Parker
what I'm doing. Can you do
that.
LAMBERT
Yes.
Pause.
RIPLEY
Did you ever sleep with Ash?
LAMBERT
No. Did you?
RIPLEY
No. I never got the impression
he was interested.
LAMBERT
Neither did I.
OUT 153-172
CUT TO:
INT. COMPUTER ANNEX 173
Ripley hurriedly taps out the five-digit code.
Rams thumb against identiprint.
The inner door opens.
Data banks come to life.
She sits at a console.
Thinks for a moment.
Then punches up a code.
Nothing happens.
Punches another combination.
Nothing happens.
Frustration.
Another combination.
One screen comes to life.
Another combination.
She moves to the second keyboard.
Screen one spells out the question.
Question: Request clarification on science
inability to neutralize Alien.
Response: Unable to clarify.
Question: Request enhancement.
Response: No further enhancement. Special order 937.
Science Division Officer eyes only.
Question: Emergency command override. 100375.
What is Special Order 937.
A pause.
Finally...
Response: Nostromo rerouted to coordinates A:6:20,
D-6:39':2. Investigation life-form. Gather
specimen. Priority One. Insure return of
organism to MilSciLab. All other
considerations
secondary. All previous priorities
rescinded.
She whips around in her chair.
Faces Ash.
He smiles.
ASH
There is an explanation, you
know.
Ripley slowly backs up out of the chair.
Keeps it between them.
Plays for time.
RIPLEY
I don't want to hear your
explanations.
She circles toward the door.
Ash still smiles.
And moves forward slightly.
RIPLEY
Don't touch me.
She starts to turn.
He steps toward her.
ASH
All that paranoia coming up
again.
With that he reaches out.
Ripley bolts by him out into the corridor.
Ash chases her through the bridge and into the Mess.
Three bulkhead doors slam down behind them.
INT. MESS 174
Ripley bursts into the area.
No sign of Ash.
She hits the communicator.
RIPLEY
Parker, Lambert.
Suddenly, Ash hits her from behind.
Throws her down.
Smashes her again.
Begins to roll up a magazine.
Jams it down her throat...
Parker and Lambert burst into the Mess.
Lambert falls on Ash's back.
He tosses her across the room.
Returns to Ripley.
Again choking her.
Parker lifts the tracker.
Steps behind Ash.
Swings the tracker... Wallop.
Tears his head off...
Wires ascending from Ash's trunk.
Where his head used to be.
Ash's hands release Ripley.
Search above his neck for his missing head.
He walks backward.
All eyes on Ash's headless body.
He walks the room.
Still feeling for his missing head.
PARKER
A robot, a God damn android.
Ash turns on him.
Starts to advance.
Parker hits him again with the tracker...
Again.
Again.
No avail.
Ash begins choking Parker.
Ripley picks up one of the prod sticks.
Closes on Ash's back.
Tears away the fabric.
Lambert pulls at Ash's legs.
Ripley tears at the controls buried in the cavity once
covered by his head.
Parker's eyes bulge in pain.
Ash, headless, choking, choking, choking...
Ripley finds the wires, stabs the prod home...
Ash's grip lessens.
Another stab...electrical flash...
The grip lessens...
Another stab...flash of circuits.
The headless body collapses.
Parker trying to regain his breath.
PARKER
Get this fucking thing off me.
Kicks the headless body.
Lambert looks at Ripley.
LAMBERT
Oh my God, oh my god.
ASH'S BATTERED HEAD 174-A
being rewired by Ripley's hand.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
Ash has been protecting the
Alien from the beginning.
LAMBERT
(voice over)
Doesn't make sense. Why would
he do that?
RIPLEY
(voice over)
Special Order from MilSci.
They must have wanted it in the
Bio-Research Weapons division.
PARKER
(voice over)
Some company we work for.
Ash's eyes flicker open.
RIPLEY
Ash can you hear me?
No response.
She pounds the table, shouts...
RIPLEY
Ash can you hear me?
Ash's head falls on its side.
She props it back up.
ASH
I can hear you.
RIPLEY
What the hell is this Special
Order?
ASH
You read it. I thought it was
clear. Bring the Alien back
Priority One. All other
priorities rescinded.
PARKER
What about our lives?
ASH
I repeat. All other priorities
rescinded.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
Okay, Ash, how do we kill the
Alien?
ASH
You can't.
RIPLEY
Then there's no point in
talking. Parker, pull the
plug.
Parker reaches for the wires.
Ash quickly reacts.
ASH
You don't understand what
you're dealing with. A perfect
organism. Its structural
perfection is matched only by
its hostility.
LAMBERT
You admire it?
ASH
I admire its purity. An
organism unclouded with
remorse, conscience or
delusions of morality...But
perhaps that's only an
Android's point of view.
PARKER
I've heard enough. Pull the
plug.
ASH
I can't lie to you about your
chances, but you have my
sympathies.
RIPLEY
Good-bye Ash.
Parker torches Ash's head with his flamethrower.
LAMBERT
It's all over.
PARKER
Not for me it's not.
RIPLEY
We're going to blow up the
ship. We'll leave in the
shuttle and blow up the
ship...Blow the fucker up into
all of space.
She picks up the flamethrower.
Puts it over her shoulder.
PARKER
Let's go.
He reaches for Lambert.
And they all head for the hatch.
Ripley turns and looks back at Ash's incinerated head.
OUT 175
CUT TO:
INT. CORRIDOR "B" DECK 175-A
Ripley, Parker and Lambert walk rapidly down the
corridor.
RIPLEY
We'll need coolant for the life
support. You round up all you
can carry. I'll start
preparing the shuttle.
They move out.
INT. NARCISSUS 175-AA
Ripley enters the Narcissus.
Cautious at first.
Then hurries to throw switches.
Twists her hair back as she works feverishly.
Stops as she hears Jones meowing over the intercom.
RIPLEY
Jones...
Ripley runs out of the Narcissus, leaving doors open.
INT. BRIDGE 175-B
Jones lying on Dallas' console.
Ripley comes in.
Smiles.
RIPLEY
Jones. You're in luck.
As she reaches for him, Jones jumps off the console.
Moves away.
RIPLEY
Come on, Jones.
She moves after the cat.
Parker and Lambert over the communicator from the
coolant locker.
LAMBERT
(voice over)
How much do you think we'll
need.
Ripley still in pursuit of the cat.
INT. COOLANT LOCKER 175-C
Parker and Lambert loading coolant cylinders.
PARKER
All you can carry.
Ripley's voice over communicator from bridge.
RIPLEY
(voice over)
God damn it, Jones. Come here.
INT. BRIDGE 175-D
Ripley furious but still speaking gently.
RIPLEY
Here kitty...come here kitty...
Jones moves away.
INT. COOLANT LOCKER "B" DECK 175-E
Arms full, Parker moves out of the locker.
Lambert is still making her selection.
A faint light on the tracker.
Unnoticed.
INT. BRIDGE 175-F
Ripley finally corners Jones.
Finds his box.
Tries to put him in it.
Jones resists.
Ultimately futile.
OUT 176-184
INT COOLANT LOCKER CORRIDOR OUTSIDE 185
Parker attempts to pick up the flamethrower.
Can't manage it and the coolant cylinders.
PARKER
God damn.
In the locker Lambert gathers more coolant...
LAMBERT
What's the matter?
PARKER
Nothing. just hurry up.
The tracker flashes faster.
Now it's noticed.
Parker picks up the flamethrower.
PARKER
Let's get out of here.
LAMBERT
Right now.
The Alien appears out of the air shaft ventilator.
Lambert turns.
Screams.
The Alien grabs for her...
PARKER
Move. Get out of the way. Get
out of the way. Get out of the
way...
INT. BRIDGE 185-A
Ripley freezes as she hears Lambert's screams.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LOCKER 186
Parker unable to use the flamethrower without hitting
Lambert.
He hesitates for a moment, then strides into the locker.
Wielding the flamethrower like a club.
PARKER
God damn you. God damn you,
God damn you...
INT. COOLANT LOCKER 186-A
The Alien drops Lambert.
Parker lands a blow with the flamethrower.
No effect.
The Alien strikes him once.
Killing him instantly.
He now moves to Lambert.
INT. BRIDGE
Ripley listening on the communicator.
Lambert's dying shrieks.
then the voice-amp goes dead.
Silence.
RIPLEY
Parker. Lambert.
She waits for a response.
But her expression shows that she expects none.
A long moment.
Expectation fulfilled.
Nightmare without end.
CUT TO:
INT. "B" LEVEL CMPANIONWAY 187-A
Ripley descends, cautiously, holding flamethrower.
Jones left above, squalling.
INT. CORRIDOR "B" DECK 187-B
Ripley moving warily, carrying flamethrower.
Nears entrance to food locker, looks in.
Sees the carnage left by the Alien.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE 188
At light speed.
The Nostromo and refinery appear to hang motionless.
Star clusters rolling past in the infinite distance.
INT. MAINTENANCE CORRIDOR "C" DECK 189
Ripley running toward engine room.
Out of breath.
Exhausted, she stops, gulps for air.
OUT 190-193
INT. ENGINE ROOM CUBICLE 194
Ripley enters the power center.
Stares at the massive light-plus engines.
Approaches the main control board.
Begins closing the switches, one by one.
A long moment.
Sirens begin to honk.
Mother speaks.
MOTHER'S VOICE
Attention. The cooling units
for the light-plus engines are
not functioning. Engines will
overload in two minutes, fifty
seconds...
INT. OILY CORRIDOR "C" LEVEL 194-A
Sirens and flashing red lights.
Ripley running toward the "B" deck companionway.
MOTHER'S VOICE
Attention. Cooling units not
functioning. Engines will
overload in two minutes.
INT. "B" LEVEL CORRIDOR 194-B
Sirens and flashing red lights.
Ripley starts toward Narcissus.
Remembers Jones.
INT. "A" TO "B" LEVELS COMPANIONWAY 194-C
Jones howling.
In his box.
Ripley reaches up and grabs him.
MOTHER'S VOICE
Attention. The cooling units
are not functioning. Engines
will overload in one minute.
OUT 195-201
INT. NARCISSUS 202
Ripley enters on the run.
Hurls the cat box toward the front.
MOTHER'S VOICE
Attention. Engine overloading
thirty seconds. Ship will
destruct. Ship will destruct.
She dives into the control chair.
Hits the "launch" button.
EXT. NOSTROMO - OUTER SPACE 203
The retainer clips drop away.
A blast of ram jets.
The shuttle is launched from the mother ship.
INT. NARCISSUS 204
Ripley frantically straps herself in.
G-forces from the shuttles acceleration pulling against
her.
EXT. SPACE 205
The Narcissus continues to power away from the mother
ship.
The larger bulk of the Nostromo quietly receding.
All is strangely serene.
INT. NARCISSUS 206
Ripley finishes strapping herself in.
Reaches and grabs the cat box.
the cat yowling within.
Ripley hugs the box to her chest.
Hunches her head down over the container.
EXT. SPACE 207
The Nostromo drifts farther away from the shuttle craft.
Finally becomes a small point of light.
Then it blows up.
Transforms into expanding orange fireball.
Pieces of metal flying in all directions.
And then the refinery explodes.
200,000,000 tons of fuel blasting silently into the
cosmos.
INT. NARCISSUS 208
The shockwave hits the shuttle craft.
Jolting and rattling everything within.
Then all is quiet.
Ripley unhooks herself from her straps.
Rises, and goes to the back of the escape craft.
Stares out through the porthole.
Face bathed in orange light.
EXT. SPACE 209
Piece of debris float past.
The boiling fireball fades into nothingness.
The Nostromo has ceased to exist.
INT. NARCISSUS 210
Ripley watching the final destiny of her ship and
crewmates.
A very long moment.
Ripley rises from the seat.
Moves to the rear of the craft.
Picks up the cat box.
Removes Jones.
Puts him in the hypersleep vault.
Begins to remove her flight suit.
Turns to a panel on the wall and begins to program the
hypersleep...
A pipe in the wall moves.
Becomes the tail of the Alien.
The head appears.
The Alien has extruded itself into the machinery on the
wall.
Ripley quickly backs off.
Races for the equipment locker.
INT. LOCKER 211
Ripley looks out of the locker window.
Waiting for the Alien to attack.
Instead it returns to its position in the wall.
Building its new lair.
She watches for a moment.
Then puts on the pressure suit hanging there.
INT. NARCISSUS 212
Ripley comes out.
Increased movement in the wall.
She moves to the rear console.
Picks up the flamethrower.
The Alien moving in the walls.
She sits in the console chair.
And straps herself in.
The Alien remains in the wall.
She must now provoke it.
She turns a steam jet valve.
The Alien screams, twists in pain as the clouds of vapor
curl around its body.
Ripley fires another blast.
Another scream.
The Alien starts to advance toward her.
She hits a button on the console.
Blows the rear hatch.
The Alien is frozen still for a moment.
She fires a graplon.
Hits the Alien in the middle.
Ejecting it out of the Narcissus...
EXT. NARCISSUS - OUTER SPACE 213
The Alien is hurled out of the craft.
Hangs suspended in space by the graplon rope.
INT. NARCISSUS 214
She shuts the hatch.
Moves to the front of the craft.
Turns on the drive engines.
EXT. NARCISSUS - OUTER SPACE 215
Jet exhaust located at the rear of the craft.
The engines belch flame for a few seconds.
Incinerating the Alien...
Then shut off.
OUT 216-224
INT. NARCISSUS 225
Ripley hurries to the rear hatch.
Peers through the glass.
EXT. OUTER SPACE 226
The burned mass of the Alien drifts slowly away.
Writhing, smoking.
Tumbling into the distance.
Pieces dropping off.
Spray of particles in all directions.
Then smoldering fragments dwindle into infinity.
INT. NARCISSUS - LATER 227
Now repressurized.
Ripley is seated in the control chair.
Cat purring in her lap.
She dictates into a recorder.
RIPLEY
Final report of the Commercial
Starship Nostromo. Third
Officer reporting. The other
members of the crew...Kane,
Lambert, Parker, Brett, Ash and
Captain Dallas are dead. The
cargo and the ship destroyed.
I should reach the frontier in
about six weeks. With a little
luck the network should pick me
up. This is Ripley, last
survivor of the Nostromo,
signing off.
EXT. OUTER SPACE 228
The shuttle craft Narcissus sails into the distance.
INT. NARCISSUS 229
Quiet.
Except for the gentle hiss of the life support system.
Ripley rests peacefully in the hypersleep vault.
DEEP SPACE 230
Galaxies, nebulae...the Narcissus moves towards the
horizon line of infinity.
FADE OUT
THE END
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